tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91965628273652427592024-03-17T23:03:44.696-04:00My Mind - My LifeJust some random things that are in my mind, or that happen in my life.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-50959089802520382132013-01-12T21:01:00.000-05:002013-01-17T22:42:05.151-05:00New life for old shadesOk, so I actually did this back in November..or early December. An idea came to me while I was putting some old, hand me down, plaid Christmas shades on my dining room chandelier. I thought , how yucky these light shades are getting. The plastic on the inside is yellow and not at all festive like the fun plaid outside. See!<br />
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I was sure that somewhere I had seen a table lampshade or pendant light shade that was shiny chrome like on the inside. I thought to myself, hmmm. that would be nice to have, might bounce some light around and make it brighter in here. I decided that a project was in order so I tried to think of what I could do to make these yellowed shades shiny on the inside. I thought of a few dumb ideas before I decided on what to do. <br />
Apparently I don't have pictures of the process, but really you don't need them. Get yourself some metallic paint and paint the entire inside of the shade. Not the metal prongs though..duh. I used silver because I thought it would look best. My chandi is brushed nickle. When the paint dried I mixed up some Martha Stewart glitter (love that junk!) in with some Mod Podge. I used a glossy Podge and the color of my glitter is called "White Gold". Its silver with a hint of gold. Now cover all that silver you just painted with a couple layers of the Podge / glitter mix. Let it dry and admire the awesome sparklyness of it all. <br />
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Here it is with the lights down low.<br />
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Ok, well... it didn't brighten anything up. In fact, it made it darker, but looking up from my dinner plate and seeing all those sparkles sure made me happy. Best of all, I used what I already had and all that I had to put money out for was a bottle of craft paint. Cheap!<br />
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<script src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-68881717289378724212012-10-17T13:40:00.003-04:002012-10-17T13:40:50.671-04:00Confessions Of A Sheet SnobI'm a sheet snob. There. I said it. I like my sheets all cotton, and at least 500 thread count. Even at 500tc, depending on the color, it can get a little itchy. I wasn't always this way. Thanks to a couple of family members for ruining my frugal side the past 10 or so years. In my earlier years I could get away with cheap Wal-mart sheets. Not anymore. Sad thing is they are expensive. Its so sickening, and at $60 or so a set (on sale with a coupon) you hope they will last forever. Only they don't. And a few weeks ago a very sad thing happened. My fitted sheet got a small hole which I thought to just sew shut. Well, that didn't work and the next night the stitching let out a hearty guffaw and formed into a 6 inch rip. Useless now, I broke out my backup, not as soft, fitted sheet and decided to use it until it wore out. <br />
<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Here is a picture of my bedroom before I re-arranged it and stenciled the wall. Why? Because its about time for a picture and a picture of a torn sheet is just dumb and while I am at it you might as well see the changes I made. Stay tuned. </span><br />
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Seriously wanting to buy a new set now, but trying to stay on budget and getting sick of the thought of spending a lot on sheets when the kids just shot up in size and need new jeans more than I need sheets, I gave up on the idea. (<span style="font-size: xx-small;">that was probably about 10 sentences all in one but I am not fixing it</span>) One day I was in Target and decided to see what kind of expensive sheets they had. I came across their organic sheets, which I had heard from another sheet snob, are very soft even though they are a low thread count. I really didn't need a whole set though and some of the reviews I had seen online weren't the best. Plus, I technically only need a fitted sheet..even though I will cringe every time I get into bed and the sheets don't all match. Right next to the organic sheets were open stock (?) sheets and pillowcases in all sorts of colors. They were 300tc ..hmmmm.. but, wow! they were super soft! Hubby gave me the go-ahead and I went and bought a <a href="http://www.target.com/p/target-home-300-thread-count-fitted-sheet/-/A-13819239#prodSlot=large_1_1" target="_blank">white fitted sheet</a>.<br />
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I feel untrue to myself and all my fellow sheet snobs out there for just typing that. I apologize, but I must confess.... I REALLY love it! Plus it was under $20, which is great for this budget conscious, frugal Momma. One very nice thing about it is that it really fits my mattress well. It isn't made like any other sheet I have ever bought. The sides have elastic all the way around, but it also has a thicker, sturdier fabric around the ends and sides and the sheet is almost like a slip cover. Why is this so exciting for me? Because the sheets stay snug on the bed. One thing I can't stand is sheets that bunch up or come off. I have issues apparently, but I can't get into a bed with the sheets wrinkled up (<span style="font-size: x-small;">not to be confused with wrinkled because they sat in the dryer too
long. Please. Ironed sheets are pointless. I'm not that messed up!</span>) I like the sheets as smooth as can be, just as if I had just put fresh sheets on the bed. I swear, my husband dances the <a href="http://youtu.be/UDmCSvqhhoI" target="_blank">Hokey Pokey</a> when he sleeps and even through all of that movement these sheets stay super snug! YAY, for my mental health! And Yay for not having to buy a whole set of expensive sheets!<br />Now, here is the promised after picture of my bedroom. It's still a work in progress but I am really loving the stenciled accent wall! Isn't it lovely?<br /><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-15687569344356288002012-07-16T21:44:00.003-04:002013-01-17T21:29:05.350-05:00Reusable, Washable Drink CoversIf you are on <a href="http://pinterest.com/lizzyford/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> much you have probably seen these cute drink covers.<br />
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<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/49961877086399604/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/49961877086399604_czjBmw3K_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.settingthemood.biz/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">settingthemood.biz</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/hjoyce/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Heather</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
If not, the idea is to take paper muffin cup liners, punch a hole in the middle, and insert a straw. It looks cute and keeps the bugs out. Well, I decided to take it a step further and make them reusable, like so.<br />
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Here is what I did:<br />
First I cut out a circle of fabric that would be big enough to fit on top of a mason jar. I made it big enough to fit a wide mouth jar.<br />
Next I decided that cutting out a bunch of circles free hand was a ridiculous thing to ask of myself since I can't cut very straight. So I took that first "circle" that I made and folded it in half and then half again so it looked like a pie wedge. Then I traced it on some thin cardboard that I had to make a template for the rest of the circles. All I had to do then was get a square of fabric, fold in fourths and then use the template to cut out the circle. Sorry there are no pics of that, but you are smart and you can figure it out....right?<br />
After I had a nice stack of different fabric circles I broke out my eyelet kit and added a eyelet to the center of each circle. Tip: fold in fourths again and slightly snip off the point. That will be your center hole for the grommet. I don't know the exact size on the package because I cut that part off for some reason, but I measured the hole and it is 1/4 inch across. Big enough for the straws I have on hand. Here is what it looks like on some retro fabric I had.<br />
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Next I used my pinking blade on my rotary cutter to pink the edges. This will allow me to wash them after they are used and they won't fray.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next, just take off the seal of a canning jar and screw on the ring. Now you have your own reusable drink covers. I made them all in different fabrics so that they could also be used to mark which drink is yours. You could just allow guests to choose which fabric they like so they will remember which is theirs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zkP2m1MJZ1o/UATCpfMl3II/AAAAAAAABUs/9rMnhpyaUfw/s1600/IMG_3794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zkP2m1MJZ1o/UATCpfMl3II/AAAAAAAABUs/9rMnhpyaUfw/s400/IMG_3794.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>I just used random fabrics and they really aren't what one would call pretty together. If you like you can get a pack of fat quarters. Usually they coordinate with each other. I just wanted to use what I had.<br />
Now all I need to do is have an outdoor party to put them to use, but its too dang hot out here in Atlanta!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmP5MKOEoYhYTr9KEuQoEDdjQHAZX9oNOoG-gXNBZs4PfMBL4V7HQJdS_pmIGKFqiXgod_4UHBXEXUmAg5Njdsc7_xhwOFY_nAuAGymb8mZeFSAPq9f2v2V777uYsepP3VC1-kOw8wLrIA/s1600/IMG_3790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmP5MKOEoYhYTr9KEuQoEDdjQHAZX9oNOoG-gXNBZs4PfMBL4V7HQJdS_pmIGKFqiXgod_4UHBXEXUmAg5Njdsc7_xhwOFY_nAuAGymb8mZeFSAPq9f2v2V777uYsepP3VC1-kOw8wLrIA/s640/IMG_3790.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><a class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flizzyford.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F07%2Freusable-washable-drink-covers.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-h_108cXMIy0%2FUATCa15nD1I%2FAAAAAAAABUM%2F-XASDLI27bw%2Fs640%2FIMG_3790.JPG&description=Reusable%20Drink%20Covers"><img border="0" src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/PinExt.png" title="Pin It" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;">Update: I was in Hobby Lobby and found some packs of charm square fabric. They were about 4-5 inch squares and all the edges were already pinked. So, you could leave them square and all you would have to do is add a grommet in the middle. Super fast and easy. Plus the fabrics all coordinated together. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for reading to the end,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-60816580529718725662012-06-30T19:49:00.001-04:002012-06-30T20:45:35.325-04:00Homemade Deodorant That Really Works!<br />
