tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55988158004335817992024-03-05T19:30:45.194-08:00Frills Fluff and Trucksfrillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.comBlogger271125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-11809434513076125932011-06-23T21:59:00.000-07:002011-06-26T14:59:54.211-07:00Butterfly Stained Glass Craft Tutorial<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWl32uoitCFqbIYUeVTw0Ibcb0yYSEM1cJ6Sr1aJy4iosjr1o5pMYgIvKE2lB2PoIWSN5iTbcgrUH5On4pY6RBWVvIUzw9d1sgz2c-HBS8VAORs9FTCkd86aQmPCXGnlIla8c8P4wnX8qg/s1600/IMG_2918edit.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgDQQNsw2FZgVtACr2zEaI_qn0ulAAdM-jDGNlJ55wiCtFza1BsQDE2_IFbpMtZsh1uD3U_glwhdaq91M2k1QJ5GsB8XXZYZTCK2PVm3f_3QewQLE3zNBcgAU_ZseX2A8SWTDE15EHdAV/s1600/IMG_2914edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgDQQNsw2FZgVtACr2zEaI_qn0ulAAdM-jDGNlJ55wiCtFza1BsQDE2_IFbpMtZsh1uD3U_glwhdaq91M2k1QJ5GsB8XXZYZTCK2PVm3f_3QewQLE3zNBcgAU_ZseX2A8SWTDE15EHdAV/s400/IMG_2914edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621647246181072306" border="0" /></a>My children love craft projects and recently my little boy was fascinated by all things related to butterflies...so we decided to make stained glass butterflies to put up in the kitchen windows. We made these just like the <a href="http://frillsfluffandtrucks.blogspot.com/2011/03/stained-glass-cross-craft-tutorial.html">stained glass crosses</a> we made back in March--which still are up in the windows and looking beautiful!<br /><br />First I cut out an outline of a butterfly out of black construction paper and adhered it to clear contact paper--I taped that down (sticky side up!) to the kitchen table so that it wouldn't move while my son worked on his project.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWl32uoitCFqbIYUeVTw0Ibcb0yYSEM1cJ6Sr1aJy4iosjr1o5pMYgIvKE2lB2PoIWSN5iTbcgrUH5On4pY6RBWVvIUzw9d1sgz2c-HBS8VAORs9FTCkd86aQmPCXGnlIla8c8P4wnX8qg/s1600/IMG_2918edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWl32uoitCFqbIYUeVTw0Ibcb0yYSEM1cJ6Sr1aJy4iosjr1o5pMYgIvKE2lB2PoIWSN5iTbcgrUH5On4pY6RBWVvIUzw9d1sgz2c-HBS8VAORs9FTCkd86aQmPCXGnlIla8c8P4wnX8qg/s400/IMG_2918edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621647249638485778" border="0" /></a>He filled the butterfly with squares of tissue paper. When he was done, I put another black butterfly outline over the top (to hide the tissue paper edges) and then covered the top with another layer of contact paper. At this point the butterfly is sandwiched between the contact paper. Then I trimmed the excess contact paper off and the project was done!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCJ3qjyJVUWQYRGNSW5S0EOBr9u0QN2cOX0eC9BPoGZweuKOl4x4Pw5Xwqba0V6G15dpec6Z_TUoYnngBd2M7ZhUdaDDH5FMNneldkHpF_xFQgUz6DYrQWEat5DMQUIiWHxSx2j2PWuBP/s1600/IMG_2940edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCJ3qjyJVUWQYRGNSW5S0EOBr9u0QN2cOX0eC9BPoGZweuKOl4x4Pw5Xwqba0V6G15dpec6Z_TUoYnngBd2M7ZhUdaDDH5FMNneldkHpF_xFQgUz6DYrQWEat5DMQUIiWHxSx2j2PWuBP/s400/IMG_2940edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621647240361463858" border="0" /></a>His butterfly is a bright and colorful addition to our window--perfect for summer!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Craft shared at: </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2011/06/link-learn-13.html"> No Time for Flashcards</a>frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-83585040585221370732011-06-21T07:00:00.000-07:002011-06-22T22:10:43.204-07:004th of July Decorations<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKx3InMNMh3aS1Jjy_QYNDr5N5dQqvKQNDrm-EghpNn4ZUtIrw5NiOBLj_cITSkcSBxRIBPU0skZ85sQR82JS9gfJrX-ulhDS8RVPOSXLIdMejiIiRWPlNUXNDqPBT5ZGLkAzTiQVzbm3Q/s1600/IMG_2939edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKx3InMNMh3aS1Jjy_QYNDr5N5dQqvKQNDrm-EghpNn4ZUtIrw5NiOBLj_cITSkcSBxRIBPU0skZ85sQR82JS9gfJrX-ulhDS8RVPOSXLIdMejiIiRWPlNUXNDqPBT5ZGLkAzTiQVzbm3Q/s400/IMG_2939edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620542636437948338" border="0" /></a>The 4th of July is just around the corner! I don't go all out decorating for this holiday, but I do like to have a few patriotic touches out in the house. I fill my white pitcher with American flags and, this year, I glued red, white, and blue stars (punched out of scrapbook paper) onto clear thread that I tied onto the light fixture above our table. The thread is sandwiched between two stars.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQprOmjHgj65-fbiLwcf64BCjvhWxY68ngbVHg-dNQFtmzWS9Zs5scPoJq5nDAWXDRbPpeaoPBi96akRpnRmhhR93LC7zfO9-4azavdJrdOVUYk30NDyE1-x6bs2RAR6Hm8yMQdpV7Nmin/s1600/IMG_2938edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQprOmjHgj65-fbiLwcf64BCjvhWxY68ngbVHg-dNQFtmzWS9Zs5scPoJq5nDAWXDRbPpeaoPBi96akRpnRmhhR93LC7zfO9-4azavdJrdOVUYk30NDyE1-x6bs2RAR6Hm8yMQdpV7Nmin/s400/IMG_2938edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620542623637249698" border="0" /></a>This "shower of stars" is a simple and inexpensive way to add a touch of patriotic flavor to our summer decor.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Linked to: </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.houseofhepworths.com/2011/06/22/hookin-up-with-hoh-54/">Hookin Up with HOH</a></span>frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-29224576072155318152011-06-20T22:02:00.000-07:002011-06-20T22:20:50.254-07:00Summer To-Do List<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN22vyWEAAAA1dafG0-gf_8LRAs8R3H3OEBf1_4fX2kWkR3WXlK4GiXhU9uNMTRGFj_p6gCF-7qtzj-yOR9CI7cq-BFm6Mt7zmtfB9up_vjO6vK84LYrUy1ZA5Eg2jwArR9vyQQQf-myTn/s1600/IMG_3031edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN22vyWEAAAA1dafG0-gf_8LRAs8R3H3OEBf1_4fX2kWkR3WXlK4GiXhU9uNMTRGFj_p6gCF-7qtzj-yOR9CI7cq-BFm6Mt7zmtfB9up_vjO6vK84LYrUy1ZA5Eg2jwArR9vyQQQf-myTn/s400/IMG_3031edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620534606673742818" border="0" /></a>School ended Friday (finally!) so today I made a summer to-do list with my children. After I reigned in their expectations a bit (no out-of-state trips or overnights at Great Wolf Lodge), we had a lot of fun. They came up with a lot of ideas all on their own, but still cheered at some of my simple suggestions. Now that it is hanging on the wall, they like to look at the list and tell each other "Wow, we are going to have a fun summer!"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwvXJlIJUs1xkxcESbzEbDphzgi019b14G1lP-WIX0dVGByPhdoY-OeOOkyGZAMiQ_-itoFg_06PbLYUpjuF_-R3PvJ7HGRV76gitXZZsVpw_1cFDbQlhq_LTyf8rB0MPbDRENTVY5s2e/s1600/IMG_3028edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwvXJlIJUs1xkxcESbzEbDphzgi019b14G1lP-WIX0dVGByPhdoY-OeOOkyGZAMiQ_-itoFg_06PbLYUpjuF_-R3PvJ7HGRV76gitXZZsVpw_1cFDbQlhq_LTyf8rB0MPbDRENTVY5s2e/s400/IMG_3028edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620534617450109490" border="0" /></a>I'm not original in coming up with this idea, by any means, but here is how I did it. I bought a poster frame at Michaels--with a 40% off coupon it came to around $5. Then I cut five pieces of scrapbook paper into 1.25 inch strips and used scrapbook adhesive to stick the strips directly to the paper that came in the poster frame. Once the entire piece of paper was covered, I trimmed off the excess paper. So simple! <br /><br />For the "Happy Summer" pennant print that you see at the top of our list, I used<a href="http://therubberpunkin.blogspot.com/2011/05/happy-summer-print.html"> this printable</a> that I found at The Rubber Punkin and just cut it down a bit.<br /><br />I wrote our list directly on the glass/plastic on the front of the frame with a Sharpie. It comes off with Windex and a bit of scrubbing (I tested it).<br /><br />Here are some other great summer to-do lists:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://megduerksen.typepad.com/whatever/2011/06/the-summer-list.html">whatever</a> ~ this one makes me crave an old-fashioned green chalkboard!</li><li><a href="http://laurawinslowphotography.com/blog/2011/05/25/freebie-101-bits-of-summer-fun-laura-winslow-photography/">Laura Winslow</a> ~ this one is done for you--just print it! 101 ideas for summer fun!<br /></li><li><a href="http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2010/06/summer-to-dos.html">eighteen25</a> ~ these ladies <span style="font-style: italic;">always</span> have something going on, and this is no exception!</li><li><a href="http://kennyanderin.blogspot.com/2011/06/summer-to-do-list.html">Sunny Side Up</a> ~ Erin's list is on poster board and is cute, colorful, and full of summer fun!</li></ul>frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-32082012873770524852011-06-19T23:03:00.000-07:002011-06-19T23:13:31.871-07:00Fathers Day Gifts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBD43WGzEk8A-Q0JSOJIsHHrK2BBYzPgAY-S1jCoSQJhL2zPVe04ocutiYQYtTGm6SLMXc30KVvxdnmHi9X5ivHd87pYs3ClUbhmTyvojkoM0zfLfroB6uEWNWGJy7MvfFGy-_zXGf4dhf/s1600/IMG_3009edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBD43WGzEk8A-Q0JSOJIsHHrK2BBYzPgAY-S1jCoSQJhL2zPVe04ocutiYQYtTGm6SLMXc30KVvxdnmHi9X5ivHd87pYs3ClUbhmTyvojkoM0zfLfroB6uEWNWGJy7MvfFGy-_zXGf4dhf/s400/IMG_3009edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620179238069434610" border="0" /></a>I think my husband had a good Father's Day--he smiled a lot, at any rate! The children made him (with my help) a handprint tie and they were so proud when he wore it to Mass. They have also insisted that he wear it to work on Monday. I think this will be the first time he has worn a tie to the office! I found the tie idea on <a href="http://thelittlestcrafter.blogspot.com/2011/06/fathers-day-gift-idea.html">The Littlest Crafter</a> and loved it! Basically you just take a white tie and use fabric markers (mine are Crayola brand and I bought them at Michaels) to trace your children's handprints on the tie. Easy-peasy!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqj3wOrpxxJq_Sybi1tpyr1P1bF802h5rl5mSv2F0XeVAoC5Qg4wy8b-ldtsJd2wwFTiuaBr4TxQrT6g3BZ_cwLDIiyfESaPfhgOAdoTh-A_nsNXVZ6wi5jYJst85rS8f11Rniu9OQPcfE/s1600/IMG_3026edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqj3wOrpxxJq_Sybi1tpyr1P1bF802h5rl5mSv2F0XeVAoC5Qg4wy8b-ldtsJd2wwFTiuaBr4TxQrT6g3BZ_cwLDIiyfESaPfhgOAdoTh-A_nsNXVZ6wi5jYJst85rS8f11Rniu9OQPcfE/s400/IMG_3026edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620179245975654434" border="0" /></a>We went to Mass in the morning (and brought Father David cookies and Father's Day cards--he loved them!) and then out to lunch. After lunch my husband finally had time to thoroughly look at more of his gift. I had each child fill out an interview form that I printed out from <a href="http://www.bigdandme.com/2011/05/fathers-day-printable/">Big D & Me </a>and they had some great answers. Apparently my husband is 9.5 feet tall and is robbing the cradle because he is 4000 years old!<br /><br />Happy Dada Day (as we say in our house!) to all the fathers out there!frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-45721810881088210372011-06-14T10:48:00.001-07:002011-06-14T11:44:01.574-07:00Digital Project Life Scrapbook<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0spetLmUgHmePByWURFegnUflv205Yhadgsff2BY_hHn05Sx_E5GEkJg7bTTfJIVoRFp_fRKzDgoO3VHCun3ZExSq6dUOHUUEYGjpokPmBrnNXxKMfRa3ER5yGaOmSCp5Es4O2rNsHPu9/s1600/projectlife.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 243px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0spetLmUgHmePByWURFegnUflv205Yhadgsff2BY_hHn05Sx_E5GEkJg7bTTfJIVoRFp_fRKzDgoO3VHCun3ZExSq6dUOHUUEYGjpokPmBrnNXxKMfRa3ER5yGaOmSCp5Es4O2rNsHPu9/s400/projectlife.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618146344883042962" border="0" /></a>I love to scrapbook, but I am behind. Dreadfully behind. So behind that it feels as though I have a giant snowball rolling along behind me that is going to crush me soon. In fact, I'm not quite sure I still can say that "I love to scrapbook" but rather that I love the idea of scrapbooking. Truth be told, the idea of catching up on all my scrapbooking is overwhelming and daunting! I have the supplies, I have oodles of digital pictures, but I do not have the time!