Miss Nifty Thrifty

Many of you know how much I love a good deal, to dive for treasures at a thrift store, or recycle something that was going to end up in the trash and turn it into something fabulous. I am Miss Nifty Thrifty through and through. You can learn all my thrifty secrets, crafty ideas, and where I hunt for the treasures. Join me at Spotted Canary and read the Nifty Thrifty Blog. Make sure you leave me some feedback. It helps so much when I am coming up with new ideas.

http://www.spottedcanary.com/Nifty_and_Thrifty/$3_Gifts__Handmade_for_Less.htm

Here is the first project that has been featured...it is a $3 gift for a crafter. Hope you love the blog and all the money saving tips! Add the blog to your list of favorites. I hope to spark your creativity and keep your pocketbook from emptying to quickly.

Computers....

I have a love hate relationship with my computer. It went down the past few days...a battery in it went out. I didn't know PC's had batteries. Then, while it was down...I got a virus. Nothing to evil. It didn't destroy anything, just enabled my mouse and keyboard. Less than $100 later...I am back and running. It will take me a few days to catch up, so I promise not to be on a blog Vacation as my friend, Ali says. I am here and finally back on line. 52 emails to go!!!!!!

You could make this...

My daughter and her friend went on a shopping trip to Claire's. The Thrifty Miss she is, found this in the clearance section. $1.99 worth of inspiration. She thought it looked like me, so she bought it. I loved it and then started examining it closer. It is made by die-cutting fabric into flowers. Anyone who has the old Sizzix with the handle you push down could create this. Or, you could hand-cut flowers. Each one is folded in half and then folded again like a triangle. They are sewn together. Take a closer look. Wouldn't these be cute on a bag, a belt, or even a bracelet? I have a cream colored sweater I am going to pin it too. Great find, Miss Hayden!

A Ballet Slipper

A Ballet Slipper ....it was tucked so sweetly in the top of my goodie sack. It was part of a farewell dinner, with the talented Vintiques teachers. Soon as I saw it in the sack...my heart became a puddle of mush. Most people wouldn't want one ballet slipper-that was worn and not the correct size. But Shelia, the owner of Vintiques...she just gets it. No explanation needed...she knew that I would treasure it, give it a good home, and display it as art. I took it home and added just a little "Me" to it...it was already so beautiful. I used K & Company Madeline rub-ons and a few pink rhinestones. I pinned a pink bow that I had in my jewelry box and that was it...simple and lovely and forever grateful to have been a part of Vintiques. It you weren't aware, the store is closing and Shelia and Craig are starting a new chapter in their life. I wish them the best! Glad I had a chance to meet each person that made Vintiques so fabulous. Our paths cross for reasons...we don't know why, until later. Au Revoir!

Creative Stuff

I hope everyone enjoyed Father's Day! My husband got a smoker and had the neighborhood begging for meat with the smell of it cooking all day!

Rachel and I saw this idea in a magazine...so I gave it a whirl. It hangs inside a bookcase, in my studio. The paint set is from Vintiques. Chari found an extra large one and Shelia put it in my bag. TREASURE!!!!! It will always make me think of the two creative souls that they are! I hot glued favorite found objects...most from Vintiques. I did stamp a favorite Inka stamp on it...."Think Outside the Box". Just looking at it inspires me.

We are all artist gently guided by our Master's hand, painting a vision called life. The blending of colors like joy, sorrow, wisdom, and love inspires us to create a magnificent masterpiece of self.-La Tourelle

La Creme de la Creme

Another cute blog award...blushing from ear to ear! The only way I know to give a proper thank you is to create a card....Beki (Rebecca Thorner), you are the Creme De La Creme!

Thanks again!

Products used Brenda Walton's Madeline Specialty Paper 8.5 x 8.5 (623095) and Brenda Walton's Madeline Sweet Friendship Brand Adhesion (569379). You can order online from this site-

http://www.kandcompany.com/shop/pc/viewContent.asp?idpage=1

Thank You

Thank you so much for registering at Spotted Canary. I hope you will post all your creations on it. I love looking through the gallery. I like Spotted Canary because is a place for all crafts--Jewelry, needle point, scrapbooking, stamping, paper crafts, kids crafts, and art! I like it also because it offers supplies and direction sheets for each project. Because you were so kind to register and put my name in the promo code, I WON! Here are all the goodies I received. Thanks again for supporting my craft... You know how much I love it and I love you!!!!

http://www.spottedcanary.com

Merci Beaucoup!

A Stroll Down Vegas

There is so much to see in Vegas on the Strip. We hiked one end to the other end hoping to give our children a taste of all the different hotels and activities Vegas has to offer. It was like hiking through Disney World. We were exhausted! We started near Treasure Island. We watched the show Sirens of TI our last night in Vegas. The hotel is themed like Pirates of the Caribbean. You think at any moment you may see Johnny Depp.

Caesar's Palace and the fountain! Breath-taking. I felt like I was back in Rome.

Inside Caesar's Palace...the Forum Shops with the cool escalators that are curved. Miss Hayden was in shopping heaven. She made 2 purchases at Marc Jacobs. A practical swim cap and a netted swim bag. She will be the most stylish swimmer on her team.

We had to stop and watch the statues come to life in the Forum Shops. It is a Vegas must!

Sutton waited all day to ride the roller coaster at New York New York. He was too short. Oh, was he mad to say the least. It was going to be a long day. We even tried to mend things by playing video games at Coney Island. Sigh!

Finally, a beacon of hope...M & M World! Sutton's spirits were up. We toured the 4 story world of M & M's and watched a funny 3-D M & M movie. Hayden found rainbow socks with the toe spots in them for our neighbor Sabrina. M & M world is free and I recommend it!!!

A short walk to Paris ( you can go up in the Eiffel Tower and the Bellagio....

This is another amazing hotel. The Bellegio has a fountain show during the day and at night. Both are spectacular. It is to music. It also has a neat garden off the hotel's lobby. Frogs and Lady Bugs made of flowers, a flower life-size Ferris wheel-just a gorgeous place to visit.

This is the glass ceiling in the hotel's lobby!

Closer back to our hotel was Venice...the Venetian

I hope you enjoyed the stroll down the Vegas strip!

Come back at night for the Volcano at the Mirage and the Bellegio Fountains.

I need a nap!