Crafting for Girl Scouts

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Were you a Scout? I was-- for years I loved being a Girl Scout. I had the brown beanie, the socks with the tassels, and the sash filled with patches. (don't laugh!)

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This year, Afton is a Daisy Scout. Her troop is made up of other Kindergarteners from her school. And she has two fearless leaders who have been fantastic with the girls. And this Sunday is the official "World Thinking Day" celebration. The girls will meet with other Girl Scouts and learn about 10 different countries.

Source: infobarrel.com via Tina on Pinterest

Now I thought I knew just about everything there was to know about Girl Scouts-- I mean I had the socks with the tassels for heaven's sake! But then we were told our troop needed to bring 200 'swaps' to the event. What in the world is a swap??

Well, I Googled it... and according to the official Girl Scout website, a 'swap' is

"Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere"

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source

 Swaps, the tradition of Girl Scouts exchanging keepsakes, started long ago when Girl Scouts and Girl Guides first gathered for fun, song, and making new friends. Swaps were widely exchanged at national Girl Scout Senior Roundups in the 1950's and 1960's. And according to the website, swaps are still the perfect way for Girl Scouts to meet each other and promote friendship. Each one is a memory of a special event or Girl Scout Sister.
 
Swaps can look like this

Source: ecrater.com via Natalie on Pinterest

or this

Source: myswapscollection.com via Samantha on Pinterest

or even this

Source: ecrater.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Some tips for a swap are as follows:
-Spend little to no money
-Make swaps that can be worn
-Try to have one swap for each event participant and staff member (hence the 200 needed)
-Be creative!

I think swaps might be right up my alley! We went to Hobby Lobby today and collected some supplies to make our swaps. The girls will be making 'daisy swaps' by attaching pins to pre-cut felt shapes similar to these. We will also attach our troop number. The daisies are fitting for our new Daisy troop. And I think they will be perfect for our first 'swap' experience.

Have you ever made a 'swap'? Any tips or hints for the 'art of swap' making?


If you haven't had a chance, don't forget to share your latest creation at ...

Cowgirl #3

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Welcome to Week 3 of 
 Cowgirl Up! Link Party . . .

the party with a cowgirl can-do  spirit!

1 Party, 4 Blogs

<a href="http://www.craftytexasgirls.com/"><img border=”0” src="http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/krystalwinn/hfd/cowgirl-up-003-button-4.jpg" /></a>

Hello!  It's Samantha here and I am happy to say that "Cowgirl Up!" just keeps getting better. I know there are a lot of link parties in the blogging world, but where else can you find 4 blogs linked together?! The unique style of our party has lead to a huge response. I am amazed at the talent and creative ideas showcased in the party this week. Honestly, your projects made it very hard to choose 'favorites'. Thank you for sharing your talent with US! 

Here are few posts that caught my eye this week...

"Fabulous Furniture Transformation" from Turnstyle Vogue

"An Updated Sun Room" from Savvy Southern Style

 "Restoration Hardware Inspired Vintage Metal Letters" from Knick of Time

 

"How to Paint Your Washer" from Five Days... 5 Ways

"How to Dye Coffee Filters" by Salvaged Whimsy

"A Different Chair" by A Girl and a Brush

"Painted Ombre Flour Sack Towels" by Always in Wonder

"Introducing Annika" by The Comforts of Home

 If you were featured here, grab a Featured button.  Be sure to like our Facebook pages, since we also post favorites there too. If you got featured on Facebook, then feel free to grab a featured button also. 

Now about the party...

You link up on my blog and your link shows up on four blogs. 

 More exposure, less time. 

We are looking for the latest and greatest projects, tutorials, ideas, crafts, recipes, decor, and inspiring stories.  Anything that you are proud to show off.

Cowgirl Up! is the link party that saves you time and brings you inspiration.  Doesn't get any easier than that!

What blogs will your link appear on?  Check us out below!

