Meet The Blogger: Kellie MacMillian from Princess and the Yard Ape

Hi, Friends! How was your weekend? What fun things did you do? I would love to hear from you. Please share below in the comments. If you have a fun craft, DIY or website you have found that you would like me to look over or you would like to be featured in our Meet the Maker series please email me. Also be ready for our Christmas in July Craft Challenge starting July 1.

On one of our Follow Friday feature giveaways, we had a blogger win. How exciting to branch out into another group on the web? So I am excited to introduce you to Kellie MacMillian from The Princess and The Ape.

Hi Kellie, Tell us about where you are from and where you live now?
I am from New Brunswick, Canada.
I live in Southern Ontario, between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie Oh fun.

How long have you been blogging and what got you started?
I’ve been blogging for almost 3 years.
I would have friends over and we would be sitting in the garden sharing a glass of wine and they would ask me questions about either wine or gardening or both. I’d answer and they all would say, “You should start a blog.” After hearing that for a thousand times, I guess I just started one.That's great you had so much encouragement to start out.

What started you in blogging about food and where did you go from there?
I originally wanted it to be about food, wine, and gardening and ended up winning a substantial food & wine competition right out of the gate. I represented Canada in a Blogger Competition in Paris, France. This took place at the time of the Paris terrorist attacks, so the whole thing was a life altering experience. I was involved in a group called the Food Bloggers of Canada at the time and somehow felt I owed someone something - like loyalty to food bloggers everywhere LOL.
However, I feel out of love with food blogging and actually have come to detest food blogs in general. So much so, that I haven’t actually cooked in almost 6 months. I seem to be going through a transition right now and am getting back to my roots of this blog.
I just want to take beautiful pictures, design gardens and not care what anyone thinks. LOL.I hope that this transition works out for you and that you really enjoy it.

Kellie, what has been your favorite post?
My favorite post is one called Wine in the Garden, Blame It On The Dragon.
I would love to share that being true to yourself is super important. Blogging is a journey and you change with each season and with each post and staying current with that takes quiet time to reflect.I will have to remember that, being true to myself.

What is something you would like to share with those interested in starting a blog?
I think it is important to take time away from blogging to fill up your inner well of inspiration. To create, or make just for fun and not for a blog post. There are things that set our hearts on fire and I love meeting people who connect and draw from that. The single most important resource for me is tension. When I start to feel frustrated, that’s when I know something great is going to come into my life. I used to be impatient during these times, now I sit back and smile and say to myself, “You’ve been here before, get ready for glory.” Thank you for your thoughts. It is true I too have found that great change has come after a great struggle.

You can find Kellie on the web at the following locations:
Blog:http://www.princessandtheyardape.com/blog/
Webpage:http://www.princessandtheyardape.com
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/princessandtheyardape/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/princessandtheyardape/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/princess_yrdape
Pinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/kellie2455/

These are a few of my favorite blog posts! Happy Blog-tember Challenge day 19

Hope you are enjoying this blogging challenge as much as I am. Today's is a hard challenge for me, because even though I have had this blog since 2007 I haven't done too much with it until recently.
When I first started to blog, I used it to share about what was happening with our family. Because we moved away from all of our family I was trying to find a way to share about what was happening. At this time Facebook was only used by students and if there was Twitter, or Instagram or anything like these I didn't know about it at the time.
Here is an early post that I wrote that will give you an idea:
around and about the house

Some of the posts that I really like are the ones where I dig deeper and talk about what God is teaching me.
Just a Taste

One of my most popular posts was one that I posted for Invisible Illness week. I hope to do a post for that again this year. I really liked this because it gave me a chance to share a part of me that is really hard to share.
30 Things about My Illness That You May Not Know

This past year I have been working hard on trying to find my niche and blogging more. I have tried to write a post about once a week and then picked up in June and July as I put on my first ever crafting challenge. The posts from this last year have been the most fun for me to write. I really enjoyed doing the craft challenge and hope to do more of these here soon. Here is a link from one of the challenges.

25 Days of Christmas Crafting in July Craft Challenge

Christmas in July Crafting Challenge Day 25

Its the 25th of July
Happy Christmas in July.
Thanks to everyone who has joined us on this journey.
Its our last crafting day.
So grab scissors and tools
come one and come all
Happy Christmas Crafting!

Hello everyone and welcome to our final day of our challenge. 

Today, you have a choice to make a Christmas craft of your choice or try your hand at making something with clothespins! Be creative, use what you have around the house! Here are some ideas.

• Christmas Clothespin Wreath from Sabrina at Superfluous.
• Clothes Pin Wreath for Christmas Cards From The Ribbon Retreat Blog
• Try out another craft on our pinterest board.

Superfluous.

The Ribbon Retreat!

Put your craft together and share it with us in our facebook group! Make sure you also use #christmasinjulycraftchallenge2016 when posting to social media.

Don't forget to enter in the rafflecopter for your entry to win a custom piece of jewelry.

Please see our blog page for all of the rules.

Looking forward to seeing your creations.

Thank you so much for joining us. We hope that you have enjoyed this craft challenge. You have until August 6 to make your entries. The winner will be announced on August 7.

