Favorite Finds: Polyvore & PicMonkey

Before Pinterest came along I use to save all my "Favorite Finds" for a week or so in my bookmarks folder and then go back, grab an image from the blog or website and post it to my own blog under my "Favorite Finds" so I could share them with my readers and save for a later reference.

But now with Pinterest I don't find the need to do that anymore. However, yesterday I came across a couple of website that I really couldn't resist actually blogging about and hope you find the information worthy of some of your "Favorite Finds."

Favorite Find #1 PicMonkey.com

This fun website called PicMonkey.com and is what a lot of people are using to create quotes with photos and post to Pinterest. It's a photo editing program and super simple to use. So for fun I created this "inspirational" quote that I totally made up and added to a photo of my daughter and her friend. My daughter really wanted me to post it to Pinterest to see if anyone else liked it...the quote is lame but totally fit the situation and my funny teenage daughter. There are a lot of great filters too!!

Favorite Find #2 Polyvore.com
If you've been on Pinterest at all, then you've seen those great style photos and I have always wondered who is creating them and HOW? Well it's the super cool website called Polyvore.com. I haven't actually had time to play with it more then a couple of minutes. But here's a great example I originally pinned on Pinterest!

Favorite Find: Teresa Collin's Stampmaker

Supplies: Imaginisce B-Day Bash Collection, TC Stampmaker (watch)

I know I've been slacking on sharing my favorite finds, but like all of you, sometimes I get a little overwhelmed and things like scrapbooking and blogging get pushed aside. So I thought I'd share some of my favorite finds I saw at CHA in Chicago this past July.  My first and most favorite was the new Teresa Collins Stampmaker. The card above was create from the stamp that they made during my live demo.

I created the sample above with a the stamp I saw created during a demo. It's amazing how great the detail turned out. So here (photo below) we sat down at the Photocentric booth at CHA (creators of the Stampmaker) and awaited our demonstration. 

After the initial 3 minutes of the stamp packet cooked in the machine, the packet was cut open and our demonstrator proceeded to scrub away the excess goop from the packet. You have to love a man that knows how to scrub!!

After the image/stamp was scrubbed clean, it's then dropped in a small tray with clean water in it and placed back in the machine for 2 minutes. The machine reminded me of a "gel nail" UV light machine I once received as a gift. So girls, if you like doing gel nails then you might be able to use this for your nails too. Anyway, once it's done, you cut away the excess backing and mount it to an acrylic block with adhesive.

We then tried stamping some of the images and the detail turned out great. I even liked that they mounted some to self-inking stamps too. The Teresa Collins Stampmaker retails for around $150-160 dollars. And I've already made a long list of things I'd like to create with my Stampmaker when I get it...hint, hint!

Oh, I couldn't miss out sharing a fun picture we had taken at CHA of me (with humid-hair), Teresa and Bridget. I actually felt bad asking Stephanie Ackerman to take our photo because I adore her too and in my book she's just as talented as the rest of us.

If you're interested to see how the stampmaker works, be sure to watch this video. Love it!!

Favorite Finds for Week 21 of 2010 & Casual Bloggers Conference

Hey all...

I've decided to move my "Favorite Find" posts to Friday, you know, "Favorite Finds Fridays".  I will probably stop labeling them with the week number...I think you the idea now. And I started it with one goal in mind...to blog at least once a week. But that goal is gone and I'm hoping to blog a lot more. So if you're still interested in my crafty posts, then at least check back on Friday. Please read through the entire post...I didn't have much time to post a lot about crafty stuff I found since I've been blog-stalking so many other blogs and ready great posts that aren't really craft specific. The first two items are so you're not completely disappointed, but trust me, read on, it will be worth your time.

Beautiful Blue House

 Everyday on my way home I pass this beautiful blue house. You can't tell but the property is pretty big, with a gorgeous side and back yard. Well it's been for sale for the past couple of months and other then the fact it's on a busy road, I LOVE this home. But most of all I would love it because I could tell everyone, "we're the AllREDS that live in the BLUE HOUSE!" Yes, I giggle about that every time I say it out loud!! 

