Featured Reader: Kristina

Bringing you our very first Featured Reader: Kristina R, from About A Bit Of Everything

Her blog descriptions sounds quite a bit like myself and many of our readers as well

Join me and my husband on a new journey as we put our house on the market, prepare to move back to my home town, embrace frugality and conservation, I try my hand at cooking, spend some time baking and tackle projects around the house.

A gal, a house, and real life interests and challenges

Kristina makes these CUTE stamped porcelain tile magnets


Which is a really great idea and would go fabulous with the popular tile coasters that I've seen around and she also makes. Kristina has easy DIY instructions with them, too.

How much do I LOVE these owl tile magnets?!?! A TON.


A set of those magnets would be so nice looking in our house or make great gifts.

Kristina also has other really great DIY posts, be sure to check out her blog! Some of my favorites from browsing around are her Aprons and No Sew Pillows.

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Birds birds birds

One of my painted birdhouses with a handsewn, scented bird ornament. Covered in Stampin' Up 2009 paper design, with a card stock scalloped edging.

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Free Blog Backgrounds - SUPA CUTE

Edit Feb 27: Due to the popularity of these backgrounds and the numerous requests for Navbars back again, I have removed the coding to hide the navbar. If you WOULD like your bar hidden to make your own blog look more unique, just copy & paste this code right before the </style> tag:

#navbar-iframe { height:0px; visibility:hidden; display:none;}

I am on a roll and loving this! I got the "cute" bug in me and wanted to make some sweet, sugary blog designs. There's even one for Valentine's Day. Hope you like!



**These are FREE. If you use one, please just leave a comment for me!**





TO USE THESE DESIGNS AS YOUR BLOG BACKGROUND

1. Log into your Blogger Dashboard

2. Chose the blog you want to show your new background

3. Click on the LAYOUT tab -> PAGE ELEMENTS

4. In your sidebar, click on ADD A GADGET

5. Scroll down to HTML/JAVA and select

6. Leave Title Blank. Copy and Paste the code following each design into the Content box

7. Click the orange Save button, and your new background is installed!





Sweetsicles

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i40.tinypic.com/34s5kja.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} </style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 30px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

**FOR DENIM & TICTAC TEMPLATES**

Use the following code fix only for Denim and TicTac layouts

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i40.tinypic.com/34s5kja.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} #header-wrapper { background-color: transparent;}</style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 30px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

Sew Cute

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i41.tinypic.com/33p946h.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} </style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 30px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

**FOR DENIM & TICTAC TEMPLATES**

Use the following code fix only for Denim and TicTac layouts

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i41.tinypic.com/33p946h.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} #header-wrapper { background-color: transparent;}</style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 30px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

Love Note

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i39.tinypic.com/29bmutj.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} </style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 30px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

**FOR DENIM & TICTAC TEMPLATES**

Use the following code fix only for Denim and TicTac layouts

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i39.tinypic.com/29bmutj.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} #header-wrapper { background-color: transparent;}</style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 30px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

Love Birds

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i44.tinypic.com/21n37ye.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} </style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 30px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

**FOR DENIM & TICTAC TEMPLATES**

Use the following code fix only for Denim and TicTac layouts

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i44.tinypic.com/21n37ye.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} #header-wrapper { background-color: transparent;}</style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 30px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

Cutetree

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i43.tinypic.com/xu5gj.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} </style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 30px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

**FOR DENIM & TICTAC TEMPLATES**

Use the following code fix only for Denim and TicTac layouts

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i43.tinypic.com/xu5gj.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} #header-wrapper { background-color: transparent;}</style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 30px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

Blue Hooty

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i39.tinypic.com/28332u.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} </style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 30px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

**FOR DENIM & TICTAC TEMPLATES**

Use the following code fix only for Denim and TicTac layouts

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i39.tinypic.com/28332u.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} #header-wrapper { background-color: transparent;}</style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 30px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

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Featured Crafters- Wanted!

An idea I've been toying with in my head is featuring other crafters here on jannypie. It was suggested by a reader as well, so I'm thinking there may be some interest!

If you have a craft you've made and would like to be featured on my blog- send me an email!

jannypie143@yahoo.com

You don't have to have a blog yourself, or be super successful, or have something incredibly intricate. Of course if you have those things, that's great! I'll put you on here along with every body else. But I am all about the simple and starting attempts at crafts as well.

So just send a photo of your craft(s) and some info about yourself, and we'll see where it goes :-)

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Recent listings from Etsy Team Columbus Members

Sharing some community love with these gorgeous recent listings!

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DIYourself - Make your own packaging

So, I make these wooden wall signs, right? You might have seen them on my blog. Or my Etsy store. Or my craft fair. Or everywhere.

Point being, they're tough to package. Regular mailers are too wide and short. Boxes get... boxy.

