tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48022787762058092422024-03-12T19:47:38.487-06:00Autumn Blossom DesignsMixing crafting, living well and resources we can all use!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger246125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-47121654579762472962015-01-30T06:00:00.000-07:002015-01-30T06:00:00.155-07:00Kennel Covers and Book Shelves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wEDLhBgEsaY/UyIxeGSxJ6I/AAAAAAAACnk/zdYyud1LT5g/s1600/20140310_235122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wEDLhBgEsaY/UyIxeGSxJ6I/AAAAAAAACnk/zdYyud1LT5g/s1600/20140310_235122.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Of all the things I have commissioned DH to made for me, this project right here is my favorite. We have three dogs, all kenneled trained and they love their little "rooms," often choosing to chill in there when there is nothing exciting going on. The problem with the kennels though is that they are not very attractive.<br />
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They are down right ugly.<br />
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So first we looked at DH building a end table kennel to make them functional, like this one on <a href="http://ana-white.com/2011/03/rorys-house">Ana-White.com</a>. We even considered incorporating them in the entertainment center. But then I remembered that my lab mix sometimes gets sick when she is in her kennel and I did not want to have to climb in to a create to clean that out.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QZLtpMJfne0/VK2EQF1teiI/AAAAAAAADQQ/8p3yMhlh8E0/s1600/20131205_161807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QZLtpMJfne0/VK2EQF1teiI/AAAAAAAADQQ/8p3yMhlh8E0/s1600/20131205_161807.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Finally, we settled on tables and hanging shelves for my books. The tables are large - like huge. The one in the top picture would probably be a nice dining table for a family of four if its legs were a little longer. Anyway, the tables offer plenty of space for knick-knacks, picture frames and books.<br />
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The shelves on the walls are definitely my favorite aspect of the whole project. They were originally designed as floating shelves, but a lot of the plans we found for them made it seem that they were not as stable as what I was hoping for. So we tweaked the plans a little.<br />
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Each shelf is framed underneath with a nice fascia board and stained top. These suckers are anchored to the wall so well I could probably let E or A climb them like a ladder! The pieces on each end, which look like they would be used to hang the shelf, is more a decorative bookend than anything else.<br />
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All in all, I love these pieces. They are functional, pretty, sturdy, and unique. They set the design tone for the entertainment center and lighten up the feeling of the room.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-80868024395288341932015-01-26T05:00:00.000-07:002015-01-26T05:00:05.683-07:00Granny Swirl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mu9bIq2RqBI/VK2DfT_eBYI/AAAAAAAADPA/uXsFw5wNqSs/s1600/20150107_112830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mu9bIq2RqBI/VK2DfT_eBYI/AAAAAAAADPA/uXsFw5wNqSs/s1600/20150107_112830.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Have I ever mentioned how much I love Pinterest? I really do love it. Where else can I find so many new ideas and patterns and wish for more hours in the day to try them all?!<br />
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This is one such example. I found a pattern for a spiraling granny square, and I love granny squares which meant I had to try it. I dug through my yarn stash, found some colors I liked and got to work.<br />
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And MAN!! It was a pain in the backside!<br />
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Each color is worked continuously, there is no finishing at a corner and changing colors. That means, all five skeins of yarn had to be organized and kept straight throughout the process. That was a pain in and of itself.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gtvHRt9HQ6g/VK2DjoYGZAI/AAAAAAAADPI/8l7iDtmcJ1I/s1600/20150107_112712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gtvHRt9HQ6g/VK2DjoYGZAI/AAAAAAAADPI/8l7iDtmcJ1I/s1600/20150107_112712.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>I was wanting to try to make it big enough to cover at least a queen sized bed - and that didn't happen! I got kinda frustrated having to untangle yarn and fighting with the dogs to keep them out of the yarn.<br />
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It really didn't seem worth the hassle once I realized how quickly the spiral-swirly aspect of the pattern got lost. The lower picture shows the center of the square and that is about the only place you can really see the swirl. That was a pretty big let down, and if it wasn't for my excitement to try something different, I probably would have realized that before even starting.<br />
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At any rate, I ended up with a new throw blanket and a lesson learned from the experience. Have I learned my lesson once and for all about not getting too excited about starting a new project? Especially one from Pinterest? Of course not!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-4250253330790651732015-01-23T06:00:00.000-07:002015-01-23T06:00:03.379-07:00Bathroom Storage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RoFbnU0oUzo/VK2ECScribI/AAAAAAAADPw/6zNmD0veX7M/s1600/20140419_202916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RoFbnU0oUzo/VK2ECScribI/AAAAAAAADPw/6zNmD0veX7M/s1600/20140419_202916.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Who doesn't need more bathroom storage? N was living in a house with only one full bathroom and it only had about half a linen closet. And if that wasn't bad enough, it was the main bathroom in the house - so every guest who stopped by that might have to tinkle got to see a lot of clutter on a small counter simply because there was no other place for it!<br />
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Finally, when DH had some spare time and scrap wood, he made these clutter catchers for her. The 1x3 he used offered the perfect amount of depth and the cute trim on the front helped to insure nothing really got lost. N used mason jars to wrangle make-up brushes and hair brushes.<br />
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These little wonders took more time to paint that fabricate, and worked wonderfully. N is a much happier camper now that her stuff can stay organized and out of the way. The fact that she moved to a new house with two full bathrooms helped too!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-39498987855735284182015-01-19T05:00:00.000-07:002015-01-19T05:00:03.775-07:00Ribbon Flowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been aching for spring lately. Outside my window is about 6-7" of snow and not a lot of color. Flowers have been really on my mind. While these are white flowers, I added black and gold beads as accents for a more formal feel.<br />
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No, these don't really bring to mind fields of wild flowers, but with the tight budget we have been facing, I have to use the supplies I have on hand, and that includes a lot of white ribbon.<br />
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These may end up as part of formal black and white bridal bouquet before I am done. I don't know yet. I guess we will just have to wait and see.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-28628673611121021022015-01-16T06:00:00.000-07:002015-01-16T06:00:04.553-07:00Tooth Fairy Pillow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hd5R-aWKhLY/VK2EIpEq0FI/AAAAAAAADQA/4rL0icMeCUc/s1600/20140402_152003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hd5R-aWKhLY/VK2EIpEq0FI/AAAAAAAADQA/4rL0icMeCUc/s1600/20140402_152003.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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E is getting to the age that she is starting to lose her baby teeth. She got so excited when she had her first loose tooth because that meant the tooth fairy was going to visit her. To celebrate the occasion, I made her a special Tooth Fairy Pillow, to keep her tooth safe for the fairy.<br />
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I let E choose a fat quarter of material and a skein of floss and set to work. What I ended up with is a cute little keepsake. On the front I embroidered her name and the "Has Lost A Tooth" in the yellow she picked out. Unfortunately, it kinda got lost in the butterflies of the materials.<br />
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The back has a large pocket, trimmed with a wide, delicate lace ribbon and accented with narrow yellow ribbon. To hang the little pillow on her headboard, I added a purple butterfly ribbon from my stash that matched perfectly.<br />
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The nice big pocket on the back gives the Madame Fairy plenty of room to hide a dollar, whether it is a bill or coins, without worrying about it getting lost.<br />
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I still have to make one for A, who has yet to get her first loose tooth. E has lost about a half dozen so far and uses this cute little pillow every time!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-18076364152549299982015-01-09T07:00:00.000-07:002015-01-09T07:00:02.455-07:00Entertainment ReDoneI love my husband's hobby: woodworking! I get new furniture built the way I want. I can even have a say in the design. I got to design an awesome <a href="http://autumnblossomdesigns.blogspot.com/2013/09/my-ladder-shelf.html" target="_blank">ladder shelf</a> for my fish tank. And as long as we have the money for the supplies, he is happy to build whatever I ask for.<br />
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So a little while back, when I was getting sick of the dark wood tone television stand that we had in our living room, I gave DH a job. I wanted something a little more open, much brighter, and elevated to make it easier to control the dog fluff that inevitably collects around the cords. After some planning, tweeking, redesigning, and a couple minor arguments, I got what I wanted.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mXK4S3fdXpc/VK2Db2J967I/AAAAAAAADO4/auzvgB5418g/s1600/20150107_113005-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mXK4S3fdXpc/VK2Db2J967I/AAAAAAAADO4/auzvgB5418g/s1600/20150107_113005-1.jpg" height="310" width="400" /></a></div>
The openings were designed around the dimensions of the baskets and cable receiver. The doors are not perfect, but they keep a lot of movies and video games organized and hidden. It is elevated to the perfect height - the TV is right at eye level and I can easily get my broom and mop underneath. The top of the piece and the first shelf are stained a rich, warm brown, and the rest is bright white, which was a comprise. DH wanted to show off the wood grain while I wanted something bright and light so that it wouldn't feel so heavy in the room. Saying it was a compromise might be stretching the truth - this is what I wanted and he gave in. But he ended up very happy with how it looks!<br />
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Eventually I will get bins large enough to hold board games and other odds and ends that will fit under the piece and hide the power bar. For now, I just love having custom furniture and trying to figure out what DH's next project might be.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-4530570708951134722015-01-07T15:03:00.001-07:002015-01-07T15:03:46.058-07:00The Orange Decor Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a68gTqm2fjc/VK2D7IpggHI/AAAAAAAADPg/sjv6JQfW3rw/s1600/20150107_112359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a68gTqm2fjc/VK2D7IpggHI/AAAAAAAADPg/sjv6JQfW3rw/s1600/20150107_112359.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
I am the first to say I'm not a big fan of orange. I like orange flavors and orange flowers, but when it comes to decor and clothing, it's really not for me. But I have to admit, when I was looking at wedding color schemes a while back, there was something about teal and orange that really struck me.<br />
So I challenged myself.<br />
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I know I made the pink and orange blanket for a little girl a while back, I didn't mind that, but it wasn't for my home. I wanted to make something for myself, and the challenge was going to be incorporating orange. The teal and orange combination seemed perfect.<br />
