A Happy Retirement Candy-Gram.
A friend of ours recently retired.
Instead of just a card, I thought it would be fun to do a Candy-Gram.
It is fun to pick out a bunch of candy bars and try to make them into a message.
Great fun for special birthdays and holidays.
And the best part is – it’s a card and gift all in one!
Happy Retirement Bob! We are so happy for you. Enjoy the candy and enjoy your free time!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Spring has Sprung!
Today is the first full day of Spring, and oh how ready I am to welcome it!
It may still be a little brown and chilly outside, but I put the snowies away and brought out the flowers and bunnies and birds.
I got this sweet tray and floral and bunny from my friend Anne’s Farmhouse Primitives shop at Berry Vine Gifts.
The amazing candle is from Antique Candle Co. in the most luscious fragrance of Country Pear by Cotton Stem. It is one of the most wonderful smelling candles I have ever had!
These little bunnies are from a recent trip to Hobby Lobby.
And I love this Springy green wreath I also found in Anne’s shop at Berry Vine Gifts. It replaced the cotton stem wreath I had here for Winter.
And what do you think of this fun little stack of books I made? I’ve been seeing them on Instagram on a few feeds I follow, and it turns out I had everything needed to make them myself. In fact, I might be making more to sell at Berry Vine Gifts and through our McKinneyX2Designs Etsy shop. So many possibilities of quotes and personalized messages can be made. For my first try, I did my favorite life message, “Cherish the Moments.”
Welcome Spring!
Breathe in the fresh air.
Soak in the warmth of sunshine.
Bloom and blossom like the flowers.
Whistle a happy tune with a spring in your step.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Easy DIY “Christmas Countdown” Advent Calendar.
I’ve been dreaming of making this since summer….
and I finally got busy and did it this week.
Just in time!
I was looking for a fun way for my granddaughter to count down the days until Christmas with a little surprise each day, so when I found this inexpensive Over the Door Shoe Organizer this summer, I knew just what I was going to do.
I used fabric paint to paint the numbers on each “shoe pouch” – just the right number for an advent calendar!
And it was so much fun shopping for little toys and art projects and treats and hair bows and socks and mittens to fill all 24 compartments.
I think the anticipation of Christmas is almost more fun than the day itself. I love the whole month leading up to it.
A friend shared this Advent Calendar of Kindness recently on Facebook, and I couldn’t resist sharing it too.
Don’t let the stress of the materialism of the holiday ruin this special time. Small gifts of anticipation and everyday acts of kindness can make all the difference! It’s what we need more of.
Happy Holidays!!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Believe.
Believe in yourself.
Believe in your purpose.
Don’t be afraid – just believe.
Believe you can do it.
Believe you deserve it.
Don’t be afraid – just believe.
Believe you are strong.
Believe you are brave.
Don’t be afraid – just believe.
And when you believe,
you just may be
the reason someone else believes.
Don’t be afraid – just believe.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
I am so excited my DIL is back to making beautiful signs for our ETSY shop! This little gem is one of my new faves. It will be sweet for Christmas, but I “believe” I would like this out year round. It’s a tiny reminder, which I often need… to not be afraid, and just believe.
Bridal Shower Money Gift: A Champagne Bottle Wedding Dress.
Money is always a welcomed gift – right?
But it is also BORRRRING to give.
When going to a bridal shower, one of the main events is the gift opening, so I often try to figure out a creative presentation.
My daughter-in-law hosted a bridal shower this weekend for her sister. What an amazing job she did, and what a beautiful day we were gifted with.
I created this champagne bottle money wedding dress as my gift. It was so easy to do, and I had everything to make it on hand.
I took a bottle of champage and wrapped it in white tulle and lace. I embellished it with paper flowers, pearls, and crystal gems and created a veil with additional tulle. Everthing was glued on with a hot glue gun or Tombow glue.
I then pinned the money on with straight pins all around to form a layer of the dress.
Several years ago, I made a Happy Birthday Money Cake for one of my sons. It has been the most popular blog post ever here at TheCreativeLifeinBetween.com. Seems lots of folks are looking for creative ways to give gifts of money, so I hope you all enjoy this one too.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
McKinneyX2Designs at Mars Holiday Craft Show 2017
Cyber Monday at McKinneyX2Designs.
It’s Cyber Monday! The most popular day for online holiday shopping. Cyber Monday follows Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. So many shopping terms!
‘Tis the season!
