Simple. Fancy. Frames.

Framessss

Simple? Fancy?

framesss (6)

Simple? Fancy? Sounds like somebody needs to pick a lane here.

But wait.

Frames (7)

You start with some pretty simple stuff…like basic, blank, boring wooden frames.

Frames (8)

Choose some scrapbook paper that you really like.

Frames

Find scissors and dig out the Mod Podge.

Frames (1)

You can trace around the frame if that floats your boat…

Frames (9)

or you can just cut out enough to fit the frame, generally. Either way.

frames again (1)

Paint on the Mod Podge. Have you noticed that it’s actually so much more fun to say, “Modge Podge?” I try very hard to say it just like that whenever the Bald Kid is around. It makes his eye twitch. That’s the goal.

frames again (2)

Even out the gluey stuff. Press the paper onto the sticky surface–right side up…of course. Smooth it out so that there are no bubbles under the paper. We used the end of the paintbrush and a baking scrapper… but you could use a bone folder if you’re really prepared. Now this is important—be sure to let the glue dry.

Frames (4)

Poke a hole in the middle and cut out the excess paper.

framesss (2)

Cut just a bit closer to the frame than silly Lyndi…keep cutting you nut!

Frames (5)

Now, take a file or emery board and sand the edges. It will cut the excess paper off in the process. If your paper and glue isn’t dry you run the risk of tearing the paper with the file. So again–be sure it’s all dry before you sand it.

Frames (6)

Keep going.

framess (1)

Make sure to get all the edges…

framesss (5)

inside and out.

framess (3)

Top coat it with another dose of “Modge Podge”… ha ha. There are eyes twitching behind me. Heh.

framesss (7)

Let them dry. Let them dry. Let them dry.

Framessss (2)

Now—add the sparkly little doo-dads that make it fancy. Oh, I think this generation calls them “embellishments.” La-tee-da.

Whatever.

Framessss

Now then–is this the cutest thing you’ve ever seen?

Simple? Check. Fancy? Check. Fabulous? Check.

Bingo.

Or–if you just want someone to do it all for you–check out Somebody’s Stuff. You’ll love it!

 

Lyndi26th birthday (6)

Happy Birthday my sweet Lyndi!

—————————

Week # 25 Food Storage Prompt is: 100 lbs. of wheat.

Blink~The Graduate

I suppose I’ve been driving this route for some time now.

Ooooh-whoo. Seven fifteen a.m. every morning for the past one hundred years.

Perhaps I exaggerate just a tad–but you get the point.

I’ve taken this road in the pouring rain…

thick and spooky fog……

and slippery, blinding, icy snow.

Driven it before daylight savings time when it was so dark outside the streetlights were still on.

With all the windows down in the summer when the cooler wouldn’t work.

In the winter with blankets wrapped around our shoulders and heads and feet because the heater wouldn’t kick in.

Attended every football game, track event, and choir concert humanly possible.

Grumbled now and then about the caffeine-induced erratic drivers or teenage pedestrians with a “you-know-you-won’t-hit-me” death wish, and the ridiculous youngsters that really shouldn’t have a license in the first place—as we all converged here in this very parking lot—before any decent human being should even be out of bed.

Sat, crocheting in this holding space for hours at a time, doing that mama thing we call waiting, sometimes alone and sometimes while my beloved cargo spent some needed time…with their mom.

Sat, idling along with the car, staring at this tinted glass door–that far away one between the cars–looking for any sign of Daney boy, or the bald kid.

Oh, the laughing and talking and listening and teasing and  heartbreaks and secrets and real earth life we’ve had at this place.

All to end up here. One. Very. Last. Time.

The bald kid thinks that I’ll be so glad to sleep in. He thinks that I’ll be relieved to save so much gas in the car. He’s sure I’m happy to see it all be finally–after 24 years and 5 kids—over.

I’m afraid he’s very…

very….

wrong.

And when that alarm clock doesn’t go off at 6:30 am any more, it won’t matter…

because I’ll already be awake…

wishing that it would…

just one more time.

