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Lip Gloss Gift for Servers

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On Monday I mentioned that I had made some lip gloss over the weekend.  It is SUPER SIMPLE!  But SUPER MESSY!!!  I got the recipe (Vaseline and Kool-aid) from HERE.  But I did something wrong because mine looks NOTHING like Jill Dubien's!  So I won't even bother to tell you how to do it, she gives great instructions... but you have to follow them!  I don't know why, but I always want to skip the actual instructions and speed things up....like I added the Kool-aid before the Vaseline was melted!  WRONG!!  AND, I also bought the store brand, maybe that was part of the problem???


Anyway, anyway.  Mine taste like cherry, it just isn't a pretty pink color.  And I'm thinking that really isn't a bad thing either because this way I can give it to guys and they won't be put off by the pink.  And, since I put it in metal tins instead of clear, it really doesn't matter.  OH!  Here it is, I almost forgot!  

She provides a free printable.  I used it but I will probably make my own, less cutesy one for guys.  I printed the labels onto 8.5"x11" label paper.  I LOVE THE STUFF!!!  I collect it!  I have as many colors as I can find... well, at least colors that I think I might use.  Which brings me to the packaging....I use kraft color label paper there....

I made the box from a die that I have.  There are tons of box templates "out there"... but, maybe I will make pre-cut, pre-scored boxes available in my store.  I sold them AGES ago when I sold Stampin'Up! but when they started selling boxes I lost the business so I have TONS of dies just sitting there!


What I did:

1. Cut a 1/4" strip of Kraft label paper and stuck it down to the bottom of the box, while it was still flat

2. Used the "bird on a wire" boarder punch (Martha Stewart, I think) all the way across the 8.5" width of the kraft paper.

3. Cut that into a strip

4. Stuck it down onto the flat box leaving a gap of color above the last strip

5. Glued the box together and added the little banner (from THIS KIT by Cecelia Louie)  

6.  When I stuck the of birds down there were a couple hanging off the edge so I trimmed those off and added on to my little banner.

7. Tied it closed with bakers twine.  DONE!

I will be making enough boxes today for all the lip gloss tins I made this weekend so that I can keep them in my car and give them out to servers, or friends, or whoever.

OH!  I forgot, I did seal the tin so that it is a  little less obvious that it is homemade.

My Goal... not the animation, the art...

Flower Works from Jitesh patel on Vimeo.

Untitled from Jitesh patel on Vimeo.

And the "Attack of the Annoying Ants" Saga Continues!

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OK, now it is WAR!!!  The nasty little things got to my donuts before I could!!!!  That's OK, this time I decided to TORTURE them instead of killing them!

You know how completely crazy they go when you block the path and they can't see the ant butt in front of them... they don't know where to go!   WELLLLLLLL....I moved my box of donuts (FILLED with ants) from the kitchen to out the back door on the opposite side of the house!  They will NEVER find their way home now!  Bahhhahahaha.

I SHOWED THEM!  They'll have to be the "new kid" on the block now!  HA!  Take that you nasty ants!

Lots of Stuff For Show and Tell!

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Happy Monday All!


I don't know about you guys, but I had a busy weekend!  But, before I get to that....


I want to welcome pitavola from Andorra la Vella!   Benvinguts pitavola! (Si vostè m'envia la seva direcció, t'enviaré un petitregal!)




Andorra la Vella is the capital of the Co-principality of Andorra, and is located high in the east Pyrenees between France and Spain.  And I THINK her primary language is Catalan   I THINK!!!

WOW?!!!  BEAUTIFUL!

Now that I've said all that... I want to share how I THINK I know...and share all the software and links it took me to get it!

First, vitavola, is my first visitor to comment in another language! Twice.  And since I only speak English I had NO CLUE what she said, and I really wanted to know.  Well thanks to the free version of Feedjit (the bottom thing listed in the right column of my blog.  I use that thing constantly because I like seeing who comes through...even if I can only see location/countries.  I am AMAZED at all the countries that drop by!  None ever really say anything so if it weren't for Feedjit, I would never know they were here... I tried the paid version of Feedjit for about a week and realized I was paying for more than I had time to analyze and do anything with...so I went back to the free version.

ANYWAY, I was able to compare time when the comment was left and what country was listed on Feedjit.  I then used Google to search for the country, because I had NO CLUE, (I hope that isn't an insult, I've lived in Georgia 27 years and I only know where about 5 cities, by name, are in Georgia!)  and I was able to find the primary language from Wikipedia.  I got the picture from Google Images.  And I used Google Translate to finally translate her comment....sorta...not all words translated so I still not certain I have it right.  And I used the same to say something back to her.  (as in the above)  If you want to know what I said to her you can go to Google Translate to see what I said! :-)

All that to say.... the Internet is an AMAZING thing!

Now, to this weekend...

I mentioned in my last post that I was going to help a friend with characters for a HUGE cake she had to decorate.  I went at 7:30... at 10pm she finally figured out that what she wanted to do was impossible!  So we had to quickly jump to plan B...and that was just to cover rice crispy treat shaped into birthday packages.  It was my first experience with fondant and I HATED IT!!!  I spent years working with FIMO so I expected it to work the same way... NOT!  I took my camera to take pictures but I didn't love the results so I didn't...I just hope they all looked better on the cake!  I got home at about 4:15am.

Saturday I spend all day online with the prayer/fast meeting called by the Governor of Texas.  AWESOME!  I was just so excited that it didn't turn out to be about ANY PERSON but a true day of prayer and repentance.

Saturday night I made lip gloss. (more on that later)

Sunday morning I woke up with my own little "invention" inspired by a tip I got from Cecelia's .pdf file (I'm telling ya, you just don't know what new thing you might learn from that single little file!)

(more on that later)


Then I made a little box and packaged up one of the lip glosses to give to a server at the restaurant I had lunch at. (more on that later)  

Then I came home and made the following until it was time to go to bed....  


WARNING!!! These are NOT FINISHED!!!  They are at the "what the heck to do with them now!" stage.  As always, I started out just to see if I could do something and ended up with the "now what".... They may sit on my table for months before step 2... but hopefully not, because I have things I really want to tell you about each.  Just not today because other things are calling!!!  (I still have to do my verse a day, I have been getting later and later each day!)

Anyway, this one, the letters are just lying on an 11" long piece of card stock and that's not enough room ... each letter needs to be  given more room and coaxed into shape ... but you get the idea.

And the next one... I'm thinking I'm going to invent a new term for this, what I am doing.  Technically, it is a version of quill, but I'm going to call it 3-D doodling... because that's what I call art by artists that REALLY AREN'T artists!... they are doodling.  This is 3-D Doodling!  Unfortunately, it is such a good close up shot that you can tell I used regular card stock...and that REALLY doesn't work!...Oh well, it was just laying there and this was a test! :-)

(more on that later)  HA!  Turns out, this post is just a teaser of things to come!  Sorry! Too much to say for one day!

Today's "Thing"

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It actually started yesterday, early in the morning.  I can't remember now why I did a search on Google for quilling images, I think it was something I saw on Pinterest, ...  but I did... and the rest of my day came to a screeching halt! Had plans... all were shot!  I discovered Cecelia Louie's blog, Crafting Creatures. OH MY GOODNESS!  She had done a name filled with quills...and not just any kind of quills, her's were different...She had "open" flowers...they weren't smashed quill circles (I really don't love that look!)  I do however LOVE LOVE the open loops because it has the look of someone else's work that I fell in love with months ago....Youlia Brodskaya's work... as soon as I saw what she did I wanted to do it, but WHOA! is it ever intense!

So anyway, back to Cecelia she had this "How To" .pdf available on Etsy for $5!  I didn't even think twice!  I bought it right away!

KA-UTE!!!  And everything you need is there (except the paper and tools of course)... 

To make the cards just make the flowers, print the cards out, and glue your flower down!  She did a AMAZING job with her instructions, and has pictures for each step.  I learned 4 or 5 new things on just one page of the SIXTEEN page document!  

Listen, you need to go buy this!  

1. Because it is just so stinkn' cute!
2. One of the best tutorials I've ever seen
3. I can only imagine the TONS of hours she spent writing the "How To" ... believe me the price is CHEAP!
4. You just need to support your "local" artist/blogger!  Bloggers give so much away and rarely get anything for their efforts...people almost act insulted when you try to sell something.  I did digital stamps with a friend last year and gave it up because no one wanted to PAY for them...there were just too many free ones available.  And I get that, BUT, I want to  help support people that I so often "take" from, ya know?  We all need to help each other out in this economy! (I don't know what the economy is like in Canada, but I think its bad everywhere)

OK, so after I bought it I had to wait a couple of hours for her to wake up and send it to me...she is in the Pacific time zone (I think) and I'm in the Eastern.  I was glad for the wait because I was able to get my "Verse -A-Day" challenge done before I spent the rest of the day reading almost all of her blog and "chatting" back and forth with her...ALL DAY LONG!!  I sent her 9 emails and I got 8 from her!  New found friend for sure!  

