Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Repurpose Restyle Handmade DIY Vintage Collectibles. What a week it was! I was excited because I had things I was hoping to be sharing with you like some completed projects. Well, that was all pushed to the side again.
Hubby was home all week. When he is home we take advantage of it as it doesn't happen that often. This time home was unplanned. Love it when he's home, and it's always nice that he gets back into the truck too. I seem to accomplish a little more when he is absent. I had cleared my table, and was ready to sit down to start doing some cutting, gluing, creative thinking, etc. And, you know the rest.
I have a very good friend who lives in Cedar Rapids. She sells things on ebay, and does quite well with what she does. Look her up some time MaryLouLavender*s is her store name. Hopefully this spring we get together as planned, and do some crafting and thrifting too. Until then we had discussed an idea I was kind of thinking of. "Christmas in July" I remember doing something like this back in time when I was selling online. I remember another seller commenting about how they sell christmas all year long, and it sells too. Perfect timing of these thoughts as I did acquire a few things during the year end sales for christmas items needed. Since then I have found a couple of thrift stores that have seasonal things all year long, and I can always sort through the Marketplace on Facebook too.
So, anyway, I had proposed to her that maybe we should make this a goal with our crafting. Do things for "Christmas in July", and of course other things could be done too. Even some of the other holidays if we wanted to. I have some things here to work with, during all the year end sales I acquired a few things, and I still come across different things that can be transformed into what I need them for.
One of the things I want to make is a Christmas Wreath with the manager featured on it. I got the 2 different mesh colors to use for it, last weekend I was thrifting and was fortunate to find a white star to use for the night star, I have fairy lights to use if I wish, and now I just need figurines/manger for this pc. I figured I could get started with what I had, and finish it with the last piece I need to find.
I have different pieces of glassware that has all been washed, and air dried. With those I am going to make some little snowmen. I can put those together, get them close to done. I would just need some small pieces to get yet. Things to make the snowman noses, something for the hats, scarves, and etc.
I'm excited to being doing this. I know once I start I will keep going with it, and start producing things to have ready for July.
I don't know about you, and where you're residing, but here we have had snow with more predicted. I love Christmas, but enough snow is enough. I am ready for spring time when things are new, fresh, and I have more energy to be working on things. I just need to stay focused right now.
I want to thank you for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope to see you again soon. Feel free to stop by anytime, leave a message if you would like, and just browse around if you want to. I still need to work on my site here. Have made notes. All I can is it's a working progress, please bare with me.
Thanks again everyone, till the next time.
Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Personal Google+ Accounts Will Be Going Away. So, has everyone heard, or have you gotten notices with your gmail email accounts? Notice has been sent from the Google+ Team to those who have a consumer (personal) Google+ account, or if you manage a Google+ Page.
I guess in December of 2018 they announced their decision to shut down the Google+ for consumers in April of 2019. I guess they are closing this part due to low usage, and challenges that were involved in maintaining this.
So, on April 2nd your Google+ account, and any Google+ pages that you created will be shut down. They will begin deleting content from Google+ accounts. Photos, and videos from Google+ in your album will also be deleted. You are able to download, and save your content. Just make sure that you do it before April. They did note that photos, and videos that are backed up in Google Photos will not be deleted. As early as February 4th you will no longer be able to create new Google+ profiles, pages, communities, or events.
If you have a blog with Google they also have sent notices there for you to read as well about this issue. The Google+ Widgets: +1 Button, Google+ Followers, nd Google+ Badge widgets in your layout will no longer be available. All instances of these widgets will be removed from your blog.
+1 Buttons and Google+ Share Links below blog posts, and in the navigation bar will be removed.
Please note if you have a custom template that includes Google+ features, you may need to update your template. Please contact your template supplier for advice.
Google+ Comments: Support for Google+ comments will be turned down, and all blogs using Google+ comments will be reverted back to using Blogger comments. Unfortunately, comments posted as Google+ comments cannot be migrated to Blogger, and will no longer appear on your blog.
If you have seen all of the notices regarding this issue I apologize for repeating it to you. For those who have not seen this, maybe overlooked the message, or for reasons unknown did not receive any of the messages I wanted to share this with you.
Sadly, I hadn't used Google+ for a really long time. When it first came out I remember working with it, trying to adapt, and trying to do something with it. I was never really set on using it, and with some things it got complicating/in the way of what I was trying to do. It was a part of Google, and I thought maybe it would help with things involving my placement in google, my ranking in google, and so on. I later learned there were other things that were more helpful in doing all of that, and more for me.
