Just Ducky @ Heart

Ok, be shocked and amazed!

2011-12-18T22:22:00.001-07:00

WOW! Apparently I want to shock and awe you this week, LOL, since this is my second post in a week!! Don't want to injure myself. So just a quick little post.
I made two darling bags to give hot cocoa in, so thought I would share...

I used 1/2 yard of fabric and got two bags out of it. And...yes, I'm a sucker for redwork! And it couldn't be cuter...well, actually it can and will be! I have another redwork project I'm working on--but can't share it til after Christmas (wink, wink)! But I was really pleased with how the bags turned out.

So, that's it for now! Gearing up for a good week at work...or trying to convince myself of that anyway, LOL! Hoping your week is wonderful too! Dashing through the snow...................

Not sure if I remember how to do this!

2011-12-15T23:21:00.000-07:00

I didn't die, or fall off the face of the earth! Just busy. But since my sister requested pictures of some of the things I've been doing lately...thought I may as well share on here. I'm not convinced I still remember how to blog though! (rusty, rusty!!)

So, here are some pins that I've made recently (I've always loved pins, and making them!).

And a couple of necklaces! Cuz one can never have too many necklaces, LOL.

And, here are some ornaments I've made with tiny vintage tins. On the first one, you can't really see it in my lousy photo, but there is a pink glass bead and silver butterfly charm hanging from the bottom of the ornie. And here's a little tip: If you have a charm, or accessory that you want to use--but it isn't the right color...RUB N BUFF!! My butterfly was bronze, so I used silver Rub n Buff on it...problem solved. I have even used it on gold jewelry findings that I wanted to be silver. LOVE Rub n Buff.

And yes...loving my wool roses! I put glass glitter on it to give it some lovely sparkle.

I am infatuated with this little girl in her cute little pink dress and her dolly! (obviously....!!)

And here is the first ornie packaged and ready for gift giving (I love my friends!). And here's another plug for Rub n Buff...gold jingle bell+silver Rub n Buff=happy me!

And that's about it for now. I have some more things I could share...gotta pace myself though, LOL!! Hopefully it won't be as long between posts. And I didn't proof read this post as closely as I should have probably--so pardon my type-o's. ;o)

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Yvette

Hollow Core Pasta

2011-08-15T12:28:00.000-06:00

Ok, last week was a nightmare I don't even want to talk about--but I am moving forward today!!

So, Saturday when we ran to the store, I found some pasta that peaked my interest! And yes, we bought it to try (expanding our horizons, and living outside the box and all that jazz!). It's called hollow core pasta. It was the length of spaghetti, not quite an 1/8" in diameter (or ish anyway)--and hollow! So, when I made spaghetti yesterday, I was feeling adventurous and tried the new pasta. Well...when it cooks up it ends up being spaghetti length macaroni.

Still intrigued at that point. Next--put the sauce on and eat it, right? Right! Mike, Holland and I all understand why macaroni is short now, LOL!! Just saying, but by all means give it a go if you're intrigued too!! The three of us won't be going there again. :)

Poor Chester got a bath the other day too, not his best look. Even if a bunny is VERY cute when dry--he's not so cute wet! Literally looks like a drowned rat, LOL!! And when he's wet he is quite literally a third of him normal size...who knew!!

Hope you have a great Monday!

Baby Birdie!!

2011-08-04T19:03:00.000-06:00

Still a bad blogger, but in my defense…my husband insists that we have a yard sale this weekend—so I’ve been getting ready for that! Which I might also add that I loathe doing. Love to GO to yard sales, detest having one myself though. Just saying. So, haven’t gotten to play very much, but Holland and I were introduced to a tiny new neighbor!

The poor little guy doesn’t have feathers yet…just fuzz. And his eyes aren’t open either! And literally when he was sitting there he was not much bigger than a quarter. We found the little finch nest in our hedge right above where he was on the ground and could see at least two of his siblings. One of whom was perched precariously on the edge of the nest! We figure he either got a little too close to the edge of the nest (like his sibling was in danger of doing!), or the mommy bird helped him out because the nest was too crowded. But, always trying to see the best in people—or birds—I chose to assume the former and not the latter, LOL!! So, my husband put on gloves so we wouldn’t contaminate the little guy, and gently put him back where he belonged.

Mind you—the entire time we were even close to him the parents were perched near by and telling us off. I really did try to persuade them we meant their child no harm and were simply trying to get him back home safely!

Home again!

2011-07-25T01:57:00.000-06:00

Lucky me! I got to go spend three weeks with my daughter, her husband, and my sweet little grandson!! Aunt Holland got to go too. It was awesome if I do say so myself! But, that meant that my poor hubby was home all alone--with the dog and the bunny, LOL! I have to say as wonderful as it was to go and stay...I was ready to be reunited with my husband--I missed him terribly!! I wouldn't have missed my visit for anything though--and now I miss them all terribly.

Baby is growing like a weed! He goes to the Dr. again tomorrow, and I am hopeful that they will take him completely off the monitor. And I am anxious to hear how much he weighs now--I'm sure it will be over 7 lbs.!! So, he's probably about doubled his weight the past couple of months. :o) What a guy.

And my computer problems are solved (until the next batch crops up, LOL!), so I am hoping to be able to post some things I have made, and am working on...and maybe be a better blogger again. We'll see--I did say hoping! But I really wanted to share this darling photo of my grandbaby! How cute is he?!!

2011-06-14T17:24:00.000-06:00

Still having computer challenges--blah! Gotta figure out what I want and get it taken care of, argh!!

But here's a baby update...he is starting to nurse TWICE a day, and my daughter said he should be 5 lbs. tonight!!! Can't wait to hear his length. He's doing sooooo good though--it's so exciting. Getting closer to "grandma time', LOL. They are going to start boarding at the hospital soon, which means he's getting closer to coming home.

So, here are a few cards I've made the last little while.

I'm starting to get the itch to do something! I've got a lot of catching up around my house right now though. :o( Priorities, huh?!

2011-06-10T22:43:00.000-06:00

Since I'm on here...I may as well add something else too! I've gotta figure out how to edit my photos, because it's really bugging me. But--here are a couple of cards that I made a while back! I am not one to "case" a project...but the following cupcake card is totally "cased" from the SU! catalog. It was just too cute--I couldn't help myself! I love everything about it...total cuteness.

And this one is pretty simple...but stinkin' cute too. LOVE the little doggie!! And I really like the colors too-- CTMH's brown bag, black and white. Very sweet.

Well, that's it. Short and sweet, they way things should be!! Have a great weekend.

I'm a grandma!!

2011-06-10T20:40:00.005-06:00

YES!! I have officially earned by grandma badge! I have a new little (very little) grandson who was born on May 19, at 32 weeks. Micah Orval, 3 lbs. 7 oz., 16 1/2" long!

My daughter had toxemia, and was admitted to the hospital Monday, May 16th when she was about 31 1/2 weeks. She was told she would be in there for the duration--which probably wouldn't be long! They were hoping for two weeks longer, and they started her on steroids right away to help babies lungs. Well, needless to say...she only made it til Thursday, the 19th when things went south in hurry!! I live 9 hours from her, and that was a terrifying day. The other mother (her mother-in-law) and I left that morning and were about 1/2 way there when my son-in-law called to say baby was here, and they both were doing ok. I was driving at the time, and we had to pull over so I could call my hubby and my mom--and breathe for a minute!! That was a really long day/week!! When we finally got to the hospital, I was shocked when I actually saw her. And then I was terrified again because I realized how serious it really had been! The swelling was insane. She was so swollen they had called in someone from the ER to put an i.v. in because they couldn't find a vein. So, she got an i.v. in her chest! Ugh. There were a few issues afterwards too, but luckily they're both ok. Baby Micah is still in the hospital but has been a champ from the get go! When they did the c-section he came out kicking and screaming, and didn't even have oxygen through the first night!! They started him on a bottle (still has a feeding tube too) this past week, and he even nursed for the first time yesterday! And as with everything else...he did amazing. I can't wait to go see them (him...!wink, wink) again! The other mother and I were able to stay til the following Tuesday--and I got to hold him twice!! :)

He was three weeks old yesterday--hard to believe!! And he weighs over 4 lbs. now! And of course...he's already the most wonderful child ever, LOL!! No prejudice here. I came home with an album full of pictures from his first four days, and when I left I turned over the camera responsibility to the kids. Slackers that they are, LOL.

So, that is the excitement in our house! And I haven't been on here lately because our computer crashed a couple of months ago. We were able to get an older tower for the time being--but a new computer is looming on the horizon I think. This one is more than a little lacking, and I can't add Photoshop because it can't take the pressure, LOL! So, I'm trying to figure out how to load and edit my photos, etc! Grrr.

More Sarah Kay's...

2011-03-12T22:15:00.004-07:00

I was so out of my element yesterday (after having been absent from blogging for so long!)--that I forgot to share my amazing news (which we found out at Thanksgiving, LOL)! We are going to be grandparents in July!!!! I am soooooo excited. Can't wait--and can't walk past the baby department, or b-a-b-i-e-s. They are going for the surprise element though which is almost killing me! Pink, or blue--pink, or blue! I don't care, I just want to know!!! :o)

And tonight we listened (on the radio) to our high school boys basketball team play for the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. AND THEY WON!!!!!! GO WOLVES. The last time we took state was 1968. So awesome. They won divisionals in a nerve wracking game, and the last three days have been even better! Wow. So exciting for our boys, and the school.

So...while we were listening to the game, I whipped up a couple of cards--cuz it was better than chewing my nails, LOL!

And, here they are...

They are just darling images! So Holly Hobbie-ish, which is what draws me to them!! Cute, cute.

Anyway...hope your weekend is going as good as mine!

Yvette

Is it spring yet?

2011-03-11T21:26:00.003-07:00

I think this has been the longest winter ever! I don't know about you all...but I am ready for spring to be here!! But--I am hoping for a slow thaw, or we will be in big trouble. We have received soooo much snow this winter--it's crazy!

I have been trying to purge my computer a smidge in hopes of creating a little more space so that loading photos, etc. is not quite so painful. Tonight it did seem a little better!! So...here I am. Shocking I know. I was really afraid I had forgotten how to blog because it's been so long--but thankfully it's kind of like riding a bike. :o)

So, here are a couple of things I have to share. I had a booth in our local bazaar before Christmas, and I sold quite a bit of jewelry! I had been wanting to try using vintage spoons, and in January a friend and co-worker gave me a few to "play" with (from her grandmother). So, I made a pair of necklaces for her birthday using both ends of the spoon--and then she had me make a couple for her sister's birthday! These were her sister's...

My daughter made the little flower.

Don't you just love them! So, now I am going to be on the prowl for vintage spoons, LOL!

And here is a card I made last weekend at my friend Deb's (who I love!). LOVE my Sarah Kay stamps...they just make me happy.

A while back I stamped a bunch of Sarah Kay's on watercolor paper, and then whenever we watched a movie...I watercolored! Before I knew it, they were all finished--and I had a stack of watercolored Sarah Kay's ready to use. So--I should have more cards to share soon. And I do hope to be a little more regular...but not promising. ;o)

Have a wonderful weekend.

Really Sweet Christmas Wishes

2010-12-17T21:34:00.003-07:00

I have been hoping to post some things for quite some time, but posting is such a chore because we need a new computer! But when I saw this YouTube video...I just had to share it!!

So...smile, say "please", "thank you", "I'm sorry", "I forgive", and "I love you"! Do something nice for someone else--that IS the true meaning of Christmas!

Have a wonderful weekend,
Yvette

Fairy fun!

2010-08-29T19:10:00.005-06:00

I need to change the name of my blog from Just Ducky @ Heart, to Bad Blogger. Things are busy this time of year! Vacation, back to School, back to work, & hurry and finish up projects before school and work start up again...yada, yada! Everybody knows the drill. ;0)

But, speaking of vacation...I thought I would share some pics from my family reunion--which I thoroughly enjoyed FYI!! It was awesomely wonderfully fun. And I am so glad Holland and I were able to go. There were 15 little cabins and a big lodge with water access to Seeley Lake (canoes provided for our use, and my uncle brought his boat), volley ball net, and a great fire pit with a stage and tons of seating. I really loved it.

So...one of the major high-lights was the fairy houses! I knew the kids would love them if they were shown the way, LOL. H-O-L-Y B-U-C-K-E-T-S. I had NO idea they would be sooooo crazy for them though--it was hysterical! If you recall in my story about moss houses when I was younger, my aunt (4 months older than I), my brother and I were the builders. So, since we were all there at the reunion, I tried to recruit them into helping me build another. My aunt was fairly easy to convince, my brother apparently didn't think it was macho enough because I could not talk him into it (wimp)! So, Rene' and I went foraging for things to use on our house! She mostly foraged while I built--but I must say...she was an AWESOME forager! I would tell her what I wanted or needed--and she would find it for me. Like I said...awesome. There were tons of old stumps that provided the perfect setting for our houses in the camp-- and with that I will give you a little tour of our fairy house...or village more like! :o)

This is the view from the front...

I started at the base of the stump with a gravel drive that winds up through a little arch to the first house that I made nestled into the stump. We used a little chunk of a split log for the house and peeled bark for most of the roofs. I added a couple more porches along the bottom of the stump.

We lucked out with the bright green moss! It was in the lodge next to the fireplace, in the wood! Total score!! Rene' found the perfect chunk of wood for a chimney, and look at the step and front door--she was good!

I loved the front of the stump because it looked like there were little paths up the stump. I actually used one of them for a spot for the fairies to get on the swing (I made two swings)!