When I wasn't doing that I was making flowers!  Now I not gonna try to kid you, it takes PRACTICE!  Her's are PERFECT, mine...not so much!  HA!  I made quite a few but I haven't made her cards yet....I'm starting with simple hang tags.  


Several reasons,
1.  I want to save them for the word I decide to fill later,
2.  I don't love ANYBODY enough to give more than one flower to!  (Yet...gotta get faster!)
3.  I don't like having to write enough to fill the inside of a standard card...I only have tag size stuff to say. :-)

Shadows are really bad because one of my lights stopped working!

You might notice I did mine a little differently...


The 1st one has more leaves and I added a paper punch flower and a be-be (sp? ... you know, the things they make guns for?... I got them for a different project).  The extra petals are actually easier (for me) to make than the 5 petal.  I added the center parts because I didn't love the way the center quill looked... think how cute a decorative brad would look!


The center one I added little scrolls to the inside of the petals and added a faux brad.  If someone comments and asks me how to do those I'll tell.


The third, it is what it is...nothing much different about it....extra leaves and one extra petal.


The thing I like best about each is the scroll banner at the bottom of each.  I LOVE THAT!!!  And they come as a print out in the .pdf file... Just getting those and seeing how to fold them is worth the price of admission!


Here is something else I did with bits and pieces on the table...

OK, well, I'm gonna close now, don't want Cecelia to get the big head!  ...  That, and I'm going to help a friend make little people characters for a cake she has to do and she has called me FIVE times already while I'm typing this!!! (I've ignored them all).  I don't know HOW to make edible people for a cake  but she seems to think I'll be able to... we'll see!


8/25
Cecelia has a new pattern for sell! here is my version of it...

Silliness

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I know, I promised that I would put all my drawings under "Polly-Wolly Doodle" but it seems that's all I'm doing these days and I'm not posting here very much.  

I have challenged myself to "illustrate a verse a day... that comes to me via email from Biblegateway.com every morning and that has been taking much of my "free" time.  I AM LOVING IT!!!  The challenge is enhanced because I have no clue what I will be doing every day.  I love it not only because I get to practice drawing, but the Word says to "Seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness" and this helps me do that... I really meditate on the verse, first to get the idea of what to draw, and second, throughout the day as I'm drawing and thinking about what I drew.

All that to say, sorry!  Nothing much to write here!  So, I decided to load this bit of silliness I drew last night here:

I know!!!  ???? Why???  Well, what can I say, they just evolved.  I was thinking about drawing a Christmas ornament with the first one, Tilly, ...that's why she is so round!...but when I got to the tassel skirt I decided I would rather her be a tassel than an ornament.  I finished her then had to even out the page with Tulip and Tori!  I don't know, all I can say is that they were a fun "TV watching time killer".

Well, I'm off to work on today's scripture...It is actually one of my FAVORITE!!!

“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”” 1 Samuel 16:7 

I LOVE LOVE that verse!!  God didn't choose the "beautiful" one, he chose the one whose heart was beautiful... Since I have never been beautiful, this scripture brings me joy!  I can't do anything about the outside, but I certainly can do something to make my heart beautiful! 

I Have Found the Mother Load of Free Training Videos!!!

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No time to talk!  I have found THE site for Free Training. HERE.... I just watched 5 and there's TONS MORE!

OK, I'm off to watch more!  I LOVE LEARNING!!!

Later, N.

MIA

Hi All, 


Sorry, I have been MIA the last few days...here anyway, I have been super busy on my Doodle Blog!  And, please notice the two new Links to the right!  I have finally learned how to do a "link button" without help!  So I did those today.  Check them out and see what I have been busy doing the last few days!


Oh! and I did fill a small order and got that to the PO today.  I always feel like I have really done something when I get something mailed because I HATE going to the PO!!!  The really fun thing was that I actually made the guy behind the counter smile!  You just don't know how HUGE that is...I have never seen that guy smile, and we actually had a conversation!  He was impressed with the way I addressed my packages and  my wrapping :-).  

