Craft bug has bitten :)

Finally got the ol' spray paint out and painted this.  It was a kinda rusty brown color, I thought it needed a little something, so I went with some off white that I had on hand.  I have about 15 cans of spray paint I picked up for around $5 at a garage sale.  Us Army familys move alot, and we cannot take any aerosols and many many other things (like candle....???? always puzzles me).

Anywho...Hers is it in all its glory  now :)

Some other projects I have done this month............
I always pick up plaques. I used to put baby names on them and give them as a gift, but it seems no one around me is popping out kids lately, so I took out the old rub-on decals and added some charm :)
A little Halloween flair :)

And a little Fall decor ;)

One last thing I did while we were in the spray paint mood.............
I managed to finally paint this black.  The other one I just could not paint over the Edelweiss flower on the top.  This is half of my shelves, and I have another on that is over 100 years old in America.  I inherited them from my great grandma, and have added about 70 spoons myself :)  Never thought I would be a spoon collector?  I never noticed them in souvenir shops until I started to collect them.

This is  my smallest one.  They are all Germany spoons, from all over beautiful Germany :)  I have 3 more shelves that are finally painted but waiting on spoons.  Some of the spoons had to be fixed and glues because they are so old.  I even have an extra shelf, because not alot of people collect spoons anymore, so the shelves are hard to find.


So thats what I have been up to this month.  Its been busy and hectic, but I love it like that because I guess I am never bored ;)

So what do you collect?  How do you display them?

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"Tea"cher gifts

I totally threw this together and it turned out fabulous :)

Last week, I found some organic Italian honey at our commissary for .79 cents(three pack assortment). Grabbed three for teacher gifts, next grabbed some chamomile tea and used my coupons to get three boxes for 2.27 :) Yeah me...lol

Next, went garage selling and found some baskets for bringing it all together. Decided to stop by the Freecycle center....where everything is FAAAAREEEEEEE....again yeah me ;)  There I found a metal basket, and a cool chalkboard teacher treat box...SCORE!  I also found some apple candles to throw in there...free


Stopped by our PX, and grabbed some clear wrap, and some pink tissue paper. (Funny thing, I work for Hallmark and never buy anything from them until now..lol)  added some ribbon from home and tahh duhh, I think they turned out fab!


I added some tags that said "Greatest "Tea"cher ever" on the and some cute bird stamps.  I also threw in some organic Jelly from the same company. There was only one three pack left so each teacher got one, but its a nice filler.  Here is a close up of each.




I think it cost me around $10 to make all three :)  I am also doing four "american" gifts for my sons Sure Start bus drivers. I am taking a six pack of bottled root beer....because they dont have root beer in Germany, and some american candy bars like Reeses cups and baby ruths and making a thank you gift for them.  They are all super sweet, two pick him up and a different two bring him home.  They always send X mas gifts, and birthday gifts, and even German holidays :)  They just love him to pieces!  My little guy is going to ride the big  bus next year with his sisters :(

Anywho, on top of working two jobs, I managed to squeeze out a lil something for the teachers and helpers whom I am grateful for.  Hope you enjoyed it :)

Sarah

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Nie

Love love love this blog! Do you read her? Well you should....makes me appreciate things, and appreciate the human spirit. Go Nie!

Nie's Video

Nienie Blog

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Plug Plug Plug...lol

plugging a fellow blog contest to try and win a "un manual" for DSLR cameras. Ive had mine for over a year and a half and I still cant use the darn thing........I really need a manual that is "do-able"  lol  XXXXCROSSING FINGERS XXXXX
 EDIT:::: Opps forgot the link...lmao  