Here is the swimming pool and the Dr. Seuss house. The swimming pool was the only man made thing we used (and yes, I personally saw to it that it was disposed of properly before we left!). The Dr. Seuss house is a half round split log hiding behind the tree by the pool. It has a lot of moss on the roof. We called it the Dr. Seuss house because it had two funky little twigs jetting out of the roof--kinda quirky like Dr. Seuss, ya know!

This is a side view of the stump--and a back view of the Dr. Seuss house. See the funky twigs jetting out by the chimney?

And a really good view of the pool area and the side of the Dr. Seuss house.

And the neighbors behind Dr. Seuss...

And moving around to the opposite side of the stump from the Seuss house...

The stump was just the right amount of rotten, LOL! I was able to poke little twigs into it and create a fence in several areas!

And, the kids favorite part of the village...the fire ring! Although they were really fond of the swings, too. In fact the swings were the only thing in ill repair when we left!! Pretty good considering there were like 28 kids under the age of 10 milling around the villages, LOL.

The kids literally went fairy crazy! That day, two of them wouldn't stop bugging me to build another one! So, I told them I would help them the next day. And my cousin generously offered her assistance! They spent the rest of the day scoping out the perfect stump--I kid you not. And the next morning...they were ready and waiting! I don't have pictures yet of the other village we built, but it was pretty stinkin' awesome too--especially considering all of the little helpers we managed to acquire. By the end of the reunion, most of the little kids had been converted into fairy house builders--and most of the stumps in the camp showed evidence of that fact!! In fact, the second night, Holland was going to her cabin or something, and came across a frenzy of activity by a stump (IN THE DARK). There were a number of little people chatting and working, and she stopped and asked them what they were doing--they all turn flashlights and all and simultaneously respond, "We're building a fairy house!". Then proceed to give her the ten cent tour, LOL--"Here's the bedroom, here's the..."! HYSTERICAL. Oh, but the funniest part was my cousins little boy who was so into it. He was running around gathering and building and proudly telling his dad (or probably anyone else who would listen!) all about his fairy house. Well, his dad was not so impressed that his SON was building a fairy house! He said, "Do we have to call them fairy houses? Couldn't they be hobbit homes or something?" I about died when I heard that. So, my cousin and I decided that next reunion when we do this again--because we will be doing this again--that the girls can build fairy houses, and the boys can build hobbit homes, LOL!!!! Bwa-ha-ha-ha. It still kills me.

So...fairy houses=the bomb diggety! Just so you know.

Back to school and work tomorrow! :P Have a ducky week.

Yvette

travel laundry bags

2010-08-05T14:23:00.007-06:00

My daughter and I are getting ready to go to a family reunion! Recently I had seen some darling laundry bags, and I was inspired. When traveling, we have always just put our dirty clothes in grocery bags or garbage bags (seriously boring, and not very eco friendly). But after seeing cute laundry bags--I was overcome with laundry bag envy...and this was a reasonable excuse to make a couple! Tonight I am also going to whip out two lingerie bags, too (I didn't see those, but like I said--I was inspired, LOL!). Don't know if I'll get them posted today or not...we'll see. As dumb luck would have it I started getting a sinus infection a couple of days ago, and am starting to be more than a tidge uncomfortable--not sure how much fun this is going to be. :o/ And I have to drive 6 hours to my mom and dad's tomorrow! Ugh. Why couldn't it just be a good fibro flair?! At least I know that will improve and is usually somewhat short lived. Hoping for the best though! Dang nose.

Really simple, basic construction. Easy cheesy. And no more garbage bags. Now someone else can have laundry bag envy, LOL! Our dirty clothes never looked so good (wink, wink). Although...I'm not sure why I'm so exited about using them and filling them up--that just means I get to wash the contents! :o)

And now I have to get back to travel prep.! I now return you to your regular program. Enjoy.

Yvette

More mini comp books

2010-08-02T12:39:00.006-06:00

This will be short and to the point! But, as promised, here are the rest of the mini comp books that I made a couple of weeks ago.

I think they are just darling! I might have to frame a couple of them too. Cute, cute!!

I made another little covered notepad using one of my favorite Sarah Kay stamps! How can you help but love this little sweetheart with her little chicks?!

And here she is again wearing green...

Seriously cute. That is literally all I have to say today! Have a good one.

Yvette

My new "headboard", and my "dresser" unveiled!

2010-08-01T15:49:00.010-06:00

So, here are a couple of pics from my cozy (aka tiny) bedroom!

The first couple of years we were married, we had a king sized waterbed with a beast of a headboard! And then we moved into a tiny little place...and the waterbed left! And--we got a full size bed. Hollywood frame only--no headboard or footboard. That is what we have had for the last 16+ years. Through the years, we have drooled over new bedroom sets, but there is always something more important to spend money on (you know...eye glasses, the dentist, bills--craft supplies, LOL, you know--important stuff, wink, wink). Over the years I have had all sorts of ideas that I have meant to try, and I have seen all sorts of wonderful ideas in magazines and blogs! I have an awesome old chippy white door with amazing hardware in my shed that I always thought would be fun above my bed...but as much as I love the chippy white paint--it kind of freaks me out too! I have visions of lead based paint seeping into my body, or paint chips in my sheets...neither thing excites me. So, it sits in the shed. :o/ BUT... when I found this crib spring behind our house (neither my husband or I remember where it came from!)--I scrubbed it right up and drug it in the house, LOL!! My husband thought I had lost my mind. "What are you doing with that thing?!" I proceeded to tell him, and I could totally see his dialing finger getting ready to call for the straight jacket and have me committed--until I drug it upstairs and shared with him my vision. And now that is has been up for a week or so, it's, "Did you take pictures of the bed yet?!!". Curious change of opinion.

So--here it is in the raw, the day I drug it into the house...

And after it was scrubbed, hung, and fluffed!!

The rosettes are my old lace swags from the living room that are carefully safety pinned into place (I didn't want to ruin them with glue).

So, final review...both my husband and I love our new headboard (and it will NOT fall on our heads in the night, LOL--two thumbs up!!). And like I told my husband, "I don't need an expensive new bedroom set...give me a rusty old crib spring and I am totally happy!". ;o)

And my "dresser" has been in place for about a week. And I love it too. I need to re-do the stuff on the wall above it, and will show that at a later date.

It has total chippy charm. And it is just lovely painted white! And thank goodness it has a large top...cuz I have too much stuff. (And don't mind the shoes, or the cable in the corner...more projects!)

But here it is! My wonderful buffet multitasking as a dresser! Love, LOVE!!

After I finished painting it, I was kind of sad I painted the hardware--but I'm over it. I love it!

Although, I did have a few days of almost sheer panick! I painted the entire thing--inside and out. And after it was ALL finished and dry and I put the drawers in...oh--bad! Sticky, sticky drawers. I was sure I had ruined it. So, I sanded the sides of the drawers, and the tracks! Still sticky. I thought I was going to have to totally strip them. I almost started to panick, but then I calmed down and tried to think of another solution. Then I wondered if WD-40 would help or if I could use it! Couldn't find it. But I did find something else (cue singing angels and music...!)--

Saved my bacon. I sprayed it on a cotton ball outside, and rubbed it anywhere there was contact between drawer and buffet. Total magic I'm telling you!! I would highly recommend it for sticky drawers. And I didn't have to strip them--whew! When my husband came home for lunch that day, he got a complete demonstration...several times (open, close, open, close)! S-m-o-o-t-h.

I decopauged the inside of the cupboard doors with old sheet muic, floral scrapbook papers, old adds, etc...

The first section I decopauged, I had all laid out before I started...no, no! It is definitely better to just rip and go with it. Much less painful--and if you aren't happy with it, you just layer it until you are (within reason I suppose). I kind of liked the no rhyme or reason look.

So, there are a couple of projects completed. Check, check. Hope you enjoyed. I am enjoying. Have a great week.

Yvette

My little fairy cottage!

2010-07-31T16:19:00.007-06:00

So, if you're asking yourself, "What the heck is a fairy cottage?!"...this is a fairy cottage (house).

And if you still don't get it...I can't explain it! It is what it is, LOL. I had seen a fairy house somewhere in my internet hopping recently and my daughter and I just decided to make fairy houses the other day! Simply because it sounded like a fun thing to do together. And I have to say...it was fun indeedy!! It kind of turned into a competition of sorts, LOL--apparently we are competetive crafters!! I will post pictures of her house when she finishes it. It's very clever.

I have very bright fairies! Their home is made out of four books: an economics book, a psychology book, a literature book, and an encyclopedia! Oh, ok, 5 books! It is topped off with a little light reading for the roof--a Reader's Digest Condensed book!! I/they also used findings from the junk drawer, small stones from my driveway, twigs from our yard, old spools from yard sales, etc.! The hanging light is made from a chain out of the junk drawer, a piece from a broken caster, and a light bulb that was for the power mate to our vaccuum that was in the junk drawer...but apparently shouldn't have been--oops! My bad.

The arch over the door is a strap from our rain gutter. Possibly another "oops"! My bad.

Notice the text in the window. You can see "Pooh and Piglet"! I have no idea what condensed book it was in, but I just had to make sure that "Pooh and Piglet" were framed in the window.

Fairy houses remind me of moss houses from my youth. So, now you're asking, "What's a moss house?"! Well, when I was in 6th and 7th grades, my brother (2 years younger) and I went back packing with my parents in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The second year two of my aunts came also--both of whom are pretty close in age to me (one is four months older than me, and the other is 5 years older). Well, the year they came, when we were camped at one of our camp sites, my brother, my aunt (four months older than me), and I made little houses at the base of a tree out of anything we could find--moss, stones, twigs, etc. That is a moss house (because that is what we dubbed them!). And they were AWESOME!! We made roads and fences and drove pinecone cars--we truly had created a memory that has endured. So, when I saw the fairy houses...they reminded me of the moss houses...

This was really a fun project to do with my daughter, in fact--I would highly recommend it for a mother-daughter fun day!! It was an awesome diversion from the summer doldrums. I totally plan on doing this with my granddaughters. Oh yeah! First I need one, LOL. You two get right on that, would you please!!

:o)

Have a great weekend!

Yvette

Vintage notecards meet mini comp books!

2010-07-12T18:51:00.008-06:00

Blogger and I are not speaking the same language today apparently! This is my 3rd attempt to complete this darn post! So, Hopefully it will cooperate this time.

I picked up these darling little vintage notecards at a yard sale a while back with some other vintage cards and ephemera for $1.00.

The box is in good condition, and it is so cute that I am going to keep it. Look at the characters...

I decided the little characters were so cute they deserved to be immortalized--so, I "duded" up the fronts of some mini comp books!

I have four more completed books that I will share at a later date. Anyway...hope you enjoy as much as I do!!

Have a good night,

Yvette

Sneak Peak, and a give-away link!

2010-07-12T09:23:00.005-06:00

A little sneak peak of my "dresser" re-do.

And a link to Little Birdie Secrets for an awesome give-away! I might be back later today with a little bit more--but we'll see! I am trying to finish the above project!! Have a great day,

Yvette

a card, a vignette, and weekend loot

2010-07-07T11:33:00.005-06:00

I actually made another card yesterday! I had a butterfly laying around from the other day--and apparently was inspired again! These are some of my favorite colors...so soft and pretty, and girly. LOVE girly. Kinda shabby too--love that too.

I wish I had bought more of the little pink rosebud fabric. It is so dainty and sweet. And I love the vintage flowers,bling and crepe paper ruffle!

Thought I would share a little vignette. Featuring lots of thrifty charm. First, the painting it is sitting on, the old ironstone platter, tarnished silver cream and sugar set, scrabble letters ("dream"), and shredded book pages. The zinnias are from my flower bed, the paper flowers from a wonderful friend, and the little bird nest is made out of threads from a darling old sweater with smocking that Holland didn't want anymore. I love the color of the sweater, etc. and decided I would try and repurpose it--so, I picked out the smocking and was left with a little birdie nest of thread! So, I put some fabric stiffener on it, and glued some little pearls in as "eggs". Voila...tiny pink nest.

And now for the loot! Last weekend was awesome. Didn't get a lot--but I still can't believe how lucky I was. I picked up this old buffet for--are you ready?! TEN stinking dollars. Yes...$10.00. I love it. And it is being transformed at this very moment! I have been looking for an alternative "dresser"--because that's just how I am. I didn't want a plain old dresser (my hubby is getting mine very soon!)...enter the buffet, LOL.

$10.00. Seriously. :0) Can't wait to show you the end result!!

And here is another score from last weekend. My husband didn't think we needed it. If fact, we left without it (which was killing me), and my hubby stopped so I could run back and snag it! $3.00. Whew. I would have been so disappointed if we hadn't. Here it is part way through priming (I am terrible about remembering to take before pictures).

Can't you just see the potential in both pieces?! I will show you how they turned out soon.

We also picked up a little table (small, old school desk that I painted white) for $5.00 to sit our Victrola on. The little cubby is perfect to keep the remotes for the TV, etc. in!

Well, that is it for today. I have a lot more I could show--but I am trying to pace myself, LOL! Anyway--have a great day.

Yvette

More humor...and proud mama

2010-07-07T02:25:00.003-06:00

After I posted the military vid. I remembered that Logan has a humorous youtube video from when he went and helped with a controled burn (thus the funny outfit!).

Don't know where he got his mad moves--I blame his father!! Makes a mother proud (LOL). I miss him like crazy. He is still in reception at Fort Sill.

A little military humor

2010-07-07T01:40:00.004-06:00

I thought this was hysterical,and it actually made me feel good to know that even in Afghanistan--our boys are still able to have a little fun! Humor can be a magical salve.

