A Productive Weekend...

I had plans this weekend to get my scrap table refreshed with a new coat of paint. I had hubby help me move it to the kitchen on Friday night so I could get started. I knew it would need a couple of coats and I wanted it put back together before I had to go to work on Monday morning. You can see the dark red that was the original color, along with the mars and scratches it inherited over several years of scrapping and crafting. The turquoise color looks lighter here with just one coat of paint. It's actually the same color that I used last summer to paint my dining room chairs. You can see a bit of the chair in the lower left of the pic.

Here it is the next day with two coats of paint...looking much better.

I also painted a couple of bulletin boards and a few frames that had the same dark red color as the table...and as I get everything put back into my scrap room, the brighter color makes me happy!

I promise it won't look this organized for long.

Another thing I wanted to get done this weekend was to make a pound cake. It's one of my favorite sweets. I've tried several recipes over the years and don't ever seem to stick with the same one for more than 2 or 3

times before I see another recipe I want to try. They've all been good and tasty, I just like to try new recipes. This one I found on Pinterest, and it was yummy!

I think adding the fruit is a nice touch, don't you? It makes the entire plate seem more healthy. Now, off to work on some layouts and try out my newly brightened space...

Snow Days Ending...

 I love snow days...

This photo was actually snapped a couple of days ago, but my yard still looks like this--and it is still COLD...I'm definitely not a winter type of gal! When the weather looks like this outside, I can think of every excuse in the book to stay inside where it is warm and cozy.

Of course, I can't sit still, so-------what's a girl to do? I found plenty of projects to work on while I was home...I'm always dangerous with an available can of paint (because remember, I'm not going out in the cold weather to purchase any!) I've been gradually adding more turquoise colors in my house over the past year, and I decided to use up some of that left over paint.

My sis made this for me quite a few years back out of an old window, and I just love it. I have it hanging above my fireplace...I decided to spruce it up a bit with the new paint color. You can see the navy blue color that was originally on it.

I love the way it looks-it really helps lighten and brighten the mood in the living room.

I've had extra time in the kitchen too, and that makes me happy.

I had a lot of fun making this Indian Flatbread, and it was really 

yummy. It's very versatile. You could use it as bread for your sandwich, use it for Indian Tacos, warm it up to go with your dinner, or if you've already had a full meal and just need a late night snack...

 You could warm it up and add some yummy honey to go with it...

Oh my gosh! It was so delish! I'm sure I'll be baking this 

recipe again in the near future.

Another consumer of my time is scrapping. 

Here's my 2nd page of the new year.

It's an older pic of G and M, but I don't necessarily always scrap in chronological order...and I certainly enjoy having 2 cute photogenic grandsons as my layout subjects.

Tomorrow will be "back to business" as I head back to school. A three day week will make it go by very quickly. We still have so much to accomplish this year before April---I hope my students are ready to buckle down and hit the books! 

...Create Your Dreams Everyday...I Do!

...lately

a few things I have been enjoying this week...

finishing a birthday layout of M's...I made the Happy Birthday title
with my new Cameo Silhouette-it is so much FUN!

making smoothies for the freezer...why do bananas go bad so quickly?

I finished my last chair...I'll post a pic of
everything I did in the dining room soon...

my azalea plant that never ceases to amaze me with so many blooms,
this is the plant that died several years ago and I finally got a small stem to take root, now it will not stop growing-I've started so many new plants off of it, I've lost count...this summer I gave one to mom and one to Jamie-I hope their plants flourish for them like mine has for me...

I started another table top quilt...

and last, but not least-this is a current pic of Marley and her wild hair-
guess who gets to go to the Spa today? I hope everyone has a joyful week...

Projects

I wanted to purchase a new wreath for my front door this summer. I really liked the one I currently have, but I've had it for several years and I'm getting tired of it. Not to mention it was beginning to fade and look kind of drab. When I went to Hobby Lobby to look for fabric for my dining room chairs I thought I would check out the ready made wreaths....have you priced them lately? They were way more expensive than I wanted to pay. I thought about just buying the flowers and putting together my own...still came out pretty pricey! So....creative juices flowing, I decided to just get one length of some bright white flowers and trying to spruce up my old wreath. I'm very pleased with the results. And, instead of spending $50+, I only spent $5. I'm happy now...