  While we were chatting I asked him if we really can send a drink bottle through the mail and he said yes!  SO, if you get something from me in the future it just might be coming in a Dr. Pepper bottle. :-)


I'm off...I have been sitting here for hours and I am hungry!

How to Get Rid of Ants!

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That's right, ants!  You just never know what you might learn here, right?

Well, I took a picture so I have to share it somewhere!

For some reason??? The ants are coming into my house by the millions!!!  Or so it seems anyway.  I am actually fascinated by the little guys and I wouldn't kill them if there weren't so many... and they bite!

SO, I mixed up a batch of honey and Borax, spread it on a few pieces of paper and laid them across the closest point of entry, across the intra-room highway they have going through my house! Seriously!  It looked like my carpet was moving.  It was so funny!  They lined up to that smear of honey like pigs to a trough!...shoulder to shoulder.

By the next day the traffic had all but stopped!  I am leaving it there for the stragglers but they pretty much stop at the paper, load up then go back out to the nest where I hope they are sharing with each other.

I don't know the exact formula because I just made it up...but I guess I put about 1 part of honey to 1 part of Borax (old fashion powder detergent), I got mine at Kroger... kinda hard to find because it is the only box by the 20 Mule Company on the shelf...amongst all that Tide and Clorox and other brands...I found it on the outer edge of all the detergent on the top shelf.

No, I didn't come up with the idea myself...not that smart...but I did adapt a technique from an idea from HERE, because I AM THAT LAZY!   Be sure and check it out, especially if you have fruit fly problems!  I don't right now so I can't demonstrate.

Now that the lion-share is gone, I am putting some of those bottle caps to use!  I am putting the honey mixture in the tops and putting them next to the entry points...that way I won't accidentally step of a NASTY sheet of paper! UGH!!

Is Borax Safe?

The Passionate Homemaking site also answers that question.  HERE.

I personally would NOT take any chances if I had a pet that would also want to lick it up!!!  Unless you can put it inside a cabinet or some place safe.

How to Make a Roll of Faux Washi Tape

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AND another idea for recycling a plastic bottle!

I have already done a How To Make Faux Japanese Tape but this is a little different.  This time we are going to put it on a roll like a roll of tape.

Last night I had to make some labels for a large project I was working on but I only needed a page and a half of label paper...CRINNNNGE... You know how I hate to waste anything, especially label paper!!!  So, I decided I would test an "I Wonder If" idea I had.

So, I started with the half sheet of labels and added an old sheet music graphic from  "The Graphics Fairy"

I printed that onto a whole sheet of MAT clear 8.5"x11" label 

Tools needed for the rest:

Plastic bottle

tape

paper cutter

scissors

label sheet

tape dispenser (optional)... this is a "Tim Holtz" one

To make the core...

cut a .75"x 3" (approx....I didn't really measure) strip of the plastic bottle and 

add a piece of tape to the end.

Now wrap the plastic around the part of the dispenser where a roll of tape would go....start with the end without the tape... the tape will be used to finish the roll....or to tape that end down. ... if you don't have a dispenser just make a roll or cylinder.

Close off end with the tape that is already in place

DONE!  You now have the core of the roll of "tape"

Cut the label sheet into  .75" x 11" strips

Start to roll the "tape" around the core, removing the backing as you go.

You can continue rolling all the strips onto the roll until you have rolled them all on. I know, I know...I wish it could be a continuous roll too...but....ya know... there has to be some compromising done when you try to save money.

Here it is loaded onto the dispenser ready for use.

And I grabbed the first thing I could find to show what the tape actually looks like on something: 

Now, I never have to worry about wasting good label paper again!  I'll just make a roll of "washi" tape!...in different  designs and colors!  

The roll just slides off and you can change them out.... OR, don't use the dispenser thingy at all, that's a $5 unnecessary expense.

Disclaimer:

- I don't know if, over time, the sticky side will pull the ink from the layer below... it did NOT do it during my test time, but I don't know.  Of course, to avoid that problem, don't peel the backing off, just roll it up (but you have to deal with always sticking the end down when you are finished using it)

Don't forget to check out my "How to Recycle a Plastic Bottle" 

Linky Party to see more ideas... and PLEASE, add your own!

How to Recycle a Plastic Bottle (Part 3)

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This time I made bangle bracelets from "rings" cut from the middle of the Dr Pepper bottle.  

