Classy Cosmetics Giveaway!

Okay, I have a funny story. Which leads to a great giveaway for you so bear with me!

Now, who doesn't love makeup? I luuuuuuhve make-up but have always been just average when it comes to my application techniques. A couple of years ago, an old roommate of mine posted a link to her friend's make-up tips blog, Classy Cosmetics. She really raved about it so I clicked on over. AND FELL IN LOVE. Jenni was adorable, stylish, perky, and a GENIUS when it came to make-up. And her blog had advice and tips and video tutorials for every kind of look you could ever imagine. It was like nothing I'd ever seen. Finally I was grasping why the professionals looked so much better than I did! You can spend all the money you want on product (and I had) but if you don't know how to put it on right, what's the point?

I was in heaven. I took studious notes in a tiny notebook. I wrote down all the brushes Jenni recommended and what they were used for. I made shopping lists for the best basic colors in eye shadows and lip liners. I watched the tutorials intently (a few every day) trying to sear the knowledge into my brain. Of course I called my friends and told them all about the fabulous new blog I'd found. They were all excited. A group of us decided to get together the following weekend to have a "Classy-Cosmetics" party, where we would bring our make-up and watch the blog-tutorials and learn how to transform ourselves into make-up artists and beauty-queens.

You might imagine my shock when in church the next day, a new girl stood up to introduce herself. IT WAS JENNI FROM CLASSY COSMETICS. I'm not kidding. This story is true and it was astounding. (And she came to our party and not only did we get to see the tutorials IN REAL LIFE but she gave us all makeovers!!!) Jenni and I became good friends and this is where it gets good for you. In addition to your good luck that I am pointing you in the direction of this blog, Jenni is also offering Craftily Ever After followers a free ULTA-brand 108-piece makeup set! Sold individually the contents of this kit are valued at $200!

                                 

There are GrEaT colors in it and all are highly pigmented. All you have to do is be a public follower of Craftily Ever After (click the 'Follow' button in the upper right sidebar if you aren't already) and leave a comment telling me you are. For another entry, visit Classy Cosmetics, become a follower over there, and leave me another comment telling me you did. This collection includes:
60 eye shadows
24 baked eye shadows*
8 eye liner pencils
6 cosmetics brushes
5 cream eye liners
4 liquid eyeliners
Mirror and Makeup artist travel case

 *Baked shadows are pressed and are literally baked. It can go on both wet and dry and is more dramatic wet. It usually has more than one color swirled into one and you can create lots of different effects.

This giveaway will be open for a week, at which time I will pick a winner via random.org! A note from Jenni: Good luck and remember makeup is supposed to be fun, inspiring, creative and you! It doesn't come overnight so practice and enjoy the journey!!!

*** For something really hilarious, go to this post on Jenni's blog and see a little hair-removal video tutorial I did for her blog 2 years ago! Very embarrassing and yet... the product is rad. :) ****

Mod-Podged Baby Plaque

My good friend is in the hospital TONIGHT having her sweet baby girl (!!!) and I recently had the pleasure of window-shopping through expensive baby stores with her where I got to see what she liked. Turns out she loves plaques and wooden signs that say 'Always Kiss Me Goodnight'. This was her favorite version:

The problem though, was that it was pink and brown and vintage-y, and her nursery is red and sky-blue and modern. Also you might notice the $48.00 price tag stuck to it (also a problem). I was secretly giddy with excitement because I knew I could come up with something perfect for her!!

This is my version!

I started with an 11x11 plaque from Michaels, regularly $8.99, but $4.49 with my coupon. (A certain grabby gal wanted to hold it once I laid it down to take a picture of it.)

I designed the image in Photoshop to fit the roughly 10 1/2 inch plaque-top and had it printed as a 12x12 photo from Costco. Then I painted the edges,

trimmed off the photo's excess,

and Mod Podged it on!

Yay!

(In its real home it won't have a pink wall in the background.)

I wouldn't have thought I'd like red and sky-blue so much for a girl but I think it turned out lovely! If you would like to make one for yourself, feel free to download the image! (And if you'd like it in a different color or with a different quote, feel free to check out my Etsy site!) :)

