Art from an apple crate

I have had these apple crates for several years. I'm pretty sure that I got them from my dad, but it has been awhile. I used to have them, intact, on top of my kitchen cabinets. At some point, I took the fronts off and spray sealed them. They have been hanging in a dining room or kitchen for about 7 years.


This is my favorite part. I was so sad when a piece of the Indian picture chipped away.


When Lou was first born and I was looking for indoor projects for myself since either Bee or Lou was asleep almost all day. I took the sides of the crates apart and reassembled them the other direction. I searched online for some beachy signs I liked and used those as inspiration for my two beach signs.


They are in our living room with some of the other beacy projects, like the shell frame.

I found couch pillows that match the signs really well. They were cheaper than if I had made them myself. I should have bough a few more, but only bought 4. Looking at the couches just now reminds me that we could sure use some new couches. How did these get so filthy? Maybe they just need slipcovers. I'm sensing a large after Christmas project!

a friend of the squirrels?

We have been feeding more than the birds and squirrels. I wondered who was raiding the compost pile at night. He also has figured out how to open the box we keep the corn in. I hope the squirrels have another source this winter. Ours isn't going to last long.



The cats have been going wild at night. We finally figured out why. This guy was right on the back steps teasing the cats through the french doors. He might be a friend of the squirrels, they seem like they might hang with a rough crowd.


On another note, we enjoyed the local zoo a week ago or so. I just wanted to share this picture. I think you'll see why. Also interesting, Lou got bit by a goat. He was fine. Luckily the skin wasn't broken, I think mostly because he had a long sleeve shirt on. He is still upset when we talk about goats.

The zoo has a smooshed penny machine (or elongated coins if you want to do it right) and as luck would have it, we had just enough change for two pennies. The collection is growing!

Lastly, hubby insisted that I share these two photos. This is a master garden from the Purdue University program. He thinks it's funny since that's where the oldest of my two little sisters goes to school (although not in the agriculture program). The garden is pretty sad. I guess that's what made it funny.

fruit salad napkins

Awhile back we made some fun apple napkins. This week we added to our fruit salad collection with some other fruit stamping. This almost uses up the supply of cloth napkins we bought in bulk.

We figured out pretty quickly that stamping off was a good idea. Lou's first oranges were a bit wet.

Still in our jammies, this was some early morning crafting. This is Bee's least favorite nigthgown, I made the head opening too tight for her big noggen.

The kids did the stamping and then I went back later and added a little something to each one. The oranges got yellow seeds.

The kiwi got black dots made with a fork, the bananas got a little bit of brown, the grapes got stems and a leaf.

little something for the teacher

Whenever Bee is the leader at school, we like to take in a little something for her teachers. We have been so blessed this year with the teachers she has and the staff at her preschool. teaching isn't an easy job by far and these ladies sure need to be treated well.

The first time we took in these water bottles. This time, we took some bags of granola. I used our regular granola recipe and packaged them up as I saw somewhere online. I know I bookmarked it, but I can't find the link, I'm pretty sure it was the same site where I got the idea for the water bottles. Anyway, they are in plastic baggies- I had some larger bags from the candy making/cake decorating isle, maybe from Michael's or Joann's. I folded the top down a little since they are a little long. Pieces of scrapbook paper folded over the tops of the baggie get stapled on. I added the ingredients on the back since the granola does contain lots of different ingredients and you never know what food might make some get all hivey.


This would make a cute gift for neighbors or colleagues with really any homemade treat inside. The ones I saw online had cookies inside and the front said "You are sweet."

candle redo

ok, I'm not a big candle person, but I was. In college, my dorm buddies and I would go to the Ball factory outlet and buy CHEAP candles and glass. When hubby and I were first married these candles came with. Over the last tens years I have weeded through our supply and we actually had to go out and buy a few last year to be prepared for a possible hurricane (the FL ones, not here in IN!). I read that a lot of wicks contain lead (although I think here really lately, they are phasing those out) and I wasn't all about that.

People give candles though and I do have one or two jar candles hanging around. When I re did the bathroom last month, I decided to re do the candle that usually hangs out in there. It is never burnt, so I'm not sure why it gets to stay around. Now it will stay because it's cute and matches the shadow box frame I constructed.

This project involves modge podge and scrapbook supplies.

Before: The candle is the right color, but the label on front is blah.