So, just giving everyone a heads up if you notices any minor changes due to this issue. Hope it was helpful to those who needed to know.
Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams. I hope to see you all again soon. Take care till the next time everyone.
Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Thrifting, Junking, Repurposing, DIY, Crafting, Handmade, Restyle, and vintage collectibles too! What can I say, I love dabbling with a lot of things!
Hello! Hello! Hello! to all visiting. It's been a very long time, and I deeply apologize for that too. The holidays, getting in truck with husband, visiting son on base, bringing his dog home with us for a while...he's like having another child in the home, having an early christmas with our son, and having a late christmas with our daughter. Then, while school was out for the christmas holiday our grand daughter stayed with me for a week. New Years eve was spent with daughter, and her family being here. Also, we had our son on facetime so that he brought in the new year with all of us, and not by himself. Excuses, but they were some precious times that don't want to be missed either.
So, here we are into the new year 2019. Also, the first month of the new year is done as well. Time has gotten by me unfortunately. Things were different this year during holidays because my husband couldn't be home to share it with us. First time in quite a few years we had this happen. So, I did the tree myself, decorations outside and inside myself, gift wrapping, cooking christmas dinner myself, etc etc. Then, of course I had the fun of taking it all down myself too. Really wasn't that bad. Only issue is the new tree we got this year. 7 1/2 foot tall, and I'm about 5'4". So, that was a chore itself. Love the tree, it looked great, but taking it down....I can't find containers big enough to store the tree as it is. I got one more idea to store it, and hopefully I get that done this week. Next time hubby is home he can then put it away for storage till the next time.
I'm not one to really set too many goals for the new year. It's easier for me to work on the smaller things, and add as I go along. My biggest goal is to just work on the house as we are able to, and get it more to a point that it is our home. Baby steps, but it will come along. Just another reason I am anxious for spring because that is when all things will be new, fresh air, windows open, things growing, and so on.
I need to get my craft room into a more organized order for use. That includes going through things that have been stored here, downsize if I need to,etc. I'm anxious for this too. I have been thrifting a little bit here, and there. Getting things in order to start working on. Different glass pieces waiting to be worked with, some need to be washed yet, and then collecting a few extras along the way to use with things I want to make.
I am anxious for this year to truly get back into the groove of making things, and getting back online selling again too. My dearest friend just lives a couple hours from me, and we converse about things we want to do, set some goals, and try to coax each other to help out in the motivation department too. She is in the process of getting her craft room ready, and organized too. Hopefully in the spring we have made some plans to do some thrifting, and junking. Also, to dig into some things for crafty pieces too. She has a few stores she wants to introduce me to, and I am anxious for it too. That is one good thing about this move that we made. I have a few more areas for shopping, and searching for treasures. Also, a new area where I can spend more time with me, and not chasing around for everyone else. More Me time is something we all need.
LOL! Well, now that I have bored y'all with my thoughts, and ideas I shall stop here for now. Hope it didn't scare y'all away, and you come back to visit to keep tabs on things being done. Right now I am thinking, and planning maybe a Christmas in July. I'll keep you updated as things go along for me. Along with that I think I might start working on things for some of the holidays along the year too. I have some ideas, making notes, making lists for supplies needed, watching videos to help me a little bit, and I am truly excited for this! I only hope I can do what I am planning, but have fun with it too.
Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and I hope to see y'all again soon! Stop by now, and then to check in on what is happening, chat with me, etc. Enjoy the company as I venture along with things. Take care till the next time everyone!
Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Christmas Homemade DIY Repurposed Candy Holder Dish. If I haven't mentioned it to you before I really enjoy spending time with crafting, homemade, DIY, repurposing, and all of that fun stuff! I like creating projects that I can sell, but right now I have been enjoying making things for the holidays with our home. Along with the fixer upper on our home I am enjoying time with making things for the holidays for Christmas! Come follow along with me while I share what I have done for y'all to view this week.
Again I was at the Dollar Tree store, and I had something in mind I was hoping to put together with a project. I don't have a quick access to craft stores like Hobby Lobby, and Michaels...unless I want to drive for it. So, for some things instead of ordering online, or traveling I have chosen to create them. It has been an issue to find a snowman hat, and the size that I need it for too. I figured it was time to create one myself. I was walking around the store, looking at things, and thinking, thinking a little more, and thinking about the snowman hat again. What could I possibly do to make this item, and to fit the bowl I needed it to be on.
