Resolutions

Saying it's been awhile would probably be an understatement.
We just got back from a very long vacation, and while it was fun blogging was basically impossible.
Now that I'm back I'm excited to get into the swing of things again, and be able to post about a whole bunch of ideas that have been popping into my head.

It's a new year and as we all know with that usually comes resolutions.
Here are my resolutions for this blog:

1. Learn how to be a better blogger.
This isn't just about blogging frequently, but also making this blog look super cute.

2. Continue Clean It Up Wednesdays.
I just thought this was a really great segment to do and I want to start doing it again. Sometimes I felt it was a little embarrassing to be posting my dirty room pics for the internet to see, but overall it got my house clean and I think everyone enjoyed it.

3. Start a new segment I like to call
Rate that Tutorial.
I always find the most adorable tutorials on different blogs and especially on Pinterest. I would like to feature different tutorial each week
and rate how hard they were or how well they turned out.

I really want to get going on these as soon as possible. I have missed crafting and blogging so much. It's good to be back!

Oh Good Golly...

I feel like I have to apologize and give a brief explanation as to why I have been slightly slacking in the blogging department lately. You see, when I found out I would be separated from the hubs for the holidays, I decided it would be an awesome idea to come home to be with my family.
(Technically both of our families, since they only live a few miles apart from each other.)

It has been amazing to be back and visiting with everyone.
My boys finally get to be with their cousins and they are loving every minute of it!

There were just a couple of things I did NOT think about, one of them was my little blog.
I had a bunch of pics ready for about 10 future posts, and I didn't even think to e-mail them or put them on a memory card before we left.

I know... I know.
I am quite literally hitting my head against the table.

Just thinking about it makes me frustrated all over again.
...
Okay, enough feeling sorry for myself.

The good news is I DID bring my camera with me!!
I have been working on some cute crafts for the holidays and am taking pictures galore.
I am also starting to work on a gorgeous
Buggy Wheel quilt that my wonderful grandma is helping me with.
(Seriously, she is a quilting genius!)

Keep stopping by, I am still here and as always

Happy Crafting!

What I'm grateful for.

Today I am grateful for my family.
I'm grateful to for my two healthy beautiful boys.
I'm grateful for a hardworking and loving husband.
I'm grateful for my wonderful parents.
I'm grateful for all of my extended family &
that I can be so close to all of these amazing people for the holidays.

I'm grateful that it is this time of year again.
It's a time for turkeys, twinkle lights, and soon to be put up Christmas trees.
It's a time for reconnecting with good friends over hot cocoa
and graham cracker gingerbread houses.
It's a time for celebration.
It's a time where it's hard for me to find an excuse NOT to be happy.

It's time for the holidays, and I just love it.

So from me to you have a
Happy & Lovely Thanksgiving!!

What are you grateful for this holiday season?

And the winner is...

As some of you know we've this last we you had a chance to enter

for some lovely crafts from the Crafting Over Sweeting Challenge.
It's time to finally announce a winner!

There was still just enough entries to use my mason jar method, which I must say I love.

Lovely strips of cardstock for all the entries.



Fill my little mason jar and give it a couple good shakes and swirls.



And the winner is...


...


...


*I had to use last initials because I had two wonderful Sarah's that entered.*

Sarah L. had this to say in her comment:


"ummm i would be excited to win any of these!!! but i think the felt flower or the tie it on hair accessory. :)"

Congratulations Sarah! I'll be in contact with you soon so I can get your prizes to you.

Thank you so much to all who entered!

Keep visiting to see more crafts and giveaways here at LizalouLOVES and as always

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

Clean It Up Wednesday #3: The Craft Room

Hello everybody! Welcome to


Whoo! Things have been a little crazy this week. I'm trying to get so many things done before we leave on vacation that I almost forgot it was Wednesday! Thank goodness I remembered because I have been so excited to share this next room.

This week's featured room is
The 4th Bedroom
(or Craft Room)

I feel like I need to insert a "Bum bum bum" sound here. Our fourth bedroom has truly been the bane of my house cleaning existence. It deceived me by making me believe it could just be used to hide my messes.

"It's okay, dump whatever you need to. You can always close the door. It's like I'm not even here," it would whisper seductively in my mind.

Evil, pure evil I tell you!

It has been my secret little room that I just wanted to keep locked up and never show anyone, EVER.
I then decided I couldn't take it anymore. The room looked like it could be right at home on a hoarder tv show, and I knew I would just have to roll up my sleeves and clean it.
So I did.

Here it is:



Pretty great, right?

Neat and organized crafting corner. LOVE.


Place to cut and store my fabric. Also LOVE.


