I'm Manda! Crafty AF, I'll inspire you to make cute things on a budget! ~In The Pursuit of Craftyness
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09/24/2025
Our next uh-maz-ing Craftaway Sponsor I'd like to highlight today is Amy Blowers Wilkes with Creative Journey (FB won't let me tag so you can go to her page here to follow -->> https://www.facebook.com/piscescreativejourney )
Amy makes some of the cutest DIY gifts and decor. Her talent shines through in her Swag bag donation and let me just say that I hope to learn to crochet like her one day! Not only does she craft, but she recently dove into the world of craft fairs too! If you are local to Upstate NY, send her a message and ask when her next fair is.
We are doing a huuuggeeeeeee giftaway to celebrate all the sponsors on 10/13/25 right after the event. When I pull the winner I will verify you are following each and every sponsor in order to be eligible for the Happy Mail! So make sure to follow her page! Sharing this post gets you one EXTRA entry.
THANK YOU so much Amy for sponsoring my amazing Crafting Retreat - Cali Craftaway with Manda Panda Projects!
09/24/2025
Let's talk quickly about B1NG0 for Flip-a-find challenge b
Happening SOON.....The Flip-a-Find Challenge ( )—where crafters and thrifters go head-to-head to see who will flip it best and be crowned the Flip Master!
Most of us have thrifted treasures we "had to have" that are still sitting in our stash, waiting for “someday.” This challenge is your chance to finally give them a crafty glow-up and show them off!
Here’s how it works:
The challenge kicks off Saturday, 9/27/25 at 10am PST with a LIVE kickoff on my Manda Panda Projects page. All the fun (and the voting!) happens inside the private Facebook group.
Participants in will:
• Pick their fave thrift/yard/estate sale find (or pull from your stash).
• Flip it into ANY craft—home décor, mixed media, seasonal, holiday, upcycle—it’s all fair game. (Your item must be the star of the project, not just an embellishment!)
• Submit your finished project photo(s) to enter the group vote + prize giveaways!
Final photos are due Monday, 9/29/25 at 2pm PST. Voting opens immediately, and we’ll crown our winners LIVE at 5:30pm PST during the Flip-a-Find Winners Ceremony.
The goal? Creativity over perfection. This is about actually crafting with your finds—not just hoarding them.
Who’s ready to flip out?!
**You may enter as many flips as you wish, but you can only win once
09/23/2025
Our next uh-maz-ing Craftaway Sponsor I'd like to highlight today is your fave clay supplier.... Sculpey !!
If you haven’t worked with it before, Sculpey is a well-loved polymer clay that’s super flexible, easy to handle, and perfect for crafters of all levels. It’s made from a PVC base (a type of plastic that’s widely used), which gives it its soft, moldable texture. You can shape it however you like, then cure it right in your regular home oven. Once baked, the clay keeps its original size and vibrant color.
Sculpey has an amazing variety of clays that work for all kinds of projects and every skill level. With tons of colors to choose from—including fun options like metallics and glow-in-the-dark—you’ll never run out of creative possibilities. From jewelry and bead making to sculpting, mixed media, and even home décor, polymer oven-bake clay is one of the most versatile mediums for bringing your imagination to life.
Sculpey was generous enough not only to donate to our swag bags, but to give a special code for ALL of my followers on my page! Visit their shop HERE and use code MANDAPANDA30 for 30% off through 10/31/25 -->> https://www.sculpey.com/
We are doing a huuuggeeeeeee giftaway to celebrate all the sponsors on 10/13/25 right after the event. When I pull the winner I will verify you are following each and every sponsor in order to be eligible for the Happy Mail! So make sure to follow her page! Sharing this post gets you one EXTRA entry.
THANK YOU to Sculpey for sponsoring my amazing Crafting Retreat - Cali Craftaway with Manda Panda Projects!
We are exactly 5 DAYS away from our 1st ever Flip-A-Find Challenge!
Here are some important details to know.
If you have been putting off signing up, then now is the time to get 'er done my friend! You still have plennttyyyyy of time to get your Thrift flip done. Sign up HERE -->> https://manda-panda-projects.kit.com/flip-a-find-fall2025
Guess what? The FACEBOOK group is open and we are starting with some games and giftaways in there today! Makes sure to join, but know that you MUST be signed up via email to be eligible to win the flip master grand prize!
You can get in, check out how it's organized, and make yourself at home. I will be live to do my flip Saturday at 10am PST!
I'll put the link to the Facebook group in the comments!
09/22/2025
We all have them… thrift store “had to have” finds that got stashed away and forgotten.
This fall, it’s time to put them to work in the Flip-a-Find Challenge ( )!
Pick ONE item, flip it into a craft where it’s the star, and share your before + after for the group vote. Winners will be crowned in multiple categories—and yes, there are prizes!
I’ll be LIVE on Saturday 9/27 at 10am PST flipping a thrifted birdhouse into a haunted house to inspire your flips.
You will get all the details emailed to you upon sign up!
