Oh I wish I were...

Say what??

Look up ahead. Do you see it?

Of course I see cool things on the highway when I'm by myself...no one to focus on photography!

Can you believe it?

Any of you Moniteau County kids remember when the Weiner Mobile ran off the road in Tipton, right across from the football field? I think it was maybe summer of 1999 or so.

I wonder how you get to drive the Weiner Mobile? That would be fun!!

If you look closely, you can see my Sister's birthday present in the back of my car. :)

When was the last time you saw the Weiner Mobile??

It's wedding week!!!

My Crazy Sista is getting married Saturday, May 14, 2011!

WooHoo! When I got ready for work this morning, I decided to bust out bling on my ears (since I wear stupid scrubs...everyday...always black...)

Anyway, got me to thinking about my wedding outfit. Of course Sister will look AMAZING!! But I can't expose her outfit for all the internet to see. BUT! I wanted you to see these shoes! They are TO-DIE-FOR!!

Yes, those are said black scrubs rolled up over them. And I don't really have inverted feet! Stay tuned!

Elegant Lines...

Here's a card I made for my Sister's Bridal Shower this weekend. I hope she loves it!


I {big fat squishy heart} love those basic pearls from Stampin UP!

She says she stalks my blog but I bet she's pretty busy this week so here's hoping...fingers crossed!

Wrapped with Love

I made this little envelope type thing for JJ for his Valentine. I tucked 2 snack sized Snickers inside; his favorite (next to ice cream but that would be messy!)!



I thought we would keep Valentine's Day pretty low scale this year. We generally get whatever we want/need as it arises. Plus, we were both shamelessly spoiled at Christmas this year by each other as well as our family and friends. We are truly blessed!

Here's a close up of the tie. I just wrapped lace around the container and slid three hearts, cut with an old Sizzix die, on the lace.


I am super pleased with how this turned out! Good thing too because I have 70 more to make for favors at my Sister's bridal shower. I have 64 of them cut already now just to score, assemble and figure out how to decorate them! I really liked the wide lace but I don't think I have anymore (go figure) but let us remember, I am a ribbon hoarder. I am looking forward to peeling through a bunch of my stash!!

What would you do to decorate them? I thought flowers, both paper and Primatype, or just tying with wide ribbon (satin maybe) or lace. I don't know, what do you think?

Pamper Yourself!!!

Edited to include: Sugar scrub is an exfoliant for your skin.

I am hosting a challenge at CardMaker CardSwap message board called Pamper Yourself (go check it out!)

I fancied up a ketchup bottle to hold my beloved homemade sugar scrub! (Don't worry, it's not a secret recipe...keep reading.)

Here's the ketchup bottle all filled up with delish but looking awfully ugly:


I ripped off the lose flakes of wrapper (from washing it out) and covered it with paper.


I added some tinsel from Sister and a snowflake cut with my Cricut. Of course, Stickles was a must!!


SUGAR SCRUB RECIPE (gleaned from the internet many moons ago)
1 cup of sugar
1/2 cup oil (I have heard that you can use any oil including vegetable but I don't want to smell like a french fry so I use Grape Seed Oil...not too expensive, check out HyVee)
Essential oils (begin with a few drops, you can always ad)

A little bit on oils: I am so not an oils snob. I have used fancy stuff from a scent shop and I have also used the oils Yankee Candle sells; for this, I don't thin I can tell a bit of difference. The expensive oils take less but they cost significantly more so... I say, go with what you like to smell!

Enjoy!

Engagement Card

So, I told you that my sister is getting married in May.

I wanted to make her an engagement card (of course!).

I started out by playing along on a challenge at CardMaker to create a gatefold card. So, I was playing along, making a card with Rich Razzleberry and loving it!

Fast Forward >>> Card is done...can't find real camera...no problem...snap pictures with cell phone. Not the best, but not horrible. "Great" I say, "we will go with it". Get over to CardMaker...Picasa doesn't format the photos to a way CM message board will accept.

That was a couple of weeks ago I think and I guess you could say I have just been pouting every since! Well not really...just sort of busy (more on that later)!

(Note: The paperclip is not really part of the card...just holding it closed for the little photo shoot.)

So, Sister, Congratulations, I love you, you are going to make a beautiful bride and live happily ever after. BTW, I think I will make a dashing Matron of Honor (which certainly sounds better than a Maid) if I do say so myself! Here's to many belly laughs about who knows what!


And to Nathan: JJ is correct, my sister may seem as though she has gone completely mad as she goes on with preparing for your wedding. But I promise, the sun will rise on May 15 and the important things will have happened...you will be married...and stuck with JJ and I for the rest of our and your lives! (Ok, I am not so sure that the last part is all that important but whatever...).

Winter White

HUGE NEWS!!!

My sister got engaged this past weekend! Yeah Sister and Nathan!! So, their wedding date is May 14, 2011 (not a typo people, just over 5 months from now!). Moving quickly we must!!

She wants milk glass bud vases to use for the center pieces.
Her: So I got a couple of bud vases yesterday at the junk store in Syracuse. They are milk glass. I really like them but I need a ton more.
Me: How many is a ton?
Her: I don't know. Maybe 10. I want to use them for center pieces and stuff at my reception.
Me: 10 isn't going to cut it but I will help you.
Her: Really. Where are you going to find them.
Me: I don't know for sure but I saw some at Salvation Army and some more at a few other junk shops. Remember, I like junk shops.
Her: Oh right. Ok, you just find some then and keep track of how much money you spend.
Me: Sweet. JJ is going to die when he thinks I have a new "collection". But, give me a Friday off and this will be done!
Us: Laugh!

So! On my lunch yesterday, I found this beauty at the Salvation Army store in Sedalia:

Sorry for the kinda dark picture. I took it on my cell phone at my Mom's...more on that in a second.
$2 and I was happy!!

Then, Old Man Winter dumped a load on the Midwest:

This is what I saw while I was driving home to my parents because the roads were horrible! But, being the devote junk addict sister that I am, I stopped of at two more junk shops on my way home.

I found these beauties at a roadside shack on the East side of Sedalia. Funny, I always thought it was a nursing home...maybe it used to be...

The ice cream looking bowl on the left was marked $1.00 but half off so 50 cents, short skinny one in the front, middle was 50 cents, the islet edge bowl thing in the back was a splurge at $2.50. The shapely tall girl in the back was 50 cents I think, the one to her right was $1. I really love the little beauty at the far right. She's not really glass but... who cares right?!? At any rate, I only spent $5.92 in that shop.

Total so far: $7.92

A little more snow driving...
Would you believe that normally this is a major state highway??

And I got to the junk shop at the 4-way in Tipton (yeah, there's only one so if you see a light...you are there. Look south).

I found this little group of cuties:

The one on the left was $2. The two on the right were $1 together...so 50 cents. The shop keeper just gave me the one in left middle (good thing because I think it's kind of ugly).

Grand total... $11.92
Not bad for a snowy days work... after work. And... It's not even Friday yet!

(Disclaimer: Probably the total to Sister will not be $11.92. I just might have to keep a few of these beauties for my very own collection!! ;)

*Links*
I found a Treasures and Trinkets Linky Party over at My Cottage Charm.

Gift Card Holder

How can you take something boring like this:

And come up with this?

Well, I learned from the TP Queen herself, Terrie. I am always amazed at her creations. I thought I would try my hand. Terrie, you are right: It's easy and I must add Stinking Cute!! I used distress ink on the edges and pretty much all over! Love that stuff!!! The gorg. tinsel came from my silly sister. Here is one of Terries creations; click here.

The card just tucks into the end like so:

I entered in the following challenges:

Card maker: Make a card with red, green, white. Use a punch and a stamp.

Catch the Bug: Anything but a card. You can only win the big pot if you use a Bugaboo stamp but since I am on my new computer... and haven't transfered everything from my old one...this is the best I can do.

Crafty Makers: Spotlight on Containers and Fancy Envelopes

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge: A time for giving

A Spoon Full of Sugar: Anything goes

Happy Happy Birthday Baby

Anyone remember that song? I love the opening lines of this song! (Don't listen too close... he's singing to a lost love but I do love that opening part.) Oh sing it Ronnie!!

Today is my sweet, ornery, handsome, stubborn, incredibly cute (I may be biased, I doubt it), thoughtful, funny husband's birthday.

I love you bunches Monster and Happy Happy Birthday!

How can I not just laugh at this goofy guy!?!

Not a dive, a back flip!?!

A big hit with my girls on our wedding day.

Sugar Crash Blog Hop-- Yeah!!

*Give away closed.* (See post dated 11/8/2010 for winner.)

WELCOME!!!! You are on the CardSwaps Sugar Crash Blog Hop! You should have arrived here from Chi Chi Memories and Natalie. If you did not, take a look around here and then head to the first stop... You don't want to miss any of this greatness!! (BTW, there are 17! stops and you won't want to miss a one! There are many prizes to be had and the only way to cash in is by leaving a comment on the posts. Plus, it's just nice to leave a little love don't you think?

Before I get to my project, I would like to invite you over to CardMaker Magazine's Card Swaps! We have a Sugar Crash Crop going on! You must come over and play...plus there are more prizes. (Don't head out quite yet, I have something to show you before you leave...and don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win... and because you are nice and you want to leave some love for me :)

Ok, here's my project: Stinking Cute Photo Holders!

If you have spent much time around here, you know that I make several things for my Grandma's Church Bazaar. I made several of these for her Bazaar this year.

This one is my favorite! (I think because it's one of my favorite pictures!) I did spray my Hobby Lobby open stock paper with Tattered Angles Glimmer Mist to up its glitter factor but I will admit, it is not very Christmas-y... Don't worry, I am your Christmas girl! Let me show you first how I made these functional little do-dads.