<br /><br />Enter <a href="http://www.beckyhiggins.com/products/">Project Life</a> by Becky Higgins. Basically it is scrapbooking made simple--putting the focus on the pictures rather than on all the finicky crafting supplies. You can do it in a picture a day format (the 365 projects a lot of people do) or in your own format.<br /><br />I first heard about Project Life on Erin's blog: <a href="http://kennyanderin.blogspot.com/">Sunny Side Up</a>. Erin has three children and manages to find time to scrapbook using a modified version of Project Life--all of a sudden this scrapbook thing started to seem more doable...so I ordered a Project Life kit. Um, that was over a year ago...and I haven't used it yet. *sigh* THEN, for some crazy reason, I ordered a second kit a couple of months ago. I'm not really sure why because now I have TWO unopened Project Life kits. At least they're different colors...<br /><br />Then--THEN--I saw a video Becky Higgins posted on her Facebook page. That video is what made me realize I can love scrapbooking again. I can keep up with my pictures and not be years and years behind. I can scrapbook and use doo-dads...or not. It is totally up to me!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcDfjLXPb5RPfVAu9fxKiBmZ9cW1aT9OdkmyVsRY4yL0C4Xl1nDMUwd2ZakJznvdjfmg_46027HvUC3Yq1UQVa8lMWeW0VXo9IglupPx9LeVU0EOfk94Y7AQaS3_rFHwn9lXbJNhjK5F3/s1600/IMG_2919edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcDfjLXPb5RPfVAu9fxKiBmZ9cW1aT9OdkmyVsRY4yL0C4Xl1nDMUwd2ZakJznvdjfmg_46027HvUC3Yq1UQVa8lMWeW0VXo9IglupPx9LeVU0EOfk94Y7AQaS3_rFHwn9lXbJNhjK5F3/s400/IMG_2919edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618134609752337842" border="0" /></a>I am NOT a digital scrapbooker. Not. However, even I was able to make a digital yearbook (easily!!) for my family and it is beautiful. Seriously, BEAUTIFUL. Now I can make digital yearbooks for each year and save my paper scrapbooking for major family vacations or our Christmas album and not worry about scrapping every family moment.<br /><br />Look at that beautiful book! I was able to customize pretty much anything I wanted on it--and could have done even more than I did. LOVE it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvij_OUn24694npfwiU4mOJsxUwyaYX6DpjjBhro9w89YTRwWceyIEo6lVqCz8A4CVZIPz1-Perq3cw_SoWZ0f_3B8zwTsZrWGCGvhjS4GM2BaC1omUd-2PJCn_A2Eda0ieTL57-6qphR/s1600/IMG_2921edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvij_OUn24694npfwiU4mOJsxUwyaYX6DpjjBhro9w89YTRwWceyIEo6lVqCz8A4CVZIPz1-Perq3cw_SoWZ0f_3B8zwTsZrWGCGvhjS4GM2BaC1omUd-2PJCn_A2Eda0ieTL57-6qphR/s400/IMG_2921edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618134625177979186" border="0" /></a>(Don't mind my finger...just covering up our last name...) The printing in this book is so lovely. Everything is crisp and the pages have a great weight to them.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxJh0J1i_yp6Axu_R82QPSKKE7p8Hlzy8C8YnJvspHFXD53aCWSiET26YqLQANL0wLG8UlnLEIPt3Mioq5-Nw_NKRTguQDY1TdjH2Qlod3hbEj1pJycbBivv2X4WFXWXlbu7UmnNUaM3O/s1600/IMG_2922edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxJh0J1i_yp6Axu_R82QPSKKE7p8Hlzy8C8YnJvspHFXD53aCWSiET26YqLQANL0wLG8UlnLEIPt3Mioq5-Nw_NKRTguQDY1TdjH2Qlod3hbEj1pJycbBivv2X4WFXWXlbu7UmnNUaM3O/s400/IMG_2922edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618143871370160834" border="0" /></a>Here is the month of January, complete with journaling! I thought it would be difficult to select just seven pictures, but it really wasn't...by the end of this book I really felt as though this gave an excellent picture of our year. I did these monthly pages pretty much using the existing templates, but you can toss the templates and just cover the pages with pictures if that is your choice.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAvlLH8PbgEsDPA_6Q0XPy_1CLQ4GBrLN8h6p1Wm0zuLj75PMViOtoiexdXiN9aov7NPIFJFNXNLIdIr4Doxh9H85XaqtkoDyIuF54ZEo-BD2b6DY0S5zMWJGhxbodUC5_6hx1S9pJzrV/s1600/IMG_2928edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAvlLH8PbgEsDPA_6Q0XPy_1CLQ4GBrLN8h6p1Wm0zuLj75PMViOtoiexdXiN9aov7NPIFJFNXNLIdIr4Doxh9H85XaqtkoDyIuF54ZEo-BD2b6DY0S5zMWJGhxbodUC5_6hx1S9pJzrV/s400/IMG_2928edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618134631696056658" border="0" /></a>In September we went to Disneyland--here is the regular monthly layout for September. This was the first month where I felt as though I couldn't summarize our month in just seven pictures...so I added some extra pages!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWAScXizfJ6Yen0tC88YjV7nrlkRr2bLUEHdHN1Ukyf-HACEYkaa59lYsHHbzNTrLgUTLru-i07_s8kyzCrcYgKhpq8a6hqzVbAloP1YPJTmzgGFUEtT19j1XcakgLqGDWwcYx-xvddyL/s1600/IMG_2929edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWAScXizfJ6Yen0tC88YjV7nrlkRr2bLUEHdHN1Ukyf-HACEYkaa59lYsHHbzNTrLgUTLru-i07_s8kyzCrcYgKhpq8a6hqzVbAloP1YPJTmzgGFUEtT19j1XcakgLqGDWwcYx-xvddyL/s400/IMG_2929edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618143879358150994" border="0" /></a>Here are the Disneyland pages I added right after the September monthly pages. I still plan to do another traditional paper scrapbook for our trip, but I like seeing the trip represented in this yearbook, too.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eucV3erJI4crJ0zWyiNLhAjkA02ZLPwdgKOttDIbLbqNplmR3X9ZG2F393QUVoxgcnmo40563RumRIhX3X3IGd7rJnZ5xqvGEz__kpRmHDnBdKV8-MBWhMTOuqsO-fEXHZG3Y217d2qy/s1600/IMG_2931edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eucV3erJI4crJ0zWyiNLhAjkA02ZLPwdgKOttDIbLbqNplmR3X9ZG2F393QUVoxgcnmo40563RumRIhX3X3IGd7rJnZ5xqvGEz__kpRmHDnBdKV8-MBWhMTOuqsO-fEXHZG3Y217d2qy/s400/IMG_2931edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618143891955182770" border="0" /></a>I covered up the last page that was in the album with more of our own pictures--this album is so easy to customize!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2a3ORWztfDSzLxgmqHPWpEEKDezOb9QB4fYv8zt3MhJ2iZVtWyOYAVquDDP1fRnScG7oL-xhdQ57Gxr3q-jkADn4NVrFVudFxuw1GljUZtHdqFfSTKl29Fz02Miqjy4fLLMy8EAbmG31u/s1600/IMG_2920edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2a3ORWztfDSzLxgmqHPWpEEKDezOb9QB4fYv8zt3MhJ2iZVtWyOYAVquDDP1fRnScG7oL-xhdQ57Gxr3q-jkADn4NVrFVudFxuw1GljUZtHdqFfSTKl29Fz02Miqjy4fLLMy8EAbmG31u/s400/IMG_2920edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618134616244892706" border="0" /></a>Even the back cover has a full color picture of my babies (yes, they're tossing leaves into the air)!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUc6WBbgm4DuJTMCKN4jpm5UKzlpBlOGdsF5_eUAY5iZSCsHm8pmf4P63g6jT3DsMEmh5OzrMKuvvm7EZzVGfgjksmuyNrZvKUZ5hhy7MLDDvlz7yD6qDLLvhnro7pCHJQ-7WntgWAoquN/s1600/IMG_2932edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUc6WBbgm4DuJTMCKN4jpm5UKzlpBlOGdsF5_eUAY5iZSCsHm8pmf4P63g6jT3DsMEmh5OzrMKuvvm7EZzVGfgjksmuyNrZvKUZ5hhy7MLDDvlz7yD6qDLLvhnro7pCHJQ-7WntgWAoquN/s400/IMG_2932edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618143896803666050" border="0" /></a>And of course the title is on the spine of the book--I'm already looking forward to having a whole row of these yearbooks lined up on our shelf.<br /><br />This yearbook is called "Digital Project Life" on Becky Higgins' site and Facebook page. You can make an entire book and preview it before you pay anything--this is what I did...however I loved the end result so much that I ordered three of them. One for each of my children and one for me to keep.<br /><br />I shared the finished book with my children last night as they were finishing their dinner--I treated it like storytime. It was so fun to see their faces light up as the pictures sparked various memories. This is something that NEVER happened with the digital pictures all closed up in my computer and the bins and bins of unused scrapbooking supplies. It feels SO GOOD to have my family enjoying these memories because<span style="font-style: italic;"> that</span> is what scrapbooking truly is about--it isn't about cutting and pasting and fancy fonts.frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-48938169906076588582011-06-13T05:00:00.000-07:002011-06-13T05:00:18.457-07:00First Communion<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0m1Bbg67aN2e-FFipVOeRUzhIZb59hMBHLAQkqrf8aK1uu-O_sgtua9WFBt3Wy12Zh77IVXQXz5u2bV8jKcjLXcLAau0kEjBLhANF91UO3bTSddTr-Sj3aVHjKMzIYQp3eaaa9X0pm70R/s1600/IMG_2676edit.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUuxLAUEPRrK-ByCXN1LhzALWJl_QGogWYBa1UOmNEBj17cGCNFvemQA6xTZxGK4oG86DQSOO5TqZqQtdMQT222pVEFja2wF7vs9GVeAt9gus5ErjAMEHQ2FAmThmLamkFHwCf1SABtmw/s1600/IMG_2688edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUuxLAUEPRrK-ByCXN1LhzALWJl_QGogWYBa1UOmNEBj17cGCNFvemQA6xTZxGK4oG86DQSOO5TqZqQtdMQT222pVEFja2wF7vs9GVeAt9gus5ErjAMEHQ2FAmThmLamkFHwCf1SABtmw/s400/IMG_2688edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617577079185700290" border="0" /></a>Last month my daughter celebrated her First Holy Communion. She was doubly blessed because she celebrated twice! Of course only one was truly her "first" First Communion, but she wore her white garments for both.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDTok7ZHyG3DDg53Rc78GntUG07RAKA1nwwe3HuEZE8pLOZwbre4HK80OZ7MwvsiLe5JJomx4BS22L18KmQjc_RMNiynV8YXYlu4wA4FoR0nV1zAvNQGBnJtG21phRT11PzduxHNNu-Hs/s1600/IMG_2675edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDTok7ZHyG3DDg53Rc78GntUG07RAKA1nwwe3HuEZE8pLOZwbre4HK80OZ7MwvsiLe5JJomx4BS22L18KmQjc_RMNiynV8YXYlu4wA4FoR0nV1zAvNQGBnJtG21phRT11PzduxHNNu-Hs/s400/IMG_2675edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617576450883002898" border="0" /></a>Our parish priest celebrated the First Communion Mass and he is the same one who baptized her, so that made it extra special. She did a good job with the big chalice, too!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwU19hfiue5Fc_dixEns3KELhSrmYzk9lTTNYHV0G9S6Hl17cHQyuySfADhYVIgVnFq2wAyXMiybq7Yxx9GewNqhAytXy5nPmzL51OrlFizJac9_yJXjhLHZ51SNEMvJ3Nagy9iyBHzZjK/s1600/IMG_1829edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwU19hfiue5Fc_dixEns3KELhSrmYzk9lTTNYHV0G9S6Hl17cHQyuySfADhYVIgVnFq2wAyXMiybq7Yxx9GewNqhAytXy5nPmzL51OrlFizJac9_yJXjhLHZ51SNEMvJ3Nagy9iyBHzZjK/s400/IMG_1829edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617576447020221922" border="0" /></a>The following weekend, her school had their First Communion celebration and she was invited to celebrate again with her classmates in that parish. Although it was still a Catholic Mass, it was a very different sort of celebration (it was a dedicated First Communion Mass rather than having the celebration integrated into the regular Mass the way our parish does it) so it was interesting to see the differences.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0m1Bbg67aN2e-FFipVOeRUzhIZb59hMBHLAQkqrf8aK1uu-O_sgtua9WFBt3Wy12Zh77IVXQXz5u2bV8jKcjLXcLAau0kEjBLhANF91UO3bTSddTr-Sj3aVHjKMzIYQp3eaaa9X0pm70R/s1600/IMG_2676edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0m1Bbg67aN2e-FFipVOeRUzhIZb59hMBHLAQkqrf8aK1uu-O_sgtua9WFBt3Wy12Zh77IVXQXz5u2bV8jKcjLXcLAau0kEjBLhANF91UO3bTSddTr-Sj3aVHjKMzIYQp3eaaa9X0pm70R/s400/IMG_2676edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617576457509066546" border="0" /></a>My sweet girl looked beautiful on her special day. She wore a silk dupioni dress from Strasburg Children and I had her veil custom made by the woman who made my wedding veil. It is a child-size version of my wedding veil. Perfect for my bow-loving little girl who really <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> wanted to wear Mama's veil (that was too big and that was the wrong shade of white).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYKMOz-ccYWDwR4YScC5sSPv9OvvPfCJ-9gohAnQsb5qad90ULbbG-uMmU7zO6A3WW4GQEEYxnaF60Z4JKeO1NxJDlqwYJDjFpJPTVdhpU84Ne-CjSHx9UYKkeotXaAAWwL1Q2EXCmT4q/s1600/IMG_2791edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYKMOz-ccYWDwR4YScC5sSPv9OvvPfCJ-9gohAnQsb5qad90ULbbG-uMmU7zO6A3WW4GQEEYxnaF60Z4JKeO1NxJDlqwYJDjFpJPTVdhpU84Ne-CjSHx9UYKkeotXaAAWwL1Q2EXCmT4q/s400/IMG_2791edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617577087539062002" border="0" /></a>I bought her this beautiful rosary from Etsy...and, my favorite, a beautiful little clay bowl to keep it in.