DIY~Apothecary Jars

When I saw these Apothecary Jars on The Graphics Fairy, I knew instantly they were something I really wanted to make.  I already had the bottles from an old spice rack we got 12 years ago for a wedding gift (I saved them in the back of my cabinet for that many years).  I knew I had some stained fabric from one of my last projects and the rafia cord is something I gathered up off of my mothers living room floor after some presents had been opened. 

So, it all came together very nicely and timely this morning.   

Here is what you need: Coffee stained fabric in the color and pattern of your choice, small glass bottles with lids, cording or some other material that will tie around the lid of your jar, aged paper, and a glue stick.

I did not have any more aged paper so I set "Baby" to work.  Actually, she saw what I was doing and shoved me over to do it herself.  She loves to paint and this was right up her ally.  I was happy for the help:)

First, you need to cut your fabric into squares that are at least an inch away from the edge of your circle on all sides.  Second, use a glue stick (glue gun will leave lumps and wet glue will soak through your fabric) and put glue on the top of your lid. Third, put the lid in the middle of the fabric.  It makes it easier to center this way.

See the arrow on the picture?  It's pointing to a small clear elastic used for little girl's hair.  I had a bunch of these on hand (imagine that).  I used them to secure the fabric around the lids before I tied the cording on.  It really helped to hold the sides in place as I was tying.

Fourth, measure your cording around the jar and cut leaving enough on the ends to tie a knot.  Fifth, decide what part of the bottle you want for the front.  Fold your a cord piece in half to mark the middle and secure it with glue to the exact opposite side you have decided is the front. Tip: If you are using an elastic around the jar, make sure none of the glue touches it or it will melt and snap it.  Sixth, tie the cording around the jar and finish with a knot.  

You can find the template for the labels here~Round Labels, Rectangle Labels. Seventh, Print them onto your aged paper and cut them out.  Last, write what you want on the lables and attach them to the bottles.  I filled my bottles with expired perscriptions (yes, for some reason, I keep those too) for the picture and then dumped them in the trash.  I can't have wee little hands on them:{  

Hope you enjoyed my spur of the moment craft and blog post.  Thanks for taking the time to visit.  I enjoy sharing things with you.  And sometimes......it might be worth while.  Ha ha.

Have a great weekend.

Hurry and Get In On This

Do you all know Tricia?  I think most of you do.  She is having her 3 year bloggiversary giveaway.  Goodness knows she is so talented and generous.  She is giving a ton of wonderful things away to celebrate.  Go here to sign up Hillcrest Home Prims

One thing I really love about Tricia is that she introduced me too Tasha Tudor and her wonderful books.  If you have not checked out Tasha Tudor yet, you really need too.  You will be so inspired.

Any how, I just wanted to share this really quick before we all had to hop in the car for another afternoon of picnic's and swim lessons.

My New Old Things~Our Little Vacation

I realize that it might seem a little strange that I become more excited over opening a gift full of old rusty, cobweb ridden, and dusty things than receiving a gift card to the mall. 

Just look at the beauties my mother gifted me for my special day of the year:)  The jug has a prohibition stamp on it.  Too cool.  

She gave them to me while we were on vacation.  I had to unpack and rearrange to make room for the, now most important, luggage.  The crates are something I have needed for a while.

Thanks Mom, for knowing and loving me so well.

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I was a little nervous about how our trip to the park would go.  With one child so small, and two in between, I didn't know how we would all manage the rides together.  But, with the help of my parents, it all worked out so well.  I was surprised that my two older girls were able to ride all the rides the adults could, and actually wanted to too:) 

The "Fire Dragon" was my DH's favorite and one of mine too.  Screeeeeaaaammmm!!!!!

This is the "Bambora".  It's "Oldest's" favorite.

We got "Baby" on it twice too.  The whole family really thought this was fun.

The first five minutes we were in the park "Middle" begged her daddy to take her on the big roller coaster.  It was her first ride.  She didn't even know what a roller coaster was really.  She was in tears before they made the first decline.  Poor thing.  Her first ride was a terror and she was scared of most of the fast rides after that:( She did enjoy "Puff" though.  Which, in the end, was her favorite.

"Baby" had to ride the carousel over and over and over.  It was her choice ride.  She loved them all though and couldn't get to the front of the lines fast enough.  We had a few melt downs because we had to wait.  

This was my Dh's and my other favorite.  "Rattle Snake Rapids".  A white water experience that left you drenched and your shoes soggy.  It felt soooo good though after the day got to be over 95 degrees.

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The zoo was a wonderful experience for the girls to enjoy. They had their Grandparent's, an Uncle, and an Aunt spend the day with them there and that made it extra special.

Here are my three little monkeys looking in and really having fun with the chipmunk of all things.

 One of my favorites was the Rhino. He is so big.

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We always watch the Food Network's "Drive-In's, Diners and Dives".  When we saw the Red Iguana in Salt Lake City featured we knew we were going to go have a meal there.  We both love Mexican food and this restaurant delivered the goods:)  Oh, so yummy and authentic.  The best I have had by far.  

This is their front door.

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Thanks for visiting and reading my ramblings about our little vacation. I know it's not primitive, but it's fun. We really had a great time together.  

