Living California! Especially life in Crescent City, California...

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday. I along with all my family here in the "CCC" (Crescent City, California) had a wonderful Christmas but so glad it is over too.

Snowman Christmas Tree

On Christmas morning, we had a beautiful sunrise. I took some great pics. I also did a panoramic shot but I turned the camera before it finished and got this weird panoramic picture. We have a lot of beautiful sunsets and sunrises here in the CCC.

Christmas sunrise 2016

Christmas sunrise 2016

Christmas sunrise 2016 weird panoramic picture 

Crescent City is a fishing tourist town. One of the things we most known for is the Pelican Bay Maximum Security Prison. Otherwise, when you are traveling 101, you pass through CCC. We have lots of motels, hotels, real estate agencies, and driftwood for days. Oh, and elk, you have to be careful for the elk.

Driftwood Crocodile

Fish driftwood in front of the Restuarant, The Chartroom

Driftwood everywhere on the beach

Driftwood everywhere on the beach

Driftwood everywhere on the beach

Elk everywhere. Definitely have to be careful on foggy mornings.

During the summer, people flock to this area to see the redwood trees, the National Parks, for camping, hiking, fishing and most of all to catch a glimpse of BIGFOOT! There is also Paul Bunyan and Babe in Klamath. Population is small. The biggest stores we have going for us is Wal-Mart and Home Depot. We do not even have a KFC or Wendy’s, not that I really care for fried chicken anymore but miss eating at Wendy’s.

Paul Bunyan and Babe in the Klamath

Babe

Paul Bunyan

Definitely Bigfoot country

 We live close to Oregon and most weekends we go to Brookings to the Goodwill Store and that is where they have a KFC but no Wendy’s. It is a small town too but traveling in Oregon has a different atmosphere. It just feels different. It is like traveling from North Carolina to Virginia. It is just different. I do not know how to explain it. It is cleaner and cheaper. In addition, Oregon has no sales tax. Gotta love that!

Captured a shelf cloud on the ridge on our way to Oregon

The weather is great here, not too hot and not too cold. We do get a lot of rain. It can get you down if you let it. Have to keep busy. I guess those majestic redwood trees need a lot of water. I believe one of the reasons it rains a lot in the Northwest is because of all the forest we have. We have many mushrooms growing everywhere. In addition, moss grows alongside the roads and on the trees because of all the moisture. The downside to all the rain is mold. Have to do monthly maintenance on the windows to keep the mold from building up on the windowsills.

Driving through the redwoods

Redwoods are right on the road. Have to be really careful.

 It is hard to grow a garden here without a greenhouse. I tried my hand at gardening this summer and it took a long time for my crops to start growing and producing. Some things did not even sprout. Yellow squash grows good. Pepper plants finally took off and started producing. The cherry tomato plants did well only during the hot spell we had; otherwise, it takes days for them to change colors. Cucumbers did not do so well. I had something underground eating the whole plant little by little until they were all gone. Such a bummer, I only got one off the whole plant. The Black-eyed Susan pant and sunflowers did fantastic.

Made the garden fence all by myself with lots of ingenuity.

Tomato plant

Pepper plant

Tray posing with grandma's flamingos

Tray loves helping grandma in the garden

Black-eyed Susan

My homemade scarecrow. Don't work though. Crows send out a scout and
before you know it, crows everywhere.

Garden planted. I know it doesn't look like much but eventually
some of it grows and maybe next year it will be better.

Lettuce didn't grow right. Slow start and tasted bitter.

Lettuce bed

Lovin' the sunflowers

 Overall, I do enjoy living here but would love to move to a warmer and less rainy part of California, but not the Bay Area, been there, done that, and tired of the rat race. Also, the wind, forgot to mention how the wind blows hard when a storm comes. Let me tell you, it's an attention getter for sure. Here's some random pics of Crescent City and the surrounding areas, along with papa and Tray walking on the beach.

Thanks for dropping by and hope you have a prosperous, healthy, 2017.

Happy New Year! XOXOXO Dawn

Snowman Christmas Tree

So this year I decided to do a snowman Christmas tree instead of an elegant or sophisticated Christmas tree. I already made whimsical Christmas present ornaments as you'll see in my earlier blog post here, http://impossiblecreations.blogspot.com/2016/11/homemade-handmade-whimsical-christmas.html for the tree.

I've been seeing the snowman Christmas trees all over Pinterest and my local Wal-mart has a snowman Christmas tree in the front of their store next to customer service. So, I was so inspired to make one myself.

