July Blog Schedule

 Hey Y'all!

Wow, July already?!?!!

Here's the blog schedule:

July:

3rd Mon~ How To: Download & Install Fonts to Cricut on PC

5th Wed~ June Makeup Looks

7th Fri~ What's in My Camera Roll? (Android Phone)

10th Mon~ Playing Around in Cricut Design Space... (Font manipulation, image editing, etc)

12th Wed~ Lip Products Collection & Declutter

14th Fri~ What's New with Us

17th Mon~ How To: Larger than Joy Mat (Mobile Design Space App)

19th Wed~ Face Products Collection & Declutter

21st Fri~ ASK ME ANYTHING! {Start leaving you questions now, just title it AMA- Then your question.}

24th Mon~ Craft Items I Don't Love (Bottom 5)

26th Wed~ Nail Polish Collection & Declutter

28th Fri~ Books! What I'm Reading

31st Mon~ August Blog Schedule

August:

2nd Wed~ July Makeup Looks

4th Fri~ What's Going ON? Plans Going Forward

As always, if you have any suggested blog topics, leave them in the comments below!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

July Everyday Makeup Shelf

 Hey Y'all!

Can you believe it's already July? Summer just began and it's already flying by!

I don't feel like I tested all the I.B.Y. Beauty* products enough, it was way too hot to do daily makeup in June, so I'm keeping the exact same shelf for July. With the addition of the two products I picked up from the Wet 'n Wild x Alice in Wonderland Collection:

Not A Weed Lip Gloss

Can You Imagine? Glitter Mascara

*Use code CraftinWife25 for 25% off your order.

Last Month's (and July's) Shelf:

http://craftinwifescreations.blogspot.com/2023/05/june-every-day-makeup-shelf-iby-beauty.html

There were a few of the single highlighters/bronzers/blush that were in a palette as well, so I gave those to my sister & niece.

 

I may end up pulling a few new lip products, I really like all these, and they pair really well- but I'm ready to switch it up.

Have any look ideas, or a challenge you'd like to see me try? Tag me on social media or leave a comment below!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

4th of July Crafting with Cricut Joy (Kid Friendly)

 Hey Y'all!

As we get ready to embark on our travel journey I thought now would be the perfect time to really familiarize myself with all of Joy's capabilities (and shortcomings). That way I know what I can, and can't do out on the road, and I'll show you how to in the process!

The biggest shortfall I've noticed so far is the size (width) limitation. It's still possible to go bigger, and I'll show how in an upcoming blog, but it's definitely more work.

Previous posts about Cricut Joy:

https://craftinwifescreations.blogspot.com/2023/04/i-got-cricut-joy-thoughtsreview.html

https://craftinwifescreations.blogspot.com/2023/04/how-to-easter-basket-tags-w-cricut-joy.html

For today's craft, We're making a simple primitive 4th of July wall hanging. If I were going to do this again I'd probably double the size, and use either cardstock, or some kind of fabric. If you do that, please share with me on social media!

This worked, as is- it's very kid friendly, and because it's very temporary for me. I also don't have any fabric that would have worked on hand.

Link to this project in DS:

https://design.cricut.com/landing/project-detail/6499e656c9563cf1c6effec1

Materials:

Cricut Joy

Joy Mat

Paper of your choosing (I'm using papers from a Recollections 12x12 stack from 2021. If you wanted to make this with paper I'd go a bit sturdier, and suggest cardstock instead.)

String, ribbon, or yarn

Dowel Rod or clothes hanger (I used a skewer, because I had several on hand.)

Scissors (Y'all know I love the Fiskars PowerCut, but for this project especially, any will do.)

(Hole Punch, I could have had the Joy do this step, but forgot.)

Step One:

Start up & open the Joy app, Select a new project/canvas. I kept it simple here, and we're just using the free star shape. Duplicate that star as many times as you'd like. I did 14 total.

Optional: Add the hole to each star, buy slicing out a small circle from the first one before duplication.

Step Two:

Plan out your layout, and color placement. For me this is more a rough idea than a must follow. You get as accurate as you'd like. 

Step Three:

Prep all your mats, and cut. For me I did roughly a 11.25 x 15in design, so I had 8 mats.

Do all the fun involved in waiting to cut....

Step Four:

Remove the stars from all your mats.

Step Five:

Prep your hanging apparatus. I used this skewer I had on hand, and some white string.

