Thanks Everyone!

Just wanted the thank all of my supporters!  Springs n' Things Etsy Shop has really taken off this week, I've sold 2 bedspring wreaths and 1 bedspring pumpkin.  Now hopefully I can keep up with all of this and the 2 upcoming craft shows!

I hate Microsoft!

This is a little off topic but I needed to rant!  Probably some of you don't know that by day I am a Web Designer and where I work we are currently going through a large web redesign project, which involves migrating over a 10,000+ page website to a new design.  Needless to say we are beyond busy.  Today I was having trouble with Mozilla Firefox not showing certain elements I needed so I upgraded it and had to restart.  My computer was unusable for the next hour while it installed Windows 7 Service Pack 1.  I am sorry, but on restart you should be warned that your computer will be down for the next hour or that it has a large amount of updates.  Otherwise I love Windows 7 it is 100 times better than Vista.  But come on a little warning never hurt....

Don't forget Holiday Shopping Kick Off Fair this Saturday, March 12th from 3 - 8pm at the Massena American Legion :)

What a week! Countdown to Holiday Shopping Kick Off Fair - 2 days to go!

It has been a crazy week for me and unfortunately I have been neglecting my blog, but I have still been really busy creating!  My exciting news is I have created a new design for my wreaths.  Instead of wiring on all the decorations, I am now attaching small magnets to the back of each decoration to they can be easily changed!  I do not have this in my etsy shop yet, but it will be at the Holiday Shopping Kick Off Fair, this Saturday, March 12th at the American Legion in Massena from 3pm - 8pm.  So stop by and check it out!  I love this idea, and wanted to kick myself for not thinking of it sooner!  The best part is it follows my recyclable/sustainable belief.

Wreath with Magnetic Recycled Daisies!

A simple change, since it uses magnets and a sampling of other new creations!

Happy Friday! "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi - A Great Upcycled Treasury

Took a break yesterday from blogging because I have a really great project to share next week that has really changed the direction of my bedspring wreaths.  Earlier this week I created a wonderful treasury on Etsy to featured other great shops that create using upcycled/recycled/repurposed materials.

The treasury list is titled: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

60" Flower Garden Rug Made from Recycled T-Shrits in a fellow NYers shop: greenatheart

Silhouette SD Giveaway on Sugar Pop Ribbons

I am extremely excited about this and would totally love one of these machines, if you do not know what it is or want more info visit Sugar Pop Ribbon's Blog to read her review.  So far it is the most versatile machine I have found, it cuts fabric, paper, heat transfer material, and vinyl.  I really hope it can cut through aluminum cans as well b/c I could create such wonderful decorations for my bedspring wreaths.  So cross your fingers for me everyone and lets hope I win it!

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You" - Happy Birthday Dr. Suess! - Vintage Paper Rose Tutorial

I have received some requests as to how I made my vintage sheet music paper roses, as seen on my music note bedspring wreath:

 Here is the tutorial, it is very similar to my Recycled Soda Can Rose tutorial, but with some mod podge fun!

What you need:

1.  Soda Cans that have had the bottoms and tops cut off - see recycled rose can tutorial if you need more help

2.  scrap paper (can be just about anything I've used newspaper, stuff from magazines, comics, old books, etc)

3.  Mod Podge (you may want to put paper or a mat down on your work surface)

4.  Paper Punch (I use a seal punch you could use a petal)

5.  Paint Brush

6.  Scissors

7.  Wire

8. A Tack (and something same to press it into)

9. A large nail or a skewer to use to roll the petals.

Step 1.  Cut out from the soda can using the paper punch at least 2 shapes for each rose. 

Step 2: For each soda can piece, you will need two cut outs of the paper of your choice, I chose old sheet music.

Step 3:  Using an old paint brush, put mod podge kind of heavy on one side of the soda can cut out and line up the paper piece cut out over it and smooth it down and let it dry.  

Step 4:  If you didn't use a petal punch, you will have to cut your cutout into even "petals" and then using the tack poke two holes in the center to thread the wire through. 

Step 5:  Thread wire through the two holes on one cut-out and then on another.  Then using the nail or skewer , create your petals, by rolling each petal around the skewer or nail and shape it until you like it!

"Ruffles can make anyone a Lady" - I LOVE RUFFLES ♥

Yesterday I was in the checkout line at the Big M in Potsdam and there was the March 2011 issue of Brides Magazine.  Of course they had to feature a ruffled wedding dress on the cover and since I love ruffles I am dedicating this post to my favorite ruffled wedding dresses.  I just want to apologize to the BF in advance, if he does happen to read this post.

The above dress on the cover is this dress by Wtoo Brides and surprisingly the price wasn't outrageous according to brides.com $1000-$1500.

Style No. 16819 Liane

Now for some others I love!  A mix of new and old designs, but I would probably make my dress anyways b/c it would have so much more meaning to me.

Melissa Sweet - Billie ($$$$$$$, but I still love it)

Melissa Sweet - Katya

WINNIE COUTURE BRIDAL

Style No. 8354

And that was only just a brief selection!  I think it would be amazing what I could do with ruffles if I made my own dress :)