More Upcycled Clipboards...

I've had fun updating the old clipboards I picked up recently.

 They each received an application of old newspaper

 from the 1950's.

 And then I added a few coats of varnish to seal them for 

everyday use. 

 The classifieds ads are fun to peruse...

 ...and the old automotive advertising is fun too!

I have a few more clipboards to upcycle- but I think they'll 

get a different look.

These will be available in my Etsy Shop.

Vintage Road Trip...

My sweet vintage post card booklets...

...have been included in a sweet Etsy Treasury called

 'Off On a Vintage Style Spring Road Trip'.  How fun!

 This was compiled by a PA gal (my own li'l ol' state!) who

 owns the lovely shop Memory Furniture Finds.

  Check out a few of her awesome vintage goods...

My fav. is this adorable crib with original decals...

...and can anyone ever have enough old wooden boxes? 

...or neat old product cans? (love the red!)

Thanks Lutrell!

With Old Newspapers And A Clipboard...

This post is hurried - sorry! 

I'm rushing to include it in Funky Junk's Saturday Night Special  

'Junky Hang Ups' Linky Party. I'm not even quite finished with the project!

And surely I can do a photo shoot that better does this justice!

At any rate - I picked up a couple of these old

 industrial looking clip boards this week.

I have some old Philadelphia Enquirer newspapers and 

decided to apply a section to the fronts. (This is just one of the boards.)  

With some newly punched holes - tablet paper works great 

as a memo board.

This newspaper page features an ad for Richard Nixon 

when he was a candidate for vice President.  

Look how young he looks! (It's from the 50's!)

I'll show you more of these next week.

Another Upcycled Book Project...

This is my 2nd one for the week!  This time - it's a hardback book -

an old elementary school story book - that got a little tweak...

 See - the story remains...

 But the cover was given a coat of black paint...

 ...then I added a title from a sheet music cover and

 gave the whole thing a coat of varnish.  It can stand up - 

making it a wonderful addition for a valentine or any other vignette.

Can't wait for yard sales this summer to find more old books!
linking to The Inspiration Gallery

Do Good...

A bit of inspiration for you today...

...comment about what you did in the next 24 hours in response.  

Let's put love in action by doing good to all men! 

Cleaning Up the Laundry Room...

We have a very tiny laundry room and have added

 some old cupboards to help with storage...

Love this wall cupboard with its original paint!

 Everything that is headed out the back door lands here.  

Thus - the basket on the dryer to hold 'stuff' till it leaves.  

The other basket is holding my big jar of homemade laundry soap.  
The bird house is waiting to go in the yard come spring.

The facing wall has another big cupboard that I

 bought at a yard sale some years ago for $25!  

My bargain of a life time I think...

 The sink shows wear - but I'm very OK with that!

 Our humble laundry room...

Linking to Wow Us Wednesday 
and Home Sweet Home

Cutest Small Town...

Our nearby Lititz, PA is in the running for Coolest Small Town.  

You can check out the candidates here.  Let me tell you - 

Lititz should win hands down!!  
It's where we locals head for a day out and it's in the
heart of  Lancaster County - a true vacationer's delight.

Lititz is also home to several thrift and consignment shops -  
(the video didn't mention them - what were they thinking?)  

I actually blogged about Lititz in a previous post.

And did I mention the amazing chocolate at Wilbur's Chocolate?  

With free samples for everyone who stops in folks!  

from the video above

 If you come visit - give me a shout! 

Awesome Free Project Supplies...

Free project supplies can mean free (or almost free) projects!!  

Today - instead of throwing out a 'less than best' 

jean skirt - I did some recycling...

 

I cut off the great silver buttons (gotta keep those!)

 and cut out the awesome pockets too.  

Can't you see them on a future pillow?

Then there was all the great denim fabric to salvage...

I've got piles of patches saved up for blankets, quilt tops, 

table runners - whatever I can think of.

 Yep - some good supplies await for when inspiration strikes...

Upcycled Valentine Project...

I'm enjoying 'using up' forsaken items from around my home.  

Today - it was time to make use of some old paperback 

books that were once required high school reading.  

I ripped off the covers...

 ...bundled them in tulle and silver cord.   A heart stamp 

outlined in glue and sprinkled with glitter adorns the front and edges.

Have you worked on any projects for Valentine's Day?

Linking to Fabulously Creative Friday and

The Inspiration Gallery

'For Sale' Vignettes...

It's been a while since I showed you some of the little dress rack 

displays I do for the thrift shop where I volunteer.

  Here are this week's gatherings...

 This group has a bit of a family or home theme...

 For this one - I married some neutral and wood tones with mint green coloring...

 

Love this little grouping where I tried to carry the mint green across the room...

And this one is on the 'Antiques Linens' kiosk in a different room.  

My inspiration was the red blanket underneath...

Our donations are 'down' right now - so there wasn't a lot 

to choose from.  But it's still fun to try to come up

 with something each different for these racks.

Menu Monday - Rice Lasagna & Cookies...

