My mint tin creation

I thought I would make some gifts this year to save a little money, but also to do something fun and creative. I decided to do the marble magnets project I found on not martha. She also gives the suggestion of putting a set of 6 in a mint tin. I have a TON of mint tins lying around, so I figured this would be a perfect gift. So, I found some ideas on how to decorate a mint tin from a few places (infarrantly creative, spinning-jennie.) The first thing I did was spray paint the tins. My spray paint skills are not very good, especially when it comes to these mint tins. I got the top and the bottom covered just fine, but the edges were tough. And the paint ended up scraping off when I closed the tin anyway, so I decided in the future to not worry so much about the edges.

Anyway, I got the first one done. I'm not completely satisfied with it. I tried to cut corners and hot glue the rick-rack on and I don't like the way it turned out, so next time I'll glue it on with a something that doesn't dry so fast and doesn't go on so thick. Also, the paintbrush I used was a cheap one I had on hand (because after the craft store trip I realized I forgot to get something to apply the mod podge with) and the "hairs" kept falling out into the mod podge. I tried to get them all, but I noticed when I saw these photos that I missed a couple. :( And, of course, the paint on the bottom scraped off and looks bad when it's open, but when it's closed up, it looks pretty cute.








Some other mint tin ideas I may try later:

Beauty Kit

Christmas trees

I've always preferred the low-maintenance of an artificial tree.  The artificial tree I've had since 1992 finally started to look hopeless (it was a really cheap one to begin with) and so we've gotten a real tree for the last two years.  I have to admit, the variability in shape and size of getting a real tree each year is really interesting.  However, we're horrible about taking the tree down in a timely manner, so the last two years we've had these decorated brown twiggy messes come February (ok, maybe a little exaggeration.)  Anyway, I would like to get a new artificial tree, but now that I've seen the really good, expensive ones, I can hardly go out and buy a $50 Walmart special. 

Balsam Hill Christmas Tree Co. makes some of the most amazing looking trees I've yet to see pictures of.  But they are not cheap.  If money were no object, I'd get the Aspen Silver Fir or the California Baby Redwood.  It's cost us ~$70-80 each for the last 2 trees we bought.  So, since this tree has a 10 year warranty on it, I can justify spending $759, right?  lol.

We've already blown our Christmas budget this year, so I may just see what I can do with my old Walmart special tree.  If I work on it, maybe I can get it to look nice enough to get by one more year, then see if I can get a nice new artificial tree in January for cheap.

dress update

Looks like I've got some more time to contemplate my dress design.  I tried it on today and it doesn't quite fit.  I bought it a while ago and it almost fit.  But it had been taken in a bit, so I thought it would fit after I let it back out + losing a bit more weight.  Well, I didn't lose any weight in the past few weeks and the part that was taken in wasn't the problem area after all.  Sometimes having large breasts really sucks.

So now I have 2 1/2 days to find a dress to wear on Sunday.  And I have something going on Friday that won't allow me to shop and Saturday evening is booked as well, so I'll only have tonight and Saturday morning and early afternoon to shop.  And so that means I will have to pray to find something that just works, since I won't have any time at all for any alterations. 

Oh, and we found out yesterday that we are, in fact, dancing an exhibition (of sorts) on Sunday, so that just adds to my franticness over this dress. 

dance dress

Well, I'm thinking about making my first attempt at a ballroom dance dress.  It won't actually be a complete construction, and it wouldn't even be used in anything sexy like a competition or exhibition.  I picked up a lovely hunter green dress at the Goodwill.  I'm guessing it was a bridesmaid dress.  It's long and fitted with this weird big swoopy thing around the neckline.  I'll get photos to put up once I start working on it.  I copied a guide created by Laura at DanceSport Image and mirrored it on my server, just in case that website goes away.  I'd hate to lose such a helpful page.

Anyway, my plan for this dress is to find a nice contrasting color -- I'm thinking a light shade of green, but I'm open to other ideas -- to create fitted sleeves and to make godets to increase the fullness of the bottom of the dress.  I was hoping to get this done in time for the annual Medal Ball that is happening on Sunday, but I don't think I'll have the time.  I don't think the sleeves should be too difficult.  Certainly not as difficult as adding sleeves to my wedding dress was.  But, the godets may end up being more complicated than I expect. 

Window Film

I've been wanting to get something to block the windows in the downstairs hallway. We have these 2 windows that are 22.5" wide and 46" tall. They look right out onto the narrow pathway between us and our neighbors. There is a custom fitted blind on one of them that came with the house, but it is red and the walls are green. So, it doesn't go. I need to replace it, but I'd like to make the 2 windows match and having blinds on the one closest to the door wouldn't be very practical.

Anyway, I've been browsing around for window film, but I didn't actually know it was called that. Most of the ones I find aren't really our style or the colors are wrong, etc. But I found one that I like a lot. http://wallpaperforwindows.com/shop/customer/product.php?productid=312&cat=70. I don't have a time to price compare or do much other stopping right now because I'm busy, busy at work and already have taken too much time on this non-essential thing. However, I wanted to get this down here so I'll have the link and the measurements someplace I can refer back to. And maybe, just maybe, Mosquito will decide to take the time to look around on the interwebs a little more in all his spare time. :D

Funny Mirror prank

This is really clever. Some of the responses are just so funny.
http://www.break.com/index/absolutely-hilarious-bathroom-mirror-prank.html

Sci-fi crew

Well, this would make me happy, but I think I would fit in better with the crew of Red Dwarf, who didn't make the cut for this particular quiz. :(

Which sci-fi crew would you best fit in with? (pics) created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Serenity (Firefly) You like to live your own way and don't enjoy when anyone but a friend tries to tell you should do different. Now if only the Reavers would quit trying to skin you. Serenity (Firefly) 75% Moya (Farscape) 69% Bebop (Cowboy Bebop) 69% Babylon 5 (Babylon 5) 69% Galactica (Battlestar: Galactica) 63% Heart of Gold (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) 56% SG-1 (Stargate) 56% Millennium Falcon (Star Wars) 50% Deep Space Nine (Star Trek) 50% Enterprise D (Star Trek) 50% Andromeda Ascendant (Andromeda) 44% FBI's X-Files Division (The X-Files) 44% Nebuchadnezzar (The Matrix) 44%

dance costumes

Ballroom dance costumes are very expensive. And I'm picky about what I wear. So, I'm going to look into making one. It'll be a while before we're actually good enough for me to need to have one, but it'll also take me a while to get started thinking about it and practicing.

I found a website with some how-tos and tips, etc. http://www.dancesportimage.com/

Here's a manual for $45 http://www.dancesportballgowns.com/manual.html

And some tips can be found on the dance forums

Teen Spirit covers

omg, I had so much fun listening to these.

Gregorian Chant This one had me laughing so hard I couldn't breathe for a couple seconds.
I don't know what the hell to call this one, I guess it's a cappella
again, no words to describe
String Quartet
Paul Anka (wtf?)
POLKA!!!!
Tango version
Cha-cha!
Ukuleles

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