I must tell you that I tried to time myself, I really did. It just got a little depressing.
I will tell you this, this project took me about a day.
I would say maybe 3 or 4 hours altogether, but I didn't do it all at once.
I would work on it for an hour or so and then go do something else.
Doing it that way kept me from getting discouraged, and I think it also kept me sane.

Tips & Tricks:

-Like I said above, take your time. If you can do 3 hours at a time, then you should. If you can only do 30 minutes at a time, then you should. Do whatever works for you. If you feel yourself getting discouraged, STOP working and take a break.

- I liked to focus on one task at a time, some of these were: picking up all the clothes, picking up all the toys, throw away any trash, put away any crafting items. When I was able to focus on just something little I was able to stop focusing on the bigger mess at hand.

-Organize, organize, organize. As you can see I had about two desks I was able to store any crafting items in and it was a BIG help when it came to putting things away. I also had about 4 laundry baskets so I could sort, carry and put away any items that didn't belong in the room.

I hope this was helpful. I know it can be hard and discouraging when faced with a huge, beyond gigantic mess. Just remember it CAN be clean. It might take just a little time, but it can be.

Have a good week and
Happy Cleaning!

Felt Flower Headband

I feel like I've been in a creative slump lately.
Ideas come then go. Some of these ideas I test out, but most of them have turned into epic fails.
I think sometimes your creative vision can get blurred.
You can look and look at something but you just can't see it.
You know that it can be turned into something a-mazing, you just can't see what.

Then today I had one of my friends come over for a visit. We chatted and looked at some awesome 90's craft books We talked about ideas we had about things to make, and about doing some craft fairs in a year or so.

After our visit something seemed to just click. It seemed like all of sudden I had five ideas for headbands I wanted to make. I knew what I wanted them to look like and how I was going to make them. I then sat down and actually made one,
and it turned out how I wanted it to on the first try!

It took all my willpower not to shout
HALLELUJAH!

So, for all those in a creative slump, keep trying.
No matter what your vision will always clear and something will always click.

Here it is, the felt flower headband:


Isn't it just lovely?

Aww, felt. There is a reason I love you so much. You just make everything gosh darn adorable.

These flowers are similar to the ones in the tutorial I did here.
To achieve the look of the flowers in the headband, don't scallop the edges.

I will also be posting a tutorial for the headband soon.
They are super easy and absolutely perfect for winter!

Happy Crafting!

There is still 4 more days to enter the Crafting Over Sweeting giveaway.
Go here to enter!

Linked up to:
Fabric, Bows, & More
Lil' Luna
My Girlish Whims
Sew Much Ado
Blue Cricket Design
Organize & Decorate Everything
Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night
the Creative Itch
We are THAT family
JAQS Studio
Southern Lovely
Someday Crafts
Rae Gun Ramblings
Between U & Me

Who doesn't love a giveaway?

** This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated!**

I am so exciting to be doing another giveaway here at LizalouLOVES!

When I did the Crafting Over Sweeting challenge, I really wanted to do a giveaway that had a selection of the different crafts that I featured during it.
Now that things have gotten a bit less crazy, I finally get do it!

This giveaway will feature these 6 items that 1 lucky person will win:

#1- the Felt Flower

Originally featured here.

Oh my goodness, this is probably one of my most favorite accessories. It's more versatile than it may appear. I use mine for my hair, my purse, and even as a little accent for my jacket.

#2- the Felt Rosette Clip

Originally featured here.

I believe that felt and tulle were a match made in cuteness heaven,
and I believe these clips prove my point.

#3- Harvest Cupcake Wraps by WiltonOriginally featured here.

These aren't just for creating cute designs on pumpkins. Thanksgiving is right around the corner and these would be a perfect addition to any dessert table.

#4- Tie It On hair accessory with Fabric Rosettes

Originally featured here and here.

I have to tell you guys, this is my favorite one. The eyelet lace, green ribbon, cute fabric, and bronze buttons combine to make something oh so gorgeous.


#5- Black Sparkle Letters
I used these on my "I See You" Halloween wreath, but they are becoming one of my favorite little somethings to have around. They are just perfect for adding that little sparkle to a craft.

#6 - Halloween-themed Brads
These brads are cute and perfect for this year's Halloween scrapbook pages.

Originally featured here and here.

There you have it!
Are you guys excited yet??

They're are two ways to enter this giveaway.
Each of the options will give you one entry.
If you do both you get two entries and double the chances!

1. Leave a comment telling me which of the featured items you
would be most excited about winning.

2. Become a follower of this blog then leave a message in your comment saying you did so.
(If you already follow my blog you can still have 1 entry... I love you that much! :D)

This giveaway will be open for a week, and I will announce the winner next Saturday.
Remember to make sure I have a way to contact you, whether through your profile or the comment.

Good Luck!!