monday's buttons: week 3

Welcome to week 3 of Monday's Buttons.  Each week this post gets harder and harder to put together because there are sooooo many great buttons out there.  I'm lovin' the four buttons I have to share with you today.  But before we get to them, I have two things:

First, I'm putting in a shameless plug for my soda can jewelry.  This craft made it into the top ten finalists for the Iron Crafter Challenge over at Fireflies and Jellybeans.  Go check out all the finalists and cast your vote.  (One of the blog's that I've featured below has a project on the finalist list too.  Way to go those northern skies!)

 Second, I'm only one person (i realize this fact probably wasn't up for debate), so I can't possible look at every blog and button on the web.  Please feel free to e-mail me if you love your button and think it would make a good feature.  I have a little waiting list, but I try to make sure the buttons featured each week represent a mix of blog types, colors, designs, etc.  I would love to check out your button and put it on the Monday's Button feature list!

Now, let's get to it . . .

Mommy of a Monster

Every time I look at this first button I can't help but smile.  I HAD to know what the story was behind it, and Natalie over at Mommy of a Monster was so willing to answer a few questions for me (and you). 

1) What is your blog about?
My blog is about being the mommy to three under three...a toddler (my monster) and 9 month old twin girls. It's a "real" mommy blog. My life is chaos, and I'm not afraid to give all the good, bad, and ugly details of it. But I don't only blog about being a mommy. I blog about things that are important to me - gardening, reading, being a woman, challenges of having a life vs. being a mom...anything and everything under the sun.

2) How do you think your button reflects your blog?
I love my button!! It represents my blog perfectly - I'm a monster sometimes, too, so it's not only representing my son, the monster. And people that read my blog regularly know it when they see it. And that is important to me. I am glad that the button and my blog are cohesive.

3) Did you craft your own button or did you commission/inspire someone else to craft it? If you crafted it, what program/software did you use?
Someone else crafted it for me! She had an idea in mind, and I loved it. Thanks to the fabulous Alissa at Simple Sweet Desgin for doing such a fantastic job :)

A Novel Idea

I found A Novel Idea (click here for link) through the blogger's other blog, Ten Thousand Hugs.  Mary Elizabeth has a fun button that screams, "THIS BLOG IS ABOUT BOOKS!"  

1) What is your blog about?

My blog, "A Novel Idea", is all about bringing and children and literature together! I do book reviews and recommendations, provide literacy tips, and showcase a children's book author and / or illustrator each week. I am a former elementary school teacher with a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, so that is where my expertise on this topic originates. I also have four small children, so I keep up with children's literature on a daily basis!!!

2) How do you think your button reflects your blog?

My button shows books, along with a playful font that is reminiscent of children. It also has a large capital letter "A" that indicates the grade assigned in school for excelling, thus, sending the message that reading is a huge part of success in school.

3) Did you craft your own button or did you commission/inspire someone else to craft it? If you crafted it, what program/software did you use?
I used "Smitten Blog Designs" to create my button. They charged $15.00, and I was exceedingly happy with the results!! I would highly recommend them - they were awesome! I love my button - it was worth every penny!

those northern skies

The creator of those northern skies recently did a set of three buttons for her blog.  The other two can be seen at her blog.  The grey tones of this button caught my eye right away.  I think grey and white are a great contrast for blog buttons.  I asked Melissa for a little insight into her new button.  She had this to say:

1) What role do you think a button plays in promoting a blog?
I don't know yet - but I am told they will help!

2) What do you think your button says about your blog?
Class and artistic flair?  I hope they fit into the blog name a little. I intend for the blog name 'those northern skies' to convey a sense of large dark skies scattered with stars. Since I don't take night sky photos - I searched through my photos for a shot that I thought might convey the same idea. I thought the black and white photo with the small star-like flowers would perhaps do the trick. While I am currently focusing on my blog as a craft blog, I still like to keep my photography out there and it is my hope that the buttons will do that.

3.) Did you craft your button or did you inspire/commission someone else to craft it for you? If you crafted it, what program did you use?
I made my own button using one of my photos and my photo editing software Jasc Paintshop Pro.

Carpenter's Colorful Collections

Courtney, the creator of Carpenter's Colorful Collections, has a button you cannot help but smile at.  It's bright and cheery. It has a lot going on, but not in a cluttered and distracting way.  I think it has just the perfect amount of color and variety!  I had to find out a little of this button's story.  Here's what Courtney had to say:

1) What do you like best about your button?

I like the letters "Colorful" in my blog button. The different colors and patterns represent my family. We are all unique and fun and I believe that will pull you in, right?!!

2) Did you craft it yourself or did you commission/inspire someone else to craft it for you? If you crafted it, what program/software did you use?
Yep I am one of those moms that splurges on me, myself, and I. So this last year for Christmas I decided I wanted somebody to design my blog. Every time I get on I smile and say it's a bright cheery day!

I chose http://thepolkadotpig.blogspot.com// to create my blog style. I had to choose a scrappin kit and then we went back and forth regarding the design. She was wonderful to work with and timely. I am so thrilled with how it turned out!

3) What do you think is the most important thing about a blog button?

I wanted a blog button that would entice you to come visit! One that screamed high energy, and lots of fun! So the ? is what does my blog button say to you!?

Check out the blogs behind these buttons.  You might find a new one to follow.


