Free Printable- Three Part To Do List

I love to make lists. I definitely have the list making gene. Most tables, notepads, and paper scraps in my house have some form of a to-do list on them. Do Today. Things to buy. Don't forget. Long range goals, projects to get done, blog ideas.. they all find their way onto a to-do list.

In talking with one of the girls at work, she's a list maker too. And so to help us both out, I decided to create a notebook that can fit all those lists into one. Sized to fit a half sheet of 8 1/2" x 11" paper, it's economical to print and easy to store in a purse or on a bedside table.

Because sometimes I finish things on one list well before I finish things on another, the pages are cut into three sections that are spiral bound together.

I'll be sharing a tutorial on how I put the notebook together later.

Until then, here's the printable to get you started. Simply save as and print full size on your printer at home. Cut in half to get two pages.

Hope you enjoy and this makes your life a bit more organized!

Happy Birthday to me!!!

I was at Lowe's Sunday to pick up some paste wax and saw this beauty in my routine swing through the lighting section.

My birthday is this TODAY!!, and this is my momma's gift to me!

I had happened to call her about the wax as I was walking in, so she was on the phone when I found Lyndsay. I've  been looking for a new kitchen light for over a year, so I was so glad to find her! She was the display model, and the last one left, so I got an extra $20 off!  Thank you so much Mom!!!

Snow Day fun: Ribbon Bookmark Tutorial

Since Atlanta  received 4" of snow , the city is completely shut down. And I had a wonderful  two days off work. I took the time today to work on a few projects I've been meaning to finish for the blog!

I finally got around to writing the tutorial for one of my Christmas crafts. And made a few for Mom's friends while I was at it.

My momma, she loves to read. In fact, I'd say that's her primary hobby now that she's retired- reading.

And being retired and on her own schedule, she frequently "rests her eyes" while reading.

For a stocking stuffer, I made this bookmark I saw on











It was super easy! And I think it turned out very cute!
Here's the tutorial:

You will need:
Ribbon- cut at approximately 16" for a paperback book
Here's how to measure:

One ponytail holder
One large flat button
thread to match your ribbon

1. Take the ribbon and  singe the ends with a lighter.

2. Lay the ribbon face down on your table. Place the pony holder at one end, and fold the ribbon over. It will look like this:

3. Sew  to enclose the pony holder.

4. Flip the ribbon pretty side up. Take your button and sew it on  3-3.5" from the end of the  non-pony end. Figure this out by testing the fit on your book. Be sure to sew your button on really well, it's going to have some tension on it.

5. To use, Place the ribbon inside the book. Loop the elastic over the button to secure.

I think this is a great bookmark because it is SO hard for it to come out. So even if you put your book down and it gets say, knocked off the table by the cat, you won't lose your place!


I'm linking up to these great parties this week, so be sure to hop over and see all the fun projects!

Ribbon key chain tutorial!

Now that Christmas is over I can share how I made several of the gifts and stocking stuffers. I think all the recipients read this blog, so sharing before Christmas would ruin the surprise.

One thing everyone got in their stocking was a ribbon key chain. Sissy got me one from a fancy gift store for my birthday a year ago. They retail for about $10. I made mine for less than $3.

To start, cut a piece of ribbon about 10" long, and singe the ends with a lighter or put some fray-check on.

Cut fusible interfacing ( I used lightweight, but heavyweight would be better) slightly shorter and narrower than the length of your ribbon, and iron it on.

Take a D ring, and loop the ribbon over it. Sew, using your zipper foot, as close as possible to the D ring. You will want to go back and forth several times to make sure it's secure.

When you're done, it will look like this:

At your ironing board, press the non-D ring end down, just 1/4". You're just making sure you have a pretty end.

Then fold the ribbon in half,  and press.

Back at your sewing machine, sew along the D ring again to secure your ribbon

Then sew down the sides  of the ribbon to close it. Go slowly and stay as close to the edge as possible.

The finished closure

The finished product!

If you'd like, you can add a design using embroidery or freezer paper stencils before you start sewing.

If you've got a spring or summer wedding coming up, this might be a cute gift for your bridesmaids, done in your wedding colors with their initial on it.

I've linked up to :

Ornament for Ornament Swap!

Kendra hosted an annual ornament swap party. And I couldn't just show up empty handed. So I  took this opportunity to make several homemade ornaments.

First, I made a cute little JOY ornament

I got the ornament at Michaels', along with some porcelaine markers, but you could just use regular paint pens. I've been looking for an excuse to buy the porcelaine, so there you go.