I didn't do the snowman with the mesh for the body, instead I did a more whimsical approach. I used red garland, Christmas tree ornaments from my stash which include salt dough ornaments and my Christmas pigs, the whimsical Christmas present ornaments I made, a snowman head for the topper, a scarf, boots and sprigs for the arms. Also, on the tree is a handmade stocking Tray made at school.

As the days go by, I will continue hanging any other handmade ornaments that Tray may make at school. I am also going to make some whimsical Christmas presents to go underneath the tree too which will definely make the tree pop.

The grandkids love the tree and that's all that matters to me. This Christmas 2016 will be one that Tray will definitely remember as he helped participate in decorating the house. Avah is too young but she had fun helping also.

Hope this will inspire you to think outside the box and just decorate anyway you want. There's no right or wrong. Anything goes. My husband's friend, she didn't have the monies to buy a tree this time so she decorated her house plant tree with lights and ornaments. Sorry it's blurry but you get the gist of the idea.

Super cute and crafty!!!Definitely thinking outside the box and for inspiration, Pinterest has lots of ideas. Here's my board https://www.pinterest.com/craftychicdawn/christmas-tree-ideas/ for Christmas tree ideas and I also have other boards related to Christmas trees and Christmas ideas.

Thanks for reading. Happy holidays and happy crafting ⛄⛄🎄🎄

XOXOXO Dawn

Homemade Handmade Whimsical Christmas Tree Ornaments!

Being I'm on a shoestring budget, I'm going to make my Christmas tree ornaments this year. So, I decide to go with a whimsical look. I am making whimsical Christmas tree ornaments using whatever I have in my craft stash, along with other things.

I use chipboard from cereal boxes, frozen foods, etc... to make the whimsical ornaments. I glue the Christmas pattern paper to the front and back of each ornament. The glue, once dry, helps make the ornaments more sturdy.

I Google images for whimsical Christmas tree ornaments, whimsical tree ornaments and whimsical Christmas presents. I freehand the images on the chipboard and then trace on the pattern paper. I will decorate with ribbons, sequins, glitter, glitter glue, buttons, etc...

It's a little time consuming but I know in the end it will be worth it. I will post pics of my finished tree but in the meantime, here's some pics of what I've done so far.

Whimsical Ornament Christmas Templates

and here's pics of my tree before decorating!

Thanks for reading and HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

XOXOXO Dawn

Altered CD Swap...

Being I'm a member of the Facebook group, Girls, Giggles, Glitter, and Glue, I occasionally participate in swaps. I signed up for the altered CD swap.

I had a hard time trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I searched Pinterest and decided to do a monochromatic altered CD in pink because that was the only preference my swap partner requested. My swap partner wanted it pink and to be pretty.

However, I didn't go that route because once I started, I had a light bulb  moment and my monochromatic idea went out the window. As you see in the pictures, I went a completely different route.

Although, I got the pink...The pretty? Well, let's just hope my swap partner likes it. :) I did spend a lot of time working on it. I always give my best work as I expect the same in return. By looking at her work, I know I won't be disappointed. She does gorgeous crafts.

I also made a card that coordinates with the CD. I used flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts. I altered two white boxes with matching paper from the DCWV paper collection, Vintage Collector. I cut strips of matching 12x12 paper and made crinkle paper for the boxes. I used all different kinds of things from my stash. I put a magnet on the back of the CD.

I'm sending it out later today so I'm hoping my swap partner will not see my blog until she receives her box. I had a lot of fun with this swap and maybe this will inspire you to make an altered CD.

Thanks so much for reading my blog. Happy Crafting!

XOXOXO

Dawn

Hurricane Vase Centerpiece Ideas...

My project for today is an altered  hurricane vase I can use for the next three major holidays. I wanted something I could use for my table centerpiece by just switching out a few elements and be able to use it for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I scowled the Internet looking for hurricane vase ideas, hurricane vase centerpieces, and hurricane vase decoration ideas for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas but I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for.

So, I brushed on white glue diluted with water on the all sides of the hurricane vase. I then sprinkle gold glitter all over it. I sprayed hairspray on the vase to help set the glitter.

For the center of the vase, I used pine cones I already have in my stash. I used plain ones and the ones glittered in gold and silver.

So, for the diy Halloween vase I wrapped black lace around the vase and made bow in front. I attached two small purple ornaments to the bow. I then place a few purple ornaments on top of the pine cones. I used glue dots to attach the bats to the vase. Viola, you have a gold glitter Halloween hurricane vase for your table centerpiece.

