Tangled_Panda

2011-04-26T13:59:00.003-04:00

What an awesome give away!

If you haven't check out Cukuoo for coupon deals you need to get over there now!

I'm new to the whole coupon experience, but I can already tell that she is awesome!

Her youtube channel has amazing information.

Anyway I'm getting off track, this is about the giveaway!

She and a few other amazing couponing blogs are doing Mothers Day Giveaways.

This one happens to be for a $100.00 gift card Eversave credit!

Check out her post by clicking here, you won't regret it!

Art Bead Give-Away at Jeannie's Blog

2011-04-07T13:25:00.002-04:00

Check out the amazing art bead giveaway on Jeannie's Blog! The prize is worth over $400, all you have to pay is shipping and handling.

The winner will be announced on April 11th. Good luck everyone!

Earrings, earrings and more earrings

2010-08-13T04:47:00.004-04:00

I never really made earrings before. . . just never felt inspired making them. It was always string a few beads attach it to a pair of hook bases and done. Then I saw tons of cute button earrings around the internets. . . so I got a bunch of earring posts of ebay and started to play. I never got around to making the button earrings, but I did make these:

Now I just need to stop being lazy and take some good photos to list them in my etsy shop.

Changing

2010-03-01T01:27:00.001-05:00

I was feeling like a change, so I redid my blog, I went with a more vintage earth-tone feel. I kinda like it, not sure how long I will keep it. . lol. . it seems a little too simple. But then again, simple is nice every now and then.

My Pink Stamper

2010-02-23T04:40:00.003-05:00

If you guys haven't been to her site yet, you have to check it out. Her cards are the cutest! To be honest after watching almost all her videos on YouTube, it was one of the reasons why I finally got a Cricut Machine! And now she is giving one away! That's right GIVING AWAY an Expressions. I entered even though I have one, but I have a friend that doesn't have one yet!

Click on the button below to check out her website, she had tons of great videos and is always doing great giveaways!

Absent lately. . .

2010-01-13T06:01:00.002-05:00

Sorry I've been absent lately. . . the holidays were great. The handmade Christmas with my family went great. I made knit scarfs, microwave heating pads (neck size and pocket size) and tile coasters. I think everyone really liked them and have already got tons of use. . especially the heating pads. I can't find my camera or I would have taken pics. I have tons of the materials left, so when I do find my camera I'll post.

I just found out some awful news before work today. . . well actually at 11am yesterday morning. My Uncle does have lung cancer, and they believe that it is Mesothelioma. . . I pray that it isn't and that it will be treatable. . .

I really need to quit reading information about it. . . it isn't helping me. . .

Subtle hints. . .

2009-10-20T21:15:00.001-04:00

Send in your ugly soap for the greater good!

2009-09-09T02:07:00.002-04:00

I just saw this posted on a message board that I frequent, and when I watched the video it brought tears to my eyes. Thinking about all the people who go without basic necessities.

Here is the link to the video and story:
http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/seminole_news/072409_Hope_in_a_bar_of_soap

Here is a link to the org: http://www.cleantheworld.org/

Please take a minute and watch the video.

They take gently used soaps from hotels and rebatch them, then send them to Haiti.

I am going to send them all my soap scraps and ends, ugly batches, misshaped bars, test batches and batches with fading scents from now on. Just imagine that something you would normally throw out can help fight disease and possibly even save a life!

According to the original poster they will take MP, CP, HP and Liquid soaps.

Oh and it gets even better! They don't rebatch the soap themselves, they partnered with a Men's mission in Orlando providing jobs to the Homeless!

So please send any soaps to:

Clean the World
c/o Threads of Compassion
4625 Old Winter Garden Road B7
Orlando, FL 32811

I'm also going to contact local hotels and see if they will donate as well.

My First Soap Loaf, inspired by the Soap Queen.

2009-07-20T08:41:00.009-04:00

So I was really inspired by Ann Marie's (The Soap Queen) videos, the ones I'm talking about are here (Swirling) and here (Packaging) . . .and well you know me, I love making things.

I decided to make a loaf, I think it turned out great! I am so loving Melt&Pour soaps right now!

I didn't have a loaf mold, but I picked up an Ice Cube Bin from Wal-Mart for under 2.00! And it worked perfectly, had just enough give for the soap to pop right out.
It's a bit long, but still works (took about 50oz of soap to get the loaf the right height)
Anyway here is a picture of the Ice Bin, well the side of it anyway. . .

I made the loaf with a mix of Clear and Goats Milk bases, the scent is Rose Jasmine. And I used a combo of Shimmery Blue, Shimmery Pink and Flat Purple colorings (and yes Shimmery is a technical term)

So here is the whole loaf, fresh out of the "mold"

And here is a already wrapped bar. Now I just need to print up some labels.

