Manic Monday (yes, I need to come up with a new title)

So for my 1st (and possibly last) Manic Monday post:

This week Chris and Mark, our best friend, decide to do "manly work" a.k.a wood cutting.  To test their skills, I had them cut a heart out of the last piece of wood.  Weak, I know, but it was all I could think of on the spot.  So, they did (and it came out pretty good, yes, I admit, I was impressed).  And, like any good piece of art, it needed spray paint.  And assuming that it would eventually go into Kait's room (and seeing the final cut out version) I painted it purple. 

Yesterday, I noticed the spray paint outline on our gravel driveway.  Love it.

"We may think we are doing the right thing, but the LORD always knows what is in our hearts."

Proverbs 21:2 (CEV)

Family Friday

The kids & I had had planned on having an arts & crafts night, but someone didn't clean his room....

so instead we.........

Played in the (much needed) Summer Rain

                                                

Made Smoothies

     

First, I've had a Ninja for some time now and have never used it.  Horrible, I know. 

Now that the kids are loving smoothies, I decided why not make our own....

So, I started by visiting my favorite food site - http://www.allrecipes.com/

That is where I found this goody:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/purple-monstrosity-fruit-smoothie/detail.aspx

We also made one with Spinach leaves.  Kaitlin's comment "looks like vomit, but tastes good!"

If I'm going to make this blog thing work

I am a creature of habit. I am a creature of organization.  I am a creature that wants to make this blog thing work, but I need to know what I'm going to blog about each day. So.... I need help & ideas.

I was thinking, if I had a "worksheet" that told me (in a cute bloggy way) what I am going to blog about each day, I could will make this work. 

Here are my ideas/1st draft:
Monday - Manic Monday (sooo original, right). This is the start of teh week & can be anything.
Tuesday - Tutorial Tuesday.  This is, obviously, tutorials.  This will probably be my favorite.
Wednesday - NO CLUE.  I have friends that have done Way Back Wednesday, which I love, but right now all my good old pics are on a broken computer. Ugh. 
Thursday - Thankful Thursday.  This is my day to say at least one thing I am thankful for. I think we all need this at least once per week.
Friday - Family Friday. This will be a recap and/or introduction to what the family has or will do.

Please provide ideas, this is just a draft. I especially need something for Wednesday. 

I SEE THE LIGHT: lamp & lamp shade redo

A few weeks ago I bought a very heavy, metal lamp at a garage sale for $5 (I used its purchase to bargain with the seller to get two awesome tables for cheap - more to come on that later)! It was in perfect condition and was probably quite expensive back in it's day.  I really did want it, to redo, but always knew that if I ended up not liking it, it could always be used as a weapon - yes, it's that heavy.

 

The lamp before (pardon Olive in the background). 

What you need:

Lamp, Lampshade, Sandpaper, Primer & (spray) Paint, Fabric (optional ribbon)

Plus Fabric Scissors & Glue Gun

Step 1 - Sand (to better adhere) & Prime the lamp. 

Step 2 - (as shown) Spray paint the lamp your desired color. I chose a basic black. It took about 2 coats.

Yes, it's literally that simple.  I now have a beautiful lamp....except one thing....

 

Look at that lampshade.  Eek.  

Next Project - New Lamp Shade. 

Well, since I'm super cheap frugal and couldn't find the correct size drum lamp shade at my local Walmart or Target store, I decided that I could easily make one update one. 

     

Step 1 - I purchased a $2 - 1970's lampshade at my local Goodwill. 

The cover was so old that it easily peeled off.  Otherwise you can create a template on trace paper or do as I was going to do and just "wing it!" :)

I took the shade cover off and cut it open.

Then I set the original cover on top of my fabric & cut the same shape/size

 

Step 2 - I started gluing the fabric to the lamp shade.  

I started at the outside top, but think it would be better to start on the inside top and wrap it around.

 

I did this all the way around the lampshade.

 

Step 3 & 4 - I glued the inside edges, beginning with the bottom (since I had already glued the outside top), then I glued the top inside.

 

Step 5 - Trim the unwanted fabric.

And.... Voila..... (it's hard to see, but I went around the outside top with ribbon, this is optional)

 

Total Cost: 

$5 for lamp at Yard Sale

$2 for lamp shade at Goodwill

$6 for primer and spray paint (but you will have it left over for another craft - yippee)

$4 for fabric on sale at Hobby Lobby (I bought extra, again for another project)

$17 - if you have to buy everything.  This is less than one lampshade! Awesome!

Time to (really) start blogging.

Welcome back.  This is my 2nd attempt at this blog, possibly 3rd if you count my New Year resolution (let's not).  One of my favorite past times is to read blogs, so why can't I do this? I'm lazy... that has to be it. 
Well, now that I'm becoming rather crafty, I've decided that I'm going to start blogging.  As I'm in the process of my craftiness, I actually think about what I'm going to write on my blog and then I don't do it.  Lets stop that behavior and start this.... blogging.  Here it comes.  Stay with me, hopefully they will get better as time passes.