Momtog win a DSLR "un" manual

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Room Pt. 2

This is hubbys dresser.  Its was a freebie...someday we will buy him a tall dresser, as he is 6'4" :)
I just added the brown runner on the top. Which needs to be ironed....details details!
I added this brown runner to mine also. It looks more "grounded" to me.
Our windows slant like this, which is nice for airing out the house and is still secure.   Those are the rolladen.
These are the rolladen closed.  I love the privacy of it.  They will actually close more...the top is a lil open in the pic.  They will do 100% blackout. I can sleep till 1 in the afternoon if these are left all the way closed. Great for jet lag BTW ;)
My new fav. pic.  Boots and dogtags on the lamp:)   you can see my tile floors also....we have floor heat throughout the house, not as great as you would think. I miss radiators, and wall heat. But it works.  I think ill add a rug someday also.... Thats it for now. Ill try and find my before pic.
Thanks for looking ;)

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It is here......my beautiful bedroom!

I have to be honest it was done awhile ago....Im a bit of a procrastinator. But who isnt? 
 


New bed cover.....free thanks to people who donated money to KMART for the Heros at Home program. I received a total of almost $350 in Gift Certificates :) Its like UBER soft, I love it.  I bought new sheets in light blue for $26, the pillows are from Kmart, and the white pillow I made ;)  The mirror was from Ikea, 4 euros!  The tapestry I had. Its there because I have huge pieces of this crappy wallpaper stuff they put in german houses.  Its never actually been painted, and if I loved this house more I would.  Army family...we move alot!

Another German tidbit.....closets are considered a room...?!?  Which is more taxes for the house again ?!?  So we have to buy closets, again from Ikea...ugly but cheap!  This corner above the closet is the catch all of the room...lol   The dresser is my daughters, mine does not fit in the room     again ?!?!?!   I like it better anyhow, and it is like brand new!  I took this picture less than an hour ago, and have already changed some things around...    I need to add a picture about the dresser. Probably the bird one ill show you in a min.  I added the stickers to the closet for some intrest. They are from Ikea, 10 cent a sheet :) I thought they were cool.   The long mirrors I got from an American hotel that is closing for .25 cents each  SCORE :)

This long empty wall I used to have a huge tapestry on....almost covering the whole wall.  Its so bare now.  I covered some canvases that I scored from junk day with IKEA fabric.  I had the picture frames already, i just painted them brown and added ribbon, saw it on a blog somewhere thought it was cool :)  Curtains were $2 a panel.  I dont really need curtains, Germans have Rolladen, there is a lil cord that you pull which is hidden behind the curtain panel and it lowers these aluminum blinds that are outside the window.  They are great because its like safehouse...lol  and it makes it 100% pitch black anytime of day.....great for babies taking naps!  My whole house has them. I will miss them the most.  I will have to do a later post of them, and the windows....which are fabulous too!
He likes his bed :)   ~~~> thats Chewy :)

On top of my dresser.  The big brown thing in the back is from Spain.  You can put a candle under it.  The jars I got from the thrift store.  The tall one I made for about $2 total, and the other was $3. I had to have them....husband thinks Im crazy....lol  I also got the metal ball from the thrift store, it opens up. Im not sure what is for, maybe incense?  But I loved it, and it was like.75cents  SCORE!  The twine ball is a ping pong ball I covered in twine :)  burnt the fingers a few times....but I like it :)  All the rest of the balls are from Kmart. there is quite a few, and the potpourri is from Kmart to, that is in the glass jars.


Im still not crazy about the blue tapestry, maybe Ill just paint out a square?    I made the picture line thing.  I painted the mini clothes pins blue.  I also made the cork board. I found corkboard at the thrift store for $1.50, and covered it in the Ikea fabric....which is about $2.60 a yard!  I think I am going to paint the nightstand also, not sure which color...I think a metallicy blue would be neat.  Right now it just has some felt on it...lol  My drum, which I can actually play has the coolest wooden vase on it. I picked that up at the thrift store for $3, it was odd, and I loved it :)  I thought about painting it....but I dig it how it is I think.
These are the covered canvases I made.  I think I will put one above my dresser, and stick the other one somewhere. I have some fab art from Italy that I need to have framed that I am going to put here....they are GORGE!!!!!  I just need to take them in....and not procrastinate ....lol

I am no decorator....but I had fun doing it. I love crawling into bed, nothing like nice soft sheets, and a new bedspread...nothing in the world ;)  I remember the first time I bought 300 thread count....lol  like buttah!  I have two more pics I need to add....but my  husband has burried his dresser again...lol  Next post...lol  next post.....

Thanks for reading my long-winded post :)

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Stumbled into a cool money saving website

This one has great tips and tricks.....  http://www.walletpop.com/economizer/your-frugal-tips

And this one has some sweet mini videos on being frugal ....... http://www.walletpop.com/savings-experiment

Enjoy!

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Linking to a blog.....

She has a sweet contest to win a CRICUT....Im so ganna win it!  :)  lol

womenwhodoitall

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ABC'c of me :)

From Mel @  Junkin' Junky


Age:29
Bed Size:  Queen, wanting a King....German bedrooms WAY small!
Chore you hate: Cleaning toilets, Laundry!
Dog’s name: Chewy-Min. Shanuzer   and a black cat names Smokey ;)  also, Tons-o-guppies!
Essential “start the day” item: besides more sleep......Coffeeeeee   I love my Senseo!
Favourite colour: Green
Gold or Silver: silver
Height: 5’ 4"
Instruments you play:Clarinet....Bongo drum....I can play almost anything I touch! Dont know where I got it from??
Job Title: Start my new job tomorrow....as a Hallmark Rep. for our Post Exchange. sounds fancy...but Im low man on the totem pole....been a S.A.H. mom for 10 years!
Kids: Zoey 10.5, Amelia "Emmy" 8 (almost 9), and John-Isaac 4 (almost 5)
Living Arrangements: I live in a four story duplex with my hubby and 3 kids....sweet German house...crappy landlord!
Mom’s Name: Patty
Nickname: Sar bear
Overnight hospital stays: All three kids were 5 days in the hospital...not wanting to come out!....and once for a tubal.....three months after I got to Germany....Very scary! The hospital, not the actual procedure...lol
Pet peeve: Blue Tooth!  People on cell phones driving, people who talk to their kids like they are half there age, Im sure there are a ton more.....
Quote: "Stupid is as stupid does" Forest Gump
Righty of Lefty: Righty
Siblings: 2 sisters, 1 brother  -all half
Time you wake up: 6:20 M-F whenever on weekends ;)
Underwear: daily essential! 
Veggie you dislike: almost all!!!  Brussel sprouts the most!
Ways that make you late: stressing about being late...lol  or traffic
X-rays you have had: dental, toe, wrist, leg.
Yummy food you make: Tacos, Bruchetta, bruchetta and pasta mixed ;) mmmmmmmm
Zoo animals you like: Giraffes..I got to touch ones tongue at a German zoo....you can feed almost all the animals here. Monkeys :)

Thats my A-Z :)

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Linking to a Blog Hop

Blog Hop Link


Thought I could use a few followers, or just someone looking to read another blog :)

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Crazy video of coupon mom

Mom feeds family on $4 a week

***I do not own this video......

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Bedroom re-do crafts

I am doing this slowly, and I am a very impatient person.  lol  I ordered my comforter off the internet, so I am waiting on that and a few other details.  Some things I cant get done till I physically see the colors of the pillows I purchased to....off the net of course.

Heres a peek :)

 
Some curtain holders I made out of beads.

 
Covered a cork board with IKEA fabric, put on some ribbon and even added  glitter to the tacks.

 
Painted some mini clothespins........hmmmmm what for?????

 
Painted IKEA frames that were already in the room and added some ribbon.

 
A not so great at a round pillow I made......it is harder than it looks....lol   Did I mention I taught myself to sew???

 
I can live with it......for now.
Now I wait for the comforter and pillows.  Luckily I know they are shipping pretty fast, and have already got confirm on them....HURRY

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What is she up to????

 
Enjoying Saturday Bread day.....

 
Playing with my new mixer my husband spotted at the thrift store for $10.....

