Coastal Christmas

♫♪Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree, how lovely are your

beaches!♪♫

Hope you're having a wonderful holiday season!



The making of a photo Christmas card...

 

From my home I can see Mt Rainier and the Cascade mountain range. Last weekend I looked out my window and saw that it had snowed on the lower hills.  So we, okay, I decided we should run up and try to get a photo for this years Christmas card. 

 

I set the self timer on my camera and went to work setting up the scene. I  realized it was too sunny in this area so we moved across the way in the shade of the trees.

 

My husband really is a great sport!

 

 

Here he is thinking about all the things he's going to get from me for doing this...See the little smirk on his face?

 

 

It wasn't all that bad for him, we stopped for make out sessions.

Feel free to do this amongst yourselves!

We highly recommend it.

 

 

This is the photo I picked...Or so I thought.

 

 

I darkened around the edges and wasn't sure which one I liked better-Most my friends on Facebook liked the first one. Then my friend Tristan from the blog Tristan Time suggested turning it black and white and leaving the bulbs colored.  That was a GREAT idea and I couldn't believe I didn't think of it. Problem was, I didn't know how to do it. That morning she wrote me and said she was bored, to send the photo to her...

 

Within a couple of minutes she sent this back to me! Isn't it cute?  Thanks so much Tristan we love it.  She even sent me one without the text for ordering cards that already have a saying on them.

 

If I had to do it all over again AND we might go back up there... I'd buy the biggest colored bulbs and use a 50 foot strand instead of these which are medium size and only 24 ft long. Just in case you are wondering...We used a 50ft extension cord and plugged it into the outlet in the back of our truck.   

 

 

Lights: Target

Sweater: Target

Boots and gloves: Target

Coffee not pictured: Starbucks which just happens to be located in... You got it: Target



Easy Fall Craft

 

Here's a easy DIY craft...

I took an inexpensive plastic candy holder and turned it into

a pumpkin vase.

 

 

 

First off, go and get yourself a couple of trick or treat plastic pumpkin buckets (pictured below)

I purchased mine at Target for $1.00

 

 

 

 

Spray paint it.

I put a hook into the top of the box, hung the pumpkin on it and took it outside to spray paint-I used two coats with drying time in between each coat.

 

Above you can see the difference of an unpainted bucket and my painted one.  I used Krylon Fusion for plastic spray paint #2442 Satin Terra Cotta. It cost around $4.00 and a can will cover a lot of pumpkins.

I liked the way it looked but decided it needed more character~

So I lightly foam brushed on some Acrylic paint in Burnt Sienna and promptly wiped off most of it with a paper towel.

  I used the DecoArt brand because it was only $1 for 2 ounces.

I loved how it turned out!

 

 

By the way, I cut the lip off the 1.25 quart container the bronze colored mums were in and they fit into the pumpkin bucket just perfect. 

Lastly, I added a simple burlap bow for a little extra Fall touch.

 You may be wondering if the pumpkin face still shows after painting? 

  The paint covers the face but you can still see it's indentation.

   I turned it around so the face is in the back.

 

Here's some more photos. On the last photo I used an even easier technique on the plastic pumpkin without using spray paint.

 

By the way, this is sitting in my newly designed craft studio my husband helped put together~Thanks sweetie!

 

 

Close-Up.

 

 

The pumpkin pictured above is a bit different. It's my lazy pumpkin...I didn't spray paint the little trick or treat bucket. I only brushed on the Burnt Sienna acrylic paint then wiped most of it off keeping as much at I could in the creases of the pumpkin.

It took all of about 2 minutes to do. 

Note: If you are going to use these outside in the weather you will have to coat them with a clear protective spray.

 

This would be a cute inexpensive gift for anyone.

 

Just think of all the wonderful spray paint colors you could use!

 



Spo•rad•i•cal•ly

Hi Everyone! 

 I thought I'd better let you all know that I won't be blogging much this summer.  It will definitely be sporadic.

Now don't get me wrong, I WILL be posting...Sporadically! :)

 I have more summer recipes to share, photos and some easy crafts.

But I tend to craft more in the Fall and at Christmastime.

So stay tuned!

Here's a little photo montage of what we've been up too.

We saw a bunch of this...

...and that, right outside our home in every direction for five straight hours on the 4th!

(last years photo)

We hiked...

 ...and golfed more then should be allowed.

 We found fabulous treasure on the beach...

...And tried our hand at balancing acts!

We put so many miles on our truck in the last few weeks. We've been in search of beautiful scenery like this...

...AND this.

***********

It's been a difficult past 3 years with things going on that are out of our control...

So I'm going to take some time to rekindle with the love of my life and spend time with my family.

I encourage you to do the same~

Be seeing you...Sporadically!

Friday's Find...

You guys know how I much I love photography right?  So when I saw this cute Polaroid pendant I knew it had to be featured on my Friday's Find... Some of you were wondering how to make photo necklaces and Megan from Polish The Stars has a great tutorial using Mod Podge.

For those of you who are craft impaired...She also has a Etsy store where she will be selling her personalized polaroid pendants once it reopens, so keep checking back!

Thanks Megan!

Tutorial

Etsy Store

Psssst...Hey You...

Yeah you, the one sitting in front of a computer monitor.

 The weekend is here so get out and...

Kick up your heels!

OR

Get your feet wet!


ACT SILLY!

Just get out there and enjoy life a little.

See you Monday~:)

Easy Summer Dinner Series...

I shared my secret ingredient taco recipe with you the other day...

A summer favorite at our house for sure!

Here is another easy meal to make that I like to call Tuna Boats. 

Note: I will always show how to make the gluten free AND gluten full version of each recipe. 

 Pictured above is a gluten free tuna boat.

First off... I finely chop what I like to put in the tuna...

Your taste may vary from mine so just make it the way YOU like it. 

To my tuna I added:

Walla Walla Sweet Onions

Diced Celery

Golden Delicious Apple

Dill Pickle Relish

Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip (your preference)

Pic 1: Cut English muffins in half, butter, put on a cookie sheet and broil until lightly brown.  For the GF version I just use the tops of Kinnikinnick English muffins due to the bottom portion being too thick. I like my English muffins nice and crispy.

Pic 2: Add tuna mixture to top of English muffin.

Pic 3: Add a tomato (optional) - Salt and Pepper.

Pic 4: Top with Tillamook medium cheddar cheese slices.

 

Put back in oven and broil on low until cheese is nice and melted.

Super easy-I recommend you make a lot, they go fast!

 

I digress.