Button, Button

So I think you can tell why my nickname is Buttons...I love them! Old ones, new ones, shiny ones, faded ones, simple one, ornate ones. In a forum I can't recall at the moment, another button-phile posed the question about what to do with all those buttons. Any self respecting button lover will have a jar or two or ten of wonderful buttons. But let me share a fun way to show off a few of your lovelies.

Frame 'em! How fun and special my favorite buttons look when shown off in a pretty and petite frame.

First, I picked some frames.

I got these in the dollar section at Michael's. Craft store, dollar store, yard sale even the thrift store are all good places to find small, decorative frames.

Next I dove into my stash of fabric remnants. Those little scraps that are too big for stuffing but too small to make anything. Choose your fabric to go well with your button. You don't want your button getting lost in your fabric pattern.

I cut the fabric to the size of the frame insert and put it in the frame. Then, using a good double-sided tape, I stick the button to the front of the frame.

That's it! I get such a fun way to show off those fantastic buttons. I can change them out regularly if I wanted to. it makes a neat little vingette for some extra wall space.

it's just one way to have fun with your collection. I'd love to hear from other button-philes about their display ideas. They're so fun, how can you not?

Measure Twice!...The Little Camper part II

Well, we all know the old saying; measure twice, cut once. What happens if you don't even measure once? You wind up with a sad face.

I know this because I wore one when I realized I had an awesome fabric find that I couldn't use. BOO! So "what had happen wuz", I went into my attic to find more fun fabric to use in my camper makeover. What I found was this adorable, single Waverly curtain  panel (from the thrift store of course).

I was stoked to finally use it and that it originally cost me 1.90! Now, imagine my excitement when I went to thr thrift store found a set of three panels of the SAME pattern for $5.00!!

Too good to be true, right? Right. You see, the fabric is sweet and the buys were a steal but, alas, they are TOO SHORT for my intended windows!!! I got so swept away by the find that I didn't even notice they wouldn't fit. Now don't get me wrong, I'll still find good use for this pretty pattern....but it won't be for camper curtains.

The Little Camper that Could

One of our favorite things to do with the kids is to get out the camper, get on the road and find a sweet spot to stay for a few days. RV resort or state park, no matter. We like the time we spend and enjoy taking off with the kids.

On our last trip, I decided it was time for a camper make-over. I knew I wanted to do a country/Texan theme and went in search of themes and ideas in the usual camper forums. Earlier this year I changed the flooring. I bought adhesive faux bois planks and boy what difference! From plain old linoleum to "hardwood floors" the change was really pretty. 

Then I found this pic

of  an adorable red-white-and-blue-camper over at Apple Blossom Dreams. I love it! Now, our camper is a pop-up so I can't change the "walls" because they are actually a vinyl canvas. However, the cabinets, benches and panels are good to go! I dragged Mr. McD down to Lowe's for some paint and painting supplies and got started right away.

It took one weekend and one quart of white paint (well, primer with a bit of white paint stirred in). Here it is still in "raw" form; tape and paper and can, but I can already tell I love it. It does make the camper look a bit brighter and cheery!

In addition to a fresh coat of paint, the camper will get all new backrest cushion covers, seat covers, valances and curtains. Don't you love make-overs?!? The dining table seat cushion covers were easy-peasy! Instead of making full covers and fooling around with a zipper, buttons or some other fasteners, I went for a fitted sheet style cover. There were so many easy "fitted sheet tutorials" on google, I can't even remember which site I went with. But I can tell you it was simple! I used a blue fabric I'd been saving for the camper. It's a sort of faded-denim blue that goes great with my intended theme. Now comes a confession: like my mother before me, I'm a fabric hoarder. I used to scold her for having SO MUCH unused fabric, but now I do the same thing and can't help it! So many pretty colors, so many cool patterns; a project has to be just right for a particular fabric to warrant my cutting into it. But I digress.

These are the remaining two patterns and they're both vintage sheets.

Aren't they adorable? The red and white gingham for a bench seat cover, the pretty striped floral pattern for dining table backrest covers. But look again, do you see that price tag?

Yes, each sheet cost me $1.80 from my favorite store....the thrift store! Now for curtains & valances and we're almost done!

One Prissy Mother...

...make that two! As Mother's Day approaches, I try to come up with fun gifts for Mother Darling and the Top Nun (aka my dear mother-in-law). But this year,  I'd been thinking about it since Homecoming...of last year. I so enjoyed making my son's Homecoming boutonniere; something I hadn't done in a while and forgot how much fun it was. I started thinking that it was too bad we only use those Homecoming mums once a year. What else could we use them for? Offbeat corsages

I assembled and decorated the mums with different ribbons. I added sparkly garlands of silver stars. They add a lot of 'bling' to a project, gonna make sure to stock up on them at the next Christmas clearance!

 I bought the big letter stickers at the party supply warehouse. Then I had each of the kids decorate one of the additional ribbons. They wrote notes, used glitter, stickers and wood cutouts.

These are so fun to make, I'm gonna HAVE to add them to the shop. They'd be great for Bridal showers, Baby showers, Mother's Day, Birthdays and so many more special occasions. I might be a little addicted to making these....

Three pounds and counting

So I've got 3 lbs down. I'd be more excited if weren't the same three pounds that go up and down all the time!! It's the weekends that are doing me in, y'know.

Being a full-time working mom, I envy bloggers who post their cute and tasty meals. Those who actually have time to take pictures of their food while it's cooking! Enter squash. Yellow squash. Daddy McD has taken quite a shine to grilled yellow squash as a replacement for pasta. It's fleshy enough, light tasting and really goes well with pasta sauces. This is perfect for me because 'grilled' basically equals BURNED squash. A food that I can leave burning while I'm filling orders, looking at homework, cleaning or even -yes- taking pictures is awesome in my book!

