Super Cute Classroom Stools

I have had a very busy summer  this year and one of my projects has been to help my sister with her classroom.  She has a  new teaching position at Mt Calvary Lutheran Church and  Elementary School, here in Flagstaff., teaching grades 1-4.  (An awesome school that my three kids attended, I might add) I couldn't be more thrilled for her, and I wanted to do whatever I could to help her with her classroom.  We have had a ball putting up bulletin boards, arranging desks and tables, and cutting out all kinds of  construction paper projects to make her life a little easier once school starts. 

We came across some cute little stools online, and I decided to try my hand at making them. 

You start with the little plastic file box cubicles that you see at all the discount stores... Black seemed like a good versitle color.

Next I took a trip to Home Depot and purchased a piece of lumber 2' X4' 1/2' plywood and had one of the employees cut three pieces to fit the top of the boxes just inside the lip.  They had pretty rough edges so I sanded the sides down a little and rounded the corners to fit perfectly inside the lip of the box.

We also purchased 1/2 yard each of three different colors of checkered  table cloth vinyl (so she will be able to  just wipe it clean) and the  I quilt batting I already had. Next  I cut the fabric about 2 inches bigger than the wood piece and folded it over.

Then I added some batting about the size of the top of the wood ,  about three folds thick, and placed it under the fabric.

Using my trusty staple gun I stapled the fabric to the back of the board all around, pulling  the fabric taut, and folding the corners in like a present.   If you wanted to be really neat you could cover the board with another piece of fabric to cover the raw wood.  But I decided it was fine left alone.

Then the top fits very nicely onto the box lip and can be easily removed. 

You can also use the bottom box portion for storage.

Oops...  I almost forgot to take a finished project photo

  I remembered just as I loaded them into the car.

Total cost...a whopping $9.00 a piece

For a "Traditional Old fashioned School House Theme" this will be Super Cute for her classroom don't you think?

Bloomin Flowers!

My garden is Bloomin! My garden is Bloomin! Please understand that I do not have a green thumb, I do not spend much time weeding...I do not water as often as I should or fertilize or any of the things thsat one should do. I even live in Flagstaff where  gardens are challenging.  But the Good Lord  sent rain  and sunshine and WOW My Garden is bloomin...

               Viola's or Johnny Jump Ups

Putunias

                               Clematis Vine

And my beautiful Daises...
I know it's not Martha Stewarts Hydrangeas bushes or  fields of Lavendar, or anything like that, but for little ole me it's beautiful!  I was reminded of a recent trip to visit my pecious daughter in L.A., how much I LOVE flowers.  She took us to the Flower Markets in downtown Los Angeles.

Fresh from the gardens of California, Roses and Carnations and Lilies of all kinds and Baby's Breath and filler flowers, and Hydrangeas and Daises of all kinds and Orchids, and on and on and on. 

We had such a fun day roaming through the iles of flowers.  If you ever get a chance to go it's well worth your time to see all that glorious color. For now I'll enjoy my back yard flower garden.

Simple Trick for Folding Sheets.

Folding sheets can be challenging at times. Have your ever gone to the linnen closet to find sheets falling out?   Here is a simple method that I found that is very easy to master and looks very nice in the cupboard. No more messes! First fold  your fitted sheet with the corners folded under each other and in half.

Then fold each side to the middle to create a long skinny fold.

Now fold your flat sheet and place it right in the middle of the fitted one.

Next fold the pillow cases and place them on top of the flat sheet.

Now fold the fitted sheet in a few times...

And then over the top...

Voila ! A nice neat little package to put in the cupboard.

It's so nice to have everything right there together, to just grab when your ready to change the sheets.
Happy Folding!

What to do with all those Corks?

I have been seeing lots of fun uses with wine corks.  When you share a nice bottle of wine with someone it's kinda fun to keep the cork as a memory. Writing on the cork with the date and putting the place where you drank it, is a fun idea too. 

 That is something I have always wanted to do that but I am sorry to say I have missed that opportunity.  I made a wine  cork wreath years ago and to this day I still get so may compliments on it.

I purchased a straw wreath back and just went to glue gunning the corks on, free form style.  then I added the greenery and the bear.  I looks nice in my wine bar don't you think.

Here are a few other ideas...

Love this idea...I have to use this at my next party...

And the perfect centerpiece to go with it...

Or there's always the WOW factor.  This is very Cool don't you think?





Blogging Again!

You may have noticed I have taken a little Blog vacation.  No  worries, just needed a break and now I'm ready to roll again.  So let's get this party started!