Love their outfits, LOL! ;0) And I would watch them over the Gaga any day!!

Hope it made you giggle...I did.

Yvette

a card, and a repurposed lantern

2010-07-05T21:01:00.003-06:00

Just popping in with a couple of quickies. First--I actually made a card...just because I felt like it! It's been a while since that happened. In fact, shhhhh...I have actually bought (as in paid money for at a store, LOL!) several cards in the past couple of months! I haven't bought a card in YEARS. Crazy. So, here is the fruits of my labor--a sweet, simple little butterfly card.

Complete with a little tulle, and some bling.

This was one lantern (thingy), but I repurposed TWO candle holders from it. My hubby snagged it at a yard sale recently, and had taken it all apart, and one day I looked at it...and it became mine, LOL! I had the two glass candle holders, that fit perfectly inside both pieces too. Then, I put little Norwegian pastry cups inside the glass candle holders before adding the votives. Rusty crusty charm.

Anyway, that is it for today. Just a quick one. We had a great weekend (scored a couple of killer treasures Saturday at a couple of yard sales--more on that later) and enjoyed the 4th (missed my kids, but talked to both :) !!). I hope you had a great holiday too.

Yvette

thrifted shadow box, and my island

2010-07-01T12:04:00.009-06:00

I have quite a few things I have been doing the past little while, and will try and catch them up on the ol' blog. I had recently picked up this awesome shadow box at a thrift store in Billings--I knew I needed it the moment I saw it! Did not care for the flowers at all (don't get me wrong...I do have a thing for flowers--just not these ones, LOL)--but knew it would be wonderful for something!!

And, voila. It now occupies a spot in the new bathroom (got rid of the birdhouse in the pot). Since Logan left, the Duck and I kicked Holland downstairs to this bathroom...aaaahhh. It is truly amazing how long one little 14 year old girl can stay/live in the bathroom. Amazing. So, she has a cute, updated, girly bathroom to live in now--more suited to her than Logan, but then again...he didn't live in the bathroom, although there were times we all wished he did a little more so... :)

Love the shadow box-- but I knew I would!

I picked this necklace up at a yard sale in Billings the same weekend I got the shadow box, and decided I liked it draped over the edge of the box.

So, that was the shadow box transformation, and now on to my island. It is a cute little enamel topped cupboard. I didn't take a picture of the back, but it was unpainted and kind of weak, so we had Logan cut a piece of white bead board to size, and put it in place with some good old liquid nails! I am going to paint the inside, and seal the outside with some poly. I LOVE the enamel top.

And it is a great/fun place to display "stuff"! And yes...most of it is treasures we have scored. The only "new" things are my new dishes, the tiered stand, the little chalk board sign, and the votive.

Treasures: old enamel coffee pot ($1, & I added the roses), cake plate ($1).

Treasures: silver dish (.25!!), egg beater (another .25!!)

More treasures: the awesome huge tray ($1), the darling little cut glass sugar dish ($1), moonstone dish ($4), ruffled pink saucers/dessert plates ($1 each--I HAD to have them), cut glass toothpick holder (.50), old salt and peppers (.50), expanding trivet (.25), the enamel double boiler was in a box the Duck picked up for $3--we scored THREE double boilers, the big enamel bowl in my bathroom that holds my towels, plus some misc. enamel lids, and some other pots and pans (which we sold at OUR yard sale, LOL). The muffin tins are treasures too (.50-.75 ea.), and the utensils (I don't remember how much...but cheap!).

Ya gotta love treasure hunting! :)

Well, that is it for today I think. Off to finish my dishes, and dry and fold some laundry. Have a great day,

Yvette

new camera!

2010-06-30T13:45:00.007-06:00

So, we finally got a new camera (Canon PowerShot)--but now I am pretty sure that my past photo foibles...had little to do with my camera (even though it did have some interesting "issues", LOL!)--and more to do with the photographer! Well, I already had a sneaking suspicion about that anyway... :(

I finally loaded the software onto my computer, and now I just have to figure out where the pics go once they are loaded and how to get them to where I want them to be...and yes--scary as it is...anything I know about the computer I pretty much taught myself. That is scary. Truly trial and error, LOL.

So, this is just kind of a dry run to see if I got any of it right thus far, LOL. You are my guinea pigs.

I took these about a week and half ago. Can you see the "snow"? Ok, the "snow" is really cotton from the darn cottonwood trees. We had a bumper crop year for cotton! And I had the allergies to prove it. I should have taken pictures of some of the drifts. Yes...I said drifts. Ugh. There was a huge drift on the neighbor's garage roof that I wish I had snapped a picture of!

The neighbor's backyard...

This is my main weed picker whom I love dearly.

I love this trike that the weed picker drug home from somewhere a few years ago. It has rusty crusty charm! Kind of like the weed picker, LOL--just kidding Duck!

I LOVE sweet williams. They are sweet--love the colors!!

The water pump is another treasure my hubby drug home! I love it when he drags things home. I have scored some awesome treasures that way. But...the flower is the real treasure. My son made it for me this past year in shop class, and gave it to me for Mother's Day. He is arriving in Fort Sill, OK today for boot camp. So...it is even more valuable now. And his mommy is kind of a mess the last few days. so...feeling a little sentimental!

He is pretty talented in the shop! Look at that flower! More rusty crusty charm.

Sniff, sniff. We are down to one little chitlun left at home. Thank goodness she is only 14...I still get to keep her for a few more years. :) So, we just sent Logan to boot camp, and are impatiently waiting for our eldest (Mychiel) to come home from boot camp/AIT. She left in January (as did her husband, Micah, who is home already). She is in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. So...we are just trading children at boot camp. I never imagined in my wildest dreams...one just never knows does one!

Anyway...well--it looks like I did figure out how to load the photos. Hopefully it won't take as long to do it next time!! :) Now I just have to figure out how to use the settings on my camera...

Have a great week,

Yvette

EDIT: yes, those are weeds you see in the pics of my flower bed...but, unfortunately those are MY responsibility--not the Ducks! I can't blame him... :(

my bathroom re-do! and a 6x6 recipe card

2010-06-08T09:51:00.010-06:00

The past few weeks have been very busy. We have been getting ready for a yard sale, painting our bathroom, getting ready for high school graduation and 8th grade graduation--which also means company, and yada, yada, yada. Yesterday was the first day I could relax a little--and I showered at 5:30...PM, LOL! And darn it--it felt good. Well, duh...by 5:30pm, a shower really did feel good ;) So, of course--today my fibro is fierce because I have been on over-drive for so long. C'est la vie. I knew it was coming. And guess what--I am still in my nightie (unshowered), and it is 1:15pm. I really shouldn't tell anyone these things, should I!! Mind you...I am NOT apologizing either ;)

Anyhoo...since I am in slacker mode...I decided to share our newly re-done bathroom (not quite complete--but mostly)!!

So, this is our bathroom on the main floor of our house--and yes...it is little! Kind of like me, LOL. Which reminds me of a little girl Holland babysits on occassion. Said little girl (who is 3 or 4) was at our house the last time Holland was babysitting her, and (mind you, she has seen me before) she says to Holland, "Holland, why is your mom so little?"!! She kept asking that throughout the day!?! We still get a good laugh over that. It was like she just noticed for the first time that I am "fun sized" --to quote a good friend ;)

Anyway...I am rather partial to "little" things (always have been, LOL)--and I have a newly ignited love for my bathroom, and the color blue (which my mother-in-law is appreciating from heaven I am sure). When we first finished it I didn't want to put the door back on its hinges because it hides part of the bathroom!! But my hubby convinced me that company might like a door, and reminded me that we have an 18 year old son--that we would LIKE to close the door and light a match, LOL!! So...the door went back on its hinges ;)

So, here is my little bathroom...

Remember this picture I showed a few posts back--it already got a face lift. I changed out the floral paper that was on top with red polka dots.

I love enamelware! And I used a few old white with red enamel pieces to decorate with. The one hanging on the towel rack behind the door holds wash cloths perfectly.

I made the shower curtain using some vintage fabrics.

I LOVE the nursery rhyme fabric which is actually sheeting, so it is wider than normal fabric. I used two color ways of that same fabric, and I really love the way it turned out.

The cabinet over the toilet.

The mirror is one of my very favorite things in the bathroom! It is the original boring mirror that we had before, that was just attached to the wall with mirror clips. BUT, my neighbor had a yard sale just before we painted, and I snagged a big frame from her for $1.00! I loved it, but had no idea what I was going to use it for--just knew it was going to be white! After I brought it home I was sitting at the table and decided to see if it would fit over the mirror. You can see the results! PERFECTION.

We bought the birdie towel rod and toilet paper holder at least 2 years ago (saving them for when we painted the bathroom!) at Ace Hardware in Glendive, MT. Their Ace rocks. And I love the old chippy platters from recent treasure hunting trips. All of the white chippy dishes match--and were all bought at different places :)

And, more awesome enamel ware--love it!

This was an old tray with scotty dogs on it, that I chalk board-ized and punched holes in with my Crop-a-Dile and hung using some vintage fabric.

Such a friendly little fellow to dispense T.P. !

I wish I had a before picture...but I rarely remember to take before pictures! Oh well. The previous owners had stenciled bonnets around the top of the entire bathroom in mauves, and blues (the walls were white). It was ok--but this is so much more ME. We still have a couple of things to do (replace the flooring and baseboards, and replace the faucet)--but I love it so far and wanted to share!! So...what do you think?

And here is my recipe card that I did for stamp club this past month. I printed the recipe from The Pioneer Woman site. Unbeknownst to me--the version I printed and gave to the girls did NOT have all of the ingredients listed above the directions! Oops. I didn't even think to proof read it because I assumed it had already been done by someone. I won't make that mistake again. So, now I have to give the girls a new recipe portion of the card. Once again...c'est la vie.

With the original (incorrect) version below.

And the good recipe, that I need to give each of the girls! :)

Boy that was a long post, sorry. I just pop in so seldom, I gotta make it good. Hope you have a great week.

Yvette

Orange Blossoms, and two 3"x 4.5" cards

2010-05-12T22:47:00.007-06:00

I am so tired this week! But...I was actually in the mood to play a little bit tonight--truly an odd occurance as of late (really odd!!). So, I broke into a new paper pack from Crate Paper (thanks, Ann!)--and made a couple of cards. I wasn't sure I liked this paper very much...but I do! It really has an earthy, "green" feel to it--figuratively, and literally. And it's a little retro, too--gotta love it.

On this first card I got to use a new stamp set from Dear Lizzy. I loved this flower from the first moment I saw it--and it did not disappoint.

On this next card, the flower is a die cut (I cut the leaves though). Easy cheesy, but cute. And I am totally lovin' the orange. A little more fall colors than spring...but still stinkin' cute. And HAPPY!

And last but not least--two little 3"x4 1/2" cards.

Another new Dear Lizzy stamp--stinky cute little dress!

And the birdie is from another new set from Girls Paperie. Which reminds me...I saw a quote today that I absolutely LOVED! So--I'm going to share with you and hopefully it makes you smile the way it made me smile.

"Today I will be happier than a bird with a french fry."

I LOVE that. It totally makes me smile every time I read it. I think I need to make a placque with that saying on it--or a chalkboard! (and to be perfectly honest...a french fry would make me pretty happy right now--I'm dieting, LOL. It really is "die" with a "t"!)

Any-who...nothing earth shattering, sorry! Just sweet and pretty simple. Hope you are having a great week so far,

Yvette

This, that and the other...

2010-05-11T17:36:00.007-06:00

My husband thinks I have ADD lately--and I think I might agree with him, LOL! I have been the energizer bunny, but...the energizer bunny with ADD. I get started on a project (and I have completed a lot of projects, but...), then veer off onto another project...not a good method for accomplishing a lot! Usually I am a good multi tasker--but I think my multi task button needs replaced or something. So, here are a few things I have started/completed/changed/rearranged/found, etc. in my manic bout of purging and froufing, and treasure hunting!

These first pictures are of my new ribbon storage! LOVE, love!! The little shelf they are sitting in is not finished yet--but you get the gist. I had recently seen a great idea on a blog (?) for storing fabric--which is what inspired this concept. The gal had made "mini bolts" to store her fabric on. The "bolts" were just foam core cut to a certain size, and her hubby had made a shelving unit to store them on. I want to do that with my fabric, too--but it is awesome for my ribbon!!! I cut the "bolts" 5"x5" square (the size of a CD case--so finding storage, or making it would be easy, cheesy!), so I got 20 "bolts" from one sheet of foam core (20"x30"). Then wrap the ribbon around it...and VOILA!

I like things that are functional, user friendly, and appealing to the eye...this system fits all criteria. I have tried tons of different ways to store ribbon, and this is a keeper, LOL.

The last system I tried, was wrapping the ribbon around the clothes pin, and store it in a jar. Really cute...NOT user friendly in my book!! In the picture below you can see all the clothes pins I had used (that is a gallon jar!). And...extra "bolts" waiting to be filled.

Ok, and the next picture I just wanted to show off my little rusty kid scissors that Holland and I just HAD to get at a yard sale a couple of weeks ago for $.10!! We both loved them...I can't explain it. My husband thought we had lost our minds. I think they are sweet.

And the next pictures show the new curtain I made for my green shelves. I LOVE the fabric.

