NEW Glass Tile Pendant Tutorial Using Trays / New Tips & Techniques



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It is not often that I ever do the same craft-like project, twice. But I’ve got a feeling that making glass tile pieces is going to be something I’ll be doing again, and again. I am so fond of the high quality feel of the finished pieces, the variety of styles that can be made, the multitude of purposes they can be made to be used for, and the fact that I simply enjoy making them for myself and as gifts for others. By knowing how to do the general process of making glass tile pieces, you will then have the ability to make all kinds of wonderful and customized things, such as jewelry necklace (bracelet or ring) pendants, decorative magnets, key chains, drink coaster sets, vehicle rear-view mirror hangings, home decor embellishments, and so much more.… Read More

How to Blow Out Egg Yolks and String for Hanging / Decorative Eggs for Keeps.

            

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You may already know, that yesterday I had a little blogging mishap! For the first time in my near 5 years of blogging, I published a post (this one) by accident, before it was completed. And I didn’t even realize I did it until the next morning! No doubt I hit ‘publish’ instead of ‘save’. I must have been tired.  It was just all photos, with none of the text and step-by-step directions in it yet. Once it’s out there on the internet (especially overnight), you can’t get it back.  I put out the alert best I could, via our Facebook Page, which feeds to our Twitter as well.… Read More

Banner of Love / A Valentine’s Decor-Craft


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While February, the ‘month of love’, was approaching throughout January, I had had this image in my head of a burlap pennant banner that spelled out LOVE, with little pink ribbons, over our french doors in the sun room, to the living room.  Of course, I didn’t actually have one, so it was something I’d need to create. After pondering how I might go about doing that, I decided I wanted to keep it as simple as possible, even if it doesn’t hold up for subsequent Valentine holidays.


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As planned, I got some burlap, for the pennants themselves. I’ve never worked with burlap before.  Good-gosh does it stink!  I don’t understand why.… Read More

A Snowman Christmas Tree Ornament / Tutorial






Winter used to be my least favorite season, here in New England.  But I have chosen to embrace it, for there is no doubt that there is beauty in every season, and things that I love in all of them, too.  For winter, snowmen are one of those things, to me!  I’ve just always loved them. So I thought it would be fun to make a snowman Christmas tree ornament.





  It was not only more fun than I expected, I think it came out absolutely adorable. So I’m going to show you how easy it was to create!

Here’s the simple supplies that you’ll need:
Crayola Model Magic, in White.… Read More

Decorating with Autumn Leaves; Door Garland and Candle Jars






 
I think you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone on God’s green earth, who appreciates the foliage that Autumn brings, more than I do.  I am mesmerized by it, from beginning to end.  Ask my kids.  They are often amused at how taken I am, with the beauty of this season.  And they’ve certainly come to understand that I don’t want them to miss one bit of it, any more than I do. I get especially excited when we are driving here and there, which with 4 kids I can tell you, we do a whole lot of.  “Oh!! There’s a tree starting to change right there!Read More

Halloween Craft – A Dripping Paint Pumpkin






 Last year for the Halloween/Hallowtide season, I went bat . . . crazy (no pun intended ;) , with the decorating, inside and out.  I did a huge photo-galore post on it, and it’s a popular one, come that time of year again. This year, I didn’t need to do much of anything, because I have all of last years stuff! So I’ve mostly just been doing little fall-fun crafts, and baking. I did however, decide I wanted to do a little pumpkin project I thought of, and I thought I would show it to you all, and tell you how I went about it.… Read More

Terracotta Flower Pot Wind Chime / Tutorial






Making this flower pot wind chime was a fun and simple project to do with my kids. I was really looking forward to hanging out with them and painting, and I knew I would also love seeing the wind chime in my gardens, where I had every intention of hanging it, when it was done.
  While I think we kind of ‘made it our own’, this flower pot wind chime was not at all my idea. I have seen them so many times at crafty website now, and so many style-versions of it, that I’m not sure which style I saw first, or where!… Read More

Painted AMERICAN BIRDHOUSE – Tutorial






 Summer holds a whole lot of good things, and for us, it really kicks into high gear in the beginning of July, with back to back celebrating of the 4th of July, and our oldest daughter’s birthday!  Then the summer rides out with a little more down time, just chilling on the beach, making day trips, and hanging out chatting and laughing around the camp fire at night. So about this time in June, we’re getting excited for all of the fun to come, just around the corner! The gardens are planted, we’re reaching the end of our school books, and we can just feel the summer vibe coming on the sea breeze!  

What really gives me so much joy, is helping make my home and gardens, reflect the seasons and holidays!  Around here, about mid-June through July, it is all about red, white and blue!  Our family’s homestead is that much more enjoyable, with the little bits of decor I add, and it just puts the happy in my heart, to see it.  But the greatest joy in it all for me, is planning and creating all of those little things around our home.… Read More

Pinwheel Wreath – Tutorial and Decor






Is there anyone, who doesn’t love pinwheels? They are just so fun, so whimsical, and can give anyone that feeling of childhood joy as it spins, no matter how old we are.  I am so smitten with pinwheels lately, that projects involving them just keep popping into my head! This idea of a pinwheel wreath, however, has been on my brain since last year!  I wasn’t sure exactly how I would design it, but I figured it out as I went along, and the results just make me smile!  Just like I knew it would.






What do you think?

I found it fun and easy to make.  They don’t spin, as this project was strictly decorative.Read More

Boys’ Hardware Accessories






      It seems to be somewhat easier, to come up with crafty ideas for my girls. But the other equal half of my kiddos, are boys!  I know they get just as excited when I am making something for them, too. So I try to see what cool ideas I can come up with, that they’ll dig.

     Something recently got me thinking about hardware.  Hardware is just cool, and definitely boyish! With all the various sizes and shapes that it comes in, for all kinds of building and fix-it projects, I got brainstorming what cool projects I could come up with for my boys.  In this post, I’m sharing some hardware jewelry and belts I made for them.Read More

Glass Tile Handmade Gifts / Necklace Pendants and Magnet Sets






     Have I told you that my main slr camera has been broken? It has, for awhile now, and I have to tell you…..I’ve been downright lost in living, without it. I’ve been holding off sending it in to Canon, because I’m just afraid of what the estimate to repair will be!  It’s currently on the way to the Canon Hospital now.  I only tell you all this, because, not having it has discouraged me lately from doing many crafts, photographing recipes I’ve made, etc.  I’ve even postponed field trips with the kids!  It’s just thrown me a little.  Obviously, I do have another camera.  My daughter’s G11 is a great camera, I can shoot manual, and all of that.Read More

Calvary Hill Planting – A Kids’ Lenten Project






 

When Lent comes around, it’s difficult enough for us as adult Christians, to decide in which ways we’d like to embrace the 40 days leading to Easter. We are led by 3 things: Sacrifice, Prayer, and Almsgiving.  But as parents, we also want our children to take part in some way, and fully realize the significance of this period of time, too!  Attending Mass (especially through Holy Week), hearing the Scripture relating to Jesus’ death and resurrection, and witnessing (or participating in, depending on the ages of the children) their parent’s participation throughout Lent, certainly helps build their understanding of the importance of this season in our faith. 

However, I was thrilled last year, to come across this great project for the kids, that really invited them to be involved in some significant way even more, throughout the Lenten Season!:









Calvary Hill

As parents instruct the kids how to build this project, and plant and water the grass seeds, they have the opportunity to teach, or further discuss, the reality of the death and resurrection of Jesus, why and how He died, and what that means for all of us!Read More