Sunday, April 29, 2012

Thrifted Table, Lamp, Books Etc...

 I wanted to get new tables for my basement, but I knew I wanted them to be funky and like nothing anyone else has. I was at DI, and found two of these for $10! $5 each!!! I still needed tops for them, and again, I was at DI, and found the glass tops on another table for $10 each. I painted them from a weird dingy cream to a chartreuse yellowy-green. I LOVE THEM! I say, "them." I haven't brought the other table in yet, as I don't know what I am going to put on it. It is still clogging up the garage.

The lamp shade was $1.    The lamp base was $1.

Both from DI.


The books were $1 each at DI. I LOVE the reader's digest books. They always have fabulous color on the whole jacket.


The pedestal was $1.    The plate on the pedestal was $1.

Again from DI.


The plant was $3 on clearance at Michael's, and the bird cage was $20 at Tia Pan. I know I don't have anything in it yet, I am still looking for the right thing.

So far, I LOVE how it is turning out! I am still working on the rest of the basement, and will show you more as it comes along.


Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

Saturday, April 28, 2012

3ft by 4ft photo Enlargements for $4.99!!! My new favorite thing!

When I was on  pinterest the other day, I saw something I thought was SO COOL!!! You can take a photo to Staples, and they will blow it to up what is called an Engineer print for $4.99 - that's 36" by 48" for $4.99! It took about 2 hrs, and I got my prints.
So, I took my kids to the park, and took a few (hundred) pictures of them. What did we ever do before digital cameras? These are a few that worked. I couldn't get one of all of them looking natural and smiling in the same photo at the same time, so I had to blow up two.



I e-mailed the photo I wanted in, after sizing it to 3x4 in picasa. I wanted to make sure I could get the crop I wanted, and not leave it to them. As well, I turned it to black and white, and tweaked the light beforehand. Also, e-mailing the print makes for a better copy. They can do it from a hard copy though.

Then, I called around for prices on mounting on a foam board. The best price I found was at Ben Franklin in Kaysville, UT. It was $17 each. Hobby Lobby was $26 each, and Michael's was $32 each! They didn't offer to price match after I told the the price at the other store either. Oh well. I love the dry mount, because they run it through a machine, that adheres it to the board, and also puts a protective covering over the top, so they can be touched.

This is how they look on my wall.


See that little yellow table? It and nearly everything on it was from DI. I will post about that tomorrow. You won't want to miss the details!



 I love the photos, and feel like it was a SUPER inexpensive way to fill up a large space! Maybe it's because I love my kids mugs ;) I am Assistant Stake Girls Camp Director, and we are having each ward take a picture of their girls, and we are going to blow them up for decoration at camp. I can't wait!
*Update! This is where I got the idea: Real Housewives of Bucks County (Thanks Tausha!)




Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

Thursday, April 26, 2012

FABRIC LOVE & a question

 So... I got some new fabric in an effort to make my home feel a little lighter in time for spring and summer. Don't you just love fabric? I have hoards of it in my craft room. The hoard never stops me from buying more though.

See the fuchsia dots? I LOVE it. I am trying to add more brightness to everything. I got it on line at http://warehousefabricsinc.com/ I love it. It is thick decorator weight. I got the blue fabric at Joann's. The green pillow is from Homegoods. I am still undecided on that.


 On the other side of my couch, I added a lovely chevron form my most favorite fabric store: Lily Bella Fabrics. I know the store owner personally. She is fabulous, as well as her selection and prices. She is super fast too. You should check her out. I just got some orange chevron from her today, that I plan to use as part of the decor for my son's baptism in a few weeks.


 What do you think... Should I leave the green, or take it away???



 Here are the chairs that face the sofa.




 So... one more question... I was playing with the leftover fabric, and laid it on the floor in my front room. I know it is too small, but I am thinking of ordering more, and making a large rug! What do you think? Should I do it? I have found a few tutorials online, and it doesn't look too bad.

 
Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa







Thursday, April 12, 2012

Seed Paper in ACTION!

Now that you have seen my seed paper tutorials, I thought you may want to see it in action! We had a family history themed Enrichment tonight, and the theme was the scripture from D&C 2:2 that reads...

"And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers."

So, I thought... how perfect to have the favor be a heart that you can plant!!!