As previously mentioned, if I did it again I'd probably use a small dowel rod, and fabric stars.

Step Six:

If you didn't add the hole to the stars in Design Space, here's where you'll use that hole punch.

Step Seven:

Measure & cut your string (or ribbon, yarn, whatever you've chosen).

Step Eight:

Using the layout you made in Design Space, follow along and assemble. I just tied a simple knot each step of the way. You could use tape, glue, or any other adhesive you like.

Step Nine:

Continue adhering stars, and attaching to your base until finished.

Step Ten:

Admire your work!

If you make any variation of this please tag me on social media!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

Books! What I've Been Reading

 Hey Y'all!

First off I've been doing some continuing education, not really gathered much from either course, but I'm not quite halfway through the Digital Marketing Strategy classes.

I'll finish this course, but won't sign up for any others (as an auditor).

Lots of reading involved in those, and I've really been enjoying Billy Summers by Stephen King. I'm about 95% of the way, and plan to finish tonight or tomorrow. It's not the typical Stephen King book- no horror, thriller, or "creepy" vibes. It's about a war vet turned hitman for hire, on his last job. 

 I've also been researching RVlife, and camping books. This one I picked up in a campgrounds free library, and left two others in it's place.

This reviewer was a bit more harsh than I'd have been, but they summed up my thoughts pretty well:

jplusw79

3.0 out of 5 stars VERY basic overview

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 10, 2020

Verified Purchase

I purchased this book in the hopes that it would expand upon basic camping principles, or go beyond just a standard definition of dispersed camping and the basics of how to do it. It did not. If you've done any small amount of research (e.g., you know that dispersed camping happens in national forests or BLM land, you know that you can find maps at ranger stations, you know how to use map apps on your phone, etc.), you pretty much already know what this book could teach you.
It took me about 90 minutes to read the book....it's that basic. I got the feeling that it was written by the author to "whet your appetite" so that you'll visit his website and buy his other books.....because they are both mentioned OFTEN throughout the book. You'll find similar peddling of the author's books on his website; ads for them are plastered everywhere there. The unfortunate part is that the actual website the author mentions no longer exists; it's been grafted into another website where the author mostly talks about how to hire him for writing.
The author does very lightly discuss how to set up camp, how to use topography to your advantage, and some safety techniques, but you'd think with 30-some years of experience doing it, it wouldn't be asking much to give specific advice & diagrams on such topics. Why not add another 100 pages and make the book truly worthwhile? Show us examples of your map-reading skills, how you use Google earth, or how you found that "bomb" spot you mentioned! Instead, he and his wife spend the end of each chapter telling a personal story. If I wanted personal stories, I'd buy the memoir, but I was hoping for an actual guide.
So, if you're just starting out, as in, you've never camped before and you want to do it for free, this book might be for you. If you've camped at least once and you know how to read a map, this book isn't for you. Save your money and just google advice instead.

I didn't take a picture of them, but I also skimmed all the magazines that showed up this month! Not as good as previous months issues, or I just wasn't as in to them. 

I'm not sure what I'll pick up next, my to be read pile has grown again- with a 5 book series my sister (and family) got me for my birthday. 

Any suggestions? Share in the comments below!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

Eyeshadow Palette Collection & Declutter

 Hey Y'all!

I'm just going to apologize in advance for this video. I tried to film at a different angle, so you could see more. It didn't work. I couldn't see what I was doing, so at times you can't see the palette I'm trying to show. It gets better and worse as the video goes on, but I was not in the mood to re-film. 

Previous Declutter:

https://craftinwifescreations.blogspot.com/search?q=eyeshadow+declutter

My goal this go 'round was 12. Let's see how I did.

Before:

Video:

After:

Everything put back in place. It all fits nicely!

Declutters:

I got 11 out of my goal of 12. So close!

A few from BH Cosmetics, and Wet 'n Wild, as well as one each from Catrice, Essence, Beauty Bakerie,  Mac, Marc Jacobs, & Too Faced.

None of these were bad, just color stories I either don't reach for or have others that do it better.

Keeps all put away (I did not count how many) and decluttered palettes up front.

Slowly I'll be going through all my make up, and probably revisiting eyeshadow palettes too. Tell me how you'd like to see those blogs formatted in the comments below.

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

It's My Birthday!!!

 Hey Y'all!

Plans changed and Bill(s) stole all my money, so for my Birthday we didn't go camping, or boating. We did spend the day on & in the water though!

