Valentine Fun

Valentine's Day is nearly here and I wanted to share a few goodies for the occasion.

These darling cupid's arrows were made by our daughter, Mia, for our Valentine's Day gift!

 She said they are easy and all you need are sturdy sticks, from your yard, felt and hot glue.

Aren't they darling? I hung them here and there among my Valentine decor.

I bought this awesome Mickey Mouse Club Scrap Book at a local flea. I opened it and

was amazed to see the fabulous valentine card collection. They were glued in

by a 9 year old girl and some have stickers attaching them, as well.

Check out the date and price back then.

Here are what the pages look like. They are chock full of retro Valentine fun! I want to keep it intact

and share some of the cards, over time, here and on Pinterest. There are a few from other

holidays too but mostly sweet valentines.

I love them all! Look at the detail and the funny sayings back then. Remember the joy

of getting special valentines from your classmates and teachers?

Why didn't we all save them? I am a saver and I didn't.

This lion, with a collar and tie, is accented with silver glitter!

And this sweet girl has a red flocked trim on her pinafore. Flocking was used a 

lot on the cards back then. The hearts with the birdies are flocked too.

Follow me on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/wrenlizgifts/

to see more vintage valentines like these and craft ideas.

WE wish you a fun and fabulous Valentine's Day!

Melin

xoxo

Holiday Speed Decorating with Cedar

My husband is laid up from surgery on his arm and was not able to trim a few 

pine  branches from our yard, so I took matters into my own 

hands and bought this garland at Costco for $15.99!

I used clippers, floral cutters and scissors to tear it apart. It was so well built.

I deconstructed it on our kitchen island, which was a mess but warmer and sweep-able (is that a word). I want to share with you the ways I used the one garland in and around my Christmas decor.

I started a few tins, both new and vintage, I had, added the cedar and in most

 all examples I added faux  or real flowers, berries, glass balls and pine cones.

These are two vintage scoops we collected and set on the hearth.

I added a few sprigs, here there and everywhere!

Here are two on top of an antique frame.

Some were used "as is" in garland form. 

I even added some to our old sled that holds wet boots!

Then I added the what was left to the porch.

We added a buggy seat to our old red wagon and put a few faux tress

 in the middle,  then added the cedar casually around it.

I think you will have fun with this simple project and a 

big plus is the fresh scent it imparts.

Happy Holidays,

Melin

xoxo

New Antique Hutch

I spent this past weekend painting the inside of this French antique hutch

WE bought from a designer friend, shout out to Shelley McGinity

 of Kiski Design & Construction, Inc.

I am not a painter at all but it felt good to accomplish this easy task. 

It took many coats of Antique White to cover the Sky Blue!

My big reward came today, when I got to add a few pieces of collections, 

family favorites and a few touches of fall.

I started with Granny's Hall Jewel Tea Autumn Leaf mix. I love this because

Granny had it although I don't think any of this was actually her's.

I thrifted this gorgeous hand painted fall plate and the love the old 

Hallmark Thanksgiving turkey S&P, even if they are plastic.

This turkey platter was my Mommy's from the 50's. We ate every Thanksgiving turkey

off this platter. I am so grateful to have used this platter for my

family, as well, and it will go to my older daughter.  

So that is what I have been up to for fun! 

Please share you recent projects with us for inspiration.

Wishing you and yours a blessed

Thanksgiving.

Melin

xoxo

Lovely Lilacs

Here in my mountain town, it is lilac time! WE have more blooms this year than ever

 thanks to an abundance of snow and rain WE received.  

They are so prolific, just walking near the bushes is a treat for the senses...scent and colors 

delight. What a gift from Mother Nature! All WE have to do is cut off the 

pretty flowers. I brought in handfuls this morning and had fun selecting containers of all sorts.

I love to use my milk glass collection whenever possible and it adds a feminine touch with the ruffles.

For a more modern touch, use a piece of mercury glass. My little pixie is fun (and a bit naughty).

Tin containers add a simple country look. They are especially fun in a kitchen. Set one near your sink, so you can enjoy the scent while you work. The candle is here when the blooms fade.

 I just love this look! I bought a few different flower cup and saucers at a yard sale for tea

 parties with our grand-angels. Perfect for a flower display as well. 

Our newest birdie and nest is sweeter with lilacs.

What container would you choose from your own collections for yard flowers?

