Christmas Home Tour: Living Room

December 11, 2018 By Linda 20 Comments

Christmas Decorations in Gray, White & Red – Christmas Home Tour – Living Room.

This post is dedicated you.

All of you.

All of you lovely, lovely people!

Thank you … thank you … thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Your responses to my where have I been blog post last week overwhelmed me. All your support and encouragement lifted my spirits …

and gave me back my joy!

Did I say thank you?

You all reminded me about the very best part of blogging.

You!

Your comments. Your words of encouragement. Your words of understanding.

Seriously, it filled my heart! I felt like that moment in The Grinch where his heart just grows and grows and grows. With the reading of each and every comment you left my hear just grew and grew and grew!

Thank you!

I’m not sure how I lost sight of all of you in my blogging journey, but somewhere along the line blogging turned from a passion to a burden. Honestly, I was having a teen girl moment.

You know the one, right?

Where I was standing on the sidelines watching all the other girls get asked to prom and invited to all the best parties. Standing on the sidelines as all the other girls (or so it seemed) made it onto the cheer squad and dance team. And there I was. Standing on the sidelines.

Brooding.

I know, I know. Not an attractive look.

But then it dawned on me. Not everyone is going to get asked to prom. Or go to parties. Or make the cheer team. Or dance team

And who says it’s all that. Right?

And who says that’s the only — or the right — path in life?

Sometimes it’s best just to do your own thing.

Be your own person.

Own it (as Lisa Rinna says on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills).

Sometimes you just need to follow your own path.

And once I stopped looking at what the popular girls were doing, I felt freed up to just be me.

Okay, true confession time. I still do take a peek at the popular girls from time to time. But only in a see-what-I-can-learn/pick-up-from-them way. Not in a I’m-so-jealous-I-wasn’t-asked-to-the-party way.

So thank you!

Thank you for supporting me … and encouraging me … to do my own thing!

And thank you for being here when I finally realized my path is a pretty darn good one! 🙂

And it only took me seven years! Sigh.

And I’ll end with the holiday dog picture.

Yes, yes, I realize all the cool girls have a well-behaved holiday dog picture on their holiday home tour posts. But here’s the catch: Ernie hates the camera. He runs from it with his head hung low and tail tucked between his legs. But for once Ernie didn’t run away when I pointed the camera in his direction. Perhaps he was really tired. Or perhaps he was really enjoying the Christmas tree.

Or perhaps he really wanted to give me a popular girl blog moment! Ha! 🙂

Candy Cane Christmas Bunting with Duck Tape

December 10, 2018 By Linda 6 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Duck Brand®. All opinions are 100% mine.

Candy Cane Christmas Bunting – Duck Tape Holiday Crafts.

Once upon a time my Christmas decorating “theme” was all about the Santas.

And not just any old Santas. Well, actually, that’s not true. Because it was all about old Santas. As in Ye Olde Santas. You know the ones with the long beards and muted colored long coats. Polar opposite of the holly-jolly-red-faced-bright-red-coated North Pole Santas you encounter at the mall.

As an aside, my apologies if I’ve shared a version of this story before. I am getting old, after all. And my children like to point out that I sometimes (okay, often) repeat myself. 😉

But back to the Ye Olde Santas.

They started showing up in my decor when we first moved into this house. I was greatly influenced by a store that no longer exists called the Great Ace. It was a mix of hardware and decor and furniture. And each holiday season they would put up a forest of themed trees …

and the Ye Olde Santa themed tree called my name.

And for many years thereafter, my collection grew. I would pick a few new Santas each year. And family and friends would gift me with Ye Olde Santas to add to my collection.

But as with most things, with the passing of time my Christmas decor tastes and preferences changed. My affection for Ye Olde Santas waned …

as I found myself drawn to trees. Little trees. Big trees. Medium sized trees. Trees, trees, trees.

I found this twig and jute tree at Target and scooped it up right away. I had no idea where it would go. I had no idea how large it actually was (I didn’t unfurl the full tree in the store). I just know I needed this twig and jute tree in my holiday home.

