Porcupine Watermelon...!

My pinterest inspired watermelon critter!  I was asked to make this cute creation for a party!  It was pretty simple...you just have to go for it and start cutting.  The eyes are blueberries attached with long toothpicks and the nose and feet were created with the leftover watermelon. I gently scooped the watermelon out and cut it into cubes and stuck long toothpicks into the cubes on the top layer.  It was a big hit at the party!

 Original Watermelon Porcupine Picture

Summer time fun!

Sunflower Power!

My sunflower garden is doing wonderful!  I love watching them pop out of their green centers and blossom into the beautiful yellow flowers.  I plan on collecting the flowers and drying them in order to get the seeds for my garden next year.  This is my first time to plant sunflowers but it won't be my last.  I am so excited to see them grow taller and more beautiful throughout the summer!

God's Creations!

How does your garden grow?

Spring has sprung and my flowers I planted a month ago are growing like wildfire!  I love sitting on my back porch and admiring the blooms along with the birds, butterflies and the dragonflies.  I hung a hummingbird feeder recently and have been able to catch a glimpse of a beautiful hummingbird coming to visit.  You have to be quick with those little birds, they flit about so quickly.  I have my camera sitting on the table by the window in hopes of taking a quick shot, but I haven't been quick enough yet...but I will keep trying!
My husband helped me plant some sunflowers in my backyard.  I can't wait to see the big beautiful sunflowers pop their heads up, they are my favorite flower.
God's blessing bloom right in front of our eyes at this time of year!

God is Good!

Sweet Sweet Taffy....

The day started off with a visit to the vet for my pet rabbit, Taffy.  She has been having some problems with her back leg.  I was not prepared for what I was told, her leg was broken.  Not sure how it happened, she lives in my laundry room in her own cozy space....but the vet said it might have been because she was 9 years old, which is apparently old for a rabbit.
We got Taffy April 15, 2003 when my kids were 10 and 12.   Today when the doctor gave me my options it didn't look good.  He could either amputate the leg which would be difficult to heal at her age or put her to sleep.  I hated my choices but after the doctor said he felt she had lived a long life and the surgery would be hard on such an old rabbit we both decided letting Taffy go to heaven was the best for her.  I have had this experience with dogs in the past because of health issues and it never gets any easier. When I walked out of that office I cried like a baby.  Taffy gave us lots of great memories and when I came back home to her empty room...the tears flowed again.  I am going to miss our daily one-sided conversations Taf.....!

Taffy....you have a special place in my heart always!

Life is so fragile!

Coffee Sack turned ART!

The burlap bag I found in Canton, TX last month has been turned into ART.  My son will be moving to his own apartment in the Fall and needs artwork.....this fits the bill!
This was a cheap and easy project, just the kind I like!  The bag was $3.99 and the canvas was $14.00 (I used a Michael's 50% off coupon).
I didn't want to cut the bag, I wanted to use the roped edge on the bottom as part of the decoration.  I slipped the canvas into the bag and started to staple.  I stapled the bottom of the bag first and went from there to the top and finally the sides.  After getting it all stapled I attached eye hooks and picture wire and it's ready to hang!

Sure wish everything could be this simple....EASY ART!

Hawk Eyes!

In between the daily chores of washing clothes and cleaning house.....I spotted something in a tree in my back yard!  I love it when I can sneak out and take a quick picture of something so beautiful.  

I think he was waiting on me to take his pic...what a pose!

Moma.....She took the weeds with the flowers!

My heart has been heavier than normal recently.  I have been thinking of my mom quite a bit these last few weeks.  It has been a little over two years since she passed away from a brain tumor.  She was so vibrant and active and her death came so suddenly.  She was diagnosed in April 2009, had the tumor removed and in five months it had returned and she died.  This has been the hardest time in my entire life.  I lost my dad almost 9 years ago and that was difficult but my children were small and having them to take care of distracted me in a way from the daily loss.  My children are older now and are past the point of needing me on a daily basis...that's sad in itself but so proud they are becoming responsible young adults, that's what we strive for as parents, but I have too much free time to reflect on the loss of my mom.
I was able to stay with my mom quite a bit the last five months of her life, we kept her at home and did chemo and radiation several times a week.  The daily activities kept me busy along with my siblings tending to her daily needs.  When the tumor returned we knew our time with her was limited.  I never thought I would ever experience something so devastating in my life.  I know we are all going to die but knowing it is approaching quickly and not being able to do anything about it other than sit and watch it happen is such a helpless feeling.  My mom was so brave, she was slowly losing her ability to do the daily things like eat and walk alone but the most devastating lose to me was her voice.  The tumor was attacking her brain area which controls speech.  The thought of never hearing my mom call my name or have a conversation with her made my heart so sad.   She adapted and started communicating with her facial expressions and boy did she have some funny expressions.  Her sense of humor was evident even without saying a word!
I came across this poem today that expressed just how I feel about her each day.  I know she is with God and we will meet again but my heart hurts each day without her.  She was not only my mom but my best friend!
This poem is for her...LOVE YOU MOMA!