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I<span style="background-color: white;"> attended an outdoor wedding last night and had sweat dripping in places I didn't realize I could sweat. It got up to 102* and I am sure it must have been in the high 90's, if not 100*, at the wedding. Thankfully it was very shaded. We all were sweaty and yet the bride, as beautiful as can be, was still radiant!</span><br />
I, on the other hand, looked like I had just run a marathon. My face was bright red, my curls were limp and I entertained thoughts of going commando. No, I made that last part up.... or did I? Needless to say I was a hot mess! BUT, my armpits were fresh as a daisy! A DAISY I SAY!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo source... that would be me!)</span></div>
Ok, so that's not a daisy, but it looks fresh. Right? Hello?<br />
I got home and kept sniffing just to be sure (did I go too far with that?). I bet you want to know what deodorant I use? Well, I make my own. Psh.. of course you do Lizzy! Why? Because its non-toxic and cheap! Now I didn't come up with the recipe, I found it over at one of the most entertaining blogs I follow, The Elliot Homestead. <a href="http://theelliotthomestead.blogspot.com/2010/12/i-digress-to-deodorant.html" target="_blank">Visit her site for the recipe</a>. Read some more posts. She is HILARIOUS!!! Its a super simple recipe with only 3 ingredients. Four if you want to add essential oil. I haven't yet. I put my mixture in an old deodorant container, but I am too lazy to take a picture (its 102* at 7:30pm so lay off me!) The only problem with that is it doesn't travel so well since coconut oil is liquid at around 78*. I will have to switch to a little jar for travel. It scoops out nicely and when you rub it on your pits it melts right into your skin. I just rub whats left all over both hands. Don't you go ewww, my pits are clean! Then I rinse my hands off. It leaves them soft and moisturized too! Give it a try. I am telling you, my pits don't even have a hint of B.O. when I use this! It passed the stinky, sweaty test several times now. Its a keeper recipe.<br />
That is all I have to say. I think we all just had a moment of bonding. Did you feel it? I feel closer to you, oh gentle reader.<br />
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And now, because I feel bad for yelling at you about not taking any pictures of the deodorant, I give you this self portrait of me (myself ?).<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">You're welcome. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/76/2D5214FBC898AAB2FAF83E9BE2EEA593.png" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px !important;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-10960189854225826452012-02-20T14:29:00.001-05:002012-02-20T14:29:59.017-05:00Picnik Replacement! - iPiccyMy friend sent me a link to a <a href="http://redo101.blogspot.com/2012/02/smile-ive-found-picnik-replacement.html" target="_blank">blog</a> that links to a <a href="http://ipiccy.com/editor" target="_blank">photo editing site</a>. This site is called <a href="http://ipiccy.com/editor" target="_blank">iPiccy</a>. Its in beta right now so it has some kinks to work out but for now its a great alternative to learning Photoshop. Whew! Its a lot like Picnik and appears pretty easy to use.<br />
Thanks Google for stabbing us all in the heart when you announced that you would be closing Picnik! I know several of you are upset about that also so I thought I should share this with you all. Pass it on, blog about it, shout it from the rooftops!<br />
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One downside I see so far with iPiccy is that you can't save a bunch of pictures and then work on them later, or even stop in the middle of one and shut the web page down. I was trying to edit a picture and it crashed on me. Very frustrating, but forgivable since its beta. Perhaps I will have to save the picture often if I am doing extensive editing. At least until they work out all of the kinks.<br />
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I thought I would share a little of what they have to offer over on iPiccy. Here is a picture of one of the cutest kids in the entire world. My nephew James. It's not really the best picture to show off his cuteness. We had just finished eating a picnic lunch and he was walking around with his hands in his pockets and chocolate on his face. Not too bad, but lets see if some editing can improve it.<br />
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Here I have done a little with the contrast and , my most favorite tool I like to use when editing, local contrast. Local contrast seems to (I cringe to say this because I hate the overuse of the word) make everything pop. I also took most of the chocolate off of his face with the clone tool and brightened up his eyes. He has amazing blue eyes like his mommy.<br />
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<b>Better</b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vNOHx7aE0dU/T0KSommDJ9I/AAAAAAAABSo/D6e4C6BIujk/s1600/Jamesy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vNOHx7aE0dU/T0KSommDJ9I/AAAAAAAABSo/D6e4C6BIujk/s640/Jamesy.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
That's nothing you couldn't do with Picnik, but there are some pretty neat functions in iPiccy that Picnik didn't have. Like these!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-alOIbVoLesw/T0KW6mltd_I/AAAAAAAABSw/Bxu2afoE9c8/s1600/jamesy+effects.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-alOIbVoLesw/T0KW6mltd_I/AAAAAAAABSw/Bxu2afoE9c8/s640/jamesy+effects.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0k85mMMeBByqmriPQ9D6H8s6tYTKJZn7cDiPihtO6OxhBY89ddkoSNBHGA7kiifx3IEyKZwyQfL6TLtMsnbt-p8WEyuLnMxPgX0gevueAMbKHVfyjIgJLSR80LbBktFXo3X74J0487WMc/s1600/jamesy+effects.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0k85mMMeBByqmriPQ9D6H8s6tYTKJZn7cDiPihtO6OxhBY89ddkoSNBHGA7kiifx3IEyKZwyQfL6TLtMsnbt-p8WEyuLnMxPgX0gevueAMbKHVfyjIgJLSR80LbBktFXo3X74J0487WMc/s640/jamesy+effects.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CBe_2vlcG14/T0Kb7cdttGI/AAAAAAAABTA/YTmx4N6vrL4/s1600/jamesy+effects.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CBe_2vlcG14/T0Kb7cdttGI/AAAAAAAABTA/YTmx4N6vrL4/s1600/jamesy+effects.jpg" /></a></div>
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I think its best in B&W</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahZPJGuuokXhOVjfD_R7B88-ECdx1RuJk-dRGGOWD3f7tGMwvkAlpnBNIo_NRQ5c-w1kQzN5wv9KFeomy5jaqFQZ1B6OAQXFyG3cuGsekS-Bm23ISuzxzuZwgrsyjF-hcnzgz73uvmFqx/s1600/Jamesy+bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahZPJGuuokXhOVjfD_R7B88-ECdx1RuJk-dRGGOWD3f7tGMwvkAlpnBNIo_NRQ5c-w1kQzN5wv9KFeomy5jaqFQZ1B6OAQXFyG3cuGsekS-Bm23ISuzxzuZwgrsyjF-hcnzgz73uvmFqx/s640/Jamesy+bw.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Check it out. See what you think. Its pretty simple, user friendly and free. No registration required.<br />
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Cons:</div>
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-Seems a bit slower than Picnik.</div>
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-Not as many functions.I paid for premium on Picnik and it was way worth all the extra functions. This may not be a con for you if you just used the free functions though.</div>
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-You can't make collages, which is ok with me. I use Picasa and can do that there. </div>
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- Some of the effect functions caused the program to crash on me. Frustrating if you have just done a bunch of tedious corrections. </div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/76/2D5214FBC898AAB2FAF83E9BE2EEA593.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-40433346567109486332012-02-11T22:10:00.000-05:002013-01-17T21:32:16.012-05:00Dressed Up Chocolate Bar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hc4ZlPbrXyw/TzcrP7doJiI/AAAAAAAABQo/2Qrr7h_BHsY/s1600/IMG_2469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hc4ZlPbrXyw/TzcrP7doJiI/AAAAAAAABQo/2Qrr7h_BHsY/s640/IMG_2469.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
This is a very simple Valentines Day project. I have seen lots of people do this type of thing so it isn't anything new. It was super easy and it only took a few minutes.<br />
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Get your chocolate bar. I got a Chocolove bar because I thought it fitting for Valentines day. Plus I am a chocolate snob and Hersheys is nasty junk. I only buy it for making s'mores.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TZ3x9kALnrw/Tzcp313yq_I/AAAAAAAABQI/ej5MCdyvrsQ/s1600/IMG_2477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TZ3x9kALnrw/Tzcp313yq_I/AAAAAAAABQI/ej5MCdyvrsQ/s640/IMG_2477.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cute!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OXmrCBFoYdQ/Tzcp8cN_3QI/AAAAAAAABQQ/m55VjodmXy8/s1600/IMG_2478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OXmrCBFoYdQ/Tzcp8cN_3QI/AAAAAAAABQQ/m55VjodmXy8/s640/IMG_2478.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
This is really good chocolate too. I got the super extra dark one, 77% cacao, for myself and it was fabulous. I found this brand at the Dekalb Farmers Market (Atlanta). I haven't seen them in grocery stores so I am not really sure where to find them. Sorry.<br />
