Monday, December 2, 2024
Happy Holidays Christmas Time at LilacsNDreams
Monday, November 25, 2024
DIY Handmade Repurposed Christmas Home Decor
Hi! Welcome to LilacsNDreams! It’s Thanksgiving week, and I would like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! This year it’s not really feeling like Thanksgiving in this home, or in our area. It’s sad really. As many seen before Halloween was here there were many things for Christmas being shown, and displayed.
I belong to many different groups on Facebook for Dollar Tree, Handmade Crafting, Hobby Lobby Fanatics, and things like that. Within many of the groups everyone has been showing their completed projects regarding Christmas decor. Many of the reels you see are showing many different video projects being done in regards to Christmas decor too. I so love Christmas, and I am truly enjoying a lot of things being shared for crafting with the holiday too. I spend so much time looking at all the pictures, and videos that I maybe could get some of my own done if I would get to work on things. I have ideas, putting pieces together in my mind with the inventory I have, and that’s all the further it gets. It’s fun, I enjoy creating in my mind too, but I really should be physically putting things together too.
I have downloaded a lot of pictures I want to share with you showing some DIY Handmade Repurposed Christmas decor. Please Note…that these are NOT my pictures, they are not my projects, but they come from other fellow crafters who have shared their projects on many different Facebook groups. So many beautiful ideas, and different ways everyone has done some of the same ideas too.
Beware, there are a lot of pictures. I apologize if I duplicated any pictures. I tried to show a variety of things being done, and different ways that maybe the same item was being done too. So many great crafters with some great ideas, and techniques. Many of the pieces used were from Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Hobby Lobby, found thrifting, some things came from their own homes/families that were repurposed and upcycled into something new. Pool noodles, plates, bowls, cups, ornaments, circular rings, trees, flowers, vintage collectibles, picture frames, and so much more! Lots of talented people sharing their things within Facebook groups, blogs, websites, etc. So, have a look and enjoy!
Monday, November 18, 2024
Scam Alerts Beware By LilacsNDreams Google Internet
Hi! Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Unfortunately, it’s that time of year, seasons change, holidays, and the scams seem to come out of the wood work a little more. I had 2 attempts within the past 1 1/2 weeks. Just horrid!! Please be aware, and take your time doing anything with purchasing and offers made to you.
My first incident happened when a woman contacted me about an item I had shown with my blog on Facebook. She asked if still available, showed a picture, and then I confirmed with her which items, and their availability’s. Things moving along, corresponding, gives me an address to calculate shipping cost, and so on. She then asked if I take Venmo, or Zelle. I confirmed Venmo, and gave her total with shipping to send. She notifies me it was sent, and have I gotten notice. I check Venmo, didn’t see anything for money sent, money pending, or anything. I then check for an email, and there was something from Venmo. Customer is contacting me also. Did I read it, did I understand it, etc. Had to deal with not having a business account, and receiving money from business to personal. I was being asked to send $300 to the customer, send proof to Venmo money was sent, and then I would get the $300 back along with the $32 for a total of $332. Could she trust me to send the $300, and I would send it back? After going through some things the money was actually sent through PayPal. Copy of transaction sent. Then…I get a notice from Venmo copy received, dealing with business account that I was going to need to send $400 for a certificate verification. I would then receive $732 total. Course I have a customer pushing me a little more because she’s out all this money till I pay it all back. Yes! I was very nervous, very worried, and all of a sudden feeling sick to my stomach. So, in between correspondence with the customer I started to google this kind of issue, and I was also sending copies of the emails to Venmo explaining what had happened.
I found incidents on Google and Reddit with stories matching very close to what I was dealing with. At the end of all of it they had said how you have no fees, or deposits you will pay with Venmo,, Zelle, PayPal, and different payment platforms used. So, I am finally responding to an excited customer being a little pushy about paying. I told her I did not have that kind of money. I had researched this issue, and I was seeing reports of it being a scam. Course, she wanted to know who was saying something like that. She proceeded about me paying, and during all of this reminding me she is a Christian woman, she quoted a passage, and I am being accused of stealing from her. I told her that actually I was the only one with verification money was issued, I was stolen from, wanted my money back, and then sent her copies of things from the internet search, and copies fromVenmo response that the emails were not theirs, were fake, and told her she was scamming me, and I wanted my money back. She blocked me at Messenger, and I lost all contact with her. I did report all the information I had about her with names, emails, address, and so on with Venmo and PayPal.
