Crafty Monday: Flower Pins on top of give away boxes



My Mom made a few Christmas flower pins for close friends

 Source: Mom
Material

• plastic flowers (in this case yellow, purple, pink, and white daisies)
• buttons and/ or large tacks found by the scrap booking allies
• green paper
• Stamp (in this case 'Merci') and ink
• hole punch
• white or other light colored felt
• pins that have a flat edge
• ribbon
• small gift box
• scissors
• scotch tape
• hot glue gun and glue

1. Pull flowers of stem. Take plastic green holder off of flower. use the petals of two flowers for the pin. If using Buttons, glue individual flower rounds to each other. once completed glue on the button. If using large tacks, place tack in the middle of all petals and pull prongs back.
2. Cut felt into small 1 1/2'' circles and 1''  circles (I traced spice lids as models)
3. Glue the bigger circle on the back of the flower. 
4. Glue the the pin to the bigger circle. If you have a button that needs needs to face a certain way, make sure that you glue the pin according to the position of the button. 
5. 
   Trim the smaller circle until it fits neatly over the pin. glue small felt piece over the pin. Let dry.
6.  
7. Cut 1/2'' stripes of green paper. Cut the length of the stripe two times the length of the flower. stamp the exposed end. And hole punch the opposite end.
8. Fold box and box lid according to package directions.
9. Place gift in box
10. Wrap ribbon around box to measure circumference. Cut to length. Tape ribbon at the bottom of the box.
11. Cut another length of ribbon an inch longer than the circumference of box. Tread the green paper strip through the ribbon. Place ribbon around the box (adjust to the first ribbon on the box) and tie knot a the top of the box. 
12. open the pin of the flower and lace under ribbons and close the pin.   





Crafty Monday: White Jars for fresh cut flowers

I used Semi-shine on this one which resulted in the running effect I ended up using the full spray bottle.

Source: Women's Day

Materials:

• Glass jar, cleaned, with label removed
• Tube of white puff paint
• Matte white spray paint

1. Applying even pressure, draw a design on the jar with the tip of the puff paint (I stamped the jar first with the desired designed using dark green as the ink and let dry). Allow the paint to fully dry (double the time recommended of the packaging).
2. In a well-ventilated space on a news-paper-covered surface, apply a light coat of spray paint to the jar, holding the can 12'' away; let dry. Apply 2 or 3 more light coats, allowing to dry after each, until the jar is fully covered.
3. I tied a ribbon on the jar; however, I bet cutting the ribbon to the circumference of the jar's lip and hot gluing it would be more cute.  

Crafty Monday: Ribbon Cans

Source: Women's Day
Materials:

• Coffee or soup can, cleaned, with label removed
• Tape measure
• 2 colors of ribbon of the same width
• optional: tinner ribbon for top and bottom edges
• Scissors
• Hot-glue gun and glue sticks

1. Measure the can'ts height and circumference; add 1/2'' to each. For on color ribbon: cut as many peices to the circumference measure as needed to cover the can horizontally, plus 2 for the top and bottom. for second color: cut as many pieces to the height measure as needed to cover the can vertically.
2. Arrange the longer pieces on a table (reserve the top and bottom pieces) with the sides just touching, creating a rectangel. Apply the hot glue along one of the shorter ribbons, then carefully place it on top of one short end of the rectangle to hold the long ribbons in place. Straighten the long ribbons, if needed while the glue is wet. Let dry.
3. Starting at the glued-down end, weave a short piece of ribbon over and under the long onces. get it as close to possible to the first short piece, then attach it at the top and bottom with glue. Continue with the short pieces, alternating the over/under, until the entire rectangle is woven. Trim any excess.
4. Wrap the rectangle around the can, and hot-glue the glued-down short end to cover the opposite end. Apply a line of glue around the top of the can and attach one of the reserved ribbons, folding the end under to hide the raw edge. Repeat at the bottom of the can.

