Recycled Magnets

I made a big decision recently.  I'm going to brave out this year's tough Canadian winter and not take a hot weather holiday.  Boo hoo.  But it's not all sad.  Instead of going away I got some new and badly needed kitchen appliances.  They're stainless steel and oh so pretty in my kitchen.

My fridge magnets, on the other hand, were not so pretty.  So...time to recycle!

Here's what you need to make your own:

Materials:
-Mod Podge and sponge brush
-knife or scissors
-old flat magnets
-scrapbooking paper and embellishments
-optional: straight edge, pop dots

Before we start I have to show you the steal of a deal I got on this paper pad:

There were three pads all packaged together...for $3.00!!!! 

 I know, I know, I don't need three of the same pad of paper

 but it was too cute, and too cheap, to pass up~

OK, on the with the project,
Steps:
1) Cut out a piece of paper to fit your ugly magnet.

2) Paint a layer of regular Mod Podge onto the top of your ugly magnet and adhere your piece of paper.

3) On top, paint a layer of beautiful Sparkle Mod Podge.

4) Don't forget to add some Sparkle Mod Podge and ink up the edges of your embellishments before you add them.

5) Using Mod Podge and pop dots secure your embellishments.

My cats were behaving pretty good the day I made these so I had to use this paper.  But then my eye caught  another stack in my stash and I went in a whole other direction.

I added some sparkly gems and now they're so bright and pretty on my new fridge!

And most they hold up my very important documents~

Have fun making your own!  I can't wait to make some special holiday ones with some pretty Christmas papers I have.

Tell a Tale: Eat, Pray, Love

“In desperate love, we always invent the characters of our partners,

demanding they be what we need of them, and then feeling devastated

when they refuse to perform the role we created in the first place.”
― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

Summary (from Goodreads):
In her early thirties, Elizabeth Gilbert had everything a modern American woman was supposed to want--husband, country home, successful career--but instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she felt consumed by panic and confusion. This wise and rapturous book is the story of how she left behind all these outward marks of success, and of what she found in their place. Following a divorce and a crushing depression, Gilbert set out to examine three different aspects of her nature, set against the backdrop of three different cultures: pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and on the Indonesian island of Bali, a balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence.

Review:
Wow, I had no idea this was such a controversial book.  I loved it, but when I read other reviews online I was completely surprised by how many people hated it and talked about how narcissistic the author is.  It's a memoir people!  Of course she's going to spend the majority of the pages talking about herself.

Maybe I can just relate because so much of her story is my story.  Not the divorce and terrible depression, but the travelling, constantly in search of something, of yourself, of where you belong in the world.  I can relate to her reticence about love and relationships, having to leave someone even though there's nothing earth shattering wrong, and about not fitting into everyone else's idea about what we're supposed to do and want when we're all grown up.

I loved her journey, her struggles, and her insights.  It's an incredibly easy read and considering it touches on some pretty serious issues in life, it's relatively light hearted and even humorous.

The one and only thing that took away from it for me was when it was made into a movie with Julia Roberts as the lead.  I never would've watched the movie at all except on a long overseas flight it was the only movie I hadn't seen, so I had to press play.  Of course, like most adapted movies, it doesn't live up to the book.

If you're a woman facing big changes or decisions in your life or if you've come through something challenging, then I think you'll enjoy this book.  You'll find a kindred spirit in Elizabeth Gilbert and I think you'll be happy to know, you're not alone out there.

Have you read this book?  Do you think it deserves the extreme criticism from reviewers or the high praise from Oprah?  Did you love it or hate it?  Let us all know in the comments below~

In My Witches Brew

I picked up some pink polka dotted green ribbon while waiting in line at Michael's (and waiting and waiting.  I think it's a conspiracy.  The whole reason they're so slow at the tills is so that you'll load up on cheap crafty crap you don't need) and just knew I had to use it to make this card for Halloween.

Of course, I was inspired by something I found on Pinterest:

Source: splitcoaststampers.com via Etcetorize on Pinterest

I love that sparkly tulle on the inspiration card!

Check out other cards I've pinned HERE.

What are you going to be for Halloween this year???

Pinspired Fall

Do you know how many pins I have on my "Things to Make" board on pinterest????  Over 200!!!!  How did that happen?  I guess I better get making stuff!

Now, I'm not usually too crazy about banners, wreaths, signs, etc.  But I've come across a few that I just had to make.  Here's the first one:

I've hung it on my front door.