So, I decided to make my own packaging. It was easy. You could do it, too.
Perfect for awkward items, your Etsy store products, or whatever you feel like sending through the mail.
Better: it's cheap. Nuff said.
Best: it's awesome for recycling- you could use any heavy weight paper, just depends on the size of your item! For smaller things, use magazine pages or junk mail. For bigger things, use gift wrap, turned inside out.


Check out that fine photography right there. Shadow of my hands taking the pic, right in the pic. You'll see why I'm not getting into that biz.
Anywhoo,
Materials: craft paper, scissors, pen, permanent tape (double sided or packing are good)

1. I rolled out the craft paper, and lined up my sign along the edge.


2. By using the sign as a straight edge, I drew along the side of it, and then moved it over, drawing another line along the new edge. I measured 3 widths of the sign wide. This turned out to be a bit too much, I could have done two and a half.


3. Then I added about 4 inches to the length of it, to have tabs on the end to fold over. Again I just used the sign to make the straight edge.


4. Cut out


5. Wrap sign like a present. Where I had too much paper, I just folded the extra over, like here on the left


6. Leave enough give in the folds so your item will easily slide in and out. Then tape the main seam shut. You could use permanent double sided tape underneath the seam to make it look nicer, but here I used packing tape so you could see it.


7. Now take out whatever it is you are wrapping. Then I made a little flap at each end by cutting in just an inch along the sides, and then trimming across the bottom. This left the top as a little flappy guy.



(again with that photography)

And taped close the bottom opening (not the top yet!)


Also press the envelope down flat and crease the edges, to give a little sharpness to them (I am alllll about sharp edges when wrapping)

Make them supersharp. Like use something heavy and run it along the edge, to make it extra sharp. Do it.

8. Take a sec to make your product pretty


9. Address the top (don't give out addresses in your photos!)


10. Now slide in your item, close up the end, and you're finished!

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More FREE Backgrounds - Inspired by Pottery Barn

Edit Feb 27: Due to the popularity of these backgrounds and the numerous requests for Navbars back again, I have removed the coding to hide the navbar. If you WOULD like your bar hidden to make your own blog look more unique, just copy & paste this code right before the </style> tag:

#navbar-iframe { height:0px; visibility:hidden; display:none;}

New Blogger backgrounds inspired by the designs of the beloved Pottery Barn. I know some of you decorating addicts will love them!



My FREE Blogger backgrounds do NOT require the use of only the Minima standard template. My backgrounds are wide enough for you to use several of the Blogger options!



Following installation, remember that you can change colors and fonts to fit YOUR personality by going to Layout -> Fonts and Colors. This won't alter your new background!



TO USE THESE DESIGNS AS YOUR BLOG BACKGROUND

1. Log into your Blogger Dashboard

2. Chose the blog you want to show your new background

3. Click on the LAYOUT tab -> PAGE ELEMENTS

4. In your sidebar, click on ADD A GADGET

5. Scroll down to HTML/JAVA and select

6. Leave Title Blank. Copy and Paste the code following each design into the Content box

7. Click the orange Save button, and your new background is installed!





Botanical

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i42.tinypic.com/vmypau.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} </style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

**FOR DENIM & TICTAC TEMPLATES**

Use the following code fix only for Denim and TicTac layouts

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i42.tinypic.com/vmypau.png.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} #header-wrapper { background-color: transparent;}</style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

Floral

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i43.tinypic.com/24l0jft.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} </style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

**FOR DENIM & TICTAC TEMPLATES**

Use the following code fix only for Denim and TicTac layouts

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i43.tinypic.com/24l0jft.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} #header-wrapper { background-color: transparent;}</style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

Gold Paisley

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i42.tinypic.com/219qslv.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} </style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

**FOR DENIM & TICTAC TEMPLATES**

Use the following code fix only for Denim and TicTac layouts

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i42.tinypic.com/219qslv.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} #header-wrapper { background-color: transparent;}</style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

Toile

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i39.tinypic.com/ae31gz.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} </style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

**FOR DENIM & TICTAC TEMPLATES**

Use the following code fix only for Denim and TicTac layouts

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i39.tinypic.com/ae31gz.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} #header-wrapper { background-color: transparent;}</style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

Monkey See Monkey Do - Pottery Barn Kids

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i41.tinypic.com/2cy3bxd.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} </style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

**FOR DENIM & TICTAC TEMPLATES**

Use the following code fix only for Denim and TicTac layouts

<style type="text/css">body {background-image: url("http://i41.tinypic.com/2cy3bxd.png"); background-position: top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;} #header-wrapper { background-color: transparent;}</style><div id="tag" style="Z-INDEX: 50; LEFT: 1100px; WIDTH: 100px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 100px"><a href="http://www.jannypie.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/34zlrlt.png" border="0" /></a></div>

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