Thrifty Thursday #128

I went to an estate sale that was advertised as a one day only sale on a Thursday from 9-2.
Short hours, huh?
Anyway, I showed up around 1:20, just before closing. Boy was the gal ready to make a deal!
I filled half my backseat with stuff and only spent $4!

 

 

I got this old adding machine for $1.

I've been wanting one of these. It's now sitting on a low shelf in my living room.

 

I got this vegetable grater for a dime.

I love the hexagon shape.

I think it will be so pretty with a candle inside.

I could also use it to display photos like this- it would hold several because of it's unique shape.

 

I fell in love with these old milk bottles- they were only a dime each!

 Won't they make beautiful vases?

 

This silver platter was only a dime.

 

I couldn't pass up these funky dice for a dime.

They have bowling pins on them.

 

 

This small platter was a dime- just like most the items.

I'm telling you, the gal was ready to deal!

 

I picked up this enamel bowl for a ten cents.

 

 

Each of these plates was- you guessed it- a dime!

They, and the platter above, are for a friend.

 

Two more ten cent plates for my friend and her plate display.

I got all these bridge score pads for a dime-

 I love unique paper products for scrapbooking.

 

Here's the strangest thing I've ever bought-

an old enamel bed pan.

It cost fifty cents.

If you think this is weird, wait til you see this. . .

 

male bedpan!

I have never seen such a beast before.

These were fifty cents each.

I simply couldn't resist. Although, I don't plan on keeping them.

I'm hoping to find a local consignment shop to take products or maybe even sell them on Ebay.

I also got a big fishing net and a bag full of enamel pot lids (I've got a project planned for them:)

I wasn't kidding when I said that my purchases filled half my backseat!

 

I wish you luck with your secondhand shopping this weekend.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

O God, in the multitude of Your mercy,

Hear me in the truth of Your salvation.

Psalm 69:13

 

 This post is linked to I Heart Naptime, Be Different, Act Normal, and Ivy and Elephants. 

Layout of the Week #92

I was so excited about this week's Layout of the Week. I got it done early and was ready to post it when I realized that I had accidentally erased my step-by-step photos when I was going through my camera. Unfortunately, I hadn't uploaded them to the computer before erasing, so I was out of luck. I have a picture of the finished product, so I'll have to walk you through this layout sans photos.

Sorry guys!

 

Here's the layout we'll be making.

To create it, you'll need:

12"x 12" pattern paper

12"x 12" cardstock

journaling card or note card

letter stickers for the title

stickers or embellishments in your theme

5 horizontal photos

paper trimmer

adhesive

 

1. Trim your cardstock to 11"x 11" and adhere to the center of the 12"x 12" pattern paper.

2. Adhere your photos as pictured. I trimmed my photos to 3 1/4"x 5" to make them fit.

3.Adhere letter stickers to the top of the notecard/journaling card for the title. Place this card in the lower right corner.

4. Place embellishments at upper right corner of the layout and along the left edge in between the bottom two photos.

 

That's it! I hope my directions were clear enough without photos!

Stop by every other Wednesday to complete a scrapbook layout from beginning to end-

with step-by-step photos:)

Thanks so much for stopping by and God bless.

 

But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, in the acceptable time

Psalm 69:13

This post is linked to Plucky's Second Thought, Embracing Change, and My Girlish Whims.

Recipe of the Week #129- Baked Beef Ravioli

Baked Beef Ravioli
2 9oz packages refrigerated cheese-filled ravioli
1 1/2 lb ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 10.75 oz can tomato soup
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 375. Cook ravioli according to package directions. Drain, return to pan, cover, and keep warm.
Meanwhile, cook beef, onion, and garlic. Drain grease. Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato soup, and seasonings. Gently stir in cooked ravioli.
Transfer mixture to a rectangular baking dish. Cover with cheeses, Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.

This was a delicious dish. We paired it with salads and garlic bread and had our own little Italian feast! It was also an easy recipe, so we'll be making this again.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!

Psalm 68:19

This post is linked to Daisy Cottage Designs, Natasha In Oz, and It's Overflowing.