Some close-ups:

And here's the inspiration:

Source: img1.etsystatic.com via Etcetorize on Pinterest

The funny thing is, I was about halfway through choosing my papers when I realized I had the same stack as the original!  I couldn't punch through the coasters I used as the bases so I just glued some gold shimmery ribbon on the back instead.

How many pins do you have on your 'to make' board?  Do you actually make any of them?  I've also started a board where I move pins over that I've actually made.   It makes me feel like I'm crossing things off the list.

Autumn Candle

Although the temperature has been unseasonably warm (in the afternoons), Autumn is definitely here.  I know because I just spent the last hour mowing up leaves in the yard.  (There's just waaaaaay too much to rake them up, the lawn mower is the only way to go.)

Still, even though the nights are cool and the sun is going down earlier and earlier, the changing leaves make it very beautiful outside.

While I was outside I decided I needed to use some of those pretty leaves and make something with them.  So, I came up with this very simple and very quick project for today.

Before I even gathered my supplies, I took my candle outside to see which leaves would be the perfect leaves to use.

Soooo many colours to choose from!

Once you've found the leaves you want, here's what else you need:

Materials:
-iron
-candle
-wax paper
-leaves

Steps:
1) Turn on your iron and while you're waiting for it to heat up remove any wrapping on the candle.  Then lay a small sheet of wax paper down on a flat surface and place your candle on top.  You can start to decide the placement of your leaves.

2) Wrap the wax paper around the candle, covering the leaves, and then gently use your iron to heat up the wax and melt the leaves into the candle.

**Note: test your wax paper first to see if there's a right and wrong side so that you don't leave wax residue on the bottom of your iron.

You don't have to leave your iron on the paper for very long.  You'll see the wax melting.  Just gently rub the iron around.  Lift the wax paper up and place some more leaves down.  Repeat the process until your candle is filled and you're happy with how it looks.

Tah dah!  That's it.  Another project done in less than 5 minutes~

I really love how this adds a little bit of character to an otherwise plain Jane candle (no offense to any Jane's out there).

Do you say Autumn or Fall?  What's the difference?  I think Autumn sounds a little more swanky and sophisticated.  Truth be told, I usually say Fall.  Guess I'm not very swanky~

This project was featured here:

Tell a Tale: Mistress of the Sun

A second installment of Sandra Gulland brilliance~

Summary (from Goodreads):
Set against the magnificent decadence of the seventeenth-century French court, Mistress of the Sun begins when the eccentric young Louise falls in love with a wild white stallion and uses ancient dark magic to tame him. This one desperate action of her youth shadows her throughout her life, changing it in ways she could never imagine.

Unmarriageable, and too poor to join a convent, Louise enters the court of the Sun King as a maid of honor, where the King is captivated by her athleticism and her striking grace. As their love unfolds, Louise bears Louis four children, is made a duchess, and reigns unrivaled as his official mistress until dangerous intrigue threatens her position at court, her place in Louis's heart, and even her life. Louise must decide where she can best find the peace and fulfillment her soul has longed for, and which she has traveled so far to find.

A riveting love story with a captivating mystery at its heart, Mistress of the Sun resurrects a fascinating female figure from the shadows of history and illuminates both the power of true and perfect love and the rash actions we take to capture and tame it.

Review:
I think it must be incredibly challenging to write about the life of a real life character.  To make us adore and become sympathetic to a mistress is no easy feat, but Sandra Gulland finds a way to make you love the central figure, Louise de La Valliere.

Louise is strong and smart but unlike many other heroines in historical fiction her personality is not exaggerated into an unbelievable super woman.  Also, unlike many typical mistresses to royalty from history I think Louise truly loved King Louis (the Sun King).  That doesn't make her role in his life any less tempestuous but it was just the reality of the times.  That's what kings did (maybe they still do????).

The court of 17th century France was, like many others, complicated and treacherous.  The fact that a young girl from a simple life was able to reach such heights at that time with minimal deceit  is fascinating in itself.  She is wild and passionate but she is also genuine and sensitive.

Sandra Gulland is an excellent researcher which is evidenced in the details of the novel.  What's wonderful about her writing is that she makes this part of the story.  She doesn't show off her knowledge or try to impress you with miniscule details that have no bearing on the story. 

It would have been very difficult for Gulland to top her acclaimed Josephine B Trilogy but this book definitely lives up what you would expect from her.


Louise de La Valliere

 Do you have a favourite royal court you like to read about?  French, English, Spanish???  How do you feel about royalty, then and now?  Why do we look up to them?  Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts~