happy Thanksgiving

Well, it's that time again...
The year has zipped by, where were we?? So many things have happened this past year.
Life has brought us to the holidays, and are we ready? I am! (hee hee)
Sorry, not to gloat, but I've been stashing away gifts and looking forward to this time of year, for 11 months.

I love Christmas...everything about it (except snow and cold).
I love thinking about others, what they might like, I see things throughout the year, and buy goodies or better yet...make things (when I hear a hint about what my dear ones might like).
I love to looke forward to the look on their faces when they open a gift that is especially made for them.
And the funny thing is, I end up with more than I thought (sort of life's 'lay away').
But that's okay. Here it is Thanksgiving. So many activities surrounding the holidays, and so many crafts to try. Every magazine has tons of ideas, recipes and things to do.

Today's project is a simple one that focuses on the Thanksgiving table. A simple napkin holder. But creating an addition to the festivities is always fun. This picture is just plain cardboard. YOU have to find that special paper with special prints to accent your table.

LEAF NAPKIN HOLDER

Find double sided card stock, or use a gift box (you get from the dollar store) and glue decorative paper on the plain side.

Draw and cut out the  1/2 leaf shape onto each end of a long rectangle. Make sure you cut the two slits (on opposite sides) to connect the ends together. When you attach the ends, it will make a maple leaf. (right now, it looks like a spiky dachshund with two heads, ha ha)

This is a fun, quick and funtional craft that adds a handmade touch to the holiday dinner.
That way you are contributing to the day, even if you are not the chef!

IF you are traveling, be safe! Have fun and stop every once in a while, breathe and enjoy!!!!

tip of the day:
Soup is great this time of year. And most of the leftovers you have from dinner, can be combined into a great soup. V-8 is a great base for soup, add some chicken broth and throw in the veggies and turkey pieces.  Freeze it for future frosty days. (remember to leave 1/2" space in the container for freezing bloat.). We might not eat so much, knowing that our yummy leftovers will be enjoyed later.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
:D

What's cookin' Good Lookin?

Thanksgiving is coming. That means cooking. The only holiday that is solely centered around FOOD. And what we are thankful for. And I guess that's food and our loved ones to share it with us. We are planning our menus, our shopping, our guest list, our activities. It seems to be the forgotten holiday, between Halloween, that has become so huge and people don't take the skeletons down til February, and Christmas, which starts in the stores the day after Halloween. Sheesh.

At any rate....

The project of the day is~

A Manly Manly apron, from a man's shirt for our favorite man who is cooking for Thanksgiving!

 

You will need:

 a man's shirt (large or X large is best) Get a nice one from the local thrift shop.

scissors, and sewing machine

 

You will be cutting the back off the shirt, leaving the collar. From the extra fabric you will cut two straps for the waist ties.

 

Hem the edges, fold and sew the two side ties and attach to the side of the apron.

And voila, you have a cool apron any guy will be happy to wear. A hawaiian shirt would be fun to use, or any funky 'guy' print.

You can use the extra fabric from the back of the shirt for future (or past) projects.

 

Tip of the day:

If you eat too much on Thanksgiving, and have that "way too full" feeling...sleep on your right side. Because that eases the stomach, not stresses it.

 

That's all for now!

:D

 

 

 

Rainy Day Art

Hey,
My apologies to my loyal readers for my absence lately.
So many things have been happening that I neglected you, and I am sorry for that.

After a big wedding, and traveling back to the Midwest, and various visitors, and then we visiting, and then the death of my beloved little cat, several craft fairs and just day to day stuff, I'm feeling like time has zipped by, and I want to get back into my routine. 

Does that happen to you? Time seems to speed by when you sit back and take a breath and tell yourself  "don't worry about it, relax, don't stress about keeping on a schedule".  And before you know it...
not just days, but WEEKS have passed and you kick yourself in your butt (yes, you can do this), and you take the time (and it REALLY doesn't take that long) to do what you need to do.... you fill in the blanks (whatever YOU need to do)...write, create, compute, communicate, relate, interact, organize.

I want to encourage you to take 1/2 hour a day to do those chores you don't want to do, but need to do. Then smile, and take on the rest of your day. You can do it, and I will be there with you doing it, too.

My project for today is:
PAINTED UMBRELLAS

You will need:
an umbrella
acrylic paint
brush
hair dryer

First, get online and look up your favorite artist. I have used 3 artists: Matisse, Van Gogh and Monet.

If you are not confident in your artistic ability, pick an artist whose art is not precise. Such as impressionists, abstract, etc.

Paint onto the umbrella, and when it is dried, blow the hair dryer onto it to set the paint. This will make it waterproof. Nothing like having your umbrella drip paint in a rain storm, ugh.

This is not only pretty, one of a kind, handmade, recycled, but functional. EVERYONE can use an umbrella, right? And if it doesn't turn out just right, who cares? Art should be fun, instead of signing the artist's name, sign your own...That way...it's yours, and will always be just RIGHT!
Did you ever see a Jackson Pollock? He splattered, dripped and blobbed paint on. Go for it!

Hey, how about getting a kid to paint it? What a great gift for a parent to use something their child did.

tip of the day:
Winter is coming and with that comes dry skin. Try using Vaseline instead of expensive lotions. If you wear running shoes or gym shoes, and get dry feet, slather on the Vaseline, then white cotton socks. After your workout, or walk, you'll have softer tootsies. Also a little on your hands will help with dry, chapped fingers. Spas use stuff like this, then slap on mittens and sockies and let it soak in. So why not you?

That's all for now...
:D