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BkwiW9PaZiXOdSuLkC6NXS0le25WcP6S0-XsFbKtFlTycX5IEw5AxrNRB_jUOgludfRnHEBbw2AstMoXovVpV4LAaHPNaoU9Kkj4ET3u6WGERJkLut344U1vvBDTV34q9XmtGwn4Y0aO/s1600/IMG_2793edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BkwiW9PaZiXOdSuLkC6NXS0le25WcP6S0-XsFbKtFlTycX5IEw5AxrNRB_jUOgludfRnHEBbw2AstMoXovVpV4LAaHPNaoU9Kkj4ET3u6WGERJkLut344U1vvBDTV34q9XmtGwn4Y0aO/s400/IMG_2793edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617577092634727810" border="0" /></a>This bowl is gorgeous and was packaged SO beautifully! It is personalized for my daughter so I can't show the details, but click over to Etsy to look at the shop for <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/clareyclayworks">Clarey Clayworks</a>. They make beautiful bowls for all sorts of occasions and will personalize them. It is just lovely and perfectly holds her new rosary.frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-81225117125995217132011-06-08T05:00:00.000-07:002011-06-08T05:00:16.708-07:00New Shoes or Teva makes Mary Janes ?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXZLTm8lBR_CLLI64rKYfmTbfKfQ7Buxt99f_RkQjTxGTK6KIahJ6xvchd852oGA5fVKJuO9ghzA_X3uBjNmFSwxAAFF8gQrERGY-TlHfNGCo5nedXrP-KOyVXOJvVk-jas2ks5J2l9vZ/s1600/teva.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXZLTm8lBR_CLLI64rKYfmTbfKfQ7Buxt99f_RkQjTxGTK6KIahJ6xvchd852oGA5fVKJuO9ghzA_X3uBjNmFSwxAAFF8gQrERGY-TlHfNGCo5nedXrP-KOyVXOJvVk-jas2ks5J2l9vZ/s400/teva.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615715515204340706" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">(new Teva shoes -- LOVE them!)</span><br /></div><br />Two years ago I <a href="http://frillsfluffandtrucks.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-shoes.html">blogged abou</a>t some adorable OKAb shoes that I bought. I still love those shoes...but last week I looked down at my shoes and realized that the sole of one of them was ripping in half! Not a good look. I crossed my fingers and hoped that my shoes would last until I made it home (they did) and promptly went online and ordered myself some new shoes.<br /><br />The verdict? I'm in love! I had no idea Teva made mary janes, but I love these! The style is the Teva Westwater 2. They are perfect for running around after my children and for my lifestyle. They run about a half a size or more big (I read lots of reviews that referenced this and my experience backs this up). However, I have BIG feet and these do not make my feet look big...and I love that!<br /><br />Two thumbs up!frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-41582226672542306842011-06-07T05:00:00.000-07:002011-06-07T05:00:06.006-07:00End of Year Teacher Gift<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wjWxHTuuj2KjgHRu-hhhPJQBxyfxs9MUdQ5iggzoTACmmaknjvTykKa3KQyVolDyKzhh5_O1g1v1uY-5GpAM9x_SuxJrG8_6EIT-BQC0v7iR2F6SQ077WzAmq0DBzjiOZ7GqkRx8KXBd/s1600/IMG_5709blog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wjWxHTuuj2KjgHRu-hhhPJQBxyfxs9MUdQ5iggzoTACmmaknjvTykKa3KQyVolDyKzhh5_O1g1v1uY-5GpAM9x_SuxJrG8_6EIT-BQC0v7iR2F6SQ077WzAmq0DBzjiOZ7GqkRx8KXBd/s400/IMG_5709blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615334003477841970" border="0" /></a><br />It's that time of year again...the school year is winding down and it is time to let my daughter's teacher know that I appreciate the time and love she has put into teaching my little girl this year. Last year I painted terracotta pots with chalkboard paint and added a little bundle of chalk (tied with twine) plus some packets of herb seeds and a nice little quote. I had my child write a note to the teacher on the back of the note and it made a nice gift that didn't break the bank and that was, I hope, usable for the teacher. Perhaps we'll do the same thing this year since we've changed schools...hmm...my wheels still are turning on this one!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(Idea originally found <a href="http://www.erinvaledesign.com/leo_on_the_loose/2009/05/diy-teachers-gift-chalkboard-pot-scrapbook-paper-seed-packets.html">here</a>.)</span>frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-66671865406557514322011-06-01T10:27:00.000-07:002011-06-01T11:34:28.612-07:00Children's Artwork<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhmVMqoAApRLjzvNQxOgatw-9d3_QPzfGdOedGaOaz01YjZEtyb7JiwqpejhVl3Xik6oNFczGyh28x1b4PwycKNq1t7IAwhZYVkHnr51BZwR_kygLccWCONldYtjE7lWxJ9jeNcrDasGk/s1600/IMG_2894edit.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-bTGk9iIkgtqnC3ADY-PZlZp0ubF3yVD07tdPf45fR1cE8fbmcJuR9lcsxJ7zaTVIwgr17pH-9jXZiJERK1Xjl9vt-z4bt5UH3j6oiI_MTYea0usFlK9Whyi0w_tb04wv6M92UVGwwkK/s1600/IMG_2899edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-bTGk9iIkgtqnC3ADY-PZlZp0ubF3yVD07tdPf45fR1cE8fbmcJuR9lcsxJ7zaTVIwgr17pH-9jXZiJERK1Xjl9vt-z4bt5UH3j6oiI_MTYea0usFlK9Whyi0w_tb04wv6M92UVGwwkK/s400/IMG_2899edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613309569958732770" border="0" /></a>Displaying my children's art in my home has always been important to me, but lately it has become increasingly important. Although I don't want my house decorated in plastic and primary colors, I do want it to be a place where children are welcome and where it is readily apparent that young people live and are loved. To me, displaying my children's art is one of the best ways to do this.<br /><br />The refrigerator is a great place to start displaying those crayon creations, but I think it is important to show children that their artwork is important enough to showcase elsewhere in the house. Today I went around the first floor of the house and snapped a few pictures of where my children's artwork is displayed--other than the refrigerator! The first location is in the playroom (aka the room that used to be the dining room!). I've<a href="http://frillsfluffandtrucks.blogspot.com/2010/02/wall-words-diy-style.html"> posted about this rod</a> before--it is so easy to clip new artwork onto the rings. Oh, and those wood sculptures were made by my little boy. He is so proud of them--the red one is a fire station and he's still deciding on the other one. They're not out on display all the time, but they do make appearances.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhmVMqoAApRLjzvNQxOgatw-9d3_QPzfGdOedGaOaz01YjZEtyb7JiwqpejhVl3Xik6oNFczGyh28x1b4PwycKNq1t7IAwhZYVkHnr51BZwR_kygLccWCONldYtjE7lWxJ9jeNcrDasGk/s1600/IMG_2894edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhmVMqoAApRLjzvNQxOgatw-9d3_QPzfGdOedGaOaz01YjZEtyb7JiwqpejhVl3Xik6oNFczGyh28x1b4PwycKNq1t7IAwhZYVkHnr51BZwR_kygLccWCONldYtjE7lWxJ9jeNcrDasGk/s400/IMG_2894edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613309173090239922" border="0" /></a>I recently needed a little "something" for this side table in my living room, so I cut some cardstock in the size of these frames and gave one piece to each of my children and had them go to work. My five year old opted to draw a tree with a sunshine, rainbow, and flowers. My seven year old drew a picture of our blue house with a red door. They love seeing their artwork framed and I think their sweet drawings are the perfect "something" for my table.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFH7fEBM2WDAWFOGObpIsN4b7WYIy1kJgB5BDdFt5Juo4h-n_p56liK3FHz_ZAasQnI_IFGdHlYEaQoYdrCHemNtG5WyvPN8qH0GplRP7gpYCPALcE7VMd04WLjP452j_y_L_Ysl6psRx/s1600/IMG_2892edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFH7fEBM2WDAWFOGObpIsN4b7WYIy1kJgB5BDdFt5Juo4h-n_p56liK3FHz_ZAasQnI_IFGdHlYEaQoYdrCHemNtG5WyvPN8qH0GplRP7gpYCPALcE7VMd04WLjP452j_y_L_Ysl6psRx/s400/IMG_2892edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613309157765418978" border="0" /></a>Whoever designed this house opted to combine the laundry room and powder room--not a good combo in my book. At any rate, this artwork by my little boy is over the commode, but he doesn't mind one bit. I love having these cheery pieces in there because it brightens up a room I spend a lot of time in! His fingerprint rainbow and sweet tulips warm my heart.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9giEaYPOrPCZNXU6E7wEWpXH_S_fctQxKabCWhB4XTA7aBBmM5xqJKUDj7p8iTPOeXDgeHwo7uKQrfpqIQMGIQcoWJVimWmEO3vRGvb95TCrd_a_w-nDKXc_eY4MEz169H3vQTF8HJnT/s1600/IMG_2893edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9giEaYPOrPCZNXU6E7wEWpXH_S_fctQxKabCWhB4XTA7aBBmM5xqJKUDj7p8iTPOeXDgeHwo7uKQrfpqIQMGIQcoWJVimWmEO3vRGvb95TCrd_a_w-nDKXc_eY4MEz169H3vQTF8HJnT/s400/IMG_2893edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613309161755601218" border="0" /></a>My daughter's artwork is also in the laundry room, opposite my son's work. I had them do their paintings and then I cut out their work and mounted them on scrapbook paper before framing them. This tiny room instantly felt 10x more cheery with these additions to the wall. (Of course it would feel even better if I painted the cabinets and we finished installing the trimwork...)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJvSYKNuUkBD3LfJrvIrrgyeMd6mQsSGrfW6Fnxd3dk3h25L2QwV7qEhKmeyTFdz3T-F5I8RlgH5y5NPEbf2z4hxTBc9GZ_plJKOoaial77vV2GlqLTwdloCItHsac4u1jGjSR9zFmhct/s1600/IMG_2901edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJvSYKNuUkBD3LfJrvIrrgyeMd6mQsSGrfW6Fnxd3dk3h25L2QwV7qEhKmeyTFdz3T-F5I8RlgH5y5NPEbf2z4hxTBc9GZ_plJKOoaial77vV2GlqLTwdloCItHsac4u1jGjSR9zFmhct/s400/IMG_2901edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613309574032326386" border="0" /></a>Summer hasn't really arrived here, so I still have this spring bucket of daffodils that <a href="http://frillsfluffandtrucks.blogspot.com/2009/04/spring-art-projects.html">my children made</a> two years ago--I love it! The jagged scissor cuts on the daffodils make me smile every time I see them.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSMEhF_Sx6OGmZTzIlDv9ztg9R18JZjOgwUpojDtx-KK3VivXlm57fQx9Mtz2nIxKn1vQ56zxHF4uNY6hyphenhyphenXPfrAvyn9d7BFeGEUJEjIClyiR7wBXgSBnCi4OwWcWkE074zRIps1BbYgwk/s1600/IMG_2900edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSMEhF_Sx6OGmZTzIlDv9ztg9R18JZjOgwUpojDtx-KK3VivXlm57fQx9Mtz2nIxKn1vQ56zxHF4uNY6hyphenhyphenXPfrAvyn9d7BFeGEUJEjIClyiR7wBXgSBnCi4OwWcWkE074zRIps1BbYgwk/s400/IMG_2900edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613318519597083922" border="0" /></a>In the kitchen these tiles are above my stove. My children made these when they were almost three and almost five--such a simple project that has a lot of impact. The glass is tumbled (so no sharp edges) and glued to plain tiles with white glue. Then the tiles are mounted into frames. Simple!<br /><br />It isn't just about displaying my children's artwork, it is about incorporating it into our home. I don't want our home's decor to be all about what "I" want--we are a family.frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-2668045550434486722011-05-17T10:23:00.000-07:002011-05-17T10:46:16.054-07:00Easy Paper Pennant Banner TutorialWe recently celebrated my daughter's First Holy Communion and I wanted a simple "Congratulations" banner to hang for the occasion. I made this banner out of scrapbook paper and grosgrain ribbon in an afternoon. I opted to make a very simple banner, but it could be embellished to be as fancy as you would like it to be.<br /><br />Supplies:<br /><ul><li>scrapbook paper<br /></li><li>ribbon, twine or yarn</li><li>adhesive</li><li>hole punch</li></ul><br />Step One:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTx2sIAphXkBs0dTaw2PB-fltZ6M_YBfRQJ0WWQQdjf0xwc6lOPZ46Iyf4mJH_0SAe5Vsvao5cDupe33sOS1g74So2Phf9xFVRafJvW7EB0W3pM0byQEaSArAXxFaPMCFimlJuK6NIzt6B/s1600/IMG_1801edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTx2sIAphXkBs0dTaw2PB-fltZ6M_YBfRQJ0WWQQdjf0xwc6lOPZ46Iyf4mJH_0SAe5Vsvao5cDupe33sOS1g74So2Phf9xFVRafJvW7EB0W3pM0byQEaSArAXxFaPMCFimlJuK6NIzt6B/s400/IMG_1801edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607739148349990626" border="0" /></a>Cut out your triangles--however many you need for your banner. I needed fifteen to spell out my word.<br /><br />Step Two:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmdgmb_5R6SiKporn8ooY6sKS9F1UukKyN4W3S9afbcG7zw_s5wcdaMCi4sc-VoN6dxQoi8VU0voMi3QQ9vqPlJEXVgr5otT4H6NBbi1iuQWDDGk_X7OzIlE3Z6q3uREWSOD9ynwldYzl/s1600/IMG_1802edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmdgmb_5R6SiKporn8ooY6sKS9F1UukKyN4W3S9afbcG7zw_s5wcdaMCi4sc-VoN6dxQoi8VU0voMi3QQ9vqPlJEXVgr5otT4H6NBbi1iuQWDDGk_X7OzIlE3Z6q3uREWSOD9ynwldYzl/s400/IMG_1802edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607739127823323042" border="0" /></a>Cut out your letters. I used my Cricut to cut mine out, but you could use any sort of craft cutter or even use letter stickers (from the scrapbook section of the craft store), a stencil, or just use a marker.<br /><br />Step Three:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEcMXkYt09vvE1RxIMU_kVujwoyf66zlJ9_Xb86cRMzaPbXtZz5EOLLvM9YukldPUzOyjZSZ3pyasJvS627SG7Ca7_H2apv5F8VFE9_WyFVy0XOCim6cP8828c-MQkKRoe2vvDRyGPGWq/s1600/IMG_1803edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEcMXkYt09vvE1RxIMU_kVujwoyf66zlJ9_Xb86cRMzaPbXtZz5EOLLvM9YukldPUzOyjZSZ3pyasJvS627SG7Ca7_H2apv5F8VFE9_WyFVy0XOCim6cP8828c-MQkKRoe2vvDRyGPGWq/s400/IMG_1803edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607739118677304178" border="0" /></a>Adhere your letters to the pennants. I used scrapbooking adhesive (a tape runner) for this step, but you could use a glue stick or whatever you have handy.<br /><br />Step Four:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoV-xHB6gKGXAVNfNXsl6KDhStTdAd9eQ8IrpzWQYpWzWpiPfAxm3QhLPmVvlYr5PjHi6tEKrPJlyEy8AO66jw_Byxpr56vwViYKo7iBWpTUwFcbBGUGviW55C3a0kqPIQH6UECAGBDEL/s1600/IMG_1804edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoV-xHB6gKGXAVNfNXsl6KDhStTdAd9eQ8IrpzWQYpWzWpiPfAxm3QhLPmVvlYr5PjHi6tEKrPJlyEy8AO66jw_Byxpr56vwViYKo7iBWpTUwFcbBGUGviW55C3a0kqPIQH6UECAGBDEL/s400/IMG_1804edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607738567803170306" border="0" /></a>This step is skippable, but I'm addicted to my corner rounding punch, so I used that on the corners of each pennant. Here you can see that I used it on the "C" but hadn't yet used it on the "O". I think it just gives my simple banner a nice finishing touch. Very skippable though if you don't have this punch.<br /><br />Step Five:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSW4nE8-WUaFUBoC71c9GyQlbuLRbeVBckfol-NkOWyGKWOhJcWizeytbsKA_vC-nxQZXHSmXbFolhqzslTkxWZZTQJc4WLjn5nX4Q2IRkY8vJ1gxTBo0fr0dQQFfF05ADs1JafZ0XHAO/s1600/IMG_1805edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSW4nE8-WUaFUBoC71c9GyQlbuLRbeVBckfol-NkOWyGKWOhJcWizeytbsKA_vC-nxQZXHSmXbFolhqzslTkxWZZTQJc4WLjn5nX4Q2IRkY8vJ1gxTBo0fr0dQQFfF05ADs1JafZ0XHAO/s400/IMG_1805edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607738557138452994" border="0" /></a>Punch two holes in the top of each of your triangles and thread your banner! Use ribbon, twine, yarn--whatever looks best!<br /><br />Step Six:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3vKMaoiA7S17OaxBUXIQ40Zi37_Eafozi_bTTGq8DciVCil-jikoYmqImOgC2Hjakzj9gvm9ohLzT9FRM0HvjmVduF0gHD-qDfa2zOCFYDxp31Ny_NrRtjnaE07VuRATAfjELjXpNN7L/s1600/IMG_1846edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3vKMaoiA7S17OaxBUXIQ40Zi37_Eafozi_bTTGq8DciVCil-jikoYmqImOgC2Hjakzj9gvm9ohLzT9FRM0HvjmVduF0gHD-qDfa2zOCFYDxp31Ny_NrRtjnaE07VuRATAfjELjXpNN7L/s400/IMG_1846edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607738547241367042" border="0" /></a>Hang your banner and admire your creation!frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-46829042160503812622011-05-10T07:00:00.000-07:002011-05-10T10:13:21.358-07:00Tap Dance Headpieces<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5HLtsYtWjHa3POZ-yfDU1NyMv8tpAmWxH5viXzY6Aal7aqzn3ontLB8Mh0hBlIrLF_dCQcnTBG2ouAKlP-xKZ4srhPocDXbLA4H2CKqR8uENUbw2tsfuptfNPc9YzIizasZ01RguieLO/s1600/IMG_1769edit.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWrSKmU8qjynwz971GqrBI5O40c93MaqI8WcxT7c4py0hGFYLpqkqrvKlHMIeN6bmjJqECS5zd25HyYeTDosFG2AUvBnodLsS_gJPpkeFc8hA4EiDlncDdT0gBMHCRRYwrKY66lJ4zx_8/s1600/tapcostume.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 207px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWrSKmU8qjynwz971GqrBI5O40c93MaqI8WcxT7c4py0hGFYLpqkqrvKlHMIeN6bmjJqECS5zd25HyYeTDosFG2AUvBnodLsS_gJPpkeFc8hA4EiDlncDdT0gBMHCRRYwrKY66lJ4zx_8/s400/tapcostume.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604561677744407778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgApIE2EhRdjULUnM-DGLFC7Z-rHYBa2jrRQxibKBQqecBtCtud3ZdR9fqrMlR110xLckXR9Q3nkL-tV8rvV7a3Ok-dMtzQ8RgaOl49ju9OHNlZli1Xa5fQRy2wUSYpp2LVoXzExw8uqW/s1600/IMG_1771edit.jpg"><br /></a><br />Why is it that all projects in my life seem to happen at the same time? Springtime is SO busy around here! I recently finished up thirteen headpieces for one of my daughter's dance classes.<br /><br />This year her studio's spring performance is Peter Pan and it is fantastic! Seriously--laugh-out-loud funny in parts. Captain Hook sings (really sings) about being "bad" while channeling Michael Jackson. Hilarious stuff. They intersperse the "real" dancers and singers who have been studying for 10-15 years with the little ones who are just beginning and it becomes a great show to watch rather than an agonizing thing to suffer through.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgApIE2EhRdjULUnM-DGLFC7Z-rHYBa2jrRQxibKBQqecBtCtud3ZdR9fqrMlR110xLckXR9Q3nkL-tV8rvV7a3Ok-dMtzQ8RgaOl49ju9OHNlZli1Xa5fQRy2wUSYpp2LVoXzExw8uqW/s1600/IMG_1771edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgApIE2EhRdjULUnM-DGLFC7Z-rHYBa2jrRQxibKBQqecBtCtud3ZdR9fqrMlR110xLckXR9Q3nkL-tV8rvV7a3Ok-dMtzQ8RgaOl49ju9OHNlZli1Xa5fQRy2wUSYpp2LVoXzExw8uqW/s400/IMG_1771edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604561689513337954" border="0" /></a>Her tap class is dancing as clocks (to torment Captain Hook...their feet will make the tick-tock noise that he hates) so I was given the task of making clock headpieces...with zero budget...but I was given two feather boas and asked to make them work for all THIRTEEN girls. Yikes! Anything else was up to me (and up to my wallet). Double yikes! Here is what I came up with...I'm not super thrilled, but it looks decent from a distance and it stays on their heads (a comb is attached to the back of each one). They'll be wearing them at an angle on the sides of their heads, not perched right on top.<br /><br />They're not as cute as the<a href="http://frillsfluffandtrucks.blogspot.com/2009/03/pumpkins-in-march.html"> pumpkin headpieces</a> I made two years ago, but my daughter is happy that we're continuing the tradition of me making part of her costuming. This is the fourth year I've made one of her headpieces, so I'm happy to keep the tradition alive for her.<br /><br /><br />And, by the way, they will not be wearing the bowlers. Can you imagine this feather creation on top of that hat? That wouldn't be pretty! We couldn't figure out how to make the bowlers work with ballet buns.<br /><br />Hot glue and feathers everywhere...this accounts for some of my absence!frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-19167573893856905892011-05-09T10:00:00.000-07:002011-05-09T10:00:01.732-07:00Vacation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk02y4YxPlzSKEXnxJffZtxyD5rnHc8NDjKcMzRu1DJ7Owuh7y_0p9cfscS1n_S4ZY1OGkjERv2u5TAyo7kAbmn7vj3NnS6yOKcR_mdTIylVfWvQHmlD9Tadbm96CRwCLCWQW3ZKKAsLxK/s1600/IMG_1641edit.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQ2G1dP-1G4BRBSKUtk7RvATCNFeHfevDDeXIQ9IFQxIcwgqIUtpXXW5zQW5Y-IglfXnE48Gh9RxuO-e4f_7COMNj-dDIsRX6kL8smBzD4osMt2u0_h1vI6vZUyZx7H69gtNtaVkYFjCZ/s1600/IMG_1610edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQ2G1dP-1G4BRBSKUtk7RvATCNFeHfevDDeXIQ9IFQxIcwgqIUtpXXW5zQW5Y-IglfXnE48Gh9RxuO-e4f_7COMNj-dDIsRX6kL8smBzD4osMt2u0_h1vI6vZUyZx7H69gtNtaVkYFjCZ/s400/IMG_1610edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604558918184321410" border="0" /></a>Something about this picture resonates with me. I just love it. It is my favorite picture from our Easter vacation week. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlCvbkQP61f_LobkS686MvoVk_L9QJKK9D0i26y6R43_QFhMDGSD5DnQWSvxd0mXeu1P4UC4D-W1wcZmC0tH_I1wyIAi842nFHH7jhN2qZwEwD9Iyr0AcrDvIrlcvd8cQToPztBDZL11S/s1600/IMG_1645edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlCvbkQP61f_LobkS686MvoVk_L9QJKK9D0i26y6R43_QFhMDGSD5DnQWSvxd0mXeu1P4UC4D-W1wcZmC0tH_I1wyIAi842nFHH7jhN2qZwEwD9Iyr0AcrDvIrlcvd8cQToPztBDZL11S/s400/IMG_1645edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604558927292010642" border="0" /></a>That is my little boy walking up the beach and the church in the background is the Catholic church we attended on Easter Sunday. Such a sweet little church (lots of hand carving and nautical theming on the interior) and very nice people there too.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk02y4YxPlzSKEXnxJffZtxyD5rnHc8NDjKcMzRu1DJ7Owuh7y_0p9cfscS1n_S4ZY1OGkjERv2u5TAyo7kAbmn7vj3NnS6yOKcR_mdTIylVfWvQHmlD9Tadbm96CRwCLCWQW3ZKKAsLxK/s1600/IMG_1641edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk02y4YxPlzSKEXnxJffZtxyD5rnHc8NDjKcMzRu1DJ7Owuh7y_0p9cfscS1n_S4ZY1OGkjERv2u5TAyo7kAbmn7vj3NnS6yOKcR_mdTIylVfWvQHmlD9Tadbm96CRwCLCWQW3ZKKAsLxK/s400/IMG_1641edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604558930533717698" border="0" /></a>One last picture to remember our time at the beach this spring--winter hats and coats and rubber rainboots. Chilly temps and some liquid sunshine, but we still made it down to the beach!frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-64120974798873560902011-05-08T20:14:00.000-07:002011-05-08T20:37:31.631-07:00Easter Vacation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ICe-VMpvzjGyBMrz4RnUg4x2uG-H0VuWMBtI0SqZy0HktuManGTwcNdB-gMPw46IEY2e056rQZxcKKy2Yh4VgE_Y7uRNzo_IXUuCQldgM3G5zUKu5ipnBsb60iR8KHTo0WMzRYRS268u/s1600/IMG_1423edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ICe-VMpvzjGyBMrz4RnUg4x2uG-H0VuWMBtI0SqZy0HktuManGTwcNdB-gMPw46IEY2e056rQZxcKKy2Yh4VgE_Y7uRNzo_IXUuCQldgM3G5zUKu5ipnBsb60iR8KHTo0WMzRYRS268u/s400/IMG_1423edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604550036135660818" border="0" /></a>Happy Easter! It is still the Easter season in the Catholic church, so technically I'm not late with my greetings even if Target has moved on and is selling 4th of July decorations already. We were on vacation for Easter and the week following and it was wonderful! We went on our annual beach trip and it was cold but tons of fun! Before leaving for our trip, we went on an Easter egg hunt.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJVE-MpZeSwMR2bwfHHjhQt-_Xqnfalujl0sP6iKWGwT_Sq9sfFFAU6n8yJMXZtnoXc_uf4qZK7YMj-rN6bAqOb1LQMGpg1m0n6YP2m93rccr01t8SMCZiT9dxAz1bMo834Spo472yIYI/s1600/IMG_1424edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJVE-MpZeSwMR2bwfHHjhQt-_Xqnfalujl0sP6iKWGwT_Sq9sfFFAU6n8yJMXZtnoXc_uf4qZK7YMj-rN6bAqOb1LQMGpg1m0n6YP2m93rccr01t8SMCZiT9dxAz1bMo834Spo472yIYI/s400/IMG_1424edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604550041915486258" border="0" /></a>Yes, the egg hunt was inside our local grocery store! It is fun for the children and perfect for our weather conditions. My children LOVE it and for weeks afterward hope they will find a stray egg leftover from the hunt. (It has never happened, but they still hope!)