Crafty thoughts...creating for others

Before I "had a business" (when will I feel comfortable enough saying that where I don't put quotation marks around that?) I crafted for myself and my camper. (The co-director doesn't quite appreciate manly crafty things...) Sometimes, I would participate in crafty "swaps" where I would make things for strangers and their families and someone would mail something to me. The police detective in me had to overcome some jaded distrust issues to do this, but these swaps gave me a huge amount of satisfaction! I had to get creative about what THEY would like (not just want I liked) and what would work for their family. It truly pushed me beyond my comfort level and challenged me.

Unlike my mother, I am NOT a person with a natural servant/giver's heart. I confess to strongly disliking all holidays that require gift giving. But the creative process in creating for strangers was different than creating for those that know me. It was that fun sort of stressful...you know...the one where you have the greatest reward when you are done! This week, I launched Camp Cupcake Designs and the rewards have already started coming in. I have had a couple of sales but the coolest part to me is that people want me to create for them. My napkins have proved to be one of my "hot items" and I am working on some custom orders for people.

People want me to create for them...How awesome is that?

Be sweet and sustainable!

Camp Cupcake has officially launched! I have added a few items to my store and can't wait to add more products to encourage sweet sustainable living...

Amy Butler print burp and wash cloth set

patchwork burp and wash cloth set

Heather Ross patchwork burp and wash cloth set

Adult napkin set

And our feature product: preschool picnic mats

Please follow this site or follow Camp Cupcake on Twitter for future giveaways, product announcements and free shipping offers!

What do you do when the rain stops?

you go exploring!

We discovered new friends (and this guy was REALLY big!)

We found a broken baseball and we discovered what was inside! (I must say that my husband truly has the most inquisitive spirit...and I love that so much about him...)

We found holly high in a tree (did you know it was endangered?) and dreamed about Christmas.

It had rained here for 3 days straight, so it was amazing to see blue skys at the top of these evergreens...

We carried a bag and Elijah got to pick up whatever he "discovered" on our walk. It was truly touching that he didn't always pick up the prettiest leaf or piece of bark but found each piece he did find to be worthy of equal "oooh-ing" and "ahhhh-ing." It was a great lesson for us big kids and a fun time for the little camper.

Gentlemen, start your engines!

So...the first Camp Cupcake Designs products are going out today! Yeah! They are going to dear friends that will be providing feedback on products themself, packaging and pictures taken (how they represent what they got, are they good for marketing, etc.) I have set up my etsy shop (campcupcakedesigns.etsy.com) BUT there is currently no inventory listed. I have to write my return policies and take care of other business before I "launch" officially. However, Hidden Talents (a military spouse run craft consignment store whose profits go to charity!) is about to have their annual craft show and I would like to get some Camp Cupcake gear into the show...so I am first concentrating on finishing the required 15 items for them.

I washed and ironed over 10 yards of awesome fabric today so I am hitting the ground running!

finally...it's fall!

Remember how I said (um, complained...) that it was still warm here? Well, we are starting to feel a tad bit of a nip in the air and I thought it was the perfect time to fix something with my favorite fall ingredient: pumpkin!

I followed this recipe from The Pioneer Woman's blog for pumpkin butter...

I stirred up the ingredients, made myself some coffee and put the butter on top of a whole wheat english muffin. The pumpkin butter filled every nook and cranny on that muffin...mmmmmmm...

Doesn't it look good? I highly recommend it and it is a healthy, vitamin and fiber-rich topping that tastes like fall!

Guess what I did while I ate this yummy treat? I wrote a business plan. Stay tuned for more details!

brought to you by the letter E...

We follow the preschool prep curriculum from Letter of the Day and we have a blast doing it. I admit to slacking on the last couple of weeks but it is fun putting together our board each week.

Sourdough bread in the making...E comments that raw sourdough bread dough is NOT good but tastes delicious with homemade broccoli and cheese soup for dinner. Mmmmmm...

We made a lighthouse for craft time today. Well, it was supposed to be a lighthouse...it turned out to be a strange cylinder with random scissor cuts with a flashlight inside. However, this is AWESOME fun when you are two and getting to play with the flashlight in the dark bathroom...

mommy craft time in progress

I have no idea what I will put in this cute little bag. It still needs a button attached but I am pretty happy with it! I confess to having a bit of an obsession with Moda pre-cut fabrics and absolutely LOVE all the little projects you can make with them so easily!

Jackson Pollack in training...

I think I may have an abstract expressionist on my hands...