After trying it out in a few spots, I eventually decided to hang it on the chalkboard wall in the kitchen. When I stepped back to admire my new medium-sized tree addition to my holiday decor, I thought it needed a little sumpin sumpin.

So I pulled out the colorful holiday Duck® brand duct tape …

How To Make Candy Cane Christmas Bunting with Duck Tape

Materials

Color Duck Tape® in red & white

8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper

White jingle bells

Small hole punch

Red & white baker’s twine

Embroidery needle

Scissors

Tape alternating strips of red and white Duck Tape to the 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper. I eyeballed the spacing … but turns my eyeballs eyeballed 1/4″ stripes.

Continue until you fill the page.

Turn over and trim away the excess.

Trace triangles on paper side and cut out (mine measure 2 1/2″ in length x 2 1/4″ top width).

One 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheet of paper produced 24 triangles.

Using a small hole punch, create holes at two ends of top of triangle.

Thread baker’s twine through embroidery needle and thread together triangles (I added a white jingle bell after every two triangles). I did tie a knot for the jingle bells to stay in place, but no need to do that for each triangle. You can just move them around where you want them and they’ll stay in place.

And hang …

One tree done, ten more to go. 😉

Oh, and this candy cane bunting looks cute on the big tree too …

And since it’s made with Duck® brand duct tape, this bunting is durable enough touse it year-after-year on my little, medium and big trees!

Pin It!

Check out my other Duck Tape holiday craft ideas:

Santa Suit Duck Tape Mason Jar Cozy @Mason Jar Crafts Love blog

Duck Tape Silver & Gold Candle Holiday Centerpiece

Duck Tape Gift Bags & Tags

Christmas Tree in Gray, White, Red

December 6, 2018 By Linda 19 Comments

Christmas Tree in Gray, White, Red – Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas.

As I was fighting with this Christmas tree over the weekend, I got to thinking …

You see, I bought this tree as a pre-lit one. Which is all great and good and convenient for like 4 or 5 or 6 years or so. Until …

until (insert drum roll here) …

until a strand of pre-lit lights stops working.

And that’s when the struggle begins. Because identifying the exact strand to replace is near impossible.

Two years ago when a single section of the tree went dark, I ad libbed (or is it ad hoc’d) it and just threw a new strand over the old.

Problem solved.

Then last year, there were a few more black out spots. So I ad libbed (ad hoc’d?) it again. The result, though? The tree was a bit overwhelmed with wires. And I knew this temporary light solution wouldn’t fly next year.

Welcome to next year!

So the unraveling began. As in removing the pre-lit strands of light. Eek.

And let me tell you, when they string these pre-lit trees they really, really string them. Seriously. It took me hours to get the old off. Not to mention all the fake tree scratches on my hands and wrists.

I won’t TMI you with a picture of my bloodied limbs, so you’ll have to take my word. 😉

And as I was struggling to unstrand the strands, I started thinking: how are these pre-lit trees strung? Is it automated? And if so, how? And if so, bravo to the engineer who came up with that automation line!

But if not … are they individually hand strung? And if so, well my combined cheers & condolences to the person whose job it is to string them. I’m hoping they wear some heaving duty gloves!

And now my pre-lit tree has one tiny little pre-lit section left. It’s the smallest piece of the puzzle that fits on the tippy top of the tree. I’m not sure why that one strand of lights continues to shine brightly. But if decides to follow the rest of the tree and dark next year …

I’m ready.

Though, next year I’ll wear protective gloves. 🙂

P.S. Clearly Ernie is enjoying this year’s Christmas tree!

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Neutral Christmas Tree

Drop Cloth Ruffled Tree Skirt

Christmas in the Kitchen

Thanksgiving Centerpiece

December 4, 2018 By Linda 6 Comments

Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas – White Pumpkins, Eucalyptus, Votives – Simple Neutral Centerpiece.

I know. I know.

Thanksgiving was two weeks ago.

But bear with me. I’m trying to catch up here (remember that spontaneous six months long time off thingy majingy).

Hey, it could have been worse. I have a few Halloween projects from October that I made and photographed but never shared! 😉

But this year I hosted Thanksgiving. Which was a very big deal. Because it’s been many, many … many .... long years of not hosting.

