Thrifty Thursday #174

I announced last week that I was actually off of work on Friday and was 

SUPER EXCITED to go yard sale-ing.

Well, I was off because of the holiday and I didn't even stop to think that there may not be any yard sales due to that same holiday.

That's right.

There were only three advertised in the paper.

Three.

 In July. 

That's practically unheard of in the summer.

Except for holiday weekends.

Silly me.

My son actually got up early to head out with me.

We were able to find four or five sales.

I only bought one thing.

This lovely globe.

Even without a stand, I couldn't leave it behind.

It was only $2.

When my son saw me carrying it back to the car, he shook his head at me.

When I opened the door, he said, "What is that? Globe #10?"

While I have several, I certainly don't have ten of them:)

Anyway, I enjoyed the special time with my 13-year- old.

I spent $2 at a yard sale,

$5 at the donut shop,

and $44 at a fireworks stand.

Time spent with my son= priceless.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; 

in You I take shelter.

Psalm 143:9

This post is linked to Embracing Change and My Repurposed Life.

Layout of the Week #113

If you've been thinking of starting scrapbooking or if you've done it before, but it's been awhile,

you've come to the right place.

Today I have a step-by-step tutorial to help you complete a layout in under an hour. 

Just follow these easy steps using supplies that you have on hand. 

Here's the layout we'll be completing.

It looks busy and complicated, but we'll add one layer at a time.

You can do this. Trust me.

To complete it, you'll need:

 one piece of 12"x 12" cardstock

one roll of decorative tape

letter stickers for the title

tag for journaling

4"x 6" piece of pattern paper

8-9 random small pieces of pattern papers and/or tickets

pen for journaling

paper trimmer

adhesive

4-6 photos

optional: large doily

Step 1: Place decorative tape along all four edges of the cardstock.

Optional: Center doily on the background.

It's ok if you skip this step. The layout will still look cute in the end.

Step 2: Determine which photo will be your main one and set it aside.

Trim the rest so they are cropped tightly around the main focus of the photograph.

Place the smallest photo about 1" from the top of the page.

Place the other 2-4 along the left and right edges.

I used two along the left and two along the right. You can easily replace those

 with a vertical photo on each side.

Step 3: Mat your main photo on the 4"x 6" piece of pattern paper. You may have to trim a bit off the photo to make it fit.

Placing adhesive only along the edges, adhere this photo in the middle of the rest of the photos.

We aren't placing adhesive along the top or center of the photo so it can act 

as a pocket for our journaling tag.

Step 4: Place your title along the bottom of the page.

I used two different size stickers for this.

Step 5: Write on your tag and tuck it behind the main photo.

I also added extra journaling strips along the bottom of three of the photos.

Step 6: Now it's time to place the tickets and little pieces of scrap paper.

Add two small pieces to the left and right of the top photo.

Add a larger piece on the lower right corner of the main photo.

Then place a smaller one to the right of that embellishment.

Place two small pieces of pattern paper sticking out the bottom left and right of the top left photo.

I peeled up some of the edges and my letter stickers to make my pieces look stacked.

That's it. 

I told you that you could do it!

If you enjoyed this, please stop by every other Wednesday to create a new layout with me.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

I spread out my hands to You; 

my soul longs for You like a thirsty land.

Psalm 143:6

This post is linked to Tip Junkie, Today's Creative Blog, and Skip to My Lou.

Recipe of the Week #177- Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 pkg devil's food cake mix
1/2 cup butter/margarine, softened
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
optional: 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350. Beat half the dry cake mix, the butter, vanilla, and eggs until smooth. Stir in remaining cake mix, chocolate chips, and nuts. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes.

Note: I rolled my dough in sugar before placing on cookie sheets.

These cookies were delicious-- and so easy to make! My fellas gobbled these things up.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

But my eyes are upon You, O God the Lord;

 in You I take refuge

Psalm 141:8

This post is linked to Between Naps on the Porch, What's On The List?, and Ivy and Elephants.

Mini Album Monday #57- Simple Album to Do With Your Kids

As we're in the depths of summer, you may be running out of things to do with your kiddos
or you may still have a list of things to do.

Either way, here's a fun project that you can do together and feature photographs from things
you've  done this summer.

It's a cute little album made from envelopes.
It has eight pages plus three pockets to hold mementos.

To make one, you need:
two 6"x 9" manilla envelopes
one piece of 8 1/2"x 11" cardstock cut in half
one piece of pattern paper measuring 4 1/4"x 5 1/4"
eight strips of 1"x 4 1/4" strips of pattern paper
four strips of 1"x 6" pattern paper strips
two pieces of ribbon- one 10" and one 20"
4-5 embellishments like small tickets, circle punches, and/or small bull clip

hole punch
stapler
optional: tiny plastic baggie (like a jewelry bag)

To start, fold the envelopes and cardstock pieces in half.
Lay them down so you have:
 an envelope with the opening to the left
piece of cardstock
envelope with the opening to the right
piece of cardstock.

Then punch a hole on the folded edge coming down from the top
and up from the bottom.
Using your 10" piece of string, run them through both holes so you end up with the two ends on the outside of the book. Then tie a tight knot.
You can leave the extra length of ribbon or trim it short.

