Mug Shots

I've been away in Albany New York

for some serious R&R at my BFF's country house.

While I've been up here braving the cold,

my children have been doing some...

unusual...

projects.

Take for instance this thrift store tiki.

Please...take this thrift store tiki.

Samwow actually needed a movie prop, so he bought the weird thing
for two bucks, then broke into my primer.

Not that this is helping.

The effect may be the exact opposite.

So we'll break out the metallic gold next.

Two coats later, and we have a golden idol for his next big production,

a music video with a zombie apocalypse theme.

Sometimes, I just don't ask.

However, with Dollar Tree white coffee cups, painter's tape, and chalkboard paint,
Savannah managed to pull off graduation gifts for all of her uber
bright friends heading on to their last two years of college.

Simply put painter's tape around the rim, handle and base,
pressing firmly into place.

Turn the cup upside down, and two coats later,
you have a caffeine container that will express an insomniac
chem major's true feelings.

A few sticks of colorful chalk tied with ribbon and
 tucked in before wrapping complete the gift.

And really, what kid doesn't enjoy endlessly personalizing their stuff?

This has been another strange gift idea from the team at LIR.

Yes, yes, I'll be home soon.

I Say You're Cold~Put on a Sweater

How many times did you hear your Mom say that?

Have the words ever left your lips?

It's okay~

Everything is wrapped in sweaters this Winter.

 From wall decor...

 ...to tabletop trinkets...

...right down to this ceramic vase I couldn't leave behind.

Hey, it was half price!

Of course, a lot of people are now bargain diving, so most of the other goodies were GONE.

What's a crafter who just cleaned out her closets to do?

Yeah, like you didn't see THAT coming, huh?

 For the next couple of projects, you'll need a sweater.

A nice button front cardigan is best.

And for once- I'm gonna say it- size does not matter.

 Details do.

 If you're Goodwill Hunting, choose a great knit.

 Pockets, cuffs, cables are all going to make the next little 

makeables sizzle with warmth.

For our very first trick, you'll also need a pair of straight sided vases from The Dollar Tree.

 Slide the vase into a sleeve.

 Decide how much of the cylinder you want to cover.

 Now, with a pair of sharp scissors, follow a line of stitches.

 Cut the sleeve off and trim it straight.

 Use it as a guide to cut the second sleeve.

 

 Now get this stuff.

You don't have this stuff?

You should have this stuff.

This is really good stuff.

 Run a generous bead of fabric adhesive around the cut edge of the sleeve.

 Slip a rectangle of wax paper or freezer paper inside the sleeve.

The adhesive won't stick to this.

 Lay both on another sheet of the paper to dry over night.

 And the next day...

TA-DA!

 Now just slide the sleeve onto the vase.

Pop in a pillar candle, and we're all warmed up!

 The sleeves come off and can be packed up in the Spring too!

AND you can slip this on a wine bottle for a cozy hostess presentation.

 Light these up and add them to your Icy Tablescape.

 The good part?

 At $1 each, if you have to purchase the vases, these will help you keep

that resolution you made to be frugal this year!

 So celebrate!

Don't throw that sweater away~ we have some more free tricks to perform!

Happy New Year!

The Twelfth Day of Catmas

Ever wonder just HOW we get those fabulous Festive Feline Overlord photos?

Take the first ever peek into the high-energy mayhem that

comprises a Life in Rehab Cats in Costume Calamity!

And then let's get into The Twelfth Day of Catmas!

So, Aunt Sadie and Uncle Milton suddenly became a stop on your agenda

today because Cousin Beatrice insists you stop over for her famous sauerkraut 

balls and special holiday venison punch.

You can't say no, unfortunately, as little Cousin Bertha will be yodeling

her rendition of The Hallelujah Chorus for the whole family.

And because Cousin Bertram always knits your family his fancy matching fiber optic 

solar powered reindeer sweaters, you also can't go empty handed.

Last minute gifts that look like you gave it at least a little thought are several things:

1. A pain in the posterior

2. Expensive

3. Difficult to obtain

4. Impossible to make yourself

5. Non-existent

6. Thank God, none of the above

Relax, Besties, we've got you on this one.

Come down off the ledge.

All you need to have a custom, thoughtful, homemade gift done in a jiffy

is SOME knowledge of your intended victim recipient!  While you're out stocking up on Tums and Pepto Bismal in anticipation of your visit, decide what you're going to do with

the following project and grab the appropriate picture frames.

These can be done as individual gifts, or slapped into a multi-frame with 5 openings 

as a family collage for Sadie, Milton, Beatrice, Bertram and Bertha.

You'll need to know their birthdays and perhaps their interests.

But last July, you were invited to Bertram's 32nd birthday where

he lured you into the bounce house for a Samurai sword demonstration,

 so you have that covered.

You'll also need ink for that printer of yours, and paper would be swell.

We're going to put together an Astrology gift that will have the appreciation

of even those folks who think the whole concept is a load

of rich creamery butter.

This is also a fun gift for grandparents, teens, newlyweds,

 soon-to-be-graduates and new parents!

Basically, anyone with a birthday and a sense of humor.

We'll use my bunch as guinea pigs...

Sunny~ Capricorn

Sam~ Gemini

Samwow~ Leo

Thom~ Aries

Savannah~ Virgo

For the recent graduate or workaholic:

  Know someone with anger issues?

 

Got a chef on the list?

Or maybe just someone known for his bottomless pit appetite?

  

Warn people about THAT family...

 

 Don't feel like going out on limb?

 

 Show them that how matter how obscure the trait,

you GET them:

 Need the perfect gift for that Halloween-obsessed bunch,

like, oh, say...The Kenwards:

 

 

Or go for the seemingly "classic" description:

 Bonus?

Each category is already color coordinated!

Consider a collage of all the attributes for just one special person.

The site is Astonishingly Accurate Astrology, and they have even more

than I've shown you!

Click, download, print, arrange, wrap, and they'll never know you weren't prepared.

Just don't take ours too seriously.

I find that villagers carrying pitchforks and torches are Hell on my lawn.

Happy Christmas Eve from THAT family 

at Life in Rehab!