How To Install A New Font

Using special fonts is an easy way to jazz up your fliers, notes, and art. There are many sites that offer free fonts to download and use for personal use. Follow these steps to download and use.

1. Click Download.
   
   
2. Select Save File. This option is probably already selected.
   
   
3. Choose a place to save the file. I usually just put it on my desktop.
   
   
4. Click Save.
   
   
5. The saved file should be on your desktop looking like a little folder with a zipper.
   
   
6. Right click on the folder and select Extract All.
   
   
7. Click Extract.
   
   
8. Now a window should open up with your font and possibly another file titled Read Me. The Read Me file is probably a message from the creator of the font telling you how it's okay for you to use it. Ex. most fonts shouldn't be used for commercial uses if they were downloaded for free.
   
   
9. Click the file that looks like a piece of paper with a folded over edge and two big letter Ts. Drag over to your desktop.
   
   
10. Click the Start button and then click Control Panel.
    
    
11. Now click Fonts.
    
    
12. Right click inside the window with all of your fonts and select Install New Font.
    
    
13. This can be the trickiest step. You need to find the location of your saved file. If you saved yours to your desktop, make sure c: OS is the selected Drive. Click on c:\, then click on USERS, then CARLY (or your name if it is not Carly), then DESKTOP.
    
    
14. Your font file should now show up under the List of Fonts: area. Click the file name.
    
    
15. Now click Install. You're done!

If your computer says something like, "Window is using this font and cannot install it right now" it probably means you aren't authorized to install a new font. This is the case if you work in an office or are using a public computer.

DJ Kitchen Font

Add a cute embellishment to a typed recipe or create home made art for your kitchen with this kitcheny cool font DJ Kitchen Font from dafont.com!

Perfectly Swirly Font: Nymphette

How About Orange just posted a link to a delightful font from dafont.com. Nymphette is a whole alphabet of swirly scrolls perfect for adding a bit of fun to an invitation or business card. I'm thinking of using it and the easy pencil transfer method to add a painted wallpaper effect to my plain bathroom walls. Download it for free and comment with how you'll be using it!

The Fabric Bar

Finding just the right fabric is one of the many thrills of my crafty life. I don't mind sifting through hundreds of pages of fabrics to find just the one that will complete my skirt/window/baby gift. Sometimes local stores just don't have what I'm looking for and so, I go online. The Fabric Bar is a site with a great mix of beautiful fabrics at quite reasonable prices.

Carpet bags, Animal art, & Alphabet prints

Here are three more lovely shops on Etsy.

I purchased a bag a month or so ago from peacelovenpolkadots and I love it! The bag is just the right size for toting around notebooks and such to school and stylish enough for all seasons. The rugged upholstery fabric means my bag won't wear out anytime soon. The magnet closure and zippered pocket on the inside are the cherries on top.

I have purchased two prints from Berkley Illustration. I found this artist through Apartment Therapy and instantly knew I wanted one of these quirky little illustrations for my house. I bought two small mice that now reside in my kitchen and a squirrel for my sister-in-law Jane. A surprise story came with my print letting me know "These two mice live in a yellow cottage full of secret nooks and passageways. It may seem strange, but their best friend is a gray cat from France."

I love the look of these graphic, simplistic alphabet prints from Penny People Prints. I think they would look adorable in a child's room or smart in an office space. The colors are great and so is the price. What a great personalized gift to give someone or keep to spruce up your own space.

A Few Sweet Sites for Bakers

Cupcakes are without a doubt my favorite dessert to make. Cake + icing + pretty wrappers + fun toppings = awesome! Sometimes I go the extra mile and make them from scratch, but honestly, I prefer the lighter texture of a box mix. Not only do I love the taste of cupcakes, but I also love knowing people are enjoying a home made treat. People love cupcakes. And the thing is, cupcakes from a box will pretty much always taste the same. So, if you want to make yours extra special, put them in beautiful wrappers, spice them up with sparkling sugar or pearls, whip them into magic with mustache toppers. Sometimes craft stores like Hobby Lobby and Michaels will carry cupcake toppers seasonally and do carry some special toppings. I prefer to drool over the selection found at the following two sites.

Fancy Flours has a good selection and is easy to navigate.

However, Bake It Pretty is definitely my numero uno choice for cupcake accessories. The site is really easy to use, the prices are right, and the selection is wonderful. Be sure to check out the Sugar Pearls!

Corbels, Moccasins, and Pillows...

...these are a few of my fav-or-ite things! I love Etsy. The ability to shop for so many things handmade is such a wonderful intertwining of technology and old fashioned craftsmanship. I also love the selection of supplies from around the world. [My kitchen shade fabric hails from North Korea.] It can be difficult, though, to find what you're looking for when there are so many shops to look through. Here are three of my favorites selling three very different wares.

For wooden corbels, shop Corbels And More. The prices are a steal even compared to big box stores and there are several details to choose from. Corbels are a beautiful way to support a shelf, add interest to a porch, or divide two rooms.

For exquisite, handmade moccasins shop at Darlingtonia Moccasin Co. Compared to Payless, these shoes cost a pretty penny. However, they are handmade and made to last. And, might I add, completely darling. I plan on buying the Plain Jane in Forest Green in the fall and wearing them pretty much everyday.

For pillows, I like the selection of fabrics from milk & cookies canada. You can buy just the pillow case to keep your costs low. Just under $30 will get it shipped to your house and transform your bed or sofa.