Inspiration Cafe - Vanilla Shortbread Cookies with Peanut Butter and Chocolate Frosting.

Today over at the Inspiration Cafe, we have a special treat for you!  Heather from The Beating Hearth is in the kitchen and she's baking up a batch of Shortbread Cookies with Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting!  Oh yummmm!

 Uh-huh....leave it to Heather to tempt us with these show-stopping beauties just in time for Valentines Day.  You can find this recipe over at the Inspiration Cafe, so stop in and enjoy! 

If you would like to guest post at the Inspiration Cafe, we'd love for you to let one of us know, or go HERE to our submissions page.

If you've never written a guest post before, that's OK, we're happy to teach you how with this easy step-by-step tutorial HERE.  It's easier than you might think and a great way to get exposure for you blog!

Threaded Valentine Tins

My first Valentines project...finally!

I saw this pierced and threaded project on Pinterest and tracked it down to Recyclart. So cute - I loved the concept and decided to give it a go.

First off, in my excitement to complete these tins, I forgot to photograph the last few steps. Sorry ....

What you need:

A Tin (I like the pull tab lids, it keeps the edges neat and safer)

A hammer and screwdriver,

Paint, thread or twine and a large needle.

What to do:

1. Fill the tin with cold water and set in the freezer - this will help keep the shape of the tin.

2. Once the water is frozen, draw your heart onto the tin - I used a sharpie.

3. Carefully turn the tin on its side on a level surface and using the hammer and screwdriver - make the holes.

4. Dry the tin out and paint. I painted the inside of the heart just for fun. 

5. I like the distressed look - so I gently sanded in places.   

6. Thread the needle and "sew" the heart shape. I ended off with a little bow.  

Adorable, don't you think?

 These cute tins would look awesome in the craft room with pencils or paintbrushes stored in them

I love how my candles fit so perfectly though...so they have become my candle holders for now!

Take care everyone,

xxx

Partying at these great parties too...

http://www.theartsygirlconnection.com/2013/01/pininspirational-thursday-fab-giveaway.html

http://www.the36thavenue.com/2013/01/byb-conference-ticket-giveaway-and-party-time.html

  http://igottacreate.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/wildly-original-link-party-36.html

 http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/01/wow-us-wednesdays-102.html

http://www.stonegableblog.com/2013/01/tutorials-tips-and-tidbits-32-and-winner.html
http://bloomdesignsonline.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/link-party_23.html
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2013/01/transformation-thursday-no-188.html
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/2013/01/23/hookin-up-with-hoh-132/
http://www.sweetbellaroos.com/2013/01/24/pin-it-thursday-19/ 
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/flaunt-it-friday-137.html 
http://shabbynest.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/frugal-friday_24.html#more
http://myfavefinds.com/pinworthy-projects-party-7/ 
http://bowdabrablog.com/2013/01/26/saturday-showcase-craft-project-linky-17/ 
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2013/01/sns-172-link-up-your-junky-hang-ups.html 
http://www.serenitynowblog.com/2013/01/weekend-bloggy-reading-link-up_25.html#more 
http://www.itsoverflowing.com/2013/01/overflowing-with-creativity-126/ 
http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/01/the-sunday-showcase-party-no-137.html

THREE MANGO SEEDS

IT'S SO VERY CHERI

CUPCAKES & CRINOLINE

SETTING FOR FOUR

 

6 Simple and Sweet DIY Framed Valentine Decorations ~ Hearts and Keys

Hey everybody!  Today over at the Inspiration Cafe Mary from Sweet Little Bluebird is going to get you inspired to make some awesome and easy Valentine's Day projects!  Six of them to be exact!

 All of these are great projects!  So if you're in a Valentine's Day rut.....head on over to the Inspiration Cafe and pick any one of these and give it a try......Mary will show you how with directions for each one of these great projects! 

Inspiration Cafe - Valentines Projects

If you are interested in guest posting at the Cafe, please contact us or visit the GUEST POST page at the Cafe.  If you have never written a guest post before and aren't quite sure what to do....we wrote an article to take you through it step-by-step and you can find it by clicking HERE.  It's a great way to get exposure for your blog!

  

Jewelry Display Holder

Hey Everyone,

Guess I what I finally made? Yup something to hang my jewelry bits up on!!

Last year I bought this old bedside table off Trade Me for a dollar and we converted the table part in to a Little Kitchen Island.

I took the door off and kept it for this very project.

So, I painted it white, then turquoise and distressed it.

Then I screwed in a few spare screws, to hold bracelets and necklaces...

 Applied white card rub-ons (love them!!) 

Added a few painted wooden embellishments, and a wire running along the middle to hang earrings or necklaces on.

 

I used 3M command strips to secure the door to the wall and there you have it! 

Cute, recycled and functional!

And with some of my items displayed!

 

 

 I am really enjoying having all my necklaces hanging up for me to see and choose from. And I like that it matches my room decor!

Take care everyone,

xxx

    

Inspiration Cafe - Simple Wire Wrapped Pendant

Its Monday and I'm at the Cafe today...yay!

 I'm sharing a simple wire wrapping technique that is great for beginners!