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The decor of my family room has been moving slowly toward ocean tones - cool blues, greens and teals offset with warm browns and a hint of orange. Behind it all, I will (eventually) have neutral gray walls that would remind me of the fog covered shoreline of San Francisco.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lKIAPGG3zV4/VK2DnHJvsqI/AAAAAAAADPQ/kV_aYjZ8ytw/s1600/20150107_112507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lKIAPGG3zV4/VK2DnHJvsqI/AAAAAAAADPQ/kV_aYjZ8ytw/s1600/20150107_112507.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZjKTf4g1NI/VK2D21rv8JI/AAAAAAAADPY/l2v33TlqmOo/s1600/20150107_112425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZjKTf4g1NI/VK2D21rv8JI/AAAAAAAADPY/l2v33TlqmOo/s1600/20150107_112425.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>What I was planning on being a throw blanket, a little splash of color for the family room, ended up being a blanket just about big enough for a twin sized bed! I'm ok with that though - it makes it easier to cuddle with someone else under it.<br />
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And as you can see, Mini, the Wonder Wiener, loves this blanket. She pretty much claimed it by curling up on it in my lap as I worked it up. However, once it was done, Molly was quick to claim it for herself. And they both give me "the look" when I tell them to get off of it!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-45243308727010062632015-01-05T13:10:00.000-07:002015-01-05T13:10:09.068-07:00New Year, ChallengesIt's amazing how much time can get away from you. The anniversary party was downsized and the glittery vases will likely be re-purposed for something else. My classes start a again on January 20th, DH is left to job hunting after deciding his last job was not worth his happiness or sanity.<br />
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So here it is - the beginning of January and everything is up in the air and there is no real certainty. All I can do now is refocus and make the best of what we have. I'm trying to work out a better schedule to balance school, family, and crafting and moving my work space to a larger room in the house.<br />
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Keeping the positive vibes flowing is definitely a challenge right now, but I'm up for it! More to come very soon!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-54111147308465003392014-10-07T10:08:00.002-06:002014-10-07T10:08:34.272-06:00Something Glittery This Way ComesIn January, my parents-in-law will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. That's hard to believe. FIFTY years, <b>5-0 years</b>! Not enough people make it to that any more. At any rate, there will of course be a party, which is still a surprise at this point. But being crafty and having the willing help of N, we are ready to tackle this.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PeZbWDjNNI/VDQKP06aQGI/AAAAAAAAC5Q/Vk43cdBcnbg/s1600/20141006_122145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PeZbWDjNNI/VDQKP06aQGI/AAAAAAAAC5Q/Vk43cdBcnbg/s1600/20141006_122145.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>The in-laws are pretty low-key people who don't like a big fuss being made, and the party will reflect that. The first items to be be done will be table decorations. My sis-in-law had quite a few vases we could alter to match our color scheme. Here you can see a few of the vases lined up and ready to be prettified.<br />
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The colors we are going for are black & white with gold accents. The venue will provide tables with white table cloths, so the decision was made to accent the vases with gold glitter and paint the insides black. It is going to be beautiful once it all set up, with drastic contrasts and simple ribbon flowers.<br />
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My dining room is currently covered in a festive, gold-sparkling, plague. I need to get the glitter sealed before I can move forward with painting the inside and arranging flowers. Hopefully, the sealing will get done today so I can get a picture of the whole thing put together!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-86313025364959711822014-08-12T12:26:00.000-06:002014-08-12T12:26:45.743-06:00Just Another Blanket...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VCQFJS4gmH8/UyIxU_tS0yI/AAAAAAAACnM/fpZUoT8RXvc/s1600/20140312_091646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VCQFJS4gmH8/UyIxU_tS0yI/AAAAAAAACnM/fpZUoT8RXvc/s1600/20140312_091646.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Earlier this year, we had J's girlfriend and her daughter live with us for a little while. There was a turn of unfortunate events and she needed a place, so we opened our home. (Living together forced J and her to realize they weren't ready for anything serious and they have since broken up.)<br />
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Anyway, her daughter was about 2 at the time and every time I picked up my yarn and crochet hook, she asked what I was doing. When I told her I was making a blanket, her eyes would get huge and she'd ask, "You're making me a blankET!" (The emphasis on the last syllable was adorable!) And I'd always have to tell her no, it was for someone else. I finally asked if she really wanted one and what were her favorite colors. She lit up and told me pink and orange. Two weeks later, she had her blankie.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b8vKiUzn5Vw/UyIxZYxKP9I/AAAAAAAACnU/5sA0RHSCd8k/s1600/20140312_091635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b8vKiUzn5Vw/UyIxZYxKP9I/AAAAAAAACnU/5sA0RHSCd8k/s1600/20140312_091635.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a>It turned out a little more "Dora the Explorer"-ish than I intended, but she was thrilled! Dora was her favorite cartoon and she cuddled this like crazy. It made me happy to make it and see her dragging it around with her.<br />
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I was able to get it done very quickly by using a simple twelve-square (three by four) pattern and alternating the pink and orange in each granny square. The white tied everything together and I added a simple faux-scallop border to finish it. Personally, I think the scallop finish makes it look a little more feminine.<br />
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I'm sure in time she will forget that I was the one who made, and me all together. But that is fine. She can use the blanket for many years to come and know that at some point, someone cared enough to make something just for her!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-17731339362035462632014-03-03T13:13:00.000-07:002014-03-03T14:12:46.714-07:00Howdy Card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As things get busy, sometimes it's really nice to get a sweet little note just to say hi. Think about it, how much would you love to get a random greeting card for no reason other than to say hello!<br />
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That is why I made this little cutie - to brighten a friend's day. It is super simple, which is the way I love making them. I used a black polka dot paper and punched the corners, added a simple tag, rub on word, a small flower and that tiny touch of bling.<br />
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My favorite part of this card is the ombre hearts down the right hand side. Guess how I did! Punched a paint chip card! I love using those - the color card was free and I only paid a $1 for the punch at Walmart. Granted it wasn't the greatest punch in the world, or the easiest to use, but it did the trick for minimal investment.<br />
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Things here have been pretty busy. I have a few things I have been able to get done, but not nearly as much crafting as I would have liked over the past few months. I'm hoping with the changing season I will be able to get more accomplished, I have a couple of blankets that I am in the middle of crocheting, DH is just about finished with some living room additions that I am super excited about.<br />
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And with everything I am working on and wanting to get done, I also have some pretty big organization projects in the works. Some are for around the house, others just for my office. I have to be honest here - my office is no longer controlled chaos, no it has gotten to where it is just a mess. That is my biggest work in progress at the moment.<br />
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Anyway... I should be able to share a couple other projects I have gotten done. Please be patient with me!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-53088717583672112722013-10-11T07:00:00.000-06:002013-10-11T07:00:05.996-06:00He Makes Me Happy - Anniversary Card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday I told you that I challenged myself to come up with a more manly card to give my DH for our anniversary. The card I shared was a good start, but I was a little worried the pink/red LOVE sticker was still a bit girly.<br />
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So I made this one instead. I had the main embellishment (the dimension sticker sentiment) in my stash for years. I think I bought it with a set of wedding stickers when we first got married. The gray/blue/brown stripes were actually leftover strips of paper from other projects.<br />
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Once again, this is a very simple design. I love simple designs. I see a lot of cards that are beautiful, but seem to have a lot going on. I like to keep the focus on the sentiment.<br />
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My DH is not very judgmental when it comes to these things. He knows I made it and it comes from the heart. That's really how most people view a handmade card. It doesn't have to be perfect. It doesn't have to look designer or have a lot of bells and whistles going. Yes, some of those super snazzy and complicated cards are amazing and would be great to give. But don't stress about making simple cards.<br />
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N says what's the point - no one keeps the cards anyway and she has decided to not buy them anymore. I don't blame her. That's why I make them and hope there will be some sentimental attachment.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-56921361366672715012013-10-10T07:00:00.000-06:002013-10-10T07:00:06.087-06:00A Very Simple Love Note<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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DH and I celebrate our wedding anniversary in October. (This weekend actually.) I love making cards but I usually worry about the cards being a little too feminine. So I challenged myself to make a less girly card for my hubby. I came up with a different ideas.<br />
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This was probably the easiest card I've ever done! The main part of the card is a piece of gray paper I glued to a blank card. The gray paper was left over from one of the pages in the graduation book I made. It had the white stripes and black distressed look. The only things I added were the "LOVE" sticker and key sticker from a $1 set of stickers from Walmart. The metallic heart on the key came from a set I got from Joann's.<br />
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This was a super simple card that could be easily copied. (Go ahead, you have my permission :) ) And this is a great design if you are in a hurry. Some pretty paper and a couple stickers to compliment and add sentiment.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-71950860996320131252013-10-09T15:13:00.000-06:002013-10-09T15:13:12.358-06:00BOO to you<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nTYJ8JydeYw/UlRtg2ef51I/AAAAAAAACjU/hvMRIqKy0GE/s1600/20131008_143651-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nTYJ8JydeYw/UlRtg2ef51I/AAAAAAAACjU/hvMRIqKy0GE/s400/20131008_143651-1.jpg" width="145" /></a>The best thing about October, aside from the hot chocolate weather, is Halloween. It is the best gift to kids you can give. Think about it - they get to dress up and get free candy. It is a nice way to start the holiday season, give them something fun before all the more formal family get-togethers.<br />
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I couldn't resist making a fun door decoration to celebrate. These cute little characters were designed in craft felt and stuffed lightly to give them some dimension. They are stitched to a piece of doubled organza ribbon and accented with orange and black 1/4" ribbon.<br />
