Sunday, March 28, 2010

Ah! Something bit me!

It musta been the craft bug! Remember the file holder I had a crush on a few weeks ago?

I was sooo excited when I went to Mom and Dad's after a rough physical therapy session this week, and found Dad cleaning out his garage. He had some wire hanging organizers that thought hubby would like for his work shop. And in with them magazine/file holder.Do you hear my heart pitter patter?

So now to find some file folders to house the oh so ugly bills that frequent my kitchen island. I have seen some out and about. But really only needed one. Not a pack of 3 or 5 and really didn't want to spend the $10. But with an overflowing accordian file of scrapbook paper...I knew I could come up with something more tuned to my taste and the decor of our home.



LOVE LOVE LOVE the paper that looks like burlap. So realistic looking, and not so itchy! And it won't unravel! The turqouise has alot of depth to it. Its almost jewel like!


I unfolded a used manila folder I had on top of my 12x12 paper. Knowing it wasn't going to cover the complete folder, gave me some flexibility to play with accessorizing it also!


I traced the outline. Cut to size and then used my scrapbooking GLUE DOTS to adhere the paper to the folder. Did the same to the other side with the turqouise.


I wanted to fancy up the unfinished edge so got out some of my ribbons. I loved them all.




But went with this!


And here it is all together!


I'm linking to the following parties! Check them all out! There are some amazingly creative people out there!
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DIY Day @ ASPTL

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Yummy spring time cookie goodness!

While checking out the newest in spring decorating goodness last week at Calico Hen House, Becca and I sampled a wonderfully delish Lemon Cookie. Now...I'm not one who's very fond of lemon anything! However Becca and Grandmpa were raving so much about this cookie, I decided I must indulge also! Soooo glad I did! I'm sharing the recipe with you! Its fast, its easy and a perfect way to end a meal or enjoy a snack with a refreshing lemon goodness!

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

1 okg lemon cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp lemon extract
powdered sugar for decoration

Combine and blend the lemon cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil and lemon extract.


Drop teaspoonsfuls of dough in to a bowl of powdered sugar. Roll around until they are lightly covered.


Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 6-9 minutes in a preheated oven.

The bottoms will be slightly browned on the bottoms and slighlty chewy on the inside.


Perfectly lemon! Perfectly delish!

I'm linking to DIY Day at Soft Place to Land. Check out the other great entries and leave comments! Its a party! join us!
DIY Day @ ASPTL

Monday, March 15, 2010

Backyard Mysteries

This week is literally the first time we've seen grass at this house! Exciting!

So with the new house, comes a new back yard! Of course a new backyard means unknown discoveries. The thrill of seeing whats coming up and the mystery of what it will be! So here are my findings. If you have ideas of what they may or may not be! Please share your knowledge.











This little thing as a 4-leaf clover look to it. Stems are purple, as well as the sprouts that are coming up also!

I have a feeling that this yard will get A LOT if mostly shade once the trees leaf out. We bought the house the end of November and all the leaves were off the trees, but about 1 foot deep in the yard instead! I will be a newbie to shade gardening! But loooooove the idea! We've only ever been where it was full sun with absolutely no shade at all!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

So many ideas, not enough time....or mayyyyybe...

Well, I'm happy to report that I've gotten my first laptop. Yes...I've joined the rest of the world in being able to run around internet hap-hazardly and blog from the convenience of where ever I want to be! So happy about this! Although, just as I discovered that it is all too easy to shut the door to the basement and leave the toy mess behind when we moved in to this multi level home...Its also all to easy to have this computer attached to the end of my finger tips and sit on my already too large back side to catch up on the list of blogs I frequent. Oh well. Such is life!

But in all honesty it will be a blessing to have after my knee surgery and not willing to travel to the basement to turn on the computer!

I've found more inspiration to share with you. Love these sweet thigns from
.


Love this idea. Its got that Industrial Farmhouse Chic that I like, and I could still keep my bill center in the kitchen, and looking cute in modgepodged file folders. Gotta find something similar to this, or bite the bullet and just order it for the $39 they are asking. Nope..I have to find a less expensive way.




