Fall Picture Page

Picture Page of Fall decorating ideas/items, some you could make and others you could look for similar items at a local Hobby Lobby

Magnolia Leaf Wreath

Topiary in a decorative pot

Flocked Fruit Wreath

 


      

Harvest stock pots for Irish stew, chili, etc.

Pumpkin Candy jar

Cute mouse doorstop

 Mercury Glass pumpkin

         Cottage Oil Lamp

Autumn Leaf Bowl

Inside decor ideas

Outdoor Idea

 

Brighten up your home!

Fresh flowers brighten up any home. It is such a lovely treat to have them throughout the house or in just the main living areas of your home. For the past two weeks I have indulged by having the luxury of fresh flowers everywhere! It is too much up keep and expense for me to do this all the time so I went crazy.  Just wanted to share a few pictures of these beautiful flowers.

This butterfly arrangement stayed on the tea table for quite a while before they no longer looked good. Unfortunately I didn't photograph them on the first few days.

                          The workroom mantel was decorated with about 12 roses in bud vases.

I saw a similar arrangement on the internet and took the photo to the florist and she was able to copy it pretty close. I wanted a white container though instead of a colored one. These were a perfect size for the table beside the bed.

This is a picture from last year.  I floated chrysanthemums in the pool, I may try that again!


All of the flowers had a different look that went well with each room. It was great to see bright colors in one room, traditional red roses in another and pale soft tones in the bedroom. It would be nice to be able to do this all of the time!

Road Trip Finds!

"New" Vintage items for the store I found on a recent week long trip:

I absolutely love this vintage magazine rack. The leather is sooo soft. If this doesn't sell quickly, I'm taking it home. I already know where I would put it! I found a few on ebay, one company wanted a ridiculous amount, $225.00. I won't be selling it for anywhere near that. That overinflated price is quite extreme. Two online had been broken and repaired, at least this one is all original. The wood and the leather look very good. I think I will be using it in the store to very carefully store/display some vintage magazines.

I found these very cute tea pot napkin rings that happen to go with three different sets of china I have in the store. They are hand painted with a lot of detail, especially considering the flowers are so tiny. The biscuit covering is cute

               

This vintage basket took a  lot of work to clean up, it is very delicate and was difficult to get the layers of dust off. It took some time cleaning up the seashells too, they cleaned up quite nice and have a decent amount of color to them.  It has a little catch on it to keep the lid closed. This style and weave were popular during the very early 1980's. The thin blue ribbon surrounds the basket. It also creates a bow of sorts and is attached to an iridescent looking shell.

The doily is in very good vintage condition. Most people collect these because they are hand made and very few people still practice this art.

The beach scene looks like a painting on this little box. It is the size of a jewelry necklace box. Gifting seashell/beach style jewelry in it would be perfect. It could be used as a trinket box.  A gift card would also fit,  it would be more unique in this box rather than using a standard box.

If you would like to check out my latest finds click here:  CardsAndAntiques.etsy.com

Fourth of July Fun Facts

Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. The Liberty Bell rang out from Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 8, 1776. It was sounded to bring the people out to the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. It was read by Colonel John Nixon.

• 1791 was the year that the name “Independence Day" was used for the first time. It may have been used before then, but that was the first time it was recorded.
• 1801 was the first time a July 4th party was held at the White House.
• In 1805, Lewis and Clark celebrated the first July 4th celebration west of the Mississippi, at Independence Creek.
• Three dates are significant to the holiday. Independence Day was made an unpaid holiday for federal employees by Congress. In 1938, it became a paid holiday, and in 1941, Congress declared it a federal holiday.

•  Here are some really fun Fourth of July Fun Facts about the United States and the way its people celebrate Independence Day.

• Did You Know?