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Next, I cut a piece of red card stock to fit around the bar. I also printed off a heart patterned paper and cut it slightly smaller than the red. I wish I knew where I got the heart pattern from but I can't remember. If you don't have heart card stock you can just Google "heart pattern" and find several images to print. I taped these tightly around the bar, but not to the chocolate wrapper itself.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wNYW5MIM3k0/TzcqqAlDeBI/AAAAAAAABQY/5tdYo0mlxJQ/s1600/IMG_2476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wNYW5MIM3k0/TzcqqAlDeBI/AAAAAAAABQY/5tdYo0mlxJQ/s640/IMG_2476.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I cut the edges with this Martha Stewart paper punch. Love that thing!<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HOaQ7ZK-Frc/Tzco-ag1E1I/AAAAAAAABP4/myD9k_S_sHM/s1600/IMG_2482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HOaQ7ZK-Frc/Tzco-ag1E1I/AAAAAAAABP4/myD9k_S_sHM/s640/IMG_2482.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Then I crocheted up a super quick heart from some red yarn I had. <a href="http://www.planetjune.com/blog/free-crochet-patterns/love-hearts/" target="_blank">Here is the pattern I used</a> from Planet June. Great instructions! I made the medium sized one. It took maybe 5 minutes tops!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WdNi1To_Yd4/TzcrRxNZFpI/AAAAAAAABQw/RdC9jezfi48/s1600/IMG_2475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WdNi1To_Yd4/TzcrRxNZFpI/AAAAAAAABQw/RdC9jezfi48/s640/IMG_2475.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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I used the tail end of the yarn to make a loop big enough to fit around the bar. It can be taken off and used as a little ornament.<br />
And here it is all together. Simple. Cute. Yummy!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XYOGbKq5WzY/TzcrMv-oimI/AAAAAAAABQg/7eOK5EI-mpc/s1600/IMG_2468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XYOGbKq5WzY/TzcrMv-oimI/AAAAAAAABQg/7eOK5EI-mpc/s640/IMG_2468.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Happy Valentines Day!</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-65046636775378048072012-02-06T22:47:00.002-05:002013-01-17T21:35:40.338-05:00Spring Pom-Pom WreathSo I made a pom-pom wreath. Super easy and a nice way to use up some of the yarn in my stash.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-piuZv5dfMw8/TzCbtur3VhI/AAAAAAAABKw/ZD-or7RMmn0/s1600/IMG_6745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-piuZv5dfMw8/TzCbtur3VhI/AAAAAAAABKw/ZD-or7RMmn0/s640/IMG_6745.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I started with a large straw wreath that I had bought half off at Hobby Lobby this Fall. Then I wrapped it in some pink fabric from my fabric stash. Not necessary, but I didn't know if all that hot glue I was going to be adding to it would melt the plastic that was on the wreath and I didn't want to take off the plastic because straw wreaths are messy. Nothing fancy, just glue it on and cover up all of the straw.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrmI72OL37iQPtCA677eN6r0ghzvngaroduxKQAZXxF8Lo9M_tetUP2svlOw5IfNkx0A49rll7U-eHkVZWSD0d9REwst4fsx5RLpM1q9__Ip7h-IpZjSxWE82YfBhkWiITiBYFSPvusqX/s1600/IMG_6743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrmI72OL37iQPtCA677eN6r0ghzvngaroduxKQAZXxF8Lo9M_tetUP2svlOw5IfNkx0A49rll7U-eHkVZWSD0d9REwst4fsx5RLpM1q9__Ip7h-IpZjSxWE82YfBhkWiITiBYFSPvusqX/s400/IMG_6743.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
I am ashamed to actually be posting that picture, but it was the only one I had. :-/<br />
Next I made a bazillion and one pom-poms with my<a href="http://lizzyford.blogspot.com/2011/12/easy-way-to-make-pom-poms.html" target="_blank"> finger wrapping method</a>, and hot glued them on. I tried to glue them on so that no two exact colors were right next to each other or too close together. I wanted a random look so I didn't line them up directly next to each other either.. well some of them were like in the above pic.<br />
That's about it. The only pain in the butt was making those pom-poms. I guess it wasn't a pain so much as boring. I did make most of them while watching Netflix though so that helped.<br />
I think if I ever did this again I would probably use a smaller wreath. Maybe 12inch instead of 18inch.<br />
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I used 5 different colors of yarn. Any more and it may have been a bit too much....or maybe it is already?<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vGLXfI2TQX4/TzCbyiDQ2UI/AAAAAAAABK4/6qItpzVRQ6w/s1600/IMG_6747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vGLXfI2TQX4/TzCbyiDQ2UI/AAAAAAAABK4/6qItpzVRQ6w/s640/IMG_6747.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
I am pretty pleased with it. I thought to hang it like you see on my front door. Only I couldn't keep it there permanently because I was imagining how hot it was getting already and the bugs that might like to make their homes in the softy-wofty pom-poms. Mainly wasps. eeek! It only stayed on the door long enough to take these pictures.<br />
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Hmmm. What do you think? Does it need something else? I just felt like adding anything else might make it look overboard. Am I right? I dunno.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QuMR4alUb7s/TzCZqnfIOjI/AAAAAAAABKg/JZ3FLKATDTs/s1600/IMG_6744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QuMR4alUb7s/TzCZqnfIOjI/AAAAAAAABKg/JZ3FLKATDTs/s640/IMG_6744.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://thecsiproject.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Visit thecsiproject.com" class="aligncenter" src="http://thecsiproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/thecsiproject.com-logo-150.png" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-42688180917955216502012-01-27T14:50:00.004-05:002012-01-27T14:50:30.535-05:00Tube Map BroochI have an incredibly talented Sister-in-law. Her name is Amy and she is amazing. She is my inspiration for many things in life including being crafty and decorating. Which I stink at, but she inspires me. Unfortunately she doesn't blog. Shes a busy, homschooling momma to 2 of the most adorable, active little boys I know. I just love going to her house and looking around at all of the awesome ideas, new and old, that she comes up with. I told her I was going to blog about her house occasionally. This post is not about her house, yet, but about a birthday present she made for me this month.<br />You may remember that I <a href="http://lizzyford.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-thought-i-would-share-few-pictures.html" target="_blank">went to England</a> this Fall. Amy was one of the 7 ladies in our group that went. We had such an amazing time and formed memories to last us forever. Well for my birthday she made me this brooch. It is all about some of those memories from our England trip.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jE6Ruq7-kIo/TyL7XJQFgNI/AAAAAAAABJY/1g5png23fAs/s1600/IMG_2308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jE6Ruq7-kIo/TyL7XJQFgNI/AAAAAAAABJY/1g5png23fAs/s640/IMG_2308.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
Now to you this may just be a lovely little brooch. To me it represents the most amazing time of my life!<br />
Its a London Tube map! I love how she added that to the back.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eNpE4qGhb3Y/TyL7eY9LAhI/AAAAAAAABJw/X8MBGhW6afY/s1600/IMG_2311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eNpE4qGhb3Y/TyL7eY9LAhI/AAAAAAAABJw/X8MBGhW6afY/s640/IMG_2311.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
I am not exactly sure how she made it, but I do know that a printer and Mod Podge was involved.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a_3nxqvdK0w/TyL7Zl_5tII/AAAAAAAABJg/tSPuztC5YDE/s1600/IMG_2309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a_3nxqvdK0w/TyL7Zl_5tII/AAAAAAAABJg/tSPuztC5YDE/s640/IMG_2309.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
You may be wondering what the Waitrose thing in the middle is? Ok.. this may seem silly but it is from a grocery store that we fell in love with. A<a href="http://www.waitrose.com/" target="_blank"> grocery store</a> you say? Yes. It was AMAZING! I loved seeing all of the different foods that they sell and the freshness of those foods. There was no yellow cheese there. Yellow cheese is not natural and since I am trying to be more natural I was amazed. It doesn't take much to amaze me.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HU9YZMDvvdU/TyL7b17v7fI/AAAAAAAABJo/bFfkFRWPU-U/s1600/IMG_2310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HU9YZMDvvdU/TyL7b17v7fI/AAAAAAAABJo/bFfkFRWPU-U/s640/IMG_2310.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
This little green disk was given to us when we were paying at the check-out. It was basically a vote for which charity you wanted to receive a big donation. This is a copy of that token but it brings fond memories of our visit. Waitrose was about as exciting to me as Stonehenge. I kid you not. <span style="font-size: x-small;">( If you are from the U.K. please don't make fun of me. It was amazing I say!)</span><br />
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I have worn it like intended. Pinned to my shirt.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IUlVga19uBI/TyL7hRhyxsI/AAAAAAAABJ4/_5jhppOVNl8/s1600/IMG_2312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IUlVga19uBI/TyL7hRhyxsI/AAAAAAAABJ4/_5jhppOVNl8/s640/IMG_2312.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And also pinned to the side of a necklace. like so.<br />
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Or my favorite, this blue beaded one.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VRax4gpRMyc/TyL-4K8KnZI/AAAAAAAABKI/W1TRm7czTg0/s1600/IMG_2307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VRax4gpRMyc/TyL-4K8KnZI/AAAAAAAABKI/W1TRm7czTg0/s640/IMG_2307.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Isn't Amy awesome?<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/76/2D5214FBC898AAB2FAF83E9BE2EEA593.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-60132908364419837802012-01-24T13:39:00.002-05:002013-01-17T21:37:34.771-05:00Toiletpaper TissuesI found something the other day, while browsing the internet, that made me say...duh! Of course I didn't bookmark it.. duh.. and now I can't find it but it was so smart. Maybe it was something on Pinterest? Anyways, this person took an old tissue box and put a roll of toilet paper in it to use as tissues. Now maybe I am slow and you all are saying, duh Lizzy! That is soooo last year! Well, it was new to me. I have had to resort to using toilet paper as tissues before, and maybe that is all you use to blow your nose, but this made it seem more sophisticated. I had to try it. Here is what I did.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Take a roll of toiletpaper and cut out the tube in the middle. I used my fingers to loosen it up a bit first so I didn't cut the toiletpaper.</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Z483diBPFU/Tx7zf-BjL6I/AAAAAAAABIo/yCRMFVofgXY/s1600/IMG_2356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Z483diBPFU/Tx7zf-BjL6I/AAAAAAAABIo/yCRMFVofgXY/s640/IMG_2356.