Sunday, July 28, 2013

Strawberries



 You know how when you aren't looking for something, you find tons of it but when you finally need it, you can't find it anywhere?  That is what happened to us this weekend.  Cody recently refinished a pool table and we needed some pool balls to complete it.  Of course now that we need pool balls we can't find any.  We spent all day Saturday going to yard sales, thrift stores and flea markets.  There were none to be found!  But I found some stuff.
 I found this perfect red and white gingham tablecloth for $1.  It was round and I knew it would fit perfectly on my dining room table.  Of course after I had it on the table, I had to put something in my cloche to pull it all together.  I had a blue paper strawberry container that I put a red ribbon through.  I recently won a giveaway from Sandi at Wayside Treasures.  It was that sweet vintage frozen strawberry container and it was perfect for my cloche!
 I needed some strawberries so I quickly made some out of felt.  This sweet little vignette looks perfectly summery!
 I always wonder what Cody thinks when I put together little things like this and then take pictures.  Clearly he knows how much fun I have doing it because he came home from the store with this chocolate strawberry cake.  He said it would look good on my strawberry table for pictures.  I love him so much!
 He was right, it was just what my strawberry table needed.  And even though I shouldn't have, I had a small piece of cake after dinner.  It was delicious!
 I also found some other fun treasures.  This cute little white server that folds up into a clam shell.  I had seen one at a shower recently and wanted one for myself.  I finally found one and it was already painted white.  Now I have one of my own and I love it!
 This sweet little apothecary jar was gold on the bottom so a coat of paint made it perfect.  I think I will fill it with pearls.  These were both things I had been wanting to find and I finally did!
 I also found some sweet shabby fabric scraps that I plan to use to make a dream catcher.  I see so many beautiful ones all over blogland and I would love to try to make one myself.  Now I just need to find a metal hoop and I know exactly where I can find one.  I can't wait to show you that soon!
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Saturday, July 20, 2013

Vintage Jewlery Overload & other randomness

 I can't believe my luck!  A friend emailed me and asked if I would be interested in a box of shells and some gold jewelry that her grandma had been collecting from yard sales over the years.  She knows I am a crafter and thought I might be able to use all of it.  I had no idea what she was really offering me until I got there.  I could hardly contain myself when I saw the BOXES of vintage jewelry bits and bobs.  I couldn't wait to get home to look through all of it.
 The stuff on the table is not even a quarter of all of it.  I just picked out some of it and have so much more to go through!
 There were 7 different cameos among earrings, brooches, pins, shoe clips, buttons, strings of pearls, etc.  I took the cameos and a few other pieces to display in this shabby shadow box in my craft room.  I can't wait to start creating with all of these beautiful things!  I am so thankful for friends who know that I will treasure these things and put them to good use!
 Speaking of people who know me, my mom recently snagged some more vintage windows for me.  She was visiting a friend up in the hills over 4th of July weekend and saw that they were going to throw these out.  She told them that if they were just going to take them to the dump, that she would take them for me because I love all things old and I love to use them in my crafts.  There are 3 of the 4 paned windows and 2 of the 3 paned windows.  Thanks for thinking of me mom!
 I have been playing around with all of my mason jars and have them scattered randomly around my patio.  Sandi at Wayside Treasures as well as Julie from Idyll Hours gave me the inspiration for the aqua Ball jar.  And I have to tell you that I dropped it on my tile floor and it didn't break!  AMAZING!  I love finding new ways to use jars in decorating!
 There is a little boy in our area that has been fighting brain cancer for 3 years now.  It is looking like there is nothing else they can do and that this birthday may be his last.  His family wanted to make it the best birthday ever and asked if anyone could help make it that way.  I volunteered to make centerpieces and a banner.  I don't have a picture of the banner, but here are the centerpieces.  All I was told was that he liked hunting, fishing and Black Ops.  I can't wait to hear how the birthday party turned out today.
 And last but not least, I helped my mom deliver a wedding cake today.  The bride was a huge Disney fan so there are tiny little Mickey heads randomly placed all over the cake.  The topper is Sleeping Beauty and she wanted the cake to be Alice in Wonderland inspired.  I think my mom did a pretty good job with that!
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Friday, July 5, 2013

Birdhouse Bunting

 It is okay if you think I am crazy, I am pretty sure Cody already thought I was and the neighbors surely do after seeing me complete this latest project!  But my cute bird houses on my front porch needed a little pick me up and these sweet little buntings were just what they needed.  Plus they were fun to make and I used up some scraps.  I think that makes them even better!
 
Here are the birdhouses before.  Don't get me wrong, I love them just as they are!  But they definitely needed something extra.  The first bunting is made with a string of white pearls with lace flags and single white pearls in the middle.  

 I think I might have to make a real life version of this for my dining room.  I love this pretty pearl and lace bunting even in its miniature size!
 My big birdhouse that is made out of reclaimed barn wood has a burlap banner with white roses.  The scraps of burlap have the cutest little fringe on the bottom.  It was blowing in the breeze that we had this afternoon as I took pictures.
 I think the burlap looks fantastic up against the barn wood.  I just scotch taped all the bunting on to the houses to see how they looked.  I am sure my neighbors thought I was a kook as I sat on the front porch taping these things onto the birdhouses.  But I don't care!
 My vintage doorknob birdhouse is decked out in patriotic colors.  I made one at first and then quickly went in to make another after I saw how perfectly it fit on the eaves of the roof!
 Red, white and blue are perfect summer colors all summer long!  Hopefully these will last through the heat and weather.  I may have to make bunting for my birdhouses for every holiday and season...yep, I will definitely be doing that!
 See how much more fun and festive my birdhouses now look?  So glad I took the time to create buntings for all of them. 
I think I am becoming quite the bunting queen.  They are fun and easy to make and I love coming up with new ideas and designs for them.  Today birdhouses, tomorrow the world!

