Last Hurrah to Old Glory

Having more patriotic decorations has been very important to me this year.  I have boxes full of Fall, Halloween, thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines, St Patricks Day, Easter, Spring and even Summer decorations.  But for those many patriotic holidays during the summer months, my decorations were just pathetic.  

I have been busy crafting away the last few weeks.  See the 2 pervious posts for the deco mesh flag wreath and the 2x4 block flag.  I think they are really cute.  Well, this will be my last project for this year as my family is moving to a new place in August and I need to get decluttering and packing this family!

I have been several different variations on this project and took several and combined them into what I created. Here it is:  

What do you think?  I love the weathered look!  What to make your own set?????  Here's how:

How to:  This is the tutorial I used: Click here >> Firecracker Tutorial

My changes and additions: 

• My blocks were cut at 7 inches, 5 1/2 inches and 4 inches.
• On the Red block, I used painter's tape and painted the white and then reversed and did the red
• The stars and the USA are stenciled using my favorite font and press n seal paper.  
• See the previous post for directions.  
• To distress: I sanded the edges and face with my hand sander.
• Then I used watered down brown paint and a strip of white cotton fabric and rubbed the paint on and then of.
• I used a clear coat to seal it all up!
• I had some rope twine leftover from a project, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, so I used that for the wick.
• I used a drop of wood glue down the hole and then stuck the twine down the hole!

Cost to do this project:
The 2x2x8 piece of would was $2.09.  This will do 5 sets if you use the same measurements I did.
Paint, stencil and wick was all free from my stash.  My little set was .42 cents!  SCORE!!!!!!!

Here is a few of the projects I found on Pinterest that inspired this project.  

Firecracker Set #1

Firecracker Set #2

Firecracker Set #3

Happy 4th of July, Ya'll!

                                  

Patriotic - the More, the Better!

I have been very discouraged by the news over the last few months.  I feel like I live in a country where we have lost our patriotism.  I am one person and cannot change the world, but I can change my world.  My goal this summer was to have more decorations in my house that are patriotic.

I didn't start with very much.  A few sets of red, white and blue lights, a few flag candle sticks and a few paper stars.  Pathetic, right????  Well, I set off on Pinterest to find a few ideas and boy did I find a few.  My first project was a wreath!  See the previous post!  I think it turned out great!

My next projects were not projects at all.  I was in the grocery store of all places and they had 4th of July stuff on sale!  Score!  The 3 words signs were $1.79 each.  The metal firecracker was $2.99 and the God Bless America sign was $2.49.  Can you say cheap and in my budget!!!!!!  AWESOMESAUCE!

  

After my little shopping spree, I still felt like I needed a little something more!  With kids being home, it is hard to go to the craft store so I was thinking about what I could do and it came to me!!!!!  I bought 2 2x4s last summer to do a block flag project and never got around to it.  I had the wood, the paint and the stars!  So off to break out the circular saw I got for my birthday in 2011 that I have been too afraid to use.  I got brave and fired it up and cut my wood.  1 2x4 did 3 flag sets and then I had 3 pieces left and did the USA block set.

Supplies: 

1 2x4 piece of wood - $2

Saw to cut wood

Burlap Ribbon - $4 which was 1/2 off on sale

Package of 4 -2 inch stars - $2.47

Red, white, blue and brown paints - Under $1 each

Sand paper and/or hand held electric sander - hand on hand

Foam paint brushes - had on hand

Hot Glue gun to stick on the star - Had on hand

Cost of project: under $10 for 3 sets of the flags and 1 set of the USA blocks

How to:  This was my inspiration and also a great tutorial.  Click here >>> Flag Blocks

What I did different from the tutorial:  

1. The block that is painted blue, I cut it at 3 inches so it would not be taller than the white block. 

2. I painted all sides on by blocks to seal them in. 

3. I used watered down brown paint to give a more aged look after I sanded the painted blocks.  You use an old cloth or papertowel and rub a small amount of the paint onto the block and then rub it off.  You could also use stain and it will rub off better.

