CLOCHE FEVER!

It all started when I read Sandy's blog!  She is hosting a cloche swap made from Dollar Tree plastic wine glasses.  What a fabulous idea!  You can visit Sandy's blog or go to Pinterest or Google to see endless cloche possibilities/ideas using Dollar Tree materials.

I made this cloche with a DT plastic wine glass, a ribbon I had on hand, an egg from a multi-package of eggs at DT and a bird's nest that I had on hand.  Oh, the yellow base is from a box of cupcake holders that I purchased at Walmart for $2.97.  I don't remember how many holders were in the box.

Same basic idea with stuff that I already had on hand.

This cloche is a tad bit different and bigger but still made with items from DT.  The glass vase, the bunny inside the cloche, the earthy grass and the pink glittery bunny on top are all from DT.  How easy and cheap is this?????

So quick and easy!

Now the game changes a bit.  I found this idea on Pinterest using Dollar Tree materials.  I just randomly put stuff on the kitchen table and sat down and stared.  A lot of the bird stuff (tree, birds, nests, twigs, houses, eggs, etc.) I had on hand because I used a nesting theme for my daughter's baby shower when she was pregnant with Lillian.

I found the white wire trash container at Dollar Tree (where else?) and reshaped it to look like a bell. "Cloche" in French means "bell".

I used a white plate from DT as my base and then I started to play with nests, birds, twigs, etc.

It's kinda hard to see but I think that you get the idea.

Thanks, Sandy, for the inspiration.  These things are so quick and easy to make and the possibilities are endless.  Think seasons/holidays and away you go.............................

Home Goods after Easter Sale!!!!!

I always go to Home Goods the day after a holiday because they have the best sales. Therefore, bright and early Monday morning I was at my local HG store patiently waiting for the doors to open so I could treasure-hunt their Easter sale.

 The chocolate sign practically flew into my cart on its own...it probably could detect the chocolate in my blood! 

The other two signs were accidents. I originally had two crackle bunny pictures in my cart when another lady held these vintage-looking canvases up and asked me if I wanted them. The bunny pictures were out and the canvases were in. I love the vintage look.

I spotted the topiary immediately and put it in my cart. I had seen it a few weeks ago but I didn't think that it would still be available!!!

I felt very good about my shopping excursion and I will continue to "hunt" at Home Goods especially after every holiday!!!!!

"Easter Parade" of sales

Once again I ventured into the glorious world of yard/estate sales and I'm glad that I did.

This first photo is of a pretty red rose in bloom in my backyard.  It has nothing to do with yard/estate sales, but I thought it was nice to look at anyway!

I found these three darling, puffy "Bunnies by the Bay" at a yard sale of a mother and daughter.  I struck up a conversation with them and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit.  I was taken with their friendly smiles and easy, delightful conversation.  Merlie, the mother, and Amanda, the daughter, were selling a variety of things including Vera Bradley handbags, Coach and Dooney.  They also had so many wonderful books...decorating, doll, and cooking...as well as some furniture and wonderful home decor items.  Merlie has a real eye for decorating and I wish I could have bought the vignette in her living room (the sale was both inside the house and outside in the yard and garage).  I even went back the next day to visit and buy stuff!!!  It was so nice to meet such gracious people.

 The red bunny in the middle was $2.00 and the white ones were $1.00 each...all from Hallmark.


This three-tiered serving stand was crooked and stuffed into a plastic bag.  For some reason I liked it and instantly came up with a proper use for it.  So I straightened it out and............

 put some of my miniature dolls on it along with an old tea set.  I'm still not finished with it but at least I now have a purpose for buying the serving stand.

 The two little Victorian dolls on the top tier and the two dolls in front (pink and blue) are from an estate sale. You really should click on the photo to enlarge it so you can really see the detail. They are Maud Humphrey Bogart pieces and I spent a whopping $8.00 on all four!

The mini frames below are from Merlie and Amanda's sale.  I don't think that I've seen frames quite as tiny as some of these.  I like the rose pictures in the frames, however, I think I'll switch some out for photos of my grandchildren.

A close-up of the frames