Rolled book page wreath

A week or so ago while visiting Ann Martin's blog All things paper, I fell in love with her rolled book page wreath. I knew I had to make one and that's just what I set out to do. I started rolling book pages. I got bored and quit. Later I rolled more pages, got bored and quit. Repeat that same process several times and FINALLY I had enough pages rolled to fill the wreath.

I purchased the tree ornaments at the dollar store and hot glued them to the center. This was accomplished within a matter of minutes, and several bad words followed by a few glue burns, more minutes and more bad words. At last it was finished and due to my lack of patience I quickly picked it up to admire my work. WARNING!!! Wait for the hot glue to dry otherwise ornaments may fall off and you will be picking hot glue out of your rug. You will also be forced to say a few more choice words and likely incur further glue burns.

I direct your attention to the red ornament at the bottom center. Those are not cracks you see in that ornament. That would be a great big hot glue mess. This may not be my biggest craft disaster however it is also not one of my shining craft moments either. At least it looks nice enough from a distance that I can still hang it on the door.

Joy

Maybe it's a little early yet but I think I'll begin now with attempting to spread a little joy for Christmas.

A few little things

I've managed to do a few little crafty things recently. These were all pretty quick and simple projects.

First is the other version on the fabric ornament that I did recently. I liked these too but I think I preferred the other version better.

I picked up some $1.00 candle jars at Wal-Mart and added a strip of homespun fabric, tied some jute around them and then finished them off with buttons and a little greenery on the one

I also picked up a few packs of those really cheap plastic candy canes at Dollar Tree. I wrapped some with homespun and others with jute twine.

I had a go at making my own rusty jingle bells. I don't think I did it quite right or maybe I just didn't leave them in the mix long enough but I used them anyway. They are after all a little rusted.

And that would be it for right now. I'm also working on a wreath and hopefully I'll finish it. With me though, you never can tell.

Dusting

Seems mother nature had it in her head to do some dusting around here over the weekend.
She did some on Saturday

On Saturday we saw snowflakes flying around all day but there really wasn't much accumulation. Then we had some more on Sunday. This was out one of the upstairs window Sunday morning.

Then another shot of the same tree as in the second picture above but with a little more snow on it.

I had been wanting to run out and do an errand or two on Sunday and kept debating because I really didn't feel like going out in the snow. Luckily it did slow up and by afternoon it stopped. We may not have a whole lot right now but I know it won't be much longer before we are buried in the white stuff. Oh it's going to be a long winter.

From the islands

I goofed. I forgot to send out an email inviting one of you to participate in my Meet my other friends Monday post. It all worked out for the best though since last week was Thanksgiving who had time for it any way.

Now another thing I goofed on is not posting about a special package we got in the mail from Hawaii. Can you guess who it came from? If you said Sugar the Golden Retriever you are absolutely right. Sugar's mom wrote us and told us that she was sending something to people who participated in one of her contests.
Duke got a wonderful new collar that he is very proud to wear

We got our very own copy of Sugar's book and Duke wanted me to read it to him right away

This is a really good book mom.

It all came in this really nice tote bag with a picture of Sugar's golden paw

and a CD that I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to.

So finally we are getting around to properly thanking Sugar and her mom for sending such wonderful things to us. We really loved it all.

Whatcha doin'

Hey Mom what are you doing out there?

I'm taking pictures of weed Duke.

But why are you doing that?

Well because I don't have any flowers to take pictures of and because I can

Plain and simple

Today we are keeping it simple. We're going to do whatever we want to, enjoy the day and not worry about a thing. We hope you join us in having a plain and simple kind of day.

A Black Friday Prayer

After the boutiful Thanksgiving meal yesterday, I start this black Friday asking that I please be able to button my pants this morning and still be able to breathe. I also pray that the seams don't rip out during the day from the extra pounds I packed on stuffing myself yesterday.
Amen

Oh brother, I offered to clean that plate for her yesterday but would she listen? Nooooooo. She should have shown more control and just had a little bit of turkey like me. Humans! The are so silly.

Happy Thanksgiving

Image from Microsoft Images

 

Today, as we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States, I would like to take this opportunity to tell all of you how thankful I am for you.



It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I have collected so many ideas on Pinterest for Christmas projects I hardly know where to start. I did finally decide on some fabric ornaments that I really liked. I made a few of them last Sunday.

I really like the way they turned out and I plan on doing some more as well as another version. The tutorial for these ornaments can be found on Katrina's Tutorials if you would like to make them yourself.

