I have been trying to have a lazy holiday weekend, though you know how it goes. Because you have an extra day, that means you can add more to the do list. So my craft links I normally post on Sundays ended up sliding over to today! Other than being pretty productive this weekend, we have had some down time for some fabo meals like this stir fry with mushrooms, ginger, and baby bok choy. This was great with a few rare tuna steaks! Okay, onto link love time!

Aileen’s Musings
Aileen offers you a tasty treat with a printable recipe card for delicious cinnamon rolls!

Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi has a new sewn paper sample to share.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to make a perfect placement template when die cutting, how to paint a Pop Art cow with a free downloadable pattern, how to combine drawing and collage, and 7 pastel drawing techniques from the book The Art of Pastel.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Are you looking for ribbon weaving or Homecoming Mum Chain directions? Look no further.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge shares another post in her series on How to Write and Publish a Craft Book. This time we’re looking at PR and Marketing.

Mixed Media Artist
Do you like making altered books? Or have you always wanted to try it out? Cyndi’s got a series going right now that looks at altered books techniques and altered book artists!

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
See how I restyled a little dress with a bit of inspiration from the pretty book- Sew Serendipity.

Woot! Creative Publishing International, the publisher of my latest book, The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making (set to come out this December or January), has a new web site, and it is full of amazing book information. The site is called Qbookshop.com and is a portal to the various companies that are under the same publishing umbrella: Creative Publishing International, Quarry Books, Fair Winds Press, Motorbooks, MVP Books, Quiver, Rockport Publishers, and a number of others.

One of the extra cool touches to this site is that you’ll find videos embedded in it. Of course, I went right to the Crafts & Hobbies link first, and I was very pleased to discover a video that describes a new book, Sew Retro. This is definitely going on my book wish list, and I can think of a few people that this would be a great gift for as well. Along with videos, there is an RSS news feed from various crafting blogs.

This site covers lots of other topics, but it is full of craft and hobby information too. So it’s a must-visit site.

I’m not much of a meat eater, but I love this stew we make from time to time. It is also a great way to use up any leftover veggies in the frig, and you can freeze any leftovers of it (if you have any). I don’t eat the meat, just the vegetables, carrots, green beans, onions, and carrots, and then add some of the gravy over it. Basically, you put a piece of meat (like a pot roast) in a crock pot along with all the vegetables and a packet or two (depending on how much is in there) of onion soup mix. Let it cook away until the meat is done. If you have time, considering searing the meat before putting it in there because it will add some extra juice/gray stuff. Okay, onto my weekend crafting links:

About Family Crafts
Grandparent’s Day is September 12th… Now is the perfect time to start making gifts to give to your grandparents.

Aileen’s Musings
Aileen teaches you how to make spectacular backgrounds using Krylon’s spray webbing and also shares with you what NOT to do.

Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi creates a faux metallic bead with quilted fabric she sews together herself.

Cathie Filian
Check out how Cathie turns an outdated holiday themed cookie stand and a cotton print thrift store skirt into a cupcake stand.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a free knit leaf coaster pattern, a bunch of decorating with artwork suggestions from the book 500 Ideas for Small Spaces, iron safety and cleaning tips from the book 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts and Tips and an environmental labeling concept from Design School Confidential.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Here are directions for creating a hat-shaped card. Eileen made a Red Hat card but the directions can easily be adapted to make a cowboy hat, a Mexican sombrero, or a frilly lady’s hat for an afternoon tea or luncheon.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi is giving away a copy of “Dimensional Beading,” so hurry over and leave your comment!

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
See how I melted sequins inspired by the sequin singeing technique in the book Dusty Diablos.

The Crochet Dude
Drew tries out his new video equipment!!

I have been busy in the Etsy shop this weekend as well as surfing around the net for some crafting goodies. Enjoy today’s links.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Do you know how to avoid clay shrinkage and distortion with clays baked in the home oven? Let Eileen tell you.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge shares the third free project from her new book Bead Chic with a giveaway!

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has one more metalcraft book to give away this summer. Come sign up for your last chance to win!

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
See how to make an apron for an Amineko or an 18 inch doll from the book All Dolled Up.

About Family Crafts
Discover creative ways to personalize your notebooks and text books.

Aileen’s Musings
Join Aileen’s creative torso challenge–you can download and embellish your torso tag and enter to win a free collage sheet.

Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi test a new scoring tool to make a star book in one hour.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a tutorial on how to paint faces on natural elements, two chances to win a copy of 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse in a “recycle your Swag contest”, the first sneak peek into the new book 1000 Artisan Textiles and an interview with the author of Sew Retro, Judi Ketteler.

We are enjoying a bounty of organic fruits and vegetables at our house again this weekend. Hubby has been busy in the kitchen working his magic while I have been busy at my jewelry bench and at the keyboard this weekend. Here are links from my crafting crew.

About Family Crafts
Many kids are probably not ready for summer to end, but these back to school activities and crafts might help make them a little more excited for school to start.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Check out this FREE project from Madge’s new book Bead Chic and leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy!

