I Don't Have It All Together!

I'm gonna say it again,
I don't have it all together.

Some of you have seen what I have done over the years.
You've seen my IG pictures and FB posts.

Yes, I've run a marathon.
I've even gutted out an ultra-marathon.
I've used cloth diapers.
And made my own laundry detergent.

I thought baking my own bread was no big deal,
And so for awhile I did that, too.
I cooked my own baby food,
And mixed up our cleaning products.

I loved DIY projects, 
And filled my days creating, all while homeschooling.

Back then, others put me on a pedestal.
I knew how others viewed me.
And so I tried to balance up there,
Doing all I could to maintain that image
And be the perfect little housewife.

And then I crashed.
It's hard to teeter up there on that pedestal. 
I even believe the health issues I later discovered
Came because of these unrealistic expectations I put upon myself.

And so I come to you now in what I hope is a much more humble position.
I stand among you,
Not above you.
I will continue to share my experiences with you.
But I am still learning SO. Much. Myself.

I don't have every room completely organized.
I don't have everything labeled and color-coordinated.
My schedule doesn't always work.
I now buy my laundry detergent
And our bread, too.

My kids don't always obey cheerfully on the first time.
I (more often than I like to admit) loose my patience.
I get frustrated.
I am frail.
And, at times, I cry.

But through all of this I am learning.
This, my friends, is what the Cross is for.
I won't be able to do it all.
I will fail.
But because of His grace, 
I will pick myself up.
Over. And over. And over again.
I will cling tightly to my Savior's hand.

And I will remember,
I don't have to have every closet organized,
Or teach the perfect school year. 
I just need to be obedient to what He calls me to do.
And rely on His strength to do it.

Eunora

Happy New Year!

Where does the time go?!
A new year. Already. Amazing!

I'm finally back, at least for a moment
From a long time away.
I think of being here, often.
It's just I have so many things vying for my attention.
I am sure the same is true for you as well.

Although I haven't found much time to write an actual post,
I have been taking a few pictures.
I wanted to share a few of the fun projects
I worked on to give away as Christmas gifts.
They were so fun to make and maybe you'd like to make some too. =)

Home Made Lip Gloss-

These little lip glosses were so fun and easy to make! 

First I started with a simple recipe found here.

I tweaked it a little by adding a few drops of vitamin E oil 

And adding more peppermint.

I loved the end result; it leaves lips tingly and smooth.

I ordered some chap stick tubes but they ended up being on backorder. =(

Thankfully I visited The Container Store and found these cute little round boxes.

With a round sticker, I made them my own. 

So fun!

As time allows, I hope to post more of my past Christmas crafts with you

As well as another project I have been working on for the last several months.

Have a very happy New Year!

Eunora

DIY Gifts-

So, I was recently invited to a birthday party!

Don't you just LOVE parties?! I do!

But, the problem lay in what to give this special friend.

Not foreseeing a time to shop,

nor thinking of a great gift to purchase,

I decided it was time to get my craft on!

If I can say so myself,

I was quite pleased with the results. ;)

I have decided to post pictures

because these projects were so fun

and from materials I already had in my home at the time.

Mini Mason Sewing Kit

Magnetic Clothes Pins

(add a little flower from this tutorial, and the cuteness grows!)

Happy Crafting!

Linking up here:

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Craft Time

I had so much fun recently creating some of my own Christmas gifts.

Not only was it fun, but they were also easy and inexpensive.

So, if you are looking for a couple of DIY Christmas gifts,

Here are two for you.

Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

These were so fun and easy to make!

I simply melted chocolate chips in my microwave,

dipped the pretzel into the chocolate to coat,

and then sprinkled on the sprinkles.

After cooling on parchment paper,

I bagged them individually in pretzel bags

that I purchased at JoAnn's.

I tied them with decorative ribbon

and attached a Christmas tag.

Whalla! Christmas treats for my kids' friends!

(one quick note: all microwaves heat differently. I learned this the hard way.

So, lower the power level if your chocolate doesn't seem to be melting).

Homemade Hand Soap

So, I saw this project on Pinterest

and had to give it a try.

Click here for the instructions on how to make your own.

I will add that I used another brand of soap

from our local bath shop-

Pear Apple, doesn't it sound yummy?!

The bar was 8.8oz and I used the whole thing.

I ended up needing to add a lot of water,

but I saw this as a good thing

as it made for more jars of soap.

I ended up with eleven mason jars full of hand soap!

That's eleven gifts!

I cut a piece of Christmas fabric leftover from the stockings I made last year.

After placing it on the lid, I screwed on the ring

wrapped it with ribbon and a tag.

Oh, and one more thing, the DIY site didn't mention

the cost of the liquid glycerin.

My costs:

soap- $6.90

liquid glycerin- $7.89

I believe I can make about five batches with the glycerin,

so that makes the total $0.77 a jar!

I also want to tell you about a wonderful site that sells downloadable gift tags.

Last year I purchased the set below for under $10.

I printed and used them for all my Christmas wrappings last year,

and now I am doing it again this year.

