Under the Gun!

Well, my foray back into the blogging world hasn't been as seamless as I would have liked.  I've been trying to keep up with Reader, leaving a few comments and I still feel I'm falling short.  It's not helping that, I have TWO blogs, let me tell you.  Still, I am determined to get in this post before Valentine's Day is over!

The Hoosier cabinet was spiffed up a bit, with mostly vintage bird Valentine's.

Hanging them off this ribbon allowed me to show off quite a few.

I was scrambling for an idea for the few baseball themed Valentine's I have.  This idea is very mediocre, but it has potential.  It's a handmade pencil holder I bought at a garage sale for 50¢ and the copper rods that came out of my library card catalog cabinet.  It's been up for a few weeks and I've never taken the time to tweak it....never got a better idea.

Thanks so much to Sonya @ Dime Store Thrift for this wonderful wreath idea.  I finally got around to making one.  The whole time I was constructing it I was certain it would end up in the trash!  I didn't think I had enough bulbs, I was unsure of the bulb placements.  I ended up loving it!  Truth be told, though, my technique leaves a lot to be desired.  When I hung it up, everything shifted and two balls fell off.  Another is broken and still holding on.  This picture is AFTER this happened.....so don't look too close!  I figure I'll fix it after the season.

Whew!  Mission accomplished!  Feels good.

PS- After checking out my post, it seems to me my pictures are blurry.  Plus, the pictures were a bit on the small side.  I changed a few things and made them bigger....are they too big?  I'd love to have your input.

Daughter's Valentines - Conversation Hearts

I do have another Valentines post to make but I thought I'd get this in, just in case somebody is in need of a quick and easy Valentine idea.  This isn't a new one.  My friend Jeannie sent me this idea, probably two years ago!  Well, I finally made them.  So cute and easy, I don't know what took me so long.

Aren't they the cutest?  And oh, so easy!  The idea originally came from Family Fun magazine.

I guess the only "glitch" is that now there's the Ipod touch.  Do they even make them like this anymore?
Just wonderin', have you seen this craft before?

Hee! Hee!  I see my watermark from my papercrafting blog....ooops!

Can I Sneak This In?

It's been sooooo long!  I may be talking to myself and I would be OK with that. It would be fitting, considering I haven't been visiting blogs either, not on a regular basis.  Still here I am, at the very least, keeping a visual record on my "treasures."

I have done a few crafty things in the past year.  I should get around to posting them sometime.  Considering the time of year,  I'll share my more recent projects, Valentine's projects.  So, here we go!

My mantel seems the easiest place to start.  I made these crepe paper flowers this year.  Using THIS tutorial.

I actually made these silhouette portraits of my kids last year, but I never posted them.  These are mounted on two cork-backed coasters bought from the dollar store!

Shhhh!  Don't tell, but these are actually two angels I had out at Christmas.  I think they can fit into multiple holiday decors!  The heart vase was an estate sale buy last year.

A little sparse here.  I wanted to share my favorite "G" man Valentine.  Plus, the easel I made to hold it.

I took a stab at this project after seeing it.....somewhere in blogland.  Not a bad first effort, but it's amazing how difficult it was to bend exactly where you wanted without moving other parts.

So, I don't want to spill everything at once.  I need to keep myself interested, too.  Interested in posting that is!  Check out my previous post if you want to see the banner that is still up, and my anthropomorphic Valentine's.  I wasn't up for the editing my ceiling fan out of those photos another time!

Love Banner

This is a first for me.  I am posting this on both my blogs.  Here and on Stampin' Garden.

I have been wanting to make a banner for a few years now.  I made it my mission to get one done this weekend....and that's what it took, the better part of a weekend.  I will say I am happy with the results, though.

I contemplated every detail, over and over.  I pulled out all the tricks in my bag.  I used my Cricut, vintage trims and lots of Stampin' Up! paper.  I tried a few new things along the way.

The red tulle on the "L" that came out of an auction box lot. 

Using lots of pearls and scrunchy tissue flowers on the "O."

The glitter heart on the "V" that I topped with Crystal Effects so that no glitter flakes off.

The vintage seam binding on the "E" that I crinkled and made my bow.

Here's my mantel with my favorite vintage valentine's.

I'm in love.

Yep, It's Rednesday and Life Has Been Good.

Hello everyone!  Can you believe this is my second post of the new year?  Not that 2010 was bad, but something unexpected came over me at the beginning of 2011.  A sense of contentment and calm.  I didn't make a resolution.  It wasn't a conscience decision.  It just happened.  So, instead of trying to figure it out.  Maybe over-think it, like I tend to do, I am going with it. 

Thrifting has been good.  Gas prices have kept me from venturing out too much, but those few times really paid off.  This is only about half of my haul.  The other half, when I post it, will be less colorful.  I had to group all these together for Rednesday!  Yeah!   Sue @ Sue Loves Cherries is our wonderful hostess!

Of course I was hoping to find Valentine's to add to my collection.  I collect mostly birds, baseball and anthropomorphic foods.  I only found two, but two is better than none, right?

I love, love, love the Constitution book.  It's from 1936. I totally forgot it would be missing a few amendments...six to be exact!  It will be a great addition to my patriotic items.  As will the cupcake picks.  I found the ones on the right first.  They are 48 star flags.  They were sold be the piece and I resisted buying them all and went with 6.  Then I ran across the bag of 50 star picks for less than the price of my original 6!  Now to use them!

The fabric, I hope to use recovering my kitchen chairs as soon as I can find a suitable tablecloth to cut up.  I thought this fabric might make a good skirt on those chairs.  I guess we'll see.

The price was right on the glasses, so hopefully I will find a few more somewhere in my travels.

The felt covered heart beads are new.  I actually have a few projects in mind, but in typical fashion, I'm a little behind.  Of course I will share anything I complete!

Now I need to run.  I heading to Mom and Dad's today.  They bought a new computer and yours truly setting it up for them.  I am hoping to hit a few thrift store along the way.....

A Good Start To The New Year

Although it's been quiet on the old blog, I've been quite busy.  The very first day of the New Year came the first auction of 2011.  The beginning of the year can be a dangerous time.  I'm always anxious to buy.  I know this about myself and yet I did it again.  I think a lackluster December at the thrift shops might have been contributing factor.  When I saw this I knew, I had to have it!

Even the auction regulars were surprised with my bidding.  One of my auction friends was across the room.  He said when they shouted, "Sold!"  I had a grin from ear to ear.  I guess I don't have much of a poker face!  So this is my Christmas present from my in-laws.  This year in lieu of presents they gave us some money to spend.  Mine didn't last long!  Many times when I spend over my self-imposed limit I have a little buyers remorse, but not this time!  I love this little guy!

He looks right at home above my ribbon cabinet.  His needle is broke, otherwise it's functional.  Someday I'll have to get a needle and give him a spin!

Santa is Bringing Me Coal

I'm convinced of it.  I have been such a bad blogger.

Maybe I shouldn't feel too sad.

I found most everything here just in the past year.

Funny thing is, it looked like a lot more piled in my storage room.

Now I wish I had bought more...a lot more.

Something to look forward to come January when the auctions heat up again.

Sorry the pictures are a little dark and maybe not cropped quite the way I would like.  After a such long absence I figured I better just get it done!