Baby Shower for Friend Rachel

So back on April 28th, 2012 Jamie and I put on the Ritz for Rachel's baby shower. Rachel's mom, Lorie, and Mom had been very instrumental in the preparation before the big event. With some cute decorations and some easy food choices, we had the perfect garden theme. To follow, some crafty posts for some of the decorations and gift bag.

Music for 7th and 8th of July

currently listening to: T3's Anything for Youfrom: Paula's collection
So for the end of the week I listened off my Color Nook the 8 CDs I uploaded to it:
70's Groove Machine (disc 1)
Confessions- Usher
Hotter Dance
Labour of Love- UB40
Let's Get it: Thug Motivation 101- Young Jeezy
Soul Food
Wilson Philips-Wilson Phillips
The first part of the Thursday, I listened to the CDs on random. The Nook clearly took a clear liking to UB40's Red Red Wine, playing it 4 times with in a 3 hours time period. After talking to coworker Jen, I changed the listening by playing by CD so I would know what artist/song was actually playing.

Thoughts so far: for not really listening to rap before, I thought Young Jeezy was decent. There is background music in all the songs. Some of the genera's traits as in saying the raps name repeatedly and telling you what type of music you are listening to was funny to me since it seems as if you bought the CD and are listening shouldn't you know what type of music this is and who the artist is? The CD was the clean version and I didn't really like the hiccups of blocking out the bad words. I had a great time getting Paula to laugh at what I thought the lyrics are- which were probably more innocent than the real ones.
Here are some of my lyrics:

Vampire so white it hurts my eyezzzzzzz

sitting here now on a trap
I'm a bridal
I'm the soul survivor

They want to lock me up like an acorn

Oh I really loved the 'boom boom clap' in And Then What. Out of the CD I liked And Then What (probably because of the catchy snare drum sound) and My Hood- where my car model is mentioned *squeal*


I was surprised that I really enjoyed Usher. Usher is like the R&B soully Prince- where all his songs seem to be about sex. I admitted that I blushed while listening to his That's What It's Made For song- I felt completely guilty on listening to this song at work. I was most interested on hearing the first Confessions song, since Confessions, Pt. 2 is played on the radio with some regularity. Clearly there is a reason why the second one is played-- it's a great song and has the meat of the matter in it. coworker Jen informed me that Usher had a tour where only his female fans could buy tickets. He sure does love the ladies ;)

Wilson Phillips- throw back to the 80's is the main feel of the CD. However, they were easy to listen to. The most annoying thing however was that some of these songs have been covered (or did Wilson Phillips do the covering?) by other artist and I was driving myself insane trying to figure out the who sung the other versions. Favorite on this album: Reason to Believe.

Groove Machine- I was expecting to have more songs on this CD. Of course some of these songs were familiar like Mungo Jerry's In the Summertime, Raiders' Indian Reservation 9which was remade by a country star), Tommy Roe's Crimson and Clover, and Badfinge's Day After Day. It's nice to know the artists and song titles- so yay music project. Favorite on the CD- Tommy Roe-Crimson and Clover; Badfinger's Day after Day (though it somehow reminds me of Rockey Horror Picture Show) and Atlanta Rhythm Section's Imaginary Lover.

I'm planning on listening so more to the other CDs since I felt I didn't give them quality time like the other ones. I did really dig Ziggy Marley's Never Deny You. I think it may be my favorite of this batch, and oddly enough it's a religious song.

Taylor Swift's Dear John

Long were the nights when my days once revolved around you
Counting my footsteps praying the floor won't fall through again
And my mother accused me of losing my mind
But I swore I was fine

You paint me a blue sky and go back and turn it to rain
And I lived in your chess game, but you changed the rules everyday
Wondering which version of you I might get on the phone tonight
Well, I stopped picking up and this song is to let you know why

Dear John, I see it all now that you're gone
Don't think I was too young to be messed with?
The girl in the dress cried the whole way home
I should've known

Well, maybe it's just me and my blind optimism to blame
Or maybe it's you and your sick need to give love then take it away
And you'll add my name to your long list of traitors who don't understand
And I'll look back and regret how I ignored when they said run as fast as you can

