Thursday, September 7, 2017

BFF Open House Link Party


Happy Friday Eve once again. Sadly once again it's a week where we're watching awful devastation from nature. To those in the path of Irma, Jose, still recovering from Harvey, dealing with fires in the West, be safe and smart! No material things ( not even craft supplies) are worth it! 

Let's take a break and see what everyone's been up to as we gear up for Fall. 



What better way to prepare for Fall than with a new wreath? Leslie from Playdates to Parties has got you covered with a roundup of ideas. 


If you're still enjoying some outdoor weather but transitioning to Fall, check out this idea from My Thrift Store Addiction. Coffee and cupcakes? Yes please! 


Fall is the start of candle season to me. Sure they are year round but those cooler and darker earlier months are perfect for a cozy glow from candlelight. Chas' Crazy Creations has a wonderful way to display a Fall Candle. The secret's in the corn! 


And for this week's chocolate feature, what's better than a frosted chocolate cupcake? A frosted chocolate cupcake with a BROWNIE inside! From Sugar, Spice, and Family Life

Now on to this week's party! Thanks for being here. 

   
   

Monday, September 4, 2017

Fighting Words: Do Not Mention Pumpkin Spice ( Printable)


Believe me, I know this will be unpopular. I love Fall. Everything, well to be truthful, ALMOST everything about it. The one thing I don't love about Fall? PUMPKIN SPICE. There I said it! Fighting words I know.

Sorry Pumpkin Spice because I know that you are loved and I have nothing but love for the Pumpkin Spice lovers (some, to my own perplexion, in my own family). I just do not share your passion. And by do not share I mean I loathe it. It was bad enough when it was just lattes. But now it's EVERYTHING! 

Pumpkin Spice beer. Pumpkin Spice savory foods. Soups, pastas, etc. Pumpkin Spice cookies / cakes / donuts / chocolates / breads. Let's put it this way, I love chocolate with the equal and opposite loathing I have for Pumpkin Spice and since I'm known ( hello blog name) for the chocolate thing, well you get the picture. 

OK Carol. We get it. Why are you screaming about this? Can't we PS lovers just go on with our PS obsession and smother the world with PS in peace? Are we actively doing something TO you? No, and I hold no one's love of the stuff against them. (Mostly. Just kidding. Maybe a teensy tiny bit. OK no, really. ) 

But I can't possibly be the ONLY one who doesn't love the stuff. So I made a printable for me in my lonely  dislike of PS,  but also  in the off chance that there are others of you out there who feel similarly; probably more rationally, but similarly. 




Thursday, August 31, 2017

BFF Open House Link Party


Hi creative friends. I know we are all reeling from what we're seeing unfold in Texas. To those located in the zone of the hurricane (or who have family and friends there) , first and foremost I hope you are all safe. 

I know tons of creative peeps (including me) are figuring out how we can put our maker skills to use to help. If you have any ideas to share, please leave in the comments! 

I decided to go ahead and put the party up because maybe looking at some pretty things will be a welcome distraction. Be well friends! 


True confession: I am not a fan of Pumpkin Spice anything ( pumpkin anything for that matter) BUT I know it's super popular and so many people love it. I am a fan of the pumpkin image in this printable from The Organized Dream so featuring this gorgeous printable for all you Pumpkin Spice lovers ( and me for that pumpkin image) Win Win but even better, she's got two more gorgeous Fall themed printables at the link. Go get them!


Who loves the $1 Spot at Target as much as I do? Repurpose and Upcycle does for sure and look what she did with a wooden  toolbox she found there? How perfect for a Fall Farmhouse look. 


This intrigued me because of PhD boy who is a craft beer aficionado. I on the other hand do love a Pina Colada and here the two meet in a combo I would never have put together. From Craftbeering, I give you the IPA Pina Colada! 


This week's chocolate feature is from Jay Tried and True: Cookies and Cream Filled Brownies! Look at all that ooey gooey goodness. 

