I lost my links!

I can't believe I did this!!! Somehow I managed to delete all of the links to my favorite blogs. I've found a lot of them by checking comments, but I know I'm still missing some. If you would like to exchange links with me, please post a comment here. Thanks!

Look what I did!

Roxie over at Jorabeel's Ink was talking one day about altering a clipboard and I just had to do one myself.....so here is what I came up with.....it's hanging in my newly "pinked" office at the college and I just love it!

HOW I DID IT:

First I found a couple of old clipboards at the thrift store....this one was brown fiberboard, but the other one is clear acrylic so I'm not sure what I'll do with it yet. Anyway, I painted the clipboard with a thick coat of shabby pink latex paint and let it dry really well.

Next, on the front side of the clipboard I painted on a thick coat of matte Modge-Podge and let it get almost dry. Then I painted on a coat of chocolate brown latex paint. This was an experiment because I didn't know how the Modge-Podge would work for crackling. The main thing to remember when "crackling" is to be sure to paint in one direction. After the brown paint dried there was a moderate crackling effect, mostly in a linear pattern.


I used a coarse grade sandpaper and sanded around the edges of the clipboard and then sanded the crackled area to get the effect I wanted. I wiped the board down with a damp cloth and then dried it with a cloth and I was ready to apply my artwork. I chose a floral and butterfly theme with a biblical garden verse for my clipboard. Once the artwork was affixed with more Modge-Podge, I then coated the entire front of the board with another coat of Modge-Podge to seal it. I applied another coat of pink paint to the back of the board and then went to work on the clip part of the piece.

I added a girlie touch with some pretty sparkly, gossamer ribbons glued directly to the clip and a crown of fringed paper garland at the very top. A pretty dangling charm was added to one of the ribbons. I left the clip so that it can be opened to hold photos or anything else I would like to display on my clipboard.


This was a fun and relatively easy project that I recommend for anyone who would like to try their hand at altered art.....happy painting!!!

Greetings to the new kid on the block

Introducing Hogs and Roses, a wonderful new blog started by "Mr. Flannery" who lives in Minnesota. I was drawn in by the title of his blog which he explains as "I’m a guy who has somehow fallen into this shabby world.........My stuff tends to be outside of the cottage and you will not find a patch of lace anywhere. My things are the hogs in this world of roses." I've known "Mr. Flannery" for awhile and he has a nose for good antiques and just fun stuff....it seems that lately he has been putting his creative side to work and has designed some furniture that I particularly enjoy looking at. Take a minute and drop by Hogs and Roses and leave "Mr. Flannery" a comment....I think you will find it an entertaining visit!

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Yummy Easter Cake
This cake is so good and very easy to make......makes a great dessert for Easter dinner!

1 pineapple cake mix (not pineapple upside-down cake)
1 med. can crushed pineapple
1/3 cup cooking oil
3 eggs

Mix together and beat for 3 minutes with electric mixer. Pour into 9x14" pan that has been greased and floured lightly. Bake for 30 minutes at 350*.

Frosting: 1 can of Buttercream Frosting to which 3/4 cup of Angel Flake coconut has been added. Spread on cooled cake and enjoy!

Note: For an Easter touch, tint icing with your favorite food color and add Easter decorations on top of cake.

Springtime comes to Cozy Cottage

Bunnies, bunnies and more bunnies......and they're all having a party at Cozy Cottage this week! I just added new items to my cottage shop and couldn't wait to give you a peek. Almost everything you see in the slide show is for sale and if you are lucky enough to live close to the real live Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor, please drop by and see us! If it isn't possible for you to drop by but you see something you absolutely just cannot live without please post a comment here and we can discuss how to get in touch so that you can purchase that item online. But best of all, you can just browse the shop and it doesn't cost a dime!

Cozy Cottage wishes you a wonderful Easter and the best Spring ever!

Plant Your Own Garden

This is fun! Just open the link below and then click anywhere and everywhere on the page.......or hold down your mouse button and drag it across the page. Even those without a green thumb can grow this garden! Plant your own garden!

Wedding Bells!

Bryan, Brittney and Bailey Grace

My son and his girlfriend of 10 years were married today and little Bailey Grace is so happy now that her Mommy and Daddy have made the commitment to spend their lives together. Grammy and Bailey Grace plan to play together the next few days while the newlyweds take a short honeymoon trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Snow in Arkansas

Last Friday we woke up to the promise of snow. By 1pm big,fluffy flakes were falling from the sky and in less than two hours the ground was covered. It snowed through the evening and night and we woke up to a winter wonderland the next morning. All in all, we got about 12 inches of snow....it was just beautiful when I took these pictures. However, with a heavy snow like this we had to pay the price. Thousands of people were without electricity and some of us didn't get power back for almost a full two days. Tree branches cracked and fell. We lost a heifer giving birth to her first calf when she slipped and fell onto a small cedar that had broken from the weight of the snow. By 4pm the next day almost all of the snow had melted away and only these photos were left to remind us how beautiful it had been.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Quick and Easy Italian Cream Cake

Nothing takes the place of a homemade-from-scratch Italian Cream Cake, but if you don't have the time for that here is a quick and easy way to get a delicious dessert in half the time.

Preheat oven to 350*; grease and flour two or three round cake pans (depends on size of pans).

Ingredients:
1 box white cake mix (extra-moist or pudding in the mix)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup flaked coconut

Prepare cake mix according to directions on box. Add walnuts and coconut and pour into prepared pans. Bake according to directions on box. Remove from oven and let cool.

Icing:
1 can Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup flaked coconut

Mix together and spread between layers and on top and sides of cooled cake.

Enjoy!

~Roses~Roses~Roses~

After a long day at work yesterday I arrived home to find a package from Meadow Street. I had shopped in Erica's online boutique earlier in the week and found these absolutely breathtaking silk rose pins and just had to have the Tattered Rose. Erica's Fresh Pick (made) Shabby Roses
are handpainted and sewn out of 100% silk fabric. Although located in California, I found out that Meadow Street products are also sold in a boutique in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, not far from where I live. To see more of Erica's beautiful antique reproduction jewelry, bridal accessories, shabby home decor, and handmade ribbon flowers just take a stroll through her boutique......you're in for a real treat!