Beans and Legumes, Cheap Fall Vase Fillers

Happy Fall Y'all!! I thought I'd share what my vase fillers are. I was trying to figure out something to fill them with that was 

1. Cheap

2. Reusable

3. Something I don't have to change out until Christmas, or ever. So neutral.

SO, candy corn and candies while cute could potentially be expensive and draw ants. That and they are more specific to October I think. Coffee beans were on my list, but they are definitely not for the frugal! I decided on lentils and beans. Cheap, and they last and last. There are SO many varieties and colors. Black beans are pretty,  black eyed peas, orange lentils, so colorful.

Winter Squash Love

Hello everyone! Happy Happy Fall. This post came about when my kids were talking about how I don't decorate for Halloween. Which, I admit, I hardly do unless it's Christmas. Because Christmas. Is. My. Favorite. To decorate for that is. Halloween, it's just not my thing. I do put out a few fall items though. What about you do you decorate for all the holidays? Certain ones?

Halloween Party (2015)

Sooo, Finally getting around to posting our Halloween Party pictures from last year! It was so fun to put together. I really enjoy doing things like this. It's so fun. Anyway, we had one of the soccer teams over along with their families.  The kids got to run around and after they went trick or treating together.

Nutcracker Christmas Tree

This tree though. I puffy heart it. It's in my middle girl's room. It's quite lovely. Whimsical and classic. She picked the scriptures and phrases for the chalkboard ornaments. I love each and every one of them. So sweet.

Christmas in the Kitchen

Joyeux Noël. I made this sign reversal, and hung it with hooks so that I could change it out with the seasons.

Getting closer to Christmas! I really am a little confused with this warm weather we've had lately! Where's my SNOW!? Sigh... I had these visions of being snowed in, sitting by the fire, and snuggling with my family. Oh well, we're still snuggling by the fire! I can't wait until school is OUT for the year! What about you all? How's the weather where you are?

Secret Garden Christmas Tree

I have to admit this is probably one my second favorite tree in the house right now, aside from our main tree. This one is in Diva's room. She didn't really choose the theme. But it goes very well with her room. It's very romantic, muted, and just elegant, on a $20 fake tree from Target, using clearance flowers and $1 ornaments from the craft store :).

I'm not a decorator so we really just did the best we could when putting this one up, the lights are white. We used ribbon that I had lying around from a sale of Christmas past.

Deck the (Dining) Halls!

Christmas Chandelier in the dining room.

I'm pretty much done with decorating for Christmas, it's just a matter of sharing all these photos with you guys! I love the way my lights turned out in the dining room and in the kitchen area. I've had this tree and the ornaments for it for a while now. The only thing I purchased this year are the Holly berries. I originally wanted to gather some from our yard, but I wasn't sure how they would hold up. Does anyone know if the leaves stay green and the berries stay bright? I think I'll gather some for a smaller arrangement to do a little research. But for now, here is our dining room!

American Girl Bitty Bear Christmas Tree

Trees, trees, trees. So it's been a good 5 years since I've really decorated for Christmas. I mean I think in that time we've put up one tree, I believe that was in 2012. Well, we finally have the room to pull things out and decorate! So I thought I would share some of our Christmas decoration with you all. First up is Pixie's tree. It's a 6 foot tree that is quite sad and not very fluffy or full, none of their trees are fluffy or full actually. But I got them for $21 each, so you can't beat that.

Under Bed Lego Tray

So, I've been busy trying to get unpacked and set up our new home. One of the projects I really wanted to do was to make a Lego tray, this one is an under bed Lego tray. But it can be used for so many other toys. Because I wanted it to be useable for other toys I did not glue any Lego building plates to the bottom of this. Originally I just wanted to get an aluminum drip pan and put something under it to slide it under the bed. Then there was the problem of sliding stuff across wood floors. How sturdy the tray would be if we just glued felt to the bottom, would it work if it wasn't flat? Stuff like that. My mother in law was here visiting and the more we talked about it the more ideas we had. That tends to happen a lot, we have tons of ideas, and some of them come to fruition. When they do, they are awesome. It also helps that she's really good with stuff like this. I mean, really, I wouldn't even try to attempt something like this without her. Funny thing is, she helped build one  90% of the way and had to go home so I had no choice to finish and do the second one! I couldn't believe I actually built it! I'm so glad it happened that way because now I have a little more confidence, maybe I'll hang some pictures on the wall or something. Who knows.