Linsey with The Farmhouse Porch

Anita with Cedar Hill Ranch

Amanda with The Ivy Cottage Blog

Samantha with Crafty Texas Girls

The four of us are all Texas bloggers, but you don't have to be Texas, country, western, or own horses to participate in Cowgirl Up!  You just need that "can-do", cowgirl spirit!

Cowgirl Up! Link Party Guidelines:

(Please read the guidelines before participating)

*  When you link with Cowgirl Up!, your link will automatically show on four different blogs.  Awesome!

*  Please follow your host blog before linking up on GFC and the new linky follow.

*  You may link up decor, DIY, crafts, guest post, recipes, giveaways, sewing, inspiring stories, and anything that you feel related to the listed categories.

*  You may link as many links as you want.

*  Be sure to include the Cowgirl Up! Button or text link to Cowgirl Up in your linked post.  

*  Be courteous and visit the two links before yours.  Please LIKE your favorite links!  Several projects will be featured each week!

President's Day

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A little "Presidential Fun" from our friends on Pinterest :)

 Presidents Day Shirts

Source: dana-made-it.com via Samantha on Pinterest

A Presidential Lunch

Source: flickr.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Abe and George as Finger Puppets

Source: crafts.kaboose.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Presidential Pillows- complete with coin 'buttons'

Source: infarrantlycreative.net via Samantha on Pinterest

Little Presidents for sale on Etsy 

Source: etsy.com via Samantha on Pinterest

A Yummy Log Cabin 

Source: marthastewart.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Wise Words from the Presidents

Source: etsy.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Source: abduzeedo.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Source: kellymccaleb.tumblr.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Happy President's Day! 


Come back later for "Cowgirl Up! #3"- I am featuring lots of amazing projects from last week!

In Your Spare Time...

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First of all, thank you my friends for all your sweet comments about my last post. Your support and kind words made my day. :) :)

Now, if you are a fan of home decor, then you either know and love, or will soon become fans of these sites. I find myself cruising through these about once a week now. So much beautiful inspiration:


 1. Houzz- It is like Pinterest for home decor, but even better. You can specifically search for a certain color or design style. And pop! A million gorgeous photos by designers, design magazines, and other contributors will magically appear. I used it recently to look for some 'turquoise ideas' for the playroom makeover. It was easier and faster to find exactly what I was looking for because of the way the site is organized.  Oh and there is an awesome free app too! (thanks Jaime for passing it along!)

Houzz- Kitchen Design, Bathroom Design and More»

Browse Window Treatments on Houzz- For Example:

Cellular Shades · Curtain Poles · Curtains · Roller Blinds · Roman Blinds · Venetian Blinds · Vertical Blinds · Window Blinds ·

 2. Hooked on Houses- Do you ever watch a movie or a tv show and wonder about the home? Take for example beautiful traditional home on "Modern Family"? Or the classic "Home Alone" house? Well you can take a peek inside these homes as well so many interesting others-- celebrity homes, amazing before and afters, and unique cottages. It's the perfect place to get your 'house fix' and find ideas for your home. (thanks Stephanie for sharing this site with me!)

The beach house from "Something's Gotta Give"- here

3. Apartment Therapy- I know what you're thinking, but this site is not just for 'apartment dwellers'. Their motto is actually "Saving the world, one room at a time". The site is filled with so many creative ideas for using space wisely and creating something unique. I love this post about updating a room "A Granny's Office goes Modern". 

Here

Here

 What about you? What sites have you found and loved recently?

Change of Heart

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I've been trying all day to sit down and write a post. But one thing led to another and I just never got around to it. Now I am in the middle of folding laundry and watching a movie. So I'll keep this short.


 Did you have a good Valentine's Day? We had a little "pinterest" in our day. Starting with heart shaped cinnamon rolls. 

Original idea from here.

Lunch consisted of a heart shaped sandwich too. I spent some time with Afton at her Kindergarten party. I honestly think life doesn't get any better than Kindergarten. They had a little dance, complete with the waltz and some 'YMCA'. Then they returned to the room for a 'high tea party'. Her teacher is on pinterest, so the goodies were 'over the top' adorable :)

 For dinner we attempted the heart shaped biscuits, but honestly they didn't taste so good. Must have been the fact that I did bisquick instead of homemade. Or because we used it like 'playdough' before we baked them.

