Daily Chrysalis

Before and Afters...

2012-01-19T20:31:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share some thrift store items I redid over the last few months...I think you'll agree that the "Befores" are a little scary!

Letter Sorter: BEFORE

I knew this metal letter sorter had potential~ but man, was it rough!

AFTER:
I sanded and painted and distressed this thing until I could no more!

Now I love it! (And it's for sale...)

The next specimens are these adorable owls. Ok, so they're stuck in the 70's, but not for long!

BEFORE:

(Still BEFORE!)

AFTER: Whooooo you calling stuck in the 70's?

I just love how these all turned out!

I was tempted to keep them & add them to my daughter's woodland/owl themed room...but I put them in the local shop where I consign some stuff & they're for sale! (A few of them in these photos are sold.)

That's all for now! I had fun turning trash into treasure.

DIY Burlap Football

2012-01-13T21:53:00.000-08:00

Back in September, I made this burlap football hanging that I saw on Pinterest (of course!) I already had all the supplies on hand and it was a quick & easy project.

1. I drew a football shape onto some newspaper to use as a pattern. Then I cut 2 of the football shapes out of burlap using the pattern.

2. I sketched my words & details out in chalk first, then painted over the chalk with acrylic paint & added some glitter~because everything's better with glitter.

3. I then cut some various ribbon that I had in my stash to hang it from.

4. As the tutorial on Pinterest suggested, stapled it shut almost all the way around and I packed the football full of stuffing (I used a couple of black trash bags) and finished stapling it shut.

Well, after a few days, the weight proved to be too much for the staples and I handed it over to my Mom, who sewed bias tape around the football for me! It looks more "finished" now & will hold up much better.

She then asked me to make her one! And so I did! :)

Ribbon Wreaths

2011-11-15T19:29:00.000-08:00

If you've visited my business blog, Fiddlesticks Art & More, then you've seen these ribbon wreaths I've been making. I just also wanted to share them here since this is where I share all the crafty things I've made.

Here are some AR Razorback themed wreaths I made:

The first one I ever made was for my daughter's door. The colors match her room.

She likes it!

Peacock Wedding Signs

2011-11-13T18:59:00.000-08:00

My sister got married in September (on 9-10-11!) and had a spectacular peacock theme. She made most of the decorations herself, but she asked me to make the table signs and a sign for outside the reception door.

I forgot to take pictures of all of them after I made them :( but these are from the reception. Each table had a special name that was significant to the couple and the story explaining the name was on the back of the table sign. They were all quite humorous!

I think they turned out pretty and I was glad to have a small hand in helping to decorate!

Owl-Themed Birthday Table & Food

2011-11-12T08:20:00.001-08:00

This is the last post about my daughter's owl-themed 1st birthday party...I've shared lots of little projects that I made to set the theme, but I wanted to show the table decor, cake, food, and even a few of the birthday girl!

The table~I covered it with a pink disposable plastic tablecloth and then put chocolate brown burlap scrunched up on top. I spray painted the pine cones pink. The party was in early September and I was going for a full-on Fall feeling!

The cake turned out great! I didn't make it--I bought it!

Pink punch: Raspberry sherbet, ginger ale, & pineapple juice. Simple & yummy.

Happy Birthday!

I made a big crockpot of chili and a baked potato bar. I must say, the food was good!

One last little trick I learned on Pinterest...I wrapped the water bottles with patterned Duck (duct) Tape! They looked so cute!

Yummy Party Favors

2011-10-24T19:43:00.000-07:00

Since the guests at my daughter's first birthday party were mostly adults, I had to forgo the little favor bags filled with cheap plastic dollar-spot toys we usually give out. (Hey, the 5 & under crowd love those!)
So I opted to make some cute snack food items for them to take home. I had them ready to go on trays and brought them out at the end of the party.

I made the Fall Snack Mix that my family loves and packaged it in these little boxes I found at Hobby Lobby. (They are like mini collapsible popcorn boxes) They were too plain looking, so of course I had to decorate them. I used a scalloped circle punch on some scrapbook paper, stamped a "1" on it, and stapled on a loop of ribbon and a felt flower. I put the boxes inside a cellophane bag & tied it with a tulle bow.

I also made these jumbo marshmallows by pushing a lollipop stick into them & dipping them in chocolate & adding shaped sprinkles. I let them dry & then packaged them up!
I bought these polka-dot paper sacks (also at Hobby Lobby) and made a digital scrapbook image on CropMom with my daughter's photo on it. I printed them on cardstock, cut them out & adhered them to the bags for everyone to take their favors home in.

It WAS a hoot and I think everyone enjoyed the favors!

12 Month Photo Banner & High Chair Banner

2011-10-17T20:00:00.001-07:00

Continuing on with my daughter's birthday party DIY decorations...

I couldn't find a cute fabric banner that matched her party theme, so I decided to make it. I bought pieces of felt (they're cheap-usually 4/$1-and also sturdy) and cut them into 12 triangles-one for each month of my daughter's 1st year. I hot glued on ric-rac around the edges. I then hot glued the triangles to a pink & white nylon clothesline I bought at the dollar store a while back. I tied a tulle bow in between each triangle. That part was ready to go...

I hopped on the computer & found a favorite photo of my daughter from each month of her first year and printed them. I used a circle cutter to crop them. Then I ran into some trouble...I though that "Zots" glue dots would hold the photos to the felt, but alas, they would NOT stay for long! So I ended up using velco tabs-one on the back of the photo & one on the front of the felt triangle to stick them together. After the party, I removed the photos and now I'm able to use the banner for other occasions, so it worked out!
Note: I ran out of time (and energy!) but you could also number each photo or title them "1 Month", etc. I opted to just tell my guests. :)

Here it is, on the mantel:

I made another, smaller banner to go around her high chair. I measured first to make sure how many triangles would fit, and made the banner in the same way. I cut out a number "1" and glued it to the front. I used velcro circle tabs to attach the banner to her tray.

I think she liked it!

Outside Arrangement for Birthday Party

2011-10-17T19:42:00.000-07:00

Before my daughter's birthday party, I already had the wall bucket with the "grass" (it's actually plastic-and admittedly a little out of control!) hung by my front door. I simply made a few things to embellish it to welcome our guests to the party...
The first was a letter "M" that I bought at Hobby Lobby. I painted it with polka dots and later came back & added glitter around the polka dots...because, like I always say, everything's better with glitter!

Before glitter:

After glitter:

Then, I tied a bow & hot glued it onto this little premade wooden owl from HobLob. I painted a kabob stick (found in my kitchen drawer!) and glued it to the back of the owl to make a pick.

I added ribbon to the "M" to hang it...

...and made a big bow out of deco mesh. I think it added a nice touch to the entryway.

Semi-Homemade Party Decorations

2011-10-11T20:28:00.000-07:00

For my daughter's owl-themed first birthday party last month, I bought some inexpensive party decorations & modified them to fit the theme of the party. I found this set of 3 paper lanterns at Hobby Lobby and cut scrapbook paper into wings, a brow, a beak, and circles around large googly eyes to make the largest one an owl. I used removable adhesive so that after the party, I simply removed the owl parts & I can reuse the lanterns for other occasions.

I found the table centerpiece (in the top picture) in the clearance section for $1. The colors were right but it had a toile scene on it, so I covered the scene with some scrapbook paper and owls that I cut out from an extra party invitation.

Here it is on one of the guest tables:

These decorations turned out much cheaper--but just as cute--as if I had bought them pre-made!

Easy DIY Felt Owls

2011-10-09T19:30:00.000-07:00

I made these 2 owls as a decoration for my daughter's first birthday party. (The next few posts will all be about things I made for her party, so stay tuned!) They're super easy to make...

Supplies:
2 Styrofoam balls (I made 1 big & 1 little)
Sheets of felt--in however many colors you want for the feathers
Large googly eyes
Hot glue
Scissors

I started by cutting out a feather shape & then used it as a template for all the other feathers. You can trace them onto the felt before you cut, if you wish. I just cut several of each color until I felt it was about enough. (Sorry, I didn't count them.)

I cut out 2 slightly larger pieces to be the wings. I used a patterned felt so they would stand out a little more. I also cut one end straight, not pointed.

Then, I cut out the weird shape to go around the eyes (the chocolate brown pieces in the pics below) and then some circles for the googly eyes to be glued onto.

Finally, I folded one of the "feathers" in half to be the beak.

