Updated Monthly Blog Planner

Hello Everyone!

Last August I shared with you my blog planning sheets.  Since then I have re-designed my monthly planning page to better accommodate the changes in my blogging habits:

• I started blogging more frequently.
• I wasn't using the planning space provided for each blog post.
• I wanted to start keeping track of my pageviews and comments.

Here's what I came up with:

 Free for personal use only, thank you.

Happy Blogging!

Snowy Christmas Wish List Printables

This year my husband and I decided to buy each other gifts for Christmas.  Even though we don't celebrate the holiday as Christ's Birthday, we've decided to start a few family traditions from this winter holiday.  My husband suggested we each make a list of some things we would like so that the other person would be able to choose things the other would really appreciate and enjoy.  

So of course, I "had" to make a cute little printable for our wishlists!  I even decided to share them with you!

Both of these should print nicely on 8.5" x 11" paper.

Design Credit:  Fancy Frame from Ginny @ Organizing Homelilfe

Fonts Used:  Janda Happy Day "Christmas Wish List" & Edwardian Script ITC numers

Have a wonderful Holiday!

Love,

Linking at:

The Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table and Dreaming
Our Favorite Things Link Party @ My Life's a Treasure
Making the World Cuter Monday @ Making the World Cuter
Made by You Monday @ Skip to My Lou 
Mop It Up Monday @ I Should Be Mopping the Floor
Tutorials and Tips Link Party @ Home Stories A to Z
Take-A-Look Tuesday @ Sugar Bee Crafts
Titus 2 Tuesday @ Cornerstone Confessions
Lil' Luna Link Party @ Lil' Luna
Home Decor and Organizing Link Party @ Organize and Decorate Everything 
The Creative Spark @ Clean and Scentsible
Wow Me Wednesday @ Ginger Snap Crafts
Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts
Delightfully Inspiring Thursday Party @ Delightful Order
The 36th Avenue Party Time @ The 36th Avenue
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest
Finished Friday @ All Our Days 
Feature Yourself Friday @ Fingerprints on the Fridge 

Thanksgiving Printable

This morning I decided that since we're having my parents and sisters over for a Thanksgiving meal I am going to create a special mantle and table scape just for the occasion.  

I've been brainstorming and have several ideas in mind...many of which involve burlap!  Since I don't have any burlap on hand and the nearest fabric store is 45 minutes away, I'm going to have to wait until next week to start those projects.

However, I was able to finish one project this morning and I'm going to share it with you!
(Chevron Background Image by Mel Stampz)

(Free for personal use only.  Thanks!)

Happy Holiday Planning!

Linking at:
The Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table and Dreaming
Our Favorite Things Link Party @ My Life's a Treasure
Making the World Cuter Monday @ Making the World Cuter
Made by You Monday @ Skip to My Lou 
Mop It Up Monday @ I Should Be Mopping the Floor
Tutorials and Tips Link Party @ Home Stories A to Z
Meet Me Monday Link Party @ You're Talking Too Much
Craft and Tell @ Cherished Bliss
Take-A-Look Tuesday @ Sugar Bee Crafts
Tip Me Tuesday @ Tip Junkie
Titus 2 Tuesday @ Cornerstone Confessions
Lil' Luna Link Party @ Lil' Luna
Home Decor and Organizing Link Party @ Organize and Decorate Everything 
The Creative Spark @ Clean and Scentsible
Wow Me Wednesday @ Ginger Snap Crafts
Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts
Delightfully Inspiring Thursday Party @ Delightful Order
The 36th Avenue Party Time @ The 36th Avenue
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest
Finished Friday @ All Our Days 
Feature Yourself Friday @ Fingerprints on the Fridge 

A Month of Cleaning!

Alrighty folks!  This Friday I will be six months pregnant.  I've already noticed that getting down on my hands and knees - or more accurately getting up from being on my hands and knees - is becoming more and more difficult.  What does this have to do with cleaning?  A LOT!  It's difficult to clean baseboards, floors, floor cabinets, etc. without being on your hands and knees.  At least I have yet to find a trick to avoid doing so.  All that being said, I've decided to clean our house this month, while I can still get up and down on my own.