Mixed Media Artist
More metalcraft! Cyndi has a third book to giveaway this week. Hurry over and leave your comment!

Aileen’s Musings
Aileen shares the cumulative of the Erosion Bundle Project she participated in way back in the fall. Peruse the art piece she created from her bundles along with the collaborative piece she participated in.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Just look at all the darling altered tin boxes created by reader Shaaron. She was kind enough to share some photos to inspire us all.

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
See how to make a recycled deer pin necklace inspired by Margot Potter’s new book Bead Chic.

Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi finds a stack of British “Men Only” magazines and makes “great for women” magnets!

Cathie Filian
Cool down this summer with a batch of Cathie’s homemade peach ice cream. Peaches are in season, so they are cheap and a tasty treat!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tutorials for hiding your wrap stitches when knitting, how to a make calligraphy magnet alphabet set, an inside peek into the book Information Design Workbook and a recipe for bruschetta.

I got caught up on some “had to do” items on my long list today, and decided to take a break, do some web surfing, and then watch The Wedding Singer and get some crocheting done at the same time. I have never seen the movie before and now totally have to get the music CD to it! Enjoy this week’s link love. It’s short but sweet.

About Family Crafts
Learn how you can preserve your summer blooms by pressing, drying, or pounding your flowers.

Aileen’s Musings
It’s Christmas in July and Alieen reminds us that the holidays will be here faster then a blinking twinkle light! Now’s the time to start creating gifts to give and to sell!

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
Make a statement with your own customized photo box purse. Swelldesigner shows you how!

Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi has a Claudine Hellmuth tutorial to share this week!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy shows you her latest charity crafting project, some crochet washcloths for the Global Knit Haitian Relief Project.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Learn how to make an angelic mini quilted wall hanging.

Mixed Media Artist
Try using your favorite poem as a starting point for your mixed media art!

I am constantly battling with my weight, but lately I’ve decided to take a different approach. Normally, I diet (as in pretty much starve myself), get the pounds off (though it gets harder and harder the older I get, so it comes over more slowly each time!), and then I’m back up on the scale again in about a year or so. My food choices while dieting would be a mix of processed foods, like Lean Cuisine, and lots of vegetables and a tiny amount of fruit (since it is high in natural sugar and thus calories).

This go-round on the lose weight journey I have decided to try a more holistic, general, get healthy type approach. This means avoiding processes foods. I haven’t had a Lean Cuisine all summer, and I think I have kicked my habit. I look on ingredient labels before I buy anything to make sure there aren’t any weird or unrecognized ingredients. And, most recently, I joined an organic food buying group. Actually, I’m testing them out but more than likely plan to commit next time I pick up my food.

I’m eating lots of fruit - natural sugar and calories be damned! - and lots of vegetables, and they are so amazingly fresh. My local grocery store, which I switched to from another one because this one is so much closer to where I live, has just the worst produce ever, so I have really missed decent produce. I almost forgot what it was like!

Now, I still have to work on just eating less, but now at least I’m eating good food that is good for me. In fact, I will be enjoying some organic vegetable quiche for lunch today!

Here’s to good food and good crafting! Enjoy this week’s craft link installment!

Aileen’s Musings
If your anything like Aileen you have a lot of extra embellishments you haven’t used. Stop by and see her Altered Embellishment video where Aileen gives you some ideas on altering them to fit your project!

About Family Crafts
Now is the perfect time to get a jump start on your holiday crafting. Discover how you can make a fun and unique holiday gift for everyone on your list this year.

Carmi’s Art/Life World
Inspired by an antique find Carmi creates a new piece of wall decor.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
The Artful Crafter’s motto is “Helping Crafters to Be”. To turn a phrase, today we have “The Artful Crafter – and Cyndi – Helping Crafters to Be-ad”.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside’s giving away 2 copies of the new book Sew Retro along with a whole bunch of beautiful fabric from the on-line store Sew L.A., a no-pattern tutorial on how to make a triangle tank top, a free Hennya (devil mask) print download, a how-to on drawing an eyeball and wings and our schedule for Make and Takes at CHA Supershow in booth 324.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Kathy Peterson has a new line of Adirondack chairs and five fabulous designers have been challenged to decorate them!

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has 4 books to give away this summer on crafting with tin! Book #2, “Tinwork” is up for grabs this week…come leave you comment and you may win!

Ah, the day is starting to get away from me, and I have so much to do! Our Sunday mornings around here are normally pretty relaxed. We enjoyed some yumo Yorkshire Pudding this morning for breakfast. The recipe came from Jamie Oliver’s latest book, Jamie’s Food Revolution. As you can see, we (as in I) put a big dent in them already and it’s just shy of noon! Now it is time to get something accomplished today, and I’m starting with some great crafting links.

About Family Crafts
Sherri has fond memories of making and playing with paper dolls when she was young. Perhaps that is why she was so excited to create these printable paper dolls.