Have a great Monday.

Patriotic Kitty's and a Riddle

I have a stack of Country Sampler next to my bed that I flip through and read at night.  It doesn't matter how many times I look at the same one, I can always find something different.  This past week I was looking at a July issue from 2008 and found this cute little kitty.  I fell in love and knew I had to make one for myself. Of course, each of the girls had to have one too:)  So I got to work making Patriotic Kitty's.

This one I made is exactly like the kitty I saw in the magazine.  I coffee stained the muslin first, then cut it out and painted it with acrylics.  After the paint was dry I stuffed it, rubbed cinnamon in, and attached the whiskers and tag. 

And here is our house kitty.  The girls thought she needed a wig.  Poor cat is mauled all day long now that the kids are home for the summer.  

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Riddle: What do you get when you cross a very scared baby koala bear hanging on for dear life and a baby bobcat screaming?

Answer: "Baby" at swimming lessons.

This picture was snapped in the first 2 minutes of lessons on the first day.  She had no idea what was about to happen.  Under the water she went and the smile was gone and the screaming for dear life began.  For two lessons straight she has been riding piggy back on her teacher and screaming at the top of her lungs for the whole lesson.  They still put her under regardless.  It's sad for momma to see but she needs to learn.  We are out on the water a lot during the summer with our boat and my girls need to learn to swim.

"Oldest" is working on her stroke.  

 "Middle" is waiting her turn to swim across the deep end.

I just love "goggle" pictures.  They are so funny:)

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Tomorrow we get to take a mini vacation to Utah.  We are going to Lagoon (an amusment park).  The girls have never been to a park with rides before (just the carnival) so we will see how it all goes.  They may be afraid of the roller coasters and bigger rides. We are staying in a hotel one night and with my brother and his wife another.  I am super excited to spend time with two of my brothers and my parents.

We also get to go to Hogal Zoo.  They just got a polar bear and it will be so much fun to see all the other neat animals:)

I hope you all are having a good summer.  Thanks for visiting my little blog.  I really appreciate everyone's comments.  

Take care.

Surprises and My Little Kitty

Happy Flag Day!!!  These couple of months are very special with Memorial Day, Flag Day, and the 4th of July to celebrate.  And now, thanks to sweet Sheila (Season's of Thy Heart), I have some fun things to help my decorate my house for the holidays with.

She sent me this wonderful R.A.K. 

She makes the most wonderful floral arrangements.  I am honored to have this in my home.  All this wonderful fabric will make so many neat things.

Aren't these the cutest flag bowl fillers?  And this neat basket can be tucked into so many places.

She also sent the girls some beads and stretchy cord to craft away with.  I wanted to take a picture of the kids spread out on the floor looking at the beads and separating them, but "baby" can't seem to keep herself dressed lately.

This piece of fabric has a flag in the middle surrounded by script.  It can be made into a pillow or a wall hanging.  

So many more thanks Sheila.  You really have touched my heart.

It was so fun for me to be able to talk on the phone with you.

The girls are working on some "grungy" thank you cards.  They just know you will love them:)

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Christine with Preferably Prim has been such an inspiration to me and very loyal blogging friend.  She recently had a picture of some stacked stars on her blog that I fell in love with.  I wanted to make some of my own.  She assured me that I could be a copy cat:)  This is what I came up with.  Thanks Christine for the great idea!

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If you happen to see this helmet kitty in the park, at the store, at the restaurant, etc.  come say hi.  It belongs to me.

We get a lot of stares and giggles, but I let her wear it anyway.

"Meow"

Today we get to have a picnic, go to the matinee, and then to Walmart for some more Minute Maid.  They have a promotion going on and are selling cartons of their flavored fruit drink for $1 and since my kids won't drink water, we can go through a lot of this stuff in just a couple of days.

Wishing you all a wonderful and happy flag day.  Now, I have to go put mine out:)

Had to have it right then

I have been looking through every one's blogs and it has become apparent to me that it is time to start putting up some patriotic decor, except........I don't have any.  Gasp!!!  It wasn't until after July 4th last year that I decided to take the plunge into primitive decor for my home.  Every new season and holiday requires a lot of planning, buying, and making in order to get things to look right. I usually just focus on my entry way for right now for these frequent changes.

Anyway, last night I was looking through blogs and pictures to get some much needed inspiration.  Only, I was just feeling sorry for myself.  I have a small problem of wanting everything....right now:)  I needed to satisfy my desire for something with flags on it.  And anytime less than right then wouldn't work.  So, in between the kid's bath time and bed time I whipped this baby up.  

I had a ugly trivet I found at GW just sitting in the corner of my room.  It's been there for months.  It was already this bland color of red so I just painted a mustard over it.  Then I put the flag in the middle, sanded it up, put the letters and numbers on the sides and stained it good.

Ta Da...  Primitive patriotic decor for me:) 

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Today is the last day of school and then I get the monkeys home for the  summer.  A whole new adventure is beginning.  This morning I sat down and put a chore chart together, a daily summer schedule, and a calendar of all the events, classes, and trips we will be taking.  So as far as this afternoon goes...

Summer has officially begun!!!!!

Thanks for visiting.  I would love to know you were here:)