Goddess of My Cottage

Been So Busy...Quick Update

2010-12-21T16:46:00.000-08:00

I'm so sorry no posts lately...
Doesn't mean I have be lazing around doing nothing though...
On the contrary ~
Taking tons and tons of family pictures ~ oh and a wedding or two in there as well :)
So far have gotten 7 Christmas cards with pictures that I've taken! I think that's the bomb! Gives me warm and fuzzies!
Trying to get Christmas shopping done for the princes...
You know my momma and grammy are the smart ones here! It is just too much for them to get out and shop for all the kids so they send $$ to me and I do their shopping! LOL Brilliant! I will remember that when I get a little older with grandkids!
Anyway ~ so life has gotten in the way of blogging ~ but I'll take living my life anyday!
So very blessed and grateful for all that I have and for the people in my life.
I promise to catch up on some fun stuff I've been doing ~ crafts and pictures and life in general.
Going to go back on my diet right after Christmas...need to drop the extra 30 pounds that seem to like my butt and thighs...if I can lose 80 then 30 should be nothing...The goal is by my 43rd birthday in March to see those pesky 30 gone for good!
I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a most Joyous New Year! May your families and homes be blessed with love during this time of year and always!
all my love to you my fabulous bloggers!
<3

No Hobby Lobby...woes!

2010-12-01T22:56:00.000-08:00

Why don't we have a Hobby Lobby???
I ask you?!?
All that we have is Wal-Mart (a friend of mine refers to as hell!) which doesn't have very much...Michael's and JoAnns are in the next town over - still not a great selection...
Lowe's (my favorite hardware store - and I'm not saying that just cuz the hubby works at their distribution center) is just up the street, but again, not a great selection of "crafting" things.
I am a fan of so many amazing crafting blogs and I don't go a day without one of the wonderfully talented ladies saying that they got it at Hobby Lobby!
AHHHHHHHH!
I want to "craft-lift" ideas and go in search of the items I see but alas! I can never find all the items needed and I tend to have to go to 4 different stores to come close! And when and if I do find things that come close - they're always 50% higher in price!
So what would it take to get a Hobby Lobby in beautiful, sunny, Southern California???
LOL
Really?!?!?
Maybe I'll send them an email and tell them my crafting plight...maybe they'll have a heart and open up a store in my area just cuz I asked!
Well a girl can hope can't she!
Thanks for listening...
have a nice day!
bahahahahah! LOL!

**update**
Closest Store to me that is open - Henderson Nevada!
Store Opening in Visalia California...but that's like 3 hours away! ugh!

{joy} vintage banner

2010-11-29T03:20:00.000-08:00

Not sure what got into me tonight...
I was looking at paper that I've had a while - and just got back from the craft store with some beautiful lace ~ 2 hours later I have this cute little {joy} vintage-ie banner

The base of the banner, stars and letters were cut with my Cricut
Tea dyed the lace to get it the right color then hand gathered that...made the little rosettes by gathering ribbon and put a little bling in the center.
Strung it on some pretty silver ribbon...
ok...so I'm off to bed now that I'm finished!
I just love the holidays ~ it gets the creative juices flowing!
{enjoy}

{merry christmas} tag garland

2010-11-27T19:39:00.000-08:00

What a crafty mood I've been in lately! I love it!
Crafts seem to get me into the Spirit of the holiday season! And since moving to our new little cottage, I haven't done much in the way of crafting...decorating yes...crafting not so much! So with Thanksgiving and Christmas...I really got the little crafty bug.
Having a word garland hanging in the house for the month/season that it is makes me happy :) I love making them using my Cricut generally...today was no different. I needed to make a Merry Christmas garland so I started with my Cricut Expression machine and the Tags, Bags, Boxes and More cartridge. Used some sparkly paper that I had laying around and cut out the background tags.

Picked a few colors of my Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels...I wanted red, but I was making a garland for my BFF jules ~ and her Christmas decor is blue and then I thought I'd make a couple extra garlands for the boutique so I also grabbed a pretty green too.

Then using a swirly glimmer mask {also from Tattered Angels} I stenciled the mask shape on each of the tags...but changed the location for each tag to give it a really cool effect and i didn't want it to look too uniform ~ matchie-matchie...

Let the Glimmer Mist dry completely

Cut letters out using a Cricut font cartridge {I used Printing Press} ~ Attach them to the tags ~ this is made easier if you run the letters through a Xyron machine to make them stickers ~ then all you have to do is peel and stick.

String the tags along a ribbon {I have this awesome red velvet ribbon that I love} ~ and spread the letters out just a little bit. Leave space between words. Tie bits of different ribbons at each of the ends and in between the words.

Here's the version I made for {jules} ~ she wanted the word PEACE so that's what I did...because it was a shorter word I put bits of ribbon in between each letter. Also, it needed a little more bling ~ so I Stickled each letter when it was done. On the other garland I used Crystal Effects to just give the letters a little extra pop!

Here's to the start of an amazing Christmas holiday season!
{enjoy}

**update** here is the tag garland in the green tones:

and the garland I made for jules on her pretty mantel

Temple Pictures on Wood Blocks

2010-11-27T11:23:00.000-08:00

I love to see the Temple...
I'm going there someday...
I made some really cute temple pictures on wood blocks for a boutique my friend is having next week...
Took pictures that I had (actually my BFF took this one of the SL Temple and shared it with me :) love you jules!) added a title and printed them out ~ to adhere them to the wood ~ I used MOD PODGE of course! Love that stuff!
Then distressed it and added a pretty bow!
Voila!
They turned out so pretty...I did different versions of this with several different pictures that I have taken over the past few months of some of our local temples...
Going to make some wonderful Christmas presents this year!

Feather Pudding

2010-11-27T09:44:00.000-08:00

Feather Pudding Recipe
My grandma Martin always made this amazing dessert type yumminess for Thanksgiving and Christmas...It was tradition! We didn't have very many traditions growing up that I can really remember except for a few ~ but the one thing I did remember was her making this dish and we only had it during the holidays.
As she got older, her children and grandchildren started taking on the responsibility of making the meals and even her Feather Pudding.
I can remember when I was about 18 and wanting to take this traditional Martin Family recipe to a holiday dinner at some friends...it was not as easy as it seemed! But I did master it!
Now 20 something years later, I carry on the tradition and make Feather Pudding every Thanksgiving and Christmas...I don't even need to look at the recipe or instructions anymore...and everytime I make it, I think of my Momo (aka grandma Martin) and what an amazing, sweet, loving woman she was ~ and how much I love her and miss her!
I hope you enjoy a little bit of what has become our family tradition ~ from our family to yours!

