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Showing posts from June, 2010

Just Like That, I am Back

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 If I said I was back, would you believe me? Blogging is complicated, and there are so many "get rich quick" blogging schemes that make it look like you are a lost cause if you are not currently earning money blogging. And why are you even blogging if you don't have multiple streams of income and entertainment. If you don't have a brand? I do have this website, but I do not have Instagram, Twitter, TikTok (you don't want to see me dance), or whatever is next.  Heck, I haven't even updated this since before the pandemic. So why am I here, writing about being back and then, probably ghosting for another two years? Life has been rough. It's been painful and overwhelming. I am so thankful for you my readers, or what is left of you. I am so thankful you are reading this post. I am so thankful that you are still committed to making the world a more exciting and more sustainable place.  Keep up-cycling my friends, and you never know, I might be back again with an...

Upcycled Awesome #3

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I can not believe how successful Upcycled Awesome #2 was so I have decided to make it a regular blog feature. We all need a place to go to find green projects on the web so why not link yours up here then check out other green crafty bloggers. This linky party is slightly different because people link their upcycled craft projects. Upcycling is taking something you already have, something you rescued from a thrift store, garage sale, or even your neighbors garbage and make into something new.  Pretty much anything goes. You can sew, Mod Podge, or redo furniture, as long as it is something that is redone in some way or another. Other than that here are the rest of  the easy rules: Find your favorite Upcycled project and share it with our readers Add a link below to a specific blog post not your main blog address Grab a party button and pop it up on your blog someplace visible, like your sidebar or your post. Remember that fuzzy feeling you get when you see comments on y...

T-Shirt Tuesdays #5

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Thank you everyone for participating in Upcycled Awesome. I have another one planned for tomorrow. I just wanted to highlight a few really awesome T-shirt upcycles from the party. Please check out their blogs and if you were featured grab a button under my featured tab. I have tried to make a million and one T-shirt scarves and T-shirt necklaces. All were complete failures. Check this lovely out over at Holy Craft : T-Shirt Necklace And who doesn't live in love a good T-shirt dress for your toddler. Helping Little Hand s has a tutorial complete with a free printable pattern. Love it.   Helping Little Hands Thanks to everyone who linked up. I loved every single on of the projects and I can not wait to see what tomorrow brings! Till Tomorrow....

Weekend Fun

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I haven't posted much because life has been crazy. C2 has been sick and we have been in and out of the Dr.'s, emergency room, and labs for the past few days. Fingers crossed things get better soon. I am excited about two things right now. One is the success of my linky party. Sure some people wouldn't consider twenty entries (and counting so please link up) a huge success, but considering that the topic is a little bit narrower than the vast majority of linky parties I would say twenty rocks. The second is the Craftaholics Anonymous Christmas in July gift exchange. I can not wait to get my gift, but I really can not wait until my fellow crafter gets what I made for her! I totally wanted to post a pic, but I was worried that she might stop by the blog and see it. Anyway if you haven't checked out Craftaholics Anonymous (sorry it's not a ten step program to get you off the craft) please click on their button below. Thanks and I will be back up and posting v...

Upcycled Awesome Linky Party #2

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I survived my first linky party and I am back for more. Are you ready? This linky party is slightly different because people link their upcycled craft projects. Upcycling is taking something you already have, something you rescued from a thrift store, garage sale, or even your neighbors garbage and make into something new.  Pretty much anything goes. You can sew, Mod Podge, or redo furniture, as long as it is something that is redone in some way or another. Other than that here are the rest of  the easy rules: Find your favorite Upcycled project and share it with our readers Add a link below to a specific blog post not your main blog address Grab a party button and pop it up on your blog someplace visible, like your sidebar or your post. Remember that fuzzy feeling you get when you see comments on your post? Make someone's day by commenting on their blog post. :) Don't forget to grab a button: <center><a href="http://www.thetshirtdiaries.com/...

Sneaker Planter Tutorial

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Thank you so much for checking out this tutorial. I love to upcycle pretty much everything I can get my hands on. Upcycling your old shoes into a flower planter is a great way to keep things out of the landfill and beautify world. This craft was done an awesome event called Knee High Naturalists put on by the Cleveland Metroparks .  It was so much fun for C1 & C2 and this idea to reuse shoes blew me away. So here is what you will need to do.  Pick an old shoe from your giveaway pile. the Cleveland Metroparks staff had every shoe imaginable, but I opted for a canvas goodie. I did this because Chuck Taylors just rock and a canvas shoe will allow the plant's roots to breath (leather will start to smell after a while and does not drain well.)   1. Pick out your shoe (remember stay away from leather and vinyl shoes).  No need to run (unless you just can't wait to start your planter). 2. Have a friend help you decorate your shoe with puffy paint, stickers...