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I probably should have taken the time to stitch the facial features and letters, but I was really trying to keep it simple. (I've been sick for over a week and dealing with a couple of migraines, so some slack should be given.)<br />
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To keep it simple, I used puffy paint. This was probably not the best idea. the cat's smile is a little lopsided, and so is the bat's fangs, and my letters are less than perfect. But to be honest, that doesn't bother me. I like the flawed, handmade look. I don't make things to be picture perfect or look like they belong in a magazine. The imperfections make them special and mine, and so I always encourage new and novice crafters to embrace the imperfections and learn from them, but don't stress about them!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-75435875487663978512013-09-30T07:00:00.000-06:002013-09-30T07:00:15.176-06:00Card for the Expectant Parents<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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K and G are expecting their first child at the end of January and recently found out they are having a little girl. I made this card before they knew for sure what they were having, but the colors seem to it now.<br />
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This is a super simple card, and a good reason to splurge on some of the $1 paper craft/scrapbook supplies available at Joann's.<br />
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The purple paper came from my stash and I used a decorative punch to filigree the corner. The yellow around the quote stands out so nicely on the purple.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4M96lyROzBc/UiYZd7HOfxI/AAAAAAAAB5o/Tc3_UH0X8PM/s1600/IMG_3718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4M96lyROzBc/UiYZd7HOfxI/AAAAAAAAB5o/Tc3_UH0X8PM/s200/IMG_3718.JPG" width="150" /></a>The whole reason for the yellow flower in the lower right corner, which is set on a pink plaid chip board sticker, is to cover up a mistake I made with the punch. It never fails, I always seem to goof up one corner. But in this case you would never know if I didn't tell you.<br />
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The quote says "We find delight in the beauty and happiness of children that makes the heart too big for the body." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson Personally, I think this is a great sentiment for expectant parents. I may use it on another card in the future...<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-24253447024572324852013-09-25T07:00:00.000-06:002013-09-25T07:00:06.816-06:00A Welcoming Thought (Or a Wreath Alternative)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is the time of year that we are supposed to be taking stock of our blessings, thinking about warmth, family and harvest. At least that's how I feel. The holidays are fast approaching and with family stopping by more often, I wanted to start decorating for the season.<br />
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There are tons of wreath tutorials and some really beautiful designs out there for this time of year. Don't believe, go look at pinterest. Personally, I'm not a big fan of wreaths and with my screen, they are hard to see. Plus, I don't have that much room to store them. So I decided on an alternative.<br />
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I started with this <a href="http://www.bhg.com/halloween/crafts/felted-wool-pumpkin-pillow-for-fall/" target="_blank">free template from BHG.com</a> for a pillow. I loved the look of it but wanted to personalize it a little. Rather than enlarging as directed, I printed it out on a single piece of paper and cut the pieces out of craft felt. There was the main orange background, a yellow-orange body and the brown stem.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t62woOLC0-0/Uj4Clna1ReI/AAAAAAAACiw/pfzQIq725dM/s1600/20130921_142921-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t62woOLC0-0/Uj4Clna1ReI/AAAAAAAACiw/pfzQIq725dM/s400/20130921_142921-1.jpg" width="217" /></a><br />
With a pencil, I free handed some lettering and the swirly-curlies and then hand stitched the beads down. For a little extra touch I outlined the stem in the same gold beads as the swirly-curlies and used a pale green ribbon to hang it. There is no stuffing or stiffener to this at all, just basically two layers of felt.<br />
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It looked a little plain on my 70's-tastic front door, so I added the fall leaf wreath from yesterday's post to it. My DH gave it his stamp of approval, so it will be up for a bit, until I get my Halloween door project finished...<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-27895580689839005642013-09-24T07:00:00.000-06:002013-09-24T07:00:02.581-06:00Fall Leaves For the Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Fall and spring are my favorite times of year. I love watching all the colors change and transition. Even though all the leaves on my trees are still bright, vibrant greens, I know the changes are coming. The days are cooler, the nights are getting chilly and I'm starting to crave hot chocolate.<br />
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Since the leaves outside aren't changing fast enough, I decided to make myself a little bit of fall for the house. Using<a href="http://www.mycutestamps.com/autumnleafgarland.html" target="_blank"> templates I found on My Cute Stamps</a>, I cut my leaves out of brown, red, orange and yellow craft felt. I added some gold glitter puff paint for the veining and contrast. (Besides who doesn't love a little glitter when it won't rub off on everything!)<br />
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The biggest problem was figuring out what to do them. My first thought was a fall table runner or something decorative over my front door. I decided the best thing, given my limited time, was to stitch some 1/4" ribbon to the back (it's a nice pale green) and make a garland.<br />
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Yes, my picture is horrible, but I blame time constraints at the moment. Eventually I will update with a better picture.<br />
