Today’s Homemaker

Our first carnival post was bursting at the seams, so I decided to follow it up with a second part so as not to overwhelm. Be sure to scroll all the way down to find out who won in the Art and Craft category!

Alex from Home Life Weekly has a set of free printable thank-you cards for us. The one to my left is my fave.

Anna from MarmaDaisy has graced us with another wonderful tutorial…this time one for a simple “mouse mat” (known here in the states as a mousepad). Because every little mouse needs its own pad.

Emily from Loria Family Dialogues has put together an apron tutorial that requires 20 minutes and $4 or less to make. So kitschy-cute…you have to love it.

Jennafer from the Land of Lovings shows us how to make our own anti-granny recipe box. Looking at Jennafer’s photo, I’m not sure I would eat anything that came out of there…isn’t the skull and crossbones the universal symbol for poison? That’s the fun, you say? Oh yes. Of course!

Anna from MarmaDaisy sure has been busy with the tutorials…she sends us another one that details how to re-cover a boring old lampshade. I have so many great fabrics I could do this with…my wheels are spinning…

Crystal from JewelFaerie Creations shows us how to pamper our pets in style by making them a pet bed out of an old vintage suitcase. I love the fabric that she chose for this project. I just wish my miniature schnauzer was more…miniature! I’m going to need a biiiiig suitcase.

When I first saw Anna’s tutorial for shoe fresheners, I thought, “Wow. How very useful!” I have a pair of stinky shoes that I just can’t wear socks or hose with. But they’re so adorable, and they just sit in my closet because of their smelliness. Now maybe I can break them out again after making these!

Awesome Mom has put together a hilarious step-by-step tutorial for making burp cloths. Make sure you read it all the way through…yes, she does manage to eventually finish them amidst the chaos of being a mom!

I just love this little afternoon project that Emily did with her family. Aren’t the little stuffed creatures adorable? Just love ‘em! I’ve nicknamed them stuffies.

So…is the anticipation killing you?! It is me! It’s almost time to disclose today’s winner. BUT FIRST. A little note about how I chose them: I just…did. I chose the one I liked the absolute best out of all of the Art and Craft entries. But you must know that I deem every one of these entries amazing, or they wouldn’t have made it into the Carnival in the first place! Next time, perhaps we’ll have a judging panel, but for now, it’s all me. I didn’t want this to be a popularity (or link-ularity!) contest, so that’s why I chose to do it that way this time around.

And the winner is…

Toblerone from Simple Mom for her easy-peasy artwork! “But,” you ask, “What about Heidi? Didn’t she actually come up with the idea in the first place?” Why yes, you’re right. She did. In fact, I think that’s a photo of her work that I posted (sorry for the faux pas, Toblerone! I’ll change that photo post-haste!). So in fact, today we have TWO winners, I am thrilled to say. Please email me your addresses so that I can get your prize packages in the mail (sarahjoy AT todayshomemaker DOT com). And CONGRATULATIONS!

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