More Chalkboard Goodness. . .

     I've been on a chalkboard kick lately and the madness is continuing today. . .

with a chalkboard tray and cloche.

Here's a look at the tray without the glass cloche.

I started with this naked tray and cloche that I showed you yesterday.

It obviously needs a little TLC.

My hubby used chalkboard spray paint and gave the tray two coats. I then gave it 24 hours to dry, and voila! A cute little serving set.

Here's an idea to incorporate someplace other than the kitchen. Put a couple of your kids' old toys under it.

It would also look cute with a few pieces of fresh fruit.

If you've got one of these hidden in the back of a cabinet, get it out, and paint it a pretty color. You'll have a new decoration out of an old piece. I think you'll agree that it gives it new life.

If you are a fan of chalkboard paint, take a look at some other things I've covered with chalkboard paint- a suitcase, a necklace, and a serving tray.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

And the Lord shall help them and deliver them;

He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them,

because they trust in Him.

Psalm 37:40

This post is linked to Be Different Act Normal, Happy Hour Projects, Five Days Five Ways, Cheerios and Lattes, and Funky Junk. 

Thrifty Thursday #61

     Many Saturday mornings I jump in my car with a Diet Coke all fired up about going to yard sales. Then I'll drive all around town and only find two- and sometimes they aren't even a good two. It feels like a wasted morning. After a morning like that, I always say that I'm going to check the newspaper before I go the next time. Then sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.
     This past weekend I found a couple, and it was worth all the driving around!

 

I got this platter and cloche for $1.50.

I've seen all kinds of projects using these throughout Blogosphere.

Come back tomorrow, and you'll see what I do with mine:)

 

 

I love old flash cards. I got this set for a dollar.

I often find flash cards, but I don't get them if they're not old.

 

This is a small bowl- only 4 1/2 inches across the mouth- but it was love at first sight. I don't even care about the chip on the lip (right side of photo). It's so old that it has spider cracks in the glaze .

I was shocked when the lady told me that it was only a quarter!

 

I love old books. This one is an old child's hymnal. The lady running the sale told me that I could have it for free since it was "God's Word." She said she can't charge for that.

 

I snatched up this beauty, too. I got it for free as well.

I've never had anybody let me have religious books for free before.

 

The illustrations are fantastic!

No, I will not be cutting up these two books:)

 

 

Found this brand new set of labels for a dime- I'm going to take them to the next scrapbooking group with my church friends so they can have something cute to journal on.

I have a huge collection of journaling cards, but not everybody else does. This way they can have a little variety in their books, too.

 

I wish you luck if you happen across any yard sales this weekend. Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;

He is their strength in the time of trouble.

Psalm 37:39

 

 

This post is linked to Junkin Joe and Apron Thrift Girl. 

 

Layout of the Week #47- Using White Space

     Today in our Layout of the Week, we're going to be utilizing white space.
     If you don't know what I'm talking about, I'm refering to the blank space on a page.

     Sometimes I feel that I need to completely cover my 12"x12" layout with photos, pattern paper, and everything else. I'm sure you've noticed that I tend to like a "busy" look on my layouts. Today, I'm challenging myself not to do that.

Here's the layout we'll be creating. Look at all that unused space. Pretty huh?
 

To make this layout, you'll need:

one 12"x12" piece of cardstock (doesn't have to be white- I'm using the term "white space" loosely)

one piece of pattern paper measuring 12" long by 5 1/2 " tall

journaling card ( an index card will do)

title sticker (can use a pre-printed title or letter stickers)

a few random coordinating stickers

 

I got my stickers and journaling card from these two pieces. I love papers like the one on the right- they come with all kinds of journaling cards on one sheet.

 

First adhere your pattern paper to the top of the cardstock.

 

Now take your journaling card and adhere it towards the bottom right corner.

 

Then overlap part of your card with your title. I used a preprinted title, but you could use letter stickers as well.
 

Now place your photos across the bottom of the pattern paper. I really trimmed mine so I could fit four, but it would be easier to go with three that measure about 4" wide and 3 1/2" tall.
Feel free to alternate the heights of the photos when you adhere them.
 

If you haven't already, write on your journaling card. Add an embellishment near the title and at the lower left corner of the cardstock.

Ta-da! We're done! The white space really allows the photos to take center stage, don't you think?

 

     If you enjoyed this tutorial, feel free to stop by next Wednesday for another one. I try to post a new scrapbook layout tutorial every week.

     Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

But those who wait on the Lord,

they shall inherit the earth.

Psalm 37:9

This post is linked to Too Much Time On My Hands, My Repurposed Life, Tater Tots and Jello, and The Dedicated House.

Recipe of the Week #60- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars

 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups all purpose flour

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

2 cups mini chocolate chips

Topping:

1 cup creamy peanut butter

2/3 cup milk chocolate chips

Beat together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy -about 3 minutes. Add vanilla and mix until combined.

With the mixer on low, alternate mixing in flour and condensed milk until combined. Gently fold in chocolate chips with spatula.
Line 8x8-inch pan with parchment paper. Press the cookie dough into the pan .Cover the bars with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours until firm.

For topping, combine the peanut butter and milk chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and heat until smooth. Spread the mixture over the cookie dough bars. Chill the bars for 1 hour or until topping is firm.

When I found this recipe I couldn't wait to make it. They had me at cookie dough! This was an easy recipe to make and my boys loved it! Even my hubby, who doesn't usually go for cookie dough, enjoyed it.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Love the stranger.

Deut. 10:19

This post is linked to Between Naps on the Porch, Embracing Change, 52 Mantles, and My Girlish Whims.

Birthday Party Decor Ideas

     My hubby celebrated his 40th birthday this weekend. I surprised him with a party. We don't have a lot of money to spend, so I came up with some thrifty decorating ideas, and I thought I'd share.

 

I knew I needed to keep the party low-key. My hubby isn't a show-y kind of fella. So I just used a few decorations and had the party at church after Sunday evening service.

We attend a small church and have wonderful friends there, so I couldn't think of a better place- or group of people with which- to celebrate.

 

My hubby has several hobbies - one of them being reloading (bullets). So I bought a pack of shooting targets at Walmart for $3, picked up a few pieces of glassware at my local Dollar Tree, and borrowed some empty brass from my hubby's supply. I was able to keep the price of my decorations right at $20.

I cut a couple of the targets in half and used Mod Podge to attach them to pillar candles.

Then I used some of his brass and shotgun shells to sprinkle on the glass plate around the candle.

For a couple of the shorter glass candle holders, I cut up old gun ads (from a reproduction Sears Roebuck catalog) and used Mod Podge to attach them to the front and back of the candle holders. Then I filled them with empty brass bullets (not loaded).

 

Here are the other two pillar candles covered with targets. 

 

I used a few of the targets and some more old gun ads to make bunting.

 

A bunting is so easy to make- all you need to do is make a triangle pattern out of thick paper (like a piece of junk mail or an empty cereal box), then trace around it on your paper. After you cut several out, stack them, use a hole punch to punch holes in the top two corners. Then all you have to do is string them on some twine! So cheap, but adds so much!

 

 

My friend used several of the targets like doilies throughout the food area.

Too cute!

My hubby loves nachos, so I decided to go with a nacho bar. This was pretty easy because you just need chips, nacho cheese, and several toppings. Everybody got to build their own plate of nachos, so it was a big hit.

     Planning for a party doesn't have to be difficult or expensive. You could individualize the theme by choosing a hobby that the birthday person enjoys.

• If he golfs, fill candle holders with tees or golf balls. You don't even have to buy new ones, just dig into his collection! Use score cards to make a bunting. Get a piece of AstroTurf to use as a table runner.
• If you have somebody who's an artist, fill glass jars with pencils or paintbrushes. Paint a few pieces of paper with abstract watercolors and trim it into a bunting.
• A baseball fan would love jars filled with baseballs and a bunting made up of bases.
• For a fisherman, you could make a bunting out of lures! Just borrow a few from his collection and hang them off of some fishing line. Have the silverware sitting in a tackle box.

