PERSONALIZED ORNAMENTS {TAKE TWO}

Ugh.  I'm still decorating.  It's going to be good, though!  I'm changing things up from what I've done for the past few years so it's just taking some time to work it all out.  Soooo, I'm giving you my first ever re-run post today.  I wanted to show this one to you early on in case you want to make some for gifts this season.  I'm amazed every time I see it pinned.  This is by far my most pinned project.  Just goes to show that you never know for sure what people will like!  I'm sure that when I originally posted this last year I only had a few readers outside of my family, so hopefully this will still be new to most of you. Before I get on to the project, I wanted to give a HUGE thank-you to several people who featured some of my projects this week.  Please check out these lovely blogs-they will be great weekend reading!    Lindsay at Better After - Office Re-do and Dining Room Host Chairs Cassie at Primiti......

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FAKE IT 'TIL YOU MAKE IT!

One of the challenges decorators face (if they're like me at least!) is making what you have work if it's not quite the right size or color or height.  As I was decorating last night, I used a few tricks that I thought I'd share with you. First off, how many of us have countless little projects that would take two seconds to finish but never quite seem to get done?  Yesterday I checked one of those off of my list.  This spot on my brick fireplace has bugged me for years.  It looked like a bird flew through the living room and bombed the brick.  I always kept something tall there or photographed the mantel from creative angles to try to hide that spot.  It drove me crazy.   Well, when I started putting Christmas on the mantle, enough was enough.  Faster than the time it took me to gather the supplies, it was fixed.   I found some acrylic paint that was a close enough match and with a damp sponge rubbed a bit over the light sp......

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FRAMED INITIAL ART

Last month when I showed you where we are so far with my son's room , one of the things you all liked the most was his initials on the wall. I planned to show you some day how I made those, and that day came sooner than later.  When cleaning some cobwebs above the kitchen pantry the other day, I knocked down a little more than the webs.  The framed "G" that was hanging there came crashing down and the letter broke, but the frame was ok.  So, that's a little blessing in disguise because now I can show you how I put them together.  It's SO easy, and would make such a great (& thrifty) personalized gift.   The supplies you need are a frame in the size of your choice (mine was 16x20 and only a few dollars from the thrift shop-painted of course!), a backing cut to fit (can be stiff cardboard, foam board, or even a thin sheet of wood), spray adhesive , hot glue and gun , fabric , and a letter (also spray painted if you desire).  Letters ......

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CANDIED CINNAMON SUGAR ALMONDS

For the present party I hosted last week, I wanted to send my guests home with a little treat.  I found a recipe for candied almonds on Pinterest and though it would be the perfect thing.    The first batch was made following this recipe , but we found it a bit dry and bitter for our taste.  So, I adapted it a bit and came up with this.  They turned out SO yummy and reminded us of the warm candied nuts that we like to purchase at treat stands.  They are super easy to make, and are actually made in the crock pot! 1 egg white 1 1/2 t. vanilla 1-2 t. kosher salt 3 1/2 cups raw almonds 1 1/4 cup sugar 1 T. cinnamon 2 T. butter (cut in chunks) Spray the crockpot with Pam first for easier cleanup (with a soapy hot water soak when your  crock has cooled  it shouldn't be too hard to clean up).   Turn crockpot on high and add butter to the bottom.   In a large bowl combine the egg white, vanilla, and 1/2 t.......

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Traditional Porch design by Atlanta Media And Blogs Anita Diaz for Far Above Rubies In my last post I shared several things I was grateful for, but I left one out on purpose to save for today. I'm thankful for YOU , dear ones who read my blog every day.  Thank you for your encouraging comments and brilliant suggestions when I'm stuck on a project.  Thank you for spreading the word when there is something you like.  Thank you for taking my ideas and making them your own.  That is my ultimate desire for this blog...that it inspires someone to use their creativity to make their home a little more unique and personal. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday with your families, or whomever you are spending your day with.  I'll see you on Monday, and will leave you with this benediction: "Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.  The Lord be with you all.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with yo......

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GRATEFUL

Last Tuesday I got the call from the school that no parent ever wants to hear... Come quickly.  Your daughter is hurt.  Unconscious.   EMS has been called.   That was the longest two minutes to the school ever.  Caleb and I prayed all the way there.  We heard the ambulance coming as we ran in the front door. The fourth grade had been on the stage preparing their upcoming music program.  Emily was standing on the next to the top riser.  Apparently it was really hot up there with the stage lights on, and she fainted.  No one was on the riser behind her, so she fell over the back and hit her head on the stage floor.  The teacher who ran to help her had to call her name several times before she roused.  When I arrived, she was awake but still lying still until the paramedics arrived.  They evaluated her and checked all of her vitals.  They gave us the all clear to take her home if we wished, but advised u......

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PLAN A PRETTY PRESENT PARTY

Our church has the best Sunday School teachers EVER and one of my sweet friends (who has taught me so much!) leads a group of young career single and newly married girls.  She is doing an awesome job teaching them some practical things about homemaking, and she wanted to do a "wrap a pretty present" party, which I was thrilled to host in our home. I wrapped some gifts before hand to give the girls some ideas and taught them how to make a bow.   Most of all, it just takes practice!  We asked the girls to bring a gift or two to wrap, and my friend and I provided the wrapping materials.  If you want to host your own party it would be great to ask everyone to bring some supplies and put them all together to pick and choose from.  I wish I would have remembered to take a few photos of those cute girls and their packages!  They did a great job!  I can never remember to pull out the camera during a party...but always feel a bit strange doing t......

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CHRISTMAS REINDEER TURNED MOUNTED DEER HEAD

Last year I saw this project and wanted to make one of my own, but by the time I looked for the supplies they were sold out for the season.  So this year, I'm glad I remembered to check earlier!   I've had a blank spot in the living room where I took my antlers down to move them above the back door .  I just wanted a little something fun in that spot, and this project fit the bill perfectly! I started with this reindeer from the Christmas section at Michael's.  I bought the largest one they had and he was about $10 after the coupon.  After spray painting him a glossy white, I had to add a little sparkle.  I brushed on a thin coat of Elmer's school glue, and sprinkled some gold glitter on the antlers. Then,  I determined the angle I wanted and used a sturdy, sharp paring knife to cut his head off.  Sorry- I couldn't figure out a way to sugar coat that sentence! :) After hammering in a nail to hang him on, he's all set!  ......

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THANKSGIVING TABLESCAPE {2012}

I spent some time playing with a Thanksgiving tablescape over the weekend.  My theme was Rustic Glitz and Glam- yes I just made that up. I saw some gold branches on Pinterest and knew that I wanted to use those, and everything else came together from there. If you've been a reader for a while, you've probably seen all of these things around my house before.  The shutters were on my mantel last Fall , the feathers and basket were in my Fall decorations last year , and I used the bird nests on my Easter table for the centerpiece.  I like to try to use what I have in different ways. The basket seemed a little plain.  If this was 5 years ago, I would have tied a bow around it and called it good.  But this time I thought a belt would be a nice twist, and a little bit of leopard never hurts anything!  One of my daughter's old belts was the perfect size. A few night shots because I was being a geek wa......

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