Happy Crafting.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas in July Crafting Challenge Day 24

Twas the day before 
the 25th of July.
All is quiet in the mouse...nothing is moving
because hopefully we've been out playing :).
So here it is the eve of our last day. Get out your jewelry making tools
and join us for another craft!

Happy Christmas Crafting!

Hello everyone and welcome to our twenty-fourth day of our challenge. 

Today, you have a choice between two jewelry crafts.

1. Easy Instruction on Making Pearl Bangle Bracelet from Pandahall.com Learning Center by Summer Wang
2. DIY Pearl Necklace in 3 seconds from Clones and Clowns by Aimee

The Learning Center

Clones and Clowns

Put your craft together and share it with us in our facebook group! Make sure you also use #christmasinjulycraftchallenge2016 when posting to social media.

Don't forget to enter in the rafflecopter for your entry to win a custom piece of jewelry.

Please see our blog page for all of the rules.

Looking forward to seeing your creations.

Happy Crafting.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas in July Crafting Challenge Day 22

Yarn Star Ornament

Each year at Thanksgiving or Christmas, depending on when we are all together, I usually have a book that we as a family read together. Then from the story all of us (adults and children) collaborate to create a piece of art. I work it all out ahead of time; finding the book, figuring out how we’ll create the art and gathering the materials.

When I saw Mama Miss’s post, the Elmer ornament,I knew that was one I wanted to try for the Christmas in July Crafting Challenge. She based the craft on what looks like a fun children’s book. Plus on top of being super cute it also ticks off a lot of the other boxes on my criteria list for a good craft to try (family friendly, easy, fun, inexpensive, few materials needed).

Speaking of materials you’ll need:

• Yarn
• Cardboard (I used a cereal box)
• A template try these: Star Templates  I used the 3 inch and 4 inch templates from Tim’s Printables and a 5 inch star template from here: Star pattern
• Glue, I had a glue stick and Elmer’s glue all which is liquid.
• Scissors
• String or twine or just use a piece of yarn.

Cut your template out of cardboard #1 pic. Glue a loop of yarn, string or twine to the back for the hanger. Then glue the end of the yarn from the skein on the front of the star #2 pic. That will help hold it in place as you start to wrap it around. Wrap it around the star focusing on covering the center. Don’t forget to flip it over and make sure you are covering the back #3 pic. Wrap the star points, I used some Elmer’s glue all on them to help hold the yarn in place (my reference source used a very low heat glue gun). Cut the yarn from the skein and tuck it in the back with a dab of glue to hold it in place.

I found that the 5 inch star took a lot of yarn and decided after making one to try smaller ones the 4 inch star seemed to be just right and the three inch one a little too small, the points were tough to wrap. If you're making a lot of them the size might be a consideration.

That’s it, you’re done.

Here’s mine:

They have a rustic kind of look.The children especially will have fun creating these and will need only a little help I think.

Put your craft together and share it with us in our facebook group! Make sure you also use #christmasinjulycraftchallenge2016 when posting to social media.

Don't forget to enter in the rafflecopter for your entry to win a custom piece of jewelry.

Please see our blog page for all of the rules.

Looking forward to seeing your creations.

Happy Crafting.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas in July Crafting Challenge Day 21

Twas the twenty-first day of the crafting challenge,

We have created and crafted,

Laughed and related,

Are you ready for more?

If so, then

Come one and Come all,

with scissors and glue.

Lets all continue crafting,

Let's see what other fun things we will do?

Hello everyone and welcome to our twenty-first day of our challenge. 

Today is a choose your own Christmas craft day!  Check out Christmas in July Pinterest board for inspiration. Can't wait to see what all of you come up with.

Here is an advent calendar I have made.

Put your craft together and share it with us in our facebook group! Make sure you also use #christmasinjulycraftchallenge2016 when posting to social media.

Don't forget to enter in the rafflecopter for your entry to win a custom piece of jewelry.

Please see our blog page for all of the rules.

Looking forward to seeing your creations.

Happy Crafting.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas in July Crafting Challenge Day 17

Cold Porcelain (white clay) Ornaments

By now you may have detected a theme in my posts, very ornamental you might say, lol and if you’ve crafted along with me you have a lot a small gifts or decorations made for Christmas and it’s only July, think of that!

Today, I am making white clay or cold porcelain ornaments,  there are many sources online and I’ll provide links to a few in this post. The recipe uses items you might have already in your cabinet, baking soda and cornstarch super simple and fun.

You will need:

• I cup of baking soda
• ½ cup of cornstarch
• ¾ cup of warm water

You’ll also need a measuring cup, rolling pin, cookie cutters, parchment paper, a spoon or spatula (I used a spoon), a saucepan, a bowl, a drinking straw and yarn or string #1 picture. Place the baking soda, cornstarch and water in the sauce pan and cook over medium heat stirring constantly. The mixture is very thin and watery to begin with #2 picture, but within a few minutes it will come together in a soft mass, remove it from the stove and scrape it into a bowl #3 picture. Cover it and allow it to cool then knead it until smooth. Roll it out to ¼ inch thickness and cut with your favorite cookie cutters. Use the straw to put a hole in it for hanging. Let them air dry, although I’ve seen baking instructions for them I noticed that they were drying pretty quickly and decided to just go with that approach it took about 24 hours.

