Sep
2017

Surprise Apple Treats

categories: Autumn, DIY

It’s apple time, so today I thought I would share a fun and super easy fall treat idea.

Those folks who know me, know how much I like to use cellophane bags when wrapping.  Tying ribbon around the top adds a pop of color to whatever gift is wrapped up in the bag.  I love the look.

Pick out some beautiful apples, they are so plentiful right now, and add individual snack containers of caramel and peanut butter to each bag.

That’s it!

Not much needed to put these together.

The only difficult thing about this, might be deciding what color ribbon to use.  I love black and bright green together.  You could use fall colors!

Over the years when I worked, I loved to put a little surprise on the desk of each of my co-workers before they arrived.

When you are dragging yourself in to start the day, what fun to find a cute, colorful, surprise treat.

If you have ever worked in an office setting, you know that there are times during the day, that a treat is needed for a little pick-me-up!

These treats are, healthy, happy, and “sweet”!

Surprise those in your life, they will love it!

Just a simple way of saying so much, “thank you”, “I appreciate you”, “I love you”!

Hope you all have special “treats” lined up for your weekend.

See ya!


Aug
2017

Fall Placemats to Fall Pillows

categories: Autumn, DIY, Home Projects

I love the fall time of the year, a bit sad to see summer ending.

How quickly the days and months pass.

The older I get, I so wish for longer days, more days.

Fall decorations are out in all the stores.  I found these lovely watercolor fall placemats at TJ Maxx, $10 for a set of four.

The pattern is similar to a pillow at Pottery Barn, shown below, that I love.

Unfortunately, the price of $39.50, is not in my low income budget.

So I made my own pillows from the placemats.

They turned out beautiful, love the soft fall colors in my living room area.

It was a very simple project.

Open the bottom seam of the placemat, large enough to insert a pillow form.  A lumbar form was the perfect size.

The last step, close the seam.  I used my sewing machine, but could be hand stitched together.

I am not a very good “sewing” person, but although my sewing machine hates me, I was able to complete a straight line.

That’s it!

Love my pillows!

Fall is coming, the leaves on my sugar maple are already showing some signs of turning.

Lots to enjoy coming up, cool beautiful sunny days, apples, pumpkins, harvest fairs, just so much!

Enjoy all the simple, precious things of the season!

Blessings, until the next time!


Aug
2017

Learning Something New Everyday

categories: Crafts, DIY, Home Projects

When I stopped working I made a list of a few things I hoped I could do everyday.

  • Have some fun.
  • Be thankful and grateful for all that I have.
  • Be creative.
  • Learn something new everyday.
  • Love and help those around me.
  • Get up early, to enjoy the gift of a day.
  • Smile, and put a smile on someone’s face.

So today I am sharing a “something new” for me, painting using gesso.

Gesso is a chalky finish that is used by artists to prepare canvas for painting.

I found a beautiful blog on Pinterest by Rosemary Villabarnes, (Villabarnes.com). Rosemary shared her technique of “slathering” flower pots with gesso.  I am so very pleased with my first time results.

My pots are so lovely with that vintage look I love.

I “slathered” a few pots of different sizes and shapes, and I also tried my hand at applying to a picture frame from the thrift store.

You will need to buy a jar of gesso, sold in the art supply section at Hobby Lobby or Michael’s, don’t forget to use your weekly 40% off coupon, and also some cheap plastic beads.  I had a bunch from a 50 cent thrift store find, but you can find them at the dollar store.

The pots were easy to complete, give the pots a coat of gesso, allow to dry, hot glue beads to rim, allow to dry completely, and then paint with as many coats of gesso as needed to cover beads, until you have the look you want.

Not a quick project, I completed mine in two days.

I love white dishes, the beaded look on dishes is currently so popular.

My pots have found a place in my dining room hutch for now, but I have many ideas for using and displaying them in my home.

Do you learn something new everyday?

A recipe, the meaning of a word, some new tech thing, or a new creative project like me!

Pinterest is a great place for new ideas.

