creative

Bridal Shower Money Gift: A Champagne Bottle Wedding Dress

/ Jodi / 45 Comments

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

 

How do you say “Thank You?”

/ Jodi / 37 Comments
Crooked Creek, Ford City, PA - June, 2017

Crooked Creek, Ford City, PA – June, 2017

How do you say “Thank You”
for sunshine or health…
for clear days or gentle rains…
for happiness, joy or love?

You say it by sharing
what you have.
You say it by making
the world a better place in which to live.

-Thomas D. Willhite

How do YOU say “Thank You?”

I say it by trying to share something small every day
in this tiny little platform that is mine
to give to the world
a little bit of happiness…
a little bit of joy…
a little bit of love.

My “Thank You” might be
a photograph,
or a painting,
or a craft or DIY idea.

It might be a favorite cherished
or newly discovered recipe.
It might be a verse
or a quote or a story.

But it is my “Thank You”
for sunshine and health…
for clear days and gentle rains…
for happiness, joy, and love.

It is my gift.
It is my little life.
It is my creative journey…
at life in between.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

*Focus

Updating the Nursery at Grandma’s House

/ Jodi / 53 Comments

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 Pair of Hummingbirds in Watercolor

/ Jodi / 57 Comments
Colorful Hummingbird Watercolor 8x10 140lb Saunders Hot Press

Colorful Hummingbird Watercolor 8×10 140lb Saunders Hot Press

A Pair of Hummingbirds in Watercolor.

Among the many birds that visit our backyard are sweet little hummingbirds.

I noticed our little hummer friends that arrived in May didn’t seem to be visiting the feeder recently and realized I had not changed the “nectar.”  As soon as I filled it with fresh sugary water, they were back in a snap.

They are so beautiful.  Not nearly as wacky colored as I created here in this pair, but I sure had fun going wild with color creating this beautiful, graceful little creatures.

Colorful Hummingbirdm2 Watercolor 8x10 140lb Saunders Hot Press

Colorful Hummingbird 2 Watercolor 8×10 140lb Saunders Hot Press

Recalling the one I recently painted for a friend, I had fun creating these ones on a whim and with no agenda or direction in mind.   I love this style of painting where you just throw color down and add water and watch it do its magic!  Every one is a unique creation.

Hope your day is colorful and creative and magical.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Ghost in the Tree

/ Jodi / 37 Comments

the

A Ghost in the Tree
(A bit of Silly… Poetry)

Do you agree
with me?
Do you see
a ghost in the tree?

On a carefree
walk of sightsee,
it caused a teeny
bit of anxiety.

But Charlie in his chivalry
helped me gain clarity
and guaranteed
it was but a tree.

Such pedigree
to disagree
and decree
it must be too much coffee.

It was a beauty.
Could it be
a chickadee
or chimpanzee?

Whoppee
and Yippee
for a tree designee
of imaginative jubilee!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

The Road Taken

My New Creation Station

/ Jodi / 66 Comments

My New Creation Station / Art Studio is just about done.

A few pieces of art need framed for the walls and some fabric is needed for a window treatment, but besides splashes of paint and scraps of paper on the floor, we are about done.

Hubby has been working so hard this past month transforming  a 22′ x 13′ bonus space we had in our home into a usable space for a few of my “creative life in between” hobbies.

Duct work had to be moved for the air flow of heat and air conditioning.
A cold air return had to be added.
Recessed lighting and a ceiling fan were installed.
Walls were painted.
Flooring was laid.  (And I’m so grateful to my son, Nick, for pitching in last Saturday to help Hubby with the underlayment, padding and laminate flooring.  They did it all in a day!)
Trim was stained and cut and nailed in.

And then I got to start filling it with my painting and stamping and crafting and sewing and photography supplies.  The weekend was spent cleaning out a walk-in-closet that could not be walked in anymore and an office that doubled as a craft room.

Our large garbage receptacle was filled.  The office is now streamlined and breathable.  The walk-in-closet can now be walked in.

It was cleansing and fulfilling and back-aching and tiring work, but so wonderful to accomplish.

And one of the best parts about it all is the only new things furnishing my art studio (besides lighting and fan and flooring) are the Husky Adjustable Wood Work Table and Chrome Shelving Hubby bought me for Valentine’s Day and the fabric organization boxes I bought to organize things in.

Leftover cans of paint from other home projects were used to paint the walls and ceiling.

A very old 8′ folding table that was stashed in the basement, as well as a small four-drawer wooden baby dresser, got a fresh new look with a coat of Tuscan red chalk paint.

I’m keeping one tall wall clear and open for possible photography use.  I received the reflector and Genaray light for Christmas.  Another little spot houses my light box for photographing smaller things.

Another corner is reserved for sewing.

A very special corner is set aside for grandies and other children that may visit with a small child’s art desk that holds a roll of paper (gifted to use by some very special peeps), plastic drawers filled with wooden stamps and a carousel of crayons and markers.

It’s been fun organizing paints and supplies.  I even created a long-needed paint chart for my watercolors and am trying to decide which 20 colors to add to a new palette.

Enjoy this little 30-second Hyperlapse visit of my new little Creation Station.  Can’t wait to splash it up!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS – If you can’t view hyperlapse video above, click here to watch video on Youtube.

Oh Christmas Trees – In Pink & Gold

/ Jodi / 35 Comments
pink-orange-gold-christmas-trees-card-2016

Pink Orange Gold Watercolor Christmas Trees 5×7

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves can be so changing;

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
They need not be unchanging;

Not only green like everyone;
But you can be whatever you want.

O Christmas Tree!  O Christmas Tree!
Pink and Orange and Gold look good on thee!

