Birthday Blessings

On my birthday, I am always reminded of my countless blessings. From my family (of course this includes my pup, Jake), to my friends, to my students - I am constantly surrounded by love, and I really couldn't ask for more. I have so much joy in my life, and therefore, I really do have it all.

I just wanted to share the lovely gift my husband got me this year. He said that the theme for my present was "Follow Your Dream." Since I have a lot of dreams, I really didn't know what to expect. First, let's check out his cute lil' mismatched wrapping job...

See the Little Mermaid paper? He is so cute. I can't even handle it sometimes. So - wanna know what I got? My dream craft station mega kit! Not only did I get a "crafter's toolbox" with all of the necessities, but he got me a customizable craft station! I am SO pumped about setting it up in the basement. We are waiting until after our garage sale, though. Here it is, in all it's glory...

My Wonderful Gift

Rolling Cart with Drawers

File Drawers

Shelves/Organizers

Peg Boards

Desk Top

Spinning Organizing Caddy

Paintbrush Set

Mini Screwdrivers

Mini Pliers

Mini Tape Measure

Various Clamps

Bone File

Hobby Knife Set

Non-stick Scissors

Magnifier Lamp

Hot Glue Gun Stand

I wish I could set it all up today. I can barely handle the anticipation! Oh, and did you see the glue gun stand that my husband built for me? I found the idea on Pinterest and thought it was awesome. This will definitely come in handy - especially the built-in tile to catch the glue drips! I had been using a paper plate - haha. The little box on the end is perfect for storing the glue sticks, too. Yay!

In conclusion, my husband is wonderful. He doesn't mind that I'm constantly bringing strange "treasures" into our house, or that I often ask him to slow down when we pass a nice-looking trash pile. He's just a great guy, and I'm so lucky to have him. Thank you, honey, for these wonderful gifts and for supporting and nurturing all of my dreams. I love you unconditionally.

Oh, and how can I forget? My birthday ended marvelously with a Rainbow Cone. Dee-lish!

...and yes, it tastes as good as it looks.

Take Time for Lemonade,

Kris

The Skate Estate

Wow. It's been quite a while. Sorry! I was extremely busy with Speech and my play and didn't have ANY time for crafting. Plus, it wasn't garage sale season. BUT (sound the trumpets)... JUNK SEASON IS UPON US! I am so pumped about the treasures that I will find this summer.

On Thursday, I randomly drove past a sign for an Estate Sale. I like Estate Sales because of their personal nature; I really feel like I become friends with a person after rummaging through their life's treasures. Well, this Estate Sale was HUGE. This home was jam-packed with vintage goodies. Although most of the antiques were too expensive for moi (I prefer cheap junk), I did find some fun items to take home.

Heck, I had fun just looking through the fascinating display at this house. Turns out the man who used to live there was a 1933 graduate of the University of Illinois (I got to look through his old school bag - amazing!). So, needless to say, I felt an immediate connection and got some good vibes all around. The woman who lived there must have liked to cook - there were so many fun cook books, kitchen gadgets, and other cooking-ware. I fell in love with a robin's egg blue melamine dish set for $10, but couldn't figure out why I had to have it. Still having regrets about this. At least I have my Great-Grandma's melamine popcorn bowl! Love.

Anyway, here are some cool little items that I gathered...

 

Vintage (1965 - 1967) Teen and Co-Ed Magazines (25c each)

I really got a kick out of these. I haven't read through all of them yet, but it's such a hoot. I guess you can say I'm getting a glimpse of what my mom's youth was like. I'm having a dilemma though - should I keep these as they are, or use the awesome images for crafting? Maybe half and half? Choices, choices.

Either way - you have to see some of the wonderful advertisements and articles inside...

Dotty has pimple problems

Miss Teenage America says "Drive Safely"

67 is YOU

Make These Your Loveliest Years

Where the super STARS are

 

 Marriage or Education? Choose Wisely.

So. Much. Fun. I can't wait to read them. Am I a nerd or do vintage magazines excite you, too? Don't answer that. In addition to these beauties, I also found a few vintage books...

Your Figure, Ladies! (Haha)

 1001 How-To Ideas - 25c
(it's falling apart - definitely will use for craft pictures!)

I also found some old sheet music. Some of it is REALLY old (like 1905), and some of it is from the 60's. Either way, I thought the covers were pretty, and some of the titles were grand, too.

Vintage Sheet Music (20c each)

We'll Have a Jubilee in my Old Kentucky Home! 

Interestingly, some of these larger music books are selling for around $10 on eBay. I only paid 50 cents a piece! Holler. But who am I kidding? I'm not going to sell them. Hey Illini - like the old copy of William Tell? Hi Ho! Chair. I also found some other music-themed items, like these old piano rolls.

 Piano Rolls - $1.00

 Copyright 1925

I adore the Christmas art on the one. Little carolers. No one makes nice packaging anymore. I intend to use it somehow in this year's Christmas decor. Along with this...

Vintage Tree Icicles - 50c

What you are now about to see is the most random assortment of vintage treasure EVER. I shall proceed, but let me begin by saying that I have no idea why I bought this first item. Actually, I'm already having regrets about it. It is an old turkey baster. Someone tell me why I bought this.

 Vintage Baster - 25c

 Vintage Leather Baby Shoe - 25c

 Vintage Napkin Dispenser - $1.00

...and it's my favorite color green! With rust!
I think I want to make a photo frame out of that bad boy.

 Random Jar Lid - FREE! I don't know why, but I liked it.
What can I say? I am drawn to rust and vintage text.

