living life to the creativest
Feb 1 2012

January Wrap Up

by Crystalyn

January was a pretty good month for me. I started working part-time and I think that has done a lot for my daily motivation. Having a set schedule is a wonderful thing. And it seems like when I am super productive at work, it carries over into when I come home. I call it work, but really it is a nice break! I really enjoy what I do, and I get to work with some pretty great guys.

I had a lot of time to craft as well, which is kind of amazing. Some of my favorite projects this month were the two rag dolls I made last week, my sister’s owl apron, and the hats and doll faces I got to do for Laura. I also sewed a really cute baby hat that I haven’t shared yet!

365 Days Outside
We did pretty good this month and only missed a handful of days! As hard as it is to get Juniper dressed and out of the house, I am so glad we’ve decided to do this challenge. I absolutely love being outside, and so does Juniper even though it’s like pulling teeth to get her to put pants on… Most days she begs me to let her stay out there. And when it is nice outside, I love being able to just leave the back door open and let her play on the deck. (Screen closed of course, I don’t need Flynn trying to climb down those stairs!) I’m excited about all the fun adventures we will have once the weather starts getting warmer.

I’m looking forward to a new month with new opportunities to be amazing.

Categories: Misc | No Comments »

Jan 30 2012

Rag Dolls

by Crystalyn

I cleaned up my craft room last week, and having everything put away always makes me want to make something! So I used a pattern from my Craft Hope book and made a pretty doll for a certain little girl who just turned 1. And I really couldn’t get away with NOT making one for Juniper too. I mean, just look at that face! Hopefully Emma loves her new doll as much as Juniper does.


I will probably make a few more of these. They are a cute way to use up scrap fabrics. These ones were made with a bundle of fabric scraps I bought at the flea market. I’m thinking I could make a boy one for Flynn with overalls.

Categories: Sewing | 2 Comments »

Jan 28 2012

Search Terms

by Crystalyn

One of my favorite things about WordPress, is the blog stats page. There is a little section down there that tells you what search terms people have entered to find your page. Sometimes I get some really crazy stuff down there, so I thought it would be fun to share some of them. You know, instead of working on things that I need to get done. Because let’s face it, I am a terrible procrastinator.

man cave curtains
curtains for a man cave
man cave drapes
mancave curtains
curtains for the man cave
curtains for mancave
curtains man cave
man+cave+curtains
unique man cave curtains
man cave curtain material
cave man curtains
vintage star wars curtains
I hope you are happy Jason, the curtains I made you are apparently the most popular thing on my blog. I have to admit, they are pretty awesome. (Mine are cooler though.)

“crystalyn bryan” orlando
This one seems a little stalkerish to me…

pretty colorful cookie
Yes please!

north star lockets
I sure do love lockets, and a north star locket sounds like it would be lovely.

etiquette to wear mother’s engagement ring
Umm… Not sure how this search landed on my page. I kind of wish I could see what page this landed them on.

spock hilarious
vulcan star trek necklace
spock valentine day
I’ve said it before, and I will say it again and again: I LOVE MR. SPOCK.

tutorials diy
Aren’t ALL tutorials DIYs?? I should write a tutorial entitled “How to have someone else do something for you.” Actually that sounds like something that might already exist…

what to do with old drapes
If it’s up to me, put them in a box in the basement and deal with them later.

creative things to do with nail polish
I just used nail polish in a glass etching project! I painted the design onto a glass and then used the glass etching cream, and when that was all done I got the polish off with nail polish remover. It worked pretty well, considering.

tie two candy canes together
Step 1. Get two candy canes. Step 2. Tie them together. It’s really that simple.

plastic hair circle kit with long hand that can turn the pony tail makes different styles of hair
Wow. I don’t remember what those are called, but I totally wanted one when I was 7. Then I realized that you can do the same thing with your fingers… Topsy Tail!!

off to bed i’m gonna prepare for the long day ahead
I am fairly certain this person thought they were updating their Facebook status. It was obviously very late and they didn’t notice they were on Google.

handmade blankets in russian
“одеяла ручной работы” according to the translation website. (Translated back into English that means “blankets of manual work” haha!)

boys in hats
ARE THE CUTEST THINGS EVER.

Well, that was fun. (Maybe I’m the only one who thinks these are funny.) ANYWAY. Unrelated: I am having a hard time tonight because Flynn broke my glass yesterday. Hopefully my semi-blindness isn’t showing too much in this drawing I am working on! Also unrelated: I’ve got a couple of incredibly cute projects to share as soon as I photograph them! Ok, back to being productive…

Categories: Misc | 7 Comments »

Jan 28 2012

365 Days Outside > 20-24

by Crystalyn

Day 20
Today we drew on our driveway wall with sidewalk chalk and ate a yummy orange. (Juniper insisted we bring the orange with us.)

Day 21
Bubbles! The perfect way to spend a little time outside on a chilly day.

Day 22
It was a beautiful day today. We played in the front yard for a while and I climbed a tree. (Juniper took that photo!) Then we checked the mail and there were stickers!

Day 23
Bubbles are the big hit this week. Especially since Juniper is only allowed to play with them outside. Flynn watched from inside, he really wanted to join in on the fun.

