December Everyday Makeup Shelf & November Mini Review

 Hey Y'all!

In order to show you December's shelf, I have to tell you something...

This year hubby & I decided to exchange gifts as they came in. His big gift needed put together, and I was not up for the task (new gaming chair for his office). He wanted me to be able to use mine for the holiday season.

Y'all this man got me BOTH the Colourpop Muppets Collection, which he said he got on sale, and TooFaced Christmas Bake Shoppe with the Pillow Balm Pop Trio (this I know he got through a 3rd party site, but IDK where).

Colourpop:

Are you interested in a review? Let me know in the comments below, and I'll post one ASAP.

TooFaced:

So for December's shelf I have all the items posted above, plus...

the same eye products, and Too Faced bronzer, in fact most of it is the same. 

I did swap out the sunscreen for the clear foundation/primer.

I did remember to clean the containers prior to swapping items out! YAY!

November Mini Review:

http://craftinwifescreations.blogspot.com/2022/10/november-everyday-makeup-shelf-october.html

I really enjoyed mixing my own lip colors, and I'm glad I've used this up more. I want to use my new stuff, but plan to keep the lip kit in the rotation (for at least the first few months of the new year).

I only reached for the Pretty Rich palette once, and paired it with another, however I do still like the palette, but I really need to do a comparison and deeper inventory before the next declutter. (I declutter/clean out my makeup quarterly, so next one will be some time in February.)

I really liked the BH Cosmetics palettes, and stand by wanting to find the rest of the collection. (As well as those truffle blush palettes, love them!)

I've talked about all the other products before, and like all of them. If you have any questions though, please ask in the comments below!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

HTV Basics

 Hey Y'all!

HTV Basics:

Heat transfer vinyl, or HTV for short, is a specialty vinyl polymer that can be used on certain fabrics and materials to create designs and promotional products. (aka Iron-On Vinyl)

Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) is a material that's easily applied with a combination of heat, pressure, and time. HTV can be applied with a heat press, home iron, Cricut EasyPress, etc. Carriers (carrier sheet) are the plastic backing that comes attached on HTV, and is peeled after heating per manufactures directions.

1) Each brand & type of HTV/Iron-On has specific instructions from the manufacture. These can vary widely, so be sure to keep track of what you're using.

For example:

My top 3 brands heat guides~

Craftables HTV.

Cricut has their own website:

https://cricut.com/heatguide

Siser (NA) has a ton of valuable information on their website.

2) Most all HTV is going to be mirrored, and put on your cutting mat shiny side (carrier sheet) down.

There are a few exceptions to this, mostly with patterned HTV, but those brands will be well labeled. You'll need to purchase and add the carrier sheet (transfer mask) after cutting. I personally find this tedious and more of a hassle than I'm willing to do, so now I tend to stay away from the brands that require it.

3) You don't need to start off buying all the things.

You need a cutting machine, a blank item to add your HTV to,  a design, a sheet (or roll) of HTV, a heat source, and a weeding tool (It's extremely difficult without one).  

I've mentioned my favorite brands above, but there all all types of HTV.  Basics, Glitter, Puff, Glow in the Dark, Holographic, Patterned, Sun Changing, Reflective, Flock, Glossy, Matte, etc. The possibilities are almost endless with HTV, especially when you start layering.

You've decided what you're doing and it's time to get crafty:

Open your design software.

Choose your design.

Measure your blank.

Scale your design to fit.

Choose the right cut setting on your machine. Test cut if needed.

Cut. (Remember mirror your design, and material goes shiny side down!)

Weed out the negative spaces.

Bring your heat source up to temp.

Pre-heat your blank.

Center your design.

Press for the instructed time.

Peel carrier sheet, per instructions.

GREAT JOB!

Congrats on finishing your first project!

One of my first HTV projects. This is using the Foil Rainbow Oil HTV from The Paper Studio.

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

Books (and Magazines) I've Read This Month

 Hey Y'all!

(*This was supposed to auto post on Friday. Sorry about the delay.)

I did read a few more things this month, but still not as many as I'd like. The magazines keep getting sent, so I keep flipping through them. We've used the air fryer from my mom three times in as many days, so the Black Friday purchase of cookbooks, I feel will be well worth it. I'm still working through the Small Business book, but admittedly haven't picked it up in a while.

