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ten things … i really {heart} thursday


i’ve been all over pinterest this week
sometimes i get so inspired, i just wanna put everything down 
to go and make some of this stuff!

{remember to pin from the original sources!}

i {heart} this diy marquee sign. don’t you?! 
and it looks really complicated but it’s noooooot.



so i’m all about the pom poms lately … and garlands
pom poms + garland = big fat happy



more with the pom poms …
i tried so hard to find some time last week 
to make some of these for my kitchen window
maybe this week it’ll happen



school’s on it’s way … i know… i can feel it in my bones
blah.
i’m sorry but this happy yellow sunshiney teacher gift 
might just take the yucky out of end of summer blues




more often than not i want to take a whole day and just crochet.
it’s become a luxury now for me … not something i have much time for
or make much time for … but i need to pick up my hooks.
i miss them … these bracelets!




i big fat puffy {heart} everything about this little girl room
the wall … the bed color … just plain happy




sometimes simple is better.
let’s go make this right now … wanna?
it would take 2 seconds.




bows, mint green and necklaces
that’s all.




sooooo … i’ve been wanting to get a tattoo for a while now
what i want to get has spiritual meaning to me
as in it’s meaning is rooted in my faith … which is essentially who i am.
but ok, really … for fun … this fits me so well 🙂




my one-year shop anniversary is almost here … whoa. weird.
it’s been one crazeee year. and it’s flown by.
i’m gonna have some fun giveaways, flash sales and all kinds of pretty coming 
to the shop so stay tuned … but in the mean time, this quote is truth right here.



much love ♥
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house-warming gift idea … ♥




happy monday everyone.
hope your weekend was full of summer sunshine ♥
we had some happy, and some sad mixed in together this past week
one of the happy’s was my friend’s new home
and that we got to go visit for the first time since she and her family moved in.
she’s a lot like me when it comes to decorating
and i had fun putting this basket together for her
filled it with a few things i’d love to have for myself as a domestic engineer 🙂



i’m just so excited about this project i found
it’s a garland made up of all those free prints 
you know, the ones we love to hoard on our pinterest boards but never print out…
since the thought of buying and hanging frames for all of them is overwhelming … 
so this was the best idea ever. 
can’t wait to make one for here … there’s so many prints to choose from
i just can’t decide… but how cool that you can change them up every so often
for seasons or holidays … fun.




found this ceramic mason jar at joanns … and whipped up a few of my cupcake paper flowers
i forget how addicting they are to make … i could do it for hours.
it’s so pretty to see the different patterns come together.
go.
 make some. 
go now.



i added a few random vintage dishes, with some soap & sponges
i wanted to make some of these to put in there too…
but ran out of time.
that’s how it always is with me … 






i think she liked it 🙂
heck, i liked it… i wanted it.
but i gave it up. cause i’m nice like that.
happy making stuff.

linking up here:
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{diy} rainbow cloud garland … ♥

the other day we were in walmart 
and i saw these blue polka dot paper plates in the clearance section
bluuuuuue pooooolka dooooots (zombie voice)
 it’s like a magnetic force … pulling me to the polka dots
ok.

so we got them. and i thought about this garland i saw on pinterest
… it’s from a cute blog called a little delightful



but those are suns, and these plates looked like clouds 
but rainbows are like all buddy buddy with clouds too right?? so we went with it.


it’s one of the crafts that i put down on our summer bucket list
and the girls were excited to make it



it was really simple, we just cut the plates in half
then punched holes along the curved edge




then went to town with the rainbow part
they put ribbon & twine on some


 fabric & yarn on some too … i like how they look all wonky 🙂


we strung them all on some twine and hung it up in the craft room
across the top of the window.






summer crafts are the best ♥ 
happy crafting
linking up here:
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paperclip & pompom bookmarks … ♥





happy friday guys!
just wanted to pop in with this project that i shared a few weeks ago as a guest post
here’s the full post for you, just in time for back to school book-reading 
… or maybe even teacher gifts?!

if you’re new around these parts, you might not know my girls love to craft with me
and summertime is prime craftin’ time at our casa… 
the girls have recently put their pompom makers to good use!
meaning we have pompoms kinda layin around everywhere.  
to see a little tutorial on how to make your own with the clover pompom maker 
click over here real quick 🙂  
it’s a great way to use up itty bitty balls of scrap yarn too!



with pompoms a plenty we decided to do something crazy & wild … 
and make bookmarks. ok, not so crazy, 
but perfect for summer, when books & kids go hand in hand.
once the poms are finished, you’ll end up with a tail of yarn, 
just right for tying onto paperclips.  
we got all rainbow crazy and matched our colors up.


