Handy Tip #3

I love ice cream.  I bet you do too.  Here's a quick and easy way to serve it.

Side note:  Have you ever tried the Kroger Value brand Vanilla.  As you can see, it's not considered ice cream.  The box says Frozen Dairy Dessert.  Try it.  It's only $1.75 and it tastes close to homemade ice cream.  I love it.  But the chocolate is not so good.

First, open the box at all seams as shown.

Now, using a large knife, cut down in about 1 to 2" segments.  It really doesn't matter if they are not all equal.

Next, cut crosswise.  You now have fairly equal portions cut and ready for when you want a bite. And if you have kids, they can't fight over who got more.  It's all equal.

As you can see, when you're through cutting, the box will close back easily.







Now, how easy is that!  And this is great to do before a party.  It makes serving to guests quick and easy.

Onwards and Upwards Weekend Is Here!

It's finally here!  The onwards and upwards weekend blowout, hosted by Jennifer of Jennifer Grace Creates.  I'm so glad you're here. 

If you're following the blog hop, you should have landed here from Lisa-Jane's site at Come Inside My Crazy Head.  In case you didn't know, there's a prize to be won if you comment on all the blogs in the hop.  You need to begin with Jennifer's site, and end at her site.  Then leave a comment letting her know that you commented on all the sites participating.

And what is the prize you ask?  Well, I'm delighted to say that it's a prize pack of cheerful Glitz Designs Color Me Happy and Simple Stories 24/7.  You can see it in the picture above.  All entries must be received by Monday the 13th of May at 10.59pm BST. 

In keeping with the theme of onwards and upwards, I decided to do a project using Jennifer's word of the year, "PROGRESS".  I thought it would look cool as a quilled inspirational wall plaque.  

I started the project by printing out the word in a pretty script font.  I made sure that I chose the lightest printing available.

After cutting my strips, I started gluing them onto the word, starting in the middle and working to the outer edges.  The strips were glued standing on their sides.

This is the halfway point.

Working the other side.

Lettering finished.

I decided that it didn't need to be the full page size, so I cut it down, leaving about an inch all around.

For the frame, I used the same colored paper and cut four 2-inch strips.  Then folded back both sides 1/2 inch.

I measured and mitered each corner.

Checked for fit.

I used some of the scrap pieces to reinforce the inside of the corners.  

For strength, and to keep the sides straight, I knew that I needed more.  So I took card stock and cut 4 strips like before, but a tad smaller.  Then I folded the sides the same way.

All four glued to the inside and outside.edges.  This really strengthened it. 

Before I glued it, I punched a hole for hanging.

I cut the plastic from this cardboard to use as a faux glass for the front of the frame.

Instant recycling.  Gotta love it!

Since the plastic could not be glued to the inside (because of the quilling), I had to figure a way to attach it to the outside.

This is what I came up with.  I thought it turned out great.

This is what the back looks like, once it's finished.

So, what do you think?  Would you believe that this is my first try at quilling words?  I think I did good, if I say so myself.

I took loads of pictures trying to capture how pretty it is, but none did justice.  

Just take my word for it, it's purty as can be!







Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed my project.  Your next stop along the hop is Jo's site at http://www.curlyscrapbooker.blogspot.co.uk/.  I've included a list of the participating sites below, just in case you get lost along the way.

Jennifer - http://jennifergracecreates.com/

Rinda - http://gallorganico.blogspot.co.uk/

Meghann - http://www.meghannslittlecorner.blogspot.co.uk/

Louise - http://scrapbook-me.blogspot.co.uk/

Lisa-Jane - http://comeinsidemycrazyhead.blogspot.co.uk/

Julie - http://www.icreatepurtythangs.blogspot.co.uk/

Jo S - http://www.curlyscrapbooker.blogspot.co.uk/

Jo B - http://www.buckinghamspalace.blogspot.co.uk/

Jenny - http://dragonllew.blogspot.co.uk/

Jacky - http://scrappyjackylive.blogspot.co.uk/

Fay - http://beautifullilysramblings.blogspot.co.uk/

Daphne - http://dapfniedesign.wordpress.com/

Abi - http://creatingpaperdreams.blogspot.co.uk/

Jennifer - http://jennifergracecreates.com/

Templates Giveaway

Hello all!  I've found another giveaway to share.