Etched Glass Tutorial- Doctor Who

Okay, ya'll I'm a glass etching fool. I want to etch everything in sight. I know there are tons of tutorials on Glass Etching out there, but this is the method that works best for me, so I thought I would share it with you all. Now, this may not be the method that works for you. you may have a better method (feel free to share it in the comments section) but this is what works for me. A friend of mine sent me the vinyl decals, so I can't tell you how to get or make those. She used a die cutting machine, and if you google "Doctor Who Silhouette Vinyl" some free designs will come up.
I try to choose glass items that have straight sides. Sometimes imperfections in the glass will show through or be highlighted by the etching cream.
Here is another project I did, a Doctor Who vase. I LOVE LOVE how it turned out.
I want to do some casserole dishes and such, but I don't have a die cutting machine yet. I have heard it's harder to etch on Pyrex, some tutorials say you can't do it. I haven't tried so I can't help you there.

Weeping Angel

 TARDIS

 Dalek

 K-9

Adipose

So, here's how I etch glass. You can scroll past all these pictures for an easier to read version.

Items I used (not all are pictured above)

1. Glass Etching Cream
2. Something to etch- I find that items with straight sides works best. Also it should be smooth on the surface where you are etching
3. Vinyl decal - I got these from a friend, just get the removable vinyl if you have a choice. 
4. Contact paper
5. Old hotel key, gift card or credit card
6. Paint brush
7. Alcohol wipe or alcohol and cotton swab
8. Scissors
9. Tweezers
10. Disposable gloves
11. Damp rag

You may want to cover your work surface also, with some paper or work above the a sink, note that the etching cream works on CONTACT. So any drips or drops on glass and it's there for good. Read the bottle. Don't get  it on your skin. Safety first, you know the drill.

1. Take the tweezers and remove any area on your vinyl that you want to be etched. Any vinyl left on there will not come in contact with the cream. In this case, I left the panel's on the Tardis, but took off the window panels. Leave the backing ON the vinyl.
I also accidentally took panel out. On the right side there. Oops. Once you've removed the areas that you want etched just give it a once over to make sure you like where all the white areas are. Because that is is what will show up as etched.
2. Take a piece of contact paper. Remove the backing and place it on top of the vinyl. Careful not to get air bubbles under it.
3. Take the gift card and smooth out the contact paper, rubbing over the small detail areas of your design. I had to do this where the black panels I left were. This is to make sure those details stick to the contact paper.

4. Clean the surface of the glass with the alcohol wipe. Let it dry. After this step be careful where you place your fingers/hands. You don't want the natural oils in your skin to leave prints where you etch your design.
5. Remove the backing from your vinyl. Leaving the design, and outline attached to the contact paper.
6. Place the contact paper with vinyl onto the glass surface. This needs to be a smooth application, any wrinkles or bubbles and etch cream will get under there. I find it easiest to place one side of the vinyl/contact paper down, and smooth the rest down with the gift card.

7. Rub the gift card over the design to make sure that when you lift the contact paper off, the designs will stick to the glass. Make sure the application is smooth.
8. Carefully peel off the contact paper.

9. At this point you can use a damp towel to clean the design area, just do not use alcohol. the vinyl will come up. I don't always do this step, it just depends on my mood.
10. Take contact paper, the same piece you just peeled off if you'd like. Tape all around the outer edges of the vinyl with the contact paper, you can use tape too. I just use the contact paper. Waste not, want not right?.ANY area that you don't want etched on accident, should be taped/covered. You can see that this Tardis has a good perimeter around it, I still put contact paper on the bottom.
11. Put the gloves on. Open the jar of Etching Cream. Stir it with the paint brush.

12. Dab a generous amount of cream over the design.
13. Wait 5 minutes.
14. After five minutes take your brush and move the cream around, making sure the whole surface is covered. Check the underside to see if you have good coverage.
14. Wait another 5 minutes, or ten...
15. Take your paint brush and scrape the excess etching cream off of the glass and put it back into the jar. Close it up for later use.
16. Wash the remaining etching cream off in the sink with cold water. Use the paint brush to loosen the cream if needed.
17. Remove vinyl and any tape and wash your jar well. The design will show up better once the glass is completely dry. Hot water makes removal of vinyl very easy.






