Dollar Store Garden Ideas

With a little help from some dollar store cups I transformed garage sale finds (and part if my nephew's crib) into whimsical garden planters (and art?)

How to Make a Birdfeeder from Old Dishes

Make a birdfeeder from old dishes. Just glue the dishes together with E6000, fill the upper cup and plate with bird seed and wait for your new feathered friends to arrive.

Look up, look down, look all around

Gather the entire family and head out for an adventure today

Remember those who have fallen for freedom.

Custom Photo Shoes

 Shoes, Shoes, Shoes!!!

Have you ever noticed how a great pair of shoes makes you feel confident, pretty, even sexy?  Do you have a special occasion coming up or need an extraordinary gift? Let Joan Martin Fee create special memory shoes from your photographs (or select a pair that were custom made from photos Joan took herself!)

Supply Joan with one to eight high-resolution photos which will be custom printed on high quality fabric. Then the real creativity begins when Joan uses her 20+ years of craft design expertise to transform your photos into a sensational shoe masterpiece adding charms, trinkets, beads, crystals and more to create a shoe that is as unique as you. Joan works with you to create the perfect shoe by chatting with you about your theme and then emails you photos so you're part of the creative process.

These shoes make a WOW! statement on your wedding day, as custom gifts for your bridesmaids, an amazing trip down memory lane at a reunion or as a special gift for a friend that will be cherished and remembered for years.  Let Joan custom create a pair just for you. www.etsy.com/shop/JoanMartinFee?ref=si_shop

I'm Scared! I Can't! What If I Make A Mistake?

Jack LaLanne Website

How many times have you heard that little negative voice in your head ?  It happened to me this morning but I powered through it and here's how:

My resistance started last week when I received an email from Elaine LaLanne's assistant.  You remember Jack LaLanne, the famous health guru?  I had made arrangements for Elaine, Jack's wife, to do a presentation at a club I belong to.  It was a wonderful experience going to their home to pick up gifts she had for the attendees, hearing her speak (AMAZING!) and then last week, I was asked to write a quote that would appear on the new Jack LaLanne website (me?  really?)  I was really honored but with that came pressure to say just the right thing.  You know what I did?  Instead of sitting here paralyzed, I just jumped in and did it!  The more we think about the things we're afraid of, the more time we waste and who knows where taking that little step will lead.  Like they say, one bite at a time, one baby step, one stitch, one glue dot, one word at a time.  Make whatever you're resisting happen today!

Getting My Craft On!

It's a chilly day so I have on a Hallmark movie, a fire in the fireplace and my craft supplies at the ready. It's going to be a crazy craft day!

Farmer's Market

Have you been lately?

Elaine LaLanne, the wife of the late Jack LaLanne, was an AWESOME speaker at our Newcomers luncheon!!!  Such a tribute to health, nutrition, exercise and life. 

Jack LaLanne

I just had an unexpected and amazing experience!  I arranged for Elaine LaLanne, wife of the late Jack LaLanne, to speak at a meeting tomorrow.  I received a phone call today that Elaine wants to provide gifts for the attendees so I went to the home office this afternoon and picked them up.  Each person will get a Jack LaLanne DVD, a flashlight and moisture tone!!!  Such gracious gifts!  Elaine told me she'll be showing some Jack bloopers - can't wait!!! 

Jack LaLanne's Wife Elaine LaLanne

Putting the final touches on Elaine LaLanne's (Jack LaLanne's wife) appearance for a club I belong to next week.  It's going to be AMAZING!  Who out there used to workout in front of their TV screen with your cans???

Happy California Poppy Day!!!

Eggscellent Hard Boiled Egg Recipes

Easter Egg Flower

What to do with all those eggs after an Easter egg hunt...here's a creative solution, make edible flowers.

Check out other creative and healthy crafts and recipes at www.MakeHealthyFun.blogspot.com

What You'll Need

• Eggs, Boiled
• Stick Pretzels
• Green Food Color
• Knife and Fork
• Paprika - Optional
• Mayonnaise, Reduced Fat
• Paper Towel
• Bowl

How To Make It!

1.      Cut egg in half.

2.      On bottom part, cut a tiny bit off so it sits even.

3.      Remove yolk from top part of egg and place in bowl. Set aside.

4.      On top part of egg, cut upside down V shapes to look like petals.

5.      Cut a piece from another egg for leaves about 1” x ½”. Dab on green food coloring with paper towel. Let dry.

6.      Press pretzel in pot, thread on leaves, and press on flower. Add yolk mixture to flower cup. If desired, sprinkle with Paprika.

7.      Place excess pieces of eggs in bowl and mix with a little mayonnaise to fill other flowers. 

Make a whole garden of eggs. Place fake grass or even broccoli on a plate and place your flowers among the ‘grass’. You can even ‘paint’ your flowers with food color – brush it on or dip a paper towel in the food coloring and dab it on the egg.

What other ideas can you come up with to make using eggs? A basket, an owl, a truck…

Mailbox Inspiration

I saw this cool rock mailbox on my walk the other day.  I wonder how they got a hole in the rock. It inspired me to do something with my plain, metal mailbox.  I have this thing about mailboxes since both of my parents were rural mail carriers.  I'll be back soon with my creation...

