Blue Angels in town

This is from promotional material - the view from a cockpit. I can't imagine being in a plane that is flying in such a close formation. I've seen a couple air shows but nothing like this.
For the last couple days the US Navy Blue Angels have been in town practicing for shows tomorrow and Sunday. It is unbelievable how loud they are. I live about 10 miles from the airport where they are performing but we are still seeing and hearing them quite a bit while they are practicing. Most times I have seen one or three practicing but today for a while there were five in the air.

These are a couple shots I took from my patio of three of them in formation .
Not good pictures at all, they don't do justice to what I hear and see.
I missed getting pictures when they were closer but I thought I would share these.
I didn't plan on going to the show as there are other events going on in town but I may just have to go to get a closer view. From the practice I can see now it might be well worth the $25 to see them.

Dollar Store bags

Who doesn't love checking out dollar stores just to see what they have? I know I like to go in, there is almost always something that I end up buying. Whether it is powdered drink packs or a home decor item waiting to be revamped.

Monday I got this package in the mail.
Swap-Bot. Thanks to my wonderful partner inside were these two bags made from a table cloth! I can't wait to try this on my own. Think of it, two bags and the envelope it was mailed in for $1 plus sewing supplies and one set of handles.



I don't remember every seeing any of these thicker table cloths at my dollar stores but I'll be on the look out for them.

I love the colors, and the bags are lined with the same material on the inside so they can be easily wiped out if anything spills in them. I picture one with a flat bottom for grocery bags. I'll let you know if, no make that when, I find a table cloth and make my own bags.

Thrifty display

I decided I needed to revamp this display. Yes, I know it is sadly in need of a makeover. It had ended up being a catch all.





Let's see, there is a wire cow,

Oh, and just a few candles..... see a pattern here?

Yes, I love Yankee Candles. It goes back to the days I worked there. I don't think I have bought another brand of candle since then. Yes, they are a bit more expensive than other brands but well worth it if you ask me. Also right now they are having their semi-annual sale. I haven't went there to shop yet but I don't know how long I can stay away. I'm trying to keep purchases down since I'm not working.

Oh, and a few scrapbooks. Six to be exact. Just ignore the gift card and plate holder. I did pull out the batteries that were there to spare you some of the mess.

Remember these garage sale finds?

Especially this birdcage,

and this lovely vase.


I couldn't let them sit in wait too long. This is what I came up with for a display. At least for now. I'm not sure if it will stay like this or if I will paint the cage and mirror.

Almost everything on this display came from garage sales or thrift stores. The mirror I picked up a couple weeks ago for $2! It is heavy, the mirror is 1/4" thick. At first I thought I was going to paint the frame a creamy white but I have not yet and last night when I got it in my head to redo this display it was put in as it was.

I put three of the candles in the birdcage and dumped in some vintage wood stamps to fill in the spaces around the candles.

Then I put some of the stamps in the tipped over garage sale vase. At first I was going to stand it up, but I didn't have anything tall and branchy to make it look right.

I filled up a couple mason jars with more stamps and topped the jars with some wood and twine balls. I have a lot of these stamps, they were in one large jar but I like them better in the smaller jars that can be seen easier.

I found a few blocks to put in the metal cow. I pulled an old lantern without glass and a scale from the top of my kitchen cupboard display.

I was pretty sure the display was finished but then I realized it didn't have enough white, the birdcage looked out of place so I brought back the Life plaque that was on the display before.

I think that makes the display a bit more balanced. I'm still undecided on the large mirror. I don't love the gold finish but I don't know that I want it cream now.

What do you think? What should I do with the mirror? Paint or leave it as it is?

Now to redo the rest of the hutch, you can see some of the mess peaking out on the bottom of the pictures. It is a lot of items and not really attractively displayed. I guess I'll have to find some hidden storage for the items that are in there.

Happy crafting..... June

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Annual Family Camping trip

I spent the weekend camping with family and friends. For the last couple years we have went camping with this group. We spent the weekend at Canary Beach Resort in Villard, Minnesota.

It is always a great time and this past weekend was great. It was nice to get away and relax.

Luckily I have a brother in law who claims to be blessed with the ability to predict near perfect weekends months in advance. We may doubt him sometimes but generally speaking the weather is good for our weekend.

It was a bit cool Saturday morning but by the afternoon the sun was up and the weather did turn quite warm.

Meals are shared by all. It works out nice as there is always lots of food and enough people to prepare and clean up.

Our meal was Saturday breakfast. We usually make omelets. Everyone gets to pick out their ingredients. We usually have lots of meats and veggies to pick from.



We tent for the weekend, most of the others have campers so if it ever would happen to rain we would not have to suffer and get too wet!



Our weekend is usually spent relaxing around the campfire, visiting and fishing for some.

This group has been camping on and off together for years, here are some of the fourth generation campers in the making......



I hope your weekend was just as enjoyable as mine.

Thursday Garage sale finds

This week I did my garage sale shopping on Thursday. Around here, Thursdays are usually the busiest days but usually I forget or have other things planned on Thursdays. Not so this week, I knew I had to shop today as we are leaving on a weekend camping trip tomorrow.

I got all this for $13.75. I can't believe my luck today, I got two things that I have been wanting for quite a while. A small birdcage and some wood cubbies. I think I got more freebies than items I paid for today. The free boxes were nice today. Maybe I really do need to make a point to shop on Thursdays when the free boxes are full!

I picked up these two beauties along with the metal looking shelf, metal pitcher and a wool sweater at a sale that didn't have any prices. It was a free will donation to a local charity. I don't know how much they would have been marked at other sales but I gave $3. I thought that was a great price for the wall sconces, especially since they are metal, not plastic like so many of them that I find at garage sales are. While I was there they told another shopper maybe 25 cents each item or whatever he wanted to give so I felt $3 was a fair donation. I don't think I will even paint these. I'll find a place for them somewhere.

These rolls of textured wallpaper were in the free pile! I'm not sure I'll use this yet but I'm sure I'll find someplace for it. They might end up as textured backgrounds for my cards.

Here is a close up of the birdcage I found today. I've been looking for a birdcage for a while. I picked this up at the second stop of the day, the first one I bought at. I got it and the two wood cubbies for $10 total. It was another sale that was not marked, when I walked up they said make an offer and no reasonable offers would be refused.

I don't usually like sales like that as I always feel like I'm probably offering way too much or way too little. I know what I'd like to pay but is that really a fair price?? I debated offering $5 for the two wood cubbies but thought that might not be enough...but when I saw the bird cage I knew I wanted it so the offer was $10 and they took it. Maybe I should have offered less..... I guess I'll never know.

Well, I did give them back a fake bird that was hanging in the cage when I picked it up. I told them I really didn't want it and if they wanted it to keep it and maybe get someone else to pay for it again! That seemed to make him feel better about the $10 and maybe it will help him sell the other bird cage they had. I was tempted to get the other one as it had a plastic bottom and I knew I really wanted a all metal one.

This wood box was another freebie. I picked this up with the intention of giving it to my sister to plant in but it may just find a home before I give it to her. :)

This pottery piece just called to me. I love the colors and it was only 50 cents! I couldn't pass it up at that price.

This queen comforter was free as it was marked that it had a hole in it.

Here are the holes I found with the sweater underneath to show the holes. I'm guessing there was cats or some animals that maybe started the holes. Regardless this will make the camping trip this weekend, holes or not. We will see afterwards if it stays as a camper comforter or maybe I'll end up cutting it up for pillows or something.

Here a look at one of the wood cubbies I got. I might use them for shoe cubbies by the front door but I'm not sure yet. I can't believe I snagged them both for $10 with a bird cage as well.

I see a lot of revamping in my future and I can't wait to share them all. I'm hoping to maybe stop at a few more garage sales tomorrow on the way to the campsite. I know I won't be able to buy much as there will not be much space but I hope there are some small items out there just for me!

Happy crafting -
June

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Debbie Doos Garage Slaen party

Happy Tuesday

This is the creative thing i did today. Don't tell my sisters that I did something with plants... they might not believe you.

Please look beyond the peeling paint on the table. I did a quick spray paint on it earlier this spring and didn't sand off the finish first. I know that is a no no but I did it anyway.. I'll get it painted again someday.