Just make sure you’re tying the yarn to the right end of the clip 
and then go ahead and double tie … maybe even triple tie.  
The pom will slide on the paperclip but won’t be goin’ anywhere.


now the super fun part … make tons.  
and they are addicting, so watch out! maybe even put them in a little jar, 
with a stack of yard sale books for a birthday gift idea?
now that would be awesome.

now what teacher wouldn’t love a stack of books just like this
with pompoms sticking out of the tops? so so fun 🙂

here’s another fun back to school craft we did last year…

i personally am still stuck in summer mode … 
hey, we’re just breaking the half-way mark around these parts
Happy Crafting!

linking up here:
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an etsy shop feature … ♥


even though there’s still 6 weeks of summer left here in upstate
school is about to start for others …
wow, can’t even believe that!

school supplies have not surfaced to the top of my thought pool as of yet
but those wheels sure were churnin’ a few months ago
when i stumbled upon a etsy shop that i just fell in love with …




my sweet friend Shannon from Hustle Mama 
makes all kinds of loveliness in her shop!
for a good chunk of time now, i’ve been on the look out for reusable snack & 
sandwich bags for my girls lunches … 
i really, really am all about re-usable/washable anything when it comes to boxes & bags 
and at the end of the last school year, i decided it was something i wanted to invest in
for the start of the new one

take a peek of some of the happy she has in her shop …


happy acrylic straws! to go with her mason jar tumblers…



Mega Pack Rainbow assortment 20 bags- Party favors - class gifts- birthday - FREE US SHIPPING
washable! reusable rainbow colored snack bags … 
it doesn’t get any happier than this




the insides of the snack bags are moisture resistant nylon 
food-safe… no BPAs, or lead
awesome




now these mason jar tumblers, i heart {♥} very much
i have this one with the rainbow chevron sleeve & love it so much!
Shannon get an thumbs up in the rainbow happiness department 🙂
(everything is so much better with rainbow)




there’s a coupon code in her shop from today until August 2nd, just for you guys!
perfect chance to check a few things for the start of the school year 🙂

use the code “RUBIES” 
for 20% of your total purchase at checkout

you can also find her on facebook here
and on instagram here
i love etsy…
i love the opportunity it holds for those with a creative outlet 
to be able to sell what they love using the gifts they’ve been given … 
and i can’t pass up the opportunity to share about products that i love
or other shops that i love … just can’t do it. 


but really my most favorite part of the whole etsy experience
 … is by far the relationships i’ve built with other sellers and buyers
that have formed into sweet friendships
hop on over there today and tell Shannon hello from Rubies ♥

much love today ♥
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game night! … in a bucket ♥



a few projects around the house are still in full swing this week!
but i wanted to stop and share this fun gift i put together 
for a wedding shower i was invited to.
see i’m not your typical go to the store print off the registry 
buy six towels & a matching soap dispenser kinda girl 🙂
i figure the happy couple-to-be will get enough of that old lady boring stuff
and instead they’d rather have something different & fun!
(well at least i’d rather get this gift)
(much more than the soap dispenser)

this is kinda along the same lines as the baby bath caddy that i made up a few months ago
cept this is a great gift idea, not only for newlyweds, but for a bunch of different events.

round up a few things to get this bucket-o-fun started…






air poppers are reasonably priced, 
and the popcorn tastes so much better than the fake microwave stuff right?!
(especially with all that healthy butter & salt)

i also took it right out of the box, so it would fit better
i’m not fond of boxes & bags when it comes to making a gift pretty
i almost always take everything out of it’s packaging 
before i pack it into an open gift like this
(i did tuck the manual and a gift receipt right behind everything once i was done)
(so don’t freak out)
(all you original box lovers out there)







there’s not much to explain when it comes to putting this together
all these supplies were found at Target
and the beverage tub was even clearanced out for the summer.






a few packs of card games would be neat to throw into the bucket too,
drink mixes … candy … anything you think you’d want to eat while playing games 🙂






on a side note, i have a special spot in my heart for the sunday comics. 
as in the funny papers.
when i was a kid i’d get so excited about getting sunday’s paper
because that was the paper that had the “color” comics … i’d read them once 
then come back and read them a couple more times … weird huh?
and now i like to use them for everything
 for wrapping Christmas presents and boxes that get sent in the mail
… i just know that someday i’m gonna think of an ingenious idea 
for my stash of funny papers
just you wait and see…

ok, back to the bucket.
crumple up some comic paper and add a few pieces to the bottom of the bucket 
this way everything has a little bit of height.






