Almost Not Famous

So being a stay at home mom it doesn't take much for me to get that fancy shmacy feeling or to feel like I met someone important.  Also, being a stay-at-work-at-home-mom I might have a little more time for the Twitter, Facebook, YouTube stuff.  While playing around on YouTube one day looking for some Criminal Minds stuff I found this really cool web series called PRETTY the Series. With my background of making beauty pageant accessories and having a young girl child that has been in them, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the mockery of it.  Why would I not? See for yourself.  You can read more about them and see all the episodes from season 1 to season 3 here.
So how does this all make me almost not famous?  OK. I was playing around computer and if you know me I am a HUGE Criminal Minds fan and I am so inspired in my work by Kirsten Vangsness's character Penelope Garcia (and by KV herself).  While tweeting a few little tweets in desperation to get her attention to make her something for Criminal Minds the executive producer for PRETTY the Series caught my tweets and offered for me to make a hair piece for her for the series.  HELL YEAH!!  So a few e-mails later, making a total of 7 pieces (figured it upped my chances on one getting on KV's head), one lost package, remaking all 7 pieces again and shipping overnight and then finding said lost package, my hair pieces made it.  And the rest is just a PRETTY dream for me.
 No, not everyone is going to know that it was me that made the (what I call) famous cross headband, that the "recovering atheist" character wears in so far 2 episodes (or a few other pieces).  But I do. So in my mind I am "almost famous". To you....... who cares.

Welcome and HAPPY 2012

I have been trying to figure out some way to communicate with my customers, moms and crafty persons on some sort of regular basis. I have been doing Facebook, but feel this is starting to lose it appeal with all the people that have "liked" my page.  Also, Facebook has changed their policies on allowing giveaways on the business pages. With my small business (Plain & Fancy Bowtique), I rely on giveaways as a way to promote my business.

I also considered sending out a semi-regular e-mail blast. This certainly has its advantages.

However, after thinking about it for a few weeks and after consulting with a few of my friends and customers, I decided to set up a blog (short for “Web Log”). That’s what you are reading now.  Please be patient with me during the beginning as I will make changes till I find what feels right.

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After many years of lurking in the crafty blog world I've decided to start my own.  The allure of the crafting community is strong. I want to thank all you crafty bloggers for giving me entertainment, inspiration, and an overall energy boost, each very necessary to me after my 2011 crafting and life roller coaster.

2011 was a very crafty and emotional year for me. My youngest child (before the new addition came last Dec. ) was old enough to allow me to expand my crafting endeavors.  I made new crafty friends (mostly through Facebook), Christian moms, and Babywearing families. I felt like I had found people that understand me, not just as crafter, but as a mom and business woman. THANK YOU!!!

So, what do I want out of this blog?  Well I way to share what I make/made as a mom, crafter and business.  I will have giveaways from my business Plain & Fancy Bowtique.  Hopefully I will post new products and discounts.  Being a mom of 5, I will be posting many trials and errors of my life, because along with making stuff, I am sure I will be making mistakes.  I want to share about and from other great crafters and small businesses.

(Yes the is a repeat of me starting my 2010 Blog I Made This.....And That.  I feel like have have failed in that title and now just want a way to share about me and my business.  So please join me for my second attempt at blogging)

Tinted Moisturizer

Well as most of you know I am a mom of 5 kids, and getting myself ready can really be a challenge.  I have taken a challenge to not always look "frumpy" (word I use alot).  As beauty experts always say you need to use a moisturizer everyday with a SPF.  So to give me a refreshed look everyday (no matter what the day brings) I made my own tinted moisturizer. 

I was introduced to the stuff in HS.  I personally LOVED the kind that Avon had, but over the years they phased it out and it only comes around every now and then.  Having five kids we are on a strict budget and making my own is way more affordable.  Below I am going to tell you how to make your own.  

SUPPLIES:

Foundation or Mineral Make up (pick a color slightly darker than your normal shade)

Your favorite moisturizer with a SPF

A beauty spatula or thin popsicle stick

Empty lotion bottle or you can get the travel size kind.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Fill the empty bottle 3/4 of the way with your favorite moisturizer.

2. Start mixing in your liquid foundation or mineral make up (if using a powder mineral make up you will need to mix little bits with the lotion to cream it up then add it to the bottle)

3. Make sure you mix well and test it until you come up with the right shade.

Now you have a quick way to add light coverage.

I hope you enjoy this

Chaun V.

I made....A bottle cap key chain

Sorry it has been so long since my last post.  I am hoping to do better now that the baby is getting bigger and I am not so stressed about our house.

