Heading for the GREEN!

I am home long enough to get a few projects done and most importantly laundry. Today, I leave again and I am not telling you where yet. Here are your clues:

1. Green, green land



2. Lucky



3. Guiness



4. Castles

See if you are right on October 2-I will be home and ready to share loads and loads of photos. I had to buy a new memory card before we left. Mine is full of pictures I still want to share like Amelia Earharts birth home, Junk Bonanza, and Scrapfest. Not to forget so many projects.

There are 2 new post on Miss Nifty Thrifty: Here is a peek at the school one:

and here is the link:

http://www.spottedcanary.com/Nifty_and_Thrifty/Tote-ally_Cool_Ideas_For_an_A++_School_Year.htm

and another post on Miss Nifty Thrifty called Naturally Beautiful

http://www.spottedcanary.com/BlogDetail.aspx?blogmonth=9&blogday=16&blogyear=2009&blogid=147

I'll be home soon...

Post your guess....I will have a drawing for a prize when I get back. Hhhhmmm, maybe something GREEN!

Heading to the Great Mall!

Taking some time for a girls only trip to Mall of America. We are going to Scrapfest, shopping ourselves to death, and heading to the Junk Bonanza so I can meet Matthew Mead. Here is the details on the Junk Bonanza. http://www.junkbonanza.com/

I created an interactive Journal to take on trips. Record everything you do- with places to glue in it receipts from your meals, autographs from a tour guide, or just a place to write about your adventure. For details on how to create this project visit Spotted Canary. http://www.spottedcanary.com/Nifty_Thrifty_Dollar_Bin_Journal.htm or read more fun travel tips written by Miss Nifty Thrifty-aka me at....
http://www.spottedcanary.com/Nifty_and_Thrifty/All_Roads_Lead_to_Crafting.htm

Can't wait to tell you all about Scrapfest and Junk Bonanza. I'll be back in a few days, don't forget me!

A peek at Nell Hill's Halloween Room

Thursday was a quick road trip to Nell Hill's...the store was decked out in Christmas. It was a glittery sea of loveliness. I wasn't ready for Christmas decor just yet. I am thinking of Halloween and all it's spooky fun. Picture glittery skulls, wire spiders and loads of crows--sheer fabric draped and gathered on all surfaces. It looked like a room belonging to Edgar Allen Poe. I was in Halloween Heaven. I am so motivated to decorate at home. Just needing a few extra minutes.....

Charming Affaire....

Have you always wanted to learn how to solder charms or make your own jewelry? Ali and I are teaching more than just soldering with an amazing home-based class. Gather a group of friends, we will bring all the supplies to your location, and learn how to create jewelry, ornaments, and home decor pieces. Join us for one-of-a-kind art in the comforts of home.


What you will learn in a 3 hour workshop:

• how to cut glass
• 3 dimensional designs
• collage-paint, vintage artifacts, and stamping
• using found objects in jewelry making
• how to wire wrap charms
• how to make solder look like butter
• how to attach charms, appendages, and embellishments
• the value of flux
• all the In's and Out's of copper foiling techniques
• what supplies are the best to use when you solder or make jewelry

Class Fee is $125 per person for 3 charms... includes all supplies


2 Charms will be designed for you, so you can learn techniques. The other charm is for you to create your own, unique piece.

We will be created a Haunted House charm and a dimensional door shadow box charm in October. It will be spooktacular!

Set up your October date...

SCWARD2@aol.com

If you are in the Kansas City Area...there are some great artist activities going on this weekend:

• Curious Sofa "Freak Show" Thursday, Friday, Saturday 3925 West 69th Terrace in Prairie Village
• Northland Vintage Fair "Paris Flea Market" Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at Zona Rosa in the old Disney Store
• Wesport Art Fair-I like it better than The Plaza Art Fair
  

Lush and detailed....vintage whimsy

I created this bracelet for Spotted Canary. It is rich with felted balls...hand beaded and stitched, old and new pieces of jewelry, and a lovely piece of salvaged lace. It is a one of a kind piece of vintage whimsy. Visit here for directions: http://www.spottedcanary.com/General_Crafts/Hanging_Around__Felted_Bracelet.htm

Free Time

Free time isn't something I have often, so when I do...I seize the moment. I love going to the movies.

Hayden and I saw this. Darling! It comes out on DVD October 13, 2009. A must have, feel good, love story.

Both of my children went to the movies on a Wednesday (school night) and saw this. Sutton loved it and has been quoting lines from the movie. Hayden like it, but not as much as little man did. I loved it too! Julia Childs is such an interesting character and lead such an amazing life. Definitely worth seeing.

Okay, this was our half-day of school movie...I hate taking Sutton to a PG-13 movie. You just never know what you are going to view. He has a rule that he has to cover his eyes and ears on some parts. This wasn't too bad except in the beginning. He was laughing so loud because he thinks it is funny to cover your eyes and ears. So embarrassing! Regardless of what the movie critics said, I like the movie. It had a good message to stay true to who you are! A great message for a pre-teen girl.

Then we drove Saturday night to Topeka, KS. The Capital of Kansas. It was a neat town with the best restaurant in the universe!

http://www.rowhouserestaurant.net/

YOU MUST EAT HERE...

AMAZING-

Take the risk and order the sampler.
Little taste of everything....The restaurant offers a different menu each week. Make reservations. It is in an old Row House and such a treat to peek inside of it. Original photographs and paintings on the walls...amazing food and a very talented chef that checks to see if you are happy and he is willing to share recipes.

We had a private room.

This guy along with 2 of his statue friends were carved into the wall in our room.

Bon Appetite!

2 Cute 2 B 4 School

Dress up a classroom door and provide valuable information with this fun door hanger. Create a unique door hanger with a cork memo board (drink coaster), spray paint a piece of cardboard with chalkboard paint to create a miniature blackboard, and secure a box to the bottom of the door hanger to make a place for chalk or extra tags. Create stamped tags that provide information of where the class is at. For example-they maybe at lunch, music, art, PE, or an assembly. I am sure a little helper in the classroom would love to be in charge of changing the signs. Save a teacher time, by creating a custom classroom door hanger.

Step-by-step directions found here:

http://www.spottedcanary.com/Stamping/Classroom_Door_Hanger.htm

**use Popsicle sticks to frame the chalkboard.

School Daze...with no rules!

Filled to the brim with gratitude, this teacher appreciation gift bag is quick, easy, and inexpensive to create. Made with a mix of clear stamps, K and Company Citronella polka dot paper, and dollar store finds, this bag is sure to be used and admired by a hard-working teacher. When the bag is empty, it is the perfect size for bringing you lunch or library books to school in. Make sure to read Spotted Canary for tips on stamping on canvas. The apples in yesterday's blog post were also stamped on canvas along with the red strip on the pencil box. Canvas can work well for inking and it is usually a deal in the fabric department. Have a lovely day and remember how hard our teachers work to help our children learn to read, write, and figure a check book (the only math I do).

For directions, supplies, and related article visit Spotted Canary.

http://www.spottedcanary.com/back_to_school_gifts.htm