Easter Basket Swap - Posting for Laura

I am posting pictures of the wonderful Easter Basket put together for Laura Myhre by Connie Alderden over at Pearls and Precious Stones!

 Connie made this basket herself! I was impressed! Laura - my mom - was very blessed with this whole package! The chicky bag was handmade too! Very skillful :) I love this vintage card too! Very good example of a wonderful basket!

Thank you Connie! (from Laura)

It's Here!!

Yay! I got my Easter Swap Basket from Donna at Tea Loving Lady. She did such a great job putting together a fun basket for me. It was stuffed full of bright and cheerful goodies! I felt like a spoiled little kid. I mean, I never got a basket filled with so much stuff before! She gave me a super cute, hand-made Spring or Easter banner that I just adore! She MADE it too! Love it!

I know, try not to be too jealous girls! Thank you so much Donna, I was very happy to get it! You definitely pampered and spoiler me!

We're getting close!

We are getting close to the end of our Easter Basket Swap ladies! How is it going? We have a some already sent and received, and one on it's way! I know I have mine almost finished, and will be sending early this week.
Check out these cute banners that Donna made over at Tea Loving Lady. They are so cute, and definitely get me in the mood for a cheerful spring...even though it's currently overcast and rainy here on the Oregon coast.

Anyways, I am having fun seeing what all you ladies come up with! This swap is definitely more open ended, and I am enjoying using my creative juices to come up with fun ideas for my partner, hope you are too!

GAK Attack!

As a kid, this was one of my favorite crafts! Who am I kidding?! It's still one of my favorite crafts. Tonight, Eric and I made GAK. What's Gak? Well, it's kind of like silly putty, and a little like play dough. It's main ingredient is glue, with a few other simple things that create this wonderfully cool chemical reaction.

     Dump 4 bottles (2 cups) of Elmer's Glue into a mixing bowl

                       Combine 1-1/2 cups of water with 2-4 drops of food coloring and add to glue.

                                                              Mix it up...with yours hands!

                                             Combine 1 cup of water with 3 teaspoons of Borax.

                                                  Slowly add the Borax water, 1/3rd at a time.

                         Mix it up with your hands! You will feel it instantly start to congeal, it's the coolest!

                                         Keeping smooshing together, as it continues to "stiffen"

                               It will be slimy at first, but you can tell its done reacting, when it doesn't feel          
                                            wet anymore. Squish it! Smoosh it! Play with it!

                                       Us mature adults, we like to make it make farting noises!

                        For a fun Easter twist, put a little Gak into plastic eggs! Kids (and adults)
                                          will love how it feel squishing between their fingers!

        
            FYI:  Gak is not to be eaten. Gak will not form shapes, like play dough. Gak is just fun and silly!

Mumsie's Musings - Wrapping up some creativity!

For my fellow Easter Basket Swappin' Gals, check out the baskets over at Mary Lea's blog - Mumsie's Musings. 

I am so impressed with all of them! I remember making smaller, much more simple versions when I was kid with my mom. Oh, did you every make the coasters? Wow, what fun memories. OK -  back to reality. 

Thanks for sharing your craftiness when us Mary Lea, I am truly inspired, and kinda thinking about trying my hand at a basket! 

Well, I am off to Amazon to look for that It's a Wrap book.

Easter Swap Partners!

Well, Lovely Ladies! You should have your swap partner! Please let Paula or I know if you any issues with the information that was given to you, and we would be glad to clear it up for you! I am so excited, I can't wait to get started filling my basket!

In the meantime, TAKE A LOOK at these darling bags over at Connie's ! SEW cute! 

Weekly Scripture

For the last couple of weeks, a friend and I have been taking turns picking a scripture verse for the week. We start on Monday, and write or print it out, and have it where we see it often. I have mine taped to my computer at work...since I am staring into it for 75% of my day!

Last weeks verse was:

Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

This was such a good reminder. It's something we have heard since we were kids, but it seems like the whole conecpt is lost on us adults. Just because we are all "grown-up", doesn't mean we have the JUST MEANS to be MEAN. Another thing I would like to clear up, just because something "is true" - doesn't mean it can be, or should be, said. 

