A New Blog!

Hi friends! I am just dropping in here again to let you know that I have started another blog if you want to still follow along with me. It's called look.feel.be. It's a different kind of style blog. It's all about looking good, feeling good, and most importantly being a good person. I am planning on posting outfits, style inspiration, wardrobe how- to, along with healthy recipes, exercise, motivation, and inspiration/discussions on becoming a better me. (And I am still crafting so there might be an occasional DIY- and  I will be showing off my kitchen redecorating project.) I only have a few posts so far (and no followers- frowny face) so I would love if you would stop by and say hi at look.feel.be.

The End

Thank you so much for being a part of my experience here at Yellow Blackbird. The time has long since come to end the site. I knew that the time had come back in June, but I had already committed to the Mod Podge campaign, then came the Shabby Apple and JUNIEblake giveaways so I kept the blog limping along to give you readers a chance to win those prizes. I haven't posted more than just a few times the last few months; I have been procrastinating writing this because I may or may not have something new up my sleeve and wanted to let you all know before I said farewell, you unsubscribed, and we never saw each other again. But I just don't know when/if something new will happen and wanted to have a solid end. I really dislike when a blog I read just simply stops posting with no explanation. I will come back here and post again if do indeed have news.

I began this blog to explore my creativity and to learn about myself. I feel successful in that mission. I am confident enough now to say that yes, I am a creative person. I also learned a lot about how I dress myself. Just recently I had reason to back through my old outfit posts. Oh how embarrassing!! But it was a good exercise for me.

Yellow Blackbird never exploded onto the big blog scene. I didn't try hard enough, and I am tired of the competition. It's hard to link up to 700 parties each week, not to mention all the time that goes into blogging. Yellow Blackbird just isn't fun for me anymore.  I no longer feel the need to show of my projects and receive some validation (not to mention that even with 500+ readers and thousands of views each month I rarely got more than 3 comments on a post. Maybe that's just me being petty and vain, but I hated not knowing if anyone was actually reading and actually liked what I was making).

My Etsy shop is still up and running. Come see me there any time. Thanks for reading!

And the Winners are....

The winners of the JUNIEblake giveaway are

 #6 Melissa Palmer

and #16 Kai Bowen.

Congratulations! I will send on your info to the JUNIEblake people. Thanks to all who entered!

It's My Birthday and You Get a Present! (JUNIEblake Giveaway)

This week I celebrated my birthday! We had a little family party to celebrate the Utah holiday of Pioneer Day and my nephews birthday, and Spencer took me to the zoo too. The coolest part was seeing a polar bear... and eating a churro.

Since I have been celebrating... I have a gift for you! ANOTHER GREAT  GIVEAWAY! You can enter to win 1 of 2  $30 gift cards to JUNIEblake. This is a new clothing company that sells trendy and modest clothes. You can see a few options in the photo below, but go to their site to see all the products.

JUNIEblake is really trying to get the word out about their company so there are a few things you need to do to help them in order to be eligible to win. Be sure to leave a SEPARATE comment for each thing you do. If you just leave one comment you will only get one entry.

1. Like JUNIEblake on Facebook
2. Share something about JUNIEblake with your Facebook friends (click SHARE on a JUNIEblake post so that it reposts to your wall.
3. Leave a comment on the JUNIEblake Facebook page (tell 'em YBB sent you)

The contest will close on THURSDAY, AUGUST 2 and the winners will be chosen by random.org on Friday. Even though you can enter multiple times, you cannot win both of the gift cards. Random numbers will be selected until 2 different people win.

Good Luck!

Shabby Apple Winner

It's time to announce the winner of the Shabby Apple $50 gift card. Thanks to all who entered! Random.org thought that #57 should win the prize... so Janie B. was the big winner! Congrats! I will be in touch soon!

Princess T-Shirts (Freezer Paper Stenciling)

My twin nieces just turned 4. They will soon be leaving for their first trip to Disneyland. I wanted to make them t-shirts for their birthday that they could wear on their trip.  Their names start with A and B so I used their favorite Disney Princess to make the shirt for Princesses A and B. For information on how to do freezer paper stenciling, see the links in this post.