And these hang above the green shelves. They were from my mother-in-law after she passed away (old copper molds). They have been sitting in my cupboard, and I was going to add them to my purge pile for the yard sale...but decided to try spraying them red. They have never looked so good in my opinion. Stinky cute now. Love spray paint. (and the rolling pins are from a recent yard sale)

I have two hutches. The following one and my mother-in-laws. I got a wild hare--just quoting my hubby :)--and decided to shitch contents, and purge a little. Well, here is my hutch...all grown up. It used to hold my teddy bears and such--not anymore! Quick story about the china in the hutch. When my husband was younger (not sure how old), he and a friend had gone up on a hill near his house and were messing around (they were boys). While up on the hill they found two boxes of china, and decided to use it for target practice (...boys!...). So, they had broken a couple of pieces, and drug it back to my in-laws to save for later. Well, when my mother-in-law saw it...it was saved from target practice, LOL! And it was used at holidays, etc. So, when she passed away--all of my husbands sisters insisted that Mike take the china! I have never loved it until now. LOVED the story, but not the dishes. Moving them into this hutch breathed new life into them. And they truly are beautiful dishes!! And we will use them.

OH MY GOSH! I had no idea that this china was so beautiful! I am so in love with it now.

This hangs on the knob of the hutch. I made it a while back using an old spoon, and I made the eggs using sculpey.

Here is a close up of a couple of new aquisitions in the hutch. The candelabra is one of a pair that I bought this past weekend at an antique store in Plentywood--love them. And I alsojust acquired the big milk glass cake plate in the back, and the milk glass compote dish (I got three of) in the front. I love the lace edged milk glass. I have collected a number of matching pieces now.

Aaah, and you can see a little bit of the china in the background. And this sweet little pink domed lid I just got this past weekend from a charming fellow in Williston...for FREE. There wasn't a price on it, so he told me it must be free--who am I to argue?! Loved him, and got a few lovely little treasures from him.

So, there are a few things I have been up to lately. I have tons more to share, but I have a few projects still in the works (I blame ADD). Thanks for stopping,

Yvette

Desk make-over

2010-04-23T16:17:00.003-06:00

I am on a major purge bender. And it feels good! Purging, froofing, updating...it's good.

So, the following desk became a victim of my mania--although victim probably isn't the right word, because that denotes something which is bad...and this is definitely GOOD!

I wish I had a before picture! But, imagine the following desk with a drop leaf, and doors on the bottom. Plain pine. Cute, but boring. But, when I popped the leaf and doors off, and gave her a new skirt...ta da! Stella's got her groove on!! And full of thrifty cuteness.

The skirt is 30's repro fabric, and I didn't hem the sides because I wanted the selvage to show.

And this is a Salvation Army treasure...$1.69! I think my family had trouble seeing the vision when I brought this home. My friend Melissa who was with me at the time--looked at it too, though! It has a unique latch on the front.

And it makes an awesome message center. Pens and pencils in the top, and other small stuff also. Phone book, sticky notes, paper clip holder, etc. in the bottom. Magnets for the back of the tackle box. I lined the compartments with chip board and scrapbook paper.

Bon appetit! Cupcake, anyone?! Thrifted pedestal dish, and scrabble tiles and holders.

I made a little "valance" to go at the back of this shelf...pure genious if I do say so--stinky cute!! My recipe box works great here, and an antique (huge!) clothes pin as a recipe holder. Also, thrifted cups as candle holders (partial to the color...), and jug that I hand painted flowers on (holds our pennies).

This shelf is loaded with thrifty goodness! The only thing not thrifted on this shelf is the cookie jar--which was my in-laws, and we snagged it when they passed away because it has sentimental meaning. My father-in-law always made sure it was well stocked, especially if he knew anyone was coming over. I just couldn't let them sell it in a yard sale! And I'm glad I snagged it--because everytime I look at it I remember him. The "Welcome" sign is an old cupboard door (free...!). And, apparently we have a thing for nut choppers lately because both of these are recent additions as well as the wonderful old pancake turner. And I love tea pots...but don't drink tea!

Neither of these things are thrifted, but I still love them. I painted the bird house years ago, and just bought the tray (of which I have 2!) at Ross for $6.99. I loved them when I saw them, and knew it would look great in my upstairs bathroom on the toilet tank. It is about 8" x 14"-ish. Love, love!

I just had to share pictures of my desk make-over! Although--it will be getting another facelift this summer...a new coat of white paint! Along with several other pieces of furniture.

Well, that's it. Have a great weekend,

Yvette

2nd Post for today...

2010-04-19T20:32:00.005-06:00

Since the flood gates are open...why not post again today?! And especially since Santa came this afternoon (well, ok, the UPS man, but...)! And look what he dropped on my doorstep...

Aren't they heavenly?!

Well--thank goodness he dropped them carefully, LOL, because my day would have turned out much differently if he hadn't :( (yikes!). I have been hunting for dishes for a LONGGGGGG time. I knew what I wanted, and I could not find anything that would do (that wouldn't break the bank...). Until, my darling baby sister spied these on Amazon. And can I just tell you--love at first sight. Not what I was wanting exactly--but still love at first sight. And now that they are washed and put away in my cupboard...sigh. My hunt is finally over (much to my husbands relief!).

And, since I am posting again...here are a couple of things I did a while back. I decided that my downstairs bathroom needed a little updating, and these are a couple of projects that helped to do that. The first is a frame I got at a yard sale a couple of years ago. It was originally gold and since I am not so into gold--I painted it white (left the black velvet inset), and added a little silver rub n' buff. Then I attached three wires to the back, and hung pictures from binder clips tied onto the wire with ribbon.

And the next project is a little framed artwork featuring darling little silhouettes!

The kids took the place of an outdated pink heart shaped wicker basket, with ivy trailing out of it. This is much better!

If you are just stopping by today...scroll down for the first post from this morning. Have a wonderfully ducky day--or evening I guess, LOL!

Yvette

So, much...

2010-04-19T07:11:00.008-06:00

I have so many things to share right now, I have a hard time choosing what to post! So here is my show and tell for today.

The first is another treasure from our treasure hunt on Saturday. It is a lovely little tray that I picked up at a thrift store in Plentywood. I'm not sure how much it was (because it wasn't marked), but it wasn't more than $1.

I love the detail on it. The embossed handle, and tray, and the scallopy edge. It is sweet.

Ok, and here is the big unveiling of my little sneak peek from the other day! I found this fabulous frame ($1) and instantly knew what I wanted to do with it...

Which involved this...

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Voila!!

Look how yummy the molding is!

The frame had a gold velvet inset--which I painted pale yellow! It makes my heart happy, LOL! And a can of chalk board paint will do a LOT of chalk boards!! After I have it hung up I will show it again. Awesome.

And last but not least...a little paper somethin' somethin'. I am getting ready for stamp club--so, I am playing a little. The theme is "birds".

Isn't she sweet with her little birdie...

Aaaaahh, she is sweet.

Well, that is it for now...unless in my mania I decide to pop in again later and post more. But I am trying to pace myself. Breathe...breathe...I just haven't been this excited for quite a while. But life is back to some semblance of normal--and it is GOOD! We just had to make it past the detour--and we did. I hope you have a great day,

Yvette

Loot!!

2010-04-17T22:55:00.008-06:00

Ok, so I am a fairly new convert to thrifting/yard saling/antiquing (even though I have always had a love of shabby chic, and trash to treasure, LOL!). Can I just tell you...OH MY GOSH...!!! Who knew there was such good stuff at these places?! A virtual treasure trove. Well, my inner junkie (??!!) has been unleashed with a fury--and my husband and 14 year old daughter and I went treasure hunting today. And we had a blast (well, Holland and I did--Mike just had an enjoyable time). My favorite spot of the day was The City Dump in Medicine Lake. Seriously, that is the name of the little store--and it is awesome!! We are headed back on the 8th for a town wide yard sale (and a little detour to The City Dump, LOL)! But anyway...just thought I would share some of our treasures from today. Sooooo fun!

These pieces just keep landing in my lap--so I have taken it as a clue that they want me to take them home, LOL. And what do you know...they came home with me! Funny. In fact I came home with 7 of the little footed bowls. I need to do some research--because I want to say they are milk glass...but not really sure what they are. I just know that I love them.

And again...don't know what this is--but Holland and I both drooled over it. I kind of looks like it could be blue milk glass. I know there is pink milk glass, is there blue though? No idea. More homework. Edit: After doing a little homework I found out that my beautiful blue bowl is Fenton/Blue Marble Slag/Rose...and it is indeed blue milk glass, and is flawless (no chips, etc.). It was made in the 70's. Gotta love the internet!!

And I think this next floral dish screams "Yvette"!! In fact, my ears are still ringing. I had to have it. I think it was about the most expensive thing I bought today--$5! SOLD. It was a bargain to me.

And I knew these little girls were coming home with me too when I saw them. And...they were 50% off. Both of them for $9.50!! The first photo isn't very flattering to their little faces. The other pictures are better. They really are lovely, and sweet.

And this little poodle girl didn't have a price on her, so I asked how much and when she told me $3--I snatched her. Her little arm has been repaired--which I didn't even notice til I got home. But it doesn't matter one little bit to me--I think she's devine. Oh, and I gave her the little flowers because Holland noticed that she used to hold something and it wasn't there. She is a darling!

Not even close to everything we got...but these are a few of my favorites. I might show some others next post. But, treasure hunting is exhausting--so I am off to bed.

Yvette

poptarts, more eye candy, and a sneak peek

2010-04-15T20:48:00.007-06:00

Ok...so what do you get when you put three of these (below) together?!

Well, duh--you get one of these (below) of course!

3 poptart boxes=1 darling shabby chic organizer cubby!! The perfect place to keep sticky notes, lip gloss, paperclips, nail file and clippers--the essentials by the computer, right?!

I had purchased the little rose pots on clearance at our Ben Franklin store--which is closed now...bummer :(

Ok. Now for the eye candy. A while back I had seen a necklace on a blog somewhere that was made from round paperclips (like the kind us crazy scrapper/stampers love). So--I had to try it! I am more of a bracelet girl--and love a little bling and glitz, so I added little baubles (pink of course!) to mine. And then I needed matching earrings of course!

And I liked the first one so much that I decided to try a charm bracelet using the "s" shaped spiral clips. It is "charming", LOL!!

So, there you are! A couple more little pieces of eye candy (more still to come). And here is a little sneak peek of a project...

Hhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.........treasures!! (I love treasures!)

Have a ducky one,

Yvette

Hello...my name is Yvette!

2010-04-14T22:54:00.005-06:00

Ok, so time has gotten away from me a little bit I guess...and I feel like I have to introduce myself (all over) again to the blogging community, LOL!! So--HELLO, all...and yes, my name IS Yvette. Heck--I was afraid I had forgotten how to load pictures and watermark, etc. Apparently it is just like riding a bike though. Although--my backside hasn't seen a bike a seat in quite some time, so I may have forgotten how to do that too :)

I haven't done very much in the way of papercrafting as of late, but have been doing other equally satisfying craft projects. This past Sunday, I could not stop making jewelry! So, I thought I would share some of my sparkly eye candy.

I have a definite thing with pink lately, so the set I am showing you today is...pink. The first item is a necklace. And the chain is made from jump rings by the way. I didn't have any chain, and that was the look that I wanted--so I improvised. I'm not sure if I like it or not. It looks good, but it feels a little rough on my skin. So, I will probably wear it once and see...

And here are the earrings, and bracelet.

I love the earrings! Look how sparkly and pretty...yummy. Love, love the big pink Swarovski's!! oooohhh, aaaaahh

The bracelet is a double strand of beads, so it's like two bracelets in one. Ya know what that means? Twice the pink!! :)

Anyway. That is my share for today. I will try and share at least one or two pieces of jewelry each day this week--and some little extra somethings too. I have some fun trash to treasures I've been working on, so...

Stay tuned, I will be back throughout the week. Have a ducky day,

Yvette

Working a little Christmas magic!

2009-12-05T14:18:00.006-07:00

Apparently it is feast or famine with the blogging these days, LOL! But today is a feast day. Since generally speaking these are lean days for us--we are having a homespun Christmas! I am making pretty much everything that we are giving as gifts this year. So, this little elf is busy, busy!!

The first show and tell item is a gift certificate in a little soda can basket (the tutorial is in the side bar to the right of my blog under "tutorials"--it is at the very bottom of the page).

And the next item(s) are actually gifts to myself if you will, LOL. I bought these paper mache houses last year and they have been sitting around staring at me ever since (hate that!). I made one of them up last year, and here are the other two so it won't be lonely! Here is the biggest one...

And the baby house sitting on a wooden sled (that a friend gave me because she no longer wanted) that got a total make-over! The sled originally had stained runners and the top was painted dark blue, with a little folk picture in the center. Cute, but dated. But it is polka-licious now sporting some Melissa Frances paper on top and some custom blue paint on the runners--with fabulous white polkies (of course), and some silver rub and buff.

Glass glitter IS to die for.

And last but not least--some snowmen ornaments that I made from plastic snowflake ornaments that I got 50% off, and the snowmen are made using Sculpey clay that you bake in the oven. Add a tiny tag with the year on it and silver cording...voila! Darling little inexpensive ornaments.

And that is it for today. I have other things in the works, and some that will have to stay under wraps til after Christmas (because of the the "no peeking" thing you know!). But, I need to get onto the next project now--so have a great weekend.

Yvette

Randomness...!