Actually quick and simple pasta alternative: Grilled Yellow Squash. Here's the recipe:

CUT IT

BURN IT

Voila! You've made grilled sqaush! It's great with pesto, butter, marinara, meat sauce or any thing else you'd add to your favorite pasta dish! It's perfect for working moms like me. When I get home, it's dinner time and the grilled squash is quick and oh-so-easy. Bueno provecho!

Week One Check In

So it's been a week and I've got my goals and baby steps outlined. I did, in fact, go to the gym to get my tour of the new facility (since I haven't been there in a loooooong time). I dug out my gym shoes and old workout clothes. Bring on the Pain!

I've inventoried my ButtonsMcD stock and have begun to carve out a schedule. Though, it looks like most of my stuff I'll sell from my blog because the items are too special to me! In realtion to that, I'm throwing a hand crafted brooch into the goodie basket for the Launch. Yay!

I have to share this great find that was right under my nose. My dad, who passed away at Christmas, left lots of stuff at my house. Most of it has gone to the thrift store. Just a few items went to the Ladies' Auxiliary's yard sale. I did keep one thing, though. A vintage travel carry-on bag by Samsonite. It's in my favorite color, light blue. I found it in Chief's bedroom while looking for something else. The more I looked at it, the more I realized I wanted to use it... as my briefcase. First things first though, I had to clean it because it was disgustingly dingy. I tried a wet cloth, then I tried a soapy baby wipe. I could see I was getting nowhere fast so I looked for professional help. I called on Rachel from GetReadySetGo at Etsy. She sells such fantastic vintage luggage for every purpose. Rachel reclaims and renews great pieces and revamps them with fun graphics. Please check out her collection! Armed with Rachel's advice and good-ol' elbow grease, I set out to clean up that bag.

It worked! Just look at the difference from the dirty side to the clean side. But as predicted, it was A LOT of scrubbing and my arm is sore. My hat goes off to Rachel, I can't imagine refurbishing all those bags!
So what was the advice?

The simple but effective 'magic eraser'. Of course there are brand name ones, but I bought the store brand from my local grocery and it worked great!

Time Stand Still

At my house, we're a bunch movie freaks. We have our favorites and have no problem watching them over and over again. If there's one thing that my beloved family knows it's this: When certain movies come on the tv, everything stops and noone should speak to Mommy and actually, noone should speak over the tv. If I'm cooking dinner, it'll have to wait...or Daddy can finish making it. Laundry, phone calls, crafting, and the likes all come to a screeching halt for those flicks which I simply cannot pass up.

They're listed here in no specific order. Some of them are the obvious cinematic masterpieces that demand attention. Others are films that are good but not exactly on the top ten lists of leading critics and others still will make you cringe with embarrasment for me. But they're my favorite flicks and when they're on, the worlds shuts down.

All About Eve (Bette Davis, Anne Baxter)
Margo Channing (Bette Davis) is an aging star of the theatre (pronounced thee-ah-tah) who is befriended and then stabbed in the back by the innocent looking snake in the grass, Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter). The dialougue is fun, fast and smart. The characters are fabulous and Bette Davis dominates this film. Her voice, her faces, her attitude all drive this movie like a runaway freight train. Fasten your set belts indeed!

RoboCop (Peter Weller, Nancy Allen)
Yes I know, this is one of the "what?!?" films. But come on, it's fun. It was made in 1985 and audiences were still willing to suspend their disbelief in order to have some fun. The characters are real people, no 22 year-old world famous neuro-physicists with 40 years experience under their belts. The film's take on the future is sometimes silly, and sometimes on the mark. And come on...RoboCop. Tell me he's not cool.

12 Angry Men (Henry Fonda, E.G.Marshall, Jack Klugman, Lee J. Cobb, Jack fielder, Ed Begley)
Another classic masterpiece! Henry Fonda is the single voice of dissention in a room of 12 jurors deciding the fate of a young offender. He may be right, he may be wrong, but he stands to convince the jurors that life and death decisions can't be made on a whim. The performances are awesome. It's got its share of 'gotcha' moments. Lee J Cobb's and Joseph Sweeney's characters just might be my favorites.

Gone with the Wind (Vivian Leigh, Clark Gable)
Folks who have never seen this film are missing a great epic story. It follows Scarlett O'Hara, a spoiled rotten, capricious southern belle from her glory days on her father's plantation through the Civil War and it's aftermath. Though coniving and ruthless, she is a true heroine leading friends and family through hardships. Through it all, she obesses over 'the one that got away'. The energy between Leigh and Gable is so great!

Predator (Arnold Schwarzenegger). US mercernaries get more than they ask for when they go looking for a lost squadron in a South American jungle. A strange and dangerous creature is killing them off like a hunter, like a predator. It's 80's machismo at it's best. Guns, muscles, sweat, curse words and hunting.

OverBoard (Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell). Another spoiled rotten rich girl gets her come-uppance in the best way possible. After getting amnesia, Goldie Hawn's aristocrat character is whisked away by Kurt Russell to be his Home-maker. Goldie is as cute as ever and is hilarious as a cold hearted snob.

Idiocracy (Luke Wilson, Maya Rudolph) Crude and declasse, this film makes a funny but sad commentary on the current and future state of civilization. Luke Wilson a slacker enlisted man and Maya Rudolph a prostitue are used for a top secret military cryogenic experiment. When they awake well past the 1 year proposed date of the experiment, they find a world in which intellect, morals, culture and decency are quite literally a thing of the past. Wilson is immediately crowned the smartest man in the world and tapped by the President to solve of this society's ills.

There are others to be sure, but these are the ones that make time stand still!