I started with these. (Yes, I purchased them. No Staples did not pay me or ask me to show them off.)

Then, I got out my scrap paper drawer and began cutting pieces 1 1/4" x 2". Some pieces I sprayed with Smooch or Glimmer mist. Next, I creased the paper around the binder clips (mostly to make sure it was going to fit correctly). I used Terrifically Tacky Tape (the red roll) on each side (so three strips of tape total) and stuck down the paper. (Credit: When I couldn't get mine to stand up correctly, I watched this video.)

I selected ribbon to coordinate with the paper. (The pink is from Michaels (below), JJ put it in my stocking last year. The black is fab! satin ribbon from Stampin UP!) I put a little bit of adhesive on the ribbon right where it goes around the silver parts of the binder clips... otherwise, the ribbon rides up and there's no where for the picture to go.

Here's my Christmas sample:

That's paper from the open stock at Hobby Lobby. Those snazzy chicks in the photo are my sister and I in San Fransisco a couple of years ago.

House of Jones Holiday Traditions

Our first Christmas as husband and wife, I decided we needed to start some Christmas traditions! (Now, every since I have had my own Christmas tree (i.e., not living with my parents) I have left the tree lights on all night long on Christmas Eve and slept in the living room... JJ does this with me too. And someday, I will let our children do the same I am sure.) So, that first year, which was just last year in case you are counting, I bought us both fun/cute Christmas PJs to wear to bed on Christmas Eve. My thoughts were that our Christmas morning pictures would be better since we wouldn't be in old sweats but... I don't even think we took any last year. Anyway, that's our thing! And I love it! And JJ plays along with my game!

Now! Leave me some love for a random chance to win my candy.... can't really show it to you... but trust me! I am the last blog on the hop. Head on over to CardMaker and check out the challenges. Have a ball with all the challenges and thanks for stopping by!

In case you are lost... start with Lora and hop on through.

Lora

Carolyn King (Guest Designer)

Meredith

Ashley

Christy Croll (Tiddly Inks - Guest Designer)

Susie

Diana

Jane

Traci (Guest Cardmaker)

Angelina

Tami Mayberry (Guest Designer)

Irina

Ana

Margaret

Natalie (Chi Chi Memories - Guest Designer)

Laura <--- You are here!

Card Maker Message board is your last stop from here - http://www.cardmakermagazine.com/cardswap/index.php/board,57.0.html

Fancy Fall Wreath

I found this fabulous wreath completed originally (at least the first time I saw it) by Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick. As soon as I saw her gorg. wreath, I knew I had to make one of my very own...well, for my sister. We are going to her housewarming party mid-October; I can't wait!!!

So here's my finished product:

(I showed it to you first because I thought the "process pictures" weren't very interesting...and I was afraid you would stop reading. :)

Side Note: I hung the wreath on the banister because I was afraid I wouldn't take it down and actually give it to Sister once I had it on my door!!

Here's the dirt: Sarah (with an H just like my sister!! But this one isn't my sister but that would be cool!) made her wreath with a foam square. Go look at hers! Just don't forget to come back. I made mine with this wreath form that I got at Michael's for $3.99. It wasn't on sale but...

I covered the parts that I thought might scratch the door with scraps of an old bath towel. I just cut the towel and hot glued it on. I suppose any fabric glue would have worked but I got out hot glue for the leaves and decided that I wasn't going to go downstairs to get any other glue.

I got bags of fall leaves at Dollar Spot. There are 4 different colors (all the same color in one bag). I used all of 4 bags then part of 2 other bags... follow me? They were pretty pancake flat in the package so I wadded them up and threw them on the floor (not exactly the way the Thrifty Decor Chick recommended but it worked for me and wadding them up was pretty fun!)

I love that they almost look like actual leaves instead of fakes!! Also, notice that the leaves are void of stems. I cut them off using these bad boys!

They used to belong to JJ but now they are mine and they will cut anything!! Ok, so I don't know if they will really cut anything but my Fiskars would only cut one stem at a time. These cut all 10 at once!!

Best part! This whole project cost me only about $8.

(I had the glue and gun and snagged the snips from JJ.)

Some more black and white

So here, I showed you are card I made for my future cousin. I also promised to show you the rest of her present. It is very important to keep your promises so here I am!

I made a gift bag based off a cute little number box I learned to make from my good friend right here last fall sometime. I just made this one a bit bigger (the original held 3x3 cards). This one holds standard A2 sized cards.

A good blogger would have taken pictures while I was making the bag so I could share...well, I didn't. Why you ask? Well, I wasn't sure it was going to work so I started with typing paper.

Oh, did you see that beautiful satin ribbon??? LOVE!! I ran a line of Terrifically Tacky tape across the front of the bag and bunched the ribbon as I went across. I like it!!

Anyway, I didn't get to go to the shower because I chose to spend the weekend with JJ, Sister and my Dad down at the river. I am sure I missed a wonderful shower but I had a blast with the fam!!!

Here are a few more shots of the bag.