2010 Project Review

In 2009, Old Patio New Patio project began and was completely finished in 2010.  Our small cement patio became a beautiful outdoor room and totally changed the way we live in warm weather!

In March it was fun to create this Spring Wreath with Pink clogs.

New Life for an Old Bench that was used in the Hershey Chocolate factory for years, was a project I did in April.

The Rain Barrel was also completed in April.

and New Life for an Old Table.

 

In May, the Jewelry Organizer

and Mini Makeover in the master bedroom, adding a pop of aqua and Drop Cloth panels.

June, An Old Swing makeover

And the Patio is completely finished reveal. There were so many projects for the patio, like this old dresser that got a paint job and jazzy knobs.

 June,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspired by so many other bloggers, I created a Hall of Frames.

In October,

No more hole in the wall

I tore down this bar area to make a better furniture arrangement in the family room.

and Painting the basement walls and oak cabinets.

In November I finally got around to a chair makeover.

The Red chair project

Another project in November. was converting a big frame into a bulletin board using ceiling tile.

A Huge Old Frame becomes a Bulletin Board

 

December projects were Burlap Wreath

 

Burlap Stockings

The Patio Project was the biggest project of 2010 and it created even more smaller projects. We really enjoy our new space!

I wonder what I’ll tackle in 2011? I still have work to do in the basement family room, like a bookcase redo, cabinet knobs and finishing up  hanging things on the walls and then onto more projects! I definitely want to paint the kitchen and den and make new window treatments and possibly a board and batten project!  Maybe….

Added to

Debbie (((xx)))

Frugal Fashion

My first attempt at vlogging is a presentation of some frugal fashion.

Gosh, why was I so serious?!

Thrift Store fashion.

 

It IS ridiculous and I DO need to lighten up so…..Go ahead and laugh at me, I don’t mind at all! I’m laughing now.

I was actually wearing a long sleeved tee shirt that had Jones New York on the front, you can’t see that in the video though.

Watching yourself on video is a hoot. It’s a great way to bring laughter to your day. It probably gets easier with practice or a script!

 

Beret $5.

Shoes $4.

Boots $6.

Necklace $6.

Sweater $3.50

Sweater .50

Purse.$3.

Total $28.00 and you can’t beat that!

 

Debbie (((xx)))

Oh Fudge!

If you love sweets as much as I do, then you probably love fudge. Blessed or cursed with a sweet tooth, I have been indulging in sweet treats all my life. Fudge is one of my favorite sweet indulgences.
Chocolate chip cookies were the only cookies I made this year so I decided to whip up some of my favorite peanut butter fudge.

This recipe is from  Ladies Auxiliary of the Hershey Volunteer fire dept. cookbook. An old book that belonged to my Mom. The pages are dog eared and stained. Some recipes are circled and some have GOOD written beside them. It’s got lots of scribbling in it, (probably from me as a child) and the front cover is missing. Isn’t that the best kind of recipe book?

I sprinkled some peanuts and chocolate chips on top. OH MY it IS so good!

Here’s the recipe,
1 ½ c peanut butter
2 c marshmallow crème
5 c granulated sugar ( Yikes)
15 oz can evaporated milk
½ c butter
Combine peanut butter and marshmallow, set aside. In large saucepan combine sugar, evap. milk and butter. Boil gently, stirring constantly for 10 minutes. Add to peanut butter and marshmallow and beat until candy begins to thicken. Put into 2 8x8 pans or 9x13 pan. Cool and enjoy!
On my DaySpring plate it looks tempting. Grab a big piece, it makes lots, so I think I’ll be sharing it with neighbors. It’s so sweet that just four pieces wrapped up in parchment or brown paper and tied with a little bow is a neighborly gift I would appreciate.
Do you make holiday treats to share?


Added to Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam


Debbie (((xx)))

Bokeh

This post should be titled, “My pathetic attempt at bokeh.”