I started gluing the "feathers" from top to bottom on the ball, alternating colors.

Large owl

Small owl

Then I glued on the wings, eye pieces, googly eyes and beaks...

Tah-da! 2 little felt owls, just sitting around enjoying the party. These would be super cute in Fall colors, sitting around pumpkins & such!

"Fang-Tastic" Halloween Favors

2011-10-05T21:55:00.000-07:00

I owe this idea to Pinterest. I wanted to send a little something to school with my son to pass out for Halloween, but wasn't sure about handing out candy and also didn't want to spend much money. Then I remembered an idea were you print a cute saying, (I used "Hope you have a 'Fang-Tastic' Halloween!" And signed my son's name)then cut it out & staple it around some plastic fangs! Too cute & perfect for Kindergarteners. They were a hit!

Personalized Pumpkins

2011-10-03T21:41:00.000-07:00

My kids have the traditional orange plastic pumpkins that I had when I was a kid, and that's how I like it. Don't get me wrong--I love the latest crop of fashionable buckets & pails, and whatnot-- but for me it's all about the tradition. The kids' pumpkins didn't present a problem for me until this year, since it's only my daughter's second Halloween and last year she was just over 1 month old! I was wondering how they weren't going to get the pumpkins mixed up. And then, I thought "DUH!"

So I cut their names out on the Cricut to personalize them! I wished I had black vinyl, but the chocolate brown worked fine...until I ran out of it after finishing Madelyn's pumpkin! So I resorted the the only other color I had, green. It worked out fine, but I may redo it in the future because it does bug me a little. Ok, a lot! ;)

Then I got crazy & tied lots of ribbons from my daughter's handle. Tried on my son's & it just looked too girly for me. He agreed! So, I'm happy with them because now they are "updated traditional!"

Scrapbook Frenzy~Part 2

2011-09-27T19:35:00.001-07:00

Here are the other 10 layouts I made a few months ago when I challenged myself to see how many layouts I could get done in 1 week...

Family Night

New Year's Day

Grandpa

Party At My Crib

Gymboree

Cousins

Watch Out for Leprechauns

Valentine's Day

Playing in his Jammies Cutie Cousins

That's all of them! I need to challenge myself to do this each month...They aren't all great, but they are all DONE!

I'm linking up here:

I was featured!

Scrapbook Frenzy~Part 1

2011-09-13T18:49:00.000-07:00

Back in July, I challenged myself to get scrapping again! I was finally in the mood so I gathered all the supplies I thought I'd need (which was quite a few!) and got busy making layout after layout every night for one week. I wanted to see how many I could complete by the end of the week. Well, I got to 20! Some are 1 pagers and some are 2 pagers. Some are pretty basic, but I was going for quantity, not necessarily quality. I love some of them, and some are just ok. I tried to remind myself that even "ok" layouts are DONE layouts!

It's been hard to stay scrapping with 2 kids and especially since sweet baby #2's closet is my scrapbook nook! All my supplies are held hostage each night as she sleeps (unless I think ahead & get out what I need ahead of time. Which rarely happens!) I'm one of those who has to (pretty much) scrap in chronological order, so I worked on layouts with pictures from late 2007 to 2008, which is where I currently am. Yes, that far back! It was fun to see my son as a toddler in the photos, all the while longing to create some girly pages of my daughter...all in due time! ;)

Disclaimer: These photos are not the greatest! Some are glarey and I didn't bother cropping them--but I still wanted to share my accomplishment. (Remember, you can click on the photo to see it enlarged.) Maybe I should make this a monthly challenge to myself??

Here's the first 10 layouts:

My Sassy Sister

Unwrapping

Too Sleepy To Smile

Learning to Color

Finger Foods

Decked (as in for Christmas!)

Family Fun

Time Flies

Read to Me

Stay tuned for the other 10 layouts....

I was featured! Go check it out on Scrappy Gifts:

Sharing this post here:

Sand Art

2011-09-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

This Summer, my son turned 5 and we threw him a Scooby Doo birthday party. It was the first party in which he invited some friends from preschool, so in addition to a game, I wanted to have an activity/craft for the kids to do and be able to take it home. I thought that making sand art would be both fun and fit the bright colored 70's theme of the party. It was a hit!

I set up the table in the backyard (didn't want sand in my house!), covered it with a plastic tablecloth and set up all the supplies. The kids did the rest!

The dog bone sign was for Scooby Doo~it looks kinda of out of place in these pictures without seeing the rest of the party LOL!

I made up an example sand art and had it on the table. I just put all the containers in a bowl in the middle so the kids could pick which shape they wanted.

Supplies Needed:

Colored Sand (I got 7 different colors)
Small funnels (1 for each child)
plastic (or glass) containers with lids (1-2 for each child)
spoons (to scoop sand into funnel)

All of the sand art supplies (sand, funnels, & plastic containers) are found together on a craft aisle at Hobby Lobby)

Madelyn's Annual Handprint~Year 1!

2011-09-13T09:37:00.001-07:00

My son has a nice collection of 5 of these now (see previous post) and it's now my daughter's turn to start her handprint tradition, since she just turned One!

I went with light pink on pearlescent hot pink paint. I use a metallic silver marker to write her name, age, and the date (which is on the side.)

She moved (who knew) so her face is a little blurry

Checkin it out

I hung it over her dresser-I'll have to move it in the future when she gets more.

Mason's Annual Handprint~Year 5

2011-09-11T22:00:00.001-07:00

You know the drill by now...Each year on his birthday, I paint Mason's hand and put it on a little painted canvas. I'm so thrilled we started this tradition because it's fun art for his room that is also a great keepsake that shows how much he's grown over the years! This year I chose charcoal grey & yellow paint.

Here are all the other year's posts, if you care to check those out:

2010

2009

2007 and 2008

The canvases will get bigger & bigger! *sniff*
Next post: Madelyn's FIRST handprint canvas!!!

DIY Balloon Wreath

2011-08-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

I've seen many versions of this type of wreath lately and since my son's birthday was last month, I decided I needed to make one before his party! I plan to use it for all of our family birthdays. I can change out the "M" if I want, although our last name also starts with "M", so it will work either way.

There are many tutorials out there, but here's my (fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants) version:

Supplies:
Straw wreath (or foam)
Floral pins (I bought the 1 lb. bag & will be using them for the rest of my life!)
Balloons (I bought 2 bags of 72 each & used about 3/4 of them)
Ribbon (wider makes it easier)
Fuzzy pipe cleaners (Optional)
Large painted wooden letter (Optional)

I used the straw wreath I bought at a thrift store a while back for 30 cents! I wish it was actually a little larger in size, but hey...you can't really argue with 30 cents. I left the plastic wrap on the straw to keep it contained.

Here's where I went wrong. Instead of first wrapping the entire wreath with ribbon, I started by pinning on balloons. See, I thought I was going to put balloons around the entire wreath, thus not needing any ribbon. Well, once I started out I decided that it would look better with about 3/4 of the wreath covered with balloons. So I wrapped the ribbon on the remaining part of the wreath & tried to cover the ends with balloons.

Carrying on...I thought it looked kind of plain, so I wrapped some colorful pipe cleaners around a pen to make them spirals, grouped them & glued them on. I then painted the whimsical wooden "M". I painted the edges yellow to try to make the letter stand out better. (Still wish it stood out more.) Then I tried hot gluing the letter to the balloons. Note to self: (and to you): Hot glue does not stick to balloons. At least it didn't for me. I tried another type of glue with no luck. I finally tied the letter on with a piece of red pipe cleaner. At least this way it's removable & I can use other letters or numbers if I want. So that ended up working out.

Here's how it turned out:

Thrift Store Cross Redo

2011-07-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

I had been on the lookout for a cross for my guest bathroom to complete a grouping of three on a small wall. You might remember when I made the Crown Plate for this wall. I decided I wanted three of my favorite things there: A Fleur de Lis, a Crown, and a Cross. I bought this metal cross for $1 about a month ago at a thrift store. I knew I could alter it into something I'd like for that space.

BEFORE (front):

BEFORE (back):
I removed the hanger on the top, the metal jump rings on the bottom (that obviously used to dangle something) and the heart from the front of the cross. I just flipped it over to use the back. The blue matches my bathroom really well (unlike in this picture) and I liked the chippy/distressed edges, so no need to paint it!