Unfortunately, a week later I had another inquiry about a sale, availability, shipping cost with their address, and so on. Things all said, and done he asked for my PayPal information to send me money. He told me he sent it, to watch PayPal, and let me know when it was received. Few hours later…because I had appointments all morning…I contacted him about no notice received for money. He responded asking if I got the notice from PayPal regarding the business account, and it looked like there was a fee in order for me to receive all of the money with what he was being charged, and the deposit I would pay. Could I be trusted that he pays the fee, and I would reimburse him that cost. I responded with LOL!!! You are a scam, and that you should make your money honestly instead of stealing from those who work for a living. Darn!! He blocked me right away with messenger too.
After all of this, me putting notices out on Facebook about this particular scam, I came across a question from someone in 1 of the groups I follow. She was not sure, something didn’t seem right, she was questioning things, and wanted to know if anyone else thought maybe she was being scammed. Almost same issues as what I dealt with. Yes, I shared things with her and for others to also see what was happening. Scammers have been busy because quite a few others had stories to share of attempts they had dealt with themselves, or a few of them losing money.
So, again I am sharing what I know, and reminding others that it’s bad with the holidays approaching for us. Please, be aware of things, watch what you do, if you are uncomfortable…question it. Follow your instincts, and check things before you give any money. There is no harm in doing that, and people should not get upset about it. Well, if they are being questioned, or caught with their scam I’m sure they will get a little moody, and get upset. To bad for them. Better to be safe than sorry. We work for our money, and stealing money from others is a horrible way to make money.
Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams! I hope I could help you a little with being a little more careful during this time. Take care everyone, and be safe!
Monday, November 11, 2024
DIY Top Hat Center Piece Candy Cookie Containers
DIY Top Hat Center Piece Candy Cookie Containers
Hi! welcome to LilacsNDreams! Happy to have you dropping by! Ok, we got through Halloween. Next we have Thanksgiving, and then onto Christmas. Shoot Christmas things were coming out, and quite a bit was out before we even got through Halloween. I Love Christmas time! My favorite time of year to decorate, craft home decor and gifts, and just have fun too!
I have items on hand to make what I am about to share with you. A DIY Christmas Top Hat Center Piece Cookie Candy Container. The 2 major pieces you will grab right away is a plastic container from DT. Their seasonal ones that come with a lid, and can be used for many goodies, storage, and so on. Another thing to use that is popular is one of the charger plates from Dollar Tree. You can also consider a plastic plate from there too. Actually, if you find similar pieces being used from other places, while thrifting, etc make sure you grab them there. With these you can make big, you can make small, make little ornaments, and so on.
Once you have the 2 major pieces then you will want to consider the color of hat you want. Grab spray paint for that. Also, think of embellishments you wish to use too. Ribbon for the band, for the bow, if you want some greenery, some berries, maybe some snow flakes, cardinals, birds, and so many things you can do to make it yours.
First you will lightly sand your plastic container, and lid. Helps with painting it. You can then mod podge, and paint, or just paint it by itself too. If you want the plate….which will be the hat bottom, the rim…same color as the top hat part you will paint this too. If you were able to get a black plate, or even a red one you might not have to paint the plate. Remember, it’s yours so you do as you wish. Do not paint the inside of the plastic bowl because you might want to put cookies, candies, or some kind of snack in there. This could be for at home, sitting as a center piece with a floral decoration maybe, or they are great given as gifts too. Once everything has fully dried apply the bowl to the plate, and then you can apply the embellishments you wish to use. There is so many things you can do to make it your own, or maybe a fun gift for someone too.
I was thinking of it today, after looking at a picture, what if I didn’t paint the plastic bowl. What if I just left it like it is, find a plate to match color of the lid, or maybe paint a plate to match the lid. Put some ribbon around it, and some embellishments of sorts to fit the theme of the bowl, and just make it like that. Think it would look good? Anything is possible, right?