And finally because I can never to anything perfectly, I cut a bar and well messed it up. So I kept cutting and made 1oz size chunks, I'm calling it Soap-To-Go :)

Knifty Knitter -- so easy!!

2009-05-15T04:59:00.004-04:00

So I have been making crafts at work lately -- sorry I didn't get any pics before giving them away! Well last Thursday (actually Friday at 1am) I went to lunch (Which means I walked around Wal-Mart) I was so saddened to see that all the fabric was gone!! Yup my local wal-mart quit selling fabric -- worst part I MISSED THE SELL!

Then I thought "Well maybe I will do something with yarn." So I was walking around what was left of the crafts I found "Knifty Knitter" looms, and they are awesome! So easy to use. I got the rectangle purple one, it came with the hook and a book. And I got some pretty yarn that was on sale too!

Here is the loom :

And here is my progress after about 15 minutes

Did I mention that I don't know the first thing about knitting. . .but this is soo simple! I really recommend it to anyone and everyone that would love to knit but doesn't know how!

Click here for the basic instructions on how to use the purple loom

Anyway, I'll post more when I'm done!

Stress and the Every Day Job

2009-05-06T05:31:00.005-04:00

So I must be getting stressed, I mean I knew that I was but not to the point that I really am. We recently "restructured", meaning that I am taking quite a few clients without access to their systems or being trained on them. It sucks, and I know it will for a while. . . I have accepted it. . .or at least I thought I did. I mean we all (NightHawk) are going through it right now, being merged into one group from our comfortable three. I would much prefer two groups, it makes more sense to me and quite a few others. . .but it isn't our decision to make.

Well anyway the other day I was on one of these calls and I just broke down, I don't know why but I just started crying uncontrollably! *HOW EMBARRASSING* I couldn't stop and it was so strange, I have never been like that before. . . and it wasn't even a really bad call. It is just so frustrating doing things and not knowing what the hell I am doing. And I know that the end user can tell that I am bluffing, simply because I don't know enough to bluff my way through it. Argh, it is just so frustrating!

So another sign that I'm super stressed. . . I started crafting at work. Yup any down time that I get I'm doing something to distract myself. I'll have to take some pics of the things that I have made so far. . . not like they are the greatest quality or anything but it is fun and calming, especially when you don't worry about things like measuring or ironing. . .lol

Anyway it was nice to vent and hopefully things can only get better! Thanks for listening internet and anyone else that stumbles by. :P

P.S. I also noticed that I forget what I am doing while I am doing it. . .a lot and I'm not the only one. . . I think our brains are fried.

No Sew Tote

2009-04-24T04:55:00.005-04:00

So I just finished making a pretty sweet tote bag, and it was super simple! Here are the instructions, I followed them exactly. Click Here

All you need is some fabric, scissors, duct tape, and a stapler! It looks surprisingly tough too.

Now the fabric isn't the cutest, but hey what do you expect from the remnant bin in Wal-Mart at 1am. Upside I got enough to make two of them for about 1.80. Factor in the Duct tape (which I didn't have on hand at work) for about 2.00 and that is 3.80 for two unique totes! How awesome is that!

lolcats and loldogs

2009-03-17T00:47:00.006-04:00

They make me giggle.
I check out these blogs everyday!
Cats: http://icanhascheezburger.com/
Dogs: http://ihasahotdog.com/

Here are a few of my favorites!

So it's been 2 months. . .

2009-03-16T23:26:00.004-04:00

Wow time has flown by, I guess that I haven't really been in the mood to blog lately. Things have been so depressing.

An update on my mom: She didn't get the pacemaker (huge relief) but she did have to wear another heart monitor for 30 days, she finds out the results of that this Thursday. This will tell if she needs a pace maker or not. I am so hoping that it was her meds that made her heart rate slow, I really hope that she doesn't need a pace maker. That is just too scary to imagine.

Update on my Brother: He is doing well from what I can tell. I don't really hear from him much. . . but that is to be expected. Mom gets a call from him every now and then, which she immediately calls me to let me know. . .lol and I wouldn't have it any other way.

And about 2 weeks ago everything in my house decided to break :(
First the heating element went out on my dryer, so we had to buy a new one. . .thank goodness we got the new truck (yeah did I mention about a month ago our truck quit working! Super long story about jumping time and for another time)
So we got the new dryer home and installed, and the heating element went out on my stove, the brand new stove that came with the brand new house (well going on 3 years old)
I was so pissed. . .why does everything happen at the same time? Anyway the range will work, and the broiler works, it looks like the bottom coil thingy is all that is wrong with it. So I have to find a place were I can get a replacement (Lowes apparently doesn't sell it)

And that is pretty much it. . .