Sadly, not my biscuits! You can find these 'here'.

Today I was supposed to register Maisy for preschool. Fall registration begins early around here. But have to admit, I chickened out.

 For the past three months I have been absolutely sure she would go. Then last week, something changed. And just like that I was positively sure she would not be going to preschool yet. She's only two! Now that Afton is in elementary school, I see how fast the "sweet days at home" pass. I feel like it's best for us to hold off for another year.

 So we skipped registration and went on a run instead. Maisy ate her breakfast in the jogging stroller and sang to me while I trotted along. Then we played outside in the rain.

What did you do today? Did you change your mind (or your heart) about anything?


PS- Thank you to everyone who linked up to "Cowgirl Up!" this week. 

Cowgirl Up! #2

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 Welcome to Week 2 of 
 Cowgirl Up! Link Party . . .

the party with a cowgirl can-do  spirit!

1 Party, 4 Blogs

<a href="http://www.craftytexasgirls.com/"><img border=”0” src="http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/krystalwinn/hfd/cowgirl-up-003-button-4.jpg" /></a>

Wow!!  It's Anita here, and can I say that all of us at Team Cowgirl Up! were blown away by the response last week?  First off, week #1 kicked off with over 180 links, and the quality of projects was stellar.  Let me just say, YOU ROCK!!  I know there are lots of parties out there, and we are so excited you have taken the time to join us.     

It was very difficult to select just a few projects to feature, but here's some that I really loved.   

Head over Heels shared lots of wonderful ideas for her Texas country wedding.  (I do love a wedding!)  

Coastal Colors showed off her side table redo with this great French graphic. 

Coastal Charm saved mega-bucks with her thrifty new DIY $240 floor!

Craft Berry Bush shares how she made this wonderful winter wreath in a white frame. 

French Country Cottage repurposed a garden table, making a new table top.  (I love a woman who can use power tools.)

A Few Pennies used odds and ends to create some new va-voom.

Savvy Southern Style showed gave us a tour of her dreamy, serene bedroom.



There were tons more projects I wanted to highlight, but for the sake of space, I'll stop there for this week.  If you were featured here, grab a Featured button.  Be sure to like our Facebook pages, since we also post favorites there too. If you got featured on Facebook, then feel free to grab a featured button also.

<a href="http://cedarhillranch.blogspot.com/"><img border=”0” src="http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/krystalwinn/hfd/cowgirl-up-003-button-4.jpg" /></a>

Now about the party...

you link up on my blog and your link shows up on four blogs.  Cool, huh?  More exposure, less time.  Sounds good to me!

We are looking for the latest and greatest projects, tutorials, ideas, crafts, recipes, decor, and inspiring stories.  Anything that you are proud to show off.

Cowgirl Up! is the link party that saves you time and brings you inspiration.  Doesn't get any easier than that!

What blogs will your link appear on?  Check us out below!

Linsey with The Farmhouse Porch

Anita with Cedar Hill Ranch

Amanda with The Ivy Cottage Blog

Samantha with Crafty Texas Girls

The four of us are all Texas bloggers, but you don't have to be Texas, country, western, or own horses to participate in Cowgirl Up!  You just need that "can-do", cowgirl spirit!

Cowgirl Up! Link Party Guidelines:

(Please read the guidelines before participating)

*  When you link with Cowgirl Up!, your link will automatically show on four different blogs.  Awesome!

*  Please follow your host blog before linking up on GFC and the new linky follow.

*  You may link up decor, DIY, crafts, guest post, recipes, giveaways, sewing, inspiring stories, and anything that you feel related to the listed categories.

*  You may link as many links as you want.

*  Be sure to include the Cowgirl Up! Button or text link to Cowgirl Up in your linked post.  

*  Be courteous and visit the two links before yours.  Please LIKE your favorite links!  Several projects will be featured each week!