I won an award!!

Liebster Award

Hi Everyone!  I won an award!  It's a  major award!!  And it's not a leg lamp!  (Sorry -- I could not resist that reference to my favorite Christmas Movie, A Christmas Story) Seriously -- I am honored to say that Rusty Heart Designs  @ http://rustyheartdesigns.blogspot.com has passed her Liebster Award along to me.  Liebster, in German, means endearing, valued, and lovely. The award acknowledges up and coming bloggers for outstanding accomplishments within design that is presented on their blog.

Here are the rules for accepting the award:

1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, and then
create 11 new questions for the chosen bloggers.
3. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.
4. Go back to their page and tell them about the award.
5. No tag backs.


11 Facts About Me:

I am a middle child.  (One older sister and one younger sister.)

I am a diabetic and have an insulin pump.

I love community involvement projects and once designed a community clean up campaign called "Get out of the funk and Clean up the Junk"  Lol.

I have been a scrapbooker for 20 years.

My idea of a perfect day is sitting in the swing with the sun shining and a stack of crafting magazines at my side.

I am a Christian and attend a Nazarene Church.

I  would love to retire somewhere on a lake.

My favorite flowers are buttercups and zinnias.

I love italian food.

I work in a law office.

I LOVE primitive crafts.

 

Here are the questions that The Rusty Heart asked of  me:

1. What do you do to get decorating inspiration?  I enjoy pinterest and visiting other blogs for inspiration.  I also enjoy being in nature and get inspiration from the natural things I find growing.
 
2. What are your favorite decor magazines?  I LOVE the Country Sampler magazine.  Although I don't have alot of primitive country decorations -- I still love them!
 
3. What are your favorite stores to buy pieces? I love antique and thrift stores.  My favorite is our local antique mall called Timeless Antiques.
 
4. Do you like to cook? and if so, what's your favorite dish? I get in the mood to cook on occasion.  I enjoy crock pot meals!  Easy and delicious.  But given the choice -- I'd rather be crafting than cooking anyday!

5. What seasons fall, spring, winter, or summer, do you enjoy decorating for? FALL!!  Without a doubt is my absolute favorite.  I love everything about it from the leaves turning, (all that red, yellow and orange) to pumpkins and Thanksgiving.
 
6. Do you like outdoor decorating or gardening at all? I enjoy outdoor decorating and I also enjoy using outdoor decorations inside!  I love planting flowers (zinnias are my favorite).  I created a fairy garden last summer and had so much fun doing it!  Pictures are posted on my blog :)

7. Is there a blog that you visit often that gives you inspiration?  I love visiting Sheila @ Note Songs.  She is a wonderful decorator and her posts are so inspiring.  We share a lot of the same "likes". 
 
8. Do you have a favorite color, and does it show in your home? I love earthy tones.  Mustard, burgundy, greens.  I have them in my kitchen and dining room.  Though I really went "out of my zone" this year with a blue bedroom! I love the mixture of blue, yellow and white so I went out on a limb and I really do like it.    
 
9. Do you have any pets? I have a wonderful tuxedo cat named Ace, 2 beautiful boxers in my backyard and an adorable 2 pound black Chi-Poo puppy that belongs to my youngest daughter, Hope. 
 
10. Do you like to go out or stay in on a Friday night? I enjoy staying home, ordering pizza, getting a fire going in the fireplace and crafting!

11. What room do you re-do the most often? My daughter's bedrooms.  Their taste in decor is constantly changing as they grow.  Of course, I only have my youngest left at home now.  The other 2 have flew the coop!  But I  enjoy helping them decorate their new apartments as they start out on their own.

Here are the 11 blogs that I chose to pass the award along to:  These are blogs that I enjoy following and I think you will too.  Please visit their sites and check them out!

Lori over @ http://www.applegrovetreasures.blogspot.com

Kristi over @  http://www.thankfulme.net

Angie over @ http://www.beneaththemagnolias.com 

Jenn over @ http://findingmysunshineinlife.blogspot.com

 Mary Beth over @ http://www.beingathomebynature.com

 Barb over @ http://barbscraps2.blogspot.com

Emily @  http://www.bluestarinkblog.com

Dee @  http://www.mikeandgabby.com

Linda @ http://www.paperseedlings.com/ 

Kristin @  http://kikiscraftkorner.blogspot.com 

Lynn @  http://lynnshomespuncountry.blogspot.com 

Rusty Hearts -- Thanks again for nominating me!