Now on each cardstock page, use one of the shorter strips (4 1/4" x 1") and place it either along the bottom edge or along the top edge horizontally.

Place the 1"x 6" strips vertically on the outer edges of the pages that are envelopes-
except on the sides that have the openings.

Here's the center with the ribbon running through the two holes.

Using your small embellishments, staple each one along the edge of the cardstock pages having them stick up to act as page tabs.

I placed mine in different areas along the edges so that when the book is closed, there are lots of tabs sticking up around the cover.

For a little extra, I added themed buttons on top of some of my page tabs.

On the back cover, I added a small plastic bag for more mementos.
Note: when you staple this, only do one side of the bag so it can still be opened.
Think how cute a little bit of sand or a pressed penny would look in here!

To finish it off, adhere the 4 1/4"x 5 1/4" piece of paper centered on the cover.

Then take your 20" piece of ribbon and center it across the front and back covers.
Use stickers, stamps, or handwriting for the title.
Use a bit of adhesive (I used Glue Dots) to keep the ribbon on the cover.
Keep the extra length so you can tie the book closed.

That's it! Pretty simple.
I've made these with my kids and with a group of girls and they were so excited to make their own mini albums. They couldn't wait to fill them with their memories!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Search me, O God, and know my heart

Hosea 12:23

This post is linked to It's Overflowing, Plucky's Second Thought,
I Heart Naptime, and The Dedicated House.

My Patriotic Cap

On Wednesday I showed you some cute patriotic items.

One of them was a darling hat that I wanted to order, but it wouldn't have gotten here in time.

So I decided to try to make one myself.

I picked up a plain ball cap at Wal-mart, some fabric and a flower from Hobby Lobby, 

and put them all together.

I attached everything with my hot glue gun.

Now I have something cute to wear on the Fourth!

Here's the inspiration hat.

If you'd like a hat like this, but don't want to make your own, here's the link back to this one.

I hope you all have a very happy Fourth of July!!

Take lots of pictures:)

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

Jude 1:2

This post is linked to My Repurposed Life, Natasha In Oz, and I Heart Naptime.

Thrifty Thursday #173

We're in prime yard sale-ing season, and I have to admit that I've gone to very few yard sales.
I work every Friday which leaves only Saturday mornings for me to hit some sales.
Like all of you, my Saturday mornings are easily eaten up by kids' activities, errands, chores, etc.

Because the Fourth falls on a Saturday this year, the clinic where I work is closed on Friday to observe the holiday which means I'm off on Friday.
Do you know what that means? 
Tomorrow I'm going to be up early scouting for some good sales.
I've been looking forward to this for two weeks!

My hubby and I went to an estate sale recently. 

We went on the last day which has its good points and bad points. 

What's good is that on the last day, everything is usually half off. 

What's not so good is sometimes there's not much left. 

Around here, estate sales get pretty picked through by the last day.

I found only one thing- this old colander.

I got it half off- only paid $2.

My hubby didn't find a thing.

Last week I showed you some fantastic beakers that I found on my thrift store run.

At the second store I stopped at, I also found a few things.

Like this saucer for a quarter.

I'm collecting a few of these for a project.

I can't justify getting any more for us to eat on because I have quite a few already.

I also got this tiny bowl for fifty cents.

This one is for my kitchen because I only have two like it.

I have found that these come in handy when I serve a meal requiring dipping sauce.

I am a nut for old books.

This one caught my eye because it's called A Mother's Year.

It says it is an exact reproduction of a book published in 1905.
It's filled with poems, sayings, and fantastic images like this.

I don't know what I'll do with it. I just couldn't pass it up for a quarter.
I really think I should open an Etsy store to sell things like this.
Things that are awesome and vintage that I don't want to pass up, but don't really need.
 Hmm. . . it's something to think about.

What about you? Have you found any good secondhand scores lately?

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made

Psalm 139:14

This post is linked to Life With Lorelai, The Crafted Sparrow, and My Girlish Whims.

Lovelies That I Love

Even with all the ups and downs our country has, it still is the best place on Earth to live.

(I've lived abroad, so I feel that I can truthfully say that.)

On that note, it's a great time to show your love for our country.

Here are few things that can help you show your spirit. . .

How great is this burlap flag wreath?

You'd be able to hang it on your door several times a year. . . Memorial Day, the Fourth, 

Labor Day, and Veteran's Day. 

It would pay for itself in the first year!

I just looovvvveee this flag ring.

 I don't know quite what grabs me- whether it's the wide band, the pretty silver, the flag. . . . 

I would totally wear this. Not just on the Fourth either!

This hat is too cute. I love the red chevron burlap and blue flower on the leopard print.

I think this necklace is just beautiful! 

How amazing is the silver setting that the flag print is on?

I don't think it would be too much to pair this up with the ring and hat, do you?:)

How cute is this tote?

I think burlap pairs perfectly with the red, white, and blue.

Of course, what doesn't look good with burlap?

Well, if these items don't get you feeling a little patriotic, I don't know what will!

I'm not affiliated with any of the companies, I just like their stuff.

Thanks so much for stopping by and God bless.

If we love one another, God abides in us, 

and His love has been perfected in us. 

1 John 4:12

This post is linked to Ivy and Elephants, Too Much Time on My Hands,
and Between Naps on the Porch.