Chalkboard Banner DIY

I sure do love a cute banner.

I think they're one of the easiest things to make.

I've made several different ones out of sheet music, paint chips, and shipping tags,

and today I'm showing a chalkboard one.

  

Here it is.

 

I started with two pieces of chalkboard paper
 (I got this in the specialty paper section at Hobby Lobby).

 

Then I used a large index card and made a fold on one of the short sides right in the middle.

This gave me a guide to make my triangle.

I just lined up a ruler with that spot and each of the opposite corners.
Then I cut along those lines.

This created a nice triangle to use for my template.

 

I was able to get four triangles off of each 12"x12" piece of chalkboard paper.

 

Once I cut them all out, I got a long piece of lace and used my sewing machine to sew the triangles onto the lace.

 

 

I love the look of the lace with the black pennants.

 

If you don't want to sew, you could hot glue or staple the paper to the lace.

 

 

This is a very versatile banner as it can be personalized for any get together!

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect.

2 Samuel 22:33

This post is linked to Twirl and Take a Bow, Tater Tots and Jello,  Skip to My Lou,
Between Naps on the Porch, and The Dedicated House.

Map Covered Letter

I've been on a quest to find all 26 letters of the alphabet to hang on my wall.

I've found several, but am going to have to make some if I plan to achieve this in the near future.

Today I made a map covered letter because let's face it. . . I love anything covered in maps!

 

I got this paper mache letter from Hobby Lobby.

Then I used a page out of an old atlas to cover it.

(My hubby said he wasn't comfortable with me using an atlas in this way- if you feel the same way, let me reassure you. The atlas has water damage on the bottom forth of the pages. It was destined for the trash. I'm actually giving it new life:)

 

I cut the page slightly larger than the S.

Then I covered the front of the letter with Mod Podge and quickly set the map on top of it.

I firmly pressed all along the frontside- especially the edges- to make sure it stuck well.

Once it dried, I used a small piece of sandpaper to sand the excess off the edges.

The final touch was to cut strips to fit along the edges of the letter.

My letter was 1" thick, so I cut strips 3/4"x 3" and glued them along the edges. I found that if I tried to glue a strip longer than three inches, the ends wouldn't adhere.

I think this gives it a finished look.

 

That's it. One letter closer to my alphabet wall!

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock!

Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation!

2 Samuel 22:47

 

 This post is linked to Today's Creative Blog, The Handmade Hangout, Funky Junk,

and Be Different, Act Normal. 

Thrifty Thursday #127

In this day and age, things seem to be so expensive.

It's unbelievable how much it costs to go see a movie.

Taking a family of four out to eat is no joke, and

I hate to tell you what my groceries cost every week. :)

But there's one place I can go with just a handful of coins or a couple of dollars

 and come out with some good stuff- the thrift store.

All of today's finds cost me a total of $2.35.

 

Isn't this a beautiful pattern?

I got this plate for a dollar.

It's for a friend. 

 

 

I've made several pillows lately and I always love adding trim to the edges- especially pom pom trim.

I got this bag of white and yellow pom pom trim for fifty cents.

 

 

This cork board with a nice frame was only fifty cents.

I'll probably hang it in my son's room.

 

 

The thrift store was having a sale on books.

I got these two hardbacks for ten cents!

 

It's hard to tell what this is, so I'll tell you.

Its a wooden base about 2 or 3 inches tall.

At this time, I can't think of anything that needs a base, but I'm sure that I'll come up with something.

I couldn't pass it by for a quarter!

 

None of these things are cool enough to knock your socks off, but still bought brand new, they would have cost way more.

 

If you've never shopped at a thrift store, give it a try. You may find something awesome.

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.

Psalm 67:3

 

 This post is linked to Tater Tots and Jello, Junkin' Joe, and Glitter, Glue, and Paint.

More Lovelies That I Love

I always have been drawn to anything with little houses on it. 

Perhaps because it speaks to my domestic side?!?

Today I've got all sorts of  products with my favorite little houses.
I've branched out with more than just paper products- I've got wallpaper, fabric, and even a piece of jewelry to share with you!

  

 

How cute is this fabric? I love the little green houses!