NOW  -- Here are MY questions for the 11 bloggers above that I have nominated.  Post this information on your blog for others to see.

1.  What is your description of a perfect day?

2.  What project have you done or created that you are most proud of?

3.  How long have you been blogging and what got you started?

4.  What is your favorite style of decor?

5.  Who or what gives you the most inspiration?

6.   What is your favorite season of the year?

7.  Who do you admire the most?

8.  What is your favorite blog to follow?

9.  Where is the most interesting place you have ever visited?

10. Describe your home decor.

11.  Do you enjoy outdoor activities?  Such as?

 

"Stampin Up!" with Kristi and Robin

Our "Stampin Up" group recently met and made 2 cards and an adorable Valentine 12 x 12 scrapbook page.  I wanted to share some pics from our Make and Take.  We always have so much fun and come away with some great ideas and new cards.  This month we even had an awesome door prize which was won by Thejuana Washington! (I must admit-- I was jealous!  Lol!)

Not sure why Thejuana is all "frowned" up!  She won the door prize!  Lol!

A "Shari Berry" Surprise!

Have you ever tried any of the berries from "Shari's Berries?"(http://www.berries.com/)  Well, my sweet and wonderful  husband sends me a dozen for Valentine's Day every year and they are delicious!  I got mine a day early this year and I just wanted to share them with you!  (Lol -- wish I really could.  Though I can be quite stingy with them!)

These are the instructions on the box -- Isn't that funny?

 

A Lovely Thrift Store Find

Hello friends!  While Hope and I were out on our "Saturday Scrounging" trip this past weekend; we found this pretty little heart wreath.  It looked so shabby chic and was priced just right at $2.00!  I brought it home and filled it up with some pretty dried roses and babies breath.   Another lucky find!  I just love thrift stores!  Don't you?

The "After"

The "Before"

Make your own Cloche

Cloche (or glass domes) are so popular  right now and I have became a little obsessed fond of them.  I have seen so many beautiful ones on pinterest and I can just see my easter table full of them with moss and little ceramic bunny rabbits in them.  I started my quest to find some affordable ones a few weeks ago.  I visited  my favorite store -- Hobby Lobby.  But even with my 40 percent off coupon; it was more than I wanted to spend.  Next, I tried the thrift stores.  No Luck there either.  So -- I set off to make my own.  Here is what I came up with:

I placed dried roses on a bed of moss in mine:)



You will need a tube of E-6000, a stand (or you can use a candlestick)  a small cup and saucer size plate and a small glass bowl  (dollar tree sells this size bowl).  Mine came from yard sales -- total cost --$1.50.  Put glue on the top of your candle stick or stand and place it on the bottom of the plate as shown below.



After placing the glue on the stand -- let it dry according to the directions on the tube.



After it has dried, (mine took about 45 minutes) flip it over and place whatever you would like to display on the plate and then cover with dome.  I added a lace bow to my stand.  The possibilites are endless.  I have seen tiny baby shoes, jewels, clocks and all kinds of things displayed in cloches.  Have fun and let me know if you make one!



A Nice Surprise at the End of the Day

I came home from work today and found this bag of goodies on my back porch!   I don't even know who left them but would sure like to find out.  I have been looking for some of these adorable little jewels to use on some of my craft projects.  Thanks to whoever left these!  They really put a smile on my face!  UPDATE:  I found out who left me these little treasures!  Thank you so much Brenda Welch!  You are a great friend and blog follower:)

Shabby chic Tussie Mussie

Hello friends!  I have been seeing alot of Valentine tussie mussies out there in blogland and I wanted to make one.  BUT when I got started it somehow turned into a wedding thing... well... you know what's on my mind.   Anyhow, I came up with something I think will be great for the bridesmaids to carry.  I put dried flowers in this one but for the wedding--we will have fresh flowers.  So.. what do you think?