Goodbye 2011 - Hello 2012 !!

Wow ... I can't believe that I haven't posted on my blog since July 2011. Where did all the time go??? One of my 2012 Goals is to use my blog on a regular basis. Let's see how I do?? Other Goals for 2012:

Simplfy My Crazy Life -

Spend less time at Work and more time at Home!

Develop and Work a Home Cleaning / Home Organization System that works for ME!!

Get Out of Debt - Develop a Plan and Work It

Be a Fabulous Primary Teacher

Pinterest - Crafting and Creating - NOT JUST PINNING!! {LOL}

Also Note: I've changed the name of my Blog to Simply Fabulous. Beging Fabulous shouldn't take time or money away from the important things in life ... Home, Family, Friends.

Empty Frame Gallery - Home and Office

I have wanted to create an Empty Frame Gallery in my home ever since I saw this frame gallery in my daughter Michelle's home ...

I started to collect frames - WOW what a slow process - finding interesting frames. Finally had a enough frames to at least start the project.

Decided on a single color theme ... (for now anyway ... LOL) I modge podged the large "T" with torn book pages (hard to see in the photo.) It was originally painted red ... but I didn't like it ... I love how it looks now.

I am using Valspar Churchill Hotel Vanilla spray paint. I love Valspar spray paint - it has a great spray valve and covers really well. It still needs more pieces and I may need to add a pop of color ... a fun "work in progress" project" :-)

Recently moved to a new office at my school ... there is a white board on the wall that CAN NOT be removed (UGH!!) so I decided to turn it in to a frame gallery!! I already had several frames from a wall display in my former office. I removed the photos, added magnets to the back and Tah Dah ...Here is my Office Frame Gallery ...

Looking at the picture I can already see some changes I want to make ... so another "work in progress" project - but I am really happy how it turned out, considering it is a basic white board ... LOL

It's Strawberry {Pizza} Season

This recipe is a favorite dessert in our family. It is a 4 step process - so give yourself plenty of prep time - it's a great family fun cooking project for a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. :-)

CRUST

1 cup butter, softened (no substitutes)
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

Cream butter and sugar together, add vanilla. Gradually add flour. Press dough on to a sheet cake pan or large pizza pan lightly sprayed with Pam. Bake at 325 for 25-35 minutes - or until edges are a light golden brown. Cool.

FILLING

8 oz cream cheese

1 cup powered sugar

1 small can crushed pineapple, drained

8 oz Cool Whip Topping

Cream powered sugar and cream cheese together, and pineapple. Gently fold in Cool Whip until mixture is fluffy. Spread on cooled crust. Refrigerate at least 1/2 hour before adding strawberries and glaze.

FRUIT TOPPING

We get great strawberries here locally ... we usually eat a whole basekt full before we even get home. LOL Wash, remove tops and cut strawberries (I use 4 baskets of strawberries!!) Arrange on top of crust and filling layers. NOTE: I like my berries chunky ... I don't cut them up in slices-I cut each berry in to 2-3 pieces. I also don't arrange them in any type of "pattern" on the filling - I just pile them on!!! LOL

GLAZE
1 3/4 cup water
2 cups sugar

1 (3 oz) pkg strawberry jello

2 TBLS cornstarch

Stir together in sauce pan - cook until thick and clear. Let mixture cool, then spoon or drizzle over strawberries. Refridgerate 3 to 4 hours before serving.

ENJOY!!!

Flower Pin with a Twist

While following along one of the many blogger post "parties" I came upon this twist on the fabric flower pin. A fabric flower pin made from a Men's Necktie!!!

The paisley tie was my first attempt. I love the multi-color flower made by twisting a tie that was designed to look like a giant pencil ... LOL

I think the trick to this project is to find a tie with a unique design - and proper pin placement on the back. I glued a piece of felt to the back and then attached the pin fixing . Before gluing on the pin I held the pin up next to several sweaters to determine what direction I wanted the "tail" to lay.

I get lots of comments on the pins when I wear them .... FUN FUN ... and different twist on the basic fabric flower pin.

Original project found on Mama Jill : http://mamajillblog.blogspot.com/

Tebow Love ...