I did, however use a fleur de lis stamp & randomly stamped chocolate brown scrolly swirls of paint on top of the blue paint.
It still looked plain to me, and a little unfinished, so I decided to trace the scrolls with some copper colored glitter paint. (I love me some glitter!)

I then dug around to find another embellishment & remembered that I had an old crystal off a chandelier. I took it apart & dangled the two smaller glass "crystals" from the bottom holes & (after painting a big blob of the glitter paint in the center to show through) I glued the largest glass "crystal" to the center of the cross. I glued a hanger onto the back & hung it up in the arrangement...
Here she is! A little classy & a little artsy-fartsy. I think I'll keep her!

Mini Framed "Button Owl" Project

2011-07-24T22:46:00.000-07:00

I really struggled at what to call this object that I made! It's a redo, a frame, an owl made of buttons, a hair-bow-organizer-topper thing! You'll see...

First, my mom's friend gave her this little metal frame with this red velvet fabric in it that had formerly held a brooch pin. Then my mom gave it to me! (Yea!!!)

I immediately saw the potential & went to work. I keep all of my daughter's hair bows clipped on a french memo board behind her door in her room. They're accessable but out of the way. Well, she has recently been wearing smaller clip-style bows in her fine baby hair & I really needed a way to organize them as well where I could see them all & easily get one. (but alas, the memo board was pretty full already!)

So, I decided to alter the mini frame & use it as a topper for a ribbon that would hold all the little bows. Of course I broke out the Krylon "Watermelon" that I've used to spray many other things in my daughter's room...

Then I cut some chocolate brown knit fabric from an old onesie to cover the red velvet. I thought about removing it, but thought I might like it to just stay under there! I saw that the velvet had just been taped on, so I did the same. If I ever want to change it out, this way it will be easy.

Here's what the back & front looked like at this point:

I then decided to try to make an owl (to match the room's woodland animal theme that happens to be heavy on owls) with buttons. This took a little tweaking to get it to look right. When I was finally happy with it, I hot glued the buttons on. (I don't sew & this was super fast & easy)I then used wide clear tape (classy, I know) to tape a long, wide ribbon onto the back. (Can also be easily changed in the future, if needed.)

I squeezed it in on the wall right next to the French memo board & clipped all the little bows on!
I even sprayed the nail head with paint since it was showing...
Finished!

Rockets & Clothespins (2 quick projects)

2011-07-21T22:31:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share 2 quick projects with you...

My 5 year old and I made these 4th of July rockets a few days before the holiday. I'd seen many other blog posts about them & thought it'd be a good project for us. I won't go into a tutorial but there are many out there floating around the blogosphere if you search. Basic supplies are cardboard toilet paper tubes, scrapbook paper, ribbon & adhesive. I was pleased with how well my son did on these & found it hard to tell which ones were his & which ones were mine! (Can you tell?)

I never ended up getting them hung with clear fishing line, but they sure will look cute for next year! ;)

I use clothespins to clip & organize paperwork, etc. so while watching tv one night, I broke out the glitter pens & went to town glitterizing some for myself...

...and for my Mom. I think they look better in person. I heart glitter!

"Bye-Bye Tree" Scrapbook Layout

2011-07-16T21:45:00.000-07:00

I'm scrapbooking out of order these days, which not-so-secretly drives me nuts! I'm just trying to get some layouts done in my "spare" time, so I'll pull out whatever topic inspires me at the time. A few weeks ago, I pulled out these pictures of when my son was 18 months old. (He just turned 5 years!! And yes, his hair is crazy in these pics!) Hope you're in the mood for a Christmas layout!

We were boxing up the Christmas tree after all the holiday festivities were over, and he was a little sad about it--until we put him inside the box, too.

To make this layout I used 4 photos, a piece of 12x12 patterned scrapbook paper, part of a cardboard box that I tore into the shape I needed, some baker's twine, some pearlescent green paper that I hand cut the little trees out of, letter stickers, and a little bit o'bling! It went pretty fast, which is good since I'm several YEARS behind! lol

Personalizing with Vinyl

2011-07-14T22:07:00.000-07:00

This "project" (if you can even call it that) literally took 10 minutes from start to finish! I used my Cricut machine to cut the vinyl.

I kept wanting to label my daughter's metal bin that holds her headbands, but wasn't sure what I wanted it to say. I didn't want to limit the use of it in the future, so I finally decided just to make a big "M" for her name. Then of course, I decided the other metal bucket in her room also needed an "M"! I love how they turned out & especially the font.

(BEFORE) Much cuter now, huh?

Tissue Box Cover Redo-Thrifty Find

2011-07-10T21:19:00.000-07:00

I posted a few weeks ago how I had found this vintage metal tissue box cover (right) at Helping Hands for $1. It was worn gold and needed some spray paint love to match my bathroom. For a second, I came really close to spraying it Watermelon & adding it to my daughter's room with a ribbon woven through it...but then I've been needing/wanting a tissue box cover in my guest bathroom, so I thought I'd better at least try it in there first! (I can always change it later.)

(I haven't figured out what I'm doing with that wall bucket yet...)

BEFORE
AFTER--I used Hammered Metal in brownTah-Dah! A super cheap & fast project--Done!

Fast, Cheap & Easy Frame Redo!

2011-06-24T20:19:00.000-07:00

I found this ornate 5x7 frame at the thrift store for 50 cents...

Popped out the glass....
Sprayed it with my fave Krylon "Watermelon" gloss that matches all the other stuff in my daughter's room...
Let it dry, printed a pic off the computer, and tah dah!! A cute new pink frame (with a cute little girl in it!)

Homemade Cilantro-Lime Salsa

2011-06-23T19:34:00.001-07:00

While on a mission to make something summery & fresh to eat a few weeks ago, I decided to fly by the seat of my pants & make some fresh salsa. Man, was it good! (shameless brag) I have since made it again!

Ingredients:
3 large tomatoes
1 bundle of cilantro
1 lime
1 small container of chopped green onions (or chop 1 small bundle, if you're not as lazy as I am)
Salt to taste

I used my electric Black & Decker Handy Chopper (love it!) to chop the green onion up a little more...(sorry for the blurry pic.)

Then, after cutting off the stems, I chopped the whole bunch of cilantro. I LOVE cilantro!Next, I chopped all 3 tomatoes into a chunky puree...
I rolled the lime to release the juice inside, then cut 1 end off & squeezed all the juice into the mixture. I added salt & mixed it all up.

Then, we ate it with tortilla chips...
...and put it on our carne asada soft tacos!

The first time I made this salsa, we had it with chips & on top of grilled chicken breasts. YUM! Enjoy.

More Thrifty Finds!

2011-06-22T13:37:00.001-07:00

Over the last 3 weeks, I've made 3 trips to 2 different local thrift stores. I'll admit that I simply cannot stop buying cute clothes for my baby girl! She outgrows them so fast that she is usually in constant need of new outfits anyway. I try to find clothes for my son, but it's a lot harder to find quality used boys clothes (especially in his size) for some reason.

Here are the clothes I found: (each was $3 or less)

I also found a floral bucket ($1.50) & a tissue box cover ($1~will post the redo of this soon)

I was amazed to find these Southern Living at Home decor items!

The tray & the King Street Trio glass vase set were each $5. (My mom bought those from me)

The small Rosedale planter with the 4 Jamestown votive holders was just $1. (I used to be a consultant!)
A pair of shorts, brand new flip-flops & a few children's books for my son ($5 total)...

A glass cutting board that matches my kitchen ($1) and 2 frames ($2 for both)A straw wreath & 3 zippers for craft projects (total 40 cents!)
This concludes the tour of great thrift store bargains! (Until next time!)

DIY Fresh Fruit Arrangement

2011-06-15T19:59:00.000-07:00

So we've all seen those wonderfully beautiful arrangements of fresh fruit in a great container that you can pay an arm & a leg for to give as a gift, right? Well, a few years ago, I decided that I'd just make my own! I needed an original, healthy Father's Day gift and I thought this would be a big surprise. (Dad loved it btw) Luckily, I took pictures of the process to share~but I'm just now remembering to share them!

Supplies needed:

Lots of fresh fruit
(I used strawberries, grapes, pineapple, honeydew melon, & cantaloupe. I even cheated & bought the pre-cut tray of fruits at the grocery store! This doesn't have to be time-consuming!)

Note: Try to steer clear of mushy fruits that won't want to stay up on the skewers or fruit like bananas and apples that will immediately turn brown.

Fruit Dip (optional)
I snagged a pack of Marzetti's chocolate dip in the produce section)

Bamboo skewers

A container of your choice

Weights to hold container
I used those glass decorative things--just poured them in & it added enough to hold the container up against the weight of the fruit.

A piece of styrofoam (you can cut it to fit your container)

Cookie cutters, sharp knife, cutting board

Directions:
1. Start by weighting your container. Then add styrofoam on top. I filled in around the sides of the styrofoam with the weights as well.

2. Alternate fruit pieces on the skewers, leaving enough room at the bottom to stick it into the styrofoam.

3. Cut some fruit into shapes using the cookie cutters (or freehand it with your knife, if you're feeling it.)

4. I covered the styrofoam with something so that the fruit didn't touch it, but honestly, I cannot remember what! Sorry...like I said, I made this a few years ago.

That's it. Present it with pride, knowing that you paid half the price and you made it yourself!

Scrapping here & there...

2011-05-23T20:27:00.001-07:00

Well, I have not been keeping up with scrapbooking at least 1 layout a week, but maybe 1 a month! Which I guess is still better than Zero.

I made this one recently about my son's favorite toys when he was 19 months old. He's now almost 5 years!

Man, am I glad I took the time to lay out his toys and take these pictures back then!! I need to do it again now that he's older & into different things.

It's like a time capsule of his childhood & helps me remember the little things...

I used bright colors to reflect the "fun" of the toys, but put the photos & title in straight lines to give the layout some order since the subject matter was so "busy." I used my old-school Dymo labeler to label the top corner of each picture. One layout down, a million more to go!

Linking up here:

This post was featured:

Latest Thrifty Finds

2011-05-22T22:00:00.000-07:00

My latest finds from a visit to Helping Hands last week...

2 11x14 wood frames (to spray for a project), a Mary Engelbreit ceramic hinged Limoges box, 2 golden books, a super cute cloth activity book that zips up and has a handle. Is my daughter's name Olivia? No. Do I care? No! :)

Here's a look inside the cloth activity book~

It's so cute! Can you believe this was 50 cents? Well, it was.

And here's the Mary Englebriet hinged box in the month of September--my daughter's birth month! Did I mention it was $1?

3 tops, 2 skirts & 2 dresses, all for my baby girl. One is Gymboree-score!

And I wore these heels last weekend at my niece's Graduation! I was on the look out for a pair this color to match a new dress--they're like new & were $8. A little more than I would normally spend on 1 item at the thrift store, but I really needed them for the occasion & it sure beats spending $20 or more.

I think I did pretty good--all this for $33. Can't wait until my next trip!

Thrift Store Frames with Art Prints

2011-04-28T22:11:00.000-07:00

My son's room has a robot theme and he really desperately needs something hanging on his poor walls! I came across this robot abc print and thought I'd seek out a thrift store frame to alter to match his room. I also got an owl abc print to match my daughter's room (and she doesn't need anything else on her walls-but I managed to fit it in somewhere anyway!)

I found these two frames at Helping Hands. The brown one was $2 and the white one was $3.
I popped out the glass & mats & sprayed them...
Watermelon & Cherry Red gloss!
I adhered the robot print to a sheet of navy blue cardstock that I cut down from a 12x12...
Then, to add just a little dimension, I used Zots glue dots to adhere the cardstock to the mat. (The inner area of the mat was too small to let the entire print to show through, so I simply put the print on top of the mat.)
Here is the final product, hung on my son's wall! I love how it turned out...
...And how well it matches his room!
Here is the BEFORE of my daughter's frame. I really scored on this one at $3 because it had this print in it that had been professionally framed and matted with non-glare glass.
After I sprayed it Watermelon, I decided to sand some of the paint off to show the detail of the lines in the frame and to hide of few small chips in the wood.
I adhered the owl print to the pink marbled mat that the frame came with...and hung it on the wall! Super cheap & easy & I love the results!

I'm linking up here:

Crown Plate

2011-04-23T20:55:00.001-07:00

Several months ago, we changed our front guest bathroom from pale green with a palm tree theme (yuk--So sick of that!) to a soft blue with chocolate brown. We still haven't gotten any chocolate brown towels, but we will get there! (we had a baby 7 months ago, I might add) There was also a little wall that had nothing on it that was bothering me, but I couldn't figure out what to hang there.

I finally decided upon 3 of my favorite things: A fleur de lis, a crown, and a cross. I already had the fleur de lis--it had been begging for a home for some time. I am still shopping around for the perfect cross, but in the meantime, I made this little crown plate.

I bought this 6" diameter plate at Hobby Lobby for $3. I had all the rest of the supplies on hand: patterned scrapbook paper, vinyl, Cricut die cut machine, paint, mod podge, & ribbon.

I chose a piece of scrapbook paper & cut out a circle the size of the inner plate. I then made small 1/2" cuts all around the circle so it would lie flat inside the circle & hug the round edge without puckering.

I looked everywhere for my brown Tim Holtz distressing ink, but ended up having to use acrylic paint to add a distressed border around the edge of the paper. It turned out just fine.

I then cut a crown out of vinyl with my Cricut. If you don't have a die cut machine, you could always cut out an image off the computer or use one at your local scrapbook store.
I stuck the vinyl crown to the paper, then mod podged the paper to the plate.
I threaded ribbon through the holes and ended up with a bow at the top.
Here is the little crown plate hanging in its new home! The cross will go to the lower right when I find it. (lighting is making the wall color look weird in this pic)

Here's another view of the bathroom (dying for chocolate brown towels!)
The supplies cost me around $5 total for this project.

Linking Up Here:

"Rainy Day Lockout" Scrapbook Layout

2011-04-10T20:54:00.001-07:00

It's hard to get your scrapbooking groove back once you've put it on the back burner, but I am determined to complete a layout or two each week amongst all my other projects! I quickly dug out some supplies last night and made this 2 page layout. It's not perfect by any means, but it is done.

Unlike most of my scrapbook layouts, this one's main focus is the journaling. It's about the time I got locked out of the house in the pouring rain with my 14 month old son inside! I know--Mother of the Year!

I hopped on the computer to journal the details of this particular story & it feels good to have it documented before I forget it all...or bury it deep in that not-so-happy memory part of my brain!

If you can't read the journaling, don't worry. After being locked out for 35 minutes, my husband came home & unlocked the door. My son was just fine--and I was a bawling mess!

I'm linking up here:

Thrift Store SCORE!

2011-04-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I visited a local charity thrift store that I've been to several times & enjoyed. Well, this time, I really hit the jackpot! The store was packed full, so they must have just gotten done putting a bunch of "new" stuff out. I got ALL of this--plus the toy Ambulance pictured below--for $28!!

I love how they happen to have the baby girl clothing right next to the toy section so I can shop for clothes for my daughter while my son peruses the toys. Maybe that's how I ended up with 3 dresses, 4 shirts, a pair of capri pants, and a pair of Stride Right shoes (that look new)~each for $1 to $1.50! I found a Fisher Price plush sea horse for $1 that I've almost purchased several times for full price at Walmart. It's belly glows & it makes the softest music ever! I also got a FP Elephant toy that plays music & happens to match a train set we already own.

I found this toy ambulance in a cart of items that had just been priced & ready to put out on the floor. I snatched it up & my son was thrilled. At first I didn't even realize it, but then I noticed that it's Playmobil. If you're not familiar with Playmobil, they make wonderful, detailed (Expensive!) toys. When we got home, I couldn't help but to look up this exact ambulance online to see what it retails for...it's $45! Guess what I paid? Yep, $1! SCORE!

My son has been asking for the game "Operation." While at the check out, an employee wheeled out a cartload of games & I spotted it-the original version that I had as a kid--for $1 of course!

I'm so happy with this lamp! I've been keeping my eye out for a new lamp for my office that I could spray paint & spruce up. Well, I found this solid wood one that will match nicely for $6. I'm almost sad that I don't have to do anything to it to make it pretty. Thinking about distressing it a little, though. I threw in that raw wood open frame for a future project of some sort.
So I know I've been going ON & ON about my amazing finds...but did I lie?!?!! ;) Best trip ever.

I'm linking up here:

Go check out the other thrifty finds!

I was featured!

2011-03-27T20:15:00.000-07:00

My owl caddy redo was featured over at Born Again Crafter's blog! I'm so excited! It's nice to be supported by other crafty bloggers~please go check out her cute stuff!

Here is the link to her blog where my owl is featured.

