Saturday, February 11, 2012

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 52

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in·spire
verb /inˈspīr/ 
inspired, past participle; inspired, past tense; inspires, 3rd person singular present; inspiring, present participle
  1. Fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative

I think the definition of inspire is the key word in blogging. We love to inspire and to be inspired. Blogging equals inspiration. When we create something and share it on our blog, we are (unknowingly) inspiring people to think, to make and to do something...anything...and that is a wonderful thing!!

What better way to inspire than to share all the things we create on a linky party. Share as much as you'd like and what ever you'd like, because you know you will INSPIRE someone out there.

If you're NEW to Sew Darn Crafty, then grab a cup of something tasty, sit back and join in on the fun (starts Sunday and lasts all week long at Sew Many Ways).

If you want to add the button to your blog...Click HERE for a tutorial for adding a button

WHAT IS SEW DARN CRAFTY...
  • "Sew" for anything to do with sewing,
  • "Darn" for anything to do with knitting. I always think of darning to do with knitting, but in my case "darn" is similar to the word I say when I mess up crafting!!
  • Let's not forget the word "crafty"...which is every thing we create
  • ...the dot, dot, dot means you can share just about anything!! 

WHAT IS A LINKING PARTY...

So now we all know what Sew Darn Crafty means, let's explain a linking party again. I subscribe to a linking service, which provides the ability to link thumbnail pictures on my blog. The picture is a link that other bloggers provide to share their projects.

Two things can happen at a linking party...looking and/or linking
  • you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
  • you can share what you've been up to (linking)
If you want to be inspired by all the great ideas...just click on a picture and it will take you to that post from a wonderful blogger willing to share her thoughts and ideas.


HOW AND WHAT TO LINK TO THE PARTY...

Sew Darn Crafty is all about YOU!! Show off your projects, share a tutorial, show us your vacation pictures, share a family favorite recipe...share anything. Not only does linking inspire us all, it also brings lots of new people to your blog for a visit. Click here for past parties and lots of inspiration

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

  • link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not  search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
  • link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
  • anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
  • visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
  • grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
  • the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
  • linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
  • just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week
~Karen~

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Thoughts on Thursday...

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I hate it when you wear jeans that have just been washed...so tight and stiff you can barely zip them. You have to do that hop, dance, shake side to side thing just to get them up!!

Then wear them a couple times and it's like you lost 3 pounds. The jeans are all soft and loose. Makes me not want to wash them...ever.

Here's an extra Thought for Thursday...you know you're old when you wear clothes more than once without washing them. Lol !! I vowed when I was younger not to be like my parents and wear things more than once before washing...HELLO, I'm officially my parents!

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

How To Print Screen...Adding A Computer Picture To Your Blog

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A few blogging friends have emailed me asking how I capture a picture image of my computer screen and then get that image into a blog post. The answer is "Print Screen".

Print Screen is a button on your computer that allows you to capture the current image on your screen then save it to your computer. I use Windows, so it may be different for Mac or other computers, but check your computer manual.

Here is a screen print of my dashboard as an example. This feature helps me in my Blog Buddy (blogging tips) posts. I screen print the steps on how to do things with your blog. I think it's much easier to learn something new with images than with just words.



This is a picture of my own key board. The Print Screen button is up there at the top...above the "insert" "home" buttons.



Mine says "Screen Print", but yours could say...Prt Scr, Print Scrn, Prt Scn, Prt Sc, Prt Scrn, or Prnt Scrn


When you have the page up that you want to capture, just simply push the "Print Screen" button. Now, if you want to use that image in a blog post, you have to get that image to your computer to save it.

With Windows, I use Paint...
  • go to the "START" button on the bottom left of your computer screen
  • then ALL PROGRAMS
  • then ACCESSORIES
  • then PAINT


This is what PAINT looks like. You can edit pictures, write on them or use the spray painting features to circle things for instructions or to point things out. You can change the ink color of the design too down on the bottom left.


To get the print screen image on paint...
  • click "EDIT"
  • then click "PASTE"



Here's the screen print that I did of my dashboard.


Here are some painting things you can do with the features. I always use the spray can to circle things for instructions. If you make a mistake when drawing on the picture, just click "EDIT" then "UNDO"...I know that button really well... LOL


Now to get the finished image to your computer so you can get it on your blog...
  • Go to the "FILE" button on the upper left corner
  • click "SAVE AS"


Now the window will pop up where I save my images to in "MY PICTURES". (you can save them to where ever you save your pictures) Add a name and image number and click "SAVE". I usually have a file open and add several images for a post, so make sure you are numbering them in order. Makes it easier for me when I'm doing the blog post.

For example...I named these images print screen 001, print screen 002 etc. They will be in the file in the order I want them to be in my blog post.



Bloggers can also use Print Screen when you have Give Away posts. When you  use the Random Number Generator to select the winner, screen print the image of the winning number to add it to your give away post.

I am definitely not an expert, but learn as I go with the help from family and friends...especially my daughters. Thanks girlies!! Try, experiment and learn as you go too. When you learn new things, it opens up a world of possibilities.

Have fun print screening,
~Karen~

Monday, February 6, 2012

Tool Time Tuesday...Ideas For Shoe Organizers

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I haven't had an organizing post in a little while, so I poked around the house for something I haven't shared yet...so today it's shoe organizers!! We do use them for shoes, but we also use them for other things too. This is a short post of a few ideas that might be helpful in your home.