Turkey Placecards & Pilgrim Hats

2010-11-27T09:20:00.000-08:00

Ok...can't take the credit for this one...
A friend led me to this cute blog "Our Best Bites" that had the cutest Thanksgiving crafts ~ so I just copied them...
Here's my version of our little Turkey army...lol

I also made the cute pilgrim hats ~

If you want to know the ingredients to these and some other amazing things ~ go check out Our Best Bites site...
**Side Note Suggestion** Use Double Stuff Oreos ~ that way the candy corns can fit better!

Red & Green Candy Wreath Oranaments

2010-11-27T01:22:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine is doing a boutique at her house this year and besides any craft item that you offer, she has also requested that we bring 20 ornaments to sell.
I think how she is doing it is so cute...All the ornaments for sale will decorate several trees in her home...
So here is one of the ornaments that I made - thought I'd do a little tutorial for it, seeing it was super simple and inexpensive to whip these cuties up.
First you'll need the round hard candies (green and white OR red and white OR both - I used both), a glue gun, some coordinating ribbons and the little red hot cinnamon candies

It takes 6 of the round candies to make one wreath...Using the glue gun, glue the 6 candies together so that they form a circular shape.

Next, glue a red hot cinnamon candy at each seam except at the top - it will take 5 red hot candies for each wreath.

To hang the wreath to the tree, I used 1/4" sheer red ribbon - tied it through the wreath and secured it at the top with a knot. To seal the candy - I sprayed both front and back with a clear sealer spray. Hang the wreath to dry.

Once sealer has dried, glue a bow to the top of the wreath.

I did some red and white ones, green and white ones and mixed it up a little and did some red, green and white ones. They turned out really cute ~ I was able to get 28 ornaments from 2 bags of the hard candies.

This is a very inexpensive craft - approx. $5 to make all 28 ornaments. It's also easy and with minimal supervision, older children could make this cute oranment.
{enjoy}

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-23T22:32:00.000-08:00

It has been the craziest past month...in a good way
Not much time to come up for a breath of air...
Spent almost a week in Washington DC (will have to post about that later) and then for the past 3 weeks - had lots and lots of photo shoots (which means even more editing)
But I wanted to take just a minute to express today some things that I'm so thankful for...
1) My sweet hunny, Kurt...he is my partner, my best friend and Eternal companion. He blesses my life each day with more love than I ever thought any one person could love another...he is pretty much the bomb diggity! lol
2) My 4 princes...someone asked me today if I missed not having a girl...my answer was Absolutely Not! My boys are awesome! They each are the most amazing people. I'm so grateful they are my children and I love them so much!
3)Family...mom, pops, dad, grammy, my sisters (& their hunnys), brother-in-law & sister-in law, nieces & nephews, aunts & uncles, and cousins...love each and everyone of them. Each person in our family brings something special to my life!
4) Friends...I am blessed with some amazing friends that seem more like family. I am thankful for these relationships that on more than one occasion have kept me taking one more step forward when I thought I couldn't go on any longer.
5) My saviour Jesus Christ...for the atonement and sacrifice that was made on my behalf.
6) To live in a country where I am free...and thankful to the men and women in the armed forces who have helped to protect that freedom.
I can go on...but my minute is up :) LOL
I really am thankful for so many things in my life - thanks for taking the time to read my blog...
Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving

Shut the BLEEPING TV off!

2010-10-26T00:10:00.000-07:00

Don't you remember when there were only 7 channels on the television?
And you had to have "rabbit ears" or an atenna on top of your set?
AND, sometimes when you couldn't get great receiption, your dad would tell you to go get some aluminum foil so he could put it on those rabbit ears in hopes that the picture would come in better?
{this was back when I had a pet dinosaur! and children walked to school...even when it rained!} LOL
Now we have 100's of stations on television...why have just one ESPN channel when 10 are better??? really?
Now days, if you want to have television, you have to have cable or satellite or some form of service where you pay in order to view programs on that box with pictures...no more rabbit ears required.
Up until 4 months ago, we too had some sort of paid television service. I didn't mind the princes watching programs...in fact I really enjoyed Disney channel and Nick {for the most part}...it wasn't until one day I heard almost a yelling conversation taking place on a program and every, other word was being bleeped out.
I was busily doing whatever it was that I was doing and in the familyroom, I could hear the BLEEPING becoming increasingly more repeated to where you couldn't even hear anything that the person was actually saying!
After my initial investigation...I discovered that in was a program {I can't remember the name} on an MTV station...where aparently, BLEEPING was common place.
This was my first experience with this sort of program...so trying to be the level headed mom...I walked into the room...watched for a few minutes and then turned to my zombiefied princes who were glued - eyes glazed - to the tv and said "if I hear more than 2 BLEEPS in a row, and you don't turn it...I will disconnect the tv."
I don't think they for one moment thought that I would actually do it...
but I stuck to my word...
because it didn't even take the rest of that week before I heard the BLEEPING BLEEP BLEEP on the BLEEPING BLEEP BLEEP BLEEP again!
So our nice cable guy, came out the very next day and removed all the lovely little cable boxes and took them and the television clickers with him.
Fast forward 4 months...
I like the fact that I don't hear the BLEEPING anymore...
I like that yesterday I caught my 15 year old READING a book in the familyroom instead of watching some BLEEPING program...
I like the fact that as a family we have sat down and had movie nights again ~ haven't done that in a while...
I do however miss McDreamy!
Not sure how much longer I'll be able to go without the paid television service...
We have, however become more aware of the types of shows that the princes were watching and IF we do get some sort of service back, there will be rules and time limits heavily inforced...
On the other hand...I am enjoying the BLEEPING silence.
next hill to climb...youtube! one battle at a time!

Man Cave...BEFORE & AFTER

2010-10-24T12:35:00.000-07:00

Being in our new little cottage for a little over a month now...
When we couldn't find a place for stuff, it kinda got put out in the garage {aka the man cave}
This didn't set too well with my hunny...because afterall ~ it is "his" space and it was being invaded by STUFF
My hunny loves organization {just another reason I love him} and it was driving him crazy to have his domain so unorganized!
He made appointments with the entire family to make sure no one had anything going on Saturday so we could all help with this huge undertaking.
I personally was just hoping to finally find the box of pots and pans {if I haven't already said this...we still haven't been able to find the box that contains all the cookware ~ had to go buy a pot and a pan until we can find "the" box}
10 hours later...it went from the horder look to organized!
All the shelves up, lights hung, big boy toys in their places...
But sadly...no box of cookware to be found!
I really hope that when we take the Christmas boxes out of the rafters ~ there we will find the "box"!
All that is left is some scrapbook stuff {which he lovingly reminded me that is my "stuff"} to go through ~ thinking a garage sale is in order to minimize it all! lol
Grateful for my hunny and his OCD ways!
Hope everyone had a great weekend!

The Gift of Time, the Menu Board & What's For Dinner? {Wednesday}

2010-10-20T22:29:00.000-07:00

Some of you may remember my little Menu White Board tutorial that I did a while back...I love that little thing. It sits on my counter and I often get comments on it like today.
On my little Menu board I generally have one of two lists on there. 1) the 12 meals that I always have ingredients for OR 2) the weekly dinner menu. Right now I have this week's dinner menu up there because with our very hectic schedules lately, it's nice to know that I don't have to think about what to make for dinner...it's already planned.
And being an extremely busy mom, photographer, volunteer, you name it - my hunny gave me a gift a few months back...the gift of help and time! I love him for lots of reasons, but he gets extra brownie points for this...this gift comes twice a month for about 3 hours a day and is a sweet lady named Shirley...she really is the sweetest lady and she helps me with some of the cleaning around the cottage...I am so grateful to my hunny and my cleaning friend Shirley for the gift of time and help!
Anyway, today Shirley was here and she commented on the Menu Board and said what a clever idea...to plan out and write down what the dinner schedule is for the week.
I explained to her that it helps me to stay organized and that I never really have to hear, "What's for Dinner?" because they know to look at the board.
The Menu Board, like Shirley, really was another gift of time in my book...being and staying organized always is it seems...
So with that...What's For Dinner? It was my yummy spaghetti and garlic bread. I don't mean to boast...lol...but it really is yummers. Last week at our mid-week Youth Group at church, one of my Young Women (that's where I serve, is with the Young Women) came up to me and told me she was "craving" my spaghetti...and that she thought that I should make some very soon and bring it in on a Wednesday night! LOL
Two very special ingredients are what makes my spaghetti extra good...Bacon & a Lawry's Spaghetti Sauce seasoning packet!
So here's the full recipe:
Sauce -
1 lb lean ground beef OR italian sausage (browned and crumbled)
about 1/4 lb of bacon (cut into small pieces and throw in with meat as you are browing it)
1 lrg jar of spaghetti sauce (any brand, any flavoring)
1 pkg Larwy's spaghetti sauce seasoning packet

Brown meat and bacon together until meat is fully cooked. Pour off any excess grease. Pour shaghetti sauce into pan. Open seasoning pkt and pour into spaghetti sauce jar. Add about 1/4 cup water to jar. Replace lid on jar and shake. Pour seasoning into the pan with meat and sauce and stir completely. Place over warm heat until bubbly.

Add 1 lb cooked spaghetti noodles to the sauce and stir til noodles are completely covered with sauce.

*Option* sometimes I will add shredded cheddar cheese to the sauce...just for a twist.
Serve with warm galic bread.
Also, you can double the recipe and split it to freeze 1/2 for another night's dinner to save some time.
I hope you can try this...and find a way to give yourself the gift of time
enjoy

Feeling My {Age}

2010-10-20T00:11:00.000-07:00

I was reminded at three points today how old I really am.
Just to put it out there...I'm {42 years old}.
Dang! It sounds so old because as an 18 year old "girl" graduating from high school...my mom was 38 and having her 20 year reunion from high school...and she was soooooooooo old to me! LOL
But really, I don't feel like I should be 42...do I?
#1 prince is a senior in high school...I know this...and I'm coming to terms with the fact that in less than a year, my baby will be off to college and then in just over a year will serve a mission for our church. How is this possible?
I remember just like it was yesterday, my perfect, brand new baby boy in my arms...and a friend, who was also a new mommy, saying something like ~ I calculated when my baby will graduate high school...yada yada
It made me think and I too calculated the year that my precious little prince would matriculate ~ 2011...hahaha I thought to myself...that's just so far away!
After school today...he handed me his "senior packet"! The information on cap and gown and tassel...class ring...graduation announcements...I got that ringing in my ears where you can't really hear anything clearly for a few minutes as all the images in this senior packet were swirling around in my head...reminded me of his first day of kindergarten...I can't even go there right now...
Today my very good friend Natalie and her precious girls, texted and asked if the boys and I wanted to go get some frozen yogurt. At the time, #2 & #3 princes and I were going to start our workout...but I said yes because I wanted to put off the insanity for just a little while longer.
We had a great time!
Just hanging out, talking, eating some yummy frozen goodness and being together.
Natalie and I have known each other since we were 12 so we go way back...and during our conversation she says, isn't our 25th high school reunion coming up? I kinda choked a little...and then got that ringing in my ears again...25 years...25 years...the words kept resounding in my head. There's no way! We just had our 20th! I know because I helped plan it! I calculated the numbers...she's right ~ 2011 - 1986 = 25 years!
We finished our yogurt and came back to our little cottage to continue our wonderful time with our friends...
Once the girls were gone...I couldn't put the workout off any longer. I knew that if I didn't do it, then I would be upset at myself in the morning! And the princes were ready to go!
Let me just say...Shaun T, the guy who came up with this workout is INSANE...and I tried with everything I had to do the entire thing...but I had to modify most of the moves about 20 mins in.
As I worked out, I had flashback memories of a workout video {yes I said video as in VHS!} that my grammy used to do. It was a Richard Simmons workout where the little old ladies used a chair and they would sit and stretch...I would watch my grammy and giggle as she would bend and stretch...and she was a whole whoppin' 50 years old at the time probably! Can't you just see Richard in those stripped short shorts and that curly brown afro hair of his...LOL I can just hear him!
Once the workout was finished...and the three of us were gasping for air and sucking down the water...I slowly drug myself over to my chair and asked...no panted desperately for someone to bring me an IB800 and water...
and here I sit...because my body is too sore to even move...
I hear the bathtub beckoning me...to rest my old aching muscles...
I think I may shuffle my way down the hall and see if I can move.
Not feeling sorry for myself by any means...
I just have to come to grips with the fact that I'm getting older...
But I don't have to succom to being OLD...
My mother would always tell me{and I'm sure you've heard it a million times}
"You're only as old as you feel"
Up until today...I was feeling like I was 30 something...
Now...about 100...lol
After a good long soak in a nice hot tub and a good nights sleep...hopefully 42 again...and honestly that's just fine by me.

What's that smell? {really?}

2010-10-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

That little 3 word statement can go one of two ways...
It could be...
"ooooooo yum! What's that smell? Is that {cookies} {brownies} {banana bread}?" take your pick on the yummy smell of your choice.
It could be...
"oh mom is that Pumpkin Bread?" only for them to be disappointed to find out that it's my Pumpkin Spice Sentsy waxie thingie burning...LOL bahahahaha and then a "Dang it!" follows that with disappointment on their face. So then I feel obligated to make brownies or some other baked yummy!
OR it could be like today!
Some of you know that we moved...not far...same village ~ just 3 blocks over, but we have had a few issues at the new cottage. So the garage isn't quite put together yet and the outside fridge is not where I can easliy access it {my hunny says after todays turn of event, it will all be put together this Saturday}...
Anyway, I get ahead of myself...
So my hunny needed to put something out in the outside fridge and he took out a bowl that was taking up space and put it on the kitchen counter...not looking at what the contents of that bowl was.
After running my Monday morning errands, I return to the cottage 4 hours later and about pass out as I walk through the door..."What's that smell!" That's not the good scenario! After a little investigation...I discover the science experiment in the bowl that came from the outside fridge sitting on the kitchen counter. {really?}
GROSS! So the Goddess went to work...plugged in all the Sentsy waxie thingies with warm Mochadoodle sents in them all...held my breath...rinsed out the bowl...poured an entire box of baking soda on the bowl, sink and down the garbage disposal....I held it together only gagging a couple times!
Fast forward two hours...#4 prince walks through the door...and he exclaims "What's that smell??? Brownies?"
LOL looks like I'll be making brownies later!

Weekend {Wrap-up} - wedding, football, family & friends

2010-10-18T01:50:00.001-07:00

What a crazy, busy, wonderful past few days!
Starting Thursday...it always gets super busy around here...
But this weekend was extra busy ~ cuz I was going non-stop!
It definately was a picture taking weekend!
Went to football game for #2 & #3 boy on Thursday...took 204 pictures
Wedding on Friday {amazing couple}...took 665 pictures
Action Photography Saturday for pee-wee football...took 540 pictures
Family Pictures of a good friend's kiddos on Sunday...took 153 pictures
Add that all up = 1,562 pictures taken!
We even got in a little grocery shopping that was desperately needed since mom was too busy during the week...lol ~ gotta get prepared for the week ahead!
I'm so blessed to be able to do what I {love}, {love} what I do and be able to be around people I care about the most!
Hope you have an amazing week...enjoy!

Fit or {Insanity}...

2010-10-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

A little over a year ago, I was about 80lbs heavier than I am right now. I won't bore you with all the details of how I did it ~ leave it to being said, I didn't have surgery...It was strict dieting, exercise, drinking more water than fish do and believing that I could get healthy and stay healthy. After all, I'm not getting any younger!
Fast forward a year to now. I feel great! Can fit into a size of clothes that I haven't been in, in almost 20 years...but now I have the bye-bye arms and floppy butt and thighs! So not pretty!
I know after a while of doing the same types of exercise and diet, your body tends to get used to it and stop progressing. Having boys, {4} of them to be exact, we have alot of weightlifting things around here and I have my eliptical thingie...but lifting weights just isn't my cup of tea ~ I want to continue to lose weight but also firm up the flop ~ not become a body builder!
The boys kept talking about the P90x thing but you don't just purchase the program, you have to have all the {toys} that go along with it...I am so into simple! I don't want a bunch a crud-ola to have to use...honestly, it's just more stuff for me to trip on as I'm trying to exercise. Ya...that's a pretty picture!
Anyway...I digress...so then #3 boy says something about some kind of insane workout ~ later he explained that, that's the name "Insanity Workout". I thought is was kind of a funny name for a workout and how bad could it really be???

After doing a little reading about the workout, we determined that it sounded pretty good and would try it...The part I liked was that it was a 60 day program and they had each day planned for you and what you were supposed to do. Great!
I ordered it, and we anxiously awaited it's arrival! Yesterday before leaving for a photo shoot our package arrived! YEAH! I opened the box and took out the reading material.
As I read, words kept popping out at me, like "check with your physician before starting this program!" Oh Crud! What have I gotten myself into??? But I wasn't going to back down! #3 boy was so excited to do this and he was my cheerleader today, saying "Come on mom...you can do it!" He was so excited to start he could barely contain himself! First thing we did was the fitness test which determines how out of shape you really are! And although I did ok on some of them, my form was awful! #3 boy is super in shape but was sweating like crazy. {I have to say as a proud mommy though, he did better than one of the guys that's on the video!} I walk 4 miles at least 4 days a week and don't think I've ever sweat so much in my entire life!
Monday starts the real butt kicking. Oh boy! I can't wait! {dripping with sarcasam!} But I am so determined to give this everything I have...even if it's not perfect! I will keep you posted as to how I'm progressing.
Cross your fingers...let the butt kicking begin!

{Austria?} Isn't that a continent?

2010-10-14T21:16:00.000-07:00

That is what one of my boys {one who will remain un-named for fear of embarrassment and harrassment} said when I told them where our foreign exchange students were coming from this year. Ahh our public education system at work! LOL
So for those who don't know me very well...
Other than being a mom, wife, photographer, scrapbooker, crafter, volunteer extrodinaire...I am also a Program Leader in the summer for a foreign exchange homestay program. Just a mere 28 days of our summer but it seems like a lifetime of memories are created in that short span of time.
Sometimes, we get several countries ~ like in the summer of 2009 ~ we had Spain, Russia, France and Germany. And in our own cottage we had 3 students stay with us from 3 of those countries.
Well this past summer, only 1 country was chosen to come to our little village ~ and that was Austria! And from Austria ~ 11 students PLUS we got 2 bonus students from Slovania {which we found out is a neighboring country to Austria} and 1 chaperone would be coming to stay. Each of the students had host families that they stayed with in our little village and the chaperone {Andrea} stayed with us at our little cottage.
I don't know what it was about these kids...but I poured over each one of their applications ~ I was like that new mommy pregnant for the first time ~ planning out everything perfectly for the arrival of that precious little bundle of joy! It really was similar...I could hardly wait for their arrival ~ I planned trips and outings and all the fun things they would do for the short month they would be here with me. I knew them even before they arrived ~ I knew their names...I knew what they looked like...I knew their interests...where they came from...I was leaving no stone unturned!
So the day of their arrival came...on the bus drive to the airport I could hardly contain myself. As I waited at the gate for them to come up through the customs terminal...I could finally see them! I started calling out their names with eagerness, waving my hands in the air and grabbing each one of them up in a big mama hug! {I even got reprimanded by an airport security guard for stepping over "the line" a few times ~ LOL} I shocked them all {because they told me later}...but a few of them thought who is this crazy nice lady hugging me??? They were shocked and happy to know that I knew their names. It made them feel more comfortable right away.
I took litterally 1000's of pictures of their trip to California...documented everything for them and their families to see back home in Austria & Slovania. I only got a few eye rolls by the end...but they all said that they liked it ~ and it made me so happy to do it for them.
Over the course of the next few weeks...each one of those 13 young people, became like family to us.
At our beach party farewell...they gave me a beautiful charm bracelet ~ one of the charms said "mom". And they made me a beautiful card that I want to share with you what they wrote:
"There are so many things we would like to thank you for but honestly there isn't enough space to write them all down. Since our arrival and throughout the whole time here you've bee a caring mother to us all. You treated us as if we were your own children. Whenever a problem occured you knew exactly how to solve it. You've been working 24/7 to make our experiences unforgettable and genuinely unique. Frankly, there are no words that can express how grateful we are. So all we can say is DANKE! We {Heart} U MOM and we will miss you. Your children from Austria & Slovania p.s. thanks for the pictures and the memories"
I have the card on my desk and I like to read the last line ~ we {heart} U MOM and we will miss you. Your children from Austria & Slovania...and you know what is so awesome??? I get to talk to most all of my Austrian & Slovanian children {some almost daily} more often through social networking...so even with the 9 hour difference I can instantly say hi to one of my sweet girls...like I did a minute ago before she got ready for school...
I'm so blessed to have {4} terrific and amazing sons...and grateful for the opportunities this life has afforded me to open our cottage to some other pretty amazing young people from around the world...
So if you're interested in what kept me busy for a better part of the summer and away from blogging...check out my personal Facebook page and take a peek at the photo albums {there are plenty to see} and you will get to know 13 + 1 of Austria (and Slovania)'s finest young people.

What's For Dinner {Wednesday}...

2010-10-14T00:51:00.000-07:00

Wednesday is THE all-time busiest day of our week for several reasons I won't bore you with...suffice it to say ~ once our feet hit the floor in the morning we are all on the run until very late in the evening!
So I've been trying something new around our little cottage...and wanted to share it with you. Each Wednesday {hopefully} I will bring you an easy recipe that you can make for your family too.
One really cool thing that I've been doing was inspired by those places like "Dream Dinners" where you go spend a couple hours and make 6 meals...bring them home and stick them in your freezer...Well I don't have that kind of time or money to spend, so what I've done is started doubling some of the dishes that I make and created two ~ stuck one in the freezer to be used on another day. It's also nice when a friend or neighbor is in need of a dinner brought in ~ just grab one out of your freezer ~ heat it up in the oven and voila! Like you'd been slaving away all day!
The first recipe I'd like to share with you is my family's all time favorite casserole. It's super easy to make this one and double it!

Curry Chicken Casserole
3-4 large Chicken Breasts (cooked and shredded or cubed)
3 cups cooked rice (for a quick alternative ~ use Minute Rice ~ just follow directions on box)
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 cup Milk
1 cup Mayonaise
1-2 Tblspn Mild Curry Powder

In a 13 x 9 pan, layer rice on the bottom. Mix together the cooked (shredded or cubed) chicken, Cream of Chicken Soup, Milk, Mayonaise and Curry Powder. Pour chicken mixture over the rice, spreading out evenly. Bake uncovered in the oven at 350 degrees for approximately 20 to 25 minutes until casserole starts to turn a toasty yellow-ie brown on top.
***Healthy Alternative Alert*** Add a green veggie to the chicken mixture before baking casserole. I have used green beans, brocolli and asparagus in the past. Disguise those veggies every chance I get!

Again, this is super easy to double and split into to 13x9 pans {I suggest getting a few of the disposable, re-useable kind for the ones you stick into the freezer ~ the kind that come with lids} - one to eat and one to freeze.
enjoy...

My {4} Princes...School Pictures 2010

2010-10-14T00:04:00.001-07:00

Here's the 2010 School Picture debut for the boys: Michael is a senior; Korey a junior; Logan a ladies man ~ I mean a sophmore; and my baby Trevor who isn't a baby anymore, is in 8th grade! Just a blink of an eye...that's all it took and they all grew up!

Soon enough they will leave home, serve missions, go to college, have jobs and start families of their own...but for now they are still here with me and I am cherishing every moment of everyday that I have with these wonderful young men...

sorry I got a little misty there for a moment...

If Mr. Doolitte says it's so...then you know it's right!

2010-10-13T23:03:00.000-07:00

On our way to Mutual tonight I took the opportunity to talk to Trevor and Michael about their days at school. Trevor, not being for a shortage of words these days, tells Michael and I excitedly about something his science teacher, Mr. Doolittle told them today about gravity.

Trevor..."Mom! Mr. Doolittle told us that if you opened up a Pringles can in space and let the chips fly out in space ~ in 3000 years they'll all smush together and create their own gravitational pull!"

Michael..."Like creating it's own Earth???"

Trevor..."YA! A Pringles Planet!"

Mom..."And Mr. Doolittle is old enough to have been around 3000 years to do the experiment himself?"

Trevor..."He is pretty old ya know and knows alot of stuff."

LOL I'm sure Mr. Doolittle is younger than I am...but I'm pretty sure Trevor thinks that I had a pet dinosaur when I was younger too!

My 15 minutes of Fame {really???}

2010-10-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

Making Memories Blog gave me my 15 minutes of fame today.
I made this cute little Destination Travel book and they liked it so much, they made me their Guest Desinger this week...

So go check me out! LOL bahahahahahaha!
It really is a cute little book!
And the paper and stickers and stuff was fun to work with

enjoy...

Halloween in Wonderland Tag Garland

2010-10-13T16:07:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share this cute little Halloween Tag Garland I made.
I used Graphic45 "Halloween in Wonderland" line of paper, my Bags, Tags, Boxes and More - Cricut Cartridge to cut out the tags and some ribbon (it's not a project unless there's ribbon!)

I ended up teaching this as a class at the Stampin' Post in Old Town Temecula ~ oh what fun! I now have it hanging in my family sitting room on my fireplace mantel...

I'm not much for decorating for Halloween (although I'm not opposed to it) just getting myself psyched up for Christmas!

enjoy...

Hello Blog World...sorry I've been gone so long

2010-10-13T15:58:00.000-07:00

Well hello!
did you miss me???
I really didn't fall off the face of the earth!
Promise ~
But I did move...
had a crazy hectic summer
and now I'm back!
I've missed crafting and blogging!
So I will start posting on a more regular basis!
I have so much to tell you!!!

Ooo La La - French-ish Bottles of Bath Salts

2010-02-11T16:58:00.000-08:00

Ok...so they aren't French...but I have this whole French theme going on in my downstairs bathroom. I've been kinda crafty chic-ing it up in there lately with the hat box and the towel holder...
I got this pink bath salts from our Relief Society dinner a couple months ago and they are so pretty but the bag that they came in was, well...blah!
You know I can't bare to throw bottles away - they are so pretty. It's like I have a love affair for pretty bottles! I have alot of empty Prima bottles. (For those who don't know what Prima is - they are an amazing flower company and some of their flowers are packaged in these pretty bottles.) I was looking through my empty bottle stash and spotted the two empty Prima bottles - PERFECT! And although they looked nice displayed amongst the towels - they were missing something.

Went over to Graphics Fairy - love that site! And downloaded a couple French soap labels. Printed them and cut them out...

Used some of my handy dandy Mod Podge - brushed it on and then let it dry.

doesn't take long to dry...but I took a picture while I was being impatient.

don't they look cute in the basket with all the little towels!
It really did finish them off by adding these labels and was super easy too!

Total cost = maybe 10cents worth of paper, ink and Mod Podge!
Time = less than 30 minutes and that included drying time

Inexpensive Curtain Alternative

2010-02-11T10:28:00.000-08:00

So I looked for curtains for our sliding glass door in our family room for the longest time...I just couldn't afford over $100 per panal! And actually trying to find curtains in my sliders size was near impossible!
I was frustrated and couldn't think of anything. So my BFF suggested using sheets. SHEETS? Like bed sheets? Really? REALLY!
I couldn't believe it! I went to WalMart and got two queensize flat sheets. At the top of each sheet where the casing is, I cut a verticle slice through the back layer at each end of the casing. The previous tenants left the curtain rod and it had been sitting empty for several months...
Here's what the final outcome looks like:

I love them and the total cost = LESS THAN $22!

Hat Box Re-do

2010-02-07T00:17:00.000-08:00

My grammy gave me these two little hat boxes that she had gotten a few years ago but never really used...I love it when she cleans out the closets! Yeah Me!

So first I visited the Graphics Fairy and printed out some French letters and postcards...

I used my handy, dandy Mod Podge to attach the papers to the box...

and to the lid...

Once the Mod Podge dried, I spread Valspar Antiquing Glaze to the box...then wiped it off - it leaves a antiqued, distressed look.

I used my hot glue gun - trusty ol' blue...to attach a ribbon around the top of the base of the box and then added a button to finish it off...

I really needed something to put my hair bands, clips, etc in - and this is just perfect!

And it really goes really well with the bathroom decor!

Oh...total cost to me was less than $1 - box FREE! Then I used 3 sheets of white computer paper - maybe 10 cents. I already had the mod podge & antiquing glaze from other projects. The ribbon came from my ribbon wall in my scrapbook closet - about 30 cents worth. Button, again, from my scrapbook closet - about 5 cents. Woo Hoo!

Picnic Set Re-use as Bathroom Set

2010-02-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

My BFF Julie gave me this really cute picnic set for Christmas...

I have to be honest...we have a few picnic sets and they sit in the cupboard...all year long! This one was really cute and I didn't want it just sitting around...so I thought about what I could do with it!
(Light Bulb!!!!)
I have been looking for a little basket of some sort to put on my counter in the guest bathroom for hand towels...VIOLA!

I also use this bathroom to get all beautiful each morning...

and my blow dryer and curling iron generally hang out on the counter...so I used the utencil holder from the picnic set to hold these and my brushes...looks better than it did before - trust me...and the hubs liked it much better too!

So my new little "towel holder" really goes great with my other little nic nacs in my bathroom...ahhhh bliss!

Clock Crafting Chic Re-do Before and After

2010-02-05T15:47:00.000-08:00

Ok - I showed the clock that I found at Target the other day for $17!

But it just wouldn't be me to leave well enough alone!!!
The dark brown was pretty, but I really wanted it black and more of a distressed look...
so I went to work!

First I masked off the face of the clock so the glass wouldn't get anything on it...

Then, I sanded the surface of the wood area to take the shiny coating off so that the new paint will adhere...

I used Krylon Acrylic Latex Enamel Black Satin Paint - I really liked this stuff! It was easy to clean up with just a little water and a sponge!

I actually ended up putting on 3 coats - because I really wanted full coverage and no brown to show through. After the third coat I let it dry overnight to make sure that it was completely dry before I started shabby-ing it up!

I used some sand paper to rough up some of the edges...

Here's some close ups of the clock...

Then I got my sweet hubs to help me hang my re-do creation...

I love it! I had to walk out the front door and then in...my eyes went straight to my beautiful clock - but there's still alot of blank wall...I think it needs a few other pretties...lol
Watch for the update!

Linking to:
Crafts in Bloom

Gliding Rocking Chair Re-do - Feature

2010-02-04T00:43:00.000-08:00

My friend Stephanie is UBER-talented!
She and her husband just welcomed their brand new precious baby boy to their family.
Stephanie, after a while of rocking that sweet baby, realized that a rocker would be so much easier!
Well - being the frugal new mommy that she is - turned to our local Craig's List to find something that would work out. Well she found a Glider Rocker that was being sold for $40! and she happily bought it!
But it was kinda hammered - so she put the special Stephanie touch on it!
Here is the before:

And here is the after:

She had some extra fabric leftover and made a super cute pillow to match:

I was talking to her tonight, and she said that in the store she saw a brand new glider-rocker for $200! So for probably less than $60, I think she got a great deal and it is so beautiful!
great job stephanie!

I Got Heart-Attacked Today - So Sweet!

2010-02-03T17:34:00.000-08:00

Today, our little Activity Day Girls Heart Attacked my front door!
They are so cute!
I was their leader for over a year and I just love them so much! I am now working with the older girls now, but miss the little girls...
Here are some pictures...

Coat Closet Turned Scrapbook Closet

2010-02-01T16:12:00.000-08:00

Ok...can't find my before pictures! So bummed about that! But believe me - they were awful! I called it the "catch-all-crap-closet" - AND SMELL!!!! OMGosh! The boys would pitch all their shoes in there and it just stunk! It was terrible!
Just a little background on this project - I teach and design scrapbook classes and have my studio area out where the diningroom would be...I had all my scrapbook stuff in the office area and was going back and forth between rooms when I needed something. I kept looking at that closet and one day I decided to just clear it all out!
On the left side of the closet there was all this wasted space of this little cut-out...so I made shelves and hung them up! So perfect for extra storage. I still have paper holders to hang on the interior walls and organize some paper, but for the most part...my Scrapbook Closet is complete and super organized!

I didn't think I was going to be able to fit everything in here - but I did and still have space!

Crafts In Bloom Posting Party

2010-01-30T11:35:00.000-08:00

I have a goal to have my own posting party soon...but in the meantime, I have discovered so many talented crafters out there by joining other site's posting parties...
I joined a little craft posting club over at Crafts in Bloom

Please come check it out...and post your own projects there too!

PB Knock-off - Dottie Ribbon Frames Gone Vintage

2010-01-30T01:05:00.000-08:00

First of all, I went to the 99cent store to see if they had any cute frames! And boy did they ever! I found these frame sets with a larger frame and a smaller frame for 99cents of course! That was an awesome deal!

Anyway...I had been looking through the PBTeen catalog and saw these cute little frame sets, attached to a ribbon - original price $35 but on sale for $29. They were a little on the kiddish side - thus being shown in the PBTeen catalog - duh right?!? lol

I figured I could put my own little spin on these using the little frames that I just aquired from the 99cent store!
First, I removed the back piece from each of the frames.

Then I removed the glass and the backings from each of the frames. I used Valspar Antiquing Glaze to make these little white frames look more vintage. First you just brush it on...

And then wipe it off...leaving a little bit of the color in all the nooks and crannies...

To make the ribbon backing - It takes about 3 yds of ribbon. Cut three pieces of ribbon about 32 inches long each. I made a loop at the top of each of the pieces, securing it with a couple staples.

Then I made three bows and glued one bow at the base of each of the loops using hot glue (this also covers up the staples).

Now you just need to attach the frames to the ribbons, making sure they are spaced out evenly. Once you have the frames attached to the ribbons (and you have pictures inside your frames - unlike mine which are naked on the wall right now!), hang your Vintage Ribbon Frames on the wall - I spaced mine out approximately 6 inches apart from the loop at the top.

Here's What the original looked like again from the catalog...

And here's the finished project...

In all this set of 3 Vintage Ribbon Frames cost me approx $5!

This Post Linked to:
Crafts in Bloom AND

Met Monday - BNOTP AND

Funky Junk Interiors AND

Thrifty Decor Chick AND

My Frugal Family AND

Today's Creative Blog AND

Show & Tell @ Blue Criket Design

What a Find - XL Entryway Clock

2010-01-30T00:57:00.000-08:00

Was at Super Target today - I love our new Super Target!
And was just strolling through the aisles...
not really looking for anything in particular...
I've wanted an XL Clock to go on the wall as you enter the house for a while now...and there it was! It was perfect. Checking the price - I had to take a double take! $17! REALLY??? Really!!!
It was marked down from $70 to $17...even the girl at check-out couldn't believe the price...lol

Not sure if I'll leave it the color it is...or paint it yet...
I will take an updated picture once I decide and get it up on the wall...
Now that was a great find!

Sharing Crafty Chic Idea - From Blue Family Scene

2010-01-27T21:15:00.000-08:00

My husband's very crafty cousin, Margo (I claim her as my cousin too!) has a great Crafty Chic project I wanted to share with everyone! We are both super fans of the Shanty2Chic sisters and Margo did a little spin off of their apothacary jars...using baby food jars!!! Super Creative!

Please check out this and her other very creative projects and ideas here: Blue Family Scene
Can't wait to try this little project for myself!

Magnetic Message Board

2010-01-27T17:04:00.000-08:00

I visited my friend Sue this past weekend while I was in Orange County for CHA. In her entryway was this super cute message board...well of course I needed one for myself - LOL! So I gathered my supplies and went to work...
For the metal piece I used a sheet of roof flashing which I got at Lowe's for 92 cents! I made my wood piece a little wider than the tin piece and a bit taller. Then I determined where I wanted my holes and drilled them evenly spaced out at the top.

Paint the board - I used Americana Lamp Ebony Black...two coats. Then I distressed the edges once it was dry.

I used Gorilla Super Glue to attach the tin piece.

Once the glue dried I used jute twine to make a hanger...tying a bow at the top of the board.

In each of the four corners of the tin I drilled a tiny hole. In each of the holes I put in a black furniture nail. I found several different kinds at Lowe's in the area where you find Tacks, Nails and Fastners. They came in a package of 25 for 97 cents. I found these black ones and two other kinds that I really liked, so I bought all 3 packages. I figure I will find somewhere I can use them. I put a drop of super glue in each hole before I put in the nail.

I am thinking that it needs to have some wording down the sides...If I do, I will post an updated picture...but for now, I just love my new little magnetic message board.

Prima - CHA Update

2010-01-27T01:25:00.000-08:00

I think we spent the most time at the Prima booth! There were over 500 new items that they came out with! If you don't like flowers...you would LOVE them after spending any amount of time at their booth. We saw so many incredible projects...here are just a few to share:

Julia from Juju Bee's Scrapbook Corner - clicking pictures of all the pretties!

UPDATE:
My friend Julia from Juju Bees Scrapbook Corner and I were on the Prima Flowers video - about 3 minutes in LOL

Pink Paislee - CHA Update

2010-01-27T01:05:00.000-08:00

OK...one of my favoritest lines at CHA is Pink Paislee!
Here are some pictures from the displays from their booth of the beautiful stuff to come...can't wait to play with all the beautiful product!

Charger Re-do Crafty Chic

2010-01-26T22:51:00.000-08:00

Went to Tuesday Morning...looking for anything fun
Well I found this silver charger that had a really nice shape...not exactly square with some great curves for $1.19!

First I lightly sanded the surface...

Then I painted the surface using Americana Lamp Ebony Black...a couple coats and let completely dry. Then I sanded the edges.

Here are two different ways that I put it together...

Linked to:

Cricut Cake

2010-01-26T21:28:00.000-08:00

OMGosh! I am so grateful to my friend's at Juju Bee's Scrapbook Corner who invited me to go with them to CHA! We were invited to the Provo Craft - Cricut Cake Debut Party. It was such a fun time! Saw so many amazing works of art at the party. I'm not a cake decorator - but at the party - I'm thinking I would love to be able to try - even if it's just something for one of the prince's birthdays or my hubby's...and with that new machine...it would be so much easier!

Well what this machine does is basically takes the Cricut cartridges you may already have, and cuts shapes from cake pastry like fondant. You can create works of cake art in matter of minutes!
Here are some samples that were at the party...

And the best part...
Provo Craft gave everyone in the room a CRICUT CAKE MACHINE!!!
WOO HOO!
Thanks Provo Craft...can't wait to be able to play with the new machine and show off some new kinds of artwork!

Off to CHA...

2010-01-22T23:01:00.000-08:00

Every year at the end of January there is a little wholesale trade show that I soooooo love to attend!
CHA - Craft Hobbies Association
Largest collaboration of every craft industry in one place!
It's like craftiness overload!
So I will be away for a couple days...
getting my well needed Craft Addict Fix.
But no need to fear...I will have camera in hand
ready to post all the yummy, fun stuff that I find when I get back!
have a fabulous weekend...

Menu White Board

2010-01-20T09:53:00.000-08:00

First things first! I got this idea from one of my favorite sites Shanty2Chic
The girls over there made this cute picture holder and when I saw it...the light bulb exploded in my head!