Now, it’s not like I don’t like hosting. I do. It’s just the family has grown in size as kids grow up and get married and have kids of their own. And, quite frankly, my space-challenged house could no longer accommodate all those new family additions.

But this year we were a small group. Me, Mike, my two kids, Mike’s two sisters and one brother-in-law. A perfect size for a gathering in my home!

So in preparation for our little gathering, I decided to paint the walls, make new pillow slip covers and get new rugs.

That’s normal preparation, right?

Naturally, my husband thought I was insane. And perhaps I was. But I’ll tell you what …

it gave me a chance to give the house a nice, deep clean. You know the kind, right. The behind-the-armoire-and-hutch-and-under-the-couch-scrub-the-baseboards kinds of deep clean.

Boy does that feel good. Like a nice, long hot shower after a strenuous work-out!

Oh, and you can catch a glimpse of the newly painted wall color above the board and batten in these two pictures. It’s a nice, neutral light gray.

And after the navy, it really brightens up the place.

I’ll share a full before & after post after the holidays with all the paint-color-rug-and-fabric resources and names and links.

But for now, let’s just enjoy some candlelight and twinkle lights in my neutral Thanksgiving centerpiece. It’s nice and low so it doesn’t get in the way of conversation. I used a few faux white pumpkins (from my stash), twig pumpkins (again, my stash) simple votives (found at Michael’s), birch wood slice (found at Mariano’s grocery store) and fresh greens from the grocery store that I dismantled and spread along the table.

That’s it. Simple. Neutral. Pretty.

Oh, and it went perfectly with my freshly painted walls ….

and sparkling baseboards!

Before I go, here’s a quick and shameless plug for my Etsy shop. I still have some cars in jars left that can be delivered in time for Christmas:

Vintage Chevy Pick Up Truck

Vintage Chevy Bel-Air

Summer Nautical Navy And White Party Ideas with Paper

June 6, 2018 By Linda 2 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of A.C. Moore. All opinions are 100% mine.

There are so many things to love about the craft store.

So many things to inspire my creativity.

So many shiny things I want to take home and glue to something. Anything.

So many shades of paint I want to splatter on anything that doesn’t move. And even some that do! 😉

But the one section in the craft store that draws me in … calls my name as soon as I step foot in the store ... is the paper aisle.

So many colors. So many designs and patterns and beautiful color combinations. So many themes.

So many possibilities!

In the paper aisle, my head explodes with all those possibilities. Paper flowers … and origami … and custom cards … oh my!

Not to mention how many affordable ways I can use paper to create something beautiful for my home …

or, even better, how many affordable ways I can use paper to create something beautiful I can share with friends and family at a summer party!

For my summer nautical navy and white party ideas with paper, I zeroed in on these amazing Love Nicole paper collections at A.C. Moore in “ahoy” …

… and “seaside.”

You can find both of these collections (and even more amazing designs and colors) at A.C. Moore … and even more design inspiration by watching the A.C. Moore Hour, a recent partnership with Create and Craft airing every Wednesday at 11 AM Eastern time. Now you can tune into your TV and regularly get great craft ideas. You can watch Create and Craft on DISH Network or stream online at createandcraft.com.

Summer Nautical Navy and White Party Ideas with Paper

Paper Gift Box Tutorial

Trace cube box template onto back side of your paper (click here to download & print the template).

Cut it out.

Fold. Fold. Fold (per template).

Using a glue stick, apply to flaps.

I also used a little tape to better secure the sides of the box.

Finished box measures about 2 1/4″ square.

Paper Bow Tutorial

You can download the bow template by clicking here.

Trace template on wrong side of paper and cut out.

Add glue.

Fold over each side to form bow’s loops, adding more glue to stick ends to center.

Use a paper clip to secure until dry. (If it doesn’t stick, you can use tape or a glue gun).

I used glue dots to secure the looped bow to the base (you can also use glue or glue gun).

Wrap small strip around center of bow to finish off, secure in back (again, I used glue dots but you can use glue gun or tape).