I punch out the little squares with my scallop punch.

There are so many uses:

gift tags,

dessert toppers,

matching game,

print off 25 for an advent calendar,

address labels,

the possibilities are endless.

Happy Crafting!

Eunora

Linking up today here:

My Pumpkin!

Well, here it is, my completed pumpkin!

I really enjoyed this seasonal craft.

I followed a tutorial from craftberrybush.

The tutorial's instructions explain to

cut along a cardboard templet with an

exacto knife. I found this very difficult,

so I simply cut the edges roughly with my scissors,

taking several pages at a time until I had gone

through them all.

So, go on, get crafty, it really is fun to make

your own seasonal decorations!

Happy Crafting,

Eunora

Linking up today at:

and on Thursday:

and here:

Boerman Ramblings

The Pom Pom Flower

It's time to show you how to create a new flower.

(oh boy!)

This one is so cute!!

I first found the tutorial for this flower

by following links through

several blogs. But, by the time I found it,

it was worth the search.

Click here to follow a tutorial for a cute

pom pom flower headband.

Here is a picture of Jessica, from Monster Cakes,

sporting the cute pom pom flower she made with me.

To make these cute little pom poms,

we used chiffon which makes them fluffy and soft.

Experiment with different fabrics

to get some fun and unique pom pom flowers.

Happy flower-making,

Eunora

Let's Make Flowers!

Over the last year, it has been my pleasure

To create and give away NoriLynn Accessories!

I have had so much fun searching the internet

For new inspiration and tutorials.

Thank you to all who have asked for and wear

NoriLynn Accessories;

It makes my heart giddy when I see you wearing one!

As much as I would love to create a tutorial

For the different variety of flowers I have played with,

I simply don't have the time as school quickly approaches.

I thought I would release a few of my flower secrets to you.

Yup, I'm not as creative as some of you may think. (gasp!)

Most of the flowers I have fun making

Have come from the inspiration of others.

So please accept this post of tutorials

As the start to your own creative designs.

It's so much fun, so go ahead, get crafty!

I created the above design by using three 'rolled flowers.'

For a rolled flower tutorial click here for a tutorial.

Here's another pretty flower.

This one has so much potential as you experiment with size and materials.

To make this cute flower click here for an easy tutorial.

I love this flower. The more petals you add,

the fuller the flower, so go nuts.

Find out how here.

Well, there you have it.

I can fool you no longer.

I wish I could be

The hair accessory supplier

To all of you whenever

You have the desire for something new and fun.

But alas, I have a full life.

So have fun, and don't forget

To show me what you create!

Keep checking back for more tutorials!

Happy Flower Making,

Eunora

Bib Tutorial

My littlest one was in need of some new bibs. Being in a crafty mood of late, I decided to make some new ones instead of buying them. I'm so glad I did, too. It was easy, and fun to pick out some cute prints. I went ahead and snapped a few shots as I put this one together so that you too can make your own bibs.

Supplies: fabric of your choice, scissors, thread, sewing machine, pins,

snaps (found at craft stores).

Step 1: Draw around an existing bib you want to copy

and cut out two pieces like the picture below.

Step 2: Lay them right sides together and pin.

Step 3: Sew along the edge leaving a small opening

so that you can turn it right side out.

Step 4: Turn inside out.

Step 5: Top stitch your opening closed.

Step 6: Attach a snap by following the directions on the package.

And there you have it! You're own hand-made bib!

Happy Sewing,

Eunora

Flower Tutorial #1

I am so excited to be posting my first flower tutorial!

I have loved making and giving away NoriLynn flower hair accessories.

Now it's time to share the fun.

I have taken a series of pictures to help you

create your own flower hair clip.

Have fun, get creative, because the possibilities are endless!

Supplies: polyester fabric (something that will burn),

lighter, hot glue gun, needle and thread, single-prong hair clip,

felt, scissors, button or jewel, etc.

Step 1: Cut out six round circles in decreasing size.

Step 2: Burn the edges of your circles with a lighter.

Angle the flame to come from underneath the circle so the

edges curl up.

Step 3: Stack all your circles on top of each other.

Step 4: Hold your circles tightly in the middle.

Step 5: Thread your needle with your thread and tie a not to the end.

Bring your needle from the back of the biggest circle to the

front of the smallest circle.

Step 6: Send your needle through the top, small circle back through

all the layers and repeat this a few times.

Step 7: Tie and cut off your thread.

Step 8: Place hot glue on your button, jewel or

whatever you have chosen for the center of your flower.

Step 9: Place in the center of your flower.

Step 10: Cut a round piece of felt a little smaller

than your biggest circle. Then fold it in half and cut

a small slit into the folded edge.

Step 11: Slide your hair clip through the slit

with the flat side facing out.

Step 12: Glue the top back portion of the clip

to the felt with your hot glue gun.

Step 13: Turn felt over and squirt glue all over the

back of your felt circle.

Step 14: Press your felt onto the back of your flower.

Whaala!! Turn it over and admire your beautiful hand-made flower clip.

Happy flower making,

Eunora