These are templates that you can win from Lin Handmade Greetings Card.  I would love to win them.  How about you?

The rules are simple.  Share the giveaway by blog or facebook.  Then leave the link here and follow.  That's all there is to it.

The giveaway ends May 31st.

Onwards and Upwards Weekend at Jennifer Grace Creates

What are you doing the weekend of May 10th?  How about joining me for 3 days of cyber fun at Jennifer Grace Creates.  Here is how Jennifer describes it:

The ‘Onwards and Upwards’ weekend will take place right here on Friday 10^th – Sunday 12^th May 2013. Posts will go live every hour from 4pm – 10pm Friday, and then 10am – 10pm Saturday and Sunday (BST), with a mix of giveaways, tutorials, challenges, inspiration, a blog hop, and more! The event graphics above show you a glimpse at some of the projects that will be featured, and the prizes that will be given away. But there will be more, lots more!

The theme for the weekend is loosely inspired by my word of the year ‘Progress’ (see my word of the year layout here). However, ‘Onwards and Upwards’ is about all kinds of things, including: hopes and dreams, resolutions and goals, uplifting quotes and sentiments, travel, trying new things, positive reinforcements, finding direction, or just looking to the skies for subject matter or embellishments (clouds, planes, birds, hot air balloons, and more)!

I hope you’ll be able to join me for the weekend! The giveaways will stay open until Monday (13th May 2013) at 10.59pm BST, so if you’re away for the weekend you’ll have Monday to try and catch up! The challenges will be open until the following Sunday (19th May 2013) too!

There will be a PDF download available after the event, featuring all the highlights from the weekend, so you can keep them all at hand for future reference (the PDF from the last event, Frosty Festivities, is HERE if you missed it!).

The giveaway is open internationally, and will close at 12.00am on the 7th of May 2013. The winner will be announced between then and the start of the event on the 10th.

So, what do you think?  This will be Jennifer's 3rd time to host this amazing weekend party.  I am happy to say that I participated in the last 2 and had so much fun.  You can read about those here and here.

For encouragement, Jennifer is giving away a prize pack of Fancy Pants Trendsetter.  Go here to read more about it.

Hope to see you there!

Spring Blooms

This is our new outdoor project.

Ain't it purty!  There's two grape vines planted on each end.

I think it makes a purty background to these gorgeous blooms.

And speaking of blooms, see how bright and beautiful these blooms really are?  Can you see my frog sitting there?


This is the circle drive behind my house.  Look at all those blooms.

















Here's a closer view.  These were just small plantings last summer.

This is the other side.


















This larger one is a year older than the others.


















These two also.


















First year for my azaleas too.

These look red in the pic, but they are actually a very pretty coral.

The pinks are just starting to bloom.

These just come up on their own.  They are native to this area.

This is a closer view of them.

These too, but they are all too small to try to photograph.

I just wanted to share my beautiful surroundings with you.

Recycled Wreath

Here's another recycle project.  A Spring Wreath.

I actually got the idea from surfing the web, and I honestly don't remember the site I found it on.  Sorry.  If it is yours, just let me know and I will post a link to it.

So, let's get started.  A hanger and plastic bags are all you need.  Oh, and a pair of scissors.

I wish I had kept up with how many bags it took but I forgot.  It was under 10 for sure though.

First, round out your hanger as shown.  It doesn't have to be perfect, but it does need to be round.  The strips will hide the flaws.  I left the hook part on, but I did bend it down toward the circle some to keep it from showing.

I folded each bag in half, then in half again.  Then I cut strips from it.  I then opened each strip and cut several shorter strips.  They ended up about 1 to 2" wide and 5 to 7" long.  I intentionally cut them different widths and lengths because I thought they would look good that way, but in the end I had to trim it a bit to not look so scraggly.

Each strip then gets tied on individually and mooshed (my word of the day) together.  They are loosely tied, otherwise you stretch them out of shape.  This is 2 days later.

This is the finished product after 6 days of working on it.  As I said before, I had to trim and shape it.

It looks like I used a boa, doesn't it?

This is what it looks like hanging on my living room wall.  It's bright and cheery.








I think I'll try "Walmart" blue next.