Apron Strings. . . a Goodbye

Apron Strings as you have known it is outta here. . .well, the website anyway.   Hahaha. . .Gotcha? :D  Are you ready for a fresh new site?  I am and I've (FINALLY) got one to show off.  No foolin'!

You've seen this little birdie - she was originally created for me for Etsy, but she was too cute to cage up. . .so now she's the NEW face of Apron Strings!  Head on over HERE to check out the new site.  Things I'm excited about:

• Sign up for one kit OR multiple kits
• Easy, one-page sign-ups
• Still able to opt-out, flip and substitute your kits
• View products in thumbnails AND be able to order from the thumbnail without having to click through
• Easier navigation
• PayPal as an option for payment
• Digital stamps (.png files) - COMING SOON.

Now a couple NOTES:

• I have not finished populating the website with product.  April kits are up and previewing, but in my usual wise decision making, I choose tax season, Easter weekend, April kit prep time and an upcoming wedding during which to launch a new site.  I'm brilliant like that.  So, while you can certainly go sign-up for a kit(s) - and PLEASE DO - browse around and shop - full-scale shopping is still a few days away.
• If you are a current member there is no need to sign-up again, you're information has been safely migrated to the new site.
• Second thing, after four years of shipping increases by the postal service and no increases from Apron Strings, I've had to increase rates just to close the ever-widening gap.  Shipping will go up .50 cents to $7.50, effective with April kits.

I'm super excited to bring the new website online - I hope you enjoy the fresh new atmosphere.  Wander over to Apron Strings' Sous Chefs blogs and share in the celebration (we'll celebrate officially - blog hop, prizes and such in a couple weeks when the choas of right now has settle to crazy-levels):

• Jennifer Halleck
• Kristin Perez
• Maria Swiatkowski
• Nancy Longo
• Wendi Robinson

Happy Monday,

Food, Wishes and Final Day of March Madness

Friday - one of two days my kids have for Spring Break that overlap (the other is Monday).  My daughter is in a public high school and their break was this week.  My boys are in a private K-8 and their break begins today and runs through next week.  Makes it hard to do much as a family, especially since their overlapping days are over the Easter weekend, which is usually packed with its own things to do.  (shrug)  Whatcha gonna do?

Weather this weekend should be rainy in spots, but warmer temps.  Which simply means that when we're standing in the rain, on the sidelines of the soccer game, we won't be totally freezing.  As I look out the back window I see our Green Ash is starting to bud, the grass while a matted mess is beginning to green.  I noticed daffodils poking up along the front walk.  If I looked out on the east-side terraces, I'm sure I'd spy a tulip leaf or two as well.  Spring's coming.

Given the Easter holiday this weekend my thoughts turned to what to eat on Sunday morning.  Then my mom invited us to breakfast and I didn't worry about what to fix for the family that had stuffed themselves on chocolate eggs and peeps.  But, if you're doing the cooking you can give this Baked Strawberry Oatmeal a shot.  It's a nice change from the traditional egg dishes (or in addition to them), the strawberries add a nice Spring pop and it can be made ahead and reheated in the morning.  I've got a batch sitting in my 'fridge that I'll eat over the next couple of days (it keeps a week in the 'fridge.)

And because it's our meatless Friday meal - the last mandatory one - I'm making fish tacos.  It's a good serves-a-lot-of-people meal, since I'm hosting in the in-laws tonight and frankly, they're just good!  The only change I've made to the recipe is that I don't serve them on tostada shells - I do soft corn taco shells and I'll break up the fish a bit more.  I may actually cut the fish, prior to breading it, into smaller, bite-sized pieces.  I'll probably mix up some rice for the side and call it a meal.

Now, as I mentioned it's the last March Madness challenge.  I see them everywhere - layered flowers.  They're gorgeous, but they're a little pricey.  Today's challenge is for you to make some for your card, layout or Spring-themed decor.  There are tutorials all over Pinterest.  You can go with a fairly simple design like these.

Or try something a little more elaborate like these.

You'll have until Sunday at midnight to link up any work in the various comments to gain your eligibility for the drawing.

Finally, I hope you enjoy a beautifully peace-filled Easter weekend.

Happy (Good) Friday,

Peeks, Sales and March Madness - Day #19

Chirp tweet chirp. . . April 1st . . .Chirp tweet tweet tweet!

Have you signed up for autoship yet?  No?  I see. . . and why not?  Oh, I know, maybe it's because you haven't seen the April kits.  Well, then let's just take care of that right now.  Lots of color, beautiful graphics, fun themes and the inspiration that will come from the designers.  Now. . .we've cleared that up you can head on over to Apron Strings and sign-up so that one of these yummy kits is sure to hit your front porch in April. 