4. I used wooden stars instead of paper so that it would last through the years.

5. I used a clear coat sealer on all sides to protect from weather and children!

6. I used burlap instead of ribbon because I like the look of it!  

7. It did take longer than 30 minutes, but I did add in extra steps!  Even if I did just want she did, it would have taken me longer!  I guess I am a slow poke!!!!!

Here is the picture of the 3 completed sets!  Cute, Right?????

USA Blocks

These are super easy!  I don't really have a tutorial per say, but I just cut the wood to 3 1/2 inches and painted them the same time/way as I painted the flag blocks above.  

The Stencil of USA:  I found my favorite font on my computer and made the letters 3 inches tall and printed them out.  I used Press 'n Seal Wrap and pressed it over the letters.  Using an exacto knife, I cut the letters out.  I peeled the paper off the Press 'n Seal and then put the Press 'n Seal onto the wood blocks.  Then you dab or dot the paint onto the stencil, let it dry for a few minutes and then peel the Press 'n Seal off.  And then you have stenciled letters!!!!

Sand and then distress with the brown paint and water mixture.  Seal and you are done!  

I am still wanting to do a few more projects.  Here are a few I am thinking about: 

Firecrackers #1

Firecrackers #2

Firecrackers #3 

Happy 4th of July!!!!!!

Deco Mesh Patriotic Flag Wreath

Posting this was an after thought so there are no how to pictures, but I will post links to other blogs where I got the idea and the tutorial on how to make it myself.

My design inspiration: Click here >>>Flag Wreath Inspiration

I loved this wreath and set off to make one on my own!  When I got to Hobby Lobby, I found the heart shaped wreath and thought that would be cute!  My Hobby Lobby was out of the red and white stripe ribbon so I went with a roll of each of the solid colors.  I like the inspiration version, but I love my version!

Supplies: I got all of my supplies at Hobby Lobby, my craft store of choice!  If you watch the sales, the deco mesh will be on sale for 50% or you can go 3 days in a row and use your 40% coupon.  Your choice.  Note: Week of June 17-21, 2013 it is on sale for 50%.
3 rolls of 6 inch Deco Mesh Ribbon - $5.99 per roll
1 Heart Shaped Wire Form - $2.47 (in the floral area)
1 package or roll of thin floral wire - had this from a project - probably less than $3
Package of tiny stars - package of 10 were $1.47
White craft paint - hand on hand but under $1
Wire Cutters - if you wire is thin a pair of scissors will work
Pair of Scissors

Cost of Project: Under $25 and if the ribbon is on sale that drops the price to $14.  Coupons will save you more!

How to: This link is a great tutorial.  It is actually for a Christmas Wreath which was my first project with Deco Mesh!  That one turned out beautiful too!  LINK HERE>>>> Wreath tutorial.

HOW TO CHANGES: You will notice in the tutorial they use a greenery form.  For this Flag Wreath, you are using a wire form.  What I did was make a few loops, tying it down with the wire and then would push them together to make the scrunchy look.  I hope that makes sense?!?!?!?!  Tie, push & scrunch, and tie together - REPEAT!!!!!!

If you look at the back you can see where tied 3-4 loops together as I went along.

 

For the Blue, I did loops to fill from the top center until I got to the first support divider which is about 1/2 way down the left side.  For the red and white stripes, I did 4-5 loops per color and alternated. If you can see in the picture above, I did not cut the white or red ribbon.  I just weaved it along the back as I went along.  

To finish this off, I used a pipe cleaner and made a hanger so that I could hang my new creation in my front entry.

This project took about 4 hours to complete!  It is pretty easy and almost impossible to mess up!  Deco Mesh is a super easy product to work with!  I love it!

I hope that you can follow this post and make your own.  You are welcome to ask questions in the comments and I will do my best to try to answer them.  

Grass is Greener and Red, White and Blue

I saw this picture on Pinterest today.  I could not find where it was originally posted so I googled it.  See the links below to see where I found the backdrop of my story.

My story.

Tomorrow is 4th of July or Independence Day.  It is a day that we are suppose to come together as a country and celebrate the freedoms the founding father's fought to create for its future generations. It is a day to spend time with your family, go to the main street parade, wave the flag proudly and eat america favorites from the grill.