Did you know?

2011-03-25T21:39:00.000-07:00

Did you know I have another blog where I post my hand painted art & frames?

My business is called Fiddlesticks Art & More

and all the items I post there are for sale either locally (in NW AR) or on Etsy.

I'd appreciate it if you'd check it out!

And click "Follow" to follow the blog...

And "Like" to follow me on Facebook!

Thanks so much for your support!

Small Crafty Things

2011-03-16T22:27:00.000-07:00

I have been cranking out the (Small) craft projects over the last 2 weeks! I've finally got my groove back somehow & I hope it lasts! First, I have been bitten by the thrift store bug lately! I've found some really cute stuff--and of course it was dirt cheap.

I found this little cutie for 50 cents, just begging to be the new addition to Madelyn's woodland animal/owl nursery. It's a little pencil cup/caddy sort of thing. I cleaned it up & painted it to match her room, and while it's not perfect, I'm still in love with it!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Then, tonight I "made" this little snack container for Madelyn. I bought it a few weeks ago at Hobby Lobby. I just used some scrapbook paper and letter stickers I already had. (The insert is removable for washing) I cut the paper to fit & then I was worried the thick foam letter stickers I wanted to use wouldn't fit into the insert area, but I was so glad they did! I just love how it turned out & now it's ready to hold little snacks. Now she needs to sprout a few more teeth...:)

Lastly, I will admit that I spent Waaaaaayyyy too long making these little leprechaun guys & accessories with Mason this afternoon on the Cricut. We ended up making 3 leprechauns, 3 pots o'gold, and some shamrocks! I wanted to make one for each of the kids' scrapbooks and he wanted one to play with. I got the cartridge for Christmas from my Grandma-it's called Paper Doll Dress Up & there are so many cute costumes!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I've also painted & embellished some new frames that you can view over at my Fiddlesticks Art Blog, but I wanted to share these little projects here. I'm also currently working on a project for each of the kids' rooms, which I'll share when I'm done~can't wait!

FOUND: 2009 Christmas Card Layout!

2011-02-22T22:53:00.000-08:00

After my last post, I was perplexed as to the whereabouts of my 2009 Christmas card scrapbook layout, so I went looking through the scrapbook today and lo & behold, it was there! Wonder why I forgot to take pics & post it? Anyway, Here it is. Bothers me that it is a little off-center on the paper, but you probably didn't notice until I pointed it out, right? :)

Has anyone else punched out their cards? What do you do with your Christmas cards after Christmas? Idea: Maybe I should start doing something like this with my birthday cards, too!

Christmas Card 2010 Layout

2011-02-15T19:39:00.000-08:00

Every year after Christmas is over, I take the Christmas cards that family & friends have sent us and instead of trashing them (or saving the whole card), I simply punch out an image (or 2) from each card & make a scrapbook layout out of them. It's a great way to recycle the cards and also commemorate that year's cards.

This year I used a large scalloped circle punch and hand cut the "2010" out of portions of 2 different cards. Then I used the old-school Dymo labeler to finish the title.

You could write beside each punch out who it's from, although I don't. I go for quick & simple when it comes to these layouts. No fancy embellies or even paper-I keep the focus on the cards. I actually have fun selecting an image to punch out of the card and getting a layout completed so quickly. Then I throw the remains into the recycle bin~and it's done! Instant gratification!

Want to see the layouts from years 2005 through 2008? Go HERE. (Looks like 2009 is MIA! Where is it? Hmmm...)

P.S. I personally do not punch photo cards (I keep them with my other photos) but you could make a really cute layout with everyone's little faces punched out...

Christmas Card Ideas with Shutterfly

2010-11-24T20:25:00.001-08:00

Since we've had a child (and now have 2) I have tried to mail out a photo card for Christmas to update family near and far on their growth. It's the only time of the year I correspond with my extended family that live all over the US, so it's important to me to have a nice, high quality card to share. Last year I used a local printer and was disappointed with the grainy, blurry photo and the lack of quality.
That's why this year I plan to use Shutterfly for my holiday cards.

They are also offering a wonderful deal for all you fellow bloggers out there...contribute a blog write up and receive 50 free holiday cards!!! (Now you're on to me, right?)

Shutterfly offers up some great gift ideas as well. You can create your own calendars or gifts or even make your own holiday invitations or announcements.
Now go get your 50 FREE Christmas cards from Shutterfly.com!

This is me...

2010-09-04T19:46:00.000-07:00

You feel that creativity provides insight into your own being. In fact, it is like therapy for you, enabling you to get to know yourself better. You seem to be looking for a way into the mysteries of the subconscious. It’s not really self-expression you are seeking, but rather the tools of self-expression: discovering what your creation will reveal about yourself. Art helps you reflect on, analyse and expand your personality. You long to be creative, and it’s not just because you need to deal with your emotions. It’s the tension between contradictions, and the need to resolve doubt that drives you to be creative. Painting pictures, decorating rooms, arranging shells in the sand — these are all creative processes that allow your introspection to roam. You can trace your life through the different ways you have exercised your creativity. For you, art is there to make sense of life. You are more attracted to artistic activities
that demand reflection, planning and solitude, and the personal discoveries you make often provide answers for others, too.

(Found here and here.)

Inspiration: Woodland Animals

2010-08-08T20:27:00.000-07:00

Since I've been decorating my baby girl's nursery over the last few months in a woodland animal theme, I've come across some wonderfully lovely items that are so inspiring! Many of them are owls~I just can't get enough. I'm constantly amazed at all the eye candy I find on Etsy.com and I'd love to own each and every one of these items, if I only had the space & the funds! So I just thought I'd share some (ok, a lot!) of my faves that have inspired me...

"The Bright Forest" (top) and "Rose" by Marisol Spoon on Etsy

Sleepy Heads vintage 70's children's book by vvpaperemporium on Etsy

Foster the Angora Owl by Woolcrazy on Etsy

Sterling silver Baby Owl necklace by Made by S.A.M. on Etsy
Ling Who Owl Bank by Just Puff on Etsy

Miniature Playset, Felt Owl in a Tree toy by HibouCards on Etsy

"Lilly Petal" felt owl plush, also by HibouCards on Etsy

Hedgie hair clip by Flashy Fish on Etsy

Bird in Her Hair, Pretty in Polka Dots hair clip by Ribbon Candy hair bows on Etsy

Woodland Friendly Owl Hair clip by Rosey Posey Bowtique on Etsy

Wooden animal toys-set of 3 by The Wood Garden on Etsy

Bon Bon & Belchick Squirrels by Sleepy King on Etsy

"Owl" (top)and "The Keeper of Time" (bottom) Both by Karen Davis on Etsy

Mason's Annual Handprint~Year 4

2010-07-25T22:09:00.001-07:00

Each year around Mason's birthday, I paint his hand & have him put it on a small canvas. I love this tradition that has become a collection of artwork to show how much he's grown over the year. Here are links to past year's posts about his handprint art:

2009
2008

Worthiness

2010-03-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

~Dr. Brene Brown

I blatantly borrowed this from the talented Ali Edwards' blog that I read regularly and her post. I love what it says about scrapbooking, making your own mark, and not worrying about what others think and not judging others. Kinda covers it all, don't you think?

New Digital Scrapbook Layouts

2010-03-13T12:34:00.000-08:00

Ok, so the subject matter isn't new~ all from this last Christmas, but I just made these today!

Dream Lofty Dreams

2010-01-07T18:18:00.000-08:00

Just messing around the other day & made this on Scrapblog.

Ghosts of Halloweens Past

2009-11-01T14:09:00.000-08:00

I made this digi scrapbook a few weeks ago on Scrapblog.com and it was featured in their "Friday Five" last Friday!

To see all of my Scrapblogs, (or to see this one much larger) go HERE.

There are 13 pages~just hit the arrows or the play button for a slide show.

Frame Sale!

2009-10-12T21:05:00.001-07:00

In honor of the upcoming Craft Fairs in our area, (it's a pretty big deal) I'm having a Sale on all Frames on my Etsy site! Each frame is now just $15 (which is $5 to $7 off regular price.) Go check them out and remember if you live in Northwest AR, I will be happy to waive the shipping charge!
Fiddlesticks by LindsArt: www.lindsart.etsy.com

Go Hogs! Painting

2009-09-21T19:23:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm posting this here (on this poor neglected blog) instead of my ETSY SHOP or Fiddlesticks blog because I'm totally undecided whether or not I actually Want to sell it!! :) I mean, it could have a nice home in our Razorback office pretty easily...

