Valentine's.Giveaway WINNER

I've got to make this quick, but I am thrilled to announce that Heather Henderson is the winner of the Sweetheart Headband GIVEAWAY.     Congratulations Heather!  ♥ ♥ ♥ 

I will "see" you all next week!

*Heather, please email me {aammeelliiaa@juno.com} your mailing address! 



♥ ♥ ♥  

"Farwell Virginia!"

Boy, am I ever thankful for another snow day!  - Today I only have one extra little one, besides Alex.  I'm glad for the chance to get some extra housework done & hopefully finish some projects. {not to mention: a 8-piece headband order I need to start, finish, & ship!}
The next 4 days are going to be nutsss... in a good way though!  :)    The main reason being, this coming Monday we leave for Florida!!! - Our dear friends, Patrick & Amy are getting married in Sarasota on the 4th. We {just Blake & I} had originally planned to drive down the Wednesday before and come home the Sunday after. {a 14 hr. drive each way, gagggh!} Sure, we would have had fun and lots of one-on-one time together!
Blake came home one evening {a couple days before my Birthday} and slowly, in a round-about-way started telling me what my Bday gift was going to be........ "ohh nothing special!" we're just going to fly to FL, with Alex, and stay a whole week!"   {thud! yea, that was me hitting the floor!}   "Huhhh???!!!"   I asked him 2 or 3 times if he was serious, no jokes. -He promised me that he was!
I am so excited we are all going, our little family.  This trip will be the first of many things for little man! We told him the other night that we would ride in an airplane soon.... talk about priceless!  :)   I heard him telling Aubrey, "Mama, Daddy, Awex, Airpwane! Euwwww!"
Anyway, all of this rambling to say, I won't be blogging in the next week. Though, I WILL pick the winner of the  Valentines-GIVEAWAY this Sunday, before we leave. {I will post the winner Sunday & mail out Mon. morning.}
I'm excited to get back to blogging once we return.- - I've got multiple projects that are in the works and will be complete soon....I can't wait to share them!  *I'm most excited about our Kitchen Do-Over, which is still very much is process, but coming!
Any who, I've got to get off here and get to work!  I hope you all enjoy the snow and have a wonderful week!


                           Farwell Virginia,

DIY::: Frame-Photo-Display

I'm excited about this project and eager to share it with you........   

              Here is an EASY and unique way to display photos! 

 

SUPPLIES:

*Picture frame, 8x10" or larger

* Super-Glue or Hot-Glue gun

*Fish line, String/Yarn, or thin Ribbon 

* Clothes Pins {miniature ones prob. work better} 

While thriftin' this past Sat., I came across this wood frame. I really liked it's simplicity and the size. {20.5"x16.5"} I brought it home for $2!  I knew I wanted to use it to display something.... and I wanted to create a hanging clothesline look....???  hmmmm........

  

- First, I gave the frame a facelift using black spray-paint. I wanted it to look worn, so I let some of the wood show through. {by not spraying as heavy is some spots}

 {Please excuse the blurry pics.}

-After cutting fishing-line to fit the width of the frame, I used my hot-glue gun to secure the line to the back of the frame, on each side.   

I choose to only make 3 lines, making sure to leave enough room between for photos to hang.

Squeal!   Go get those special photos you want to display, and grab some clothes-pins while your at it!...... Start hanging away!  :)      RIGHT:  It looks great hung up!.... OR......

............sitting! 

  

 * I do want to get some little clothes-pins yet, and see how they look!

Question:  Is this a DIY project you would actually use??

Valentine's GIVEAWAY ♥ ♥ ♥

  
  

 Ekkk!  

I'm so excited! - -

It's finally time for the Valentine's GIVEAWAY! 

 .... On Sunday, Jan. 30 I will draw one name {over at Random.org} from my blog-followers to receive a Sweetheart headband.  
- To be "entered" simply comment on THIS post.
  

{By having you comment on the post, I know you like the headbands and want a chance to win.}  

                       

I also wanted to share one of my favorite Valentine's treats... It's easy, fun, and the little ones {and big ones} LOVE them.... ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Rice Krispie Heart-Pops 

Supplies: 
 * Rice Krispie Treat ingredients
* Popsicle Sticks {approx 25}
* Heart-shaped Cookie Cutter 
* Cookie Decorating supplies 

- Make a normal 9x13" pan of Rice Krispie treats. {as directed on cereal box or recipe}

*Grease the pan extra heavy.*

- After cooled, flip or gently pull sheet of Rice krispies out of pan, trying not to tear it. 

Lay on a flat, work surface. 

 

- Pick a heart shaped cookie cutter, about 2-3 inches in size. 

{Ignore my star cookie-cutter. These pics are from Christmas.}

- Start at a corner of the sheet of Rice Krispies, cutting out hearts.

- Next, take lollipop sticks and put up into the star, from the bottom. 

- Have fun decorating the hearts any way you would like! -frosting, sprinkles, candy

- These treats are a fantastic activity for little ones!
{Tucker helped me decorate them.- -He did a great job!}   :) 

*I've found the easiest way to "serve" these are.....

   

Buy 2 "bricks" of aqua-foam or "Oasis".  - I got mine from the Dollar Tree for this project. 

