Let me sum up...

When last I blogged, I was about to turn 40...that was over a year ago.  So much has happened in that year+...

Let me sum up.

I turned 40--not so bad.
My boys started 1st and 4th grade.
My husband accepted a new position with a new company in a new state.
We prepped, listed and sold our home of almost thirteen years.
We bought our new house in Iowa before we sold our old house in Missouri, even though we said we'd never do that...
My boys finished 1st and 4th grade and on that same day we moved from our home of almost thirteen years and our town of almost 23 years to our new home, our new town, our new state.
We have been unpacking since June--may finish by year's end...
I turned 41--still not so bad.
My boys have started 2nd and 5th grade.
My husband continues to love his new job.

In the meantime, HandstampedOriginals has continued to grow and keeps me very busy.  In addition to my production schedule (and the aforementioned unpacking), I am working on launching my own website/online store.  Stay tuned.

-Melissa

My Birthday Project Update: Part 2

So, I'm turning 40 this month--one week to go--and my goal is to pull off 40 little ways to bless others.  I got this idea from The Birthday Project.

In addition to the 3 Rebox surprises my boys helped me leave earlier this month, I have:

4.  Surreptitiously paid for the order of the person behind me in the Taco Bell Drive-Thru line.
5.  Left a surprise (one baggie with a package of microwave popcorn & $1--enough to rent a movie from Redbox) at another local Redbox kiosk.
6.  Left cookies and a note for our mail carrier.
7.  Left another Redbox surprise.
8.  Added a surprise personalized piece of jewelry to an order placed by an expectant mama for this mama, who was ordering gifts for her mother (grandma-to-be) and aunts.
9.  Donated furniture to LOVE, Inc.
10.  Added a surprise personalized piece of jewelry for another mama-to-be who was ordering a piece for her mom, the nana-to-be.

Stay tuned for more updates on the final 30 blessings.  I'd love to hear your ideas or ways you've randomly blessed others!

Have a great week!

~Melissa

My Birthday Project Update

So, I'm turning 40 this month and I've decided to come up with 40 ways to bless others,  a la The Birthday Project.  Missed that post?  Read about it here.

This week my boys helped me leave 3 gifts at one of the local Redbox kiosks--each one a baggie with some microwave popcorn, 4 quarters (enough for one movie from Redbox), and a note:

We taped the baggies on the side of the kiosk with much glee!  The boys let me snap a quick pic:

Hopefully, three unsuspecting people had their day brightened just a bit when they went to rent a Redbox movie!  And, hopefully, I'm reinforcing a spirit of giving in my boys.  Kindness, even in simple gestures, warms the heart--of both those receiving it and those extending it!

~Melissa

Have you heard about The Birthday Project? I'm trying it out...

Have you heard about The Birthday Project?  I'm a big fan & I'm trying it out!

Here's their mission:

The mission of The Birthday Project is to create a shift in the way people from all walks of life think about and celebrate their birthday (and other milestones).  The Birthday Project serves as a source of information and inspiration on the infinite ways to do this, including highlighting lesser-known charities, insight on party/event ideas, tips on charitable giving, testimonials from both those participating in this movement and recipients of random acts of kindness and much, much more.

I love reading about others' creative ways to use random acts of kindness to celebrate the milestones in their lives.  July is my birthday month--and I'm turning the big 4-0, baby.  So, rather than wallow in the last 40 years, how I've spent them, and how I'll spend my time left (which is, frankly, my usual M.O.), I've decided to create my own Birthday Project.  During the month of July, I'm performing 40 acts of kindness to celebrate my soon-to-be 40 years!  I intend to get my family involved (although they don't know that yet).  Stay tuned for pics & deets.

Here's the text for the calling card I've created to accompany surprises I'll be leaving in various places for others to discover:

Hi there!  I’m turning 40 this month & 

I’m celebrating by giving to others!  

Have a great day!

In the meantime, today's our first real day of "summer" (read: first weekday since summer school let out).  We're in full-Lego mode around here.  How about you?

Have a great day!
~Melissa

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What If I Actually Tried Some of Those 500+ Pins I've Pinned On Pinterest? Experiment #1

I was rearranging my Pinterest boards this week and realized I have pinned over 500 (five hundred!) ideas, few of which I've actually tried.  So, I've decided to begin a new series--What If I Actually Tried Some of Those 500+ Pins I've Pinned on Pinterest?

Experiment #1 is this Pin on my "Crafty" board:

Apologies to the originator of this idea, but this Pin goes to a parked site, so I am without anyone to credit.

First, I gathered supplies & tools:  Two different sizes of cans, some jute, a glue gun & glue sticks:

Then, I went to work wrapping & gluing.  I started with the bigger can and from the bottom up.  Here's an in-progress shot:

I wrapped & glue the smaller can from the top.  My tips & impressions?  It goes much faster if you can keep the glue gun in your hand while gluing & wrapping (rather than repeatedly setting it down & picking it up).  Also, I think it was easier to keep the jute horizontally straight/level when working from the top down, but the finish at the top of the can looks better on the bigger can that I wrapped and glued from the bottom up...

Here's the finished product--2 ways:

From a can of soup to a shabby-chic stylin' vase

From a can of pinto beans & a can of soup to 2 containers with bath supplies for a visiting guest

What Pins have you tried out or do you hope to try out?

Stay tuned for more experiments in What If I Actually Tried Some of Those 500+ Pins I've Pinned on Pinterest?

Have a great weekend!
~Melissa

What If I Actually Tried Some of Those 500+ Ideas I've Pinned On Pinterest?

Hmmmm.  S t a y  T u n e d !

Hello, there...um...how are you? I'm crafty! or How to Make an alternative to the Front Door Wreath

Hello, there...um...how are you?  I'm crafty.  So, apparently, I've not posted anything since April 5.  It's now May 21.  May. Twenty-First!  Remember when I was so excited because both the boys would finally be in school full time and I'd have "so much free time"?  Not sure what I was thinking.  Not so much free time as it is time used differently...But, I digress.

So, how have you been?  Me?  I've been churning out end-of-the-year teacher gifts like crazy!  Fun, fun.  Lots of Mother's Day and new mom pieces, as well.  And, Father's Day isn't too far off--Sunday, June 16, people!

I'm digging this Dad gift, currently:

So, over the weekend, after churning out some 40 or so pieces in 2 weeks, I decided to be crafty in a different way.  Found an old mdf letter "M" from Hobby Lobby that I bought for a project I decided not to do.  Got out the hot glue gun and the jute.

Had this on hand--it was $1.99 at Hobby Lobby.

Used foil as a glue gun rest...

 Then, I began wrapping the jute and gluing.  It took a little longer than I thought it would...

Halfway through...

Completely wrapped

Then, I thought, what could I add?  I remembered an old T-shirt of mine with cute shabby fabric flowers...I loved that shirt & wore it often--until it got a hole.  Of course I'd saved it, with an eye toward re-purposing it into...something.  I cut out the fabric flowers from the T-shirt, then added a hair-clip flower I'd found on clearance at Target a while back.  Added some ribbon, and after burning only one finger and one thumb in the process, here's what I came up with:

Finished!

Hangin' on the front door

Close-up of the front door

So, whatcha think?  A nice front door wreath alternative, I think!

Fun.

What will you craft today?**

~Melissa

**Maybe you don't want to craft something, but would rather hire that out...  If it's jewelry that you want, or maybe a keychain for Dad, check out HandstampedOriginals.  Now through June 16, save 15% on all orders from HandstampedOriginals with Coupon Code: YOUROCKDAD