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Those are my awesome $4 blue, flannel snowflake pants. Yay for sales! I also got a bright green pair :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Now pull out the tube, </b><b> It came out quite easily,</b><b> and ooooo look! Select-a-size tissues! A size for all sorts of snotty/boogery situations.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-umdArDygp8Y/Tx7zkeicusI/AAAAAAAABI4/HovvCfWskE0/s1600/IMG_2358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-umdArDygp8Y/Tx7zkeicusI/AAAAAAAABI4/HovvCfWskE0/s640/IMG_2358.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>Instead of reusing an old tissue box, like the post I read did, I used a metal tissue box cover I had picked up at Big Lots last year. It was super cheap.. maybe $2. I like box covers for my tissues because I can't stand it when you get to the end of the box and you go to pick up a tissue and the whole box comes with it. The cover keeps things where they belong, on the table/counter/dresser...etc. Also, it works nicely to cover up that roll of toiletpaper! See! The roll is a perfect size.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kpvCZCmBrDg/Tx72AFzXMZI/AAAAAAAABJA/8Dt0rfGqmpc/s1600/IMG_2359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kpvCZCmBrDg/Tx72AFzXMZI/AAAAAAAABJA/8Dt0rfGqmpc/s640/IMG_2359.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><a class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flizzyford.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F01%2Ftoiletpaper-tissues.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-kpvCZCmBrDg%2FTx72AFzXMZI%2FAAAAAAAABJA%2F8Dt0rfGqmpc%2Fs640%2FIMG_2359.JPG&description=Toilet%20paper%20tissues"><img border="0" src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/PinExt.png" title="Pin It" /></a> <br />
I could probably even get one of those massive jumbo rolls and it would fit. This roll is big and one step down from jumbo.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Well, there you have it. Simple. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l6YRaQvjgIk/Tx72CSKoBZI/AAAAAAAABJI/Q2cGGu77Hls/s1600/IMG_2363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l6YRaQvjgIk/Tx72CSKoBZI/AAAAAAAABJI/Q2cGGu77Hls/s640/IMG_2363.JPG" width="480" /></a></div> I didn't do the math, but this should be cheaper than a box of tissues (up to 10x according to something I read). Of course it depends on the brand you like to use. I don't like John Wayne toiletpaper (rough and tough and don't take no crap from nobody) so I get Charmin Strong. I always hate to buy tissues because of the price. I wish I had seen this a long time ago.<br />
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Oooh! I just thought of something. You could use this instead of a toiletpaper holder if you have one of those awkward bathrooms that have no place for a paper holder and your only option is the back of the door... or whatever.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Thanks for reading to the end,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/76/2D5214FBC898AAB2FAF83E9BE2EEA593.png" style="background-color: transparent; border-width: 0px ! important;" /></a></div><br />
<script type="text/javascript" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-43012618646503425182012-01-20T20:31:00.000-05:002012-01-20T20:31:34.782-05:00Valentine Day TreeI still don't have a box or place to store <a href="http://lizzyford.blogspot.com/2011/11/its-beginning-to-look-lot-like.html" target="_blank">my bedroom Christmas tree</a> so I decided to keep it there another year. Or until I get sick of it and force myself to deal with it. But I love it so much. It fills a corner of our big room and puts off a lovely glow. So I decided to go ahead and decorate it for Valentines Day using stuff I already had. I just took down all of my Christmas decorations today. Yes. I just didn't feel like dealing with the stuff. Such a hassle!<br />
It is really hard to photograph this tree. I think it is always much nicer than the pictures show.<br />
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I am not a very good bow maker but it works. I bought this pink glittery ribbon at Michaels on clearance after last Christmas. <br />
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Since this tree had some pink balls on it already from the Christmas decor I just left them on and hung up some little pink hearts I bought at Big Lots last year.<br />
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Under the tree I put some pink tulle on top of the white fabric skirt that was already there. Under it is just a small string of lights I had put there at Christmas.<br />Here it is with the flash on so you can see all the pinkness. My daughter just LOVES it!<br />
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That's about the only Valentine decorating I will do. Simplicity. I figure since I have the tree up already it might as well be put to a good use.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/76/2D5214FBC898AAB2FAF83E9BE2EEA593.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-27988463282452821432012-01-07T21:13:00.000-05:002013-01-17T21:55:16.601-05:00Homemade Foaming Hand Soap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mMSNT3xzlI/Twjy19QUANI/AAAAAAAABHc/8p3vR99zbwk/s1600/IMG_2302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mMSNT3xzlI/Twjy19QUANI/AAAAAAAABHc/8p3vR99zbwk/s640/IMG_2302.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Last year I decided to <a href="http://lizzyford.blogspot.com/2011/03/toxic-beauty.html" target="_blank">start making my own non-toxic health and beauty products</a>. I made my own <a href="http://lizzyford.blogspot.com/2011/03/natural-non-toxic-moisturizer.html" target="_blank">face cream</a>,<a href="http://lizzyford.blogspot.com/2011/03/non-toxic-lip-balm-using-recycled-lip.html" target="_blank"> lip balm</a>, <a href="http://lizzyford.blogspot.com/2011/05/non-toxic-lotion-bar-recipe.html" target="_blank">lotion bars</a> and <a href="http://lizzyford.blogspot.com/2011/07/homemade-sunscreen.html" target="_blank">sunscreen</a>. Of course I still make my own <a href="http://lizzyford.blogspot.com/2009/02/home-made-laundry-soap.html" target="_blank">laundry soap</a> too.<br />
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I intended to write this post for nearly a year now but I have also been making my own hand soap this year. I started off making my own liquid hand soap, but I didn't like it so much. Mostly because I used scraps of soap I had laying around and it smelled funky. Plus I just didn't care for the consistency of it. It was like the goo from a snot flower. I don't know the real name, but growing up in Florida we had these purple flowers in our yard and when picked there was a clear goo in the middle.. like snot... but clear. Ok. so.. right then. Here is what it looked like (the soap that is).<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-caA8JjkgBJI/TwjpCPRmaVI/AAAAAAAABG0/2dUTdJiX8mg/s1600/IMG_6201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-caA8JjkgBJI/TwjpCPRmaVI/AAAAAAAABG0/2dUTdJiX8mg/s320/IMG_6201.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="http://familyoffarmers.blogspot.com/2011/11/liquid-hand-soap-diy.html" target="_blank">The Farmers Nest</a> blog has a great tutorial on how to make liquid soap from a bar. I didn't bother Googling how to make mine so it wasn't very fabulous. I really wanted to use it in a foaming pump dispenser stretching it even further. It just didn't always dispense all that well from the foam pumps and needed to be shaken a lot. So I decided to try another method.<br />
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First off you will need some foaming soap pumps. I had done some Googling on foaming pumps and most everyone said the ones from Bath and Body Works were the best to be had. Well I didn't want to spend a lot of money for their soap just for the containers so I searched for cheap foaming pumps. Turns out it was just cheaper for me to get the B&B soap. I had been receiving daily (grrr B&B) email from them and in one they announced a clearance sale online with free shipping on a $20 (or $25 maybe) order. So I got right on there and ordered 10 bottles because I needed 3-4 and what if one or two broke? I now have spares.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NACdcWHTiK4/Twjqui_kXlI/AAAAAAAABG8/PX6_My3m11I/s1600/Fall-Winter+2010+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NACdcWHTiK4/Twjqui_kXlI/AAAAAAAABG8/PX6_My3m11I/s640/Fall-Winter+2010+003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
I had thought to just use the soap in it then gradually refill it with my homemade stuff, but that Twisted Peppermint stanks! (sorry to those who love it) I can't deal well with artificial fragrances as I get headaches/migraines and allergies flare up. It also contains <a href="http://safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=718" target="_blank">Triclosan</a>, as well as other stuff I don't need to get clean, and I want to <a href="http://www.ewg.org/triclosanguide" target="_blank">avoid that in my products</a>. <br />
So I just emptied it out, saved it for a while because it seemed wrong to pour it down my drain, or throw it away. Eventually decided to pour it out and.. where was I? Oh. So I poured it out peeled off the labels and cleaned up the sticky residue with Goo Gone (love) and then soap and water.<br />
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Next, choose a liquid Castile soap that you love, or make your own if you want. This is way easier.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PyZ3MG80ySE/TwjuLHpSOtI/AAAAAAAABHE/543lRLHNngg/s1600/IMG_2306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PyZ3MG80ySE/TwjuLHpSOtI/AAAAAAAABHE/543lRLHNngg/s640/IMG_2306.JPG" width="640" /></a> You all probably know of Dr. Bronner's but there is another cheaper one (like $6 less a bottle) that I found out about just after <span style="font-size: xx-small;">like within minutes and I couldn't change the order<span style="font-size: small;"> I ordered</span> </span>the Dr. Bronners that I actually like better. It is called Dr. Woods. You can get Dr. Bronners just about anywhere. My local grocery stores sell it and so does Target. It is several dollars cheaper from Trader Joes if you have one. My TJ's only had peppermint, sadly. Those above are the 3 that I have acquired. I prefer the Dr. Wood's. It may be because of the shea butter in it, but it seems nicer to me. Both are organic, so yay!<br />
You could even find a plain castile soap and add essential oils to make your own smell if you like.<br />
I bought my Lavender and <a href="http://www.vitacost.com/productResults.aspx?x=0&y=0&ntk=products&ss=1&Ntt=dr.%20woods">Dr. Wood's</a> from <a href="http://vitacost.com/">Vitacost.com</a> . I love that site as they have very good prices on vitamins and lots of other stuff. <br />
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Once you have your soap picked out fill your thoroughly clean dispenser about 1/4 to 1/3 full of castile soap. In mine it was about 1/4 cup or 2oz. of soap. <br />
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Finally, fill the rest of the bottle with water, but not all the way up to the top. Leave about an inch for the pump. Shake it up and enjoy. Thats it. Super simple. Can't believe it took all of that writing for such an easy recipe!<br />
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Note that this will not be as slippy and slimy as your normal soap. It will get your hands clean though and you will get used to the feel of it. I did add a dash (didn't measure) of vegetable glycerine to the one I made for this tutorial just to try it out. It may help take away that feeling that I am having a really hard time describing. Its like.. your hands are stripped of all moisture and they drag.. does that even make sense? Only they are not dry. I use this soap because my kids and I get eczema hands and this soap makes a big difference. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RxxtqtUm5X0/Twjy4fDjIyI/AAAAAAAABHk/kRsdSO3Z-uo/s1600/IMG_2304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RxxtqtUm5X0/Twjy4fDjIyI/AAAAAAAABHk/kRsdSO3Z-uo/s640/IMG_2304.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I figured out that this soap costs me $0.56 a bottle. I am telling you friends, you seriously should consider making your own products. This is way cheap. I think you can get even cheaper if you use bar soap melted and heavily watered down. Even with having to purchase the bottles (about $2 for me) it is cheaper than buying it. The best part is that the ingredients are non-toxic and gentle on my skin. <br />
One way to save is if you have a friend who uses B&B foaming soap ask them for the bottles that they most likely throw away. Then direct them to my blog so they can make their own soap.. after you have gotten a few bottles that is. I didn't have any friends so I had to buy mine.<br />
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Guess what? You can also use this as dish washing soap (Not dishwasher!).<br />
Also, I re-used a Kandoo foaming shampoo container and the kids use this concoction as shampoo and even body wash! Its gentle so you could wash your face with it also. I haven't actually tried that yet but it says on the bottle you can. Yay for multi-purpose items!<br />
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I hope you will give this a try.<br />
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<script src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-29874787392791530322011-12-30T12:16:00.000-05:002011-12-30T12:16:29.461-05:00Easy way to make pom-pomsI thought I would show you how I make pom-poms like the one I made for my <a href="http://lizzyford.blogspot.com/2011/12/diy-hat-and-mittens-from-old-sweater.html" target="_blank">recycled sweater hat.</a><br />
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First I cut a piece of yarn from the same yarn I want to make my pom-pom out of. Cut it about 6-8 inches long. Next slide it between your ring and middle finger like you are flossing your teeth. This will be used later to secure the pom-pom.</div>
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Next start wrapping the yarn around your fingers a million times or until it is very thick. Be careful not to wrap up the yarn you flossed your fingers with. A heavier weight yarn (thicker) will work up quicker and take less yarn than a
light weight one. The one I used for this tutorial is a bulky weight (#5) washable wool. It just depends on the look you like. I found that the thicker yarn gives it a fluffier appearance.</div>
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When your fingers are nicely cocooned in yarn, cut it from the skein/ball. Now take the two loose ends of your finger floss and bring them up to the top of your fingers like so. </div>
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Either get a willing person to tie it into a VERY tight knot for you, or gently slide it off of your fingers and tie it yourself. This is what you will end up with. <br />
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Now take your scissors and start cutting the middle of the loops all the way around. This picture shows half of the loops cut. <br />
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On this pom-pom I chose to keep the 2 ends from the finger floss long so that I could use them to tie the finished pom-pom onto the top of my hat. You may need to trim up any longer than average ends on your pom-pom. If you don't need the tie just trim it to match the other strands of yarn. <br />
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Its really super quick and easy. I made a bunch the other night while watching Netflix. Made with my fingers they are about 3 inch sized pom-poms. Just use less fingers for smaller sizes. No need to buy a pom-pom maker!</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/76/2D5214FBC898AAB2FAF83E9BE2EEA593.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-37064725611151652582011-12-29T20:48:00.000-05:002011-12-29T20:48:44.273-05:00DIY Hat and Mittens From an Old SweaterI have a pin on Pinterest from MarthaStewart.com. They used an old wool sweater and <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/265999/one-of-a-kind-woolen-gifts" target="_blank">made mittens from it.</a> I thought it was a great idea so last time I was in Goodwill I found a sweater that was half off and gave it a try. I am pretty sure the sweater was under $2. Here is a blurry picture of it.<br />
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The Martha Stewart one tells you to wash the wool to felt it. Mine is
cotton so that won't happen, which is fine with me. I decided to use the
sleeves to make my mittens. and to make them long to keep my wrists
warm.<br />
First I cut off the sleeve to a length an inch or so longer than I wanted the mitten. <br />
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Then I cut out a mitten shape . I put my hand in the sleeve and cut around my fingers and thumb leaving about a half inch or so for a seam. <br />
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Next I used turned the pieces right sides together and used my sewing machine to stitch around the raw edges. I started with a zigzag stitch but I think a straight stitch works better. I decided to use my serger to finish off the edges but it will work just fine with just your sewing machine if you don't have a serger. Though I must say that I love my serger and think anyone who likes to sew should own one.<br />
Sadly I didn't take many pictures of the mitten making process. I was in a hurry to make them and leave the house. I did a little more cutting and sewing around the wrist on the thumb side to make it more fitted. Sorry.. this tutorial stinks, but you get the idea.<br />
Here they are done.<br />
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Pretty cool huh?<br />
This next one you can see where I shaped the thumb side wrist part. It feels more snug now. <br />
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That done I decided that I would try to make a hat with the bottom edge of the sweater. I cut off a chunk from the bottom and used my husbands hat as a guide for cutting it out.<br />
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As with the mittens I just serged around the raw edges, wrong sides together. I also sewed a ... I guess its a dart in the top. Like the store bought one in the picture above has. Here is what it looks like from the inside. It just gives it a more rounded appearance.<br />
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The "darts" are the bumps at the top and bottom and the left and right are the seams from where I sewed the 2 halves together. Does that make sense to anyone but me?<br />
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I made a pom-pom for the top and here is the finished hat.<br />
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I have a huge head for a girl so I don't think it looks all that grand on me, but its a pretty cute hat. <br />
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The sweater I bought was a ladies small and here is all the sweater I have left.<br />
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You could make hats and mittens for the whole family with a giant mans sweater! ... <a href="http://lizzyford.blogspot.com/2011/11/sweater-wreath.html" target="_blank">And a wreath and pillows</a>!<br />
Yay for upcycling!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/76/2D5214FBC898AAB2FAF83E9BE2EEA593.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-38942445421024873672011-12-23T16:58:00.000-05:002012-01-24T16:47:05.356-05:00Homemade Hot CocoaI did it. I made my own hot cocoa. Its so ridiculously easy! Why didn't I do this before? Its cheaper. OK so I didn't do the math, but it has to be. If it isn't at least its better for you which is priceless right? So. It's cheaper, better for you and better tasting than the envelope crap. I happened to use mostly organic ingredients so that is a plus for me.<br />
Here is what you need.<br />
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Plus salt and cayenne which I didn't photograph.<br />
You don't have to use organic ingredients, of course. I just try to whenever possible because I know its better for us. <br />
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<b>Homemade (mostly Organic) Hot Cocoa Mix:</b><br />
<br />
<b>1 1/2 cups of organic sugar (2 cups if you like it sweeter. I don't like a lot of sugar)</b><br />
<b>2 cups organic cocoa powder </b><br />
<b>1 TBSP good cinnamon</b><br />
<b>2 dashes of sea salt (scant 1/8 tsp)</b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">optional:</span></b><br />
<b>2 small dashes of cayenne pepper</b><br />
<b></b><br />
Just mix all ingredients together then add 1 super heaping soup spoon <span style="font-size: x-small;">(is that right? The big one in your flatware set? I just call it a shovel.)</span> to your hot milk or if you prefer, water. I suggest milk. I use Publix brand organic milk. <br />
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Stir thoroughly and enjoy! <br />
Its always better in a favorite mug. I used to have a thing for
flamingos when I was a teen and this cup is from that flamingo obsessed time
