Trash to Treasure Tuesday~

While blog perusing one of my many bookmarked favorite blogs, I came across this photo of this old-old patriotic umbrella. Blogged about here.LOVE IT.... WANT IT.... TO CHEAP TO BUY IT~ So whats a girl to do but make a cheap imitation of the real thing :-) Luckily, I spotted this tiny painted silk umbrella at a yard sale. Price? .25cents...I measured and taped off sections of the umbrella with some masking tape. (lurve that stuff~) then just painted on a few coats of acrylic paint. I cut out a star stencil using card stock and just painted in the stars. Once that was all dry-- and blindingly white....I mudded it up with some brown acrylic paint and then closed up the umbrella and dirtied up the sides using black & brown ink. It looks very heavily aged due to the light & flash, but if you were to view it in person it isn't so dark.

I also made an American Flag with pickets off of the white picket fence that is in my front yard... I got tired of it and it is currently sitting in my garage!

This wooden American Flag below, I made using some thin wavey wood that you tuck under that plastic wavey stuff that some use for patio covers.... (whatever that stuff is called) it was like a dollar something a piece and comes in 6' lengths. I just cut each piece in two, nailed it to a few pieces of wood across the back.... It is now sitting in my garage as well...lol
Thats my patriotic Trash to Treasure! If you stop back tomorrow, I'll show you how to make gazebo bunting using sheets-- that is soooooo easy-peasy! You can see more Trash to Treasure by visiting Kimm over at her "Reinvented" Also, by visiting Diane over at "A Picture is worth 1,000 words" If you've linked here and wish to view more of my blog... you can click here~

Mod Podge Linky party~

There is an end of the month Mod Podge linky party being hosted by "This is the year" It is sooo worth a lookie-loe...especially if you love Mod podge-ing~ Here are some things I've created using the stuff over the past month. I mod podged a super cute 4th of July hanger. You can read more about that here. I got a new lock & key for my screen door and the key looked like every other key I have on my keychain.....so I mod podged it. You can read more about that here. Here is my take on paper mache using Mod podge. You can read more about my Mad Hatter cheshire cat here. Also, I mod podged this little Mad Hatter's tea pot. It has my 4 month old grandaughter inside of it. You can read more about that here.I also used Mod Podge as a sealant on some party hats for the tea party. I made these for my outdoor statues. You can read more about that here.

Chloe Rose....

Little Chloe Rose was caught wearing a tamborine as a party hat at her Mad Hatter Tea Party....

Mad Hatter's Tea Party~

Welcome to the Mad Hatter's Tea Party.... I am hosting this event in my 4 month old grandaughter, Chloe-Rose's Garden. Would you look who is already waiting at the front gate? Why it is none other than the Cheshire cat. The white rabbit will sound the horn announcing each new guest. I imagine the neighbors are delighted to hear such reveille so early in the morning!!Gate is now open... Welcome!I have put out some blankets, umbrellas and party hats if your wanting to partake in such frivolousness. My-oh-my.... would you look at Alice? This is what you get people for putting Brandy in your tea! Nightie-nite Alice, sleep it off girl~We ask that you please teather your high horses at the front gate... Absolutely no high-horse'ing around in this garden!I see the squirral family has shown up.... that family grows & grows each year ten fold!
Look to your left and you'll see cat & bird chatting up a storm. Those two are such chatter-boxes!Poor rabbit is running-a-muck as the caterer is running late~ This is the last time I hire "The Mad Hatter" to cater any of my events! Off with his head! or any other appendage I see fit~Grap a cuppa off of the teacup tree. We are totally doing a casual tea here in Chloe's garden as its hard to be a hostess when your holding your grandchild in your arms~ Please feel free to pull a fresh lemon off of one of the many lemon trees as well. We have flown in the Baby Blues Cockroach Band for this event. They are setting a delightful ambiance with their smooth sounds. Here you see white rabbit joining in with the band for a few songs~My-my-my...poor Alice staggered over to the cuppa tree and had to take another wee nap. Poor girls needing rehab~Cat and duck are not ones to gossip, but hey-- isn't that the added bonus of attending such a large event? The ever present opportunity to see someone make a fool out of themselves? Preferably someone other than yourself!
There is a little table set up with some sugared fruit and some hot raspberry tea. Watch out for that little pixie who lives inside that teapot on the table...she will positively talk you into adding extra sugar to your tea. She has such a sweet nature about her. She has sugared cranberries, sugared mint leaves and then your basic sugar cube. *gasp* Would you look at that...she is kicking sugared cranberries into tea cups... Ladies, hands over your cups! The little stinker is dancing under the spell of a sugar high!My~my where has the time gone.... party is wrapping up. Thank you very much for coming into my grandaughter's garden and having some tea with us. It has been fun visiting with everyone. On your way out, be sure to take one of the rocks set out by the gate. A person can never have to many rocks you know~ Please visit with Vanessa over at "A Fanciful Twist" to partake in more tea party madness~

