Monday, September 27, 2010

Get Well Card

I made a card for Sawyer's teacher who isn't feeling too well, and had to miss school. She was sweet and called last night to let me know he'd have a substitute teacher today.
This clear stamp is by Gina K. Isn't she sweet?


I realized I had colored "outside the lines", but considering I made it at 10pm, - I forgave myself, let go of my "perfectionist tendency", and gave it to her anyways!



I had hoped to put a can of chicken noodle soup with it as a little gift-but I only had fat free Cream of Mushroom soup in the pantry-and I didn't want to send the wrong message with that!





I used some new fall Decorative paper from Stampin' Up, added a bit of brown satin ribbon, and a button from my stash to finish it off.



I sure hope Sawyer is good for the substitute teacher today...

A little stamping tip for you...

Did You Know?
Monday, September 27, 2010
(Simon Says Stamp blog)


Did You Know: that clear stamps can turn bright yellow when they are exposed to fluorescent lights? While picking the Bird Assortment set for someone's order we found a set that was bright yellow!!




Heidi said that when they are put in sunlight, they turn back to clear, so we did a little science experiment. It works!! Moral of the story: if your clear stamps turn yellow and you want them to be clear again, put them in the sunlight!

The Gross side of remodeling...

We started to tear out the floor and glass block this weekend...



I was the "assistant/helper" -I swept and carried out the old tile . I used my child's handy wagon for this and it worked wonderfully and saved on time and effort. Plus my back didn't hurt last night!


Lots of work to take out the blocks!


Brian discovered dry rot underneath the glass block so it will take longer to redo the bathroom.

Getting there...


As I was taking the tile out, I kept a mental picture of how great our bathroom will look...kinda of like this one, yet slightly different...

Again-all finished & debris taken out...


plus the only one who thought today was great fun...Sawyer!



Thursday, September 23, 2010

Let the Remodel Begin!

Last weekend we took out the cabinet and toilet in our small master bathroom.
This weekend the limestone floor will be installed. I cant wait!


The glass blocks and shower will be "made over" as well....


I have towels, a mirror, soap bottles, towels and accents waiting to be installed...
Stay tuned for the complete bathroom to be revealed!

"Do the Hula" Card

I hadn't used this retired set in awhile... but still love it as much as the first day I saw it in the Stampin' Up catalog.
I used some bright SU background paper-and shaded it with Creamy Carmel ink -to make it appear more "vintage" looking.



Then I used my SU "aqua-painters", and ink pads to color the hula dancer image. .


I added a paper flower and a coconut button as an accent...



I also used some raffia to attach the hello tag.


Aloha!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Celebrating Fall!




I think "fall" is coming to Hawaii because it has been rainy all night and a little bit this morning!
I love it!
...our front walkway with "mini' puddles this morning.




After growing up in Oregon - I miss having rainy days and feel so happy when I hear the rain pouring down outside my windows. Rain drops on ti leaves...




It doesn't last very long here-but I appreciate it none the less. Love the red and variegated colors in this plant!


Sweet little raindrops on my anthurium...



So... I got out my fall decorations, and a friend lent me her fall wreath she wasn't using for my front door. I may have to adopt it for a long time!







Aren't those berries beautiful? Love it on my red front door.














Red candles, lanterns, acorns, pumpkins, pomegranates, and a leaf garland on my dining table.



















Found this cute squirrel at a antique store few years ago. Wood maple leaf container-thrift store thank you very much. Acorn candle - gift from my husband last year.








I couldn't for get the outside! I already had these items -just put them together in the bowl.

(Pine cones from Oregon! bought them at a yard sale.)







To add to the ambiance I turned on my Scentsy candle -and put in a Purely Pomegranate brick.








Made this glitter squirrel (don't hear those two words together often -huh?) last year and added him to this twig wreath.










Can't forget my fall dishes! I want to start collecting this amber glassware. (found these goblets "Royal" made in Poland, at the thrift store.)







Now all I need is a nice hot cup of cider! Happy Fall!