Who needs those Super Bowl commercials when you can look at this instead!!! (Tim and his brother at the Super Bowl - February 6, 2011.)

From Shabby to Not So Shabby

I have had this wooden "window box" decoration around my house for years. It has different cut out shapes for different holidays. It took me hours to paint all the shapes - and Back in the Day I loved changing the shapes for each holiday. Now it's aged and just so shabby looking - but I can't bring myself to part with it.

Just look what some black paint, mod podge, and scrapbook paper can do ...

From Shabby to Not So Shabby ... LOL. It looks so cute in my kitchen window. I am still trying to decide if I want to sand the edges up a bit. I'm thinking I will pull out the shamrock and easter egg shapes and give them a face lift too!!

Here's to 2011 ...

Happy New Year to my Family, Friends, and fellow bloggers.

Looking forward to more crafting, decorating, and blogging fun.

"Something GREAT is going to happen in 2011 ...

I can't wait to see what it is !!!

Oh Christmas Tree

One last look before the tree comes down.

I loved my tree this year ... I added lots of oversided items along with my traditional ones. I didn't add bows this year but used raffia streamers instead. Lots of lights - love lots of lights!!! And lots of glittery things ....

The large glitter christmas light bulbs are from the .99 cent store ... 3 for .99 cents. So cute!!

My Favorite Nativity:2010

Over the years I have collected many Nativity sets. I love to display them every Christmas time. This year, this simple and easy Nativity display has taken center stage. It's placed right as you walk in my front door.

Sitting on a cute little black chair that is in my entry way ... Is a glass Nativity set from the Dollar Tree displayed on a gold charger plate.

To the back of the chair I tied a lighted wicker star. I found this star at the Salvation Army ... back in July. I loved it and was so excited when I got it home and the lights actually worked!! It works so well with this Nativity. It's so simple yet so pretty.

I have linked this post up to the blog Cramp I've Made: 2010 Nativity Parade. Take a few minutes to check out this site. There are some lovely Nativity sets on display.

New Love ....

These funny little wrist warmers are my new love !!!!

I first saw on these on Megan's Brassy Apple website. (Click here for Megan's tutorial.) I made some for my Secret Santa exchange ... but she didn't ever received them because I put them on and can't take them off ...LOL. I have worn them to work, shopping, at home.... LOVE!!!

These are the easiest things in the world to make - and would be a great last minute gift. I purchased the socks at the .99 cent store. (I have three different pair now!) Don't put them on your own wrists ... I promise you will have a hard time giving them up !!!

Shhh... It's a Secret!!

Last week was Secret Santa days at my work. We had a $10.00 dollar limit to spend on fun things to be delivered over 3 days. Thanks to the .99 cent Store ... and my stash of craft supplies, I had fabulously cute gifts to give away and stay in budget.

7Up Shot Glass: One bottle of 7Up and cute peppermint candy shot glass. COST: $2.00

Knit Scarf w/Flower Pin: I found this fabulous knit scarf at the 99 cent store - added a flower pin that I made with an old torn table cloth that I had in my bag of lace. I already had the hardware and jewel in my craft box. COST: $1.00

Cute Cake Plate - "Believe" Plate and glass candle holder - I already had the ribbon and jingle bell. COST: $2.00 - I also added a blueberry muffin to the plate on the day gift was delivered - soo cute and yummy! TOTAL COST: $5.00

GRAND TOTAL for Super Cute Secret Santa gifts .... $8.00

What I'm Wearing Wednesday ... Wardrobe Fun Blog

I found a fun blog titled The Pleated Poppy. On Wednesday visitors are encouraged to link up a "What I am Wearing Wednesday" photo. Here is my first attempts at taking photos of myself and then posting/linking them. This is the only full length mirror that I have ... I definitely need to learn how to take pictures of myself. Check out the Pleated Poppy Blog and links. I have gotten lots of ideas on how to change up my wardrobe :-)

Aqua Sweater with long sleeve white blouse (cuffs rolled up) and jeans. I picked up this sweater at the Salvation Army Thrift Store. I love the big buttons, the texture, and the aqua color ... you would not believe how many compliments I get when wearing this sweater ... LOL

I added a large brown flower pin that I made ... I loved how I looked in this casual outfit on Wednesday. Check out my sandals below ... LUV!!! It's hard to tell from the photo what is on my feet - my fave Bling Flip Flops.