This blog was a huge learning “something new” for me!  I struggle with it everyday, but I won’t give up!

Living is doing, learning, loving!

Hope my little blog puts a smile on your face!

Love you all.

Here’s Rosemary’s link for the flower pots.

http://www.villabarnes.com/2012/08/fab-flower-pot.html.

 


Aug
2017

Organizing a Small Linen Closet

categories: Home Projects

My linen closet is so very small and always such a mess.

Every single time I open the door, something falls out!

Today I thought I would share the process of this two day organizing project.

Love the way the small closet now looks.  Everything necessary has a place.

The fact that it is so small was the major problem, so sorting and eliminating, was my first step. Unnecessary items had to go!

Really incredible how much I found that just did not belong in a linen closet, how the heck does that happen!

I found other places for many of the blankets and sheets that took up so much space. A wicker chest at the bottom of our bed, and a drawer in our spare bedroom were perfect.

Once I sorted, I cleaned and painted the inside, vacuumed, shined up the tiny space a bit.  The space is dark, so I used the same white paint color.

Gathered every container I could find, baskets, jars, and some wire items, to establish order.

I found these cute foamy stick on letters at Hobby Lobby, they added a bit of fun to the glass jars I decided to use in the organization of items.  Really love the look!

Wanted to make it easy for my family to find and pick necessary items.

Added some wicker containers to the bottom of the closet to hold the many toss pillow covers I have, also cloth napkins.

So now, everything has a place, items are easy to see and find, tissue, Kleenex, soaps, towels, wash cloths.

Sorting, cleaning, establishing order using containers, finding a place for everything, the musts for this project.

Now let’s see if we can sustain the order and keep it this way!

Happiness is…….eliminating clutter and finding order.

Love you all a bunch!


Aug
2017

Fun Legal Notepads

categories: Crafts, DIY

The stores are full of back to school supplies, wishing I had a bunch of kids to take shopping for crayons, notebooks, and backpacks.

As adults, we can’t let go of those memories of getting back to school supplies, can we?

Today I am sharing a DIY craft project of changing those blah, boring, legal notepads, to fun, colorful, notepads!

A rainbow of color!

When I worked, I hated going to the office supply cabinet, finding that my only choice for a notepad, was those generic legal notepads, especially those yucky yellow ones!

Where is it written that a business setting has to be boring?

Just by using scrapbook paper, scissors or paper cutter, and a good glue stick, I have created some colorful, whimsy, legal notepads.

The color and design selections are endless.

A black and white set, with different fun paper on each one.

A bright blue set for my sister’s bright blue office.

I used some leftover wrapping paper to make gold ones for my desk.

As I started making these, I became addicted, that happens to me when I find a simple, fast project, with such fun results.

Makes a great gift, tie with ribbon or twine, add a cute tag, maybe some pencils too!

The how to is simple.

  • Cut paper strips, 2-1/2″ high, and the width of the notepad, usually 8-1/2″ wide for the large, or about 5″ wide for the smaller size notepads.
  • Apply glue to the top border of the notepad and some on the paper strip as well, don’t skimp on the glue.
  • Place paper strip on notepad border, press and smooth with your fingers several times, making sure the paper is adhering properly.
  • Repeat on the back of the notepad, up and over the top to cover the notepad border, with a bit extra below the border.
  • Don’t forget to apply glue to the very top part of the notepad too!

That’s it!

Thanks for reading my post today.

Hope your day is fun, colorful, and cheery!

Try to avoid the blah and boring!

Thank God for this day, a gift, tied with love and blessings.

Enjoy!

 

 

 


Aug
2017

Photo Memory Notes

categories: Random Thoughts

On my last post I wrote about a Sunday afternoon framing family photos.

When looking at many of the photos, I wished I knew more about each one.

How old, what year, where, was it a special occasion?  Just so much I will never know or remember, including photos of my own son.

I thought of an idea for a new product, “Photo Memory Notes”.

A pack of sticky notes that can be filled out and placed on the back of our favorite photo prints.  The size would fit the normal current day photo prints, 4″ x 6″.