Paper Sailboat Cupcake Topper Tutorial

You can download the triangle template by clicking here. (I used the smaller triangle for the mini cupcakes; the larger triangle is for standard size cupcakes)

Trace on wrong side of paper and cut out.

Add a small hole to top of triangle (using a small hole hand punch) along the right angle side.

And add a second small hole at bottom of triangle.

Feed through a small dowel (I used a wooden vegetable skewer that you can find at the grocery store). Add a small jute tie at bottom of triangle.

Cut dowels and insert in cupcakes.

Mason Jar Paper Topped Sippy Cup Tutorial

Trace mason jar lid on wrong side of paper.

Cut out.

Step not pictured: Before inserting circle cut outs into mason jar bands, punch holes for straws (you can also use a knife to make an “X” after you insert into bands)

Add straws … and serve!

Paper Navy & White Flag Banner

Click here for banner template.

Trace and cut out. Add to jute string using mini clothespins (you can find them at the craft store).

Paper Napkin Ring Tutorial

Cut 1″ strips of paper.

Wrap around rolled up napkins. Trim excess and secure in back with tape.

Finish by tying off with a piece of jute string.

Pull it all together and you’ve got an amazing nautical themed party exclusively using paper to create your decorations!

Sharing: Between Naps on the Porch |

Gray Painted Bathroom Vanity

May 11, 2018 By Linda 5 Comments

Gray Painted Bathroom Vanity – Sherwin Williams Repose Gray.

$gray painted bathroom vanity - sherwin williams repose gray - grey painted furniture$

You know that old saying about life handing you lemons and making lemonade?

Welcome to my lemonade.

My powder room is a lemon. It’s needs an apple or an orange or a lime or whatever the fruit equivalent is for a total gut job and rebuild.

But I’m living on a canned fruit budget. 😉

So my only recourse is lemonade making.

$gray painted bathroom vanity - sherwin williams repose gray - grey painted furniture$

Now, the thing is about making lemonade is … I’ve never made it from scratch. No juicing of lemons and adding of water and sugar for the perfect balance of tart to sweet. No sprigs of mint to top it all off.

I’m all about easy lemonade making with instant powder mix and water. The closest I’ve gotten to using a fresh lemon is as a garnish.

So when it came to making lemonade out of my old powder room vanity, I took the easy instant mix way. Down and dirty without a juicer or fresh lemon in sight.

🙂

$crystal cabinet pulls - gray painted bathroom cabinet - sherwin williams repose gray - grey painted furniture$

Which means the end result isn’t perfect. There are flaws.

$gray painted bathroom vanity - sherwin williams repose gray - glass cabinet pulls D. Lawless$

But that’s okay. Because in the end, my lemon cabinet looks much better than the before. And much, much better than the before before …

Gray Painted Bathroom Vanity

Materials

Sherwin Williams Repose Gray (flat finish)

Annie Sloan Clear Wax (affiliate link)

Paint Brush

Clean Rags (for waxing)

Satin Nickle Cabinet Hinge

Sherwin Williams Repose Gray

I sed Sherwin Williams Repose Gray flat latex paint on the cabinets (it’s the same paint on used on the bathroom walls). I removed the doors first and painted the base in place. It took two coats of paint, with drying time between each coat. Sand as needed to smooth out any drips (I sometimes take a heavy hand with the paint which results in drips!).

Once dry, I took a rag and the Annie Sloan clear wax (my preferred top coat finish choice because it gives a more matte satin finish vs. higher gloss poly) and added wax to the doors and base cabinet. Then I came back with a clean rag and removed & buffed.

That’s it.

My instant lemonade mix makeover of my bathroom vanity cabinet.

$gray painted bathroom vanity - sherwin williams repose gray - grey painted furniture$

I finished it off with new satin nickle hinges …

and these pretty antique crystal glass pulls from D. Lawless Hardware (and this is not a sponsored post).

Oh, and I used this same instant lemonade mix fix for the molding around the bathroom mirror. Painted & waxed in place.

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Balloon Shade Tutorial

Pretty Bathroom Storage with Fabric Mason Jar Cozies

Mason Jar Cozies Bathroom Storage

May 4, 2018 By Linda 7 Comments

Mason Jar Cozies Bathroom Storage – Gold Mason Jar Lids with Crystal Knobs.