Today's March Madness comes with some inspiration from Maria Swiatkowski, using the March Bigger than a Breadbox kit - I love that you can't tell this line has a sort of Easter/Spring theme.  Ahhh. . .double-sided papers.  There are still a couple Bigger kits left, so you can pick one up today while you're selecting your TV Dinners that are on wicked-sale.  $3.50 for Dinner from the Smaller kits and $7.50 for Dinner from the Bigger kits.  TODAY ONLY, so don't wait!

Use the following recipe to create your next layout, card or other project:

• One sheet of cardstock - if you're making a 2-pager, two sheets is fine
• Three sheets of patterned paper
• A selection of non-round buttons
• An alphabet
• Two journaling cards

Add your link to the comments section to be eligible for this month's goody pack.

Happy Thursday,

Shhh. . .a Head's Up for You

Now, if you follow me on Twitter, you'll already have a little jump start on this news, but no worries, you still have more than a 12 hour jump on everyone else.  And that means there's plenty for you to choose from.

I've been doing some cleaning - unfortunately not my home, but that wouldn't benefit you.  Nope, I've been deep cleaning the Apron Strings store room.  It's scary funny, the things you'll find during a good cleaning. 

Like the tons  . . . seriously, TONS!. . .of TV Dinners!  I've priced them at $3.50 (Dinners from the Smaller kits) and $7.50 (Dinners from the Bigger kits) and that's like more than 50% off!  

Collect them from kits you missed.  Collect them from kits you want to try.  Scoop up several and make your own kits.  Or be honest with yourself and just collect them because you want to!

Now, take that giddy a-sales-a-startin' feeling and shop away!  

March Madness - Day #18

Yesterday was registration for the 2013-14 school year at the kids' school.  Shoot, it's not even the school for all of them anymore - two will be at the high school in the fall.  Holy crap!

So it was registration for my former-youngest and the current (and last) youngest; a future 7th grader and a kindergartner.  Oh my.  That's a pause-able moment.  No tears.  Where have the years gone?

Ever have those moments?  Where you're doing something totally inane and you look around and wonder how you got here?  From somewhere in your early 20's doing pretty much nothin' to picking up dirty socks, with four kids, a 4-bedroom mortgage and you find yourself in your 40's - and not on the just-past-30 side of 40?

(Shaking myself out of the reverie) It must be the winter-has-got-to-be-almost-over-Spring-should-be-coming-soon depression.  I need something . . . a good strong drink?  LOL, or maybe something a little less bracing like today's March Madness inspiration.  Something colorful and fun.  Like these adorable eggs covered in Washi Tape; the current craze sweeping paper crafting.  I have a couple rolls of it myself.  A roll or two have appeared in the kits.  Super versatile and colorful and a wide variety of designs.  Now, I'm not saying you need to wrap eggs, but how cute are they?  And the wreath?  (Both found on Pinterest - where else?)  Plastic, paper mache, the real-deal.  In a bowl, a basket or hanging from a few branches or one of those multi-seasonal trees.  A fun and quick craft.  But how will they inspire you?  Maybe you need to break out those rolls you have.  Maybe it's the colors.  Maybe it's crafting your Easter cards.  Maybe it's pulling out those photos from two years ago that still need documenting.  Shoot, you can even mimic the look of Washi Tape by cutting up strips of different patterned paper and using them on cards, layouts or mini books.  You decide.

Get your project linked in the comments before the end of the month to be eligible for goodies.

Happy Wednesday.

March Madness - Day #17

Tweet tweet tweet. . .chirp chirp.  TWEET!  Chirp tweet chirp chirp tweet.  Chirp tweet tweet tweet, chirp.

Kinda makes you wish you spoke little birdie, eh?  :)  Stay tuned.

The snow is still hanging around from what arrived over the weekend.  And with temps barely clearing 32 degrees, it looks like it'll hang around a bit longer.  Since any signs of spring are buried currently, today's March Madness provides a nice little pop of color - all clean and fresh, you can almost smell them - picked up from Apron Strings Pinterest board Color Theory.  Include the following color pallet on your next layout, card or perhaps Easter craft.

Link-up your work to the comments section to become eligible for this month's good pack.

Happy Tuesday,

A Birdie Told Me and March Madness - Day #16

A little birdie told me changes are coming. . .some fun thing are in store.  Shhh . . let your friends know and then stay tuned.

Today's March Madness is sketch inspired from PageMaps.  While I'm not a big one-photo-one-page kinda gal, I do like seeing ways of use those cool diecut papers.  I love this one and how all the elements are inside the perimeter of the diecut.  Divide the photo into smaller ones, incorporate one where the title might be or include a couple smaller ones where the journaling block is if you're also not much of a one-photo-one-page kinda gal.  If you're stuck for an idea, go no further than HERE.

And for my more card-centric crafters, you're sketch du jour.  Also from PageMaps, and if you're in need of a kick start you can check out examples HERE

Life is nuts, anxiety is high and it's getting late in the evening.

Happy Monday,