What a really thoughtful, lovely gift, to leave our loved ones, small stories about old photos.

When going through my box of old photos, there were only three with written information on the back, those were ones my Mom had left.

I love the fact that I know our ages on this favorite old photo of me and my sister.

I was two and my sister three, so cute!

On this photo Mom wrote that this was the last photo of her and Dad before he went overseas.  Dad is in his uniform.  How special!

The planner, journal, lettering industry is huge right now, millions of dollars.

Many folks love keeping notes, writing, drawing, even coloring right now, including me!

You could make the argument that you could just use plain sticky notes, but no, not to many of us, special is what we look for!

There is a stack of memory notes on my desk right now!

When I have quiet time I am enjoying writing memories.  A gift to my son and family years down the road.

The notes can remain on the back when framing too!

I have sent my idea to several companies including Scotch, Michael’s, and Hobby Lobby.

Let’s see what happens!

Failing doesn’t upset me, how can you expect success if you don’t try.

Several years ago, I applied for a provisional patent on a product I thought would be profitable.  Sent my idea to a few companies, only to see my idea on the website of one of the companies later.

There was a note on the product with a patent #, I checked it out, it was basically the same idea as mine only several years earlier.

At least I knew my idea wasn’t silly!

I will keep you all posted if I receive any response to my sweet idea.

Keep trying, never give up!  That’s me!

Love and blessings to all!

 


Aug
2017

Spending Time With Family

categories: Random Thoughts

I believe Sundays, for the most part, should be restful, thoughtful, grateful days, enjoying and spending time with family.

That is what I did yesterday.

Over the years I have kept so many wonderful photos of my family, old and new, stored away in a box on a shelf, in my closet.

Yesterday, I pulled out my photo box, and the many frames I have accumulated over the years.

My afternoon journey began.

Choosing special photos for framing was so difficult, my favorites, my loved ones, those with me now, and those beautiful ones in heaven, how do I choose?

Such an emotional afternoon, laughs, smiles, tears, regrets!

I framed several older ones of my Mom and Dad, and favorites of me and my sister, shown above.

During the holidays I love displaying photos taken during that bright, magical time of the year.

Sweet Easter ones of my brother and sister, just really cute!

As the afternoon passed, many were framed and found places around my home.

Especially love this old one of my Grandma holding my sister in her arms.  This photo was taken in front of our family’s grocery, years and years ago.  I loved looking at all the old products, and product signs, 7up, Pepsi, Kraft, and Wonder Bread.

My desk was the perfect spot for these mini frames holding the cutest photo of me with my son at Kings Island Amusement Park, and this dear one of me and my Mom.  Love these so!

I worked for hours sorting, choosing, and framing.

So many left to do!

Those of my dear son, at all ages of his life, our sweet pets, who have given us such joy over the years, and just so many others.

As I grow older, it is important, a longing, to have my family around me.

The days in our lives bring so many laughs, smiles, good times, tears. As time passes these become memories we cherish.

Love to all.


Aug
2017

DIY Cake Plates

categories: Crafts, DIY, Home Projects

Making cake plates is one of the easier, if not the easiest DIY craft projects.

Today I want to share the plates I have made, along with the “how to”.

There are only three things needed to complete.

  • plate
  • base piece (candlestick or small dessert dish)
  • E6000 glue

Finding your glass pieces is the fun part of this project.

Visit thrift stores, antiques shops, or maybe you have a sentimental piece you could use.

There are so many shapes and sizes to choose from, show your creativity!

When putting your cake plate together, be sure your base and plate pieces are not crooked or wobbly.

Lay your plate face down and find the center, apply glue around the top of the base piece, place on the back of the plate, and press firmly.  You do have several seconds, if needed, to adjust, before the glue starts to set.  I always let my plate set overnight.  That’s it!

These plates are not just for cakes, how about cookies, muffins on a breakfast table, a beautiful cheese assortment, small sandwiches.  So many uses!

