Think outside the envelope.

        I love vintage patterns! If anyone is looking to buy vintage patterns, check out your local resale shops or go online to www.etsy.com , you will find tons of patterns on etsy. 

Not only can you use the patterns to make clothes, but you can also scan the front of the pattern envelope and clean up the image and remove things from the image and turn it into some cool gift tags or some other art project. Always think outside the box...or in this case, the envelope.

Happy pattern hunting!

Banana Split Mini Bites

Banana Split Bites ~ A classic ice cream dessert gets mini for some bite size fun. And yes, there is actually a tiny scoop of ice cream tucked inside and underneath the whip cream.

•  
•  
•  Use firm bananas and cut into 1 inch sections. Leave the peel on for easy handling, and with a melon- baller, dig a well in the middle of each banana section. 
• Melt chocolate in the microwave and dip the bottom portion of the banana in chocolate and then dip it once again in either nonpareils or chopped peanuts. To quickly harden the chocolate, place dipped bananas in the freezer for five minutes.
• Fill each well with ice cream (I filled mine with vanilla chocolate chip) and top with whip cream and a maraschino cherry. 

Recycled skateboards made into keychains.

 I want everyone to know that there is a wonderful place online where you can buy handmade items.... www.etsy.com.  I had purchased 2 key-chains made from recycled skateboards and they allowed me to choose from their different colors and styles because they didn't have anything listed that I was interested in. You will be amazed at how nice some of the folks are on etsy...all you have to do is ask and they will try to accommodate you. I purchased my key-chains from www.alldeckedout.etsy.com .  And there is another store on etsy that makes similar items... www.sevenply.etsy.com. 

I had purchased a necklace from them and it was beautiful....my daughter received it as a Christmas gift and loved it. She tells me that she stills gets many compliments on it. I have posted some pics of the key-chains I bought. Please check out www.etsy.com , I know you will like it and find great things to buy.

Front of one of the key-chains and the back of the other.