Now, to create your design:

Using your computer and any word processing software or desktop publishing, create your design. I simply printed "noel" in a variety of fonts and sizes, along with a holly clip art.

Take your printed paper, and rub pencil all over the back.

Flip it printed side up, center your design on your ornament, and trace the printing to transfer graphite to the surface of the ornament.  You just made transfer paper.

Color in your design using markers.

If using the porcelaine, bake according to package directions.

Hang and enjoy!

A garland wrapped ball:

Take a styrafoam ball. I recommend lightly spray painting or craft painting it first.

starting at one end, hot glue mardi-gras beads on your ball.

 Keep going, trying to make sure your beads squish together.

 Ta da! You can then glue a ribbon hanger on the top, or wrap it all the way around and then glue a hanger.

And this pieceware ornament  inspired by Martha Stewart. 

Roll out polymer clay

 Cut out a circle shape (Hopefully your sister has not absconded with all your round cookie cutters)

 Clean up any edges

 Stamp your design

 I then added smaller "dots" using the end of a compass.

Let dry, then bake according to package directions. Hang and enjoy!


After making all of these, I ended up taking one I purchased because I wasn't happy with how mine turned out.  However, the ones I made are gracing my tree this year.

I love how these can be personalized to be unique for each year.

After Christmas, I'll be sharing some of the gifts I made. I am so anxious to share them with you!

Hope you are ready for the holiday!

Painted Serving Tray

Besides the ceramic tile trivet, I made my sister a serving tray for a hostess gift for my recent visit to Charleston. This is not really a tutorial, because it is EASY-PEASY!

Take your hot self to the craft store, like Hobby Lobby.
Get a cart. You're gonna need it if you're anything like me. Gather your supplies
    Unpainted Wood tray
    Paint in desired colors for tray and for design
    Paint supplies if you do not have them already
    Polycrylic spray
    Stencil of desired choice
Take them home and get ready.

I recommend sanding the tray to be sure it is COMPLETELY smooth. I didn't and wish I did. 

Paint the tray. I tried spray paint, but it would have taken 10,000 coats, and I'm not that patient. So at 10 at night, the leftover white paint from the bathroom came out.

After that's completely dry, tape your stencil on.

Paint the stencil with the accent color. Carefully pull the stencil off.

Let it dry. NO, it's not dry yet, so don't touch it.

Polycrylic that baby.

Give her away. Make another to keep her for yourself.

You can totally mod-podge fabric or scrapbook paper or a rub on scrapbook saying or one of those peel and stick vinyl lettering things for your walls on the bottom instead of a stencil.  Young House Love used the pour-on acrylic resin instead of polycrylic, which if you plan on heavy duty use might be smart.


I' m linking up to:

Ceramic Tile Trivet Tutorial

The holidays are coming people! Do you know what this means?? HOLIDAY DINNERS!

And do you know how hard it is to find trivets to put all those hot dishes on?  Seriously, they're impossible to find!

So what's a girl to do, but make her own?


I started with these nice big 10x 13 ceramic wall tiles I stole repurposed from work. 


Clean them really well with rubbing alcohol so they're clean and grease free.

Then, I did two different finishing options.

Finishing Option 1: Fabric

For this one, I cut some fabric slightly bigger than the tile.

Brush Mod-Podge over the surface. Lay your fabric on top, and smooth out so no wrinkles.

Flip the tile over, and mod podge the fabric over the back to wrap it.

Let dry.  Brush on three more coats of Mod-Podge on top of the fabric, letting dry between coats.

Finish with an acrylic finish (I used spray, you could use a brush on though).

Now, for the back. I took cork squares (or you could use the rolled cork, I had squares on hand), and cut to fit the back of the tile. Hot glue that baby down. You can use craft glue or Gorilla glue if you have it and think it'll hold better.

Ta-Da! Your finished trivet, all ready for the holiday dinner table.

Finishing option 2: Decorative Stencil

Take that cleaned tile.

Center your stencil on the tile. Tape it down so it doesn't move on you.

Use Craft paint to dab, not brush, paint onto the stencil.


CAREFULLY remove the stencil and let dry.

Protect with acrylic.

Now, for the back. Take that cork square (or rolled cork, or felt), and cut to fit the back of the tile. Hot glue that baby down.

Another one done! Don't you feel so proud of yourself?

This could be done with any size tile. You could also use felt on the back, but I think cork absorbs any heat transfered better. And it's softer on the table.

Lots of ladies out there in blog-land have used a similar technique for coasters using 4x4 tiles. Like:

Homemade Mamas
Crafty Chic Mommy
A Little Bit of Everything



I linked to these parties:

Craftastic Mondays