Dear John, I see it all now that you're gone
[From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/t/taylor-swift-lyrics/dear-john-lyrics.html ]
Don't you think I was too young to be messed with?
The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

Dear John, I see it all now it was wrong
Don't you think nineteen's too young to be played with?
Your dark twisted games when I loved you so
I should've known

You are an expert at sorry and keeping lines blurry
Never impressed by me acing your tests
All the girls that you've run dry have tired, lifeless eyes
'Cause you've burn them out

But I took your matches before fire could catch me
So don't look now
I'm shining like fireworks over
Your sad, empty town

Dear John, I see it all now that you're gone
Don't you think I was too young to be messed with?
The girl in the dress cried the whole way home

Dear John, I see it all now it was wrong
Don't you think nineteen's too young to be played with?
The girl in the dress wrote you a song
You should've known

You should've known
Don't you think I was too young?
You should've known

I remember hearing somewhere that Swift's songs are very autobiographical. So who is this 'Dear John'? Here is a common theory.

currently listening to: Bob Marley and the Wailers' "No Woman, No Cry"
from: Paula's Collection
for July 5th and 6th- I listened to Taylor Swift's Speak Now-- a CD that co-worker Angela gave me for my birthday. She got it beacuse one day I was listening to 'Mean' on the way to work and got it stuck in my head. 'Mean' is such a earworm. the only song I think that is more addicting is 'All the Single Ladies'
Speak Now has the following songd on it:
1. "Mine"
2. "Sparks Fly "
3. "Back to December"
4. "Speak Now"
5. "Dear John"
6. "Mean"
7. "The Story of Us"
8. "Never Grow Up"
9. "Enchanted"
10. "Better Than Revenge"
11. "Innocent"
12. "Haunted"
13. "Last Kiss"
14. "Long Live"

Mine, Back to Decemebr, Mean are always played on the radio...they're good well rounded songs. However, my personal favorites on the alumb is Speak Now and Dear John

Joan Armatrading's Weakness in Me

I'm not the sort of person who falls
In and quickly out of love
But to you I gave my affection
Right from the start.
I have a lover who loves me:
How could I break such a heart?
Yet still you gained my attention.

Why do you come here
When you know I've got troubles enough?
Why do you call me
When you know I can't answer the phone?
Make me lie, when I don't want to
And make someone else some kind of an unknowin' fool
You make me stare, when I should not
Are you so strong or is all the weakness in me?
Why do you come here
And pretend to be just passing by?
But I need to see you,
And I mean to hold you
Tightly.

Feeling guilty, worried,
Waking from tormented sleep
This old love has me bound
But this new love cuts deep.
If I choose now, I'll lose out
One of you has to fall
But I need you, and you.

Why do you come here
When you know I've got troubles enough?
Why do you call me
When you know I can't answer the phone?
Make me lie, when I don't want to
And make someone else some kind of an unknowin' fool
You make me stare, when I should not
Are you so strong or is all the weakness in me?
Why do you come here
And pretend to be just passing by?
But I need to see you,
And I mean to hold you
Tightly.

currently listening to: Rod Stewart's (I Know) I'm Losing You. From Co-worker/Friend Paula's Library

So, I'm still getting set up for my music month. I have singed up for Pandora. The original song used is Lips of an Angel by Hinder. I also continued to rip Paula's CDs. I only have 32 more to go (or at least on this binder)!!

Facebook friends chimed in on what they think I would like. The clear winner suggested by three people is Abney Park, a steampunk group. Which I've already You Tube and absolutely adore! Very Scottish feel well done and easy to listen too.

Here what facebook friends' picks:

Cassandra (high school friend)
album:Heartland: An Appalachian Anthology.
style: folk/bluegrass/awesomeness
artists: Joshua Bell, Yo-yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Bela Fleck, etc.