you can shed tears that she is gone 
or you can smile because she has lived. 
you can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back               
or you can open your eyes and see all she's left. 
your heart can be empty because you can't see her

or you can be full of the love that you shared. 

you can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday                                                           

or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

you can remember her and only that she's gone 

or you can cherish her memory and let it live on. 

you can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back 

or you can do what she'd want;

smile, open your eyes, love and go on.   

                                                                          -David Harkins-

You never get too old to need your MOM.  

She always took the weeds with the flowers and said "How Beautiful"!

We love you Moma!

Joe's Growth Chart

A special little boy had his 1st Birthday this week.  They just don't stay little long enough!  My gift to him was a Growth Chart....his room is filled with the Fireman theme so that's where the idea started.  This is what I came up with.....my version of a growth chart!

The collage shows the process from drawing my idea on poster paper to transferring the pattern to the beige denim I  used.  When I started painting it was little scary at first but you just have to go for it!  I started with the blue along the right edge.  I taped the entire side about 11/2 inches from the edge of the fabric with painters tape.  The tape helped give me a straight edge.  I then started on the dog and then the fire hydrant.  The hose came next and then came the water...!!!  I didn't know exactly what I wanted but the more I painted the bigger the water got, I added big drops and decided they needed to be falling to the bottom to give the middle of the chart some interest.  I decided to paint JOE coming from the water ...that's some wild water!

After letting the paint dry overnight I used a black permanent pen to outline everything, even the blue along the edge.  I didn't put the numbers on just yet, I waited until I sewed the back to the front and turned it.  I put 3 loops of ribbon at the top before attaching the front to the back.  I put the painted wooden dowel with wood beads on the ends through the ribbon loops and attached ribbon to the ends of the dowel.

Once the chart was turned and pressed I then took a measuring tape and marked 6 inches from the bottom and started my measurements up to the top, marking every inch and numbers on each foot mark.
I also punched tags from card stock with string attached so Joe's mom and dad could record the date, height & age and attach it to the chart with a safety pin.  I know he will love seeing how big he grows each time they record it....!

JOE...JUST DON'T GROW UP TOO FAST....!

ENJOY....my word for 2012!

Ready or not....2012 is here!  Time to turn over a new leaf....get creative...be productive....and ENJOY my blessings.  ENJOY is my word for the year.  I am always planning something, going to do something, waiting to do something, anticipating something....well it's the first day of the rest of my life and I am choosing to ENJOY!

ENJOY.... 1. to take pleasure or satisfacion in   2.  to have for one's use, or lot

The first crafting project for 2012 is a Mardi Gras wreath for my daughter's apartment.  She wants to bring a little Louisiana back to Texas.  The items used on the wreath were purchased from Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and Ellis Pottery.  With a few pipe cleaners and some beads left over from the parades here in Louisiana along with the purchased items it turned out pretty cute.  She was pleased so that's all that matters!  It will have it's permanent home in TX soon.

ENJOY!

Santa needs a KEY!

It's beginning to look like Christmas around my house finally.  I remember all the excitement just a few short years ago when I drug the boxes of Christmas stuff out....!  Not much excitement now that my two children are 21 and 18.  Oh how I wish for the sweet little faces to come running down the stairs and start digging through the bins and boxes of decorations.  It has taken me two days to get all the stuff put up and finally decorated the tree all by myself.  It was bitter sweet hanging each ornament and remembering when they made it for me and how old they were.  My favorites are the ones they have their pictures on, the puzzle ornament, the CD ornament, the reindeer hand print and on and on!  They are all so precious and like I said it was bitter sweet because they were not here to join in!
Well, this year I plan on starting a new tradition ....the Santa Key!  I found the cute idea on Pinterest, which is my new addiction.  The cute graphics for the Santa Key poem can be found here with all the instructions.  I found my keys for $1 at Michaels and the download was free and I have the paper so it's a really quick and easy gift.  I plan on making several and taking them to friends who have little ones.  Maybe I can start a tradition for their family. 

