Hanging Lantern Art

Hello, and Happy Monday!

How was your weekend?

Mine was great!

I had to work, but since it was slow I was able to get some projects done. :o)

Oh, and yesterday I did some more decluttering, cleaning, and decorating.

Yay! My house is no longer a war zone...well, the craft room still is, but the rest of it actually looks decent for once. :o)

Anyway, I have a ton of projects I want to show you...but unfortunately, nothing is quite ready to be reveled. :o(

Some need better pictures, some are time sensitive, and well, some are just not quite finished, but soon.

Very soon. :o)

Anyway, today I thought I would show you the hanging lantern art that I put together for my entryway/dining room.

I am calling it "art" because I don't really know what else to call it? So, since it doesn't really have a function, other than to look good, I thought "art" was the most appropriate term. Ha!

Ok, so this project started when I found some paper lanterns in the dollar bin at Michael's.

 
I grabbed the 4 that they had left (I hope they get in some more, because I LOVE these things), and used some clear string to hang them from my ceiling.

It turned out to be exactly what I was going for, but right away I bet you noticed the problem. If not, do you see the arrow pointing to the little white Command strip holding up the lanterns? Yep.

You see, I have "commitment issues" when it comes to decorating. So, instead of using nails or screws (like a normal person) I use Command strips and hooks. They actually work really well, and since I change my decor so often they are definitely wall savers. However, sometimes they can be major eye sores, so to fix this problem I came up with a quick and easy, not to mention, cheap solution.

I took my lanterns down, and grabbed a Mason jar lid.

Then, I poked a small hole through the lid,

And threaded my lantern string through.

I put a Command strip on top of the string, and pressed it firmly on to the back of the lid.

I finished it off by placing the lid upside down in the Mason jar ring. If you wanted to, you could hot glue the ring in place so that it's a little more stable, but it's not necessary since gravity will be on your side.

Now, just press that baby in place on the ceiling, and that's it.

What do you think?

Looks better, right?

I really love how it looks in this little corner, and the best part is that it only cost me about $6.00 to make.

Fun, Funky, and Cheap, what more could a girl ask for. :o)

Happy Monday!  

Happy Sappy Saturday!

Guess what? 

I found a new fabric store! 

Yay!

But more on that next week....

Happy Sappy Saturday!

Summer is here!

So, it is definitely Summer time here in St. George. (Yay!)

This was the temperature when I went to lunch the other day:

Yep, 96 degrees in the middle of April!

So, to counter act this crazy phenomenon I had one of these:

Ahhh, Georgia Peach. My favorite!

Happy Wednesday! 

Wild Olive Stitch Swap Update!

Hello, and Happy Tuesday!

How was your weekend?

Mine was great! I got some much needed decluttering, cleaning, and decorating done (Yay!)...but more on that later.  :o)

Anyway, today I thought I would give you an update on the Wild Olive Stitch Swap that I participated in.

You know, since my piece is finished (sent, and received) I thought it was finally time to share it with you. :o)

I started with one of my favorite Patterns from Urban Threads.

Traced it on to my fabric...

Framed it...

And started stitching. :o)

It was a pretty quick stitch, and I loved how it came together.

Once I was all done I took it out of the frame, and ironed it.

Then, I put it back in the frame, and tightened it up. 

Next, I cut off the excess fabric.

Then, I flipped it over, and used hot glue to glue down the sides.

Finally, I finished it with a circle of purple felt hot glued on the back.

Ta-Da! What do you think?

I really liked how it turned out, and thankfully so did my swappee. :o)

I sent it along with some of my favorite beads, a pocket mirror, and a few magnets that I made from these.

Seriously, this was so much fun! If you have never participated in a Swap before I highly recommend it.

I loved making this for my swappee, and absolutely loved what my swapper made for me. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to take pictures yet. :o( Soon, though, very soon. :o) 

Anyway, I hear Wild Olive may do another Swap this Fall, and if so I am most definitely in!

Happy Tuesday! 

Happy Sappy Saturday!

I am so happy that this is almost done!

I can't wait to send it to the Wee Baby Caleb this week! 

Yay!

 Happy Sappy Saturday!

From the Donation Pile.

So, remember yesterday when I told you about the Hoarder's Style Spring Cleaning going on at my house?

