Door Mat Makeover

Our doormat at the front door used to say “God Bless Our Home”. But after walking on it and wiping muddy feet on it for a couple of years, it didn’t say anything anymore. However, I wasn’t willing to just go out and buy a new one and wasn't talented enough to recreate the original. LOL
So I beat all the dirt I could out of it, taped off some lines, got out some craft paint, stencils and a few stiff paint brushes and gave it a makeover. It only took 30 minutes from start to finish! Now we’ll see how long it lasts…

Dry Erase Crock Pot Label

Whenever I make something for a party or potluck in my crock pot I always wish there was a way I could label it so everyone would know what it was. Sometimes I make cute little folded signs to put next to it but sometimes I forget or don’t have time. Today, however I was inspired by some old magnetic dry erase boards for the fridge that I have sitting in my craft closet.

I cut one up, added some stickers and viola!  Quick and easy, reusable labels for my crock pots! And now my red one is an owl crock pot, too…

Just make sure you cut them so they fit where you want them to go on your crock pot. My oval one was almost too big…

I think this is one of my best ideas in a long time!

Basting Spray

I have to confess that I had never heard of basting spray until one of my FB followers told me about it when I complained about hating the layering part of quilting. But it sounded so intriguing that I took my JoAnn’s coupon down to the store the next day and bought me a bottle…

First lesson learned: I am glad I laid down a vinyl tablecloth. I wish I had thought to pin it down before I started. :o(

It was a WHOLE LOT FASTER than the traditional pinning but I will probably need a bit more practice before I have it down.

 I have to say that I was glad to have an easier way to layer it together because I had put a little more work into quilting this one than I have been lately. I normally have just been going to the “stitch in the ditch” method.

 

I really like the way it turned out!

 

Puffy Jar Lids

We got several jars of applesauce for Christmas from my husband’s aunt. Her lids were so nice, with just the perfect amount of “puff” to them.

I finally opened a jar on Sunday and discovered how she did it…

Round cotton cosmetic puffs. They are just the right size to sit on top of a wide-mouth canning jar lid!

Then cut out a 4-inch circle of fabric and lay it on top of the pads…

Screw on the band and you’re done! Super easy!!! Thanks for the great idea, Cyndi! 

Sewing In The Great Outdoors

I probably never would have thought of this on my own… While we were camping at my parents’ creek property, my sister’s and I had a sewing day at my aunt and uncle’s house right next door. Since she was watching the grandkids, she put us out on a big table on the deck. It was so peaceful and inspiring to sew while watching the river flow by and hear the wind in the trees!

Then I thought, “I have a deck. Why don’t I ever sew out on my deck?”

Saturday was one of the few hot sunny days we’ve had all summer but I really wanted and needed to do a bit of sewing. So I drug all my sewing stuff up to the deck and set myself up on the patio table. It was lovely, and much cooler than in the house! The breeze was lightly blew, the birds were singing in the trees… I should always sew outside in the summer!

My outdoor sewing set-up

The view from my Elna

 

The daunting pile of already-cut-out cozies to be sewn

The first of three cozies I finished!

I’m so looking forward to my next free sunny day to do some more sewing on the deck! Having all those pins and needles out of doors must have attracted this big guy to our yard, because he showed up later that evening… ;o)

Our first porcupine!