Will you be cyber shopping today?
Well, my daughter-in-law, Colleen and I thought we would get in on the action too by offering a 10% discount on anything available in our McKinneyX2Designs Etsy Shop as our little holiday gift to you!
Use Promo Code “Cyber10” when placing your order to assure the discount!
Will you be cyber shopping today?
McKinneyX2Designs at Mars Holiday Craft Show 2017
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
P.S. Speaking of Daughters-in-law and specials, my DIL Liz offers FREE 15-minute Nutritionist Phone Consultations to those local to the Mars/Pittsburgh area who are interested in learning about healthy decisions for eating well. Her areas of expertise include: digestive health complaints including SIBO, IBS, IBD (Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s), and GERD, Autoimmune conditions, Natural Hormone Balance, and General Health and Weight Management. Check out Nourish & Flourish for more details.
Getting Cozy.
Getting out the pumpkins.
Getting out the candles.
Getting ready for colorful leaves
Getting ready for crackling fires.
Getting ready for flannels and hoodies.
Getting ready for fleece.
Getting ready for pumpkin lattes.
Getting ready for baked apple everything.
Getting ready for simmering soups.
Getting ready for thick, hearty stews.
Getting ready for Fall.
Getting cozy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A 60th Birthday Candy Bar Card (in large print for the sight impaired!)
Turning 60 is nothing to SNICKER about.
Your joints may start to CRUNCH,
and your WHATCHAMACALLIT may not work like it used to.
You'll likely have BUTTERFINGERs,
and your mind may play TWIX on you.
We still wouldn't trade you for 100GRAND.
You are a HOT TAMALE and MOUNDS of fun!
Wishing you an EXTRA special birthday!
We celebrated a friend this weekend.
I've known Mary for over 30 years.
What a privilege it is to have "old" friends! :)
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Updating the Nursery at Grandma’s House.
Some of you may remember the fun I had creating a nursery for my first grandchild about seven months ago. I turned my youngest son’s childhood room into a baby girly nursery room. Here is what it looked like when I first created it.
Time is passing way too quickly, and our little girl is growing so fast. She is starting to get around, so it was time to lower the crib so she won’t pull herself up and tumble out.
Then, though I hope she doesn’t need it very soon, we were so generously gifted with a beautiful antique iron day bed from my our bestie cousins, Joyce and “Oh Rob,” fully loaded with soft and fluffy Pottery Barn bedding in just the right colors to match our room! Isn’t it awesome?!!?!
I moved some things around to make room. It will be a nice spot for us to snuggle up and read books soon I’m sure. It also adds versatility to this guest room allowing for another “single” to stay over. We love having campers stay over, so the more beds the merrier!
Remember how I made the bumper pads into curtain valances (since they are a “no-no!” now)? Well – I still had a piece left, so I cut the ties off, cut about a 6-inch opening on one end, and stuffed it with filling from an old pillow I wasn’t using to create a fun tube-shaped pillow. Throwing that and the other pillow that came with the nursery set really helps carry the theme onto the day bed and pull the room together I think. Aren’t I so crafty clever?!?!
I am in love with this little space in the house. It is the smallest bedroom of the four, but it is my current fave! I’ve redone all three (now) guest rooms. I think it may soon be time for a master bedroom makeover! <wink!>
Hope you are having fun in all of your favorites spaces with all of your favorite people… at life in between.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A DIY Rainbow Clock.
My BFF Jill is an “all the colors of the rainbow” kinda gal.
She loves color – bright, bold colors.
So when I came across this idea on Pinterest for a colorful clock made out of a wooden plant stand, I knew this was the gift for her birthday this year.
I found this approximately 12″ diameter circular plant stand on line at Ikea for under $10! It came with wheels that could be attached so that you can use outdoors and move your plants around I suppose, but I just tucked the wheels away to save for some other use some day.
I simply divided the circle into 10 pie shapes from the center with a pencil and ruler and painted them with bright beautiful colors of indoor/outdoor grade acrylic paint I found at Walmart (Waverly Super-Premium Plaid).
I hit the whole thing with a spray of Krylon UV Resistant Clear Spray after the several layers of paint dried.
Then hubby came to the rescue to cut out a piece in the back and drill a hole in the center to add the battery-operated clock works.
And Voila! A fun rainbow bright colorful indoor-outdoor clock! It’s TIME to celebrate YOU Jill! Where has the TIME gone? I love our TIME together!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 