DIY Beautify - Creating Beauty at Home

Decorating with Your Cricut or Silhouette Merry Christmas everyone! I don't know if anyone will actually read this today, haha...but I promised I'd post...so here I am! Actually, I wrote and scheduled this in advance, so I am actually enjoying hot cinnamon buns with my family and tearing into presents :) Back when Cricut machines were relatively new, I bought one on Black Friday for an amazing price. Since then, Cricut has come out with bigger and better machines...and the amazing Silhouette machine has followed. I would love to upgrade...but I am thrifty...so for now I am sticking with what I have :) This DIY uses ready-made frames. Remove the back and insert a decorative piece of paper that fits your theme. Then close it back up. Using your cutting machine, cut out your saying or monogram. This took a little bit of trial and error for me because, although I have the Cricut Design Studio, it will only allow me to cut one style of font at a time...so ...

Handcrafted Snow Globes Don't you think our great-grandmothers would be astounded at the way we've elevated the status of the humble mason jar? We've taken it from an object of simply function , to one of also  form . Mason jars have become the main attraction in wedding and home decor these days. Wow. Makes you wonder what our great grandchildren will be collecting, doesn't it? Ever since Anthropologie came out with their Mason Jar Snow Globe a few years ago, every DIYer out there has been making these...and I've been no exception. They are just so sweet to look at, and each one is unique. It all depends on the type of trees you use as well as the way you embellish your jar. I also found the trick was not to add too much 'snow'..just a little bit. A little goes a long way. And a good shake of silver and/or clear glitter adds wonderful sparkle to the jars and makes everything shimmer. A jingle bell tied around...

Setting a Christmas Table We don't have a formal dining room. Nope, we turned it into our Piano Room because it's too small to suit us as a dining room. So our kitchen table is where we eat all our meals...where we entertain guests...formal and informal. I like to have a centerpiece, but something that's not too fussy. I have kids, after all :) I had a green check piece of fabric that was just the right size. I didn't hem it...or even iron it, haha. We are pretty casual around here and wrinkles are a part of life :) So are frayed edges! I took a silver platter from the thrift store and added a footed candy dish from the same store. I filled the candy dish with silver glittered pine cones from Pottery Barn bought on clearance, poked in a few live Christmas tree stems and some ribbon loops. Perfect! The bottom of the tray got a ribbon coil and a couple cardinal ornaments. Then I added a couple of my handmade trees, elevated on mercury...

This simple little ornament is so cute and charming...and it really did take me just 5 minutes to create! I printed out the postcard from Shabby Lane Shops . They have a section of free holiday items. Just click on the link to go to their free section. I used cardstock so that I'd have a sturdy ornament. Remember pinking shears? They used to be just for fabric...they kept the edges from fraying. You may remember your grandmother using them. Well, they make wonderful edges on paper too, and add a perfect vintage touch! After cutting my postcard out, I glued it onto a piece of ivory felt, leaving about an inch around each edge. I then cut around the felt with my pinking shears again. A couple of pearl stickers, a wire holder and a gingham bow and it's D.O.N.E.! I love how it looks so much I think I'll make a few more. For such a simple ornament, it makes a big impact! If you have the supplies on hand, I hope you'll consider making a few as we...

Jeannette Pink If you know me at all, then you know that pink is one of my favorite colors! And if you really know me :) you know I like to collect milk glass (strictly from thrift stores). So....what could be better than PINK MILK GLASS from the thrift store ???? Yes, the gods were smiling on me this day...just kidding :) I was shopping at my local "thrift-store-that-starts-with-a-G" in SW FL where we lived. It was one of those hit-or-miss stores. I never really found anything good there. The best thing I'd ever found to date had been a couple of armchairs with cane seat backs. So imagine my delight when I came around a corner and spotted this... And this... And this... I know what you're thinking... is there anything   this woman doesn't collect?? And I am the first to confess that I have a rather, cough , broad addiction to pretty things. But...I will also tell you that they A.L.L. came from either the above mentioned ...

This is the most wonderful time of the year! It's also the busiest time of the year! I know you are busy. I'm busy. My kids and my husband are busy and I know yours are too. There are school programs and church programs, Christmas parties and other seasonal activities to attend. Stopping at the drive-through is a real temptation. But too much of that is not healthy, and it's hard on the wallet! This meal tastes just like your favorite fast-food taco place. But it's homemade, so you know what's in it, and it's fresh! These tacos are fast and easy. And what makes them "fast-food" fantastic is the meat and the taco shells. There's a little trick to cooking the meat so that it's really fine ...you put an 8 oz can of tomato sauce in with the 1 lb of raw hamburger before it starts to cook! I know, sounds weird. 1 lb raw lean hamburger mixed with 8 oz tomato sauce Cook over Medium heat until cooked through (about 10 min) But what ...