Happy New Year!!

Well, It is New Year's Eve, and I am catching up on blog reading and doing some crafting.. This week I have accomplished a goal of mine.. Learning the granny square!! I can knit, but I have always struggled with learning to crochet, but in the days after Christmas, I decided to buckle down and just learn the craft!! I have always wanted an old fashioned granny square afghan and now I am on my way to making one!! So far I made a few squares, and sewed three together to make a cozy for my ball jar that holds my pens in the kitchen.. I had to see something actually completed. :)

I have a way to go to perfect it, but I figure that what better way to practice, than to make enough squares for a blanket!! Last night I was browsing blogs for hours that have a lot of crochet posts and tutorials. I found one I thought I'd share, Attic 24 She has WONDERFUL pictures and a lot of inspiration!! Here is a sneak at what she has.. when you get a few HOURS stop by and drool for a while!!

Post Christmas thoughts..

After the Christmas frenzy, I am ready for my post Christmas "Spring Clean"

and thinking of my New Years resolutions... getting all of those unfinished projects from the year before finished!! One thing I have been thinking of this week is working on my kitchen. I have yet to make a color commitment, and once I do, the decorating can begin!! I thought I'd share some inspiration pics with you I have been saving, hoping to get me inspired.. I just hope this prohect isn't on my NEXT years resolution list..

It's almost here!!

Like everyone, I have been a busy elf, getting ready for Christmas.. I can't believe it's almost here!! Snow is on the ground and it will definately be a white Christmas for us!! I have so many unfinished projects, I am sure I will be working on christmas items, well past the holidays!! Just popping in to share some images from around the house.. getting ready to deliver Christmas cookies to the neighbors ..Yesterday I made a recipe for some great sugar cookies, I thought I'd share the recipe with you!!

Soft Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 C. sugar

1 1/2 C. Butter

1 C.Flake Coconut

1 t. vanilla

1 egg

3 c. Flour

1 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

Mix sugar, butter, coconut, vanilla and egg together. Stir in remaining ingredients. shape into rounded 1 inch balls on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten cookies to 2 inches with the bottom of a drinking glass dipped in sugar. Bake at 350 til cookies are set, about 7-9 min. cookies will be very light in color. Store tightly covered. Makes 6 dozen.

Cookies are ready to be delivered... Now off to make more Christmas gifts and get ready for Santa!!

A quickie!!

Just popping in to share a quick Christmas project I finished last night.. Grabbed one of my old windows and some scrap paper and along with my Cricut machine, I put a simple design in each pane and viola!! Quick christmas decor!! I just adhered the paper with glue dots, so I can take them off if I want to use the window for something else later!!

Getting Crafty..

Working on some Christmas craft items for my Etsy Store... Last night during the Dancing with the stars elimination show, I cuddled up on my bed and made these altered composition books. I still may add a few button and ribbon embellishments before listing them but, I think they turned out kinda cute!! A great item to keep all of those Christmas lists and recipes in!! :)

I used the new Martha Stewart scrapbooking paper from Michaels and I also used the Jingle Bell paper pack from Close to My Heart! See that cute white chair? Today I stopped by my mom's house and she gave me two of them for my kitchen... she has one more in her barn, but I didn't have room for it and it needs to be painted.. LOVE when I get a cute freebie!! I also grabbed an old tin tray from her house and I also found the cute vintage Christmas apron at Goodwill for .99 cents!!

I just skipped over October!!

Well, I have completely skipped over blogging in October, now we are into November and I am over fall and on to Christmas!! I have been busy cleaning and organizing and slowing working on putting out Christmas and making Christmas crafts!!

For some reason this year, I am ready to celebrate Christmas and figure I spend so much time putting everything out, I may as well start it early and at least enjoy it before it gets taken down!! I am ready for Christmas music and a chilly night bundled up in front of the TV watching old Christmas movies.. so for a little inspiration, I chose a few pics from Country living and thought I'd give you a sneak peek of what I have been working on around the house... many more posts to read in the following days!!