My latest painting~acrylic on canvas with ribbon embellishment

With a frame I made a while back~also not for sale (Yet)

Mason's Annual Handprint

2009-08-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

Every year around his birthday, I paint Mason's hand and put it on a small canvas. I label it with his name and the date and you can really tell how much he's grown by his cute little handprint!
This year we made it on his actual birthday. It's nice to have a grouping of three now and it will only look better and better the older he gets (not that I'm rushing THAT!) I'm so glad I started this fun tradition with him!

Fleur De Lis Love

2009-07-22T19:41:00.001-07:00

Fleur De Lis Love, originally uploaded by Yas D. Nil.

I posted this collage here before but it's been so long ago and I love it so much , that I thought I'd share it again. You know I have a Fleur de Lis fetish!
Someone (a random stranger on flikr, where I made this collage) e-mailed me tonight asking if she could BUY the Print of this! Wow-was I shocked. What a flattering compliment. Too bad these are not MY photos, but a mosaic collection I put together of other's people's beautiful photos. I assured her I'd "let " her buy it from me if I had full creative license over it, since she offered "A very fair price to be able to hang it in her guest bedroom." !!!! Darn-maybe I'm missing out on a genre of art....

Photo credits:
1. All done..., 2. fleur-de-lis, 3. Fleur-de-lis, 4. Streetlamp Fleur-de-lis, 5. fleur de lis, 6. Fleur de Lis on the floor, 7. an electric fleur de lis, 8. Fleur-de-Lis Macro, 9. Fleur de Lis, 10. fleur-de-lis, 11. fleur-de-lis, 12. fleur de lis, 13. fleur-de-lis, 14. fleur-de-lis, 15. Fleur-de-lis, 16. Fleur-de-lis, 17. Fleur-de-lis, 18. fleur-de-lis, 19. Fleur-de-Lis, 20. Fleur de Lis

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Springtime Photos

2009-05-16T22:12:00.001-07:00

April 2009

...digitally scrapbooked on scrapblog.com, of course! (click to enlarge)
I kept the turquoise butterfly as a constant on each page.

Marilyn Monroe Digital Scrapbook

2009-05-05T20:00:00.000-07:00

I made this a few weeks ago just for fun. I love Marilyn and her stunning photos and it was nice to make something girly for a change! (click on pic to enlarge)

Party Invitations

2009-04-25T20:15:00.000-07:00

I'll admit I was excited when my sister asked me to make the invitations for my niece's Sweet 16 birthday party. I was more excited when I saw all the supplies she'd bought to make them with! Pink, black & white (& a little bit of baby blue) with sheer ribbon & bling?!? Sweet! We decided on the layout, font & details together & I made them last night. I'm so happy with how they turned out! (and so is she!)

Here's how: I printed the wording using one of my fave fonts, "bleeding cowboy" onto pink cardstock. I then cut the cardstock & two other patterned papers to just the right staggered sizes. I grunged up the edges with paint, then used my acrylic stamps for the swirls & heart shapes and added the self-adhesive bling to finish it off. Punched holes in the top through all three papers & threaded the ribbon through. Tah Dah! I hope Chloe' likes them!

I (very quickly & poorly) edited these to hide the details (sorry, but you're not invited!)so the pics look a little tacky, but I just HAD to share them. The plate shows the party theme.

(the lighting makes the pink look totally different in these 2 pics)They look so much better in person.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-11T16:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a digital layout I made as an Easter card for our family:

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Logo Challenge

2009-03-24T21:46:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I participated in a Logo Challenge on my beloved Scrapblog.com. You were supposed to turn your name into a logo by using contrasting fonts then create a fun layout including the logos you made. I LOVE typography, so I had fun making these. I'm thinking about making more (since I have nothing better to do with my time than make layouts of my name.) Anyway, I thought I'd share them with you...Bet you can't guess my fave!?!

(This 1st page includes an explanation that it's a challenge entry)

Exciting Announcement!!

2009-03-09T20:02:00.001-07:00

The Exciting News is....

I'm starting a new business!
I have either gone crazy or have found my calling, I can't decide which. If you personally know me, you probably know that I am a crafty scrapbooker. I also love to paint and since last May, I have wondered if I could/should/would start up a little business (that's almost a year of incubation time!) So I started painting gifts for friends here and there and have prayed over what it is I should do. Well, I'm getting the go-ahead, so here it is...

http://www.fiddlesticksart.blogspot.com/

It's strictly an online business and since I'm just starting out, I will keep it local~serving Northwest Arkansas. I create original and custom artwork on canvas, funky frames, cute door hangers, personalized letters of the alphabet, and some other fun accessories.
So PLEASE visit my site http://www.fiddlesticksart.blogspot.com/ and check back frequently for updates. I will post new items as I complete them, but I will be posting some of my past work there very soon. Let me know if you have questions, suggestions or just a comment. This is both very exciting and scary for me, so anything you'd like to add, I would appreciate!

My Latest Layouts

2009-03-01T19:41:00.000-08:00

I first want to apologize for the quality of these photos. They look ok on the camera then I upload them & they are really glarey and/or blurry. But I'm posting them anyway!
I'm so glad that I've been making time for scrapbooking lately. I haven't been going all out~just keeping it simple to increase the quantity of completed pages so that maybe I will get caught up before Mason graduates from high school!

Mason, 1 year old, July 2007

March 2008, 20 months

April 2008, 21 months

Look what I bought for $20

2009-02-25T20:23:00.000-08:00

I did some shoulder-to-shoulder bargain shopping at Signed Sealed Delivered (local scrapbook store) on Saturday and got ALL of this for only $20!

Little Heart Breaker

2009-02-15T18:40:00.000-08:00

I actually got a couple of scrapbook layouts completed the other night! I'm so far behind but I'm trying to focus on getting back on track. Documenting Mason's life is very important to me, as is my favorite hobby, so I know I can get caught up!

I've been trying to work on old pictures that fit in with what's currently going on, such as these Valentine's layouts. I find that I'm more in the mood to make a layout about Valentine's day in Feb, and NOT in say, November! I know, I'm a genius! I'm trying to stick with the philosophy of "Keep It Simple," so they aren't all crazy embellished. I think it puts more focus on the pictures themselves.

Here's Mason's first Valentine's Day in 2007. He was 7 months old...

"Heart Breaker"

And this shows a progression of him opening his gift, with journaling alongside each picture. (I apologize for the terrible picture quality-it looks so much better in person!) The background paper has XOXOXO (click to see larger)

I think Mason approves!

Be My Valentine

2009-02-14T20:52:00.001-08:00

Hope you had a LOVELY Valentine's Day!

1. i love flickr, 2. 20/365- All You Need Is LOVE, 3. Breaking the ice, 4. for you ... only the best!, 5. Happy Valentine's day !, 6. Jelly heart, 7. Valentine's Day candy corn., 8. valentine's day, 9. Hearts: 14/2/07, 10. Conversation Hearts, 11. Pink Sweet Hearts, 12. The shape of my heart, 13. I Love Books14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Old School Collage

2009-01-27T20:55:00.000-08:00

So what do you do when you're iced in your house all day, bored to tears?
Work on scrapbooking that you're soooo far behind on? Clean house? Oh, no!

You start cutting out random things from old magazines that are lying around and decide to make a collage out of them like you did with your best friend as a pre-teen, of course. (who knew I'd become a scrapbooker?)

Well, that's what I did, anyway. And when I finished, I sealed it in an envelope & wrote my BFF's name on the front. It's going in the mail tomorrow. I'm sure it'll be good times when she opens it!

What to do with all those Christmas cards...

2009-01-18T22:27:00.000-08:00

This is the fourth year that I've made a scrapbook page out of the Christmas cards family and friends have sent us. I cringe at trashing them and always try to recycle them when I can. This is a super fast & easy way to do that. I use a big punch (I just have a circle & a square in the huge size) and punch out a pretty part of the card. Sometimes I punch more than once out of the same card. This year we didn't get that many cards, so I did that this year. Then I arrange them in some sort of pattern and viola! You could even write beside the punch or somewhere else on the layout who gave you each card, if you wanted to. I personally don't include photo cards, but you could if you so desired. (as always, click the pic the view larger)
There's another way to recycle cards here.

