Favorite DIY Project for March

Today is the Favorite DIY Project over at Beneath My Heart. I thought about what my favorite was and what everyone liked and commented the most on. And my baby food apothecary jars were the winners!!!
I thought i would show a kind of review of how they were made and what I have done with them for the Holidays.

To start off here is a picture of what I used to make them. I painted the finials and candle holders black let them dry then used Gorilla glue epoxy to hold them together. I hot glued some jute around the lids also and tied a ribbon around the finial to give it a little somethin somethin.

For Valentines day I found these red puffy glittered heart at Hobby Lobby and used them inside the jars... They are so cute!!!

For St. Patrick's Day I found these glittered shamrocks at JoAnn's and loved how they looked inside too.

For Easter/Spring I had bought some tiny eggs at Goodwill and painted them to look like robin's eggs. These are my FAVORITE EVA!!!!!

I just found this little platter at Goodwill and I just love the way it looks on the shelf behind the apothecary jars. Do you like? Let me know!!!

Here is a picture of the whole shelf. I am really liking it. Hope you are too.

Thanks for coming and finding out MY favorite DIY project. I hope it was your too.. Have a great week! :O)

Girls day

I had the opportunity to spend the day with a good friend of mine today. She had become my adoptive mom here in Michigan. She is so dear to me. Her name is Kathy and I just love her. We decided to shop and go to lunch. We both have a soft spot for Mexican food. YUMMMMO!!!

We hit the usual places like Hobby Lobby and Target then lunch where we talked and laughed and just enjoyed each others company. Then it was off to Goodwill. I found some great treasures there today... Just take a look......
What did I tell you? The circle topiary thingy was $3. I like it just as it is so probably will not do anything to it. Who knows, I might change my mind later...but that is my prerogative (is that spelled right? It is what the computer says.) (did that song come to your mind like it did mine? Back when Bobby Brown was semi decent!)...The candle stick and 4 plates (which are mikasa by the way) were $1.50 each. The plates were taped together so that was a steal! The large iron fork and spoon were $3. I have plans for them. That will be another post hopefully in the not to distant future.

I had a great day. How about you? What were your goodies you found over the weekend? Thanks for reading. Have a great week.... :O)

Tag Blanket

I have been wanting to make these tag blankets that have been popping up all over blogland. My niece just had her first baby and I thought this was the perfect time to learn how to make one. I also have a friend that had a baby in January of this year and thought she would like one for her daughter so this is hers. I will be making the one for my niece next then it's on to a boy one for my sis-in-law who is due in June. I went searching through my stash of flannel and ribbon and found everything I needed. Yeah me!! :O)

First I needed to decide on the size blanket I wanted. I cut my pieces 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 inch square. Then I laid my pieces out the way I wanted them.

Next, I sewed 2 of them together right sides facing in. Then I repeated this on the next 2 pieces.

Next, I ironed the seams flat.

Then sewed the 2 strips together right sides facing in again. Then ironed that seam open.

This is what your front should look like.

Next, take your ribbons and cut them to be 4 inches long. Then fold in half and pin them to the right side of the front of the blanket all the way around. Leaving an open space at each corner. I will explain why a bit later.

After you have pinned all the ribbons sew them on.

This is what the front of your blanket should look like at this point.

Now cut your back piece the same size as the front and sew right sides facing. Leaving an opening for you to turn right side out. Make sure ALL the ribbons are facing in so they do not get caught in the needle.

Now cut the corners at an angle to allow for a square corner. This is why you left the corners open when you were pinning the ribbons on.

Next find your opening and turn the blanket right side out.

Poke your corners so they are square then sew the opening closed. This next step is totally optional. I sewed around each square just to define them.

And here is the final product. My completed blanket was 11x11 inches. You can make this any size you want. I really like how it turned out. They are super easy. If you can sew a straight line this is a project for you.

