Magnets~

I've got a lot of scrabble tiles that I've managed to hoard collect for some time now. I decided to turn some into magnets for my grandkids to help them learn their ABC's. I used some thin sticky backed magnets that I cut into 1/2 inch pieces to fit behind each tile. (the sticky side helped remind me which side to place the glue on) I glued each magnet on each tile using E6000 glue. I've heard people swear by this glue.... I think it takes for'eva to dry...so it is not for those of us who like instant results. Anywho, after gluing each magnet on each lettered tile, I placed several heavy books on top of the lot and let them dry overnight.I think they turned out super cute! Now, I've just got to make doubles of certain letters so we can start making words!

Transformation Thursday~

This week for show & tell...I am showing off my stool make-over. I picked up this cute old stool at a yard sale for $2 about 15 years ago.... I have no place in my house for a stool. I just liked the legs on it. The gal I bought it from said it came from her family farm and that it was old. Whenever anyone says that to me....that just tells me they are going to be asking a lot of money for whatever it is, but two bucks had me sold on it!I've used it as a plant stand, a purse stand by the front door. I've had it in my closet with my sneakers on it, its been outside on the porch, in the garage and it has even been in the "donation" pile several times only to be pulled out at the last minute every single time..... until now... now it has a "place" in my home. Now its a little stool. Perfect~I placed the stool upside down on the table and measured up 10&3/4 inches making a little mark with a pencil. I then took a small level and went around each leg off of the original 10&3/4 mark making a continuous level line around each leg. The line (and later the cut) has to be slightly on the diagonal to make the stool stand flat. Easy-peasy. Now I want some more stools!! I will probably stick a tray on top of the left over base for an impromtu table... which will probably end up with a plant on it, by the front door, in the closet, the porch, the garage and on the donation pile--- ah the circle of life~

You can see more Show & Tells over at Kelli's blog "There is no place like Home" You can also view more transformations over at "Shabby Chic Cottage" and over at "A Soft Place to Land" Kimba is hosting a "do it yourself" linky party. The Coloradolady is also hosting a Vintage Thingie Thursday. Last but not least...Leigh over at "Tales From Bloggeritaville" is hosting a Thrifty Thursday linky party~

Tuesday Treasures~

Here is some stuff I bought this past weekend... A huge container of stamps & ink pads & embossing powders all for $3.Here is a close-up of what I'm keeping.Here are the stamps I don't want. A lot of them have never been used. I guess I could do a give-away right here and now if anyone is interested in having them, just mention tossing your name in the hat to be drawn out on lets say..... I dunno.... ummm Friday.This stack of old books was a $1.00 for the lot. The oldest one was from the late 1800's. Smells nice & old too...good thing old musty smells don't bother me, cause I am always sniffing old books! The two lights were .25cents for the big one and .10cents for the little one. Both work. Crazy prices huh? The buttons were .10cents...and the linens-- several hankies, one huge square piece with an embroidered "M" on it...and a delicate small square table cloth...all for $1. (I hope to share how to remove stains easily from linens soon....) I got this rose painting for $2...it is actually a lid off of a trunk. It is new, painted to look old... you can tell because the side pieces are pressed wood! I am going to do a transformation on this piece for an upcoming Transformation Thursday, so stay tuned for that :-PLastly, this huge pile of old games for the crazy sum of... nadda- zip- zilch... Fa---REE! I know right? Are you crazy lady? I'da paid ya' for 'em~ okokok, not much, but I would have bought them. I don't know what I'm going to do with them...but I have them, isn't that all that matters? Head on over to Diane's blog to see more Tuesday Treasures on her linky for "2nd Time Around Tuesday" Kimm is also hosting a linky party for her "Trash to Treasure Tuesday" Also.... if your wanting to see even more treasures stop over at Rhoda's blog "Southern Hospitality" If you have linked to my blog and wish to view more.... you can click here.

