Mind Wide Open~Paris in Spring

So here's the image of this month's Mind Wide Open challenge..with the phrase prompt "Paris In Spring". It was due in yesterday. The contest was to start today, but poor Gail had a flood in her basement, postponing the contest. I thought I'd go ahead and show my entry.

I embellished a mirror with scrap-paper and images, vintage buttons, velvet ribbon and and old earring. The text is also from a french book.

My daughter, Courtney, who loves all things Paris, is now the proud owner of this mirror! It's such a delight to make things that your children love and appreciate!

Gail does such a beautiful job designing images for each month's challenges. I especially had so much fun with this one!

Keep checking in on Mind Wide Open for all the entries and vote for your favorite one!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Bella Shabby Giveaway

Sue, over at Bella Shabby is having a giveaway...this darling apron! Pop over to enter--quick! It ends tomorrow!!

Metamorphosis Monday--a Tutorial

Welcome to Metamorphosis Monday, hosted by sweet Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch~

Okay, so this may be a "been there, done that" kinda thing for some of you, but I thought maybe there were a couple of folks who could use this idea, so here goes!!

I needed some magazine organizers for my Mary Englebriet Home Companion collection. That great magazine is now defunct :-(

Anyhoo, I bought these Rubbermaid heavy-duty holders at Wal-Mart and decided to doll them up a bit.

Grabbed some scrapbook paper and a stamp, measured and cut the paper.....

...schmeared glue on the whole thing and pasted it on....

Here's the BEFORE and AFTER.

....holding the magazines...

...and how it looks on my craft shelf! Voila!

Be sure to check out other fabulous transformations over at Susan's!!!

Kitchen--Details Part Deux

...thought I'd share a few more pics of the kitchen...

I got this tray for $1.00 at a thrift store years ago and hung it up here for a magnet board. I made magnets from flat marbles, stamped images on paper, cut it out and glued it on the marble. Then glued a magnet on the back. Ta-da! I also used a scrabble tile and made a magnet out of that, too. I have several in my playroom (studio) holding up inspirational pics and notes.

The paper is turned over, because I'd printed out emergency phone numbers plus the neighbors phone numbers and I think they wouldn't appreciate the blog world knowing all that!! ;-)

Gotta have a phone with note paper and pens ready, right? Why not display them all on a pretty silver tray? I always have a candle lit somewhere, too. The pens are sitting in a vintage flower vase.

This darling little note book holds "stickie" notes. The cover was made by my dear friend, Judy. So adorable!

Even tho I have 'readers' I need a magnifying glass for fine print. So I always have this one on hand.. It magnifies a fortune-cookie suggestion. I love the reminder. "Plan to have some fun"

A little shelf hanging by my sink with fun little doo-dads...I've amassed a bit of a collection (5) vintage egg cups. I love them! Use 'em to hold votive candles....

Like this!

Tablescape Thursday--Jenni's Birthday

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch is hosting her 36th Tablescape Thursday!! 36!!! Wow! I'm impressed that she can think up 36 different tablescapes! Great job, Susan!

This tablescape was for our friends, Jenni and Brian. We had them over for dinner to celebrate Jenni's birthday...The candles were my inspiration...they're usually on the coffee table in the family room. I had covered candle holders in brown wrapping paper, layered old sheet music over that, and wrapped old lace around and secured it with two vintage clip on earrings..I took the color scheme and sheet music idea and went with it....

Plunked an old mirror down on the table and topped it with mercury glass votives, the large candles, and a crystal vase filled with the first roses from our garden. I needed more height for the roses so I set the vase on top of plate on top of a small tray (that I just picked up for a buck at a garage sale recently!)

I used old sheet music for place mats, thrift-store napkins in the perfect shade of brown, and the plates that my sweet hubby bought me at Costco at Christmas. Got the whole black and cream and silver thing goin' on...

I had forgotten to take a picture of it, but I wrapped Jenni's birthday gifts in sheet music and black ribbon!

Here's the whole view--with plenty of room to add the dishes of food!!

Check out Between Naps on the Porch for other fabulous tablescape ideas!!

Have a great day!!

Metamorphosis Monday

Susan, at Between Naps on the Porch is hosting Metamorphosis Monday---all about BEFORE and AFTER's.....

We moved the buffet that was in the kitchen into the sitting (front) room and I thought I'd just like to do a display with no real rhyme or reason, just grab stuff from around the house and pull it together. I had such fun playing!!

I first grabbed a throw that was on the back of the love seat and scrunched it up on the buffet. From there, I grabbed a couple of large pitchers and a bowl from the dining room, the fireplace screen that was in front of the fireplace in the sitting room, a bowl of seashells that were tucked away in a closet, a vase with some greenery from the master bedroom and also a little 'spring display' with the bunny and sheet music under a cloche. The candle holders came off the coffee table and I changed the candles from burgundy to pink.

It was such fun pulling it all together. Like I said, no rhyme or reason, just pleasing to my eyes!!

(Steve liked it too!) ;-)

Even tho Easter's over, I just love this little bunny so much, that I'm keeping him on display awhile longer!!

Be sure to check out more MM at Between Naps on the Porch!!

Have a lovely day!!

Happy Birthday Courtney!!

Twenty-five years ago today, God gave me the desire of my heart--a little baby girl! And now she has grown to be one of my best friends!!Happy Birthday to my sweet daughter, Courtney!! I love you , Sweetie!!

My Darling Daughter

You are a shining example

of what a daughter can be-

love and laughter, beautiful and good,

honest and principled,

determined and independent,

sensitive and intelligent.

You are a shining example

of what every mother wishes her

daughter was and

I am so very proud of you.

~susan polis schutz~