Craft: DIY Painted Candles for Christmas

Christmas is coming and everyone loves candles during the holidays. These will make a great Christmas gift or hostess gift.

Supplies you'll need:

A box of candles ( From Ikea or a discount store such as Tuesday's)

Acrylic Paint

A paint brush

Ribbons

1) Come up with an idea (You can do this by looking in magazines or books, leaves outside, anything that inspires you.)

2) Now paint 

That's it.

                                                               My nieces made these.

This card and candle combo was made by my niece for her teacher.

                            Using some metallic colors you can add more of a holiday feel.

                       If I was giving these as a gift I would tie them together with a bright red ribbon.

Happy Thanksgiving!

                                 

And a Happy Hanukkah to All My Wonderful Jewish Friends.

   I hope you're having a wonderful time with family and friends.

       In a warm house.

                                                                With lots of good food.

Craft: DIY Tote Bag Gift Idea

This is another usable easy and fun gift to make.

DIY Gift Idea

The Supplies you'll need:

A tote bag ( I bought ours at Joanne's but you can buy them at any hobby store.)

Fabric markers

Mark be gone pen

Pental Gel Roller for Fabric Pen in black

Drawing to trace

DIY: Tote Bag Gift Idea

I did this project with my niece who is twelve. The bag above I made by tracing a drawing on to the bag and my niece made the bag below free hand. 

DIY: Tote Bag Gift Idea

My niece made this bag by

 1) Cutting out an anchor pattern she drew on a piece of scrap paper. 

2) She then traced around the anchor with a Mark be Gone pen. (Which is a pen that when you wipe the ink  with water it disappears.) 

3) She then filled in her design with the fabric markers. 

4) Then she wiped the B Gone Pen away.

4)  She finished her piece by adding the waves at the top. 

DIY: Tote Bag Gift Idea

The way I traced my drawing on to my bag was:

1) I started with a very dark sketch. I took this sketch and placed it inside my bag placing it where I wanted  the design to be, I taped it into place. 

2) Then I taped it to my window during the day. Now I could see my design through the fabric.

3) I used the Pental Gel Roller For Fabric pen and drew on my design. ( I used this kind of pen because it has a thin precise line.)

4) After my drawing was complete I colored it in with the fabric pens.

DIY: Tote Bag Gift Idea

 This a fun project because you can make it with any design you know the person receiving the gift will like.

Savanna Georgia: Let's Take a Photo Walk

My family has a special name for my long walks in new places.  They call them "LaVera Tours" It is a loving term which means: "Oh no not another all day walk about!" I am not totally merciless I do let them take bathroom and food breaks.

Why  am I telling you this is? Because if you so desire to take a "LaVera Tour of Savanna Georgia" it's your lucky day. Since the LaVera Tour is through photos your feet will be spared but maybe not your pointer finger.

Savanna, Georgia

Savanna Georgia took me off guard.  I expected it to be beautiful but it far exceeded my thoughts. My pictures do not do it justice because I can't give you the cozy sweetness of this tightly woven city canopied in large arching trees.

Savanna, Georgia

I also can't show you how each unique neighborhood butts up one against each other.  There are changing styles ranging from classic American to Victorian and everything in-between.

Savanna, Georgia

I also can't share with you in my photos the beautiful sounds that make Savanna special. The different bird calls, crickets, and the bells that ring from the Churches. There is also wonderful jazz music being played in the streets and bars that make Savanna come to life with a personality all of it's own.

Savanna, Georgia

Beautiful details are everywhere: in the walls, on top of buildings and even on down spouts.

Savanna, Georgia

Savanna, Georgia

                                            The tourist transportation was unique and fun.

Savanna River, Georgia

Savanna, Georgia River Front

                                The water front was old and new which made for an interesting mix.

Savanna, Georgia

                            Alleys looked like gardens. The wonderful outdoor living was very apparent.

Savanna, Georgia

Savanna, Georgia

 Spanish Moss hangs from Savanna's tall old oak trees. It's neither Spanish nor Moss.  It's an air plant and is a distant relative to the pineapple. The Spanish Moss gives the trees a mysterious chandelier like look that is so unique you feel like you are in another very special world. 

Savanna, Georgia

Savanna, Georgia

 Gardens are grown in even the tiniest spots giving the allusion that the whole city is a garden.

Savanna, Georgia

Savanna, Georgia

Savanna, Georgia

Savanna, Georgia

Savanna, Georgia

         There were so many styles of  houses that you feel as if you are walking through a House Museum.

Savanna, Georgia

                                               The history of this city engulfs you at every turn.

Savanna, Georgia

Savanna, Georgia

                      Savanna was laid out in 1733 around four squares.  It has now grown to 21 squares.

Savanna, Georgia

                          The squares through out the city make it a very wonderful place to walk.

Savanna, Georgia

Forsyth Park, Savanna, Georgia

                                                                     

Forsyth Park, Savanna, Georgia

 Savanna, Georgia

Savanna at night is lit in a magical way.  Music is everywhere making you just want to stay out all night and dance.

 Savanna, Georgia

 I am definitely going back to Savanna to enjoy the wonderful out door life. I want to spend more time walking the beautiful neighborhoods street by street, finishing my days eating great southern food and listening to the live music that leaks out onto the streets.

Craft: Comic Book Stationary

This is a fun gift for anyone who likes to write letters. Yes, people still do that.

Craft: Comic Book Stationary Pattern

Supplies you’ll need:

Download of my envelope pattern

Old comic book

Glue stick

Scissors

Several sheets of paper

Craft: Comic Book Stationary 

1) Start by cutting out my envelope pattern and word bubbles.

Craft: Comic Book Stationary

2) Lay the envelope pattern over a comic book page and then cut out the shape.

Craft: Comic Book Stationary

3) Fold back the edges along the broken lines.

4) Glue the bottom and top flaps in place by using the glue stick on the underside of the flaps. Leave the sides flaps unattached. 

Craft: Comic Book Stationary

5) Now fold the bottom up and attach it to the folded sides by using your glue stick only on the outside of the side flaps. 

Craft: Comic Book Stationary

6) Cut the two word bubbles out of a white piece of paper. Glue them in place on the front of the envelope.

Craft: Comic Book Stationary

7) Now cut a piece of paper to fit into your envelope.

8) The Finishing touch is to find a funny blurb from the comic book and glue it to the top of the paper as a decoration. 

Craft: Comic Book Stationary