New keys~

I got a new lock for my front screen door recently...and of course it looked just like the other key on my keyring. I have nail polish on one key already (tacky, but effective) I wanted something more "me"...so I got out my stash of papers and Mod Podged my keys.Soooooooo meeeeeeeee!~ I simply glued on the paper, turned the key over and cut off the excess with my xacto knife. When I had both sides covered with paper, I put on three coats of Mod Podge letting each coat dry.

I did this for both sides of each key. Now...if you've used this Mod Podge before, your aware that when it dries it is slightly tacky. I always use spray gloss over the newly "Mod Podged" area and that seems to end the tackiness! taaaaaaaaaa daaaaaaaaaaa! Instant caute!! You can see more made-over things at Jen's monthly make-over party on her blog Sanctuary Arts at Home.

Mixed media tea pot

I've made a little tea pot with my grandaughter featured as a little "sugar fairy" Can you see her? Dancing amongst the sugar cubes & sugared mint leaves and sugared cranberries? I used pages from an old 1942's Alice in Wonderland book that I picked up for .25cents. Here is a close-up of Chloe Rose.... the photo is a smidge dark-- I may replace it with another lighter one. I made the dress using crepe paper, it is very puffy 3 dimensional~

Treasure hunting....

Sometimes you just have to get up and go treasure hunting whenever the "feeling" hits you right? Right. I spotted this pretty vase with flowers... held it... put it back on the shelf.Then I saw she had a sista! Both went into my cart. $4 bucks each~I picked up these two matching plaster candle stick holders. They are needing some minor repair, nothing a smidge of paper clay some wax removeal and a shabby paint job can't fix. $2.50 each~An aluminum bowlie for $3, and the huge lot of premade bows for only $3~

A Marie Antoinette doll for $3~

And lastly, a chenille crib size baby blanket $3~

Foam core bunny...

I really enjoy working with foam core. I always pick up at least 5 sheets of it whenever it is on sale at Michaels for only a buck. It is really easy to work with...and cuts easily with a sharp razor. Here I've made a bunny blowing a horn-- I am going to use this for the tea party. The collar is made with squares of crepe paper puffed up then stuck on. The bunny has a crepe paper bow as well. You know the secret to making a bow with crepe paper? Something that will last-- you use packing tape. Pull off a large section of tape, place the crepe paper onto the tape and burnish it well. You end up with a fabulous piece of strong crepe paper to work with. I would like to make a lot of things for the tea party...but time is getting away from meeeeeee.... I guess I'm like that bunny with the time piece in his hand running around! hmmmmmmmmm I should make one of those as well!

I've also finished making party hats for every single statue I have in my garden...whew~ No easy feat as every single statue had a different head size and some had ears...and their little heads are tilted. Here is the last batch~ I just used card stock and made a cone shape then covered each with a piece of scrapbook paper. Then I put a coat of Mod Podge over each cone shape so they wouldn't get ruined if they got wet. I am wanting these little party hats to last at least until the end of summer! Now I've just got to add ribbons to each newly made hat and tie them on my little garden darlings and put them out in the garden. These are all going into my newly named "Chloe's garden"...after my grandaughter of course. Speaking of Chloe...here she is sitting all casually, foot dangling-head tilted to the t.v. (of course)

