I LOVE playing with old paper...

My new paper wreath

I was home all day today and had time to craft a few items, this wreath being one....I've never made a paper wreath before but have admired those made by others.
Unfortunately, I tend to overthink things that I haven't tried before, instead of just jumping in.
But today I took an iron wreath form that I've had for quite some time and just chose a book called "Hearthrobs". It's a book of poems that I bought at a thrift store. I just started layering the paper into a shape that I thought was attractive. When I was finished, it didn't look "done" to me. So I took an old cabinet card and put her in the center.
Don't know what I'll do with her yet....

I have a new lover and his name is Joe........

we meet every Monday morning, and it's all I can do to tear myself away from him....every time I see him there's a new and wonderful surprise waiting for me...you may have even seen Joe in your neighborhood....
he gets around....

and did I mention that he's cheap? Oh yes he is, and I love that about him...no shame whatsoever.
I must have been living under a rock...to imagine he's been right down the street these past few years, yet I've still continued with my stuck-up ways and headed down to Safeway....
well, no more! Joe has me bamboozled! (did I spell that right?)
Please leave me a note and let me know what you just can't live without at Joe's...
pretty please? I need some good suggestions because everything looks dreamy....

A new Etsy listing...........

Good Sunday evening to you all! I've had a bit of time to create in my studio today and am happy to offer these hand-dyed tags in my Etsy shop.....they're simple and there's something about glitter that makes me happy! These are blank on the back so you can use them for gift giving, in your antique booth, or just as decor around your home. I think simple is better, don't you?

I do hope everyone had a restful weekend. Our family has a very busy week ahead, and right now the rain is pouring down....I love the sound!

My Halloween countdown calendar.....

If you have little ones at home this is a fun project....well, I guess it's fun even if you don't have littles at home. I originally found this idea from the very talented Lori at mudpiestudio...do yourself a favor and check out her blog! Like Lori, I got my little square images from lisa's altered art, she always seems to have the perfect images for lots of my projects! Then I went to Michael's to look for a tin sign, some little wood squares, and some little magnets to place on the back of my squares.

Then it was just a matter of cutting out and gluing on each image to a wood square, distressing each one, and gluing a magnet on the back of each one. I already had the orange blank bingo circles which worked perfectly for my days of the week and the numbers. I was lucky with my tin sign because it had the awesome white decor in each corner already...I just had to paint over the goofy "bar" type words that it had on it.

Then I used some copper color stickles to outline my days for some added interest.

The stickers are from crafty secrets, they make tons of really cute vintage images.
But most importantly, my dd loves this calendar! I made it for her because she loves to countdown the days to every holiday.....and it's something that she can pull out every year and enjoy.

I promise this is the last time....really!

I added some old paper pages to my Halloween mantle.....

I also had to add some of my items from storage...

It finally feels finished to me......

I'm not going near it again except to light my candles....yeah  right.
What is up with Blogger anyhoo? Now I see what all the complaints have been about lately.
They should get their stuff together or they'll have a mass exodus.
Happy hump day.....(does anyone ever say that anymore?)

Feeling domestic today......

Do you ever have days when you think you want to get out and do something.....but then once you're out there "doing", it's not as much fun as you thought it would be? That's my day today.
Knew I had to go to Costco, but luckily, until I pick up my dd at school I don't have anything else I HAVE to do. So I googled "pumpkin chocolate chip muffins"
bad, bad me. See the pic? Can't wait to dig in.....I'll be taking one to my dd after school so she can have a snack before her piano lesson
I don't know about you, but I bet if I ate a pumpkin chocolate chip muffin I bet I'd play the piano better :).

WooHoo, it's shipping today!!!!!!

I'm so excited to get this book! I had pre-ordered it and it snuck up on me. This morning I woke up to the email saying my Amazon order has shipped....I had to remember what I had ordered :).
The idea of this book speaks to me in a major way right now. I've been trying to purge on a regular basis without feeling like I'm depriving myself of my favorite treasures.
I'll let you know what I think of it when it gets here..have a fabulous week!

Someone please.....make me stop....

tweaking my mantle! I can't seem to stop, just when I think I've got it where I want it, I change it!
I thought the banner above suited the more black and white theme than the previous one, sooo...

I also came across some bats and thought they'd look scary against the white brick.
We're looking forward to a relaxing weekend....sleeping in, heading for the pumpkin patch, watching football, more decorating, some late Fall planting.
What are your plans for the weekend?

It's a good thing my Halloween decorations are in storage........:)

Let's face it......if you're a collector and mixed-media artist, things tend to pile up, no? So all of my Halloween decorations are in storage this year for the first time, and we've not had one moment free to go get them.
So what does a girl do? She makes more! These items are all things that I've either made (like the 3 witches piece above) or purchased this past year.....

This garland is new (made by moi) for my mirror....

These cute little galvanized pails were purchased at Value village....just knew they'd come in handy!

Love my scary doll!

Even my lampshade gets some burlap ribbon....

My dd's Halloween village pieces that she's started collecting...Halloween's her favorite! (Don't know where she gets  it from :)

Next time we'll check out the outside, I do hope your decorations are coming along!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!