Craft on!

i am a top ten iron crafter!

So apparently my obsession with recycled cans paid off. (And trust me, I was obsessed!)  Because today as I was browsing the plethora (oh, I love that word) of blogs I follow on Google reader, I found out that my soda can jewelry made it into the top ten for the Iron Crafter Challenge over at Fireflies and Jellybeans.

Now, I've won the right to proudly display this button:

And there's more . . . if enough people like my soda can jewelry and vote here on Fireflies and Jellybeans, I could actually win an advertising spot on Fireflies and Jellybeans.  To be honest, I didn't actually think this far advance when I entered the challenge.  I'm not sure what exactly I would do with free advertising, but if, by some fluke, I would win one of the top three spots, I would think of something quick . . . ASAP.  Someone suggested that I just put my button in the spot, but my button is kind of sad looking.  I'm proud of it, but it's not exactly the best advertising look.    

So, click over to the voting page on Fireflies and Jellybeans.  Look through the different crafts entered and vote.  And I'm being serious when I say this . . . don't just vote for mine blindly.  There are a lot of really great ideas in that list, and you may think one of them is (or most of them are) better than mine.  Vote for the one you like best.  (Although if mine is your favorite, then by all means, vote for mine.  I would like that!)

Just get on over there, vote, be inspired and . . .

craft on!

the good, the bad, the ugly

Tonight, I have three things to share . . . the good, the bad, the ugly.

First, the good. 

A while ago I did a post on homemade gum.  (Check it out.  It's a great summer project for antsy kids on rainy or super hot days!)  My bloggy friend Jocelyn over at We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ took the plunge . . .the sticky, messy, colorful plunge, and made gum.  This is good for two reasons: first, someone was actually inspired by something I posted and tried it out and second, she has re-inspired (Is that a word?) me to get back in the kitchen and make some more gum.  What you should do is go to my gum reipce post.  Write down the recipe.  Then go to Jocelyn''s blog for gum-design inspiration.  You have to at least go there to check out the pic of her gum.  Thanks Jocelyn!

Second, the bad. 

Last night the needle on my sewing machine broke.  Since I recently confessed in a Tuesday's True Confessions post that I'm afraid of my sewing machine and I think it's taunting me, you can imagine that this incident only fed my fear and suspicion.  I've had this sewing machine a year, and I had no idea this could even happen.  So after trying to straighten the needle with my bare hands while it was still in the machine (stop laughing), I turned to my sewing machine owner's manual . . . turns out this happens, turns out you are not to use or try to straighten a bent needle, turns out the needle has to be changed.  To my surprise and excitement the manual reminded me that my machine came with extra needles.  To my disappointment my sewing machine did not come with someone who would change the needle for me.  Boo hoo!  Long story short . . . an hour later the new needle was in place and in working order . . . yes, you read that right - AN HOUR LATER!

Third, the ugly.

Two nights ago I mentioned that I was obsessed with cans as a result of the Iron Crafter Challenge over at Fireflies and Jellybeans.  I also mentioned that this challenge was preventing me from moving on to other projects and posts at hand.  And then I mentioned that I had two more can projects to post before I could move on.  I posted one - magnet can lids.  Here's a picture of the other:

Yes, it's ugly . . . it's a project only the crafter can love . . . strike that . . . I don't love it either.  Needless to say, it did not make it into the Iron Crafter Challenge line up.  Oh well.  My oldest daughter helped me with it.  She had fun.  And afterwards, she stood back admiring it and said, "Mommy, you're a good crafter."  Awwwww . . . I love that kid.  She can look at some ugly can luminaries and rocks on a plate and see beauty.  She's my inspiration, so I . . . 

craft on! 

great summer service project for kids!

I have a post for later tonight.  However, I saw this a few minutes ago, and I was filled with so much joy I had to pass it on.  If you've been around here at twelve crafts for a while, you may remember that a few months ago I got together a bunch of gals to make dolls for Sarah's Dolly Drive.  It was so much fun, but more importantly, we got help put smiles on the faces of a bunch of amazing children.  Sarah posted pictures of the children receiving their dolls today.  I'm not a person who cries a lot or easily, but well . . . these pictures brought tears to my eyes.  Tears of sadness for the heartache these children have endured in their short lives.  Tears of joy for the happiness that can be brought by a simple doll.  

Thank you, Sarah, for such an amazing opportunity.

If you haven't ever heard of Sarah's Dolly Drive opportunity, now is your chance to learn more about it and participate in the newest drive.  By making just one doll, you can impact the life of a child who needs to know that someone somewhere cares.

The little group of gals that gathered in February gathered again in April to start on our batch of dolls for this new drive.  (We hope to do these gatherings on a regular basis.)  Here are just a few pics from our most recent Dolly Drive sew-a-thon.  (You'll notice the plates of food in the pictures too.  We tend to use these sewing parties as excuses to eat junk food for dinner.  Yummy . . . nothing like homemade salted nut rolls, caramel corn, puppy chow and brownies for dinner.  Yep, I think that about covers the necessary food groups.)

Grab some scrap fabric, print out the pattern (found at Sarah's site) and start sewing.  This would be a GREAT summer project for all you mom's out there with kids at home for the summer.  They can cut out pieces and help stuff the dolls.  Make a difference in the life of a child and . . .

craft on!