Here's one of two over the door hanging shoe organizers in Kelsie's room. Most all her shoes are with her at school, so I played around with some ideas to inspire you.

Shoes of course...


How about scarves, gloves, mittens, hats, belts and other accessories.


One pocket for each skein of yarn. Keeps it clean, organized and easy to see.


Toy holder...stuffed animals, barbie dolls, games


This is a small narrow closet in the girls' bathroom.


Holds all the essentials...easy to see when you are running out and need more soap, lotion, toothpaste, floss etc.

I actually cut this in half. The other side is hanging in Courtney's closet. She has a mirror on the inside of her door and this bag fits perfectly without covering the mirror. When you cut it the length of the bag, make sure you keep the seam for each pocket intact.


You could also hang this on the back of your kitchen pantry door. Keep all those small things from getting lost with the cans.


This clear over the door hanger is on the back of my husband's office door. Holds all the over flow office supplies.


These are the shoe bags that hang from the rod in your closet.


Nice and deep front to back.


Ahhh...fabric!!!


Charm packs, fat quarters and yardage all in one place!!


There are so many other things you can store in shoe organizers...
  • cleaners
  • medicine...as long as they are locked and out of reach from children. Great for child free homes
  • canning jars filled with craft supplies (buttons, beads). Each jar fits in the pockets
  • children's snack bars and treats
  • socks, nylons, pantyhose, tights
  • bra organizer...keeps them from getting crushed your drawer
  • dog supplies...toys, stuffed animals, bones, treat, leashes, collars, brushes
  • hair accessories...head bands, clips, bows, brushes, curling irons, straighteners etc
The list is endless what you can store in these bags. They are neat, tidy and out of sight behind the door.

Go through your home and see what you can gathered up and stored in one place. "Like" things stored together keeps things organized and easy to find...which equals less stress!!

Happy organizing,
~Karen~

Need Your Sewing Machine Opinion...

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For those of us who sew, you know your sewing machine is like a member of the family and an expensive one at that. Some of us have a hand me down machine from our moms or grandmothers and some of us have invested in a new one. No matter where our machines come from, we all have our favorite brand, favorite model, favorite feature or accessories...and with that, this is where you come into the picture.

Rebecca, from the blog Trial, Error and Triumph, emailed me asking what type of embroidery machine I had. She is looking to invest in a new machine, has done all the research online, but (like all of us) is overwhelmed by all the info.

What better way to get true, honest opinions about sewing and embroidery machines...than to go right to the blogging world.

She would like to do monogramming and appliques to make gifts for family, friends. She also wants to make beautiful things for her Etsy Shop.

I would love it if you could share your opinion about the machine you have. Keep in mind Rebecca's goal is embroidery...monogramming and applique.
  • what brand
  • what model
  • approximate cost (if you're willing to share)
  • features you like
  • accessories it has that you love
  • ease of use
I think this may help so many other people out there too. There's nothing better than a "blogging friend" telling you things she loves. So let's hear from all of you out there!!

Thanks in advance for all your help,
~Karen~

Don't forget to visit Rebecca and follow her new blog too..cute, cute. Click here to pop over there

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 51

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Hope everyone had  fun looking through all the wonderful projects in last week's Sew Darn Crafty Party. Thanks to all who linked up and thanks to all who came by for a visit.

Sharing thoughts and ideas is the theme for crafty linking parties, but with Valentine's Day just around the corner let's see what we can share with the color red, hearts or love theme.

You can still link up anything you'd like, but if you have an old post from a previous Valentine's Day project you can share that too.



If you want to add the button to your blog...Click HERE for a tutorial for adding a button


If you're NEW to Sew Darn Crafty, then grab a cup of something tasty, sit back and join in on the fun (starts Sunday and lasts all week long at Sew Many Ways).

WHAT IS SEW DARN CRAFTY...
  • "Sew" for anything to do with sewing,
  • "Darn" for anything to do with knitting. I always think of darning to do with knitting, but in my case "darn" is similar to the word I say when I mess up crafting!!
  • Let's not forget the word "crafty"...which is every thing we create
  • ...the dot, dot, dot means you can share just about anything!! 

WHAT IS A LINKING PARTY...

So now we all know what Sew Darn Crafty means, let's explain a linking party again. I subscribe to a linking service, which provides the ability to link thumbnail pictures on my blog. The picture is a link that other bloggers provide to share their projects.

Two things can happen at a linking party...looking and/or linking
  • you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
  • you can share what you've been up to (linking)
If you want to be inspired by all the great ideas...just click on a picture and it will take you to that post from a wonderful blogger willing to share her thoughts and ideas.


HOW AND WHAT TO LINK TO THE PARTY...

Sew Darn Crafty is all about YOU!! Show off your projects, share a tutorial, show us your vacation pictures, share a family favorite recipe...share anything. Not only does linking inspire us all, it also brings lots of new people to your blog for a visit. Click here for past parties and lots of inspiration

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

  • link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not  search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
  • link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
  • anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
  • visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
  • grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
  • the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
  • linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
  • just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week
~Karen~

Wisata Danau Toba - Sumatera Utara

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