Today is a better day

2009-01-19T20:48:00.002-05:00

I heard from my brother today, which makes me feel so much better. He said that he is doing fine, and it that "You can't get a country boy down"

I still worry, but I always will.

Mom got her surgery scheduled, it will be this Friday at 6am. She has to go in at 4:30 for blood work and other tests, as to be expected she is scared about it. We both are. But I just keep telling myself that she will be fine, and that this will make her healthy again.

Please keep my family in your thoughts

2009-01-14T22:27:00.004-05:00

On the 6th I received an email from my brother, he is only 21 and a Marine serving in Afghanistan. He almost died twice since the beginning of the year. Right after midnight on the first he was in a convoy and a truck a few trucks ahead of him blew up, luckily everyone made it out ok. . . but then on the 6th something happened and he almost got "blown up by a mortar a couple of times". He lost a close friend that day and had to carry him off the battle field. It is killing me because I haven't heard from him since the that email. . . I am really worried but I can't tell our mother, because I know how much it will upset her and her health isn't the best these days.

Mom (who is only 43) is scheduled for open heart surgery on the 23rd of this month. Her heart beat has been so slow, that the doctors think there is a blockage and they are going to give her a pace-maker. She wore a heart monitor for a week and her heart beat ranged from 32-48. . .the average heart rate is 60-80.

I just feel awful keeping this from her, but she doesn't need to know. . . she needs to stay in the bubble of thinking that he is over there doing nothing. . .just stationed in a quite area. That is what we all were hoping. . . but now I know.

I'm so sorry to go like this, but I am just so worried about them both.

House is turned upside down

2009-01-06T04:00:00.002-05:00

We are moving everything in the house around, so no soaping for me for a while. . . although when we are done I will finally have my craft room the way that I want it. I have gotten over the whole "no holes in the new walls" thing, and I plan on having a whole wall of shelves. I will post pics if we ever get it done. . . we are kinda slow on things like that :D

Holiday Cookies

2008-12-26T12:48:00.002-05:00

So I opted out of making B&B for the guys in my family and decided that cookies would be better. . . this is my take on the PB Cookies that Bakerella did in her blog.

Peanut Butter Cookies, with Chocolate spooned over and topped with chopped peanuts. The salty sweet combo can not be beat!!

Babies on the brain. . .

2008-12-24T00:33:00.002-05:00

So I have been weird the past few weeks, can't sleep. . food makes me nauseous. . . stuff like that. Well this morning while I was trying to sleep Kenny puts this thought in my head "Maybe you are pregnant"

I seriously doubt that I am, but it is a possibility. . . gosh I don't think that we are ready for a baby! I mean with everything going on and I'm always fretting over money. . .even though we don't have to worry. I mean we aren't rich or anything but our bills get paid and we have a little left in the bank. . . but a baby would change all that. Don't get me wrong, I would love to be a mother, but I just don't know if I am "Mother" material. . .and I know that Kenny would make a great Dad.

I just can't get the thought out of my head now. . . and part of me wants it, the loving I want a baby to nurture side. But the other "I live in reality" side is just screaming that there is no way we could handle it with our work schedule.

It would make our mothers happy though. . .lol. . . to "finally" have a grandchild.

If I'm still like this next week I'll get a test. . .now to try not to think about it.

Snowed in, so I'm playing

2008-12-17T05:25:00.006-05:00

Since I got snowed in, well iced in really, I'm at home bored out of my mind.

So I started playing around with some M&P soap. And I'm kinda excited about what I made. Pardon the crappy pictures. My camera just has not worked right since I took it to the beach. I promise that everything looks better in real life :) I really need to get a lightbox, and a better camera.

First up is my Sugar Scrub Cubes!
I am really excited about these, and they smell great!
I scented them with Apricot Freesia and wow, I am so loving this scent.
These were made with a combination of Goats Milk soap and Sugar.

They are a new twist on an old favorite, Sugar Scrubs. No more putting your hand in a jar of a sugar slurry and having to worry about cross contaminating the scrub with shower water. Just take one cube into the bath/shower with you, squish it in your hand and lather away. It like a combination of sugar and a lotion like lather that feels great on the skin.

I will follow up with some soaps that I made.

And yes that is my awesome Olive Green Scale, so retro it is cool again :D

w00t! I have mastered the HTML demons!

