Sunday Shout Out- Pinterest Lovers

For you crafty pinterest lovers...
I came across a mega list, how awesome is this?!

The Scrap Shoppe has a running link party for us crafty people to add their pinterest page to her Pinterest Master List.

I added myself and you can see them all here

I love finding new people on pinterest to follow.

ENJOY!
Thanks for stopping by!

Inspiration Workshop: Beach

Gussy Sews is having her weekly inspiration workshop and this weeks prompt is BEACH!
It gives me the excuse to go back and re-live our beach vacation a few weeks ago.

When I think of beach I think of sand between my toes, waves, boogie boards, reading a great book (or 2), having amazing seafood, listening to the waves at night on a balcony, giggles, FUN, and just spending time with people I LOVE!
If we are at the beach it means VACATION!

RELAXATION!! 

My Sons New Growth Chart

I have been wanting to do a growth chart for a while now. 

Originally this is what I wanted to do, from How Does She (and still may) I just have to take the time to sand the wood I have, paint it, mark it and get it hung. 

So in the mean time I ran across a growth chart using jute webbing. Now I am new to the craft world and don't know much about material so I had never heard of jute webbing. :) It took me asking the lady at Joanns to help me find it. 

So I purchased 2 yards this week and googled different pictures of growth charts to see how I wanted mine to end up. 

Here are a few

Jenny Collier Photography

Beth Marie Photography

This one featured at Sew Dang Cute by Wipperberry is my favorite.

Love the key tags used to mark the growth.

She even packaged hers up in a cute gift box!

LOVE IT! 

Here is what I ended up doing.

Sorry I am horrible with pictures

I kinda took a little bit from each and I really like it.

I still need to find where I want to hang it....

Oh and I did use the round key tags! I love them! I have my son's name on the back side of the tag and then the date, his weight and height. 

Here is how I made mine

I took my giant sharpie and used stencil to mark the numbers

 

I went all the way up to 6 feet

DON'T FORGET TO ACOUNT FOR ANY BASEBOARD OR SPACE BELOW THE CHART.
My first inch starts at 6 inches. 

  

Then I marked each inch. For ease of measuring later.

 Ta-Da

Originally I had used my hemp chord with holes but as you can see I didn't space them far enough apart and it wanted to fold over on itself. So instead, I added wood.

I tied on the hemp, folder over the jute webbing and hot glued it.

What do you think?

I am linking up here

Swap Parties

I would LOVE to do a swap party!!
I had not heard of this until today. I know I know, where have I been? :)
But really ~ How fun would this be??
You have a group of women over, have great food and drinks, and ask them to bring themed items from home, such as:

theme ideas

• kitchen | small kitchen appliances, utensils, bowls, dinnerware, silverware, dining room linens, washcloths, hand towels
• seasonal  | spring, summer, fall & winter decor
• home decor | mirrors, art, decorative bowls & containers, plants, picture frames, lamps
• books | childrens, adult, young adult, research, cookbooks, how-to’s, garden books
• holiday | yes, every holiday — Christmas, Easter, st. paddy’s day, halloween
• movies & music | vhs, cd’s, dvd’s for children, family, chick flicks & more
• (themes from Aimee's blog, Fancy Little Things)

I really like the kitchen theme, or Home Decor would be fun...

So, If they bring 10 items they get to go home with 10 items. (or you can ask everyone to bring a certain number of things) This is a great and fun way of getting rid of gently used items in your home without having a garage sale. Also if things do not get picked, and everyone is fine with what they received, you can donate what's left to Good Will or other charity.

You can go to her site to see more details on how it is done.
Sounds like a GREAT time!
Thanks Aimee for sharing this idea!!

Here are some other sites I found while researching this idea.
Jeanne Winters- you can download blank party invitations here
Real Simple has some information on a swap party as well

Now some day I will have to actually do this :)

New ways to learn about Nat's Knapsack

Hope you check me out :)

Wordless Wednesday... kinda

via- The Handmade Home

Ok so this WAS going to be wordless Wednesday but I can't help it! LOOK AT THIS KITCHEN!
You know the funny part, the part that excites me the most?? Its the framed chalk board on the front of the island! I COULD SO DO THIS IN MY KITCHEN!! (if you can't tell, I am clear giddy!) If you don't know this about me, I am obsessed with chalk board "stuff". I just love it! I would paint my whole house in chalk board paint if I was allowed. (Ha, ok maybe not every wall...)  This project is in my NEAR future!

Thanks for stopping by!

jessicaNdesigns: Sponsor Spotlight & Giveaway: just.lovely.things

Check out this awesome giveaway!
jessicaNdesigns: Sponsor Spotlight & Giveaway: just.lovely.things:

"Well Hello there! I'm Heather from {just.lovely.things} the Blog & Shop and Jessica invited me over today for a little interview, so I tho..."

Tuesday Treasures- New Favorites

Some of my new favorites on Etsy ~ Love these!

number print, make up bag, burlap bag,

burlap wine bag, believe, Birdy

Love, high 5s, bracelet 

Hope you enjoyed!

Blogging mistake 101

Well- I messed up. While working in my photobucket account today I deleted my button picture... Nice huh... It has just been one of these days :)
So, Here is the correct button
SORRY!!!

<center><a href="http://natsknapsack.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt165/natbutler8/retrowoodlandpinkandwhitefreemodernbanner2ccopy-3.jpg" /></a></center>

Show some love

Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by.
I want to take today to share a blog with you.
My cousin Kami. What an amazing girl!

Read this about Kami
I am an almost Cedarville University grad who is completing my student teaching in South Africa, in order to minister where God has lead me. I have an amazing family back home in Ohio who makes it incredibly difficult to be away, and yet has given me wings to follow my Savior's lead. I am engaged to be married in December to the man who stole my heart when I was 12 years old. I am so blessed by him and so excited to soon be called his wife. God has given me such a passion for His needy children, and I am striving to use that to bring him glory. For now, that means teaching in Africa.

Wow!! She has followed Christ to South Afica and she needs our prayers and encouragement.
I recently learned that she has a class of 57! Can you imagine? You are student teaching, ALONE, with a class of 57?! (read about it HERE)

I have met some amazing people in the blog world and so I wanted to share this story with you. She is far away from home and could use all the encouraging words you can give!
Stop over at her blog- Kamis Kolorful Kids to show some support and tell her whatever is on your heart.

Thanks everyone!!
-Natassia

Sunday Shout Out: Hostess with the Mostess

I was searching for some party ideas and came across
Hostess with the Mostess. 
I have Parties on the brain (My son turns 1 August 18th!)
And these parties are adorable!! Even if they aren't all fit for a 1st birthday party, I LOVE them!

Coney Island Inspired Party

I LOVE the bottle ring toss!

Dinosaur Party

So cool with the volcano cakes!! 

How cute is this Baby Shower

MILKaholtic

AND

Celebrate Summer with a Picnic

HOW MUCH FUN ARE THESE PARTIES!

I am INSPIRED! Now to plan...

Oh wow! 

I just found this!

Lil Monster is the theme I would like for his party- 

IF ONLY I could do this!

I want to make these!

I guess I better start doing something if I want to get anything done... anyone wanna help? :)

Thanks for stopping by!