 Let's practice the taming of our tongues. As my dad constantly reminded me as a kid ( I wish he still did)

"Think before you speak."

Life here on Earth is too short to speak evil to others. I pray for a tame tongue that is quick to listen, and slow to speak. Can my tongue listen? It needs to.

This week's verse:    REVELATION 21:4

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Won't that be a glorious time?

4 more days and counting...

I am getting pretty impatient. After going shopping this weekend with my mom, I am so anxious to get my partner! I found lots of cute ideas, but didn't pick up much because I wasn't sure if it would fit my partner's tastes! Oh well, at least the wheels are turning!

I definitely want to make my partner's Easter card, and I found some cute ideas over at good 'ol Martha Stewart.

Does it feel like spring where you are? My husband and I are at my folk's house for the weekend. Its so nice to hear the birds singing and chirping away, the horses neighing for their breakfast and the turkeys gobbling.  I miss living in the country....Awww, but someday  again  :)

Easter Basket Swap: CLOSED

Well, the Easter Basket Swap is now officially closed for sign-ups. Thank you everyone who joined in! We can't wait to start sharing ideas and seeing pictures of what you all have going on. We will try to post often with different, hopefully inspiring, ideas for the baskets. 

I will update the participant list (to the left) as soon as possible, so we can start paroozing around eachother's sites and get to know everyone participating! 

Please let me or Paula know if you have something you want us to link to. Like, if you have made and gotten something you'd like to share! You know the drill :) 

Is it March 10th yet? I can't wait to get my partner! 

"...patience is a virtue" -  Whoever said that never did a swap before, CLEARLY! 

Have a great week!

Springy Flower Pots

This project turned out way different than I had original picture in my head. But, there are endless possibilities to adapt and change it! I was originally thinking of them being picture holders, but then the paper flowers came to mind...Well, actually fabric flowers came to mind from a project from my mom...BUT from a lack of supplies, these Springy creations came about! You never know what you'll come up with when you make do!

 

 

  Here I painted a plain flower pot white, and then the color. 

I then sanded it for a "worn" look. After the paint dried, I sprayed it with a coat of Shellac to keep the paint from scratching off.

  Here, I glued a Styrofoam ball in the bottom of the pot for a
place to stick the boingy-spring in to.

  I think bunched up some Easter grass, or raffia,
and hot glued it in place.

To make the wire springy, I coiled it around a pencil
and then slid it off.

                                                                                             

Here I straightened out the top piece of the wire and sandwiched it to 

the back of the paper flower with another cut-out and hot glued it in place.

 

 To make the paper flowers, I used a punch-out. Like I mentioned in the beginning, there are endless adaptations...What do you think? 

I like the idea of making one into a picture holder.

I like having a row of them, and maybe spell out a word? 

Anyways, I at least hope to have inspire some creative juices!

Retro Mama's Fabric Easter Eggs

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1052587@N23/

Love, love , LOVE these cute Fabric Easter Eggs! 

        Retro Mama has done a wonderful job organizing the steps for making these with step-by-step photos too! I got some Eastery fabric today and I can't wait to make a bundle.

Check it out!

Coyotes, Snow and Sweet Potato Fries

We went coyote hunting this weekend. A day outside was just what I needed to recharge myself. Away from people, noises, distractions, etc...it was beautiful. We didn't call in any coyotes, but we did go play in the snow...finally!

                                                                    Calling spot.

                                                                     Will the Snowman.

                                                                 Dixie loving the snow.

                                                                        God is good. 

After a long, glorious day of tromping around in the woods, a belly full of Venison Burger and Sweet Potato Fries is in order!

Sweet Potato Fries

2 teaspoons smoked paprika

2 teaspoons pepper

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 tablespoons olive oil

                                                Peel yams and cut into long strips...fries.

                                                Coat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

                                      In small bowl, mix smoke paprika, garlic and pepper.

                                                                 Sprinkle over fries

                                                              Toss and turn to coat

                                       Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes. Broil for crispiness!

                                           I usually broil for 3-5 minutes on low broil.

"Pinch ya off some"

  I pulled into my driveway on my lunch break and stepped out to get the mail, like always. It had been pouring down buckets, like usual on the Oregon Coast, but it had just taken a break and the sun was shining. I heard this voice just singing out loud - It was my neighbor Jewel busting out in this beautiful song, praising Jesus for the sunshine! She was on her front stoop, picking some dead leaves from her potted plants. See, my neighbor Jewel is in her 90's, and lives alone. I bring her mail to and sometime when she is feeling up to it, I get to see her. Well, she was mostly certainly feeling well today! 

I walked over with a big 'ol smile as she is completely unaware of my presence, still shouting our Praise! I was at that point where I was thinking...OK, do I say something and startle her, or just wait until she notices me? I mean, I didn't wanna SCARE her too bad, ya know? But, boy was she glad to see me. We talked and as I was leaving, she asked if I liked Parsley? I nodded yes, and then she said the sweetest thing..."Pinch ya off some!"

What my neighbor Jewel didn't know is I pinched off more than just a little Parsley this afternoon, but a handful of her praise and joy! 

Thank you Jesus for this moment this afternoon!  I love how he works these little, seemingly insignificant oppurtunities in our lives to bless us. 

Amen!! Let the sun shine down on you today! 

Easter Basket Swap!

It is hard to look back on our Easter celebrations as children and not think of the joy and excitement we felt when we got our Easter baskets. Candy, treats, Easter eggs and, of course, chocolate bunnies! Let’s bring back the giddy joy we felt as kids, and spoil each other with our very own Easter Baskets, stuffed to the brim with Easter sweetness.

Join my dear friend Paula and I in our first ever swap! Ever since Paula introduced me to my first Swap,  we've been talking about hosting a swap together! We finally came up with this Easter Basket fun! Read on to find out how to join in and what all the fun will entail!

First, sign up by sending the following details to us at easterbasketswap@yahoo.com


Name:
Mailing Address:
Blog Address or Website:
Favorite Easter treat: (Chocolate, jelly beans, peeps, etc...)-
Preferences: Colors, themes, Religious preferences, décor style, favorite Easter traditions, etc…


Now  just sit back (be patient) and wait for your partner information to arrive. We know the waiting part is the hardest. You're excited and you want to get started on your basket! Fill your empty time with cruising around the internet looking for fantastic Easter projects and simply getting inspiration from other fabulous bloggers out there!

Once your partner information arrives, get to know her and start filling an Easter Basket with goodies that will make your partner giggle with glee…

Paula and I came up with a bit of criteria for your baskets; but not so much that it will stifle your creativity. We want you to have fun with this!


What’s in the basket?


1. One Easter decoration - what kind of decoration is up to you and your partners likes. Be creative.
2. One Easter Card - paper crafts are so much fun!
3. Chocolate/ or other candy - yummy!
4. Easter character; i.e. Bunny, Chick, Egg, Cross, Lillies, etc… - something that signifies Easter to your partner (and is adorable!)
5. Other goodies your partner will enjoy…stuff that basket full. The idea is to pamper your partner!


Criteria:


1. At least one of the items in the basket must be handmade. 

2. We ask that a minimum of $20 (not including shipping) be spent on the basket and goodies.


(There is no limit as to what all is put in the basket, just as long as the minimum is met.)


Have fun with the basket’s presentation! For example – Easter grass, ribbons, raffia. Get creative! Your basket could be the handmade item. So many possiblities - just remember to go with what your partner will enjoy!


Remember, it’s all about pampering your partner!



Important Dates


Sign up by: March 1st
Partners will be sent out by: March 10th
Swap needs to be sent out NO LATER than: April 4th


(We want everyone to be able to enjoy their baskets before it's time to put those Easter decorations away!)




Most Importantly
Be creative! Have fun! Pamper your partner!

Check back in often to On a Rainy Night or Perhaps Today for Easter Basket and fun project ideas! Make sure to leave lots of comments as to your progress and your own creative ideas! Remember to watch for what your partner likes too!


We sure hope you'll join us - hop to it! Send that email!

Valentine Card Making Party

The week before Valentine's Day, some of my favorite girls and me got together to craft some homemade Valentine's Cards! It was a blast, and they turned out so cute! 

We had so much fun making cards, we're already talking about making cards for the next Holiday... St. Patrick's Day Cards??