This was fun to take pictures of this project. I am left handed and can take pictures with my right while still working with my left. I know what you are thinking.... I am so amazing that you can hardly stand it. Well thanks for your praise... J/K ! You all are great and I really appreciate you taking the time to read my blog. Thanks again and have a wonderful weekend!!! :O)

Spring Decor Take Two

Okay, so I had horrible lighting last night so I could not take any pictures of where I put the apothecary jars. So, the lighting is good now. I have been redoing our computer/pass through room. I have painted it and have finally started to decorate it. This is the biggest wall in the room. So of course I had to put something large on it. Do you like? Every thing I either bought at DI, Goodwill, or Hobby Lobby (90% off aisle). I got the shelf for $4 at DI. It used to be green so I painted it black. The milk white urns I purchased at Goodwill. I think I only paid like $9 for all three. The large circle thing (technical wording) was at Hobby Lobby for only $3.50. I did nothing to it. I liked it as it was.... The candle stand and candle was given to me when we bought our house in Utah. It was white so I of course painted it...this time I used folk arts Jamaican Sea (same as the speckled eggs). You know about the apothecary jars already. So that leaves us with the blocks. I made them for a craft show I was in last November. They were a BIG hit. i sold out of them all in the first 10 minutes of the show. Had to start taking orders. I have made so many of them. I just love them so I made myself a set.

Remember yesterday I said I had 12 eggs that I painted? Well, as promised here is where the other 6 were used at. My new Spring center piece for my kitchen table. Do you like?

Now everything used was thrifted to on sale. The charger I had for a previous center piece. It still only cost $3. The flowers and pot were from Michael's and I paid $2 for it. The cloche I made out of a candle stick and cheese plate/dome from goodwill (see March 4th entry). I only paid $3.80 for it. Which brings us to the last 6 eggs. Don't they look pretty in there? The dove was from the same Goodwill trip as the eggs. I paid $1 for her. She was this nasty nasty nasty orange and gold. So I did what any one would do.... I spray painted her Heirloom white. Now I loves her. :O)

I like the change of the center piece. It makes me happy every time I see it. May be that is because I am soooooo excited for Spring. I just love this time of year. Don't you?

Thanks for reading and remember if you leave a comment and ask a question...PLEASE leave your email so I can respond. For some reason I am having a problem with sending some of you a response. Again I am so sorry. Have a great day!!! :O)

From Goodwill finds to Spring decor!

A while back I made a trip to 2 different Goodwill's and these are some of the treasures I found. Today I decided to use a couple of them. See those eggs? They cost me $0.50 and that orange dove was $1. I transformed them into 2 something beautifuls. Scroll down and see the process..... I painted the eggs with Folk Arts Jamaican Sea and let them dry.

Then I used burnt umber mixed with a little h20. I used an OLD toothbrush and splattered the brown on the eggs to make them look like Robins eggs. My oldest came home and saw them and asked if they were real... I guess I accomplished my goal in making them look real. :O)

Remember the apothecary jars I made out of baby food jars? Well that is where my beautiful robins eggs are. I love the way they look inside. What do you think?

I will show you tomorrow where I put the jars. I have no light right now for good pictures. Sorry! I only used 6 of the 12 eggs in the apothecary jars so I needed to find somewhere else to use the rest. Could not get any pictures of that something wonderful due to the light issue, so again until tomorrow...... Have a great day/night! :O)

Shout out to you!!!

I just wanted to give a shout out to all of you that read my blog. You all are so great! You are what keep me going. I love all your comments and I am trying to respond to all questions personally but am having some problems answering some. Please leave your email in your comments if you have a question. I really want to answer ALL of them. I also like to go and check out your blogs as well...... Man, do we have some very talented ladies out in blogland. So here's to you....(raising hands in the air and saying WOO HOO to you)!

Have a great week! :O)

Masterbedroom makeover phase one

So the hubs works nights and when it is his day off we are usually asleep when he is ready to tackle a project. That has been a huge downer for us in the past. Now that we have moved to Michigan and are renting this old house with a Michigan basement it gives us the perfect work space, which is far enough away from the bedrooms that we do not hear him. This is what it looks like right now.....