Heather (Met through Friends)
song: Airship Pirate
style: Steampunk
artists: Abney Park

Tate' (Elementary/Middle School Friend)
album: Brother (and older stuff)
style: blues/jazz/rocky goodness
artists: The Black Keys

Jason (Friend's husband)
local bands
artist: The Heyday
artist: Churchill

Libby (College friend)
songs:Listen to Water with the Wine, Like Fire, Down to Zero, Help Yourself, Somebody Who Loves You
artist:Joan Armatrading.

artist:Clapton.
artist:Steve Winwood.
artist: Ray LaMontaigne

artist: Al Stewart
album: Year of the Cat, Time Passages

Jessica (College Friend)
Abney Park
Nightwish
Kamelot
Blackmoore's Night
Gaelic Storm
Joss Stone- Introducing Joss Stone Album.
Anna Nalick's Wreck of a Day
Meg & Dia's Something
Rea and Renee Olstead's Skylarkl.
Brian Setzer's Wolfgang's big night out.

Spring Lea (Library Friend)
They Might Be Giants.
Start with Flood.
Abney Park. Sleep Isabella is my fave track. :)

Katina and Shawn (Sister and Brother-in-law)
Ghost Buffalo
Map and Atlases
August Burns Red
Death Cab for Cutie's Soul Meet Body

And It Begins....

currently listening to Brian McKnight's "When the Charoit Comes" from Paula's library.

June 30th-
So not only do I not listen to music-- I have no clue on how to use any of the cool music players thingys out there. (heck I don't think I own a CD player anymore). So first things first-- learn how to download music--simple but needed style to have for this month.

I got a Color Nook for my birthday and apparently it has the accapablity of playing music--but it has to be in MP3 format. This is where You Tube videos actually are helpful and after a few pauses and clicks I got my Window Media Player ripping CD like it's on a cabbage diet. Coworker/Friend Paula was kind enough to hand over a fourth of her collection to me so that I could have a large and vast array of music to start from.

I looked at the cost of guitars online. I thought it would be great to start learning an instrutment and experience that side of music. However, I have to admit I'm starting to feel overwhlem with just LISTENING to music. So picking up an instrutment might be a different month's project.

Anycase, it looks like at one time I downloaded my CD to the computer. I came across a mix CD I created in College. I entitled it 'The Smell of Bees.' I use to drive my roommate insane with just listening to this mix over and over and over on hours on end. Sometimes I even would just select one song and listen to that over and over. I have no problem listening to the same song on unless looping for months on end. Heck if anything, it helps me focus on work.

There was a song on the mix CD that I totally forgot about, but by just listening to it I was 'Oh yeah I really love this song.' The Weakness in Me by Joan Armatrading. I love songs that deal with being in love with two people why is that?

Music Project Month

It has occurred to me that I don't really know anything about music. When asked the ever popular first question of 'what type of music do you listen to?' the answer normally is a quick enthusiastic "EVERYTHING!" and an even quicker topic change. Or a more resounded "I don't listen to music" Which more or less ends the whole conversation. I just don't get the connection that others find with a sequence of notes. Maybe my lack of connection is that I haven't been introduce to 'my' music. Maybe it's because I'm a visual creature that rarely understands verbal directions without vast amounts of follow up questions.
So for the month of July I'm going to be a scholar of music and this is where I need your help.
Give me suggestions on what to listen to. Tell me what is your favorite songs and artist and why-- help me understand the passion that so many of you seem to have for music.

Friday Conversations

Ron: Got them!

Me:Excellent *evil Mr. Burns’ grin as fingers lace together*

Ron:YOU LIKE SEE GARS AND THE SIMPSONS!!!!??? MARRY ME!!!!????

Me:Lol you are already married!

Ron: I am not!!

Me: What?

Ron: Who would be stupid enough to marry me? I’m nuts!!!

Me: So I shouldn’t marry you then, because you’re nuts and I don’t want to be stupid?

Ron:Exactly……… Unless you’re nuts too!!!

Me:I don’t think two nuts make a right.

Ron:Your loss…………….

Me:I know- cigars, The Simpsons, beer and Nacho lifestyle does sound really good right about know… but I have interest outside of those things that you would be- “what-that’s so girly.” And you would random throw fish and rocks at me in disgust.

Ron:Fish and rocks?

Me:The first things that came to mind.

Ron:Your nuts!!!!!!!

