Shellapuhlooza 2010!

Shellapuhlooza 2010!

I wanted to let everyone know that Sarah from Tales Of An OC Cottage is having an awesome give away. It's her Shellapuhlooza 2010!

She has the most yummy (no you can't eat them) looking shelliluscious goodies to give away.

Please visit her for more information on entering for your chance(s) to win.

Wait to you feast your eyes on her:

"Sailor's Valentine"...

A little box of lovelies...

A vintage bottle topped with a glittery shell!

Another vintage bottle that holds a "bouquet" full of shimmery
starfish!

More starfish besides the ones in her "bouquet", 5 in all... AND you get to decide the glitter color.

A totally delightful shell encrusted birdhouse...that she made just for you...with as she says' her own "Flaming Hot Cheetos-stained hands"!

She filled a tiny nest, with even tinier shells and a sand dollar they look sweet(tweet).

Wait to you see the eye candy that is a shell swag she made, and yes, she'll glitter it for you or you can leave it plain. But believe me it's not plain, it's adorable!

And LAST BUT NOT LEAST...
A shelliciously pink wreath that is "one shell of a piece of art".

Please be sure to mention that you saw her giveaway posted on my blog. I wish you luck on your entry but I'm really hoping for the Shelliluscious Goodies for myself; I'm being really SHELLFISH!

Thank you for visiting and I love you sweet comments!

SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY -- Baby Girl Photo Collage...

Welcome To Show and Tell Friday hosted by Cindy at Romantic Home.


















WHAT IS A PHOTO COLLAGE YOU ASK?
Do you remember when you were little, think back, far back... we had to learn how to use scissors. Cutting pictures from old magazines or scraps of paper was a way to practice. Pasting or gluing the pictures down was fun, too. Many of us that have grown into adults like to do cutting and pasting, too. Many professional artists enjoy making collages as well; it's a huge trend right now.

A collage is made from objects that are pasted or attached to something else. The word "collage" comes from the French word, coller, which means to stick. Collages can be flat. You can use many different kinds of paper in a flat collage, like scrapbooking paper or any paper you chose. Collages can be made from 3D objects, too. This kind of art is called a collage in relief. Any of the objects you use in a collage can be glued, nailed, stapled, or even sewn down. A collage is interesting because you can make one out of almost anything! Finding things around your home for a collage is like going on a mini treasure hunt. It's a great way to recycle too! I love "shopping" around my house to see what I can reuse in my crafting.

Most people think of paper when they think of what a collage is made of. The Chinese invented paper way back in 200 B.C., (way before you or I where around) but they didn't invent the art form of collage. Collage was first started in 12th century in Japan. Calligraphers glued small pieces of paper and fabric together. Then, they used the rough surface for their beautiful characters. The patience needed was immense. Medieval artists glued gems, relics, and gold to their exquisite work. I've also read that many Nuns used to make bookmarks adorned with colored papers for their prayer books, another sort of collage. Some collectors made beautiful butterfly wing collages. I'm sure you've seen these before.

As you can see there are many forms of collage, why don't you try one? You might find it will bring back some fond memories of being a child. This is also a great project to do with your children or grandchildren and is very inexpensive to do.



I started off by picking my backround paper. I chose pink roses, as the baby I made this for was named, Rose. The shade of pink was exactly what I wanted.



I then used some aged paper and printed I love you, I love you, I love you, all over the entire paper. I then crinkled the paper up to make it really vintage looking and inked the edges for more aging.



I printed the defintion of "Cherish" and aged the paper it was printed on. Cherish; To treat with affection and tenderness; hold dear: cherish one’s family.
I then embellished my collage with a tiny crocheted doily, a piece of lace with ribbon and some sweet, little, heart buttons in gold and pearl.



I made this gift for new parents, which I recently had the pleasure to meet.
I wanted to make them something I hoped they would treasure for years to come. The photo used in this collage is a photo of me at 8 months old. After receiving my gift they were able to place their own photo of their sweet baby girl; Rose in place of mine.

Thank you for visiting, I appreciate your sweet comments and I hope you enjoy my collage. Please be sure to visit Cindy and see a list of other participants.

Hugz,

Reserve Your Seat For An Italian Dinner...

Thank you for stopping by for Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan at Between Naps On The Porch. Please visit Susan at her blog for a list of other participants.


It's very rare to have a perfect experience, of a great Italian dinner, while dining out. Why not create your own Italian atmosphere, just as if you were in Italy or at a Little Italian Bistro. Dine at home with fresh, simple flavorings of the Mediterranean, a great bottle of wine and a warm, inviting, atmosphere.

With a few fresh ingredients you can create easy, delicious, Italian recipes. I don't know anyone who doesn't love Italian food! Especially if my husband (my very Italian husband) is doing the cooking. There are only the two of us at home but he cooks enough for the "Italian Army".

I wanted to keep my Italian Tablescape very simple and not fussy. So I chose not to use a tablecloth, I instead used red place mats that I had purchased from Home Goods.