Last week I ordered some hen and chicks to plant. They arrived and this is how I planted them. I hope they survive. They didn't look very alive when they arrived and I hope the moss and little bit of soil I used will be enough for them to survive. I read that they thrive on neglect... that I can do.

With two sisters that are Master Gardeners, neglect is what I do best when it comes to plants. Don't get me wrong, I attempt to have some flowers on my patio each year but they never really look as good as all others I see out there.

This is not a traditional planter but when I saw it I knew that I wanted to plant the hens and chicks in it. I just hope they like it in there and survive. They don't look like much but I have high hopes for them and can just about picture them full grown and full of chicks.

I've been thinking of a new way to organize my jewelery and have been thinking of a few ways but so far nothing has felt right. Can you believe my luck yesterday. I found this beauty sitting on the side of the road just waiting to be picked up. Happy birthday to me.... I think it actually took my breath away when I saw it. Not that junk, I mean, treasure is suppose to do that. I knew immediately that this is what I needed to make a jewelery holder. I'll work out the details later but this is it, I'm sure of it.




OK, so yesterday was not really by birthday but today is so I thought I would share a bit about me, things I love, like, don't like or just random confessions. I won't tell you my age but I'll give you a hint in the list below.

I'm not married.
I have a 13 year old daughter.
I am the youngest of 13.
I have 1 brother.
So that leaves me having 11 sisters.

I've been unemployed for 2 1/2 months now.
I wish I didn't have to look for a job.
I really am enjoying not working.
I'm not liking having to look for a new job.
I always thought I would go crazy not working but it is not so bad.

I was born in June.
I was not named June because I was born in June - or at least that is my Dad's story.
I've grown to not mind being referred to as the 'baby' of the family
I've grown to like/not mind being called June Bug - I used to really hate that.
If I'm as old as I am, my older sisters are really old.... ;) love you sis

I like chocolate, OK this should be I love chocolate.
My favorite chocolate would have to be Hershey Bliss Chocolate with raspberry.
I don't like regular coffee but can drink it if there is enough sugar and cream.
I like cappuccino.
I like Mc Donald's iced coffee, especially caramel.

I love my Mr Coffee Frappe Maker - if you don't have one of these and like blended coffee drinks you gotta get one. (Best $40 I spent in the kitchen and would gladly spend the regular price of $79 now that I have used it.)
I love my Big Shot.
I sometimes wish I had a Cricket. This want is growing every day, mostly for all the cool vinyl home decor pieces I am seeing.
I wish I had full room for crafts, not a shared space in the living room.
I wish I had a garage for painting when it rains.

I wish I was more organized, especially in my craft area.
I wish I enjoyed cleaning.
I wish I didn't have to clean.
I sometimes wish I was a morning person.
I wish I was able to spend more time with family and friends.

I don't always make my bed in the morning.
I don't always clean up the stove after I spill on it until the next day or sometimes more than a day later.... I don't suppose I should share this.
I sometimes eat ice cream for breakfast.
I've always lived in Minnesota. (With the exception of 5 months in Norway on an exchange trip.)
I once turned down a job that would have had me living in the Chicago suburbs.

I love spending more time crafting.
I fear my hoarding tendencies.
I'm a night person.
I really like checking out other peoples blogs. (I can't believe how many extremely talented crafters there are out there.)
I wish I was as creative as some people think I am.

I hope you learned a few things about me and will still think I'm not so bad of a person after all.

Happy crafting :)

Rose frame revamp

Remember this diamond butterfly frame that I picked up at a garage sale???
Well, I finally decided what I wanted to frame in it.

It is amazing what some spray paint, paper and mod podge can do....

I love this paper, it is from The Angel Company. I actually had it in a calender frame from a couple years ago. I kept it even without a current calender as I knew I could always add a new calender. Well, I didn't find a calender but when I took that frame apart to revamp I knew I had to use this paper. I love that I was able to cut it out so there was parts of three of the roses in the frame.

Right now the frame is in the small bit of wall between the front closet and my pantry. I took down a slim basket that I had there for way too long. It needs something else but for now this frame will have to be it.

On the close ups of the frame you can sort of see the shimmer on the frame. It is from Design Master Shimmer Gold spray paint. I love the subtle look that gives. It was a steal on clearance for $1.00! After I used it once I went back and bought another can as I knew I would be using it a lot.

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