Sneaker Plants! Sneak Peak at My Next Tutorial

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I have been crazy busy with the kidlets enjoying the amazing weather. I mean really how can I not spend all day in the awesome sun and not smile as my kids decide to play bummer cars with their Little Tikes Coupes. When the weather decides that it no longer wants to be nice I will be working on a quick tutorial for these rocking shoes ~ They are cool aren't they. I think it would be awesome to go ahead and make a batch to line the front porch steps. Till next time,

T-Shirt Tuesday #4

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Check it out I am finally numbering my T-Shirt Tuesdays! So what is T-shirt Tuesday? Here is the deal, I love scouring the internet for amazing crafters and featuring them over here on Tuesdays. If you are interested in being featured please email me at thetshirtdiaries@yahoo.com. If you have been featured please grab a button: <center><a href="http://www.thetshirtdiaries.com/"><img src="http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy231/rneorr/T-shirt%20Diaries/2010March1159138-3-1-1.jpg "/></a></center> Since it is Father's Day we have a man T-shirt over at I am Momma Hear Me Roar . This would be a great gift for dad, so check out the tutorial and get to it:   Cycling Tee For Him And since no one is perfect I have to applaud Dilly Dally And Flitter for bravely posting her craft FAIL. I mean seriously who hasn't had a great idea gone wrong? I know I have. Check her Tutorial gone wrong out here: FAIL Tee  That brings us t...

Manic Monday

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So this week is again crazy busy, but fabulously fun. Here are my goals: Go to the Zoo Finish six T-shirt dresses Start an ETSY shop Get a tutorial up on planting flowers in shoes (seriously awesome upcycling) Get my garage sale crafts on So now that it is written down with all the world to see do you think I can do it?

Setting Up An ETSY Shop

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I am taking the plunge and setting up an ETSY shop to sell my dresses. I am a little nervous because when I start reading about the wild world of ETSY my brain just kind of shuts off. It's like I am in school again and the teacher sounds like an adult in an episode of Charlie Brown. So I want any advice or tips. What do I need to do, what should I not do. Come on I know I have readers out there who ETSY. What can you tell me, and anyone else on the verge of setting up an ESTY account. Any thoughts?

Do You CSA?

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Image via Wikipedia Over here at The T-Shirt Diaries we try to live a green and sustainable lifestyle as much as possible. I love to buy local whenever possible. It just makes me smile to support a local crafter , artist, or farmer. That being said one of my favorite times of the year is upon us. It is CSA or Community Shared Agriculture time! Don't laugh I live in Cleveland and yes our CSA does start pretty darn late in the year. If you are not familiar with a CSA it is an opportunity to buy into a farm or collective of local farms and receive a share of their crops every week. We buy our CSA through City Fresh and have been so happy with them. Last year we received everything from Maple Syrup to more Kale then I ever figured out what to do with (Kale chips are not half bad). We buy one share for our family and it is more then enough. They also have a table set up where you can donate your produce to a local food bank. We grow a lot of our own herbs and vegetables at ou...

T-shirt Tuesday is Back

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T-Shirt Tuesdays is back and boy do I have some awesome links for you. I love scouring the internet for amazing crafters and featuring them over here on Tuesdays. If you are interested in being featured please email me at thetshirtdiaries@yahoo.com. If you have been featured please grab a button: <center><a href="http://www.thetshirtdiaries.com/"><img src="http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy231/rneorr/T-shirt%20Diaries/2010March1159138-3-1-1.jpg "/></a></center> First we have this awesome third birthday dress over at Mama Lusco Handmade:   Trimmed with love birthday dress The best part of this dress is the fact that she made it for under three dollars (and offers some great insight by pointing out that Walmart sells knits for $1.50). Yes this is not a 100% upcycled T-Shirt Dress, but it is partially upcycled so congratulations on making your little girl shine on her big day! Next we have My Blonde Ambition whippi...

Cleveland Craft Coalition June Show

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Well I did it! I am an official crafter. I did my first show today at Bela Dubby in Lakewood and it was definitely a positive experience. The Cleveland Craft Coalition puts on a wonderful monthly show at Bela Dubby in Lakewood. Bela Dubby is an art gallery/ coffee house/ and bar combined into one. These days I am not cool enough to make it out to bars (they frown upon bringing kidlets into such establishments so in general if it's not Chik-Fil-A I am not there) but I remembered seeing it in Mike Polk's Tribute to Christmas Ale (it's a Cleveland thing) so I was excited about the venue. Anyway I set up my lovely little shop. I met lots of wonderful crafters. Sold my wares with some other awesome artists. And I am excited that there are a few more little girls that will be walking around Cleveland in upcycled T-Shirt dresses like my little C1 does while rockin out on top of a huge pile of mulch in our backyard. Now I just need to take the plunge and open an ...

Craft Show Craziness

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After being struck down with the stomach bug of the month for the last two days I am off to my very first craft show. I am actually pretty darn nervous. I mean I never considered myself a real crafter. I know I am crafty and all, but to sell something I made, big old step. So I am nervous, but excited and I can not wait to post some fabulous pictures from the show. I hope you are as excited as I am! Okay who am I kidding you could probably care less, but just pretend for me, will you? Talk soon,