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhW4pfaZZxm2ZWgIJkNNn_F2bgbjGFT8Lq3z926aiHEZymOvruZWxNELF9I3HdI-IBmixiHh51Hzx9_P31Zz_YwOlEZW5NDz0C6NW6N0ro2L-tmM0h1eM6DUdZc_tpllzmub8NPzvGRcf/s1600/IMG_1447edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhW4pfaZZxm2ZWgIJkNNn_F2bgbjGFT8Lq3z926aiHEZymOvruZWxNELF9I3HdI-IBmixiHh51Hzx9_P31Zz_YwOlEZW5NDz0C6NW6N0ro2L-tmM0h1eM6DUdZc_tpllzmub8NPzvGRcf/s400/IMG_1447edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604550047751784258" border="0" /></a>Next we set out on our long drive to our vacation destination. Once we arrived, we went for a quick (chilly!) walk and then started getting ready for Easter as it was already Saturday afternoon. First we planted these magic seeds that I came across. (Idea found via <a href="http://meetthedubiens.blogspot.com/2011/04/magical-jellybeans-and-lollipops.html">Meet the Dubiens</a>) The magic seeds enthralled my children as they had never seen seeds this big!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpyuB3uOwncNsf8uX_wtO40rhv_FVq2hXbJsEftDyKO6dlK3PpivetLn-WvSmbYX_SOcRyl7Q9FL9cMUdH41Dtq6WwF03eu_J6wZylPWQU8jyytPX_N0GqobhwA6FAsQj4ixBnNV-Jffv/s1600/IMG_1448edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpyuB3uOwncNsf8uX_wtO40rhv_FVq2hXbJsEftDyKO6dlK3PpivetLn-WvSmbYX_SOcRyl7Q9FL9cMUdH41Dtq6WwF03eu_J6wZylPWQU8jyytPX_N0GqobhwA6FAsQj4ixBnNV-Jffv/s400/IMG_1448edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604550054735110882" border="0" /></a>They planted their seeds in little pots and Easter grass (multi-colored crinkled paper) and put them in front of the "lovely" faux fireplace in the vacation condo. I told them I was pretty sure it would take all night for anything magic to happen, but they still kept checking.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eBYxXwsY7cY5-M-Fd_RMqo8U48BooIh7IBzT-Ua1ptYSFdGxAdb0OuexaOacpqhRznSYQx87cu1NDBK1bzdX_wtCSWfmojvV38AWb3m6-LpV2OJTWr2XR4I_gogm0uQHK3d4OVYMkMtN/s1600/IMG_1459edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eBYxXwsY7cY5-M-Fd_RMqo8U48BooIh7IBzT-Ua1ptYSFdGxAdb0OuexaOacpqhRznSYQx87cu1NDBK1bzdX_wtCSWfmojvV38AWb3m6-LpV2OJTWr2XR4I_gogm0uQHK3d4OVYMkMtN/s400/IMG_1459edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604550056346053442" border="0" /></a>Sure enough, by morning, two bunny lollipops had sprouted out of those pots! So cute! The children were thrilled and hope we come across some magic seeds to plant again next year!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1nYnDwCF_Vr1EK_fOhuKeRKA_FQM9ML0LwC2i4tmtYeXmWXSJTP2OHHYDuhvYz4vh83MUASoHYIeSTq6FKCpSV6VQ9wZi8i_rtEMfDI7eLcG9XT6v-7_Z6eUkgCS3jFNpIyigJIlhKdN/s1600/IMG_1471edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1nYnDwCF_Vr1EK_fOhuKeRKA_FQM9ML0LwC2i4tmtYeXmWXSJTP2OHHYDuhvYz4vh83MUASoHYIeSTq6FKCpSV6VQ9wZi8i_rtEMfDI7eLcG9XT6v-7_Z6eUkgCS3jFNpIyigJIlhKdN/s400/IMG_1471edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604553281389765122" border="0" /></a>We had a little egg hunt in the condo living area and the children were happy with their baskets. We've used the same baskets since my daughter's first Easter. I bought four identical wicker baskets her first Easter in the hope that I would one day have four children. I have been blessed with two children (and love them dearly, so I don't want to say "only" two children) so it looks like the other two baskets are for Mama and Dada.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYce_-Hu6xwk_lv8UY0azKcCJLFuMB9IhyphenhyphenA6rW0FOhF9txEXIFdQpHcYNJbWGh_lzJUvEDluJg12qEh1PuVjzz4bOD3AGSaaKyULDgs_5b53rmTdK1EdENJ2fMjaVI1i9QCiLKV0fjibNf/s1600/IMG_1474edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYce_-Hu6xwk_lv8UY0azKcCJLFuMB9IhyphenhyphenA6rW0FOhF9txEXIFdQpHcYNJbWGh_lzJUvEDluJg12qEh1PuVjzz4bOD3AGSaaKyULDgs_5b53rmTdK1EdENJ2fMjaVI1i9QCiLKV0fjibNf/s400/IMG_1474edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604553288040652722" border="0" /></a>These glasses make me smile! I think the Easter Bunny knew that Mama likes to take goofy pictures of her babies and this will make a perfect calendar picture!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PQb1p2UlBPMw_zOUNkyNGMupmoCndq2SYuaUHJDoaQeVIcltL8fD9mOmW2sR6BQSG3udPxLQriWARIYkOdPbQcFtwCrPl8kj5m0If_0f4NNuzB8Bs8e2j_8zj4OSMv2fK_aR0IYAxoqs/s1600/IMG_1488edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PQb1p2UlBPMw_zOUNkyNGMupmoCndq2SYuaUHJDoaQeVIcltL8fD9mOmW2sR6BQSG3udPxLQriWARIYkOdPbQcFtwCrPl8kj5m0If_0f4NNuzB8Bs8e2j_8zj4OSMv2fK_aR0IYAxoqs/s400/IMG_1488edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604553292758768914" border="0" /></a>Our Easter Sunday Mass was spent at a quaint little ocean front Catholic church. In this picture my children are standing in the church parking lot directly in front of our car. Look at that view! Breathtaking! The church was tiny but so sweet and the priest's message was wonderful. We really enjoyed the service.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3II4Udc5Zv8bffmmH1xNIIKeW1aSZd3lbNW5pHJo5UlLTMf0F6UxaI9mJDJVEbwV9BuW04gRYq8g-Ba44gmwuE7aTklThpYxlX2KKPFmFYnmyJpWkYZTImuexPtLfv-o3qXZVL0AeSh0/s1600/IMG_1501edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3II4Udc5Zv8bffmmH1xNIIKeW1aSZd3lbNW5pHJo5UlLTMf0F6UxaI9mJDJVEbwV9BuW04gRYq8g-Ba44gmwuE7aTklThpYxlX2KKPFmFYnmyJpWkYZTImuexPtLfv-o3qXZVL0AeSh0/s400/IMG_1501edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604553302425371826" border="0" /></a>One of our family traditions on Easter Sunday is to go for a drive after church and then get ice cream. Well, if you know the area, you can look at this family picture and guess where our vacation drive took us. We had a nice tour of this place and then enjoyed some fresh ice cream. Yum!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9udL9dEy3QDBSUzOxLC908yX9wxG3yrT-rnVUgAK77OWU18wWROER4zkXZ0fRJ-Sw2apUTlzqHiZhr08NzLYd7XJbrGwCGyTx45AEgNZ0BhkTxamWdx-kdBCvB0_DYlxhkvvj92EmxYWQ/s1600/IMG_1520edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9udL9dEy3QDBSUzOxLC908yX9wxG3yrT-rnVUgAK77OWU18wWROER4zkXZ0fRJ-Sw2apUTlzqHiZhr08NzLYd7XJbrGwCGyTx45AEgNZ0BhkTxamWdx-kdBCvB0_DYlxhkvvj92EmxYWQ/s400/IMG_1520edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604553306986734546" border="0" /></a>And, of course, no Easter is complete in our family without Bunny Cake! This one is rather messy and covered in crumbs and little fingerprints because I had lots of "help", but we had fun working on it together. I baked it home and we decorated it on Easter Sunday.<br /><br />It was a busy day but so fun and so full of family time. Really a perfect Easter for our family.frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-73061091677812541662011-04-22T13:42:00.000-07:002011-04-22T13:58:14.925-07:00Tulip Fields<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHugwn4KIDlZp8qnyMCrxa1Y_-nwoQl08_mS04wTBdJRM3Ewsl0ykHIS9wKWqwBysKsFzlK5DMTLhkflLifYnEpYZxiaad9uHhban-QOpYRVep2hx1kngReZCyoTnq2PtujpiDE7zcJnRs/s1600/IMG_1360edit.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eVyrzlIbVAhyazPELTj4R3_g2YqaDfsiBiSFukGhou49QXHZJaGzvqFKFE3yF9S77_VnVEfTGLpTEVxuyfx4S3dnKxt5_RZK9YFwJ_pqEzJd5q59ptk3e5-9n3JodLRynLeivFnS_kay/s1600/IMG_1386edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eVyrzlIbVAhyazPELTj4R3_g2YqaDfsiBiSFukGhou49QXHZJaGzvqFKFE3yF9S77_VnVEfTGLpTEVxuyfx4S3dnKxt5_RZK9YFwJ_pqEzJd5q59ptk3e5-9n3JodLRynLeivFnS_kay/s400/IMG_1386edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598512720330676994" border="0" /></a>As usual in the spring, life is crazy around here. We took a break from the craziness last weekend though and took a trip to visit the beautiful tulip fields.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFYgbJXSegkEOoyuGdTRgWOdokdBu6vJ3nKC2YQuQjHA0G9SQUgMu8fB9uax-QR5X_D0CTMxPMxYIyFHVia_6M0eUDp84qiFA6-N8Sj9WveqySkZ3rub6jq-YSPqBaVqg9z863IwXnVgw/s1600/IMG_1342edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFYgbJXSegkEOoyuGdTRgWOdokdBu6vJ3nKC2YQuQjHA0G9SQUgMu8fB9uax-QR5X_D0CTMxPMxYIyFHVia_6M0eUDp84qiFA6-N8Sj9WveqySkZ3rub6jq-YSPqBaVqg9z863IwXnVgw/s400/IMG_1342edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598512728825322178" border="0" /></a>Luckily the weather cooperated and we had a break in our cold weather and pouring rain--it was actually sunny and in the 50s for a change! We enjoyed the sunshine and the beautiful blooms.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHugwn4KIDlZp8qnyMCrxa1Y_-nwoQl08_mS04wTBdJRM3Ewsl0ykHIS9wKWqwBysKsFzlK5DMTLhkflLifYnEpYZxiaad9uHhban-QOpYRVep2hx1kngReZCyoTnq2PtujpiDE7zcJnRs/s1600/IMG_1360edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHugwn4KIDlZp8qnyMCrxa1Y_-nwoQl08_mS04wTBdJRM3Ewsl0ykHIS9wKWqwBysKsFzlK5DMTLhkflLifYnEpYZxiaad9uHhban-QOpYRVep2hx1kngReZCyoTnq2PtujpiDE7zcJnRs/s400/IMG_1360edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598512737262658498" border="0" /></a>My daughter wore all her tulip gear--including her tulip sunglasses, sweater, and tulip turtle shirt! We've gone to visit the tulips every year since she was four months old and she has always worn tulip themed clothing from Gymboree. I'm going to be sad when she no longer wants to "dress the part" and match the flowers!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDlrrCMs89nYW8yJazS4F4VeYhs-BTYkVfmyq8uT6BVPstdCw1ohxsazxgcg4_7Oll-hyfrrXz3ZNXVHjvaB90aKMQ8hIxmDVOD4rCc0NOzODWYfX6weYhm8gwd9btzvA5Tu083uy_BUp/s1600/IMG_1372edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDlrrCMs89nYW8yJazS4F4VeYhs-BTYkVfmyq8uT6BVPstdCw1ohxsazxgcg4_7Oll-hyfrrXz3ZNXVHjvaB90aKMQ8hIxmDVOD4rCc0NOzODWYfX6weYhm8gwd9btzvA5Tu083uy_BUp/s400/IMG_1372edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598514309990105218" border="0" /></a>No tulip themed clothing for this little guy! He was happy to wear his froggy boots and look at the flowers. He was not so happy about the port-a-potty though--he's still complaining about that experience!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQU2JkuljCfrKr7H9EXexN95KDELWR9icXzo_F25P9YI_6b90MG_i5VY5rdQVLEWbPSV13CHHzyLC22wpNZSN-DddLnlldtj86p9oQd3RIwGhkJzJfFlMIXIhrVH1EOl-cNAwswI_qrDj/s1600/IMG_1414edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQU2JkuljCfrKr7H9EXexN95KDELWR9icXzo_F25P9YI_6b90MG_i5VY5rdQVLEWbPSV13CHHzyLC22wpNZSN-DddLnlldtj86p9oQd3RIwGhkJzJfFlMIXIhrVH1EOl-cNAwswI_qrDj/s400/IMG_1414edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598514315027655138" border="0" /></a>My last picture of the day is my favorite picture--and it is a genuine one. They adore each other and I adore them. (Yes, they do argue--but they really do love each other SO much.)frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-8581900291400961452011-04-13T09:25:00.000-07:002011-04-13T09:37:02.903-07:00Wordless Wednesday: Artist at Work<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4s1I5MKosusy-2FP4_chNbByJ3fpxWcM6r8kfrqLIXUaIjIJtjY-cX2GMiCQh5nN-yHRDDjQrezcZ5_kqzZBFErg7Sr0M4rsmA123UC5bx3aOwMQwXEZi0abOdOHCexrxGGpDf3UDgUm/s1600/IMG_1253edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4s1I5MKosusy-2FP4_chNbByJ3fpxWcM6r8kfrqLIXUaIjIJtjY-cX2GMiCQh5nN-yHRDDjQrezcZ5_kqzZBFErg7Sr0M4rsmA123UC5bx3aOwMQwXEZi0abOdOHCexrxGGpDf3UDgUm/s400/IMG_1253edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595106685512192946" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Linking up to </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.angryjuliemonday.com/2011/04/13/wordless-wednesday-inspirational-parking-stalls/">Wordless Wednesday</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> at Angry Julie Monday--go check out the neat parking lot she photographed. I've never seen one like it before!</span></span>frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-82875613715283938462011-04-07T02:00:00.000-07:002011-04-08T11:31:50.255-07:00Free Spring Crafts eBook<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ypIN8-zur_bBNUKRqFWDnPl-pi9mzvCxkJ77jIdumBcXsXkRsh18ZjA_s_WIUW0SaAiWw8XmoMUUE8NQK9YGRJbeUOcircO5tu5Ylmtu9x8jM4QGbqvdEQOG4AFHKyHL0e1uXQ38cXc9/s1600/crafts-ebooks-cover-941x1024.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 368px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ypIN8-zur_bBNUKRqFWDnPl-pi9mzvCxkJ77jIdumBcXsXkRsh18ZjA_s_WIUW0SaAiWw8XmoMUUE8NQK9YGRJbeUOcircO5tu5Ylmtu9x8jM4QGbqvdEQOG4AFHKyHL0e1uXQ38cXc9/s400/crafts-ebooks-cover-941x1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592691715230226130" border="0" /></a>Allie from <a href="http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/">No Time for Flashcards</a> recently invited me to have one of my crafts published in a great eBook full of spring crafts. Needless to say, I enthusiastically accepted her invitation! There are 25 crafts submitted by 15 bloggers in this great <span style="font-weight: bold;">free</span> ebook! Download your copy and get crafting!