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At any rate, I cut one of each leaf out of each color and ended up with a total of 16 which were then alternated along the ribbon. I hand stitched it because I was watching E and A and couldn't get to my sewing machine. Realistically, using the machine you could easily connect as many as you want in very little time.<br />
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Now to figure out what to do with it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-80469921672447588362013-09-23T07:00:00.000-06:002013-09-23T07:00:13.532-06:00Remembering the First DayThe new school year began this month and who doesn't love that! School age kids are back in class instead of wanting rides and money to hang out with friends. This year E started kindergarten and little A started preschool. So naturally, I got to get the first day of school pictures and then I had to put them on a new layout. (If I'm going to scrapbook, I might as well do it when it happens instead of waiting a couple years! haha)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry for the horrible picture, I used my phone just because it was easier. Besides, I can sacrifice a little picture clarity if you still get the general layout idea.</td></tr>
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Each of the little ones got their own page but I planned to have them facing in the book so I made the layouts complimentary. I kept it super simple and really only embellished with a few rhinestones and a contrasting paper on each page. My absolute favorite part is the family picture. How perfect is that?! The whole family walking E to her first day of kindergarten.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-29898602497172048522013-09-18T07:00:00.000-06:002013-09-18T08:07:05.613-06:00My Ladder Shelf<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-95fbPaYf0Zw/UjjcYnTgllI/AAAAAAAACJc/RVaWZUJKX8c/s1600/20130917_163544-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-95fbPaYf0Zw/UjjcYnTgllI/AAAAAAAACJc/RVaWZUJKX8c/s640/20130917_163544-1.jpg" width="185" /></a>A while back I decided I wanted something new for my living room. I wanted some shelves, something to display some pictures, a few little pretty things I'd picked up or been given and a place to store some blankets in a decorative but functional way.<br />
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Naturally, I searched Pinterest for some inspiration. It took some scrolling but I fell in love with the idea of a ladder shelf. What a unique way of getting my fish tank up to eye level, storing blankets and displaying some of my favorite things. And, with my living room essentially shaped as a boring rectangle, I could put this pretty much anywhere and it wouldn't completely divide the room.<br />
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I took my idea to my DH and asked if he could build it for me. Really, having him build me something is the best way to get exactly what I want, usually for less, and it makes him happy because he gets to play with his toys. Everyone wins.<br />
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It took some figuring and planning, but he built me this beautiful shelf! I love it. Knowing we would have a ten gallon fish tank on a certain shelf, we were able to reinforce it. And there was plenty of room underneath for E and A's project trays and a cloth bin that holds their coloring books and crayons.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6s6O96d8ds/UjjcQnH9XUI/AAAAAAAACJU/ibpDzTghTXk/s1600/PaperArtist_2013-09-17_16-47-09.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6s6O96d8ds/UjjcQnH9XUI/AAAAAAAACJU/ibpDzTghTXk/s320/PaperArtist_2013-09-17_16-47-09.jpeg" width="240" /></a>The biggest compromise was came with whether or not it would be painted or stained. He loves the wood grain and I like light colors to keep it from feeling heavy. Yes he won, and we stained it. But only because we had stain left over from when we did the floors.<br />
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I still have a long list of things for him to build me - including a pretty console table for under the mounted TV just so I can get rid of the blah store bought media stand.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-16527704651468795592013-09-17T07:00:00.000-06:002013-09-17T07:00:00.632-06:00A Somewhat Vintage Touch in the Dining Room<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zg4DJhYXHAk/Ui-D74UvhPI/AAAAAAAAB9E/a0hJJdTwal0/s1600/20130907_100947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zg4DJhYXHAk/Ui-D74UvhPI/AAAAAAAAB9E/a0hJJdTwal0/s320/20130907_100947.jpg" width="240" /></a> I make no attempt to hide my love of all things vintage. I love classic movies, big band music and the way a home used to be run. I think that is my I love my mother- and grandmother-in-law. They do things a little more old fashioned. It's because of them I have learned to can vegetables and fruits (grandma told me last weekend about how they would can beef and when you opened that on a winter day, it made the best beef and gravy to have with potatoes), I've learned to sew, and I've been striving to make things myself. Back in the day, people made things to last, not be disposable. Plus I'm cheap.<br />
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If I can make it and it will save me money, that's what I do. That includes laundry soap, dog toys, blankets and clothes, home decor and now a basic necessity: dinner table napkins.<br />
I realized I didn't think that much about putting paper towels on the table with the meal, until I had to spend the money to buy more. I had an epiphany: why am I spending money on something I am just going to throw away!?! Cloth napkins just make more sense - I do laundry anyway so what's a few more pieces of cloth to throw in?<br />
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So I dug through stash and found the above remnant. I love it! It looks great in my dining room and I already had it. Then I went to Pinterest, and started searching for a good tutorial on how to make these. I found <a href="http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2013/08/how-to-sew-a-tiny-hem-make-your-own-cloth-napkins.html" target="_blank">this one on tiny rolled hems</a>, and since it had lots of pictures, I used it.<br />
