Friday Favorites: Ball Jars and A Beautiful Mess App

Two great finds this week- combined here!  I'd heard that Ball was going to be launched vintage inspired blue Mason jars, but didn't know if they'd show up locally.  So happy to find them at Target yesterday.  I thought $9.99 for six was a little spendy, but as a longtime fan, I decided I HAD to have them.  (BTW, they're also at Amazon, but more expensive.)

They're really beautiful, and have a special anniversary imprint.  Great blue color.

Now, what to do with them?  Definitely for decor, not canning.  Bet they'd look great with a candle inside.  I'm happy just to look at them.

   

The second find of the week was Elsie and Emma's new iPhone app, a Beautiful Mess.  It's an easy photo editing program that allows you to add fun stuff for your photos, like doodles, and borders and cool fonts.  Only 99 cents, and you can add more photos, doodles, etc. too.  LOVE it!

I expect to have a ton of fun with this!  Heck I even like their logo, and the app is super easy.  I only wish I could use it on my PC, too. Hint, Hint, E&E.  

Adventures in PomPom Land: Craft Book Review

Adventures in PomPom Land by Lark Crafts is a roundup of tons of cute little creatures you can make from PomPoms.

Brings me back to my childhood, when I started my entrepreneurial crafty ways by making pompom chicks for 25 cents each.  My neighbor bought them from me to give to her dance students.

This book's projects are a bit more advanced.  In fact, Adventures in PomPom Land has 25 different critter projects you can made from handmade pompoms.  My favorites are the snow and the snowman couple, the lop-eared bunny, the bluebird and the lamb.

The book has a great overview on how to make the pom-pom bases with just a piece of cardboard.  I have to say I prefer using my Clover pom-pom tool, as it gives a more consistent look.

I do like how the author uses a number of creative techniques to add details (check out that fluffy tail on the bluebird).

So, if you want to take your pom pom creations to the next level, give this book a look.

Disclosure: Please note: I was not financially compensated for this post.  I received a copy of the book for review purposes.  As with all content on my blog, the above review is completely my own, based on my own experience.

Drive-By Lilac Snatching?

Confession time.  Depending on your perspective, I may have committed a crime today.  I prefer to think of it as community outreach.


Background:  I love lilacs - they're my all-time favorite flower and scent.  Growing up, our neighbors had a lilac bush that grew along our shared fence.  Each year, around my birthday in April, it bloomed, and I would cut a few stems and bring them into my room (which was painted lilac purple, BTW).

Even after I moved away, I'd still visit my parents and cut a few stems each year.  After my parents passed away, my sister moved into the house where the lilac bush grew, so I was able to continue to get my yearly lilac fix.

Except for this year.  The old lilac bush finally died.  No pretty purple flowers for me this year.  So, I've been on the lookout for a new candidate.

Driving home in the rain today, I noticed a property that had 3 lilac bushes in full bloom.  Coincidentally, there was also a dirt road running alongside them.  So, after a moment's hesitation and a quick U-turn, I drove up beside the bush and snipped a few branches.  In case you're wondering, yes, I do keep a pair of scissors in my car -- they've come in handy on numerous occasions.  Although, now I suppose they are evidence (as is this post :)

I don't think the person who lived in the house would really mind - besides, it was sort of a free pruning, right?  

If it was a crime, I don't believe there's a jury in the world that would convict me.  I'd just show them pictures of me in my lilac bedroom, and they'd understand, right?

Summer Table Runner

Here's a new table runner I made for my oldest (as in known her since high school) friend, Donna.  She picked out the ants fabric, and I added the rest.  I'm calling it the summer picnic table runner.

I like how the ant fabric sort of looks like a picnic blanket.  I chose the red and green rick rack to echo the watermelon fabrics.

It was so fun to make that now I'm making one for me, too.

Used one of my new Accu-Quilt die cuts to make the rectangles - so super easy!

Star Wars Day: May the 4th Be with you

Happy Star Wars Day, May the 4th be with you.  I couldn't resist!  I love wordplay...and puns...and knock knock jokes. :)  And, of course I live with 3 males who all love Star Wars (I think that's a genetic thing, comes on the Y chromosome).

Recently, I bought new Star Wars fabrics to use for some laptop covers in my Etsy shop.

My youngest son immediately noticed, and asked for me to make him something with them.  Funny, he's never noticed all the polka dot, owl and cupcake fabrics, hmmm.

p.s. If you want to know all the names of the battleships, I can hook you up!