And now, I'm thinking of painting the front door turquoise.

I'll let you know what happens next...

...around the house

I look forward to summer vacation every year. I always have several projects I've promised myself I will complete during my time off from school. A few weeks ago I decided it was time to update the curtains in my scrap room since I was planning on spending a lot of time in there over the next few months. The pic above shows the old curtains-along with my inherited chair from Jamie. She decided it didn't fit in with her new décor. I have since moved the chair to the living room because I really enjoy the light coming in through the window, and I thought it looked a little crowded with the chair in front of it.

And, here are the new curtains...and new curtain rod...

...a different view, I love all the natural light.

Another project I started a couple of weeks ago, in anticipation of being home for the summer, was repainting one of my brown tables. I forgot to take a picture before I painted, but trust me-it looks a lot better now. 

It looked too bare without something on the top so I put together a quick quilted runner to add more color. I'm really happy how it turned out. 

I also enjoyed putting it together just to be able to quilt again. I don't have time during the busy school year, and quilting is one of my favorite hobbies.

I think I have enough fabric to quilt non-stop for about 10 summers in a row! Now, off to start a new project...

...guest/sewing room update

...another found (in the garage) object, a cheap bulletin board that one of the kids had in their bedroom at one time or another...

...you know the kind, the thin, flimsy ones you get at Wal Mart...

...i gave it a couple of coats of paint (remember the leftover paint from my classroom?)...

...i know it's silly, but i got excited as i painted it, knowing that i still haven't spent any money on sprucing up the room--so far, all found objects!...

...and here's a look at it after adding some fabric to cover the ugly cork...

...next up, an awesome table i found in the attic-forgot it was even up there...

...you think there's enough paint to doll this up, too?...well, yes there is!...

...i love, love, love this little table...

...i can't believe i've had it hidden up in the attic! maybe i need to make an inventory list of the stash that's up there so i don't forget all of the fun treasures (sometimes called junk) stored up there...

...and finally, these weren't up in the attic, but I covered some old, dark colored pillows i had with some coordinating fabric, love how it's brightening up the room!...stay tuned--you never know what i might paint next!

...a thrifty project and faces of G

Here's the before picture of some old shelves I retrieved from the attic. You know the kind---cheap, plastic, flimsy shelves from Wal-Mart. The kind you buy when you're in a hurry and need shelf space and you don't want to put much effort into it. Well, since Caleb has his own apartment now, I have been s-l-o-w-l-y updating his old room. I  painted, added new carpet and put new twin beds in it to use as a guest room when all the kids and grand kids come home to visit. I decided not too long ago to turn this room into my sewing room, too. It isn't used very often as a guest room and I felt like it was wasted space most of the time. I quickly found out I needed some shelves, but didn't want to spend any extra money. For several days I moved existing furniture around (in my mind) from room to room trying to figure out how to squeeze some extra shelving from another room. I just couldn't part with any of my existing shelf space----so----I decided to make a trip up to the attic----and found the above, ugly, brown plastic shelves. But not to worry----I also had some teal paint left over from painting my classroom last summer. And, I am so, so happy with the results. What do ya think? Marley is pleased:)

And, even more exciting----I found an old ornate picture frame that was stored in the attic, too. It was originally painted in golds and browns, ugh! Here comes the paint again:) I discarded the glass and picture that was framed and made a padded, covered bulletin board. All for free!!!

And I love the way it looks!

See my new apron pattern? I'm waiting until I find the perfect fabric...haven't found it yet.

Red and blue might just be my new
favorite color combo!

And, just because he is one of my faves, here are a few pics of G having a great time playing with Nienie.

Take a look at those eye lashes! I'm jealous...

He's trying to act like I'm not in his face taking pictures! Love this guy...