 

 Vintage Hi-Jack Coasters - $1.00

Um, why did these become extinct? These are GENIUS!
I am so using them. It's like a coaster and drink-marker in one!
Come on people, get excited!

Vintage Baby Roller Skate - $1.00

I love my little baby skate. It brings me joy.

So I bet you're probably wondering,
"Wow. That WAS a random assortment of nonsense.
I wonder what the heck she plans on DOING with it!"

Well, my friends, I don't know. I suppose each item will find a forever home. Until then, I am open to suggestions. I have already found a spot for BOTH pieces of footwear, though...

 Baby roller skate, keeping the frames company

Little baby shoe, amongst other treasures

Let's just say that this Estate Sale got me pumped about the summer ahead. It's sure to be full of junk treasures, and as such, I'm sure to be full of happiness.

Take Time for Lemonade,

Kris

Fall Table Bushel

Hey y'all! Since my favorite season is fall, I thought I'd share a centerpiece I made this week. It was really quick, easy, and cheap! Can't complain about that. Here it is!

First, I picked up some free paint samples from the store. I chose colors that went with the fall theme I was going for. They even had some with leaves! Who would've thought?

 

Paint Samples - FREE

Then, I grabbed an old book that I bought from a garage sale for
20 cents. It looked like it might have some nature-type text, and
by golly, it did! 

Book - 20 cents

I flipped through it to find sections about LEAVES, since that was the theme of my project.

Heck, I even learned a few facts while crafting.

Chlorophyll - more like Bore-o-phyll!

Next, I cut the text into squares - the same size as the paint samples that I cut earlier. To me, I didn't matter if I cut words off - but I wanted to make sure I kept certain words like "autumn" and "leaves."

Then, I crumpled these up and opened them back up again. Who knows why - I guess I like the look of imperfection. Next, I used the leaf-print paint sample to cut letters spelling "F A L L"

Then, I bordered the letters in different colored paint samples to make them "pop." I glued the book pages and the letters to the paint samples and let them dry in a book overnight to make sure they were flat. Next, I punched holes in the top and threaded them together some good ole' garage sale twine. While these people sold it is beyond me - I've used it thrice already!

 Punch

Thread

I originally was going to include beads, but then decided it looked too busy. Once I had my "garland," I tied it to a bushel I bought from a garage sale. I filled the bushel with cardboard pieces to make the contents show. Then, I filled it with mini pumpkins, an old washboard, and some decorative wheat. 

The Finished Display

Cost Breakdown

Pumpkins - $3.00

Wheat - 50 cents (last season's clearance)

Garland - 20 cents (from book)

Washboard - 50 cents (garage sale)

Bushel - 50 cents (garage sale)

TOTAL COST - $4.70

 I just tied some scrap measuring tape on there for fun!

Gosh, I just love fall colors.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, HERE'S what happens when you try to make a Wheaten Terrier pose with a pumpkin...

 Is this a treat, ma?

Yum! Tastes like a bone!

Hey! Give me my treat back! I didn't do anything wrong, Ma.

SOMEBODY needs his beard brushed. Not naming any names.

Take Time for Lemonade,

Kris



This post has been linked to:
Nifty Thrifty Things
Under the Table and Dreaming
Dittle Dattle
Flamingo Toes
Pinkapotamus
The Girl Creative
Keeping It Simple
C.R.A.F.T
Craft-O-Maniac
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Home Savvy
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Noodle Ribbon Wreath

As mentioned in my last post, my lovely God-daughter was born a few weeks ago. I wanted to make something special for her nursery, and decided on a simple wreath. The ideas? Well, I got them from Pinterest. If you've never been on it - then you don't know the wonderful world that you're missing! Here's the ribbon wreath I created for little Victoria:

In order to make the wreath, I started off with a pool noodle that I purchased from a garage sale for 25 cents. I love the idea of using a pool noodle because (1) they're cheap, and (2) they're thicker (and therefore, cuter) than the Styrofoam rings they sell in craft stores. Cut the pool noodle to the desired wreath size, and duct-tape it until it's secure.

Pool Noodle - 25 cents

 I then wrapped some green tulle around the noodle to soften the bright yellow color. In case I missed any spots, I didn't want the harsh yellow to show through on my pastel creation.

 Then, I chose a bunch of different ribbons. The nursery is pink and green, so I chose a plethora of shades and prints in those colors. I cut them to the desired length after a few trial pieces were measured against the noodle wreath.

The next step is the most time-consuming. Tie, tie, tie! I tied in patterns so that I got a dispersed placement of each pattern and color. For instance, I tied all of the brown with pink dots at various evenly-spaced spots around the wreath. Then, I did the same with the next color. Be sure to tie the knots the same each time. I also added tulle to create a soft look - I especially like this effect for baby nurseries.

Make it as fluffy as you want!  I like it reeeeeal fluffy.

Lastly, I attached a pink flower foam shape that I bought in the craft store clearance bin a while back. I also bought a wooden letter "V" (for Victoria) and covered it in some awesome green glitter. I LOVE GLITTER. I had it in my nostrils and ears for a few days, but
IT WAS WORTH IT.

...and there you have it! A pretty ribbon wreath for a pretty baby...

 

Take Time for Lemonade,
Kris

This post has been linked to:

Running With Glitter

Pinkapotamus

LadyBug Blessings

Tip Junkie

The Trendy Treehouse

Sugar and Dots

Not Just a Housewife

Craft-O-Maniac

The Girl Creative