period. I still smile whenever I see them.<br />
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One thing I did was to use my food processor to pulverize the sugar. Since I use organic sugar its darker and the granules are larger than normal white sugar. So to make it melt faster in the hot milk and keep it from sinking to the bottom of the dry mix, I ran the sugar in the food processor with the blade attachment for a minute or so. I am not really sure what to do if you don't have a food processor. Sorry. (update: duh! Use powdered sugar. drrrrr!)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IRAkfoIVayI/TvTpDnG1YrI/AAAAAAAABCo/2aqluigktEw/s1600/IMG_2195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IRAkfoIVayI/TvTpDnG1YrI/AAAAAAAABCo/2aqluigktEw/s640/IMG_2195.JPG" width="640" /></a>See the difference? The one on the right is the pulverized sugar.</div>
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I just used my food processor to mix in the rest of the ingredients since it was already dirty. You can just stir it all together or put it in a jar and shake if you don't have a food processor.<br />
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Penzey's Spices has some awesome cinnamon that I used. If you are reading this and decide you don't want to make your own cocoa mix Penzey's has the most amazing hot cocoa mix ever with most of the same ingredients as this mix. I used the same type, Ceylon cinnamon, that they used in the mix that I bought last month. There are no preservatives, dairy, or "what is that" ingredients.<br />
<br />
By the way, here is the ingredient list from Nestle Rich Hot Chocolate Mix <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">-Sugar,
Corn Syrup Solids, Partially Hydrogenated Coconut or Palm Kernal Oil,
Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Dairy Product Solids (From Milk), Cocoa
(Processed with Alkali), Calcium Carbonate, Contains Less Than 2% of:,
Salt, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Caseinate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium
Citrate, Guar Gum, Skim Milk, Sodium Aluminosilicate, Mono and
Diglycerides, Artificial Flavors, Sucralose</span><br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Why must it have all that crap in it?</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Seriously. Make your own. <br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span> <br />
<br />
Store in an airtight container. I got this one for $5 at Publix last year. A mason jar would have worked too, but this was my hot chocolate pack container and I love it. <br />
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Hope you give this a try and enjoy your homemade hot cocoa! <br />
Thanks for reading.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/76/2D5214FBC898AAB2FAF83E9BE2EEA593.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-66235235201128887692011-12-19T16:30:00.001-05:002011-12-19T16:30:06.827-05:00Negative Covered LampSeveral years ago I saw this awesome project online and fell in love with it. I have wanted to do it for so long and I finally did! <br />
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It's just an <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00029225/" target="_blank">IKEA GRONO lamp</a> with negatives Mod Podged all over it. Super simple. If you need a tutorial, <a href="http://www.poopscape.com/projects/grono%20lamp/gronolamp.htm" target="_blank">Poopscape Projects</a> (am I the only one that giggled over that name?) is where I got the idea. I really love the look of B&W negatives, but I only had one set and couldn't find them. Plus they were of my son as a baby, and negatives of people are rather creepy..... especially babies. You see some people in the lamp I made, but I tried to stick to landscape or objects. Like these from Yellowstone. <br />
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The only tip I have is to bend your negatives at the corners before you Mod Podge them on. I laid them out in the order that I wanted them, bent for the corners and then MP'ed them. I chose to stagger them so the seams between each negative (photo) were not lined up. I also had to overlap some of the top and bottom seams to cover all of the lamp. That's it. See? So simple. <br />
I would love to make another one with slides! How fun would that be?!?!?! <br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/76/2D5214FBC898AAB2FAF83E9BE2EEA593.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-73701159680075743732011-12-16T16:50:00.001-05:002011-12-16T16:50:44.960-05:00Photo FridayOh crapmas tree, Oh crapmas tree.....<br /><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/76/2D5214FBC898AAB2FAF83E9BE2EEA593.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-50353763895294346672011-12-14T15:37:00.000-05:002011-12-15T10:35:12.596-05:00Homemade Christmas OrnamentsI have been working on my Pinterest crafty boards making things that I have pinned. Lately its been ornaments. I have a few to show you today. <br />
Last week we had our annual ladies ornament exchange at our church. We do it Yankee swap<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">(</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">C</span>hinese Gift Exchange, Dirty Santa, Thieving<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Secret Santa</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">, Parcel Pass, Christmas Swamp Thing, or Pollyanna)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> </span>style. Usually my homemade ornaments aren't too popular, but this year it actually got "stolen" as many times as it could before being "frozen". It made me happy. Here is the ornament I made.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4JNq6-9NVBLFisqU341ochDFwxSGM3CVOxXbSdfRMmHP8uBr3tbV38jCpcaPnFTRcz2C9jNsO4whcibq48FXs8vf_cTvEngSq__0pMo01JQ-6H4N-Xl9XpKZB1pJtOkRL8JXu-1tee6s/s1600/IMG_2047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4JNq6-9NVBLFisqU341ochDFwxSGM3CVOxXbSdfRMmHP8uBr3tbV38jCpcaPnFTRcz2C9jNsO4whcibq48FXs8vf_cTvEngSq__0pMo01JQ-6H4N-Xl9XpKZB1pJtOkRL8JXu-1tee6s/s640/IMG_2047.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>I always wanted to try quilling so I googled quilled snowflakes and found a site that had snowflakes and patterns you could buy to show you how to make a quilled snowflake in a glass ornament. I wasn't willing to pay the money for it so I thought I would try it out myself. I just read up on the basics of quilling and did my own design. I used some medical forceps (long gripping type, scissor handled like tools) and tacky glue and constructed it like a ship in a bottle.<br />
You probably can't tell from the picture, but it is not a round ball, its one of those disk type ornaments.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p6AZJE1Pv4Y/Tuj-Zf7Lu8I/AAAAAAAABBM/lSM-lzkdriU/s1600/IMG_2046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p6AZJE1Pv4Y/Tuj-Zf7Lu8I/AAAAAAAABBM/lSM-lzkdriU/s640/IMG_2046.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>This pic is the ornament held up to a lampshade. <br />
Once it was all dry I added some iridescent "snow" and tied a double sided ribbon and loop to hang it to the top.<br />
It is very simple, but time consuming. This is my first quilled project. You can buy quilling paper that is pre-cut and tools for rolling the paper, but I used printer paper that I cut (not as perfect as the store stuff) and used my free tools, that God gave me, to roll the paper (fingers). I added a "crystal" to the middle of it also. You cant really tell from the photos. It gives it a little extra bling. <br />
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Here is another ornament I made just because I thought she was cute.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJsPHNH5blA/TukBaElIPrI/AAAAAAAABBc/SxUTKiAqSdA/s1600/IMG_2076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJsPHNH5blA/TukBaElIPrI/AAAAAAAABBc/SxUTKiAqSdA/s640/IMG_2076.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>A felt and embroidery Matryoshka doll ornament. I got the directions and inspiration from <a href="http://mysparkle.blogspot.com/2010/11/matryoshka-doll-ornament.html" target="_blank">My Sparkle blog</a>. Hers is much cuter.. I think mine looks a bit like one of those Pai Dong Long Neck People. Still, I love her. Doesn't she have a sweet face? <br />
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Yesterday I was in Old Navy and passed by the huge impulse buy items in the checkout lanes. I impulsively decided that my daughter needed a pink, glitter water bracelet and my son needed a six pack of press and go mustaches. He was like.. "What do I need those for!". I replied to be cool and that I would wear one too. So I did.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A9JLATeOsHU/TukGPVprF-I/AAAAAAAABBk/NmiZmxRNVwA/s1600/stache+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A9JLATeOsHU/TukGPVprF-I/AAAAAAAABBk/NmiZmxRNVwA/s640/stache+me.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>When I was done playing I got an ah-ha moment. I decided that it would be perfect for sort of recreating a little ornament I had pinned on Pinterest. Here it is. I think it quite hilarious. <br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/24769866670154725/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/24769866670154725_Unnl5ZBG_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;"> Source: <a href="http://www.wanelo.com/entertainment/Christmas+Ornament+Ceramic+Ball+with+Mustache+by+LennyMud+on+Etsy-262006.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">wanelo.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/lizzyford/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Elizabeth</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
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Here is my version. My husband pointed out that they misspelled staching so I made sure to do it right on mine. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kiG8Gq2dnM/TumEDamFuVI/AAAAAAAABBs/94eCS8CQe4Y/s1600/Mustache+ornament.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kiG8Gq2dnM/TumEDamFuVI/AAAAAAAABBs/94eCS8CQe4Y/s640/Mustache+ornament.JPG" width="480" /></a></div> It took me too many tries to write the wording with a paint pen. My print is awful, and this was a "good" one. I was going to use my Cricut but I let a friend borrow it. I may still re-do it, but for now it works. I used a disk ornament filled, once again, with "snow". I tell ya, that little bag had more "snow" in it than the whole state of Georgia gets in a year.. maybe two. Next I tied it off with a cute ribbon scrap I had been <strike>saving</strike> hoarding for many many years.<br />
And thats all!<br />
Made any cute ornaments lately? Do share! I always need inspiration.<br />
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Linking to:<br />
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<a href="http://thecsiproject.com" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://thecsiproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/thecsiproject.com-logo-150.png" alt="Visit thecsiproject.com"></a><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-41165705399056917922011-12-14T12:50:00.000-05:002011-12-14T12:50:24.942-05:00Christmas Canvas RedemptionFirst of all let me say how excited I am. I just reached 50 followers!!! I never expected to get any, let alone 50. Thank you all! <br />
So, I had the "bright" idea of taking the calendar pages from my daughters My Little Pony calendar and turning it into cheap artwork for her bedroom wall. The calendar was only a buck last year so the pages are made out of recycled toilet paper.. or something. They are that thin. I thought I would Mod Podge a few onto some 12x12 canvas<a href="http://lizzyford.blogspot.com/2011/02/make-your-own-canvas-photos.html" target="_blank"> like I did with my family photos</a>. It didn't turn out so well. <br />
So now I had 2 canvases that were ruined with these ugly ponies on them.<br />
The other day I saw a Facebook post from <a href="http://www.modpodgerocksblog.com/2011/12/mod-podge-christmas-tree-canvas.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ModPodgeRocks+%28Mod+Podge+Rocks%29&utm_content=FaceBook" target="_blank">Mod Podge Rocks</a> (love that blog!), where a blogger took a canvas and made it into a Christmassy scene with scrapbook paper. Here it is. <br />
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Source: <a href="http://www.mylifeandkids.com/2011/11/ho-ho-holidays-mod-podge-christmas.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">mylifeandkids.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/lizzyford/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Elizabeth</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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I pinned it on Pinterest. By the way if you are not on Pinterest you
should be. If you are, you should follow me and I should be following
you.<br />
<a href="http://pinterest.com/lizzyford/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="26" src="http://passets-cdn.pinterest.com/images/follow-on-pinterest-button.png" width="156" /></a><br />
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Isn't it adorable? I figured I could do this and hopefully redeem my ugly canvases. I had just happened to buy a Christmas paper pack from Hobby Lobby (50% off). Here is the worst of the 2 ruined canvases that I used for this project. I tried to peel the page off and that didn't turn out so well either.<br />
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I used a paper for the background, unlike the inspiration picture, for obvious reasons. Still, if I had started with a blank canvas I would still use a background paper. I like the look. I used that light green one with snowflakes.<br />
Here is my version. (click on inspiration pic link for directions if you need them)<br />
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I love it! You can still see some of the wrinkles from the pony pic underneath, but its not so bad. <br />For the tree trunks I used a paper coffee cup sleeve I happened to have. Ric-rack was used for the ground/snow. I Mod Podged and/or glued everything down. <br />
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For the tops of the trees I decided to use some "crystal" snowflake stickers I had bought the same time as the paper. Also half off ! <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3N_csmr9ko/TujcIju5cGI/AAAAAAAABAs/_WBiuOPWTDk/s1600/IMG_2083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3N_csmr9ko/TujcIju5cGI/AAAAAAAABAs/_WBiuOPWTDk/s640/IMG_2083.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div>
Ever go just a step too far in your crafting? I do all the time. I added some ribbon braiding to the side of the canvas and may have gone too far. Maybe not. Christmas is one time of the year where you can get tacky.<br />
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hmmm. Did I redeem the ruined canvas? I am happy with it.<br />
Thanks for looking.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/76/2D5214FBC898AAB2FAF83E9BE2EEA593.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-14340907171328671302011-12-10T14:17:00.000-05:002011-12-10T14:20:50.453-05:00Sparkly Bright Christmas Tree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I just wanted to give an easy tip for making your Christmas tree sparkly bright. Now I am one who loves for my Christmas tree to be a light source. Meaning I like to have it so bright that no other lights are needed in the room (unless you are reading or knitting..). I cover my tree with so many lights that it looks hideous unless its light up. Really. Wires everywhere. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctvklC6KEzUO4JpX3-spH6v-3FHioQHBFLgsWG0qOEjy6NqLc8YVGuOM_XGqI9vaJbojCa8W2gCDsL-Lk5Ev6_Pp1CMPon7zUYYBU9bRwKiMod0eDICQMxuL-LGU2DCEnbvJ3Lvdns_Er/s1600/IMG_2064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctvklC6KEzUO4JpX3-spH6v-3FHioQHBFLgsWG0qOEjy6NqLc8YVGuOM_XGqI9vaJbojCa8W2gCDsL-Lk5Ev6_Pp1CMPon7zUYYBU9bRwKiMod0eDICQMxuL-LGU2DCEnbvJ3Lvdns_Er/s640/IMG_2064.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
Ok. Well maybe its not as bad from a distance, but you have to agree, its much better lit up.<br />
Here she is a few years ago.<br />
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I love the LED lights. My tree is pre-lit <span style="font-size: xx-small;">mostly. Since some strands are burnt out</span> but I added several strands of LED. They really brighten up the tree. <br />One simple trick I use to make my tree extra sparkly is this: Iridescent cellophane. Seriously. Cut it up into ....oh lets say 12x12 squares or so and shove it into the tree around the pole in the middle. Also in spots that look a little sparse. <br />
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My incredible sis-in-law taught me this trick, and since she doesn't blog I thought I would share it with you. When people comment on how bright my tree is (hope that's a good thing..hmm) I always point out the cellophane. They never notice it by itself and have to look closely to see it. It really makes the tree glow from within. I suppose you could use a green color too, but the iridescent just reflects all of the colors. I think it makes the tree prettier during the times that it isn't lit up. <br />
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See it? I got my roll of cellophane at Michaels, probably 10 years or more ago. I have been using the same squares every Christmas since.<br />
And now, since I don't want to do a whole post on it, I thought I would show you the outside of my house all lit up. I "invested" in all LED lights for the outside this year. Some of them I got on sale last year after Christmas. <br />
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I am loving the brilliant light these LED put out. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMJ5wTJ4ovo/TuOn0K-EjSI/AAAAAAAAA_U/Nl7tSJqvRV0/s1600/IMG_6595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMJ5wTJ4ovo/TuOn0K-EjSI/AAAAAAAAA_U/Nl7tSJqvRV0/s640/IMG_6595.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is my tree from the outside-<br />
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Do you have any tips for making your tree extra sparkly and bright?<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/76/2D5214FBC898AAB2FAF83E9BE2EEA593.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-37882311872471303272011-12-03T20:17:00.001-05:002011-12-03T20:54:03.000-05:00Christmassy Dining Room ChandelierI have decorated my dining room chandelier the same way for the past 4 or 5 years. Usually like this.<br />
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I usually have a red and green plaid shades for the lights. Not sure why I didn't put them on the year I took this picture.<br />
Well, this year I wanted something different so I remembered something I found on my brilliant blogger friends blog, <a href="http://anythingologyblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Anythingology </a>. She has a post about how she <a href="http://anythingologyblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/bling-for-your-chandeliers.html" target="_blank">adds bling to her chandeliers</a>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(she has a great blog and the best ideas... spend lots of time there and become a follower) </span>Its just brilliant and makes me wish I had thought of it.<br />
So using her method I got some cheap bead garland from Hobby Lobby for half off ( $1) and a pack of glittery green snowflakes for half off too. I re-used that ancient greenery in the picture above and here is what I came up with. <br />
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I like it much better now. <br />
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Cheap sparkly ornaments<br />
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Next year it will be so easy to put up. Just a few minutes. <br />
Have you gone to <a href="http://anythingologyblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/bling-for-your-chandeliers.html" target="_blank">Anythingology</a> yet to see how I did this? tsk tsk tsk. OK. Finish looking at my pictures first then go. My links do open in a new tab so you wont go wandering from my blog too soon :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/76/2D5214FBC898AAB2FAF83E9BE2EEA593.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-60023300553465182422011-11-22T21:50:00.001-05:002011-12-20T12:39:37.046-05:00Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas<div style="color: #660000;">
Last year after Christmas I went out and got myself a white Christmas tree and some ornaments for super cheap. I was inspired by a tree I had fallen in love with at Stone Mountain Park and decided that I just HAD to have one similar to it in my bedroom. Even though it was past Christmas I decided to put it up and decorate it because I just couldn't wait a whole year! Well, the tree itself stayed in my room this whole year. I did eventually take off the decorations and I even put some hearts on it for Valentines and shamrocks for March. Then I got bored with it and there it sat... because there was no room for it in the garage. Plus there was no way it was fitting back in that miniscule box it came in. This is what I have been looking at for the past year: </div>
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I couldn't stand it anymore so I decorated it tonight.. eeee! I love it just as much as I did last year!</div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">I got these HUGE ornament balls on clearance at our BJ's club. I love them.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">This adorable polkadot ribbon I got at Michaels on clearance.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">Here is a shot with the flash on so you can see the star on top. It was just a metal star I got on clearance at Michaels and just spraypainted it white then glittered it with Martha Stewarts "white gold" glitter. Its basically silver with a hint of gold. </span><br />
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I didnt like the look of that pink tulle I had added under the tree so I took it out. Basically the tree "skirt" is just some scraps of white fabric I had and some tulle like white with silver stars on it. Those were scraps too.</div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">I think it has too many balls on it and I hope to find some </span><span style="color: #660000; font-size: xx-small;">cheap </span><span style="color: #660000;">different shapes in the colors already on it to break up all the spheres going on. But oh how I love thee white girly Christmas tree.</span><br />
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Linking to:<br />
<a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-tree-party.html" target="_blank">Thrifty Decor Chick</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-66424390340293999732011-11-18T08:30:00.000-05:002011-11-18T09:58:34.326-05:00Photo FridayI haven't had a Photo Friday in a good while so today I am giving you several pictures. I just took these yesterday. We have had one of the prettiest falls this year in a very long time... maybe ever since I have lived in Georgia. It was such a beautiful day today!After having to turn on the A/C the past few days, this weather in the 50's was refreshing.<br />
I took these at F.D.R. State Park and the Little White House in Warm Springs, Georgia.<br />
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This next one is President F.D. Roosevelt's house in Georgia, Little White
House, where he would stay and swim in the therapeutic waters of Warm
Springs. He died here in 1945.<br />
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Such a cute cozy house. <br />
Thanks for looking and if I don't post before then, Happy Thanksgiving!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/76/2D5214FBC898AAB2FAF83E9BE2EEA593.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-36082451006604349442011-11-17T00:09:00.001-05:002011-11-17T00:58:14.442-05:00Black Christmas Ornaments ?Have you seen these matte black, glass Christmas ornaments? I found some at Hobby Lobby.<br />
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I am not sure how I feel about them. They are definitely not traditional Christmas. I do think they are fascinating though, especially if you have a white and black theme. I put up a small white tree with black ornaments for my <a href="http://lizzyford.blogspot.com/2011/05/pearly-diamond-potty-room-paint.html" target="_blank">guest bathroom</a> but these are too big for it. <br />
I saw once where a lady painted little dots all over it and I thought it was so pretty! I found them on Etsy and she wants $55 for one!!!! EEK!<br />
It really is quite beautiful though. See?<br />
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Source: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/77412494/hand-paint-hollow-glass-ornament" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">etsy.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/lizzyford/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Elizabeth</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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I thought I would play around with some, just try them out, and see what I could come up with. Ummmm. Warning! I am no artist so these look more like my kids did it. I figure I could make tons of dots like that solid blue dot one up there. That doesn't seem so hard. I made one with green and red paint pens. <br />
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Ya. See what I mean. I am going to pretend that its just whimsical that I was going for and not .. I am bored with this dot making already. That's it. I think I must have gotten a shot of the side that I did last. Surely the other side has perfectly circular dots.<br />
I also thought I would do a poinsettia just to see if that made a black ornament look any more Christmassy. Not so sure it did.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-178303Ykq_A/TsSbTmRxoTI/AAAAAAAAA8c/ThRgqHhX3Uw/s1600/Poinsettia+painted+ornament.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-178303Ykq_A/TsSbTmRxoTI/AAAAAAAAA8c/ThRgqHhX3Uw/s640/Poinsettia+painted+ornament.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
ahhh. Crap-tastic! I never did like coloring. Waste of time that.<br />
This one is my most favorite one of the three that I did. I found some henna drawings and sorta tried to copy it. Its cool, but not really Christmassy.<br />
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hmmm. Bad side again.<br />
I think some glitter would be pretty cute on it. (stopping now to go try it out) Here is one I just quickly did with thin double sided tape and glitter. Its an idea anyways.<br />
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Oh mercy... these look awful enlarged! For real though, have you seen these? If so have you ever bought them? Did you keep them plain? I would love to hear or see what people have done with them. I didn't have any luck with my Google search except that they would be good plain with other solid colors for a sports theme related tree. No thanks.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/76/2D5214FBC898AAB2FAF83E9BE2EEA593.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-35395134901787949782011-11-13T20:18:00.001-05:002011-11-13T20:45:38.229-05:00My first pair of knit glovesWell, it only took me 11 months, but I just finished my very first pair of knit gloves. It really wasnt hard at all to do. Just boring. I made the first one in January this year. It only took me a few days to finish up the second one. It was just starting it up that I didnt want to do. I am not as in love with them as when I started, but having accomplished them makes me feel happy.<br />
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These aren't just any gloves. No, I made them with holes in the forefinger and thumbs.<br />
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<b>Why? Because I thought it would be cool to be able to do this while wearing gloves.</b></div>
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<b> And even this!</b></div>
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All I did was find a simple glove pattern in one of my knitting books. Since this was my first time making gloves I wanted a pattern that used Worsted weight yarn so that it would knit up quickly. I followed the pattern as written, but instead of finishing off the tops of the 2 fingers on each glove I simply cast off all the stitches at a length that I thought would be good. I like them. Now my hands can stay warm when I am taking pictures in the cold months. <br />
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I am happy to be done. Now I can move on to another partly finished craft project. Or better yet, read that new Nicholas Sparks book that I just got in!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/76/2D5214FBC898AAB2FAF83E9BE2EEA593.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196562827365242759.post-2711667223955358612011-11-11T10:38:00.000-05:002011-11-11T10:38:55.962-05:00Labels for my PantryThis project I have been meaning to do for more than 6 months... probably more really. I finally broke out my Cricut and made some labels. I want a lovely <a href="http://www.thehouseofsmiths.com/2010/07/pantry-remix.html" target="_blank">pantry like House of Smiths.</a> I know pretty much everyone has seen it. Well I want everything all labeled and organized and pretty, so I have begun to copy things that she has done in her pantry. Like this baking supplies crate. I took a 40% off unfinished wood crate from Michaels and stained it with some stain I had sitting in my garage.<br />
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It looks so good with the labels on it!<br />
I Mod Podged over it to hopefully make it last a while. I was too impatient to wait for it to dry so that is why the wood looks whitish. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJh0itBI5Wb7vLBgOamF5m2AOlObP4pKaNUWamgv74NiMQ7z0ahJwy0iS83yjHHvDMN1C27I6yQK9PzLGtiLd1_7mFpkyN2v03lhv_7fUeQcfmch-eZ3J6GpVjAKSP5UEVR3G8YCK9hwJ/s1600/IMG_1624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJh0itBI5Wb7vLBgOamF5m2AOlObP4pKaNUWamgv74NiMQ7z0ahJwy0iS83yjHHvDMN1C27I6yQK9PzLGtiLd1_7mFpkyN2v03lhv_7fUeQcfmch-eZ3J6GpVjAKSP5UEVR3G8YCK9hwJ/s400/IMG_1624.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Then there are my jars -<br />
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Yay! Now my silly husband won't confuse powdered sugar for flour!<br />
(really? yes.. *shakes head*)<br />
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Then I found this bottle at T.J. Maxx for only a buck!<br />
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Of course I put maple syrup in it!<br />
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Hooray! One more craft project to check off of my mile long list!<br />
If you have a Cricut do you know about Sure Cuts Alot software? I purchased it and LOVE!<br />
You can use any font you have on your computer, plus dingbats. No need to buy tons of expensive cartridges. SCAL is what I used to do all of these labels. I love it because you lay all of the words you want out on a digital cutting mat and you can adjust the size to the exact height and width that you need them cut, plus move them around to where on the mat you want it cut at. I hook it up to my computer via a USB cable and click cut. Its pretty awesome. I just thought I would share the love. <a href="http://www.craftedge.com/products/products.html" target="_blank">Here is a link</a> if you are interested. <br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/76/2D5214FBC898AAB2FAF83E9BE2EEA593.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10690214236085703038noreply@blogger.com1