Aileen’s Musings
Aileen is offering a crafty blog giveaway. She offers 4 different ways you can enter to win her Tic-Tac-Toe 3 in a Row Blog Giveaway! Hurry over and enter today!

Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi creates some glamorous shaker cards with her sewing supplies.

Cathie Filian
Surf’s up and Cathie has a step-by-step tutorial on how to make a beach towel roll up. It even has a secret pocket!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside announces the new Qbookshop.com along with a chance to win a copy of 1,000 Poses in Fashion; there is also a tutorial on how to make a rubber stamp out of a garden kneeling cushion and a couple of quilt border ideas.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Here are some more ideas from Eileen for decorating canvas tote bags.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has a copy of The Fine Art of the Tin Can to give away! Pop on over and sign up to win!

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
See how I used the stitch doodle technique from The Big-Ass book of Home Decor to embellish a skirt with a jackalope.

The Crochet Dude
Drew unveils the July purse from his Purse Pattern of the Month club. And it looks like there is still room to sign up!!

We have a lot to be thankful for at our house. I think it is important to stop every once in a while and say that out loud We both have great jobs, fun side interests like jewelry making and other crafting, a furry family that we adore, and of course each other.

This weekend we are celebrating 5 years of dog freedom at hour house. It was five years ago that we adopted our “guys” and broke them out of the big house (aka the local Humane Society). This was just a few weeks after losing the last of three dogs who had been part of our family for many years. It was tough to think about bringing new babies into the house so soon, but we knew there were some other dogs out there who needed us. Admittedly, we needed them as well.

Our yearly tradition to celebrate Jasper and Rocky’s “rebirth” of sorts is to make them turkey dog snacks. Actually, I say “we,” but I mean my husband makes them. He also made some way too yummy lasagna today as well. The dog snacks are made with ground turkey, eggs, and a little breading and then baked. Of course, humans can eat them too. In fact, we joke about how we should bring them to a pot luck party sometime, stick toothpicks in them, and then after everyone has eaten them, tell them that they just ate dog snacks.

I hope your family has found something to celebrate as well this weekend. Okay, now for some crafty link fun.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Turn your ‘worst’ traits into positives; Madge shares how in this post about The Tao of Success.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi shares the results of her needle felting experiment.

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
Read a book recommendation (and not just because I am included!) Craft Corps by Vickie Howell.

The Artful Crafter
Yikes! Eileen learns she can’t doodle.

The Crochet Dude
Drew is giving away two copies of the new book Crochet Prayer Shawls that features ones of his designs! Just leave a comment on his blog to enter!

About Family Crafts
Have even more fun doing painting projects with kids by whipping up one or more batches of paint using free recipes.

Aileen’s Musings
Aileen is excited to announce 4 new videos uploaded. Stop by and check them out, and share them with your friends!

Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi uses a stencil to silk screen this faux necklace t-shirt.

Cathie Filian
Cathie shares a template and design ideas for creating snapuit themed baby shower invitations.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Over at Craftside there are a bunch of hats from the new book 1,000 Fabulous Knit Hats with a tutorial on how to make recycled sweater giant curly pom poms, a tutorial on how to make a calligraphy award certificate, and a charming twig doll.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy has her fourth earrings kit and tutorial up, and it has a lovely vintage feel to it.

Happy 4th of July! Here in the United States we are celebrating Independence Day. That usually means having an outside barbecue, enjoying time with family and friends, watching fire works, and thinking about how it is great to live in America. At our house, it has been raining for a few days, so the temperatures aren’t the usual 90s, but it is still kind of on the sticky side and soggy side.  Thus we are cooking indoors, and we are not having the traditional hot dogs and burgers either. Instead we are having broiled asparagus….

…baked fingerling potatoes….steamed broccoli (which is still in the frig right now)….

…and corn meal encrusted fried flounder. Yumo! Here is hoping you and your family and friends are having a fun 4th of July, no matter where you live. And here are some more things to enjoy, some crafting links:

About Family Crafts
Are you planning a trip that will keep the family confined to the car or airplane for a long amount of time? If so, these travel games and crafts might be just what you need!

Aileen’s Musings
Aileen shows you how to create a faux aged metal look on Anaglypta wallpaper.

Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi coats some paper with resin to make these pretty wired pendants.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside’s got the cutest retro style fawn softie pattern and how-to, a free pop-up staircase template download, a bunch of beaded bling inspirations and throw in a bit of fashion with a redo spin all for your crafty pleasure.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge gets some much needed inspiration from the divine Cecil Beaton and Gigi.

Mixed Media Artist
Want to get your feet wet with altered books?

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
See 2 fun mixed-media altered book techniques I tried from the new book Collage Playground by Kimberly Santiago.

The Artful Crafter
Look how easy it is to personalize a canvas tote bag with Quick Fuse fabric sheets.

The Crochet Dude
Drew reviews the new book Crochet Prayer Shawls and reveals the design that he contributed to the project.