Archive | crafts & DIY

Sweet Summer …..

June 21, 2014

Summer has arrived and I’m looking forward to warm weather and more sunshine.

I had fun making Father’s Day gift tags using cutouts from magazine and catalog pages that I decided to continue the craft project and cut out the letters to spell out “SUMMER”. A little bit of decorative tape was used to tape them up to the wall. I like how they turned out, a little bit whimsical and colorful.

Here are a few random bits and pieces of “sweet” summer things.

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Happy Father’s Day ….. {Osprey backpack & diy gift tags}

June 14, 2014

Happy Father’s Day!

Backpacking, hiking and exploring the great outdoors is something Bill loves to do with the kids throughout the summer. For Father’s Day gift this year we will be giving Bill an Osprey backpack {Stratos 36}. It’s a good quality backpack with lots of features that Bill really likes. .

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Decorating with Peonies

June 7, 2014

With a few weeks of Spring left and before the start of Summer, I always look forward to seeing peonies blooming in my garden. Their long sturdy stems are great for cutting and easy to arrange in vases for displaying. Peonies are beautiful flowers, you can’t go wrong no matter how they are displayed.

Simple, sweet and no fuss flower arrangement.

Mix and match a collection of glass vases and bottles . . .

. . . filled with peony buds and small bunches of flowers for an instant grouping of flowers. By adding a tray for the vases will create cohesiveness.

In about two days these peony buds will be in full bloom.

A beautiful contrast of Rustic old bucket against white peonies gave the flower arrangement a little “shabby chic” look.

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This is one of my favorite little spots near our back door where we enter and leave the house. So nice to be greeted with flowers every time I entered the house.

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One large pink peony was all that was needed to fill this white bowl.

Beautiful!

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posted by: Kay

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Memorial Day & diy Red, White & Blue Magnets

May 24, 2014

{print Memorial Day… Thank God … freedom, Here}

Fun Patriotic magnets to adorn bulletin boards or the refrigerator this Memorial Day and into the coming months {flag day, 4th of July ….. }

Supplies

• Mod Podge {matte-mat}
• Mod Podge {dimensional magic}
• Q-tips {or disposable brushes}
• Toothpicks
• Scissors
• round magnets {¾”}
• Red, white and blue tissue papers {cut into small ½- ¼ inch strips}
• star paper punch {optional}

Before starting the project, protect the surface area you will be working on with disposable paper or other materials.

Step 1 With a Q-tip as the brush, dip it in Mod Podge matte-mat and apply a light coat on the top side of the magnet. Start adding the little pieces of tissue and layering them on top of each other. Use the tip of a toothpick to hold the tissue pieces in place while apply Mod Podge. Finish it off with one last coat of Mod Podge. Let it dry for 30 minutes.

.Step 2 Apply glue and tissues to the sides of the magnet. Let it dry for 30 minutes. These magnets are completely done…. just wanted to show the side view.

Step 3 The last step is to apply the Mod Podge Dimensional Magic. The liquid will come out of the bottle cloudy/milky and dry clear and glossy in 24 hours. Start at the center and move out to the edges of the magnet. Add enough liquid to form a dome shape {it will not spill over easily}. Use a toothpick to pop any air bubbles and to move the liquid closer towards the edges if needed. Let it dry for 24 hours.

I like how the Mod Podge Dimensional Magic adds a shiny 3-dimensional surface to the magnets.

{Printable Memorial Day mini banner and other cutouts ….. Here}

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

Memorial Day Printables
{Thank God … freedom, Here}
{mini banner and other cutouts ….. Here}

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posted by: Kay

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Mother’s Day Flowers & Fran’s Chocolates

May 9, 2014

For Mother’s Day … I shouldn’t … but I do… like to help Bill with ideas. The simplest things to give are sometimes not obvious for him to think of. When Bill has a great plan, the kids think he’s pretty cool. That’s why I like to ….. ~~but I shouldn’t~~.

Flowers and chocolates are the classic combination to give for any occasion. Putting a simple twist on the idea can make it more special and personal. Find a few pretty containers and fill them with Mom’s favorite flowers. Arrange the flowers by grouping the same ones together. Then top it off with her favorite chocolate truffles.

I look forward to these gifts again and again.

A great thing about simple flower arrangements is that they are easy for the kids to help out with and put together. Each one could be moved to another part of the house, wherever Mom wants to enjoy it. .

Simply beautiful ranunculus, I could be quite content with just that.

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Fran’s Chocolates have been a favorite of mine for 20+ years. I remember going to the tiniest chocolate shop {about the size of a walk-in closet…maybe just a tad bigger} to buy some of the best chocolate truffles. Often times Fran Bigelow would be in the back room making it. Fran’s Chocolates have outgrown that space and expanded to three retail locations throughout the Seattle area. Today, Fran Bigelow is very well known and is considered one of the best chocolatiers in the country. .

Fran’s Chocolates are made with the highest quality ingredients, hand made in small batches from start to finish. The chocolate truffles are rich and creamy with a crispy thin outer shell. Their salted caramels are dipped twice in a special blend of chocolate made by Valrhona and carefully sprinkled with gray or smoked salt.

The attention to detail is utmost from the start of the first ingredient to the beautiful hand-tied satin ribbon bow on the package.

Having fun with this picture of Bill at Fran’s Chocolates in Bellevue.

Fran’s Chocolates, truffles, smoked salt caramels and other confectionery are available at many specialty retail stores throughout the United States. To find the best selection go online at Fran’s Chocolates or visit one of Fran’s Chocolates boutiques.

Fresh flowers with chocolate truffles is a wonderful combination to give for Mother’s Day.

images/sources: Fran’s Chocolates packaging 1 / packaging 2

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posted by: Kay

4 comments

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