Archive | crafts & DIY

Sweet Summer …..

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

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Sweet Summer, letter cutouts

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.

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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}

Happy Father's Day diy gift tags.

Happy Father's Day,  Osprey backpack

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

Peonies

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.

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Peonies

Simple, sweet and no fuss flower arrangement.

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. decorating with peonies, glass bottles

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

. Peonies

. . . 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.

. Peonies

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

 White Peonies

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

. Peonies .

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Peonies

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.

 

.. Peonies. .

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 Pink Peonies

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 Peonies

 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


diy red white blue Magnets

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Memorial Day,   thank God…

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

 

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diy  red, white & blue magnets

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

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diy red, white & blue magnets

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}

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diy red, white & blue magnets

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.

diy  red, white & blue magnets .

diy re,d white & blue magnets

 

.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.

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diy  red, white & blue magnets

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.

diy red, white & blue magnets

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diy red, white & blue magnets

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

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Memorial Day Bulletin Board

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

 

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Memorial Day Bulletin Board

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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

Mother's Day Flowers

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.

. Mother's Day flowers

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. .

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Mother's Day flowers

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

  . Mother's Day, Fran's chocolates . Mother's Day Fran's chocolate

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. .

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Mother's Day, Fran's chocolates

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. Mother's Day, Fran's chocolates

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

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B @ Fran's chocolate

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.

. Mother's Day, Fran's Chocolates and flowers

 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

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