Give Peas A Chance Glass Etching Tutorial

Materials-

1. Glass Etching Cream
2. Something to etch- I find that items with straight sides works best. Also it should be smooth on the surface where you are etching
3. Vinyl decal - I got these from a friend, just get the removable vinyl if you have a choice. 
4. Contact paper
5. Old hotel key, gift card or credit card
6. Paint brush
7. Alcohol wipe or alcohol and cotton swab
8. Scissors
9. Tweezers
10. Disposable gloves
11. Damp rag

*You may want to cover your work surface also, with some paper or work above the a sink, note that the etching cream works on CONTACT. So any drips or drops on glass and it's there for good. Read the bottle. Don't get  it on your skin. Safety first, you know the drill.

To etch your glass surface-

1. Take the tweezers and remove any area on your vinyl that you want to be etched. Any vinyl left on there will not come in contact with the cream. In this case, I left the panel's on the Tardis, but took off the window panels. Leave the backing ON the vinyl.

 Once you've removed the areas that you want etched just give it a once over to make sure you like where all the white areas are. Because that is is what will show up as etched. 

2. Take a piece of contact paper. Remove the backing and place it on top of the vinyl. Careful not to get air bubbles under it.

3. Take the gift card and smooth out the contact paper, rubbing over the small detail areas of your design. I had to do this where the black panels I left were. This is to make sure those details stick to the contact paper.

4. Clean the surface of the glass with the alcohol wipe. Let it dry. After this step be careful where you place your fingers/hands. You don't want the natural oils in your skin to leave prints where you etch your design.

5. Remove the backing from your vinyl. Leaving the design, and outline attached to the contact paper.

6. Place the contact paper with vinyl onto the glass surface. This needs to be a smooth application, any wrinkles or bubbles and etch cream will get under there. I find it easiest to place one side of the vinyl/contact paper down, and smooth the rest down with the gift card. 

7. Rub the gift card over the design to make sure that when you lift the contact paper off, the designs will stick to the glass. Make sure the application is smooth.

8. Carefully peel off the contact paper.

9. At this point you can use a damp towel to clean the design area, just do not use alcohol. the vinyl will come up. I don't always do this step, it just depends on my mood. 

10. Take contact paper, the same piece you just peeled off if you'd like. Tape all around the outer edges of the vinyl with the contact paper, you can use tape too. I just use the contact paper. Waste not, want not right?.ANY area that you don't want etched on accident, should be taped/covered. You can see that this Tardis has a good perimeter around it, I still put contact paper on the bottom.

11. Put the gloves on. Open the jar of Etching Cream. Stir it with the paint brush.

12. Dab a generous amount of cream over the design. 

13. Wait 5 minutes.

14. After five minutes take your brush and move the cream around, making sure the whole surface is covered. Check the underside to see if you have good coverage.

14. Wait another 5 minutes, or ten...

15. Take your paint brush and scrape the excess etching cream off of the glass and put it back into the jar. Close it up for later use.

16. Wash the remaining etching cream off in the sink with cold water. Use the paint brush to loosen the cream if needed.

17. Remove vinyl and any tape and wash your jar well. The design will show up better once the glass is completely dry. Hot water makes removal of vinyl very easy.

Noel Banner tutorial

First things first, I didn't take that gorgeous picture up there, or the gorgeous one below. Felipe of Petruzzo Photography just took our holiday pictures, and he took these for us. I made the banner for the photo shoot. I can't wait to put it up for the holidays! I am not really that crafty, this was just a little Modge Podge, ribbon, wood boards, sealing spray, and craft paint. But I love the way it turned out! The wooden boards are from Pick Your Plum, follow the link to win a Plumbox. They were just blanks, but cut out and pre-drilled with holes.
I'd love to know if you make this, or what you think of it, leave me a comment and let me know!

Christmas post (and Bell ornaments)

I haven't done a Christmas post! We strayed from tradition in more ways than one this Christmas. For one, we did the whole Santa thing. It was so fun for the girls. The oldest has asked before if Santa is real. And we've told her the truth, we've also told her about St. Nick and who he was. But she still choose to play along this year. The picture with Santa was taken at Christmas Town, at Busch Gardens, during Santa's Fireside Feast. We spent three days there, the girls got to have lunch with Santa and his wife. We rode rides, had hot chocolate, rode more rides! It was a blast! This was the week before Christmas.