 You can see here where I messed up a little bit in the P. Don't try to reuse a stencil! I used the stencil for shirt A, then again for shirt B because I had already spent hours, literally! on these shirts and didn't have time to make another stencil. It didn't work out so well.

When making a stencil never forget to flip the image and cut out a mirror image of the pictures and words. That is part of the reason these took so long (probably almost 4 hours). If you do everything correctly it shouldn't be quite that bad. I really hope the shirts fit and that they will wear them after all that work I put into it!

Don't forget that today is the last day to enter the Shabby Apple giveaway!

Shabby Apple $50 gift card giveaway!

That's right, friends. Shabby Apple is offering a $50 gift card to one lucky Yellow Blackbird reader. (If you don't already know Shabby Apples sells beautiful dresses, skirts, tops, accessories and more.) There are only a few things you need to do to enter:

1) Like Shabby Apple on Facebook, then come back here and leave a comment telling me you did.

AND

2) Visit the Shabby Apple website and then come back here and leave a separate comment telling me what you might purchase with your gift card.

YOU MUST LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE COMMENTS (or if you know I can reply to your blogger comment that will suffice. I just need to easily contact you.)

OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY

The last day to enter will be Friday, July 13th and the winner selected randomly on Saturday, July 14th.

I know there are a billion blog giveaways out there but I would suggest entering this one because there won't be hundreds of entries and you have a pretty good chance of winning!

Paris Necklace Tutorial

Today I will be sharing with you this beautiful Paris necklace that I made. It had been a little while since I had made jewelry and it felt good to do so again... especially since this is a gift! (Shhh...)

I was lucky enough to be sent this box jammed packed with Mod Podge supplies from the folks over at Plaid. Look at all those goodies!

For this project I used the new Podgeable Shapes (available at Michael's) to make the charms for the necklace. (About half the shapes have holes to be used as charms.) It couldn't have been easier.

Other new products from Plaid include these great papers. Many of the designs are the exact sizes of the shapes, which makes it even easier. If you look closely you can see where I have set 4 of the charms on the papers to determine what I like best.

If you want your charm to show a design that isn't the size of the charm, you can use these handy stencils to trace the shape on the paper. (This photos shows a few punched out so you can see how they work. )I used the stencils on all the charms except the blue rectangle charm because it was the only one that was the exact size.

To attach the paper to the shapes you simple coat the paper with a layer of Mod Podge and stick it to the shape. Make sure it is centered and that there are no bubbles (no photos of this because it was hard to hold the camera and apply the Mod Podge at the same time but it's very simple).

Next I had to figure out my design.

I played with several different chains, but this was an easy choice. The hard part came in choosing the embellishments. I quickly narrowed it down to pearls, but what color??? I liked the white because they stood out...

But I liked the bronze because they helped the charms stand out.  In the end I chose the bronze pearls and assembled the necklace. Use jump rings to attach the charms, and head pins to attach the pearls. (If you need help with these steps check out my "Jewelry Basics" tutorials.)

And voila! My beautiful Paris statement necklace is complete. When I attached the charms there was a lot of space in between each one, so I went with two pearls in each space.

Here's a close up of some of the charms so you can see the the detail in the papers.

You can uses these shapes to customize any piece of jewelry with any paper. Ooh! Or how about photos? That would make a cute gift for a grandma- photos of the grandkids? The possibilities are endless!

Like this post? Keep up with Plaid on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

This post was brought to you as a paid promotion by Plaid and the Blue Print Social. All opinions are my own.

If you want to see more projects using Mod Podge goodies, check out the links below.

An Outfit

Old Navy t-shirt, Forever 21 cardigan and bracelet, Bags that Fit (local boutique) belt, Kohl's watch, Yellow Blackbird necklace and skirt, Payless shoes

I haven't posted an outfit picture in a really long time. I really liked what I wore to church yesterday so I thought I would snap a few pictures of it and share here. Yes, the 100 degree weather is a bit warm for a sweater, but it was perfect for the A/C in the church.

Be sure to come back on Wednesday for a fun new jewelry tutorial!

I've Gone Crazy for Crochet!