These are a few shots of the table before we put the dessert on.


The dessert was super delish, by the way...
COOKIE SHEET CREAM PUFF.
I should have taken a picture.



I know... I have an obsession with gingham, especially since it is $1.50 a yard at Wal-mart!


See the seed banner? The seed packets were $.20 each, so I thought - why not?


Here is the framed scripture.

The next few shots are of ways sisters in the ward display their family history.


We started the night with a great speaker. Christy, you were AWESOME!


Then Becca's brother taught us how to index. He was great!


After the indexing, we moved into the primary room for refreshments, and to see the display.


Yes, I am including a picture of the forks. Well, not the forks only, but the hankies under the forks. DO YOU LOVE THEM???


I got them at DI one day, and felt SO LUCKY! I am glad I got to use them finally!


It was a nice night. Attendance was poor, but it was fun to chat with those that were there, and to learn something new.

Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

SEED BOMBS!



SEED BOMBS


I LOVE MAKING SEED BOMBS! It is so easy, and a great thing to do with kids!

You will need paper confetti, and seeds. I used wildflower.


Dump the confetti into a bowl.


Add enough water to just cover the confetti, and let it soak. I let mine soak for about 45 minutes while I did other things. You can check yours, and see how it is doing. It just basically needs to soften up. Once you feel it is soft enough, go ahead and stir in a good amount of seeds.


You can make bombs, or mold it into shapes. I chose to make little stars using a chocolate mold I got at Wal-mart for $2.50.


Lift some of the mixture by hand out of the bowl, and squeeze a good amount of water out, but not so much that you can't easily squish it into the mold.

Tuck the excess into the mold.

Press down hard with a dry cloth to get as much water as you can out of the paper.



Pry your shape out using a toothpick if it's stuck.


Let the shapes dry on a screen or a plate. Mine dried overnight.


You can also make balls with the extra mush. Just pick some out of the bowl, and SQUEEZE with all your might to get the water out. You really need to squeeze hard, as you won't be able to use a towel to get the excess out.


Let everything dry overnight.






I think these would be darling baby shower or bridal shower favors, or ever wedding favors. My kids will be giving a bag of them to their teachers with a note attached saying thanks for planting the seed of knowledge, and helping me grow.

Here is the printable I designed :)





Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Seed Tape

I am thinking this may be my most favorite of the things I have as far as plantable paper. How fun to give a friend all the seeds s/he needs for a salad garden!?! Tutorial is below.



Here is the printable I designed. All you need to do is follow the directions below, spacing the seeds according to directions on the package, roll them up, and label them with the proper labeling.


Now for the tutorial using wildflower seeds.


Like I said before... seed tape is one of my new favorite things! The idea behind seed tape is that you can space your seeds perfectly for planting, like rows of carrots that need to be spaced a certain width apart. Me... I prefer planting flowers, so I used wild flower seeds, but maybe someday I will get around to planting carrots.

This seed tape makes a fun gift, and it is SUPER EASY to make!

The first thing you need, is seeds.



You will also need an old newspaper that you cut into strips.


You'll need flower.


To which you will add water, enough so that it makes a thin paste.


Get the best helper in your house to help you lay the strips on your counter.


Use a paint brush to dab a dot of the flower mixture in one inch increments on the newspaper. Have your helper drop one seed on the wet dot.


First my helper told me it was, "lame," then he really like it, and wanted to keep going. Let your strips dry before you do anything with them. The first strips I did were basically dry by the time I got to the last strips. It doesn't take long at all.


Find any container you may have around the house for packaging, and place the rolled-up strips inside.


Laughing Cow cheese spread works - right?


Wrap it up, and place a little label on top. You may want to say what the seeds are on your label, so people know what they are planting.



I dreamed this up last night... what about a seeded doily? Say you want to give someone a lovely pot as a gift, but you don't want to buy them flowers to fill it? Why not cut a lovely doily out of a paper towel, attach seeds to it, and give it as part of the gift? So cute - right?


I made the case for the seeded doily by sewing a piece of clear wrapping paper to a piece of 12x12 scrapbook paper. It worked perfectly!


Last minute, I decided to use the flour like glue, and the seeds like glitter, and make a cute little plantable sign. I know the seeds are really close together, and the seeds may not all make it, but I thought it was cute!



Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa
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