Tissue Flowers For Valentine's Day...

I had one extra tissue flower from my 

recent recycled paper project - 

so I added it to my twig wall heart...

Simple... and maybe a little too sparse... 

but with everything else in the room - works just fine.

Happy Saturday!  ~Joyce

A Fluffy Heart Remembered...

Today I'm remembering a fluffy heart project post from a few years ago.  I'm still loving it!

To make:  

Cut a 7" heart from cardboard.  Then with the occasional dab of 

hot glue - 
started wrapping fluffy or chenille style yarn around it.

  Keep wrapping at your whim and 'wa-la'...

   Hello chenille goodness! 

Unwrapped and recycled from a previous heart...

Anybody else getting ready for Valentine's Day already?

It's winter - it's cold - so why not do something 

easy and fun in the evenings.

Remember to share your heart with those around you... 

Strangers and family alike!  ~Joyce

Linking to Funky Junk's DIY Salvaged Junk Projects
and Monday Funday

Thrifty Thursday - 9 Cans of Beans for $3...

Keep your eyes open when you're out discount grocery shopping. 

 Black beans were on my grocery list.  And as usual - this store

 didn't have any - or so I tho't.  Then I spied this massive can of

 them for $2.99.  Now I use beans - but not that many.

But we do have a freezer in addition to our frig freezer - and you should too.  

There were enough beans to divvy out to 9 freezer containers -

each holding 15 oz.  (like the small cans).

I gave them a masking tape label and they're good to go.

Normally my discount store price for a small can of black beans is $.99.  

So I saved at least 66% - more if you compare to retail store price.

  Yippee Skippee!

Sometimes it pays to look closely, buy in large quantities 

and yep - you need a freezer and freezer containers.

Now I'm wondering why I didn't buy 2 cans? 

Maybe they'll still be there the next time I go...    ~Joyce

How To Come Up With a Unique Idea for a Project, Decor, Anything!...

So how do you get inspiration to do something 'different' or a little unique?  

Here's a plan that works for me...

1.  Consider what theme you're after.  

For the sake of this example/post - I was thinking 'Valentine'.

2. Look around and see what you have in that color scheme.  i.e. 'red'

    I spied these buckles and the red one stood out to me.

3. Play a game with yourself and decide you HAVE to use that item

 (or items) in your 'project'.

  I tho't a ribbon through the buckle might look nice.

4. Find items to make it work that also go with your theme and

 color scheme.

    Brown paper - no matter that it was wrinkled - 

seemed like a good fit.

5.  Something WILL develop - I promise!
I'm liking my little Valentine gift wrapped & staged package!    

Happy Creating!  

Let me know what you come up with.  ~Joyce
Sweet red buckle and more available right here in my Etsy shop.
Linking to Home Sweet Home Linky Party

Winter Recycled Tissue Paper Project & Valentine Mantel...

We had lots of leftover 'used' white tissue paper from Christmas.  

I have a hard time throwing out big sheets of paper... 

so a little recycled project came to the rescue...

Tissue paper pom pom flowers how-to's are everywhere - 

but here are the basics.   Again - my paper was 'used' and not

 smooth and neat.   I determined an approx. size (6" x 8"?) and 

cut enough sheets to make 3-5 flowers of  7-8 layers each.   

My edges weren't all perfectly matched and I even had some tan

 paper mixed in with the white.  Imperfection works for these.

Do a simple accordian fold - tie in the middle and 

leave long string ends for hanging...

Snip the ends into points or round them and then peel up 

each layer carefully to fill out a flower shape.

Thanks to some Pinterest inspiration - I added mine to tree twigs...

They make a nice addition to my Valentine mantel and will also

 work for the remainder of the winter.

What a fun way to spend an hour or so on this 

bitter cold Saturday afternoon!  ~Joyce
Linking to DIY Salvaged Junk Projects