What's Blooming?

Christmas in the tropics is interesting...

Come take a walk through my sandy wonderland.

 

...and tell me this isn't one of the weirdest concoctions ever.

Happy Sunday.

Sleeping on the Job

What?

Oh, yeah, like we never run out of ideas.

Explore Your Roots Early

So....how's that snow working out for ya?

 Yeah, I'm headed for the beach today myself.

 In shorts.

 Barefoot.

For mocktails.

With a big, studly, half-dressed man.

Fine, yes, it's my husband, but at least he's a sure thing, right?

T to the M to the I?

At any rate, while I'm out and you're staring at the thermostat, debating on edging it up,

allow me to remind you...

 ...Spring is a scant 3 months away.

Not into waiting?

Hit those 70% off sales and pick up the holiday packages of amaryllis and paperwhites

and let's take a little sneak peek.

Almost any container will do.

 Cylinder vases...

 ...salad bowls...

...all you need is bulbs, rocks, and water.

Nestle the bulbs in a bed of marbles or stones, add water to just the surface, and stand back!

Before you know it, you have a little glimpse of the coming months.

Hey, Rocky, Watch Me Pull a Rabbit Out of My Hat

Nothing up my sleeve....

 I was having brunch at a friend's house a couple years ago, and this woman is perfect. Her house is always immaculate, the pool sparkles, the cars are pristine, the lawn is manicured. She ducked into her laundry room to grab linens, and I saw IT...the black hole where filth goes to die. I really relaxed around her after finding out she's human like the rest of us.

We all have...THAT...spot in the house.

That filthy, disgusting jumble of crap.

Even Monica Geller on Friends had a closet crammed with junk

in her otherwise OCD fueled world.

My craft and desk area used to be located in the Florida room,

but when Mom moved in, I had to relocate all my stuff to the dining room.

Often, I work up to time for dinner.

Do I take tons of time to put everything away?

Are you kidding?

 This catastrophe is in my dining room.

Next to my table.

Where we EAT.

Where I entertain.

This is just not working out.

For this little disappearing act, you'll need a sewing machine, a queen size sheet the color of your

walls ($10 at Walmart), buttons, scissors, and a measuring tape.

If you have basic sewing skills and an hour, you can pull off a disappearing act.

1. Measure the top of the shelves and add 1" to the dimensions.

2. Cut a rectangle that size

3. Measure the height of the shelves and the circumference

4. Measuring the fabric from the bottom up, cut a rectangle that size. Add 1" to the length,

2" to the circumference. We're going to save some work and use the hems that are already sewn

in the sheet.

5. Sew a hem in the raw edge of the length

6. Center the corner of the circumference to the front middle of first small rectangle you cut.

Pin this edge all the way around, making sure you have a 1" overlap in the front

7. Stitch

8. Plan your button holes on the flap that overlaps in the front and sew them. I did 7.

You can also just do ribbon ties with bows

9. Sew on your buttons

 10. GONE

Since it matches the wall, the whole mess melts away!

My sanity was worth 10 bucks and an hour.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to slipcover the upstairs hallway...

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!