Cards and babies!

Time for some cards! A good friend had a baby boy recently, and my niece had her first child-a sweet baby girl.
I decided to use a favorite Stampin up retired set called "Babies and Buggies" and make some cards.


I used So Saffron paper, the English Rose background stamp (with white ink) and Staz On Brown ink. After I stamped the image...




I used versamark and clear embossing powder to give the image a shiny surface.





I used the chocolate chip ink to shade the edges of the paper.



I added a little bit of Saffron ribbon and some rhinestones to the words.



Now I just need to box up and send off the gifts!
Thanks for looking!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Master Bedroom Redo/Reveal

This is a long post. For those who like details and good deals. Lots of pics for those who do not.

This is also about the evolution of our room..


When we moved here 6 years ago, I already had our antique wrought iron bed ($25 from an auction 1991!) and I had just purchased new Charter Club "Hotel Collection " bedding, in Espresso and I (we) loved it.

However, there was light carpet throughout the house (stained). I couldn't handle the fact the stains wouldn't come out and the fact that sand here in Hawaii, gets stuck in the carpet as well. Plus, when its hot & humid-cool tile feels so much better.
We didn't have any end tables so I had covered a round particle board with a linen table cloth and called it good. (Until I needed a table for me-then I went on the hunt for end tables for both of us.)

It served its purpose , not too bad.

My sheers were only $5 from a thrift shop.They had texture and when the breezes would come-they flowed gently in the wind. I loved that, as well as the light coming in. My "pouf" at the end of the bed was something I could sit on while I put my shoes on, or something the kids would jump on to catapult them onto our bed. (That- I didn't like them to do.) Only $7 -from..thrift store here.


I eventually found two end tables on Craigslist, painted them black and put new nickel knobs on them. I also found two lamps at a thrift shop,($9 each!) got two black shades ( clearance $5) but didn't like them ...


then bought two white shades from Target and loved the light, as well as the lamps. However-after 5 years-the carpet wasn't working and had to go. I also was wanting darker curtains by this time (not liking the 6am light on Saturdays) and the dark bedspread was becoming faded and worn. Time for a change.


Friday Night out went the tile and carpet. ( I had purchased some brown panels a few weeks ago from Ross)


Scrapped all the glue off the floors...



Dusted and cleaned...



And then Brian started laying out and cutting the tile. Sawyer brought in his chair to watch. (I'll get him setting tile pretty soon!! The others know it isn't too "fun".Small innocent child.)







Almost to the wall!






All done! Nice closet floors! Yeah!









I took all the clothes out of our closets and got rid of 7 bags of stuff!

Before...



After...


Next day-time to grout! He also painted the walls "Powell Bluff".





Here are the floors after being grouted and sealed. A slight sheen to them now.








Pic 1 Our bedroom before...





Pic 2 Our bedroom now. Plus my new curtains and bedding.
(He lowered the curtain rods for me -very nice husband understands that kind of thing and how it would of drove me crazy to see them "high water" so to speak).



Looking in from our bathroom...

Another angle...


and another,




and another!



Looking towards the bathroom- which is next to be "made over" and where the tile will continue...
oops dark pic..
Flash on ...


Hubby's dresser...



My lamps, end table, wedding pic, new curtains and new bedding.





The panels have the "waves" sewn in, like the bathroom panels. Nice and dark at night, but so easy to pull open in the morning.




This is an article in the August issue of House Beautiful 2010 about "pouf's" - I did not make up that term -but I did buy mine 3 yrs ago!! Before it was "in".





Proof I'm not crazy. (smile)


Our new bedding... White embroidered pillow shams and duvet cover purchased off Amazon, brown shams and coverlet from Walmart.com, and paisley brown sheets and decorative pleated pillow-Ross. I love that store. Period.





The before once again ...





And the after.


I'm loving it and the clean floors and my clean closet. Such a relief. Hope you enjoyed the tour-can't wait to start on the bathroom. Maybe this weekend???