Tuesday, August 30, 2011

A Quick Craft

I like to use little tins as flower vases, but I took a different direction with this tin. I can never find a pen when I need one, so I decided to make a magnetic pen holder for the fridge:
I removed the top of the tin:
I glued on a heavy duty magnet:
Now, if I can keep a few pens in the tin, I will always know where to find one!

I will pick a winner soon!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Thinking of the holidays...

I have a list of things I want to try to make before December rolls around and life gets too hectic. I have seen some things in magazines, on blogs or in stores - and I also have "pinned" some clever ideas, too. Today I made a canvas cone to hold little treats- something I saw recently in a gift shop in Skaneateles, NY.

I started with a piece of canvas cut into a shape that would fold into a cone:
I painted both sides green with acrylic paint:
Then I painted a poinsettia and added a few polka dots:
I hot glued the canvas into a cone and added trim and a handle:
The trim has cute little buttons dangling:
And this is how it looked - ready to be filled with candy or a little present:
I think I will make a few in traditional Christmas colors to put on our neighbor's doors during the holidays!

Sharing this idea with :
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch
Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping It Simple
Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative
Making The World Cuter @ Making The World Cuter
Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle

Friday, August 26, 2011

Cereal Treat Bars GIVEAWAY...

My Blog Spark just sent me 2 varieties of General Mills/Betty Crocker Cereal Treat Bars :
These Treat Bars are really tasty and are a great "on the go" snack. My favorite are the Golden Grahams! These flavor-packed Cereal Treats Bars are sure to meet the `cool factor´ that kids demand. Check out Cereal Treats Bars online for great information and coupons for new products. Also, be sure to visit the Betty Crocker Facebook page and get involved in the conversation.They´d love to hear how your family enjoys Cereal Treats Bars!

As you begin to think of snacks to include in lunch boxes or for before/after school snacks, consider this:

  • Flavor varieties include the ever popular Golden Grahams® (130 calories) and new Lucky Charms® Treats (100 calories), loaded with popular favorites like chocolate and marshmallows. My favorite was the Golden Grahams!!

  • Cereal Treats Bars contain less than 140 calories per bar and are made with wholesome cereal, making them a snack option that you can feel good about giving your kids or for any afternoon pick me up for you!

  • TWO Box Tops for Education seals on each box of Cereal Treat Bars, making earning cash for your school doubly cool!
Along with the Treat Bars, I was given an insulated lunch bag, colored pencils and a white board/cork board:
    They are also supplying me with another gift pack to give to one of my readers. The giveaway winner´s prize pack will contain the same:
  • One box of Lucky Charms® Cereal Treats Bars
  • One box of Golden Grahams® Cereal Treats Bars
  • Lunch bag
  • Locker whiteboard
  • Colored pencil set
Want to win?
Leave a comment telling me what your favorite General Mills/Betty Crocker food is.
Follow me for a second chance - and tell me so
Brag about it on your blog - and tell me so
Visit the Betty Crocker Facebook page and tell me so

I will pick a winner on Wednesday (the day before school begins for me!!)

"Disclosure: Cereal Treats Bars, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark."

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Happy Anniversary to us

My husband and I have been married for 31 years!
And I have 2 beautiful bouquets of flowers to prove it!
He is retired and recently started delivering flowers for our local florist. She also sent us a bouquet of beautiful mixed flowers:
He has always given me white roses on our anniversary:
Here's to 31 more !

Monday, August 22, 2011

Red, White and Green...

My favorite summer dinner is very simple to prepare:
Angel hair pasta tossed with butter, crushed garlic and parmesiano reggiano cheese, topped with fresh roma tomatoes and lots of fresh basil. A side of fresh steamed green beans completes this colorful meal!
And this is what "tops it off":

Friday, August 19, 2011

Buffet Pockets

I made these little jute webbing pockets to make it easy to carry silverware and napkins for an outdoor buffet:

The inspiration came from here and I "pinned" it a few months ago:

I spent under $1.00 yd for the jute webbing:

I cut it into 18" pieces:

and folded it like this:

I hot-glued the tops first, then the bottoms:

I glued on a bow to finish them off - just add flatware and a napkin :

I can imagine these on a rustic Christmas table with greenery added to the front or for Thanksgiving with autumn leaves decorating the front.

This was a very easy, inexpensive and quick project!

Sharing this idea with:
Burlap Week@ Whisperwood Cottage

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

New Placemats...

Many, many years ago I bought these paper plates at MacKenzie-Childs. I never got around to using them because I almost always use real dinner plates. the other day I got lazy and used them when the family came to visit. I have always loved this old world map pattern:
Remember earlier in the week when I made new valances for my morning room?
Well I just bought some MacKenzie-Childs cork placemats to match -a similar pattern to the paper plates - for only $20.00!:
The old world European map in the center takes me to my dream of cruising the Mediterranean:
It has the "Buttercup" design around the edges, which matches my casserole. And as the tale goes, Victoria first painted this design on the wall of the farmhouse with her fingers!
In the center of the table I have an old Hall pitcher....
...with a fake fern:
Ahhh...the little things that make me happy!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Morning Room Curtains

Two years ago I made these valances for the bay windows in my morning room:
I had to seam the valances at each end because of the width of this window. This seam always bothered me because the daylight really highlighted it:
I recently bought fabric at the Stickley Furniture Sale to make new valances. This is how easy they are to make:
I cut the curved shape out of fabric and lining, about 1.5" wider than window. I stitched the fabrics together and clipped the edges around the curves - this is important! When I see pillows or other things people have sewn on-line, I cringe when they don't fall or hang properly. Clips, snips and pressing is so important in construction of any hand sewn items!
I turned the valances out and pressed them flat:
The trim can be sewn on, however I glue mine - this way I can reuse the trim when I take the valances down (this is the same trim that was on the old valances!) I adhere it with a glue gun:
I bought long thin slats of wood at Home Depot and they are cut the length of the windows (again, I am using the same slats, and you can see the nails are still in the wood) - this way I use the same holes already in the woodwork)
The top of the valances are stapled onto the wood with a regular stapler (because the wood it so thin).
The valances were then hammered back into the original holes:
BUT...then I thought they needed a "connection" to the draperies I made for the sliding glass door...
...so I added a coordinating stripe of drape fabric on the top of the valances:
Much better:
The 2 yds of fabric was only $5.00. I had the lining fabric, reused the wood and fringe - so this was a very thrifty makeover!

Stop by tomorrow to see how well my new MacKenzie-Childs placemats coordinate with the new valances!

Sharing this with:
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Thrifty Thursday @Tales From Bloggeritaville