Little Red Wagon

Hi Everyone and especially Arlynn.  I found this yesterday at our Sam's Club in Florida.  What a cute Christmas Décor piece.  The little Red Truck is all the rage this year.

This truck is about two feet long.  I love the Christmas Trees in the back. Sorry Arlynn, tried to send this picture by email but no go.  Thought you would like to see it.  This may be too big for your decorating but it still is adorable.

Back at you soon.  See you later and play nice

Donna

I am Really not missing

Hi everyone

Wow I did not realize it had been so long since I posted on my blog.  I have been doing quite a bit of crafting and sharing on YouTube.  Check out my channel.  You can find it under paperdreamer 1.

Don't ask me why I have two different names.  When I first got on YouTube, I didn't realize that I should use the same name as my blog.......Now it is too late to change it. Anyway if you check out this channel you will see that I have been busy.

Now today on the other hand, I am having some trouble crafting.  About 4 or 5 days ago I sliced a little tiny piece of my finger while using my mandolin.  (SHARP)!!!  It really isn't that bad but it is right at the tip of my middle finger on my left hand (I am left handed).  Every time I try to do something it starts to bleed again.  UGH!  When I put a band aid on it I am very awkward. I have been doing my fall décor.  It is nice to see those fall colors but the temperature at 90+ sure doesn't feel like fall.  We are supposed to have a lot of rain through the weekend due to a tropical Low just off the coast of Florida.  So far not much at all.  I feel for those folks on the Texas Coast who may experience a hurricane later this week.  Been there, done that and don't want to do it again.

I am including a picture of my outdoor décor by my front door.  Just something a little cute to welcome folks.

Won't be long now till the snowbirds return and we run, run, run for another 6 months.  I really enjoy the quiet time during the summer, but I know the snowbirds are necessary for our economy.  Besides, we have a lot of good friends who are seasonal. 

Well that's about all for now. I am going to try making a fall wreath this afternoon if my band aid doesn't drive me crazy.  Hmmmmmmmmmmm. maybe I will just find a good book to read.  Haven't read Nora Roberts latest.  Kindle here I come.

Take Care and Play Nice
Donna

Chit Chat Update, Craft Outlet Haul and a Lantern Swag

Hi everyone
Well it's been a week since I sat here to write and I don't know where the time went.  My house is back to rights and the guest room is waiting for the next company which happens to be August 4. Son #2 and his wife will be here but only for the weekend.
I am enjoying my new wreath work area in the shed and it helps to keep the rest of my crafting space a little more organized. Itching to start some fall and even Christmas project.  I am planning on making a fall wreath and also one for Christmas soon even though I won't be using them for a while.
Can you believe that I am already planning how I want to decorate one of my Christmas trees!!!!.  I am thinking a color theme of gold, lime green and purple.  I have the gold ornaments but will need to get the other colors.  Hobby Lobby has some great stuff out already but no sales yet. 
I have one more New England Patriots wreath to make and then I can get on with some other projects.
I am thinking of scheduling my videos with certain themes in the coming months.  One theme will be called "Company Cooking". We like to entertain small groups  (2 couples) for drinks and dinner and I have some easy recipes that allow you to enjoy your company and not spend the whole time in the kitchen. What do you think?
Another series will be home décor and the final subject will be mini albums and other paper crafts. The timing is what I am working on now and I will keep you all informed of the progress.  Hard to believe that August is just around the corner. The snowbirds will be flocking back to Florida before very long.
Today I am including the haul and lantern swag video.  Enjoy

Weight Watchers Progress Report and some Chat

Hi All,
Yesterday was my weigh in at Weight Watchers.  I was VERY pleased to post a 2.2 lb. loss.  Was not really expecting that, but I will sure take it. 
As I mentioned before we have had company all this past week. Our son, his girlfriend and their two 1& 1 teenage girls have been here since last Monday. 
We have had a great time but I am tiring out.  They have been to the beach a couple of times and Friday all day in Orlando at Universal Studios.  I think they have had a good time.
I am looking forward to getting back to my crafting ( the craft room is also the guest room).  I have received 5 orders for New England Patriot's wreaths so I will be busy. I am looking forward to decorating for fall and I will be making some fall décor items coming up soon. Actually my favorite time to decorate is Christmas, but fall comes in second.
I still have a couple of patriotic items to change out but I am not doing too much new until I change out for fall.
Just going to put a turkey in the oven for dinner later. I love a turkey dinner.  Wait, that's fall flavor isn't it?
Hope you all have a great rest of the day.  I will be back with some more crafts next week.  The kids leave tomorrow evening.  See you all later and play nice.

