Wednesday, March 31, 2010

2 Quick Projects & 1 New Pair of Shoes

Project One:
What is this you ask?
Maybe you're thinking it's a decorated wooden block...
Or perhaps just a small plaque?

Nope.

and...

Nope.

It's a chalkboard eraser!!!

I have a post to show later of my shelf/coat hanger redo where I destroyed a scratched mirror and turned it into a chalkboard. When I put it on display I knew I needed the eraser, but didn't like having it just sitting up on the shelf... so I mod podged some white paper on, then added a scrap of burlap, hot glued on my chipboard letters and VOILA!

Project Two:
I LOVE the Family Rules that everyone has been making out in Blogland... but I don't have a family to make rules for! I doubt my six pets would follow the rules, not saying that they couldn't read them, just that they wouldn't even be able to see them if I didn't post them at floor level!

My solution: rules to craft by! I plan on hanging this on the door to my Craft Room in the hallway. It was super easy, just pick you rules, pick striped paper or some paper scraps, glue them down to a large piece of chipboard or wood and set everything out on the paper! Cute and so easy!

If you can't read mine they say:

Keep Calm and Craft On
1. Choose Happiness
2. Create
3. Be True 2 Yourself
4. Imagine
5. Do What You Love
6. Dream
7. Inspire
8. Flourish
9. See Differently

I spent an amazing day with my friend Sarah today for a late birthday celebration. She treated me to Chili's (my favorite) where we enjoyed their awesome chips and salsa (homemade in restaurant) and I had my fave monterrey chicken with loaded mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. We then did some shopping at Payless and JoAnn's, followed by going to see Alice in Wonderland! It was a great movie! I chose that over Remember Me because we figured Remember Me is probably sad and I said we should see Alice because it is full of bright colors (LOL)!

Here are some cute and super COMFY shoes I grabbed at Payless for $17.99!

I could sleep in these! There's a navy blue pair I'm totally thinking I need to go with the dress I posted about back on Monday!


LOVE!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

I will be hanging out with friends and forcing myself to do some grading and IEP paperwork for the return to school on Monday!

Monday, March 29, 2010

Beneath My Heart Linky Party and Inspired Project!




Okay this is my FAVORITE project of March! And it is all thanks to Traci over at Beneath My Heart and her awesome video tutorial! I love her!


Traci uses cork board on the back of her sheet metal... but I'm far too cheap to buy it so I just grabbed some foam board from Dollar Tree!


Glue the foam board around the edges of your sheet metal to make it thicker and prevent a trip to the hospital for stitches (haha). I cut it with my trusty box cutter (more daring adventure for me!)

Now, you flip that bad boy over and are ready to put on your fabric if it's thick. If it's not thick your metal will shine through. Traci spray painted hers... spray paint and I do not get along and it takes too much time... so I grabbed out the mod podge and covered it with a thin coat.

I had some tissue paper on hand from my recent birthday so I just grabbed it out of a nearby gift and smooshed it on the metal (seriously- I didn't even stress over wrinkles). Then you cut off the excess... if any holes appear just rip a piece from the excess and dab it over the hole.


Now, when I saw this fabric at JoAnn's I had no idea what I was going to do with it. I just knew that I NEEDED it. So I only got a half yard because I don't have the money to blow right now. Ended up that wasn't enough... uh oh... cept... I had leftover BURLAP! So I decided to add some burlap and ribbon for magnet parking at the bottom.

(BTW at some point in this process I ran out of hot glue and had to run to Dollar Tree to get more. I had a stare down with it in the craft aisle when I got the foam board on the first trip, but I was SURE I wouldn't run out *eye roll here*)

Okay, so there was a massive hunt for the magnets around my wreck of a house- but no fear I found them! I painted them pink because those awesome little pebble stickers didn't cover the whole magnet and I didn't like the black showing!
All together now.... OOOOOOOH!!!!!


AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!


Thanks Traci!

Friend Makin' Monday


I can't sleep... so let's make some friends!It's another Friend Makin' Monday with Amber over at A.E.Filkins...

This week's topic is Spring Trends, here are some of my faves:

Florals & Scarves!:
Mark $16 Scarf

Target Liberty of London Poppy Scarf $14.99


Trench Coat:
Fashion Bug Pink Trench Coat $39.99


Ruffles:
Walmart Women's Plus Size Dress $14 (just ordered this one and the white one- oops :P)

I've also seen that for hair styles it's still long waves and loose braids... but I'm kinda stuck on the angled bob now that I discovered it just this year!

As for makeup, the liquid eyeliner look is all the rage and I've always liked a lined top lid only with a shimmery shadow and I'm addicted to lipglosses so here are my current makeup faves:

Sparkle Eye Dust from NYC (like $3.97 a pop at Walmart)I've currently got it in baby blue, pink champagne, and smokey topaz... a little bit of an addiction

Wet N Wild H20 Proof Eyeliner (cheap cheap anywhere)

Mary Kay Eye Primer (pricey... but all I've ever used on my greasy skin to stop the creasing!)

