Gearing up for Spring

While gearing up for spring,

I visited the dollar store and found some treasures.

Then I saw Kimm at Reinvented had posted a trash to treasure link and had to join. Check out the second project I've posted for some serious re-useing and recycling of materials for an awesome doorhanging to spruce up your porch.

I love the trend of using words cut from wood around my house. So this plain boring wood went from blah to beautiful with a coat of paint, some sanding, and a few fibers from my scrapbooking supplies. Nothing says spring like a relaxing day at the park or out in the backyard.

I also "needed" new spring door decor out front.

Afterall, I had an upcoming Boutique at my house. You can't very well sell swim suits if you still have a Christmas Wreath on the front door.

I made this for all of $3, my time, and a few supplies from around the house!

The flowers were a selection of three dollar store sprays that I meshed together and hooked together with a few kitchen twisty ties and packing tape. Easy.

I looked for several days for the perfect hanging pocket to hold them on the door and in the meantime found an adorable vase made from sticks. While examining it, I realized that the same principle could be applied to my front door so I came home and got to work. The vase from the store used styrofoam and then hooked sticks all around the round styrofoam base to make a vase.

I didn't have styrofoam and wanted a pocket so I made my own from a cake mix box turned inside out. I tapered the bottom corners and taped the box back together with the brown side out. Then I covered the whole box with glue and started adding sticks that I cut from an old bush down by the railroad tracks. I was getting a bit impatient for it to dry so I just drew an entire line of glue horizontally across the middle and tied a cute bow to hold everything in place. I could have also used mod podge here, but I already had the glue out. I did not add any sticks to the back so it wouldn't scratch the door.

In the box/vase, I put a few rocks to weigh it down and stuffed it with newpaper before inserting my dollar store flowers. I also added a little bit of moss on the top of the newspaper to hide it.

Last of all, I used a length of wire through the back to make a hook to hang it with and hung it outside. And If I decide later that I want it in the house...it will stand on its own.

What do you think? What preparations are you making for spring?

I'm on You Tube

This isn't me you are seeing.... but remember I told you

I modeled swim at Modbe's Swim '09 Fashion Preivew. I'm wearing the Solid Blue Knot Top toward the end of the fashion show. Take a look, rate the video and then look at my website:

www.modbeclothing.com/bevjones

My favorite suites include the Halter in Green Tapestry and the Tie Front in Modbe Dots. What is your favorite? Post yours in the comment section. If you're ready to buy, use party code #1360 to save 10% off any three or more items. Swim top and bottom count as two.

Go Shopping!

Button, Button, Who's got the Button?

I need a button. Not the crafty kind. A BLOG BUTTON.

You know the kind. A MODBE BUTTON!

I tried making one but it was just really TOO SIMPLE for my taste.

I followed directions online and everything.

Where can I get a COOL button?

Select Swim Tops on SALE!

Scoot on over to my website where select Modbe Swim Tops are on SALE!

Four Tops on the new 2009 Swim line are just $38 (reg. $48)

Super cute and flattering.
Want to buy? Purchase any three and save 10% off your entire purchase when you use party code #1360 at checkout.

Remember to checkout the clearance section too for great $5 bargains.

Happy Shopping!

Mod Podge Mania...I can't resist

I hope no one faints...I'm going to post back to back. I saw this button on this blog and was forced to take a look. Anyone who knows me know I love Mod Podge, although I love calling it Modge Podge and have even (in a typ0) called it Modbe Podge. So I quickly gathered up a few years back of super easy projects using the crafty stuff and clicked away with the camera this a.m...

First off, the clipboard. I love putting these together to take to my Modbe Boutiques for orders. This particular year I added a flower and glass button which turned out to be a mistake since you can't really write with a big glass blob behind the order form, but it also acted like another catalog at my Boutiques.

In 2006 (Modbe's first year of swim) I made my first box to store swim liners for trying on swim bottoms at Modbe Boutiques. Each suit was numbered in the catalogs so customers could order by the number. #3 was the first suit sold out that year. It was the Olive Diagonal with the HOT yellow floral bottom. I still smile to look at that gorgeous fabric/color combo.

In 2007 I carried on the tradition but found a round box. These are just those simple brown paper mache boxes you can pick up at Wal-Mart, Roberts, Jo-Ann's, and even some dollar stores. This box is much bigger in order to fit a much large swim line.

So, in 2008, I "HAD" to make another box. With each year, Modbe's swim lines got even bigger so this box ended up showcasing just one color in each style of suit. I love the story of this "Trunk;" It's one of my favorites. I won the metal trunk/lunch box at a scrapbook store. It had been a display so it was a bit beaten up and decorated with travel stickers. Not really my style. While I loved the case, I knew it wouldn't be used to store post cards. I left on the straps and rearranged/added letters on the circle (It once said "Post cards) and of course mod podged on photos of Modbe's 2008 swim line from the catalog. It acts like an extra catalog at boutitques and stores business cards, change, liners, and pens.

And then last year....My friend Lara and I made thiese cuties. Basic wooden letters with scrap paper Mod Podged on, and ribbons, and tags, and buckles, and flowers. When I say that Modbe is my girly outlet I'm so not kidding. Boys don't really care too much for all the cute stuff in life. Although, my almost four year old was the inspiration for my next/last project.

I was at the computer getting some things ready to join him by the T.V. He found my bag with some paints and brushes and went running upstairs telling me he was going to go paint some wood.

I'm thinking to myself: "oh cute. he's going to get his watercolors..."

About 3 or 4 minutes later it occurs to me that the paints he's referring to are the craft paints with my stuff in there by the T.V.

I go BOOKING it up the strairs and find this board from the garage on a nicely laid out piece of newpaper and already totally brown. I am amazed that no clothes are ruined. I (of course) thank him for staying clean and remind him in my super calm mother voice that we always paint with mommy paints with Mommy!

Of course you can't throw away the board so as I use the excess paint to help him get the sides and back we think about what we can do. We go to the pictures and find a great family photo. The wording is from a recent primary song he is learning. The whole thing was done in less than 30 minutes. I have a feeling I'll be doing a few more of these with a group for Mother's day in the next month.

You can't tell me you don't already want someone to craft you up one for Mother's day, too!