Cheshire cat~

I finally finished my cheshire cat for the upcoming "blog-linky" Mad Hatter's tea party that is going to be held on June the 27th. I started with balled up newspaper taped into a cat shape, the cat form is sitting on top of a foam core base. I used wooden stir sticks under each leg and the tail to keep those parts from ever falling off. I covered the form with strips of newspaper using equal parts of flour and water as the "glue" Once that was completely dried, I tore strips from a brown paper bag and used mod podge as the glue to make it a harder surface. Once that was all dry, I used paper clay to make the details in the face. (I highly recommend trying paper clay-- love it) The white areas are the paper clay. I used it on the face, feet and the tail. (I later decided the tail was tooooo fat, so I tore it apart and made it thinner)Anywho.... once the face & paws had dried, I covered the body with joint compound. I didn't want the lines from the paper showing when the cat was painted. Here is my cat covered with the joint compound-- the "worn" areas are from sanding the compound smooth. I then covered the entire thing with mod podge to seal the joint compound so it wouldn't be so easily damaged. (you can scratch that stuff easily with your finger nail)Here it is with a coat of paint... and some of the stripes that I painted on. I just used masking tape as a quide. Once everything was painted, I sprayed on some high gloss sealer to finish it up. I was wanting the look of something made with that heavy plastic like they make the rides out of at Disneyland. I think the high gloss gives it that look! The butt area ended up looking like a bullseye-- which makes me laugh-- a happy accident, so of course I had to embellish it even more.... Here is the backside all painted with a center bullseye added-- toooooooo funny~ (and yesssssss, I am a cat lover, I have 3)

4th of July swap~

Well...I've finally gotten everything wrapped up and sent to my 4th of July swapping partner, Heidi.

Here is a sneak peek at everything that is being sent to Colorado~ I found this darling little patriotic dance outfit that will surely be fun for Heidi's little daughter for many years to come....I even painted and mod podged on some silver stars to a wooden hanger.... cute huh? I would like a whole closet of hangers like this! lolI also sent along...a vintage flag, a small crocheted doily, a large crochet table cloth, a vintage army/navy prayer service book......some red,white & blue ric rac, also red, white & blue buttons in a small ginger jar, a china doll holding an American flag, a white metal/wire container with chocolates & mints tucked inside... an old goldtone container with glitter and fun pom-poms tucked inside, a patriotic bandana and a small charm for her son that is going to be born in September. I made a few things as well... two matching 4th of July crowns out of chicken wire for Heidi and her daughter. (I'm addicted to chicken wire lately) They appear the same size, but one is smaller. I also made this patriotic bunting as well. I used sheet music that I painted with watered down paint. I think it turned out cute. One of these days I'll make one for meeeeeeeeeeee...isn't that how it always goes? I also put together this little frame with a little fairy sitting on a nest of rhinestones & beads inside of a vintage bubble frame.I also stuck a pair of fairies sitting on the edge of this patriotic sequined ornament. I glued a pin to the back of the fairies so it can be removed if Heidi want's to do something else with this vintage piece.

I hope Heidi enjoys all of these things that are coming her way~

Sailing~

I managed to hit a few yard sales this morning before coming home to babysit my grandkids... Here is a peek at what I think was the highlight of the morning. A collection of real birds nests, I paid $8 for all of these. In total there are 16 nests. Here is a close-up...caute! There are two hummingbird nests here, possibly three if I knew what I was talking about!I had to take one in the backyard and wet it and restick it together (it has some mud inbedded in the nest) to get it back into a "nest" shape.I also have a lot of sticks & nest bedding that has fallen off of these that I'll put beside my bird feeder so the birds can recycle it... even my birds are "green" I also got a bunch of seashells...I picked these up for $1. Also, a bunch of other random junk stuff that is not worth mentioning~ Rhonda over at Southern Hospitality is hosting this "Show us what you got" linky party. Go check it out~

Boutiques~

Today I hit some thrift stores..a.k.a. Boutiques! Here is a run down of what I got....a vintage hat $2An vintage aluminum tray .50cents, 20 paint brushes .75cents, a baggie of little glass animals that came in tea boxes .50cents, (that would have taken me a life time of drinking tea to get that many!!) a new roll of ribbon .25cents, a small glass ginger jar .50cents, an old round metal working music box .50cents, a gold/glass bird .25cents, and a handful of crystals for .50cents....A battenburgh Christmas tree skirt for $3, six vintage egg shaped napkin rings for $1.50 (to repaint or not to repaint that is the question!)... and 4 plastic price thingies from a grocery store that stick inside of large boxes of fruit for .25cents. I am going to use these to make markers for my trees telling everyone what kind they are. I need more of these! lol A new in the box hummingbird feeder for $3, a bag of small wooden blank blocks .50cents (I have no idea what I'm going to use these for!) a glittered Christmas bell wreath .50cents, four sprays of red berries for decorating...and a cardboard tartan box that has small drawers in it for .25cents. I also picked up these vintage --whatever they are cardboard thingies for .25cents for the lot. They have fold lines but have never been folded-- crazy!This small six drawer cabinet was only .50cents. I am going to paint it (of course) and pop out the current "display" that is inside each drawer and maybe fill it up with different colored buttons.... caute!Another pirate chest.... this one was only $3.95cents~Best of all.... a box of old ribbons for *drum roll please* .25cents.
Seriously, I don't need any of this stuff....but wanting it is a whole other story~