Mini Album Part Two

Hi Everyone,
Just realized that I did not post the second part of the Mini Album on my blog. The video has been put up on YouTube.
It really came out super cute.  I am attaching two videos here. The first is part two of the Tutorial and the second is a short walk-through of the finished project.
Enjoy

A Ring bound Mini Album that slips into a cover

Hi All
Today I started a new series making a mini album.  The paper I used is from recollections Hot Buys called Fashionista.
I have linked the video instructions below.  Made it in real time so you get to see all my mistakes.  Not mistakes just artistic manifestations LOL
The sizes include in today's part one are:
OUTSIDE COVER: Two medium chipboard pieces cut 6 1/4 x 4 3/4 and one cut at 6 1/4 x 1 1/2.
COVER PAPER OUTSIDE: cut one a 6 3/4 x 12 and score at about 1/4 inch around to create a straight line.
INSIDE COVER: one piece cardstock 6 1/4 x 11 1/2 and one at 8 1/4 x 3 1/2.
PAGES: 6 pages cut at 6 x 11.
See the instructions below:



See you tomorrow with part 2

Weight Watchers progress and a Grapevine and flower Wreath

Yesterday I posted a YouTube video about my Weight Watchers progress and I also shared a wreath that I made for our bedroom.  My weight loss this week was only .2lbs but considering it was our Anniversary week, I will take it.  Got to get back to tracking though. I have not been doing this well. As far as the wreath goes, I wanted to make something different for our bedroom that I can leave up till fall.  I think it came out great. What do you think?

The video has about a ten second pause (don't know why), but hang in there cause it resumes.

Today we are having company for dinner.  I am cooking chicken, ribs, coleslaw, corn bread, corn on the cobb, baked beans and a fresh apple pie.  Hope they eat it all cause I don't want any left over LOL

Here is a picture of the wreath on the bedroom wall.

You can watch the video below

A Stamped Card for My Sister

Hi All
Back today with a stamped card I made for my sister's birthday.  I have so many stamps that I have to get one out occasionally and make a card or two.  This stamp is by Great Impressions and old, old.
I have used it before for friends cards but it lends itself nicely for sisters also.  The paper is from Hello Summer 6x6 pad I found at Hobby Lobby. I used another cardztv sketch as a starting point although I had to change it up considerably as I made a landscape card to accommodate my stamp.
I am excited that my YouTube channel is approaching 1000 subscribers and I will probably do a give away when I reach that milestone.
Tomorrow I need to finish the wreath I have on order and get busy with some plans to change out my Americana décor.  I will take you all along for the ride.
Thanks, see you soon..............play nice.

A Masculine Birthday Card

Hi All.
Today I am sharing a birthday card for our Nephew.  I find masculine cards the hardest to come up with but fortunately Cricut Design Space has lots of images that can be used.  I used a card sketch from Cardztv although I modified it somewhat.
I am super happy with the way it came out, especially after I changed the inside and spelled balance correctly. UGH!!
Cardstock is recollections, paper pad from American Crafts and the images are from elegant edges, and the beer from St. Patrick's Day.

  

 

You will note in the video that I had not changed the inside to the correct spelling.  Sorry but it was uploaded before I realized the mistake

Weight Watchers check in and some Chit Chat

Hi All
Well I weighed in Saturday and oops! Gained .8.  I don't mind loosing weight but I sure don't like having to loose the same weight twice!!
Must have been something I ate don't you think.  I am including a picture of the Weight Watchers charm bracelet I made from the charms I have received.  I think I had a couple more but I don't know where they went.  Makes a nice piece of jewelry but it sure does show that I have been around for a while.

This week Bob and I are celebrating our 53rd wedding anniversary so I am sure there will be some food challenges.  Will try to make good choices but I think fish will be in my diet a lot this week to counteract some of the other foods.
 I will check in again next week after weigh in or just to chat about the journey.
See you soon.

Vlogging/Blogging/and everything crafty

Hi Everyone. 
Well this is the last Link button I am creating.  Under the Vlogging/Blogging/everything crafty label I am planning to chit chat, and put all the other craft related entries that don't fall under one of the other categories.
This morning I went yard sailing for the first time in a while.  Just hit three but found a couple of items that were really good buys. Back in one of my earlier videos, I showed a three tiered tray that I made from Dollar Tree items and decorated for Summer.  It is my intention to decorated this piece for each season but I was not thrilled with the actual tray. Guess what??? I found a nice three tiered tray at the first sale for $5.00.  Looks much better that the other one.  It actually came with plastic separators in each shelf so it could be used in a craft room.  On a turn table also.  I took out the plastic and added my summer decorations.  Love it!!!
The other great find was some 12x12 cardstock.  I got two stacks that were $2.25 each.  Nice quality paper and we all know how much card stock can run you especially the 12x12.  Now onto creating some cards this afternoon.  I will probably make a video of the card making if I can get my darn camera to work right. 