Everybody needs a Santa Key...I just might keep one for myself ;)

Amazing site...WORDLE!

It's been a while since my last post...LIFE HAPPENS! 

Not much creating going on these last few weeks...PINTEREST has consumed my life these days.  Funny how I can sit for hours and feel so creative and I haven't left my computer! 

Today I stumbled on to something amazing...maybe you have heard about it and I have been out of the loop but  Wordle is amazing.  I always wondered how I could do the cool word combinations to get the look of subway art without having brain freeze trying to figure it all out.  This is the perfect site to help with all your word projects! I made my first "Wordle" today and it's easy and fun...go give it a try!

I will be sitting in the Dallas Cowboys Stadium watching my daughter cheer as a DCC on Thanksgiving Day!  She's "Living the Life" like we call it around here and we get to join in on the fun!

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Craftroom MAKEOVER

Who wouldn't like to have a blank canvas when you start a project!  The upstairs dance room got a makeover recently.  My daughter is the dancer in the family and this was her special room.  It has served it's purpose but now that she is off at college and being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader I decided it was time to transform it into my special craftroom. 
The pink walls and ceiling are not my favorite color but I didn't have the patience to repaint...let dry....then move in...I just moved in and will add my favorite RED to the mix along with turqouise, my second favorite color. 

The room is taking shape, still needs some organizing...but will do for now.  I have made several things in there already and WOW it was so nice to have all the extra room.  I have been cramped up in a spare bedroom with all the leftover stuff everyone decides they don't want in their space! I never realized I had so many supplies, great having the space to spread out.  I plan on getting some serious crafting done in this new space of mine....NO EXCUSES!
I will share more pics later after the final transformation...Happy Crafting!

Proud MOM of a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader!

WOW...my daughter Amelia made the final cut last night to become one of the 17 Rookies on the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders!  They will have 17 vets and 17 rookies.  It's been a long process, starting in May with about 450+ girls showing up for the 1st round of auditions.  The next cut came in around 231 and the next weekend they had to add talent and interview.  The pool of girls was narrowed to 51...and then 27 went to training camp.  They reported to the training center each night and in 10 weeks learned about 12 dances! 
My daughter was previously a Kilgore Rangerette so she was very accustomed to working hard and learning things very quickly...thank goodness!  The directors have made cuts each week and last night they let the 34 girls know they were the new squad!  Very exciting for her as well as our family!  I can't wait to watch her perform, I will be beaming with pride! The tryout process has been documented by CMT and will be aired in Oct. 2011 sometime...The Making of the Team!  I can finally be that fly on the wall and see what went on all these months!  I am one proud MOM of a DCC!

Goodwill transformation!

I admit...I drop by a Goodwill almost every other day!  It's right on my way to town and I just can't help myself!  I imagine there is a treasure just waiting for me...and the day I found this frame for $14.99 ...I knew I found it!  I wanted to make something with a big impact for my daughter's new apartment and this was the treasure......PURE JOY! (simple pleasures)
It didn't look like much in the beginning but I knew it could be transformed...!
I started off by giving it a good sanding and painted it RED...my favorite color!  After letting it dry, I lightly sanded it again along the molding.  I painted the molding with a turquoise wash (mix a little water with your paint to make the wash) and gently wiped the excess paint away with a dry cloth.  I loved the results but it needed more color so I sanded the molding again and repeated the turquoise wash.
After it was dry I sprayed a light coat of polyurethane to help protect the finish.
Now to the inside...I used the original foam backed picture that was in the frame, sanded it a little and gave it a couple of coats of chalkboard paint.  I inserted it back into the frame and it was that simple...!!!

Gotta go for now...off to GOODWILL to find my next treasure!!!

Linking to

Tip Junkie's Tip Me Tuesday




Thrifty Thursday Week 34!