Grandpa's Garden

Today I took the boys to my grandparents' farm. While I was there I took a few pictures of my grandfather's garden. Looks like there will be a ton of okra in a few days. 

Handmade Coasters

I thought today I would share a simple DIY project someone showed me - custom-made coasters. You can get as elaborate as you want with these. Here are the instructions:

1. Go to a supply store such as Lowe's or Home Depot. In the floor tiling section there are boxes of plain white tiles, (they also make black sometimes too). These are the perfect size for coasters, as well as other crafty projects like mosaics. They usually run anywhere from 15-50 cents a piece. I would by 4-6 for each coaster set.

2. Next decide on a design for the coasters. The easiest way is to choose the large pieces of scrapbook paper you can buy in packs or separately at scrapbook supply stores. I would buy at least two to three sheets of the same color. You can get up to four coaster patterns on one sheet, but I would have extra in case of mess-ups.

3. Everyone seems to do their decoupage mixture differently. I have used the already mixed, name-brand, but have found that just a cheap mixture of equal parts glue and water works just as well. I don't even buy the name brand glue. So usually this part of the process only runs about fifty cents.

4. Using the coasters as guides, draw out four shapes onto the back of your scrapbook paper.

5. Carefully cut out the squares and lay aside.

6. Using a strong paintbrush (I
 have one I strictly use for decoupage), paint the white tile. Next, lay the scrapbook paper on top of the tile. Then paint another coat of the glue mixture on top of the scrapbook paper. Allow to dry an hour. Repeat the process.

Note: You will have to smooth down the edges of the paper around the sides of the coaster.

7. The finished product should look somewhat like the example below. The coasters can be as simple or elaborate as you'd like them to be. However, when you finish your design, it is important to take them outside and spray them with a clear craft sealant (can be found in the craft section of Wal-Mart or Michael's).

Finding My Focus

I can honestly say this has been one of the most laid- back, restful summers I have had in a long time. I took a break from the classroom, my blog, and the day-to-day wind and grind of real life. I was able to find my focus (both mentally and spiritually), hang out with true friends, and most importantly spend some much needed time with just Beau and Ryan. We had several adventures; whether it was leaving the state or dodging mosquitoes in our own backyard. I think they would tell you we enjoyed every second of it. Now with only one week left of vacation, I'm already beginning to prioritize for the upcoming fall. In short, this summer has been a job well done.

I plan to restructure this blog. The first few dozen posts have been about learning to blog, finding my creative niche, and experimenting. Now I'd like to focus on just three things - finding unique vintage treasures, creating mixed media art pieces and repurposing furniture and other findings. I am not saying the jewelry is through (I've got a TON of material from last spring's ventures), but I just want to spend my time creating pieces of art and functional furnishings that are inspirational and easy to do yourself.

I have also gone back to my first true passion, writing. This summer I began writing a novel with a fellow middle school teacher. I love going through the writing process and figuring out how to maneuver through the many steps of creating a story. I think this will be a long process, and I'm not ready to share details, but I am excited about the possibilities it may lead to.