AROUND THE HOUSE

I wanted to take a few minutes of your time to show you a craft that I finally got finished. I love trying to make new things.

Our Grubb Springs Extension Homemakers Club was getting ready for its annual fundraiser called Gingerbread House. We use the monies to give a scholarship to a deserving student(s). One of our members, Carol, gave me some 6 inch tiles to do something with. I have seen how the 4 inch tiles are turned into coasters so decided to make a trivet with this one.

I used Patio Paint (my favorite paint for everything) and painted the bottom of the tile and part of the top (pictures 1 & 3). I got a piece of distressed heavy scrapbook paper and cut it to the size I wanted. Then I pulled out my next favorite item - Liquid Laminate. I use that instead of Modge Podge for lots of crafts. I brushed it onto the tile first, being very careful not to foam it up or get bubbles. Then using my fingers, I put it on the back of my paper then applied it to the tile. I used my fingers to coat the top of the paper with the laminate. I prefer this method instead of a brush. I work out any bumps or unsealed edges. Now, set it aside and let it dry.

After it's dry I go back and using my fingers, apply another coat to the paper and let it dry. I had some felt pieces used to put on items that you don't want to scratch your furniture, so I put one in each corner of the trivet.

Next problem was finding a sealer that would be heat resistant to a certain degree. Went to my local Home Depot and found some clear auto paint that would work. Went home and took my tile outside and gave it a good coat of this finish. After it dried for several hours, I sprayed it again and left it outside until it was completely dry. It has an unpleasant smell so no spraying in the house or garage.

I sat the trivet down on our counter and set a hot pan of boiling water on the tile. Let it sit there until the water and pan were cool. This took almost an hour. When I pulled the pan off, the trivet was in great shape.

When I put them up for sale, I advised people that these trivets were designed to make their table look attractive when the corn was setting on it. I am NOT making the claim that this finish will not melt and make a big mess.

I make my own trail mix and put it in plastic jars. I make a gingerbread man label and put the name of the mix and the ingredients on the back side of the label. The lid has a circle of paper like the tag paper and was glued on using a glue stick. (easy removal if they want to use the jar for something else).

I had a whole section of my One of a Kind jewelry that I donated to the sale. They got the keep the money that the jewelry bought but, I got to take back what didn't sell. This will be sent to a church
camp this summer.

This is a picture of one of my 'bib' necklaces. I sew or glue all kinds of items to a canvas bib. It has a long piece of ribbon that you can trim to the length you want the necklace to be or you can leave it long and tie a big bow in the back. I use as much vintage as I can. Retail on this necklace is $25.00 and it sold right away.

Before I get off here, I want to share what I found in my yard.

He (or she) was busy eating the bird seed that fell out of the feeder. The raccoon was about 10 feet from me and only looked up when I opened my back door to take a picture. I had called my hubby and he thought I should shoot it and I did - with my Canon camera!!!

Until next time - Be safe and warm!! Jan

 It has been so long since I have written on my blog and I really do apologize for that. Been so busy working on a cookbook for the Grubb Springs Extension Homemakers Club and making items to sell in their 20th Annual Gingerbread House. I don't know how many are familiar with Extension Homemakers Clubs but they are throughout the United States. Ours is through the University of Arkansas - Dept. of Agriculture - Cooperative Extension Service. We help at the fairs with judging, checking in items, just anything we are needed to help with. We have a leader training program every month. Ours for November is Understanding Personalities. Great information!!

My granddaughter, Krystan, went to look at a horse to buy and things didn't go as planned. The horse went berserk and Krystan took a bad fall. She broke her wrist in a bad area and will be in a cast for 5 weeks, then a brace for 3 weeks. Dr. told her that she would have to wear her brace if she did any barrel racing, heavy lifting, feeding hay, etc. for as long as two years. She was in the Little Rock area. The hospital wrapped it up with a splint and sent her home. At least she is okay and no surgery.

She wanted to bling her cast, so she headed to see me. So, here are some pictures of what we did to her cast to make her stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Her cast with the blue cover on it. So, after throwing around several ideas, here is what we decided to do.

Found a lone sock of Papa's and decided to make a cover to go over the cast. It can be removed if she decides to have another one made. Wish we could have found a tube sock but, this worked out. Papa wears a size 17 shoe.  A club friend gave me some stretchy black sequin lace to design a bracelet, so I used some of it.

I used hot glue to apply it to the sock. The toe of the sock is the part on the right side of photo. We stretched it to get it over the cast. The left side of photo is where we cut it from the cuff. Then I cut a hole in the heel part of the sock for her thumb to go through. Applied hot glue to the elastic being careful not to stretch it. Wanted it to stretch when we were pulling it up on her cast only. Where the thumb hole is, I applied the sequin elastic and stretched it some.

Now for some bling. I used some tulle that I had and made a bow and hot glued it close to where the thumb hole is. I put the non stick glue mat inside the sock so I wouldn't glue the sock together.

Heated up the rhinestone setter and started to bling. I added two colors of heart shaped rhinestones at the end.

Then I added another bow to the top of sock.

Here is the finished product. I did go back and trim off any sock that was showing over the sequin elastic. Only did the front of the cover.

This was fun to make and the lady at the doctor's office will like this. She said some come in with a few things on them but she wanted to see something that no one else has. Well, this is it! I am thinking about cutting a pattern that could be used and altered to fit most casts.

 

TREES ARE CHANGING COLORS

I went to Maplewood Cemetery early Sunday morning to get some photos of the trees and to go to my parents grave. There were at least 50 cars there and it was crowded. Plus two professional photographers were there and they had a couple of rows blocked.

Here are just a few of the pictures I took:

This tree is actually across the road from my house. I can remember when it was just a small tree and look at it know.

The colors are so beautiful.

 

SUNRISE

Monday morning I got to get a picture of the sunrise. I usually don't take pictures like that but thought I needed to capture the beauty.

It was cool and crisp and the sky was beautiful.

 

I have been trying to keep very busy and am making Christmas cards to be sent to the American Red Cross for Holiday Mail for Heroes. If you are interested in sending a card, go to the Red Cross website. All the information is there about what you can and can't send.

 

Until next time - Be Safe!