What do you think of the new site?  Take some time to look around.  We’re still unpacking some things and moving things around but it was close enough…so we launched!

Some things you’ll want to take note of:

1.  I’ve got some new buttons in my sidebar.  I will eventually move these to their own page.  In the meantime, grab your buttons!  In the works: buttons for craft challenge participants and winners!

2.  I’m now accepting applications for contributors.  Do you have some crafty expertise you’d like to share on a regular basis?  Let me know you’re interested by filling out the application under the “Be A Contributor” tab.  I am also accepting more guest blog posts if you’d like to contribute from time to time.

3.  Speaking of those tabs, did you notice that some of them have drop down menus?  I’m hoping this will make it easier to find things on my site.  I’ll be filling these in as fast as I can.  I’m only about 1/8th through my previous posts in getting them categorized.  There are also some drop downs on the top menu as well.  Under the “About” tab you will find my policies and press pages.

4.  I have less space for advertising.  I am limiting advertising at this time to 4 buttons, one small banner, and the Chic Chick Media widget.  I want to have that space available to promote other sites and businesses but I don’t want it to take over the point of this blog, which is promoting crafting.

5.  See that floating contact button on the left?  You can send me an email using that form.  See that subscription box on the right?  You can enter your email and my posts will get delivered right to your inbox.

6. See those little boxes below this post?  You can click on those to share your favorite posts on other sites.  Think your facebook friends would like to know how to make a pinata?  Click on the facebook button and it will show up in your status update.  Fancy, eh?  There is a button for twitter, email, stumbleupon, etc…

What do you think?   Have any comments or suggestions?  I’d love to hear them!

I’m packing up this little blog and moving it over to WordPress.  I’m also getting a spiffy new design and cleaning things up around here.

If you are subscribed via email or an RSS feed reader, you shouldn’t have to do anything to update those. 

I’m going to be working hard over the next couple of days reformatting my posts so they look fabulous and by Monday, you should see the brand new ChristyNelson.net.  In the meantime, I’ll be hanging out over at the Facebook page.  I’ll post all the latest news over there. 

I’ve been reading Marie’s blog, Make and Takes, for years.  In fact, I remember reading it back when she was still The Stitching Barn.  We finally met in real life earlier this year.  Isn’t it great to meet blog friends in real life?  Gotta love it.

This is Marie’s latest venture.  It’s an eBook called Monster Mania.  For only $7 you get a download of all of these great kid projects (15 in all).  Not only do you get all the projects, but she’s included a great master list of craft supplies that will get you through all the projects in the book and that are great to have on hand for all sorts of craft projects.

Each project also includes a learning objective.  You can see Marie’s background in education come through as she helps us with ideas to make these crafts great learning experiences as well–not just as we’re making the crafts, but beyond.

A few of the projects are food based.  I think even I could get my kids to try some Monster Stew.

The book is available now!  Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

We have a winner!  It is KraftyKash with her organizer box!

I saw her working it on Twitter and her blog to drive some votes her way!  Congratulations!

Thank you to Craft Critique for sponsoring our challenge this month.  Don’t forget to send in your butterflies!

The winner of the butterfly prize is Steph!  Congratulations!  You both receive a free month of the craft challenge and a prize from Craft Critique.

REMEMBER:  You have until tomorrow 9/29 to register for next month’s challenge!

It is time to vote for your favorite entry! The polls will stay open through the weekend. I’ll announce the winner on Monday morning.

I know we haven’t finished up the September challenge but I thought I better make an announcement soon about next month so you’ll all have time to sign up!

Our sponsor is Neatnix and they will be providing this great bucket (products not included).  I met the people behind Neatnix at CHA Summer and loved seeing their products up close and personal.  This bucket is pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and you can bet that the challenge will have something to do with that.

I’m coveting their stuff cubbies.  They look like regular magazine holders but they are sturdy and they fold up!

If you’d like a chance to win this bucket next month, SIGN UP HERE!   The deadline is September 30th.

The craft challenge costs $5 (or buy a longer subscription at a discount) and includes some fun supplies for you to make something amazing!  I provide the product, you provide the creativity.

Stop by tomorrow to see what last month’s participants have come up with!

Yesterday I broke out some paint and little wooden blocks to make a set of story dice.  As you may notice, I’m not so great at drawing pictures.  However, these are just the thing my daughter loves and she recognized every single picture.  Okay, she thought my pig was a cow.  Either way.

I had plans on painting more blocks but my daughter had too much fun painting them herself.  So, only a handful of them have pictures now.  I don’t think she minds.

Want to see them in action?  Here is a great video of her using the story dice to tell a fabulous story!

How great is this project?  This card organizer has pockets for each month and has a perpetual calendar so you can use it year after year.  I used this tutorial with some modifications.  I relied on designer paper for decorating the organizer and in this particular one I kept the pages white to save on cost (I eventually sold this at a craft show).

This is the inside of one that I made using all double sided paper.  I really love how it turned out.

Instead of using a bind it all, I punched holes through all the pages.  I added eyelets on the front and back pages.  I used some hemp twine to tie it all together.

I have a bag full of 30 skeins of yarn.  I have 13 pairs of new knitting needles.  Today I had some eager grade schoolers ready to learn to knit!  The PTO at one of the local elementary schools contacted me to see if I’d be interested in teaching their after school knitting class.  Apparently she asked a few people if they knew anyone that knit and they all said my name!  I wonder if it is the bumper sticker on the back of my van?  So, I have a bit of a reputation around town.

I chose a simple project for the kids.  They mentioned that they wanted to make scarves.  I’m a fan of the scarf in theory.  I just don’t like to knit them.  I get a bit bored with that kind of project.  But, I am obliging and have a scarf pattern for them to work on.

Teaching kids how to knit isn’t easy.  Teaching adults how to knit isn’t a walk in the park, either.  It takes practice and so many people get frustrated when their knitting doesn’t look the way they would like.   This is a skill.  It needs to be mastered.  But, like I told the kids today, it’s a skill that can serve them well.

I mean, not everyone can make their own scarves–whether they like to or not!

Today I’m featuring some great sewing patterns found on Etsy. Go and check them out!

I think a couple of those might end up in my shopping cart in the next few days. Which one is your favorite?

This etsy mini has been replaced with a screen shot.