I just realized something.

Nothing big. Nothing earth shattering. Nothing to write home about.

But …. my blog design and my home’s decor are becoming synergistic.

I’d like to say it was by design.

Literally.

But no. It’s pure coincidence.

…. or is it?

Perhaps when I was drawn to a blog design with gray with gold highlights so many years ago it was a sign of things to come?

Or maybe it was a self-fulfilling prophecy?

If we look waaaaaaaaaay back to October 2011, my first blog design was blue and white.

Do you remember that?

And as I type this, I sit in a blue and white room. Okay, navy blue (unlike the original French blue color). But blue nonetheless.

Yet, when I first chose that blue and white blog design my home was all red and green and purple and jeweled tone.

Could that original blue and white blog design also have been a self-fulfilling prophecy?

And then …

do you remember when the blog design went full on color crazy? I wish I had a screen shot of that design with all the different colored paint rollers?

That design happened about the same time I was painting my son’s room bright orange.

Dare I say …. self-fulfilling prophecy?!?

🙂

So, for now, I’m all about the gray and white. I’ve painted my entry in that color palette recently. I’ve painted the powder room in that palette (and will be sharing the full reveal with you soon) …

and next up this month is tackling the living and dining room with some gray paint.

I’ve even decided on the color (the most challenging part of all!).

So stay tuned …

And, in the meanwhile, I’m sharing how to add some pretty gray and white bathroom accents with fabric mason jar cozies bathroom storage with glam gold tops with crystal knobs.

How To Make Fabric Mason Jar Cozies Bathroom Storage

Materials*

Ball Pint Size Regular Mouth Mason Jars

this Etsy shop

Gray & White Fabric (I purchased my fabric from this Etsy shop)

Measuring Tape

Thread

Pins

Sewing Machine

Iron

*Includes some affiliate links.

1 – Start by measuring your mason jars. You’ll cut the length of fabric and extra inch (or two) to allow for a 1/2″ seam allowance when sewing.

2 – For the quart jar, I cut my strip 3 inches wide (I actually did the fabric rip thing versus cutting to get a clean edge. Just snip a little at the edge of the fabric and then rip.

3 – For the pint size jars, my fabric width is 2 inches.

4 – For an unfinished edge look, I pulled a few threads to give it a frayed look. I also trimmed off a few of the longer pieces.

5 – Wrap fabric around jar (good side towards the jar) and pin.

6 – Sew along pin line (right sides together). Cut off excess fabric.

7 – Iron seams open.

8 – Slip onto jars.

How To Make Gold Mason Jar Lids with Crystal Knobs

Materials*

Metallic Gold Spray Paint (my go-to metallic is Valspar)

Clear Multi-Surface Glue (I used E6000)

Regular Mouth Mason Jar Lids & Bands

Crystal Knobs (I found mine at Home Depot)

*includes some affiliate links.

1 – Spray lids and bands with metallic gold spray paint. Let dry overnight.

2 – Add glue to lids. Attach crystal glass knobs.

3 – Let dry overnight.

4 – Fill jars and add your new, glam gold lids with crystal knobs.

So the lesson learned here today (besides how to make mason jar cozies and mason jar gold lids with crystal knobs) is that they next time I change up my blog design, my home design will follow suit!

🙂

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Sharing: | Between Naps on the Porch |

How to Make Balloon Shade Tutorial

March 13, 2018 By Linda 5 Comments

How To Make Balloon Shade Tutorial – Balloon Shade DIY.

Soooooooooooooooooo ……

Do I really need to address the elephant in the room? Or can we just move on. Move forward.

Because, honestly, I blame it on the so. Well, more accurately, the sew.

As in sewing.

Because sewing tutorials are the worst.

They are complicated. On so (and sew) many levels 😉 …

Starting with large swaths of fabric that are nearly impossible to photograph in a single frame without moving every piece of furniture out of the room.

And as a reminder, my house is already space-challenged.

Then there’s the whole sewing terminology barrier. I’m not a professional seamstress. I’m an amateur.