Somethings gotta give~

It is all or nothing for me.... lately its been all about yard work. I tend to have tunnel vision on things I currently have a passion for and don't put any focus on things like I should...like house work... and secondly my blog... and eeeeeeeeeek that 4th of July swap I joined. (I've so got to wrap that up and mail it out) Something's always gotta give--- or else you'll start ripping out your seams~ I am trying so hard to get everything in perfect order before the 100 degree temperatures set in for the summer.... anywho... here are some photos from my yard so I don't feel like such a slacker. Yes, I have been accomplishing somethings! *woot-woot*

Here is one of my plum trees loaded down with plums~

My wonderful blackberries...... growning on an arch of course!I only harvest a handful a day, washing/drying then freezing them until I have enough for a pie. It takes a l-o-n-g time to get enough for one pie... that gets eaten in ONE day.Of course I've been feverishly working on things for the upcoming "Mad Hatter's tea Party" that is being held on June the 27th. I am holding mine in my grandaughter's garden that I've created in my backyard. It is still a work in progress mind you.... I've recently created the look of a gate leading into the area using two wrought iron trellis pieces- caute!Here is a sneak peek at some of the early guests that have shown up already.

Of course no tea party is complete without a teacup tree firmly planted next to a metal lemon tree. Very convenient huh!As you can see, Chloe's little garden has a lot of stuff in it. Oh trust me... there is a lot more to see. Every statue is getting a hat-- geeze, speaking of hats,I must go make some more!

New babies~

Thankful Thursday...I am thankful for being able to witness the gift of life right outside my front door~
My lovely dove couple had another set of twins. Take a peek.....Here is a little closer peek...the two babies cuddling into their mother, now how sweeeeeeeeeet is that? Here is the original story behind the nest. You can see more things to be thankful for over at Rhondi's blog "Rose Colored Glasses" If you have linked here and wish to see more of my blog-- you can click here.

Show us your Crown Party~

I just finished my crown this morning. This is the first time I've made a crown using chicken wire. I must say, I like it.Instead of just a straight curvy top, I actually cut out circles into the wire for a more scalloped look. I wrapped lace around the edges of the crown to keep it from poking anyone wishing to wear it. I even added a "corset" piece in the back to fit fat heads :-Pokokok, or those wishing to wear it pulled down more on your head. (which I prefer) I don't like the look of a crown that sits directly on top of the head-- my goodness.... if you were to sneeze that sucker would become a lethal weapon! You can check out more crowns by visiting Andrea over at Vintage Bella.

Dollar days~

On Saturday, I picked up these two wedding dresses for a dollar each at one of the many-many thrift stores I go to. I could have hauled home about 20 of them (all going for a dollar each) if I could only figure out what to do with them! I picked out the two I liked the most...one with layers and layers of tulle....and the other one the fabric is almost like a silk linen.I am going to take the skirt part off of the bodices for now-- I think some of this lace and fabric is going to be used for my crown which I am needing to finish for tomorrows "Show us your Crown" party~

Work in progress....

Here is my Cheshire cat that I've been working on for the upcoming Mad Hatter's tea party. I started with just balled up newspaper that I taped onto a foam core base, I formed the ears out of cardstock. I used some flat wooden stir sticks to give the legs and the tail some stability. If I'm going to put all this time & effort into something...I don't want it ruined if it gets dropped and a leg falls off! I used a mixture of equal parts of flour and water to make the paste to put on a few layers of newspaper covering the cats shape. Once that was dried I added the details onto the face and feet with paper clay. Lastly, I added a layer of torn up paper bags using a mixture of Mod Podge and water. The flour paste wasn't as thick as I'd of liked it to be...so the mod podge gave me a harder finished surface. Now I've just got to begin finishing it up. I am going to add some more paper clay to the eyes and maybe tweek the nose a little bit more.... then comes the painting! I am wanting- needing a thick paint to cover the lines created by the paper, I am wanting a smooth finish--- I am clueless as what to use! Oh well...it will come to me-- eventually!

