Never look back, except for an occasional glance, look ahead and plan for the future. Success is not built on past laurels, but rather on a continuous activity. Keep busy searching out new ideas and, experimentally, keep ahead of the times, or at least up with them.



—Dorothy Draper

Top 10 Gifts Under $10.00

Christmas is a time of family, friends and STRESSING over the perfect gift.  Here are a few tips that might help you sleep a little better at night.  Relax and enjoy the upcoming holiday!



• Coffee is always a great gift, especially when you know what kind the person really likes. If you buy a bag of coffee beans, you can place it in a nice gift bag or you can also add a mug that reminds you of the person as well and then place the bag of coffee in the mug. An added bonus is buying coffee that comes from your local coffee shop or roasters.

• Baked goods are a great idea for a gift. Who doesn't like something sweet for the holidays? If you make the baked goods it may even be cheaper and it shows even more of an effort on your part.

• Picture frames are beautiful and inexpensive. And adding a picture of you and the person you are giving it to will have even more meaning to it. Just make sure the picture is flattering of the person receiving the gift :) 

• If you know a person loves wine, buy them a decent bottle and wrap it or put it in a nice bottle gift bag. A wine lover will appreciate this and you will not have to worry about it going to waste.

• Books and journals are a great gift idea for all the readers and writers on your list. Some books can be expensive so try buying a paperback or go online and search for a cheaper price.

• You can always find board games for under $10 dollars. They are fun and very entertaining and will most likely be played one they are opened.

• Note cards or a stationary set is a wonderful gift idea, especially personalized ones. Try to look around for different prices because depending on the store because they can be pricey.

• Try buying lotion, body scrubs or bath salts.  This is the perfect gift for the women on your lists. 

• Christmas ornaments are a precious and meaningful gift. This is a gift that will be used every year and the receiver will think of you each time they hang it.

• And lastly, for all the animal lovers out there, you can get them gourmet treats or accessories for their pets.

Fall in Love Like a Child...AGAIN!

It's that time of the year again.  After living in Ohio I have really have learned to love every season.  I love how everyone really celebrates all seasons and now we have to get ready for fall.  About two weeks ago I spent some time at Circle Farms in Champagne County, Ohio and fell in love with pumpkins again.  I haven't been in love with pumpkins... well, lets say it's just been too long.  I thought it was something that was just for kids.  As a child, I remember getting so excited to go with Mom ans Dad to pick out my very own pumpkin.  The idea of choosing your very own pumpkin as your canvas to make the best Jack-o-Lantern ever was almost as good as getting all that candy and choosing what to wear for Halloween!!  In fact, I don't think I have said the word 'Jack-o-lantern' as an adult.  Going to a pumpkin farm really helps you get in the mood!!  I feel like a child again!  I have been looking everywhere trying to see what I am going to make with my pumpkins and how I want to decorate with my long lost orange treasures.  It sure feels good to be excited like a child again!! 

Of, course I love the owls!!  What a great idea!  Just use nuts and dried seeds to make your own creation. 

Use berries, gourds and pumpkins to decorate a wagon or wheel barrel. Then, add a painted "Welcome Friends" on your pumpkins!  Can't paint?  Just buy letter stickers! Perfect!  

Take those little guys out of the bowl and put them to use.  They make great candle stick holders or votive holders (the white pumpkins especially).  Just take the stem out and make a hole for the candle sticks or dig everything out for the votive.  you can add anything with a little glue.  The picture shows berries and small pine cones. Add a few fall leaves for a little bit more spice! 

Get one of these awesome painted pumpkins by Debbie Loffing!  Each one is different...contact me and I'll give you the information on how to get one!!  

Happy Fall Everyone!

Well, its about that time when we enjoy the backyard grill and have too many hot dogs for our waist line.  We might drink a little too much beer and forget to wear sunscreen. So we better stock up on that aloe!  The fireworks will scare the crap out of some of us while others will do the scare.  It might be the first time we talk to our neighbor even though we have shared the same fence line for years.  Water will call out to some of us and our bathing suits will make their first appearance.  Of course, we will wish some bathing suits would have stayed on the store rack why we will try to look away.   We will remember the times when we were young and wrote our names in the night air with sparklers and will try to teach our kids to do the same.  The poker chips come out of the box- making their last appearance at Christmas- They have missed you! They haven't missed you loud and obnoxious Uncle who steals your money every year.  Many of us will lay out a family quilt, relax and enjoy and soak up the sun.  Its the Fourth of July!!  Its the time we hang our American flags proud.We celebrate our family, hamburgers, fireworks, life and our country.  So... HAPPY 4th to you all!!!

 

The Green Owl Hosts Etsy Craft Party

The Etsy Craft Party was a hit!!  We had so much fun learning how to make bib necklaces, party banners and painting on glass!!  Well, the cupcakes were yummy too!!  Thanks to the help of our Champagne County Etsy Team for helping us put on a wonderful craft party!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/zemphira

 

Christmas in July

During the mist of backyard bar-b-q's, hamburgers and hotdogs, baseball games, and summer vacations is a month long celebration called Christmas in July.  Its time for early Christmas parties and secret Santa's.  Shop owners open their doors to the public to offer the seasons winter trends. Here are a few fun items I have found to help the early birds get a jump start! 

Fearless Decorating

There are so many times we have all played it safe.  We carefully pick out paint colors and get a little stressed when we test them in certain lights.  We sit back and wait for our boyfriends, husbands, or sons to finish watching the game to get a helping hand in doing something while secretly wanting them to stay busy because it might be a mistake- and they will just have to help change it back.  We look through thousands of magazines and books pointing out things we like and things that would be "nice" to do.  We watch HGTV over and over thinking "I could do that", "I could never do that!" or "Why didn't I think of that!". 

Well girls it's time.  Time for what you might ask??  To be FEARLESS!  It is time to take action.  Time to take that idea and run with it.  It is time to paint that wall without testing the color (I mean really, how are you going to know if you dont like it from that small painted area- really!)  You have to make it, paint it, build it or create it to know if you like it.  If you dont, give it away, redo it, paint over or just let it grow on you.  At least you can say you did something :)

Today I was in my shop and needed to create something.  I had that "lets decorate" mood going on.  Now, a little advise- when you get that :lets decorate" mood you HAVE to use it!  Don't turn on HGTV or grab a magazine to find something that you want to do.  If you wait that long the mood will have passed.  Use it!  Get off your butts and get movin!

So, back to the store- I wanted to change the front of the store.  It needed a warmer feeling when you walked in.  I became FEARLESS!  I did something that I had never seen on TV- I'm sure it has been done before though ( I dont want to take full credit or anything).  ANYWAY...  I have a wooden wall.  I thought I would paint it?  No- I needed more paint- no time- I have to use the mood while it was on.   Stain it? No- I didn't have any.   Im a store...what do I have that I can use??  Tissue paper.  Tissue paper? TISSUE PAPER!!! 

So this is what you do:
Find a wall or furniture piece you want to change. 
Now, look/shop for tissuse paper you like.  I would suggest any kind- just as long as you LOVE it!!

 Supplies you will need:
Tissue Paper
Spray Adhesive
X-Acto Knife

Spray the adhesive to your "canvas". Take your tissue paper and lay it on the wall. Try to rub out any air bubbles and paper folding by taking your hand to the middle of the paper and rubbing out (honestly, I wasnt too worried about all the folding- FEARLESS!) 

When your paper overlaps take your x-acto knife and go accross the over lapping area. Dont worry if it isnt lined up- thats not the look you want.  This isn't wall paper- it's tisue paper.  FEARLESS!  :)