It’s the little things….

May 6, 2015May 5, 2015Leave a comment

A kind word, a sweet smile, a warm hug…

It’s the little things in life that make me happy.

A simple act of kindness can change somebody’s day.

Have a great day. Make it a good one.

Oh… and DON’T FORGET TO SMILE!

DIY Graduation Frame with Tassel

May 5, 2015May 19, 2023Leave a comment

Some years I don’t have any Graduations to celebrate.

This year there are three. One from High School, Two from Junior High. (not mine!)

I decided to make a Graduation Frame to use as one of the gifts.

After the ceremony the Graduate can take out the greeting and add a picture.

For my frame I used: (*affiliate link)

deflect-o Superior Image Curved Magnetic Sign Holders, Black Back, 7×5*
Ranger Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool-with 2 Blending Foams*
Cobblestone Ink
White Adhesive Chipboard Numbers
Red Twine or Embroidery Floss
Thin Gold Wire
Computer Generated Greeting
Red, Gray, White Cardstock
Xyron Tape Runner*
Scissors
chipboard scrap

To make the tassel: Wrap the red twine around a piece of chipboard several times. The size of the chipboard determines the length of the tassel.
Cut a piece of twine to gather and tie tightly around the twine at the top of the wrapped chipboard.
Cut open the bottom loops from the chipboard.
Wrap thin gold wire around the top of the tassel to imitate the look of a gold band.
Trim the bottom of the tassel to even the length.
Create computer generated greeting and insert inside the frame.
Ink white chipboard numbers gray using the ink applicator. Stick on front of the frame.
Make a small garland from small 1/2″ strips of paper adhered to a piece of red twine.
Adhere the tassel to the back of the frame with a small piece of tape. That way the Graduate can reposition the tassel if needed after adding photo.

FYI: When my oldest graduated from High school his younger sister also graduated from Junior High. Four years later when it was time for her to graduate High School he was graduating from College.

SO….for all you young people thinking of starting a family.

Don’t space your kids 4 years apart. (The magic number is three.) Just saying!

“This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Deflecto Design Team I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions.”

*Disclosure: This post uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

Block Stamping on Canvas with Smoothfoam

May 1, 2015October 9, 2015Leave a comment

I had this great idea to make stamps using Smoothfoam so that I could do sidewalk stamping with my

Grandsons. After one messy (but fun) try, I decided it really wasn’t going to work the way I wanted.

So… I decided to use the stamps on a canvas instead.

(See Wednesday’s post: The Good, the Bad and the Messy)

I created the stamps using a Hotwire Foam Cutter. You could also use a craft knife.

Because the original plan was to use them with the kids, I glued handles on the back.

I made flower shapes, leaves, squares and triangles.

Supplies Used:

12″ x 12″ Smoothfoam Sheet
2″ Smoothfoam Ball
10″ x 10″ Canvas
Acrylic Paint
Sponge
Uchida of America Foam Cutter, Plug In or a craft knife.
Folk Art 30465 Peel and Stick Painting Stencil, Happy Words

Prime canvas with acrylic paint.
Sponge acrylic paint on the back of the Smoothfoam pre-cut square, stamp onto the canvas. You may need to press the back of the canvas with your remaining hand to get crisper image. Repeat three more times to create square background.
Stamp flower and leaves. Using a small Smoothfoam ball cut in half, stamp center of flower.
Stencil words on Canvas.

Disclaimer: This project was created for and sponsored by Smoothfoam.

TBT: Hawaii Revisited

April 30, 2015April 30, 20151 Comment

A little Throwback Thursday:

Eight years ago, I got the chance to revisit Hawaii with my honey.

Hawaii is the place where I met this good-looking guy.

Oh how I’d love to be able to go back today.

Good Times, Good Memories.

I can’t believe how much younger and tanner I/we look. (not to mention how short my hair is)

The Good, the Bad and the Messy

April 28, 2015April 29, 2015Leave a comment

Having a creative mind means having several project ideas swirling around your head…

being a Creative Blogger with a editorial calendar, means you times that amount times 2.

And then sometimes….(a lot of sometimes) you’ve got nothing at all.

I was brain-storming recently with a fellow Designer when I came up with this brilliant idea

of stamping on the sidewalk with homemade chalk paint.

I thought this would be a great project to do with my grandsons. (and a potential blog post)

I researched recipes and got my supplies together.

Darn you Pinterest with all your beautiful pictures and homemade recipes.

I created handmade stamps using a large Smoothfoam square and my Super Hotwire Foam Cutter.

I made a variety of shapes to use with the boys.

I made the chalk paint with a recipe I found using cornstarch, water and food coloring.

The problem was that the paint started drying right away.

And…the boys were having too much fun playing in the paint to start all over.

