QUIRKY PATIO LIGHTING

After seeing these on Pinterest, I thought... "I can do that".  This shop sells them for $15, but I had some leftover Mason jars from my Hillbilly Wineglasses, and I knew I could get some spoons at Goodwill for a Quarter a piece.  Definitely cheaper than $15 a pop.  They were using theirs as planters, but I thought I could make cute little votive holders for my little patio area.

I found three different spoons, and then with the help of my neighbor's vice, some pliers, a hammer, and some significant muscle, I created three Spoon Hooks.  My hubbs was kind enough to drill the holes and attach them to the trees for me.

 

I used white beans inside the jars to stabilize the votives, and some 18 gauge wire to create the hanging loops.

I keep the lids on the jars when the candles aren't lit to keep the rain out.  They add a quirky and creative touch to my little patio.

Patriotic Clothespin Wreath

I have now made two Clothespin wreaths.  The first one was for a friend for her little consignment shop, and now I've made one for myself - specifically for The 4th of July.

After spray painting 54 clothespins white, I used five different scrapbook papers to cover them.  

I placed them randomly around an inside piece of a 6" Embroidery hoop, which I had also painted white

Then for a subtle tribute to the holiday, I added three star cookie cutters.

To hang it, I had bought some patriotic ribbon, but the brightness of the colors didn't work with the soft shades of the paper.  So I took some scrap denim that I had from an old pair of jeans, and using fabric glue, created a 2" wide band to hang it from.

So Excited to now have one of these for myself, and to Finally have some Patriotic decor.

CRAYON INITIAL ART

For an End of Year Thank You, I created this Crayon initial for my oldest son's two teachers.  Both teachers have the same initial, so once I figured the first one out, the second one went together quickly.
    

I bought one box of 64 count, Crayola crayons for Each initial, thinking that would be plenty.  I really should have gotten two 64 count boxes for each.  If I would have had two crayons of each of the colors at the top and the bottom of the letter, I could have created a better shaped letter.  It's just a little off kilter for me.

But regardless of the odd shaped "S", I think they turned out pretty cool.

When I went to pick my son up from school today, Miss Susan had already hung hers up above her desk in her office.  That made me Smile.

I really wanted these two teachers to know how Thankful I am for making this school year for my son, so Very Special.

MY NEW FAVORITE...

What are these you ask?

They are called Crunchy Nutella Cookie Sandwiches.  While having insomnia this past weekend, due to a sinus infection, I was watching a late night cooking show on the Oprah network, called Ambush Cook.  They made these delicious looking cookies, and I just knew I had to make them too.

First you start with these amazing wafer thin crunchy sugary/oatmealy cookies

Then you spread yummy Nutella between two of the cookies.

And you get this...

Pure Heaven!!  And the amazing thing, I had never had Nutella before this.  Me being such a chocolate lover, had never tried it before now, but Now, it will be a staple in our pantry for sure.

TOOTH FAIRY DOOR

About a year and a half ago, long before I knew anything about Pinterest, and when I was all into the craft blog linky parties, I saw this...

A Tooth Fairy Door!As soon as I saw it, I knew I would be making one for my kids when the time came.

Well the time came... well sort of.  Yesterday, when dropping my oldest off at preschool, I overheard a couple of the parents talking about how many teeth their children have already lost.  I was amazed that these four and young five year olds were already being visited by the Tooth Fairy.  I don't remember losing teeth until I was six or seven.  Luke won't be five until September, but I thought to myself, that I should probably start thinking about getting started on his Tooth Fairy Door.

So after laying down to try to take a nap (to avoid changing the sheets on the kids bed), I got up and started going through my craft and miniature supplies to see if I could make this without a trip to the craft store.  Still avoiding changing the sheets, I found that I had everything I needed, so I jumped right in.  I stayed up until 1:00am working on it and then put on the finishing touches this morning.

What do you think?

All the ones that I've seen online were created using pre-made doors from Hobby Lobby.  But since I wanted to save a trip to the big city (and money), I made my own door - including casings, jamb, and threshold.

No door would be complete without a door knob... besides how is the fairy supposed to get in?

I even had some hinges in my miniature stash.

When the door is opened, a Tooth Tote hangs on a tiny brass nail.  All ready to hold it's first Tooth.

I decided that the door needed to have the boy's initials, so the Tooth Fairy would know who she was visiting.

Since my boys are very "hands on" kind of boys, I couldn't place the door by their bed, like most of the ones I've seen have done.  I created it within an 8x10 frame, so it could be hung on the wall...

high enough so they can't reach it.  So it's next to their closet door, awaiting it's first use.

When the time does come, I can take it down, so Luke can easily place his First Tooth in the Tooth Tote, and then anxiously await the Tooth Fairy's arrival with rewards and treats.  

Go Here to see some other really Great Ideas for this Magical little Project for your little one's Right of Passage to Childhood.

A COLORFUL, CHOCOLATEY THANK YOU

 Today is "Teacher Appreciation Day", so to honor and thank Luke's teachers, this is what we put together for them.

Like pretty much everything else I do, I found this on Pinterest.

 I don't have a color printer, so I had to hand write the "colored" words.

Just a little something...

For two very Special ladies