  Over 150 million hotdogs will be eaten at Fourth of July celebrations all over the country.
  That comes out to be one hotdog for every two people.
• 211 million dollars are spent on fireworks every year.
• More than 74 million people will have an Independence Day cookout.
• 30 locations in the United States have the word “liberty” in them. The one with the highest population is Liberty, Missouri.
• In 11 places, the name includes the word “independence”. Independence, Missouri is the most populated.
• Five locations use the name “freedom” with Freedom, California, having the largest population. There is one place named “patriot”, and that is Patriot, Indiana.
• Five locations have “America” in their name, the largest being American Fork, Utah.

Quick Trick to rev productivity

Here is a good reason to log on to yours favorite adorable animal website at work: Scrolling through the images can help you speed through your to-do's. Researchers  at Japan's Hiroshima University found that viewing photos of puppies and kittens improved subjects' speed and accuracy on detail-oriented tasks by an average of 44 percent compared with those who saw snapshots of full-grown cats and dogs. It seems the cuteness of furry little creatures evokes a protective response that enhances alertness and concentration, prompting people to pay attention to the task at hand.

Decorate and Celebrate!

The items above are very cute and are unique fourth of July decor. You can find the items above at Victorian Trading Co.

Boston International American Flag pillow found at Amazon

Patriotic Uncle Sam Hats USA Flag Salt and Pepper Shakers also found at Amazon

 Americana Decorative Pails - Party Decorations & Room Decor sold on Amazon

The 4th of July is right around the corner

 This is such a great time to have a go at patriotic crafts – either for yourself or with kids. Here are some simple and fun DIY crafts to help you celebrate this wonderful American holiday. In most cases, you can use materials around the house or head to the craft store.

Above Picture: Bottle cap wreath. Use foam board paper to cut out circle. Paint bottle caps and hot glue in place. Add ribbon.

Below Photo: Clothes Pin wreath. Use foam board paper, cut out a thin circle. Paint clothes pins, Use stickers for stars. hot glue clothes pins into place.

Helpful hints..

Here is an extremely useful sleep life hack for those who have trouble sleeping. Not having proper sleep can have vast negative impacts on your body. Get 2 hours of sleep in 20 minutes!

Life hacks anyone over 50 should know Part 2

Life hacks continued...

13. Use two-sided tape on area rugs to keep them in place.

14. Replace your aging parents' area rugs with wall-to-wall carpeting to minimize falls.

15. Use cold cucumbers to reduce eye puffiness. Cucumbers contain antioxidants that are thought to reduce irritation, while the cooling effect reduces swelling.

16. Carry a big scarf with you 24/7. It's as good as a shawl in overly air-conditioned restaurants, movies and airplanes and can double for sun protection at beaches and outdoor cafes.

17. Give charitable donations as gifts. Most charities notify the honoree only that a donation was made in their name from you and leave the amount out. You can appear to be a bigger spender and do some good in the meantime.

18. Have a big event and want to look glamorous? Make an appointment at a department store makeup counter for a makeover with their products. Sure they'll try to sell you stuff, but buy the least expensive item and tell them you'll think about the rest.

19. Feet making your shoes a bit odoriferous? Try sticking a dry teabag in each shoe overnight to reduce the smell.

20. Have trust issues with your GPS? Highway sign tip: If the exit sign is on the left of the sign, the exit itself will be on the left. If it's on the right, the exit will be on the right.

21. In a rental car, look at the little icon for the gas pump. The direction the gas handle is pointing is the side where you put your gas in.

22. Carry a nightlight with you when you stay in hotels. Sleeping in unfamiliar territory and trying to find your way to the bathroom in the dark can be a challenge for anyone.

23. Attach a small vial of hand sanitizer to the outside of your purse and use it liberally when you are out in public places. Escalators, elevator buttons, door handles are all germ territory.

24. Make your own emergency first aid kit by stuffing into an old prescription bottle: two bandages, a tiny sample of antibiotic ointment and -- if you are caregiving for a heart patient -- some nitroglycerin tablets.