First I modge podged on a blue piece of scrapbook paper that I had added a rubbing of a shell to first. It was one of those that looks like a sticker, but you have to use a popsicle stick to get it to rub off onto the paper.

add a bow.... hmmmm... It's not looking great.

Right on top of the blue paper, I added a tan piece and rubbed on three shells. Another layer of modge podge and we are good to go. The three shells in a row match the frame.

I don't know if the ribbon is a keeper, but I sure like this candle much better than before. You could add a child's artwork, a printed photo (maybe not a print, but like a computer print out), a love note, or something sweet for a nice teacher or friend gift. Teachers never have enough candles (ha!).

Window to bow holder

Guess we have plenty of hair bows. Bee outgrew her small bow holder some time ago and the bows have just been getting clipped all over for storage.

My neighbors have been remodeling their kitchen (how lucky!) for the past month and I am like a stalker watching all the cabinets and windows come out of the house. When I spied this funky window sitting out, I ran over and asked if I could have it. They seemed confused why I would want it and so did hubby. Some people don't know a treasure when they see it! Hubby now says I'm a hoarder. We've seen the show. I am no hoarder.... if I am, I'm a tidy one.

It got a coat of super light pink mixed with some sparkle paint. Lou was my painting helper today. We love doing little projects when Bee is at school.




I added strips of ribbon on the backside. I staple gunned them on.

The little bows clip right onto the ribbons. Guess we need a second one...

I hung it up by the hinges. The hardware is my favorite part. Bee is hanging her necklaces on the hook at the bottom. The window was free and I had the paint and ribbon on hand. I love a free project! That fits right in with my envelope budget.

Someday, if/when we replace the windows in this house I have more projects in mind!

turkey crafts and the nature center

This week at the nature center, we talked turkeys. There were real turkey feathers in the touch box and I read a few random turkey books. Our craft was a toilet paper turkey. I had the feathers and beaks precut, but would not have done that if our audience was older. These guys are little bitty ones, mostly 2 year olds.

Or, here is a lovely advanced version of a toilet paper turkey from Four Crazy Kings. Also, I must share a picture of the room where we have our class. These are the files where the supplies for our class are stored. If you've been around for awhile, you may remember that I really really dislike birds. This makes retrieving the glue and other supplies tricky. That owl is ready to attack me!

Here is another random turkey craft: The brown place mat below is Bee's place mat from her school thanksgiving party. The yellow is our recreation at home. Lou had to have one too. There was much crying about this. They are laminated so we can use them all month. 

can we bring the rolls?

Grandma, can we bring the rolls? My baking team has been working hard on perfecting some delicious yeast rolls. This recipe makes a lot of rolls! I think we had 42 today. I have made a half batch before, but why not make them all up and share with friends. (If you half it, don't half the yeast, use @ 1T plus 1t)

Dinner Rolls

2 c warm water
2 c warm milk
2/3 c sugar
2/3 c vegetable oil
2 T salt
2T yeast
@ 8 C flour (I used 1 c whole grain, 1/2 c spelt flour- that's all I had left, 1/4 c wheat germ, 1/4 c flax seed meal, and the rest unbleached flour)


mix water, milk and yeast. Let sit 10 ish minutes. Add sugar, vegetable oil, salt, and mix well. slowly add the four(s). Add enough flour until the dough is slightly sticky, but workable. Knead on a floured surface. I always prefer to have it be lighter and use less flour rather than more, but you don't want a sticky mess. Let raise 1 hour or so in a greased bowl. You can punch down and rise again and I do prefer to do this is time always. If not, that fine too. Pull off small sections and roll into a snake. tie in a knot and place on a greased sheet. I like to use my baking stone for everything, but all my batches turned out great today no matter what kind of sheet they were on. Let rise 20-30 minutes and then bake 365 degrees for 15 minutes. Watch them though, you certainly don't want to burn them after you put in all that effort. Plus, I think the whole grains brown up faster... maybe that's just me and my tiny oven. Brush with butter after removing from oven while they are still hot. This makes them so pretty.

That's a lot of liquid!

Here is my morning baking team hard at work. I did have the kids get right up and start baking since we had our volunteer morning at the nature center before the Thanksgiving party. We let the dough rise for 3 hours since we were gone and then baked them right before school. I'll share the craft from that tomorrow. 


Our little knot rolls are all ready for the kiddo's plates. The kids ate a little of each dish (traditional thanksgiving food) and then had a choice of several desserts. No one left hungry!