What’s  bokeh? I really didn’t know either.

If you don’t know, there’s a bokeh party going on over at Darcy’s, My life with 3 Boybarians, where you can learn all about it.

I recently bought myself a Canon T1i and I lurve it! It’s my first DSLR so I’ve lots to learn. I only have the kit lens, 18-55mm, but hope to get a great new lens soon. Maybe I’ll win the Tamron lens giveaway!

My subject is not completely in focus but the lights are orbs, so I guess I was semi-successful at bokeh.

I don’t have Photoshop so I use Photoscape. It’s a free download that’s so much fun to play with. You can enhance your photos, create different effects, add frames and more. I added a tape type frame to the above photo and a newsprint effect to the one below.

This is antique photo…You can adjust the effect to varying degrees.

cartoon….

 

gradient….

oil painting

puzzle

and even Holiday frames.

For a great free program try Photoscape. Got any tips for a DSLR beginner?

 

Debbie (((xx)))

The Stockings were hung

But not by the chimney this year. I hung them in the dining room.
Going right along with the burlap trend again, I decided to sew up some stockings. I  drew out the shape with chalk on burlap, sewed them up, added a little embellishment and that’s it.

I added some greenery and hung them from a shelf in the dining room. The white poinsettia is actually much prettier than in this picture. I wrapped the base in burlap and added some curly gold ting ting. The small nativity was from Kirklands, several years ago.

My first attempt at making fabric flowers was successful….at least I think so. I used pieces of fabric from my stash. A fabric stash is a good thing.                Am I imagining it or do you hear Martha Stewart too?

This one is edged with some of the piping I got at the thrift store and tied with a burlap bow. The stocking aren’t lined and probably should be for added strength and so nothing could poke through the burlap. I’ve seen many versions of burlap stockings lately and lots of rolled flower tutorials……do a search and you’ll come up with plenty of ideas and inspiration to make your own.
I still didn’t make any cookies, but I’m fixin to real soon.
How about you?


*Here's more of my Christmas decor this year
Kitchen, Dining room
Burlap wreath 
Red Mantel
Added to Greenhouse Diaries


I'm linking up at Nester's party.





Debbie (((xx)))

CSN Stores GiveAway

By now you must know that CSN has over 200 online stores selling everything from bathroom shelving to warm boots to gourmet cookware. You’re guaranteed to find the perfect item because CSN has it all!    CSN giveaways are popular around blog land and as a preferred CSN blogger, I’m happy to be hosting another $55. gift certificate giveaway.
Click here to enter the giveaway on my review page.

Debbie (((xx)))

Burlap wreath

Who would’ve thought that lowly burlap would make it big time!  From table runners, lamp shades, window treatments and even pillows, burlap is the hot trend right now.
I’ve seen so many different burlap wreaths lately that I was inspired to make my own.      While burlap is inexpensive and easy to work with, it sure is messy. messy. messy. Strings are everywhere!
Here’s how I made mine:
You’ll need a Styrofoam wreath frame, mine was 16”, about 1 ½ yds burlap cut into 3 or 4 inch squares and a whole bunch of floral pins, pictured below. You could probably use ball headed straight pins too, but regular straight pins could slip through the loose weave of  burlap.
You can see that I wasn’t too fussy about the size of the squares.                                      




I folded them into a cone shape, put a pin through the bottom and pushed the pins into the wreath frame.

Just keep going all around the frame, filling it in as much as you like. Don’t forget to fill in the sides so it looks pretty from all angles.

I’m lovin ♥ how it looks in the dining room.


Below, this beautiful wreath from thediyshowoff  was my inspiration. It’s gorgeous!

For more burlap wreath inspiration visit these talented gals,
Craftaholics Anonymous
  tatertots and jello
  Where the Heart is
   Confessions of a Plate Addict

I’m adding this to the Christmas craft party  Kate is hosting at Centsational girl.


Debbie (((xx)))