Thirty by Thirty Thursday the Introduction

If you are my friend on Facebook or Instagram you have probably already seen my list of things I want to do before I hit thirty! Now that I'm closer to 30 than 20, it just seemed right to set some goals and accomplish some big things before my next decade of life starts. 

Here's the list: 

For some reason I decided to go after the one that I thought would be the hardest first... giving up Diet Coke. I could easily down a 2 liter a day if you let me. (Crazy, I know!)

 But it surprisingly has not been bad at all! 

I've made it 17 days so far... so I've almost made it a "habit," which is considered 21 days. I had some headaches the first few days without caffeine but now I feel better and can tell a difference in my breathing. And I know I'm saving a lot of money too!

As you can tell, some of the things on my list can become pretty costly. But I made a conscience effort to make sure that half the things on my list were actually free. 

Next week I will tell you more about #1 on my list, which I can't express enough how important it is to me. So please, come back next week to hear what I will be up to in remembrance of my little brother!

Do you see anything on my list that you would want to do too? 

If so, let me know and we can accomplish them together!

What would you put on your list? Or even your bucket list? 

Let me know!

Creatively Yours, 

Audra

WILW: ReStore HFH, Broccoli Salad, and Young House Love

1) Crafting Supplies 

Restore by Habitat for Humanity

What a great store! It is full of spare parts you could use to make repairs or build things in your house. It's like Goodwill for homeowners! The parts are all dropped off donations and all proceeds go to a good cause. 

As a crafter, I fell in love with this store this past weekend. So many creative ideas for projects flew through my mind while I walked through the place, a couple times. 

If you joined me yesterday for the DIY 4th of July Decor you actually saw some of my great finds! The shutter was $5, the cabinet door used for a sign was $4, and the wood for the fireworks was a mere $1.25. No too shabby for durable wood pieces.

To find the closest location to you, just google Restore Habitat for Humanity. The great thing about it is every store will have completely different supplies available! I can't wait to go back. 

2) Everyday Living

Broccoli Salad

(It's the best! Trust me, I'm a picky eater.)

3 heads of sliced broccoli

1 cup of dried cranberries

1 cup of sunflower seeds

1 package of bacon, cooked and cut in small pieces

Mixed together and added last:

- 1 cup of mayonnaise

- 1/4 cup sugar

- 4 tbsp. red wine vinegar 

3) Reading or Blogging

Young House Love

I LOVE this book!!

It is full of super easy crafts and projects to spruce up your house (for cheap) to make it truly yours. It also makes a great house warming gift!

There were some ideas in here that I have seen before, but it only reminded me of projects that I need to get finished... like using fabric to upgrade the backboard of a bookshelf. Check out their blog if you want even more ideas or backstory. 

See you tomorrow!

Creatively Yours, 

Audra

DIY 4th of July Decor

Today I have some quick how-to projects that are all for the 4th of July!

There aren't step by step pictures, but they are simple enough that I think you will be able to catch on. 

For most projects we used paint sample containers from Home Depot in the red, white, and blue, as well as twine and scotch tape. 

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Wooden Fireworks

We simply cut a scrap of wood into 3 different heights. 

(12 inches, 9 inches, and 6 inches)

Then we painted each one to match the red, white, and blue theme. 

For the striped firework, I painted it all the cream color first. Once it dried I went back and scotch taped off every other inch so that the red paint would appear in stripes. 

I plan on going back and adding creme stars to the blue firework. 

When everything was dry we simply drilled small holes into the top of the fireworks and used strong super glue to hold the twine wicks in place. 

Wrap some twine around the whole set a few times, make a little bow, and you're done!

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Snap, Crackle, and Pop Mason Jars

Your first stop is the fireworks stand. 

You will need: snappers, sparklers, and champagne poppers. 

Distribute them into 3 different mason jars. 

On the outside of the jar you can get creative with the labels. We found our little chalkboards on clothespins from Michael's. 

Snap = snappers

Crackle = sparklers

Pop = champagne poppers

This was the easiest, but most costly project for us. 

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Striped Shutter

This is a project if you have a lot of patience and time. 

Using an old shutter, start by taping off every other slat so you don't have to go over dripped spots. 

Paint the first set of slats red. 

Do the same thing with the cream and complete the outside of the shutter as well. 

Be prepared to go back and do touch ups, like on the inside boarder of the slats. 

Then you attach the metal blue star. We were lucky enough to find the exact one at Michael's. But if you can't find one that is already blue, go ahead and spray paint the one you were able to find. 

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Patriotic Sign

This is actually a project using a cabinet door! 

We just taped of the sections and painted them with the same paint that we used for all of the other projects. 

Then I taped off the section I wanted writing in to act as a guide for making the letters the same size. 