grab some ribbon and tie it around 
(i used a piece of masking tape to secure the ribbon on the underside of the bucket)
aaaand if you like my tag, it’s a free printable here for you to use!
🙂







just click on the image to download & save, then print on heavy card-stock






how cute to spend a fun evening home together as newlyweds 
popping popcorn and playing twister 😉 heehee


linking up here:
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insta-friday … summer edition ♥

well hey all.
it’s been a bit since i was here … this past week has been full of stuff
thought i’d bring the blog up to speed with my instragram life 🙂
since i haven’t been crafting or decorating. boo.
lots goes on on instagram
follow me there… i’m: raisinguprubies




♥ still have about 6 weeks of summer here in upstate 
and we’ve picked up some great finds stopping at yard sales most thrusdays & fridays
so my sheet collection grows larger 🙂
♥ i busted up my knee when i was running. i was told i over pronate? 
so that means i have to have a pricey set of kicks to keep running. bummer.
♥ packing product from my store is like therapy. it’s my favorite part 🙂
♥ chocolate chip pancakes for dinner … oh yeah.




♥ does anyone project life?
i really want to get started as soon as i get some uh…spare time? is there such a thing?
♥ my biggest little loves horses, rides horses, and dreams about horses
she even gallops around the house like she’s on a horse twenty four seven. all. the. time.
♥ mommy daughter shopping trips are the best (daddy’s checkbook might not agree) heehee
♥ hobby lobby’s fabrics are awesome right now! it’s usually hit or miss for me there
but i got some of each of these … hmm looks like more hoop making has to happen





♥after hob lob we hit Goodwill …where i almost never go anymore.  
the prices are so outrageous
and it’s mostly junk …. unless you walk in and see this puppy. 
a vintage green heavy duty filing cabinet. 
and when i say heavy duty … i mean really heavy
yup. $40. and it’s in the trunk in 10 minutes
♥ here it is my craft room. it’s a little too dark green for me, 
not sure if i should paint if or not, so i’m letting it sit for a while so i can decide. 
♥ weekly sunday selfie 
♥ have you read Jesus Calling? by Sarah Young … awesome book




♥ how do you spend your 4th? we had a terrific view of the fireworks this year.
♥ i worry that one day i’ll only have the memories of my little girl sitting here 
at my vanity hiding and playing with my jewlery in her night gown ♥
♥ pompoms, chalkboard heart clothespins & colored doiles? yes please. all of the above.
thank you Michael’s dollar bins.




♥ i’ll be starting a new batch of hoops soon, 
had fun picking out different fabrics over the past few weeks. excited about some new ideas.
♥ taking my words & my thoughts captive is a daily struggle for me
sometimes it seems like progress is ridiculously slow… but it’s there. 
and some progress is better than none.
♥ happy mail on it’s way out! lots n lots of happy mail.
♥ thank you Joann’s for making every crafter on the planet giddy with excitement over patterned burlap 🙂




♥ do you like marshmallow fluff? it’s ok, but i love the container it comes in … 
always savin them to store fun things in
♥ oh hey. i’m jaime. and i love making hoops.
♥ my new necklace from my sweet friend Kate … you can check out her shop here
♥ aaaaaand i deemed the mess in this room as a “work of art” entitled “disaster” 🙂





♥ rummage sales are still in full swing on the weekends … this was a good one!
♥ the second pic is the loot i brought home 🙂 and yes, i find lots of globes everywhere i go
♥ this dessert was deadly … go now and get the recipe
♥ sunday selfie 🙂






♥ finally made our summer bucket list (some things were already accomplished, so we just checked em off right away)
♥ breakfast, lunch & snacks on the deck are the best
♥ i have a friend who has a beautiful pool, and she told us to come swim this week when it was like 114 degrees 
(kay it was really 92, but felt like 114) thank you friend 🙂
♥ aaaaand this is a picture of another mess.
this was a little project, that somehow turned big.
and i have no idea how???? (wink wink)
hopefully i’ll be done soon, and i’ll tell you all about it!




last but not least
on wednesday my hubby surprised me with an overnight anniversary trip 
to a charming little Bed & Breakfast right on the lake! 
he told me go pack … we’re leaving soon … ack!
it was so pretty there (so so hot) (but so pretty 🙂
and theeeeen… he took me to all these antique shops that were all mapped out on his gps.
yup.
that’s what i said
he’s a keeper.
heart him.

be back next week with progress & projects!
linking up with Jeannett!
life rearranged
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ten things … ♥ garlands & buntings


what?
didn’t hear what you said?
oh… it’s friday?!
ha.
must be summer. cause i actually thought it was wednesday yesterday.
🙂

happy friday peeps!
i’m just all about the garlands lately
and the pennant buntings … and the lights
all things hanging really. 
i feel the need to put some hanging stuff up everywhere in the house
after my over the kitchen sink party post the other day, 
i started hittin’ up pinterest to find the cutest garland ideas… 
all of which i would love to make
check ’em out 🙂
{oh and don’t forget! pin from the original sites please!}



i love this layout … across the span of two windows! genius.





