diy || $$$ organizer

I don't know about you guys, but I am always wishing for someway to store my money so I can balance what I spend and save, and what I spend and save for. I am a horrible saver, I mean, I really spend whatever and whenever I can, but lately I've been thinking: if I had something to organize my money with I'd probably get a lot better at saving. So I thought up a way I can do that!
If you want to learn how to organize your money, read on!

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>>Money Organizer<<

What you will need:

•3 pieces of colored paper (make sure the colors compliment each other)
•3 dollar bills
•Mod Podge or glue (try saying "mod podge" five times fast ;])
•Q-tips
•Scissors
•A pencil
•A marker or pen

Step 1: Lay the dollar bills out side-by-side on the paper you chose to be your background/main color like so:

With a pencil, lightly mark around the edges of the bill, but leave about a quarter of an inch on either side of it (does that make sense?).

Step 2: Take a dollar and lay it on a different piece of paper. Trace around it, but leave about half to 3/4 of an inch around two sides and the bottom. The top will be your opening. Then cut out the traced paper.

Step 3: Fold the side edges and the bottom edge in so the paper will be able to become a pocket.

 Step 4: Spread glue on the folded-in edges

 Step 5: Place the pocket on the pencil marks of the background piece. Press it down for about 30 seconds. This will give the glue time to set and dry.

 Step 6: Repeat steps 2-5 twice more until your background paper looks like this:

 Step 7: Cut out little strips of paper....

....And label your pockets. Think of what you really want to save money for/have money for. I recommend not being very specific with your labeling. For instance, if you're saving up for an iPod, I suggest writing "Electronics". That way, you'll always have a pocket for anything related to electronics, and the organizer will last you longer.

 Technically you're done making it, but here are two different ways you can store it:

1: Fold it into a pocketbook

 2: Tape thread to the back and hang it on the wall

 I hope you guys found this useful, and if you end up doing it I'd love to see photos of your own personalized ones!

-hannah
p.s. Check out this giveaway, it's pretty awesome!

rainy sunday

Rainy days tend to cast a spell over me. They put me in a mood that craves to be holding a paintbrush, a drawing pad, or just relaxing. I'm ashamed to admit that most days I wave the feeling away, and go blog surfing, but today I didn't.

Today, after coming home from church and celebrating mother's day with donuts, I curled up on the couch with my little brother Mark beside me and watched a ridiculous amount of Brady Bunch episodes (yes, Brady Bunch). It felt so good just to relax and not have a feeling of needing to get homework done for the next day or study for a test.

After my brain was fried enough, I asked my sister if she felt like painting. She eagerly said yes and I proceeded to get out the paint supplies, along with other miscellaneous crafty items.

 

          

 

They also make me want to write letters. Yes, I am one of those people who still gets excited when I get things in the mail or send letters to people. See that little duck painting? Yep, I like to decorate my stationary a little :) I just need more people to write to. Do you guys have any pen-pals?
And I also finally made my own little sketchbook (all credit for the idea goes to this lovely site) I can't wait to use it!
What activities occupy your rainy days?

-hannah
p.s. I would just like to say happy mother's day to all the fabufull (fabulous+wonderful) moms out there. Thanks for everything you have given and taught us :)

p.p.s. Sorry for the unexpected change in design guys, I just felt like the other header was too busy. I love this one and plan to keep it for quite a while! Also, don't forget to enter my photo challenge and win a "fabuful" prize!

my new and improved etsy shop

I was thinking one night, that I'm making headbands just to sell them. That's not a very good reason to craft.
But then, I started pondering what would happen if I donated, say, half the profit to charity. It would make me feel a lot better about selling them.

So, that's what I'm doing! From now on, violet heart designs will donate half the profit of everything sold to this organization.
I feel so good that I'm doing this, and now I'm more motivated to craft :) So take a look around my shop, I've added quite a few more headbands, and some crocheted items are soon to come!

-hannah

Crafting Has Sucked Me Into it's Beautiful World

It's true. Once I started to make Christmas presents the crafting part of my brain kept tugging at my hands to just make one more bracelet, or one more pair of earrings. I could go on and on about all the things I want to make but right now I'm totally hooked on clay pendants. I just started to make these this morning and it's so easy/fun I banged out ten in a couple hours.

This one is the very first one that I made. It's unfinished.

To make them, all you have to do is take 2 pieces if clay and roll them together until they look like one ball of clay with two different colors. Flatten the ball and poke a hole near the edge of it. Then take a toothpick or a piece of wire and go crazy with a design. When I'm making the design I enter my happy place, I mean it's just pure bliss for me. Then just bake the clay at the temperature it's supposed to be baked at (it usually says on the clay package) and ta-da! You have an extremely cute pendant for a necklace.

A whole lot of stuff........

Hey guys! I'm back from our cabin (obviously) and I still need to edit the pics so they're coming soon!
I am setting up an etsy account! For those of you who don't know what etsy is I'll tell you:
It's a website where you can buy and sell handmade and vintage stuff.
I really like it but if it doesn't work out I'll just sell my handmade stuff on here :)
I am having a followers fest!! My goal is to have 50 followers by the end of the summer. Sound like a lot? Well you guys can help! Whoever gains me the most followers will win a special prize! And if/when I get 50 followers i will have a giveaway to celebrate!!
And I am currently trying to figure out how to make a blog button in Photoshop. I know how to actually make the button but I don't know how to get a link into the button. If you guys have any tips or advice PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE comment!!!!!!!
And Olive Tree, thanks sooooooooooooo much for following!! I really appreciate it!!