Me:Does nuts equal god-like?????

Ron:It could!!!

Friday Conversations

Hi Ron-Please give your approval, blessing, etc. for this.

Approval……..blessed!! I am chanting over it right now!!! Where is my incense????

How is your day going, Blesser of Approvals?

Going……. Yours?

Going sssssslllllllllooooowwwww.

LOL- take a nap

Mmmmmmmm nap. I like naps… they’re in my top three things that I like. Too bad I sit right next to the bosses’ offices

Dark Glasses!! Oh please tell me the other top two? Please, Oh please………

Well If you must know Food and Sun Warmed Cars…. There is nothing better in the world than getting in a warm car with a round tummy and taking a nap… best thing in life I tell you.

Mine is a little different. Beer, Nachos and Riding my Bike

Bike as in cycling or motorcycle ?

My motorcycle days are over. Just a bike now.

Well good for you. I took a little time off in March to go up to Grand Junction. I had a great idea of renting bikes for a friend and me to visit all the wineries Palasade- yeah we did maybe a half mile of a eight mile bike ride before I said- this wasn’t my brightest idea/ My friend was freezing cold (since it is March) and I was huffing and puffing and totally out of shape. I have a new found respect for bike people.

I ride 13/15 miles most days. If not outside then inside. Still fat though. Beer does that to you.

Wow—very impressive. The riding not the fatness.

I know. God like!!!

Lol- well I don’t know if I would go as far as to say god-like.

Whatever…. Hater!!!

lol you’re right. I am completely jealous of your god-like abilities- that’s the only reason why I’m a hater.

It is ok… Most people are……….

Well it’s good that you have a realistic look on other people and their inability to get pass their jealous of your god-likeness. That’s not only kind but very modest of you.

And God like!!!

Lol yes and most importantly God like

Want a statue of me to put up?

How tall is it? I only have so much room in my cube.

I have a bobble-head God Like Ronnie Doll!!

I want one!!!!! And I can ask it to bless papers and staples and rulers, and cups……

It can definitely do multi-task blessings…………..

Yes I have decided that I need one of these bobble-head God like Ronnie dolls… where can I get one?

Amazon

Amazon doesn’t believe I exist.

What did you do?

Apparently popped out of existence.

I can see that. If you had God Like Status then you wouldn’t have……….

I know!!! See I have a whole list of reasons to be hater of the god-like people. But maybe If I had my own bobble head god like Ronnie Doll it would prevent these minor technical issues.

Friday Conversations

Hi- Both the 3P and Fed recons are off… do you want to handle this or should I?

That is strange…………

Can I ask you to do it? Busy here. If not, let me know and I’ll do it later after I set all the paper on fire.

I want to be invited to the paper fire party!!! I’ll see if I have time this afternoon-I’m having a busy morning as well. I’ll let you know if I can’t squeeze it in or when I’ve completed it.

Thanks D. Just let me know.

Hi Ron,

I got that Journal Entry taken care of. If you want to know why the recons were out: my transaction was offsetting 3P and when you reversed it you used the offset FW.

Duh…… That makes sense………….. Your fault!!!

Lol yes I know. All that taking funds from where they’re suppose to come from. What was I thinking?!?

Exactly!!!! You need a refresher!!!

Friday Conversations

Andrew :...I’ll let you know for sure…and I’ll stay away from gutters.

Me: Good because gutters are very dangerous- I’m planning on creating and handing out pamphlets about the dangers of gutters and ditches. It’s just best to avoid those dodgy places altogether.

Sunday Quote

We can do not great things; only small things with great love.

--Mother Teresa

Sunday Quote

Very often a change of self is needed more than a change of scene.

--Arthur Christopher Benson

Sunday Quote

Too many people overvalue what they are not and undersvalue what they are.

--Malcolm Forbes.

Sunday Quote

There are two kinds of lights- the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures.

--James Thurber

Sunday Quote

He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.

--Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) was one of the main activist for the African American Civil Rights movement. He is best known for "I Have a Dream" speech that portrays a color blind society. King not only received the Nobel Peace Prize, but also the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.