This is make-it-yourself-for-a-lot-less idea! Find an old unused frame, or re-purpose a garage sale find...take the back off...add some picture hanging wire or twine for a more rustic look. I could do without the chicken details on the clips, but clothes pins would even be adorable. Paint them, or buy the little tiny ones you can get at the craft stores (by the crafts sticks). Easy cheesy! We could do this project for next to nothing! This will be something I want to use in my Craft Room. Use it as my idea board to post up ideas to use in my creative works!

The last two findings are also from Wisteria. Another easy DIY project.



Can't wait to add some personality to Becca's play space in the basement. Right now there is plenty of color with all the bajillions of toys she has. However..it just looks unfinished compared to the rest of the house. So...paint, burlap and more garage sale frames. I've even been on the look out for clearance canvases for future projects I have on my list.

What things are you finding that inspire you?

Monday, March 8, 2010

Happy Birthday Becca!

Becca turns 4 Years old on Tuesday! I can't believe it. She has grown into the most adorable, polite and hilariously funny little girl I have ever known. She is tender hearted, compassionate and most times honest (unless of course I ask her how this juice box got behind her bed, behind the tv, under her pillow, in the closet or in the storage room in the basement. Yoda would be heard saying..." Sneaky, you can be! "

But so anyway. We celebrated with family and very close friends that we consider family on Sunday with a small gathering at our house! I love that we have enough space to do so! We had a Candy Land theme that was so much fun, and really, very easy to do!

My favorite of all? The "game pieces" that we made for cupcake toppers. Ask anyone, we're very proud of them! But I can not take credit! I found them at Hobby Lobby, and within days handed them off to my Mom to paint. I was running out of time and energy to do them on my own, and she was more than happy to help! Thanks Mom! I truly think these made the party!


These are simply craft sticks..but large ones, like tongue depressor size. But they had little paper doll/gingerbread shapes on one end! I sent home craft paints in the primary colors like the game pieces in the Candy Land game, and she finished them up! The faces are drawn with a fine tip Sharpie and the "frosting" was dabbed on with white glue. The bottom portion we left unfinished, as they would be in the cupcakes, and the craft paint was not food safe. Mom did do a clear coat of ModPodge just to give it a finished look and a little shine. Adorable! Here they are in the cupcakes.

We had extras, so I immediately put 4 aside for her Scrapbook. Can't wait to get that page done! That will be fun also! There were 8 more that we put outside in the snow, leading the way up the sidewalk to the front door. Theme starts outside...right?

The rest of the decorations, literally, was CANDY! About $30 worth (that is being not so truthful!) I filled all the clear glass jars, vases and dishes I could find with Jelly Beans, Sixlets, Smarties, Licorice, Starlight Mints, Orange Slices and Red Hots. I also used a couple movie theater boxes of candy to display around. I found some VERY LARGE lolipops at the Dollar Tree and stuck them in some foam as flowers.


I did find some easter eggs at Hobby Lobby that were actually shaped like Jelly Beans, so I filled a glass container with those also. On top of the hutch (which my awesomely talented wood working genious Dad built) is a set of gift boxes that came nested together in all kinds of colors! I simply wrapped them in clear cellophane to make them look like hard candies. All of those (14 all together) was only $9.99 ! Awesome! I will be reusing them for storage in my craft room (if that ever gets organized and finished painted! Gotta heal first)


Tim decided (I'm giving him credit only because he "thought this up" when actually, I forgot to bring it out in the hurry of things) to display the Candy Land box, game board and cards on the table to bring it all together. It was fun!

Becca said during her party...totally unprompted "This is the greatest party EVER".


Mission accomplished.
Until next year.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

This has inspired me



I frequent a site called www.oneprettything.com that is full of ideas..new ideas..DAILY from the blog world of crafters. Some are large projects, some very small and easy. But this project and the artists collection of art has inspired me to try to do something similar. I've lost her website. So I apologize...if you know where or who she is, please let me know! I want to give credit where credit is due!

Anyway, she uses acrylic paints, stamps, and scrapbook paper...and her amazing talent to make beautiful art for the home! This is soooo on my list to do while I'm most likely going to be laid up after reconstructive surgery on my ACL. Lovely I know...but honestly! Looking forward to some time to do what I can at home and not be rushed with schedules!