Pretty Packing Tape?? Since When?

Ok, so I am probably the last to know. Am I? Did you know? Know that there is pretty pink damask packing tape out there in the world? Know that black and white polka dot packing tape needs a home? (In my house...) Well, I didn't. However, now I am privy to this fan-tab-ulous info. I really wanted to wait and order some of this awesome stuff from Tapeswell before posting this, but I couldn't wait! I found some pink/black zebra print packing tape at Wal-Mart, and even though that's not necessarily...um..."my style"...I snatched it up, and put it to work.

First, here are some prints that are "my style" and I must order ASAP.

See?! Aren't they cute? Can you just think about the possibilities?!

This little project is nothing ground breaking, but it was exactly what I needed to begin summer.

A new journal.
I am kind of freakishly crazy about listing things, so I like to have a journal on hand at all times for these lists. I am also kind of freakishly crazy about new journals to start new seasons of life.
Summer is a new season. New Journal needed. Old journals need NOT APPLY.

I found this notebook at Wal-Mart, and by the cover is seems as most others.....
Judge not by the cover...
This is some kind of office notebook. I dont know. Couldn't tell you. I just thought it was fun and almost vintage-esque in a Mad Men sort of way. I mean, really, do offices even use notebooks anymore?
Annnnnnyway,
it was perfect to hold all my summer secret lists that detail the odds and ends of my life.
I took that newly found packing tape and simply laid strips to the outside and inside of the notebook cover. Before adding to the inside of the cover, I did hot glue a piece of ribbon to the cover to create a tie.
Finally, to throw it all over the edge, I added a little initial personalization glam.
Shhhh-bam! Totally fun new summer glam notebook.
Been writing my lists in it ever since.

Old Chair Update

Look at my newly reupholstered chair! Isn't it beautiful? I L.O.V.E. it! Of course, I can't take credit for this DIY. My hubz did it for me! I bought this really great material, but of course, had a million things to get done. Andre was super sweet, and took care of it for me. YAY! One more thing I can scratch off my list.

Background on chair for those who care... :) The first year we were married, I found this chair at a yardsale, and it looked ROUGH! I brought it home anyway. Andre saw potential, as I did, so we sanded it down and varnished it. For some insane reason we bought the material shown below to cover it. WHAT WERE WE THINKING??

Before: UGLY!!


Now: SOPHISTICATED!!


It adds another little POP of blue to my living room.

Thanks, love, for helping me out!

Colorful Summer Tray...for SUPER CHEAP!

Ok, so like most "crafters", I am in love with presentation. (Admit it....come on...do it.) I love making things look pretty, colorful, cool, different. I love taking the most unusual suspects, and repurposing them for good. :) Having said all of that...you now understand why it makes me so very happy to take a cheap glass candlestick, purchased from the Dollar Tree, and turn it into something I proudly display in my kitchen. This fun little tray took no time at all, and just about as much money to make. MY. KIND. OF. DEAL.
A couple of months ago, I was browsing Target, aka...my "go-to" store, and I ran across these plates in the new spring stuff. Now, you all know I am a sucker for color, and I knew right then that I totally NEEDED these plates. However, regardless of cute factor or cheap factor, (the plates were only a buck or two apiece.) my hubz would really not be pleased if I brought home an entire new set of unneeded plates. (He's becoming quite the minimalist.) Then after remembering this tray idea, I snagged one dinner plate, and one salad plate.
I was actually planning a trip to the Dollar Store to buy a couple of candle sticks, but while doing laundry in the basement I discovered an old box holding decor from my big 30th "Pink Party." I found candlesticks in the box! SCORE!
Pleased as punch, I sprayed a couple of coats of primer, then a couple of coats of my current favorite shade of blue, then topped it all off with a coat of shine sealant. I used E-6000 glue to adhere the plates to the candlestick, and let it sit overnight. That's it. SEE??? Super easy!
I really wanted to glue two candlesticks together between the plates, but my kitchen is running out of storage space. I wasn't quite sure where I would put it, being that height, so I stuck to one stick.
Didn't it turn out cute? I have been using it as a fruit tray on my kitchen table, and I cant wait to use it at my next party.