Paybacks

Getting old isn't always so bad. Yeah, there are aches and pains that I didn't used to have. Yes, gray hair and wrinkles aren't real attractive but I have no intentions of entering a beauty contest so who cares.
There's also the joy of paybacks. You know when your kids were younger and they would act up in the stores and make you crazy? Well when you get older you can take them out shopping and do crazy things to embarrass them. To demonstrate what I mean I took Amanda to Walmart last weekend and we played in the Christmas isle

Then I made it up to her by letting her bake me cookies when we got back to my house.

Meet my other friends Monday

Monday's are so much easier to deal with when I have a little help from my friends. Since I think I've got the greatest friends on earth I want to share them with everyone. Monday's are dedicated to the best bloggers I know, my pals. You could be next.

This week I would like to introduce you to Rose from Randomcreative Art. Now I don't recall how I met Rose but I suspect that I first encountered her blog through Entrecard.  Not only is she a very sweet person but she's also very creative. She's a wiz with buttons and beads and makes some of the nicest jewelry like this bracelet that you can find in her Etsy shop

She shares her creative work, recipes, resources and her cute cat Angel

 

1) How long have you been blogging and what made you start?

I've been keeping some kind of journal ever since I was able to write. I have handwritten journals going all the way back to 1990. I started my first online journal via livejournal in 2002. I still have my livejournal and now also have my randomcreative blog that I started in late 2008. It's extremely rare that I do any journaling offline anymore. Writing comes naturally to me, and it often serves as a means for me to reflect on my thoughts. Since I've been blogging online, it's been neat to share some of those thoughts with others.

2) What is one piece of advice you would give to a new blogger?

Write about your own interests. Do not try to copy a favorite or successful blog or simply write about what you think is trendy and will therefore get a lot of comments or traffic. If your writing is passionate, genuine, and high quality, you will develop regular readers.

3) Do you have any hobbies or special talents?

During the past four years, I have turned my biggest hobby, crafting, into somewhat of a business. While I don't turn a huge profit selling on Etsy and at craft shows, I enjoy having something that I enjoy so much pay for itself. Now that I do make a lot of items to sell, I have to make a conscious effort to take time off from that aspect of my life and make things just for me as well as engage in other hobbies.

4) Of course you love all the blogs you visit but share a link to one of those and tell us why we should check it out.

You should check out Alisa Burke's blog. http://alisaburke.blogspot.com Her work and photography are both very inspiring. Alisa is very forthright about her personal and business life including her successes and failures. It is easy to assume that successful artists have it made or that they don't work hard for everything that they have, but Alisa proves these myths wrong.

5) What is the one things that totally makes you crazy?

Two of my biggest pet peeves in the world of online writing are not giving credit where credit is due and not leaving comments if you expect others to do so for your work. There is nothing more frustrating than seeing a post or article full of unoriginal photos with no credit. If you borrow, make sure that people know that by honoring the original sources appropriately. As someone who makes an effort to comment on articles and blog posts nearly every day, it's always frustrating to find people who don't understand why you should return that favor.

6) Give one random thought. "And may your limits be unknown. And may your efforts be your own." -Be Still, The Killers

Semi Silent Sunday

While mom is busy doing who knows what I'm just going to show you how good I look again after going to see my groomer yesterday

I wasn't much in the mood for posing for the camera but I did at least look at it for the picture.

Hope you are all enjoying your day

Let it snow

Those of you who know me are probably wondering why I would dare to use the title Let it snow when I hate being cold.  Well I haven't lost all my marbles and I'm certainly not inviting the snow to show up any sooner than it has to.
There is a certain white guy who depends on the snow and I'm not talking about Duke
It would be this guy. My latest craft project.

 My last trip to the thrift store I found embroidery hoops and picked up a few of them. Now I'm wishing I would have bought more since they were only fifty cents each. Looking at the picture I can see I should have used some batting behind the fabric too because I can see the embroidery floss running from letter to letter on the back. Oh well, this one is just for me any way.


A close up of his face with a little creative editing thrown in.

Lots of things to do this weekend. If I don't get around today I'll catch up with you tomorrow.

Surfing

So what does Duke do all day while I'm hard at work earning money to buy him beggin strips?
Just take a look for yourself.

I checked the history on my laptop and it seems that he was visiting a site that gave instructions on how to hypnotize a human.

What? I was just trying to entertain myself.

Now where did I put that mouse.

OK Duke but I better not find any charges on my card for PetSmart.

Who's turn is it

Amanda and Duke were having a discussion the other day. They knew that I was looking to take pictures of one of them to play with in photoshop.
He said "It's your turn"
She said" It's your turn"

Duke pled for mercy telling Amanda that he was not looking his best right now and he would take his turn after he goes to the groomer this Saturday.

Duke won, it's Amanda's turn.

One in color

and the same one in sepia

just the way it is sometimes

Yesterday morning I guess I just woke up in a snarly mood. It didn't take long for something small and insignificant to set me off. From there it just snowballed with other mole hills being made into mountains by my mood.