Mmm mmm Monday~

Whats a girl to do when its 112 degrees outside ...why you bake inside as well! This is a pretty tasty/easy treat.Butterscotch Cheesecake Bars

1 (12-ounce) package butterscotch flavored morsels

1/3 cup margarine or butter

2 cups graham cracker crumbs (crumbs not chunks like I did lol)

1 cup chopped nuts (any kind, I used pecans)

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 (14-ounce) can of Sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (325 for a glass dish) In a saucepan melt the morsels and the margarine...stir in the graham cracker crumbs and nuts. Press half of the mixture firmly onto the bottom of a greased 13x9-inch baking pan. In a large mixer bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy, then add the condensed milk, vanilla and egg. Mix well. Pour into the prepared pan, top with the remaining crumb mixture. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool to room temperature, chill before cutting into bars. Refrigerate leftovers...not that there will be any~

I think next time I try this recipe, I will try vanilla wafers instead of the graham crackers... and also I am thinking I'd like to try chocolate chips instead of the butterscotch.....

Transformation Thursday!

Well....here is my transformation for this week. As mentioned last week, I said I was going to make some paper roses using pages from vintage books. I have a huge collection of old books dating as far back as the late 1800's, most I picked up for .25cents each. (I've never paid over $1 for an old book!) What to do with so many books right? I mean I've glued the pages onto just about everything..... Soooooooo why not make a bouquet of paper roses! Of course that would be the next logical thing to do right? Now.... I am wanting to make some tight rose buds!! Now, how cute would that be?? (thats on my ever growing "to do" list) For now, I just plunked them in a milk glass bowlie/vase and added some glittered flowers & other stuff that was close by to fill it in a bit. I like how it turned out.... the pages from the vintage book I used were slightly brittle, causing some tearing on the roses curled petals, but not to much. (I just cut those bits off) Here is a closeup... I think I'll take these out of this container and place them in a cone of sheet music and take them to an upcoming party as a small hostess gift ....eh gawds, you just never know what junk I'll bring to your house! :-) The next batch of roses are going to be a lot better/cuter since I've now worked out the bugs on this dozen... the next ones are for me! This is a very easy-peasy do it yourself project... Just don't overthink it, just go with the flow...every rose is different, no two are alike.... and if they turn out ugly... you can recycle them, so everything is right with the world~You can also view more transformations over at "Shabby Chic Cottage" and over at "A Soft Place to Land" Kimba is hosting a "do it yourself" linky party. The Coloradolady is also hosting a Vintage Thingie Thursday. Last but not least...Leigh over at "Tales From Bloggeritaville" is hosting a Thrifty Thursday linky party~

Tuesday Treasures~

More stuff I don't need.... *sigh* I am such a horder :-P A bag full of hermit crab "stuff" for only $1... you just never know when the mood hits you that your needing one of those scarey looking suckers, so its best to be prepared~Four metal wall pieces for only $1.50.. *score*A box full of Japenesse papers, glue and blown egg shells with instructions & patterns on how to cover the egg shells with the papers... all of this for $1.Two teacup ornaments both for .50cents. The eggshell ornament is a real eggshell.A very large glass dome $2, and a metal basket .50cents.Two faux plants for .50cents each. Blue watering can .50cents, a bunny sitting on a swing that I am going to hang from a tree branch-- .50cents....3 old photos and 2 old cards/1 postcard $2 for all 6.
Head on over to Diane's blog to see more Tuesday Treasures on her linky for "2nd Time Around Tuesday" Kimm is also hosting a linky party for her "Trash to Treasure Tuesday" Also.... if your wanting to see even more treasures stop over at Rhoda's blog "Southern Hospitality" If you have linked to my blog and wish to view more.... you can click here.

