Start the year off right!

I don't know about you, but lately my mind has been crazy with possible goals to improve my 2011 year. Write down your goals in style with this cute printable from 30days.

Win a gorgeous hoodie from Evy's Tree!

I have completely been longing for a gorgeous hoodie from Evy's Tree.These are beautiful ruffled hoodies with fab color combos and great flower brooches. Wouldn't any girl feel so unique and feminine in the above-pictured beauty? Head on over to the Evy's Tree Blog to enter to win this pink polka-dot hoodie, and get a fabulous Christmas present for yourself or someone else!

My festive table...

I'm so proud of my fun little Christmas table. Bright colors and sparkles just make me so happy! Let me tell you about all of the fabulous components:

* Various glass jars -all .50 or 1.00 at D.I.

* Fillers- fabric, ornaments bought on clearance from Target last year, candy. The dollar store has tons of cute things to use as fillers

* Joy sign- I think I bought it a Smiths 2 years ago, but you can find them all over. Ben Franklin has a super cute sparkly "Merry Christmas" sign

* Mini clock- gift

* Table runner-- I made it with Moda 12 Days of Christmas fabric. It was so easy-- I just cut strips of different widths out of 6 different fabrics, sewed them together, and added two borders. Love it! I'm thankful that a little color and fun can add so much cheer to our home.

Friday Favorite: Stampin' Up Necklace

Ok friends... you are totally gonna LOVE this!

A few weeks ago, I saw a stampin' up booth at a local boutique, and I was pleasantly surprized! I remember the old 90's-style stamping I did with my mom when I was little, but this company has completely re-vamped its style and products. They are ADORABLE! I know it's hard to think past Christmas, but isn't this letterpress card beautiful?! Check out Stampin' Up!

One thing I absolutely LOVED was this cute little soldered necklace. I know we've all seen these before, but this one is so much better! Besides being high quality, the metal charm swings open so you can switch out the picture. Just imagine the possibilities! It comes with 9 handstamped cards, or you could put in your favorite photo, a cute sticker or piece of scrapbooking paper. You can also get a card with your initial stamped on it. The charm is double-sided, with a smooth side and a beveled side for double the fun!
Heather, the demonstrator I met, is selling this beauty, for just $20! You also get a thick, cute chain to hang the charm on, and it'll come gift-wrapped. Even more, mention my blog and get 2 for $35! I doesn't get better, or easier than that folks. If you want to order, e-mail her at heather_stevens_cm@hotmail.com. Check out her blog for more cute ideas!

Christmas Print Freebie

I LOVE the simple and beautiful prints this creative woman comes up with! This simple print is going up in my living room pronto! Download it here!

Ten-Dollar Tuesday: Vintage End Table

Since moving into our new apartment and getting a new couch, I've decided to actually decorate the living room. Thanks to THIS fabulous woman's inspiration on re-doing furniture, I found a cute little end table at D.I. for 7$, and decided to make it turquoise (my favorite). Brooke at All Things Thrifty has made up easy tutorials for painting and glazing furniture. Go check it out! You won't be disappointed!

Before....

After priming...

I also painted it with two coats Valspar paint and glazed the details. Glazing makes the scroll details pop and I love the end result! I'll post the finish picture when this little beauty makes it into our living room.

Ten-Dollar Tuesday: Luxurious Minky Scarf

There are so many wonderful colors and textures of minky, and it feels fabulous against your skin! I thought a scarf made out of the stuff would be so luxurious, plus it only cost two or three dollars and took less than 10 minutes.

You'll need:

2 strips of minky fabric, 4 1/2 inches wide (1/8 yd)

Coordinating thread

1. With a rotary cutter and ruler, straighten out fabric

2. With right sides together, sew three sides together, leaving one short side open to turn right-side out

3. Turn in fabric of open side, and top stitch both short sides with coordinating thread

So easy, so cute, and it looks so beautiful and fancy!

** Another minky project is soon to come, and it's one babies and toddlers will LOVE!

Friday Favorite- E.L.F.

Ok... I've been a slacker. But now that we're all moved in and most of the boxes have gotten unpacked, I'm giving new effort to blogging. At least as much as Elsie will allow. So here comes my first Friday Favorite-- an item I love that is affordable and fun.

