Would you "BE MY VALENTINE"?

Well, with Valentines Day just around the corner, I thought I'd better get my tushy in gear and get a few gifts together for my kiddos!  So, I thought I would put together some Gift Baskets.  I LOVE to give "Gift Baskets"!  They are practical, customizable, and yet easily put together on a tight budget!  With a little "creativity" anyone can give a beautiful, but affordable, gift!  


This basket cost me under $12.00 to put together and it is just so girlie & adorable!  My daughter actually has a birthday party to attend tonite...and since I havent went out to even grab a card...I think this is what she will be giving her friend....LOL!  But, this is a great inexpensive basket to give to any girl for Valentines day!

VALENTINE GIFT BASKET

(You can click on each picture to see it in a bigger siz)

DIRECTIONS:

First, we are going to make the "Framed Hearts" picture.  My theme with this basket was Pink, Black & White. I like to keep my baskets themed or color cordinated for a nice look.   So, I purchased a nice long black frame with a double photo mat inside from Walmart, some buttons from my button stash, and a scrap piece of black cardstock. ( I decided NOT to use any of the black floss shown in picture)

Next take you glass out of the frame, and place inside the photo openings your black cardstock, taping it securely from behind so it does not move.

With a Glue Gun, glue your large Glitter Hearts in the center.  You can do this frame vertically or horizonal, I chose vertical.  Now, with your glue gun add your cordinating buttons to each corner and in the middle.  You are done with your "Framed Hearts"!  Any girl would love this for her room!

Next, we are going to add some "SWEETS" to the basket..."CHOCOLATE DIPPED MARSHMALLOW POPS"!!!

 You will need Candy Canes (or any kind of sprinkles will work), Semi Sweet Chocolate Morsels, teaspoon veggie oil, Marshmallows (I am using pink ones), Skewer sticks (or lollipop sticks), mini muffin cups, microwaveable bowl, freezer paper, and spoon.

We need to crush our candy canes first, so here they are ready to go to the "crushing" stage!

I put mine in a ziploc baggie and release all the air.  With a small hammer, I just smash away til they are in little pieces!

Now, lets melt our chocolate chips!  I take a 1/2 of a 12 oz. bag and put them into a microwaveable bowl.  Add 1 tsp. of veggie oil...now stir them up.  Pop them into the microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and put them back in again for another 30 seconds.  I do this process until they are nice and melted.  Then I let them sit for about 5 minutes before I start dipping.  Just don't let the chocolate get hard again, it usually doesn't right away though.

While that is cooling down some, I start putting my marshmallows on the skewers.

Ready to Dip!  I line it up!  I have crushed candy canes and red & white sprinkles.

I dip my marshmallow 1/2 ways into the chocolate and then shake some of the chocolate back off.

Now, roll it into the candy canes!  You will need to set them onto wax paper or freezer paper now to harden.  I put them on a cookie sheet and into my freezer for a minute or two.

When they are hard, pop your muffin cups onto the bottom of them so they "sit" in them.

YUMMY!

I then wrap them with cellaphane wrap and tie them with curly ribbon.  I did a few of them just sitting in a muffin baking cup and no stick...so, if you don't have stick, no worry!

Now, time to assemble the basket!  I used a pink wire basket (Target $2.50...and good for girls to later throw all that makeup & hair products into), filled it with a bag of white shredded filler, added a pink pillow from Target ($2.50), some chocolate lips, framed picture and chocolate marshmallows.

Place all your goodies neatly into the basket!

Place it inside a large basket bag and tie it with some pink curly ribbon!  Any teen or girl will enjoy this basket!

So, grab some baskets...and get giving this holiday!



"SPRING HAS SPRUNG!" SWAP

Oh, the thoughts of Spring!  Well, it has been a long winter and I am so ready to start seeing the signs of green grass and new life beneath the snow!  So, time for a Spring Swap!  So, if you too are ready for some new Spring goodies..then come join in the fun!  Let's start thinking Primitive Spring Displays...things like Primitive Eggs, Baskets, Bunnies, Chicks, Flowers, etc!!! If you wanna come swap, please read all the rules below before emailing me!

"SPRING HAS SPRUNG!" SWAP

There are a few basic rules we must all play by and here they are:

~You MUST have posted with me atleast 3 times or more! (I will check too if I don't recognize your name, but I know most of my commenters anyways!) Just making sure I am familiar with you.

~You MUST have a blog of your own WITH posts!  I don't want just a "empty" blog or something that you haven't posted from in the last month, please.   This is blog land and I know that some of you like to just leave comments from your email accounts, but I prefer you have a blog for swapping. That just shows commitment to blogging.

~You MUST commit to sending atleast 5 items in your package to your partner! Atleast ONE of them being handmade by YOU!!! We all cherish those handmade items!

~You MUST send "SPRING" related items!  Hello..this is a SPRING swap!  So, let's think PRIM Eggs, Bunnies, Chicks, Flowers, Baskets, etc!  I know some of use like the placing pastel items around this time of year, but please clear that with your partner first!  I still am NOT a fan of pastels...but a few around the home or some "diluted" pastels are fine with me this time of year!

~Your package MUST be atleast a $20 value! This just makes it fair for everyone who plays.

~You MUST be on time! Sorry, I HATE late packages! Just a pet peeve of mine! Nothing like anxiously awaiting a package to find it shows up 2 months late! I know all you swappers will agree with me if you ever had to wait! So, don't wait til the last minute to start your swap!

~You MUST thank your partner when you receive your goodies! I HATE ungratefulness!!! I know we are all busy, but we all make time to check our emails & read them Blogs-don't we?! So, thank your partner for your package! I don't care if everything was NOT to your liking..a "thanks" will never hurt anyone!

~You MUST get a Delivery Confirmation # when your package has been sent out! You MUST email me that number too! That if there is any lost packages, we can hopefully track them done, and know for sure that you sent it & on time too!

~You MUST have your Info to me by midnite, (EST) January 30th!. I will get the Swap names out to everyone on February 1st.

~You MUST mail out your package by March15th! This gives everyone approximately 6 weeks to complete their swap and just in time for Spring!

~Lastly, but MOST IMPORTANT: GIVE AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECIEVE!!! I always say, "I wouldn't give a package to someone, if I would not want to recieve!" So, that is why I usually always make exactly the same thing for myself as I make for all of you! LOL

~This will be a "One on One" Swap. So, once I gather all the names, I will email everyone their partners!

~This is open to USA & Canadian Residents only. Sorry, the Postal Service is killing us with Shipping anymore! I hope you International swappers still love us! I always try and pair up Canada with Canada & U.S. with the U.S....just makes is more cost effective for Swappers!

Now, I will trust that everyone who wants to play is willing to play by the rules! But, just in case there are those of you that end up not (this has happened before!), as I tell my children: There are consequences to every action; Good or bad? You decide! So, If you don't play by the Rules, you WILL be blocked from my Blog!!!

Sorry, I know life happens, that is why I say, "Don't wait til the last minute to start your swap!"Remember, Blog land is a Huge Arena we play in....but, it runs in very SMALL circles! I know we all like to leave good impressions on our SMALL circle of friends!

Okay, I know that all seemed so very harsh with Rules & Regulations...but, they are really just Swapping Courtesy I think! Just want to make sure this Swap turns out a "Good One not Gone Bad"!

So, if you are interested in doing this swap....click on the "email me" icon on my right side toolbar. I will need your Blog Name, Name, & mailing addy. Also, I DO respond to every swap email and let you know I "added" you. So, if you don't get my email within a day, make sure you email me again as I probably didn't recieve it the first time! I hope I didn't scare anyone away! I would love for you to come and play!



More Homestead Pictures

Thought I would share some pictures of my front entry way!  I am still uncovering and "tweaking" the Primitives around the house (this is a never ending process, as most of you know...wink, wink!) but, thought I would share some picture of where you enter into my home.  I do like a more "simple & uncluttered" look...besides, who likes to dust all that stuff anyways?!!!  LOL  So to some of you, my house my look a little "bare", but to me it speaks "SIMPLICITY".


This is the OLD Living Room! You actually just "fell" into the living room when you entered into the Front Door. Now, this area is our foyer, 1/2 bath, and coat closet!  The 1/2 bath is actually where that front door used to sit, and that window is no longer there.

The Livingroom when it was finally "gutted" and ready for its transformation!

HERE IS THE NEW FOYER AREA! We added a 1/2 bath, centered a new front door, and to the right is a coat closet!

