Happy Thanksgiving!

 

From our house to yours, have a lovely Thanksgiving!

 

In everything give thanks

1 Thel. 5:18

Layout of the Week #77- Using Alcohol Inks on Your Layout Background

Did any of you jump on board the alcohol inks craze? I can't say that I did; however, I did come across several packs at a thrift store some time ago that were too cheap to pass up. 

They have just sat in a drawer until today . . .

 

when I used them on the background of my Layout of the Week.

 

If you'd like to create this layout, you'll need:

one piece of plain colored cardstock

one piece of pattern paper measuring 4" x 12"

one or two colors of alcohol inks- any liquid ink would work for this though

letter stickers for the title

two different rolls of decorative tape

three office labels for the journaling

three or four embellishments in your theme

adhesive

paper trimmer

 

First, drizzle the alcohol ink on the cardstock.

I just took off the cap and sprinkled some ink.

 

If you have a second ink color, drizzle it the same way you did the first.

 

Adhere the pattern paper measuring 4"x 12" to the left side of the cardstock.

 

Adhere a strip of decorative tape next to the pattern paper.

If you don't have decorative tape, you can use a strip of pattern paper measuring 1/2" x 12".

 

Place a second strip of decorative tape next to the first.

 

Place one or two photos about 1/2" from the right edge of the cardstock.

 

Using your letter stickers, place the title in between the decorative tape strips and the photos.

 

Print journaling on the three office labels. Adhere one above the title overlapping the top photo. Place the other two overlapping the bottom photo.

 

 

Place your embellishments: one goes next to the bottom journaling strips, one goes above the top journaling strip, and the last one or two can be placed in the upper right corner of the layout.

 

That's it. Pretty simple, huh?

I have a feeling I'll be bringing out those alcohol inks more often!

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Therefore laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking.

1 Peter 2:1

 

 This post is linked to Cheerios and Lattes, Tatertots and Jello, and Too Much Time On My Hands.

 

Recipe of the Week #95- Turkey Pot Pie

Turkey Pot Pie
1 can Cream of Celery soup
1 can Cream of Mushroom or Cream of Chicken soup
1 can Veg All, drained- reserve the liquid (or you could use left over veggies)
leftover turkey, cooked and cut into bite size pieces
frozen biscuits or 1 can refrigerated biscuits

Pour soups into a pot along with the mixed veggies. Use reserved liquid to thin the soup. Cook over medium heat. Add meat and bring to a boil. Remove from heat.

Pour soup mixture into a greased baking dish. Top with biscuits. Bake until biscuits are light brown on top and cooked through.

I have posted this before as Chicken Pot Pie, but it works with turkey as well. As a matter of fact, that's usually how I prepare it. I thought it would be good to bring out again with Thanksgiving coming up. It is simply delicious!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

So we may boldly say:"The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

Hebrews 13:6

This post is linked to Skip to My Lou, Be Different Act Normal, I Heart Naptime, and Between Naps on the Porch.

Vintage Book Photo Holder

One of my favorite things to buy when I'm secondhand shopping is old books. The older the better.

I have so many, but that doesn't stop me from buying more.

 

 

Today I used one of those vintage books to make this darling photo holder.

I chose a book that was thick enough to stand on it's binding. Then I took a piece of fabric and tied a tight bow around it. If it's too loose, the photos may fall into the pages.

I added a sprig of holly and some vintage holiday postcards to make it a Christmas decoration.

 

 

If you're looking for quick and easy projects to make for the holidays, try this.

Once January rolls around, you can remove the holly sprig and add some photos.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

The grass withers, and its flower falls away,

but the word of the Lord endures forever.

1 Peter 1:24-25

 

This post is linked to Knick of Time, Craft-O-Maniac, Funky Junk, Today's Creative Blog, and The Dedicated House.

Grateful Banner DIY

I had some leaves left over from last week's project, so I was able to create another fall project.

 

a banner

Can you believe that I used a stapler to attach the leaves and tags?

 

This banner was super easy to make.

If you'd like to make one, here's what you need:

2 yards of brown ribbon

8 shipping tags

25 medium size silk leaves

stapler

large letter stickers or foam stamps and paint

optional: artificial gourds

 

You need to start by stapling tags about 2" apart on the brown ribbon.

I used the word "Gratitude," so I used eight tags.

If you choose a different word, you may have more or fewer tags to attach.

 

I used two staples to attach each tag.

 

Keep going until they all are attached.

 

Next staple the leaves.

I turned mine every which way to give them a more random look.

 

Staple leaves across the tops of all the tags.

 

Adhere your letters.

You can use large stickers, letters cut with a Cricut, or foam stamps with paint (like I did).

 

Attach a gourd to either end of the banner and one in the middle.

 

My gourds didn't come with string to hang,

so I attached twine with a straight pin and tied them to the ribbon.

 

Ta-da! Who needs a sewing machine to make a banner?!?

