Cookie Cutter Christmas Tree Ornaments

Blingy Tree Ornaments From Cookie Cutters

Hi everybody! 

Got a weather report for you! Winter has hit Alberta with a vengeance. We made it to the 
top of the list for the Coldest Place in the World this Thursday, registering in at minus 40 degrees! Brrrrr! Here's a photo of our deck three days ago. 

Why yes, I certainly did shovel all that lovely snow!

Crazy! I'm soooo glad I put the outdoor lights up at the end of October!
But enough of that! Now on to the post!

Best Pancake Recipe

BEST PANCAKES

(Source:  Canada AM, circa 1977)

When I first graduated college I was briefly unemployed. I would get up at 6:00 in the morning to watch my favorite news show, Canada AM, before heading out to hunt down a job. There was a weekly segment devoted to cooking.

Victorian Fan Christmas Ornaments

 

 

I used to love crafting with my kids! Of course they moved out long ago,
but every time Christmas rolls around I get the itch to craft.

How To Build a Crate for Fifty Cents

 Conquering The Mess One Crate At A Time 

 or

How To Build a Crate for Fifty Cents

There is a little storage issue in our house. It is appropriately named Val's-sewing-room-is-the-catch-all for-anything-with-no-home.  A while back I purchased an Ikea expedit to display pretty objects, but a recent and dangerous walk through my sewing/craft room convinced the practical me to turn my expedit into a storage solution.

Blue Jeans Apron

Make Your Old Jeans Into A Handy Apron

I saw the best use for an old pair of jeans the other day while visiting This Old House. They cut the seat out of the jeans but left the waistband on and used them for a shop apron.  It just buttons in the back. Pretty easy!

Sand For A Better Finish

Sanding Between Coats

Hi Everyone,

I just want to share a little tip with you today. 
Sometimes when I'm painting my projects, the finish

Storage Bin on Wheels

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Build A Simple Storage Bin

Hi Everyone,

I'm starting to organize my sewing/painting/art supplies storage.  The paints have to be brought in every winter. Don't think 40 below would agree with them! 
I buy lots of my paints in larger pots and I might as well admit it, lots of paints period,
so large sturdy storage is a must. 

Artsy Christmas Canvas

Hi Everybody,

This is my craft basket.  

 

 

Does anyone remember a weekly show named Aleene's Crafts? 

If you do you're probably as old as I am! 

Garage Storage: Look up!

Finding Storage Space In Your Garage

 
Build a garage, accumulate stuff, park the car outside the garage. 

It's so easy to let that happen, isn't it? Our garage is overflowing, and winter

is not kind to vehicles up here in Alberta. There was valuable real estate going 

to waste up near the ceiling in our garage. I just had to figure out how to build

some shelves that wouldn't interfere with our rolling chrome racks, so I sat down

with my notepad (if I tried the plans in Sketchup, you would likely never see this

post!), and here is what I dreamed up. 

Build A Flip Top Bench

Hi Everyone,

  I love a project that looks good, goes together quickly, and solves a storage issue. 

 My son and daughter-in-law have moved in to an older home, and we needed to pull a 

few organizational pieces together as temporary measures. They will be doing major 

renos next year, so it has to be something we can move out of the way and use 

later in another area. This bench is one. It can be used to store anything from 

mittens to magazines, and be used as an entry bench or a coffee table.