When it comes to make-up, I believe you get what you pay for, with one exception-- the mineral line from Eyes, Lips, Face, or E.L.F. I love the silky smooth eyeshadows that actually stay on and look great all day. Plus they are only $3 each! Amazing. Right now, e.l.f. minerals make-up is half off the already inexpensive price. Go check it out HERE!

Ten-Dollar Tuesday: Cheery Penant Banners

I have countless cheap living ideas in my head, and I'd like to get them out. So... I'm starting 10-dollar Tuesday, where each week, I'll show a decor item or something else, that was easy, fast, and under $10. I'm excited!!I'm sure most of you have seen a very popular, absolutely adorable pennant banner somewhere already. They are simple, fast, and inexpensive to make, and I decided to create one to add to my fall decor. You'll need:

2 triangle templates, one being about 3/4" smaller in diameter than the other

Scissors and pinking shears

About 1/4 yard each of two coordinating fabrics, and 1/6 yard of another matching fabric (this fabric should be darker and stand out as it is for the letters

1/6 yard of wonder under (This is double-sided iron-on adheisive)

A paper with the letters you want in the size and font you would like ( I chose to put HARVEST)

1-2 yards of matching ribbon

1. Cut out the triangles of the two fabrics, using the pinking shears for the larger triangles

2. Iron the wonder under to the wrong side of the letter fabric. Pin the letters BACKWARDS to wrong side of fabric and cut out. (That way, they'll be the right way on the right side of the fabric

3. Stitch smaller triangles to center of larger triangles.

3. Peel off wonder under paper backing from the letters, and position them on triangles, then iron

4. Pin triangles to ribbon, and stitch

5. Ta-dah! For this project the fabric was about $5, the ribbon was $1, and I already had the wonder under. I just love the whimsy it adds ...Now I just need a cuter mantle!

Fabulous Peach Slush!

Who isn't loving the abundance of peaches right now?! Try them in this delicious, guilt-free treat! In blender, pulse together:

6 peaches, peeled and cut up

1 can crushed pineapple

1 cup orange juice

2 T sugar

***Add more or less of each ingredient to taste. Pour mixture into baggies and put in freezer. When you want to enjoy, take a baggie out, let it thaw for a little, then fill glass half full with peach mix, half full with lemon-lime soda. (I use Blue Sky, because it is all natural) So yummy!

Spooky and Sparkly!

LOVE this tutorial for "frightfully fun frames" from eighteen25. Glitter adds such a great pop!

The look of fall...

I am most certainly the thrifty type, but if I had $1000 dollars to spend on clothes, these are a few of the beauties I just might splurge on:

I'm in love with the army green/ plum purple colors of this ruffle hoodie.

This Anthro tunic looks so comfy and laid-back, but still in-style and gorgeous. But... who spends $98 on one shirt? Dang.

In style or not, I am LOVING these plaid sanuks. They would be perfect for in-between summer and winter looks, including the tunic from above.

I am a lover of all things animal, so this butterfly cuff is definitely my style. The rainbow patina is gorgeous! Everything from Twisted Silver is as amazing.

Initial in a Frame

Trying to decorate our little home on a budget has helped me be creative and cheap. It is actually quite fun going to D.I finding little treasures-- imagining what they can become! Using initials is popular right now, and I love this trend. We recently painted a coffee table apple green, and I LOVE the color. So, I decided to use it for another project.

I used:

* A $1 frame bought from D.I.

* A wooden block letter from Michaels- $2.99

* One piece of scrapbooking paper in a pattern I liked

* Leftover paint-- (You can by a container of craft paint at any craft store for about $1.50, but I like the finish from a higher quality paint from a hardware store. You can buy a sample container for about $3.00.)

*Glue gun- I have a really cheap one from JoAnns, but it works just great

I gave the frame another coat of white, and painted the L apple green, then sanded each a little to give a more vintage look. I cut the scrapbook paper and a piece of cardboard to fit the frame, stuck it in, and positioned the L where I wanted it. Elsie helped... And here it is finished and sitting on my bookcase. It gives the room a little pop! I love it!

I love this blog!

Some time ago, I came across THIS blog from an awesome woman. She truly is a housewife extraordinare, offering helpful photography and scrapbooking tidbits, as well as giving plenty of how-tos. I LOVE her decorating style-- she definately shows what can be done with a little spray paint and imagination. Her theme is "For the love of sharing good living," and that is exactly what she does. Go check it out!