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath

James 1:19

 

 This post is linked to My Repurposed Life, Funky Junk, and Tatertots and Jello. 

Thrifty Thursday #94

I made it to the estate sale I was looking forward to going to last weekend.

Usually in estate sales, you get to walk through the house- at least the living room and kitchen. But this one had stuff out on the driveway. It wasn't organized and few prices were marked. It was advertised for Saturday only, but from the looks of what was displayed, I'm thinking she must have started on Friday. There wasn't much to see, but it was worth going to because. . .    

 

I was thrilled to get this globe for a dollar.

 

I also found this pastry blender for a quarter.

 

There was a box of utensils marked ten cents each.

I've been wanting to try to make some silverware jewelry.

I especially love the detail on the tiny fork. I think it will clean up nicely and make a beautiful ring.

 

I got these four spoons as well.

Now I have enough to practice on in case it's not as easy as I'm hoping:)

 

Good luck to you with your secondhand shopping this week.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,

who gives to all liberally and without reproach,

and it will be given to him.

James 1:5

This post is linked to I Heart Naptime, Cheerios and Lattes, and Embracing Change. 

 

Some Lovelies That I Love

It's been a doozie of a week, so in lieu of Layout of the Week, I'm going to show you some products that I think are pretty awesome.

 

I absolutely LOVE this notebook Washi tape by Freckled Fawn.

 

 

 

Aren't these buttons the cutest?

I adore anything by aflairforbuttons.

 

 

Who wouldn't want these darling house wood chips? 

These are yet another treasure from Freckled Fawn.

 

 

Drool.

Isn't this paper pack amazing?

It's from Saturday Morning Vintage. They even have color coded packs- all blue, all red, etc. Sometimes I go to their website just to look at their pretty pictures:) 

 

 

I have fallen in love with the new Daily Grind line from Simple Stories.

 

Such lovely products. 

Wouldn't they all go together so nicely and make such a cute mini album?

Makes you want to sit down and be crafty, doesn't it?

 

P.S. I am in no way affiliated with these companies, I just like their stuff:)

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above

James 1:17

 

 This post is linked to Be Different Act Normal and 52 Mantles.

Recipe of the Week #94- Lunch Lady Brownies

Lunch Lady Brownies
1 cup melted butter
1/2 cup cocoa
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
4 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Blend melted butter and cocoa until smooth. Mix in flour and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until combined without overmixing.
Pour into greased 13"x 9" pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes, then frost while still warm.

Frosting
1/4 cup softened butter
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
dash of salt

Mix all ingredients and frost brownies.

I'll be honest and tell you all that I am usually a box brownie kind of girl. What I loved about this recipe, besides how delicious the brownies are, is how easy this is- no complicated steps or ingredients. This is a repeat recipe around here!

I found this recipe here.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can mad do to me?

Hebrews 13:6

This post is linked to Craft-O-Maniac, My Girlish Whims, and The Dedicated House.

Mini Album Monday #19- Thankful Tag Album

Every other Monday I try to show you a different mini album.

In scrapbooking, mini albums are by far my favorite thing to make! I love that you can just gather your supplies, sit down, and in a few hours have a completed project.

 

Today I'm going to show you a very simple tag album with a Thanksgiving theme.

This would be very easy to reproduce for your own family.

 

I started with four pieces of chipboard measuring 3"x 6".

I angled the top edges to make them look like tags.

Then I covered each page with a different pattern of Thanksgiving themed paper.

As an alternative to using chipboard, you could use double sided pattern paper.

 

 

I used small strips of cardstock on the edge of each tag.

 

The page on the left says, "In everything give thanks."

The page on the right says, "Our family has so much to be thankful for..." then it goes on

to list a few things.

 

Everybody had their own page. On each page, I included a small photo of each family member.

For the journaling, I gave everybody a piece of elementary school handwriting paper 

and they wrote what they were thankful for.

Then I cut their responses into strips and adhered them to their tags.

 

 

To write the names and the title of the book, I used a combination of rub-on letters and letter stickers.

 

The back cover is covered with pattern paper.

I punched holes in the top of the tags and bound them with an office ring.

Finally, I added a few pieces of ribbon for a dash of color.

If you decide to make an album like this, be sure you add the year this was made.

 

That's pretty easy, huh? You could even include your extended family and make your book longer if you like. Or if you have a family of three, you could use the fourth page to place a family photo.

 

This will be fun to bring out every Thanksgiving to read throughout the years.

 

If you like this idea, you may want to go here to see  a gratitude journal that I made

 last Mini Album Monday.

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.

Psalm 128:1

 

 This post is linked to Today's Creative Blog, Skip to My Lou, Ivy and Elephants, and Between Naps on the Porch.

Fall Leaf Mobile

What do you get when you mix an embroidery hoop, silk leaves, and some invisible thread?

 

 

A fall leaf mobile, that's what!