2008~I cut a bow out of felt to turn the punches into a "present"

2007~I made a banner-type flag (notice the Nativity is in the center & turned slightly so it would stand out)

2006~I went circular

2005~simple & clean (I like how the title is the only circle)

You Are Outta This World!

2009-01-13T18:54:00.000-08:00

My latest digi scrapbook layout (made on scrapblog) Click on pic to see larger

Mosaic Monday

2009-01-05T18:21:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted a mosaic in a while... (I realize that every time I post one I say this)

A Toast to the New Year!

December Daily Album (Pages 1-17)

2008-12-31T13:37:00.000-08:00

As promised, I am finally getting around to posting my December Daily album. What is it? you ask. Well, it's basically a mini scrapbook album put together AHEAD of time (in November) so that it's ready to be filled with photos, goodies, & journaling from each day in December. It could be done any month or for any occasion, but since December seems to fly by in the blink of an eye, it is a great month to document. None of this is my idea, but the artfully contagious brainchild of one of my favorite scrappers, Ali Edwards. (yeah, I mention her a lot. Have you checked out her blog yet?) Here is Ali's December Daily Album from this year.

The thing I am most proud of is that I DID NOT BUY ONE SINGLE ITEM TO MAKE THIS ENTIRE ALBUM! I raided my stash & came up with more than enough stuff to use.
I can add or take away as I see fit once I have my photos ready to put in. It's meant to be filled each day, so that at the end of the month you have a completed album. However, I don't have a good enough photo printer at home, so I simply wrote down on a piece of paper what happened on each day. I will have my photos printed and when I get them back, I'll slip them into the album & know exactly what to write about for that particular day. Does that make sense to anyone else but me?

Here's the cover & days 1 through 17 (to be completed when I get my photos)

My Scrapspace

2008-11-24T21:17:00.000-08:00

In case you didn't know, I used to have a whole scrapbook room. The walls were pepto-pink and black & white Parisian accents filled the room. Eiffel Towers were scattered about & everything was organized, labeled, and ready to inspire a new world of creativity.

Then came Mason. The room was stripped, the pink walls became soft blue & frogs took over. I was banished to create out of a closet in our office.

All kidding aside [I'd MUCH rather have my sweet boy than a scrapbook room anyday!] I've tried to make do with my little nook. I try to keep it organized so that I can get to all my supplies, but it's hard in such a small space. I've wanted/needed a new shelf for a while now, so I was so excited when Wayne told me he bought me a 3 shelf closet organizer piece from Lowe's!! What a thoughtful husband!

Well, it turned out pretty small. A lot smaller than we were expecting. However, I still love it & it gives me more room to spread out my supplies in an area that was hardly being used. I spent all night on Saturday re-organizing my stuff. It was fun!

The new shelf is the one on top of the desk to the left...small, I know. I need to rehang the french memo board to the left of the new shelf, too.

Cozy...

Gimme a W...Gimme an H...

2008-11-20T21:55:00.000-08:00

...what's that spell??? Well, nothing.
I have many letters on hand to create custom gifts & decor & made these just for fun. I tried to make the W more boyish, but it would work for a girl as well. And I always have fun making girly pink stuff!

If you're interested, they are approx. 7 inches tall & are raw wood that I've painted & dressed up. Each letter is "shabby chic" style with distressed edges & imperfections to add to the character & uniqueness. They will stand up on their own or can be hung by either the ribbon or the drilled hanger holes in the back.

You can have your custom letter made in the colors/patterns of your choice for a mere $10/letter! ;)
(I also make a larger size like this one that is more like 12 inches & it runs $15/letter. The large letters are thin and will not stand up on their own & must be hung by ribbon.)

I'll be back...

2008-11-19T21:07:00.000-08:00

when I'm feeling better. I've been sick since Sunday! (ugg) But I have some sweet projects to share with you when I return...

What Christmas Tree are You?

2008-11-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

I promise I'll post about Thanksgiving stuff but I had to do this quick little quiz from Sherri's blog.

You Are a Bright Christmas Tree

For you, the holidays are all about fun and seasonal favorites.

You are into all things Christmas, even if they're a little tacky.

What Christmas Tree Are You?

"Tacky?" No, I'm gonna go with "gaudy!" (gotta have my glitter!)

Mason's Handprints

2008-11-07T09:40:00.000-08:00

You may remember (or may not) my post from July showing Mason's 2 year old handprint on a canvas. We made it together as a keepsake that I will eventually turn into a wall collage of handprints grouped together in his room.

Thankfully, (since the canvases were an afterthought) when he turned one, I had Mason make hand prints to give out at his birthday party as favors, so I had his little 1 year old handprint saved. I cut one of those into a square & decoupaged it onto a canvas & added the title & date. We're well on our way to having a handprint wall collage!

Recycled Holiday Cards

2008-11-05T20:04:00.000-08:00

I'm not one to skip over one holiday to jump to the next~I love Thanksgiving and I'm looking forward to it. However, I've gotten started on a few Christmas holiday projects/decorations to try to stay ahead of the game this year. (ya right) I wanted to share these with you~they are Christmas cards we received last year that I saved. They were just too cute to throw out! Just like the Halloween framed jack-o-lantern, I used 2 frames that were put away in a cabinet that I haven't used in a while. Their 5x5 size complimented these 2 cards nicely. I cut them down a little & popped them in the frames. Since they have 3D elements, I put the glass behind them to keep it with the frame & provide stability. I just love them & know they will look good sitting on a little table somewhere for the holidays. I know our friend's the Tyndalls sent us the wreath card~so thanks for sending such a cute card for me to recycle!

Added bonus: thought I'd include these 2 scrapbook pages I made a while back. Not the best picture quality.

Wayne & Mason (May 2007, 9 1/2 months)

Wayne & Mason (April 2007, 9 months)

Mosaic Monday

2008-11-03T13:30:00.000-08:00

It's a little late for this, but I still wanted to share my Halloween mosaic. I haven't posted a mosaic in a while & I really heart Halloween!
1. Halloween decor 6, 2. Halloween is in the Air........, 3. Old School Halloween Decorations, 4. Halloween 2006 Decorations - 3, 5. Halloween Decorations, 6. Halloween decor, 7. Halloween decor 1, 8. Halloween Decor, 9. Cauldron, 10. Halloween Wreath, 11. lillian vernon, eat your heart out, 12. Stepping Up, 13. Black bird, 14. pirate skull cookies, 15. Trick Or Treat Smell My Feet, 16. Happy Halloween!

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Spooky Snack Mix

2008-10-26T14:37:00.001-07:00

This is my family's new favorite Fall snack mix. It's super yummy and easy to make.

Mix 2 cups of each: (or more, I just sort of dumped it all together & tossed!)

Caramel Popcorn (I used boxed Crunch & Munch)
Reese's Puffs cereal
Waffle Pretzels (I used Snyder's "Snaps")
Mini Nutter Butter cookie bites (they come in a bag)
Peanut M&M's
Toss together & Enjoy!

Jack-O-Lantern Art?

2008-10-22T20:18:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you can really classify this as art, but you can call it a cute Halloween decoration! I made this with a black frame that I wasn't using, scrapbook paper, and a Jolee's Boutique (brand) jack-o-lantern sticker that I bought several years ago. It's very 3D b/c it's filled with stuffing. I made one for my mom as well~only it has a different mat and the pumpkin has a different face. So simple & makes me smile!

October Extras

2008-10-19T16:02:00.000-07:00

These are some pictures I've taken this month that I like...

Baby Shower Goodies

2008-10-12T22:05:00.000-07:00

I hosted a baby shower for my best friend this weekend at my mom's house, as you've probably heard already. We've been preparing for it for weeks and it went great! I wanted to share the blocks & the sign I made that coordinated with the theme of blue & brown polka dots & paisleys. The blocks were given to her after the shower. They have the baby's initials on one side, ABC, 123, BOY on the other sides.
I also made a diaper wreath that served as both decoration at the shower as well as a gift~and my Mom, sister, and I all made the little favor boxes. I included a pic of an arrangement we made that we hung little baby bottles, carriages, pacifiers, & other ornaments from. It looked so cute in person!

We stuck the sign onto my mom's welcome sign that was already there & it stayed...

