DIY Cork and Fabric Mouse Pad

A while back I saw this tutorial on Going Home to Roost and knew that it would be a great use of some of my vintage fabric.  Plus my mouse pad was ready to be replaced.

Yesterday, I decided to make it happen.  And, basically 15 minutes later it was done.  It is that easy if you have the supplies on hand.

Isn't that fabulous fabric? I think it was a feed sack, but I'm not positive.

The thing I did differently from the tutorial, is that I used a spray adhesive on the chip board to adhere it to the fabric instead of an iron on fusible web on the fabric.  So, spray your chip board, mat board, or a couple pieces of a cereal box.  Adhere to your fabric.  Adhere the self adhesive cork board, then trim it to your desired size and shape.  I used my old rotary cutter to cut the sides and a scissors to trim the corners round like Bonnie did in her tutorial.

I haven't put the fray check on it as she suggested and probably won't.  I'll experiment with this one and see if it frays or not. 

Funny how something as simple as a mouse pad can make you happy!

Goats, Chickens, Pigs, and Goats!

While we were up visiting my Mom yesterday, she suggested we head to the farm so the girls could see the animals and look for eggs.  My brother and sister in law have some animals out there and it's always fun to see what they've added.  There was another goat and two new pigs this time. You'd have to look close but there are goats, pigs, chickens, and ducks all in the same space here.

Old school and it's great!

So we went looking for eggs and Mom said they are often up in the lay loft.  Yes, the girls were scared to get up there, but did make it to the top of the ladder. :)

My husband and I used our phones for flashlights to look for the eggs.  Old school meets new school.

This nest of three were all we found. (It was dark up there.)

No eggs in the nesting boxes.  Mostly you see these used as cubby storage in people's homes.  They are still used as intended some places!

This "new" barn was added since the last time we were there.  My brother, I assume, traded something for it.  And, I'm not gonna lie...I was jealous!  Of course it's missing most of the two walls on the other two sides, but it was still wonderful!!

The loft would sure make a great space for so many things!

This wasn't as high as the other loft so the girls were more brave.

This is the old house that my Dad used as a shop.  Before long it will be gone so I take pictures of it every time I'm there.

  

My Grandpa lived in it for awhile and I'm told it was run down even then so it's been around for a long time. I love it.  Love it.

So....wonderful.

Oh, I almost forgot this picture of two of the goats.  That one in back, sounds just like an old man in pain when he bleats, crazy weird sounding!

I hope your week is off to a great start!

And, after I posted on Saturday, my daughter just kept feeling better, so after my husband got home I was able to go join up for pizza with my old classmates.  Still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that we are all 51 now! 

Herb Bundles

Today, I had plans to meet up with high school friends, some of which I have not seen for maybe 25 years, give or take a decade... Well, my youngest got sick right after breakfast....So plans changed.

I had clipped some herbs yesterday to dry and they were laying on the counter on a cookie sheet yet, so I decided to bundle them up with string since I had the time.  There is something to aromatherapy as the scent of Rosemary certainly affects me emotionally. I think I'd call it consoling.  But, then again, maybe anything would have today as I was disappointed I couldn't go.

I have a few bundles now to dry and enjoy the scent and I have more rosemary to dry in sprigs and store in quart sized mason jars.  I even got to use my very old string on my antique string holder.  That's good consolation too!

My daughter is feeling much better and ate lunch so I'm very grateful for that.

Preserving Fall

Such fleeting beauty this time of year....

We've had some gorgeous days!

And, when I was reminded of the the old craft of dipping leaves in wax I thought it was time to try it and hopefully preserve a little of this glorious time for awhile!

The Instagram video I posted of dipping the leaves will be at the bottom of this post.

Well, I dipped quite a few.

And, the next day, my girls dipped quite a few.

So, now I have a bowl of leaves

and, not one,

but two wreaths!  The first used a grapevine wreath with the leaves hot glued on.

This second one has for it's base a cereal box cut into a circle.

Sooooooo pretty to have in your house!

We also have two jars of leaves. :) 

You may remember my "summer in a jar".  Now I have fall in a jar.  This is my kind of "scrapbooking"!

So then I wondered what would happen if you dipped a small branch with the leaves still hanging on...would that work?  It sure did!  I put some foam in a tin can and arranged the small branches and added some plain tiny branches too.

Preserved just like they were outside.  I don't have to worry about storing this as it cost only the little bit for the paraffin wax.  I can toss it when we decorate for Christmas.  

Truly, enjoyable to do! The leaves are velvety smooth to the touch.  I think that's what the little girls liked the most, feeling the waxed leaves.

Things to keep in mind:  keep your heat LOW, wax is flammable. When you use a hot glue gun to affix the leaves, it will melt the wax on the leaves too so you need to go a bit slow allowing the wax and the glue to set up before moving on.

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