101!

Giveaway- Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a little lizard king pattern!

-gasp- we just hit 101 followers on GC! 

+ another 89 on feed burner! 

We are 10 shy of 200! Know what that means? 10 more followers and I am doing a giveaway! Maybe several giveaways if I can get some people on board to help sponsor the event! 

Want some free advertising for your store or blog? Send me an email with Sponsor Giveaway in the subject and let me know that you would like to help and we can talk advertising on the blog & facebook! 

Because I am a firm believer that every blog needs a photo...Here is a sneak peek at a blog I have ready to go for Wednesday!

Let's see if we can get those last 10 followers by the time I get home tomorrow from visiting my awesome friend Emily @ Paperpixiecrafts

Little Lizard King Sewing Pattern GIVEAWAY! {closed}

Remember when I posted about Little Lizard King Sewing Patterns?

Well my favorite pattern gal behind Little Lizard King and I talked and she is going to give away ONE pattern to ONE lucky reader! What a better way to start the addiction, right?! 

There are all kinds of patterns to choose from. Not only does she have some awesome girly patterns like, 

The peek-a-boo skirt

The Ruffle Knot Top

And her newest pattern... The Georgia Dress! 

YUMM!!! 

But there is also some pretty darn awesome boy patterns, 

Reversible Vest

(which I personally have and am obsessed with)

Double layer bow tie

How cute right? 

& this is just the tip of the iceberg! 

Mandatory Entry:

Head on over to her ETSY store and check out what she has than come back here and leave ONE comment  with what you would get if you won.

Extra Entries (leave a SEPARATE comment for each additional entry)

-Like Bug Creator on Facebook

-Follow Bug Creator Blog

-Like little lizard king on Facebook

-Follow little lizard king Blog

-Twitter about this giveaway & leave a link to your tweet

" Enter to win a pattern of your choice from Little Lizard King Patterns on The Bug Creator! 

http://bit.ly/efyLel @bugcreator "

-Facebook about this giveaway & leave a link to your post

(I WILL check links!)

Please make sure to leave an email so that I have a way to contact you. If I do not hear from the winner within 48 hours I will re-draw!

Thanks for stopping by and good luck! 

The giveaway will end on February 4th, 2011 at 12pm est. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and posted on February 5th, 2011. Giveaway is open to the world! This is a PDF pattern and will be delivered via email.

Rude awakening...

{image}

I am going to have a mad mommy moment here. 

Want to know what I really dislike? 

1am wake up calls for myself and my 11 month old by drunk idiots shooting shot guns. 

Thanks to my local police I think they finally have them an hour later. 

Know what drunk shooter? FLIP OFF. 

Snowed in!

Welcome to my little corner of the bloggy world! I am so glad you could stop by and visit. :D 

While I am crying my eyes out into my pillow very sad that I could not make it to Blissdom this year I am determined to make a good day of it! So today is going to be a busy blog hopping day. 

Oh I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Megan, and I am THE bug creator. Bug is my son, and he is turning 1 in 9 days! I am a single divorced mother, entrepreneur, & blogger. I run my own little store online mostly off facebook. But I am kind of on a hiatus from creating store stuff right now as I am thinking about changing my direction with the whole business. 

Oh did I mentioned I LOVE change? I am one of those people that rearranges furniture once a month. 

I am all things crafty and I love to write. I do some great tutorials here as much as I can, which will be much more now that I am getting a routine down for work, and I write often about mommy experiences. 

The newest tutorial

{Thrifty changing mat tutorial}

The most popular tutorial featured on Craftgossip.com

{Child's tool/gardening belt tutorial}

Following for a close 2nd place also featured on CraftGossip.com

{Quilted seat belt covers}

Not convinced to hang around yet? Well I do giveaways, reviews, and introduce you to blogs you will surely love to know. I am growing and expanding my ideas all the time. 

While I can't be in THE blissdom. I am certainly in bliss with being "snowed in". Let me know you stopped by and where I can go to check you out! 

Thanks again! 

To awesome! No wait 5 Awesome!

Thanks to Trop 50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 fabulous wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to help grant a friend's wish!

____________________________________________

5 Awesome what? 

Why bloggers that is! 