2008-12-16T06:32:00.002-05:00

lol, I'm not good at HTML, I don't claim to be a HTML guru. . . but I think I did a pretty good job re-doing my blog. I was in a stripy-purply mood :D

Lip Balm Template . . . free for everyone

2008-12-11T02:19:00.004-05:00

So as I posted earlier I am super excited about making a lip balm label template with 20 labels per page. Well I found a site to upload the document so I can share it with you all!

Please note that the labels that I use are full sheet labels, pretty much one big sticker.

MS Publisher Version

MS Word Version

I suggest that you do a test print on a regular sheet of paper first, don't wanna waste a label!

Lip Balms. . . a new found joy

2008-12-10T20:51:00.004-05:00

So I have finally got around to making some of the holiday gifts for my family. First up was lip balms, I am so excited about how easy and fun they are to make! I think that they turned out ok, I only made 10 tubes (a test batch) to check the flavoring. I def need to add more, but other then that I am really happy with the outcome.

What makes me an extreme dork is that I made a template and can fit 20 labels per sheet. . . and this excites me! That is only .003 cents a label! Could it get much better. . .I don't think so!

BTW here is a pic, kinda blurry cause I took it with my cell phone. Playing around with some label designs.

Blueberries taste like a flower shop :)

2008-11-27T02:29:00.003-05:00

Yup that is what I think anyway. I love blueberries and the fresh ones taste like a florist cooler smells.

When I was 11 I got my first job at a florist, and I love the smell of the cooler. . . now I know why I like blueberries so much!

Where has Jessie been. . . .

2008-11-26T21:32:00.002-05:00

You don't want to know where Jessie has been. Warning if you have a weak stomach please don't read this post. I'm trying not to get to graphic.

Ugh it has been an awful week. Apparently there is a virus going around, and guess who got it! Yup, for 2 days I couldn't even keep down water. . . I have never been this sick before, and I never want to be sick like that again. I would not wish it upon anyone.

But I did find out that I have a great husband :) He waited on me, brought me Powerade when I could finally keep down liquids.
He even cleaned up one of the bathrooms for me. . . both of them got hit.

It was really bad. . . I messed up the first one so bad, that I couldn't go back in with out throwing up again. The second bathroom got more. . . I just couldn't seem to make it in time to throw up in the toilet. Covered the floor. . . eww I know. I actually passed out from throwing up. . . did not know you could do that with no alcohol in your system.

But I feel much better now, I can keep down foods. . . and I have learned to psych myself out so I don't throw up. . .GO ME!!

I'm taking it as a complement!

2008-11-19T03:55:00.004-05:00

So apparently I am a "Craft Whore". Shella (my friend at work, the one with the ripped up folders) keeps calling me that. She says it is because I am always doing anything and everything crafty! I can't help it, it is my nature. I am the type of person that when I see something I'm always thinking "I can make that" or I like dissecting it in my mind and figuring out how to put it together. And I do admit that I love being crafty and creative!

Like at work, we do have busy spells but we work 8pm-7am so there is down time. I like to make that down time "Craft Time" Last time we made some awesome Harry Potter Wands using this tutorial. BTW I love love love this site!

We did a few things differently though.

Instead of using double sided tape we used Mod Podge on the corner (about 1 1/2 inches in) to seal the tube.

And instead of filling the wand "shell" with hot glue, we stuffed it with some scrap paper and shoved it in really good with the end of our paint brush.

Then we used the hot glue to fill the top and bottoms. Another tip is dip your finger in water and then smooth out the hot glue, it doesn't leave prints and the glue doesn't stick to you!

After we got the design on it in hot glue we sealed it with a layer of Mod Podge. Then painted with Acrylic Paint. We couldn't use spray paint since we had to stay at our desks.

I also did a "leather" handle by painting a few strips of paper and wrapping the bottom, kept it down with a little bit of Mod Podge (I seriously love this stuff)

And finally here are some of the finished ones that I made:

Close ups:

This makes me Giggle!!

2008-11-18T05:56:00.005-05:00

So I am trying to force everyone one NightHawk (My Group at work) to make a blog. . . and by force I mean tell them over and over that only cool kids blog.

So everyone was looking through their old journals and blogs, and I found one of mine from like 2004/2005. Not going to post a link cause it is one of those "Private" online journals. But I did find a link from 2005 that makes me happy

http://www.badgerbadgerbadger.com/

This link makes me giggle like a school girl. . .lol. . . can't believe that it is still up.
If anyone out there reads this, please click on the link and prepare to laugh!

**NOTE: The less sleep that you get, the funnier it is!

And some random Soap cookies that I made a long time ago :)
I know that can't stay interested in a blog without pics, so I'm adding one!

The chunks are Oatmeal & Honey Shea Butter HP soap, and the over pour is my regular CP soap with Titanium Dioxide.