<br /><br /><a href="http://printables.yourway.net/spring-crafts-fun-activities-for-families-ebook/">Click here to download your free copy!</a><br /><strong></strong>frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-6524743110535726792011-04-06T09:55:00.001-07:002011-04-06T10:51:15.596-07:00Easter Decorations<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheilud0khLrbau_brgSOkIbpn078iE6U_4xFWE8IhjZL23dRnDQ1nG7CGvqLtmA3FsZlVZrGwiRyHtsJRvg12SrBhx2pvB7YC_r6xFZ0jYS4jh7GXfVmoXMldkoGTkTYGbRWsaTTtDlrxi/s1600/IMG_1249edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheilud0khLrbau_brgSOkIbpn078iE6U_4xFWE8IhjZL23dRnDQ1nG7CGvqLtmA3FsZlVZrGwiRyHtsJRvg12SrBhx2pvB7YC_r6xFZ0jYS4jh7GXfVmoXMldkoGTkTYGbRWsaTTtDlrxi/s400/IMG_1249edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592516637053756226" border="0" /></a>Despite a crazy weekend, I was able to get more of my Easter and spring decorating done--I showed you the mantel<a href="http://frillsfluffandtrucks.blogspot.com/2011/04/easter-and-spring-decorating.html"> last week</a>. Now if I could only get my house picked up too! This little vignette was inspired by the mossy vignette I saw over at <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/03/mossy-vignette.html">Thrifty Decor Chick</a>. I made my nest by putting paper lunch sacks through my shredder, my eggs are from JoAnn Fabrics, the mossy "rocks" are from Dollar Tree, and the sheet moss is left over from my bunny topiaries (more on those in a bit). Love this vignette and it looks great in my family room!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgT9aK8VeLXFMEqAPOdgOLCeIBHXo8EAa4gww3Y1-CkfVht6N5001fgJ00L9YGIZ1ek0ViIHmFNZL9WwKBgT2FMC9SEYkpBM2rCBozKm9CCfzqPNn8WK4pzUBwSdAaAm7tqoSNR-PZ0Dtr/s1600/IMG_1247edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgT9aK8VeLXFMEqAPOdgOLCeIBHXo8EAa4gww3Y1-CkfVht6N5001fgJ00L9YGIZ1ek0ViIHmFNZL9WwKBgT2FMC9SEYkpBM2rCBozKm9CCfzqPNn8WK4pzUBwSdAaAm7tqoSNR-PZ0Dtr/s400/IMG_1247edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592528197712618626" border="0" /></a>This colorful bucket of daffodils was constructed by my children<a href="http://frillsfluffandtrucks.blogspot.com/2009/04/spring-art-projects.html"> two years ago</a> and I love getting it out each year--it is such a fun pop of spring in the family room! I picked up the bunny at Goodwill last spring and spraypainted it white and he likes to sit right under the daffodils.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJGU9O2MA65AAngHGY5-KkSTEm_xVyQzAqdva4QiFHy38RbN6CbkTSsjLhrmNo62ifLO7V9hDYCEK7lCo4nUd8nCRUdRI3hjz5EQhhzgnUikyySUIM9IbBGgAkWDqmoCDdaL-xOrNfPM4/s1600/IMG_1241edit.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQc1kTU4hEg96vUQHrbicbW9noS5qy3bELjq_TseH7rp6lNtekvFv3t_GjiKJ2wcqu5DUhRS2Tn8zu7LGuMl3af8b5R64tFaGH9U8TknzK8upHlK34B6tCGpdIfJb4j57Vt6lj73rCBH5/s1600/IMG_1239edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQc1kTU4hEg96vUQHrbicbW9noS5qy3bELjq_TseH7rp6lNtekvFv3t_GjiKJ2wcqu5DUhRS2Tn8zu7LGuMl3af8b5R64tFaGH9U8TknzK8upHlK34B6tCGpdIfJb4j57Vt6lj73rCBH5/s400/IMG_1239edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592516065630233282" border="0" /></a>This is the art display in the playroom (click <a href="http://frillsfluffandtrucks.blogspot.com/2010/02/wall-words-diy-style.html">here</a> for info on the vinyl and <a href="http://frillsfluffandtrucks.blogspot.com/2010/02/childrens-artwork-display-solution.html">here</a> for info on the display rack)--I finally took down the cute snowmen that my children made. Even though it is only 40 degrees outside, I'm determined to make it feel like spring inside the house!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TP1EyS0Ux6NDETcfc4k_Fx4uQTXkvSWBkpGqy4p0w2h6r82heMVxHd26RvZdrAnUjvnLz5K1zIESnKW5_-JCQYbMGcZg7z7htuxrUx7AMs4PUDYYhlNXH0pChLiSViBf3FD8N7h7pUfo/s1600/IMG_1234edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TP1EyS0Ux6NDETcfc4k_Fx4uQTXkvSWBkpGqy4p0w2h6r82heMVxHd26RvZdrAnUjvnLz5K1zIESnKW5_-JCQYbMGcZg7z7htuxrUx7AMs4PUDYYhlNXH0pChLiSViBf3FD8N7h7pUfo/s400/IMG_1234edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592516060118422114" border="0" /></a>I started off by making my bunny topiaries using bunnies from Pier One--they are mossy bunnies on a stick that cost about $2.99. Super cute and I've seen lots of versions of topiaries and crafty things done with them. I went for a simple topiary. Floral foam in a small clay pot topped with some sheet moss (cut to size) and then I jabbed my bunny stick (that I cut down just a bit) into the middle of the pot. I tied on a cute little pink bow and that was it! I love them!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkCVPqfxuQOFduGMRMoDMTeQ1yE3CydlJqs9cLz61owEAfKDYyTCisrhfQYxerr8fbw-jWGyTwJEDPAFenwYzA3MuBPfCEn5ob4K9z9WzK_zuF75kjZCArWuXlmBbzTomcB91GDWuw5qR/s1600/IMG_1237edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkCVPqfxuQOFduGMRMoDMTeQ1yE3CydlJqs9cLz61owEAfKDYyTCisrhfQYxerr8fbw-jWGyTwJEDPAFenwYzA3MuBPfCEn5ob4K9z9WzK_zuF75kjZCArWuXlmBbzTomcB91GDWuw5qR/s400/IMG_1237edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592516061793021202" border="0" /></a>In between the bunny topiaries I have one of my grandma's milk glass dishes filled with faux eggs. I have a number of milk glass dishes and containers, but my favorites are the ones that belonged to my grandma. In fact, now that I have a few (not many, but a few!) of her containers, I'm very close to getting rid of the pieces I picked up at thrift stores. The sentimentality of the family pieces means so much to me!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2kda2TFxBDFaB509N72rjRhVaWFrr-DL83-KQua4mBdl13BhYpvkMh6-obi9Uomn0X0PzQynUVazfBMdh6fZc9jkxvM-W7ETil4rjKyXvCmjF124Z7Rqxyl2kd-z5xcykkD4DqSEtf7A/s1600/IMG_1242edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2kda2TFxBDFaB509N72rjRhVaWFrr-DL83-KQua4mBdl13BhYpvkMh6-obi9Uomn0X0PzQynUVazfBMdh6fZc9jkxvM-W7ETil4rjKyXvCmjF124Z7Rqxyl2kd-z5xcykkD4DqSEtf7A/s400/IMG_1242edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592516077269687058" border="0" /></a>My living room is attached to the playroom (because the playroom really is supposed to be a dining room) so this next room flows right from the room with the piano. The table pictured above is right next to my couch. The subway printable came straight out of my inkjet printer and is from the girls over at<a href="http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2011/03/spring-subway-art.html"> eighteen25</a>. I love their seasonal printables!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJGU9O2MA65AAngHGY5-KkSTEm_xVyQzAqdva4QiFHy38RbN6CbkTSsjLhrmNo62ifLO7V9hDYCEK7lCo4nUd8nCRUdRI3hjz5EQhhzgnUikyySUIM9IbBGgAkWDqmoCDdaL-xOrNfPM4/s1600/IMG_1241edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJGU9O2MA65AAngHGY5-KkSTEm_xVyQzAqdva4QiFHy38RbN6CbkTSsjLhrmNo62ifLO7V9hDYCEK7lCo4nUd8nCRUdRI3hjz5EQhhzgnUikyySUIM9IbBGgAkWDqmoCDdaL-xOrNfPM4/s400/IMG_1241edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592516081087353682" border="0" /></a>On the coffee table I have the same tray arrangement I did last year, including the glass pedestal <a href="http://frillsfluffandtrucks.blogspot.com/2009/03/quick-project-doneeight-months-later.html">I made</a> out of a glass plate and candlestick. I get a lot of use out of that!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaAOcpfw4V5F0fe_GxZWIMTmsOgPsW3g8ssLP1a0Pr37wlx6sSh3f4JP-to0LsiZQteT3u_jHDoVW24TjotE9mm1IcHZWjcz1nSFdk-TQHebFtpKsXefNZmr2sBpDpS1wvyBOkztAxNZg/s1600/IMG_1240edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaAOcpfw4V5F0fe_GxZWIMTmsOgPsW3g8ssLP1a0Pr37wlx6sSh3f4JP-to0LsiZQteT3u_jHDoVW24TjotE9mm1IcHZWjcz1nSFdk-TQHebFtpKsXefNZmr2sBpDpS1wvyBOkztAxNZg/s400/IMG_1240edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592516621256674210" border="0" /></a>I also have these bunny themed Golden Books out on the coffee table for my little bunnies to read. They love it when I pull together seasonal book arrangements for them. I'm going to be sad when they outgrow this!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiof_b9xefeXl4E3zeq-ndwEaTNNkc8P7SKBCgBX7b_TwQ2e05jr4EYrJ0mqd2e5SNdM6IFVeBjLdHt_wwRP6Oyxt9kamF8AaEC7UuyRxG2wCDLcq3GJAq8dmIQ1qGNTDOfRouEICuWR_JT/s1600/IMG_1245edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiof_b9xefeXl4E3zeq-ndwEaTNNkc8P7SKBCgBX7b_TwQ2e05jr4EYrJ0mqd2e5SNdM6IFVeBjLdHt_wwRP6Oyxt9kamF8AaEC7UuyRxG2wCDLcq3GJAq8dmIQ1qGNTDOfRouEICuWR_JT/s400/IMG_1245edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592516627246438898" border="0" /></a>Here is most of the living room all decorated for spring. The messy playroom is off to the right...I shoved the excess mess out of the picture just for the picture. Isn't the little air hockey table under the window a nice touch? One of these days I want to build a console table for behind the couch, thus my barn stars are a bit high on the wall to leave space for the decor I'm planning to put on the table that doesn't exist yet. I like to plan ahead.<br /><br />Ahh, spring is in the air!frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-75694341138962310952011-04-01T02:00:00.000-07:002011-04-06T21:35:29.524-07:00Easter and Spring Decorating<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptYDYj3H8Q-OVz8hT2kJUSg8LIipX5T__Rw23HI9vpEiULXxGKJ2PfC7T4VGYgE20K8pL-hCOyamTuwySs4SBOToXstR5t1wPvz4Q3iFk31rtq13Bn_5cUTW8hR8t7lF3m0bNfer62VhG/s1600/IMG_1181edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptYDYj3H8Q-OVz8hT2kJUSg8LIipX5T__Rw23HI9vpEiULXxGKJ2PfC7T4VGYgE20K8pL-hCOyamTuwySs4SBOToXstR5t1wPvz4Q3iFk31rtq13Bn_5cUTW8hR8t7lF3m0bNfer62VhG/s400/IMG_1181edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590482939299189458" border="0" /></a>I spent Wednesday putting away my St. Patrick's Day decor and getting out my spring decorations and Easter decorations. I'm still tweaking some areas, but the mantel and table are done...at least for now!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJNrNTyxGcp10yFfLgl5bob-Tv9afGwwfrpOl11-Srm2tKdYd5avr3nhT56vEz6qvDV6eQ_5LuPRocDpUz7fi87p1zvS90kseS6dpC5LnCkhatS0Ig3DqxE5_vciuK516mdsfAEfM77AK/s1600/IMG_1182edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJNrNTyxGcp10yFfLgl5bob-Tv9afGwwfrpOl11-Srm2tKdYd5avr3nhT56vEz6qvDV6eQ_5LuPRocDpUz7fi87p1zvS90kseS6dpC5LnCkhatS0Ig3DqxE5_vciuK516mdsfAEfM77AK/s400/IMG_1182edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590483373574433314" border="0" /></a>Last week I posted about the <a href="http://frillsfluffandtrucks.blogspot.com/2011/03/diy-topiary.html">boxwood topiary</a> I currently have on one end of the mantel. Adjacent to the topiary you'll find a small stack of vintage books from my mother's childhood (Nancy Drew, I think!) topped with a ceramic bird candle holder. At the other end I have an apothecary jar filled with twig balls (I think I bought those from Target last year) and there are two bunnies (from JoAnn Fabric) perched near the base.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngBLjF2EDoAl-p2gGA4l7TZO8XQnS-ZNAJ0HwiAR_D_OJ63OXy8vEyHsPRjsIUVUOTjNWPSs3GSmK0nd3nERXc8FHWYrYonpNPAgSb2CqpSCgrv6VPL_W-TrBi_nFDo9rZmvRs2CQSCub/s1600/IMG_1180edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngBLjF2EDoAl-p2gGA4l7TZO8XQnS-ZNAJ0HwiAR_D_OJ63OXy8vEyHsPRjsIUVUOTjNWPSs3GSmK0nd3nERXc8FHWYrYonpNPAgSb2CqpSCgrv6VPL_W-TrBi_nFDo9rZmvRs2CQSCub/s400/IMG_1180edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590482932032237842" border="0" /></a>As an aside, the art work on the wall is made from scrapbook paper and MDF--inexpensive and effective! Click<a href="http://frillsfluffandtrucks.blogspot.com/2010/03/wall-decor-on-budget.html"> here</a> for more info! I didn't distress it or anything!