Is the grass always greener?

I read a quote the other day. It read: "We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." -Abraham Lincoln

It caught my attention that day because I had been thinking a lot about how life is what you make it. Life has a lot to do about your persepective on situations and experiences. On this particular day, I was feeling kind of down in the dumps. It was one of those days where something just felt off, where worries seemed to creep in on my every thought.

That day I really didn't feel like going to class. I just felt like cuddling up on the couch all day watching movie after movie, avoiding the real world. But, if you know me....you know I didn't skip class..... :)

When I got to class, I noticed that someone had taken my seat. You know, that seat that you sit in on the first day and then mentally claim as yours because it's a spot that makes you feel half way comfortable in a room full of strangers? Well, that spot of mine, was filled by a butt that wasn't mine. So, I casually went to the back of the room on the far right hand corner. (Probably stealing someone elses "seat").

As I sat there in class, I thought about how the view point seemed so different in this particular spot. How I saw the teacher was different, the people surrounding me were different. It may sound funny, but this particular situation made me think about life. Maybe when we are having a bad day, we can mentally try and switch spots. By switching spot, we can try and look at the room (or life) from a different perspective, from a different view.

I know, switching our thinking isn't as easy as it sounds. It's hard to try and cheer yourself up. So, maybe when you switch seats, sit next to a new person, or someone that can share what they see from their view.

A speaker recently told the audience to shut there eyes and try to remember what was red in the room surrounding them. He told them to keep their eyes shut for awhile a really think about the area. When he said to open their eyes, he said, "If you're not looking for the color red, it's sometimes hard to notice, but when you have your eyes open and are purposely picking items that are red, it's a lot easier." That kind of applies to life. If you go around looking for good, postive things with your eyes open they'll pop out more. If you keep your eyes shut, stay in one spot, and focus in on the "non red" items, you might miss out!

Are you complaining because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoicing because thorn bushes have beautiful red roses?

Pinterest Inspired Creations

I always liked to think that I was a "creative" person, but it wasn't until I was told about Pinterest that I was a confident crafty person! When I see certain things in stores now, sometimes I tell myself....oh, I could make that! (Something I would have said, but never done before). Lately, I've found that I get a lot more satisfaction out of buying all the material and making something, rather then just purchasing and hanging it up. I like to create it! Make it something that no ones else has.

So, I just wanted to share with you some of the things I've created! Some I did get from Pinterest, while, others I thought up (probably when I should have been sleeping).    (:  Let me know what you think!

I was graciously given my great grandma's old buttons. So, one day Corissa and I hot glued them to bobby pins. I did notice that some popped off easily, so I might sew them on next time.

During Christmas time, Corissa and I also made "Grinch cookies". They are regular sugar cookies with andes mint chips and green food coloring. Delicious!

These cute frogs were made at The Boys and Girls Club this past summer. The mouth is made out of two slices of apples and peanut butter in between. The eyes are stuck on the apple slices with peanut butter and are made of grapes and chocolate chips. The kids loved them!

 

This is an advent calendar that I made for a friend. It is made out of a mini muffin pan. I then covered the wholes with scrap paper and sticker numbers. Then, I stuck the scrap paper on the pan with tape. For each day I wrote a Bible quote that related to Christmas time.

This is one of my most recent discoveries. I bought a yard of fabric and wrapped it around an old pillow. The best part? You don't need to sew! You just wrap it like a present and knot it in the middle. Super easy and a fun/cheap change! Here is the link I found  on pinterest: http://pinterest.com/pin/172614598189175055/

I am a college student, so grilled cheese is a typical meal. BUT...this is no ordinary grilled cheese...Corissa and I made a "Cheese burger pasta dish" shown here: http://pinterest.com/pin/172614598189383417/ Then, the next day, we used the left overs to make this grilled cheese. We started by making an ordinary grilled cheese and just added the pasta dish to it.

For one of my Early Childhood classes, I had to make a puppet. I chose to make a spider puppet out of a black glove (from the dollar tree). Since I can't sew very well, my friend helped me sew on the three extra fingers (8 legs) and then I decorated it! The bow is made out of felt and ribbon. I named her Stella the spider.

This is one of my favorite projects. This is a wall hanging made out of toilet paper rolls & spray paint! Yes, you heard me right, toilet paper. I would be more than happy to sell you one for $5! Let me know!

This is one of those projects I thought up when I should have been sleeping. I had a big canvas that I didn't know what to do with...so, I bought a yard of fabric..stapled it on the canvas and sewed on a few buttons! This would also be cute used as a bulletin board.

 

I never enjoyed cooking before Pinterest. Now, I get excited about it. I made these for the Rose Bowl and everyone liked them! Here is the link: http://pinterest.com/pin/172614598188900138/ 

This is one of my favorite versus from the Bible, and I wanted to incorporate it into my room somehow. I bought a yard of burlap (JoAnn fabrics gets most of my paychecks). I then used a black sharpie to write out the verse. The next part wasn't as easy... My loving Dad actually made this custom frame for me! But, you could defintely just go buy a frame and then create the quote to make sure that it fits!

This idea came to me when I was supposed to be listening in class...Seeing that Lent is coming, I was trying to think of something I wanted to do/give up. I decided that each day I'm going to write down a blessing that I noticed that day. I think it's a fun and easy way to see the good in each day & will be fun to look back and learn from. I bought a composition notebook from the Dollar Tree and used Scrap paper to make the cover!

When I got my first apartment, I was trying to find easy and cheap ways to decorate. I found this old screen at Savers for $1. I decided it could be used to hang pictures, letters, and memories. I just pull apart-paper clips to hang the items,

I have to give my Mom props for this one! This is an old T-shirt cut up and put into a frame. This frame was sitting around so I just spray painted it to match my room!

I used the extra burlap from the Bible Verse wall hanging to create this. I put the burlap in a frame (where the picture would go) and then I just wrote with erasable marker on the glass. So, I can change the message whenever I want.

I have a ton of old magazines and knew that there had to be a craft for them! I had three canvases sitting around. So, I cut up pictures and sayings that I liked. I then used modge podge to stick them on the canvas. For the third canvas (the one in the back on the right) I used newspaper. The picture frame also has words and pictures from the magazines glued in it.

Now that I have my own apartment, I didn't really know how to decorate for Christmas. This was one that my mom put together. I found the tiny ornaments in the $1 section at Target. Then went outside to get pine cones and put in a jar we already had. My mom also wrapped lights inside so it would brighten the room!

These are picture frames from the Dollar Tree and pieces of scrap paper from Michaels. (I was just at Michaels, and they had 6 pieces of scrap paper for $1)!

 

Can you tell I like wall art? :) This is actually a painting I got while at the Art Crawl in Eau Claire this past weekend. The artist creates pictures out of yarn. I couldn't resist...The only bad thing was that it didn't come with a frame. So, I went to Savers and bought one for $5, painted it orange, and now I have a new picture for my apartment!

 

I printed these templates from pinterest: http://pinterest.com/pin/172614598187556161/ and then bought frames from Savers. ($1 each). Easy, cute, and cheap kitchen decorations!

 

 

This is the project that I get the most compliments on! I recently bought a huge jar of buttons......and couldn't wait to start button projects! I sewed buttons on elastic to make a headband! I'll make you one for $7! Let me know!

 

 

I also enjoy making accessories! These are a few of the earrings and rings that I've made. The rings are made out of...you guessed it, buttons! (: I'm planning to make a few button earrings soon!

 

 

So.....Those are a few of the many things I've created! I hope I gave you a few ideas. I would love to make any of these things for you especially: wall art, headbands, jewelry! Let me know and I'll cut you a deal!