Hope everyone is having a relaxing weekend, and soaking up this beautiful weather!

~Tracy

Fabric/Bead Necklace

Wow. I know I say this all the time, but seriously...IT. HAS. BEEN. CRAZY. I have literally had NO time, what-so-ever, to post! I have projects piled up, ready to go out, but haven't had a moment. The end of May is a ridiculously busy time of year for me. As a 5th grade teacher, by day, my team has had to plan a promotion ceremony and promotion dance. Plus, Cash's birthday is coming up, so I had to whip up some invites to send out, AND the hubz and I have been attacking that "honey do" list for the house. Yikes. The dance was last night (pics to come) and promotion will be Monday. Hopefully, I will be able to relax a bit and enjoy this late spring weather.

Ok, so on to today's post. I have been eying these types of necklaces since last summer/fall. It's about time I take action. :) Here we go.

What you need:
* Strips of material, about 2 inches wide. Fold in half and iron, so it's about 1 inch. (Or 1 inch ribbon.)
* beads (need to be about the width of your folded fabric.) I had this old necklace I picked up at a yard sale years ago. I took it apart, and used the creamy beads.
*string/ needle
*scissors

What to do:
Ok, so you have your fabric cut into a long strip, folded, and ironed. ( You may need to have a second strip to attach later if your original fabric strip isn't super long....I did.)

*Leaving a few inches at the end, fold strip into two pleats and stitch through.
*Feed bead onto needle, and stitch through.

*Add two more pleats to the other end of the bead and stitch through. Then stitch back through both sets of pleats and the bead.

*Continue until you have the length you desire.

*If you have a super long strip, then you just tie off your ends. I had to cut another strip in half, then use those two pieces to knot my ends.

I wore my necklace this week, and my students complimented me on it. That's a good sign. :)

PS
********GIVEAWAY COMING SOON!!!!!********

Family Film Festival!!!

YAY!! This is one of my fav. things about summer!

FREE ADMISSION TO EVERYONE!

Starts May 31st, 2011
Every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10am
Doors open at 9:30am

5/31- 6/1

6/7- 6/8

6/14-6/15

6/21-6/22

6/28-6/29

7/5-7/6

7/12-7/13

7/19-7/20

Festival ends July 20th.

Great movies this year! I can't wait to tell the boys!

ENJOY-
Tracy








Special:
$1.00 OFF Movie MEAL
Available for film festival movies

EAST RIDGE- THE RAVE
5080 South Terrace
Chattanooga, TN 37412
P: (423) 855- 9652

Canning Party? YES, PLEASE!!

** I thought this sounded pretty cool, and wanted to share it!! Thanks Freebies4Moms for posting!!**

Apply to host a Jarden Home Brand “Discover You Can” House Party on Saturday, June 25 and have your friends over to learn some canning tips. If selected as a host you will receive a free party pack containing: the Ball Discovery Kit, RealFruit Classic Pectin and Instant Pectin, coupons, Ball Collapsible Funnels and Dissolvable Labels, Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving, Berry mashers, a canning flipchart with instructions, and gift bags. Remember to complete the application honestly, because they aren’t necessarily looking for hosts who can throw the biggest parties. Each party uses different criteria to select the hosts and not everyone who applies will be selected. This is a word-of-mouth marketing campaign where companies give customers an opportunity to do some advertising for them.

Sunday Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sunday seemed like as good of a day as any to whip up some chocolate chip cookies....they were gone by Monday. YUM.
This recipe is from allrecipes.com.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons hot water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour, chocolate chips, and nuts. Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased pans.
3. Bake for about 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are nicely browned.