 
                                           Practicing my icing, and enjoying said mixer...lol........... 
 
Shopping at thrift store,  $1 for all ;)

 
My first jar I made....well glued. $2.50 for top, candleholder I had......

 
Something I thought was cool  $2 Woot!

That's what Ive been up to....staying busy in the cold weather. And yes.....that bread is better than anything you could ever imagine. The seed rolls my fav, there's choc chip bread that is great for the kiddos, and Kaiser rolls for great sandwiches for lunch ;)

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Practicing Restraint.....

Today is the day Germans put out all there broken, outgrown, or dinged up things.  I am trying to restrain myself from collecting :)  I swear there I am the type of person who hates to see things that are still useful thrown out!  I have already pulled out a canvas.  I am going to use it in my room re-do :)  I may just take the long way into town though and keep a wide eye open ;)

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Saw this and had a good laugh :)

 
Excuse me....you have a little glitter on you face.... ;)

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My newest creation ;)

I have been on a roll with the projects and cleaning lately.  Today we made Valentine cookies, ans we are watching new snow fall....I see even more projects/cleaning in my future!

 
I made it out of a cookie sheet and some Modge Podge.  I loved this paper so much I could just eat it up.  it is just perfect for our kitchen, as our fridge is not magnetic.

 
I made the magnets for the board out of the same paper with my Martha punch, and some sticky magnets. I just love how it turned out!

 
Our delicious Valentine cookies we made tonight.....did I mention they were free :) faaaaahhhhreeeeee! They taste so much better when they are free huh? :)  

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Two tips....

Two things I have discovered lately......

1. Cutting my laundry sheets in half - It does the same job!  they smell just as good, and I get twice the amount! YEAH :)

2.  After I am done cleaning soap scum off our glass shower, I dry it real good, and wipe it down with a dryer sheet....It really works!!  Really!  Three weeks and still no soap scum!!  No more sore shoulder from scrubbing so much!

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What have you been up to????

Snowed in.....and got lots of things done :)

First off, we have a new baby coming to my husbands family.  They are welcoming their 4th child, a boy.  I thought I would give a try at some cool things I saw on some of your blogs out there.  First it started with wanting to do the tie on a onesie. Well, I havent had a baby in what seems like a hundred years....I accidentally bought t-shirts.  I bought them a little big thank goodness.  I would have taken them back but I bought them an hour away at another store and I really wanted to get started on it.  Here they are as on now....


And the second one....

 
I did his initials...all I could think of was that his initials are JZ....like the rapper Jay-Z.....I laughed and thought, that would make a cool t-shirt!!!   I still need to go around them with a contrasting thread.  Another thing I made was a ribbon crinkly blanket...is crinkly a word???  lol

Back
 Front :)
Its a flannel material with a chip bag in the inside :)  I wish I had one of these when my little one were well.....little.  Babies love that sound!  When I would change their diapers, they would always want the plastic bag they were in (refill bag).  What an ingenious idea! This is the second one I have made. I made one awile back, but left a pin on the inside.....very new to sewing, and had to make a cut to pull it out.  I thought these would be cool to sell at our thrift store or in our local paper.
Next project.....we got 8 inches of snow by the way...... is my produce bags.  I bought these back when I was in the states on vacation, at the dollar store, and usually run out of them. I cut them in half!  sewed the bottoms, wahhhh laaahhhh! Two bags for the price of one.  I needed more, because well, they grow legs and walk off I swear!  I had some laundry bags that I am no longer using, so I cut those in half and made them two! :)  These have zippers at the top so I will reserve these for potatoes and apples and such.  I am like the hugest hater of plastic! I really hate it! I have another bag I bought here in Germany that clips to my purse.  Its a nylonish material and I love it!     I get more compliments on that bag....and my new produce bags :)

 
  
 My view from my window of my craft room.

View to the left, click to enlarge!
The aftermath of my crafty week :)  and my foot warmer/sidekick.
 
Now I have something to do today....clean my room!
-Sarah

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