Paint Supplies

2008-10-08T20:03:00.000-07:00

Since several people have asked me what paint & supplies I use, I thought I'd just do a quick post about it.
I use the brand Amsterdam (formerly called Van Gogh-some of the tubes still say that) of acrylic paint from Hobby Lobby. They come in a tube and are the less expensive kind that they carry. I also get my canvases from Hobby Lobby (they go on sale frequently) and the wooden frames come from Wal-Mart (as of now.) As far as brushes go~I HATE natural hair bristles. They leave yucky streaks in the paint (maybe I'm not using them correctly) but I would definitely recommend using synthetic nylon brushes. The paint goes on so much smoother.
Hope this helps!

Crown Painting & Paisley Frame

2008-10-05T20:25:00.000-07:00

I made this crown painting for Maggie's birthday gift. It's so nice to create girly stuff for a change!

This paisley frame is just for ME! I love this picture of Mason in it. It was pretty time-consuming, but worth it.

My Scrapblog of Stephen Mackey's Celestial Art

2008-09-29T21:45:00.000-07:00

How's that for a title? Stephen Mackey is one of my all time fave artists, so I did this for fun. If it's not working right or if you want to see it much larger, click on the little "scrapblog" word in the bottom right corner under the picture & it will take you directly there. Fun~fun!

New Funky Frame and the Letter "G"

2008-09-13T19:00:00.000-07:00

My latest creations are:

This "G" that my friend, Lela asked me to make for her daughter's room. The colors didn't show well in these pictures, but you get the idea.

And this fun, bright, girly frame that is up for grabs! ($22 if you're interested!)
The frame itself is almost 8x10 and the opening is 4x6. Hot pink & bright green--looks cuter in person.

Marilyn Monroe Headshots Mosaic

2008-09-07T09:22:00.001-07:00

1. Marilyn, 2. 73_M_M, 3. Official Calendar, 4. Marilyn Radiant, 5. Oops!, 6. marilyn, 7. marilyn, 8. marilyn, 9. marilyn, 10. marilyn, 11. Marilyn, 12. marilyn, 13. marilyn monroe, 14. marilyn monroe 1962, 15. marilyn monroe, 16. marilyn monroe, 17. marilyn monroe, 18. marilyn monroe, 19. marilyn monroe, 20. marilyn monroe, 21. Red Marilyn, 22. Marilyn, 23. Marilyn Touch Ups, 24. Marilyn Monroe, 25. MY MARILYN PHOTO EFFECT SPECIAL, 26. Marilyn Monroe picture from an AlltheWeb search, 27. Luminous beauty, 28. Marilyn Monroe, 29. 1945, 30. Marilyn Monroe, 31. Un beso por Marilyn, 32. Norma Jeane Mortenson, 33. ] marilyn in the sun [, 34. Marilyn Monroe 1953, 35. A Lady In a Hat (Marilyn Monroe), 36. Diamonds are a girl's best friend - Marilyn Monroe

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Simply Marilyn

2008-09-07T09:12:00.001-07:00

Credits:
1. Marilyn .-, 2. Booty Shot, 3. Diamond Marilyn, 4. Furry Marilyn, 5. Busy marilyn, 6. Tranquil Marilyn, 7. Marilyn Monroe, 8. Erwitt-Monroe2, 9. Marilyn bird, 10. marilyn beach, 11. Marilyn Monroe at Hotel Bel Air, 12. Marilyn Monroe, 13. Marilyn Monroe14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

I had to make it this small so it would all fit on here-click to view larger.

Marilyn Monroe Mosaic

2008-09-07T09:08:00.001-07:00

Marilyn Monroe Mosaic, originally uploaded by Yas D. Nil.

The Judy mosaic got me in the mood to make mosaics--they're so much fun. Thought I'd go with the beautiful Marilyn this time! The right side is cut off again~click on the link under the mosaic to view the whole thing.

Credits:
1. 1370050, 2. ..ich geh nicht weiter., 3. Foto bitte..., 4. Marilyn Monroe on the beach, 5. Marilyn at Paradise Cove, 6. Tigress MM, 7. Orange Marilyn, 8. Maricurls, 9. Dazzled, 10. Cowboy Hat, 11. Untitled, 12. marilyn, 13. Ein Tag am Strand, 14. nachdenklich, 15. Marilyn .-, 16. Booty Shot, 17. Diamond Marilyn, 18. Furry Marilyn, 19. Busy marilyn, 20. Tranquil Marilyn, 21. Marilyn Monroe, 22. Marilyn Monroe, 23. Erwitt-Monroe2, 24. Marilyn_monroe_reads_newspaper_small, 25. Marilyn shorts, 26. Marilyn bird, 27. marilyn beach, 28. Marilyn Monroe at Hotel Bel Air, 29. Marilyn Monroe, 30. Marilyn Monroe, 31. Marilyn Monroe, 32. Marilyn Monroe, 33. Marilyn Monroe, 34. Marilyn Monroe, 35. Marilyn Monroe, 36. Marilyn Monroe

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Judy Garland Mosaic Tribute

2008-09-06T22:26:00.001-07:00

Judy Garland Mosaic Tribute, originally uploaded by Yas D. Nil.

I made this on flickr for my niece, who LOVES Judy! Thought I'd share it since I haven't done a mosaic in a long time. There's another row of pics on the right hand side that won't fit here.

More Digital Layouts

2008-08-24T19:41:00.000-07:00

It's so fast and fun to make these! If you want to create your own, go to scrapblog.com & get started for free. Look me up--I'm Scrap17!

These are pretty random--I just really wanted to try out ths funky-retro theme!

Fleur De Lis Painting

2008-08-20T20:28:00.001-07:00

Here's my latest painting (my new fave)
8x10 acrylic on canvas
Can't you just imagine a big chunky gold ornate frame around this baby?

Mason, Mason, & More Mason

2008-08-20T19:43:00.000-07:00

I'm officially addicted...to Mason & digital scrapbooking!

Still playing...

2008-08-18T19:02:00.000-07:00

...around with digital scrapbooking. I figured out how to print my layouts, so now I can add them into my traditional scrapbooks. Yippee!

Digital Scrapbook of Our Trip to Kansas City

2008-08-13T18:50:00.000-07:00

This is so small here that it really doesn't do it justice. You can see it much larger by going here and clicking on "View Full Screen"

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Digital Layouts

2008-07-26T22:25:00.000-07:00

I found another way to post these digital layouts since it wasn't working in the posts below. I've done 5 layouts since last night-its really fun! (I could only get 4 to show up. They are kinda small, so click to enlarge)The top 2 are my faves!

Hmmmmm.....

2008-07-26T07:15:00.001-07:00

I can't get the 3 digi layouts below to load. Can anyone else see them here?

"m"

2008-07-26T07:05:00.001-07:00

Stop and Smell the Roses

2008-07-26T06:56:00.001-07:00

My First Digi Scrapbook Layout Ever!

2008-07-25T21:53:00.001-07:00

Door Hanger & Hand Print

2008-07-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

These are my latest projects (along with a few others that I STILL can't show until they're done!) The first is a door hanger that I made to hopefully sell or give as a gift. The picture doesn't do it justice--I couldn't seem to get the lighting right again. It says, "Shhh...The Prince is Sleeping"

I painted this canvas (and Mason's hand) to make this keepsake. When he turned one, I had him make hand prints to give at his birthday party as favors. I plan on transferring one of those onto a canvas as well so that I can continue to do this each year. We will eventually have many hand prints and can make a wall collage of them! I added the date on the side of the canvas.

Two New Articles

2008-07-02T20:52:00.000-07:00

Please check out my two latest articles on HubPages:
(& comment &/or hit the thumbs up if you want!)

7 Worst Gifts for Men to Give Women

10 Best Gifts for Men to Give Women

I've been scrappin'

2008-06-29T21:09:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad I've gotten so many layouts completed lately! This is the completed stack that I have to put in albums. I can't do that until I've gotten caught up though, because I'm jumping around from year to year & the albums are chronological. It doesn't bother me because at least I can get a sense of accomplishment from looking at and looking through this big stack!

Vintage Wind-Up Robots

2008-06-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

I love robots and they are so trendy right now, so I was happy to stumble upon these two from my childhood when visiting my grandma's house recently. Mason took an immediate liking to them as well and grandma told him he could take them home. It was at that moment I knew I had to photograph them! I remember Angela and I playing with them and although one doesn't work and a few small pieces have been broken off, they still hold their robot charm!

8x10 Flower Painting

2008-06-17T20:21:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is one of the paintings I finished recently. It's actually the first one I started when I first began to paint. The flower is faux leather and is attached with a brad. The dots look almost black on here, but they match the green flower.