I know your expecting me to name some famous names like Ree @ Pioneer Woman, GiGi @ Kludgy Mom, or Char @ Crap I've Made. While I absolutely worship love these women and their abilities to write amazing blogs, at what seems like the drop of a hat, I wanted to focus on some "smaller" bloggers. 

I went through my google reader to search for the perfect bloggers to write about. I read so many blogs and had a hard time at first... So I sat down and played with my son a bit and just thought about who stood out. Who's posts did I always scour the reader to find if I did not have a chance to read all 345 that were listed as unread? 

Than I had to whittle that list down...Phew! Lots of work! So without further ado...

#1-Tracy of Naptime = Craft time

I have to say this woman is great! I have had the chance to get to know her a bit better through a crafty mommy group we both belong to online. Not only does she run a blog that has never failed to keep me entertained but she does it while chasing her 2 small children around, running a house, marriage, and battling thyroid cancer. 

(Nap mat cover & pillow tutorial)

Not only is she talented sewing but she is a great speller! 

BEFORE:

AFTER:

(read more here)

______________________

#2 Ginger of Support blog for moms of BOYS!

First of all I bow to this lady because she has boys and embraces it! She made a SUPPORT BLOG! A place where all of us moms with boys (or in my case only boys) to go and share our boyish sides. This makes her an awesome blogger all on its own. But to top it off she adds in some girly momma stuff too. -sigh- I might be bloggy crushing a little.

She shows us how to make these cute little garbage catchers.

And is not afraid to host a party!

_____________________________

#3 Elizabeth of Twelve Crafts til Christmas

"If I can craft, anyone can." -Elizabeth

And boy can she craft! This is one talent lady and has a AWESOME blog to boot! What started as a place to show off her craftiness and keep herself accountable for 12 crafts till christmas for her two daughters has turned into an inspiring blog for moms, grandmothers, aunts, and more! Blogging about crafts is just not good enough for Mrs. Elizabeth, she has to blog about her life, decorating, and add in some hilarious confessions.

One of my favorite (and I am sure you will agree) projects is the PILLOW BUDDY!

(Two Part Tutorial: Part 1, Part 2)

________________________________________

#4 Natalie of Mommy of a Monster & Twins

Hats off to this amazing woman for dealing with twin toddlers + one. I don't know if I could deal with two of my son, and I am not sure how she does it! But she does and that makes her one awesome blogger!

Natalie just started hosting a new feature called

All about the imperfect side of us! Things we have done that we might regret later and so that we might know that we are not alone in our monster moments. Check it out here.

Makes me feel less guilty already!

And last but certainly not least....

#5 Jessica of Running With Scissors

First of all...the name alone qualifies her as an awesome blogger. I mean really I love running with scissors ! Okay maybe I should not have admitted that here. 

(Disclaimer: Just joking there kids don't try that at home! You could poke an eyeball out and your mom would beat me cause eyes produce a lot of red stuff)

Jessica comes from a crafty family which includes her mother and sister. Not only does she sew but she does wood work, painting, etc...! You do not want to miss her furniture re-do's, sewing tutorials, and more!

She writes easy to understand tutorials too. Like this adorable pillow silhouette,

I made one of those for my mother for christmas from her TUTORIAL! 

& I can't forget that she and I share a love for owls. Just look at what she made her son! 

So that rounds up just a few of my AWESOME bloggers on my Google Reader. If you did not make the list don't worry. I love you too! I just did not want to overwhelm everyone! :D 

Who would you award an awesome blogger award to? Let me know! I may just need to check them out!

Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to support a friend's wish. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

Almost 200 strong!

Guess what? Between google friends and RSS Feedburner I have almost 200 followers!! 

The total? 

93+85=178! 

Refer us to your friends, family, etc... When I reach 200 followers on the blog I will be having a giveaway palooza! 

Want to be part of this palooza and help a momma out? Just email me at BugCreator@yahoo.com with information on what you would like to donate. In exchange for donating an item you get free publicity...Not only will I add you to my newly coming sponsor bar for a month but you also get to be thrown in as a sponsor for a post sometime that month as well! 

Not sure what to donate? You can donate services, items both physical and digital, gift cards to your store, etc... 