Taking my time, walking around the store, a few things coming to mind that maybe could work, and then there it was! Someone had dismissed a pen/pencil holder by placing it on the shelf where it didn't belong. I seen the holder, and started thinking could I possibly make this work? I grabbed the holder, and went over to their supply section looking for some sort of crafting paper that I could use. There it was a black piece of poster board, and under a dollar too! So with these 2 items, and along with a few other things I needed for other projects I went through check out, and headed home. Once I got home I placed the holder on the bowl I was going to use to make a snowman head. I pictured the black poster board around it, the rim I would make, and etc. Stared at it for a little bit, and it wasn't feeling right. Oh darn! Now what? So, I left it sitting there, and walked away from it for a few days. I would look at it in passing, and was hoping to be inspired with another idea of what to do.
Needless to say it took a little bit, but I did come to an agreement of what to do with the pieces I wanted to make a snowman hat. I did get it all put together making the hat I was wanting. I did it simply, left the top of the hat open, added just a few embellishments on it, and the snowman hat is now a candy cane holder! I'm excited for our grand daughter to come visit, and see this on the table with different candy canes in it. Now she won't have to pull the tree apart getting the canes off of it.
This picture is showing the pen/pencil holder along with the piece of black poster board I had gotten. You should be able to see that I did cut a corner of it to start the process of making this hat I want.
Here you can see that I did get this completed, and have added a box of candy canes...I know I will have to get more for this too. I wrapped around the holder, and I made a big circle to attach to the bottom of this hat. Once all of the board was cut, and glued I added a red ribbon around the bottom hat. I added a plane white ribbon making a bow. I added a couple of red ball berries, and a few florescent white balls on either side of the white bow. I also added just a few white snowflakes along the rim, and the hat.
Another picture pretty much showing some of the same things that I explained above.This was a fun little DIY project with repurposing the holder that I used.
Isn't Christmas crafting fun?! Something that will have a little more of a meaning to it because it was made by me.
Thanks so much for spending time with me at LilacsNDreams! Enjoyed having you. Stop on by anytime, drop me a line, leave a comment, etc. Have a super week everyone! See y'all later.
Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Christmas Holiday Handmade DIY Repurposed Home Decor. Christmas is a fun time with home decor, and all the fun things we can do. You can buy locally, online, or better yet some of your items you can revise to fit with what you want. That is something I enjoy doing too!
Last week I showed you some picture frames I got from the Dollar Tree Store. I took some simple black frames, and removed the backing, and the glass. I then painted the frames white. Nothing fancy with the painting just a simple white. I then added some decoration to each piece. Some ribbon bows, letter snowflake paper clip, and some ornaments. The second frame I did not have completed fully with my last posting. I have completed it, and changed a bit what I was going to use with it.
Below you will see 3 pictures of the arrangement that I made using those frames that I hand crafted with. The window that you see in the middle of the frames was made by someone else who signed it, and had donated this one along with a few others to the thrift store. I picked it up because it was cute, and handmade. Wasn't sure what, and where I was going to put it. Tonight it came together for me as you will see.
This picture shows the arrangement that I had grouped together on one of our walls in the dining room of our home. All 3 pieces have been handmade, or revised to make this arrangement.
One of the picture frames that I had painted white, added a blue ribbon bow made by me along with a couple of tags for ornaments. I also clipped a letter snowflake on the bottom of the bow.
This is the second frame that I completed which was also painted white. I added the red and white ribbon bow I made to the bottom of the frame. I then added some ornaments to this piece too.
I love my vintage collectibles, and I enjoy crafting with different things too. Some things I craft with might be with new pieces, and sometimes they might be with pieces that I have found thrifting or that I have had on hand for a while too. It's a good feeling to complete pieces, and be able to show them in our home. Sometimes pieces will be offered for sale as well too.
I hope you enjoyed your visit, and happy to see you stopping by here. Feel free to contact me, leave a comment, and etc.
Thanks for visiting LilacsNDreams! Have a beautiful week, and see you again soon.
Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Christmas Handmade DIY Repurpose Home Decor. Thanksgiving has passed, and I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving too. The belly has been filled, and the anticipation for the next holiday has expanded just a little bit more. I like many others are excited for the Christmas season.
Christmas is my favorite holiday to celebrate, share, and enjoy. It has much meaning for many people. It's a time of year that the weather changes, many festivities are scheduled to celebrate this holiday, and the mood changes a bit for many too.
If I was doing my online sales...like I use to...I would be busy right now with that too. People buying for gift giving, and some are treating themselves to special gifts. Many are filling their homes with decor for the season or just because, and many are also getting things together to craft with as well.