As I have been on Facebook over the last few week days, I read many people saying that they are not into celebrating Independence Day this year because their freedom has been robbed of them.  Really?????

True, you are now going to be forced to buy health insurance and maybe you will have to pay higher taxes. Who knows! Many people believe there is a clown in the white house while many people think he is the best president since Abraham Lincoln. We are a country divided in politics, social correctness, religion, lifestyles, immigration, etc.

I know there are many American suffering right now.  There are people with no job or a job that does not pay all the bills, small businesses going out of business, food and gas prices going up, wildfires and droughts, flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, lost homes, lost family members and the list goes on and on.

I guess what I am trying to say, is I know life is not great for everyone, but we, as Americans, are truly blessed to live in this country.  No reason to celebration our country's birthday?  Really???  If you live in this country you have more to be thankful for than most of the world could dream is possible!

On with my I posted the picture above.  I love this picture.  Grass!  How many of you have complained about mowing the grass in the last week?  I live in apartment so I do actually do the mowing, but I complain every time the crew that does the mowing comes.  They are loud and it is generally at 8am when I am trying to sleep.  Freshly cut grass also does a number on my allergies.

Grass, simple grass.  One soldier, Warrant Officer Brook Walker, missed the smell grass while deployed in Iraq in 2004.  So he asked his wife to send him grass seed and she did, and he went to work.  He grew a little plot of grass in the middle of the 120 degree dessert.  He watered it with a bucket from the bathroom 3 times a day, built an awning to shade it from the sun and used a pair of scissors to cut the grass.

So I say to those who don't think there is anything to be celebrated this year for Independence Day, I say stop and smell the grass and think, what would you miss if you were to move somewhere else or if this county found itself with a different form of Government?

grass
a car
being able to buy groceries whenever you want and whatever you want
indoor plumbing
clean water
a closet full of clothes
more shoes than any one person really needs
freedom to voice your opinion about politics and not being punished for it
being able to dress as you wish
women being free and not property of their husband
being able to vote
tv, internet, phones, cell phones, texting, pictures, facebook, pinterest, etc.
education
being able to have the number of children you want
freedom of speech
freedom to bear arms
property ownership
having the job that you choose
access to healthcare
recreational opportunities
religious freedom

I am thankful for these and many other freedoms!  So tomorrow, July 4th, 2012, I will be celebrating my country's Independence Day.  It maybe an imperfect place, but it is the land where all are free.  It is a land of opportunity.  It is a land of general love and brotherhood!

My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy! ~Thomas Jefferson

Happy Birthday, America!


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002137465_iraqlawn01m.html
http://www.snopes.com/photos/military/grass.asp

Caramel Dip

I love September! The kids go back to school, the weather cools down, and the fall colors are just so beautiful! I have a new favorite thing about September having lived in Washington State for 8 years - Apples!!!! Apples are so good in Washington! There are so many varieties! Some sweet, some tangy - all good!

A few years ago I was in charge of the Women's Activities at my church and we planned an Apple night. It was the best and a start to many cooking classes!

One of the recipes that was shared was Caramel Dip - something I had never been a fan of! It was so good it has changed my opinion. I will share it with you at the end!

Fast forward to today. Now I teach the 8 & 9 year old girls at my church and I am getting ready for my next activity. We are going to talk about apples and good nutrition! Apples are really the perfect food! So good for you and so yummy! The girls are suppose to bring a few different kinds of apples and we are going to taste them and see how each is different. Here comes the Caramel Dip, and peanut butter and nutella! Perfect dips for apples! I think this is going to be a great activity!

Here is the recipe!

Easy Caramel Sauce

from Cook's Illustrated and Kathryn Packer

(If you make the caramel sauce ahead, reheat it in the microwave or a small saucepan over low heat until warm and fluid. When the hot cream mixture is added in Step 3, the hot sugar syrup will bubble vigorously (and dangerously) so don't use a smaller saucepan.)