I'm almost finished with The Wish by Nicholas Sparks... I really liked him until all his books started reading like screenplays (after The Last Song came out in theaters). It seems he's back to writing book books now, and this one is really good so far. I know I'm in for a double heartbreak with this book, but it's been a good read.

Women's Health occasionally has a few good articles. I don't know who can afford the vacations in Travel & Leisure, but it's a good 15min flip through, mostly ads however.

The Air Frying books:

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Air-Frying-Recipes/dp/1645581144

https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Air-Fryer-Delicious-Calories/dp/1640306331

I haven't made anything from these, but I've bookmarked a few recipes we'd like to try. I have used the temp/time guide a few times.

Nicholas Sparks, The Wish:

1996 was the year that changed everything for Maggie Dawes. Sent away at sixteen to live with an aunt she barely knew in Ocracoke, a remote village on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, she could think only of the friends and family she left behind . . . until she met Bryce Trickett, one of the few teenagers on the island. Handsome, genuine, and newly admitted to West Point, Bryce showed her how much there was to love about the wind-swept beach town—and introduced her to photography, a passion that would define the rest of her life.

By 2019, Maggie is a renowned travel photographer. She splits her time between running a successful gallery in New York and photographing remote locations around the world. But this year she is unexpectedly grounded over Christmas, struggling to come to terms with a sobering medical diagnosis. Increasingly dependent on a young assistant, she finds herself becoming close to him.

As they count down the last days of the season together, she begins to tell him the story of another Christmas, decades earlier—and the love that set her on a course she never could have imagined.

I'm fairy certain I know how this is going to end, but I'm still going to cry...

I should finish this book up this week... then I'll pick a new one. Any suggestions? Let me know in the comments below!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

No Blog Today, Have a great Thanksgiving!

 Hey Y'all!

To much prep for Thanksgiving. We haven't even started on Christmas décor. We will be done shopping Friday though!

Have a great Thanksgiving!!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

My Favorite Thanksgiving Projects in Cricut Design Space Community!

 Hey Y'all!

Have you scrolled through the Design Space Thanksgiving community projects yet? So many talented crafters! I had to share a few of my favorites with you.

Here's my design space profile if you want to check me out:

https://design.cricut.com/landing/profile/5b9ba957cc8e76062d1231c9

My Top 5 Thanksgiving Projects:

(In no particular order.)

1) Fall Napkin Ring/ Pumpkin Napkin Ring (Michelle Goodson)

I had to share both the community members version and her inspiration project I like them both so much.

https://design.cricut.com/landing/project-detail/575658d0ee508efa43327b67

https://design.cricut.com/landing/project-detail/6149047a1e7a0e0001edbb76

These are super cute, and would dress up any table. I think the pumpkins in a patterned or textured paper that coordinates, like Michelle did, is very pretty (in fact I may like hers more). At an average of 45min it's a very doable last minute project.

2) Thanksgiving Place Cards (Anna Rose Johnson)

https://design.cricut.com/landing/project-detail/618eab97bd00f772b34f158c

These are much more elevated, and elegant than the ones I made in the previous How-To blog. I think they would match any décor and look great on anyone's table. 

3) Turkey Napkins For Thanksgiving (Lindsay Fekitoa)

https://design.cricut.com/landing/project-detail/5c3f7573fe82bf06440bf7a2

I think these are adorable! I love the metallic gold too. I could see a patterned napkin, with any solid "fall" color being cute as well.

4) Thanksgiving Centerpiece (Laura DeCristino)

https://design.cricut.com/landing/project-detail/5fbeb0a6fa36d1106c8a1a32

I am in awe of the things paper crafters come up with. How gorgeous is this? I love these type of projects, but do not have the patience to put them together myself. 

5) Thanksgiving Pie Banner (Miss Rita To The Rescue)

https://design.cricut.com/landing/project-detail/616d8c61dad99e00018b1427

I really like the banner, and may have to make one for over my kitchen sink area. I love that if you swapped out some colors you could totally customize the pies in the banner.

Bonus/ Self Promotion:

6) Thanksgiving Side Chick (Craftin' Wife)

https://design.cricut.com/landing/project-detail/6359b08ebb13335b1bf98a17

This sweatshirt was fun to make! I already wore it (with fall printed leggings) to Friendsgiving this past weekend, and plan to wear it again Thursday.

Are you doing any crafts for Thanksgiving? Share in the comments below!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

How To: Fun Friday (Social Media Post)

 Hey Y'all!

