Homecoming Happiness

While my Oldest son was at the homecoming football game watching Joplin DEFEAT their opponent tonight ~GO EAGLES!! I was at home making corsages & boutonniere's for the big dance tomorrow.

This is my son's 1st "formal" school dance so who is excited..........MOM is excited!

I think I am more excited to go take pictures tomorrow!! What a wonderful experience! I myself never went to ANY school dances except for my senior prom! So I feel like my son is ahead of the game already, getting to experience Homecoming!

I used purple alstromeria & white roses for his friends girlfriends corsage


I added lirope & rose leaves, cream tulle & purple & gold sheer ribbon. I also used a fabric covered hair rubber band for the wristlet & viola....there you have it a thing of beauty!



I even packaged them pretty for the boys to deliver to their dates

Yes I needed a little pick me up to get me through, can you say Iced Vanilla Latte...I love my Starbucks!!! I love my Keurig MORE but I am waiting for a new one to arrive since I wore the last one out apparently!

Here are the starts to the corsage my son will give to his date.

cream & pink roses with babies breath & ruscus for the greenery. I discovered rather late that I had no pretty ribbon to go with it so in a pinch the mind gets creative.......I used the cream tulle, some rhinestone embellishments & black feathers from my Halloween boa! Then I found just enough glitter spray to shine it up & make it extra sparkly!

My son's Boutonniere! Hopefully he will not give me too much grief about wearing it....such a manly man he is!
here they are all packed up nice & pretty! did I say I cant wait to take pictures tomorrow??

My son wanted to wear black on black...he is going to look soooooo sharp!

more to come tomorrow so check back to see the kids all spiffied up!

Until then...........happy creating!

Mirror, Mirror on the wall......

A few weeks ago my youngest son & I were running some errands. It was fairly early in the morning & he was begging to go get something to eat. So I headed down a side street that I normally don't travel so my hungry boy could get some grub.

There it was...this little yard sale...nothing too much to write home about except that they had a trunk that caught my eye so I just had to stop...I had been eyeballing them everywhere lately because I am bound & determined to get one for my living room.

As I am debating about whether I can spruce up the old trunk I wander around & then I see it...This large fabulous mirror. I have a spot in my front entry that has just been calling out for a mirror but mirrors are pricey (at least the ones I am always drawn to) so I always talk myself out of getting one. I examine this mirror hoping beyond all hope it is not damaged or just way too heavy to hang.......nope it is just perfect. The detail on it was great & it was just the right size...I purchase the trunk & the mirror & my still hungry little guy lucked out with a Santa that he wanted so life was good!

The best part is that the older couple who sold the items to me gave me a little history lesson on what the trunk & mirror had survived..........

I live in Joplin & unless you just refuse to watch the news...you should know what this city has been through the last several months.

Well this trunk & this mirror had survived one of the most deadly tornado's to touch the earth.

I was amazed that these worn out items looked so good after hearing what they had been through!

Upon further inspection on the mirror I could see how the debris & papers were stuck on the back crevasses of the wood. It was amazing to me how in the midst of so much devastation...a mirror could come out of it with nothing more than debris stuck to it.

I was never more proud of a yard sale purchase...it was a strange feeling.

It was as if the universe had sent me down this street just so I could discover some hidden gems!

Here is what it looked like after I got it home & prepped it for paint:

Here is what it looks like now...


Hanging gloriously in my entry with all my Halloween goodies!
Don't you just love my witches hat?
The mirror was in such good shape that all I had to do to it was give it a good sanding. Then I hand painted it black. I also documented on the back of the mirror that it had survived the May 22nd tornado in Joplin MO & what street it was on when the tornado came through.

This was one of those easy projects with so much bang for your buck at the end.

The best part was I only paid $15.00 for the mirror & I feel like I have a piece of Joplin history hanging in my home.

Watch for the trunk re-do coming soon!

Halloween has hit the Homestead!

My FAVORITE time of year has arrived! & boy my house shows it! I still have more to put out but I like to pace myself....as I find Halloween a joyous time!

I know most people say that about Christmas & don't get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas too BUT Halloween was a time of celebration for my family.....it was my Grandma's birthday!! She has left us all behind & moved on to better places but the memories of celebrating her birthday & crisp air & sweet candy all while wearing costumes...well those memories just make me really happy! So every year I revel in putting out my Halloween goodies & give a little wink to my Grandma!

Here are some of my most precious Halloween Items on the mantle. The witch reminds me of my grandma & the tall cat to the right was made by my mother as well as the pumpkin in the middle! Love what she makes!

you can check out her blog here

http://pearlavenuestudios.blogspot.com/

I just love having my spooky little pumpkins lighting up the night! & in true Halloween fashion, they get dressed up too!

This is a favorite in our house. It is an awesome sign that my mother created & let me just say, my 2 boys try to one up each other on dibs for this one when they grow up & move out!

Here is our spooky skeleton chalkboard (yes, my Mom was at it again) & he is larger than life on our front porch but I love how he looks "sitting" out there!

& here lies Marcus the carcass......every year I put him out & he just makes me smile. On Halloween night all the little trick or treater's marvel over him! of course I also put out the grim Reaper & they are kind of scared of him (he will be in an upcoming post...remember I like to pace myself) Oh & don't you just love my little grave yard...

& this little gem is a project I did a few years ago & I LOVE putting it out every Halloween......I made this flag out of gauze & tulle. I DO NOT SEW so I made this with that iron on hem stuff that you can find just about everywhere. This project couldn't be more simple & have such a wonderful effect! All It takes is an iron & some scissor skills!

Here is a night time shot.......I just love him! he just looks like he is saying BOO!

I still have some Halloween decorating to do & some new things to try & put out this year!!

So stay tuned! Oh & Happy Haunting!