Linkies! http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/ http://itssoverycheri.com/ http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ http://www.thegirlcreative.com/ http://makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com/ http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/ http://madincrafts.blogspot.com/ http://www.craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/ http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/ http://cottageinstincts.blogspot.com/ http://craftingreallyawesomefreethings.blogspot.com/ http://sewcando.blogspot.com/ http://www.skiptomylou.org/ http://www.yesterdayontuesday.com/ http://www.craftedition.blogspot.com/  http://www.hopestudios.blogspot.com/ http://www.beckieandbrad.blogspot.com/ http://www.thethriftyhome.com/ http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/ http://733blog.blogspot.com/ http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/ http://nightowlcrafting.blogspot.com/ http://www.creationsbykara.com/ http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/ http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/ http://alittleknickknack.blogspot.com/ http://www.somewhatsimple.com/ http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/ http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/ http://www.paisleypassions.blogspot.com/ http://lifeaslori.blogspot.com/ http://www.houseofhepworths.com/  http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com http://funtocraft.blogspot.com/ http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/ http://tidymom.net/ http://thehillsarelivin.blogspot.com/ http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/ http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/ http://itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com/ http://froufroudecor.blogspot.com/ http://decormamma.blogspot.com/ http://becca-homeiswheremystorybegins.blogspot.com/ http://www.justagirlblog.com http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/ http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ http://nv-craftenvy.blogspot.com/ http://iheartnaptime.blogspot.com/ http://iamonly1woman.blogspot.com/ http://lambaround.blogspot.com/ http://www.bystephanielynn.com/ /http://www.domestically-speaking.com/

3rd New Year's 'Keep Calm' Printable

Here's the third one to complete the set! I'm thinking I'll hang them and leave them up until Valentine's decorations take over. :)

Feel free to download it for yourself! It's an 8x10 image and if you click on it twice you'll get it at full-resolution. Then right-click and save and it's yours! It will be available for free for a week, and then afterwards for purchase in my etsy shop! Click on over there if you're interested in personalized versions of the 'Keep Calm' signs as well! :)

Linkies! http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/ http://itssoverycheri.com/ http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ http://www.thegirlcreative.com/ http://makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com/ http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/ http://madincrafts.blogspot.com/ http://www.craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/ http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/ http://cottageinstincts.blogspot.com/ http://craftingreallyawesomefreethings.blogspot.com/ http://sewcando.blogspot.com/ http://www.skiptomylou.org/ http://www.yesterdayontuesday.com/ http://www.craftedition.blogspot.com/  http://www.hopestudios.blogspot.com/ http://www.beckieandbrad.blogspot.com/ http://www.thethriftyhome.com/ http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/ http://733blog.blogspot.com/ http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/ http://nightowlcrafting.blogspot.com/ http://www.creationsbykara.com/ http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/ http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/ http://alittleknickknack.blogspot.com/ http://www.somewhatsimple.com/ http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/ http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/ http://www.paisleypassions.blogspot.com/ http://lifeaslori.blogspot.com/ http://www.houseofhepworths.com/  http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com http://funtocraft.blogspot.com/ http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/ http://tidymom.net/ http://thehillsarelivin.blogspot.com/ http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/ http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/ http://itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com/ http://froufroudecor.blogspot.com/ http://decormamma.blogspot.com/ http://becca-homeiswheremystorybegins.blogspot.com/ http://www.justagirlblog.com http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/ http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ http://nv-craftenvy.blogspot.com/ http://iheartnaptime.blogspot.com/ http://iamonly1woman.blogspot.com/ http://lambaround.blogspot.com/ http://www.bystephanielynn.com/ /http://www.domestically-speaking.com/

2nd version of New Year's 'Keep Calm' printable

Here is printable #2. I am going for a winter/icy color scheme. :) For printable #1 in the New Year's set, go HERE.

Feel free to download it! It's an 8x10 image and if you click on it twice you'll get it at full-resolution. Then right-click and save and it's yours! It will be available for free for a week, and then afterwards for purchase in my etsy shop! Click on over there if you're interested in personalized versions of the 'Keep Calm' signs as well! :)

Linkies! http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/ http://itssoverycheri.com/ http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ http://www.thegirlcreative.com/ http://makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com/ http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/ http://madincrafts.blogspot.com/ http://www.craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/ http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/ http://cottageinstincts.blogspot.com/ http://craftingreallyawesomefreethings.blogspot.com/ http://sewcando.blogspot.com/ http://www.skiptomylou.org/ http://www.yesterdayontuesday.com/ http://www.craftedition.blogspot.com/  http://www.hopestudios.blogspot.com/ http://www.beckieandbrad.blogspot.com/ http://www.thethriftyhome.com/ http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/ http://733blog.blogspot.com/ http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/ http://nightowlcrafting.blogspot.com/ http://www.creationsbykara.com/ http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/ http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/ http://alittleknickknack.blogspot.com/ http://www.somewhatsimple.com/ http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/ http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/ http://www.paisleypassions.blogspot.com/ http://lifeaslori.blogspot.com/ http://www.houseofhepworths.com/  http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com http://funtocraft.blogspot.com/ http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/ http://tidymom.net/ http://thehillsarelivin.blogspot.com/ http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/ http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/ http://itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com/ http://froufroudecor.blogspot.com/ http://decormamma.blogspot.com/ http://becca-homeiswheremystorybegins.blogspot.com/ http://www.justagirlblog.com http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/ http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ http://nv-craftenvy.blogspot.com/ http://iheartnaptime.blogspot.com/ http://iamonly1woman.blogspot.com/ http://lambaround.blogspot.com/ http://www.bystephanielynn.com/ /http://www.domestically-speaking.com/