     Once you get going, I'm sure you could come up with lots of cute ideas!

     I want to show you one more idea that would work with any theme.

 

 Cut out the age of the birthday person and fill it with pictures.

Everybody loves to look at photographs.

 

I got two pieces of foam core board from the dollar store. Poster board would work as well, although it isn't as thick. 

Then I drew the numbers and cut them out with a box cutter. If you do this, your numbers do not have to be perfect because they're going to be covered with pictures.

I hung mine to display them, so before I covered them, I punched out two holes on the top of both numbers and threaded some twine through them. Then photos ended up covering the holes.

 

Here's my handsome hubby. I am so grateful that I've been able to spend the last eighteen years with him. He is my best friend and a great dad to our boys. I couldn't ask for a better husband.

Happy Birthday, Baby. I love you.

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

 

Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him,

and He shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 37:5

 

This post is linked to Craft-O-Maniac, Skip to My Lou, Making the World Cuter, and I Heart Naptime.

A Bowl Full of Melody

     Have you ever looked at one of your old bowls and thought, "What could I do to make this fella cuter?" Me neither. But I when I spotted this old stainless steel bowl at a thrift store, I did think something along those lines.

 

I decided to dress up its interior with some old sheet music.

 

Gives it a little something, I think.

 

If you'd like to make one, all you need is:

an old bowl- metal or wooden

a few pages of sheet music

Mod Podge

foam brush

paper towel

 

 

First tear the sheet music into small scraps- about one inch squares (it's okay if they're a little bigger or smaller- we don't want them to be exactly the same, that's why we're tearing instead of using a paper trimmer)

 

Then apply Mod Podge to the back of each piece and lay it inside the bowl. Use a paper towel to press down on top of the scrap to make sure it completely sticks.

 

Continue doing this until the interior is covered.

 

Once it's finished, run a piece of fine grit sandpaper along the top edge of the bowl to even out the edges of the scraps.

 

NOTE: I didn't apply a coat of Mod Podge on top because sometimes when you put something on top of it for too long, it gets tacky and will stick to the item leaving a worn space. I do plan to coat this with some sort of protectant, though.

 

 

 

I'm not sure what I'll use it for yet. . .

 

perhaps in my work space to store some supplies.

 

What else could a cute bowl like this be used for? Feel free to leave your ideas in the comments.

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Delight yourself also in the Lord,

and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

 

 

 

This post is linked to My Repurposed Life, Five Days Five Ways, Too Much Time On My Hands, and Happy Hour Projects. 

 

 

Thrifty Thursday #60

     Last week I came across a resale shop that was going out of business. I didn't even know of this shop or I'd have gone before now.
     When I walked in, it was in a state of disarray. I hope that it was more organized than this when it was in business otherwise it's no wonder that it didn't make it.
     I found a couple of items that caught my eye. . .

this gorgeous platter!

Is this not one of the most beautiful platters you've ever seen? I paid $2 for it. 

 

 

This is the picture in the center of it.

I told you last week that a friend of mine has me on the look out for platters for her.

When I saw this guy, I was tempted to keep him for myself.. . but I didn't:)

I also found these beautiful teacups. The lady was asking a dollar apiece, but I asked if she'd take a dollar for them both. She agreed.

I'm getting a little better at my haggling skills (I used to hate to do it!).

Look how they're even printed on the insides! Stunning!

 

 

Then I got this teacup with matching saucer for $1.50. I love that it's a matching set.

I got this and the other two teacups for another friend. 

I am just as excited to find stuff for them as I am when I find something for myself:)

 

The last item I saw that I really wanted was an old typewriter. It was beautiful. They wanted $120 for it. I will not pay that much for something like that. So I offered $20 (I told you I'm still working on my haggling skills). She said she couldn't take less than $60. Unfortunately I had to pass on it.  

 

I hope you all get some awesome finds when you go out thrifting this weekend.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

 

But from there you will seek the Lord your God,

and you will find Him if you seek Him

with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deut. 4:29

 

 

This post is linked to Apron Thrift Girl and 52 Mantles. 