I then used my white ironstone dinner plates from JC Penney and layered them with a red scalloped dish, also from JC Penny. I topped the dish with an Italian Pasta Bowl from a set that I had picked up many years ago; they are from a collection called "Bella".



The pattern is very simple and is decorated with tomatoes, eggplant, yellow peppers, mushrooms and grapes. I use this set all the time, they are well used. I'm careful not to send leftovers home with food in them, for fear they may not return to me. They weren't expensive but I really love them. I added a red scalloped salad bowl for that punch of red!



My wine glasses are "Palm" and they were purchased from Home Goods. I tucked a yellow napkin (with a Fleur DE Li's pattern) inside the wine glass, to add a little height to the table.



In the center of my table I displayed the large Pasta bowl from my "Bella" collection. I then added a crock to hold some pasta...



and added my fat hen/rooster (people call it both, so I'm not sure)...



This is where my husband stepped in and added his touch; he put a small bunch of fresh tomatoes and a hot pepper on the table...



Then he said, "I'll be right back"... I'm wondering what he is up to...



He went looking for a special bottle of wine that his friend Rico; of "Mom & Rico's Specialty Market Inc" had given him. The wine is made by his family and the label is Bocce Bella; "Momma Daniele"! Isn't she beautiful?



He then went on to add a jar of stuffed "Hot Peppers" and my grated cheese container that I purchased at Home Goods. Wait a minute...who is doing this tablescape, anyway?



He really has a nice touch and his additions made our "Italian" tablescape complete...





I hope you enjoyed your visit and I hope you'll come back soon... My Italian husband now wants to have a "Tablescape" contest with me... I think I created a monster...
He's already been out shopping for his table, I can't wait to see what he designs, I'm sure it will be something very special. Most of all his support is what is dearest to me and I love him all the more for it!

I hope you are blessed with a special someone that supports you no matter what new hobby/craft you enjoy, my guy always has!

Thank you Susan for hosting Tablescape Thursday!

I also wanted to mention that Jane at Blondies Journals is having a great give away, please stop by and say hello. Her blog is very lovely!

Hugz,
Kim




Mom & Rico's Specialty Market Inc is located in Springfield, MA. If you are ever in that area, stop in and say hi, and tell them how you heard about them!

WHITE WEDNESDAY...

Welcome to White Wednesday hosted by Kathleen at FADED CHARM COTTAGE

I thought I would take a few snapshots of bits and pieces of things around the house. I hope you enjoy...




Thank you for visiting... and please stop by:

Tabletop Tuesday...

Today is my first day joining in at Marty's Table Top Tuesday, I'm showing my bedtray in my guest bedroom, just waiting for someone to visit...



This is a close up of the sweet bird statue that I picked up at Michael's...



I also found this cute little jar with white roses at Michael's...



This is a close up photo of the bedtray...



Did you notice my favorite magazine on the bedtray? House Beautiful...



This is a photo over the bedtray...




I found this pretty blue and white teacup and saucer at Home Goods a few years back...




I just love the curves of the rod iron...




More curves...



This is a view of the bed, I just love it...



I love the quote over the bed "Joy Be With You While You Stay"! I hope you had a joyous visit with me today, thank you for stopping by. I just love it when you visit!


Please be sure to visit Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday and see her kitchen staged by a professional designer, so very lovely! Thank you Marty for hosting Tabletop Tuesday!

Mosaic Monday...

Welcome To Mosaic Monday hosted by Mary at Little Red House, please be sure to visit Mary and say "hi"!

Today was my first try at learning to do a Mosaic. I finally figured it out, but need to improve upon it. I hope you enjoy my Rooster Mosaic.




Thanks for stopping by...

Metamorphosis Monday...

Welcome to Metamorphosis Monday hosted by Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch"!

For my "Metamorphosis Monday" I decided to show my birdcage that my mother bought me years ago for an Anniversary gift for my husband and me. My mom and I were out shopping and I came across this lovely iron birdcage that I loved, but for some reason I didn't want to spend the money on it (so not like me)! So we left the store without it. Well to my surprise my mom went back to the store and bought it for me. I was so surprised and touched that she would know how much I loved it and go back and buy it for me! That was six years ago this May.

Here is a before picture of the birdcage undecorated waiting for some fresh flowers, etc.




I added a ceramic flowerpot:



and then filled the flowerpot with beautiful Wave Petunias:





Did you notice the "Momma" bird sitting amongst the flowers? She decided that this would be her nest... she laid three pretty eggs that are just waiting to be hatched!

Aren't the eggs just beautiful...



Look really close...what do you see?
One egg has hatched, see baby sitting with "Momma"?



Now look a little bit closer...closer still...
Way in the back...another egg has hatched!



Finally, at last, the third egg has hatched and has joined the other's sitting with "Momma".



What a "Tweet" little family!



Someone is missing...where did he go?



He flew to the top of the cage...



You think it was for a "Birds Eye View"?



I hope you enjoyed my "Tweet" little before and after of my birdcage, please be sure to visit Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch"!