I have a list in the kitchen of 12 main dishes for dinner. In my house on any given day - I have the ingredients to make those 12 main dishes - that way, if we need a quick idea for dinner - or if it is one of the princes turn to make dinner they can choose any one of those dishes. I keep this list on a white board on the counter in the kitchen...and I've kinda tucked it away in the corner because, although it was practical - IT WAS UGLY! I'm sorry I don't have a picture of the before - I got so excited about making it Crafty Chic I tore it apart in about 2 minutes flat!
But, I did take pictures for a step by step of how I made it...

Here's the stuff I used for this project. I started with the piece of white board stuff (which was basically a piece of white tin) and made my measurements for the wood and square dowel off of that. The back piece I made 1 1/2 inches larger all around and the square dowel 1 1/2 inches longer than the back wood piece.

The finial that I got (at Lowe's) had to be screwed in...so I drilled a hole in the top of the square dowel...put a little Loctite Epoxy on the top of the dowel and then screwed the finial down tight.

Then I used the epoxy to attche the dowel to the round base.

Next I used the epoxy and put it on the square dowel and then centered the back board on the dowel...let this completely dry before starting to paint.

Once the epoxy sets up (I used 5 minute epoxy - so about 5 minutes...) paint the entire piece with Americana Lamp (ebony) Black acrylic paint which I got at Michael's.

Again...let the paint dry completely before distressing it or you'll peel up the paint. I used a medium grit sand paper block and distressed the edges and spots on the finial, dowel and round base.

Then I attached the white board to the back wood piece using Gorilla Super Glue. Not alot of room for error when placing this down...so be careful. Let this dry a minute. At Walmart I found the cutest tacks that I thought would be awesome in the four corners. I just used a tiny, tiny drill to put holes in the corners and put a drop of Gorilla Super Glue in the holes and then put in the tacks.

The set of tacks had 8 included, I used a grinder to grind off the pointy part of the leftover four tacks. The I super glued magnets to the backs.

I also glued a magnet to a dry erase pen so that I didn't have to search all over for one - it would be right there with the board.

So here's the final project! Hope you like it! I love it and it is proudly displayed on the counter and not tucked in the corner anymore.

What a Find - Strawberry Fair Platter

2010-01-19T17:36:00.000-08:00

Ok...file this under What a Find!
While at Goodwill the other day when I picked up the candleholders and glass platter...Look at what I found!

I said before - I love plates, platters, etc!
So after I found my other treasures and headed out...the red of this little platter caught my eye.
My grandma had given me little plates a few years ago with similar red design around the edge and are already displayed on my wall...so I had to pick it up to check it out.
When I flipped it over and read the inscription...I tucked it under my arm and went happily to the register with my other purchases!
I wasn't sure of the value of my little find (not that it really mattered) but I knew that it was more than the $7 I paid...
So, today looked it up online...lowest I found was a starting bid of $35 and the highest was from a replacement company of $199! WOO HOO!
That's what I call a real Find! Now to find the perfect place for it.

Glass Apothacary Jars

2010-01-18T23:47:00.000-08:00

There is generally a candle burning in my little cottage...
I don't have a specific "flavor" but I do like to change depending on the season or time of year.
Well with burning candles pretty much all the time...I tend to go through them pretty fast. And what I'm left with is generally just reminents of the candle wax in the bottom of the jar...and the jar itself.

I feel so guilty tossing out the jars because they are so pretty...so instead of getting rid of them, I have a cupboard in the kitchen filled with all sorts of candle jars that are pretty much empty...like this one:

To get the residue candle wax out of the bottom of the jar, put the jar in a pot on the stove that has boiling water. Let the wax melt completely and then discard the wax. Be very careful with the jar when taking it out of the pot - it is hot - so use a hot pad to handle it! Then wash out the jar with warm soapy water. After that I go back over the interior of the jar with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to get anything else I missed. Magic Erasers are used daily in the cottage.

I had some random glass candle holders - PLUS the one that I had gotten as a pair at the Goodwill the other day and used it's mate to make the Cake Plate in the previous post! I also had two similar candle jars that I wanted to use for this project.

I applied Loctite 5 minute Epoxy on the top of each of the candleholders and then attached a jar to the top of each of the candle holders making sure that the jars are centered. Let these dry completely.

I felt like the lids needed something on top...so I went back to my cupboard and saw these little tiny jar candles - and their lids! The lightbulb went on!

I removed the plastic piece from the bottom of the two little lids. Glued a piece of ribbon around the base and then attached them to the center of each of the larger lids using the epoxy.

Then I put some sweet treats in them and set them on the counter in the kitchen. So cute - and the best part - these two little beauties cost me a total of $2!

Blue Cricket Design

Cake Plate

2010-01-18T21:40:00.000-08:00

Just so you know a little something about me...I love plates...and platters...decorative plates...tiered plates...you name it - I LOVE THEM!!! And when we entertain, I really enjoy breaking out as many of them as I possibly can to use for displaying the yummy treats.

So with that in mind...

I'm starting off with a super easy, fabulous Crafting Chic Project that is this awesome little Cake Plate. It only took me less than 10 minutes to make and that included drying time.

I was out shopping for supplies to finish a couple other projects, when I spotted our local Goodwill and I had to stop in just for a few minutes to see if I could find anything fun! And what do you know...I found a few fabulous pieces. The first was this glass platter with the turned up edges and a pair of Mikasa candle holders. I bought the pair of candle holders even though I only needed one...because I knew I could use the other somewhere... (so glad I did - you'll see why in an upcoming post).

After washing the platter and candleholder and made sure they were both completely dry. I applied Loctite 5min dry time Epoxy to the top of the candleholder.

Then I placed the platter on top of the candle holder - making sure that it was centered. The reason I like using the 5 minute drying epoxy is so that I have a little time to move stuff before it's too late.

**when using epoxy make sure that you cover the work area and work in a well ventilated place**

I let the epoxy dry completely.

And then served some yummy friendship bread on my new elevated plate for dessert.

Love my new little plate and it's a bonus that it only cost me $5!

A Little Bit About the Goddess

2010-01-18T00:13:00.000-08:00

I am the Goddess of my cottage...
and for the people who live there, too!

I answer to many names:
Domestic Goddess
Doll Face (aka Wife)
Mom
Daughter
Granddaughter
Sister
Friend

I have many interests:
Scrapbooking (designer, teacher and family memory keeper)
Crafting Chic (turning drab to fab on a limited budget!)
Photography (weddings, families, children...and my kids' stalk-a-ratzie!)
Baking (our four basic food groups: cookies, breads, pies and cakes)
Healthy Living (my weightloss and life changing journey)
My Family (my sweet hubby & 4 Princes...they keep me grounded, drive me crazy, give my life meaning, and complete me)

So...I welcome you to my life and invite you along on the journey...
If you find something you like...ideas are meant to be shared!
Please be my guest.
Comments and questions are always welcome...
Enjoy the ride with me...