Old Time Holidays

2008-11-17T02:27:00.003-05:00

So this year for the Holidays my family and I decided that we would make each others gifts (except for the little tykes -- they get toys) It will really keep costs low with the economy the way it is and everything. Of course my husband thinks that it is a stupid idea. . . not really a do-it-yourself'er. But I love the idea!!

So now what to put in the baskets?

Here is what I have so far --

Womens:

1 bar of soap (Goat Milk)
2 cut out guest soaps (Clear M&P) Using this wonderful Technique
Package of Bath Bombs
Bath Poof
Lip Balm
Lotion Bar
Journal w/match book notepad
Jewelry of some type. . .made by me of course

Mens:

1 bar of soap (Goat Milk)
2 cut out guest soaps (Clear M&P)
Wash Cloth
Lip Balm
Lotion bar (Foot Balm)
a few match book notepad (done in a manly color)

I couldn't think of anything special for the mens basket. . . all though I doubt that they will care. But I do think that it needs something extra. I omitted the bath bombs and journal, cause I don't think I can make them manly. I think that they will still use the match book notepads, since they slip right into your pocket. The lotion bar will be like a foot bar for the guys, scented with peppermint. And a regular body lotion bar for the girls.

I just need to think of something else for the guys? Any suggestions?

100% Recycled. . .my small step to go green

2008-11-12T23:11:00.002-05:00

So I am a packrat, and I love the idea of taking something old and turning it into something new.

When a friend of mine at works was ripping manila folders in half (she only needed the tabby side for her project) and was going to toss out the other half. . . well I just couldn't let that happen!
So I took them home and decided to get a little creative.

Some tissue paper, scrap paper, mod podge and hemp later. . . this is what I came up with.

I also made some really cute matchbook notebooks to slip in your pocket or purse.
I'm really thinking about putting them on etsy. I have been wanting to post some things on etsy for a while now, but I never feel that my stuff is up to par. I am my worst critic. . .

Wow. . I forgot about this

2008-11-12T21:58:00.003-05:00

Can't believe it has been over a year since I posted. . . I completely forgot about this blog. Well as my post year resolution I am going to keep blogging :)

So what has happened to Jessie in the year she has been away. . .

Well I have a dog now, Cashley he is a beagle basset mix, and he is too cute. Completely spoiled of course.

This was the first day we brought him home from the shelter, Lisa's Lil Buddies. He was so shy and you could tell he missed his siblings :(

But now, I think he would get jealous if there was another dog in the house. He enjoys being an only "child" and getting all the attention :P
The Subway ladies think I'm crazy because I get him a kids meal every now and then. . .

That's pretty much it, I still work at EDS, which is now EDS, and HP Company. Kenny still works at Leggett and Platt, he did get a promotion! He is a Specialist now completely skipped Operator! Go Honey!!

My Brother is still in the Marines, he was just shipped out to Afghanistan. Which is hard for my mother to deal with now, so I'm trying to spend more time with her and talking to her on the phone. I have decided that I am going to write him a letter at least once a week till he comes home (right now that should be July 2009) even it is just a few lines to tell him that I love him and wish he was safe at home.

Well that is pretty much it, I'll update with some crafty soap related stuffs later :)

Samhain

2007-10-31T22:20:00.000-04:00

Today is Samhain, and I'm a little upset because I have to work tonight (8pm-7am), so I will be putting off my ritual until this weekend. I hope that I don't scare the neighbors too much! It's not like I'll be doing anything "evil", but I live in the Suburbs in a small Kentucky town so anything different scares the people around here. I am actually kinda scared myself to do the ritual outside. I don't want to give anyone a reason to hate me. . .I have enough trouble fitting in (since I work 3rd shift and I am never out during the day)

On another note I have a lot planned for this weekend, that is if I have enough time after cleaning my house. Hopefully I will be able to work on firestarters. And I also want to make a few small batches of soap. I'm dying to start playing with natural colorants! Then again I also want to start making my own paper. . . lol. . . I have so many ideas in my head and just not enough time to do anything.

Ok, so I blog now. . .

2007-10-30T21:30:00.000-04:00

I decided to start a blog, mostly out of boredom. . . well I'm not really sure where to start, I'm 23 Married and I own my house. . . wow this is getting off to a good start. Yeah can you tell that I am new at this? Well I am starting a business with a friend of mine, it is called 'Lexi & Jessie' We make homemade Bath & Body Products. You can check us out on myspace

I have always loved doing crafty things. In my spare time (which I rarely get) I make jewelry, soaps, and anything else that I can think of. Anyway check back soon for updates on my next crafty adventure!