For Thanksgiving, I wrapped a 1 inch orange ribbon around the vase and knotted it in the front. I then made a bow with some brown silk wire ribbon. I took a vintage orange flower brooch and pinned it to the bow. I used thick double sided tape to attach the bow to the knot on the vase. Viola, you now have a gold glitter Thanksgiving hurricane vase for your table centerpiece.

Finally, for Christmas, I wanted some glamorous. I wanted something in red and gold. So, I took a set of red and gold beads and wrapped around the vase in an angle. Attached it to the vase with double sided tape. On top I put some large jingle bells in red and gold. I attached a bouquet sprig of pine cones and red berries in the beads. Attached a K & Company Christmas Tag with red ribbon and dangled it from the beads. Viola, finally you have a gold glitter Christmas hurricane vase for your table centerpiece.

You have what I call a 3 in 1 holiday vase. By switching out a few elements, you can make decorating for the holidays easy peasy. It doesn't have to be complicated, nor perfect. Just have fun and remember Bob Ross's famous saying "there's no mistakes just happy accidents".

XOXOXO

Dawn

Halloween DIY Paper Bag Cards...

I'm still going strong working on my Halloween projects. I still got a lot of stuff I want to complete by October 31. Halloween is my favorite holiday and try and go all out every year.

So, I found two packs of Halloween bags from a yard sale for 0.50$ each. The two packs are the same but the 12 bags each have different designs. I knew as soon as spotted them, I was going to make Halloween diy paper bag cards. It's not a new idea but it's something I wanted to do for Halloween. They appear to have come from one of my favorite stores, The Dollar Tree. Yay!!!

They're really easy and inexpensive to make for Halloween which is totally my cup of tea. Most of the papers and embellishments came from online and the rest from my craft stash.

The papers and embellishments I use are "Spookalicious" by Mye De Leon and Design by Dani, "It's Scary Complete Kit". Also, I use printables from cutedaisy.com, halegrafx.com, and printabelle.com.
Along with sequins, glitter glue, black ink, washi tape and my diy washi tape (here's the link http://impossiblecreations.blogspot.com/2016/09/diy-washi-tape.html) to decorate, I use glue, double sided tape and dimensional tape to bind it together.

The inserts in the front pockets are some of the cut outs from the online printables and the designer paper either folded or just a single sheet. I inked the edges. They can be used for photos, journaling or both. I used color pencils on the Frankenstein.

I'm only showing four completed Halloween diy paper bag cards. I'm showing group pic, front and insert of each card, the back of each card and the ones I haven't finished.

Hope this inspires you to make paper bag cards for Halloween, if not maybe for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. Have a blessed day!

XOXOXO Dawn

Diy Halloween Keyboard and Laptop For Sab's Spooky Space Challenge

Another one of my Sab's Spooky Space challenge decorating ideas was to decorate my laptop for Halloween. I scoured the internet for ideas. I saw washi tape ideas and certain apps you can download on your phone to decorate the keys on the keyboard but nothing that spiked my interest.

So, I decided to go another route. I Googled an image of my keyboard and saved it to my computer. I opened it in Paint and enlarged it to the size of my keyboard. I painted the keys in orange, green, purple and black. I then labeled the keys. All this too approximately three hours to complete.

Then I spent an hour and a half fussy cutting the keys and inking all the edges in black to cover up any imperfections in my cutting. I spent another hour taping the images to the keys.

After which I spent another two or three hours fussy cutting Halloween embellishments, trimming papers, inking edges of the embellishments and papers in black ink. I glitter glued some of the embellishments and taped rhinestones around the mouse area. I also included some owl stickers which I had in my stash.

The embellishments I used are from Design by Dani the Its Scary complete kit which you can find at http://www.snapclicksupply.com/its-scary-complete-kit/. I also used some embellishments from Cute Daisy which you can find at cutedaisy.com. The papers I used can be found at  http://halegrafx.com. The owl stickers are EK Success and the some of the candy corn embellishments are K & Company. I used a couple of googly eyes, Tim Holtz glitter glue and rhinestones.

Finally, I have my laptop all "TRICKED OUT" for Halloween. I just love it. It's really "Halloweenie!" Also, nothing is permanent. It's taped so it will clean up easy after the holidays. Here's the pics.

I hope this project inspires you to craft something if not for the holidays, anything is fine. Crafting is relaxing. Remember to just have fun with it. There's no right or wrong. My letters on my keyboard are not cut to perfection but they're cut to perfection for me and that's all that matters.

So I wish you "Happy Crafting!"

XOXOXO