Using a Sharpie Oil-Based marker, add you lettering. 

For whatever reason my best work is done free-handed, but that does leave room for error. For example, I only planned on having Stars and Stripes Forever but when I was done it wasn't centered so I added the little text on the end. But you couldn't tell that before I told you, right? ;) 

If you aren't comfortable with free-handing it go ahead with stencils or projecting letters. 

Hopefully I was able to break down several projects at once in a decent manner. As always, if you have questions please feel free to ask! I would love to give you more advice you take on any of these projects yourself. 

Creatively Yours, 

Audra 

The Great Handmade Heist and Later This Week

I'm back for another creative-filled week after spending a several days crafting with one of my very best friends. I see a trend here, and I'm okay with that! 

I will show you what we were up to later this week as well as some more goodies that I need to catch up on:

Last week for Makers Gonna Make Monday I told you about CLICKforbabies.org.

And I've found another great cause created by crafters to share with you this week!

There are SO many different crafting auctions on Instagram that raise money for adoptions... both international and local. 

But this is something different... and I am just loving the creativity put into it.

Have you ever been to a Murder Mystery Dinner Party? 

(If you haven't you totally should!!)

Well, The Great Handmade Heist is the cousin to those dinner parties... in a totally amazing way! 

Once registered, clues will be given out to figure out where all of the missing crafts have gone! And if you figure out who the craft stealer was you win over $500 in amazing products from some of my favorite Instagram crafters. 

The cost of registration goes to the adoption of a sweet little boy AND you get a FREE t-shirt that is totally adorable. 

To find out more details about The Great Handmade Heist, click here. 

Creatively Yours, 

Audra

DIY Mixed Media Wall Art

Tonight's DIY is a Mixed Media Wall Art that you can make totally your own! 

Let me show you what I mean...

To start off with, I was actually inspired by a tutorial my mom found on Pinterest. 

She took that tutorial to guide her to make a great piece for their bedroom. 

I'm so proud of her!

I, on the other hand, took it and made it totally my own... Wild and crazy. 

The whole reason I went down a different road with this project was because I fell in love with the scrapbook paper! Which surprisingly wouldn't be a normal choice for me, so I went with it before I changed my mind!

Here's how I did it! Feel free to use it as a guide to make it your own.

All the materials were purchased from Michael's: 

Canvas

Wood plaque

Scrapbook paper

Modge Podge

Wood scroll

Felt

Hot glue gun

Paint & Spray paint

The first step was to trace the scrapbook paper to match the size of the wood plaque.

You simply turn the wood and scrapbook paper over and use a pencil to trace the very inside of the plaque groove. 

It may not end up perfect due to the tracing, but that's okay!

Before gluing on the paper, the rest of the wooden plaque that will still be showing needs to be spray painted. Remember: thin coats!

While the spray paint is try, you can work on getting the background canvas painted with acrylic paint!

You will notice that I didn't paint the middle of the canvas... no need to waste paint on something that will be completely cover! 

Also, I loved using the black paint! There was only need for ONE coat, which is a miracle.

Once you have the wooden scroll spray painted you are set to start attaching the pieces.

Handy Dandy Modge Podge! My favorite is the one made for paper... I haven't had much success with the others. 

Once again, it's all in the thin coats! 

I put it on the paper first and the laid it on the wood. Then I went back to add more to the corners to really adhere it. 

May be hard to see, but it's not perfectly even... and that's okay!

The perfectionist is learning!!! (or relaxing)

Now, in the tutorial and my mom's project they used a monogram letter.

It turns out super cute, but I'm just not a fan of monograms. 

Instead, I wanted to do something different. At first I wanted to use the word "create," but then I figured out it really wouldn't fit on the board right. 

So instead, I decided to recreate one of the flowers on the scrapbook paper out of felt!

This is where some people call me crazy, I'm more of a free hander than an exact science kind of girl... so I just started cutting things out and laying the colors down. 

I used the flower in the top left corner above to be my guide for recreating the flower. 

I got the whole flower done in the basic shape using half circles...

And then I went back and rounded them off more to better match the paper. 

(See the petal directly under the center)

Ta-Done! Well, maybe not. I decided it wasn't 3D enough and I wanted to add more of a border to the flower...

So I added the white felt underneath each petal. 

Just glue the pink piece down on the white felt using a hot glue gun and then cut it out with a little extra white for the border. 

All laid out and ready to go!

Use the hot glue gun to glue it all together one layer at a time. 

When the flower was done it was time to attach it all together using a hot glue gun! YAY!

First was the wooden scroll attached to the scrapbooked wooden plaque... 

Then the flower was added...

And then it was all glued onto the canvas! 

Here you can see the complete project on my parent's wall for some quick pictures. 

A side picture to show you the little 3D-ness this project has!