Well, while as I was taking my donation pile into town I decided to stop by a local clothing exchange place to see what it was all about.

It was actually a really cool little store...but unfortunately the style was just a bit too cool for me...

The nice hipster guy behind the counter, who looked me up and down in my GAPtastic gray and polka dotted dress, said he would take a look at my clothes anyway, just to see if there was something they might want.

So, while they looked over my stuff I had a look around the store. I wasn't really expecting to find anything, but then I stumbled upon this little beauty:

Cute, huh!

As soon as I saw it I knew I had to have it, but didn't really want to pay the $9.50 price tag.

So, while I was debating if I really "needed" it or not, the nice hipster guy called me over, and said that he would give me either $7.00 cash or $10.50 in store credit for a couple of shirts he'd found in my donation pile.

SOLD!

I took the $10.50 in store credit, and happily walked out of there with a cute new wallet and an extra $1.00 of in store credit.

Not too bad for the donation pile. :o) 

Happy Wednesday! 

Just Be More...Organized!

So...ya...I kind of skipped my "Just Be More" post for the month of March...

However, I was still working on March's goal...I was just unsuccessful at accomplishing it. :o) 

You see, I wanted to make the month of March about Organization to make sure I had everything under control before I left on my cruise....(yeah right).

My plan was to get my Spring cleaning done, make the perfect packing checklist, use it to pack a week in advance, and then leave for my cruise with a spotless house and the self satisfaction of knowing that I was in control.

Well, that never happened.

Instead "Life" happened, and honestly I was surprised?

You would think by now that I would learn to go with the flow, and accept what "Life" throws at me.

Nope, every time there was a kink in my plan it would throw me even more off track.

*Sigh*

One day I will learn...possibly an idea for another "Just Be More" post...

Anyway, back to March's goal: Just Be More...

In general I am a pretty organized person. However, there are some areas of my life where I struggle with organization more than others. The biggest one being my home.

The problem is that I just have too much stuff!

Stuff that is useless to me, but that I have been hauling around for the past 8 years just because.

Well, I have finally reached the point where it's just too much. So, my goal this Spring is to do some serious Spring Cleaning and Organization.

Starting with some massive decluttering! (Don't mind the pep talk, I tend to get like this sometimes).

My plan is to go room to room decluttering and cleaning. At first I printed off a ton of different Spring Cleaning Checklists, but never could find one that met my needs.

So, instead I am doing it Hoarder's style. :o)

I start with 4 piles: Keep, Donate, Repurpose, and Throw OUT, and then I just start tossing stuff into the correct pile.

It's a pretty simple system that has already done wonders! I finished my Master Closet last night, and it looks 100% better. I had a full bag of clothes for donation, a bag of gross clothes that just needed to be thrown away, and another full bag of knit shirts for a project I am working on.

Now, I just have to continue using this system throughout my entire house until every room has been conquered.

So, wish me luck, and look out for some progress pictures coming soon. :o)

Thanks for listening to me ramble.
Happy Tuesday! 

   

Welcome Back!

Hello, and Happy Monday!

Can I just say that it feels good to be here. 

I have really been missing this...and crafting too for that matter.

Let's just hope that my dry spell is over, and that I can get back to some serious creating. :o)

Anyway, I wanted to show you what I have been working on this weekend.

 

What do you think?

I am not sure if I like it or not? 

I think it's one of those projects that needs to grow on me.

Anyway, here's what I did. 

I started with a plain white "Welcome" sign that I found at  Krumpet's Local Warehouse Clearance Event for $5.00.

I painted it teal, and then while the paint was still damp I used a dry rag to wipe off the excess in order to expose some of the white.

Next, I took some brown paint and watered it down, then painted it on and wiped it off just like I did with the teal. 

Then, I just I continued adding some paint and wiping it off until I got the look that I wanted. 

Even though I am not sure the finished project is exactly what I wanted, I guess it's not too bad for a $5.00 sign.

I am just hoping I will like it better once I get it hung up in my entry way... 

Pictures to come. :o)

Happy Monday! 

Happy Sappy Saturday!

I know I have shared this before, but I just love it that much! 

Hello! 

Can I just tell you that I am loving the rain today. 