Linking up with:
Boogieboard Cottage: Masterpiece Monday
The Dedicated House: Make it Pretty Monday
Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home: Amaze Me Monday
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
 A Stroll Thru Life: Inspire Me Tuesday
Knick of Time Tuesday
VMG206: Brag About It
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesday
The Style Sisters: Centerpiece Wednesday
Lavender Garden Cottage: Cottage Style Party
 Ivy & Elephants: What's It Wednesday
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs Olson: Share Your Cup Thursday
Fishtail Cottage: Cottage Garden Party
Rooted in Thyme: Simple & Sweet Friday
Common Ground: Be Inspired
The Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home
Jennifer Rizzo: Fabulously Creative Friday
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Thursday, July 4, 2013

Happy Independence Day!

 Happy Birthday America!  
God Bless all of those, past and present, who have fought for our freedom and independence!
Have a safe and Happy 4th of July!

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Sunday, June 30, 2013

BlogLovin' & staying cool!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

 Why do people always have to go and change things that are perfectly fine just the way they are?  I am talking about you Google!  I thought if I just didn't think about it, that this whole Google Reader thing wouldn't go bye-bye.  Guess I was wrong...so I signed up under BlogLovin so that I can continue to follow all of you, my friends!  I hope you continue to follow me as well.  


We are having a heat wave in Idaho and I am already done with summer heat!  Today's high was 105 and tomorrow is supposed to be 110.  Thank goodness that it is a dry heat with little humidity.  I don't do well in humidity!  We have been trying to find cheap and easy ways to cool off.  Today I made some yummy strawberry granitas using strawberries that I already had in the fridge.  They were cool and delicious and really hit the spot on this hot, hot evening.  They are simple to make and only 2 Weight Watchers Points Plus.  (I started Weight Watchers a month ago and am already down 11 pounds!)  I think next time I will add some fresh mint and make them even more delectable!

 The poor dogs are hot too.  They are supposed to be getting shaved soon so that will definitely help.  In the meantime, we bought a plastic kiddie pool for them to play in.  They don't swim in it but they do love to splash around.  Cody and I even sat in it for a bit this afternoon to cool off!  I think we might be doing that quite a bit this summer!
 As you may know, I work for a college and in 2014, we will again have a football team after being without one for over 30 years.  This weekend was a football reunion where former players and coaches got together to celebrate the return of football.  I was in charge of decorations.  Here is a photo of the centerpieces that I put together.  I made 25 of these!  The purple bucket holds 5 small footballs, 2 pom poms, a pennant and gold star garland.  Three more footballs and gold star glitter are around the outside along with a menu card, program and donation card that I designed.  People raved about my centerpieces and loved that they got to take a football home with them!
Thank goodness I get this next week off of work.  With the heat and all the extra work that the reunion brought, I can definitely use the time off!  I hope everyone has a safe and Happy 4th of July and try to stay cool!
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Monday, June 17, 2013

My baby brother's wedding

 My brother's wedding day has come and gone!  It went off without a hitch and it was a beautiful wedding.  My sister and I got there at 9:00 and started to get everyone ready.  She did the hair, I did the makeup and got the bride dressed.  Before we knew it, it was time for pictures.  Although I was not the photographer, the bride wanted me to take lots of pictures.  I got some great ones and my favorites are below.  There are quite a few to look at so I will shut up and let you look!
 









 Our mom made the cake.  It was a brownie cake since neither the bride or groom like cake!

I took them to the airport bright and EARLY this morning.  They are on their way to Cancun and I am so jealous.  Cody and I didn't get a honeymoon.  Congratulations Josh & Ashley!  I love you both and wish you lots of love and happiness always!

Linking up with:
Ivy & Elephants: What's It Wednesday
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs Olson: Share Your Cup Thursday
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Sunday, June 9, 2013

Wedding Hanger

Last night was my future sister-in-law's bachelorette party.  One of the things that the invitation told us to bring was lingerie for the bride.  We weren't supposed to include a card so she wouldn't know who gave it to her.  She had to guess who brought what.  I didn't just want to give her a nighty, I wanted to add something special to it.  I decided to make her a hanger that she could use to hang her wedding dress from.  I am loving the way it turned out!
 I found a black wooden hanger that I painted white and sanded to distress it.  I made roses with a soft purple cotton fabric, added pearls to the middle and under the roses, put a satin bow above the roses and wrote her new Mrs name on the hanger.  When she opened up my gift, she knew it was from me, not because of the nighty, but because of the hand crafted hanger that it was hanging from.
 
 I know that her wedding dress will look even better hanging from this hanger that was lovingly created just for her.  I think I have found a new gift to make for future brides in my life!
 I helped my mom set up a wedding cake this weekend and took a few pictures of the cake for her.  This beautiful orange rose was begging for its picture to be taken and it turned out perfect! 
I can't believe my little brother is getting married in a little over 5 days!  I also can't wait to share some photos from the wedding with you soon!
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