Yesterday (Father's Day) we all went out to my sisters house, ate seafood, tons of veggies, and strawberry cake. We then went out to Warriors Path State Park where Brother in Law and the kids canoed (is that a word?) and we (Mom, Sis, niece, & hubby) sat, relaxed in the shade, and people watched. After a bit we left the bro & nephew to fish and went back to my sisters to swim & I opened my birthday presents:

From Mom, a purple camping towel. (Hubby has now said he needs a red one, lol.) And a Cricut Travel Bag.

From Sis & family, The complete book set of the Landry Series by V.C. Andrews

Hubby took me on a trip to the book store, to explore the travel section. Where we sipped our iced coffee and sat for about an hour or more going through books. Then we took down some notes, and found a few eBooks for free online. After that we stopped in at Ulta which is next door, to get my free Birthday gift:

I'm not trying to complain (much) about a free gift, but these are so small there's almost not even enough to sample.

After Ulta we grabbed lunch at Taco Bell (my choice) and hit up the thrift store, where we did find a brand new Coleman Lantern for $5. On the way home we hit up a new junk store, and found some silicone stretchy lids, and cart bags, we spent a total of $10.

( My definition, Junk Store= merchandise that's new, but box may be damaged, item was clearanced out of the store, etc.) 

It was a nice day, and while we had been dreaming of/talking about extended traveling (van life) for awhile now, more seriously in the past year... This past week really solidified that now is the time.

(Here's the news of BIG CHANGES I mentioned previously!)

Wednesday hubby was "let go" from his day job. He called his mom (just to chat) and she mentioned his sister was selling her old van now that she's got a newer one. We didn't think much about it at the time, our minds made up- but still in the "can we really do this" stage, and somewhat set on looking for a conversion van. 

I had already started decluttering the craft room, with the whole house in my sights- just getting overwhelmed with "stuff". 

Then we did the Birthday excursion Friday. 

Saturday hubby was talking to his sister, and she said "Bro, the van is yours if you want it." We're going to meet her (and family, can't wait to see them it's been far too long!) in a few weeks at the halfway point (near Lexington, KY). 

Lastly, without knowing- all my presents from my family are also travel related. (We told them yesterday, they're excited for us!)

We have A LOT of work to do to get the house up for sale, and complete the van build. (Chrysler Town & Country, suggestions welcome.) But we're thrilled to start this next chapter. We have to come back every 3 months for my check ups, but beyond that we can go anywhere, anytime!

Any tips, tricks, suggestions, etc welcomed in the comments below.

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

We've not posted anything yet, but have a few videos to share pre-decision:

*I'll add links when they're posted.

Beach Boys Concert/Road Trip to Columbus, OH (Summer 2022)

Hungry Mother Start Park Camping Trip(s) Summer & Fall (2022)

Day Trip: Newport, TN/Douglas Lake in the Spring (2023)

Outland Adventures

Jewelry Box Clean Out

 Hey Y'all!

*This was supposed to post on Friday, my apologies. It seems the scheduled posts in blogger never work.

It was about time I did another jewelry box clean & declutter. I have a lot of earrings that I rarely, if ever, wear. There's no need to keep hanging on to items I don't use.

We're doing a big declutter/purge throughout the whole house, in anticipation of some big changes (I'll share more on that later). We just have way, way, way too much stuff. Be sure to check out our eBay, Posh, and FB Marketplace if you're interested in random items at a good price. Currently I'm decluttering the craft room, but took a break from that to do the jewelry...

Before:

I can't remember the last time I opened the lid. I usually just choose something I've left out, or wear nothing. There were a lot of pieces I'd forgot about in here.

I used to wear a necklace daily, I'd like to go back to that. Especially the sentimental pieces.

During:

What I pulled from the top...

Progress being made.

Starting to go through the stud earrings.. 

Realistically I only ever wear a few pair from here, so this was an easy clean out drawer.

Same here with the next drawer. I cycle through favorites. If I haven't work in in the last 6mo I cut it.

This is supposed to be the holiday specific drawer, but as you'll see it ends up being more than that.

These are the earrings I want to keep, but didn't have a home. Not daily wear, but not holiday either...

The Betsy Johnson ended up with holiday, and the others went to the daily drawer... Maybe I'll wear them more now.

The Disney earring drawer.

After:

All the declutters.

Piled in together.

Back in place!

I may have to cut down more, we'll see. What would you declutter? Let me know in the comments below!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife