Author: Raising up Rubies

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growing blueberries … ♥

Raising up Rubies6 Comments

this is the first summer we’ve had blueberry bushes
my husband planted two of them last fall
and now we have a small harvest 🙂


they are so sweet and delicious
how nice to have fresh fruit right in our backyard 🙂

we want to plant raspberry bushes next 🙂
the hubs also built a tree swing for the girls
looking up is where he attached the rope & clasp to the tree

this is what i found at the other end of it 🙂

any family favorite recipes that include blueberries?
i’ve seen a few yummy ones on Pinterest … 
was thinking of trying these blueberry cream cheese muffins from i am baker


IMG_5198.stamp



maybe a batch for now & a batch to keep in the freezer for on-the-go mornings 🙂
yum .
i’ll let ya know how they turn out …
oh and i keep forgetting to tell you guys
i’m on instagram!  it’s fun!
  i’ve been on for a while but just started getting into it these past few weeks
i even put a little thingy up in the sidebar
see it … up there … see it???
go find me! 
raisinguprubies
so i can follow you too 🙂


♥ much love

(vintage graphics courtesy of the Graphics Fairy … just gotta love her)


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magic to-do list fairy: wanted … ♥

Raising up Rubies12 Comments
i’ve been trying to get to this little blog of mine 🙂
i have so many things i want to make…
and share with you guys

but y’all …
(in a Paula Deen voice)
(’cause i’m not southern, even in the least bit)
it’s summer, and my girls are still little
i want to enjoy them
and i had so many things i wanted to do with them this summer
and July is coming to an end, meaning summer’s half over 😦

so this is when i start to panic
when i start to pray that God would just, for the next month, give me 32 hours in a day
so between trying to get everything ready to open shop
and regular everyday wife/mama/garage sale summer life
i find myself with only (can you believe) 24 hours in my day (shocking i know)
(not many of which i’m spending sleeping)

i’ve always been ambitious, always been a go-getter
i get that from my dad…
what i also get from my dad is my serious lack of time management
i mean SERIOUS, as in not there, non-existent
my to-do list yesterday was ridiculous
i think it had 16 things on it
which i knew i couldn’t possibly accomplish in one normal human day
but i wrote it down anyway 
the problem is when i get to the end of the day
(and i can maybe cross one or two things off the list)
i beat myself up … like i’m mentally participating as a contestant on Wipeout 
i knew i was setting myself up for failure when i wrote the list in the morning but i did it anyway, hoping, just hoping that somehow the magic to-do list fairy would come and make that to-do list, not only all crossed off, but then scrap-booked, doodled and matted on some burlap and lace in a pretty frame right near my kitchen sink
on display for me and all to see

no … 
just me and my faulty time management to-do list problem
just me being human, wife, mommy, friend, sister…and over acheiver
so here i am down on myself 
then the Voice
like a million waterfalls
says I Am Enough
be still and know
tears streaming down my face 
is when my Sweet Savior quietly scoops me up into everlasting arms
and since it’s hour 23 and a half and i still have 14 things left on my list
 i surrender
but why do i wait until i get to this point of exasperation?
why don’t i just give up the rights to my list first thing in the morning?
that’s what God wants from me … i know it
it’s just so hard to let go of control
so that’s what i’m trying to work on right now … that’s where i’m at
so thanks y’all (Paula voice) for the listening ear 🙂

came across this last night on Pinterest
i’ve read most of Lysa’s books, and i’m sure this one won’t disappoint
if you have a minute check it out … she cracks me up

Click to read Proverbs 31 Ministries devotion about this!

that’s totally me in the picture
 i mean really 
who doesn’t want to just put their head in an over sized purse 
and scream at the top of their lungs every once and a while??
(i don’t officially know if she’s screaming at the top of her lungs, but that’s what i think she should be doing with her head in an over sized purse … and this is my blog … m’kay?)

:):)

i’m working on a few projects that i think you’ll like
and a grand opening date & giveaway for Sugar ‘n Spice
… so come back soon!
(pretty please with a cherry on top?)

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trash to treasure … decoupaged trinket box ♥

Raising up Rubies14 Comments
Hi!
It’s me!
hope you all had a wonderful 4th ♥

my girls have been at summer camp this week that’s put on through their school
tons of fun they’re havin’ 🙂

i’ve mentioned before (i think)
that i love garage sales
i don’t just love them
i luuuuuuuuurve them
when it’s summer time i see no need for Target to even be open
’cause it’s garage sale season

and what i love most is finding something that looks like it’s beyond it’s years of use
and turning it into something usable, and something you love!
so i’ve been doing a lot of that lately
taking old things and making them new ♥



it started out like this…
lotsa potential 🙂

a little Mod Podge and some pretty paper … i had a hard time narrowing down the choices!

it holds all the little tags and scraps for the shop…
i love how it helps keep even the small things organized


this vintage 3M tape dispenser was not from a garage sale, but was my grandpa’s 🙂
he was a wonderful artist, he worked most of his life painting and making signs…
he was very talented
i could kick myself for forgetting to take a before picture
it was dirty & rusty in some spots … nothing a nice coat of spray paing couldn’t fix
i added some pretty paper to each side for some print
i love that i have something from his studio, now in mine ♥


speaking of the shop…
i’m getting super close to being ready to open! 
and this is what sat in my front foyer a couple days ago…


shipping & packaging supplies for Sugar ‘n Spice
seriously guys…
i did a little happy dance
with the front door open
it actually felt official 🙂
any good trash to treasure finds? please share!

much love ♥

… in Your presence is Fullness of joy… 
psalm. sixteen. eleven.


sweet parties here … ♥

all crafts Homemade Projects ~ Add Yours! {7 17}


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yay! Funky Junk! … ♥

Raising up Rubies3 Comments
I’m so excited you guys!
I was featured on FJI
sweeter than sweetness Donna from Funky Junk Interiors featured my craft space!
i’m smiling huge … really big :):)
she’s such a sweet lady, and an amazing blogger to glean so much knowledge from
thanks a ton of huge-ness Donna!
go take a peek … and there’s so much to feast your eyes on there!
have fun ♥
much love…

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a yardstick flag tutorial… ♥

Raising up Rubies23 Comments
i’m really excited to share this project with you!
it’s really neat, and something new…



this came to me late at night a couple weeks ago
(probably when i ate too many whales)
(i’m addicted to these things guys)
(thanks to my cousin 🙂


this is super easy to make
the only thing my hubby did for me, was cut the yardsticks in half
and he drilled the holes too
(even though he has taught me to do both of those things myself)
(i just don’t jump at the chance to use “big man” tools)
(i’ll stick with a glue gun & corner rounder 🙂
(thanks)
but girls! i know the guys at Home Depot will cut stuff for you…just ask!
the rest is cake …

i just have a special place in my ♥ for yardsticks
i built these crates last year 


and ever since then, i’m sweet on yardsticks …
so i know my yardsticks guys…
i know Home Depots are orange (blah)
Lowe’s are navy blue (yay!) 
(these are the ones i like to buy at 69 cents each)
and Walmart’s are a really pretty light blue (cuteness)
but beware, they are much thinner and not always straight …
(right? a crooked yardstick is not really a good thing)

for this project i stuck with my fav’s ~ Lowe’s since they are the thickest
and since the numbers & lines printed on the sticks are a little indented
helping them have that “whitewashed” look 

nuf talkin’  …  come on! let’s make stuff ♥

what you need
♥ 3 yardsticks
♥ small screw eyes (see picture below)
♥ white acrylic paint
♥ Mod Podge
♥ pretty scrapbook paper
♥ fabric strips, lace, twine, ribbon 
♥ mini clothespins
(or whatever your heart fancies 🙂 


we used the chop saw to cut the yardsticks in half ~ right at 18 inches


mark the point where you will screw all the eyes in …
they should be all in the same place on every yardstick
ours were about a 1/3 of the way in from each side


drill the holes carefully! hubs used his very teeny smallest drill bit
don’t forget on each end … top & bottom


using white acrylic paint, i brushed it on moderately
then with a rag i wiped it off
(the left side is after i wiped off the excess)


last thing before the pretty part
is to screw those eyes into the holes you drilled 


now the pretty part ♥
cut strips from your scrapbook paper just wide enough to cover the bottom half of the yardstick … 
we don’t wanna hide those cute numbers & lines
use the Mod Podge to adhere them in the sections where the “stars & stripes” would be

i used strips of white muslin, lace and more lace ♥
… thread them through the holes of the screw eyes
attaching all the yardsticks one underneath the other



last thing was to punch small stars out of brown kraft paper ~ clip them inside of the tiny clothespins, stuck on with hot glue 


so pretty … no?!?!
i love this so much ♥
it’s hanging right inside my foyer 
with this little vignette shelf i got at a garage sale last weekend for $5 
(chipper chicken … any FOTB fans out there? heehee:)