Wreaths

Hi All

Thought I would share a few of the wreaths I have made lately.  The first picture is a patriotic wreath I made for my sister.  When I posted that picture, I had 5 orders for additional wreaths, of course all being requested before Memorial Day and July 4th.

I then received a request for a New England Patriots Wreath and I have completed three of these. No problem right?  EXCEPT  the New England Colors are the same as the patriotic wreaths.  I really can't wait for fall colors. LOL.  All of the mesh came from  Hobby Lobby, the forms from Hobby Lobby and Dollar Tree.  The Patriots license plate came from Amazon and the Patriots ribbon from a company called Zipperstop.  Boy it is hard to find the ribbon etc.  The other two signs I made myself using a decal and my Cricut to cut the vinyl word Patriots. Well on to some new colors...........Yeh!

 

Progress Report from Weight Watchers June 22

Hi everyone,
Finally got around to making a new Weight Watchers video.  You can watch it below.  Still maintaining a decent loss rate of 1/2 to 2 lbs. a week. Sometimes I get very frustrated because I just want to eat like everyone else i.e. Pizza or Chinese or whatever.  If I do that I not only don't loose but I gain.  This has happened only twice since I started but I sure do hate loosing the same weight over again.  The rain has let up some so I have been able to get back in the pool.  I don't even mind if it is raining while I swim but THUNDER not so much.  Of course I live in the lightening capital of the world.😠😠😠

I am having fun getting back to blogging and hope to meet and great some new friends.  Enjoy the video and I will see you soon.

Donna

Some home decor and Patriotic Swag

Hi All,
Well you will get tired of hearing from me by the end of the day. As I am trying to create the page links at the top of the blog, I have to create a post to go with it as I haven't blogged about these things before.  I have a few pictures of some home décor items and a patriotic lantern swag for the 4th  of July.
I have to give a great big shout out to Arlynn over at Arlynn's Country Craft Corner. Such a sweet, sweet lady who loves to decorate and create.  I do so love watching her videos even though if I were a little more precocious, I could be her mother, LOL. My problem is she is decorating a beautiful large home and I am decorating a 1600 ft. manufactured home.  I have to be careful not to make too many of her great ideas or we will have to move out and just leave the crafts.😀😀

This is a cute wreath in our guest bathroom the is decorated in orange and yellow

 

Coffee Table hurricane lantern with a nautical ring

 

Dinning table centerpiece Lantern and Patriotic swag

Hope you enjoy.  Check out Arlynn's channel
Till next time..............Play nice

My Journey to better health with Weight Watchers

I have not blogged about my weight loss journey but you can visit my YouTube channel to see some of the video posts I have done since beginning my journey 9 months ago.  I am including the first and last video from this series.  See if you can find any difference. LOL.  I am also behind in these video, and can tell you that I made 40 lbs at my last weigh in last Thursday.  Still a ways to go but I sure will take this loss. If you think that is just a few pounds, try carrying around 4 ten pound bags of potatoes. Ugh!
Here are the videos.










Enjoy

Re-vamping my blog

Hi All
I am a retired RN living in Southwest Florida. My husband and I have been blessed with 55 years of marriage this June and have two grown children and 3 grandchildren.
I have always loved creating and crafting.  Knitting, Crocheting, paper crafts, home décor, just about everything except fine arts. (no talent at all). Although I have done craft shows in the past, I haven't been involved with them for a few years. I recently left the Board Of Directors here after 6 years of service.  I continue to edit and publish the monthly newsletter to our 1100 homes.
We have lived in Florida for 33 years and are originally from Massachusetts.
I am hoping to get back to blogging on a regular basis and hope you find some interesting posts. Boy I have to revisit my blogging education.
I am currently revamping my blog including creating page buttons.  I will be vlog/blogging as well as posting my crafts and YouTube videos.
See you a little later after I continue my re-design
Play Nice.


Donna

BABY GIRL KEEPSAKE BOX AND MINI ALBUM

Well hello everyone. Long time no see.  I had a little problem with my creative muse.  It was evidently hiding under the bed.  Well I dragged it out and here we go again.  I wanted to make a baby gift for a couple we know who are expecting a baby girl in April.  I found this tutorial on Annie's Crafts taught by Kathy Files (paper phenomenon) and I am very please with the results.  Tell me what you think.
The paper I used was from Me and My Big Idea as well as a couple of "baby" sheets I found elsewhere.















I also tried to upload some pictures but either I forgot how................or something is going wrong.  The internet seems very slow this afternoon.  I think you can see it all with the video.
Enjoy