Free New Year's 'Keep Calm' Printable

I'm getting ready to take down my Christmas versions of the 'Keep Calm' prints *sniff sniff* and so some New Year's ones are in order! Here is the first of the three! :)

Feel free to download it for yourself as well! It's an 8x10 image and if you click on it twice you'll get it at full-resolution. Then right-click and save and it's yours! It will be available for free for a week, and then afterwards for purchase in my etsy shop! Click on over there if you're interested in personalized versions of the 'Keep Calm' signs as well! :)

Linkies! http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/ http://itssoverycheri.com/ http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ http://www.thegirlcreative.com/ http://makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com/ http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/ http://madincrafts.blogspot.com/ http://www.craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/ http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/ http://cottageinstincts.blogspot.com/ http://craftingreallyawesomefreethings.blogspot.com/ http://sewcando.blogspot.com/ http://www.skiptomylou.org/ http://www.yesterdayontuesday.com/ http://www.craftedition.blogspot.com/  http://www.hopestudios.blogspot.com/ http://www.beckieandbrad.blogspot.com/ http://www.thethriftyhome.com/ http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/ http://733blog.blogspot.com/ http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/ http://nightowlcrafting.blogspot.com/ http://www.creationsbykara.com/ http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/ http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/ http://alittleknickknack.blogspot.com/ http://www.somewhatsimple.com/ http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/ http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/ http://www.paisleypassions.blogspot.com/ http://lifeaslori.blogspot.com/ http://www.houseofhepworths.com/  http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com http://funtocraft.blogspot.com/ http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/ http://tidymom.net/ http://thehillsarelivin.blogspot.com/ http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/ http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/ http://itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com/ http://froufroudecor.blogspot.com/ http://decormamma.blogspot.com/ http://becca-homeiswheremystorybegins.blogspot.com/ http://www.justagirlblog.com http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/ http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ http://nv-craftenvy.blogspot.com/ http://iheartnaptime.blogspot.com/ http://iamonly1woman.blogspot.com/ http://lambaround.blogspot.com/ http://www.bystephanielynn.com/ /http://www.domestically-speaking.com/

Side-Table Building Tutorial by Not JUST a Housewife

Please welcome a guest-poster for today... STACY!

Hi! I am Stacy from Not JUST A Housewife and I am so happy to be here guest-posting on Craftily Ever After :) One of the things I love to do is build furniture. Today I am going to show you how to build a simple side table.

I bought a board that measured 18" by 36". I measured and then drew a line down the middle so I would have 2 table tops measuring 18" by 18". You obviously only need one, but I was planning on making a bunch for my esty store. I used a jig saw to cut the wood.

Then I used 1"x4" boards for the front. I wanted there to be a 1 inch lip or overhang so I measured and cut 2 boards 16 inches long. That is one inch taken off for each side.

Then, since 2 of the boards will go inside the other two boards to form a box, you need to subtract the width of 2 boards together. In this case, 1 1/2 inches. So the second 2 boards I cut were 14 1/2 inches.

Do you see how 2 of the 1x4s fit inside the other 2? That is why 2 needed to be shorter.

Add a little wood glue and then use a brad nail gun.

The next step is to determine how high you want your table. I wanted mine 2 feet tall. I cut some 2"x2"s for the legs. Add some wood glue and then nail them into the corners of your box. It is very important to make sure it is flat before nailing on the legs. If the legs are not flush with the top of the box then your table top will not lay flat on your base.

Your base is almost done :) You just need to add some 1"x1" to help hold the top on. Measure in between the legs and then cut your 1x1 that size.

Add some glue and nails. Do this all the way around the base - all four sides.

Then add glue to the top of the base, flip it over onto the table top, and nail through the 1x1. This will attach the top to the base.

You will need to fill the nail holes with putty. Pick one that is sandable so you can sand it smooth when it dries. I HIGHLY recommend Elmers stainable, paintable and sandable wood putty. Not only do I sand where I added putty, but I sand the whole thing. Especially the edges and corners. I try to round them a little. Use a fine grit sand paper or you will end up with lines (scratch marks) in your wood.

I painted mine and then (this is optional) sanded it to give it that shabby chic look. I love that! You can see it a little in the close-up shots. It looks better in person, but you get the idea :)

You could use it as a bedside table, in a kid's room, next to a sofa, as a plant stand, or pretty much anywhere! Thank you Jessica for letting me share this today! Come visit me at my blog anytime for more ideas.

*******

I am VERY impressed at this furniture-making business! Cutting wood, nail guns, putty- all of that is out of my comfort zone but this tutorial makes me think maybe I should try it! I could use some extra cute (and cheap!) tables around my house! (And don't you love the color she painted hers?!) Thanks for the tutorial Stacy! :)

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful day with family and friends! From our home to yours, Merry Christmas!