  You probably already have what you need to make them, so head on over to the Inspiration Cafe and get your easy to follow, step-by-step directions with great detailed pics to help you make your own in no time flat!

If you are interested in guest posting or becoming a regular contributor to Inspiration Cafe, please let me or any of the girls at the Cafe know and we'll hook you right up!  We'll make it easy for you  It doesn't have to be a new post, just one you love!  You can also click HERE to go to our page to learn more about submitting a guest post.  It's a great way to get exposure for your blog.  We'd love to see what inspires you!

xxx

Memories of My Mother - A Charm Bracelet

As some of you know I am part of the Bead Soup Cafe Facebook group and last year when a loved member of the group passed away, a Memories and Thanks Blog Hop was announced and is being hosted by Lori Anderson at Pretty Things.

 I wanted to take part and honour my mom who passed away very suddenly in January of 2004, this week marks 9 years without her. 

My dad died when I was 16 so my mother became a single mom of 2 teenagers overnight.

Along with losing her own parents the year before,she had to learn to drive, get a job and take care of us on her own. She raised us well and she saw us grow up, get married and move very far away..

She was and still is my hero.

 

I had an amazing charm bracelet that my hubby gave me and added to over the years, the one stipulation was that each charm meant something to both of us. Unfortunately the same year that I lost my mom, we had a burglary and all my jewelry was stolen. I never did replace my bracelet, so what better way to honour my mom than a charm bracelet.

I had a few mismatched earrings left from the burglary that have been sitting in my jewelry box and I knew they would be great on a bracelet. And I filled the spaces with beads of her favourite colours.

I'm so happy with how it turned out and I can add a few more charms or beads as I come across ones that remind me of her.

 

 A few months after I lost my mom, one of her friend's sent me this poem and it has always meant a lot to me. 

Its perfect....

 THE TIDE

The tide recedes, but leaves behind
bright seashells on the sand.
The sun goes down, but gentle warmth
still lingers on the land.
The music stops, yet echoes on
in sweet, soulful refrains.
For every joy that passes,
something beautiful remains.
--Author Unknown

 

  

Take care everyone,

xxx

    

Family Sign

I have to admit to you all that I'm in a bit of a creative fog right now. 

I'm just taking it slow and hoping inspiration hits real soon.

I made this cute little sign a while ago now, so thought I would show you how!

I think I got the Family sign at Spotlight with a voucher. 

Firstly I painted the wood a charcoal colour, then the turquoise over it. I distressed it so that a fair bit of the charcoal showed through. Then using card rub-ons I added some detail to the sign.

I love card rub-ons they are so versatile and add to the overall look of the finished item.

To add some protection to the sign, I gave it a few coats of varnish.

So cute - it looks right at home on the shelf 

Take care everyone,

xxx

The Story of a Girl and Her Arm

We had a magical Christmas day....full of fun, gifts and food...

 

After dinner I called tidy up time and the kids started carrying their new toys to the bedroom chatting to each other. We heard a huge crash and Gabe shouting   "Are you okay?" to Payton. 

She had tripped over a small toy box that had NOT been put away and landed on her forearm while carrying her dolls.

Then we heard crying and by the time I got up from playing with Maclayne, she came through holding her arm.

Not screaming in pain, but white as a sheet and again we just knew.....

She complained a wee bit in the car that I was going over bumps too quickly, and she had a cry at the Accident & Emergency because the doctor was taking too long to see us and she wanted to go home... ("please Mum, I wont complain if you go too fast over bumps, I just want to go home")

The nurse gave her a sling, some pain relief and an ice pack to tide her over. Then the doctor saw her and declared that it couldn't be broken as she "wasn't in visible distress". When he touched her arm she just said "Ow" really quietly.

I basically had to insist that I thought her arm was broken and the doctor relented saying it was my $50 if I wanted them to call the radiologist in, on a holiday!!!!

So as you can see...... hmmm!!! Broken !!!

Because the bone was kinda sticking up (not straight) we had to go to Starship Children's Hospital so that her bones could be manipulated straight...

She thought it was awesome having chocolate flavoured laughing gas!!!! 

Check out my seriously brave little girl (see Maclayne in the background, sleeping through the whole thing)

 

We then had another X-ray and it was a wait in the wheelchair - so much fun!!!

However the manipulation didn't work!

We were sent home and told to come into hospital the next day to be admitted. Payton had to have a manual manipulation under general anesthetic using a live x-ray stream. I never slept and it was an early morning rise for all of us.

Initially she waited very patiently with her arm in a raised sling....

Then not so patiently, so we made the most of the indoor playground !!!

 10 hours later my baby went into theater, I was allowed to go in with her and hold her hand while she went to sleep. She was so brave and not scared at all. Her mama? Yup I was a sobbing mess..... 

She did so well and the procedure was a success. We stayed in over night and were allowed home around lunch time the next day.

 

Here she is the day after we got out of Starship!!! My child is so darn tough! And stoic!

 We go back to the Hospital tomorrow for the first follow up of many, and I'm hoping that all is still well with the break and it hasn't moved! Whatever happens though, all will work out and Payton's arm will be fine...

But can we be done with broken bones already??? Please?

Take care everyone,

xxx