Heart Craft and Fireplace Make-over!

Hello Dear Friends,
   Sorry I have been quiet but I have been so busy that I was too tired to share. I have much more going on that I will talk about this weekend but for now here are a few of the things that are taking my time.
   I found this frame at Hobby Lobby and I knew right away that I could do something with it. I love the way it turned out. These  were the little flowers that you pick up for $2.00 and they each have a little glam to them.

 When I was setting them up in the design I actually had to pin them into place and it looked like this...then I hot glued them.

I sprayed the entire heart and background with craft bond and then glittered it...

  Then my brother brought this over for a makeover and I knew it would have to be white. He didn't care what color so first I painted gray on top.

I was playing around with what I was going to put on the inside and I had this for another project.

Here is the gray when I was dry brushing it over the red. I wasn't sure if it was going to be what I wanted.

 But in the end I put soft white on tope and I love it. And I did like the silver in the middle...it is even better in better light but here she is!!

http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com/2013/02/shabbilicious-friday-link-party.html

http://www.timewashed.com/2013/01/blissful-whites-wednesday_29.html

http://www.myrepurposedlife.net

http://www.commonground-do.com/2013/01/be-inspired-125-winter-lovlies.html

She is Here!!!!

Good Morning,
 I am happy to say the dishwasher is installed and working!!! What a joy it is to have it replace the dishes that were sometimes sitting on the counter!!! My hands don't tolerate dish soap so I would have to wear my little purple gloves to do dishes and I can tell  you sometimes my hands smelled like those rubber gloves and that isn't so good either!

I had started to load it before I took a picture but here she is on the inside, just as pretty!

I also wanted to tell you about this sweet little give away. Click the link and follow her blog and then you can put your name in to win!

Prim By The Water

Small Cozy Area for Winter

Hello Dear Friends,
  I have been wanting to post for a few days but I really didn't want to share all the details of what I have been up to. We own rental properties and sometimes when someone hasn't paid in a very long time and we can't get them to move, we have to take terrible measures. That has been consuming my time. It is not pleasant at all but sometimes necessary.
   I thought I would share a little area in my bathroom that I worked on a few days ago. Everything was already in my storage area so no new purchases here. The pillow was a gift as was the scenty melter.

Sometimes I like to put just a few things together to make it cozy. This is the area where I put on my make-up in the bathroom and I want it to be pleasant while I am working on making myself beautiful..lol.

Nothing too exciting today as far as pictures. But the news is that my dishwasher arrived yesterday! I was so excited and wanted to share pictures but when dh started hooking it up we needed different connections for the plumbing. Since we live outside a very small town, everything was closed. It is still sitting in the middle of my kitchen waiting until tonight. I hope to show you tomorrow.
  And I wanted to share with you that this morning I was laying in bed...I was awake but still basking in the heat of my electric blanket and I received a text from my brother that said, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Mat. 5:6 Now that is the way to start the day just thinking about the Lord before my feet hit the floor...thank you, Brother.

http://www.timewashed.com/2013/01/blissful-whites-wednesday_22.html

No Spend February

Ok Friends, I did it. I broke down and went shopping for dishwashers. My no-pend January is a bust...the good news, the dishwasher is being delivered on Monday. I was surprised that it is coming so quickly. So I will soon have the beauty in my kitchen and my little purple gloves will get a rest!
  However, I am going to try again in February. I am going to try to do a no-spend February. Do you want to join me? I am only going to do the least grocery shopping that I can and no shopping for home or clothes or non necessary items. Now, if you want to join me let me know...and we can talk about it on our blogs! So get prepared. Let's have some fun....it will be a fun challenge!

Another One Bites the Dust...she is finished!

Good Afternoon Friends, It seems we have had a little disruption of service with our dishwasher. That is, it quit working. We have replaced all our appliances to stainless steel the last few years but our dishwasher just wasn't that old so we left it to be white all by itself.
  So this morning I had to unload all the dirty dishes that we inside and wash them by hand. To tell you the truth it wasn't that bad except I have to wear those silly purple gloves to keep the soap off my hands...it makes them hurt so bad.
  I did a little day dreaming while I worked and I watched a you tube video and well, it was almost delightful.
  Don't get me wrong, I am going to replace it but not for a little while. I am in a challenge for No-spend January so I will have to wait for a few weeks. So for now I am washing, washing, washing by hand and thinking that it really is not that bad...so far.
  Blessings on your day.

Random Thoughts

 Since I really don't have much to blog about today I thought I would show you a picture of the sunrise. It was so beautiful and so red. Later that evening we had a lot of rain!

And because I am feeling blue I thought  would show you what I had for lunch. A salsa salad...I know boring but sometimes I need to feel what I feel.
 Even though I am blue today I want to say I am thankful for our home. It gives me great joy to be here in this time of rest.