Also, buy 2 tin-bread pans. Simply put the foam into the tins, wedging them in.  

[[I don't have a pic. of the tins decorated, but they are easy to make festive and fun.
Ideas: thick ribbon around the tin bases, cover with dried moss or shredded party-paper, etc.]]

*I took these {the stars} treats to a New Years party, they were a hit with young & old!


♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

GiveAway.Goodness WINNERS

We have two winners!!!....

I'm excited to announce Judy Shank as the winner of the beaded-brooch and Lisa J as the winner of a gray pom-pom clip!
 I hope you enjoy, ladies!  :)   {the winners were picked over at Random.org}

*Stay tuned for my Valentine's GIVEAWAY-post this weekend!

                  Happy Friday!
                                

DIY Project: Bench Makeover

We all know how expensive decorative-furniture can be, especially when bought brand-spankin' new.  Because of this, I always keep my eyes open for pieces at auctions, thrift stores, and yard sales. 

  

The latest addition to our home {bought at a thrift store} is a wooden bench. When i first spotted it, it was dusty and filthy... rather gross.  I'm glad that i didn't pass it up, 

all it needed was a good ol' cleaning & some love. 

[*Please excuse the blurry pictures.]

   

 

 ____________________________________________________________________

 

- The bench is simple, wooden with a padded seat cushion.

 For upholstery fabric, I decided on a brown, zebra print for the seat cushion.

- I started by taking all the screws out.  

  

- After a good scrubbin' of the wood  base, I pulled out my trusty my glue-gun.

 I laid the seat-cushion face down on top the zebra fabric.

- Using the glue-gun, I secured the fabric to the back of the seat, pulling the fabric very tight, hoping for no wrinkles on the front.  I did this to all four sides.

 

  

- Once I finished covering the seat-cushion, I laid it on the base.

There was something I just didn't like?!  

 I decided to give the wood a face-lift, painting it a shade of tan/brown.

I love, love, love! 

  

I put the bench in our bedroom... I'm happy with it there, for now! 

Until next time.....

DIY Sweetheart Headband

With Valentine's Day being just around the corner, here's an easy and cute headband tutorial....

Supplies:

•  1 Headband, elastic or hard
•  Hot Glue or fabric glue
• Felt... 2 different colors 

- To get started, cut out hearts from the felt.

 It's easiest to fold your felt in half and cut on the fold. {as showed above}

 - I wanted to create a layered set, alternating colors for mine  
Be creative, there are no rules.

When happy with hearts, glue them together
 

OPTIONAL:  Using a hand-needle and cross-stitch thread i stitched the edge of the hearts.

Cut out 1 addition heart, guesstimating it to the size of your largest heart, but a tad smaller.

 It will be used on the back of the finished product, as a guard for glue oozing out.

Try the headband on, holding the heart up to where you want it,

  hold it in place, and take off

Taking glue, put a generous amount on the headband,

 firmly press the heart into place and hold

Take the additional heart and cover the backside of it with glue.

Flip the headband to the back side and apply the heart. Press the two hearts together

Little Miss. H modeling the finished product.

 xoxo, 

A special Shout.Out...

A quick, but special shout-out to the chick over at My Life As A Wife.  , Parla Cline-Sonifrank!   Parla and I grew up in the same church. However, she recently ran off to Ontario with her new hubby.   

I recently ordered a crocheted beanie from her and LOVE IT!  - Below are some samples of her work. - Show her some love by checking out her blog, and placing an order!

 

These little booties are stitched with leather for great walking-traction and cuteness!

 

 Happy Weekend!

DIY Project: Cake Stand & Candy dish

I don't know about you, but I have quite a collection of china & crystal dishes, bowls and platters.  Most of them I received as bridal shower or wedding gifts. There are several of them that I use regularly and when hostessing, but most of them are nicely displayed (and collecting dust) in my china press.  There is one piece that I recently purchased, at my grandparents auction, that is very special to me.- It belonged to my Grandma Yoder, I believe she received it as a wedding gift.  3 words for it....... mustardy, flower, & vintage.

Ohh! - I guess I should also include the supplies that are needed for this project:  

  

* 2 Candle-Stick Holders

*Super Glue

* 1 Plate or Plater {any size or shape, as long as it has a flat bottom}

 * 1 Bowl {any size or shape, as long as it has a flat bottom}

I recently stopped by the Dollar Tree and came across a shelf of "crystal" candle-stick holders. They were nice enough and heavy, so I picked 2 of them up. As soon as I got home and saw Grandma's plate in my hutch, I just knew!.... A cake stand!

Soo.... on to it...... First, I wiped off the candle-stick holder & the bottom of the plate.  Next, I applied a GENEROUS amount of super glue to the top of the C.holder, around the entire brim.  

  

Quickly, I laid the plate {centered, as best as possible} on top of the C.stick and applied pressure for a couple minutes.  *I would recommend flipping the stand up-side down to apply pressure onto the plate, however my plate-top slightly curved upward and wouldn't lay flat.

After a couple minutes...WaaLaaaa!... Oh, I love it! - and I like that the stand and plate don't perfectly match!   I can't wait to use it for Easter!

For the Candy Bowl repeat the same directions as the stand......

This will be fun to use as a candy dish... just add a red bow & it's perfect for Valentine's!  

Until next time....