Makes about 1 1/2 cups

1/2 cup water 1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup heavy cream 1/8 teaspoon table salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

1. Place water in heavy-bottomed 2-quart saucepan; pour sugar in center of pan, taking care not to let sugar crystals adhere to sides of pan. Cover and bring mixture to boil over high heat; once boiling, uncover and continue to boil until syrup is thick and straw-colored (syrup should register 300 degrees on candy thermometer), about 7 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until syrup is deep amber (syrup should register 350 degrees on candy thermometer), about 1 to 2 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, bring cream and salt to simmer in small saucepan over high heat (if cream boils before sugar reaches deep amber color, remove cream from heat and cover to keep warm).

3. Remove sugar syrup from heat; very carefully pour about one quarter of hot cream into it (mixture will bubble vigourously), and let bubbling subside. Add remaining cream, vanilla, and lemon juice; whisk until sauce is smooth. (Sauce can be cooled and refrigerated in airtight container for up to 2 weeks.)

A Wish!

Do you ever wish that you were good at something? I do! I know that I have the capability to do things, but I am not great or even good at most things.

I wish I had some kind of special talent. I wish I were one of those great mommy bloggers that seem to be able to write about anything because they seem to know everything. I really wish that somehow the things that I write helped someone or made a difference in someone's life. I wish a had a 1,000 followers!

I want to write a book, but about what? I am not an expert on anything, and I think I am humorous, but most people don't laugh when I crack a joke. I am not romantic and I hate politics. I would still love to write a book! Would you buy a book about a not so spectacular life of an ordinary mom???

I would love to be a photographer. I look at great pictures and think I can do that and then wonder why I can't get a picture of my kids without a glare on the glasses or a shadow cast on them on a sunny day! I try to get close ups of the flowers on my porch and they turn out to be a blurry mess! I even bought a fancy camera and I am very excited to get 3 shots per second, but alas, I am still taking crapy pictures!

I like to sew, craft, and bake, but I am not really good at any of it. I find a recipe or an idea and go gung ho, but they never turn out the way I picture them. I have a few little things that I can pull off, but I can't tell you how many things that I have finished with a project and thrown away! Can't give that to anyone!!!!!

I just realized something! I have always heard that you dislike or criticize others for things they do when deep down it is the things you dislike in yourself. I am constantly harping on my husband for doing things half way or just enough to get by. It is really deep down something that I dislike in myself! I have no patience therefore I cut corners and do what I need to do to finish whatever I am working on! No wonder everything I set out to do doesn't turn out the way I want it too!

I burn most everything I cook or bake because I am excited about the mixing process and get bored with the completion and it burns. I have gotten better, but that is because my microwave has a timer on it! I love the sewing part of a project, but I cannot cut straight to save my life and that makes it hard to sew in a straight line! I also hate cutting out a pattern. It is boring to make sure the pattern is set set on the grain of the fabric right and it is totally tedious to cut the little triangles that help later when you are trying to line up the pattern. They are totally useful, but take so long to cut out!

So at the age of 35, I am learning that I need to have a little more patience in my life! Maybe I will never be great at everything, but just maybe I can be good at a few things if I start to take a little time and complete all the steps in the process. I need to find joy in the steps!

Motherhood Matters Challenge

KSL's Studio 5 is have a wonderful challenge that I am share with you and challenging you to participate in! It is called the Motherhood Matters Challenge and it is a 10 day challenge from May 2nd to 13th.

Go jump on their site and read about the challenge and take it yourself! I dare ya, you wonderful mother you!!!!!!

http://motherhood.ksl.com/about-2/

This is what I wrote on their blog about my mother:

I am grateful for my mother who taught me the value of hard work. She always said, if it is worth doing, you should not do it half way, in other words, she taught me to do my best at everything. It didn't matter the grade I got or if I won or came in first, what mattered was I did my best. My best was always good enough and if I didn't do my best, I always did it again.

She also taught me to do better for others than I would do for myself. That taught me compassion, service and how to love others. My mother always went without so that her children could have whatever it was they needed and wanted. She also went out of her way to show our friends they were loved and always welcome in our house and in our family activities!

Both of these values are lacking in our world right now and I am extremely grateful my mother had the insight to make sure her children had those skills/values! Thanks mom and thank you, studio 5 for allowing me to share!