So Sweet Doily Fireplace Swag

I saw a darling fireplace swag on another blog (can't remember which one ... sorry) and knew I wanted to create something similar for my fireplace. Using twine, doilies, and handkerchiefs I came up this this. I absolutely love it ... it turned out so cute and was so easy. I just hung the twine then randomly draped the doilies and hankies over it.

Best part about it is the items I used. Most of the doilies and all of the handkerchiefs came from my mother. They originally belonged to her, my Grandma Frantz, or my Grandma Prescott. Thank you Mom for these precious items.

I love my doily/hanky collection and use them all the time as part of the decor in my little apartment. Here are a few examples ...

Is this not the cutest thing ever ... It's like a little clothes line - wooden clothespins included!! I got the idea from daughter Michelle when I visited this past summer. It hangs on the wall in my bedroom. The quilt square was given to me by my mother - pieced together by my Grandma Frantz. My Grandma Prescott made the gold and white pot holder. The picture you seeing is my Grand-Daughter Kaitlin. It is her Baptism Announcement. I just love all the fabulous things hanging from my little clothes line.

My Warm and Cozy Fall Decor

I love pulling out my decorations for Fall and Thanksgiving even though those items are only up for a few short weeks every year. I also love to decorate with lots of "found" objects - Items that I have collected over the years or found as I make my many thrift store stops. In the past few years I have used a scarecrow theme for Fall ... but this year I changed it up a bit and followed more of a warm fall colors theme. I have loved coming home from work every day - lighting a spicy smelling candle from B&BW and relaxing with a cup of hot apple cider. YUMMY!!

This plate holder is from Southern Living. It is hanging in the entryway. I was stumped on how to decorate it for Fall. I hung the fabulous pilgrim head from it (a gift from my sis Sharon) and everything else just kinda fell in to place. That's what I love about using "found" objects as I decorate - it's always turns out different and unique. I love using lots of textures, shapes and color when I decorate. I loved how the silver tray looks behind the white serving platter. The little sign that says "corn" was made by Matthew when he was in Kindergarten. I have a hard time parting with my kids school projects so I went through them and put them away with my seasonal decorations. I love the memories as I pull out those boxes each season and use them around my home and office. :-)

I made these little pilgrims as part of Thanksgiving Wreath - it looked so dated when I pulled it out this year - so I pulled it apart. I attached pretty ribbon to the pilgrims and hung them from the plate holder. So-So CUTE!!

I have had a hard time parting with my "book page" eggs that I mod podged at Easter time - but don't they look great in this display in front of my fireplace. The wooden turkey is at least 10+ years old ... it is made to hold suckers as tail feathers, but I think it looks just great without the suckers. (Which can be hard to find!!!)

Once again more texture and color. I pulled out the Spanish Moss "nests" that I used with all my birds nests last Spring ... I think the Dollar Store pumpkin looks fabulous on top of the moss.

This is one of the TP pumpkins from an earlier post. Notice the tie around the glass cylinder - it's an old T-Shirt. I love the way it looks next to the other glass objects. The tray is from Southern Living - I use it year round. I have used it on my table and as a breakfast tray on my bed ... LOL

This leaf is made out of twigs. When I saw it at Home Goods last year I just had to have it! Notice the opened picture frames. I'm totally obsessed with those and have used them in several difference mantle-scapes this year. The also love the smoothness of the glasses next to the little turkey carved from some type of pod (?) I received as a gift from a friend about 10 years ago ... it's such a unique piece and reminds me of her when I pull out my boxes of decorations every Fall.

TP Pumpkins

This is a very easy craft that can be used as a decoration or gift throughout the Fall Season. A cute pumpkin made using a roll of toilet paper, fabric and ribbon. Kevin and I made them in just a few minutes (he made some as a surprise for Ashley ... sweet!!) We used torn fabric strips, ribbon, and raffia for the bows. I had an old stick in my craft stash in the garage ... Kevin cut that up for the pumpkin stems. They turned out so-so Fabulous!! I love the colors of Fall and Halloween!!!