Felted Butterfly Shopping Bag

Earlier I had shown everyone I had bought these great Teal felt squares

Well here is what I have done with them:

I added some Pizazz to this plan tote bag I had bought at Dollarama for $1.50

 I loved the colour and fabric of this bag, but I especially loved the button closer on it. I thought I would decorate this bag up so its not your typical shopping tote bag.

I simple started cutting out different sizes of butterflies out of the felt. Then I began by placing them out on the bag in variegated like they are flying away. Then I simply came back and ran a strip of hot glue down the centre of the butterfly that way the wings would still lift and have some dimension. I thought about adding beads or glitter down the centre of the butterflies for a little more glitter but in the end decided to leave it the way it was. I couldn't resist I had to post a picture of my little shopper modeling my bag.

Reduce Reuse

I work at the Beer Store so I take pride in my work because everyday we buy back thousands of empties. Not just beer bottles but we also accept wine bottles, tetra wine cartons, and bag in the box bladders, plastic bottles and even tons of cardboard. We are constantly reducing and reusing tons of products a day which is nice to know it’s not just going into the land fill. I’m trying to do this at home as well. Today I have been bored out of my tree; we are having our second thunder storm today. It’s raining on and off too, so that means no outside work for me today but I can do something’s around the house.

Well we have been keeping the old closet doors in the basement and we were going to donate them but really who wants them. Craig said he wanted to take them apart and use the wood paneling in the center. I thought I would take one apart and try to make this great piece of artwork for my basement.

I still might make that artwork if I change my mind on my project today. I started by removing the metal frame from the wood paneling, it only took a couple swings of the hammer. Then I wiped them down and brought them upstairs. I tacked them to the wall with some small finishing nails.

I love the height of them. Not to crazy about the wood. I might paint them, or you could easily wallpaper them or add batting and upholster them. I have to wait to see if Craig likes the headboard or not. It will definitely look a lot better with some trim and some paint.

Freshening Up for Spring & Summer

Today I decided to blog about ways I freshened up the house for spring & summer as well as great finds I have gotten lately.

First of all I finally got my Curtains I wanted. I just wanted plain white ones and really it’s hard to find plain nice ones. So I bought 2 twin flat sheets for $8 and 2 double flat sheets $12. The 2 twin I used on the dining room window as it is smaller and the 2 doubles I used on the front living room window. I choose to make them both the same to unify the space, because everything is very open on our main floor. I find it adds a finishing touch to the room.

 I also have an old pitcher with tulips on the table. How pretty, but they aren't open yet.

Also I put new pillow covers on the cushions in the living room, Green, Teal and a soft Cream colour. I got each of these cushion covers at Dollarama for $2 a pc. I kept the other pillow covers for fall & winter and I will also be relocating the other grey curtains to the basement.

I got these 2 great tables this morning at the habitat restore building for $3 a piece. They fit perfectly in the guest room as night stands. I haven't decided what to paint them yet but $3 is a great find.

I also got this great chair at the habitat restore building for $15. It needs to be recovered but that's a task I am willing to take on. I think I will paint the great frame on this chair but I am sure I will keep you posted with my plans for both the tables and the chair.

Craig's Mom also gave me this great chandelier. I need to rewire the top part and get new chain if I want to hang it lower. Jean has already replaced the tiger’s eye stones with these great blue ones but I am still not sure what my plans are for this great chandelier.

David's Tea

My family back home is really into David's Tea. They go to the David's Tea store in the Lansdowne Mall in Peterborough. While I was home for Christmas my sister let me try some of her READ MY LIPS tea. It was soo delicious like a cup of heaven. That has little peppercorns, little peppermint lips, chocolate chips by far the BEST chocolate mint experience ever. Not only was it delicious I felt sooo skinny the next day after having one before bed. I’ve been waiting for awhile to get a hold of some of this stuff but it’s a 2 hour drive to Peterborough and pretty much out of my way. Online if you don’t spend $50 or more then you have to pay $10 shipping and handling, which is fine and all but by the time I pick out 3 teas and shipping I'm already looking at $30. SO I ordered $50 worth of tea. Not just one or two teas either, I got 17 teas and 3 free samples. I was soo impressed by my order and how it arrived from Mont-Royal, Quebec to my house in Gravenhurst, Ontario in 2 days id definitely order from them again.

This is what I purchased.

2011 New Years Resolution Tea Pack & The Sweet Indulgence Tea Pack

In the 2011 Resolution Pack you get 5 25g Bags of tea. Here is the names and what’s written on the bag:

1. The Skinny- this oolong contains pu'erh, ginger and ginseng so it should speed your metabolism and make diet resolution painless to keep.

2. Buttered Rum- Black tea, creamy toasted coconut and vanilla beans, this zero-calorie indulgence will help you kick your doughnut habit in no time.