Here are some of my goals I plan to accomplish throughout my month of cleaning:
- Learn about and use natural cleaners.
- Learn about and make my own homemade cleaners.
- Cut back on waste - i.e. no paper towels.
- Re-organize my cabinets - more practical and efficient storage.
- Share what I learn with you!

Since my hubby is home on Saturdays and Sundays I've decided to do my cleaning Monday-Friday.

Here's the cleaning schedule I came up with:

Download and Print my Cleaning Calendar Here or Here.

As you can see, the first three weeks focus on specific areas:
- Week 1:  Floors
- Week 2:  Kitchen
- Week 3:  Bathrooms

The rest of the month I'll be cleaning fixtures and spaces throughout the house.


Becky over at Clean Mama is also doing a blog series on cleaning this month:  31 Days to a Clean House.  Be sure to follow her along, too!  She has a ton of amazing tips and tricks for cleaning your home - and free printables to help you stay on track!

Cheerful Cleaning!

Welcoming Fall

 Alrighty folks!  Here's my fall mantle.  You want to know what the best thing is about this year's fall display?  I spent NO $$$!  Yep, that's right.  I didn't spend a penny.  Here's the breakdown of the items I used for this year's mantle:

1. Large black 8 x 10 frame - I've had this frame since high school.
2. Natural frames - 2011 fall decor purchase at the Dollar Tree.
3. Simple black 8 x 10 frame - purchased earlier this year.
4. Black 5 x 7 frame and mat - purchased earlier this year.
5. Green and gold ribbon - 2011 fall decor purchase at the Dollar Tree.
6. Mason jars - given to me by a friend.
7. Split peas and white beans in mason jars - 2012 summer decor purchase.
8. Photos - Prints from our 2011 trip to Brown County State Park.
9. Fall Subway Art - Made by yours truly as seen here.

 A picture of me on a small walking bridge at Brown County and my Fall Subway Art printable.

 My handsome hubby!  Love this picture of him with the beautiful view in the background!

I love the way the black and natural wood frames look together on our mantle.

The natural frames are a simple way to bring the outside in.

Happy fall decorating!

Linking at:

Craft & Tell @ Cherished Bliss

Lil' Luna Link Party @ Lil' Luna 

The Creative Spark @ Clean & Scentsible

Home Decor and Organizing Link Party @ Organize and Decorate Everything

The 36th Avenue Party Time @ The 36th Avenue

Delightfully Inspiring Thursday Party @ Delightful Order

and

Mantel Link Party

Project Planning Sheet

My mind has been going about a-mile-a-minute the past few weeks, coming up with ideas for projects much faster than I can even begin to complete them.  To help me keep track of these projects, I created this little planning sheet. 

These sheets allow me to quickly jot down my ideas, materials I think will be needed, and materials I already have.  I also included a spot for me to record the "start" and "complete" date for each project. (Hopefully this will motivate me to finish them in a timely manner!)  I printed off 3 of these sheets and have already filled up 11 of the 12 project sections.  Some of the projects I included are ones I started months ago, so they won't have an accurate start/complete date.  However, this will help me remember to actually finish them.

Feel free to print them for your personal use. :)

Happy Homemaking, Crafting, DIYing and Blogging!

Fall Subway Art - Free Printable!

The wonderful month of September welcomes in a new season, Autumn.  Leaves begin to change, cooler weather creeps in, and the wonderful works of God are ever before us.  September is also when many of us switch out our decor, putting away the summertime flowers and bringing out fall leaves, pumpkins and gourds.  I have yet to make the transition in our home, but I've been working on it.  Here is the Fall Subway Art I just finished.  I plan to place this on our mantle in the upcoming days.

Free for personal use only.

