Organization
I have worked on my craft area lately but it was still a long way off from being as organized as I wanted. So, while Kenny and I were at Lowe's yesterday, we found this little organizer. So I bought one to give it a try, and it worked beautifully! So, I am going to head back to Lowe's to get a couple more of these. Now, I need to find something for my ribbons. I have seen some really cute ribbon organizers online, so I will probably order one of those.

Aren't these sweet.....I love the gold foils that say "To Mother". These are so sturdy and nice. So are the cute little doilies! I have some plans for these little cuties to make some Mother's Day goodies. All of these treasures came from Andrea's sweet little shop, One Hundred Wishes.

Rainy Saturday!

Wow! It's been pouring outside today. Better yet, there's lots of thunder to go along with it! You know how I LOVE a good thunderstorm! I always have since I was a kid. You think about thunderstorms and kids, and usually they are scared of them. Not Me! Anyway, here's a pic of our deck. No, that isn't snow on the deck. The rain knocked all the blooms off the trees, so now they don't look as pretty! Today is a great day to stay in and snuggle up with a good book, bake something ooey-gooey, or just take a nap. However, I haven't opted for any of those things. I decided to sit down and do a little pixeling. I am working on a new character for my member's area of Whimsical Beginnings. Here are a few shots of my website. These are some of my newest creations that I have worked on while I was on spring break.

Here are two of my newest teddy bears. The top one is Fizzle Bear. I just love him. There are lots of little faces to choose from to make him have different facial features. You can even make your own face. The bottom teddy bear is named Raggles. He is kind of a scraggly bear which leads one to think that he has been very well-loved! I think he is precious!

This shot is of one of my dolls, Fizzle. You may notice the name is the same as my first bear in the pic above. I made Fizzle first and then turned it into a bear as well. So the clothes that fits Fizzle will also fit Fizzle Bear. I am thinking about making Fizzle Bunny too. The sweet webset is from Rosey Posey Pixels. I just LOVE all of Jen's graphics!

So, now I am working on some new characters that will find a home in Whimsical Beginnings Member's Area real soon.
Stay dry and enjoy the day. I will!


Here's the Saturday Special
1. It's 1:00pm on Sunday and I'm usually____at this time.
ANSWER: Eating lunch with my family after church

2. It's 6:00pm on Monday and I'm usually____at this time.
ANSWER: Cooking dinner

3. It's 9:00pm Wednesday and I'm usually____at this time.
ANSWER: Watching TV

4. It's 4:30pm on Friday and I'm usually_____at this time.
ANSWER: On my computer

Easter is over, so I needed to make a new banner for Our Back Porch. I don't know about it though.....I love birds, nests, and such but I am NOT crazy about the color yellow though. What do you think? Several rooms in my home are painted a butterscotch color which looks in the yellow family, but not "yellowy yellow". I did like the fact that this had a blank banner to put your own text and that works great but that yellow is bugging me some. What do you think, and do you know where any other usable spring graphics are that I could use to create a banner?

Thanks!
Rebecca

Happy Easter and Happy 80th Daddy!
**Picture Intense Post* Hee Hee*


First of All.....Happy Easter to everyone!
May we each remember the cross and the empty tomb, and realize the many blessings He has given us!

Hmmmmm.....I spy some Easter baskets for the boys and Maggie.


The boys' baskets have all their fav goodies inside. Maggie got a new sweet puppy dog, a sequinced choker, sequinced and leopard neckerchief, some yummy doggy treats, and some bling.....a rhinestone charm for her collar.

Actually, the boys and Maggie didn't get to check out their baskets before church because of being soooo tired from last night's party (see second part of this post). We were cutting it short on getting to church on time.


Who's that in the window? Oh, I guess Maggie has spied the baskets too!

Brandon gives a thumbs up for his basket, but not before he puts on his shades to look cool!

Blake likes the chocolate Easter bunny but it has to be the one with the "pick off" eyes.....family joke.....In short, he wants the one that has candy eyes NOT the ones with the "fake eyes" that they make now.

Here's Miss Mags checking out her Easter treats.

Hey Y'all! Check out my new neckerchief and my little bling!

Thank you Easter Bunny, bawk bawk!


Now, on to the Birthday Party for my Dad!

Here's my Dad THEN.

Here's the birthday boy NOW.

Yesterday, a small gathering of about 20 joined us for a celebration of my Dad's 80th birthday. It was a surprise party that we were planning quite a while.....he didn't suspect a thing!! He thought they were coming to my house for dinner. Everyone gathered at our house around 4:00. My parents arrived around 4:30. .....and everyone was hiding in the dining room.
When we all yelled surprise as he entered the dining room, he said, "What's this for?" His birthday is actually next Wed. so he wasn't sure.....hee hee.....totally caught off guard! YES! We did it!
My Dad gave 2 thumbs up when he figured it out!