So email me quick because I have a feeling we will hit 200 fans really quick!

See even Bug is excited! ---->

Don't forget to check Bug Creator out on Facebook too!

Thrifty Changing Mat Tutorial

So I might be am cheap.

Because I am and due to the fact that my son and I were in tight spaces I had to let go my dreams of a beautiful white changing table and matching crib. -tear- His changing table? The top of his dresser. I never really found the need to buy a 30 dollar changing mat when I could just as easily use a cushy towel. 

So a towel we have been using. But now that I have a room for him and I am trying to decorate said room the towel just looked tacky! A quick cover was in order. 

I decided to share this thrifty changing mat with my fellow crafty momma's ! This can also work for a regular changing mat! 

& because I decided to turn this into a tutorial before I started... 

Supplies: 

Fabric to fit the size of your towel or changing mat (Approx 3/4 yard)

Sewing machine

Velcro

Step 1:

You need your towel folded however you want it to fit onto your table. 

(I fold mine in half long ways and than in half again so that it is a neat little rectangle.)

Step 2:

 You can need to cut your fabric length and width of the towel adding 1/2 inch all the way around. (you don't want the fabric too tight to your towel or changing table cause it may bunch it up) 

Step 3:

With right sides facing together sew 2 short and one long side of your fabric rectangle. Leave one long side open to add velcro so that you can wash your mat/towel cover!

Step 4: 

Cut velcro for the same length as your open long side! (hem your fabric on that side by 1/4 inch if you have a fraying fabric. I used knit so I did not need to hem)

You should have something like this now:

Step 5:

Pin your velcro down to the very edge of your hemmed (or not hemmed knit) fabric as pictured below...

Step 6: 

Sew your velcro down unpinning as you go. 

If you end up with some snags like this... Don't freak out! It will be hidden anyway ! 

Insert towel... velcro closed... and TA-DA!

Your finished! Pat yourself on the back for a job well done! Simple right? 

WARNING: This mat is not equipped with buckles. As with all mats and changing tables children should never be left unattended. Do not take your eyes off the little squirmy for ANYTHING! I am serious here folks! This mat is also not secured to the dresser do not forget that! This mat is not made for sleeping. It is too soft and your child can suffocate if left unattended on it. Even on the floor! 

Thanks for using my tutorial for PERSONAL USE ONLY! :D

Squeak its a Sneak

Peek that is...

What is Orange, flatish, and will be a tutorial here tomorrow? 

Why this little thing-a-ma-jig right here! 

(Please excuse my crap-tastic Photoshop skills in the process of editing this photo I am using my laptop minus a regular mouse and let's say I am not that talented. ) 

See ya tomorrow!

Working hard

Remember when I mentioned I would show you what I had been working on? 

Well here is my "big thing". I have been trying to get a Waldorf doll together for my son. Having never done one of these before I was on the search for a good tutorial! I found one here. 

Isn't he just cute? 

He is still naked and needs some clothes... Those are next! 

Bitter Sweet

It is a little bit crazy around here this month! Just when I thought I would get time to recover from christmas it is time already to get ready for my sons first birthday! 

Not to mention I am trying to get some new designs ready to release in February. 

Want to see what I am working on? 

Here is a sneak peek for a future post!

Try not to get distracted by the cuteness that is my little Bug. 

Can you guess what it is? Well it is almost done...So I will reveal Wednesday!

HELP fellow sewers!

This is a quick plea for some help...I am interested in making my own patterns to put on the blog...

It would make some tutorials I have in my mind so much easier for YOU the reader. 

I want to do it all professional like. So I was wondering what program do you use for your clothing patterns?

What do you use for your wallet/purse/stuffies? 

The clothing is my biggest ugh! because with the wallet, purse, stuffed animal stuff it is one size most of the time and therefore you can make one pattern scan it in and retrace with photoshop. Clothing is not so easy because of the sizes. 

Help a crafty mommy out!

Haiti has Heart

As most of you know I am a big believer in up-cycling items. If I can find a purpose in something I will use it. I am not ashamed to admit that sometimes this turns into a major craft fail. 

There are some very amazing people in Haiti that do the same thing (though I am sure they have a lot less craft fails than I). They use stuff like recycled oil drums, paper mache, stone and more to make beautiful art that speaks wonders of their culture and history. Not only do they make these gorgeous pieces of art but they use those skills to provide for their families. 

(I am really in love with these watermelon bowls)

After the horrific earthquake in January of 2010 the Haitians had an even harder time of making a living... In response Macy's, in partnership with Fairwinds Trading and Brandaid Haiti, are helping these same people by providing them with a audience in which to show their art to and offer you the chance to purchase some as well! This awesome program is called Heart of Haiti.

By purchasing one of their beautiful handmade items you are helping these men and women support their family by doing something they love (22% of every purchase goes to the artisan). You are helping prevent starvation, help send children to school, rebuilding homes, and providing the opportunity to access healthcare.

I am sure that most of us "crafty ladies" can agree and understand what one of the artisans, Isador, (read more about the artisans  here)  when he says "When an artisan creates, it is like a love in your heart."

As we are approaching the anniversary of the devastating earthquake, I try to remember that I am fortunate to be living where I am and to have what I do. I hope that you can find it in your heart, if you can, to help these good folks make a living and get back on their feet. 

More information and to purchase product can be found at http://www.macys.com/heartofhaiti





Disclosure: I was selected for this very special “CleverHaiti” opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity. All opinions are my own.

11 months

I can't believe my "little" baby is 11 months old. This month is already promising to go by fast. 

"Warp speed ahead!"

I am so excited to see your growing and learning but I am also heart broken. These past 2 years have been some of the best and hardest of my life.

I lost a precious angel baby right before I got pregnant with you dear son. When I did find out I was pregnant with you barely a month later I was terrified. The doctors told me it would be virtually impossible for me to carry a baby to term. After several months of blood thinners, bed rest, and weekly visits to the doctor I finally allowed myself to be excited. At 4 months I finally could breathe a sigh of relief. 

I have to admit I was so excited (and your nana was so excited) that by November we had bought more stuff than you could ever possibly need... And I even set up the crib because I knew I would be going back on bed rest soon. 

It has been an amazing 11 months. You have grown from a little new fat baby...

(2months)

To a handsome little man...

You are so eager to explore, give sugars, and get into trouble. 

You can crawl on all 4's now and you pull up and couch surf everywhere. 

After a rough 11 months full of sleep apnea, sleep seizures, severe acid reflux, sandifers syndrome diagnosis, several overnight trips to the hospital, and a few heart attacks on mommies part we have finally gotten into a good place. 

No more apnea monitor for the past 2 months, sleep seizures are only once in a blue moon and your sandifers is under control. 

The best part... You are sleeping in your own bed! Today marks a whole week of you sleeping in your big boy bed at the head of mommies bed!

I don't know why you hate the crib being a crib but if a toddler bed version with my bed as a buffer is all that works I will gladly work with ya doll. 

You have grown so much. I am so proud of you my little bug. 

Love, 

Mommy

Lizards Lizards everywhere!!!

No not real lizards! 

This Lizard!

I fell in love with Little Lizard King sewing patterns when I was looking for a little boy's vest pattern. I unfortunately was poor at the time so I could only make google-y eyes at it until one day ... I won the pattern! Oh yeah! 

Than I got the opportunity to test out the Little Apron Skirt (new name pending?) at the beginning of December... It was so cute and I made sure to stalk keep an eye on Lizard's Facebook page. I was addicted... I want them all! 

(photo credit Little Lizard King Patterns)

(the skirt that I made)

About a week ago she posted again "pattern testers needed." I could not hit the comment button fast enough! (no I am not exaggerating ... sad yes I know. ) 

   

(6-12 months THIS ONE for sale in my facebook store)

(size 8)

This skirt is my all time favorite... I even tortured my son and dressed him in it to take photos! lol 

It is a little long but I am going to just shorten it by a few inches next time. I even made one bigger for my niece but I have not given it to her yet... 

Want one for yourself? The pattern will be for sale soon in her etsy store!

Or if your not crafty (or just want to be lazy) I will be selling customs, and pre-made's of this skirt, & the Apron Skirt in my store on Facebook. 

Thanks for listening to me gush and don't forget to go check out Little Lizard King Patterns on Facebook and Etsy.