Transformation Thursday~

I picked up this small dress form awhile back at a yard sale for only $1.50-- I know right? Who wouldn't buy it? The price on the bottom said at one time it sold for $14.99......Well....I stuck it way up on a shelf until I decided what to do with it. Here she is standing next to Mr. Hunky.... I really enjoyed gluing the fabric sheet music to his torso, hubba-hubba... *good times-good times*Hmmmmmmmm what to cover it with vintage sheet music? old yellowed book pages... nahhhhhhhh... buttons? Now your talkin'! I have a huge-HUGE button collection. Seriously~ Here is a previous post showing some of my buttons... Anywho, I painted the stand & base along with the wooden top of the form with an almond color spray paint and then just hot glued a zillion buttons onto the form. I created a scalloped edge to the base of the dress form... you can barely see it in this photo-- but it is scalloped!It took me about 3 days of working on it off and on to get it finished. I just cranked up the t.v. and mindlessly glued on buttons until it was finished... Taaaaaaaaaa daaaaaaa instant (okokok, not so instant) caute! You can see more "Show & Tell" treasures over at Kelli's blog "There is no place like Home" You can also view more transformations over at "Shabby Chic Cottage" and over at "A Soft Place to Land" Kimba is hosting a "do it yourself" linky party. The Coloradolady is also hosting a Vintage Thingie Thursday. Next Thursday I am hoping to transform old pages from a vintage book into a dozen roses~
Here is a photo of my young doves newest babies. These two babies brings this years total to 6. Two more and she is going to be called "Octo-mom"

If you have linked to my blog and wish to view more, you can click here.

Tuesday treasures~

This past weekend I scored big on some things I don't need.... here is what I hauled home~ 12 childrens books (most of them are pop up) .25cents each. 4 beautiful tassles .25cents each, 20 magazines .10cents each. Two packages of pink satin blanket binding .25cents. This binding is fabulous if you unfold it and iron it flat-- it makes like a 5 inch ribbon! 4 embroidered napkins & 3 appliqued hand towels all for $1. A wooden advent thingie for placing small Christmas gifts in was only $1. I'm thinking of covering it with Mod Podged papers~A beautiful hydrageaon wreath for only $2. A vintage basket for $1 and a pink belly dancer hip scarf that is loaded with 3 rows of coins that make a fabulous sound when you walk-- and yessssss I've worn it around the house for awhile :-PMomma's hide your daughters eyes... this stuffed bag full of Barbie clothing was only $2~This darling bird bath was $7-- *gasp* highway robbery!! The two wooden plant thingies were only $2 each~ This metal table thingie was only $3. The best buy of the day: I picked up this $365 dollar cat tree for only $5. Yes---only five dollars!! *Happy dance-happy dance* Head on over to Diane's blog to see more Tuesday Treasures on her linky for "2nd Time Around Tuesday" Kimm is also hosting a linky party for her "Trash to Treasure Tuesday" Also.... if your wanting to see even more treasures stop over at Rhoda's blog "Southern Hospitality" If you have linked to my blog and wish to view more.... you can click here.

Fenced in....

Well my fence project is completed. It has taken us 5 and a half days working 10 to 12 hours a day to complete this long section of mortered in cinder block (3 high) and then another 5' of redwood fencing on top of that. I was the foreperson and my hubs was the hired help. Good thing he worked cheaply or I would have fired him.... seriously~ Here is the fence all finished. (We reused the existing gate)It isn't hard at all to morter in cinder block. You just do it with the mindset that you can do it and it turns out :-) I think I would have completed it sooner than the 5 & 1/2 days had it not been for most of my neighbors stopping by for a little chat about my fence while I was building it-- I had two men ask me how to do it and if I'd give them pointers on how to morter in cinder block when they were ready to do it in their own yards. I told them my first bit of advice is..."Hire someone to do it for you" lol....my second bit of advice was noooooo"You can't afford ME" lol

My next huge "yard project" is to dig up that side of the yard and make it level. Then of coure hall every single piece of plastic little tikes yard toy we have in the back yard into this new side yard :-)