I love Mary Kay lipglosses, but this Winter I discovered Bath and Body Works C.O.Bigelow lip buffer and lip glosses (mentha organics in sheer rose and the mentha lip tint but not sure what color I have there), as well as the LipLicious in Watermelon Sorbet (although they are all super yummy and I'd love to try the jewel versions)... all are $7.50 each at www.bathandbodyworks.com or your nearest store :).


Now if only my healthy pets could get jobs to support my spending habits....


As for my dear Buddy I am not seeing any improvements from the drug cocktail injection :(. The vet will be calling me later today to discuss the next steps to be taken and when those arrangements should be made. I struggle with having to make the decision of what time is the right time to take my pup in (only a pup to me as he is almost 12 years old). I pray to God every night to take away his suffering and help me know when the time is right to let the vet take over. I don't have the heart to type the words about him no longer being here with me, for me it is as if I am losing a child and a best friend all in one. I continue to hope and pray each day for the answers to come to me when needed. Until then I try to enjoy the time I have left with him and distract myself from worries that I know God will take care of.

God Bless
~Amy~

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Fabulous Fabric

Have you been to JoAnn's lately? I went today... on a much needed distraction from life.
I was wandering around by the upholstery fabric and found these beauties (on sale for $6.99 a yard... wish I had the money to have bought a full yard of each)!







I ended up with the pink and green damask and the pink and green butterflies... to be made in to magnet boards as Traci from Beneath My Heart showed how to create on YouTube or you can get one at her etsy shop... she's more than a little awesome!

Finished project to be posted tomorrow, as long as my dog's health holds steady for the time being and there are no changes...

~Amy~

Thursday, March 25, 2010

My Sweet Dog

This is Buddy, my soon to be 12 year old Pomeranian/Sheltie mix.


He's lived a good life... being spoiled completely rotten...


I took him to the vet today because I had noticed him sleeping a lot more recently and when I pet him I could feel his back bone. This is a dog that has always been on the heavy side... he was 39 pounds at his heaviest. He got down to about 32 when we got the house two years ago which was a good healthy weight for him. When he stepped on the scale at the vet today... it said 21.1 pounds. He had lost one third of his body weight since his last visit a year ago. As I was waiting for the vet I was petting him and realized that I could fit both hands completely around what is now his waist. I immediately started crying because how did I not notice that much weight loss sooner! The vet assured me that she would have had difficulty too seeing how he's a total fur ball. They took some blood and after getting back his lab results discovered that there is something severely wrong with his liver. She says she's pretty sure it's liver cancer, that there is nothing that can be done, that I couldn't have made a difference by catching it sooner, that he isn't in pain... just kind of ho hum like you are when you have the flu, and that me bringing in the new dog didn't have any effect on this- depression isn't a factor here or something that he is battling. She gave him a drug cocktail shot... with penicillin, prednisone, and a few other things I don't remember. I will know by Monday if it is helping him, hopefully it will spark his appetite and perk him up a little bit... give us a couple more weeks maybe? The vet doesn't think it will work because of how bad his levels are. I've never had a pet last even a year growing up until I got my recent six pets. Growing up all of our animals disappeared or got hit by cars. Now I have a 14 year old cat, a 3 year old cat, a 5 year old turtle, 1 year old hamster, and a soon to be 1 year old Pomeranian, plus my dear Buddy who will be 12 in April. It's hard to even consider not having him around. It's hard to think of 12 as old when I'd like for him to live as long as people do. So this post is dedicated to my forever puppy Buddy, my first dog.


He's sleeping now on the couch... looking as healthy as ever and like he could jump up and run through the house like he's still a pup. It's going to be hard to let him go.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

I'm out of commission for day three... and it just keeps getting worse!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Friend Makin' Monday

I'm joining Amber's Friend Makin' Monday! Cuz I love friends!
Go check her out at aefilkins!

1. Favorite things about Spring: flowers growing and being able to wear cute floral flirty things!

2. What I'm doing for Spring Break: enjoying the last three week break of our disappearing year round teaching calendar... cleaning, crafting, hanging with friends, and doing school work!

3. Favorite Spring flower: i love seeing violets growing in the yard! once i refused to mow the lawn by the driveway because of all of the pretty violets!

4. Do you have a garden? well.... did... but... i don't weed... so the flower garden is now a weed garden

5. If so, what do you grow? flowers... and weeds

6. Do you do Spring cleaning? i like to call it decrapifying!

7. What is your weather *really* like right now? it's been nice, mid to upper 60s and mostly sunny

8. Snapped any weather related photos lately? not really, but i did take a pic of a squirrel and a robin in the tree outback!

9. What's your favorite thing to do on a sunny afternoon? drive to the flea market or play outside with my pups

10. Favorite TV show right now? One Tree Hill/Vampire Diaries/or Grey's Anatomy, I can't choose

COME MAKE FRIENDS WITH ME!!!