Today I think I'll just stop and smell the roses and get over it.

So what

Or make that "sew" what?

Well sew buttons.

Yeah, I'm running out of ideas for posts.

Meet my other friends Monday

Monday's are so much easier to deal with when I have a little help from my friends. Since I think I've got the greatest friends on earth I want to share them with everyone. Monday's are dedicated to the best bloggers I know, my pals. You could be next.

 

This week I would like to welcome Marie from Women talk about Life. I met Marie when another blogger mentioned that she knew a brand new blogger and invited us all to go over and meet her. I'm so glad I took the time to take a look. Marie is such a sweet lady, I'm sure you'll love her just as much as I do. When you visit her you'll be treated to the wildlife around her home, her furbabies and her handsome son.

 

This was him at Halloween. I'm pretty sure he doesn't always dress like that....lol

 

1) How long have you been blogging and what made you start? I started blogging July 2011. I've often had friends and family tell me I'm a people magnet. I started noticing that they were right, a lot of people talk to me, not the friend I'm with or my mom or hubby it's usually me. I find myself engaged with a total stranger and they're telling me things about their life. Some stories have me laughing and smiling and some put me in tears! There is a lot of lonely people out there. I know what it's like to be lonely and so maybe I have an extra soft spot in my heart for people who feel the need to share with me. Because of these moments I've had friends tell me I should write a book, start a blog or start a website or even start a business to help people. I told hubby one evening that I was starting a blog. He asked about what and I said I don't really know, I want to talk to people and share some of my life experiences and maybe relate to others or maybe even help others. There was something I was missing and I found it...the wonderful people in blog land! Sometimes it's not the blog it's the friendship behind the blogs. :)

2) What is one piece of advice you would give to a new blogger? Look up blogs that have something you are interested in and take it from there.

3) Do you have any hobbies or special talents? I love shopping in thrift stores and blogging. I'm really good at nagging my sixteen year old, is that a talent?? lol Also, I've done wildlife rescue since I was very young. Squirrels, birds, turtles, ducklings, rabbits (including a pregnant one), baby opossums, even a hawk that had been hit by a car. I never pass any animal in need. If I can't help, I get help. :)

4) Of course you love all the blogs you visit but share a link to one of those and tell us why we should check it out. I can't choose one. I hope that you will visit my blog and check out the blogs I follow, they're all wonderful. You are bound to find something of interest. :)

5) What is the one things that totally makes you crazy? You don't have enough space for my list. ha! I'll just go with people that litter!!! Can't stand it, there's no excuse for it!!!!!

6) Give one random though. I need more chocolate! :)

Hugs,

Sweet Marie

A buck for a blessing

I saw a young woman standing by the exit/entrance to Wal-Mart yesterday. As I approached the traffic light I could read the sign that she had hanging around her neck. It read "A few fries short of a happy meal. Any help would be a blessing"
The wording of her sign made me laugh and it was either that or the chocolate bar I was eating at the time but I rolled down me window and handed her a buck.  I got a great big "thank you so much and enjoy the sunshine" from her and I was on my way,

Quotes

Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it. ~Author Unknown

Excess on occasion is exhilirating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit. ~W. Somerset Maugham, The Summing Up, 1938

You are never alone or helpless. The force that guides the stars guides you too. ~Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar

Archive dive

A little archive diving to finish out the week. A look back over the last few years at what was going on this time in....

2008 we had snow. I would hate to wake up this weekend and find this on the ground

2009 I was making hamburg jerky. After looking at the pictures fromt he files I'm a bit hungry for some now

2010 we still had carpeting in the living room. Oh how I do not miss it one bit.

2011 my friend Debbie and I visited Volant Pa for a little fun and shopping. A very quaint little town but sadly the last visit there were several shops that were no longer open.

Which brings us to 2012. What will happen this weekend? Who knows.

It's time

Thankfully Duke will be going to the groomers again soon. The last time I took him I was smart enough to make the next appointment right there and then. I'm always so bad about making that call. I think next time though I'll wait less time in between groomings. He's getting pretty shaggy again but at least he's not as bad as he has been in the past.

Poor little guy does not have a perfect mom.

I'm in love

Oh yes I am. I am head over heals in love with a nutty dunker.

What is a nutty dunker? Why it is the closest thing to heaven on earth that's what it is. It's a crescent shaped melt in your mouth donut with a nutty flavored coating. One bite and they had me hooked.

I just ordered these in at the store for the first time and I had to try them. I priced them a bit lower than they probably should be but have you never heard of introductory price? They come 10 in a box and they are mine all mine.

If you've counted how many little lovelies are in the above box you will see that I have only eaten two so far. I'm trying to make them last. Are they full of fat and calories? Yes they are. Do I care? No I don't.