Watch Out. I Have a Mat Cutter, and I'm Not Afraid to Use It

Quite a few months ago, I bought a mat cutter at an auction.  It was completely a buy on chance.  I didn't know if all the pieces were there, but it looked new and I took a chance.  I had to order a blade for it, but then it was ready to go.  I just finally tried it out this past week.  I feel so empowered!!! I have a huge box of mat boards that I bought at a garage sale about two years ago so I can cut and practice all I want.  I can now do things that I never would have taken the time to take to a framer to have done....or let's be honest...spent the money to do.

My daughter painted a bunch of my old frames black for a project, but then abandoned the project....so I'm on a mission to use the frames.  I like that part of the work was done for me.  I took this photo of my son's hand next to his hand print in the concrete at my brother's house, showing how much his hand had grown since he pressed it there years back.

So, after I cut the opening for the photo, I then cut a small piece of mat board, but reversed it so the bevel went the other way. I used that piece to mount the text I wanted to add.

I typed the quote with one of my old typewriters on to a piece of wall paper that had a neat texture to it.  I sprayed a coat of matte finish over the text before I began messing with it just in case it would smear.

This watch graphic came from the The Graphics Fairy and seemed perfect for this project.  I printed it out on nice photo rag paper, backed it with a piece of card stock, then mounted it raised up with a couple of squares of mat board behind it.  Today, I'm linking this project up with The Graphics Fairy Brag Monday Post.  I love her freebies and all the wonderful projects that people use them in.  There is some serious creativity going on over there, so you'll have to go check it out!

This picture is now hanging upstairs in our bathroom.  I've been in the process of finally doing something with that bathroom after 13 years in our home.  Nothing fancy, but some fun things that I'll show you soon.

Happy Monday to you!

Mantel Party

I'm linking up today with another blog party, (I think it's kind of fun to follow a theme!)  Today, it's at the Nesting Place where her motto is:  "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful."  When I saw that, I knew I'd want to check out her blog further!  Today, people are posting pictures of their mantles.  I feel very blessed to have two mantles to decorate but you'll only see one today.  Because, well the other isn't too "spiffy" at the moment, and it's dark in that room while my 10 y/o is sleeping in there suffering again from sinusitis.

Decorating a mantel is one of the biggest decorating challenges in my opinion.  Ours if far more traditional than many, but that's our house too.    I would love to "change it out" with the seasons, but....just doesn't happen much.  I also really just use what I have or come across at sales.  I know if I went out to buy something new for the mantel, I just wouldn't like it.  Our ceiling isn't vaulted; the the wood beams in the photo kind of make it look that way.  The area around the fireplace, though is open to the library on the second floor.

My brother (thankfully) thought to add an outlet to this mantle so we could put up Christmas lights. (My brother and his wife built our house)  Now, at night, we light it up with my vintage mismatched lamps I bought at garage sales.  I don't think there is anything much more beautiful than old books, so they are all over our house including the mantels.

Now, if you'd like to see some creative mantels and interesting decor, head over to The Nesting Place!

A Goofy Grin

I was tidying up the sewing room and my work table a couple of weeks ago after working on my "Junk"le Bells garland. 

 And this was sitting there.  

 I don't know which of my little gals created it, but I loved it.  They play around me all the while I tinker in my sewing room.  Sometimes I give them something to do but mostly they "sew" scraps on one of my antique machines, draw, or build with whatever objects I have piled up or laying around.  This day it was wire, bottle caps, scraps of wood, and pieces of bottle cap garland.

Discovering this little face was a sweet moment.  The mess didn't matter any more.  The "to do" list was no longer a priority.  At least for this moment.

Over at Chatting at the Sky, this is what Emily has to say about what to post about for Tuesday's Unwrapped:

 Anything that causes you to pause and celebrate the moment. Not what will be or what is to come, but what is real and true this day: the messy, the lovely, and the unexpected. Share a photo, a story, or anything that offers a glimpse into your own journey of discovering the gifts in the midst of the ordinary.

Happy Tuesday!

Yuuuuuu---um!

Cookies!!  I won these at Just Something I Made.  Delicious homemade and beautifully decorated cookies from Bake at 350.  There were six cookies, but 7 of us at home.   Hhhmmmm....what to do?what to do?  Sharing works!

We opened the package on the porch since we were so excited!

Thank you Cathe of JSIM!  She was celebrating 2 years of great blogging.  Have you been to her blog?  She melds vintage, recycling, and technology to put us all in awe.  Her projects are so inspiring.  If you are a suitcase collector--you better check out this post of Cathe's now. She never ceases to amaze me with her creativity! And, thank you Bridget of Bake at 350!  The cookies were wonderful!!

I aspire to Bridget's cookie expertise. She has tips and beautiful photos of her cookies on her blog.  You'll be motivated to break out your cookie cutters.