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It was about 29"x44" and I cut out six 12" squares to start with. I also set up my ironing board so that as I finished a seam all I had to do was swivel around, press what was needed and get back to sewing. Even with that convenience, it still took me 30 minutes per napkin!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLfSZuLGTSA/Ui-EKHNcPII/AAAAAAAAB9M/uNCZC_oyp44/s1600/20130910_143630-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLfSZuLGTSA/Ui-EKHNcPII/AAAAAAAAB9M/uNCZC_oyp44/s320/20130910_143630-1.jpg" width="320" /></a>I am so happy with the end result though. The only difficulty I had was with the last couple of corners. It caught frustrating trying to get the machine to move the material when starting at the edge of like six layers of materials. You can see how small the hems ended up being, and how pretty they look on my new tablecloth.<br />
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With so much fabric in my stash, I am wanting to make a lot more of these. I am anxious to try a mitered corner for some. (And I really want a bunch for holiday meals!) But that is a project for another day - I have lots more sewing to get done before the holidays...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-5713570503144331702013-09-16T07:00:00.000-06:002013-09-16T07:00:01.753-06:00Altered Book - The Grad Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xmj1clfKl0Q/UiYbdGEGdTI/AAAAAAAAB64/lv_pRijEPCw/s1600/IMG_3741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xmj1clfKl0Q/UiYbdGEGdTI/AAAAAAAAB64/lv_pRijEPCw/s320/IMG_3741.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
My baby brother, J, graduated high school this year. Family issues and drama caused a lot stress around what should have been a happy event, a milestone moving him from childhood into manly adulthood.<br />
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I thought I would try to make something special for him. Something that would show him he really did have family that cared for him, was proud of him and happy to see him succeed. DH's family have taken him in and treat him like any other grandchild, nephew or cousin.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cheQEmV2Mr4/UiYbjdH-xgI/AAAAAAAAB7A/6gTDxWSYIJM/s1600/IMG_3743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cheQEmV2Mr4/UiYbjdH-xgI/AAAAAAAAB7A/6gTDxWSYIJM/s400/IMG_3743.JPG" width="300" /></a>Rather than just having everyone sign a photo mat or a card, I wanted to do something a little more special. J is worth the extra effort. Sooo, I made my first altered book as a guest book for his graduation party. The pages are rough, but it was my first attempt. I bought a cheap hard cover book from a local thrift store, gutted it, added stickers to the front for a "title", covered the spine with "Class of 2013" ribbon and created pages.<br />
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The pages were the biggest challenge for me. I needed them to be sturdy so I used a heavy base paper and adhered scrapbook papers to each page. The first couple of pages have his announcement, senior pictures, and shots from the ceremony. The majority of the book is shots of J with each of the 20 people that were there to support him with a hand written not of encouragement on the facing page. It is finished with pictures from the barbecue we had to celebrate him.<br />
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Being an 18 year old, he said thank you, but I know the sentiment is a bit beyond him now. In years to come he will appreciate having the reminder of that huge moment in his life.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-68174881305689023282013-09-11T07:00:00.000-06:002013-09-11T07:00:01.642-06:00Take A Seat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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DH loves when I say I want a new piece of furniture for the house. Until about a year ago, it made him shiver with fear at the cost of what I might have in mind. (Truth be told, I don't go crazy and we only buy furniture when it is absolutely necessary because, I mean come on! Have you priced that stuff lately???) Now he gets a little giddy when I ask for something.<br />
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When DH retired from the military in June 2012, he decided it was time for him to decide on his awesome retirement hobby. One thing that had always interested him was carpentry and wood working. I've indulged this even though the tools can be a bit expensive (I have a craft stash that can hold me over for a while so I'll let him splurge on his new hobby) because in the end, I knew I would reap the benefits!<br />
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And now I have. I saw this <a href="http://ana-white.com/2013/01/plans/triple-pedestal-farmhouse-bench" target="_blank">amazing bench over ana-white.com</a> and I fell in love. I have a soft spot for the farmhouse style and have been trying to balance it with the modern home DH wants. I got lucky and DH loved the bench. The one thing we agreed on was the original size given in the plans (NINE FEET LONG!!) was a little long for our day to day needs. So we did a little tweaking and he made it about four and a half feet long.<br />
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It turned out beautiful! The plans were so clear and easy for him to follow, and to tweak. The added bonus was the cost: about $25 for the materials! I've already sweet talked him in to building me a second one for added seating during the holidays.<br />
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If we didn't love our antique dining table so much - or just had space for a formal dining room - I would beg him for the table that matches the benches. For now, I just need to focus on making some cushions to put on top, as soon as he will let me cover his work!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-65515255479616845712013-09-10T07:00:00.000-06:002013-09-10T07:00:00.299-06:00A Tweet Idea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">J's girlfriend is still learning basic stitching so the stitches are a little wonky,<br />but I think it gives it personality!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the flock we made!</td></tr>