A Day to Count Our Joy

                              http://anextraordinaryday.net/joy-day-the-joy-of-the-lord/

                             
  Dear Friends, I am following Diane's lead and declaring today a day of joy. If you follow the link you can see what she has to say.
  I am following her lead and presenting my list of joy as a testament of God's everlasting blessings in my life.

1. I am thankful for my husband and children...they bring me comfort and joy.
2. I am thankful for my sister. She has been a big blessing and so understanding...just what you need from a big sister.
3. I am thankful for my brother and sister-in-law. They have shown love and strength for me in my hour of need.
4. I am thankful for my sister-cousins. What an unexpected blessing  God poured out on me. I had no idea how much joy I was going to be given by allowing our relationships to grow and thrive. I feel like they give me an abundance of love but ask for nothing...what sweet joy that is.
5. I am so thankful that I am saved and surrounded by His unfailing glory..now how great is that!

   Please take minute to count your blessings!

Valentines Quick-make!

Good Morning Friends, I decided to dig out my favorite Valentine decoration today. My daughter made this a few years ago when she was quite young. I don't have steps to show but we cut out the hearts with all different heart material. We used fusible web to place them onto the material.

We layered it with batting, and backing and tied it with dmc floss. Then I sewed on the binding and we were done!

I must admit not only do I love it...it is quite cheerful.

http://www.itsoverflowing.com/2013/01/overflowing-with-creativity-56/

Winter Mantle

Hello Friends,
  Yesterday I decided it was time to tackle the mantle. When I put all the Christmas away it looked pretty gloomy. I at first thought about putting the garland away and putting it back to normal but then I thought...what fun is that? So I started to dream of having a glittery, shiny mantle for all the winter that is yet to come. I left the star wreath that I a made and the snowmen picture.

Then when I looked at the tree I made yesterday I decided to take  a few of the decorations I had left over and a few that I had in my stash and this is where I began. I wanted it to be winter..above the fireplace. I wanted that warm cozy feel.

This dove is in my living room year around and I decided to move it to a more prominent spot for awhile. I took the peace sign from the white cabinet and who could resist the beautiful cake stand?

I found a few shiny things that seemed to fit right in...

And this spool of thread and snowman was a touch of fun and whimsy!

This pine cones I had picked up in my yard a few weeks ago before the snow.

Enjoy your day, dear friends and I am happy to be spending time with you!

http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2013/01/under-100-linky-party_9.html
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/2013/01/fabulously-creative-friday.html
http://www.timewashed.com/2013/01/blissful-whites-wednesday_15.html

The glitter isn't gone....winter project!

 Hello Friends,
   After putting away my Christmas, you didn't think my home was done with glitter did you? No Way! Remember this little tree from our first snow, well I took my hubby's saw outside and cut it down...

Because I knew it needed a new home and a lot of glam. I spent the day working on my tree and mantle which I will show you tomorrow. I had purchased some snowballs and birds on sale a while back and the rest were things I already had. With a little imagination I was in business.

I had purchased some things to put ice on the branches but that will be for something else I am thinking of...but for today...a winter tree for sparkle, glam and fun!

http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.ca/2013/01/home-sweet-home-101.html
http://blissranch.blogspot.ca/2013/01/no-i-in-team-link-party.html
http://www.thevintagefarmhouse.com/2013/01/creative-things-thursday_10.html
http://www.commonground-do.com/2013/01/be-inspired-122-what-inspires-you-in.html
http://www.handymancraftywoman.com/2013/01/wicked-awesome-wednesday-93.html
http://tatertotsandjello.com/2013/01/weekend-wrap-up-party-and-cha-surprise-box-giveaway.html

Passed!

Well, this is my youngest the morning of her State Board Exams. She was so stressed. What a funny kid she is. I knew she had studied her brains out so I wasn't super worried but I felt sorry for her because of the pressure.

And this is what she look like when they handed her the papers showing she had passed...how excited she was.

These are her friends who also took the test and they were waiting to see if they had passed also. All of them passed but one and she missed it by 1 point....oh how terrible for her.

We had a great celebration afterwards and then finally home...I am exhausted!

Great Day at the Drury!

So excited, when my daughter and I went to check into our rooms today we had been upgraded to a suite without any extra charge.

It is nice to be able to relax without just sitting on the beds.

And to top it off, we were given a discount because we are here for her state boards!!! This has been a great day.
 Tomorrow while she is testing I am going to be enjoying all the wonderful shopping that is right here at this exit...I am living the good life today!

The Dreaded Pantry!!

As promised I am working on this pantry. This is where I am now..after working for 2 hours I was wishing we had not gone to the grocery yesterday.  I would love to paint these shelves or put some pretty paper on them but honestly for right now I am happy they are this good.

This entire small space is a wreck. I do have pictures on my camera so I will be posting them as we go along but this is just the beginning this space is so driving me crazy. Do you have a space like that? My sister and my sister-in -law both how housekeepers and I am so jealous but I am working my way to being debt free so I don't want to invest right now. So I will keep working on this room. I have 3 baskets of laundry to put away so too much to do today.
  I am thinking my post will be better tomorrow!

Un-Organizing and I am Okay with it!

 So today I thought I would begin to put the Christmas tree and other decorations away. I have been planning this for awhile. I know that my things need to be sorted and organized since I have so much stored in the basement. So I started taking down everything and I sorted them by color and then by item...I had piles here and there....later I went to the basement to begin the sort of all the rubbermaids. Really, I took one look at all that stuff and said to myself, I am not in the mood...this is for the birds...and I put everything in the tubs ever so gently and it was done. Not sorted...but put away safe and sound until next year. I am not sad that I gave up. I am happy it is done. I do not regret considering it but I just couldn't accomplish it this year.
  So the snowmen are out and I am happy to know that the things I packed are ok just as they are and I have decorated this house for 13 years using this method so...I am okay with it.
 But I am still going to do a make-over on my laundry room but I am taking my daughter to take her state boards next week and we are spending some time together at a hotel and shopping and celebrating when she passes. So the make over is pushed back for another day. But that is just the way it is, things that are important come first and my little make-over, well it just isn't that important right now. Enjoy your days...we don't know how many we get.

After Christmas Treasures

 On Wednesday I spent the day with my sister at an antique store in Van Wert, Ohio. The weather was a freezing 11 degrees when I left home but it was sunny and clear so it was a nice drive. It takes me just over an hour to get there so I put on The Message and traveled.
  We decided to eat  mexican and that was so very good. Then we were off to shop. We both enjoy the shop and have shopped there many times before so we browse and talk and look and talk and well...we spend hours looking around. So I wanted to show you what I found.

Sorry, You will have to turn your head sideways for this one but I found some vintage ornaments and some wonderful icicles. When my Christmas stuff comes down I am going to create a snowy branch and I thought this would be perfect to go along with my winter theme.

And when I found this plate I knew I wanted it for the sentiment. And it looks pretty good with my table decorations.

And when I got home I found this at my back door. My brother and sister-in-law made this for me and I really love it. My brother said that the lights were brand new but when they got here they would not light. But I don't care I love it but it might be too nice to be outside. I might have to find a place for it on the porch!

A Little Sharing of Hope.......

 Winter,  a time of quiet and rest. Christmas is over and the weather has been a little frightful but I am going to take this opportunity to spend some time in quiet reflection and on moving towards my dreams.

 If you have been following my blog then you know that a lot has happened in the last 18 months, most of it has been pretty devastating. This year I must set my   life into a forward motion but I do not want to move out of the will of God. I want to be in the palm of His hand as I start new ventures. With His everlasting arms wrapped around my family and my ventures.

  I have so many ideas floating around and so much tugging at me but I must plant my feet and begin...so I start my new year with hope and anticipation.

  I am declaring that this year will hold love and happiness for me and my family. That I will put into motion some of the dreams that have been placed in my heart.

  I am looking forward to growing and learning no matter what the pace..fast or slow...I will be reaching for the stars and sprinkling some of the dust as I go along. My heart is full and my mind is set on taking a new path for this year.

  I pray you follow along and feel free to chime in..I want this to be a place of warm welcomes and my home a place of open doors!

  So today I say hello to tomorrow..Dianntha

Star wreath First DIY for 2013

When my Mom was with us we used to get around the table and work on crafts while the guys watched the games. So to continue that tradition I made this star wreath as the first project of the year.  It is pretty simple and I think you will enjoy making one of your own. My kids did not craft with me but the were here playing the Wii so at least it is a beginning.

I bought a flat wreath and I had card stock and burlap on hand.

I cut a few strips of burlap and wound it around the wreath to cover the green and to give it a more finished look.

These are the stars. I cut two sizes from a pattern I found on google images.

Once they were cut I glued dictionary pages, music pages and I stamped of few of them. I then distressed the edges of half of them. With the hot glue I glued them to the wreath. It was just that easy. I wanted to add glitter but none of the colors seemed to look they way I wanted so instead they are plain and I guess that is ok! If you make one, let me know. I found my info here.

http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/01/wow-us-wednesdays-99.html

http://www.thevintagefarmhouse.com/2013/01/creative-things-thursday.html

http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/2013/01/open-house-party.html