25. A frozen wet sponge in a Ziploc bag makes for a great icepack that won't leak.

Life Hacks anyone over 50 should know

                                        

Who doesn't need life to be made a little bit easier? Below are 12 tips to do precisely that. Readers are invited to post their own life hacks below in comments.

1. Take a photo with your phone of where you park your car at the mall. That way, when you misplace the ticket you can at least show the nice security guard where your car is.

2. Take a cell photo of a list of all the medications used by relatives in your care. It's handy to have it in case of an emergency or when you take your mother to see a new doctor.

3. To get rid of your turkey neck in photos, photographers recommend that you stick your neck out and tuck your chin down.

4. To make your smile look bigger in photos, squint your eyes just a little.

5. Use nail polish to paint a colored dot on the end of your mom's keys to help her remember which one unlocks what. Green for front door; red for back door; etc.

6. Use a hanging shoe rack to store cleaning supplies inside the pantry door. It eliminates having to crawl under the sink to find the ones you use most frequently.

7. Can't hear the alarm clock? Set the alarm on your smartphone and put it in an empty glass near your bed. The sound will be amplified.

8. When a friend borrows a tool or book, snap a photo of them holding it so you'll remember later where it went.

9. Mark the side of your water bottle by hours so that you can keep track of what you've had to drink and will stay hydrated.

10. Take a photo of the inside of your refrigerator to help you remember what you need at the grocery store.

11. Use the clasps of an old skirt hanger to keep your cords from tangling and being tripped over.

12. When you downsize your house, consider buying a well-made foldout cot instead of a pullout sofa. Your guests will thank you.

13. Use two-sided tape on area rugs to keep them in place.

Kids Crafts: Ocean Flower Pot

This whimsical ocean flower pot makes a great summer decoration. Kids will love working with the different materials and textures that go into making this unique craft. Let them use their imaginations to decorate the pot however they would like!


What you'll need:

• Small clay pot
• Light blue, light brown, green, red and purple paint
• White glue
• Hot glue gun
• Sand
• Paint brushes
• Dyed  pasta shells (with food coloring)

How to make your Ocean Flower Pot Craft:

• Paint the top half of the flower pot light blue. Paint the bottom half of the flower pot light brown.
• Mix some white glue into the brown paint and heavily apply the mixture over the brown area of the pot. Sprinkle on some sand while the mixture is still wet.
• Once the sand is dry, use the red paint to paint a crab walking along the sand. Paint seaweed growing out of the sand and a fish or two swimming by. Use your imagination!
• Use the hot glue gun and attach the dyed pasta shells around the rim of the flower pot. Please do not let your children do this step unless they are old enough to respect the glue gun and are well supervised.
• Plant your favorite flower!

Kid's Crafts: Beach Frame Craft

Need a good way to display your favorite beach photo? Try making our beach frame craft! This frame is simple to make but looks fantastic on a mantel. This craft is also a great way to save and display special shells you found on your trip to the beach. With real sand and real seashells this beach frame craft is a great way to capture your summertime memories.

 What you'll need:

• Unfinished wooden frame (available at all craft stores)
• Seashells
• Light blue and brown paint
• White glue
• Hot glue gun
• Paint brushes
• Sand
• A favorite picture

How to make your Beach Frame Craft:

• Paint the top half of the picture frame light blue. Paint the bottom half of the frame light brown.
• Mix a little bit of white glue into the brown paint and paint it onto the brown portion of the frame very heavily. Sprinkle this area with sand quickly before the paint/glue dries.
• After the sand portion has dried, use a hot glue gun to attach the seashells to your frame. We found white glue was not strong enough to hold actual shells. Please do not let your children do this step unless they are old enough to respect the glue gun and are well supervised.
• Add your favorite photo!

Clothespin Table Vase

It’s so easy to create instant charm with ordinary clothespins! Here, a band, made by simply clipping the pins to the rim of a juice glass, mimics a small-scale corral, giving the bouquet on-the-spot country-chic appeal.