 

Out of the Office. . . Camping

    Greetings from an East Texas campsite. I'm spending a few days with my handsome fellas over Spring Break, so there won't be a Layout of the Week this week. But tune in tomorrow for another Thrifty Thursday!
     Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Recipe of the Week #59- 15 Bean Soup

15 Bean Soup
1 bag of 15 Bean Soup
1 lb of ham, ham hocks, or smoked sausage
1 cup chopped onion
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
1 tsp chili powder
juice of 1 lemon
1-2 cloves of garlic, minced

Soak beans overnight in a large pot with 2 quarts of water. After soaking, drain water, add 2 quarts of water and meat. Bring the beans to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 2 1/2 hours.
After simmering, add onion, tomatoes, chili powder, lemon, and garlic. Simmer for another 30 minutes.
Add contents of ham packet (which came in the bag of beans) 1-2 minutes before the cooking is completed. Add salt and pepper to taste.

I made this to send with my hubby for lunch at work. He loved it! I suggested he take some Beano before his lunch breaks- he refused, although I'm sure his co-workers would have appreciated it!

Note: For the meat, I used smoked sausage with jalapenos. When I added the can of diced tomatoes, I also added okra and two kinds of peppers from the garden. Instead of minced garlic, I used garlic powder. I also simmered for an extra hour- it didn't seem to hurt anything.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among

 the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Psalm 46:10

Check Out This Suitcase!

     How cute is this?

A suitcase with a chalkboard.

Wouldn't this be delightful in a front entry greeting everyone who comes in?

If you'd like to make one, all you need is:

an old suitcase

chalk spray paint

painter's tape

newspaper

First, using the painter's tape, tape off a rectangle with on one side of the suitcase. Then tape newspaper along the edge of the rectangle so you won't get any over spray on the rest of the suitcase. Spray paint three coats. Allow 24 hours to dry. Voila!

I just love chalkboard paint. And I love my hubby who always does all my painting for me.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Psalm 34:8



This post is linked to Shabby Creek Cottage, Embracing Change, Be Different Act Normal, and My Girlish Whims. 

Colorful Beaded Ribbon Necklace

 

This necklace is strung on a piece of ribbon with knots in between the beads.

 I followed this tutorial to make it.

You can go here and see another necklace I made using the same technique.

Using ribbon instead of wire is a fun way to make jewelry and gives the piece a very unique look.

 

 

Here's a close up of the beads.

I got the black cross and the flower beads at Hobby Lobby.

I knew that I wanted blue, green, and red beads to go in between the flower beads. I looked and looked for some and guess where I finally found them? . . . at the dollar store! They came in a package called table scatter. Who would've thought?

 

I hope you all have a delightful weekend. Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us,

just as we hope in You.

Psalm 33:22

 

This post is linked to Happy Hour Projects, My Repurposed Life, and Tatertots and Jello.

Thrifty Thursday #59

     Happy Thursday Everybody! I'm here with my weekly thrifty haul. I just love swinging into my local thrift stores to see what I can find. . .

 

I got this darling Mikasa platter for $1. It's about 14 inches across and is in great shape.

A good friend asked me to keep an eye out for platters for her and I do love being able to pick things up for friends. I otherwise wouldn't have gotten this because I already have several platters and really don't need another.

 

This book will make a beautiful cover for a baby girl album.

You can see one similar to it in this post.

 

I have seen lots of projects of stamped silverware. When I saw the price of these spoons, I thought they'd be the perfect spoons on which to practice my mad metal stamping skills.

 

 

I got this entire bag of lace for a quarter. Over the years, I have found a lot of lace at thrift stores. If you are a crafter who uses lace a lot, it would be worth the time checking out a thrift store every so often. I think you'd be pleasantly surprised! You surely can't beat these prices!

 

These baseballs were only a quarter apiece- I have a friend who has two sons who play baseball. I figured these would be good for practicing.

When you pay this price, it's ok if you can't find the ball in the outfield!

 

Thanks for coming by to check out this week's treasures. Hope you get some good stuff this weekend! Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock!

Let the God of my salvation be exalted.

Psalm 18:46

 

This post is linked to Embracing Change.