Friday, January 28, 2011

A Coffee Filter Wreath for Valentines!

I know that everyone have (or should that be has) seen these coffee filter wreaths all over blogland, me included, (where do you think I got the idea?) LOL.
I saw this idea back in October at PENNY PARLOR, and fell in love.  I couldn't wait to make one!  As usual, time got away from me and I didn't have a moment to get one created...until now!
I like how this turned out and I love the red accent, the ruffles seem so romantic for this lover's holiday.
What's your take?
I picked the x-large photo option cause I'm vain...


This wreath is simple.  
Super simple.  
Even I can make one and have it turn out decent
(please do not notice that my wreath is egg shaped-
that would be rude).

Here's how you do it.
Buy any kind of wreath-Dollar Tree for this one...


Purchase a package of basket coffee filters-Dollar Tree for these...
Take each filter individually, and fold it in half, then in half again, and once more in half.
Fold the pointed end up.


To make the edges of my "ruffles" red, I simply took a sharpie marker and colored the edges of the filter bundles before separating them.
Then it's just a matter of using your hot glue gun to attach the filters!  
It did take me a few filters to really get the hang of it, but I found putting the glue along the folded edge at the bottom of the filter and then just pressing it to the wreath worked well. No kidding.  Easy.  3 sticks of glue.
I do think it might be easier if you use a smooth wreath form such as  a styro one, but I say work with  
what you've got!  If I had wrapped the wreath with some ribbon or even duct tape it might have gone more
quickly, but I'm not sure it would be worth the effort.  Yep, I'm lazy.


Then just tie some ribbon around it to hang from (from Dollar Tree) and it's done!

THIS WREATH COST ME $3.00! 

I should win an award for thrifty.
I'm so proud...

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Saturday, January 22, 2011

11 Step Program For Those Thinking About Having Children

For those of you who haven't yet made the crazy choice to have children, this is a great guideline for you.
11 Lessons that you can expect to learn in the years to come.  For all of you that have wee ones, you will love this!
My 2 kids, Chelsey (now 25) and Chase (now 26)
This photo was taken 2011
Lesson 1
1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the paper.
5. Read it for the last time.
Lesson 2
Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...
1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.
Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.
Lesson 3
A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...
1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)
2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
4. Set the alarm for 3AM.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.
6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.
7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.
9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)
Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and pulled together.
Lesson 4
Can you stand the mess children make? T o find out...
1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.
4. Then rub them on the clean walls.
5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.
6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?
Lesson 5
Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.
1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.
Time allowed for this - all morning.
Lesson 6
Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.
1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.
Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.
Lesson 7
Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.
Lesson 8
1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.
You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.
Lesson 9
Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street, Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.
Lesson 10
Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four-second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.
Lesson 11
Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. 
You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.
This is all very tongue in cheek; anyone who is a parent will say 
'it's all worth it!'  
Remember, a sense of humor is one of the most important things you'll need when you become a parent!

Source:  Amy Lawrence  Thanks Amy!

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Friday, January 21, 2011

Sport's mom's need custom sport charms!

This fabulous customized sports charm is being offered for all the mom's, grandmother's, aunts, and girlfriends!
YOU MUST CHECK THESE OUT!
They customize the charm with your child's jersey #, team color, and first name initial!
AND HOLY CRAP, THEY ARE ONLY $9.50!
NO KIDDING!
Spread the word, and hop on over to get one:



Thursday, January 20, 2011

You've Framed My Heart!

I LOVE SIMPLE CRAFTS, AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM!


This was a super fun craft for me to create!
I purchased an unfinished wood frame from a local wood working company, quickly painted it black with craft acrylic paint, and drilled a small hole through the top.  
Using a little craft wire I simply made a small loop that I placed through the drilled hole, and then made a simple loop knot on the top of the frame with the wire to keep it from slipping back through.
  I hung my gorgeous heart ornament (I purchased it at Hobby Lobby) on the loop inside the frame, and then by tying some ribbon to the loop on top of the frame, everything came together perfectly!
 The cute words are simple vinyl lettering...imagine all the fun things your saying could be!