Sunday, March 21, 2010

Resolution

Alright... get ready.... because I'm going to be posting more often!

The reason I don't post that often is because I'm lazy when it comes to uploading pics. I'm also lazy when it comes to emptying my memory card... so when I go to upload there's like 300 pics to go through to get to what I want. So today I'm going to go burn everything to a cd, empty my memory card, and get goin' here.

I have so much to show you!

  1. I've repainted an aquarium stand and created my own background for the tank
  2. Learned to make rolled fabric rosettes
  3. Made an adorable button headband
  4. A few chalkboard trays
  5. And I'm in the process of cleaning my craft room... you will die when you see the before pictures- it gives a whole new meaning to unorganized
Anyway, I'm sure there's more that I'm forgetting... like all of the necklaces I've made, but I'll be posting soon. I'll also be buying envelopes and needed packaging to send out those giveaway items and FINALLY my pay it forward items as well! I'll email you when they are shipped (either Monday or Tuesday).

LOVE!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

VICTORY IS MINE!

GUESS WHAT?!?!?!?!?

I DID IT!!!!


I FIXED THE BATH TUB FAUCETS! I EXCHANGED THE OTHER PART, REALIZED THE GUY PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE IT SEALED ALL THE WAY WHEN HE PUT ON THE SHUT OFF PIECE AND FIXED IT BY MYSELF!!!!

NO MAN!

NO PLUMBER!

JUST ME!

26 (27 IN ONE WEEK) YEAR OLD ME!!!

WITH THE MORAL SUPPORT OF A VERY ENTHUSIASTIC POM...



LOVE!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Saga Continues

Okay, so I started out with hot water running in a stream as if someone had not turned it off in the tub like this...
And drove downtown to the plumbing supply store and paid $60 for two new faucet gut pieces (the receipt says ceramic cartridge... basically it's everything that screws into the pipe in the wall and is covered by the handle). Mom said, "Get both Amy, otherwise you'll end up needing the other one before you know it." So, I did and spent the $60. Came home all excited, put the new parts on (with Charlie the pomeranian/puparoo in the tub with me), turned the water back on...




and now....




drum roll please....
WE HAVE A TRICKLE RUNNING OF COLD WATER INSTEAD OF HOT!

If I was a mermaid this wouldn't bother me as I would live underwater and most likely wouldn't have issues with air leaks ya know?


Anyway, saga continues- mom is going to go back downtown to the plumbing store and exchange the cold piece for a new one. My reasoning is that if the hot water is now fixed with the new part... then the cold water part must be defective. Right? Uh... sure... just go along with it here. I'll let you know what happens next...

Until then....
I'm Soggy with a Chance of Dog Paws

Monday, March 8, 2010

The Joys of Home Owning...

Alright, here's a little rant...

Have I been crafting? Yes... tons... you wouldn't believe all the projects I haven't posted on! Why haven't I posted? Because uploading pics is a pain with my camera and it's sucking batteries dry like you wouldn't believe! Also, life gets in the way.

Secondly- giveaway? right? Yeah, well it sorta stinks because all of the post offices around here are open school hours... and I'm a teacher. Therefore, my lovely giveaway winners, you will be receiving your prizes next week when my break starts and I am free to ship and craft freely! (I will be including an apology goody as well for each of you- not that I've decided what that is yet!)

Thirdly, the meaning of this post, I have lived in my old little house for two years now. It was built in 1957 and is just under 1,000 sq. feet. It has a big yard and it makes me happy to come home to (though it could be much much more organized- side note to be added to break to do list for next week). Anyway, there were plumbing problems when I was in the process of buying the house and the realtor's repair guy fixed the copper pipes and that was a total Jerry Springer show drama, but we got it resolved and i bought my house.

Now... for two years I've had a drip... drip... drip... in the tub. I tried to find people to help me fix it, but no takers. SO! I got this awesome book...


And in it's awesomeness it told me how to repair a leaky faucet, that over this weekend decided to go from dripping to running water....

Except the hardware stores don't carry what I need!

So I put it back together...

HAHA! The water wouldn't shut off in the tub! Then when I got it rearranged again when I shut it off it made a terrible screeching sound in the pipes!!!

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!So I turned off the main water supply! :(

Then I called in today and have been up since 6 making sub plans for my kiddos, pm sub plans for my assistant, and calling every plumbing supply complany possible.

I FOUND ONE! It's in the middle of downtown and about 30-40 minutes away, but they think they probably have the parts I need! So... I'm going to go to my mom's to shower, then drive myself to this place and see if I can get some home repairs done.

BTW... all of my repair time was spent sitting in the tub with my pet pom drinking the dripping water... I tried to get my mom to take a pic for my blog, but when she went to leave the room my pom took off with my wrench and my mom had to retrieve it instead! :(

(all pics found through google image search)

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