The chalk paint is non toxic and easily cleaned up once dried by brushing the boys off.

After a good rain, all the mess was gone.

I’m confident with a little more experimenting we could get the consistency just right.

After making a very fun mess, I decided it was just that…

and moved on to Plan B. (My post for Friday.)

Make sure to come back Friday for Block Stamping on Canvas with Smoothfoam.

This Weeks Treasures…

April 24, 2015Leave a comment

Now that the weather has finally turned nice(ish), I’ve decided it’s safe to come out of hibernation.

So I was happy when I got the chance to go out and go treasure hunting.

My daughter was in town (on a Tuesday) and we decided to go visit our favorite Thrift Store.

This time, we let her hubby tag along, he actually spent more money than we did. So all was good.

When I’m hunting…I’m a pretty picky picker, so it’s got to be good. (and cheap)

Here’s what I got:

2 small baskets, 3 small rulers, 4 packages of mini rick rack, a small red toile dish and 3 red bound

classic books and a Maya Angelou book. All for around $7.00.

My favorite of all these treasures was the little wood ruler I picked up for a dime.

It will make a wonderful addition to a project. Or maybe I’ll just keep it for display.

What do you look for when you go treasure hunting?

Creating a Keepsake Memory Box with Decorative Trimmings

April 23, 2015February 9, 20238 Comments

I recently got a beautiful assortment of ribbons and trims from Decorative Trimmings to use

on a special project. It was hard choosing which trims I wanted to use, because their selection

is wonderful. I decided to Create a Keepsake Memory Box.

You know… for all those special little things that you want to keep and remember forever.

A perfect little box to fill with small gifts for Weddings, Mother’s Day, Bridal or Baby Showers.

Or maybe old love letters from your husband. (Hmmm… I’d need a bigger box.)

For my Keepsake Memory Box and Tag I used three of the trims.

1/2″ Pink & White Mini Polar Puff
3/4 Inch Pink Rose Tulle Trim
Chinese Braid White

Paint a large papier mache box with white acrylic paint.
Cover it with scrapbook paper. (I purchased mine from Michael’s.)
Glue the Decorative Trimmings using Beacon Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive* (affiliate link)
Stamped greeting is from Serendipity Stamps.

Today’s post is part of a blog hop hosted by Decorative Trimmings.

Shop Handmade – The Wedding Store

Disclaimer: This blog uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

Grandma Merritt’s Cheesecake Recipe

April 16, 2015October 9, 20152 Comments

There’s nothing like one of Grandma’s recipes to bring back fond childhood memories.

Large family dinners around a loud and crowded table (or two).

Crock Pot Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Beans, Rolls and one of Grandma Merritt’s Deserts.

Mom would put the roast on before church and Grandma would bring the desert.

Soda Pop Cake, Cheesecake, Hobo Cake with Chocolate Fudge Icing (Yumm!) just to name a few.

With our large and ever expanding group of family and friends,

Grandma usually made a double batch of whatever desert she brought up.

And…us kids would still argue over who deserved the last piece.

Good Times, Good Times! Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

If you’re a Cheesecake Snob, you probably won’t enjoy this wonderfully, light fluffy desert.

But to us kids, it’s heavenly.

Grandma Merritt’s Cheesecake recipe has been around our family for probably 40 years.

I’m pretty sure she clipped it out of the newspaper somewhere down the line. (she was a clipper)

Since today would of been her birthday, I thought it’d be a great day to share.

Here’s her recipe, I actually have two (one just slightly different)

Grandma Merritt’s Cheesecake:

1 can chilled Milnut
2 packages of Lemon Jello
3 TBL Lemon Juice (optional)
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/4 lb. Graham Crackers
1 package softened Cream Cheese 8 oz.
1 Stick Oleo (butter or margarine)
1 1/2 c. Boiling Water
1 c. Sugar

Roll graham crackers until fine.
Melt oleo and pour over graham crackers, mix. Press into pan. Save 1/2 c. to put on top.
Pour boiling water over Jello mix.
Whip can of milnut until real stiff and add vanilla.
Whip cream cheese and sugar together. Add lemon juice and jello mix and blend.
Fold cheese and jello mix into whipped cream. Pour into pan. Sprinkle top with reserved graham cracker mix.
Chill overnight.

FYI: The recipe card and standing clip are both available from Canvas Corp Brands.

Disclaimer: This project was created for and sponsored by Canvas Corp Brands.

How to Make a Garden Butterfly Sign

April 14, 2015October 9, 20151 Comment

How to make a Garden Butterfly Sign.

A fun technique using Black Sign Tags from Deflecto Craft Solutions.

According you my you tube account it’s been 4 years since I made my first video.

I guess it was finally time for my second one. (let me know what you think)

“This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Deflecto Design Team I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions.”