Sharing a Smile--Cactus

Happy Monday, everyone!  Can you believe it's August already!?!  My oldest has started summer band practice already and I'm in denial that school starts in three weeks.  I'm already filling up our calendar with game schedules and practices--so not ready for that.  Craftberry Bush's latest calendar makes it a little less painful. I have this downloaded on my desktop, but she also has some cute backgrounds formatted for iPhones.   I LOVE the cactus background and she is offering some other gifts for sale in her shop with her beautiful art.

Purchase here.

This 12x12 framed print is perfectly minimal and beautiful at the same time.

Purchase here.

This 16x16 throw pillow cover would be a great way to change up your decor 

for a cowboy/Southwest kind of vibe.

Purchase here.

I thought this iPhone case was super cute--love the pink background!

And, speaking of cactus, I follow Southern Trends on Instagram.  A couple of weeks ago, they featured the cutest little Saguaro cactus necklace.  It's a piece Little Sis and I can share and it is really sweet and dainty, just like the description says.

Dainty Cactus Necklace-purchase here.

Hope you all have a wonderful Monday--have a great day!

Sharing a Smile: Easiest Cuff Bracelet EVER!

How cute is this!!  She-Sheds are the new Man-Caves!

Little sis and I made a trip to Michael's to pick up some supplies for a new light fixture I'm making for my latest work-in-progress:  a "She-Shed".  We have a great storage building in our backyard that has electricity, cabinets and paneled walls and it is currently holding a hodgepodge of camping gear, horse blankets and tack and a few bicycles.  My plan is to clean that out and make it another gathering place or a hiding place, as the mood strikes.  More on that to come!

As I was in the jewelry section to find some cute pieces to add to the light shade, my trusty helper found a cute and easy craft for us to make.  I love a leather cuff bracelet and Shortcuts from Blue Moon Beads makes it super easy and fast to make one.

First you choose the cuff you want.

I chose the hot pink to try something different and sister chose the gold.  

They come with little clips on them and you get to pick out the metal connector 

you want to add to the middle:

Steps involved:

1. Remove cuff and connector from packages
2. Snap connector onto clips on cuff
3. Put it on!

I chose a silver wing and little sis chose a gold cross cut-out.

The cuff and the connector are $3.99 each, but this past weekend they were on sale for 50% off.  I don't think they're on sale this week, but there's always the magic 40% off coupon!

Hope you enjoyed this complicated tutorial.  Never fear--with a pair of scissors and 90 seconds, you too can create this intricate piece of jewelry!  Have a great day, friends!

Artistic photo shoot fail  :-)