The cake was decorated like his first mailman patch.


Here are some of the guests at the party.

My sister, Melissa and hubby, Buddy with my parents.

Kenny and me with my parents

Kristin and Jamie

Brandon and Blake

Corinne and Giovanna

Jenny and Brian

Jenny's parents

Jenny's Nanny

One of my Dad's post office buddies.

Here are some party pics to enjoy.....









There were some guests that could only drop by briefly to extend birthday wishes to my Dad so I didn't get pics of them. One of them even sent a limosine for my parents! This was something that surprised us all. Actually, several of us got to ride with them! Here are some pics.....



Oooooh, a stolen kiss inside the limo!





It was a wonderful day! Fun was had by all that attended!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!
We Love You!!

SHHHHHHHH! IT'S A SECRET!
Actually, I have two secrets to share.....

Secret No. 1
Tomorrow, we are having a SURPRISE Birthday party for my Dad. He will turn 80 on March 26! He has no clue what we have up our sleeves! We have invited family and friends to gather at our home tomorrow at 4:00 to be ready to jump out and yell surprise! He just thinks my sister and her husband are coming in for Easter weekend, but he has no clue that so many others are too!
My Dad retired from the Post Office, so that is the theme that we decided to go with. Iris at The Flour Shop is making the cake and mints.....mmmmm.....She is awesome! I have ordered some unbeliveably good thumbprint cookies from Designer Cakes and will pick those up in the morning. The flowers are being delivered at noon tomorrow, and I have spent the day decorating and getting things ready. Now, we just need the guests and the guest of honor.


Secret No.2

It's not a secret that I am in Heather's Junque In My Trunk Swap. And, it's not a secret that Katie is my pal for the swap. However, Katie has no clue what I am making for her and the goodies that I am collecting for her special "junque" box. I am just so excited about this swap! It is going to be a FUN one! So here's a little snippet of what I am making for Katie. Sorry, that's all you get right now, because we don't swap until April and I can't spoil the surprise for Katie.

Ok, so those are my secrets. So, shhhhhh, mums the word!
Hugs and Blessings,

It's A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood!
Today is Sweater Day in honor of the late and beloved Mr. Rogers. Generations went inside Mr. Rogers' House to hear a story, feed the fish, or follow the trolley to The Land of Make Believe. Mr. Rogers started each show by entering his house and changing into one of his many colorful sweaters and a pair of comfortable sneakers. Today would have been Mr. Rogers' 80th birthday, so put on your favorite sweater, create something from your imagination, or just curl up with a good book. And if by chance you have little ones that may never know the beloved Mr. Rogers, they can visit his home and The Land of Make Believe here.

"So, won't you be mine,
Won't you be mine,
Won't you be my neighbor?"


Ok, now here's the pic that some of you have been waiting for.....

The AFTER Picture

Hugs and Blessings,

Easter Swap

I heard from Sherry today, and she received her package from me. So with that, I can now share with you what I sent to her.
So, here goes.....
Here is her Easter basket that I decorated for her. This is on one side of it. I put pink mini pom-pom ribbon around the existing twine handle.

On the other side, I put felt letters spelling out "Happy Easter". Then on either side of the handle, I placed one of the glitter bunnies that I bought a while back at Hobby Lobby. The sweet little duckling has an ever-so-slight amount of glitter on him.

One of Sherry's favorite spring colors is yellow. So I added two sweet little handkerchiefs in yellow. I placed pale yellow and mint colored beaded egg ornaments on top of the handkerchiefs in the basket.

I had such fun making this for Sherry. I used vintage jewery, millenery, lace, ribbons, a tiny plastic egg, and bunny to make this Easter Panorama.

I thought this was a sweet little bunny egg-shaped bowl.

I got these eggs from one of my favorite online shops, Piper Classics. I got some for me too, and put them in my huge apothecary jar. The little bunny tin holds a deck of egg-shaped playing cards.

I found these wonderful Easter goodies on Etsy. Aren't they just wonderful!?

And last but not least, I added a Dove chocolate bunny and two Easter tins with chocolate chip cookies.

Sherry said that she loved everything. I am sooooo glad! I had such fun in this Easter Swap!


Hair today, Gone tomorrow!

Take a good look at the hair. Tomorrow morning, it all comes off! I'll post an AFTER pic tomorrow for you.
*BEFORE*

Hugs and Blessings,