Getting organized

Hubby and Baby Girl left the nest for a couple of days to go visit my MIL and FIL up on the northern end of California.  Me and Baby Boy stayed home to hold down the fort and keeps the pets company.  I have been using this time to get my crafty/office space tidy and functional.  Somehow it ends up a dumping ground a lot and it's a small space with lots of stuff, so it needs help often.  Honestly, some of my other times "cleaning up" and organizing was spent more on the bigger things and I neglected what really needed to happen, INSIDE the furniture.  I have ended up with so may disorganized drawers, I couldn't find things.  Well that all changed.  I not only organized the insides, but made them pretty and functional outside too! 

This little wooden set of drawers got a makeover with some Avonlea paper.  I love these colors!

 This drawer cabinet thingy had each drawer dumped out, and I put many things I use often but weren't in easily accessible places all together and organized!  SO pleased with this one!

 I used my new treat tubes from Close to my heart to organize a bunch of little parts that were previously in awful, not very functional containers.  Now I can see what I have and how much!

 My Cricut handbooks!  In an easy access drawer ready to go.  They are all alphabetized by cartridge name.  I have all of my handbooks digitally loaded on my iPad and iPhone (yep, I'm a total nerd) but sometimes love to peruse the books too.  Or if I have a friend over, the books are more fun for them to flip through.  I have all of my cartridges in my Gypsy, so it's not necessary for me to keep the boxes handy.  Most are stored in the garage.  That box?  It's my newest cartridge that I got from my Cricut rewards.  It's not often they post one I don't have, as you can see! LOL

Damask Divas Blog Hop

Welcome to another Damask Diva's Blog Hop! This month we are featuring the beautiful La Belle Vie Paper Pack! This is such a pretty and romantic paper set.  I really love it.
And guess what?  This month I am hosting the giveaway!!! A super fun DOUBLE stamp set.

If you came from Cydney's blog, you are in the right place.  If you have jumped here and just discovered our blog hop, feel free to check the list at Damask Divas blog to find the complete list of blog hop participants. You will want to hop over to the Damask Divas blog so that you can enter this month's giveaway!!

For today's project I made these super easy and beautiful one piece boxes by SVGCuts.com. They are perfect little gift boxes or pretty to have around to help keep one's crafty space organized and pretty. I have not decided which way these little beauties will go.

I was able to highlight different sides of the paper pack on each box. They are all so pretty it was hard to decide which to highlight! These were cut on my Silhouette Cameo, my newest toy that I LOVE!

It would be easy to whip a load of these beauties up in a hurry for a baby or bridal shower, teacher gifts or what ever!  Super fast project.

The next blog on the list is Bridgette's blog. Hope you have a great time on our hop and checking out all the creations using Flirty Paper Pack. If you get lost, just hop on over to Damask Divas blog for the full list.

Be sure to go enter to win this HUGE stamp set, It's your day.

Hiding in my Craftroom Freestyle Challenge

This week at Hiding in my Craftroom anything goes!  I have been dying to make a little New Years Hat and found a few minutes to work on my idea.
The hat is from SVGCuts Newest kit: New Years Eve.  I plan to make some more from the kit this weekend, so excited!

Here is my hat

I love this Sorbet paper from Close to my Heart, so I started with that.  A little feather, ribbon and  jewels... ready to go!  The hardest part?  Attaching the darn thing to a headband.  It was intended to just have strings that go around your chin, but I didn't like that.  I thought a headband made more sense,  Until I realized i needed to be an octopus to do it.  Then there was a NEW problem...

How to take a picture fo the darn thing attached to a headband!  Oh the problems this little headband idea brought!

No one in the house would let me take their picture with it on.  Gah.  Then I spied my topiary...

Take one:

Is it me or does a ball of hydrangeas look weird wearing a hat?

Take two:

I covered the hydrangeas with black cloth and thought it needed a face... weird.  What was I thinking??? LOL

I finally decided on the shot at the top.  But I thought it might be amusing to see my ridiculous process.  Who knew that one little headband hat would be so much trouble!

I hope you enjoyed today's craft!  Be sure to go check out the other design team member's projects too.  Now, go enter this week's challenge at Hiding in my Craftroom with your own crafty goodness!!!

Finding Joy

It's been really quiet here at My Watermelon Moon.  Just like you, I have been busy.  Busy shopping, wrapping, cooking, cleaning and all fo those other holiday chores (man, to be a kid again).  Tried to spend a little extra time with the kids, and my husband.  After almost losing my mother in law right before Christmas, it was time to regroup. Pay attention to my top priorities.  Time with my Mom and Dad, and my grandma...At first, I felt guilty.  But, then I realized, it's okay.  I'm NOT superwoman.  I can only do so much.  My wonderful bloggy friends are all busy too.  We will get to spend plenty of time together in 2013.  Blogging can totally wait.

In the mad rush to do my best to make the "perfect" holidays for my family, I managed to bust out one craft.  For my Mom.  Somehow I never make those I love things.  They never make it into their hands.  I will try to change that, one person at a time...  With my one craft ( unless you want to count two holiday dinners and an abundance of baking, those are "crafts too!) , I found a little joy...

I was so glad I did too, she loved it! Which made me so happy.

Placed on the kitchen island, in the center of all the hustle and bustle for all to see.

The letters are from SVGCuts.com (my favorite SVG peeps) and the establishments are from Silhouette and SVGCuts.  

Tomorrow is a special day for the kids.  I hope to get some crafty time over the 4 day holiday weekend ( so happy the ways the days fell this year!)

Oh, I also decided that when I feel like making Christmas cards in May or July ( whihc is when I am interested in holiday crafting oddly),  I am going to just do it from now on.  Otherwise?  Everyone gets Costco photo cards, and I can so do better than that, unless of course I wait till December, then not-so much.

So tell me, How did you find joy this holiday season?  And all year long?

Mmmmmmm

Recently I discovered the joy of making my own Biscotti.  There are a billion and twelve flavors and variations of this delectable treat, and because we had TWO Costco sized bags of Craisins in the cupboard, Cranberry seemed like a wise choice for this round.

It turned out great! 

Here is the recipe:

Cranberry Orange Biscotti

3 Cups AP flour (plus a little extra for dusting)

1 Cup Sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Fresh zest from two large oranges (at least 2 tbsp)

3 large whole eggs, plus one yolk

1/4 Extra virgin olive oil

3/4 dried cranberries

1/2 cup nut of your choice (walnuts, pecans, pistachios) optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Whisk flour, zest, sugar, salt, baking powder in a bowl.

In a separate bowl (or stand mixer), whisk eggs, yolk and olive oil.

On low mix the dry ingredients into the wet until combined.  Do not over mix.

Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface.  Divide into two.

Shape each half into a log.  It should end up about 10 inches long, 2 1/2 inches wide and 1 1/2 inches high, it should be kind of flatish on top.  Put on a parchment lined baking sheet with a little space in between each log.

Bake 30-35 minutes, turning halfway through, until firm to the touch.  Once done, cool on a rack 15-20 minutes.  

Reduce the oven heat to 325 degrees.

Slice the bread, on an angle, in to 1/2 inch wide slices.  Arrange on your parchment lined tray, sliced side down.

Bake again for 40-45 minutes until firm when pressed in the center and golden around the edges.

Then enjoy!!  They went fast over here, this was while I was trying to take photos... No seriously  I got the picture above taken, and while I was trying to take a second one just to be sure...

Shrooms & Blooms Blog Hop

Welcome to the Shrooms and Blooms Blog Hop! A few crafty friends thought a non-Christmas themed blog hop would be fun.

If you arrived here from Robin's Blog, then you are on the right track! If you just stopped by and would like to start at the beginning, please go to Jenn's Blog.

 We are so happy to have you join us today! You won't want to miss out on any of these whimsical mushroom projects!

One grand prize winner will win a the goodies pictured at your first stop (Jenn's Blog)! Please be a follower and leave a comment at all of the stops in the hop for the chance to win. There will also be other blog candy along the way! Make sure you return to Jenn's Blog and link up to be in the drawing for the goodies :)

Here is my project for today. This cute little card was made using my very favorite Peachy Keen Stamps. First I stamped the back ground with glue, and used glitter to make it shine! Then I stamped the cute little boy and girl mushrooms on white card stock. I fussy cut them and then colored them with watercolors! The sentiment is also a Peachy Keen stamp. The background was trimmed and fit to an A2 card base, and the other items were attached with pop dots to give a little dimension. They turned out so sweet, look at the love on those faces!

Now make sure to head over to Jennie's Blog Next, you're almost done! Hope you've been enjoying the hop!

1. Jenn http://scraphappensembellishit.blogspot.com/  <--- START HERE
2. Heather http://heathernovinger.blogspot.com/
3. Angela http://angelascraftyspot.blogspot.com/
4. Shelley http://shelley-scrapbookingforfun.blogspot.com/
5. Tara  http://craftindesertdivas.blogspot.com
6. Tammy http://cuttinandstampin.blogspot.com
7. An'Jenic http://anjenicgibson.blogspot.com/
8. Norma http://lilhoneybeestudios.blogspot.com/
9. Kim http://rydenkim.blogspot.com
10. Tess http://sassycricutcrafting.com
11.  Robin http://cutonedesignsbyrobin.blogspot.com/
12.  Melissa http://mywatermelonmoon.com  <--- You are  HERE
13. Jennie http://jenscrapstoo.blogspot.com/
14. Jenn http://scraphappensembellishit.blogspot.com/ <--- Link Up For CANDY :)

Hiding in my Craft Room Go Digital Challenge

Welcome to this weeks Hiding in my Craft Room Challenge.  This week we got to Go Digital.

I hadn't previously done a digital layout, and I'm going to tell you a secret, it was SUPER easy and FAST.  I have a feeling I might be looking into this a little more.  

My kids send me lots of fun little pictures.  Most are phone pics and not necessarily a great quality.

But I love them and wanted to preserve them and put them in a fun light.  For my daughters sake I didn't put any of the REALLY silly one's on today's post.

Template Designs is giving away a gift certificate to get you started on your own digital scrap booking   Go over and enter the challenge at Hiding in my Craft Room! and give going digital a try!

Mmmm Cranberry Goodness

A little holiday baking has happened around here lately.  I thought I would share with you a recipe that is a much loved favorite around here.  I had to make a double batch this round, and they peanut gallery had zero intention of sharing.

Although the recipe isn't mine, It's worth sharing, cause it's super easy and tasty!  

The dough can be made up ahead, or use it soon after making it ( it needs 20 min in the freezer to use right away.)  I originally found it in a 2010 holiday cookie magazine.  I hope you like it as much as we do!  I haven't tried it yet, but a little orange zest would probably be very yummy in these too!

The recipe is from Martha Stewart.com

Ingredients

• • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries ( we like TONS more than this, cause we like them)

Directions

1. Beat butter, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla with a wooden spoon until smooth.                             Add flour and salt; stir just until combined. Stir in dried cranberries. Divide dough                              into quarters.
2. On parchment, shape each portion into a log about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and                                 4 inches long. Wrap logs tightly in parchment or plastic. Chill 30 minutes or up                                     to 1 day. (Dough can be wrapped tightly in plastic and frozen up to 1 month.)
3. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. With a sharp knife, slice dough into 1/4-inch-thick                           rounds. Rotate log as you cut to keep it from flattening. Place rounds on parchment                             lined baking sheets, 1 inch apart.
4. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until edges just begin to turn golden, 20 to                                  22 minutes. Let cookies cool on sheets on wire racks. Cookies can be stored in an                              airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.

I FOUND IT!!!

Hi friends.  Hopefully not too many of you have noticed that my mojo has been seriously missing for weeks now.  It was bad.  I couldn't finish anything!  I had no energy to make things.  I didn't even really WANT to.  I started projects and finished nothing.  It was awful.  I missed mojo...A LOT.
I also figured out that when I am not doing much in the way of crafting, I buy crafting stuff to try and make up for it.  This is a VERY bad habit.  My craft space is officially busting at the seams.  Sigh.

Finally, I had a little down time and I ventured back to my happy, crafty space. Spent a little time tidying up and then sat down to make something.  Here is what I came up with:

This adorable little snowman box is from SVGcuts.com, if you haven't checked it out, it's worth it.  They have amazing kits!  I Just love to spend money time on their site.

See! It's actually a box!  Room for lots of candies, or something else delicious.  Cookies stacked would work too!

I put glitter on the berries, and I used Peachy Keen Stamps to help me make his eyes and mouth.  

I embossed his decorative top layer, I am a little addicted to embossing.  And a ribbon around his neck for a scarf and Yay!  FINALLY a finished project!  Tah-dah!

Thanks for hanging in there with me during these slow posting weeks.  Mojo is glad to be home but will need some TLC to get fully back in the swing of things.  I look forward to sharing more projects with you very soon!  Thanks for visiting!

Super Scraps Saturday!

Welcome to Hiding in my Craft Room's Super Scraps Saturday! Today everything you see came from my scraps pile, including the card base! All discards from projects never completed.  It's good to use those scarps sometimes.

Be sure to go over and check out the other Design Team's scrappy creations and enter this weeks challenge using inspiration form your own scrap stash.

Finally!

So I am finally getting a few crafty minutes, here's a peek at one of the projects.

My cordless glue gun?  Died.  Ugh.

Bow making 101?  Failed miserably.

Perhaps I will go back to paper crafts for tonight.  Clearly this was too ambitious...

Hope you had a great weekend!