 It's like having falling leaves right in my living room. . . without having to rake!

 

 

I got the leaves in a pack of fifty at the dollar store. I got the embroidery hoop for a quarter at the thrift store. I already had the tulle and the invisible thread. All this cost me was a little time to thread the leaves onto the hoop.

 

Happy Fall, Y'all:)

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

His work is honorable and glorious, and his righteousness endures forever.

Psalm 111:3

 

 This post is linked to Funky Junk, Too Much Time on My Hands, Cheerios and Lattes, and Today's Creative Blog.

Thrifty Thursday #93

This week's thrift store shopping was limited to one store- and a quick run through at that! My fellas were in the car because we had just finished our PE at the YMCA and they wanted to get home to finish up their school work. They weren't too happy about my little stop, so I buttered them up with an offer to swing by Sonic afterward. That helped.

 Who doesn't love a big soda during Sonic Happy Hour?

Anyway, I only found a couple of things. . .

 

so I thought I'd share a gem that I bought awhile ago at a yard sale.

This awesome birdcage was only two dollars. I had gotten it for my mom who recently decided that she no longer needed it- so now it's mine.

Isn't it lovely?

I think I may put some candles in it. I saw that recently at a market I went to and thought it was so unique and cute.

 

I got canning lids- three boxes for a dollar each. They're all new and two of the boxes hadn't even been opened! I've bought jars before that didn't have lids. Now I've got extras in three sizes. Woo!

 

The detail on this hankie is hard to see, but take my work for it, it's amazing!

This fella was only a quarter.

 

It still has it's original tag on it that says, "Made in Portugal."

 

My final purchase was this shirt. I don't usually look at clothes when I'm thrifting, but this blouse caught my eye. I love all the colors and the style. It was only three dollars and

is my new favorite shirt!

 

Good luck to you and your secondhand shopping this weekend. I'm planning to hit an estate sale Saturday morning. Yipee!

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men

Col. 3:23

 

This post is linked to Junkin' Joe, Be Different Act Normal, and 52 Mantles. 

Layout of the Week #76- Mixing Patterns on a Layout

You know how you see some scrapbook layouts that have layer upon layer of different patterns and colors, but they still look good? Do you ever think to yourself, "How do they do that?"

Well, I've thought that before. So today we're going to give it a try- we'll be mixing several different patterns on one layout.

 

Here's the layout we'll be creating.

See how I've mixed stripes, stars, and polka dots? There's a lot going on, but it all still seems to jive. 

 

I've got two tips to making this work: First, choose a solid color to use as your base.

I chose black.

Second, make sure you have a dominant color that appears in each pattern that you choose.

My dominant color is red.

 

 

To make this layout, you'll need:

one piece of 12"x 12" plain colored cardstock

three pieces of different pattern papers - make sure they all contain one dominant color

(measurements noted below)

two different pattern decorative tape rolls- containing the same dominant color as your papers

playing card

letter stickers for the title

journaling card- an index card will do

three embellishments that match your theme

adhesive

paper trimmer

 

 

Trim your first pattern paper to 8 1/4" x 10 1/2". Adhere it in the bottom corner of the background about one inch from the left corner and about 1/4" from the bottom.

 

Trim your second pattern paper to 2"x 11 1/2". Adhere it about 1/2" from the right side of the first pattern paper. It should be very close to the bottom of the background.

 

Now trim your third piece of pattern paper to 9"x 11". Adhere it about 1" from the right side of the cardstock centered from top to bottom.

 

Next place a strip of decorative tape starting at the top right corner of the cardstock and stretch it about 3/4 of the way across the paper.

I purposely applied my crooked- I wanted to break up all the straight edges.

 

Now place a strip of your second decorative tape across the bottom of the first piece.

Notice that both of my rolls of tape have red in them.

 

I used three vertical photos. This would also work with two horizontal photos.

 

Stagger your photos across the pattern papers.

 

 

Place your playing card at the bottom left corner of the photos.

Mine happens to be in the shape of a star, but a regular card will be cute too.

 

 

Using your letter stickers, place your title on the playing card.

 

 

Place two short pieces of decorative tape across the bottom right corner of the playing card.

Place your journaling card above the photos on the right side.

I used a return address label for mine. If you're using a note card, trim it to 1 1/4" x 4 1/4".

 

To finish off the layout, place your three embellishments like this: one in between the left and middle photos at the top and one in between the middle and right photos at the bottom.

 

Ta da! Busy, but not overwhelming. Do you feel a little bit more comfortable about mixing patterns?

 

Every Wednesday, I try to bring a simple tutorial to show step-by step how to complete a scrapbook layout. My intention is for you to be able to quickly complete a layout using items that you have on hand. If I suggest using an item that you don't have, simply replace it with something similar. If you follow along weekly, think of how many layouts you'll have completed at the end of the year!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Tim. 4:7

 

This post is linked to Embracing Change and My Girlish Whims.