Okay, maybe there was that one class I took way back in junior high school. But that was loooooong ago and these days I’m mostly winging it.

I mean, have you tried reading a sewing pattern lately? It makes toilet paper math looks like kid’s play.

In trying to write up a sewing tutorial, I realize I don’t know the correct terms. Or stitches. I don’t even own a serger … or is it a serging machine? …. I don’t even know what it is. Or what it looks like. Or even when I would need to serge something.

And with all that said, I’ve been making balloon shade curtains for 25 years. My sister taught me as we made four giant balloon shade curtains for my first apartment. And when I moved into this home, I was a balloon-shade-making maniac. And then when I was pregnant the nursery got it’s own balloon shade. And then when I redecorated the nursery for my daughter (child #2), I made yet another balloon shade curtain …

With this gray and white buffalo check balloon valance, it took me close to two months to make — and share — this balloon shade curtain tutorial. A curtain I could whip out in a day.

Sigh.

Two weeks spent procrastinating because of the dreaded sewing tutorial.

Another week spent flip flopping and agonizing over scrapping the tutorial and just making the curtain.

And all the while the bare window looked so bare. And sad.

And then I gave in. And spent 3 days making this balloon shade (2 days longer than necessary) while documenting the process. As best I can.

And then another four weeks was spent in procrastination mode. And avoidance mode. Because I was procrastinating and avoiding writing up this post.

Sigh.

Because, as I said before, sewing tutorials are the worst.

How To Make Balloon Shade Tutorial

Materials*

Fabric (I found this gray & white gingham at this Etsy seller) – I used 1 3/4″ yards of 60″ width fabric

Thread

1/2″ Plastic Rings

Cording (I used about 20 yards)

5 Metal Eye Hooks

Wide Pocket Curtain Rod (2 1/2″)

*Includes some affiliate links.

Start by measuring your window area. As you can see, I chose to hang my curtain much higher than the top of the window. The ceilings are tall in this room and the window is short. I wanted to make the window look taller.

And here’s how I set up the hardware. I put the curtain rod hardware slightly outside the width of the window measurement by about 1 inch. You also need to install 5 eye hooks where the strings you’ll thread through the back of the curtain and then through the eye hooks to make the balloon curtain balloon.

For the fabric, I cut three panels 19″ wide and 74″ length (the finished width will be just about double the width of the window and about double the length. This extra width & length fabric will help give the “balloon-ing” when the curtain is pulled up.

Pin the three panels together, right sides together. Sew along 1/2″ seam allowance.

Press open the seams.

Hem the bottom. Cut off excess fabric.

Create a top hem and a pocket for the hardware. Fold down the top fabric 10 inches. At the 4″ down from the top fold, create a sew line.

Make a the pocket 3″ to accommodate the 2 1/2″ hardware.

Sew along the lines to make the pocket.

Sew rings along the panel seams (and on outside seams). Space 6″ apart.

Thread your cording through the rings, starting at the bottom (where you’ll tie a knot. Thread up and over like so …

Insert the hardware through the pocket. Now you’re ready to hang.

Thread the cording through the eye hooks. Starting from the outer edge. The first cord will go through all four eye hooks.

The next goes through three eye hooks.

And next through two eye hooks.

The last through the last eye hook.

Pull on the cords until you like how the balloon shade balloons. Then braid them together and fit onto the 5th eye hook on the side of the window.

And we’re done. A full two months later …

sigh. 🙂

Pin It!

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Sharing: | Between Naps on the Porch |

March Calendar Page Printable

March 5, 2018 By Linda Leave a Comment

March Calendar Page Printable – Free Calendar Page March 2018.

Well, hello there March.

Where did you come from?

Wasn’t it just February 1?

Wasn’t I just bemoaning the start of a month traditionally filled with cold, gray, snowy/rainy/sleety and dreary days?

And then here you are. Showing up last week on my doorstep all shiny and new. All sunny and warm(ish) and snow melty. With nary a raindrop in sigh.

Now, I have to tell you March: We have high expectation of you.

The pressure is on ….

First (and most importantly) you usher in the start of Spring. Filling our heads with dreams of blooming flowers and warmer temperatures. Shedding coats and scarfs and snowboots for jean jackets and cardigans and flip flops.

Oh, and we are itching to sip wine, eat great food, and people watch at an outdoor café,

And we are counting on you March to make all this happen. On the 20th. Though we wouldn’t mind if you can make that happen sooner. 😉

And then there’s the whole shaping up for summer thing. March … with your Spring dreams of sun and warmth … you also usher in those dreams of our fit and toned bodies romping on the beach this summer.

Okay, I’m too old for romping. More like slow walking and sitting with a good book in a chair with my feet dipped in the surf.

Either way, bathing suits are involved. And we all know bathing suits are unforgiving.

So with the onset of March begins a renewed and reinvigorated exercise and healthy eating regime.

See March? I told you we expect so much of you.

Granted, you have a few weeks to get your you-know-what together. To shed your “in like a lion” ways. We’re so looking forward to “out like a lamb” ….

and to help you count down to the all-important 20th day of the month, I’ve made a March Calendar Page Printable. It’s FREE. It’s easy to download. And, like January and February, it’s paint themed (this time playing off an old Japanese proverb) …

Click here to download & print the March Calendar Page Printable for 2018.

And if you prefer to count down the days on a calendar page featuring a mason jar theme, you can find the download link for the March Mason Jar Calendar page at my other blog, Mason Jar Crafts Love. Just click here …

Vanilla Sugar Scrub

February 9, 2018 By Linda 2 Comments

Vanilla Sugar Scrub Recipe – Homemade Sugar Scrub Recipe Idea

I try not to ascribe to (or is it subscribe to? or buy into?) conspiracy theories …

but ….

something has been afoot (or is it underfoot?) when it comes to this vanilla sugar scrub project.

Dare I say there has been some type of conspiracy at play?

You see, someone …

or something …

does not want me to put this vanilla sugar scrub recipe out into the universe.

I’m not sure why it’s so controversial.

None of the ingredients are contraband. Quite the opposite. They’re readily available products typically found in most households.

The methods (or is it methodology?) of combinning said non-contraband ingredients is not classified. A bowl. A mixing cup. A spoon. Mix.

And yet, it’s been an uphill battle trying to get this post up on the blog. A battle that has been raging on for weeks.

Sigh.

Let’s start with conspiracy #1: Way back in early January I made and photographed this Vanilla Sugar Scrub project. Thinking it could be a good homemade Valentine’s Day gift idea. It also falls into my “craft with what you have” mantra for 2018.

I download the photos onto my computer into my photo editing software program (Adobe Lightroom), carefully picked my favorites, and edited them. I did not take the final step – exporting them to my hard drive, figuring I’d get to that later.

Big mistake.

When I went to download those carefully-selected-and-edited pictures, I discovered my photo editing software program got a glitch. Okay, more than a glitch. It wouldn’t open. So I had to purchase new software. And download. And when I opened it up, all the previous photos were gone. Gone. GONE.

So I had to return to step one. This time, though, I exported those edited pictures.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Conspiracy theory #2: Years ago I dropped my laptop (I don’t recommend the dropping of laptops). Ever since, getting the charger wire to fit the charger wire hole has been a balancing act of precision that I perfected. Until …

last week …

when the charger would no longer charge. No matter how many times I tried to get the connection to work.

Unfortunately, I did not notice this until there was only 26 minutes of power left. Panicked, I grabbed my external hard drive and starting moving as many files as I could onto it.

Many photos made the transfer. This Vanilla Sugar Scrub project did not.

Sigh.

Fast forward to today. Here I sit with a brand new laptop. With my Adobe Lightroom photo editing software successfully downloaded. And I start he process all over again. Download photos. Carefully pic faves. Edit and export.

And, finally, get this months-in-the-making blog post up on the blog!

How To Make Vanilla Sugar Scrub

Makes enough to fill 3-to-4 1/2 pint mason jars

Ingredients*

2 cups Granulated Sugar

1/2 cup oil (I used Almond Oil, but Coconut or Olive Oil work too)

10-15 drops Vanilla Extract

1/2 pint Mason Jars (I used Ball Elite 8 oz. Pint Jars)

*includes some affiliate links.

Instructions

1. Mix sugar and oil together. Add vanilla extract a few drops at a time until you reach desired scent.

2. Spoon into mason jars.

3. Add jute tie and free printable gift tag.

4. Share with your loved ones.

I also made some free printable tags to download (luckily these did survive the emergency external hard drive transfer!). Just click here …

Now that I have a new laptop, I’m hoping the rest of 2018 will be conspiracy free. Well, at least until I drop my new laptop …

😉

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February Calendar Page Printable

February 1, 2018 By Linda 1 Comment

February Calendar Page Printable – Free Calendar Page Printable.

Why, hello there February.

Where did you come from?

How did you arrive so quickly?

Wasn’t it just January 1?

Wasn’t I just telling all my lovely readers (that’s you) how motivated I was feeling in 2018?

Wasn’t I just bragging about how I had an editorial calendar all mapped out for the month? How I planned to blog more and more consistently this year?

And I did get off to a strong start …

for the first two weeks.

And then?

And then I fell off the motivational bandwagon.

Sigh.

And now is the part of the blog post where I list a litany of excuses as to why I fell off that motivational bandwagon …

but I won’t.

And now is the part of the blog post where I promise that February will be better …

but I won’t.

Instead I’ll just say it looks like 2018 might look a lot like 2017 …

🙂

To download the February Calendar Page Printable, click here …

As a total aside that has nothing to do with editorial calendars and blog post frequency, my laptop died over the weekend. I have a new one with amazing screen resolution. But it’s throwing me off. Because I fear while my photos are looking pretty sharp on my screen they may look washed out and/or the white balance might be off on yours. If so, my apologies as I work through this all!

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P.S. If you prefer a side of mason jar with your free printable calendar page, I have a February mason jar calendar page up on the other blog, Mason Jar Crafts Love. Just click here for the download link …

How To Make a Bow

January 16, 2018 By Linda 2 Comments

How To Make A Bow – Wreath Bow DIY Tutorial.

Today’s post and project is from the “crafting with what you have” archives.

Or is it annals?

Perhaps annals today but archives after it’s published and … you know … officially archived?

Oh, and by archives (or annals) I mean the one other crafting with what you have project I did last week. But hey, the archive (or annals) has to start somewhere, right? 🙂

Either way, today I’m crafting with what I have.

And I’m hoping this turns into a common theme/trend (for me) in 2018. Mostly because (1) I really need a good purge of the crafting supplies accumulated over the past six years of this blog; and (2) I really need to stop giving all my hard-earned cash to Michael’s and JoAnns.

I mean, I have college tuition to pay ….

for the next, consecutive five years.

Oh, and I really need to invest in a new laptop (mine is literally falling apart). Pro tip: Dropping your laptop is not a good idea.

With all that in mind, I decided to re-purpose my Christmas wreath into a winter wreath.

Using what I had.

Which included painted pine cones I made a few years back (tutorial here) and 2 1/2″ wired ribbon I picked up last year at Michael’s. I had big plans for this ribbon …

that quickly fizzled and died. So I threw the ribbon into my crafting stash. And quickly forgot about it.

Until now.

Out it came.

And I tried my hand at making a bow …

How To Make A Bow

Materials

Wired Ribbon (I used Celebrate It! Brand from Michael’s that is ” wide)

Twisty Ties

Stapler

Scissors

Start by cutting four lengths of ribbon. For my bow, I cut:

One 8″ strip

One 27″ strip

Two 25″ strips

Fold the two 25″ strips into thirds with raw edges overlapping in back. The folded length should measure 11 inches. Staple closed along back raw edges.

Now accordion fold those two 11″ strips and staple in the middle.

Like so.

Now, my original plan was to stack the two stapled accordion-folded 11″ strips, add the 27″ length folded in half and then wrap the 8″ length around them and staple shut to hold together. But this plan did not work. Everything fell apart. Sooooooo …..

I folded over that 8″ strip and gave it three staples to make the bow center.

Using some twist ties (are we the only family that saves twist ties), I twisted three together to make a longer length. And then threaded it through the bow center piece.