Be Thankful

I really enjoyed my Halloween window and porch display throughout October but I really need change out the window for something with a Thanksgiving theme.


I wanted something quick and easy and cheap!
A sign was the answer

I went by my local lumber yard and purchased a scrap piece of plywood.  At my lumberyard scrap pieces of plywood are cheap, it was a nice surprise.

My first step was to spray paint the outer edge

After the outer edge was dry, I taped off the outer edge and painted the center

 I cut vinyl on my Silhouette and applied it to the sign.  It was pretty easy and simple.  One exception it had been so long since I used my Silhouette, it was like relearning the software!

One more project, a thankful banner for my hutch

That's it for Thanksgiving, I can't believe the Christmas season is right around the corner.

Easter Table.

This year Easter dinner will be at my house.  I wanted to start working on the table and made a quick table runner from osnaburg.   Just a quick serging of the edges, turned under and topstitched the hem.

To add a bit for the Easter theme, think bunnies.  I cut a couple of bunnies from vinyl and applied to each end of the runner.  Then using a pit of paint, I painted the bunnies, with the vinyl as the stencil.

They turned out pretty good.

I added a couple of bunnies, I found at Joann's, my hurricane candle holders filled with decorative eggs, burlap wreaths from Ballard's on close-out, a vase filled with tulips finish the spring look.

A bit of fun and spring color.  Now to plan the menu!

Last Gift Completed and Wrapped

I wanted to make something for my older two daughters, Paige and Erin.  They both have beautiful homes and really enjoy decorating for Christmas. 

I started out with these pictures, purchased for 10 cents each at Dollar General

I painted the entire picture and frame in the same paint.  For the past 12 days, Silhouette has been graciously giving a design a day for the 12 days of Christmas.  I have been downloading them each and every day.  I used a free design on each of the girls' pictures.

Here is Paige's:

Next Erin's:


                                   

I have a couple of gifts (sewing ones) that I will share after Christmas, I don't want a couple of people knowing what they are getting. 


With these two gifts, I am finished crafting and sewing.  The presents are all wrapped, the food is purchased, cookies made and sampled!

Tomorrow is the day for my older two girls to come home with their guys and we have Christmas with them.  Then off to my mom and dad's for Christmas Eve with 16 of us.  I can't wait, it will be so fun.

Cupcakes Anyone?

We have been busy baking the last two days.

Here is a sampling of the cupcakes the twins have made.

Meredith went with Rudolph. Found at Family Fun

Kaitlyn's choice was Christmas Trees

Candy shaped stars were called for the topper on these trees but we couldn't find anything like that.  I cut stars with my Silhouette and we made cupcake toppers with toothpicks.  Find the instructions here

Stocking holders

Using U Create's November Project for inspiration, Erin and I (and her dad) made her stocking holders for her new home.

We got a 2 x 6 scrap board, cut each four pieces 5-1/4" each. Mike used his router and made a groove for the frames..  The frames are 4 x 6 frames from Hobby Lobby (50% off) and with the routed groove, Erin can change what is in the frame.  A little bit of paint on all the wooden surfaces, she has mostly turquoise and red ornaments for her tree.

The frames have scrapbooking paper background and initials cut out with my Silhouette.  She bought hooks in our small town but they were the wrong color, so she painted them her trim paint color.

take a look

Stocking found at Hobby Lobby and yes one for their dog.  I am going to embroidery their names on felt and then stitch it onto the stockings.

Her fiance's holder

Her holder

 Aren't they cute?  And very inexpensive to make.  I might need new ones, I really like Shanty 2 Chic's holders with the clothespin.  I am thinking a cute picture of the girls when they were little, dressed in their Christmas finest.

Numbers Table

Erin wanted a small table for her classroom, something for papers/homework.  A good friend found a child's table for $10 and had her husband go back to the antique store to buy it.  Thanks, Tricia!

Erin asked me to paint it a bright blue (it was red top with white legs) and that is all she wanted.  Well, I couldn't stop at paint only.  After seeing this sign from Tater Tots and Jello's weekend wrap up party, I had my inspiration.  Out came my Silhouette machine and Erin's favorite color, orange for the vinyl.  Here is her new table, perfect for a math teacher.

I used every bit of the orange vinyl, I was lucky to get all the numbers I needed!

Silhouette Artwork

My second oldest daughter purchased a house and closed last month.  She has been busy decorating and fixing up.  We used my Silhouette machine to transform some canvases.

The first one uses three canvases and we used this site as inspiration.
Here is our version:

Here is another view:

Then the second one we transformed a plain canvas into this

We used a silhouette design for the middle and then painters tape for the outside. 

Here it is in the office:

On both canvases we did a dry brushing technique for the cream paint, allowing some of the base coat to show through.

Sharing this on Tatertots and Jello

A Few Projects for the Kitchen

Tomorrow I hope to have pictures of my painted kitchen cabinets, if the sun cooperates that is.

Until then, I used my Silhouette and vinly to redo somethings.

I bought these cute cannisters at Pier One, the black is chalkboard paint.  In reality, I was the cannisters off quite a bit and always have to write on them again.

So I cut vinyl for the wording, much better:

Years ago I purchased this sign at the a home party.  In the catalog I couldn't tell it was a green color, so I painted over it in black.  This was fine but I was ready for some color:

New paint and light gray lettering, much better for spring.

Silhouette Cards and More

It is snowing again and I can't seem to get motivated to sew the spring dress for Meredith.   Instead I did some things with my Silhouette Machine.

A card:

Then a crock my mom had in a closet (from her cow phase)

Using the Silhouette and some vinyl it became a cookie jar:

More Valentine Cards

I am so enjoying this cardmaking and made a list for Valentine's Day.  I am upto 13 cards made and I need a few more.

Here are the latest, most of the elements are cut with my Silhouette machine

Valentine's Cards

I spent part of the afternoon making some Valentine Cards.  Most of the elements for each card were made using my Silhouette.

Well, this one isn't a valentine card but made it Saturday morning and wanted to share it

Here is the inside:

Another one -using a paper package from bo Bunny called Crush for many of these cards

The Silhouette has the ability in put in sketch pens and you can draw different shapes or words with the pens.  This is how I did the wording on the cards.

The topiary design was the free weekly design,

This one might be my favorite

Tomorrow plans are to start on my jacket from Cabi inspiration

Card Making

A few months ago I purchased a Silhouette Machine and have been enjoying it.  My use of this machine has increased the last couple of weeks, as the twins and I have set up an extra bedroom for scrapbooking and crafting.  I am able to leave my Silhouette out and I really have been able to learn more about this machine.  I am amazed how much you can do with the Silhouette and the software.  Each Monday, on the Silhouette Blog, there is a tutorial.  I try to work through each tutorial, just to learn the software a bit better.  Another great feature, is a weekly free design and the blog always has a cute way to use the free design.

In the evenings, I have been making some cards.

From the weekly design this week - I used all the bits and pieces to make these three cards:

Here is one more - just cut using some punches