Outside Wednesday

We have had the best weather this past week, and I’ve taken advantage of it.  I sometimes like to go for a walk thru Spring Grove Cemetery, I know that sounds morbid.  Spring Grove is known for it’s beauty in Cincinnati, photographers even use it for wedding pictures. 

I am working on an alphabet project and Spring Grove is a great place to find letters.  I thought this would be a great post for Outdoor Wednesday.

 

I found a few letters……

I’ll be crafting this weekend, this time of the year is so much fun for me.  Stop by next week to see what was created!

A Cake Fit For A Princess

A few weeks ago I posted about the diaper cake The Baby Girl and I made, but now the little princess has arrived so I thought a post about Libby and her cake would be perfect for Today’s Creative Blog Party Tuesday Get Your Craft On.  After this week I’m going to post my handmade Christmas goodies each Tuesday, I posted this weeks gift yesterday for another party….we sure party a lot between Halloween and Christmas….kinda gets in the way of the “real job….”

The Baby Girl wanted a special gift to take to a shower she had been invited to, of course she wanted it to be handmade and she wanted to “help”…..after lots of internet surfing we decided on a diaper cake…..what do you think for our first attempt?

I loved the little details of this cake……

Well the “Little Princess” has arrived and The Baby Girl got to meet her on Sunday.

I have another baby shower December 4th and an extra pack of diapers just yelling my name….I better get to rolling those diapers…that was the hardest part I swear.  If anyone wants help with making one feel free to email me at paperglueetc@yahoo.com.

I Can Make That Party

If you read here regularly you know I can’t resist a good ole’ fashion blog party (weekly list, let me know if I’m missing any)….this one is right up my alley.

I will be posting handmade Christmas gifts each week on Monday from now until the week of Christmas, yes I’ll still be working on my gifts right up until the week of Christmas, don’t act shocked a lot of you will be also.

This week I’m going to do a card folder.  I have two examples to show how the ideas are limitless…I of course used all Stampin’ Up products (Blaise gave me the one on the left and I’ve been addicted to these things every since) and would be happy to help you do the same….email me at paperglueetc@yahoo.com with any questions you may have.  Directions with measurements at end of post……

If you are a paper crafter, I bet you have EVERYTHING to make this gift.  I am using it as a hostess gift for Christmas parties, teacher gift, etc.

Supplies Needed-

• 8 1/2 x 11 piece of cardstock for folder
• 4 8 1/2 x 11 pieces of cardstock for cards
• Envelopes
• Pattern scrapbook paper and cardstock to decorate front
• 24 inch piece of ribbon
• Eyelets or brads
• Stamps
• Ink

Take a piece of cardstock and score it at 6 inches and 6 1/4 inches.

Once you have your paper scored you want to cut from the bottom of the piece of paper to the top score line, measure 5 1/4 from each side of your paper and cut.  It will look like this.

You are almost done!  Fold the tab up secure with eyelets or brads, I like brads a lot less noise.

Ok for the outside you want to cut a piece of cardstock 5 3/4 and a piece of pattern paper 5 1/2, add your 24 inch ribbon to the back (sticky tape works best to hold it in place…you know the red kind on the roll).  Add your cards to the pockets and you have a great gift.

Stop by each Monday between now and Christmas, I’ll be showing off Wooden Signs, Ornaments, scrapbook project, letter photography and a sewing project if I can get my crafting buddy Sherri to help me.

Art….

The Baby Girl and I hung out today, we went to Cincinnati’s Art in Bloom event at the art museum.  I think it’s fair to say we were wowed.  We found the above sign while driving around looking for a bathroom after the exhibit, don’t you love it?

This was an arrangement just sitting in a common area, we loved the flowers.

This was our favorite one.  The idea that the florist used an apple, crown of thorns and a cross was just awesome.

I loved the colors of this one.

I like that this one reminds me of Cincinnati.

We had a great day filled with art and then we came outside and Mother Nature had her own art show.

The Baby Girl and I are working on Christmas presents and we started our Alphabet Project today…..

I am afraid I’ll be taking my camera everywhere I go….I’d love suggestions for other letter ideas.

Handmade Christmas….