Now the hubs loves to fish but it was really cold and he hates ice fishing so he wanted something to do... This is where I come in. I am one of those wives that always has something up her sleeve. When I have given him gifts in the past for like Father's Day, Anniversary, or what ever the holiday there is always SOMETHING in it for me.... :O) Mine is the gift that just keeps giving (to me!). One time a few years ago I gave my hubby a 12 foot ladder, power washer and spray paint gun for Father's Day! Can I just say he loved them all until I pointed to the 5 gallon bucket of paint and said .... " Now go paint the house." And he did. It only took 4 hours start to finish. It was great and WE BOTH were happy. :O)

So now since it was cold and he wanted something to do I showed him the most fabulous blog EVER..... knockoffwood.blogspot.com. Ana is like the greatest person ever. She has made up plans for Pottery Barn furniture and gives them to you for FREE. All you do is print them off. They are step by step and you do not even need to own a saw. The boys at Home Dept, Lowes, and Menard's will cut your wood to the dimensions she gives you. You might have to pay a small fee for this. So far I have not been charged. This brings me to my master bedroom makeover. Now these pics are not very pretty (I had to take them while the hubs was sleeping...SHHHH do not tell him) so it was kind of dark since there was a blanket over the window. I know what was I thinking?

This is one of my new bed side tables. We adapted Ana's plans from the bench in the picture below to make these. I love them. He made he cubby extra deep so I can put my books and what ever in them and the kiddieos will not see what is in them. Then tend to always take my bookmarks out and loose my place. Hence why I always stop reading at the end of the chapter. It is easier to remember a chapter number than a page number. Don't ask me why?

This is the bench per Ana's design. The tops opens up too. How nice is that? I am thinking on putting a couple baskets on the bottom shelf.

Now this next project is what I have been waiting for our whole married life (13 years). The hubs took on the Farmhouse bed from Pottery Barn. Again, Ana has all the designs just waiting for you to use. Now Pottery Barn sells this for like $1499.00 and we only have like $150 in to it. We decided to use tongue and groove for it which brought the price up. Ana made hers for $120.

This is a king size bed. It took the hubs just a couple hours on 2 different nights to get it made. Now it is my turn. I will be sanding, painting, and aging the bed. I can hardly wait to get this puppy up to my bedroom. Hope you have enjoyed the pictures. I know I will have lots more to show you as we/I keep going on the makeover. Until next time..... Have a great week! :O)

What a difference!

Okay it was a year ago on the 21st of this month that I entered Hobby Lobby for the first time since the year 2000. So sad, I know! See we were living in Illinois and a Hobby Lobby moved into town... I was so excited... Then we moved to Utah... And I never found one close by so that was the end of Hobby Lobby for me...Until..... Last year when we moved to Michigan. Oh how much I love you Hobby Lobby... My heart gets all fluttery when I think of you or just drive by you. You make me happy.

So last year when I went in I was in heaven. I spent like 2 hours there soaking it all in. I came across the 90% off isle... Sorry my heart just skipped a beat...

I found these beauties that retailed for $85 for the set. That's right I only paid $8.50. I love you Hobby Lobby.
They were a green color that I was not the happiest about but loved the shapes of them.... So they stayed in hiding until the other day...... It was so nice out that I pulled them out and knew what I wanted to do with them and where to put them.

I painted them with Rustoleum Heirloom White spray paint then brushed on Ralph Lauren Faux Technique Glaze in smoke then wiped it off. So here they are in all their glory.... Like em?

I think they turned out great. I like them up on the cabinet. Not sure about the round one though. I like the star but I am still wondering if I should paint it a different color, put it some where else. I am just not sure yet. Any ideas?

P.S. If you would like to see what they looked like before check out my Mar 21, 2009 post.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I thought I would treat the family to Green Cinnamon Rolls today since it was St. Patrick's Day. Let me tell you these are the best cinnamon rolls ever! I got the recipe from the wonderful lady behind ...Myfoodstoragedeals.blogspot.com . I am not an expert at cinnamon rolls. In fact they never have been my favorite but, these ones are amazing! Head on over and check her out. I used her cream cheese frosting which makes all the difference in my book.
Remember the baby food apothecary jars I made a while back? Well, I found some glittered green shamrocks at Joann's and switched out the red glittered hearts. I love how they look. Now I need to get the little robins eggs done so I can put them in for Easter. Stay tuned in for that one.