Off to school—1996

 

 

Week 11 Food storage prompt:

10 lbs. sugar, 1 lb salt

Something Wicked This Way Comes…

So there we were at the grocery store, minding our own business…

when from out of nowhere, a whole busload of Easter candy jumped into our cart. Now, if it had been full priced Easter candy we would have said, “Back, foul vermin! Be gone!”

But upon closer inspection, we found it to be 50-75% off. Oh, and the Cadbury Eggs–8/$1. Yeah…8.

So instead, we said, “You poor little unwanted, homeless Easter candy. Come with us and live happily ever after.”

So they did.

Of course, we don’t intend to eat it all…you know…by ourselves, or anything.

No, no.

That would be silly.

We could easily share with anyone…if the mood strikes us.  :]

Here’s a bonus too. As we were at the checkout–the cashier guy says, “Hey…ahhh…you can have one of those Easter Jello molds too. Take a couple, because you bought so much stuff. It’s free.”

I say, “Free? Why?”

The wise guy leans in closer like he’s sharing his locker combination, and says, “Cause…

Easter’s…

OV-ER.”

Joke’s on him.

I just smiled and said,

“Not at our place, Skippy.”

——————————

Week 5 Food Storage Prompt:

4 cans tomato soup, 1 10 lb powdered milk

Egg Toast Cups

In case you’re feeling a bit of a sugar buzz–here is some nice, soothing, protein to balance things out a bit.

Egg Toast Cups

Ingredients:

Bread

Eggs

Cheese

Ham or sausage or bacon or NOT

Whatever else you put in scrambled eggs

Butter

Lightly butter each slice of bread and cut off the crusts.

Hold the bread–as shown–over a muffing tin.

Pinch slightly and press the bread down into the muffing cup.

Toast in the oven at 350 for about 15 minutes–until browned.

Fill with a scoop of scrambled eggs mixed with diced ham and a bit of cheese. The cheese is important because it holds the eggs together so that they don’t spill whenever you take a bite.

Have a good weekend and I promise—no more food for a while. We’re about to burst over here!

Week 4  Food Storage Prompt

100 count Multiple Vitamins

Egg Toast Cups
 
:
Ingredients
  • Bread
  • Eggs
  • Cheese
  • Ham or sausage or bacon or NOT
  • Whatever else you put in scrambled eggs
  • Butter
Instructions
  1. Lightly butter each slice of bread and cut off the crusts.
  2. Hold the bread--as shown--over a muffing tin.
  3. Pinch slightly and press the bread down into the muffing cup.
  4. Toast in the oven at 350 for about 15 minutes--until browned.
  5. Fill with a scoop of scrambled eggs mixed with diced ham and a bit of cheese. The cheese is important because it holds the eggs together so that they don't spill whenever you take a bite.

The Elusive Year Supply

Now, where were we before all the drama?
Ahhh yes…

Those pesky goals:

New Year’s Goal #3

“I will buy at least one food storage or emergency item every week even if it’s just a can of beans.”

Yeah, yeah. Big plans. But too boring to keep my interest very long. Then I checked in my files and found an old handout from Relief Society–years back. If you have already seen it–good. If not, this should help. It’s titled, “One Year Food Storage on $5.00 Per Week.”

The idea is to use roughly 5-10 dollars of your grocery money toward a storage item (suggested here) and in 1 year, you’ll have a decent, basic supply for 2 people. I’ll post the whole handout as a printable PDF (see below) and then give the prompts here each Friday.

Oh, and since the grocery prices are always fluctuating–AND this is an old handout–be a bit forgiving if the items cost a dollar or two more here and there. You’ll still be working on a great project for about the same amount as lunch at Wendy’s.

So—let’s get started!

This week’s food storage prompt is: Two cans tuna, 2 lbs. salt

“The revelation to store food may be as

important to our temporal salvation today

as boarding the Ark was to the people

in the days of Noah.”

Ezra Taft Benson

One Year Food Storage on $5-10 Per Week Handout

Speaking of Noah—have you seen this? See below…