Background:  Mel Stamps: Ombre Chevron Collection

Fonts Used from DaFont: FFF Tusj, KG Be Still & Know, KG Sweet N Sassy, & Pottery Barn

Linking @:

The Creative Spark @ Clean & Scentsible
Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts
The Sunday Showcase @ Under the Table and Dreaming 
Making the World Cuter Monday @ Making the World Cuter
Tutorials and Tips Link Party @ Home Stories A to Z
Take-A-Look Tuesday @ Sugar Bee Crafts
Craft and Tell @ Cherished Bliss
Lil' Luna Link Party @ Lil's Luna
Home Decor and Organizing Link Party @ Organize and Decorate Everything 
The 36th Avenue Party Time @ The 36th Avenue

My Blog Planning Sheets

When I first began blogging I didn't use any planning tools.  As time passed I saw posts from other bloggers where they shared their planning tools (calendars, post planning, etc).  The first blog planner I used was designed by the wonderful Beckie at Inferrantly Creative.  Her free printable blog planner can be found here.  I started out printing the pages on an "as needed" basis, instead of making the cool planner Beckie created.  Since then I have developed my own planning pages.

Here are the three pages I designed with inspiration from Beckie and beautiful backgrounds from Mel Stampz:

Monthly Calendar

Monthly Blog Post Planner

I don't blog a lot, so a weekly blog post planner wasn't the best for me.

Monthly Think On It Planner

I still haven't developed a cool planning folder/notebook like Beckie, (She's way more resourceful and creative than I am!).  I keep all my blog planning pages in a file folder on my desk.  This works perfectly well for me right now. 

Happy Blogging!

Patriotic Printables!

My husband and I have decided that every three months I would change the decor in our living room and on the porch.  We broke down the year by seasons.  This is the schedule we came up with:

• December-February:  Winter, Snow, Snowmen etc.
• March-May:  Spring, Flowers etc.
• June-August:  Summer, Patriotic, Stars etc.
• September-November:  Autumn, Pumpkins, Leaves etc.

Due to some news we learned in early May, my mind has been very focused on matters other than our decor...so up until this morning I had yet to really begin working on our summer decor.

Here's some patriotic printables I created this morning.  Feel free to download them and use for your personal use!

Happy 1st Day of June!

Recent Obcession With Chevron Paper

Ever since I found amazing printable papers from Mel Stampz I have been using them everywhere!

Here are some of my projects!

(Made to be placed in 8x10 frame and used with dry erase marker.)

(Made to be placed in 8x10 frame and used with dry erase marker.)

(Made to be placed in 5x7 frame and used with dry erase marker.)

 (Made to be placed in 5x7 frame and used with dry erase marker.)

Please feel free to save and print these for personal use!

If you'd like them customized, please let me know and I would be happy to make something special just for you!

Happy Homemaking!

- For personal use only.  Please do not copy/re-create for sale.

Linking @:

Sunday Showcase @ Under the Table and Dreaming
Tutorials & Tips Link Party @ Home Stories A to Z  
Delightfully Inspiring Thursday Party @ Delightful Order 
36th Avenue Party Time @ The 36th Avenue

Spring Printable!

I've been playing on the computer this morning and decided to share my finished Spring Printable with you all!

Directions:  Right Click.  Save As.  Open Image.  Print.  Enjoy!

- For personal use only.  If you choose to share my work with others, please be courteous and give credit where credit is due.  Thank you for your kind cooperation.

Linked Here @ A Bowl Full of Lemons 

My First Try with a Free Printable!

Evening Everyone!

Okay, so I have no idea if this is going to work, but I'm going to give it a go!  Please let me know if you are able to print the image, and how it prints.  I work on a Mac, so I'm not sure what it will look like for those of you with PCs.

Ecclesiastes 9:9 NKJV Printables

Right click.  Save As.  Open Image.  Print.  Enjoy.

Should print nicely on 8.5" x 11" paper and fit in 8" x 10" frame.  That is my goal anyway.