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SIMPLE! SIMPLE! QUICK! QUICK!  Have a set of bracelets to match any and every outfit for just pennies!!

Supplies: 

• plastic bottle
• string of cheap "pearls" found at any craft/fabric store
• Embroidery thread (I used the thick, 1 strand crewel thread)
• scissors
• tape 

1. Cut a thin strip...about 3/8" from the middle of the bottle (around the bottle, not up and down, take advantage of the curve)  The first few I made I cut the strips straight from the bottle, (after cutting the top off, of course) I had a whole ring, not requiring tape,  but keeping the cut straight was a challenge.  I then decided to cut the top off, cut straight down the length of the bottle and then cut the bottom off.  This gives you a "sheet" (that curls) that can be cut with a good paper cutter.

2. If you chose to cut strips and not ring then tape the ends together... (meet the ends together on the tape, then wrap around a couple of times)... this would be the time you could make it smaller if it is for a child.

3. Tie thread around the ring. ... do it away from the tape, that way you have the added strength of the string of pearls and it won't pull apart later.

4. Lay pearls onto ring and wrap thread around each pearl... I wrapped one time all the way around, then wrapped again going in the opposite direction.  I made a total of 4 wraps around.

4. Tie off end of thread... you can thread the thread in a needle and run it underneath the wrapped thread.

If you are like me, and you are not a huge lover of the cheap white pearls you can do a couple of things... buy brass pull chain, or a strand of rhinestones, or color your white pearls with a copic (type) pen.  The last option allows for ANY COLOR!

OH!  I made the tan and green bracelet from colored pearls and a thread pulled from a piece of burlap I had. (instant jute thread)

How to Makeover a $1.99 IKEA Clock

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I bought it several months ago with the intention of replacing the face.  I finally did something this weekend.

This weekend I also "doodled" a prototype collage and decided to do the same to my clock.

1 - Take clock face cover off.
2 - Spread Yellow Pan Pastel over the entire face.
3 - Cut the flowers out of the patterned cardstock
4 - Added black and white checks to several flowers
5 -  Drew and cut girl
6 - Glued some flowers and the girl directly to the face...on top of the numbers... hummm....potential problem, but, its for me, and I know where the numbers are :-)
7 - Glued some flowers to the inside of the cover to add a 3-D effect
8 - Glued a couple flowers to the OUTSIDE of the clock for even more 3-D
9 - Put cover back on
10 DONE!

23 Saved This Week! So Far

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Here are 4 of the 23 dogs we rescued this week!  

There were 4 adults and 19 were puppies from various moms... These four, plus one were in my lap for the whole trip...trying to make their way to my face!...I was holding my phone up over my head trying to get a picture...took lots but this is the only one that came out!  PRECIOUS! PRECIOUS puppies!!! 

We were actually one of two cars that went to a dog pound in a small town here in Georgia, loaded them all up and brought them to a rescue foster home here in Atlanta.  All were scheduled to die the very next day!!!  

I put so far in the title because we are picking up 1 or more tomorrow.  Actually, Andrea is the one doing all the work and paying for the gas...I just go along so there is someone available to love on the animal during the trip.

PLEASE! PLEASE don't buy a pet from anyone but a rescuer! (I think you have to pay for the "fixing")  There is probably ANY BRED you want out there being fostered and waiting for a full time home.  I know I was shocked when we transported a Pure bred Blood Hound! 

SAVE AN ANIMAL!!!  ADOPT.

How to Recycle a Plastic Bottle (Part 2)

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About two months ago I saw a picture of some pretty glass bottles filled with lemonade in a tub of ice. It was just so pretty! Well, as is my practice, I went in search of said bottles...even though I'll never have a party where I need a bunch of bottles filled with lemonade! I found them and even ordered a sample...I'm actually looking at it as I type. The cost is about $2.50 each.  But, you know what? Why not just refill my Dr. Pepper bottle with lemonade?! If I do ever decide to need that.


Here you go: with vinyl red dots added :-)

The little collar was my attempt at doing something with the red ring that stays when you take the top off.  I made it thinking it would be a good wrapping "bow".  I then realized that it might fit around the neck of the bottle so I cut it and slipped it on... Make them in different colors and use them like wine glass charms (for water bottles!  People can know which is theirs!...Happy accident!

One more thing... I still needed to find something to do with the wrap so I made a quick, easy button / mirror/magnet

Don't forget to add your ideas HERE