2009-12-04T21:25:00.003-07:00

I don't have any projects to share tonight (I do--but no photos yet)...but just some random thoughts. I recently shared a little of the drama going on in our lives, but tonight I am feeling very blessed. This week we cancelled our DirecTV--so we don't have TV service right now...indefinitely. Not the end of the world, I know--and lots of people don't have TV--but it's an adjustment (of which I grudgingly add that I am perfectly capable of making, LOL). But still...I am feeling slightly picked on ;) So, the past few days we have been watching DVD's, and videos. Well, tonight my daughter actually let me pick something (or maybe I just moved faster than she did...!) and I chose The Pursuit of Happyness with Will Smith. Ugh. OK. TV is slightly trivial. I still have my husband. We have a home. We have never had to sleep in a public rest room. I am blessed! I have always been taught that we will never be asked to endure more than we are capable of enduring. What an amazing man. To be able to rise up and overcome all that was laid in his path--and do it all with a little son in tow! It reminds me of a song from one of the animated Christmas movies when I was little--"Put one foot in front of the other..."! Diligence and perseverance. And not sweating the small stuff. No TV--it's ok. Next...cell phones, or internet? Hmmmm...but it's ok.

a little wassail!

2009-11-23T20:57:00.003-07:00

I still love the wassail paper from Basic Grey (even though it's not their new line)! And...I bought enough of it last year, LOL!! So--it was the first Christmas paper that I grabbed when I decided to do a Christmas jello box! I made the little tree to use on the box, and then changed my mind (something I NEVER do--yes, that was sarcasm!)--so, I made a card too.

For the holly, I stamped the image twice, and cut out each of the leaves, scored them down the center, and then glued the dimensional leaves on top of the other stamped image. I also used red stickles, and my Sakura glitter pen.

The tiled/quilted look on the card was made by scoring at 1/2" intervals both directions of the paper, and then sanding lightly. On the tree I used more red stickles, and some chunky glitter.

One of these days I will try and do a tutorial for the jello box--it is very easy!

Have a great evening.

Yvette

one card two ways, acetate box, and redwork!

2009-11-19T22:07:00.004-07:00

I made the first two cards when I was trying to find a project for stamp club. Same card--two ways!! I did the snowflake first, and then decided I wanted to do a pink glittery owl. They are very simple...but nice. Love the hot pink glitter!

And the box was a result of the same search for a project for stamp club.

I love redwork embroidery! I find it simply charming. Here are a couple of patterns that I did recently. I'm not sure what I am going to do with them yet. The little boy and girl I would love to do a little quilt, or quilted wall hanging--I love them because they are so sweet!

And I just had to do the three little kittens when I found this pattern! "The three little kittens lost their mittens, and they began to cry! Oh, mother dear, we greatly fear our mittens we have lost! What? Lost your mittens, you naughty kittens, then you shall have no pie. Wah, wah, wah! You shall have no pie!" (ok...that was from memory so I may have butchered it, LOL!)

Sorry, short and sweet tonight--and nothing uber wonderful (although I am rather happy with the redwork!). I am too tired the past couple of days. Have a good night.

Yvette

stamp club goodies

2009-11-18T18:59:00.010-07:00

Last night was stamp club, and I thought I would show our make and takes. We did things a little different last night because one of our members quit a while back, and it would have been her turn to hostess last night. So, we all brought treats, and a "simple" project for everyone to make. So...I don't take credit for the following projects even though I did make them last night! These were all copy cat projects (which was the intent), except for the first one. The ornament we got to be creative with!!

The ornament is made with a round coaster, both sides covered with paper, a chipboard snowflake--and schtuff! Ruby had already adhered the paper to the coasters to speed things along! But...I actually just finished it a while ago. The snowflake and I were having a heated discussion last night, LOL! I only got the "joy" stamped, and my snowflake embossed last night so, today I "duded" it up by adding rhinestones, buttons, some greenery, and the ribbon. Thanks, Ruby!

And this card (which is stinkin'awesome!) was super easy...because Julie did all the work for us, LOL!! All we had to do was stick things on the card base. Don't you just love the Mickey card? It is an actual playing card (from a deck of cards) that Ms. Ruby gave Julie--and being the shareful person that she is...she shared a couple with each of us!! Thanks, Jules!

And the next loverly card was brought to us by our friendly SU! guru--Deb (who promised to come to quilt class with me, hint, hint...but that's all I'm saying!). The picture doesn't really do it justice. It's very sparkly and fresh--and I love the paint that we used for the snowflakes! Very elegant. Merci, Deb!

Nancy had us cutting up beautilful wire edged ribbon. The poinsettia's are very pretty with their sparkly gold outlines. And it really wasn't that time consuming to trim the ribbon. Thanks, Nancy!

And on Ann's card we got to use that big SU! stamp I've seen all over! We used sponges to daube or pounce ink (red and green) onto the stamp and then stamp the image. We also sponged the edge of the inside of the card that shows behind the punched edge. Danka, Ann!

And of course I had them do the lollipop tags for my project.

It was fun as always--except...we talk way too much! I didn't get home until just after 10:30 last night, LOL. That may explain why my keester is dragging today! ;o)

Have a great night.

Yvette

Christmas Lollipops! My quilted runner, and another transformation!

2009-11-16T20:15:00.006-07:00

I decided that I wanted to make some lollipop ornaments for our tree this year--so...I did!! And, in my efforts to come up with something for stamp club tomorrow night--I created a mini-lolli and decided it would be stinky cute on a gift tag! So, here are the sweet little confections all finished...

The original lolli and the mini (next to a quarter so that you can get a better idea of size). I have directions for the lollipops in a previous post. You can find it in my sidebar under "my stuff", and then click on "paper lollipops".

And, the gift tag...

And the lollipops ready for the tree (I'm not ready for the tree quite yet though, LOL!).

Aren't they happy?

I am attending an adult ed. quilt class offered in the evening at the high school here. I am not a quilter (well, I guess I'm a beginner now, LOL!), but really admire those who have mastered the art. There are some truly amazing quilters/quilts!! Anyway...this was my first project. It's a runner, and I used 30's reproduction fabrics to make it--I'm pretty tickled with the end result! I will take a picture of it on my table at a later date (because I have to be able to find my table before I can make it pretty, LOL!).

Aaaahhh--look at that corner! And that blind stitch! What...you can't see it? Oooohh--I'm good! (yes...laughing at myself, LOL!)

And last but not least--a little covered cheese dish that I put my touch on! I picked it up at a thrift store, and thought it would be great at Christmas for faux snow and bottle brush trees! The base was just plain wood and I painted it white, and added some gold rub n' buff, and decoupaged fabric onto the center of it. Voila...transformation complete!!

I love the fabric on this! And I picked it up at Wally World for really cheap a long time ago. It's really sweet though.

Anyhoo...Keep checking back, because I'm still not caught up! Have a nice evening,

Yvette

A cupcake stand, a cupcake box, and another gift bag

2009-11-15T18:56:00.009-07:00

So...if I served you a cupcake or muffin covered on this little dish--wouldn't you just love me?! I would, LOL.

And...I made it! Well, I didn't actually make the glass--but I put the pieces together and created this little stand LOL.

This little cupcake stand is comprised of three different pieces. The "stem" or base is a candle stick/votive holder. The cover is from a crystal cheese plate. And the plate is a cup and saucer plate from some fine china that my hubby found and drug home when he was a little nipper.

I've made two little cupcake stands by matching up treasures that I either had on hand or got at a thrift shop.

The second stand is a little china tray and and a longer candlestick holder.

To attach the candlestick holders to the plates I used an adhesive I got at Hobby Lobby called Amazing Goop. On the tube it says that it "glues whatever bonds forever"! The pieces are stuck pretty good, LOL!

Remember a while back I posted a little Halloween goodie box with a handle that I made from a jello box? Well here is another version with a little cupcake on it!

And here is another gift bag from the pattern I used yesterday--and this one is my favorite!! I love the colors and the fabric!! And yes...notice the polkies.

So ends show and tell for today. And yes...still more to come, so stay tuned! Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week.

Yvette

Hello, Again!

2009-11-14T19:40:00.004-07:00

Ok--feeling a little bit more on track since my last post. Fed Ex has come and gone, and we're glad--and it wasn't the end of the world, LOL! We are by no means riding on easy street at the moment, but...it'll be ok. One day at a time. To those of you who left kind and encouraging words...

thank you!

My husband received a phone call from UPS about a week before his end date with Fed Ex! So--he is now employed by the former competition, LOL! They first called him to see if he would drive for the Christmas season, and then called back the next day to say that they wanted to hire him as a full part-time employee! So, at the moment--money and hours are weak (and no benefits...)--but potential is good!! There are several guys here that are slated to retire in the not to distant future (whatever that means!). He started his training with UPS the very next Monday after he quit Fed Ex--so he didn't even skip a beat (and I admit that was good for moi). I'm still not sure how we are going to make ends meet--but I have faith that we will!

Stamp club is this coming Tuesday, so I actually sat down and played a little today. But, part of the reason I haven't posted anything lately is because I needed batteries for my camera (which really needs to be replaced...)! So, we finally remembered to pick some up and I could take some pics of recent projects. Most of my playing has been with fabric lately (working at the fabric store renewed my interest in sewing, LOL!), and I have some trash to treasure type projects too. I have quite a few projects so you will actually be hearing from me the for next little while--amazing...I know!

So, here we go!

The first thing I have to share is a little sewing project. I love Moda Bakeshop (which is where I found the pattern for this little gem)! If you are interested, go here. The finished bag (including handle) is about 9.5" tall, 6" wide, and a couple inched deep. I have another (my favorite) that I will share on another day.

Next project is a little card that I made to go with one of the above gift bags. And yes...the green tape measure print is fabric which was used on the bag (no pics because I gave the bag away before I could take pictures!). The bag that went with this card had a pumpkin print for the main body of the bag, the green tape measure fabric was the pleated "ruffle" around the top and I can't remember what I used for the handle!

And the last project is a repurposed item--not really a trash to treasure, but kind of. A couple of years ago I bought a stack of amber glass dishes for $3 at a yard sale. There were dinner plates, a big serving bowl, some cups and saucers, and bowls. So--this tiered platter is one of the bowls, and a dinner plate that I glued together with some mega glue! And...I think it's a match made in heaven. I love it!!

And that is it for today! Watch for me the next few days--because I will be back to share more. I don't know about you all...but I am getting excited about Thanksgiving and Christmas. The spirit is infectious! Love the holidays. Anyway...enjoy the rest of your weekend--hope it's ducky!!

Yvette

Wow!

2009-10-10T16:13:00.004-06:00

I have nothing new to share as far as projects and art go at the moment...so I decided to share a recipe and a few blasts from the past!

Last year for my September class we did a really fun Halloween project--the infamous "BOO"! The girls who made it loved it (at least they seemed to) as much as I did--so I thought I would share it with you all again.

and I still love this Halloween origami box...

We all know how I love polka dots! They DO seem to speak to me, LOL!!

Aaaaahhhh, and this was taken one year ago today...

That seems like a lifetime ago.

Life can change so much in one years time. And one just never knows! And that is a very big part of the reason I have been MIA so much lately on my blog. Life throws lots of little curve balls, and there are lots of little bumps in the road...but on occasion there are stinkin' DETOURS!! The past 10 months we have been winding through a dang detour--and we are just now getting to the really frustrating/scarey part. No one is sick thank goodness (not physically anyway!)--I don't want that detour. But, my husband is going to be out of a job in 20 days. Which means no money, no insurance, yada yada. And we surely can't live on my wages, LOL! Stress levels have been at an all time high for us for obvious reasons. And emotions run high, energy low...you know what I mean! At this point, I am as eager for him to be done as he is. WHY you're saying--are you crazy?! No, but there comes a point where continuing on a certain path is more damaging and painful than changing course. Change terrifies me, no insurance even more so!! But his job has run its course, and because of certain things (or aka people)--we are done. And that is not the royal "we"...I seriously mean we are both done with his job, LOL!! 14 years for nada. It's disgusting, and really frustrating. So, I have not had the energy or enthusiasm to play very much--life has sucked me dry at the moment. And I am changing jobs again here too. I loved my little stint at the fabric store...but it didn't love me very much. I have fibromyalgia, and who knew that the fabric store would make me flare so much--not I. Between being on my feet ALL day, and lugging bolts of fabric around...aaaahhh--it has been really bad! So, in an effort to reduce stress (physically and emotionally) I am going back to my old job at the school--non instructional para (making copies, and projects, etc. for teachers). It is half days, so I won't be on my feet as much. And I can still sub 1/2 days on occasion if they need me. I am thankful for my short time at the fabric store though...I loved my boss (and I really, really loved helping people match fabrics and put things together!!!). And I have a rekindled interest in sewing!

I always try to find something postive in everything--sometimes it is harder than others, and sometimes it takes me a while longer...but eventually I can see something good that came from the situation--it might be a lesson that I learned, or that it strengthened me in some way! I believe that is why Heavenly Father tells us to endure to the end. If it doesn't kill ya...it can only make you stronger, LOL. At the moment I am still looking for something good to come from this experience though. But, I know it won't kill me--so that can only mean it will make me stronger!!

I don't really like to spill about my personal life on my blog because I am a pretty private and reserved person, but I have to say that it kind of feels good to spill once in a while! I am a bottler by nature--I bottle things up! But sometimes ya just gotta open the bottle, LOL! Sorry.

I hope you have a great weekend--I am!

Yvette

EDIT: I got so caught up in opening my "bottle" I forgot to share my recipe! This is killer--and if I didn't tell you it was zucchini--you would totally think it was apple crisp!

(I Can't Believe It's) Zucchini Crisp

8-10 c. zucchini, peeled, seeded, and sliced (to resemble apple slices)

2/3 c. lemon juice

1 c. sugar

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla

Cook zucchini in lemon juice until tender then add sugar, spices and vanilla. Simmer. Mix 1/4 c. sugar and 1/4 c. flour together and add to zucchini to thicken. Pour into 9 x 13 pan.

topping:

1 1/2 c. flour

1 1/2 c. quick oats

1 c. brown sugar

1 c. butter

Cut together until coarse crumbs and pour over top of "fruit" mixture. Bake at 375 for 45 min.