09/22/2025
Our next uh-maz-ing Craftaway Sponsor I'd like to highlight today is Robbie Chollett with Robbie’s Craft’n Corner !!
Robbie makes some of the cutest wood craft kits and cut outs for all of your crafting needs. She is the one who got me hooked on using wood eyeglasses on ALLLL my my crafts! Not only does she create and cut the cutest wood kits, but you should see how amazing she is at crafting and giving you inspiration for how to USE her kits! You can visit her Etsy store here -->> https://www.etsy.com/shop/robbiescraftncorner/
We are doing a huuuggeeeeeee giftaway to celebrate all the sponsors on 10/13/25 right after the event. When I pull the winner I will verify you are following each and every sponsor in order to be eligible for the Happy Mail! So make sure to follow her page! Sharing this post gets you one EXTRA entry.
THANK YOU so much Robbie for sponsoring my amazing Crafting Retreat - Cali Craftaway with Manda Panda Projects!
09/21/2025
Our next uh-maz-ing Craftaway Sponsor I'd like to highlight today is Essary Summers with Kathyleedesigns! Instead of a page, she has a group, and you can request to join here ->> https://www.facebook.com/groups/249236891873082/
Kathy is the sweetest and most thoughtful and creative EVER. She makes adorable crafts and custom gifts for any occasion! You should see the door prize she donated! OH and she was nice enough to make me the CUTEST T-shirt and earrings when she sent her prize. She makes allllll sorts of fun and YOUnique gifts, if you are looking for something personalized and special for a gift, Kathy is your go to!
We are doing a huuuggeeeeeee giftaway to celebrate all the sponsors on 10/13/25 right after the event. When I pull the winner I will verify you are following each and every sponsor in order to be eligible for the Happy Mail! So make sure to follow her page! Sharing this post gets you one EXTRA entry.
THANK YOU so much Kathy for sponsoring my amazing Crafting Retreat - Cali Craftaway with Manda Panda Projects!
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I‘ll never forget their first birthday, I thought it was THE biggest thing ever. Justice and Maddox, who we’ve adopted into one solid nickname of “JustMadd”, were turning the big 0-1. We had people in from out of town and it just had to be perfect, and well because I’m a Virgo ♍️, everything must be perfect.
Dr. Seuss’s Thing 1 and Thing 2 was the theme. I had a planning notebook, Dr. Seuss quotes printed and mounted on cardstock, booked a Jumphouse for Twin 1 year olds with no friends, maybe 2 other kids in the Fam, and a bunch of adults. I Handmade name signs out of red and blue felt to hang on their high chairs that we dragged from our condo to the park up the street where we had the party (shout-out to Daddio for helping trace the felt letters). Planned out the menu and desserts ; 2 smash cakes with RED frosting and the numbers 1 and 2 which was the most horrific idea because there little faces were stained red for 2 days. The cupcakes also had red frosting and blue cotton candy as the “hair” that I bought online for like $20 because I couldn’t find it locally. OH- and it was July in San Diego, so the $20 blue cotton candy hair melted in just minutes of arriving. The morning of the party when Dad went to get the balloons, I was informed that there was a helium shortage and there was none. After tears, demanding, and if I remember correctly, 3 or so stops and another $20-$30 later he found a place with helium and order was restored. How could I ever throw my children their first birthday without balloons!!
I could go on, but when I look back I can see how tremendously stressful that was. Although what I just described above sounds as if their first birthday was an absolute disaster, it was so far from it, that it was just what I wanted to be - perfect! No one ever knew that there was almost no balloons. The 2 kids jumped on that darn jumpy until the guy came to tear it down. Their chubby little red frosting dyed faces did eventually fade back to their smooth pink natural tone. The high chairs squeezed into the 5th and final trip from the park back home, and the Cotton Candy? What Cotton Candy, I didn’t know the cupcakes were supposed to have that on top?
We are all just Moms (and Dads and grammas) just trying to do the absolute best we can. We are busy, and we’re tired, and usually working on a budget. I’ve have always loved planning and organizing, and if you ask anyone who knows me I may have a bit of an obsessive personality so when I get into something I engulf myself until I’m bored and the next thing comes along. I have learned so much from that first party and I want to share it with all the Moms out there that are in tears because the cake you ordered for your daughters birthday has Magenta colored fondant flowers and you asked for Fuschia!
I said year after year that I was going to take it easy the next one, and do a simple Chucky Cheese or bowling. Here I am 8 years later, just wrapped up their 8th YouTube themed bday complete with its own Hashtag, #JustMaddSeason8,YouTube Video Invitations, and handmade Photo Prop Booth to name just a few things. Why do I do it you ask? Because I love it. And I want to help you make the most memorable occasions for your loved ones as well. With my simple party ideas and inspiration, tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way, event planning how-to’s (and how to nots), recipes, and hands on DIY crafting and planning services for people just like me who are busy and on a budget and just trying to do our best.
My nickname my dad would call me when I was little was MandaPanda. I say now I’m the Pandicorn of Party Planners. Everything I create is unique and makes for a Magical affair!