Try making these. Unbelievably easy, and use your creative imagination to make these for every holiday!
~Amber

We love linky parties, and we have linked up here:




UndertheTableandDreaming


 This valentine frame was chosen to be featured here:

UndertheTableandDreaming
Check out the other awesome things featured.

http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2011/01/framed-hanging-heart.html

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Taking care of our senior citizens

Because this blog is dedicated to my mom Sally who is a senior citizen, when I received this email it really hit home.  I decided to share it with you... It's real food for thought...and a downer, so I promise tomorrow to post something fun and happy. Still, read this...


LETS COMPARE THE CARE OF OUR SENIOR CITIZENS WITH THE LOVELY PEOPLE WE PAY TO HOUSE IN OUR JAILS & PRISONS...


Let's put our senior citizens in jail & our criminals
 in nursing homes..
This would correct two things in one motion:
  • Seniors would have access to showers, hobbies and walks.
  • They would receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheel chairs, etc.
  • They would receive money instead of having to pay it out.
  • They would have constant video monitoring, so they would be helped instantly if they fell or needed assistance.
  • Bedding would be washed twice a week and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them.
  • A guard would check on them every 20 minutes.
  • All meals and snacks would be brought to them 
  • They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose. 
  • They would have access to a library, weight/fitness room, spiritual counseling, a pool and education...and free admission to in-house concerts by nationally recognized entertainment artists. 
  • Simple clothing - i.e.., shoes, slippers, pj's - and legal aid would be free, upon request. 
  • There would be private, secure rooms provided for all with an outdoor exercise yard complete with gardens. 
  • Each senior would have a computer, a  T.V., phone and radio in their room at no cost. 
  • They would receive daily phone calls. 
  • There would be a board of directors to hear any complaints and the ACLU would fight for their rights and protection. 
  • The guards would have a code of conduct to be strictly adhered to, with attorneys available, at no charge to protect the seniors and their families from abuse or neglect. 
As for the criminals : 
  • They would receive cold food. 
  • They would be left alone and unsupervised. 
  • They would receive showers once a week. 
  • They would live in tiny rooms, for which they would have to pay $5,000 per month. 
  • They would have no hope of ever getting out. 

It's so true and yet heart breaking.  Lets remember to reach out to our senior communities, remember them and honor them.  As for the criminals...

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

The forgotten Gift Idea

Even though the holidays have just ended and you have given a gift to possibly every person in your state (or so it may seem to you), I have a great idea to help you be prepared for those little surprise moments when you need a quick gift to give.  There is always the forgotten birthday, the unexpected drop in, a housewarming party, that father/mothers day and who knows what all, so I keep several of these little gifts in my pantry as a fast go-to when I am caught unprepared (happens more than I will admit).  This is very simple and just by giving this basic idea some additional thought, I know that our readers will come up with even better idea's (remember to share them with me, I always need help)!

I purchase several cans of premixed salsa seasoning, and then divide some of the cans up into 1/2 pint or 1 pint jars.  Add a little ribbon, a few embellishments and a simple tag with instructions, and that completes the project!
Easy, Peesey!



(I purchase the H and H brand 30-second salsa mix because it is the one my family likes the most, and this is in no way a solicited endorsement.  Just some info about the item I like.)
HnH Brands Seasoning
We're linking up with:
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The Blackberry Vine

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Cookie Mix in a Jar-Cranberry Hooty's

I know I'm a little slow posting some of the crafting I did during the holidays, but my jewelry business has kept me so busy that I am lagging behind here, and I miss it!  So here is one of the projects I did... I made these during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, they are cookie mix in a jar gifts.  They were so fun and simple to create, and the friends I passed them on to seemed to really like it!


I only have a couple of photo's from the Christmas version of these cookies, but you will get the idea (also the pictures are not great quality, I just quickly took a few before my party started)...
The recipe and instructions are here: Cranberry Hooty's Cookies




Here is a copy of the instructions sheet I created.  It allows you to make 9 tags at 1 time.
The fabulous tags I purchased are part of a wonderful Christmas package from here:
When I made the jar mixes for Thanksgiving, my tags said 
you can buy this image at a fabulous price here:  CraftilyEvAfter.etsy.com