Kraft cards

2009-09-21T21:01:00.005-06:00

Just popping in to share a couple of cards I made last week when I was preparing for stamp club! The theme was "kraft" (as in kraft colored paper). I love kraft paper, and there are a couple of bloggers that I love who use it ALL the time and use it perfectly with very charming results! If you haven't had the pleasure yet...you HAVE to go visit them (you won't be sorry!): Heather Nichols, Michelle Wooderson, and Danni Reid .

This first card was my first attempt for stamp club, and it was just ok for me--it didn't make the cut.

Luckily my second attempt was the keeper card! Sometimes I make quite a few before I find my keeper, LOL!

And this last one...I was purely messing around with the left overs after I finished my cards!

I love the patterned paper I used in all three cards--it's from a Cosmo Cricket kit that I got from QVC (I think). But then again...I just love Cosmo Cricket paper PERIOD! Anyhoo--that is all I have for ya! Hope your week started off good--and finishes even better.

Yvette

Yeah...don't fall over!

2009-09-20T23:09:00.004-06:00

I know--it's been a long time since I last posted! And no--I didn't quit blogging, I'm not sick, and I didn't fall off the face of the earth--I am simply too pooped to party lately. And to top it off--my camera is messed up.

So...these pictures might be bad, but I really can't help it at the moment. I am trying to find a new camera though.

Ok, I have another little guess what it is project! It's a trash to treasure treat box--can you guess what the box came from (before you scroll down!)?

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A Jello box! Who knew that a Jello box could be so cute and fun, huh? If anyone is interested--I will try and do a tutorial for covering it sometime--it's really easy! And you can use the same instructions to cover any box!

But, that is all I have for you today--mostly wanted to make sure you knew I was still here, LOL! Hope you all have a great week.

Yvette

creative flash flood, LOL!

2009-08-24T16:27:00.008-06:00

I suppose I should try and pace myself, but sometimes...it just comes in a creative flash flood, LOL!

I just started a part time job at our new little fabric store in town! It's only two days a week (for the most part anyway), and I'm pretty excited about it. They specialize in vintage and retro fabric (reproductions)--and the fabric is soooooo fun! I decided it is kind of like working with REALLY big sheets of paper...who wouldn't like that?! AND--I get to do a lot/most of the displays...doesn't get much better than that either!! Towards the bottom of the post I will show a couple of projects that I used fabric on to display in the store.

But first, remember the little cherry gift set from my last post? Well, I didn't ever show you the "gift bag" that I made for it! It was for a friend who has a wonderful sense of humor--and loves to give gag gifts, and regift "special" gifts, LOL! So, since I am out of gift bags pretty much--I got creative!! I "stacked" tons of Albertsons bags inside each other and came up with this lovely gift bag. It was funny when I was in the middle of making it, my husband says to me--"What are you doing?" (questioningly!) My reply..."Making Karen a gift bag!" (duh...) So, here it is--complete with tule handle, blue paper bow, and white tissue paper sticking out of it!

And, I might add...she KEPT it to re-use for someone elso, LOL!! I knew that she would appreciate it. A definite trash to treasure.

So, the next thing here is just a cute little Halloween card I made. One thing to note--the bottom of the card under the green patterned paper: I left the strip at the bottom (with the company info and bar code on it) that is meant to be trimmed from the paper--I decided that I kind of liked it there. (It is Graphic 45 paper)

And, my card for stamp club this month. The theme was music, so I broke out this Clear Art Stamps set with birdies and music themed stamps.

The next several things are going to be displayed and or used at the fabric store. They all have fabric used on them. The first is a box of 6 coasters that I got at the dollar store last summer. The original coasters were red, white and blue with stars (you can see in the first photo)--I added fabric, used my Nestabilities, stamped the word "sweet" in the corner with StazOn, painted a strawberry in the center, put them back in the plastic box they came in, tied a bow around it with a scrap of fabric, added a tag, and...voila! Cute little coasters wrapped and ready to go.

And here is another gift set (maybe my next "gift of the year", LOL!).

Cute little card with a darling fabric birdie (complete with pencil eraser polkies again)...

And here is the little birdies partner--the altered composition notebook!

I think I am going to add a couple of things to that little ensemble--but they aren't done yet so I will show them later sometime.

And here is the last thing that I have to show today. It is a dry erase board for the counter at the fabric store. We will use this to announce specials, etc. up by the register. I need to find a little easel to set it on though.

Love the little house! And FYI...my Ranger Archival black ink pad stamped beautifully on fabric!! Better than the StazOn I think.

Ok, the tide has ebbed. The flood is over--at least for today. Holy cow that took forever. I hope you enjoyed it though, and that you have a wonderful ducky day!

Yvette

How many ways can you give the same gift?

2009-08-14T17:36:00.004-06:00

I don't know...but I think we're going to find out! So, here are a couple more gifts (yes--washcloth/dishcloth, and hand soap!!). This is my "gift of the year", I guess. Last year I pretty much gave the same gift to everyone too (a paper cupcake with ear rings)--that may seem lame to you, but it works for me. They are all different...but the same, LOL. And--I stocked up on hand soap at Bath and Body Works so that I could do this. I actually like coming up with a "gift of the year"--especially when you live in the middle of nowhere.

I apologize for the worse than usual photography! I think someone played with the settings on my camera--and I haven't figured out how to fix it yet (I may never, LOL). If it is more involved than pointing and shooting...then I have a little problem.

The cherries in the first set are a take off of a Papertrey Ink set that I love called Everyday Button bits (thanks to Vicki for the take off inspiration!!).
Everything is CTMH except for the ribbon (SU!), scalloped cherry border stamp (Clear Art Stamps) and Prima flower.

This set is Cosmo Cricket paper, ribbon is SU!, the sentiments are CTMH, all other stamps are SU!.

Red is such a bright and happy color! I love it. And ooohhh those are bad photos--sorry! But bad pics or not I had to share.

Hope you all have a great weekend,

Yvette

another gift day...

2009-08-04T17:03:00.005-06:00

and more to come! Similar to the last gift, but different. I decided to turn the dish cloth into a "vase" (how did I come up with that...don't ask me, LOL!). So, I rolled it up, tied it with my favorite ribbon, and made plant pokes to stick in the "vase"!!

And of course I had to "dude" up the soap again...

After I had created the "vase"--I had a moment of brilliance (LOL!!), and decided to see if my "vase" would fit the inside of a ribbon spool to create a base for the "vase"...and low and behold--

IT DID!!!

So, an empty ribbon spool was repurposed into this lovely one of a kind "vase" base--I kill myself sometimes (LOL again)!

Love, love, LOVE the trash to treasure thing! So, there you have it. I'm sure my friends get these things and wonder--"What the heck am I supposed to do with THAT?!"--and ya know, I really don't care, cuz it makes me happy. My family and friends probably get tired of all the silly little homemade gifts--but there again...I don't care, cuz it makes me happy (and hopefully it makes them happy a little bit too ).

Anyway...gotta run--have a good one!

Yvette

fudge bar, anyone?

2009-07-29T22:31:00.002-06:00

My friend Julie stopped by today and dropped off my goodies from the last stamp club (that I missed). And one of the cards (made by Ruby) was the stinkin' cutest popsicle card--I just had to case it! But, instead of a popsicle, I opted for a fudge bar--my tendencies lean in that direction anyway, LOL!

And a little dripping fudge bar...

And...all you need to make these incredibly simple yet darling fudge bars/popsicles--are three punches! SU!'s lg. tag punch, and the word window punch, and a regular hole punch to make the nibbles! Easy, cheesy--and couldn't be cuter.

Anyway, I just had to share these little goodies with you before I go to bed!

Yvette

little gift set

2009-07-29T14:39:00.006-06:00

I spent this afternoon putting together a little gift set for a very lovely friend. It may not seem big--but it includes a crocheted wash cloth/dish cloth. And for those of you who read my blog regularly...you'll remember my earlier post about the first one I made! Not a good experience, LOL!! So...this little cloth is a BIG thing for moi. I have since learned to pace myself (so as not to paralyze my hand again--ugh!).

So, here is the card, some Bath and Body Works hand soap (with a custom label!), and the cloth...

It looks so pretty all packaged up...

And--all ready to go!

All supplies are CTMH (no time for a recipe at the moment--I'll try and add that later.

Anyway...hope you have a wonderful rest of the day!

Yvette

A happy bird-day card

2009-07-28T18:59:00.006-06:00

Happy bird-day to you, happy bird-day to you! You look like a monkey--

nnnooooooo...I'm just kidding!

My kids probably think it's lame when I sing that, but I do it every time...I can't help myself, LOL!! It cracks me up. And I crack myself up wayyyyyy too much (it's probably not right!).

So, this was todays project. A bird-day card--better known as a birthday card. I really should apologize regularly for my sense of humor...sorry!

I saw a bird the other day (somewhere...??) with a ribbon wing similar to this, and knew I needed to try it out! It's really cute.

Everything is CTMH, except for the polka dot ribbon (Wal Mart), buttons, birthday stamp (Papertrey Ink), and crochet thread. The paper is from Serendipity--a past CTMH promotion (the checked paper is from the Rustic Trail paper pack). Still love both paper packs!

Note: And did you notice (once again, LOL)...the infamous pencil eraser polka dots are back!! I adore polka dots, and if I haven't said it often enough yet--a pencil eraser is the perfect tool for creating them!!!!and!!

Anyway...hope you liked my little bird-day card! Have a great day.

Yvette

U R so sweet!

2009-07-27T19:55:00.004-06:00

My brother and his wife and two youngest daughters (1 and 3) came to visit this past weekend, and while they were here we had ice cream cones. My 3 year old niece was really cute with her cone--and I guess she inspired me!

Now--I wish I could bottle some of her energy! WOW. I have forgotten how busy 1 and 3 year olds are...and how messy, LOL!! Ohh, but they are so cute.

The polkies are from my good old pencil eraser again! I truly love that method for polka dots.

Recipe
CS: pinkie color is Bazzill, cone is SU! kraft, all other is CTMH (vanilla cream, white daisy)
patterned paper: Melissa Frances
ink: vanilla cream (CTMH), basic brown (SU!), white pen
stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes (SU!), Make it Count and Sans Alpha (CTMH)
other: ribbon (SU!), eyelet, button, crochet thread
tools: Martha Stewart border punch, paper piercer

So...that is it for today! Now--I think I need an ice cream cone! Have a great day.

Yvette

warning...lots of pictures!

2009-07-22T17:52:00.006-06:00

I was recently asked to create a project (for what, I'm not at liberty to say...)--oooh, a secret! This was my first attempt, and obviously not my final project (which I packed and sent off today!). After sending off the final project...I realized I had not taken photos of it to share at a later date! I can't believe I did that!! Dang. Anyway, here is the reject project. There are two pieces--a placque, and a frame.

The placque, is a CTMH My Creations Artboard (with the hardware removed)...

And a 5" x 7" chipboard frame (a yard sale find)...

All supplies are CTMH, except for the acetate on the butterflies, and the brown paper bag I used for the bird nest, and the chipboard frame.

I had fun creating the random stamped paper for this project. I made the "paper" for the red butterflies (and other accents using the same paper) using a faux batik method. To create it: clear emboss on white CS (I used a stamp from CTMH's Intrinsic Bacground set), then remove the embossing powder by placing embossed paper between sheets of scratch paper and heating with an iron. Do this until all embossing is transferred to scratch paper (you may use several sheets of paper to do this). Then sponge ink over the paper. Note: when ironing, do not let the paper cool when removing the embossing as the sheets will stick together. If this happens, just reheat and pull apart. Another note: you can do this intentionally, too! I did this with newspaper, and let the two sheets of paper "stick" together slightly and then tore the newspaper off. It left little bits of newspaper on the batik, and looked really cool when inked! Also, you can use your ink pad direct to paper and "smear" with a sponge for a more intense look. Did any of that make sense?

And that is all I have for today! Dang, I wish I had taken pictures of the other project so that I could share it in a couple months! C'est la vie. Have a great day.

Yvette

What a summer!

2009-07-22T00:40:00.007-06:00

Boy--this has been a busy, busy summer. I have been gone more than usual--a couple of different trips, my parents came to visit, by brother is coming to visit this week, we are going to a reunion...just a lot going on this summer! Really fun--but exhausting, LOL.

So, I am popping in (no guarantee how often I'll pop in for a while!) to share a couple of cards. The first is a little gift card holder/card. I made this a while back...it may have been a trial for stamp club in June. The card is in a CD envelope.

I'm rather infatuated with this flower!!

And the second card is kind of made from some left overs of a project I recently finished. I will try and post that tomorrow (we'll see!). I am in love with this color combo (hmmm, notice my new blog background, LOL)!! Heavenly blue, tulip, buttercup, and white!! In fact I like it so well--I think I am going to use them in my bathroom (which I was planning on doing something with!). My counter top and cupboard fronts are blue--so, why not!

Aren't they SO cute!? I love these little kids--I think I own all of this style of CTMH stamps because I do love them so much. They are so sweet. I used watercolor crayons (on watercolor paper) to color them. The stamp set is called Playtime.

Anyway, it's late (or early, depending on how you look at it I guess!)--I'm going to bed.

Have a ducky week,
Yvette

Stamp club, and Fans!

2009-07-07T12:51:00.004-06:00

I missed stamp club last month because I was in Utah for my cousins wedding, but this was the project that I made for it. The theme was "what ever"--ya gotta love it!! So, after much deliberation this won out.