I found this blog today and I’m not sure what I’m loving the most….the stockings, the tassels, or the dishmat.  I can only imagine the cuteness yet to come.

I found some treasures at the thrift store today, now to figure out what to do with them.  (Pretend I inserted a pic of three wooden signs right here…which I would have done had my camera not just died on me….)

I found this stinkin’ cute sign on Etsy, stop by and buy one.

I am thinking about doing an established sign, I like the one above and you can find it at Etsy right here.

My favorite holiday saying, you can find one right here.

I like the distressed look of this one, you can start your Christmas shopping right here.

Today I spent time making cards with Sherri, of course making cards was just a little bit of what we did.  We ate some awesome pumpkin dip….I mean awesome….I’ll share the recipe sometime between now and Christmas…..the best part of the day was the conversation.  I sometimes wonder why such an awesome human being puts up with me.  I could tell you 100 different reasons we’ve been friends for all of these years, she is truly the best.

Today was my Spare Mom’s birthday, I can’t begin to imagine how different my life would be without Sandy’s love and support.  I sent her a birthday basket and I’m afraid Daddy might be enjoying it more then she is, yeap it involved sweets.

A Beautiful Life = A Beautiful Love

I was thinking about my Beautiful Life post today and it hit me right upside my head, my life is getting more and more beautiful everyday and my relationships are getting healthier and healthier.  I have never been in a healthier relationship then I am in with my husband, Mr. Wonderful.

I posted this week about betrayal and how hard it is to get over and how it’s an everyday adjustment, but it’s so worth it.  I appreciate my marriage and purposely look out for that relationship on a daily basis.  It wasn’t always that way.  I want to make our house a home not only because it’s fun, but I want Mr. Wonderful and those cute little munchkins to enjoy being in our home.

So today I got up at 5:30 and started my day, cleaned, put a roast in the crock pot, worked on centerpieces for our Thanksgiving table, ran to the grocery store and called Mr. Wonderful to tell him how much I appreciate him.  Have you told your own Mr. Wonderful how much you appreciate him and your marriage? 

I thought it would be fun to show you a few of the ideas I came up with for centerpieces, it’s my first flower arrangement and not something I enjoyed….ha!  

Here is what I have put together so far, I have to do two centerpieces.

I had to add the leopard ribbon, I’ll have to find some fall ribbon for Thanksgiving.  I think every room should have a touch of leopard.

I am going to stop and pick up an orange candle for this little dish tonight and I think I’ll like it a lot better.  I don’t want to put it on my table for Thanksgiving, but I like it on top of the T.V.

It’s not going to be my Thanksgiving centerpiece, but it sure looks cute on my kitchen counter.

I again need some orange candles or maybe tan candles, this might just get a few extra little touches and might just be my second centerpiece.  We’ll see.

 How many of you feel like Thanksgiving just gets slighted?  I am already finding Christmas music on the radio, seriously?  I want to enjoy Thanksgivng, I want to remember what I’m thankful for.  I want to hunt for a new Thanksgiving recipe which I think this year is going to be a pineapple casserole.

Pineapple Casserole

You will need:
2 20oz cans of pineapple chunks (drain one cup of the juice)
1 cup sugar mixed with 5 tbsp cornstarch
1 sleeve of Ritz crackers (crushed)
1 stick oleo melted
8oz shredded cheddar cheese

Put pineapple in baking dish
Sprinkle sugar mix over pineapple
Pour the cup of pineapple juice over
Pour cheese on top
Mix the crushed crackers and oleo, put on top of cheese
Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

I am having a friend over tomorrow for some crafting time, I’m excited and I might just have to work on name plates for Thanksgiving…I found so many ideas that I’ve got myself confused about what I want to do.

What are you doing to make Thanksgiving special for you and yours?  I would love to see your ideas.

I’m going to join Kelly over at Kelly’s Korner in her Thanksgiving get together….

Land of The Crazy

I wish I could just quit watching the news, but I can’t. I don’t want to be one of those people who says, “I don’t watch the news it’s too depressing.” I have to say I think that’s a goofy saying, so you don’t care about what’s going on as long as your not depressed?

Let’s just talk about the news from this week.