Over the spring I took a crochet class. (Utah locals- check out Canyons School District community ed classes for next fall if you are interested.) We spent one week learning each stitch. I liked it okay, but just stitching in rows making washcloths wasn't that thrilling to me. The last two weeks of the 8 week course were spent making flowers and by so doing, learning how to read a pattern. My flower from the class turned out just okay.... but I LOVED reading the pattern and crocheting in the round. I was "hooked" ha ha!

I bought these six skeins of yarn from Walmart- the cheapest they had in order to practice following patterns.

The first pattern I tried on my own was this Hawaiian flower by Sarah London. I didn't realize until it was too late that the pattern was written using the British symbols, which are different than American ones. (Plus I had a different kind of yarn.) Now, she has released the pattern as a PDF so it's easier to follow. I will have to try again.

 The next pattern I tried was this Japanese Flower from Revving it Up. LOVE IT!


I really wanted to try a granny square next. I did make a very simple small square but wanted something more fun. I made this African Flower Granny Sqaure by following a YouTube video. It isn't perfect, but I am very pleased!

I made another flower granny square using this tutorial. Isn't it cute?

Another project I tried was baby barefoot sandals with flowers. I think I am going to put a button or jewel or something in the center of the flower.

What's my next project? I will give you a hint:

I have pinned over 130 crochet projects so far... more than I can possibly hope to make. If you want a list of a lot of free patterns, check out or follow my crochet pin board.

Want to learn to crochet? I would highly recommend Crafty Minx's free Crochet School. She has videos and step-by-step instructions in 23 lessons. It's a great resource and I have learned a lot through using her lessons! (There are also special videos if you are left-handed.)

Have fun!

Mod Podge Rocks book review

 I was lucky enough to get a copy of Mod Podge Rocks by Amy Anderson (blogger at Mod Podge Rocks) to  get to share with all of you. Ready? Let's take a peek inside...

 Look at all those projects! You get full color illustrated step-by-step instructions for each project. In addition, there is a gallery at the back of the book with more Mod Podge projects created by other bloggers. Sco-ore!

 I love this book page pumpkin project. If you aren't into book page crafts, think of the infinite possibilities for pumpkins using Mod Podge.  What a great alternative or addition to regular carved pumpkins.

 This lamp project is darling. (Ha, I picked a book page and a bird craft to share with you. That is SO me!) What I love about the book is that there is a wide variety of projects using Mod Podge on so many different surfaces. Even if you don't like the style of the lamp, you can still follow the instruction to use Mod Podge on a lamp shade or similar surface.

My favorite part of the book is the section at the beginning that explains in great detail the different types of Mod Podge, their uses, and a general how-to guide before you dive into the projects. I found this especially helpful because I recently received a giant box of Mod Podge products (some are brand new!) with which I will be creating a tutorial to share with you later this month.

Whether you have used Mod Podge for years and years, or are a beginning crafter, you can find something useful in this book. And isn't it great to see a fellow blogger have such success? Support Amy and show her some love by picking up your own copy!

Yes I was provided this book to review, but all opinions are my own.

Anchors Away Freezer Print Tee

Hi friends! It's been awhile but I am back to show you my latest DIY project. I tried freezer paper stenciling... and it lived up to all the hype. Fun and easy... if you follow the directions (see below). This is actually my second freezer paper project, but I have had to keep the first one a secret...for now :)

What is freezer paper stenciling, you say? You use freezer paper to make a stencil and paint it on fabric. I painted the gold anchor on the Old Navy orange striped t-shirt. I used this tutorial to cut the stencil with my Silhouette Cameo machine, this tutorial for the whole process, and some of these tips too.

PLEASE MAKE SURE that you put some paper or something in between the layers of your shirt. The first time I made this anchor shirt I forgot that step and made a huge mess. I had to go back to Old Navy and luckily they had one last shirt in my size.

ALSO, I would recommend 100% cotton. I used 100% cotton on my first secretive project and it worked like a dream. This shirt was a cotton-polly blend and didn't work as well. The shirt was too strechy and didn't stay put under the stencil.

