Getting Crafty With It

Today I bought some yarn in various colors, some of which are fall inspired. I'm planning to make some friendship bracelets. It's been far too long! I think it was actually about a year ago that I made a number of bracelets at one time. Sometimes I go through craft spurts. Do you ever do that?

beautiful colors... I can't wait to make some bracelets!

Wandering the yarn aisles of my local Joann Fabrics had me itching to learn how to knit and crochet. I am scarf obsessed, and knowing how to make my own would be much more cost effective than buying. Not to mention, there's just about every color under the sun available in the yarn aisle. I'd love to get creative and whip up some of my own pieces from colors I choose.

Does anyone out there knit/crochet.... and how did you learn? They offer knitting and crochet classes at Joann Fabrics, so maybe I'll try and pop into one of those some day.

Has anyone ever taken any of the classes at Joann's or even Michaels?

Are they helpful for learning to knit/crochet?

Until then... I'll be making bracelets!

Happy Valentine's Day { and a DIY project }

Happy Valentine's Day!

We just celebrated our 2nd Anniversary,

so I wanted to share a little DIY anniversary gift

that I made for my husband.

I found an inspiration photo of a framed anniversary print on etsy,

and that was all I needed to spark my imagination.

* my architecture school supplies continue proving useful time and time again when it comes to DIY crafts at home (:

I used my cutting mat and xacto knife to hand cut all of the letters from colored cardstock.

My plan was to glue down the letters and then use Mod Podge to seal them,

but they didn't really need to be sealed after gluing in place with my Scotch scrapbook stick.

So I skipped the Mod Podge!

After getting everything glued in place,

I placed our personalized anniversary plaque in a frame from Ikea.

(We bought the Ribba frame for only $4.99!)

This personalized gift found a perfect home

on top of the shelving unit in our office!

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Again Happy Valentine's Day....

share some love today. <3

Your Friendship (Bracelet) Means A Lot

Friendship bracelets are making a comeback! Seriously. For real. The very bracelet I used to spend hours making, while laying in the grass next to the lake, is making a comeback. The friendship bracelet is not just for middle school girls. Anyone can wear them!

Still don't believe me? I've seen quite a few bloggers featuring photos of their colorful bracelets. Kristina, over at Pretty Shiny Sparkly, is hosting another Bloggers Do It Better link-up featuring stacks of bracelets that another blogger has coined an arm party. So get out your favorite bracelets, layer them thick, and link up photos of your own arm party tomorrow! Let's see that lovely arm candy.

Great. Not only do I have a nail polish obsession, but now I'm going to be spending my time making friendship bracelets too. As if I need another time waster. I already have blogging and Pinterest for that. Oh well, I might as well add friendship bracelet making to that list too.

Is it weird keeping friendship bracelets that you make yourself? It's almost like I'm asking myself to be friends. I mean, at least I like me. Yes, I'll be my friend! How sweet of you to make this bracelet for me. Hi, my name is Ashley, and sometimes I talk to myself. We all do that sometimes, right? ...Right?! Oh well. I might be a little crazy, but at least I have a pretty friendship bracelet from yours truly on my wrist. Check back here tomorrow for photos of my newest friendship bracelets.  (:

In the meantime, you can check out some

other blogs for friendship bracelet inspiration:

Fashiolista shows us a pretty assortment of friendship bracelets

Honestly... wtf shows us how to create chevron pattern friendship bracelets
Michabella Living a Life of Love hosted a blogger bracelet swap
Emily Recommends shares some unique friendship bracelets

Are you hopping on the friendship bracelet train?

Do-It Yourself: Framed Jewelry

There's really been a whole lot of DIY action around here lately. Yesterday I hinted at something in the works that involved hot glue and maybe a frame or two. My jewelry box does not hold all of my jewelry, so I wanted some extra storage that doubled as decoration. We have a lot of walls with few things to put on them. Enter my DIY project of the month. (:

* Today, I'd like to actually reveal the fruits of yesterday's DIY labor. *

This was my inspiration to do something

about my jewelry messiness:

Source: laurenconrad.com via Ashley on Pinterest

After seeing this image on Lauren Conrad's blog,
I knew exactly what needed to be done.

I found some frames I could use
and bought some jewelry wire...

Not to mention, I am always looking for excuses projects
that require the use of a hot glue gun...


I also busted out my husband's electric drill!


* No need to shy away from a power tool *

I only ran into one minor problem with my construction, but I managed to deal with it fairly easily. There's always at least one issue or setback isn't there? You never get through a DIY project without learning a better way to do something the next time. Trial and error will become your new best friend when doing-it-yourself. Next time I made a jewelry organizer I will make it better than the last one!

Here you have it!

the big reveal:

I might even make a couple more of these
jewelry frames
to hang in our closet...

What do you think?
Would you use this in your house?


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Happy Friday everyone!


We're off to Titusville, FL to hopefully {that's if there are no delays}
watch the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis.

From the Heart

At the time of our wedding, purchasing an album of our wedding photos was pretty much out of the question. Unfortunately it's still out of the question, so for now I put together a little something in place of a professional album. There's nothing like a little homemade wedding memento.

I love when creativity drives me, and the passion I have for creating is evident when I can't pull myself away from whatever it is I'm working on at the time. Not to mention, working on something that cost nothing to make is incredibly fulfilling. (It actually cost something at one point, but I put together the entire framed collage from things I had around the apartment) Nate called me a few times from work to ask what I was doing, and to his surprise I answered the same way each time... "I'm still working on that one thing". I'm sure he thought I was a little crazy working past midnight on something I had started so long ago. When the perfectionist in me comes out, each piece must go exactly where I think it should. Hand cutting everything takes time, but the result is priceless.

Thank you again, Alison, for our beautiful wedding photographs!

Maybe one day I'll get carried away and produce an entire album.

The Wedding Shower

We're getting married soon! Before we can get married though, there must be a shower.

shower decorations

Yesterday my aunt Pat and cousin Nicolette threw me a bridal shower. I know you probably aren't supposed to be too involved in the production of your own shower, but I don't care and made many of the decorations myself. I really enjoy making things and being crafty, so it was tons of fun for me to get involved and put some of my creative skills to use! Might as well, right?

We played some fun games, ate a delicious brunch, and I received lots of great gifts from friends and family. I'm glad everyone who was there could make it, but I wished that my friends and family in Michigan could have been there too! That's one of the major downsides to living in a different state than where I grew up. Not everyone can be there for special moments.

personalized plasticware holders

We played a game where each of the guests pinned 5 clothespins to their clothes, and they were told the forbidden word was "wedding". If anyone caught someone saying the forbidden word, then they could take one of that person's clothespins. I would have to say, it was quite entertaining listening to my aunt and Nate's mom go back and forth trying to trick each other into saying the word "wedding"! :)

bride and groom

We got these adorable little bride and groom wine/champagne bottle covers at Party America... what a cool find, I love them!

Thanks to my cousin for taking photographs of the shower! :)

I can't wait until the wedding, and I've been busy crafting up some nice decorations for the big day too! Less than 3 weeks now....