Front...

Back...

All stamps are CTMH, Top Note die (SU!).

And these were the two "trial" fans that I made, trying out the whole fan idea. I was really wishing that I had tucked one of them into my purse to take to the wedding (because it was outside...no shade...)--luckily it wasn't sweltering that day, and there was a slight breeze thank heavens. So...I only melted slightly, LOL.

All stamps are CTMH, Label Nestabilities.

All stamps are CTMH, Label Nestabilities.

And now that I have literally spent all morning on the computer...life calls, LOL! Have a ducky, ducky day!

Yvette

Gifts, continued....

2009-07-07T12:09:00.005-06:00

So, here are the jars, and cards again that I posted a while back--one step closer to the mail box! And you can not make me tell you how late they are...my lips are sealed! (Actually it would embarrass and humiliate me too much)

The jars contain little goodies...

One set of cards is packaged in a re-dressed Maya Road tin...

And the other set is in a re-cycled clam shell package (from ??)...

Getting closer to mailing to my sisters...who are probably fully aware of what they are getting by now, LOL!! There are still a couple of surprises though.

I think I am going to do one more post today--so keep your eyes open...

Yvette

Aloha!

2009-07-07T08:40:00.003-06:00

No, I didn't go to Hawaii...but I DID go to Utah! Not even close, I know, but "Aloha" is just fun to say, KWIM? And holy cow, I leave for a few days, and I come back to a bunch of awards. Thanks, ladies!

I know I bent the rules last time, and I'm going to again this time...sorry, girls! But it's a little overwhelming to have so much love shown at once! As much as I would love to nominate 15 people for each award--I would be here until the cows came home...and I do not have cows, LOL!! So, I apologize for being a slacker--but I am doing my best! And once again...thank you, thank you. And if it were acceptable, I would turn right around and give these ladies the same awards, but...

Lori, Amy, and Cathryn gave me the One Lovely Blog award.

here are the rules for this award:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2. Pass the award on to 15 (or 4, LOL) other blogs that you've newly discovered.Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

So, here are my nominees for the One Lovely Blog award:

Kelly Becker--and not just because the town she lives in is named after my youngest daughter!

Kelly Jo--also partial to the name of her town...so Little House on the Prairie!! Love it!!

Karen Pederson--who I have just recently discovered, and LOVE her work.

and Laurel Seabrook--ok, I am very familiar with Laurel's work...but I just love it.

And Jessica gave me the Lemonade Stand award.

the rules for accepting this award are as follows:

*Comment on this blog
*Cut and paste this logo on your blog
*Nominate 5 - 10 (or 2, LOL) blogs that show great attitude and gratitude
*link your nominee's with your blog post
*Comment on their blogs to let them know they won.
*Link back to the person who gave you the award to show your appreciation.

And my nominees for the Lemonade Stand award:

Nicole Bailey--I enjoy both of her blogs!

and Aaron Brown because her work always makes me happy.

Again...thanks to Lori, Amy, Cathryn and Jessica for the awards! And please go check out all of their blogs and all of the CTMH bloggers that I nominated--they are all wonderful!

A little Let's Go Camping card for Dad

2009-06-15T09:42:00.004-06:00

We kind of had a crazy weekend! Saturday, my 17 year old son worked (? or played...) all day at a car show in town. That night when he came home, he went straight up to bed and turned on the AC. I could tell that he was beat! It was a pretty warm day here (in the high 80's, almost 90). A few minutes later he called me from his cell phone (he's in his bedroom, I'm in the living room...)--"Mom," (sounding really pathetic) "could you come and take my temperature? I just can't cool down!" So, being a good mom, I go upstairs to take his temp. (all the while thinking he's just a big baby, LOL). As soon as I felt his skin I felt bad for thinking he was a big baby! He was burning up. So, I took his temp.--which was 102.6. At this point I'm grilling him about his day--were you in the sun all day, did you drink enough, what did you drink, etc. He was hot, no sweat--so I started to think he had heat stroke. I made him go take a cool shower, got him a Gatorade, packed ice in his pits and groin, gave him motrin, and let him "chill" for a bit. Then I took his temp. again--and it had gone UP!! It was then right at 103! I called my husband in and told him I thought we should take him to the ER--so, we did. We got there, and they decided to put an IV in. Poor nurse! For such a big kid--kind of a weenie! He made the poor ladies night miserable, and she had to bring in back up!! But, they finally got the IV in--and then they had to take blood from the other arm...iiieeeeeee! Anyway, did he have heat stroke or not--not sure. But he did/does have strep throat, LOL. He hadn't even said that he had a sore throat!! So, we crawled in bed at about 2-2:30. And then last night at about 11:15 the fire siren went off--and low and behold...someone had set two dumpsters in our alley on fire! Pretty sure it was rotten kids. One was my neighbors dumpster, so we watched through her fence (life in a small town, LOL!).

I had trouble going to bed at night all of last week! So, (way too late) last night I started my dad's Father's Day card--although I didn't stay up all night and finish it (I think the fire through my mojo off!). But...I got right up and finished it this morning. I love the way it turned out.

And the inside! I wanted to use a bigger chunk of the Route 66 paper because it was so perfect for this card.

Recipe (all supplies CTMH unless otherwise stated)
CS: white daisy, garden green, kraft (SU!), yellow (Bazzill)
patterned paper: Route 66
ink: holiday red, breeze, garden green, New England Ivy, Dutch blue, white daisy, basic black, chocolate chip (SU!)
stamps: Let's Go Stamping, True Happiness, Backwoods, Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink)
other: brads, pop dots, black micro pen
tools: Nestabilities, 1" circle punch (SU!), pencil eraser (for white polka dots)

I specifically bought Let's Go Camping and Backwoods with my parents in mind! They are both such outdoorsy people (those genes thankfully missed me though, LOL!), and they both retired the beginning of the year. They love to pull their trailer up into the mountains and park it--in fact they just did that last week! I love the little trailer in that set. Go Mom and Dad!!

And that concludes show and tell for the day! Have a good one.

Yvette

Gifting with Cosmo Cricket

2009-06-13T12:54:00.007-06:00

I love Cosmo Cricket! And have to admit that I am rather partial to the Dutch Girl line (I'm sure it has nothing to do with my daughter, Holland, LOL). The colors and patterns are really fun to work with.

So, here are a few more gift items to share! The first is an old blue Ball jar that I "duded" up. The strawberry is paperpieced, and the little crocheted flower I MADE--and yes, I am pretty impressed with myself (and yes I also realize that it's not that impressive to the rest of the world probably, LOL)! I also have to admit that my hands are just now beginning to recover from the ordeal of crocheting--iieeeeeeee. I will show you some more crocheting at the end of this post.

And these are magnets. The bottle caps are treasures from my father-in-law (who passed away in 2003), and they have cork in the bottom of them. I painted the cork pale yellow, and then painted the little berries.

And here are some cute little 3 x 4 cards that are stinky cute! I love the kraft CS with the Dutch Girl paper and white pigment ink--kind of shabbylicious!!

The white polka dots I made using a pencil eraser and white pigment ink.

Aren't they cute cards? And I decided that I really like that size. It was fun to work with!

And now, here is the rest of my crocheting--which I will not be doing again in the near future! I thought I would just whip out a couple of dish cloths for my sisters--yeaaaaah...or not so much!! I stayed up until after 3:00AM to finish this a couple of nights ago (because it was like I was possessed by the crocheting devil!), and then the next day...I lost use of my middle finger on my left hand, LOL (or maybe NOT so LOL!). I even had to take off my wedding ring--and still can't put it back on! Although I can bend my middle finger again now. So, I decided I would keep buying crocheted flowers, and crocheted dish cloths if I want them!! Yikes--who knew?

Edit: I forgot to mention that I ran out of yarn part way through my wash cloth--thus the 1/2 and 1/2 look! It takes more yarn than one might think--and the only store in town that sold yarn went out of business a year or so ago. But... I was determined to finish (obviously! At whatever cost, LOL).

Anyway...hope you're having a ducky day, and a wonderful weekend!

Yvette

Butterflies and A Little Bouquet

2009-06-09T19:44:00.003-06:00

I'm in gift mode! This one is for a friend, and tomorrow I am going to finish my sisters gifts--which are slightly over due (sorry, A and She!). But is it my fault their birthdays fell right in middle of my drought, LOL?!

Bouquet and gift card...

Bouquet in gift bag...

Recipe
CS: garden green (CTMH), Bazzil
patterned paper: Dutch Girl (Cosmo Cricket)
ink: chocolate chip (SU!)
stamps: saying-? (SU!), brocade set? (Melissa Frances)
other: buttons, twilight corduroy buttons (CTMH), ribbon, wire, Stickles, beans, anntenae, brown craft bag
tools: flower punches (EK Success), leaf punch, small butterfly punch and lace border punch (all Martha Stewart), lable Nestabilities, Bigz Beautiful Butterflies die (Sizzix), hot glue gun

The pictures don't do it justice! It's really cute in real life. The jar is a repurposed pizza sauce jar, and I filled it with white beans (which I love to use for flower arrangements!). The flowers are on wire stems.

We just got back from visiting my daughter and her husband for a few days. It was so good to go and see them! They may grow up and they may leave home...but they are always your baby! Even if they get tatoos (argh), and pierce everthing (eeeeessshhh)...????? Yes...even then! That's why you keep pictures of them on the fridge when they were sooooo stinkin' cute and little--it enables you to overlook a miriad of things (kind of, LOL).

Kids...ya gotta love 'em! And I surely do.

Yvette

Some of this, some of that!

2009-05-31T22:52:00.006-06:00

Just a quickie post! Here are three cards that I've made the past couple of days using a smattering of products from different companies!

The first card I used one of my new favorite stamp sets from CTMH--You're a Hoot! The bling is CTMH also, and the paper is Basic Grey. I LOVE the ribbon (I got it from Wally world--it was the only spool darn it! I wish they had had more of it!!).

The second card I used CTMH stamps: Solo "0", and "9", and Class Of. The paper is from a Martha Stewart paper pad (12" x 12")--it is actually really nice paper...not that I doubted Martha, LOL! This is kind of a no frills card--EASY TO MAIL. Those WalMart ribbon bows are not very USPS friendly!

And the last card is Papertrey Ink stamps, and Basic Grey paper--with my quickly diminishing roll of Wally world ribbon :(

Which brings me to the end of my post! Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Yvette

Thank you

2009-05-27T17:51:00.004-06:00

Ok, since things are somewhat calm at the moment, I am going to do a little catching up! I have received several blog awards the past little while, and I truly appreciate the thoughtfulness! I am inspired by so many of you, and hope that I can return the favor even just a little.

Jenn, and Vicki gave me this one...

and Christina and Tresa gave me this one...

THANK YOU!

What a talented group of ladies to receive awards from. Bless you all! I'm not sure I'm worthy, LOL!!

I'm so glad that you popped in to visit...and hopefully you enjoyed your stay!

Yvette

Faux Metal Embossed Butterfly, and altered bottle

2009-05-27T16:59:00.008-06:00

The flood gates are open, and I am on a roll, LOL!

I wanted to try an embossed metal butterfly using my favorite flashing tape technique (scroll down for tutorial, and there is another one, slightly different, under "tutorials" in the side bar). So I whipped out this froofy little card (ok, whipped may be a little generous--it took a while, but...)! It's very girly and sweet--very pretty and PINK (which I personally happen to love, and it drives me crazy that both my girls are "anti-pink"--ME with pink haters, oh the injustice!!).

Here is the card with my altered bottle. The bottle is one of those coffee drinks--which I don't drink, but a friend hooked me up with a few bottles! Together they make a cute little set...

So, if you want to know how to make the butterfly...Here we go!

You will need flashing tape (from the hardward store...love it!), and a piece of scratch card stock.

Cover the paper with the tape (it has a backing that peels off), if there is a seam it's ok! Burnish the "metal" with your bone folder.

Cut out your shape (I used a Sizzix die).

Run the shape through your Sizzix or Cuttlebug (or whatever...) using an embossing folder or plate.

Score down the center of the butterfly, and slightly curl the edges of the wings. You can use as is at this point, or you can distress it with StazOn and mark it up with your stylus/bone folder/fingernail. To age it--smear StazOn all over the diecut, and wipe off with a paper towel. You can also use alcohol inks on it! If you distress it with the tools, the seam is hardly noticeable!

And there is your faux metal embossed butterfly!

Hope you enjoyed my show and tell--have a ducky day.

Yvette

Love at Home...

2009-05-26T11:26:00.005-06:00

I'm feeling a little renewed! Is it because the last day of school is this Friday, or my daughter's visit last week...I don't know--but it feels good! And look what I made!! The creative juices are beginning to flow again...heavy sigh.

This is a trash to treasure piece, so now I really know that I am on the mend. I love repurposing items and throwing things together. There is a lady at my church who likes to tell people, "Yvette, could take a bag of trash and make a masterpiece out of it!". If she only knew, LOL...

My wonderful Hubby is always dragging things home for me (blessing or a curse? undecided!), and he brought this red lacquered box with a hinged lid home one day. When I finally decided to try and find a use for it--I found that my Big Shot dies fit in it perfectly without the lid. I have the regular Sizzix die storage tower--but I don't really like it. So...I decided to stack my dies in the box (I don't have that many dies--I'm kind of picky about them). Voila, Sizzix storage.

But of course that left the lid!

Hmmm, what is a girl to do!!! Alter it of course.

That was SOOOOOO much stinkin' fun. NEXT....

