Feeling Crafty and Sick

Hello!!! I have so much to share with you all but I've been sick with a summer cold. Today, I was feeling a bit better so I decided to make some thank yous that owe to a handful of people.

Cards are from Target's Dollar Spot a while back. The stamp is from Stampin' Up, Wonderful Wings. The cording (is it baker's cord or butcher's cord, I can't remember) came from Sundance Catalog last holiday season. (I am hoping they have more ribbon this Christmas!)

I like how they turned out. Simple and quick.

I hope to be posting more this week! I spent 3 days in downtown Chicago with my girlfriends and went home to MI for 2 days and have pics of things I miss from there. I may even have a tutorial coming up for some yummy delish homemade caramel corn! So, fingers crossed, I will feel better tomorrow to post again.

Have a great day~it sure feels like fall is coming!

Hugs!

Kim

I've Been Crafting and Thrifting!

Morning!!! It's a beautiful day here! Hope you are all are enjoying beautiful weather too!!!

Well, I've been crafting!!! I am working on a Fall Swap package, yo-yo's of course, and pencil holders. I don't think I've told you guys that my daughter has gotten her first teaching job!!! She is an official teacher! She is working in Detroit at a charter school and the past 3 weeks they have been preparing their rooms and doing lesson plans. The students arrive Tuesday and my daughter has the 7/8 grade science classes. She's very excited and so are we!!! Anyways....she asked me to make some bright colored pencil holders for her room. Here they are...

I had an empty baking powder container and a paint can. I have tons of paper and ribbon, so not a problem!

Here they are all done!

Ready to use!

In my quest to re-do the apartment on the cheap and furnish it the same...I found myself at the Salvation Army again. I love that place! Here's what I found...

A pretty baking dish for only $1.50.

I found 3 of these pretty pale blue mini casseroles which were made in France. I wish I could remember the name. These were brand new with the Made in France stickers on them.
These were $2.99 each.

I couldn't get a very good picture of these canisters. They are a much prettier pink than they look here. They are metal and a great size for the pantry. I love them! They were $2.99 each too.

Well, I am off to finish the laundry and do a bit of shopping. Have a wonderful day!!!

Hugs!

Kim

An Award and the Yo-Yo Returns!

Good afternoon ladies!!! I have an award to share and some yo-yo projects! Yes the yo-yo's live on! First off, this sweet award from a very sweet friend, Angie of Sandals and Daisies. If you haven't been to her blog, head on over! She is so sweet and loving and has a wonderful family. We have become really good friends over the past few months...hugs to you Angie!

I pass this award on to all of blogging friends! You have all been so wonderful to me with all that has been going on these last few months! I am so blessed to have met such wonderful ladies! Some of whom I've gotten to know more personally through emails and such. Love you guys!

Next up, the Yo-Yo lives on...lol! I think I will always be making yo-yo's! I'm thinking of opening an etsy shop. What do you think? My first project to show you are some gloves...

(Before)

(After)

The gloves were quick and easy and look really cute on! I always have a pair of these type of gloves in my pocket! I even took a pair to Florida in 2004 when I was going on a cruise. It was sooo cold there, which we didn't expect and neither did a lot of others waiting in line to board! Everyone was asking where I got gloves!

Next, I saw a scarf at Anthropolgie when I was in Chicago. I loved it so much but I didn't love the $68 price tag! It was a short scarf that snapped around the neck. This is my rendition...I would do a few things differently if I were to make one again but I'm happy with it...especially the less than $10 price tag!

(Before)

Vanna White's yarn from Michael's on sale! Fat quarter bundle from Joann's (I used a 40% off coupon). I have a bunch of fabric left so I may be making a yo-yo bag soon!

(After)
Oops, the corner tucked under. The green isn't showing up as vibrant as it really is. I tried color adjusting it but it didn't work very well. I'm loving these bright colors and it goes so well with my lime green Columbia Jacket (on clearance this summer for $40!!!! Saved $160!!! at Dick's Sporting Goods...gotta love a bargain!!!)

I hope you all are staying warm! It sure was cold this morning...-9! (Without the windchill) At least I'm not in Minnesota or the other colder states! Have a wonderful day!!! Hugs!

Kim

Fun Stuff

Morning! Hope you all are warm and cozy this morning! When I woke up it was -2! I know it much colder west of Michigan though, so I am a bit grateful! I have some photos to share with you this morning. Believe it or not, I actually finished a project! It was quick and easy!

( Before)

This scrapbook paper is from Scrapbook Kit in a Stack the Love and Wedding pack. I found it at Joann's on clearance last week. The heart paperweight is from Target's Dollar Spot. I have seen on other blogs that I'm not the only one with this idea...go to Thoughts that Stick to see more see what Artchick did with hers.

(After)

I used Modge Podge to glue the paper to the back of the heart. Trace the heart on the paper, cut out, apply glue to heart back and let dry. So easy! I am going to make more of these today and show you them in the next few days.

This is one of the gifts I sent to Angie of Sandals and Daisies for our swap over Christmas. The frame was on clearance at Michael's this past fall, the paper is from Stampin' Up and the A is from a small kit at the Dollar Tree. Another quick and easy project.

Just a photo of how I decorated my frame for Christmas. I found the 2 blue ornaments at the hospital gift shop when my dad had his surgery. It looked prettier in person. I need to get photos yet...my plans to go to the ocean at Christmas didn't pan out so maybe this spring at a park instead.

I had a birthday over the holidays (Dec. 22) and these 2 bottles my daughter's (in the photo) boyfriend gave me. He got them to go with my perfume bottle collection.

This cute chicken and rooster potholder set was a birthday gift too. These are from dd's bf's grandma. She is the sweetest lady. I now officially have a rooster kitchen...much to hubbies dismay. He told me it's ok though since I will change the decor in 2 years knowing me anyway. Hehe!

I hope you all have a wonderful day...laundry and more hearts are calling my name and I think I hear the scarf I'm trying to finish chiming in! Hugs!!!

Kim

Ornaments

Morning!!! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!!! We enjoyed our time together and mostly relaxed. It's so nice to have long weekends with the hubby!

Now there is a lot to do to get ready for DD's 21st birthday, my birthday, Christmas parties/auctions, Christmas Eve/Day and our trip to Disney World on the 26th! Whew!!! On Saturday I went through and confirmed our flight information which is still subject to time changes and our condo reservation. I checked the American Express to be sure CondoExpress.com charged our account for the remainder of our trip like they were suppose to. Well, they did not. So, I tried calling them and I got the message "This call cannot be connected as dialed". Try again, same thing. Hmmm...go to website...got the message "This website no longer exists". BIG HMMMM!!!! Try the resort...on hold for 10 minutes...and the representative tells me that CondoExpress went out of business and we probably have NO reservation!!! They didn't have any of our home info except for my name and they never received our deposit from CondoExpress which I paid back in APRIL!!! BUT...she said give me your name and she said our reservation WAS still there with a note to cancel if I hadn't called them by December 1. OMG!!! HURRAY!!! The good news is that the resort lowered their price since we made our original reservation and although we lost our $200 deposit we are still saving $68 from our original quoted price. (When we booked through CondoExpress their price had been cheaper than the resort price so that's why we booked with them. Now our new price is $268 lower than what CondoExpress quoted us.) We are going to try and find which bankruptcy court we need to go through to try and get our deposit back but I am sooo relieved to even have reservations. I called with 2 days to spare! That was enough excitement for me on Saturday!

Hubby assembled our tree on Friday. Now today I will put on the lights and decorate it. Here are a couple of the ornaments I have been making that are my reproduction of ones I have seen at Crate and Barrel. They are pretty easy but I wouldn't say quick. LOL!

This one is for my daughter's boyfriend. He picked out the colors of felt that he liked. There is an opening at the top and it's the perfect size for a gift card. I used a large cookie cutter to trace the mitten onto felt. To attach the ovals I used Felt Glue, I made an identical one for my son and I sewed the ovals on. Either way works just fine.

(*Click to enlarge*)

This one is for my DD, she is into these colors for ornaments this year. She and her bf picked up a bunch of ornaments at Bronner's in these colors in October. On the ornament above I sewed beads on the oval and on this one I sewed on sequins.

(*Click to enlarge*)

Ok, I am off to get everything going here. I do have a plan to keep myself from getting overwhelmed~thank goodness!!! Have a wonderful day!!! Hugs!!!

Kim

Let it Snow!

Morning!!! Today we may actually have our first real snow accumulation that will require a shovel. It was snowing like crazy earlier but it all melted...so we shall see. It would be kind of nice to have snow for Thanksgiving.

I have only gotten my urine test back and that came back a-ok!!! The doctor was happy...ME TOO!!! The ultrasound was really quick and easy. I am guessing that I will have those results at some point this week. I have been flooding my kidneys per doctor's orders and that is getting easier. (60-80 oz is a lot!!!)

I have been working on some new projects these days. In Chicago, I went to the store Anthropologie for the first time...I loved it! There was a really pretty scarf that I really wanted but didn't want to pay $68 for. I'm trying to make my own version for about $15. I will show you pics if it turns out. I, also, got some other ideas from there to add a little something to some Target sweaters that I got on clearance. So another $15 instead of $78. I will post those too when they are done. And lastly, I am making some reproduction mitten ornament/gift card holders that I saw at Crate and Barrel. They were selling for $8 each and I think mine are about 25 cents. I will take pics of those too, later today. I have only made 2 so far. So, I have been keeping busy.

Sorry for the lack of photos...they will come! Now, I am off to wrap my sons and sister-in-laws Christmas gifts to get them off to UPS. (Beating the rush and my son likes to put his gifts under his tree in Oklahoma).

Have a wonderful day and Thanksgiving (if I don't post again)!!! Hugs!!!

Kim

Baby Shower and Stamp Club

Morning! It is cold and blustery this morning! No more Indian Summer :-( That's ok, now it will start to really feel like the holidays are on there way! :-)

I have a few things to show you this morning. First, a baby shower card. It turned out pretty good for a quick one.

Next, Stamp Club was on Friday and these are the crafts I had the ladies do. First, a triangle box. I think if you enlarge the picture you can see the glitter on the snowflake and BRRR...

And finally, a candle wrapped with scrapbook paper and cardstock. All stamps and paper are from Stampin' Up.

Some not so good news this morning...my kidney function tests came back elevated. The doctor's office called this morning and I need to go in on Thursday. I'm guessing there is more testing in my future. Ugh! Just add this to the list of other health issues!

I think I am going to go clean the house some and get my mind on happier things. Have a great day! Hugs!

Kim

A Little Something and an Award!!!

Good Morning! This morning we have some thunderstorms rolling through ushering in our Indian Summer which will fade by weeks end. When the weekend arrives, we should not be surprised to see S**WFL***S again! Wow this crazy weather!

I have been busy working on a few projects, one I can show you. The others are for a swap and I really want her to be surprised so those projects will have to wait to be shown. This little frame with hook was on clearance at Michael's. It is so cute! I decided to use it for our dog's leash. We can never seem to remember where it was last put (it's not used much). So now Cocoa has her own hook. The paper is old Stampin' Up and the letter is from a board book kit from the Dollar Tree. This project cost about $2.25. Not bad at all!!!

(Click to enlarge)

Next up...an AWARD!!!!

Marie Antoinette Award- a real person, a real award! Thank you to Dawn of Dawn's Daybreak!!

Here are the Rules for the Award:

1. Please put the logo on your blog

2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award

3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs

4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog

5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them.

Today, I feel like breaking the rules...sorry! I want to award this to all my blogging friends! I never knew I would meet such wonderful ladies online! You are all the bestest! Please place this award on your blogs! You all deserve it!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful Monday!!! I am going to write some bills then have some fun making Christmas gifts.

Hugs!

Kim

TA-DAH!!!

TA-DAH!!! Here it is!!! It no longer has falling apart issues!!!! Hurray!!! Last week, I headed up to my DD's bf's grandma's to make pine cone wreathes with bf's mom, grandma and great aunt. We had so much fun. Each of us collected bits of nature to add to the wreathes for a couple of weeks, bought our wreath forms and headed to Grandma O's. They have always used Liquid Nails to adhere the bits of nature but this time we all had issues with the bits falling off. Eventually, we got it all to stick! :-) Hope you like it!

Hanging on my covered front porch. It still needs to be sprayed with gloss but I had to see it hanging! (Click to enlarge)

From This:

Cute little pumpkin baby!

To this..orange goodness!

To this creepy spider with web!!! (DD's pumpkin)

To this scary monster (bf's pumpkin)!!!

To these yummy roasted pumpkin seeds! Soooo good!

The weather is back to being pretty and warm-ish! Oh so happy! I think it should only snow on Christmas Eve! Realistically, this is Michigan but I will enjoy the nice weather while it lasts!

Hope you all enjoy your Thursday! Hugs!!!

Kim

BOO

Morning! I've been Boo-ed!!! Jeannette at Sincerely Yours, Jeannette has Boo-ed me! How cute is this little picture!?! Thank you so much Jeannette!!!

Here are the rules of Jeannette's Boo:

Go to as many friends as you want and tell them they've been "Boo-ED". Have them link back to your blog to pick up their Halloween Treat (picture) and tell them to Boo their friends. (Then put the pic in your side bar so everyone knows that you've already been Boo-ed and to send the pic to someone else.

Now I am Boo-ing:

Angie
Dana
Kim
Deb
AND Anyone else who wants to play along!

Next up...I have received a friendship award from Deb at Garage Sale Gal. Isn't she the cutest little award!?! Thank you so much Deb...you are so sweet!

Finally, a sneak peak at the project that has falling apart issues. I need to go to the garage later and check on my project to see if it is now holding together. I worked on it yesterday at DD's bf's grandmother's. (She is so sweet!) It was SOOOO COLD yesterday! Everyone is keeping their heat down to save money (totally understandable and we are doing the same) and boy do I need to add more layers to my already several layers! I am cold almost all the time until it reaches about 85 degrees. I ended up wrapping up with a blanket on the couch with a space heater pointed toward me. Their dog was fighting me for the heat of the space heater...lol! BRRR!!! While warming up on the couch, I was watching the wind blow the trees and leaves around and then what do I see???? The 4 letter word...S**W...that's right it was snowing!!! Not just flurries either...a real snow shower! Big flakes too! Yikes, it isn't even Halloween yet! Nothing stuck to the ground but it snowed for a good 10 minutes.