I enjoy my vintage collectibles that I collect, or sometimes will sell too. I also enjoy decorating, and crafting some of the decorations that I find. Last week I showed you a glass vase I had decorated with different things. Since I shared that I have also added some white fairy lights to the arrangement. The soft glow of the light brings out some of the blue, and glitter a bit more too.
This week I am going to share with you my latest project I have been working with. I'm almost done. I have enough to share one completed item, and to share some of the things being used for the second item too. I love the Dollar Tree Store. I can purchase many things there to add in with decorations, and to craft with too. For this project I bought some 8X10 picture frames. I already had the spray paint at home. I had some Christmas ribbon, I purchased some ornaments, and I found some Christmas gift tags from another store to use too. Step in a little closer to have a look at the pictures below showing my progress so far.
I bought 2 of these 8X10 pictures frames that you see.
I removed the plastic wrap, the glass, and the backing. Once that was done I spray painted both sides of this a white color.
In this picture you can see 1 of the picture frames completed. After the paint had dried on the frame. I glued in the corner a blue glitter ribbon bow that I made. I made this one simple, and just added 2 different gift tags, and a snowflake letter clip to the bow.
In this picture I am showing the complete picture frame again along with some extra items at the bottom of the frame. While the other frame is drying fully for me to work with I prepared a red ribbon to put on that one. The second picture frame is white also. Now, after I attach the bow I have some decisions to make about what else to decorate with. The ornament is a green, and silver bulb with a pine cone design on it. Next to that is another older ornament that has mini pine cones, a mini white lace doily behind that, and some red ribbon that has some old gold bells at the bottom of them. I'm also considering using some gift tags again. Not quite sure how it will turn out yet. Don't want to make it too heavy that it won't hang right either.
I enjoy the Christmas season. I so enjoy adding touches to things I already have, or maybe restyling some things I find within the Dollar Tree, and Thrift Stores too. Sometimes it's a gift for someone else, and many times it's for my pleasure too.
Now to see what else I can get into for crafting with this wonderful holiday. I know some people are bahumbug with the season, but sometimes I feel like I come alive with some of my creative juices.
Thanks again for visiting with LilacsNDreams! I enjoy your visits, and look forward to you dropping by again. Take care till the next time everyone.
Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Holidays Christmas Home Decor DIY Restyle. I love Christmas! I'm trying really hard not to bypass Thanksgiving as I too get upset with the way holidays are just being passed along anymore. Holidays are a bit different for us this year with us moving, daughter has her husband's family to also celebrate with, and our son being on base too. Also, with working on the house too. Having time on my hands lately I have been slowly putting Christmas stuff out through the house. On a nice day I will get some outside lights up, but they will not be turned on till after Thanksgiving. We cannot forget that holiday of sharing being thankful for everything.
I have 2 windows I have put things in for show with Christmas. Good old Dollar Tree store is great for some of these things along with a little bit of thrifting too. The other night I worked with a glass vase that a candle could be put in the center. I had put some colored ornaments in it. At the top of it I added some colored foliage to add to the look. I then placed this vase in a weathered looking tray with some rope handles. In the tray around the vase bottom I added a few more colored ornaments, and some pretty silver glittered items for a little character too. After cleaning up my glitter mess I kept looking at the arrangement on the dining room table. It looked good, but felt like it was missing something. Ever get that feeling? Keeps my mind busy when this happens.
I got up the next morning, walked by the table with the vase arrangement I had done the night before. Then, it hit me what I could do! Since a lot of my craft items are still in containers, in the spare room, or in the loft room I figured I might be going to the dollar general store for what I needed. Sad to buy more when I know I have a few bags of different pine cones, but I wanted them like now too. I took a chance, and searched in the garage with no luck. I looked in the spare room, and did find 1 bag that had a few colored pine cones, some big and small cones too.
I finally decided to work with the bag I found of pine cones. I took the vase, and tray and dismantled everything I had done the night before. More glitter being spread around again. I used some of the pine cones in the vase, and in the tray. I used those along with some of the ornaments I had previously used. I added some decorative items to the top of the vase. I feel better about it now, and I did have a compliment from husband's cousin when she seen a picture too. Below I am showing you pictures of how the vase looked by itself, and then the finishing results of it.
Would have looked better if I pictured it on the table. Hope you can get the general idea from the chair I was using during my developing process.
This week is Thanksgiving, and many of you will be traveling, having company, maybe attending an event some where, and so on. Please be safe with your travels everyone! Our plans changed, and we will be home. At least I will. Safe travels, and I hope everyone is able to enjoy the day in some way.
Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Happy Holidays to all, and see you again soon.