Old Navy jacket and sandals, Aeropostale pants

What I Wore... and some changes

Forever 21 shirt, skirt made by me, belt traded with Paige from Pink Lemonade, Old Navy shoes, Forever 21 bangle, Chevron bangle made by me (tutorial here)

WHEN: Thursday, May 17

WHERE: Work and errands

GETTING CREATIVE: I made another skirt!!! Remember the first one? I used the same tutorial. I saw this fabric at Walmart and just had to have it. I love the nautical feel of this outfit. Recently, Kendi at Kendi Everyday said she was wearing an outfit that didn't make sense outside of the blogging world. I think this outfit of mine may fall under the same category. Does it make sense to anyone else in the world? The cashiers at both Hobby Lobby and Old Navy both complimented me on my outfit and I have no proof that they are bloggers so I am going to say yes.

I need haircut! Only 4 days until my appointment!

So... on a different note.... I have tried blogging a little bit on a schedule and it really isn't working for me. I have missed Favorite Pin Friday 2 weeks in a row now and seem to blog out of obligation rather than enjoyment (which is especially funny since I currently have no sponsors). From this point on I am only going to blog when I feel like I have something good to share. Only like 15 people ever looked at the Pinterest feature and virtually no one ever commented on it. I guess it wasn't that exciting of a post, especially if you already follow me on Pinterest.

As for What I Wore on Saturday... I think that won't necessarily be a regular feature anymore. I still want to blog some of my outfit photos, but since I am taking less photos now anyway, I will just show you when (I think) I have a good one. This will also allow me to do more writing, should I choose to. I am pretty darn sure most of you are here for the tutorials and craft projects anyway and since I only have 4 1/2 days of school left I should be able to get the projects I have been working on posted.

Hooray!

Linking up with Pleated Poppy and Momma Go Round.

DIY Shoe Makeover Round Up

I spent some time over the weekend looking up ideas for ways to bring new life to shoes. I think it sounds like a fun summer project and a good way to use what I've got and not spend money on new shoes. Here are some of my favorite ideas. Click through to go through Pinterest to the tutorial.

Source: honestlywtf.com via Aubree on Pinterest

Source: scraphacker.com via Aubree on Pinterest

Source: cupcakesandcottons.blogspot.com via Aubree on Pinterest

Source: thediaryofdaveswife.com via Aubree on Pinterest

Source: sayyestohoboken.com via Aubree on Pinterest

I just wonder how long these embellishments last. Is the glitter going to flake off? The spray paint? Will the fabric fall off? Anyone have any experience with anything like this?

What I Wore

                   Old blazer, JCP skirt, Express shirt, Payless shoes and bracelets, Kohl's watch

WHEN: Wednesday, May 9

WHERE: Work

GETTING CREATIVE: I have had this polka dot blazer for years and years, but hadn't worn it since I turned all my hangers backwards in January.  I tried on a polka dot blazer on a shopping trip last weekend and was reminded that I already have one (although they did look entirely different). I love black and white and yellow so thought the blazer would be perfect with this skirt.

It's kind of ironic, but the more confident I become in my outfits and style, the less I feel the need to take photos. You would think that I would want to take more pictures to show off better clothes, but I just don't feel the need.

PLUS I realize that repeat outfits are okay and it's easier just to look through the blog archives and find the old photo instead of taking a new one:

These Are a Few of My Favorite Pins

Better late than never, right? This is usually a Friday feature and I am sorry I missed you yesterday.

Source: blog.hwtm.com via Aubree on Pinterest

I love vintage/retro everything! This "Precious Cargo" baby shower is amazing!

Source: richandheathersmith.com via Aubree on Pinterest

I can always use new inspiration to wear my red jeans. I feel like I have run out of ideas.

Source: imtopsyturvy.com via Aubree on Pinterest

This week in my crocheting class we learned how to read a pattern. This doesn't look too terribly hard, although I haven't tried it yet.

Source: pinchingyourpennies.com via Aubree on Pinterest

I love this. I love the use of church sayings. Something like this could help me update the feel of my home. I have been feeling old fashioned lately.

Source: apronstringsblog.com via Aubree on Pinterest

This looks great! Next time we get bell peppers from our Bountiful Basket (food co-op) or when they are in the garden I am trying this.

As always, I hope you have a creative weekend! My plans for Saturday include finishing the mother's day stuff, working on my many belt orders, and hopefully making a skirt. I found the cutest fabric (navy with large white polka dots) for pretty cheap at Walmart so I am going to make another elastic skirt.