Eightymillion

A DIY craft and photography blog. Dogs included.

Today’s Catnap

Today's Catnap by Eightymillion Photography

Cooler temps have arrived here in the Midwest.  My boyfriend and I are NOT a big fan of Winter and all that comes with it.

This is one of the last images we captured before our first snowfall landed.  It’s very cold and damp outside and there will be more snow to come.

Therefore we have decided to continue this blog series throughout the Winter months using images we haven’t shared yet.  Because realistically, who takes a catnap outside in the Winter?

Come Spring of 2016 we’ll be back out there!  On the pavement, in the grass, and wherever else the project takes us.  Thanks for following along.

If you’re new to the series start here.  And then visit the entire collection of photos here.

Senior Portrait Photography-Hope White-Galena 2015-Eightymillion Photography

I had the pleasure of photographing  this Senior last weekend here in Galena, IL.  She was so much fun to work with and went along with all of my crazy ideas.  Congratulations Hope on your upcoming graduation and to what adventures lie ahead!

From now on I’ll be sharing my future photo sessions here on the blog.  Therefore, the numbers are for the clients to order their prints.

Until the next session…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Handmade Card Inspiration-UPDATE!

I take a lot of photos.  Let me say that again.  I take a LOT of photos.  It’s time to put them to use.  A lot of my prints never make it to paper.  They exist only on a flash drive.  Why?  My daily struggles with time I guess. 
I’ve been coming across all sorts of interesting things in the craft store.  Photography related rubberstamps, film strip washi tape, Polaroid scrapbook paper, and a few other goodies.  And of course I buy it all!  Then it sits in a drawer in my office. 
My goal this week is to dig it all out and create some new cards.  I need to get my Etsy card shop back open and why not do it with a whole new look?  My card rack in Galena needs some sprucing up as well.
I’ll post an update as to how they turn out.
UPDATE!
This past weekend I added a new stack of handmade cards to the shop in Galena!  Many more to come.  Here’s a little preview.  
Next up…re-opening the Etsy shop (Eightymillion Dog Card)!

Until the next word…
~Jennifer

DIY Inspiration: Handmade Vintage Button Magnets

I have a {secret} obsession with buttons.  Especially vintage ones.  Their small, colorful, unique, and most of all useful. I’ll be sharing more ideas as I have time to create them.  Here’s the first.
Create your own magnets.  These have gone over well in our vintage shop so I’ve decided to make more with plans of adding them to one of my Etsy shops.  
Then I ran into a problem…
I don’t want to give the new batch up.  I sent some in my sister’s Christmas box.  Maggie (niece) loved them. They’ve found a good home on my metal cabinet that I have in my office.  And they might just stay there. We’ll see.
Assorted buttons, button magnets, and a hot glue gun.  That’s it.  Attach one button to each magnet using the hot glue gun.  Get creative and stack various colors inside one another.
I found that a cookie sheet works great as a drying station.  
As I slowly clear away the holiday mess in my office I’m finding more DIY projects.  You were warned.
Until the next word…
~Jennifer

DIY: Inexpensive Holiday Arrangement Of Ornaments

Easy, festive, inexpensive, and takes less than five minutes to put together.  Keep reading!
Have you ever purchased ornaments with the intention of hanging them on the tree, but they stayed in the holiday box year after year?  
Several years ago I found this adorable tube of assorted Christmas balls at Old Navy.  The holiday was over so they only cost me $1.99 (love those clearance bins).  We’ve all made purchases simply off of the “they looked cute” method.  Right?
When I first moved into my house I noticed these swag hooks in various spots in the house.  The first thing that comes to mind when I see them is those plants that hang in a hand knitted holder.  Remember those?  Throughout the years I’ve found uses for those hooks.
Using various lengths of ribbon I strung each of the ornaments.  I wanted the bold colors to pop, so I chose a cream colored ribbon to hang them with. 
And there they hang.  In the corner of my living room.  You could also hang them above a doorway.  Or on the hardware that opens your closet.  I would recommend choosing one that you don’t open a lot, especially if the ornaments are made of glass.  My dogs don’t bother them because they hang so high.  Not sure if they’re cat proof.  They may think your hanging up toys to play with in passing.  
Need a quick gift for someone who just moved into a new house and doesn’t have a lot of holiday decor?  How about someone that is away at college?  The arrangement would be small enough not to take up much room.  Hostess gift?  Giveaway at a holiday craft show?  Please stop me, because I could give you ideas all night.
Okay, one more.  Do you find yourself buying new ornaments every year and then you don’t know what to do with the old ones?  Pass them along to your kids when they move out on their own.
Have fun!  Perhaps I’ll hit the clearance bins again this year.  They would look cute in our shop in Galena, IL.  
Tomorrow I’ll be in the kitchen again.  Baking more goodies for the gift bags.  This time I’ll be adding a little twist to a traditional recipe.  Chocolate?  Of course!  I’ll be posting the recipe here when they’re finished.  Are you baking this year?  
Until the next word…
~Jennifer

Friday’s Top 10 List: 11-16-12 (Gifts For Her)

Taken at All That’s Vintage in Galena, IL

Hello!  Not sure where you live but here it’s sunny and 50 degrees.  I’ll take it!

Can you believe that next week is Thanksgiving?  Being vegetarian I don’t really get all that excited for the “turkey meal” but I welcome the day off of work.  It’s also the official day that I went “cold turkey” and decided to become a vegetarian.  Thanksgiving of 1985 to be exact.  I had already stopped eating a lot of meat prior to this day.  When my parents placed the bird on the table and pulled out the carving knife I decided it was time to give it up.  I’m sure it started more as a mental thing, but there are also a lot of health benefits.
Black Friday?  No thank you!  I was never for standing in line at midnight in the cold.  However, I did notice that many stores are starting earlier this year, so that’s good.  People will go right from the dinner table to the line.  I prefer to browse around the web to look for deals.  Trying to figure out something fun for my Etsy shops.  I wish I had a little elf to list items for me when I’m away from my home office.  Wouldn’t that be nice?
I like to promote other Etsy shops whenever possible.  Etsy is huge and ever seller deserves a little extra exposure.  Treasuries are fun to create as well.  Here’s a treasury titled, 16 Gifts Under $25.  I love this one, Gifts under $25.  Yesterday on Etsy’s blog they published 25 Gifts Under $25.  I want one of everything!  
So, this weeks Top 10 List is all about gifts for the ladies.  Christmas shopping isn’t cheap.  Therefore, all of these items are $25. and under.  Gotta love Etsy.com.  So many creative people.  Enjoy.

The closer we get to Christmas my Top 10 Lists will focus on last minute DIY’s you can make yourself.  Inexpensive and easy to make.

Looking for something Vintage to put under the tree?  Last weeks lists featured a nice mix of pieces from the past.  Click here.

Did you miss my experience with the flying cat?  Cracks me up every time I look at it.

*****

Handmade Fingerless Gloves from warmandsoft.  Love this color!
Handprinted leather ipad/iphone case from inblue.
Mustard Cosmetic Bag from JordaniSarreal.
Eco Friendly Cheese Board w/Beaded Spreader from CDChilds.
Brass Elephant Ear Earrings from shahnazofficial.
Cotton Jersey Scarf from SwedishShop.
Screenprinted fabric from summersville.
Mixed Media Journal from JenofEveDesigns.
Handmade Coin Purse from CottonTimes.
Owl Flour Sack Tea Towel from KitchTowels.
*****
Until the next word…
~Jennifer