MCP Projet 4: Week 4

This week's theme?

Muse.

Now I know the whole point of this exercise is to stretch yourself and get out of your comfort zone, but REALLY people?

Dictionary.com defines muse as:

–verb (used without object)

1. to think or meditate in silence, as on some subject.

2. Archaic . to gaze meditatively or wonderingly.

–verb (used with object)

3. to meditate on.

4. to comment thoughtfully or ruminate upon.

 

 

Ok, then.

 

Muse.

 

I'll muse on the photograph and get back to you.

 

Here is Brie "musing":

 

 

Winter Wreath

I stalk lots of crafty type blogs... and I see so many projects that I would love to try. Most of the really cool projects are too costly, too time consuming or too complicated for my wallet, schedule and attention span. This awesome wreath, however, fit the bill perfectly! I saw versions with coffee filters and with cupcake liners. I couldn't decide which one I liked better, so I used both!

The cupcake liner was pinched (thanks Squil for being my step by step model!) and the top was fluffed a little.

Then the cupcake liner was attached to the middle of the coffee filter with a dollop of hot glue.

Then the whole fluffy blossom was attached with more hot glue to  a wreath form.

Speaking of wreath forms... I discovered these flat, light weight, super inexpensive wreath rings at Michael's. I LOVE them! With this project there is no need to cover the sides!

Lather, rinse, repeat all the way around!

You can see from the back how fluffy and full the coffee filters are... Really, no need at all to try to glue them onto the inside or outside edges.

The texture difference between the coffee filter and cupcake liner is subtle. It reminds me of a crinoline under a wedding dress.

The forms are so light and slim that all it needed for "hardware" was a little hot glue under and on top of the ribbon.

One wreath got a bow on top and the other got a bow hot glued into the liners.

This wreath is going to get stored in my "winter" box... the things that can come out after Thanksgiving and be shuffled around until February or so. I'm thinking that a pink version is in order for Valentine's Day!

Super Simple "Grab A Button"

I've searched high and low to find easy to use "Grab a button" code and although, it SEEMS simple something always seems to go wrong - the code breaks, my button shows but not my code, my code shows but my box won't scroll... something!

I'm exceedingly thrilled to share a site I found that does the work for you!

Grab My Button Code Generator is literally a fill in the blank form that spits out your code. Then just copy the code and paste it into an HTML widget in your side bar.

Backing up a step... Do you have a "button"? My favorite place to create buttons is Picnik.

1. Upload a picture or an element from your blog to Picnik. I used the damask for the graphic element in mine.
2a. Crop your image to 150 x 150 pixels (a good standard size that fits in most sidebars). OR
2b. If your image is already "button sized" don't crop at all!
3.  Add text, a border, change to colors, add some flair...
4. When you've got it all just right, click "Save & Share" and choose Picasa, Flickr or Photobucket. Any of these will give your picture a place to "live" so that you can copy its address for the code generator!

Clear as mud? Great!

Happy buttoning!

Crafty

Just keepin' it real.

Hope you're doing something that makes you happy today!

MCP Project 52 - Week 4 Photo

Thanks for the thoughts and ideas -- I loved all of them! I took several (dozen) pictures this week, including some last night after I posted and some this afternoon after seeing your ideas.

KJC - I totally almost talked FMG into going to Max's to take pictures of their wine. Should've.

EJH - Wash, rinse, repeat! I just wish I'd had someone who let me take pictures of their sudsy hair because I totally thought about that, too. I think it's the most soothing when someone else is doing the washing!

Here's what I ended up going with:



{I was pleasantly suprised by some positive feedback on my Flickr page! What a fun treat!}

Making tea is soothing. And I'm really pleased with the end result.

Challenge met!

MCP Project 52 - Week 4

This week's theme is "Soothing Repetition"... a little abstract for my taste.

My first thought was my sweet kitty Sachi... then the example picture was of a cat.

Figures.

I can think of lots of things that are soothing and repitious. But how do I capture a picture of it? I guess thats the challenge, isn't it?

Any inspiration out there in blog land? I'm stuck.

(You can leave an anynomous note if you want...)

{p.s.}

Valentine's Mantle

Hurray for Valentine's Day!!!

My living room is all dressed up and ready for the BEST day of the year. Thank goodness FMG is amazing and tolerates my whimsical obsession with a day devoted to pink and lovies.

It's a little funky, a little sweet, a little mod and totally Casa G.

