Quick Easy and Cheap

Yep, that's how I like it, quick, easy, and cheap, decorating that is.  When your time and space are limited and you're on a budget there is no other way to go.  Here are some quick tips to spruce up your home and/or creative space.

I have these ugly utility shelves, I hate them but unfortunately they are a necessity right now, I lined the edges with some of my lace trim from my craft stash, mine are temporary so I just hot glued it on but you can use hook and loop tape if your shelves are more permanent, it actually makes a huge difference, especially if you have several lined up your wall

Apothecary jar --$12 @ Winners
Decorative sand --$1 @ Dollarama
Seashells -- couple bucks @ Walmart

At Christmas time I replace the sand and shells with fake snow, bottle brush trees and glitter

Spruce up an old plain lampshade, hot glue some lace trim to the edges

Old napkin holders are perfect for storing scrap supplies such as packs of embellishments, cards, letters, your mail...I used this one for some watercolor and memory pencils, I think I paid  50cents for this vintage one at a flea market

This is easy if you don't have time to sew, or don't know how and need to cover something up. Last year Alex made some misc pieces in woods which were odd sizes, one was this adorable barstool. I found a topper cloth in the closet, draped it over and just tied the corners into knots and am using it as an accent table to hold a lamp, this also works with just a piece of unhemmed material, cut the material into a square, quite larger than the table top you are covering, then cut about an 8 to 10 inch slit at each corner and tie into knots...you can't even tell it's unfinished material once it's tied up and it looks very homespun if you use linen and other neutral colors.

 

 

Using It Up

One of my goals for this month is to use up alot of the supplies I have had gathering dust for far too long to make room for new papers and other scrap stash.  All of the challenges over at Love is in the Details this month will help considerably.  I did this layout for the Creative Team Layering challenge and was able to use some older papers and embellishments with some new.  I really enjoyed doing this sort of silly, whimsical page and just piling on the little scraps of paper, lace, and other little pieces.

Love Parade

Corny title I know but Valentine's day is not that far off and I thought I would get a head start on some cards.  We don't do any celebrations here for the day except for the exchange of cards and a little chocolate, I love getting cards for this day especially because the boys are older, I miss helping write out all their little Valentine's cards and putting treat bags together or baking something for the class party.  Do you do anything special to celebrate this day?  Any decorating or gatherings?  Do you share cards with friends as well as loved ones?

I used some old and new products, I am trying to use up product I have had for far too long and some of  the items used I can not even tell you where they came from as they were lovely Christmas gifts from my boys.  I used alot of black and grey, I am really loving those colors right now for all kinds of projects!

Word For 2011

I'm a little late for my New Year's post, this cold has knocked me down a bit.  I have been thinking about a word for myself for 2011 and I feel that Forward is best for me.  I'm a procrastinator, not on purpose mind you but I am and it's something I want to change.  I want to move forward, get ahead, do things I have been wanting to do, make progress, finish projects I promise myself I am going to finish and the best way for me to do that is to go "Forward". 

I'm starting off with a little project I started quite some time ago, a little something I have been wanting to make for myself, that I put off to the side to complete other things.  I finished it off and am quite pleased with how it turned out.  It's a happy mish mash of a journal that suits my style perfectly.

There are actually only six regular pages but there are also six little inserts in between.

I used a mix of old and new supplies in my stash, paint, paper, some vintage items and papers from antique music books.

Favourite Things

New Year's is almost upon us, is everyone ready for whatever tomorrow night holds for you?  It will be a fairly quiet one here as I have a couple of sick guys down.  So with all the crazy hustle and bustle of the holidays I thought today I would have a "whatever" day.  Just a day to relax, kick back, and look at fun, frivilous favourites.  We all have our favourite "junk"  things, some that have meaning, some that don't and just look pretty, some old, new, some gifts just received.  It can be very destressing going through favourite trinkets and wares, taking stock of them or reorganizing....here are a few of my favourite things.

And to bid farewell to Christmas, I loved the little pastel setup on the kitchen table this year

Merry Christmas All!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, be happy, be safe, and enjoy your time with loved ones!

Getting Closer

I made some good progress on my day one of baking. Now if I can keep all the male paws in this house out of my freezer, I just may have some left for Christmas!  I started with some super easy bars and candies today for which I have included the recipe or link for the recipe.  If you have a question about the goodies, please feel free to leave it as a comment and I will try to answer it asap.

This a family favourite....not mine, but everyone else's lol

Peanut Butter Squares
So easy to make and if you are going with a pastel theme for your holiday decorating, this treat will fit right in

Peanut Butter Squares

1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 cup peanut butter
1 12 oz package of butterscotch chips (aprox. 1 1/2 cups)
1 1/2 packages of mini colored marshmallows (aprox. 4-6 cups)
1 cup of coconut

Line a 9x11 baking pan with foil making sure foil extends over sides of pan
Melt butter, vanilla, peanut butter, and butterscotch chips in a heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth and creamy.
Transfer to large bowl and cool in fridge for about 3-5 mins.
Once cooled, add marshmallows and coconut and mix well, transfer to foil lined baking pan, set in fridge to cool for about 1-2 hours.
Remove from pan, cut into squares, can be frozen for about 2 months


This simple to make treat is probably the most requested for me every year---Almond Bark

Almond Bark

1 1/2 cups of almonds
5 cups of white chocolate dipping wafers
1/4 cup of milk chocolate dipping wafers

Roast almonds on cookie sheet for about 10 mins at 350 degrees
Melt chocolate in microwave on auto defrost or defrost if you have in your settings ( I find this helps prevent burning) for about five minutes, checking every two mins and giving a quick stir.
Once melted and smooth, pour white chocolate over your almonds coating well and evenly
In small bowl, microwave the milk chocolate for about two mins.
Drizzle the milk chocolate over the white chocolate, using a toothpick or pointy knife, lightly drag it over the drizzled chocolate one way, then back, and then another way to create the marbling.
Allow to cool in fridge for about an hour, break into pieces and store in fridge or freezer.

I use white chocolate dipping wafers because they are much more inexpensive than baker's chocolate and honestly everybody loves it just the same.  The wafers are the least expensive in the big chain grocery stores, they are about .58 cents/100 grams at Superstore.

I did a little more decorating with some odds and ends around the house

Made a little Joy banner, not sure where to put it but I'm sure I'll find a spot