Tuesday Treasures~

Knowing full well that I'd be busy this past weekend putting up a fence due to a window on my house being broken by a random nar-de-well.... I had to go (for my mental health) to some second hand stores on Thursday... and also Saturday morning at 6 a.m. before we poured the cement foundation for the cement blocks I hit one yard sale down the street from my house....soooooooo with that said, here is my most recent treasures~

The hand painted rose picture in gold frame $1, the beautiful fluted edged bowlie .50cents, 2 huge matching tassels $1, a huge lot of buttons all tied together with their matches $1 (in my bowlie from last week) silver glittered kinda vintage flowers .25cents, and an old song book .20cents...Large gumball machine $2, small gumball machine .50cents (both going in my grandkids playroom at my house) several yards of vintage fabric and trim for $2, A large wooden pedestal bowlie $1.50-- the photo doesn't do it justice, this piece is caute!

A large swival mirror $20...I know, highway robbery-- but I wanted it!! The large glass vase like container $6--- gasp-- the prices were high that day! 12 good sized cake bowlies $2.50 (I have no idea what those are called) and the candle stick that holds 5 candles and has a marble base was only $1.50.

This faux flowering bulbs in a moss covered pot....$1~ doesn't it look so real? This piece is very high-end.Two matching urns... $1 each~Finally, two matching vine cones with fall leaves...(fall is right around the corner you know!) Both of these were only $1 each~You can see more treasures by visiting Kimm's blog linking you to other "Trash to Treasure Tuesday-ers"... Diane is also hosting a "2nd Time around Tuesday" linky party...go check it out! If you have linked to my blog and wish to see more... you can click here.

Coming right along...

I've been working on my new addition to my fence for the past three days. Today the hubs had to go into work...so I'm taking the day off from working out in the heat! I would say that I am about half way finished-- here is the fence up to the corner block.

We still have to dig up the lawn up to the side of the house, lay a flat foundation of cement and then lay the cinder block on top of that. Then of course cut and hang each picket of wood. I'll have you know-- that I am the one who picks up and morters in each of those 33 pound cinder blocks. My hubs just mixes the morter for me~ funny huh.

Here is my window that faces the street which got the huge retaining stone thrown at it... notice the black circle at the bottom of the window? That is a surveillance camera. I got the camera at a place called Harbor Freight. For the color camera (which is what we purchased) it was only $40. For the black and white those ran only $30. They are extremely easy to install. They hook right up to your vcr player. You can watch whats going on as soon as you hook it up...it is soooooooo easy. At night when we go to bed-- we start the tape to record. You can view it while not recording too :-) This camera can be mounted inside or out, for now we just stuck it in the window. It has "night vision" which actually works pretty good when you consider it was only $40~ I told all my neighbors about this neat gizmo... and mentioned that if nothing else I would be able to find out who isn't picking up their dogs poop out off of my grass. I told them my camera is doing "poop patrol" LOL

Backyardigans~

I was commissioned to make these 5 Backyardigans for an upcoming birthday party. I have never seen this show...but the characters are adorable~ I made these using foam core. I don't know the names...so here is one, two and three....and lets not forget four & five~

Happy 4th of July~

God Bless America~

Monkey wrench....

When you least expect it...someone tosses a monkey wrench into the mix~ *sigh*....in this case, it was a huge retaining stone that was thrown into our duel pane window on the side of our house. (my house is on a corner lot) We get random bad things like this happening in our neighborhood every so often, I guess it was our turn....
The upside? We are going to fence most of the side yard now so that window is no longer such an easy target...so now I get to create another beautiful garden area! Which is going to work out just perfectly to house the huge plastic play cottage I had bought this past weekend for only $50 :-) Seriously, there is blessings in everything if you just look at things differently~ With that said...I'll be out in the yard knee deep in digging up lawn and building a cement block retaining wall-- then finally building the fence along the top of that. Whew~ To all those wonderful ladies who "follow" my blog-- I appreciate you, and I will be back eventually with some new things to blog about that will keep your interest? lol