Trying Something New

Life In Detail

 I worked up the nerve to try out for a creative team on a brand new challenge blog. I love smashbooking and I found a site looking for people to create a monthly page.  
Life In Details is an Australian challenge blog for those that like documenting their lives either using the Project Life system or using Smash books.

It doesn't matter if you're just starting out or are a veteran, this challenge blog is for you.

Challenges will be posted on the 1st of the month and are due by midnight (AEST) on the last day of the month.We will also have tutorials and share inspiration as well. "

I have join the Smash book creative team along with: 
Becky Hopkins
Candice Watson
Kaitlynne Roll
Karyn Schultz

Stay tuned for October's challenge!

Travel Smashbook

I use an old journal for my on the go travel smashbook. I use this book specifically to document our days as we travel.  I only use brochure pictures and embellishments I have brought along. 

Then when I am ready to smash my photos, I can pull out this journal and recall our trip.  

I enjoy doing this when traveling.  It gives me something to do at the end of our day.  I can also document things while they are fresh in my mind. 

You can see how I pack my  travel smash case HERE.

You can see all my smash book pages under the tab at the top of my blog.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Outer Banks Day 3&4

We visited the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and climbed the 257 steps to the top!

As the sand shifts and moves, this lighthouse became in danger of falling into the ocean, but in 1999 it was moved.  Yes, they put it on rollers and moved it to a safer location. You can read about the story HERE.

I added a fun 1960's filter to this picture.

 What a view!

Bye bye Hatteras!  We hopped on the ferry and headed to Ocracoke Island. 

 

We couldn't climb this lighthouse so it was a 

quick stop for a picture.

 The next day we woke up in the tiny town of Edenton, NC.  We checked off another lighthouse and did a bit of fishing.

 Then we headed to my cousins house for a bit of family time.  We only see each other every couple of years, so it is great fun catching up.  

His beautiful wife cooked us some yummy eats!  We left with full tummies and hearts.

We had a great time on our mini vacation.  

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!

Outer Banks NC: Day 1&2

Now that schools are back in session and the temperatures are cooler, it is travel time for the hubby and I.  We hopped in the car and headed to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.



We stopped to get a fishing licence and they had this huge Adirondack chair out front.  I had to test it out. 

Our first stop was the Currituck Lighthouse.  It is located on the northern part of the Outer Banks, in the town of Corolla.

We climbed the 214 steps to the top and enjoyed a great view of the ocean and sound.  

 After the climb we picked up some picnic supplies and headed to grounds around the lighthouse.  We watched the sunset and marveled at the beauty that surrounded us.

 We stayed at the Hampton Inn just down the road and relaxed on our balcony over looking the ocean.

In the morning we woke to watch the sun rise. (Yes, Jule I got up!)  We walked along the beach and snapped pictures.

Love Sandpipers!

Next we headed to the Wright Brothers National Memorial.  We learned all about how these men built the first powered airplane.  

They persevered though so many trials.  It was an amazing story to relearn as an adult.  I really didn't pay to much attention in school. 

 We walked the grounds where they built and flew the plane.  Their first flight was only 12 seconds long.  

 They had markers for each of the flights.

 Next we went to Roanoke Island and saw the light house in the harbor.

 Then it was on to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the Bodie Lighthouse. 

We were'not leaving.  The light was better on this side of the sign.

• Bodie Lighthouse stands 156 feet tall
• The height of each stripe is 22 feet
• It has 214 stairs to the lantern
• The beacon is visible up to 19 miles

We ended the day at a local fishing pier.

Tomorrow I will share our final two days of our road trip.

Thanks for stopping by........

Long Time No See

Wow, it has been a long time since I have blogged.  I haven't been up to much around here that is blog worthy.  But I have been busy the last week making things to decorate my house for fall.  
The first items are a couple canvases.  

I just adore fall colors and had great fun painting, layering papers and doodling on these two canvases

 

Next I printed out a fall subway art and placed it in a frame and that made for some instant art! Besides the ink for printing this is a free project. You can find a great selection of Subway ART  HERE

Next up is a Pinterest find.  As I looked at fall decorations, I kept seeing pumpkins made out of wood.  We certainly have a lot of that down in my hubby's workshop. 

 So I grabbed some 2x4 and had my son cut them into three different sizes.  Then we did a bit of sanding, chiseling, and drilling. I went outside to find the perfect stems from our kindling pile. I took them up to the craft room to give the wood a few coats of paint and added raffia and fabric.  This project cost absolutely nothing to make! 

My last project has to be my favorite.  I found the idea on Pinterest.  My daughter-in-law and I created pillows for our homes.  It was easy to make.  If you have fabric scraps you could make this pretty quickly.

I had some scraps in my craft room and we went and bought a few more at Jo Ann's.  Sarah also spotted a wood grain fabric that we HAD to buy for the trunk.

We used Wonder Under (fusible web) on the back of our fabric.  We traced the leaves and trunk onto the back of the web.  Then we cut them all out.  You will need about 40 leaves for the tree.  The size will depend on your pillow size.  My leaves were 2.5 inches. 

Notice the tree pattern fabric!

Cut the top of your pillow one inch bigger than the pillow size.  Lay out your pieces and arrange them how you want them to look.  Then peal off the back of the webbing.  I did this on the floor and then realized I couldn't move it to my ironing board.  So I slid it over and ironed them on the floor.

After you get them ironed on, bring it up to the ironing board and give it a good pressing to make sure they are attached.

Next I took some DMC floss and stitched around all the leaves and trunk.  I did this while watching TV and had it done in a few hours.

I made an envelope pillow case and slipped in a pillow from the couch.  I think it turned out super cute.  I posted a Youtube video I found on how to make the pillow on the post before this one. 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope I gave you some fun and quick fall decorating ideas.  Now go get crafting!

Sew an Envelope Pillow Cover: Beginner