Embrace the magic!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

#itsnotthistimeofyearwithout…

Chocolate-Covered Cookie Butter-Stuffed Oreos

/ Jodi / 54 Comments

About

chocolate-covered-cookie-butter-stuffed-oreos-7

O. M. G!  Have you tried the new Oreo Thins yet?  If there is one store bought cookie I love, it is Nabisco’s Oreo.  There’s really nothing like them.

I rarely buy them, but I have been curious about the new Oreo Thins I’ve been hearing about.  Double Stufs are DIVINE, so how are the Thins?

I needn’t wonder long, because when I saw an incredible idea for Cookie Butter Stuffed Oreos from Ruthanne, the incredibly creative baker at Easybaked, I knew I had to try them.

And they are AMAZING!

chocolate-covered-cookie-butter-stuffed-oreos

But who stops at amazing, when you can make them doubly amazing by topping them with a scoop of cookie butter…

chocolate-covered-cookie-butter-stuffed-oreos-4

placing another on top of that…

chocolate-covered-cookie-butter-stuffed-oreos-2jpg

sandwiching….

chocolate-covered-cookie-butter-stuffed-oreos-3

and covering with chocolate?!

chocolate-covered-cookie-butter-stuffed-oreos-6

I was dying to try them, but knew we didn’t need a batch of these around the house for the three of us.  So when my son Nick was heading over to celebrate his future father-in-law’s birthday yesterday, I asked if I could make them for him to take over for a little birthday gift.

He offered to help, so I gave him the jobs of “hand model” and sampler to assure they were okay to send.

chocolate-covered-cookie-butter-stuffed-oreos-5

He approved!

I filled a little pint-sized red berry basket with a dozen, wrapped it in clear cellophane and tied with some raffia to send on it’s way.

chocolate-covered-cookie-butter-stuffed-oreos-8

And now we only have to worry about having eight of these decadent little buggers around to taunt us with their amazingness!

Such a fun treat!  I hope you’ll give them a try.  And for more cuteness, check out Ruthanne’s Emoji Oreo Pops!    I’m kinda tempted!!   😉

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Stuffed Oreos

Ingredients:chocolate-covered-cookie-butter-stuffed-oreos-7

Directions:

Place 20 Oreo Thins Cookies on a cookie sheet.  Top each cookie with a teaspoon-sized scoop of cookie butter.  Press a second Oreo Thin on top to make a sandwich.  Freeze for approximately 30 minutes.

Melt Candy Melts in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each increment, until chocolate is melted and smooth.  (It took mine about 3 increments.)

Take 3-4 cookies out of the freezer at a time, and carefully dip – one at a time – in the melted chocolate.  Use a fork to tap excess off, and slide the bottom of the cookie along the edge of the bowl to remove excess.  Set on parchment or wax paper to harden.

Add sprinkles (if desired) before chocolate hardens, or drizzle with white or contrasting chocolate after it hardens.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Fresh Peach and Blueberry Greek Yogurt Cake

/ Jodi / 39 Comments

Peach Blueberry Greek Yogurt Cake 1

Sunday was a rather rainy, oppressively humid, relaxing, fabulous, lazy, stay-in-the-house kinda day.  What better kind of day to bake a beautiful treat like this Greek yogurt cake with fresh, juicy, ripe peaches…

Peach Blueberry Greek Yogurt Cake fresh peaches

and tart, tangy, locally-grown blueberries…

Peach Blueberry Greek Yogurt Cake fresh blueberries

for a lovely dessert!

Peach Blueberry Greek Yogurt Cake slice

OH How Yummy…

Peach Blueberry Greek Yogurt Cake

and OH How Beautiful!

Peach Blueberry Greek Yogurt Cake 2

Moist and sweet – but not too sweet, bursting with fresh summer fruit flavor, delicious warm or cold, amazing alone – and possibly even more amazing with a dollop of whipped cream or melting vanilla ice cream.

Hope you’ll give this a try.

Here is the recipe slightly adapted from JuliasAlbum.

Fresh Peach and Blueberry Greek Yogurt Cake

Ingredients:Peach Blueberry Greek Yogurt Cake 1

  • 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup Greek vanilla yogurt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 fresh, ripe peaches, sliced into wedges
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries
  • 1 Tbsp raw or granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray the side and bottom of a 9″ springform pan with Pam cooking spray.  Line bottom with parchment paper, and spray it too.

Cream butter, sugar, and eggs until light and fluffy for approx. 2-3 minutes on high speed of an electric mixer.  Add vanilla and Greek yogurt, and continue beating for another minute.

With the mixer on low, add baking powder, baking soda, and then flour, and mix just until combined.

Pour batter into the prepared pan. Top with two of the peaches, sliced, and two-thirds of the blueberries in any design you like.  Sprinkle the fruit with sugar.

Bake for 30 minutes.  Pull cake out and add the third peach, sliced, and the remaining blueberries.  Return to oven, and continue baking for 15-20 more minutes until cake is golden, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Allow to cool in pan for about 40 minutes, and then release cake from the springform pan.   Sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve warm or cold.  Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Parliament of Owls in Watercolor

/ Jodi / 60 Comments

whimsy owl 1 original

It’s #DrawABirdDay with my WordPress artist blogging friends, which we celebrate on the 8th of every month.

whimsy owl 2 original

I had fun yesterday watercolor painting a parliament of whimsical owls.  (Did you know a “group” of owls is called a parliament?)

whimsy owl 3 original

A little search on Pinterest provided some inspiration of ideas that I combined to create these little cuties.

I think these will make fun greeting or note cards.

Hoots & Tweets and Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi