My Favourite Glass Cleaner

I'm a heavy Windex user.  I've always used Windex ... for everything (reference My Big Fat Greek Wedding).  But as the years pass, the price seems to be crawling up (especially here in Canada).  I was cleaning the other day and went to grab my Windex ... it was empty and I had a client arriving in a couple hours - no time to run to the store.  I started frantically browsing the web ... and found the most amazing glass cleaner recipe test.  Different products were tested together for effectiveness ... and I tried her recommendation, with a little bit of a tweak (little less water).

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
1/2 cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
3 cups water

This ratio fits perfectly into a large spray bottle.  Add to the bottle and shake well before each use.

It was beautiful!  EVEN BETTER than Windex!  Check out my bedroom mirror - it was the test ... you almost can't tell it's glass! (Wish I would have taken a before picture)

Here's my upstairs bathroom mirror ... before and after.  You can still see Windex residue from the last time I cleaned it.  My bathroom has the worst, most unforgiving light because of the skylight.  You can see every streak.  And even with the daylight coming in ... check out the results!

I tried it on my kitchen counters, my doors, my tub, my tile floor ... I love it!!  It's anti-bacterial too, so perfect for quickly wiping down the toilet seat and surrounding areas.  It even removed stubborn Matrix hairspray residue without much effort (that stuff is impossible to get off). I was a little hesitant about the smell, but the alcohol seems to neutralize the vinegar scent ... I'm thinking you could add a few drops of essential oil if you're really concerned about it.

As for me, I will be saving my pennies - no more Windex.  Instead I'll buy the big bottles of rubbing alcohol and vinegar at Sam's Club to make my own.  Wish I would have done this years ago ... just another way to simplify!

A Happy Space

One of my latest crafty ventures happens to be the very room I craft in.  This room has lacked purpose for a long time ... it's the smallest of our bedrooms, but it's upstairs next to the master, so it always seems to be in a state of transition (nice phrase for office clutter catch-call).  But finally, a purpose!

I've taken on quite a bit of freelance design work on top of my full-time work, so I needed a real office space for myself ... a place where I can close the door and concentrate.  So, along with the necessary office basics, why not fill it with everything creative and inspirational?!  Including the chalk board wall where I can remind myself to keep going and growing, my sewing machine, my stamping creation station, and, last but not least, a TV for ME.  I love it ...

 

Matt built me an amazing table to fit the space (you should have seen us trying to get it into the room!)
We found the plans at www.ana-white.com.

I've tried to be creative in my storage solutions as well.  I used a re-purposed loaf pan to conveniently display my most-used spools of ribbon and a glass cookie jar holds the rest.

A rolling crate makes the perfect 12x12 paper storage.  I can roll it anywhere and easily find any paper I'm looking for.  Baskets and shelving magically hide all the paint brushes, stickers, craft projects, etc.

But ... with all the things I love about this space, one thing tops them all - the fact that Morgan loves it too.  She's in here constantly.  It's a place where she can come and be free to create.  It's the gathering place for her and her friends too.  I hope that continues for years to come ...

Happy crafting!

Spring Display

I gain so much inspiration from my friend Becca.  We seem to feed off each others creativity.  An Interior Designer by nature, she always has a vision.  Lately, to be festive, as well as challenge her skill, she's been putting together unique holiday displays.  They're beautiful!!

Becca and I grew up together ... but sadly, four years ago, my job moved me to Canada.  I must admit, it's VERY hard being so far from my best friend.  I miss her in every area of my life.  But we've been trying to find things we can do to better connect over our distance ... and she suggested creating these displays as a common challenge.  So here's my first attempt ... the Spring Display.

Materials:

• Vintage Hare Graphic from the Graphic Fairy 
• Song of Solomon Verse
• 5x7 and 8x10 frame from Marshalls / TJMaxx / Winners
• Vintage floral paper, cut to 5x7
• Acid-free Craft Paper (I used this paper for the Verse)
• White Cardstock
• Picture easel
• Some kind of festive candy dish (Easter candy ... Cadbury chocolate eggs are my favorite!)
• A Pot from the dollar store
• An artificial ivy ball from the dollar store
• A flower - real or fake ... someone gave me a carnation yesterday, so I put that to use
• A small Bernardin or Ball canning jar (old jelly jar or small vase would look great too!)
• Early Espresso Ink Pad from Stampin' Up
• Versamark Ink Pad from Stampin' Up or any local craft store
• Bliss Stamp Set from Stampin' Up

The frames I found  at my local discount store are a beautiful vintage style.  I printed the images, the Vintage Hare on white cardstock, and the Verse on craft paper, trimmed them down, then distressed the edges with Early Espresso.  I stamped the Bliss graphic with Versamark on the craft paper to accent the vintage feel on the verse, then crumpled the paper (be careful, or it will tear) ... amazingly, the Bliss graphic kind of matched the frame accent - a happy surprise!  The rest was simply loading the frames and arranging to suit.

 

I love the festive addition it's made to my home.  I walk by this spot at least 50 times a day.  It welcomes me ... and reminds me that God had kept His promise yet again :: Spring is here!

Menu Display Board

I've always considered food an art.  I love to cook and I absolutely love menu planning.  I didn't use to ... I used to dread going to the store.  But in the transition of stay-at-home mom to working full time I had to do something.  I came up with a system of menus - each having a matching grocery list.  It required a small commitment of sitting down and planning a week at a time, but once I had 8 weeks it was easy.  I'd grab week two menu, with week two grocery list and dash to the store!  I used the same menus, but shuffled them so we never ate things in the same pattern.  Every once in a while, I sit down and add a new week.  It's great if you don't have a lot of time to put into planning, but still want to give your family a home cooked meal.

The other day my friend Becca called with an amazing idea - a menu board.  What a perfect idea to display my weekly menus!  Easy enough to design the template and place it in a frame, but I needed something a little more jazzy - I have a hard time leaving things white.  So I grabbed my stamps and went to work!


Materials:

• An 8x10" frame ... it can be re-purposed (I got mine at the thrift store and spray painted it white)
• Coloured cardstock and patterned paper - I used Stampin' Up Thoroughly Modern Designer Paper and Old Olive Cardstock
• Stamps - flowers, butterflies, medallions, etc. - I used the Stampin' Up Medallion and Vintage Label set
• Buttons, ribbon or other decorative elements - I used skinny hemp and Stampin' Up Button Latte
• Ink pads - I used Stampin' Up Old Olive and Early Expresso 
• Craft glue - My favourite is Zap Dry.

Download and print Menu Template

Stamp and embellish as desired.  I cut my page down a little and placed it on a sheet of cardstock for a matte effect.

Glue embellishments on top of the glass for a layered look.

I also glued some cardstock onto my frame to give it a little more colour.

Use any dry erase marker to display your menu on the glass - I'll be buying a brown one next time I go to the store since the red is a little too funky for my taste.