Craft Cork Board

This darling cork board was on Greenbean's Crafterole blog. However, you know me...I liked the darling paper flower thumb tacks the most. This blog post is great, she shows you step by step how she made both. 

Chalk Board Paint + Creative Idea = TuTu Cute Idea!

Found another great idea over at Greenbeans Crafts blog. She created this with a canvas and chalkboard paint. Love it!! 

Sony Bloggie Camera

I'm very excited about this new little Sony Bloggie camera. All the time I want to create short/sweet videos on how to do something or show something, but I don't have a video camera and I do not know how to convert video for YouTube, etc. But this little guy, not only takes web ready photos for blogging, but it records video in MP4 format. With it's little USB port, you simply plug it into your computer and you're ready to post to your blog. And yes, it comes the cutest colors around (white, aqua, purple and of course PINK). Did I mention you can rotate the lens 270 degrees and record yourself?? Well, I work for the coolest place that totally loves my blogging abilities that they're purchasing one for me to use. So as soon as I get it and start using it, I'll let you all know how I like it. Check out more information on Sony about this great Bloggie camera. 

Sweet Life in the Valley Blog 

Here I am with my friend Nicki (on my right) and April Atwater owner/author of Sweet Life in the Valley. I felt like such a dork after hanging with her for a while at the Casual Bloggers Conference's Girl's Night Out event.  She mentioned her very cute necklace with an "A" on it. She then mentioned she was speaking and I asked her why, she explained that her blog was Sweet Life in the Valley...eeek I often visit her blog. How cool was it to meet someone in real life that you follow their blog. She was so genuine and cute...loved visiting with her.

CJANE Run Blog
I have to be honest, I'd never heard of the lovely (and talented) Courtney Kendrick (aka CJRun) until the last day of the Casual Bloggers Conference. We debated on whether or not to stay for the closing speakers since they were scheduled from 6:00-8:00 the last night of the conference, but we decided that we'd rather stay then go home and do laundry. Well much to my surprise, Courtney ended up being amazing (even her singing). I learned through her speaking that she was sister to Nie Nie and spoke about how "blogging changed her life". I loved her wit, her spirit and especially her writing. She read a bunch of her favorite posts from her blog and I was captivated. One minute this girl had us laughing our butts off and the next we were crying our eyes out. She touched my soul and I will forever be a huge fan of hers. In fact, I leaned over to Nicki and said, "We have to get our pictures taken with her." I thought if any one picture would sum up what a great bloggers conference and experience this was, it would be that one picture.

I really wanted to share some of the posts she read during her presentation, I couldn't find them all but here are the ones that I could find. Please if you don't have time, at least read the very last one....it's amazing and worthy of your time!!

Ever Evolving

Naughty Trotty 

Customer Service

Manifesto Female: What I Have Learned (Courtney closed with reading this post...loved it!)

Casual Bloggers Conference Blogs

I have a huge list of blogs that I'm not following and enjoying a ton since the CBC10 so I decided I wanted to share the blogs of at least the teachers/speakers I listened to or met at the conference. I hope you find some that interest you too. 

Heather of The Extraodinary Ordinary 

Alisa of Crazyland: Tales from the Motherboard

April of Second Sister Suaviloquy 

Melanie of SugarDoodle

Kristina of Pulsipher Predilections

Blue Cricket Designs

Teresa Collins

Bipolar Beauty Queen

Vanessa of I Never Grew Up

Seagull Fountain

Better in Bulk

Mormon Mommy Blogs

Formerly Phread

Julie of Leelou Blogs

Maria of Two Peas in Their Pod

Sarah of Tech4Mommies

Ashlee of I'm Topsy Turvy

Thanks for reading...as always I'd love to know you stopped by, so please leave me a quick comment!! 

Favorite Finds for the 11th Week of 2010

Sorry I'm running late on posting for the week...but better late, then never!

New Find on Etsy
Loved Polka Dot Bungalow had the cutest flower creations...clips for your shoes, ruffled onesies, hair clips, shirt clips and more. Check it out...

Purse Revamp....love it!