I have a few gluten free (naturally) recipes for you today.

First - my Rice Lasagna from over the weekend...

 

1 lb. gr beef (I use 3/4 lb.)
1 med. onion (chopped)
1/4 c. peppers (chopped)
1 28 oz. spaghetti sauce
2 beaten eggs
2 c. cottage cheese
2 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded
4 c. cooked rice
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese

Cook beef, onion & peppers till brown.  Drain - stir in spaghetti sauce and heat through.
Stir together eggs, cottage cheese and mozz. cheese.
In 9x13 dish - layer 1/2 meat mixture, 1/2 cooked rice, 1/2 cheese mixture.  Repeat.  Top with parmesan cheese.
Bake uncovered 350 degrees approx. 45 min.  Let stand 10 min. before cutting.

And for dessert...

Chocolate Brownie Cookies 

(I call them 'death by chocolate')

These are amazing!

3 c. confectioner's sugar
2/3 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 t. salt
3 large egg whites
1 T. vanilla extract
2 c. chocolate chips

Mix 1st 5 ingredients and beat well!!   Then add the chips.  Refrigerate dough about 1/2 hour.  Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees 10-14 min.

NOTE:  I added 2 T. cornstarch to this recipe to help cut the sweetness and it was great!

10 Frugal Kitchen Tips...

As I was preparing a bit of food today - I thought about 

all the little things I do that fall into the 'frugal' category.   

So let me share some of my 'tips' that were part of

 today's routine as I was making Rice Lasagna...

1.  Shop discount grocery stores - if you're not shopping at these - you're missing out!  We have several in our area - some chains and some privately owned.  (Do a web search!)  My most recent great bargain find was 8 oz. shredded colby jack cheese - 2/$1!  It was the day the truck came (try to find out when that is!) - so they were moving out the old inventory to make way for the new. 

2.  Make frugal recipes.  Regular lasagna is wonderful - but we eat gluten free.  Gluten free pasta is expensive.  Rice is not!  And rice lasagna is delicious.

3.  Use less hamburger (meat) -  I almost always use less than the amount of meat called for.  My habit is to buy hamburger in bulk amounts.  Once at home - I package it into 3/4 lb. portions - placing each portion into a sandwich bags.  I place those bags into a larger ziplock bag and put it in the freezer.  

4.  Shred your own cheese - I buy whole 1 lb. blocks and shred it with my Kitchen Aid shredder attachment.  I measure 1 c. per bag and freeze it the same way I do the hamburger.   Again - you can often use less than a recipe calls for.

5.  Use a warm surface for thawing.  To thaw my frozen mozzarella cheese - I simply sat it in the microwave which was still warm from making my rice.  

6.  Reuse containers - (see the Temp Tee cream cheese container above.)  

7.  Buy larger cans of food when on special.  When it's time to open them - freeze what you don't use into smaller portions.  (that would be my refried beans in the Temp Tee container above.)

8.  Bake several things in the oven at 1 time.  Today I baked some refried bean dip (for weekend snacking)  at the same time my lasagna was baking.

yes, my oven needs cleaned!

 9.  Shop thrift shops and yard sales for kitchen gadgets, dishes, etc.  I paid only $2 or $3 for my 9X13 glass dish!  In fact - I can't remember the last time I paid full price for anything for my kitchen from a 'regular' store.  It's amazing what people get rid of.

10.  Make your own hot pads.  When my daughter was little - she had a pot holder maker (the kind with the loops) and made a bunch of them.  I still use them!

There ya go - 10 thrifty ideas!

Free Ezine - Whites...

Just thought you'd enjoy perusing this free ezine 

by Gatherings...

The White Issue 

 

Joy for 2013...

As we embark on a new year - I have not made a list of goals, 

resolutions, joined the local gym, purged my closets

 or started an organizing frenzy.  But I have been inspired 

to find a 'word' for the year and make it a daily part

 of my  life.... a spiritual growth goal so to speak.

This year - I pick 'Joy'.  Joy used to come quite naturally for me 

- in fact my name spells it and imparts its meaning (Joyce!)  

But life has brought changes and disappointments that have been 

extremely difficult for me.  I'm ashamed how elusive this trait has 

become in my spirit.  So for 2013 - I've propped this

 little word on my desk for a daily reminder.

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You (that's me!); Let them ever shout for joy,

 because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. Psalms 5:11

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous (that's me!); 

And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!  Psalms 32:11

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, 

And uphold me (that's me!) by Your generous Spirit.

Psalms 51:12

 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you,

and that your (that's me) joy may be full." John 15:11

Ask, and you will receive (this means me!), that your joy may be full. John 16:24

  May my Joy cup run over in  2013!

(Feel free to check on me and see how I'm doing.)

The Perfect Winter Hat...

...and it's vintage and available in my Etsy shop.

 ...just a lovely snowball of fur!

 It's American made - love that!

 More new listings include this sweet collar and cuffs set...

and this gorgeous champagne or blush colored satin

 damask fabric...

It's a Winter Whites time of year!