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4UtwZXpFjN_ItWYGPHq-wOiySQDiRtLYCJIJQTUyu-c3e0nHiejOTBa7I_u0lZ7kuWzUdauD9ifCzbot_W8vGWCbub2wId5mXH1pfwfvDWiCWlyF1R1dQsQLVQCYPx85DzOsUCIpfVd-/s1600/IMG_1176edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4UtwZXpFjN_ItWYGPHq-wOiySQDiRtLYCJIJQTUyu-c3e0nHiejOTBa7I_u0lZ7kuWzUdauD9ifCzbot_W8vGWCbub2wId5mXH1pfwfvDWiCWlyF1R1dQsQLVQCYPx85DzOsUCIpfVd-/s400/IMG_1176edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590482920478382002" border="0" /></a>My children are in love with these bunnies I use in my decor each year. There is a girl bunny and a boy bunny, so of course they've named the bunnies after themselves. They like to have the bunnies on the table positioned in front of their chairs so they can watch the bunnies while they eat. This year I switched things up and added the container of carrots to the table.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8GEun3ucAaWtrTKIKnWIslruKHg89csqTXPs1ZKGprUAwWKcbM8YvjpBuw3rFU9z6Qad3m7a-AHanaI3wPiBWFKZeN-8CnN589oPQQmh6vn_tf0PKFAsJRui2tlNWyroNHkZDr0eqgrt/s1600/IMG_1178edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8GEun3ucAaWtrTKIKnWIslruKHg89csqTXPs1ZKGprUAwWKcbM8YvjpBuw3rFU9z6Qad3m7a-AHanaI3wPiBWFKZeN-8CnN589oPQQmh6vn_tf0PKFAsJRui2tlNWyroNHkZDr0eqgrt/s400/IMG_1178edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590482929930919810" border="0" /></a>I love these carrots! I bought them this year at Pier One and wasn't quite sure how I would use them, but I just couldn't pass them up. I ended up popping them into an apothecary jar and just leaving the lid off the jar since they were too tall for the jar. It works for me and they make me smile. A jar full of carrots isn't exactly my usual type of table decor, but I'm liking it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusRcBnnrpRSN7VrHGya0LZje45EQ75cVhuPRdMGuOWrXOyKOghrkECs_cGFY3nH1LPXtixa-GUlJoDIyRAyq5SmUBa4sjcQaePsB9_L3e1lsfdyJEc4gODyCTIrWURSFk-C_42nYigkkM/s1600/IMG_1177edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusRcBnnrpRSN7VrHGya0LZje45EQ75cVhuPRdMGuOWrXOyKOghrkECs_cGFY3nH1LPXtixa-GUlJoDIyRAyq5SmUBa4sjcQaePsB9_L3e1lsfdyJEc4gODyCTIrWURSFk-C_42nYigkkM/s400/IMG_1177edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590482922848759394" border="0" /></a>Hopefully over the weekend I'll have the chance to finish up my decorating! I can't believe it already is April! (Update: I <a href="http://frillsfluffandtrucks.blogspot.com/2011/04/easter-decorations.html">finished</a> my decorating!)<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Linking to: </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.thestoriesofa2z.com/2011/04/spring-mantel-link-party.html">Spring Mantel Party</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> at The Stories of A to Z</span></span>frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-19378022711732030682011-03-30T09:59:00.000-07:002011-03-30T10:23:17.732-07:00Wordless Wednesday: Junie B Jones<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8Xbji-xOf6lpMmokGBLc69Dd42G0L-ziTxZnfWrunYnhEVI0pAtbfDf_pT_13ejPSWXsKJit8qw4AajNg772gRVXIPaeqhLpG8VKkJjxxLG-Xi18mwj4LPze4wuw9TAYiyJ4orrP2v2W/s1600/IMG_1132edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8Xbji-xOf6lpMmokGBLc69Dd42G0L-ziTxZnfWrunYnhEVI0pAtbfDf_pT_13ejPSWXsKJit8qw4AajNg772gRVXIPaeqhLpG8VKkJjxxLG-Xi18mwj4LPze4wuw9TAYiyJ4orrP2v2W/s400/IMG_1132edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589922945522256834" border="0" /></a>Wordless Wednesday--and this one speaks a thousand words to me!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Linking to: <a href="http://www.angryjuliemonday.com/2011/03/30/wordless-wednesday-studying-lego-instructions/">Angry Julie Monday</a><br /></div>frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-46082842950144941342011-03-29T09:55:00.000-07:002011-03-30T21:34:45.583-07:00Monogram Button Pillow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyqS3x5s70b57L8LqqfV-7MNDuVuGVqCHe2qEa_LEVZoNbJswtOE8IGky1GIrnbwAldltKZoVopMufmi8EkFpTlKsNKIciaaK9hwaJc3HhrE2sSyUVZ2hH5uZcrbJ1ePDfDA5viuYsahx/s1600/IMG_1168edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyqS3x5s70b57L8LqqfV-7MNDuVuGVqCHe2qEa_LEVZoNbJswtOE8IGky1GIrnbwAldltKZoVopMufmi8EkFpTlKsNKIciaaK9hwaJc3HhrE2sSyUVZ2hH5uZcrbJ1ePDfDA5viuYsahx/s400/IMG_1168edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589546898793069586" border="0" /></a>I sewed up this easy pillow project yesterday and I'm so pleased with how it turned out. No tutorial because this project is all over the internet, but it really is very simple. If you've never sewn a pillow cover before, Cottage Magpie has a simple<a href="http://cottagemagpie.com/how-to/pillows/how-to-sew-pillow-cover/"> step-by-step tutorial</a> that I've used several times with great results. This was my first time adding in the piping around the edge of my pillow and I'm mostly satisfied with the results. I do have room for improvement for next time though! (And apparently I should have ironed the front of my pillow. Whoops!)<br /><br />I bought the buttons for my initial at Saint Vincent de Paul (they have a huge bin of monochromatic buttons) and drew a letter on the front of my pillow with a sewing pencil. Then I just sewed buttons on as I went. No fancy layout or anything like that. Except for cutting out the fabric, I did all of this yesterday--it really was a quick and easy project, nothing fancy at all!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrDBADLZ8KhgKHQBMnd67-5f15RgRExsgbN6OeuIdD3LBs9KKJ3haukuwPKd6Hjh0c68Mttxa4yEPD671ZT8FnW83UXZGGBqfhWkFvGP5lnEnZIdv5oFC1pE_MGHNPdCB_enKdtGQ-A65/s1600/IMG_1169edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrDBADLZ8KhgKHQBMnd67-5f15RgRExsgbN6OeuIdD3LBs9KKJ3haukuwPKd6Hjh0c68Mttxa4yEPD671ZT8FnW83UXZGGBqfhWkFvGP5lnEnZIdv5oFC1pE_MGHNPdCB_enKdtGQ-A65/s400/IMG_1169edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589546888739732066" border="0" /></a>I'm still deciding where to put it--I kind of like it here with my <a href="http://frillsfluffandtrucks.blogspot.com/2011/03/ruffled-throw-pillows.html">new ruffly pillows</a>... At any rate, I'm really happy with the results!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Linking to: </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.houseofhepworths.com/2011/03/30/hookin-up-with-hoh-42/">Hookin' Up with HoH</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> at House of Hepworths</span></span>frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-20742250184660824222011-03-25T08:53:00.000-07:002011-03-25T08:59:36.779-07:00Ruffled Throw Pillows<div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5msTG-O-dmHM5OFUM1vbX5ssGa0H8Mi3H-uQQ1J1TFppR7-TovItIhHSaOTuMLBitexAauc7qaK14olVz4GTrg2UvzIgzAdTtDy3X6rl9wfCxRK-az4vjFTafILEjCYLhWvNJQq6wGgk/s1600/IMG_1135edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5msTG-O-dmHM5OFUM1vbX5ssGa0H8Mi3H-uQQ1J1TFppR7-TovItIhHSaOTuMLBitexAauc7qaK14olVz4GTrg2UvzIgzAdTtDy3X6rl9wfCxRK-az4vjFTafILEjCYLhWvNJQq6wGgk/s400/IMG_1135edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588046389091230370" border="0" /></a>Last week I bought two of these great ruffled throw pillows at Costco for only $13 each! They're super soft and the fronts are covered in ruffles. They also had them in a gorgeous plum color, olive green, and one or two other colors. They were available in the square shape that I purchased as well as an oversized lumbar (rectangular) shape. I wanted the lumbar pillow, but they only had one left in the cream and the ruffles weren't looking too great on that one.<br /></div><br />The one downside to these pillows is that they are spot-clean only...but for only $13, I bought two of them anyhow.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEp4JNxacGKIQP47vHxtl7F5MMaeC2fpr1pdAmAhM7uS0dS9VFmy5TBtPJlFgEL4_tul_AU5hVAOhx7QAdQfH3TlK31sFAZmBknxZ2rTlNRfoZuGSfp5KF3VZMfKcTGTBuVMVvsIM8e7ov/s1600/IMG_1141edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEp4JNxacGKIQP47vHxtl7F5MMaeC2fpr1pdAmAhM7uS0dS9VFmy5TBtPJlFgEL4_tul_AU5hVAOhx7QAdQfH3TlK31sFAZmBknxZ2rTlNRfoZuGSfp5KF3VZMfKcTGTBuVMVvsIM8e7ov/s400/IMG_1141edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588046398457126066" border="0" /></a>Sorry for the picture quality, we've been having some overcast and gloomy days around here but I couldn't wait any longer to share these pillows. They are gorgeous!frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-83983929811199552632011-03-23T11:25:00.000-07:002011-03-24T09:44:53.747-07:00Lisa Leonard<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/oval-wall-hanging4_hand-stamped-jewelry.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/heartbanner12_hand-stamped-jewelry1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 590px; height: 392px;" src="http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/heartbanner12_hand-stamped-jewelry1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Lisa Leonard is one of my favorite jewelry designers. Actually, scratch that. She IS my favorite jewelry designer. I love her pieces and always have my eye on new items on her website. Currently she is introducing new decor items--and TODAY she is giving away an adorable pewter heart banner on her site. <a href="http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/blog/2011/03/23/new-heart-banner-giveaway/">Click on over to enter</a>!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/oval-wall-hanging4_hand-stamped-jewelry.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 590px; height: 392px;" src="http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/oval-wall-hanging4_hand-stamped-jewelry.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>If you missed the heart banner giveaway on Wednesday, never fear! She is giving away oval wall hangings (your choice of engraved words) today, Thursday! <a href="http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/blog/2011/03/24/new-oval-wall-hanging-giveaway">Click here</a> to enter!<br /><br />I promise, you won't be disappointed! I own three of her necklaces and would be happy to own about ten more of them!frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-26275268899197825532011-03-22T13:23:00.000-07:002011-03-31T22:52:15.973-07:00DIY Topiary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNmWV82sok7DOI0SGVYyK5-FvzPjJySoNkVSxePGRj5i1e5gg4EocDa4w4aIcWYoDEDjthu0X_9QO-LfWn_mHCcxJ1VRR9DEPP-BsMi4u5_b67m247GuV2TXTJvCS0f5bxlsM2w3GhBU4/s1600/IMG_4046edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNmWV82sok7DOI0SGVYyK5-FvzPjJySoNkVSxePGRj5i1e5gg4EocDa4w4aIcWYoDEDjthu0X_9QO-LfWn_mHCcxJ1VRR9DEPP-BsMi4u5_b67m247GuV2TXTJvCS0f5bxlsM2w3GhBU4/s400/IMG_4046edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587003561903979026" border="0" /></a>Look at this beauty I picked up for $4.99 at Goodwill awhile back! So springy and fresh--perfect for Easter!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcX3XQIq-vlfcrUS4IkmdcSfGdNdz1izAJkdzHVPlzuA2IrqZD9CR2U7z4IbQmhzVDeWe88VXvmNdKwndzQnYRKCxzyBt8Q1hHiOrL__F1eVxwhHzHsblPXN5EmLkiEm1KqjRLFpd5iiaI/s1600/IMG_4051edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcX3XQIq-vlfcrUS4IkmdcSfGdNdz1izAJkdzHVPlzuA2IrqZD9CR2U7z4IbQmhzVDeWe88VXvmNdKwndzQnYRKCxzyBt8Q1hHiOrL__F1eVxwhHzHsblPXN5EmLkiEm1KqjRLFpd5iiaI/s400/IMG_4051edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587003580077757186" border="0" /></a>Ha, ha! Really I just liked the container--it reminds me of tin ceiling tiles.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbsG7SG7NN1ak7nQDF4IEpA_4eZrntioP0V84XvTYCob-1BFTpcfpXBlaNPHAWs9Q1ANd0xLeT92kSnYBTw58dLYAvoifMVdxbSfdN7wOhIVXno7g7WTwAxdTBzAZnosT_jOVrxoQVd4b/s1600/IMG_4047edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbsG7SG7NN1ak7nQDF4IEpA_4eZrntioP0V84XvTYCob-1BFTpcfpXBlaNPHAWs9Q1ANd0xLeT92kSnYBTw58dLYAvoifMVdxbSfdN7wOhIVXno7g7WTwAxdTBzAZnosT_jOVrxoQVd4b/s400/IMG_4047edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587003568789728130" border="0" /></a>I quickly pulled off all the gnarly (never thought I'd use that word in a blog post!) faux flowers and revealed this anemic looking ball underneath. So much for using that for my sleek new topiary. It isn't exactly in scale with the base.