And now for a sneak peek at what I've been working on!!!

Chalkboards!!

Well, I have been busy using up all of my chalkboard paint and everywhere I look there is an item that would be MUCH better used as a chalkboard!!! i thought I'd share with you some inspiration pics and Martha's recipe for making your own chalkboard paint in ANY color!! I'd print off this recipe if I were you!!

Thrifty Decor Chick loves Chalkboards, too!!

The Shabby Chic Cottage painted on a window!!

And the classic Chalkboard wall!!

I have used the spray paint type of Chalkboard paint and I have to admit that I enjoy the type you brush on is my favorite. The brand I use is FolkArt.. I have a link on my sidebar where you can get some through Amazon!!

Here is Martha's recipe for custom color Chalkboard paint from her website!!

Custom Colors Chalkboard paint How-To

Start with flat-finish latex paint in any shade. For small areas, such as a door panel, mix 1 cup at a time.
1. Pour 1 cup of paint into a container. Add 2 tablespoons of unsanded tile grout. Mix with a paint stirrer, carefully breaking up clumps.
2. Apply paint with a roller or a sponge paintbrush to a primed or painted surface. Work in small sections, going over the same spot several times to ensure full, even coverage. Let dry.
3. Smooth area with 150-grit sandpaper, and wipe off dust.
4. To condition: Rub the side of a piece of chalk over entire surface. Wipe away residue with a barely damp sponge.

Halloween Decorating!!

It's been a while since I was on top of my blogging, but I am now back up and running!! I had ANOTHER computer issue, and was out of service for a month, and I had my big Barn Sale ( Pic's to follow later!!) School has started and now I am in the midst of finishing the final touches for my Weekend Scrapbooking Retreat at the end of the month!! I am now ready to get back to blogging.. I've missed you all!!! This weekend I am determined to get out my fall decor ( if this cold I caught doesn't keep me down :( ) so I was perusing Country Living online and thought I'd share some inspirational pics with you!! Halloween will be here before you know it!!

Just a little something..

Well, I have a pot of chili on the stove and it seems that summer will never arrive in Northern Michigan sochili seemed appropriate for dinner!! I am busy crafting and preparing for a couple of big weekends I have coming up, but all work is a work in progress, so I thought I'd share some other bloggers handiwork to keep you inspired!!

A spoon full of sugar blog is a wonderful read and I fell in love with this tutorial for a little handmade wallet. I think it would be perfect for Christmas or even teacher gifts next year!! You can find the tutorial here!!

Craft Apple blog has this tutorial for altered tin cans, here. I love the paper scraps she used. These fall themes would be great Thanksgiving dinner guest favors!! I'd fill mine with homemade maple leaf cookies!! Yummy!!!

And Finally... one thing I am determined to learn by years end is to crochet. Specifically granny squares. I have tried many times and I have decided I am crochet challenged. Knitting is more my forte!! I LOVE Rose Hips pattern for these flower crochet squares and I may just have to learn and master them so I can one day have that crochet quilt I have always wanted!! Check out the pattern here!!

Hmmm... What to do...

What to do??? Cook, Clean??? I think I'll browse the internet for more crafty projects I will never catch up with!! Here are a few projects and links I found that I thought I'd share with you, then off to the lake with my kiddos to take advantage of this nice day before it RAINS tomorrow!!

Check out this cute button bracelet tutorial here. great idea for Christmas ( I am already making my list if you can believe it )

V and Co has done it again!! Another great tutorial on Moda Bake Shop for these delicious fabric Strawberries!!

These would be SOOO cute in some vinatge strawberry baskets!!

This is a quick and easy one, a tutorial for a canning jar pin cushion found here. I am planning on doing some canning this summer ( soon ) and I just may have to save one or two of the jars for this project!! I will post soon about my canning endeavors!!

And you just have to love Martha... Here is a tutorial to make these great Pom Poms. I am planning on making a bunch out of old sewing patterns for the big Barn Creek Salvage summer sale in August