4th of July -- Washi Tape Cup "NameTags" from Michelle Paige

As you all know, I have been gathering ideas for our Fourth of July BBQ.  I saw this really neat idea @ http://www.michellepaigeblog.com/2013/06/washi-tape-cup-markers.html.  Isn't that just great?  I ordered me some patriotic washi tape from Amazon and picked up my cups at WalMart this morning.  Can't wait to make these!

                          

I made one of "Mandy's Picks" at Sugar Bee Crafts! Yeah!!

Hello friends!  I am so excited!  I made one of "Mandy's Picks" over @ Sugar Bee Crafts!  She has a great blog and lots of wonderful followers.  I was so excited to see she featured my Patriotic Pennant as one of her picks this week.  Click on over and see all the really neat things she featured!
http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2013/06/showing-off-my-picks_26.html

How to sew a Pennant

Hello friends!  I hope your week has been a good one.  Well.. I finished sewing my patriotic pennant!  I used material that I had in my stash.  (who knows where it all came from????)   This pennant will  be perfect for our 4th of July BBQ.  I like it SO much that I think I am going to do another one very soon.  It was so easy.  I have added a tutorial so you can make one for yourself.  Hope you like it too!

 

 

 

 

 

First, gather your fabrics and make a pennant pattern from cardstock.   There are lots of patterns online free to print out.   If you have a cutting board and some rotary scissors -- grab them. 

 

Next, lay your fabric printed sides together (make it wide enough for pennant to fit)  and put your template with one side on the straight edge.

 

Using your scissors, cut the pennant out.  Leave it folded with right sides together.  If you don't have rotary scissors; just trace on the pattern and cut it out.  Cut as many as you like from your fabric. 

 

Next, iron all  the pennants with right sides together until you get them nice and flat. (this will make your sewing much easier)

Now.. sew each of your pennants  together closing up the open side  (still with right sides together).  Turn pennants back right side out.  Iron them again till you get the perfect triangle shape.   Okay.. now lay out your pennants  in the order you want   to sew them.  Measure to see how much ribbon you will need for the top and ties.   I used a very wide white ribbon and pressed it down the middle with my iron.  I then laid out my pennants across the floor and pinned them with the ribbon on the front and back side of the pennant. Next, sew  across the bottom of the ribbon.  (Hint -- watch your pennants to make sure they don't slide out so you are sure to sew both sides. )   Leave enough ribbon at the end so you can have room to tie.  (or make a loop if you plan to hang it on a nail.)  And that's it....   See  -- it's sew easy!

 

 

    

 

Fabric Pennants -- I am in love!

Fabric pennants are all the rage now.  I just love them!  I plan to make one for our Fourth of July BBQ picnic.  I already have my fabric picked out from my ever growing stash.  I can't wait to get started!  In the  meantime.. here are some that I found on pinterest that are my favorites.  If you have made one -- please leave a link and share it with us!

 

 

Thanks for visiting.  I hope to see some of your pennants too!

 

 

"Great Mom" challenge from "The Pink Lab"

Oh my.. Heather over at http://thepinklab.blogspot.com/2013/05/10-reasons-im-great-mom-challenge.html  has challenged me to list 10 reasons why I think I'm a great mom.  Why didn't she just ask me to build a life size Statue of Liberty with toothpicks?  Seriously.... this is not easy for me to do because some days I feel like a terrible mom.  I am sure we all feel that way sometimes.  But I am going to try to think positive and list some things that my children have mentioned that they like about me.

1.  I believe in having fun and sometimes "breaking the rules"  in order to make memories.

2.  I like to make every road trip an adventure.  Half the fun of going somewhere is what you find along the way.

3.  I pray for and with my children  daily.

4.  I cook their favorite foods and snacks for them.

5.  I have taught them all how to be creative.  My oldest daughter enjoys quilting, sewing, painting, and re-finishing furniture.  My middle daughter loves nature and anything and everything home made.  She plans to get her degree in Environmental Engineering.  She is my tree -hugger!   My youngest  daughter paints, loves to bake desserts, and enjoys digital design. 

6.  I go the extra mile to help them achieve their goals and plans in life.

7.  I listen to their problems and TRY to keep my mouth shut with my opinions.

8.  I have taught my children to love books.

9.  Our family is involved in church activities.  I took my children to Sunday School, church,  every Bible School at church and taught them to be helpers when they were too old to attend. (well .. not just ME.  My husband had a hand in this too:)  We still enjoy participation in VBS every year.

10. I stayed at home with my children when they were young.  My sweet husband worked hard to make this happen.  We spent lots of time together doing creative and fun things.  Gardening, baking, craft making, going to library programs,  picnics, swimming, watching favorite cartoons and just discovering life together.

