Happy New Year!

This year we are trying to come up with our new years resolution just as the rest of the world.
One of our hopes this year is to find new ways to save money. I've been looking on the web for days to hopefully find brand new ideas that we can try. Since we are so close to becoming debt free, (other than our house, we just have 1000$ in debt to go.) A few things we are going to try are,
*Use washcloths and fabric napkins so we can quit buying paper towels. This will be a savings of 250+ a year
* invest in dryer balls so save 50$+ in Dryer Sheets
* Plant a vertical garden
* put in a clothes line
* make a rain barrel
* The boys hopefully will turn the lights off better and take shorter showers.

With these few changes, I can't wait to see how little our utility bills become. ;)




that We hope that you have a wonderful upcoming year!
This

Home for the Holidays House and Album

I saw a similar item at my local craft store a few weeks ago. I thought it was so cute, I just had to make one. It took me some time to make it so I've decided to show you how so you can try it.

Here are the supplies that I used...

2- 5"x7" pieces of mat board
2- 4 3/4"x6" pieces of mat board
2- 4"x8 1/2 mat board with the top cut to a point
4- 3/4 book rings
At least 6 pieces of Double sided paper
Ink
Trimmer, Scissors
glue, hole puncher
lots of ribbon

Cover the mat board with paper and ink the sides. You will use the small rectangles and tall sides. (set the 5"x7" to the side) I found that it's best to match 2 mat board pieces and punch them together. Then start lacing with ribbon so the ribbon crosses in the front.

Cover the inside of what will be the roof of the 5"x7" pieces and hole punch them for the 4 rings.

Next, cut the other paper in half.
One half needs to be cut into 3- 6"x4"
The other half needs to be cut 6"x7". Put the smaller piece to the side for another project.

Cut the 7" pieces into 1" strips. I cut these strips free handed with curves on one of the long sides. You could tear them or even use special scissors. You can ink the one side and fold it up a little

Take the back of the album cover (which is the roof), start at the bottom layering the strips as you go.

Put the roof on and you’re finished!

You can decorate it as you like.

Wedding Season

It's that time of year when the weddings seem to be in full swing! Jeff and I never imagined in our wildest dreams that our barnwood items would be so popular for wedding!

As we watched the movie The Proposal a few days ago, we noticed that at the end of the movie, the wedding is a barn wedding! It was such a pretty setting that I hardly paid attention to the actors. I was trying to take in as much of the barn as I could.

Jeff grew up on a farm and has always loved barns. It doesn't matter if they are standing tall and strong or falling down, he loves barns.
Years ago, I was once a wedding coordinator at our church. A few of the weddings still stick with me. They were the wedding where people used natural materials to decorate the sanctuary as well as the reception hall. We know that if we had thought of it 14 years ago, we would also have a barn wedding as well.

I would LOVE to see pictures of any of the items that we have made actually being used!

Most of the time we make custom orders for weddings. However, here are a few different items that we've sold that people have used for their weddings.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76987344/reclaimed-barnwood-place-setting

Custom order 8 x 10 chalkboards

Tray Perfect for place setting cards placed in sand or moss

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/46384659

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/51060558

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76160715/reclaimed-vintage-sage-window-with-2?ga_search_query=window&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5486590

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78063163/7-chalkboard-clothespin-clips-wedding

Our Journey Begins

This is the story of how Jeff and I’s journey began back in 1993.

As so many couples start out, Jeff and I met when we were in high school. We went to different schools in nearby towns. We both had our very first job at Burger King. It really was a gross place to work, but our friends worked there too so it was always fun .

After Jeff had asked me on a date several times, and I saying no several times, I finally agreed. Being that we were pour high school kids, we went to the closet city park.

 I don't remember if it had been raining. I do remember that it was hard to walk in my penny loafers that had been in the Burger King grease. As we start on the hill that led to the parks pond, I noticed very quickly that my feet were no longer on the ground. Instead they were above my head and my rear end was in instant pain. As I lay there totally humiliated, and trying not to cry or laugh, I look up at Jeff who has a look on his face that said a million words. The only thing that his mouth said was "Are you Ok?" "Yes, I think so," I replied. (Even though I wasn't so sure) Then this tall, strong boy said, "Would it be Ok if I laugh then?" "Of course" I said.

Even though I ended up breaking my tail bone and having a hard time sitting for a few weeks, it gave us a fun memory and the start of a life time of laughs.

Our Story

For years I have thought about writing about my life and family and struggles I've gone through. So many of my friends have asked me to write my life’s mishaps down and turn it into a book. The thought of it overwhelms me since I always have so much on my plate.

 Now that my oldest son, Bryan, is turning 13 next week, I find that I can't remember all the great stories. I once had a new story to share almost every day. It seems some times that Murphy is following me around ready to pounce.

Because of this, I am going to use this blog to share my life. Whether it is something with our family, the Etsy shop, Ideas to help people with a craft, or life in general, I hope people can become inspired.  At the very least, something for my boys to look back on when they grow up.

As always, you can find more of our items on our Etsy website. However, I'm going to start adding  different items on this blog that I don't have on Etsy.

My Favroite Window.

On Jeff and I's anniversary we got the chance to go antiquing. We came across this little shop around Bolivar Mo where this window was in the back corner of the shop. Although it looked a little rough, We loved how unique it was and thought it would be great as a chalkboard.
The window is so strong and heavy and it only had 1 pane of glass left. It must have with stood years and years of life in an old house.
I love all the different sized 'mini" windows within. However, I think I love the old paint most of all. It's chipping and flaking off, but it shows all the different colors and life that this window went through.
I think this window is on the top of my favorites list for sure. I'm hoping it will go to a good home that loves it as much as I do.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/77020882/vintage-window-with-7-different

Our Anniversary

Today was Jeff's and my anniversary.

We started out renewing our drivers licences. When we got there, I was told that mine is good for another 3 years. (How I missed it, I don't know.) Then Jeff called in to work to tell them that he was on the way in ad they said not to worry About it. He's been working so much in Joplin, Mo, that they gave him the whole day off.  Usually we rarely even have time for a date night. However, today we got tot spend the whole day together. Thanks to Jeff's boss.

We decided to go antiquing. We have been wanting to go for over a year and this was the perfect opportunity. We called my mom and took her up on her offer to watch the kids and we headed north.

We found some great items but the stores were very proud of them and didn't seem ready to part with it all. These are some pictures of the fun stuff we did find. We have an idea to use each item and can't wait to start on it all. I think my favroite thing is the 7 paine window Jeff found.

We are so excited to start a blog! This is new for us and are going to do our best at it. 

Jeff and I wanted to a place where we could connect with people and learn new things. We also wanted to be able to share new things and ideas regarding our shop on Etsy. We love getting new inspiration from others and are hoping that we can do the same for everyone else.

On Monday the 27th, I'm going to start a giveaway to our Etsy shop. www.timelessjourney.etsy.com