3. Silk Dragon Jasmine- This premium green tea is infused with jasmine flowers. The Result? A magical, antioxidant-rich tea that'll complement the new you perfectly

4. Detox- Clean out last year's cobwebs with this system reboot. It’s an elixir of rooibos, sencha, ginger, ginkgo, lemongrass and juniper berries.

5. The Secret Weapon- Who knew that white tea, almonds, licorice and vitamin-c filled goji berries would be as delicious as it is immune boosting? Yes, you will be all powerful this year.

 In the Sweet Indulgence you get 12 small tins of tea. Here is what you get, note these don’t have the descriptions on them but you can view them all online at David’s tea.

1. Buttered Rum

2. Coffee Pu'erh

3. Coco Chai Rooibos

4. Exotica

5. Forever Nuts

6. Green Seduction

7. Jessie's Tea

8. Long Life Oolong

9. Love Tea #7

10. Oh Canada

11. Read My Lips

12. Secret Weapon

 And I also got 3 small sample tins

1. Goji Pop

2. Pink Flamingo

3. Dreamsicle

So far I have loved all of there teas and I will be busy trying all 20 of my teas I got. If you are interested in David's Tea of finding a location near you here is there Website

http://www.davidstea.com/

Lazy Sunday, Clothes Pin Bag

After working outside and doing some much needed clean up and planning where my future flower beds are going to be today I thought I would take it easy. I did some planting this morning, in doors of course. Craig had bought me 2 bags of 5 mixed hostas for $5.99 a bag. So I had 10 Hostas to plant because they were already sprouting in the bags. It was a good thing because the sprouts were starting to go soggy, I also found out my bag of 15 Stargazer Lillie's were starting to go mushy from too much moisture in those bags. After planting them, I did a good clean up because I got potting soil everywhere. This afternoon while my boys were sleeping I made a clothes pin bag from a piece of curtain that was hanging in a window in the basement. I was going to sew it but I decided to hot glue gun it because I really didn't want to fight with my sewing machine today. The fabric is pretty vintage looking, I liked it but just not as curtains but I knew it would make something really cute. Now I want an apron made like this. Hopefully if Craig is feeling well and goes to work tomorrow I will get some painting done around the house.

Easter Egg Wreath Mirror

So, I don't have a lot of Easter decorations but I have had my Egg wreath on the front door since the end of February to encourage spring to come faster. So I made this pretty egg wreath mirror for $11.50 I'm sure you wouldn't be able to purchase it already made for that price. It’s loud and bright and colourful. Actually I'm not truly sure if I like it the way it is or not but you can use it as inspiration to create something great in your home. 

This is what you will need for this project:

1. A 12"x12" frame, I purchased mine at Dollarama for $2

2. A 12"x12" piece of mirror, I also purchased it at Dollarama for $2

3. 5 packages of plastic coloured eggs. $1 a bag at Dollarama

4. Ribbon for a bow and hanging strap. I purchased this ribbon at Wal-Mart for $2.50

5. Hot glue gun and a couple glue sticks

 This is a picture of the mirror piece and the scrap booking frame I purchased.

 I removed the glass piece, the paper advertisement and the cardboard from the frame and then added the mirror.

Then I began by gluing an egg to the frame surface. Then I continued alternating colours and rotating the eggs. I also dabbed some glue between eggs the touched for stronger adhesion until the whole frame was covered the way I wanted. The glue doesn't take long to adhere but remember it does need some dry time. You could also use other eggs or pre-painted eggs for this project.

 Then I cut a piece of ribbon at my desired length to hang the mirror. Please note I attached the ribbon to the top of the frame, the frame was sideways from me hot gluing the ribbon on. Also please allow time for hot glue to dry before trying to pick mirror up by ribbon. I let mine sit until the glue was completely cold and hard to touch. Then using a twist tie I created this bow to attach to the ribbon already used to hang the mirror.

There you go, Simple funky Easter decor for $11.50. This project could be used in SO many ways. I also thought about leaving the ribbon off and placing this mirror wreath on the table with candles, great reflective light perfect for a centre piece for Easter dinner. Use your imagination and personalize this project or even apply it to any occasion.

Flowers Already

This morning when I was heading out to pick up a couple things I saw the most wonderful thing, right in my very own garden. Flowers, already I couldn't believe my eyes. Isn't this early, April 1st and I have flowers growing not in just one spot either in 3 or 4? I am so excited to see what kind of flowers are in my flower beds out front.

 I have been looking for good flower bed ideas for our front yard since we have the tree in the center of the lawn. I have found two pictures that I love but are in the reverse as to what I need. Everything needs to be going left instead of right. But I think I am going to try when its time to start planting in May. The above picture I love more especially with the Dark mulch in the flower beds and below I like the edging along the flower bed.