Time Change

Are you ready for the time change?  What will you do with more sunshine hours?  I'm looking forward to having more outdoor time and that means not only weeding and planting but also creating projects to go in my yard.  I have a few different glass plates and dishes that I think I'll make into flowers.  More on that soon.  Meanwhile, enjoy that little bit more sunshine and enjoy!

Travel Watercolor Journal

Have your watercolor supplies always at the ready whether you're at home or traveling the world.  If you can't find a notebook to your liking, cover a blank one with cool fabric.

On-the-Go Watercolor Journal

What You'll Need

• Notebook with a slot to add watercolor paper
• Embellishments - I found the chair in the scrapbooking section, 12" 1/2" wide ribbon
• Watercolor pad that will fit into notebook
• Watercolor cakes
• Brushes
• Aleene's Tacky Glue
• Old T-shirt
• Scissors

How to Make It

1. Glue embellishment to outside of notebook. Let dry.
2. Cut ribbon in half. Glue each piece inside notebook along the edge. Cut around t-shirt pocket. Glue to inside of notebook to hold your supplies. Let dry.
3. Place watercolor pad into slot of notebook. Fill the pocket with your supplies and you're ready to paint!

How to Make a Birdfeeder from an Old Record

Paradise for Rockin’ Robins

Use old scratched records for this tweet birdfeeder

Design by Joan Martin Fee

Supplies

Gloves, cotton
Oven
Pot holders
2 Records
Drinking glass
Glass pie plate
Chain, small links
Crop-a-Dile™
S hook
Bird seed
Needle nose pliers
Wire cutters
Ruler

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Place glass upside down in oven. Place record over glass form. Heat for 3-5 minutes. Ovens vary, so keep an eye on it. Wearing cotton gloves and using hot pads, remove record from oven when it is pliable and let record cool on glass. 

2. Place pie plate in oven, right side up. Place second record in pie plate and when pliable, push into pie plate with gloved hands.  Remove from oven. Let cool.

3. Punch three evenly spaced holes along edge of large record bowl, using Crop-a-Dile. Punch six evenly spaced holes along edge of small record bowl.

4. Cut 3 pieces of chain 12” long and 3 pieces 8” long. Open link on one end of 12” length chain using needle nose pliers and insert in hole in large record bowl. Repeat with other two 12” lengths in remaining openings.

5. Open opposite ends of chain and insert in every other hole of small bowl.

6. Insert 8” lengths of chain in small bowl.

7. Combine loose ends of 8” lengths together and use S hook to hold together.

8. Add bird seed and send out the invitation.

For more great ideas on how to use old, scratched records, check out Cheryl Ball and my e-book Get Those Old Records Off the Shelf at http://www.lulu.com/shop/joan-martin-fee-and-cheryl-ball/get-those-old-records-off-the-shelf/ebook/product-4670569.html

Valentine's Lunch Recipes

Whatever age your sweetie is, they'll love this special lunch you make for them.  It's super easy and is sure to bring a smile to their face.  You probably have all the ingredients in your kitchen right now.

Valentine's Lunch

What You'll Need 
Bread
Eggs or sandwich meat
Hummus, purchased
Carrots
Cookie cutter, heart shaped or use knife
Mayonnaise, light
Tomato soup
 
 How to Make It
Sandwiches and Croutons - For egg salad sandwiches, hard boil eggs and let cool. Remove peel. Chop and add a little mayonnaise. Season to taste. Place bread on cutting board and cut into heart shapes using knife or cookie cutter. Spread egg salad or use sandwich meat on bread. Croutons - Cut small heart shapes from excess bread. Toast in oven or pan until brown and crispy.
Hummus - Take a large spoonful of hummus and place on plate. Take another spoonful and place next to first scoop.  Form into heart shape with spoon.  Add carrots.

Add a Little Special to Every Day

I made empanadas for a party last Friday and since I can't just do ordinary, I cut hearts from the extra dough and added them for a special touch.

Make today special...

Shrink Plastic Heart Earrings

Valentine's Heart Filigree Earrings

Shrink plastic can be found at your local craft store.  It's a super fun product for the entire family.

What You Need

• Shrink plastic
• Baking sheet
• Baby powder
• Oven or toaster oven
• Scissors
• Hot pad
• 2 fish hook ear wires
• 6 (6mm) jump rings
• ¼” hole punch
• Needle nose pliers
• Pencil

 What To Do

1. For each earring, cut a 3-1/2” x 4-1/4” piece of shrink plastic. Fold plastic in half. Crease will disappear when shrunk.
2. Lay folded plastic over pattern. Trace pattern using pencil. NOTE: Shaded areas on pattern will be cut out and discarded. Cut out design following pencil lines (excess lines can be erased before shrinking).  You have two pieces, the outer heart and the inner heart with filigree design. Open design and use a paper punch to make holes where indicated on pattern.
3. Preheat oven to 275-300 degrees. Lightly sprinkle baking sheet with baby powder and place plastic pieces on baking sheet. Place in oven. When flat, remove from oven with hot pad and let cool.
4. Attach jump rings and fish hook ear wires to hearts, using needle nose pliers.