What you’ll need:
1 rubber band
1 glass tumbler (Perfect choices: a 10 to 12 oz. juice glass or double old-fashioned cocktail tumbler with straight sides)
1 1/2 dozen wooden spring-hinged clothespins
Spool of twine or thin ribbon

To do: Stretch the rubber band around the glass tumbler. Then slip the clothespins under the band until the glass is completely covered. Finish by tying on decorative twine or ribbon to hide the rubber band.

Tips for exercising in Summer heat

Summer is the perfect time to go outside and have fun. It's one of my favorite times of year because there are so many outdoor activities to choose from. Everything is more fun outside, whether you're swimming, running or cycling.

But the summer heat can be a problem if you're not careful, particularly in areas with extreme heat and humidity.

  After experiencing the Badwater Ultramarathon (a 135-mile run through Death Valley) and the Marathon des Sables (a six-day, 152-mile endurance race through the Sahara Desert), I've learned a few things about exercising in the heat.

For me, the biggest problems were staying hydrated and maintaining my body's electrolytes and salt. When you sweat, your body loses not only water, but electrolytes and salt, too. This delicate balance of water and electrolytes is crucial to keep your body functioning properly.

If you don't drink enough water, you can get dehydrated and suffer from light-headedness and nausea. If not recognized, dehydration can even result in kidney failure and or, in extreme cases, death. However, if you drink too much water without replenishing your electrolytes, you can experience hyponatremia. This can lead to confusion, nausea, muscle cramps, seizures or even death in extreme cases.

You may not be racing in the desert, but there are some things to keep in mind when it comes to exercising in the heat:

• The time of day is important. Unless you are training for an event that takes place in the daytime heat, avoid exercising from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It's the hottest part of day. Generally, the early morning is the best time to workout, especially if it's going to be scorcher that day.
• Wear loose, light-colored. The lighter color will help reflect heat, and cotton material will help the evaporation of sweat. You may also want to try specially designed, "hi-tech" running shirts and shorts. They are often made from material meant to keep you cool.
• Sunscreen is a must. I use SPF 45 just to be safe. It's important to protect your skin. You can get burned and suffer sun damage to your skin even on cloudy days.
• Stay hydrated. Before you go out, drink a glass or two of water. Carry a bottle of water or even a hydration pack such as the CamelBak. Take a drink every 15 minutes, even when you're not thirsty. When you're done with your workout, have a few more glasses of water.
• Replenish your electrolyte and salt intake while exercising. I like to use SUCCEED capsules--small, simple packs of sodium and electrolytes that keep my system in check.
• If you can, choose shaded trails or pathways that keep you out of the sun.
• Check the weather forecast before you start your workout. If there's a heat advisory, meaning high ozone and air pollution, you might want to take your workout indoors. These pollutants can damage your lungs.
• Most importantly, listen to your body. Stop immediately if you're feeling dizzy, faint or nauseous.

Posy Greeting Card

Show your love with a simple-to-craft handmade greeting that boasts the 3-D artistic appeal of high-end cards for pennies a piece!

What you’ll need:
Two 2” x 10” rectangles of recycled gift wrap or scrapbook paper
Optional: Two 2 1/2" x 10" rectangles of tissue paper
Transparent tape
Hot glue
1 piece of cardstock (6" x 10" or larger) folded in half
1 button
1 green marker
2 leaves cut from more recycled gift wrap or scrap paper and folded in half

To do: Start by accordion-folding the two pieces of gift wrap or scrapbook paper. Then fan them out and tape them together to make a flower. (Optional: For a double layer of petals, fold the two pieces of tissue paper in the same way and tape them together. Then layer the tissue paper florette under the other one and attach them together with hot glue.) Next, use a dab of hot glue to attach the flower to the front of the folded piece of cardstock. Then glue the button to the center. Use the marker to draw on a stem and glue the paper leaves in place.