Happy 4th of July all !!
i’m going to enjoy my family and be thankful for our freedom and our country

Image 1
much loves ♥
sweet parties … ♥
Thirty Handmade Days
Whipperberry
Tatertots & Jello
Live Laugh Rowe
Polkadot Pretties
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simple snow cone stand … ♥

Raising up Rubies14 Comments

hey all!
i wanted to share this project with you…
just in time for the holiday weekend and for summer!

one of the things on our summer list has always been to do a lemonade stand
my aunts have a garage sale every summer that gets quite a lot of traffic
so this year we set up shop
and instead of lemonade…we did snow cones!
i had all the supplies on hand already
 so it was easier than buying 40 lemons to make lemonade 🙂

now, we happen to have a lot of scrap lumber, craft supplies 
and numerous items waiting to be spray painted layin’ around
so if you’re not a sort-of garage sale stuff hoarder like me
…you might have to get a little creative with your supplies :):)
lemme give you a run-down of the stuff i used 
and how i jerry-rigged (is that a word?) everything together
spray paint some cookie sheets & old trays to use as menus
some chalkboard paint, clalkboard makers, ribbon and hot glue came in handy here too!


 the little blue table was a yard sale find…just waiting for something good 🙂
the red supports to hold the bunting & the little awning thing, was put together by the hubs
totally on the fly…2 pieces of 2×2 put together 
one piece to wedge underneath the lip of the table, the other was at the desired height 
with cup hooks screwed in at the top for the bunting

 this is where the “jerry” and the “rigged” came into play 🙂
(i take total responsibility for this part…my hubby is not a fan of either of those words 
…especially when put together 🙂 he’s a by the book kinda guy
…i’m a fly by the seat of my pants-let’s build a snow cone stand at midnight! kinda girl)
i cut both a piece of sturdy cardboard, long enough to go across the top of the stand,
and a piece of fabric that would cover the majority of the table top
then hot glued each end of the fabric to half of a yardstick
laid the fabric piece over the cardboard
and nailed both layers to the top of the wood pieces

(i warned you … jerry-rigged)


hopefully these pictures will help 🙂

 another cup hook for the chalkboard menu
some supplies…

and some snacks…



 according to my daughter…snacks are the source of all life force
with out them, we would be doomed
she’s even got a bag of cheez-its stashed in case of a snack emergency

  

the girls had such a fun time serving customers
and they made over $30!! 
which had them so excited…i think it will be something they do every summer
they had fun eating them too 🙂

i have another 4th of July project i want to do with you guys this week!
so maybe my kitchen pics are on hold 🙂
♥
much love
sweet parties … ♥


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all craftiness aside … ♥

Raising up Rubies5 Comments
it’s been a whirlwind of activity around here 🙂
yesterday was the official first day of summer!
and on Friday my little girl graduated from Kindergarten…sniff


i feel sad (and old) 
sad because she’s not a “little kid” anymore
she’s a big 1st grader…ya know?…once they move on to the number grades
they’re not “little kids” anymore…they’re now just “kids” 🙂
and to seal the deal ~ a few weeks ago, she got glasses…


i couldn’t stop looking at her, and thinking how fast she was changing before my eyes…

here’s a little something for you … just a reminder
especially since it’s summer time 🙂 to enjoy your family, enjoy relationships
cause really, that’s the only thing we can take with us when life here is over ♥


click on the image to download … enjoy ♥
(vintage graphics courtesy of the Graphics Fairy)
(i just love her)
i’m still knee deep in etsy shop production
but i hope to show you a few other things this week…
a peek into my kitchen & a small project!

much loves to you
sweet parties … ♥
Tip Junkie ~ Tip Me Tuesday 




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what a feature …♥

Raising up Rubies11 Comments
wow ♥ wow ♥ wow
I am so honored today!
 to have my craft space featured over at i heart organizing!
i have followed Jen’s blog for a loooong time 🙂 
and have gained a ton of inspiration from her super star organizing ideas…
go on over and check it out!
thanks Jen!!
♥
oh! ps.! since you’re here check out my patriotic clothespin wreath tutorial ♥
with Kim over at Everything Etsy…
it’s too. stinkin. fun.  !!!