I hope this does not sound like I am bragging.  Heather was sweet to ask me to participate and I did not want to let her down.  Now that I have wrote down these things.. I do feel like a great mom!  Wow!  Maybe I have done a pretty good job!  Lol!  Heather would like to see this challenge continue.. so why don't you grab the icon and take the challenge too?   You might be like me and come up with some pretty good reasons why you are a great mom!  Thanks for the challenge, Heather!

 

Chevron paper, chevron clothes, now Chevron toes!

Chevron prints are all the rage now.  Everywhere I look I see chevron prints on scrapbook papers, phone covers, fabric and clothes.  So why not on your toes?   My toes are now "beach ready".  Too bad I don't have a beach trip planned:(  I guess I will just have to show them off by the pool. 

 

 

 

 

 

To make your own Chevron print toes.. Just pick your color,paint your toes and let them dry, get a nail polish art pen and zig zag across. Have fun!  Thanks for visiting!

 

 

Thrift Store Window Decorating Challenge

Hello again, friends.  This has been a fast week for me.  And I am SO glad the weekend is here.  I thought I would share with you one of my recent challenges --a Thrift Store Window.  Our local Humane Society opened up a thrift store named "The Miserly Mutt" in Downtown West Point.  It's located next door to where I work and I volunteered to decorate the front windows.  I used large cans and spray painted them red.  Next, I cut out letters from scrapbook paper using my circuit and then I made a pennant with the matching papers.  I also made some paper flowers to place in the cans on both ends.  I really had fun decorating and it was a new challenge for me!  I look forward to changing the window with the seasons.  Hope you like it:)   

 

 

 

By the way.. I really want those birdhouses in the window.  They are SO adorable:)

 

1960's Faux fountain updo

Hello friends!  Remember how I told you that I went thrift store shopping with my sister last weekend?  Well.. here is one of my wonderful finds.  It is a 2 piece faux fountain probably made back in the 1960's or 1970's.  It is really heavy and when I saw first laid eyes on it -- it was an ugly avocado green color with gold accents.  It had a price tag of $1.50.  I was like, "oh yeah... that's for me!"  I have been looking for something to hang on the privacy fence.  I brought it home and the hubby spray painted it this rust color and hung it up for me.   I plan to plant some ivy in it very soon, but I just stuck this artificial greenery in  so I could go ahead and show you all.

 

 

Faux Fountain on the Privacy Fence

 

Before the greenery..

 

 

This was the original color.  Sorry.. but I just couldn't deal with the gold gilding.

 

 

Thanks for dropping by to see me.  Have a great week!

 

Burlap Pillows from RaeAnna

A few weeks ago I posted a link to a huge giveaway by lots of  different bloggers.  And can you believe I was one of the  winners???  I won these 2 burlap pillows from RaeAnna over @ http://sewingmamaraeanna.blogspot.com/.  She let me choose which letters I wanted monogrammed on them.  They are so darling!  I can't decide where to display them.  Thanks so much, RaeAnna!  I love them.  Don't you?

 

 

 

 

"Hope" Card

Hello friends!  I hope you all had a weekend as great as mine.  I went to visit my sister and we  had such fun!  We went Thrift Store shopping on Friday and to yard sales on Saturday!  I will be showing you some of my terrific finds soon.  Today, I wanted to share with you my "Hope Card".  I have several friends who are going through tough times.  I wanted to make an encouraging card for them.  It's very simple but something about it seems peaceful.  And that's what I wish for them during their difficult times.  Peace.   I hope you like it!  Have a great day!

2013 Summer Deck Decor

Hello friends!  I have been working hard to get our summer deck ready for some r and r.  We have an above ground pool with a deck that surrounds one side of it (my sweet husband built it for us!).  We all love spending time on the deck -- either napping in the hammock, eating, reading, bird watching, sun bathing or just listening to music.  It has a great shady area which is  provided by our popcorn tree (which can be quite messy in the fall). This year, I decided I  wanted a "pop" of color on the deck.  I choose to go with red and orange.  My nephew works in the produce department and was able to get me some crates to use for a variety of things.  I made a couple of signs with the tops of the crates and  used some of them as side tables for drinks and magazines.  I took my old plastic pots and planters (that were clay colored originally) and spray painted them orange and red.  I planted some flowers in them and it really turned out nice.  I hung my hummingbird feeders closer to the deck and I think they like all the color too!   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for dropping by.  Now I am going to sit out on my deck and enjoy this nice breeze.  I am sure I won't be out there long though... I hear a storm coming.  Have a great evening!

 

 

Baby boy Scrapbook Mini Album

I really enjoy making mini scrapbooks.  It has been quite awhile since I had an occasion to make  one.  My daughter has a friend who is having a baby.  She asked me to make a book for her.  So.. I put this little one together.  She wanted something different and not too "baby" looking.   Here is what I came up with.  Hope you enjoy looking at it. 

 

 

 

Thanks for dropping by.  See you soon!