Idea Door Bead Board Wreath Hanging
Loved this because it's totally my colors...but loved it even more because she shows you how to create this step-by-step and trust me, it's got to be cheaper then the ones I've purchased at Swiss Days (wink)!


Little Birdie Secrets
Those of you that know me and follow this blog know that I love fabric and paper flowers...and being the collector of papers and such I love them for paper crafting and scrapbooking even more. Well the very amazing Little Birdie Secrets blog featured a couple of video tutorials recently that I couldn't resist sharing.

Fabric Rosette Tutorial Video
Paper Roses Tutorial Video
Card Swap Tips
You should all know I love Sue Neal's card classes and her fun ideas on hosting and participating in a card swaps. She gives some great templates for card sizing and all her cards fit in an A2 envelope size. Check out this blog post for some inspiration!

Favorite Finds for the 8th Week of 2010

If anything, you at least know what week we're on for 2010 by visiting me blog each week...ha, ha! I've really enjoyed doing this each week and hope that unlike me Project 365, that soon became Project 52 and then Project 12...that I stick with it throughout the year. I'm always online checking out crafty people that I should at least pass along the great things I find. And to prove that I actually have people reading my blog, I decided to offer a give away on todays post and everyone IS ELIGIBLE!

Soddered Charms

Saturday I went shopping with my mom to a darling little place in Salt Lake called Gardner Village. But what struck me was the fact that almost every shop sold these soddered charms in one form or another. They ranged in price from $20-50 (which I as a crafter I think is too much). Of course my daughter loved the New Moon inspired charms. Here's a cute shop on Etsythat has more reasonably priced charms! Just FYI...I'm going to learn how to make my own (I'm sure it will save me money...ha, ha).

Ideal Laundry Room

I love this closet idea posted on the Idea Door's blog. What a great way to sort before and after and then shut the door when needed. Oh how I wish!

Knitting: Headband Ear Warmer

I think these very hip headbands are cute, but even cuter if you made your own. But my daughter informed me these weren't cool to here because everyone at the Jr. High is wearing them...so since I don't need the free pattern, I thought I'd share it with you all.

Paper Fortune Cookie Tutorial

How cute are these little gems? And even better, they're not fattening and you can have as many as you want. I thought these would cute to make for just about any occasion. And you're in luck the Hambly Screen Prints blog has a great step by step instructions and video tutorial on how to make these.

Hair Bow Holder

Becca created this beautiful frame to hold her daughter's hair clips and bows...go to her blog to check out how cute "chicken wire" can be!! Do you think I could make this work for jewelry??

Tissue Paper Flowers & Balls

We went to a cute home decor shop at Gardner Village this weekend and my daughter asked me how do they make those. So I went a searching and found this fun tutorial on how to maek a variety of tissue paper flowers and covered styrofoam balls. Check it out on this blog!

7 Gypsies Border Punch Kit

This easy to use Border Punch Kit is great for making mini albums and adding that extra "punch" to your projects. This really cool kit has interchangeable hole punches so you have just what you need. Whether you are a huge gypsy fan or not, you will agree that this is a must have item for all of your projects. The punches are perfect for wires or rings. Super easy to use, try it out on a piece of scratch paper first for best results. By the way, I purchased this for 50% of retail off Scrapbook Steals...they're sold out, but be sure to subscribe to their site so you don't miss future great deasl on there!!

Poppyseed Temple Picture Class

My cute neighbor organized this fun Temple picture class. The finished sized is 26" x 32" and it's only $50...the catch is I have to paint it and put it together...but hey, the one I wanted at Deseret Book as over $200. Email me if you're local and want to join me to make your own Temple picture.

Now the Giveaway

Yes, I know...enough with the favorite finds you want to know what you could win for LEAVING A COMMENT on my blog. I made a bunch of these small notepads with the new To Love & Cherish Collection (not in stores yet) and I'm willing to part with a couple (ribbon color may vary). In addition, I got a little carried away shopping this weekend and purchased the cutest beaded KEYCHAINS...I only need one, so you get the other one (sorry no picture). I'll award the notepads and key chain to someone on next week's favorite finds posting (check back)!!