I believe I will be putting it on a crisp, white wall in the craft room!

Hopefully you enjoyed this wild and crazy rendition of a subtle monogram wall art. 

Remember, you can always find an amazing project and still MAKE IT YOUR OWN!!

Creatively Yours, 

Audra

CLICK for Babies and Later This Week

Sorry about being AWOL last Thursday and Friday! 

Sometimes you just have to make the time for friends who are basically family when you don't get to see them very often.

Don't worry though, I have some great stuff for you this week:

I would love it if you could make it back for everyday, but hopefully you see at least one day you will be coming back for!

Today I want to tell you about a cause I JUST found out about. 

It's called CLICK for Babies. 

They help to educate parents about the Period of PURPLE crying with newborns: 

It's pretty simple. Volunteers knit or crochet hats (with at least 50% purple yarn) and turn them into their local drop off. The hats will then be taken to hospitals where new parents can pick out a hat for their newborn... after learning about 

Shaken Baby Syndrome. 

I've seen the ramifications of SBS first hand and I will do anything to help prevent it from ever happening... that's why I plan on picking up some soft, purple yarn tomorrow!

Not only are they cute, but it's for a very important cause. 

If you know how to knit or crochet, go for it! 

If you don't, it really is simple to learn and caps would be a great start. 

I know basic knitting, but have never made a cap before. So to start off, I think I will commit to one hat a month... and if I get really good at it, perhaps one a week. 

(And while I'm at it I will teach myself to crochet too!)

How many would you commit yourself to? 

For more information please visit, CLICKforbabies.org

They also have some great patterns there!

See you tomorrow.
Creatively Yours, 

Audra

WILW: Glue Gun Stand, Hair Products, and Say Goodbye to Survival Mode

It's the first ever What I Like Wednesday!

1) Crafting Supplies 

There's no denying I love me some hot glue gun! 

And there's nothing worse than melting the styrofoam plate you rest it on or getting it stuck to a paper plate. 

So here is the best invention ever!

A HOT GLUE GUN STAND!

If glue drips onto the tile it simply peels off, no mess!

Click HERE to go the the Esty listing where I got my stand customized... 

which is Emerald Green, of course!!

2) Everyday Living 

If you know me at all, you know I have oodles and gobs of hair! 

I've been using some new hair products the last couple months that have made a huge difference in this mess of hair I have and the best part is most of them are super cheap. 

Herbal Essences' Blow Dry Prep Mist not only smells amazing but it really makes your hair feel super soft after blow drying it. I think it also takes less time to blow dry my hair when I use this stuff... which is a huge deal for me since mine can take up to 30 minutes from start to finish. Ridiculous, right?! At least I get some good reading done. 

Their detangling spray is just as important otherwise I'm fighting a battle that can't be won. And it smells good too! Both of these products run $3 or less, I believe. 

I am in L-O-V-E with this shampoo and conditioner. The first reason for choosing this brand was the smell... coconut!! Can't get enough. I originally got the Coconut Milk set, but it was just too thick for my hair. Being that I have super thick, course hair already that clings on to everything it just didn't work for me. I was bummed but I went back to look for a different kind and I came across the Coconut Water with WEIGHTLESS HYDRATION. Let me say it again, WEIGHTLESS HYDRATION. Ahhhhh. It's perfect. And for the price of $5.50 each, it can't be beat. 

And the last one is from It's a 10. I only use this Miracle Hair Mask every Sunday. Yes, your hair needs a day of relaxation and revitalization too. It really gives my hair that fresh new feeling every time I use it. Soft, smooth, detangled, and pH balance... read the label for all the other fun stuff it does. It is pricer at about $25, but using it only once a week really pays off! Trust me. 

All hair care products can be found out your local Wally World.
Or Wal-Mart for those who aren't up with our family lingo. 

3) Reading or Blogging 

I am a reader, but just recently got into books that could be considered "Self-Help" or just Get-Your-Life-Together-Already-Audra. I just finished up this one last week, and I ate up every word she put down on the page. 

When I get overwhelmed with too much to do... I simply don't do a darn thing. (Ask my mom, it drives her crazy!) This book really helped me break down my problem areas of life like when you say yes to something you have to say no to something else. I have already implemented a morning routine and weekly goals, and let me tell you it works! 

I think this will be one that I reach for off my shelf for a long time coming... until I have it memorized. 

Definitely a must read that are a little overworked, frazzled, and want to restore passion in their life!

Hope you enjoyed this first installment of What I Like Wednesdays. Let me know what you think or if you have questions on any of the above! Better yet, let me know if you have something different that could help me and all of my other readers! 

Stay tuned tomorrow for a big announcement about where my heart is going with this journey! 

Creatively Yours, 

Audra