Day 24
We almost didn’t go outside today, but then at bedtime it started snowing so of course we HAD to go outside instead! (I couldn’t find any better shoes haha)

Categories: 365 Days Outside | 1 Comment »

Jan 25 2012

{The Collectorials} Coins

by Crystalyn

Lately I have been slightly obsessed with the idea of collections. I thought I’d start a mini blog series about collections, which my husband has decided to call “The Collectorials”. I have a few collections that I’ll be sharing, and I’ve got a few collections that I wish I had! (Does any one else dream of collecting certain things??)

The first collection that I will be sharing is probably my oldest. My coins! I keep them on my dresser in my favorite little jar.


I started collecting coins when I was in 6th grade. I was walking down the hallway at school and I found a neat coin on the ground. I was fascinated, I felt like I had found a treasure! I got a lot of my collection from friends who went on cooler vacations than I did, and I bought some of them at the mall.

I love coins with holes in them, and ones with really different writing. (You know, like symbols instead of letters. I wish I could read them!) The “coin inside a coin” style is neat too. The Aruba coin is the one that started it all.

It’s been a long time since I’ve added to my collection. In fact, it’s gotten smaller over the years as I’ve moved across the country multiple times… I used to have some really great ones! I wouldn’t mind expanding this collection someday. When I have some extra money to buy money! (It seems so silly when you put it that way.)

Categories: Collections | No Comments »

Jan 25 2012

Cupcakes

by Crystalyn

Every time I make cupcakes, my brother’s girlfriend tells me she wants one. The only thing is, she lives 1000 miles away! So I decided to make a special batch just for her and I include them in the Christmas package I sent home. (Last week… yes I am a huge slacker! At least it’s not June!)


I think they turned out super cute. Juniper helped with the sprinkles, of course. She’s my official sprinkle sprinkler. Kim was kind enough to send me this BEAUTIFUL photo of what the cupcakes looked like when she got them. Pretty much exactly what I was expecting!! Oh man, this photo makes me laugh so hard.. Sorry Kim, it’s the thought that counts right?

Categories: Cooking, Holidays | 2 Comments »

Jan 24 2012

Ten Months

by Crystalyn

The difference between nine months and ten months is pretty incredible. This little mister has FOUR teeth now, can stand up on his own and loves chasing his sister around the house with his walker toy. It’s been a busy month! My favorite thing right now is how excited he is to see me when I get home from work. His little face just lights up. Of course, if I don’t start feeding him within 30 seconds that smile quickly turns into crying. He’s still nursing like a champ (The teeth have made that interesting) and he loves eating solids. His favorite food is noodles, but he IS a kid of course. He also likes rice and beans, and strawberries.

Only two more months until he is a year old… {sigh} I’ve already started thinking about a miniature birthday celebration for my miniature man. I love him.

Categories: Life | 1 Comment »

Jan 24 2012

{Drawings} Sosa

by Crystalyn

When I do drawing commissions, my favorite parts to work on are the eyes and the hair. And dogs are fun to draw because they are mostly hair! This 5×7 drawing will be heading to Washington DC.

I decided recently that I need to draw more often. So I bought myself a nice big sketch pad and every night while Shaun and I are sitting around talking, I ask him to give me a random idea for a quick sketch. So far he’s had me draw a spaceship and a salmon car… (“Salmon like a fish??” “What other kind of salmon is there!?” hahaha I love my husband.) Maybe I’ll share my doodles someday.

Categories: Drawings | 2 Comments »

Jan 20 2012

365 Days Outside > 14-19

by Crystalyn

Day 14
Today we made a surprise for Daddy in our back yard. When he looks outside in the morning he will know how much we love him.

Day 15
Our snowman is officially the only snow left in our yard. Well, accept the tiny spots of snow here and there that Juniper insisted we take pictures of.

Day 16
Oh my goodness was it beautiful outside today! It got up to 70! We took a nice long walk around the neighborhood.

Day 17
Another cold, cold day. Today we stayed inside and made a bird feeder with sticks, peanut butter, and bird seeds.

Day 18
We hung up our bird feeder today. Then we sprinkled the rest of the bird seed in the back yard and played on the porch for a while with Juniper’s beloved ponies.

Day 19
It was so so cold and windy today that instead of going outside, we sat in front of the back door and ate a snack while we counted the trees and played I Spy.

Categories: 365 Days Outside | No Comments »

Jan 19 2012

Doll Heads

by Crystalyn

I met an elderly woman at church recently named Laura. She is AMAZING. She is the regional coordinator for the church’s humanitarian efforts, and her house is FULL of crafts. Last week I helped her sew some bucket hats for cancer patients, and this week she asked me to help out with these little “burrito dolls” as she called them.

She gave me a box of doll heads, and I got to draw cute little faces on them. (All 82 of them!) The bodies, which are simple little pillows with blankets attached to them, are already finished and waiting for their heads. These dolls will be put in toy packages delivered to orphanages. Aren’t they cute?

I’m glad I met Laura, I really enjoy crafting for a good cause. One of my birthday goals this year was to do one act of service each month, and Laura will definitely help me reach that goal! Speaking of good causes, who wants to get together for craft night SOON and make Valentine’s Day cards for Etsy’s Share Your Love 2012??

Categories: Craft Hope | 2 Comments »

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