Keeping My Hands Busy

I've recently needed a distraction for my hands in the past few days, so I've been trying to get back into crafting.

The first thing I did was make a dry erase calendar. I had been meaning to do this craft for ages, since I saw a version on Somewhat Simple. Even though the one seen on that blog is very organized and incredibly detailed, I just needed something to compensate for my procrastination to buy a 2010 calendar, which led to finding ones in June that are $20.

I got a cheap frame at Jo-Anns and some clearance scrapbook paper and used a ruler to draw the grid I needed. I did everything with dry erase marker on what would be the front, and traced everything with permanent silver marker on the bottom side, so I wouldn't accidentally wipe the grid and days of the week lettering off when cleaning it.

I love how quick it was, and how great it turned out.

While I was at Jo-Ann's, I picked up a few jewelry making accessories so I could put this March of Dimes ring to good use.

I loved the ring. It says "Be Happy" and "Be Healthy" on it, but I hated the cheap looking purple string that it was attached to. I realize it was a token of gratitude for donating to charity, but, I really did want to wear the ring, but I needed a solution.

After some beads, about an hour with a pair of needle-nose pliers, and the sanity to keep pushing my cats away from the little jewelry pieces, I had this.

Hear ye, hear ye!

It is a joyous day in the kingdom of LEmily's Yellow House. The queen, herself, decided to be ambitious. She typed "How To Start A Lawnmower" into Ye Olde Google, got an answer and put it to the test. Because of her heroic efforts, her lawn is now mowed to perfection (save a few stragglers that should probably be weed-whacked). And so on, and so forth. Long live the queen!

Simple First Communion Cake

The husband's nephew had his First Communion a few weeks ago and, now that I'm known as the family cake maker, I was enlisted to bake and decorate the cake for his party.

Christmas Crafts

After December, I kind of cut back on blogging. So much going on and procrastination got the best of me. But, better late than never!

Here are the beginnings of my Italian style baskets I made for my side of the family. When I lost my job, most family members said they would be angry with me if I spent money on them. Therefore, my Christmas shopping was done at Dollar Tree.

My favorite gift I made, though, were for my cousin's twin girls. I bought blank doodle pads and pasted fun scrapbook paper to the fronts and stamped their names across them. Then, I modified the designs for crayon sacks, seen on many craft websites to give to them.

The Constipated Bathroom

The progress we've had on our bathroom is nothing short of labor-intense. Therefore, our bathroom is now known as constipated, since the end is still a little ways away.

We haven't had a sink since before Thanksgiving, The shower bar has been dipping lower and lower since Halloween, and for about three weeks in March, we were without a shower.

Here's my father-in-law and the husband taking down the plaster wall in February so we could cover over the hole from the previous medicine cabinet.

Following this procedure, we brought in a guy to drywall out ceiling and wall, as well as put in a window.

And here it is, nicely primed and ready for more.

Sometimes I wish Dollar Tree had an online store, especially when I'm stuck at work and gathering ideas for Christmas.

Baby Steps

I feel like I've lost almost a week of my life to this flu. I watched TV the entire time I was sick. Actually, scratch that, I woke up, put on something I'd want to watch, fall asleep after five minutes and repeat the process every four or five hours. I'm finally feeling better and I'm trying to catch up on lost time today. So I actually ventured out of the house and went (where else?) the craft store and the dollar store.

First, I had seen these made on a few Web sites now, but I loved the idea (and the frugality of it), I had to make my own. I didn't take pictures of the steps, but I will tell you it involved a candle stick holder, a little hurricane vase, some glass frosting spray paint and a hot glue gun. Then I added a ribbon and stuck a candle in it for instant Christmas decorations!

Where I Got The Idea

And Here

And my other project is in the dryer as we speak: a stamped-print shirt. Oh, how freakin' cute is this?

My friend, who watched me haphazardly place the stamps said, "You know you just put owls on your boobs, right?" Some quick thinking and I answered her with "Well, they're called 'hooters' for a reason, right?" Then I realized how perverted my shirt was. Oh well, it was just the prototype to see how I liked the look.

But look at how cute these owls are! I love this stamp.

The instructions on setting the paint are below.

LINK

Craigslist Finds

Right before I got sick, I started getting addicted to the Free Stuff on Craigslist, especially anything involving Curb Alerts. My most recent finds are just waiting patiently in my living room for me to feel better.

Finally! A real living room table! The potential for this baby is actually a little overwhelming.

Here's a find I grabbed in the dark and didn't even know exactly what it was until I got home. Other than a missing screw, I think it's the coolest piece of furniture I've ever owned!

But wait, there's more!

But wait, there's MORE STILL!

And the whole thing? Completely pulled apart? Oh, it's incredible...

I can't wait to get some paint and Mod Podge on this baby, but not only that: I can't wait to fill it! Who knows what I'll fill it with, but I still can't wait!

Skating Party Cupcakes

Even though I'm stuck in bed, I finally uploaded some pictures from my camera, including the cupcakes I made for my friend's roller skating party a few weeks ago.

Can you tell they're supposed to look like rollerskating wheels? Well, even if they don't, I had fun using an apple corer with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

So Much Craft Time I Can't Use!

I've become a statistic, officially. I am at Day Four of Swine Flu, given to me by my husband who finally went back to work today. Unfortunately, I haven't even been out of bed for long periods of time, other than visiting the doctor.

I promise, once I'm better, there will be more updates!