Hope you are all having a great week so far,

Yvette

Be Yourself in blush and chocolate

2009-05-18T22:56:00.003-06:00

Another card for a friend. I really like this silhouette stamp set! It is the May Stamp of the Month set(CTMH), Be Yourself. And I still love the More to Adore paper pack--blush and chocolate...what's not to love?!

Isn't she sassy?

Recipe (all supplies CTMH unless otherwise noted)
CS: colonial white, blush
patterned paper: More To Adore
ink: blush, chocolate chip (SU!)
stamps: Be Yourself
other: ribbon (SU!), Sakura glitter pen, button (?), waxy flax
tools: SU! scallop border punch, Nestabilities, paper piercer

That's it for now, just one little sassy blush and chocolate card! Have a great day.

Yvette

not feeling owly, but...

2009-05-15T17:36:00.003-06:00

I do love these owls! And the mojo seems to be flowing a little (I am almost giddy--it's like getting to visit with a friend that's been gone for a long time...it feels really good inside!).

Once again--You're a Hoot...

Recipe (all CTMH unless stated otherwise)
CS: white daisy, chocolate, sweet leaf
ink: hollyhock, baby pink, crystal blue, sweet leaf, creme brulee, chocolate chip (SU!)
stamps: You're a Hoot, Spot On Backgrounds, Tickled Pink promotional set, expression is SU!
other: ribbon (?, WalMart), button, waxy flax, Sakura glitter pen, liquid glass
tools: Nestabilities, Martha Stewart leaf punch, Martha Stewart border punch

The patterned paper is my own random stamped paper again--I told you...LOVE it! And the set from the CTMH Tickled Pink promotion is perfect for the technique. Very fun.

Hopefully I don't have any blatant typos this time--

Yvette

WOOTWOOT!!

2009-05-15T14:06:00.005-06:00

I actually sat down and played a little today! And it flowed pretty good--no pain! Aaaaahhh, maybe the droubt (correct spelling: drought...thanks, Mychiel!! Note to self--proof read better,LOL.) is over--or soon to be. Only a couple more weeks of school left--maybe that's the magical cure! I really enjoy substitute teaching...but have to admit that the end of the year is a little rough.

And it also helps that my daughter and son-in-law are coming to visit next week! I'm excited--can't wait to see them, it's been too long.

On to my card...

I made two of these for two friends that I love and appreciate very much.

Recipe
CS: sorbet, white daisy, baby pink (CTMH)
ink: sorbet, hollyhock, baby pink, buttercup, sweet leaf (all CTMH), chocolate chip (SU!)
stamps: You're a Hoot, Just the Ticket, Aspiration, Treasure Life (all CTMH)
other: ribbon
tools: Nestabilities, Martha Stewart edge punch, SU! oval punch, SU! texturz plate

I decided to random stamp the background--a technique that never gets old to me!! I love it because it's FUN, but also because you can always create perfectly coordinated patterned paper! Ya gotta love that.

Hope you have a really ducky weekend!

Yvette

a little work for Mother's Day...

2009-05-07T17:01:00.006-06:00

I am still in a serious slump, and playing is somewhat painful. And to be perfectly honest...this is a new thing for me! I don't really have slumps like this--it's a wee bit baffling. This is just not normal for little old moi.

I even resorted to a sketch (from Mojo Monday) for my Mom's card! Don't get me wrong--I love sketches, and it's fun to use them...but I don't usually use them due to necessity. Know what I mean? I know--I'm rambling, sorry. I'll have to re-name my blog "Frustrated Ramblings of the Creatively Challenged", LOL!

Anyway--I did finish a card for my Mom and my Grandma! Mission accomplished. They are both from the same paper because I loved it, and it just seemed appropriate. I also made a card and mini bag that "didn't make the cut"! They are cute...but really LOUD.

Mom's card:

inside of the card:

back of the card:

Grandma's card:

And the reject...

The little bag is from a kit in the wedding section at Wal Mart. There were 50 bags, ribbons, and tags in the kit. I bought them at Easter and "duded" them up for my kids in Primary (at church)! They have all sorts of similar kits--little purses, different boxes, etc. And they were less than $20. I thought it was reasonable.

That's it! I know they will love them. Have a ducky day.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Yvette

Seriously?

2009-04-28T22:34:00.002-06:00

Ok, I just had to share something that happened at school today--because it was kind of a surreal moment...or it really should be anyway!! So, I was teaching reading (2nd and 3rd graders), and they were supposed to make a safety poster that included at least 2-3 safety rules. I had made a sample so that they would have a general idea of what was expected, and the kids kept bringing their work up to me to admire. It was all good, until one little girl brought her poster up to me and I started reading her safety rules! I'm not sure what my expression said, but in my mind I just kept saying "Seriously? No, really--seriously?!" . She had chosen animal safety as her safety topic, and serious as a heart attack, her last rule was--

"Do not blow weed in the cats mouth."

I was almost struck dumb. So, I quickly, say to her "Weed?" and she looks at me like I'm dumb, and said to me--"Yeah, weed!".

So, I ask her, (because I'm thinking "seriously?!") "______________, do you mean marijuana?"

To which she replies "Yeah! Weed!".

To which I quickly replied, "Um, ______________, do not blow weed--PERIOD!"

And then she looks at me like, "oh, yeh"!

O-h m-y g-o-s-h.

Holy buckets! I was horrified that a 3rd grader was bantering the word around so normally, and even more so--because I was pretty darn sure that she had probably witnessed this actually happening! But also to my horror I almost had a giggle fit after she sat down because it was just so ridiculous--the whole idea and situation!

And seriously...why are 3rd graders not more innocent? It really is a crazy world...seriously!

Yvette

6 x 6 recipe LO--Peanut Butter Fritos!

2009-04-26T17:54:00.005-06:00

Ok, to start with...I am MUCH calmer now than when I posted last! And also have to say that teen agers are so much more pleasant and compliant when they want something!! For those of you who left me comments and advice...bless you. I felt so much better after venting--sometimes, it just helps (KWIM?!). And it always helps to know other people have survived their teens, LOL. I do have one under my belt...two more to go! Oy vay.

Anyway...I had stamp club this past week--and we all know what that means! Play time!! My mojo is still MIA, but I was pretty happy with the results. The theme this month was 6 x 6 recipe LO's. I made 11 of these in 3 1/2 hours with no plan to begin with! I started with a couple of basic elements that I thought I wanted to use, and I just flew by the seat of my pants and it all fell into place. But seriously...3 1/2 hours--that rocks! And no idea what or where I was going with it... that totally rocks!! If you're asking why it rocks--it rocks because that is just not the normal process or timeline. It usually takes at least 2-3 trial pieces...and a couple of days min. to get to the final project! I guess I should procrastinate more often (kidding).

recipe
CS: white daisy, breeze, cranberry (CTMH)
patterned paper: Let's Get Together (CTMH)
ink: black archival (Ranger), cranberry (CTMH)
stamps: Frinedship Alpha small (CTMH), Little Chef Sm. (Clear Art Stamps)
other: button, waxy flax, brads, ribbon, ric rac
tools: flower punches (EK Success), scalloped circle Nestabilities

Anyway...hope you like! Have a great day.

Yvette

Just spewing...

2009-04-16T18:40:00.002-06:00

For all the mother's of teen agers out there...

AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

They have a way of sucking the life out of you at moments. The gratitude, and attitude are just overwhelming (or underwhelming!) at times--and right now...I find myself at a loss. At times like these (and most others, I guess...) I am SO thankful that I am not the mother of multiples (twins, triplets--heaven forbid octuplets!). I love kids, I love MY kids--but I am so over them at the moment (one of them anyways!). Anyone have helpful hints for surviving teen "episodes" (don't know what else to call them!!). Please don't tell me to meditate because as tight as I'm wound... And my mojo is MIA, so creating--not really an option (hate that!)--any other ideas or suggestions? He just lost his car keys--as in we took them away--oh yeah...THAT was a fun "conversation" (not)! I'd love to hear how you stay sane with teen agers--'cause I am walking the edge.

...breathe....

mmmmmmmmm

...breathe....

ok, I feel a little better already! Sorry--I just had to spew.

Yvette

"B" Happy magnetic mini banner!

2009-04-10T22:28:00.003-06:00

Since I am on here...thought I would add this little diddy, too! I made this before stamp club (last month) to hang on my fridge. So, in addition to butterflies and fish stories today--you get a little note to self...

Don't worry...BE HAPPY!

Yvette

butterflies and fish stories!

2009-04-10T21:06:00.006-06:00

I know I am really pathetic about posting as of late...but my mojo is a no-go!! I actually did sit down for a couple of minutes today and attempt to play though--and I came up with this cute little butterfly card. I love the watercolor look! I colored directly on the stamp (pre-spritzed with water) with my watercolor crayons, and stamped the image onto watercolor paper. It turned out quite lovely, I think.

Kind of crummy pics, sorry--I'm out of practice, and I wasn't all that good to begin with, LOL!!

Recipe
CS: white daisy, key lime textured, Indian corn blue (CTMH)
patterned paper: Melissa Frances
ink: basic black, Indian corn blue (CTMH)
stamps: Butterfly Wings (CTMH)
other: watercolor crayons, ribbon (SU!), heavenly blue waxy flax, button (CTMH), Dew Drops, Sakura glitter pen, watercolor paper
tools: nestabilities

And another little butterfly card...

It is a 3" x 3" card, so it really is a little card!

Recipe
CS: colonial white, colonial white textured (CTMH)
ink: basic black
stamps: sentiment (SU!)
other: Cuttlebug Swiss dot embossing folder, chunky glitter, pearl, brad, ribbon, foam dots
tools: SU! curly label punch, SU! word window punch, Martha Stewart butterfly punch

So, that was the butterfly part of the post...now for the fish stories!

My son went ice fishing last month and caught these little lake trout! He was pretty happy with them. We've eaten one of them--and it was very tasty indeed! It took FOREVER to cook though, because it was such a monster! His friend is waiting in the freezer. I might have to go ice fishing with him next year--because I want to catch something THAT big! Awesome.

That's it for now. Have a wonderful Easter.

Yvette

Enjoy the moment...

2009-03-26T22:32:00.005-06:00

Ok, so if you were wondering what the project was for stamp club (drum roll...)--here you go! Remember the teaser...

And here is the complete project...

I thought it was cute, and I love caramel apple pops! And here are some very simple instructions for creating the base (how you "dude" it up is up to you!):

1. cut a piece of CS 7 1/4" x 2 3/4"
2. score the CS at: 2 3/4", 3 1/4", and 6"
3. cut 2 pieces of coordinating patterned paper 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" (these are for the front and back "covers")
4. cut 1 piece of another coordinating patterned paper 2 3/4" x 1 1/4" (this is for the flap)
**dimensions would be the same for inside pieces if you choose to decorate the inside

I think the rest is pretty self explanatory, but if not, please feel free to ask! I thought it was a darling little gift/treat idea. A cute way to make the ordinary a little extra-ordinary! And pretty quick and easy to mass produce. Hope you liked!

And while I am here for a moment--I want to thank Vicki, and Jenn for passing awards onto me recently! I'm not ignoring you, and I truly appreciate that you thought of me!! I will get them on here and my nominees, too--eventually! Right now I just feel I have accomplished something if I breathe (getting out of bed and going to work is a real bonus, LOL). THANK YOU, ladies! And thank you to anyone else that takes time to leave a comment--you're awesome.

Yvette

6 x 6 recipe page, and stamp club teaser!

2009-03-17T10:08:00.004-06:00

I'm behind on my recipe's! This is February's, but I'm drawing a blank for March. I have the recipe ready...the page is stuck in my head somewhere!!

Sugar cookies are my FAVORITE! And it's a good thing that I only make them about 2-3 times a year. I have to admit that I am a sugar cookie snob though! All sugar cookies are NOT created equally--and that includes the frosting on them! Has to be t-h-i-s recipe, with homemade butter cream frosting! They're the bomb.

And here is the stamp club teaser...and why is it a teaser you're asking--when I already posted the project supposedly...well, I changed my mind! So, ladies--enjoy the ducky card, but we're not making him. I had another idea originally, but had to shift gears when I could not find something here in town that I needed to make it. But...thanks to my darling hubby (who found them in another town for me)--we are back to plan A, and here is the teaser, which by the way--not a card!

And that is my motto of the day...enjoy the moment! Chin up. Have a great day,

Yvette

Getting ready for stamp club!

2009-03-14T22:58:00.009-06:00

I haven't posted anything lately--because I haven't done anything lately (except work)! But...it is my turn to hostess stamp club--so, here we go! I have had the WORST time coming up with a project. In fact I have never had so much trouble! And all I wanted to do was a card this time!! But I believe I have a winner--and guess what...it's a ducky card (my own paper piecing pattern)!

I think he is pretty stinkin' cute--even if it was extremely painful creating him! For better or worse...he's it.

And the other two that didn't make the cut...

Snee snaw...the flower card just didn't do it for me!

And my original thought was do a paper tole project--which I love, but decided it was maybe a little toooo much cutting of teeny tiny pieces which might promote profanity from some of my friends...or throwing of scissors...so, I opted not to go there (really love the card though!).

And that my friends is it. I have a project for the girls to make--still don't have my cards for the exchange (theme this month is the "Always" stamp set from SU!). Aaaaarrrggghhhh...here we go again!! And my house is a flaming nightmare. And we're still trying to make lemonade from those nasty little life lemons (which totally explains the creative blockage...)! But--oy vay. One thing at a time...

But...it's another day, right?! Have a great one.

Yvette

20 Years!

2009-02-25T07:51:00.002-07:00

Happy Anniversary, Duck!

I love you,

Yvette