Today I'm sharing how I do my social media engagement Fun Friday posts via PC. The process is pretty simple, and takes less than 5 minutes. (This doesn't include the time I've already spent designing my logo/watermark. If you're interested in seeing that leave a comment below, I'd be happy to share!)

Today's FUN FRIDAY post:

How To:

I start off by opening Word Pad on my PC, then I type out "Fun Friday" highlight it and choose my font, color, and size.

Repeat for the question, and the "Let me know in the comments below!".

Then I adjust the line spacing. When I'm satisfied with how it looks I use the snipping tool, and save that as "FF" and the date.

After that I use https://makewatermark.com/ to add my watermark, and then download that. 

Next I edit the size, to edit out the txt the website adds, and to fit social media posts better.

Lastly, I post it to social media.

It really is that easy:

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

Makeup Declutter Pt 2 (For Real)

 Hey Y'all!

Today I'll share my collection & declutter, this doesn't include what's on the everyday shelf, or the fourth Dose of Colors Nude Lip (from the set) that's in my bag currently. I also didn't count how many items I had this time, but I did have a goal for decluttering in each category (spoiler: it wasn't met every time).

Just as a reminder:

Declutter in July~

 http://craftinwifescreations.blogspot.com/2022/07/makeup-clean-up-declutter-part-1-of-2.html

 http://craftinwifescreations.blogspot.com/2022/07/makeup-clean-up-declutter-pt-2-of-2.html

Collection in March~

 http://craftinwifescreations.blogspot.com/2022/03/my-makeup-collection-part-1-of-2.html

 http://craftinwifescreations.blogspot.com/2022/03/my-makeup-collection-part-2-of-2.html

YouTube Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOsgyr7Ec2w&list=PLLv_VJkKY6TFl_kiVKGoG_5Q_5RMbNIs8

First I started with my face drawer, followed by eyeshadow palettes, and finishing up with lips.

Face:

Before~

During the declutter decision making~

*The declutter goal is dependent on how much product I am starting with in any given category.

 

After~

Declutter Goal~ 5

Actual~ 5

Sis has claimed the Benefit Blush since it was on the chopping block last time. The porefessional and Ulta mascara were trashed.

Eyeshadow Palettes (Drawer 1) Before~

After~

Declutter Goal~ 3

Actual~ 2

The Ulta palette I loved, and have hit pan on two of the nude shades, but the rest were starting to look "off" so it got tossed.

The L.A. Colors just wasn't fantastic, and I can't keep them all.

Eyeshadow Palettes (Drawer 2) Before~

After~

Declutter Goal~ 3

Actual~ 4

Two of these were passed to me from Sis (the UD, and the Revolution Nudes) both were ok. I'll pass the UD to Mom and see if she has better luck with it, though she tends to wear cooler colors.

I liked the Lorac Pro when I got it, but I never reach for it anymore, my collection has grown a lot since then. The other Lorac palette is just a bit meh, so why keep holding on to it?

I really went back and forth with the BH Cosmetics  Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, so we'll see if it makes the next declutter.

Lips~

All Colors!

Before~

Purple:

During (swatches)~

I realize swatching on paper isn't the best, but last time I did hand swatches and that takes a lot more time, and clean up.

After~

Declutter Goal~ 2

Actual~ 4

All decluttered lip products got trashed.

Pink:

Swatches~

After~

Declutter Goal~ 5

Actual~ 5

Nude:

Swatches~

After~

Declutter Goal~ 8

Actual~ 4

What can I say? I love a nude lip.

Reds:

Swatches~

After~

Declutter Goal~ 3

Actual~ 2

The rest were all good, and each a bit different.

Other:

Swatches~

Balms not swatched, they're clear/heat activated color.

After~

Declutter Goal~ Anything "Off"

Actual~ 0

Nothing needed tossed here.

My swatch paper. I definitely have far more nudes than anything else!

 

The Lip Products all put back:

Over all I'm pretty happy with how I did.

My goal was to declutter a total of  29, and I actually decluttered 26 items. So I didn't meet goal, but I came close. I could have probably cut more, but I'm happy with where it stands now.

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

What format do you prefer these declutter/collection blogs? Video, pictures, combo? Let me know in the comments below! I want to create the content you want to read/see. To go along with that, if you have any blog ideas please share them below!

~CW