Now I just need one of these, and I would be all set. :o) 

Happy Sappy Saturday!

Photo Bomb: Our Cruise!

Hello, and Happy Wednesday!

How was your Easter? 

Mine started off a little rocky, but ended up being an Amazing Day! 

It was also Doug Beeson Day on Sunday...but we'll talk more about that later.

Anyway, I have been trying to post these pictures all week, but like most things lately it just never happened.

So, I thought I would end Wednesday with a photo bomb! :o)

Ok, so let me give you a quick run down of events.

We left early on Friday morning, and headed to Florida. 

And even though we didn't spend a lot of time there, we did manage to find N8dogg some Cuban Coffee. :o)

Then on Saturday we boarded the Eurodam and headed out to sea.

Saturday and Sunday were "At Sea" days, so we just lounged around and enjoyed the ship.

Then on Monday I woke up here:

 N8dogg and I got off the ship and headed here:

We grabbed some drinks, and found a nice spot to camp out on the beach.

*Sigh*...it was wonderful.

The water was so clear, and amazingly warm.

It was fantastic!

We ended our day with another drink at the pool in Margaritaville, and then headed back to the ship.

On Tuesday we didn't port in Puerto Rico until 1:00 in the afternoon, so I thought I would sleep in for a bit...

Wrong!

N8dogg woke me up at 6:00 AM for this:

 
And it was gorgeous!

Totally worth being woke up! :o)

Anyway, since we didn't port till 1:00 we got to watch the ship pull into Puerto Rico.

The view was amazing! 

And the parking was pretty cool too. :o) 

 

 

Once we were docked N8dogg and I headed off for our tour of the Bacardi Distillery.

We had a hilarious bus driver, and the tour was really cool.

 

 

 We even got a couple of drinks out of it. :o)

After the Bacardi Distillery we headed to the Fort in Old San Juan.

It was amazing! 

I was so awestruck that my picture taking definitely suffered.

These just don't do it justice.
 

So, after we got done at the fort our bus driver gave us the option of going back to the port or going to Old San Juan (which is only like 2 blocks from the port).

We chose Old San Juan. :o)



Mainly because I had been dying to see these old blue cobble stones.

It was beautiful.

We even had time to grab a couple of Cappuccinos. :o)
 

Ok, so N8dogg's might have been an Espresso, but still.

After our Cappuccinos we headed back to the ship, and said goodbye to Puerto Rico.

On Wednesday we woke up in St. Thomas, and met my family for a ferry ride over to St. Johns.

Oh, and these ugly things were everywhere!

 

Yuck!

 Seriously, I must have counted 20 of them along the shore line.

Anyway, the ferry ride was about an hour long, and our little captain was pretty funny. 

 

 

He made sure to point out where all the famous people lived. :o) 

 

  

Once we got to St. Johns we only had a couple of hours, so we did a little shopping. 

Of course N8dogg found the only cat on the entire island to hang out with while we browsed the shops. 

We passed a shop selling coconuts, so I had to be a total tourist and buy one.

The water in it was pretty nasty...which explains why they asked if I wanted one with rum in it. :o)

However, we did have a nice conversation with the guy who cut the coconut open.

He asked us where we were from, and when we told him Utah (which got various reactions throughout our trip), he asked us what Karl Malone was up to these days. :o)

N8dogg opted for the rum without the coconut.  

 Anyway, after our drinks we got back on the ferry and headed back to St. Thomas.

Thursday was another "At Sea" day, so we just did some more lounging around. :o)

Then on Friday I woke up in Half Moon Cay.

It was gorgeous!

N8dogg and I rented a "clam shell", and set up camp.

 

We did a little wadding...

And N8dogg did a little swimming. :o) 

 

  

Chet and Holly rented a paddle boat, so I tried to get a few pictures of them.

 

I got a few, but I also got this:

Life Stylist Ross was the fitness guru on the ship, and this was some random girl who was trying to flirt with him.

N8dogg and I got quite a kick out of their conversation. :o)

We ended the day with a BBQ, and then headed back to the ship.

The next morning I woke up back in Florida, and after a very long day of travel (not to mention the scariest plane ride of my life) we finally arrived back home.

I hope you enjoyed my photo bomb! :o)

Happy Wednesday!