For more information and pictures visit Tomfo or try Full of Great Ideas. Want to get more decorative with your ornaments? Try beads or other little decorative items, I put some little cake decor stars on the small ones I made but the food color in them ran so don’t try the food decor. Here are some other ideas that might work.; Christmas Joy ornament shows stamps on their clay so does Oleander and Palm on Salt dough ornaments. Experiment or just leave them plain they look pretty that way to, have fun!

Put your craft together and share it with us in our facebook group! Make sure you also use #christmasinjulycraftchallenge2016 when posting to social media.

Don't forget to enter in the rafflecopter for your entry to win a custom piece of jewelry.

Please see our blog page for all of the rules.

Looking forward to seeing your creations.

Happy Crafting.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas in July Crafting Challenge Day 16

Twas the sixteenth day of the crafting challenge,

And we have had so much fun so far.

Today, we will craft some Christmas decorations

So get out all your supplies and have a 

Happy Christmas Crafting!

Hello everyone and welcome to our sixteenth day of our challenge. 

Todays' challenge is making a Mini pallet sign Christmas ornament. Craft and photo from The Crafted Sparrow.com

Put your craft together and share it with us in our facebook group! Make sure you also use #christmasinjulycraftchallenge2016 when posting to social media.

Don't forget to enter in the rafflecopter for your entry to win a custom piece of jewelry.

Please see our blog page for all of the rules.

Looking forward to seeing your creations.

Happy Crafting.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas in July Crafting Challenge Day 14

Twas the fourteenth day of the crafting challenge,

And boy have we done a lot.

From snowmen, to angels it's been such fun...

Ready for another here we go

grab some ribbon and some pearls

It's a bracelet we are making.

Happy Christmas Crafting!

Hello everyone and welcome to our fourteenth day of our challenge. 

Today, we will make a Ribbon and pearl bracelet. Craft and photo from Yes Missy a Lifestyle Blog.

Put your craft together and share it with us in our facebook group! Make sure you also use #christmasinjulycraftchallenge2016 when posting to social media.

Don't forget to enter in the rafflecopter for your entry to win a custom piece of jewelry.

Please see our blog page for all of the rules.

Looking forward to seeing your creations.

Happy Crafting.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas in July Crafting Challenge Day 10

'Tis the tenth day of creating.

What fun we are having! 

With 15 more to go!!

Today, we will take a small break

Click on the link,

And learn how to make wire wrapped jewelry.

Happy Christmas Crafting!

Hello everyone and welcome to our tenth day of our challenge. What has been the most enjoyable part so far for you? I have had so much fun putting this all together for you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have so far.

Day 10 challenge, watch How to Begin Basic wire wrapping and Jewelry Making by Gregory Steele. Practice wire wrapping or making jump rings. Take a picture of your work and share them with us in our facebook group! 

Make sure you also use #christmasinjulycraftchallenge2016 when posting to social media.

Don't forget to enter in the rafflecopter for your entry each day to win a custom piece of jewelry.

Please see our blog page for all of the rules.

Looking forward to seeing your creations.

Happy Crafting.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas in July Crafting Challenge Day 8

Twas the eight day of the crafting challenge,

July 8th is the date.

We have created seven days worth

already..

Are you ready for more?

If so then

Come one and Come all,

with scissors and glue.

Let's all continue crafting,

Let's see what other fun things will we do?

Hello everyone and welcome to our eighth day of our challenge. I hope you are enjoying this as much as we are.

Today is a choose your own craft day, finish a craft from a previous day or do a coloring page. Coloring pages and photo from nerdymamma.com 

Color or put together your craft and share with us in our facebook group! Make sure you also use #christmasinjulycraftchallenge2016 when posting to social media.

Don't forget to enter in the rafflecopter for your entry to win a custom piece of jewelry.

Please see our blog page for all of the rules.

Looking forward to seeing your creations.

Happy Crafting.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas in July Crafting Challenge Day 3

Twas the third day of the crafting challenge,

July 3rd is the date.

We have created two days worth
already.
Are you ready for more?
If so then

Come one and Come all,

with scissors and glue.

Lets all continue crafting,

what other fun things will we do?

Hello everyone and welcome to our third day of our challenge. I hope you are enjoying this as much as we are.

Now for our third challenge! Today is a choose your own craft day! What does this mean you may ask? Well if you are anything like me you have those crafts you started and put in a closet or drawer to be finished one day... so today is the day. Pull out those crafts or the supplies that you bought. 

If not, you can choose to do a coloring page. Coloring pages and photo below from The Quiet Grove.

Put it together and share with us in our facebook group! Make sure you also use #christmasinjulycraftchallenge2016 when posting to social media.

Don't forget to enter in the rafflecopter for your entry to win a custom piece of jewelry.

Here is a craft I recently made for a friends wedding gift. 

Please see our blog page for all of the rules.

Looking forward to seeing your creations.

Happy Crafting.

a Rafflecopter giveaway