Easy-Peasy Earring Holder

All of my earrings are much too pretty to be sitting in a box. This cheap, simple holder adds some fun to my dresser! Best of all, it was super cheap to make!
I bought the frame at D.I. for $1, measured the opening, and cut a piece of screen to fit from a ripped one my parents had. Then I hot-glued the screen to the opening. Set it up on a frame holder and...TA-Daa--arrange the collection!

Cute Little Creatures

I sure have a special place in my heart for all things bug-eyed and fuzzy. Check out these unique animal creations--

Although too expensive to give to my daughter to play with, these poofy-haired creations look so much fun. Check out more HERE.

These whimsical paintings are from a woman in Farmington. Wouldn't they look so cute in a child's bedroom? See them all HERE.

I love all of the one-of-a-kind felt animals on THIS site. An extra friend for you to cuddle.

THIS shop has such unique handmade jewelry. Check out the spork necklace-- hilarious!

We have a winner!

Using random.org, #1 was picked as our winner. Yay Jessica! Send me your address and which dangle you would like. Thanks everyone for entering!!! All of your comments make me so happy.

Our First Giveaway

Since finishing work and staying home full-time, I have been able to do lots of creating while Elsie naps. I have and will continue to add more beauties to my etsy site. In order to promote my etsy site, and because I love giving things away, we will have our first GIVEAWAY.

I love dangle necklaces like this one. The chain is very lightweight, and each of the baubles has a clasp attached so you can take them off and mix and match as desired. Plus, the chain looks cute and classy just by itself. It is like having several necklaces in one! Before I list these, I would like to give one lucky reader a 30" circle chain and the dangle of her choosing. (From those show in the pictures.)

There are 3 ways you can enter:
1) Become of follower of the Princess E. blog (and leave a comment that you did)

2) Blog/ Facebook about this giveaway (and leave a comment that you did)

3) Comment on your favorite thing in my etsy store/ give me a suggestion or something you would like to see/ etc. (You can do this each day)

Please enter whether you know me or not!

***Giveaway ends on July 13th at 12:00 pm MST. Good Luck!

Local Treasures

I love supporting small-business crafters who make handmade items. Utah especially has so many incredible creators. Here are a few adorable and interesting local finds--

This ring from Quiet Mischief is completely made with duct tape! I love the bright pink color and the intricacy of the design. This would definately be a conversation starter. www.etsy.com/shop/QuietMischief

My heart will forever be in the small town I grew up in. State prints from qa design are a perfect way to display where your heart lies. The orange and turquoise combo is so unique and would look great on a piano or mantle. www.etsy.com/shop/qadesign

www.foralltimeclocks.com takes one of your prized pictures and makes a beautiful one-of-a-kind clock. There are so many styles on the website, you are sure to find one you love.

It doesn't get better than free

A few weeks ago I came across an awesome blog-- Heather at FabulousFunFinds does the work for you finding great new boutiques and products, as well as offering giveaways almost daily. I enter almost every one, and yesterday, I won! I'm so excited to get these sandals from zooshoo.com. So... go on over and try your luck! You just might win!

Hair Posies!

A girl can never have too many hair, or bald head accessories. At least that's what Elsie thinks. And she looks so darn cute with one on her little noggin! My sister Cara came down last weekend and we made a ton! I love the color combos and all the fun button centers. Plus, they are so easy and inexpensive to make. I will be listing some as soon as I find a craft store that is not sold out of aligator clips for the backs.

I have an addiction...

I love all things cute, but fabric of all kinds is my addiction. When I walk into a shop lined with bolts of different patterns and colors, coordinating prints, and various textures, I can't help but start to drool. I get so many ideas of the creations I could make, but of course I don't have enough time for all of them. Mormon Handicraft inside Deseret Book in Orem has one of the cutest, most unique selections, at a reasonable price. I went in yesterday, and they are doing away with the fabric in the store, :( so it is all 30% off :) ! So if you live close to Orem, go check it out. You won't be disappointed!

Beginnings of Princess E.

I have always loved crafting. Growing up my mother taught us how to sew, knit, weave baskets, make pottery, and create countless other things. Dear baby Elsie has only heightened my love and desire to create. In her short 8 weeks of life, I have already made countless dresses, skirts, hair things, and blankets for her. Now I am on a creating frenzy. The purpose of this blog is to document my creations, Elsie in the creations, and to share about our fabulous life as mother and daughter.