Early last evening I had the opportunity to visit a new, improved, and larger store in our area called "Tuesday Morning". I understand from talking to one of the ladies at the store, that they have locations throughout the United States. I find it to be quite a fascinating store containing many items that are unique and they offer a huge variety of products. When I walked in the door I noticed on the one shelf many tied clusters of real looking, faux flowers. I purchased one of clusters for 10.00. Now, first of all I will always favor real, from the garden flowers. In the summer I am always cutting bouquets and having them in my home or giving them away. But, these looked fairly real, and I knew that I had three old milk bottles that I had purchased for .50 each at a flea market, last fall. I brought this one cluster home, divided it into three clusters, added water to my milk bottles(at first due to the colorings on the stems, the water turns slightly green, so let the flowers stand in it for a few minutes...empty the water and add clear).
So, here are my three bouquets of flowers...ready to be given to people that I know are going through some rough things right now. Like one of the friends is having an unexpected biopsy, and the others are struggling with other painful issues. I thought they just might be blessed with the thought that someone is thinking of them, and this is almost as inexpensive of a way as dropping them a card. It is just an idea that came to me because bouquets of well wishes are always meaningful.
I folded a large unlined index card in half, and used my stamp and ink to make a simple card. I keep stacks of the unlined cards and often use them with ink and clear stamps to make cards. Easy to write messages in the inside too.
I found this pretty floral tin at this store also, for 2.00. It will be filled with cookies or peanut crunch, for a birthday or a thinking of you gift. Thought I'd share these fun finds with you, just in case you need any small gifts, or want to brighten your kitchen counter.
This is the simple centerpiece that I used this weekend;
Thanks to the Dollar Tree, I now have this fun pen holder in my kitchen. Details for this are included below.
Many times over the years, I have received requests from family and friends, to create centerpieces and favors for special event parties. I really enjoy this type of thing, and find it quite challenging to create and color coordinate, while all the time trying to keep the price at a minimum. For the centerpiece of this particular party, I used one of my white ironstone pitchers. I filled it with real looking blue hydrangea stems that I found in the floral section of The Burlington Coat Factory. I would much prefer real hydrangeas, but this just is not the right time of year, especially if one is attempting to keep the cost low. I did consider it a compliment when the Birthday girl asked if I bought the hydrangeas at market that morning? I am amazed at how real looking some of the faux flowers are today.
This party was held in a private room of a restaurant. The linen tablecloth was white, the napkins were a soft blue and white, which is why I went with this choice of centerpiece and favors. It was for 10 women. The birthday girl has a somewhat flambuoyant personality, and loves colors and flowers.
I took one of the hydrangea stems and cut it into small pieces. I wrapped the bread enclosed in cellophane, in a tea towel, wrapped the darker blue ribbon around it, added a small piece of the hydrangea flower, and a wallet sized photo of the birthday girl, that I glued onto a card tag. For this feature I took a flattering photograph of the birthday girl, scanned it into 10 wallet size photos. Sometimes I ask for baby photos and a recent photo and alternate those on the favors. I cut them up and glued them onto the tags, and tied it along with the flowers. The photos always add an indiviual touch to the favors. This was a simple, inexpensive way to add personalization and pizazz to a fun celebration for a special person.
In my bathroom shelf, I placed my heart shaped soaps(which I keep from year to year) in a pretty glass dish(a Christmas gift from my daughter), a glass "love" votive holder and a mirrored heart frame. For some reason this display brings a smile each time I see it, possibly because of the simple beauty of it.
This heart box was created for me, for my birthday, by a dear friend. The year she gave it to me was 1993. How can I possibly remember that date? Well, she lined the inside of the box with the local newspaper of the day of my birthday, the year she gave it to me. How cleaver!! This beautiful heart box sits on the shelf above our bed. It is a reminder to me of the significance of homemade gifts and the people who so lovingly create them.
With most of my Christmas decorations put away, I always enjoy looking around my house for things to use to create displays. Since photography is one of my favorite pasttimes, I have collected many miscellaneous photographs over the years, those that did not make it into my photo albums for one reason or another. I also have an array of miscellaneous plates since visiting flea markets and antique malls is another way I enjoy spending free time. I created this display from items I had on hand.
I remember clearly when my middle daughter received her "American Girl Doll" from her Grandma, for Christmas. My mother tried to pick out a doll that resembled each of her granddaughters. I think she did a great job with this match! I remember the hours of time the little girls spent, playing with their treasured dollls. I cut out this photograph the same way as the one above. For the wording, I cut out the words that I wanted to use from my sheets of "Rub-Ons". I have collected several sheets of rub-on words over the last two years. You can find these sheets at most craft and scrapbook stores. It amazes me how easy they are to use and how nice they look on most any surface. The main requirement is that you keep the paper perfectly still while you rub the surface with a popsicle stick(which is included with the sheets). I'd like to find a smaller white stand for this photo. I think the black one is a bit overpowering for this plate.
I found these adorable "Festive confections" ornaments, at KMart last week in the Christmas section. They were 2.99, but were 30% off. I think they will be perfect to tie onto boxes of tea, or bags of coffee, that I will give as gifts.
I tied this ornament onto a box of tea. It just adds a decorative touch to an ordinary box of tea, for my tea drinking friends.
I tied this cup on the top of a wrapped tea box, added a tag and a small bauble with a bit of double sided tape.
A few years ago, I found this wire ornament rack at a flea market. Each year I choose different groupings of ornaments to hang on it. I think these confection ornaments look perfect in one area of my kitchen. They also have small green and red kitchen utencil ornaments that would look nice tied onto a plate of muffins or a container of cookies.
I am starting to do some Christmas decorating in my kitchen and eating area. I have one corner near the refrigerator, that tends to be a dark corner. I took my cupcake stand out of the closet, added a garland of faux evergreens, a small strand of tiny clear lights, and then put the colored Christmas ornaments in each cupcake holder.
It certainly brightens up the corner, as I hoped that it would. The one that I decorated is a bit smaller than the first one pictured, although either one would work.
The pastries were brought home this afternoon by my daughter. They had baked them this morning. Almond flavoring and sliced almonds made it difficult to put them back in the refrigerator. Tomorrow morning they go to work with my husband. If you are thinking about decorating for the holidays, you might want to look around your kitchen. Clear lights can dress up many things.
This past weekend I put away my ghord pumpkin and corn candy votives, which left me with an empty kitchen island counter. I know that I may be rushing the seasons, but I look at it, as one more thing to check off my list of things to do. I decided to use my same mirrored tray, and used some of the crystal candle holders that I have collected over the years. I use these for many different occasions. The long burning taper candles I had purchased after Christmas last year, at a "Tuesday Morning" store. I added some green Christmas balls tied on with ribbon. I will only light the candles on special occasions, although I know these candles are slow burning.
I like the look of crystal and mirrors. It adds sparkle to my kitchen island, and the mirror reflects the lights of the chandelier.
This is another old mirror that was propped up on my living room shelf. I used some small glass goblets that I found this summer, at an outdoor flea market. I added some gold votives from last Christmas and sprinkled some clear crystals, from Michael's Craft Store, on the mirror. It will make a nice centerpiece for my dining room table. Once again, a simple yet elegant concept.
This mirrored centerpiece was created for a friend with a more contempory taste. It is a round mirror purchased from the "Dollar Tree". I used "Goop" to glue the mirror unto a crystal candle holder, to give it some height. I used glass votive holders and added color with some multi colored baubles. Easy, inexpensive and a fun way to dress up a counter top or a dining room table.
A few years ago, a friend gave me detergent in a glass bottle. to set by my kitchen sink. Many times since then, I have thought of that dear friend, while standing at my sink scrubbing pans. The bottles can be purchased in any department stores, kitchen shops, and Walmart, where I found these for a few dollars. The one done above was filled with clear dish liquid soap. The colors and embellishments, are endless. I try to fill with a soap color that matches the recipient's kitchen. The embellishments that I use, are only for the initial giving. I have also given this bottle with a new dishcloth wrapped around it, or a scrubbing brush tied to the side with a ribbon.
This is the particular one that sets by my sink. Since it is Fall, I used the orange color. I have the bow and the berries on, just for a festive feel. At this point you are probably questioning what type of person I am, to decorate my liquid soap bottle? It gets worse...wait till you read my poem.
This one I used the teal colored soap and really jazzed it up, with a strand of pearl garland. I am sure that my friend who receives this, will remove the pearls before using. Now, I am going to share the short poem that I made up to give along with each bottle that I give. In my mind, it simply completes the package. This is my poem; "Here is dish liquid soap in glass, To bring to your sink, a touch of class. To add pizazz to the daily chore, Of scrubbing pots, pans and more. As you use it , throughout each day, May thoughts of the "giver" come your way."