Tea Party~

Okokok...here is my "tea party" I am so ready to have a tea party with my grandaughter! Although I've got to wait awhile, she just 4 months old~For some reason I thought I had more time....such is life huh? I was going to have tea out in my backyard in my grandaughters garden which I have been working on non-stop now for a week. Wouldn't you know it? It has been raining and gloomy! *gasp* (ok, secretly I'm delighted, I love the rain!) Now.... I am going to have a Mad Hatters tea party out there on June the 27th~(so worth coming back for!!) I've got a teapot tree out there with tea cups hanging from it... party hats and good times promised for all! I hear even the cheshire cat is going to show up! *woot-woot*

The childrens table and chairs I picked up for $8, the yellow vintage table cloth I also picked up for $8...I cut it down to make a tiny table cloth and then used the left over fabric to cover both the chairs. The 50 piece tea set (still new in the box) was only $4! *wow* huh? The silver cup with roses .50cents, the silver tray was $3, the silver basket with glittered fruit was $1. I have napkins as well...but I ran out of steam to go look for them after sewing allllllllll afternoon! Come back for the Mad hatter's tea party and I'll have them found by then!
You can see more tea party's over at The Victorain Parlor.

Another party....

Andrea over at Vintage Bella Studio is hosting a "Show us your Crown" linky party being held on June 10th. I am going to be making a crown out of chicken wire. I've seen a couple of these and I've always wanted one.... so whats a girl to do but make herself one. I started with some chicken wire that I found dumped along side the railroad tracks. I didn't notice it until today-- but this wire is smaller than normal chicken wire! How cool! I started with an existing pattern that I have for making paper top hats. I marked on the chicken wire using masking tape following the pattern that I chose. Then I just cut it out using some wire cutters-- easy peasy. Here it is all cut out.... Here it is rolled around in a hat shape. Now, this is how it would sit if I was going to turn this into a top hat-- I love how it fits sooooooo I'm not sure I'm going to make it a straight band around my head or a curvy band. I guess it will just work its way into what it is suppossed to be~

Anywhooooooo~ I am such a party girl.... I hope you party girls show off your crowns as well. You can show off handmade crowns as well as store bought crowns! :-)

Mmm mmm Monday~

Here is a chocolate chip cookie recipe that I got online off of a random blog. The recipe sounded gooooooooooood.... but it was awful! I'm sharing it anyway! I think it would have been better had I NOT melted the butter like the recipe called for. I always have had bad results with melted butter in cookie recipes...so anyone reading this DO NOT MELT YOUR BUTTER! The cookies were crispy and thin and stuck to the cookie sheet and the parchment paper....cruel-cruel- joke. Hey, this would be a wonderful recipe to give to someone you didn't like! *woot-woot* Chocolate chip cookies
1 cup butter, melted (don't melt the butter!!)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 pkg vanilla instant pudding mix (the small 4 serving box)
1 tbsp milk
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups milk chocolate chips

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease baking sheets and set aside (or parchment paper). They stuck to both--- so your choice! In a large bowl, mix together butter, and brown and white sugars. Stir in dry pudding mix and milk. Stir in eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and baking soda, stir this into your butter mixture. Drop by tiny-tiny balls onto your prepared pans. These suckers spread like you wouldn't believe! (again, the result of that melted butter) Bake in the center of your oven until golden brown around the edges about 12 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet and then pry those suckers off of the cookie sheet transfer the cookies to a rack to cool completely. (yes, these cookies are so bad/ugly they are banished to a paper plate!)Now, I had to eat a lot of these to make sure that I didn't like them...and yes, after eating quite a few... I don't like them. They would be wonderful broken up and tossed on some ice cream-- if you like that kinda thing. In keeping with my "More is better" montra, I had doubled the recipe *gasp*...so the second batch I added 2 cups of oatmeal to the mix. (trying to make a purse out of a pigs ear) At least this batch came off of the cookie sheet a little easier and the cookies didn't bend in two in your hand when you picked them up.... ugh...If ever (and I would never) make these again, I wouldn't melt the butter. Bad-bad butter.... 'nough said. Now, if anyone tries this recipe and they come out perfectly fine...do not tell me, I would have a melt down. A b-u-t-t-e-r melt down~ *note.... only the small metal basket has real fruit in it :-) the rest is faux~ I'm more of a cookie girl than a fruit girl! lol I am not even going to mention the "token" lettuce I have in the fridge~