Here is the project I have been wanting to do since seeing it on Shanty2Chic. I just fell in lurve with their wreath stand and knew I needed one for myself (So I am a copy cat, got a problem with that?) I just love it. Now to make the wreath to hang on it. I have a few ideas spinning in my head. You will just have to wait and see.

Here are some more pics pics of the wreath stand. Enjoy.......

Hope you all enjoyed the holiday. Have a great rest of the week! Later......:O)

Today's thrifty finds!

So the hubs told me to take a little time to myself and go thrifting.....So I did. I was not going to pass that offer up. Time by my self with NO kiddios. That just happens to be a rare occasion for me.



I went to the Goodwill and these are what I found.



It's she lovely. I have always wanted a soup tureen. Did I spell that right? Oh well. I in tend to make her fit into my new decor for my china cabinet. First I need to paint said china cabinet. I will show you all that later. I got her for $5. Score!

So I have been telling the hubs I need/want bed side lamps. And since he has made some bed side tables this was the perfect time to find some. I am not sure if that is where they will end up but, I will find somewhere for them. I paid $1.50 for the cream and $2.00 for the gold. Again another score!

I found two dust ruffles for $3.99 each. I have plans for these. I think I will use the brown and pink one for my daughters room ( next time we move and she can have her own room). The cream and green one I want to use for a little settee I want to make out of a crib that we do not use anymore. There are also 2 pillow covers I got for $.99 each. I like the brown, green and pink together.

Well, those are my find for today. Hope you have fun thrifting this week. Nice weather makes people want to get rid of things so keep your eyes on the look out. Have a great week. I will be linking this to Southern Hospitality Today's thrifty treasures. Go on over and check her out. You will love her!! :O)

Projects of old

Well, It has been a week since my last post/project. We got a call Thursday afternoon telling us my husbands grandfather passed away. We had a very hard trip to make. We left Friday after the boys got out of school. Luckily they only had half a day. It was a tiring trip. We had so much to do. I found out after we left that I was to help scrapbook a Navy album for the viewing which was on Monday. We worked 9 hours on it. I will post some pics of it on another post. It was hard to say good bye but at least he is not suffering anymore.



So here I am back home and lost my crafting buzz I had last week. Sorry, I did come across some pics I meant to post a while ago so here they are.



I told you on an earlier post that we got a new toy to play with. And this is it...





Have you ever seen the commercial for the Kreg jig? It is so fun and even my 11 yr old is learning how to use it.

It makes these cool holes you use to put your screws in. It uses the strongest part of the wood to put the screws in so no need to use wood glue AND nails/screws. Super cool, see....

Well, our first project was a headboard for my 11 yr olds bed. Here it is after we made it. It only took like 20 minutes....That's right 20 minutes. I was amazed.

I painted it black and when it was dry we attached it to his bed. I love it. Not to bad for our first project. The hubs has made a bench for the end of our bed and 2 side tables for our bed. I will show you those real soon.

Do you like it?

See that denim quilt? I came up with the design in my own head and had to have it made. I called my mom and asked her if she could/would do it for me. She so lovingly agreed then regretted it. I saved all the jeans my 2 boys wore that they out grew and my own. Now she lives in Northern Idaho and I was living in Utah and prego with #3. I called her and described what was in my head and this is the outcome. It turned out just like my vision. She is so awesome I tell you. Did I mention she made me 2 of them? There are pockets on it from the jeans. You can put your hand in them. Some even have zippers that you can zip up and down. It is an interactive quilt. She is now finishing 2 more for my younger two kids and we should have them in September when she comes to visit. Unless I get back to Idaho before then. Who knows! Go on over and check out her blog. She has some great stuff she is doing. You can find her at Scrapmewithstyle.blogspot.com. She is working on an on going project for Soldiers Angels. Go on over and take a look.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to have more oomph in me soon so I can work on some projects and post them next week. Until then, Have a great weekend! :O)