Finished Project Two!

Hope you all had a lovely New Year! As aforementioned I intend on finishing projects that should have been finished long ago as my New Year not-resolution. I think I am off to a good start with the globe lamp and moved onto another project.

One thing I have learned in moving around and living in small quarters is how to make do and repurpose. Years ago I found a lovely chenille bedspread on ebay for under 10 dollars back in the day when you could still find things for cheap on ebay. It has been sitting on the end of Rosemary's bed since we moved here, but never looked quite right. Then a stroke of genius occurred...a shower curtain!

Love....love, love, love! I found metal grommets on clearance at Jo-Ann's the other day for $3.50 and used that for the holes for the shower curtain rings.
One more repurposed item I love in my bathroom is my ladder shower curtain holder.

My poor husband...he hates all my antique/ vintage/  upcycled things. I tried to explain the concept of the distressed look and he likened it to a frazzled woman (which could be me some days). But he's a good sport and I get away with a little bit of it.
And so here I am one day into the new year and have finished another project! Now off to finish some orders from my etsy shop!

Half a World Away Lamp

I am normally Miss Merry Christmas, but I will be the first to admit that this year I was a little cranky pants. I still decorated, made cookies, listened to the music, but something just felt off. I think I was really homesick this year. Funny, you can be gone for so many years and still just want to be home for Christmas. Such is this military life.
I have snapped out of my funk now and am in New Years mode now. I even put up my silver New Years tree!

I love this clock ornament. It is so festive!

I am not big on making resolutions, because I know I will never keep them. There are things I tell myself I have to get done though. Mainly craft project. Oh, the dreaded UFO's...unfinished objects. The bane of crafty folk. There are many at my house, and I really am going to try and get them done in 2012. I even got a head start! Go me. The idea came from a MaryJane's Farm magazine a while back for a globe lampshade. My husband was deployed to Afghanistan at the time, and I just saw it so fitting. I found a globe at my local thrift store, and it sat in my "I'll get around to it" project pile. Well, it is finally done!

I finally found a lamp I liked for it at the Goodwill, and added my favorite ever-tacky pom pom garland around the bottom. Isn't it cuuuuute!
Now to decide on what project will be next!
Happy New Years all!

Birthday Tea Party

I finally decided this was the year to have a birthday party for my "she's not a baby anymore" girl. When I asked Little Miss what she wanted to do for her party she from the get-go was determined to have a tea party. Well, that is an idea I could agree to!

My mom made the lovely quilt for the table.

I have been waiting for years to use this tablecloth! The tea set was my grandma's so it was kind of like having her here. Miss her so.

Don't you love this burlap and fabric bunting? That may be the most favorite thing I have made all year! And of course, there must be cake. Of the chocolate variety.

And presents. The only thing she wanted was a music box. What child asks for a music box over toys? Mine apparently!

The look on her face when she opened it made all the searching for the perfect music box worth it! Happy birthday to my baby!

etsy Shop Opening!

I have been neglecting my blog this week. Mainly because of the start of a new semester, but also because I FINALLY am getting an etsy shop started! Wahoo!

Stop on in and check it out. There isn't much now, but I am slowly getting there!


http://www.etsy.com/shop/MilitaryFarmGirl?ref=pr_shop_more

Calorie Free Candy Apples

Got your attention, didn't I!

Well, the reason they are calorie free is they are fakes. They will look real though, so it's still fun!

I love fall time. The colors, the crisp air, pumpkins, apple butter...bring it all on! I start thinking about it in July, and in August start trying to sneak  some decoration into the house without being ostentatious. These caramel apples may to the trick for now!

Here are your supplies:

Fake apples. You can find these for cheapest at either Walmart or the Dollar Tree
Mod Podge. I love this stuff. THe glossy is nice for this project, but I had matte on hand.
Acrylic paint. Can you believe there is even a color called caramel? Perfect.
Sticks of some sort. I like the rustic look, but popsicle sticks are cute too.
Hot glue
Something to replicate fake topping. Coarse sawdust works, so does the natural kitty litter. I used steel cut oats for these because, well, I had them and I am on a budget.
Ribbon or any other fun fancies you would like to use.

The apples will have a little plastic stem that pops right off and when you take it off there will be a small hole there. Take a screwdriver or an awl and make the hole a little bigger. Pour some hot glue down there and then put the stick in. Let it dry for a little bit. While it's drying. mix the Mod Podge and glue. There is no exact ratio here, about half to half I guess. Pour over the apples, just like the real thing! Let this dry for a few minutes, otherwise when you put your "topping" on it will all slide down the sides and end up at the bottom. Not pretty. Don't ask how I know this happens.

Do this part on wax paper. You should move them every half hour or so until they get pretty dry. See how the paint pools around the bottom. If you don't move them it will be hard to take them off the waxed paper. Don't ask how I know this either. Now all they have to do is dry!

Now you could add ribbon, or use something like puffy paint to to create those super duper caramel apples that have chocolate and the such.  Like this kind:

I however, in both my decorating and food tastes like things simple, so these will be mine:

I might have made a few of these, and there maaaaaaay be a giveaway to come....I'm just sayin'.....