Do you say li-lack or li-lock? I love li-lacks!

Melin

xoxo

Easy Fall Decorating Ideas

 

 I just love decorating for the fall , don't you? It can be as simple as displaying a pumpkin or

 much more, as YOU like it. I had the fun idea of using some of my husband's deer sheds

 in my fall decor this year. I used them to hold a sign here. I also added 

orange lights to my mantle leaves and gourds. 

  I found this old tote on my Farms Chicks adventure last summer. I filled it with sheds

 and faux fall for my mantle. I have just cherished this tote! 

My giant, cinnamon-nutmeg colored, pumpkin is real! I bought it for only $5.99 at 

Trader Joe's. They also had carving pumpkins for only $2.99...what a deal!

My pumpkin truck idea is from Serena Thompson, the original Farm Chick. Check out her blog 

for more ideas at http://thefarmchicks.typepad.com (see the link under "favorites" on the left).  

I used my grandson's vintage truck. Thanks so much, William!

I love my butter churn I found from a collector in Oregon. I filled it with a few faux 

fall leaves around the wooden paddles to make it a fall centerpiece.

Can't forget the yard. I think this old yard art "cutter" looks much like a toothy

pumpkin year round, especially with the flowers vines all around.

And on my porch is my old wooden cart with the season's "bounty". 

However you choose the decorate for fall, a little or a lot, I wish you a fun time. 

Plus, your efforts last from back to school right on through Thanksgiving.

Gotta love that!

Melin

Fabulous & Free Summer Fun

 

I love the Today Show and watched the most fun segment, with Elizabeth Mayhew, this morning.

She told us how to "Beat the heat and have some fun with these 8 summer freebies"!

Written with all the links for you plus the video on Today's show. You can watch the video here, http://www.today.com/video/today/55503074 

or see the written list,

http://www.today.com/money/free-fun-brutal-summer-days-1D79841732.

 

 

I searched the web for you and found even more fun and free projects for you and your kids.

 Here are a few websites to check out. Most offer both online projects for free and in-store

 classes for free or  a fee. Hobby Lobby seems to only have online fare.

Check them out at http://www.hobbylobby.com/projects.

 

Joann Fabrics has both in-store and online projects at http://www.joann.com/projects/. With most of

 these links, you put in your zip code and check out the details of their in-store Events.

What fun party decor ideas!

 

Michael's offers both project types for free, plus they offer a unique type of child sitting service. While you shop, your kid can make a project. It is a 30 minute class and is just $2 per child.

  It is a win, win! Go to http://www.michaels.com/find-a-project/holiday-and-seasonal/815811865

 for a list of their projects, like these glittered jar candles, and to search local Events.

 

I love books and stories and Barnes and Noble is a great family adventure destination.

 They have Events and classes for free! Find your local store and Event list at http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/. You can also have your little one read to by the author online at

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/online-storytime-books-toys/379003588. We all love to be read to.

 

The projects shown are for the Fourth of July but most of the links  have projects for all types of

 fun, crafts, cooking, holidays, seasons, skill levels and time to complete.

Please feel free to add any freebie that you know about in the comments section here

on my blog. Sign up to an email links to my new blog posts.

Happy crafting and Happy summer!

Melin

Inspirational Memory Board

 

We know these have been popular for the past decade or so. I wanted to create one in for my

home, to make me smile, but I wanted to find just the right piece for me. I was really

looking (and looking) for something cool and vintage.

 

I was at a friend's home, around the corner, for her yard sale and found a piece that I love.

 It is a newer, but vintage inspired, decorative white metal piece. I think she let me have it for

 a mere $5! It looks perfect in our blue and white bedroom hung over an antique table.

 

 

 I have very s-l-o-w-l-y added some things of meaning or that delight me. As I take a quick

glance, I see flowers, birdies, pink and cards from loved ones...all treasures!

 

 

 The angel was a gift from Aimee, when I sat on her Soroptimist Board. The birdie card was

from my Missy Birdie and the hand print is my grand-baby, Will Bug's. In the bottom center,

of the photo below, is a felt flower, beautifully handmade by my first born, Mia.  

 

 

I have seen very special boards created from vintage gates, bedsprings, small fencing,

trellis', shutters, you name it. For more inspiration, take a look at Pinterest or Google images.

What will inspire you and what will your board say about you?

Melin