Another view!

This is the Old solid wall that lead into the first floor bedroom (which is now our Dining Room)! We opened up that wall so we could have access from the livingroom to the dining room.

The new "Opening" into the Livingroom! This is looking in from the diningroom to the livingroom. It is a 6 ft. opening, so it is nice and large!

Another view from the Diningroom to the living room...oops, don't mind the dog food bowls...lol

Another view of the Entry.

There is the 1/2 Bath door to the left.

The New Coat Closet to the Right.

Well, that's it for the Entry Way!  I do love that we added this room to our home!  Not only did it give us room to add a 1/2 bath and coat closet, but it keeps everyone from "falling" into the livingroom!  LOL

Puttering around with Paint

Yep, got the paint brush back in hand and that only means one thing, my hubby says...."She's painting anything that sits still long enough"!  Well, he really does have a good solid arguement, so NO point in disputting that fact....LOL.  But, this time I had my eye set on my bathroom vanity.

I have come to realize that when you are building a house on a tight budget...you sometimes have to "settle", or I like to say "compromise", on some design issues.  Well, here is one of those "compromises"....MY BATHROOM VANITY.

See, there are MANY beautiful choices of Bathroom Vanities out there...but, they require payment of One Arm & Two Legs!!!  So, I opted to use cold hard cash and pick from the wide variety left (that would be just 2 choices) on the showroom floor at Home Depot.

My 2 beautiful choices now were:  Eye-Blinding White  OR  Fake Paper Oak!!! 

Well, knowing I had to "live with" one of these choices for a little I had to pick one from the "lessor of two evils"...so, I choose the White.  Somehow, I could NOT see myself just living with "Fake Paper Oak"! 

So, the time has finally come, that we no longer have to grab the Sunglasses to enter the bathroom!  The Eye-Blinding White Vanity is GONE!

BEFORE: 

AFTER:

So, this is MY $8.00 Upgrade!.....All I did was painted it (anything can be painted with PROPER prepping) with a nice Satin Enamel Paint by Valspar....Changed out the Hardware to Oil-rubbed Bronze to match my faucet....and a Huge difference!...Now I LOVE IT!


Hope this inspires someone...that if you don't LOVE it....just PAINT IT!

"Love is All Around" Penny Rug Tutorial

With Valentines only a month away...I thought I would repost this tutorial for all of you who LOVE Penny Rugs like I do!  They are so very simple to make, and if you have never tried your hand at one...maybe this will inspire you to do so!  Hope you enjoy!


Here is the finished rug:

Click this link http://charsethman.blogspot.com/2010/01/celebrate-season_10.html  To take you there!

Is it Spring yet?!

I know...Christmas was only a little over a week ago and New Years has only just passed.  BUT, I am so ready for Spring!!!  I know, some of you just LOVE the cold weather...but, this Gal DOES NOT!!!  No, I don't want it to be 90 degrees with 90% humidity...but, I do wanna see green grass and fresh flowers!  LOL


I just am not one that likes to (for lack of a better word) "Nest" inside my home.  I love to work in the yard, plant flowers, and just enjoy sitting under a shade tree, sipping sweet tea while watching the kiddos enjoy the outdoors!  So, once Christmas & New Years is over....BRING ON THE WARM SUNSHINE! 


I NEVER decorate for Winter, only Christmas...so, once the Holiday decor is put away....OUT COMES THE SPRING FLOWERS!!!  I don't put the "Bunnies" on display until about March, but the rest of my Florals start making their debute!  Thought I would share just a few pictures of some of the ones I have found in my unpacking state.  lol


Spring arrangement on my Dining Room table:

Sitting inside my faux fireplace:

I made this from a few little drawers from an old sewing cabinet:

Hanging on the inside of my 1/2 Bath.  I find these baskets ALL the time at my local Goodwill.  Just paint them up and add flowers!

Another Basket of Flowers:

Wishing you a little Sunshine in your Day!



Swap Partners have been sent!

If you joined in my "5 favorite things" Swap...check your emails!  All the Swap Partners have been sent! 


Please remember to contact your partner, make a new friend, and  make sure they have NO Allergies if you plan on sending anything scented!


HAVE FUN!

2011!

ANOTHER YEAR HAS PASSED, A NEW YEAR IS HERE!  HAPPY 2011!