My sister, who has never really been interested in craft projects, was with me on my last thrift store hunt. She now wants to have a craft day together before Christmas, to make plates for gifts.

We have already started to stash some finds for our first, and hopefully, not our last, craft day together.

Christmas is only four months away!

A lovely pedestal full of cookies would truly be a thoughtful gift for friends, family, co-workers, or neighbors.

Oh! The yummy chocolate cake in the photo was for my husband’s birthday, he was 74 yesterday!

Love to him!

Always!

Eat cake and make cake stands, both are addictive!

Blessings on this Sunday.

 


Aug
2017

Making Fudgesicles and Popsicles!

categories: Simple Recipes, Summer

No little children in our home anymore, just two aging, forgetful, cranky at times, adults.

Doesn’t matter, we still love afternoon treats!

I decided on making some chocolate fudgesicles and very cherry popsicles before the end of summer.

Have you ever read the ingredients on a box of fudgesicles?

Ingredients:

Nonfat Milk, Maltodextrin, Sorbitol, Polydextrose, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Whey, Palm Oil, Contains 1 Percent Or Less Of Each Of The Following: Tricalcium Phosphate, Cellulose Gel, Cellulose Gum, Mono And Diglycerides, Malt Powder, Salt, Guar Gum, Aspartame, Polysorbate 80, Acesulfame Potassium, Polysorbate 65, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, Natural And Artificial Flavor, Caramel Color, Locust Bean Gum. Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine.

Oh my gosh, make your own!

The recipe I am sharing is so easy and so chocolatey.

Here’s the recipe I used:

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 Tbsp corn syrup
  • 1 Tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups of milk

Instructions:

  • Whisk together cocoa powder and sugar in a pan
  • Add corn syrup and vanilla and place over low heat
  • Add milk while whisking constantly until everything is dissolved
  • Pour mixture into 6 molds and freeze until solid

(source of recipe was cincyshopper.com)

For the cherry, really cherry popsicles, I just used a Kool-Aid unsweetened packet adding sugar as directed, but shame on me, I used less water than directed to make the flavor intense. I taste tested as I added the water.

Seriously, they were wonderful!

As kids, we would fill ice cube trays with Kool-Aid to make popsicles, some of you folks might remember.

Now days there are so many different molds on the market that are inexpensive and fun to use. Lots of different shapes.

The one thing I like about using molds is the fact that the stick is plastic.  I hated, and still do, running my tongue across a wooden stick!  Chills!

After my husband finished his very cherry popsicle, I looked over at him and he had bright red lips, as if he had just put away his lipstick. We laughed together.

Where was my camera?

Just a precious “sweet” moment shared.

Don’t let your summer pass without making yummy chocolate fudgesicles and very cherry popsicles.

“Sweet” love to all of you today!


Aug
2017

Adding Whimsy To My Yard

categories: DIY, Flea Market Finds/Thrifting, Home Projects, Summer

Whimsy is defined as, “playfully quaint or fanciful behavior or humor”.

Add whimsy to your life when you can, it’s happy stuff!

That is what I did this past Saturday, I added some whimsy to my yard!

No need to go into much detail for this fun project.

I purchased two unfinished decorative dowels at Home Depot, sanded and painted.

Selected a small birdhouse from my garage stash of unfinished wood items, and again sanded and painted. Small birdhouses can be found at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby.

Added extra whimsy to the birdhouse by attaching an old knob.

Nestled the birdhouse in my vinca vines for just the perfect spot.

For the birdbath, I simply added a rescued tin pan from the thrift store to the top of one of the dowels.

I pounded the dowels into the ground first, and then using E6000 glue attached the birdhouse and tin pan.

Love the color of the birdbath dowel and the contrast with the old tin pan.

This was just a simple, one day project, that has added a colorful, delightfully friendly, and of course, whimsical touch to my yard that I will enjoy the rest of the summer.

They make my heart smile.

As the week goes on add some “whimsy” to your days, giggle, laugh at yourself and by yourself, wear some color, be yourself when no one else is looking, let your heart smile.

Love and “whimsy” thoughts to all!