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTFxCcw3gEe9lortEDkn_DNvbZaXKiJ_MUdyqHTbiETJl6kNhKYO_EjUQJaxzAWBrVGV84TiffTaVWR87WYQThdrpSQhLfQGkBWoErgTxyLDCzg52P4re1e0n5P5tjHvXd-ZGJfL14vsR/s1600/IMG_4050edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTFxCcw3gEe9lortEDkn_DNvbZaXKiJ_MUdyqHTbiETJl6kNhKYO_EjUQJaxzAWBrVGV84TiffTaVWR87WYQThdrpSQhLfQGkBWoErgTxyLDCzg52P4re1e0n5P5tjHvXd-ZGJfL14vsR/s400/IMG_4050edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587003575735029858" border="0" /></a>So I wrestled it off--and a few of the extra twig things came off too. At this point I shoved the whole thing in a corner and left it...for over a year. I picked it all up again this weekend and it came together really quickly--and cleared some stuff out of my craft area (which was my goal).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVNR4yX0umJQfNmKYCWMYHIdTBcJN-qED0vREJSuWXLTp3SGyhc05PskvnpRfBy0O0SNz5ME3uKKlnQxxwhxWzaG5qbF4WQiZCuEpNue3xTq32j0SzGNPmurfDIvWfj0AxmOjJK6iJqdU/s1600/IMG_1107edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVNR4yX0umJQfNmKYCWMYHIdTBcJN-qED0vREJSuWXLTp3SGyhc05PskvnpRfBy0O0SNz5ME3uKKlnQxxwhxWzaG5qbF4WQiZCuEpNue3xTq32j0SzGNPmurfDIvWfj0AxmOjJK6iJqdU/s400/IMG_1107edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587006569518566274" border="0" /></a>So, after my year+ long break, I took this styrofoam ball that I had in my craft supplies and jammed it onto the pointy stick that I had coming up out of my container. It went on pretty easily. I bought the faux boxwood garland a few weeks ago at Michaels Craft Store using a 40% off coupon and it cut apart very easily using regular scissors.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QJ4iGP1jDN-Xjzf0ggfih5yka0Fb7Onl2VvxP3kzSPfCiw8SKujjurtZAei_KUk55yr5JaaAi52saAgl8hESPbAZ6nBC5fMM3dcHdsonBACtbzbQQLHI8ZNcCOJsdzq8HNcE0AoWwR7N/s1600/IMG_1109edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QJ4iGP1jDN-Xjzf0ggfih5yka0Fb7Onl2VvxP3kzSPfCiw8SKujjurtZAei_KUk55yr5JaaAi52saAgl8hESPbAZ6nBC5fMM3dcHdsonBACtbzbQQLHI8ZNcCOJsdzq8HNcE0AoWwR7N/s400/IMG_1109edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587006579460225810" border="0" /></a>I dipped each cut end of boxwood into some tacky glue before sticking it into the styrofoam because I didn't want my topiary falling apart and becoming a craft fail after all this time. This was working pretty well for me, except I didn't like the glimpses of white you could see through the boxwood.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVtoAi-erZ6Gu9dKb7wlo89wepm6GKXt-RmBkcLNMubFFJzMQZpKCP8XTGZZTIKLABXpQgqGZf5OEjTBbO3mG9TG8IZctm9YnnoPbkMsJXy7pGmQszFxANeoZOGTqTFolADsUhAdtbGC0/s1600/IMG_1110edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVtoAi-erZ6Gu9dKb7wlo89wepm6GKXt-RmBkcLNMubFFJzMQZpKCP8XTGZZTIKLABXpQgqGZf5OEjTBbO3mG9TG8IZctm9YnnoPbkMsJXy7pGmQszFxANeoZOGTqTFolADsUhAdtbGC0/s400/IMG_1110edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587006580800162530" border="0" /></a>A quick an easy cure for the white styrofoam--paint it apple green! I got out my craft paint and one of my daughter's paint brushes and slapped a bunch of paint on my styrofoam ball. And by a bunch of paint I mean a <span style="font-weight: bold;">bunch</span> of paint. It went on easily but it sure did take a lot of paint. I probably should have used a green foam ball to begin with, but white was what I had.<br /><br />I (mostly) let the paint dry and then kept on sticking the boxwood sprigs into my ball. It went pretty smoothly and dipping the sprigs in the tacky glue really made for a firm set for the sprigs. When I was done I checked my supplies to see what I could cover the base of my topiary with and I came up with some moss that I hot glued into place. I added a little bow and I was done!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSCNj4eSQcj5QXyjdGxsW6mEzk2QR2s_L2qdDzSayn577hVDtcXJhSZb0JAV78V4ZwF5ICW38Eu4SllmBIFcMS-h3m_JrBlaqa11-AAhnnYyE8aPI7gzHARWxJDENVIvXrbDBM6AyNuH2/s1600/IMG_1126edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSCNj4eSQcj5QXyjdGxsW6mEzk2QR2s_L2qdDzSayn577hVDtcXJhSZb0JAV78V4ZwF5ICW38Eu4SllmBIFcMS-h3m_JrBlaqa11-AAhnnYyE8aPI7gzHARWxJDENVIvXrbDBM6AyNuH2/s400/IMG_1126edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587006727751128242" border="0" /></a>I love it--and totally wish I hadn't taken a YEAR off midway through the project.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_BQS3TuYzuNHHn4gGF5_WT5JZs439hKnOmbupM2RYEAdld-i8wFbkNG8022WVbMRzY4VcfGWTmztAAEvoe9lm_9RCvEjV_rw2K1nvq8Ih0fVokp6SMbcq7KhLzf16c0Uaqkq5P_Y_BP8/s1600/IMG_1123edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_BQS3TuYzuNHHn4gGF5_WT5JZs439hKnOmbupM2RYEAdld-i8wFbkNG8022WVbMRzY4VcfGWTmztAAEvoe9lm_9RCvEjV_rw2K1nvq8Ih0fVokp6SMbcq7KhLzf16c0Uaqkq5P_Y_BP8/s400/IMG_1123edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587006589597978802" border="0" /></a>Right now I have it on my fireplace mantle, but I'm not sure where it will end up. I have some other plans for some Easter decor for my mantle, but for now this new topiary will do. Behind it you can see the <a href="http://frillsfluffandtrucks.blogspot.com/2010/03/wall-decor-on-budget.html">wall decor</a> I made with scrapbooking paper last spring.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAanK1l3qOJszTNMCBFwFRYcu-Je5gSDk_MfMdZM94GAWX5Mz5S95zvTWfjD3RLTmAuOaxtF8IVJz4MVMzV3p2rMSONi1bdZODZ9hkDkc-d7NdMSdivWuhsX0SYSh_cOEm51aIPfrmKZi/s1600/IMG_1125edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAanK1l3qOJszTNMCBFwFRYcu-Je5gSDk_MfMdZM94GAWX5Mz5S95zvTWfjD3RLTmAuOaxtF8IVJz4MVMzV3p2rMSONi1bdZODZ9hkDkc-d7NdMSdivWuhsX0SYSh_cOEm51aIPfrmKZi/s400/IMG_1125edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587006592651110466" border="0" /></a><br />And, since I'm not the first (or the last!) to fall in love with topiaries, here are some more ideas for you:<br /><br /><a href="http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/2010/03/boxwood-topiary-tutorial.html">Miss Mustard Seed</a> (a fluffy version of a boxwood topiary)<br /><a href="http://www.talesandtrials.com/2010/01/how-to-boxwood-topiary.html">Tales and Trials</a> (apparently we even like the same black and white ribbon!)<br /><a href="http://www.scissorsandspatulas.com/2011/02/ballard-inspired-boxwood-topiaries.html">Scissors and Spatulas</a> (find some premade boxwood balls and go from there!)<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Linking to:</span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.thestoriesofa2z.com/2011/03/tutorials-tips-tuesday-4.html"> </a><br /></span></span><ul><li><span style="font-size:78%;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.thestoriesofa2z.com/2011/03/tutorials-tips-tuesday-4.html">Tutorials and Tips Tuesday</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> at A2Z</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2011/03/whatever-goes-wednesday-58.html">Whatever Goes Wednesday</a> at Someday Crafts</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.houseofhepworths.com/2011/03/23/hookin-up-41/">Hookin' Up </a>with HoH<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://vintagerevivals.blogspot.com/2011/03/look-what-i-found-friday.html">Look What I Found Friday</a> at Vintage Revivals</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2011/03/weekend-wrap-up-partyand-sports-fan.html">Weekend Wrapup Party</a> at Tatertots and Jello</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.beneathmyheart.net/2011/03/best-diy-projects-of-march-linky-party/">Best DIY Projects of March</a> at Beneath My Heart</span></span></li></ul>frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-49698765087891192862011-03-18T14:32:00.000-07:002011-03-23T10:34:17.146-07:00Quick Floor Upgrade<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQbLJoFVrFyp3cHw_XZ6qVi9Y3vxmFhtYxXSPmfrFVq3WPeYIOCatCEp0-tSbA6N1vJ8a7ZJOQbX4H5aFh2b_9yDKJN-Rd3LM-iKvWkUtmH6l6jzHTl_z0mrq8eAUKDIVDWiibFYa_Ks1/s1600/IMG_1102edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQbLJoFVrFyp3cHw_XZ6qVi9Y3vxmFhtYxXSPmfrFVq3WPeYIOCatCEp0-tSbA6N1vJ8a7ZJOQbX4H5aFh2b_9yDKJN-Rd3LM-iKvWkUtmH6l6jzHTl_z0mrq8eAUKDIVDWiibFYa_Ks1/s400/IMG_1102edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585536169661090082" border="0" /></a>Boring builder heater vents. I've been staring at them for years and disliking them. We had new carpet installed in our house almost three years ago and put the same ugly heater vents back in place. There isn't anything wrong with them except that they hurt my eyes.<br /><br />I finally decided "enough is enough"!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64h67I04dCm6EslNxTKfh_qHDbPkjdm6WQmTVZfLeWm4-GVPUk-hCT1cQgRzWCvEQnT7v8fVzFgdDBLNteQre0tjk0By-LvbFMxYuXR5ZpIztwjX_ARmm0-4lhRlXFmPbJn9xGbtFpmpw/s1600/IMG_1104edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64h67I04dCm6EslNxTKfh_qHDbPkjdm6WQmTVZfLeWm4-GVPUk-hCT1cQgRzWCvEQnT7v8fVzFgdDBLNteQre0tjk0By-LvbFMxYuXR5ZpIztwjX_ARmm0-4lhRlXFmPbJn9xGbtFpmpw/s400/IMG_1104edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585536177480220818" border="0" /></a>I bought new iron heater vents and like them so much better! I even propped a scrap piece of the new white trim against the wall so I could imagine how everything will look together...and I like it!<br /><br />This was such a quick and easy upgrade--one that I'm mentally kicking myself for not doing earlier.<br /><br />By the way, enter at <a href="http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/2011/03/silhouette-giveaway.html">A Bowl full of Lemons</a> for a chance to win a Silhouette!frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598815800433581799.post-61993518988690887442011-03-17T09:51:00.000-07:002011-03-17T09:59:10.020-07:00Happy St. Patrick's Day!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMN3I08vmfTuo5kVZBz2bn0QDNiKje4CCWUwSsCz5YC6E15x_I4maDVTGdb0ywe-PYJWE_5GDrjS_Ngf3jTRJb81lVJg4UAd6Gz_nPG-NAP35ZGpfg0PcJguDfBS_BtnDAWs4-X6pkOAq/s1600/IMG_1069edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMN3I08vmfTuo5kVZBz2bn0QDNiKje4CCWUwSsCz5YC6E15x_I4maDVTGdb0ywe-PYJWE_5GDrjS_Ngf3jTRJb81lVJg4UAd6Gz_nPG-NAP35ZGpfg0PcJguDfBS_BtnDAWs4-X6pkOAq/s400/IMG_1069edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585092755119577986" border="0" /></a>Happy St. Patrick's Day from my little leprechauns!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Last night we had <a href="http://oopsey-daisy.blogspot.com/2011/03/leprechaun-pie.html">leprechaun pie</a> for dessert and then this morning those dratted leprechauns tinted our milk <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;">green</span>! Pesky little things! My five year old was not amused and next year he is determined to set leprechaun traps all over the refrigerator because he is tired of them doing that to his milk every year. Meanwhile my seven year old had to check all over our doors for leprechauns because she realized we have shiny doorknobs and leprechauns like shiny things. Alas she found no leprechauns hiding behind the doors.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDj2FEPQhJwf7cXu8f-4d7x1O2on65d_67eASsS_sifwsZjrvGcBRZYv1hNrxMNXDjchIQIDWGnEOct5oVE4sxTQjOSjws-_MQpO4CnqJUZxEAmDeseZKm0lb2HF5InIqPd3R_YrsupzHj/s1600/IMG_1072edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDj2FEPQhJwf7cXu8f-4d7x1O2on65d_67eASsS_sifwsZjrvGcBRZYv1hNrxMNXDjchIQIDWGnEOct5oVE4sxTQjOSjws-_MQpO4CnqJUZxEAmDeseZKm0lb2HF5InIqPd3R_YrsupzHj/s400/IMG_1072edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585092763318444754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">subway art from<a href="http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2011/02/subway-art-lucky.html"> eighteen-twentyfive</a><br /><br /></span></span></div></div></div>Have a great day--I hope the leprechauns don't play too many tricks on you!frillsfluffandtruckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09431701816444678306noreply@blogger.com1