Pine cones...hmm what could I be making???

Chestnuts and acorn caps.

I will post my new project tomorrow...good or bad. I hope it's good because it sure is pretty when it is not falling apart!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!!! DD and her bf are carving pumpkins tonight :-D So it will be a fun night here!

Hugs!

Kim

What I've Been Up To

Good afternoon! Today is so pretty! Sunny and warm! :-D We are suppose to have really nice weather through Monday...how exciting! Then come Tuesday for my next trip to Frankenmuth...storms and falling temps...ugh! But, I am happy it will be nice for when hubby is home. I think we will do a little outside sprucing!

I have some photos for you today :-) I brought in my daughter's hibiscus (a gift last year from her boyfriend) because we had frost last week. Here is a picture of one of it's last blooms. It is sooo pretty!

Love these colors!

I have been making lots of yo-yo's and trying to do some paper crafts on the cheap! I made a few of the paper clips that I showed you before (didn't have time to take pics of them before they were off to friends). I made this cute little monogram frame for my kitchen. Last year, Target had 2 frames for $2.50 and I think this year, they had these monogram letters for $1. The paper is Stampin' Up! I really like it and for less than $2...I love it!

Love these colors too!

Like I said, I have been making lots of yo-yo's! These are some bags I've been working on. They still need to be ironed but I really wanted to post them. The pink bag is for a baby shower, my daughter's friend and her hubby are having a baby girl! I thought this would make a cute library bag for when baby is older. The purple bag is a birthday gift and the ivory one is a Christmas gift. They are for friends who live in a small village. They walk to the post office for their mail...so I thought these would be cute mail bags.

This isn't a great picture but it was really hard to get a good shot of them.

A closer view.

Another close-up.

I have a few more bags in the works, still working on the black one that I gave you a sneak peek of before. That one is tough to get the needle through...ouchy fingers!

Hope you are all enjoying your day! Chat with you soon...hugs! Oh I almost forgot...our friends are still employed...one of them is safe for at least 3 more months his company says and then there will be more cuts. Thanks for all your prayers for them and us!

Kim

Baby Shower Quilt and Card

Morning!!! I am so glad that the sun is out today! We have had some gloomy, bone chilling weather here. Hope fall is treating you well!

Here is the picture of the quilt my daughter made for a baby shower tonight. She did a good job for her first one. It's not top quilted but more of a comforter, I guess. Sorry for the picture quality, I took these last night and it was very dark. (Click to enlarge the pictures)

And here is the card I made to go with the quilt. It's a simple one but matches well.

Not much going on today. I really want to make some more cards. The one above is much prettier in person...I really need a better camera...some day! I, also, need to get to the yo-yo's again. I need to take pics of a few finished bags that are Christmas or birthday gifts. All of a sudden I feel like the holidays are in a hurry to get here! October came sooo fast! Speaking of which, I still need to put up a few outdoor decorations. I guess I had better get busy!

Have a great day everyone! Hugs!!

Kim

I Won a Giveaway, A Treasure and My Daughter's Project

Morning!!! I have a lot to show you today. First off, I won a Giveaway from Nancy at Manic for Mosaics. This heart is so very beautiful!!! Thank you so much Nancy! I just love it!

Hanging alone so you can see all it's loveliness!

In it's new home on the shelf in the dining room.

This basket I found at the thrift store for only $1. I have a rooster/chicken thing going on right now! I need to find some more treasures for the top of the fridge. Please excuse the dust!

Next we have my daughter's project. We got her this cute little sewing machine for Christmas last year. This is the first chance she has had to pull it out and try her hand at sewing. This machine has done really nice on all the different fabrics that are in this baby quilt. There is flannel, a soft fluffy duck center, satin and regular cotton. I only have a picture of the center right now. She just started the side strips.

A great starter machine. The only draw back is the reverse lever is manual.

The center of the baby quilt. I will post a photo of the finished project.

Ok, I am off to work on the laundry that piled up while I was resting. That is one thing I really dislike about needing to rest...the laundry piles up!

Hope you are having a great day! Hugs!

Kim

Class Sample

Hello! Tonight is stamp class! Here is the project sample all put together. I did change the paper because I didn't have enough of the first one I showed you.

(click to enlarge)

(click to enlarge) sorry for the blurry photo...I need a better camera

Praying for all our blogging family in Texas! My son said they will be getting tropical storm winds and rain this weekend in Oklahoma. Stay safe all!

Have a great day!

Hugs!

Kim