It couldn't truly be Casa G without a monogram. I can't NOT monogram something and this pink glitter was perfect! I guess the glitter is pretty standard, right?

This sweet little love bird is hanging out here - he usually lives in the dining room - for the season. Her mate is on the other end of the mantle.

This Valentine sign was reprieved from door duty to sit watch over the romance that is sure to ensue over the next few weeks. Nothing says it better, right?

Real flowers won't last and the faux-real gorgeous silk flowers I really wanted weren't in the budget... but a dollar store bouquet of sparkly hearts is!
 

More sparkly hearts in the apothecary jar. Just in case you might need one to cure what ails you. There is no problem a sparkly heart can't solve. (You think I jest? I'm serious. No problem.)

The other love bird  keeping watch!  I love the way the mercury-esque glass reflects the pink and red and adds a modern touch to the mantle.

Love, love, love it! Have (or will) you decorat(ed) for Valentine's Day? Don't let the sweetest day of the year go by unloved in your house!

It's a Sign of the Times

To say that February 14th is my favorite day of the year is an understatement. I LOVE the day completely devoted to love. I adore the sweet sentiments and friendly exchanges.

(Gag. I know. I can't help it.)

I've been totally obsessed with signs this year... I made them for all of my teacher friend's doors for Christmas - so I decided, why not Valentine's, too?

A few coats of pink paint on a basic artist's canvas (I like the flat ones!).

Some sweet sayings and cute hearts arranged and rearranged.

All topped off by a couple of good layers of clear coat (I used a glossy finish.).

This one ended up on my mantle... Pictures of that to come soon!

And these pretties went to school! The ribbon is just hot glued to the back.

LOVE!!!!!

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Such a Great Idea!

There is a fabulous cookbook swap going on over at Life is Glamorous and Fabulous.

If you're interested in participating or want more details, go here.

I only have a San Antonio JL cookbook - so I'd be excited with and out of state book OR an in state book!

Bon appetite!

Cotton Bowl in the Jerrydome

I went to the Cotton Bowl.

It wasn't IN the Cotton Bowl.

Tell me , if you name a bowl game after the location it is played in and then change its location, shouldn't the name of the bowl game also change? It's just not right to play in the Cotton Bowl game at Cowboy's Stadium.

It's also just not right that the Aggies lost. (Hello, turnovers. Hello, psych out. Hello, intimidation factor.)

 It was an adventure though! It was FMG and my first visit to the Death Star. It is HUUUUUUUUUGE! KJC had been to a few Cowboy's games and a tour - and I'm so glad! We would have been lost at sea without her.

The tickets this year were legit. I'm talking 4.5 inches wide and about 8 inches tall and thick plastic! You felt like you need a neck lanyard with a pouch to put it in and wear it.

(Oh wait, we saw those for sale. For $15. Seriously.)

The famous Corny Dog stand from the State Fair was on the grounds. Can you tell I was slightly (just the tiniest bit) excited!?

No. We didn't leave the stadium. This is the bar. In the football stadium. For real. Also - there are double the number of women's restrooms than men's. I ran off to find it and expecting that I would take forever FMG and KJC prepared themselves to wait. But alas! I almost beat the bartender. 

My awesome cousins were there with us... Four of those five are related. The other one might as well be.

More family! We were loud. It's genetic! That's what happens when everyone in your family (with the notable exception of Jojo's first few years) goes to the same school. Football games become mini family reunions. 

So, the Ags might not have one the game but - as we like to remind ourselves season after season, heartbreak after heartbreak - we sure as hell won half time!

After the game was over we decided to drown our sorrows in delicious Cafe Brazil - a Dallas gem of an all night restaurant. Pancakes make everything better.

MCP Project 52

I'm so excited about participating in this cool project! MCP Project 52 is a week by week photography challenge that anyone is welcome to join. There is a new theme each week and participants upload their pictures to the MCP Flickr page to share and be inspired. Every week some of the photos are featured on the MCP blog. I'm looking forward to the challenges and the themes. I started this week so I'm late but here's what I've got so far, starting with Week 1:

Week One - "Oil and Water Don't Mix"

This one was from a science lesson at school about density and the properties of liquids. Cool, huh?

Week Two - "Illustrate a Song"

"Auld Lang Syne"

Week Three - "Shades of Gray"

Here's  the one I submitted ...

And here's my all time favorite "Shades of Gray" picture:

Don't you worry - I'll be sure to update you with my pictures every week :)

(I know you'll be waiting with bated breath...)