• The story about Fort Hood, God only knows what kind of craziness we are about to learn.  Updates here.
• Iraqi Father kills daughter as an honor killing, see story here.
• Mom charged in infant’s disappearance, see story here.
• Ohio man has 10 plus dead women in his home, see story here.
• Kinapped Missouri woman found dead, see story here.
• Another teenager has killed a child, but first he sexually assaulted him, see story here.

What is enough?  When do we “get involved”, and quit pretending that we’ve made good choices in electing politicians that have turned this country into “The Land of the Crazy”.  This country is out of control.  Have you ever wondered how much of that has to do with government taking away prayer in school, communities afraid to mention “Christmas”, it’s not a flippin’ holiday tree it’s a Christmas tree? 

I’m sick!  Just sick that as a country we have just accepted this.

Name Holder Ideas….

I let depression creep up on me last week, and I am fighting back.  I have dreaded Thanksgiving for the last three years because I think it’s all about family and distance keeps me from getting to my family with the kids so I have to decide between the two.  This year I’ll be spending Thanksgiving at home with the kids and Mr. Wonderful and I’ve decided to really go after a WOW factor.  I’ve posted about it all week (post 1 and post 2)…..I might post about it all month….ha!  So read on….and help a girl out…I know y’all (Works For Me Wednesday Ladies) are the most creative women in the world….give me your wisdom…don’t make me take this journey all alone.

I have Thanksgiving on my mind, I’m trying to think of name holder ideas.  My First Born reads my blog and I promise you she is rolling her eyes and maybe even uttering the words, “My mother has lost her mind.” 

Is this too stinkin’ cute?  Find the details right here.

Some cute ideas right here.

I keep going back to this idea, I just love it!

Remember that first born daughter she could probably help me with this idea.  I love it!  See the how-to’s right here.

I think this is a great idea.  I like the quote on the name plate, this one says…Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. 

Oh my I love these.  You can find the details right here.

This is really cute, details right here.

I am not a bit surprised that I love these, I love everything Jennifer does.  You can find the details right here.

Tackle It Tuesday

My post yesterday was about the fact that I couldn’t decided which set of dishes to use for Thanksgiving, I’ve made the decision.  I’m going a little ole’ fashion, which is a shocker. 

I made a trip to the thrift store yesterday, found treasures.  I found a set of brown glasses, three wooden bowls (centerpiece idea) and an amber vase thingy.  I’m not showing pics I want to wait until I get the centerpieces done and then I’ll share.  I’ll be doing two tables since our table only seats four and I’ll have six or seven for Thanksgiving dinner. 

I thought this would be a good Tackle It Tuesday post, because I plan on spending the next couple of weeks making trips to the thrift store, yesterday I bought my glasses for $4 (set of 8), a brown casserole dish $3.99 and my wooden bowls for .99.  I got my Bed Bath & Beyond flyer yesterday with a coupon so I’ll make a trip there this week for a couple of table clothes, I’m thinking brown.

I spent hours last night online looking at Thanksgiving Tablescapes, great table here, and here I love the dried fruit idea, and tons of ideas right here. 

I can’t wait until Thursday for Between Naps on the Porch to post her new tablescape, I looked at EVERYONE of them from the last few weeks. 

Are you thinking about your table, share your ideas….PLEASE!

Thanksgiving Is On My Mind….

I have Thanksgiving on my mind, well actually I have my Thanksgiving table on my mind.  For years I have wanted an awesome table for Thanksgiving but it never seems to happen, this year it is going to.  I have a little problem though…I can’t decide which dishes to use…..I thought this would be a great post for Homemaker Monday, I’m sure some of the talented ladies from this get together will have ideas and suggestions…I need them!

The first set I have never used, they are a thrift store find and you can see more about them here.  The second set if I use them I will use only the red pieces. 

I decided to try to get some ideas from the internet and boy was I overwhelmed.

I love these centerpiece ideas.  I am tempted to try to spray paint little pumpkins…….I think white pumpkins with a little brown stain…….there are more ideas right here…..

I think this little book will find it’s way on my table somehow, someway….I can imagine the eye rolls, but if I’m not entertaining those grown children of mine things get a little boring.

I would love your ideas, suggestions for other places to look for ideas.  I’ll be heading out to the thrift store today to find treasures for my table.  Can you believe Thanksgiving will be here before we know it?