Favorite Finds for the 7th Week of 2010

Chiffon Pom Flower Earring

So I bought these from Forever 21 for my birthday...in fact, they were so cute and came in three colors (pink, white, black) and I couldn't decide so I bought them all. I actually saw them on a friend Megan Hoeppner from CK Media wearing them the other day and LOVED how cute they were on her...I just hope I can pull them off (or my daughter will have some really cute earrings).

Jersey Ruffled Scarf Tutorial

I always love a good tutorial and Sew Much Ado blog offers up this darling scarf tutorial. Enjoy!

Amazing Quilling

This is for my friend Amy...years ago we did a demo on how to Quill at a convention in Chicago and being fairly new to paper crafting we were open minded. But after we twisted and glued a share of paper strips, we decided quilling was a "lost" artform that should probably stay lost (at least for us). However, I came across a site for Yulia Bodskaya, who is said to be the Queen of Quillers. Her work is AMAZING and I hope she gets paid lots and lots of money to roll those paper strips...check out her gallery here.

Fat Free Chocolate Cake

I finally found a chocolate cake that wouldn't make me fat!! This awesome FELT creation by Patisserie Soleil, totally made me giggle. Coolest part is the site this and may other yummy felt treats are found on are "kits"...all precut and ready to assemble.

Lounge Pants

My daughter is just learning to sew and she'd sew something every weekend if I had the energy to work with her on it. So in the meantime I stall by having her look for things she wants to sew and then search for the perfect fabric. Well this is one project I found on my own and hope she'll be interested in doing...so cute. DYI Style is such a great site that I still haven't found enough time to search through.

Fabric Flower Bib Necklace

This gorgeous piece of artwork or neck-wear can be found (along with many other delightful creations) at Second Sister Designs shop. Look around and be sure to check out her blog...love her style and ideas.

Sunshine Clips

I came across this fun website called Old Soul New Heart...

iPod Valentines

I know it's after Valentine's Day, but had to remember these come next year. Too cute and all my daughter's friends would love them. So do with it what you want, but thanks Crafty Chicksfor posting it.

Favorite Finds for the 6th Week of 2010

Ribbon Flowers on Cards

What a simply cute idea to embellish a card. If you haven't already checked out Kelly Rasmussen's blog, then be sure to hop over there and follow her. She always posts super cute card ideas.

Chic Pearl Necklace

I've seen a few of these ideas and always love the idea of combining jewelry with flowers of all sorts. Lei explains how she created this on her blog.

Love & Food Storage

I thought this was a cute idea that you could give for Valentines or any other special day, couldn't resist showing it to you all. For the tag – that reads “Because I always want you to be safe” and contents list, click here.

Olympic Cookie Medals

In honor of the Olympics beginning I thought I'd share a fun idea I found at Alpha Mom. Check it out to see step by step how to create this fun and useful medal!

My Composition Notebook

...was featured on Scrapbook Trend's blog this past week...wahoo! It was created with Imaginisce's Sweet Cheri Collection. I used a technique that Janna Wilson taught in an online class I participated in...such a fun technique and perfect for this project!!

Erin's Fabric Flower Tutorial

The great Erin Bassett not only posted the how to make these fun flowers on her blog, but she also posted a "video" tutorial for all of us that need the extra visual help.

Pie in a Jar

Love this yummy idea...I think I've even posted about it before. But what I really wish is that one of my talented friends would make one for me!! Check out the how-to here.

Heart Newspaper Blocks

A ton of great ideas for Valentines were posted around the web...this one from Brown Paper Packages stuck out for me.

Zipper Ruffle Shoes

I loved these when I saw them on Diary of a Craftaholic's blog. She bought the flats for a discount at TJ Maxx and simply added the zipper...I can't wait to try this. Check out her blog, she's suppose to post a tutorial soon. UPDATE 2/16/10: Tutorial can be found here!

CARD CLASS: by Sue Neal

I have always loved Sue Neal's designs, ever since I saw her first card published in Paper Crafts. Now she teaches at Robert's stores along the Wasatch Front and I'm so excited about her latest class, Tender Mercies (sympathy). I loved these designs that I ran home after seeing them posted at the store and hoped on her blog so I could sign up for her class!! Join me if you can!