Posts

Basement Remodel With Painted Exposed Ceiling

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I have waited so long to make this post, and even though we are not done yet, I just have to share our progress. Finishing our basement wasn't something I thought we would ever do. With the exception of all of out fitness equipment, it remained a big empty space. As our son has grown older, we have started to feel that creating a fun area, might be a good thing for us and so, we started thinking about adding on a theater area, gym area and rec area.....what better place than the unused basement! The one thing we agreed on, we didn't want to lose ceiling height by putting in a drop ceiling or sheet rock, so I started researching alternatives. What I found were basement designs where the home owners were painting the rough ceiling and beams black.  It gives a loft/industrial feel and I, FELL IN LOVE!!! And now that our project is nearly complete....we still need to choose carpeting, furniture and decor....I am ready to share some photos. Hope you like! :) Before...

Enchant Your Party with Witch and Spider Themed Cake and Cupcake Toppers

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 Are you planning a party and looking for a unique way to make it memorable? Look no further! My witch and spider themed cake and cupcake toppers are the perfect edition to any celebration. Handmade with attention to detail, these toppers are not just decorations but a testament to your unique style and taste. Whether it’s a Halloween party, birthday bash, or fun get together, these toppers will surely be the talk of the party. Our cake toppers are designed to be the crowning glory of your cake, adding a touch of magic and whimsy.  The witch themed topper, with its intricate details and vibrant colors, are perfect for those who love a touch of the mystical. On the other hand, my spider themed topper will be a hit with those who love a bit of thrill. It will add a fun and spooky element to your cake, making it a centerpiece hard to miss. But the fun doesn’t stop at cakes. My cupcake toppers are just as enchanting. They add a delightful surprise to each cupcake. These toppers are more th

Gingerbread House

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Years ago I would watch the ,  Omni Grove Park Inn National  Gingerbread  House  Competition  Display in Asheville, North   Carolina, on HGTV.  I was always in awe of all the gingerbread pieces the contestants would come up with, and I  thought that one day I would try one of my own. Every year, my family and I like to visit, Peddler's Village in New Hope, PA,  for their annual Christmas Festival, and that is when I realized, they host a Gingerbread competition of their own!  I knew one year I would enter....and finally, this was the year!! My son and I spent two months creating our very first gingerbread house. We had so much fun, and even though we didn't win, it was a wonderful experience and I'm glad to say that I finally did it!! :) Have you ever entered a Gingerbread Competition? Our masterpiece...  Trees from ice cream cones and icing  Sugar glass windows and pond  Jelly beans as rocks for our chimney  Fondant Santa and snowman  Mini-wheats r

Mini Home Project: Built-in Bench Cushions

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I've been wanting to dress up this built-in that is in our media/theater room, for awhile now. I had purchased this really cool, Timeless Treasures Movie Popcorn fabric on Amazon, awhile back and finally found the time to do this project. I used an old flat sheet that we never use, to make the bottom of the bench cover, and also create a pillow case for the accent pillow. I had an old cushion from a couch that we got rid of, and that cushion was a perfect fit for the space. For the accent pillow, I used felt to create my popcorn bucket. I'm pretty happy with the way this project turned out. Down the road, I will probably add some sconces and some type of movie poster on the back wall. Some of the sconces I'm considering. I love that they are wireless, so set up should be a breeze. Amazon.com Widgets

Elf On the Shelf Ideas

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Elf On the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition , started in our house last year. I was able to escape the insanity until my son started school but once kids start talking.....you know how that goes.... So now we are an Elf On the Shelf family, too! JOY! My son's elf, Mischief, usually makes his way into our home on Thanksgiving night. Mischief is a good elf and likes to do good deeds. So here I am, starting to think of what fun things I can have Mischief do this year. Pinterest here I come!  And, because I know there are other parents out there looking for ideas, I'm going to share some of mine from last year. Enjoy! :) Mischief colors a picture for my son Mischief just hanging around Mischief helps me work on my puzzle  Mischief doing some house cleaning....if only we had little elves that would swoop in and clean in the middle of the night....one can dream. Mischief reads the Rudolph gang a story   Mischief captures Spiderman's arch enemy, The Li

Upcycle: Old sweater into cute pet bed

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My kitty has been in need of a new good resting place, and when I saw this idea on Facebook, I decided to give it a try. What you need: old sweater polyfil or cut up rags for stuffing yarn needle yarn Stuff top body and arms of the sweater with Polyfil. using yarn needle and yarn rough stitch where the poly-fill and at the body of the sweater. Like this…   Stuff one end of arm into the other end of the of the other arm, and fold the remaining body of the shirt over the arms. Stitch the folded over part to the body of the pet bed Next, you will stitch the arms to the body of the pet bed. The finished product will look like this… You can stitch shut the neck opening, but in this case I left it open, so I have the option to remove the Polyfil and wash the sweater This project took me a little over an hour and my cat loves his new pet bed

Mint Candy Decorations Made From Recycled Styrofoam

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              This year, my Christmas decor is inspired by my sons, Gingerbread Friends , book.   I have been busy making felt gingerbread men ornaments (like pictured above), and this weekend my son and I made some, mint candy decorations, using some recycled Styrofoam, that had come as packing material in some recent orders. All you need is a little bit of paint, glitter and imagination!! I took the Styrofoam insert and used a dessert plate to to trace my candies.  We used the knife from a pumpkin carving kit to cut out our candy circles. I must warn that cutting Styrofoam, makes quite a mess and took a bit of vacuuming up. LOL! Next we free-form painted our candy swirls. Using glitter glue, we painted the parts that were meant to stay white, and then added more glitter on top of that. After the paint dried, I inserted some pop sticks (not shown), so that they will easily stay on my tree. And here is my Ginger bread themed Christmas Tree

Baked oatmeal with apple topping

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  I had a bunch of apples to use up from a, family apple picking outing, and so I decided on a nice, baked oatmeal with a apple topping.        This is a great dish to whip up the night before!     BEFORE BAKED    1  orange squeezed   2 tsp       apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice   2 2/3 cups old-fashioned oats   1/2 cup raisins or dried cherries 4