Fun items I have found recently

 

Obsessed with baskets right now because I have stumbled across some neat ones lately. The above one is a vintage basket made to resemble a deer. It is very finely woven and has nice detail. It was made by Shanghai Handicrafts in 1970's.

 

 

 

I love the little tail! I don't want to put this in the store and sell this, It is so cute I want to keep it for myself!

 

This basket is made from abaca manila hemp from the phillippines. It was made sometimes in the 50's. It is in open tatting style. They used to make this type of basket over a thin metal frame which makes it look  dainty and delicate.

Seashell Basket

This basket weaved with very light pink, very light purple and a light tan color. It was difficult to get the colors to show up in the photo. You can only see them a little.

 

 If I had a beach themed bathroom or bedroom I would use this in them. In the bathroom with rolled washclothes and in the bedroom for keeping my eyeglasses in. At least I could find them in this seashell!

 

Check out my other vintage baskets: 

 CardsAndAntiques.etsy.com

What your favorite season says about you!

Whether you love snow or your daydreaming about a tropical beach the season that you like the most can give instant insight into your personality. I've been studying Traditional Chinese Medicine and there are actually five seasons to choose from: spring, summer, late summer, autumn and winter. Each having special energy that matches your own. See what your favorite season reveals.



Long for Spring?
You're powerful

In holistic arts spring is the season associated with the element of wood, flexibility and deepening roots. Think of how a tree grows up and out while the roots grow deep into the ground. If you are drawn to this season, you're a  high powered individual who has the ability to branch out from anything that is holding you back, and once you've set your mind to something, you're unstoppable. But you're not one to forget your foundation of family and friends(roots) you cherish them above all else.

Dream about Summer?

You're passionate 

If you see yourself as a summer person, you have an abundance of energy. You greet anything that comes your way with enthusiasm and are always eager to push the limits. Even though your fun loving and vivacious, you're also a force to be reckoned with. You know how to get results and enthusiastically pursue your goals.

 

 

Yearn for Late Summer?

You're grounded

Those who feel best during those warm days leading to autumn are calm, self aware souls. The fifth season, in holistic arts, Late summer is linked to earth, the soil and a sense of groundedness.These folks are also mindful of their actions and have the abilityto use positive thoughts and behaviors to overcome negative situations.

 

 

Happiest in Fall?

You're strong and balanced

 

Autmun people have a cool energy and are known for their serenity and strength. It is in their nature to take things slow and think things through before making a move. This allows them to let go of things that are detrimental to their well being.

 

 

Drawn to winter?

You're creative

If you love crackling fires and frosty weatherit means you are inventive since the winter season is assoociated with right brain or artistic energy. You love to embrace new ways of thinking which inspires others to use their imagination and see things from a fresh perspective.

 

 

 

Window Boxes are picture perfect

   

 If your making your first attempt at developing a green thumb, try your hand at a signature cottage delight—the window box. Bright blooms and cascading greens are the perfect way to welcome Spring. I have put together a picture page of ideas to get your creative green thumb growing.



If bright colors don't work with the exterior of your home, flowers in muted colors can look quite elegant. Choose a high quality potting soil for your planters and replace it annually.
 


Remember to take into account the color of your home.This home (below) without a window box looks dull. These flowers and colors really brighten up an otherwise  dull grey brick home.  Cascading and trailing plants add additional dimension to your arrangement. A window box with gorgeous cascading blooms and bright greens also adds gorgeous curbside appeal.



                             Utilizing plants of varying heights can add depth and will make each plant
                                 more visible within the planter. By layering tall plants behind those that
                                                      thrive close to the soil, you can   
                                           easily create an expertly arranged container.

Window boxes offer a wide array of appeal in their flexibility. They add instant personality to the home and invite color and sweet fragrance indoors with the opening of a window. Whether neat and uniform or lush and overflowing, the addition of a window box cheerfully welcomes spring and brings some cottage charm to the home.