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I like simple projects that I can do with people around me. When J shipped off to Ft Lee for the summer, his girlfriend and I decided to try a project. We were thinking a hanging display for over her bed, something fun and colorful. Because I've been on a bird kick I suggested birds hanging from a branch - it was a great way to recycle a branch that had fallen out of my huge tree.<br />
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Anywho, she was sold and I found a simple bird pattern which we cut out of felt. She paired which color wings with which color bird and we started sewing. First a wing to each side and then the two sides together.<br />
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It really didn't take long to get about 20 birds put together. Once they were done, I decided they needed a little more personality so I broke out my puff paint. If you need to add personality to a fabric craft, puff paint is a pretty darn good way to do it.<br />
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Simple glittery swirls on the wings, gold glitter beaks and little black eyes. This took about two days - I painted one side of all the birds one day, let them sit overnight to dry and then did the opposite side.<br />
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These little cuties have been done for a couple of weeks now and I have yet to hear how she wants to proceed with this project. I'm kinda thinking I might turn them in to a cute garland or maybe some Christmas ornaments. Hmm... the wheels are turning.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-81259524889211220932013-09-09T07:00:00.000-06:002013-09-09T07:00:08.723-06:00Feeling Scrappy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have decided to start scrapbooking. This is a big thing for me. I've never been a big fan of that particular craft simply because it seems like you spend $50 on stickers and embellishments all for one picture on a 12" x 12" piece of pretty paper. Personally, I love my pictures and the stories they tell too much to have them be lost in a sea of stuff that is actually supposed to make them stand out.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, there are some great layouts that really do make the picture the center of attention. In fact those are the ones that have inspired me. That and the fact that I love the beautiful papers you can find and the idea of telling my story and holding the memories that I hold so dear. (Basically I need to use the stack of papers and printed pictures I have before I can justify buying more paper!)<br />
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The layout I made for this post features pictures from Easter this year. I loved the bright colors of the base paper and contrast of the flowery side panel. I opted to punch out the main focus of the pictures and set them on a bright green solid, which will also serve to frame some journaling (that's why there is the random huge green rectangle in the middle there). And balanced the page with a few gems on the flower paper and dimensional flower stickers to the right.<br />
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My personal favorite part is the main picture at the top of the page - my step-daughter N taking pictures of her hubby and their little girls E and A. I love that it is someone taking a picture of their family and I punched the family group out and raised it with some double sided foam mounts just to make it pop out a little.<br />
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I think I might actually start to enjoy this as a hobby, which may scare my sweet hubby.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4802278776205809242.post-49606686482524203792013-09-05T07:00:00.000-06:002013-09-05T07:00:01.178-06:00Something Frosty in the Warm Fall<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5b-riTl3yL4/UiYY-i94unI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/TMvP4VmNz6Y/s1600/IMG_3711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5b-riTl3yL4/UiYY-i94unI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/TMvP4VmNz6Y/s320/IMG_3711.JPG" width="320" /></a>I love the look of frosted glass. I've done lots of projects with glass etching cream and love them. The problem is that can get expensive and would large projects a little more challenging given the budget I'm working with.<br />
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So I thought it would be a good time to try the frosted glass spray paint. I found a couple of cheap framed mirrors at Walmart and taped off what I wanted to remain clean glass with masking tape.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m_5wizNpTvs/UiYan_TFubI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/Fd1NgI8Fen0/s1600/IMG_3733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m_5wizNpTvs/UiYan_TFubI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/Fd1NgI8Fen0/s400/IMG_3733.JPG" width="400" /></a>Following the directions on the can of paint, I sprayed the mirrors and waited for it to dry to see how it would turn out.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QvidQWPEkTg/UiY-w1-GOSI/AAAAAAAAB7k/8fVCJcDhRv8/s1600/20130903_083449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QvidQWPEkTg/UiY-w1-GOSI/AAAAAAAAB7k/8fVCJcDhRv8/s320/20130903_083449.jpg" width="240" /></a>I really liked how the smaller mirror turned out. The diagonal lines are interesting and can help draw the eye to other pieces around it when hung on the wall. The larger mirror was ok, but a little plain. So I wasn't too bummed when I learned of a major drawback to the spray frosting paint. It can be scratched off.<br />
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I found this out by leaving the smaller on top of the larger and it obviously got moved around and scraped some of the paint off. (The picture doesn't show how bad it was actually chipped, but it was all four corners where the smaller mirror was set.)<br />
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But, this dark cloud does have a silver lining. If the paint gets scratched or you just plain don't like how the thing turned out, you can scrape the paint off! I used the razor scraper I use on my glass top stove and it came right off, no issues. I was so relieved. Now I know I can easily change how these mirrors look and that means changing my decor for the cost of a can of paint!<br />
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