So today I am going to share with you a free tutorial on how to make a bottle cap keychain.  Sorry for some of the pics, my son was helping me by taking pics so I could use both hands.

First here is your supplies. This is what I use, but if you want to change anything to add your own style then that is fine.

So we have split rings.  I have two sizes 9mm and 33mm.  

Paper Glaze or 1" epoxy dots.

1/16" hole punch

Welding pliers and a piece of felt

1" bottle cap (I used one with a design on one side)

Bottle cap image (there are many you can get from ETSY ). The one I am using was free share from a forum that I belong to.  Making your own is a whole new tutorial.  

Sticker maker (pic is below)

 Line your welding pliers with the felt.  This keeps the bottle cap from getting scratched.

 I have found by placing the bottle cap this way when applying pressure you get less dents.

 You want to apply even firm, but not to firm, pressure.  You will have to rotate the cap to get it flattened on all sides.

 Here is one side after it is flattened.  It gives it that "charm" look.

 Here is the other side.

 Now you want to make your image sticky on one side. This is what I use and LOVE IT!!!!

When you get one it needs to be permanent adhesive.

 Place the image inside the cap.  Press firmly down on your image.

 Now you either place your epoxy dome over the image or use the paper glaze according to the directions.

You can also use a resin.  This is just personal choice on what you want to use.

 You need to punch your hole in the cap.  Then place the 9mm split ring through it.  Add the larger split ring and..........

Voila.... You have made a

bottle cap key chain.

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial.

Chaun V.

Blog to Follow

So I know that many of you are moms.  One thing about moms is we are really good about helping each other out and having great ideas.  Here is a blog that gives you some of those ideas that can really help you out, Everyday Mom Ideas. Today she has a guest blogger, Small Fry and Co., she is going to show you how to make travel cosmetic bag.

She is also holding a contest on the blog for a free pack of Avery Labels.  I know my friend Katina would like them to get her house and her classroom organized.  Here is the link.

So today I didn't share anything that I made but I wanted to share some other great blogs out there.  I hope you enjoy them.

Chaun V.

I Made This.....a Tote

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted. You know how life goes, and here life goes a lot with 5 kids.
Today I have a great I made this... it is a No Sew Tote. This was made for my youngest daughter who just started taking dance classes, and she needed something to carry her shoes in. As a bonus I TRIED (key word there) to make a tutorial for you. I really hope you enjoy it.

You are going to need two coordinating fabrics or bandannas.  I like using the bandannas because your top is already going to have seam.

Place bad sides together and fold in half.

 

Next cut through all the layers.  I did 3.5" in and 1" apart.

 

Start tying the layers together.  You will get the two from one side and the other two from the other side and tie them together.  When done go back through and make sure all the pieces are TIGHT. Then get random pieces and tie them together.

Here is what it looks like when all tied up.

 Now to add handles.  Get 46" of ribbon.  I used 1.5"  A roll of Witch Stitch or Heat Bond for Hems.

Start warming up your iron to the instructions of your No Sew Bond you are using.  I also recommend that you have an iron that you can use just for your crafts.

You are going to cut a strip of the Witch Stitch the size of your opening of the bag.

Cut 4 pieces (2 for each handle) of Witch Stitch the width of your ribbon.

Lay down your long strip right below the seam.  Then place your ribbon over that and about 1/4" below the Witch Stitch.  Now place your two small pieces on top of the ribbon.

Now lay the top layer of fabric over all of that and start ironing according to the directions.  I recommend that you use the end of the ironing board to help hold the bag.

Now flip it over and iron the other side.

Repeat for the other handle.

 

And here is the finished product.

I really hope you enjoyed this post.

If you make this please post pics on the Facebook page so we can see.

Thanks 

Chaun V.

What I MADE my family do.

So this past week has been really crazy. We had the ultimate winter storm here in Texas. You think being locked in the house for four days I would get so much done. WRONG!! With all 5 kids in the house I got NOTHING... I mean NOTHING done.

So on to what I made my family do. At my church they are doing a 40 day fasting. Well with me breast feeding I can not quite do that. So I came up with my own fasting for me and my family. Yes this more goes on the lines of lint but we have never done anything like this so we have to work our way into it. As a family we have given up eating out for 40 days. Easy you might say, but not for us/me. I am all about convenience with my big family. My thinking behind it is this, fasting is suppose to help you grow and provide self improvement. By us not eating out we will be eating at the dinner table more and growing as a family. Also, we will be praying at dinner time as a family. So our growth as a family and God will be met. The extra bonus, we will not be physically growing, I hope to be shrinking.

With one week now down the struggle begins.
Wish us luck that we can make it through. Prayers would be nice too.
Chaun V.