OK let's get busy seeing what you've been busy making. 

   
   

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Printable: Fall In Love With Fall




Who's ready for Fall besides me? Summer is OK but my favorite time of year is Fall, or Autumn if you prefer. The leaves changing color. The crispness in the air. Boots and sweaters. Bring it! The calendar is not quite there but I'm getting ready so I made a Fall printable using graphics from designbundles.net.   





It's sized 8x10. Click on the image to bring it to full resolution. PC Users Right Click to Save As. 

Keeping the folks in the path of Harvey in my thoughts. 


Thursday, August 24, 2017

BFF Open House Link Party


Happy Friday Eve all! Some of  you may not be old enough to recognize this but:


Sorry no features this week ! 

We'll just jump right into the party and hope you all have a wonderful weekend! 

   
   

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

What Good Are (Altered) Wings Wall Art


I teased these when I shared my last project: Another Altered Cabinet Door. I might need to change my blog name to something w/ "altered" in it . 


I saw these wood wings earlier in the year at Michaels when they first came in and went back and forth on them mostly because they had a whole selection of different wings and I couldn't decide. That became easier when after procrastinating, there were fewer to choose from but the ones that remained were 70% off. Score! I mean they were originally only $19.99 but I got them for $5.99. Deal. 

Supplies: 
  • Wooden Wings
  • Acrylic Paint
  • White Glue
  • Leafing Glue
  • Silver Leaf
  • Vinyl Quote
  • Misc. Embellishments 
I had all of the other supplies in my stash which Mr. Chocolate calls "The Michaels Annex".


Paint with your basecoat color of choice. I used Craftsmart gray. Since I'm partial to a chippy / shabby / crackled look, I didn't care about complete coverage. 


If you prefer a more opaque look, go over w/ another coat. 

Did a combination of my fave white glue crackle and dry brushing over the grey using white acrylic paint. While the paint was drying, I laid out my quote in my Silhouette software and cut w/ my Cameo. The quote is by the poet Atticus: 

This is the same font I used for my vinyl ( it's called Ambrosia) and of course now I don't remember where I downloaded it from!  

I cut out my quote using black matte vinyl and since I'm easily frustrated w/ vinyl projects and inevitably muck something up that results in swear words , I trimmed the words into individual pieces to minimize the muck up opportunity. 


This also made it easier to lay out the words. Once I was happy with where I wanted them, I applied them to the wings. 


Never content to leave anything alone ( what fun is that?!) I decided to add some silver leaf to the tips of the wings and pulled out this pair of plaster wings I had in my stash, along w/ some adhesive rhinestone swirls. 

Metallic leafing is such a rich accent. I love adding bits and pieces of it to things. You need a good leafing glue ( called size) and I like the Mona Lisa brand. Basically paint where you want your leafing to go using the glue, wait 20-30 min (weather conditions matter so if hot, shorter time) until tacky and then apply your leafing. You can find many tutorials on how to use metal leafing on Pinterest and You Tube so won't go into that here. 



It hangs in our entryway which I pass everyday on my way to my office and it's a great reminder to me to be fearless, try new things, challenge myself. 

Thursday, August 17, 2017

BFF Open House Link Party


Zoom! Another week has flown by. Is it possible for days to feel like an eternity but the week to go by at record speed? Does that even make sense? Whether it does or not, that's how this week has felt to me. 

Let's take a look at some ideas from last week's party before we start this week's. 


I've said for years that I want to make homemade Vanilla Extract for holiday gifts and every year I wait too long and it needs about a month to cure. On my list again this  year , so featuring a recipe from Sew Historically to remind me! 


Totally in LOVE with these painted Milk Cans from Junque Cottage . You will NOT believe the condition they were in before she painted them. 


I don't know about you but I am so in the mood for Fall. This bright and fun wreath from Lolly Jane is a great Summer to Fall transition piece. 


This week's chocolate feature: Chocolate Peanut Butter Munch Brownies from Culinary Envy

Now, on to this week's party!