this isn’t technically a garland. but it’s so so neat. so that’s close enough.





if it’s made with cupcake paper liners, i’m in.





i actually have a jar full of different color/size butterflies 
that i don’t have many ideas for. this is a great idea





i {heart} this one … now to score a deck of these playing cards




there is a general obsession with maps in all of blog land, yes. i know.
 but i have to say there’s something fun about them … i can’t resist, i must join the masses




my biggest little loves this idea 
thank you God for creating horses … all little girls love them so ♥




twinkle lights + doilies = awesomeness
another cute one for the little horse lover in your life 🙂

what about mini buntings? all over everywhere … in every little space … think small 




do you love garlands as much as me?
or do i have a slight problem … 🙂
happy friday & happy crafting!
go make some stuff.
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sugar cookie recipe and a little bit of kitchen love … ♥

the summer is already starting to fly by
every year i say the same thing…
i will not let summer fly by
i will not let summer fly by 
but sometimes it does anyways … 
even still, i’m determined to make a summer bucket list and complete at least half of it. 
our summer seems to start later here. weather wise and when school ends. 
school starts the first week of September … so i feel like i’m still sorta ahead of the game. sorta.

the past few tuesdays we’ve been making & taking cookies to daddy’s work
last week we tried this recipe for no-roll sugar cookies that i found via Pinterest
it was simple & quick
i’ve been feeling the weight of not doing enough for others
and pointing out to my girls, that contrary to what society tells us, 
the world does not revolve around them… or even around our family. 
there are kids we can sponsor, people who are sick that we can help, 
or even just for our neighbors. is there something we can do for them? or bring to them?
are we paying attention? to what’s going on outside of our little box.
all around us. everyday.
that’s the only way. they only way something will be seen as different in us.



not to point towards religion.
religion is empty. it’s void.
not to point towards rules
what we should wear, or what type of music we should listen to 
… what version we should read.
rules are empty.
and they fall on the deaf ears of a world 
that has already pinned the Creator as next to non-existent.
no… i don’t want to point others towards rules

i want to point towards a Savior. 
the One who is meant to fill the void.
the One who sets us free.
free to live in His Truth & in His Grace…
and striving to find a good balance between the two.
anyways … that’s what’s been on my heart lately
and with all this baking goin on, i’m thinking about how thankful i am 
for our home, our kitchenit’s spacious and comfy … 
so much revolves around this room.
my kitchen sink gets a lot of hours out of me 🙂
i love sprucing it up, adding little things that make it a fun area to spend time in
i found a little white pedestal dish at the thrift store, and put our hand soap & a bottle of lotion on it right near the sink
then i saw these lights on Pinterest and fell in love
and then decided to make a few strands of my own
i strung them over the sink and later found the aqua bird cage at hobby lobby 
threw that and some pom pom flowers into the mix
and now it’s like a little party 24/7 right over my kitchen sink 🙂
to make your own lights, all you need is a string of patio or Christmas lights 
(got these white ones at Target in the outdoor stuff) 
and some cupcake papers. snip a little hole in the base and fit over the bulb
then repeat. like a hundred times
but it’s worth it.
at night when we go to bed i turn off all the other lights and leave these on 🙂
they’re like night lights in the kitchen ♥
much love ♥
linking up here:

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a little shop update and a winner … ♥

just here to announce a winner for the goody bag …
comment #8!
from Christina
“It’s hard to pick just one favorite! For vintage, I love Blissful Blooms 
https://www.etsy.com/shop/amysblissfulblooms
For handmade- I love yours! 
and also Lemonade Makin’ Mama (she’s on vacation right now)



Hope I win!”




well girl ya did!
look for an email from me!



if you follow me on Instagram these probably look familiar 🙂
i made these sunshine mason jar garlands for Whatever Craft Weekend a few weeks ago…
have you heard about this awesome weekend? 
Meg Duerksen hosts one weekend a month at her craft house 
and blesses 16 ladies to go and craft, eat, antique and just enjoy time together 
creating wonderful things… along with time to get away and renew their spirits
i think the whole thing is just the bomb.com … and you can go sign up!
and make a cup of tea … you’ll be there a while 🙂





re-created the same rainbow garlands and they’re listed in my shop
14 garlands total are currently listed
but not sure if i’ll make more before the summer is out 
but look for other mason jar garlands to be added to the shop soon.




these oh happy days are still available to purchase here






i’ve got big plans for the shop this fall! hopefully i can pull it all off 🙂
happy 4th everyone!