Here is my February Artful Bag Challenge!!!!

For February's challenge we were to recyle something we had around the house into a purse. I decided to use this little box that I got a Kashi bar sample I had sent away for. The box was a really cool triangle shape. This little purse measures about 7 inches by 4 inches to the top of the handle.

This is how the box looked before I made the purse.

I also made the purse so that it opened up and used some of my leftover leopard paper from last challenge on the inside. I knew I wanted to make it so that it matched my livingroom again. I had this fur material piece that was just enough to cover it with a little left over. The handle was a challenge for me. I knew I wanted it to stand up. I found the cool trim with the tulle ruffle and chain at JoAnn's for 40% off with my coupon.This is from "The Project Runway" trim line. Sim told me about this black electric wire I could use. So off I went to Rockwell's Hardware and the guy who helped me looked at me kinda funny when I told him I was making a little purse handle out of it!! LOL It worked out perfect and only cost me 27 cents!! I also used a vintage button on the front that matched perfect too. I decided to keep it kinda simple as I liked the look. I had alot of fun making this. I am looking forward to next months challenge!! We got some more snow and had a snow day on Monday!! I will be so glad when Spring does finally get here! Hope everyone is staying warm and safe. 

XO Fran. 

 PS That Kashi bar was really delicious!!!

Last night was date night!!!

Last night was Friday and it is open mic night at Borders. This is one of our favorite places to go for alot of reasons. It was very sad this week to hear that they might be closing a few of their stores and are filing for bankrupt. I am saying my prayers they won't close the one in Flint. I am also praying for all the others in the US, because I know alot of Home School Moms get their resources there, and buy the bargain books for their children. I always get my hot Chai Tea Latte, and a warm cookie, and sit and look at the magazines! I have been taking my Borders cloth bag with my notebook and pen in it!! And yes I do take alot of notes!

 

 These were my two favorites I looked at last night! I made a promise to myself that if I get the things done that I need too, I can go back and get the Altered Couture one!! Oh my gosh there are such cool clothes in there that are altered, I want to try to do!!

And the other reason we go is that this young man on the right works for my husband at Kroger's. Brian and his brother Gerard play so awesome and put alot of work into their music. Brian can sing really good. Gerard can really jam out on his guitar also!!

We have had a really tough week around here. Sim's Uncle passed away and it just seemed like alot of things were happening. A very special lady in our life gave us a gift card a while back for us to go on a date to Borders. I have stretched that card out!! LOL So that we could go on a few of them! I praise God for her being in our lives.

Today I went to JoAnn's with my coupon and got my thread I need for the curtains!! Now I am so excited to get them done!! One of the things I have to get done before I get that magazine!! And I also now have all the stuff I need to finish my Artful Bag Challenge for Febuary!! So it looks like I better get busy! LOL

Tomorrow we are suppose to be having another winter storm! For the last few days it's been sunny and in the 50's!! I have been loving it!! But I do live in Michigan so I guess you just never know what the weather is gonna be like!! My vote is on the 50's and sunshine!!!

XO Love ya, Fran.

Where Women Create!! and the caring hearts that go with it!!!

Happy Valentine's Day to all my blog friends!! Anna from www.frostedpetunias.blogspot.com had a giveaway back in January. The giveaway was for a "Where Women Create" magazine. She realized that she had bought two of the same one. I signed up and I won!! I actually found out I had won on my Mom's birthday!!! Anna didn't have any power on the day she was having her drawing, but she did it anyway!!  Anna is pretty cool and very talented! I am doing her Artful Bag Challenge for the year! I am working on February's right now and we have to recycle something into a purse! I am having alot of fun!! 

This is the magazine I got!! I love these magazines!  Anna is so sweet she made me this heart for my craft studio!! Right now I am trying to find a gate to put above my desk area for my inspiration board. Of course it has to be just the right one!!

My room is almost done, we are just putting the finishing touches on it and I have to get the thread to make the curtains! I keep forgetting to take my swatch with me when I go to JoAnn's in Flint!! Darn it!!

Every Monday night Kaitlin and I have to watch this show!!

 "Pretty Little Liars"

 Does anyone else watch it? I think it's the Nancy Drew in me, cuz it's a mystery and you really have to keep up with it!! I love it!! Plus I get to watch it with Kaitlin!! while Sim watches his Pawn Stars show. Then I go and watch American Pickers with him after that!! I really like that show too!! Oh what would we do with out TV? Umm maybe I'd get more cleaning, laundry and creating done!! Laughing at myself, but that's okay!! At least that's what I keep telling myself!! Take care.

XO Fran.

My paper art challenge!!!!

So I decided to join The Artful Bag Challenge over at Anna's http://www.frostedpetunias.blogspot.com/ . It is a year long challenge and each month we will be doing something different. Anna is so sweet and very helpful! This is part of my "I CAN" challenge for myself!! At first I was alittle hesitate but realized it is exactly what I love and like to do!! I won a giveaway from Anna a few days ago. I won a copy of "Where Women Create" and she made me a very cool heart shaped Valentine. This little paper purse looks bigger than it is. It is only 2 1/2 inches high by 5 1/2 inches wide. I made it to match my livingroom. I pinned it to one of my mannequins that has a vintage fur collar on it. And my other one has my collection of fur jewelry and gold dog jewelry pins on it.

I love the way this looks on my coat so I think I'll keep it there for awhile. I can't wait til next months challenge, it's gonna be so much fun! And I already know what I'm gonna do!! I am also doing another new adventure, one I've been praying about for awhile and will be posting on that as it happens!! And of course I am still geting my new studio (I like that word!) organized and ready! It's a work in progress still, but I'm taking one day at a time!! Take care, XO Love, Fran.

Hello and yes "I CAN"!!!

Happy New Year!!

I have decided that my words for the New Year are "I CAN" becuz I always think I can't when I know I can!! For example I was so scared to start my blog, do a swap, and even sign up for a giveaway! Well I've conquered all of these and more! I have made so many wonderful friends through this! I also know that "I CAN" open an etsy shoppe like I've been wanting to. I just have a few things I need to finish before "I CAN"!! I have been organizing and of course at the same time I keep distracting myself with wanting to be creative!

BUT I couldn't help myself and wanted to show you just alittle something I did! LOL I know this isn't the first one made like this and I can't remember which blog or blogs I've seen them on, sorry! I love brown as you probably know it's one of my favorite colors. In the first pic this is Hull USA pottery cup and sandwich plate that are alittle bit older dishes. I found the cup on my vacation in the summer for 25 cents and the plate at Salvation Army here in Flint for 45 cents!!I also got the wine bottle for 25 cents on my vacation and just got the cute snowman hat and scarf 75% off after Christmas this year!! I just took E-6000 and glued the cup upside down to the bottom of the plate. The cute ceramic cupcake on top of it, Kaitlin got me for Christmas

from Kohls. The second one I picked up the cup and saucer at Salvo also and they just happened to be half off and the whole thing cost me 30 cents!!! The ceramic cupcake on that one I got at an estate sale for a dollar! And of course my doilies are thrifted!!

Just before the holidays came around I had signed up for a giveaway from my good friend Amy at http://www.lifeinpinkhitops.blogspot.com/ , she was giving away an apron! I was so excited when I found out I had won! Cuz that girl can sew and makes the coolest stuff! Sometimes upcycling things into new things that are amazing! I am wearing the apron in the above picture and I wanted to share with you and Amy what I already had when I opened up the package I couldn't believe how perfect they matched! It is a salsa bowl and tortilla warmer!! Check out her http://www.lifeinpinkhitops.etsy.com/ ! She rocks!!

I also have been making these dishrags! I use to make them just awful! LOL to small and crooked! So I had Sim go onYou.Tube for me and found out I was using the wrong size crochet hook!! The guy who was showing how to do it said make them big, so I did!! LOL I picked this color to match these cool napkins I got for a gift!! Right now I am making a pink one for Valentine's Day!

The bible says that all things are possible with God! and that is why I also know "I CAN"!!

Take care, Love ya, Fran. XO