I'm obsessed

So I have long had an obsession with Planners.  I can think back to High School, my parents bought me a Franklin Covey planner and it hasn't stopped since then.  I can recall in College I was the worst planner slut on the planet, I would buy a planner use it for a month and then buy another one that was clearly an upgrade from the previous.

Now my current position has required that I stay with a planner for it's lifespan so I feel like I'm married to each planner when I buy it and this causes me to spend a considerable amount of time deciding just which planner to "walk down the aisle with." (pun completely intended!!) 

Back in May I was in a bit of a predicament, I bought a planner but didn't love it, bought another one and gave it away.  I couldn't commit, I knew I would be spending the next 12-13 months of my life with my choice and I couldn't do it. Sometimes I question how I ever got married.  So I decided I'd search for a DIY printable planner that I could fall in love with and download.  Pipe Dreams, that is all it was, I could not find what I wanted.  So I took to Photoshop and made my own.

current planner in action

Now I'm approaching December and I only made the planner above for June-December so I decided I would be proactive.  I would start early so I could search and research the hell out of planners until I found Mr. Right.  In my mind if I start early enough I will find what I want and I will commit, so far that is only in my mind.  I have spent numerous hours trying to figure out just what planner I'm going to spend 2016 with,  I got some help from Kayse Pratt after I read her post an Ultimate Planner Review.  I really love the Simplified Planner by Emily Ley but my frugal heart needed CPR after I saw the price.  This was the same problem I faced when starting to fall in love with the Erin Condren's Life Planner.  No matter how gorgeous these planners are I could not pull the trigger, I know a ton of work goes into these planners but I couldn't (at least right now) spend upwards of $50 on a planner.  I was also still caught between do I want a daily planner or weekly planner?  See told you I can't commit.  So I have once again gone to the drawing board using my trusty friend Photoshop and have designed one option in a few colors. I'll post them below and you can help your self to them.  I felt like I had to accomplish something so I went with a generic (in terms of the date) because I'm such a commitment failure I couldn't even commit to making them for the full year.  Sad Day Huh!

This is the magenta planner template, all colors are linked below for your downloading pleasure

Baby Blue Chevron

Coral Chevron

Lime Chevron

Magenta Chevron

Pink Chevron

Purple Chevron

Turquoise Chevron

These are designed to print on 8.5 x 11 size paper.

Please be kind, don't sell my work, I'm kind enough to share with you so just share with others by linking to this post or my blog.

Felt Flowers Ring DIY

So lately I've grabbed an addiction to felt! Now there are a million different felt flowers you can make and many of them will look great on a ring. This just happens to be one I had already used my Sizzix Big Shot to cut out.  Call me lazy?  (Hey don't call me lazy I'm writing this tutorial damn it!  Your just sitting on the couch reading it!)
If you don't have a Sizzix you can find the pre-cut pieces here.

Start off with your die cut piece of felt.  I used the Sizzix 3d flower die. This is what it looks like straight out of the die cutter (is that really what it is called??).

Results from Die Cut

Once you unravel your perfect die cut it should look something like this. A long scalloped piece.

Die Cut Unrolled

Now there is really no right or wrong way to roll this up.  I tend to be a little glue happy so here is how I do it.  I put a dot of glue on the very end and then fold it over.  Then you will see there are, what I refer to as, points. Give each point a dot of glue and wrap.  I do a few dots at a time, wrap it around then a few more dots.

First Fold (Top view)

First Fold (Front View) 

This is what your front will look like...

Finished Flower

This is what the back should look like... 
I put a dollop of glue and press the last little circle down.  If you don't use a die cut piece of felt you can always cut a circle of felt and glue it to the bottom for a finished look.

Finished Flower (Bottom View)

Here is my ring blank...of course I sell them on my website, and my Etsy.  Unfortunately I don't' keep up with either of those as well as I should so you can always email me and tell me you want some.

Filigree Ring Base

You simply glue your felt flower to your ring base.  This go around I used Hot Glue as I have recently heard it will hold up.  I have also used E6000, but it takes much longer to dry. I typically place the ring on my finger so I'm sure to get the flower centered, but even that leads to a fail a good portion of the time. Of course you can make any variety of felt flower to put on your ring.

Finished Ring (Side View)

Finished Ring

 

Finished Ring

Happy Crafting everyone!

DIY HAIR TIE...Made from Fold Over Elastic

So I figure why waste any time?  I should just get busy writing tutorials right?  

So a little back story...when I found out I was prego with T,  I decided we would cloth diaper, I would make all the diapers and I would be a better person for it! I bought everything I needed including a Serger (OK my dad bought that for me) but I bought PUL, Fold Over Elastic, Velcro, Snaps...the whole nine yards (Literally I am sure I bought well over 9 yards of fabric).  At any rate I later decided that I didn't have to be a better person and it was just too much.  I purchased some cloth diapers from a local friend, Goldie at Butzie Covers and I bought a bunch of G Diapers.  In order to fund the purchase of all these cloth diapers and g's, I sold some items that were pricey.  I didn't sell everything, I hung on to the Fold Over Elastic (here on out we will refer to it as FOE). I knew I would make something with it some day! (today is that day)

SKIP TO HERE IF YOU DON'T GIVE A RAT'S ASS ABOUT MY BACK STORY

So I have a trendy friend at work, that came in one day with a super cute hair tie that she just "loved".  She explained how it didn't leave that famous "pony tail crease" in your hair and well it was just a must have accessory.  Of course the craftaholic in me took one look and said "how much did you pay for that?"  I'm pretty sure her response was so outrageous I quickly dismissed it because well it was outrageous. So I said (like I way too often say) "I can make that!  No I really can I have the FOE at home!" Don't believe me that the price is outrageous take a peak here...Trendy Shop

SKIP TO HERE IF YOU JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW TO MAKE THE DAMN THING ALREADY

Before you start gather your materials... 

(or as we go...if you work like I do!!)

Scissors...not the crappy kitchen scissors these bad boys need to be sharp

FOE...I bought my original stash from a yahoo group buy but I just purchased more from an Etsy shop ElasticByTheYard reasonable prices and super easy to work with.

Lighter...not mandatory but I'm a ribbon junkie and I hate frayed edges!

Ruler...you can do it without a ruler if you can't find one.

MATERIALS

 

STEP 1: I start by measuring my FOE, I have found 10-13 inches works best.  It really depends on the angle of the cut on the end and how much you leave as a tail after the knot.  If you don't have a ruler, wrap the FOE around your wrist and leave a few extra inches, I know your thinking how do I know what a few inches looks like I don't have a ruler.  

Just leave a little extra to allow you to tie it. 

STEP 1

STEP 2: I like to cut my ends differently each time, probably because I don't like to commit to one style!

You can cut them straight or at varying angles! I just suggest you cut both ends the same, for a more professional look.

STEP 2

STEP 3: Then I take a lighter to the ends to give them a quick singe/seal.  Now...no pics of this step because lets face it I would easily burn the house down if I tried to take a pic. 

STEP 4: Then decide what side you want to "show" I usually go with the shiny side. Leave the soft plush padded side on the inside. Fold the piece of FOE in half and line up the ends.

STEP 4 (shiny side out)

STEP 4 (with ends lined up)

 STEP 5: After everything is lined up tie a knot.  There is no wrong way just try not to pull on the actual ends or it will encourage fraying.  

STEP 5 (the knot before I pull it tight)

I pull...and pull... and pull some more trying to avoid the very edge, please keep in mind I am taking these pics myself.  Why don't I ask the hubs to help??  He is far too busy on the couch watching what sounds like a man film with cars squealing and men cursing!

STEP 5 (I'm pulling by holding close to the knot)

STEP 5 (knot is still to big...pull)

STEP 5 (knot looks nice and tight)

 

Once you pull it tight that really is the end of it. Go ahead put it in and see what you think!

 

My Model

 

  

Lots of the "cool kids" are wearing them as bracelets also not just hair ties!