Wouldn't this make a darling pillow or Ottoman cover?

 

This is wallpaper- can you believe it?

I love the hand drawn look of the houses.

You can find it here.

 

I can't even tell you how much I adore these house rings.

Seriously.

They're modeled after small towns in Germany.

Long ago, my hubby and I lived in Germany for several years.

I'm thinking that I might need one of these. . . you know, because of my history there:)

I can't just ignore my first crafty love of scrapbooking, so naturally, I've found a couple of paper products to share.

I totally love this happy looking paper by Bella Blvd.

This Washi tape is stinkin' awesome. I love the nighttime skyline.

 

That's it for tiny houses and cute products today.

 

I'm not affiliated with any of these companies, I'm just a fan of their stuff:)

 

Thanks so much for stopping by and God bless.

 

As for God, His way is perfect;

The word of the Lord is proven;

He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

2 Samuel 22:31

 

This post is linked to My Girlish Whims, It's Overflowing, and Ivy and Elephants. 

Recipe of the Week #128- Soft and Chewy Molasses Crinkles

Soft and Chewy Molasses Crinkles
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup shortening
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups flour
1 3/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp salt

Using an electric mixer, cream sugar and shortening together. Add the egg and beat until light and fluffy. Add molasses and mix until combined.
In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Stir into creamed mixture.
Chill dough for a few hours or overnight.

Mixture for coating dough balls
3/4 cup sugar
1-2 tsp cinnamon

Roll dough into balls and roll through cinnamon and sugar mixture. Place onto pan and slightly flatten the tops of the balls.
Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Don't over bake them or they'll get hard.

These cookies are so great! I made them last week when we had company and they were a big hit. I think part of their deliciousness is the fact that they're covered in both cinnamon and sugar. My family loves any sort of gingerbread or molasses cookie, so I will definitely be making these again!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless

For You are my lamp, O Lord;

the Lord shall enlighten my darkness.

2 Samuel 22:29

This post is linked to Skip to My Lou, The Dedicated House, The Creative Collection,
and Plucky's Second Thought.

Mini Album Monday #34- Travel Themed Album

In June, I showed you how to make a mini album using a card for a cover.

You can go here to see the tutorial.

Today I'm going to show you that album completed with photos, journaling, and mementos.

 

 

The front and back covers are just a card that I cut in half.

I just love this card. I was given a set of these as a gift.

As soon as I saw them, I knew I'd have to use one for a mini album!

 

 This first small page is actually a Project Life journaling card.

I bought a set of travel themed Project Life cards for this project.

There are so many cute sets like this.

 

 

This page on the right has a pocket behind the photo.

I placed a receipt from my shopping in there.

I wanted to add more photos than I had pages for, so I placed two photos back to back and made them their own page (on the right).

The beige tag beneath the left photo is actually a tag that I cut off a t-shirt that I bought.



 

Most of the pages have some sort of tab hanging off the edge to make page turning easier.

The page on the right is another set of photos back to back.

The page on the right is a small envelope. I filled it with a photo and two journaling cards.

I added tickets to the edges of the journaling cards so they would be easy to pull out and read.

 



 

The page on the right has a small pocket at the bottom.

I placed a journaling card in it just in front of a photo.

 

The page on the right is another Project Life journaling card.

These add a cute element to any mini album.

 

Whenever I take a trip, I try to write down anecdotes throughout the stay so I can include them in my journaling. As I was making this album, I'm so glad I did this

or several stories would've been forgotten!

I added a few extra embellishments here and there.

 

The page on the right is an envelope.

I placed a pamphlet from our bed and breakfast in there.

 

Here's another Project Life card on the right.

 

Since I made this album ahead of time, after the trip, I just had to print off my photos and place them in the book. Easy peasy.

 

The final page is part of a pamphlet that I picked up on our trip.

 

That's it.

Small, but full, don't you think?

 

I just love completing an album.

Thanks so much for stopping by and God bless.

 

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer

2 Samuel 22:2

 

 This post is linked to I Heart Naptime, Between Naps on the Porch, Daisy Cottage Designs, and Natasha In Oz.