Show & Share #170

And here we are again, Party Day! Great party last week!

I love, love the most viewed link from last week that I had to make it my favorite too!

DIY Juicy Couture Necklace by Riva la Diva

Pretty sure I just found what to make my hairdresser for Christmas!!

Party Time!

Rules:

*Link to a specific post--not your home page, no giveaways, or no etsy shops

*Link a post you've done in the last month

*Post the party button on your blog and follow me

*Visit & comment on at least TWO other links posted

(You can grab a party button to the right ---> just click on the buttons tab!)

As always, thanks so much for being here!

Happy Wednesday!

An InLinkz Link-up

Show & Tell-Garage Sale Treasures

I am interrupting my normal 'Thursday thing' to have a giddy Show & Tell!!  

Last Saturday during all our weekend fun we had a house showing.  It was scheduled for 11:30 so we left at 11:15  and went and had lunch and took a gander in the fairly new Tractor Supply Company store in town.  When we came back there was no usual realtor card left and I had a feeling that they had not come yet.

Not 5 minutes of being back our realtor called and said that the realtor who was showing our house had left her key in Tulsa and had to go back to get it and had not been to our house yet! So we loaded up again and went for a drive.  I wanted to show my in laws a house I had found that I think has potential so on the way we discovered a sign saying "Big Christmas Garage Sale" and my curiosity got the better of me! After showing them the house off I went and boy am I glad we did!!

You gotta see my treasures I came away with!!

Aren't they beauties?  My favorite is the little one!!  I'm ecstatic I found these to add to my collection!! 

And how about this cake stand?! The tag on it said Milk Glass but I'm not so sure it's the real thing...there's a pretty thick seam down the side....I don't know my Milk Glass so I'd love to know if any of you know!

And yay for these too!! I have some copper pieces that were my Granny's, including her canister set that I love using!  I thought the hearts darling and the roundy unique and was tickled to add them too!!

Here's where the copper went....the two on the left are my Granny's....

(sorry for the lighting...this was at night!)

The new guys!

The top of my cabinets go down a bit so it's kinda tricky to display things.  Didn't know how else to do the hearts so I just kept them together and propped them on a plate stand like the round one!

Are you ready for what I paid?

Ornaments and Copper pieces:  $1

☺

Cake plate: $10

3 copper pieces for less than a $1?!?

I'm thinking I did pretty good!!  And my in laws found some treasures to take home too!!

Thank you silly realtor for forgetting your key!! Ha!

I'm still thrilled about my treasures!!  And the top of my cabinets look fuller now!  Now I must figure out how to display my ornaments!!

Happy Thursday!!

See my Link Parties page for where I link to!

Show and Tell-Remington T Studio Pearl Ceramic Curling Wand

Well I spent some of my Birthday money on one of the things I had on my list.....a curling wand!  I bought the Remington 1" to 1/2" inch, Pearl Ceramic version from Target for about $25 (not including tax) and have used it twice now and I really like it! I realize twice doesn't make me an expert but wanted to share my experience thus far!  And I am aware of the No Heat Curls that have been very popular in blog land recently and did try it.  It did work but I found that it left a noticeable dent in my hair...which makes me think it's best for longer hair as it might not be as noticeable. 

For some No Heat Curls how tos check out my bloggin' buddies, Eisy Morgan and Ma Nouvelle Mode!

♦

So this little jewel gets hot quick!! That alone impressed me! It does come with a glove which I just find kinda weird to use, but understand why it comes with it.  The first day I used it I wrapped my hair around the barrel with the narrow end pointing up.  The second day I used it I used it with the narrow end pointing down and I find this way is better because it curls more, the other way waves more. If my hair was longer it might not make a difference. It's just going to take practice to master it!   And it is fast! Meaning you don't have to hold a section of hair on it for very long, that impressed me as well!

Here's a before and after of my second day...

I quickly snapped these...Hunkie was waiting on me!!

What'd ya think?

If you'd like more info/reviews and probably better results photos check out good ole' You Tube!

Overall, I'm happy with my purchase....it's gonna help me get out of my 'straight with a pouf' rut!

Have a Happy Day!!

Show and Tell-Feature Graphics

I hope you've noticed some new graphics hanging around.  I decided to make some for each of the different 'features' I have.  And I haven't decided yet if they need to be buttons...I'm still pondering it!!  But I did decide they'd be good Show and Tell material! ☺

I do have The Graphics Fairy and Free Pretty Things For You to thank for the majority of the artwork and frames!

{Really the reason I needed to share so I could give proper credit to these fab resources!!}

The first one I made was for Soiree Day and I really liked how it turned out and just continued with the rest!  And then I remembered I wanted to figure out how to make a Landing Page on Facebook and thought these graphics would be greatly utilized there! I'm pleased with the outcome and proud of myself for figuring out a Landing Page!!

{Insert big ole' pat on the back!}

Here's the rest....

Checkout the Vintage Gwen Facebook Welcome Page HERE if you haven't already 'liked' me yet! If you do then click on the "Welcome" tab to the right under the Vintage Gwen graphic!

And if you'd like to know how to make your own Landing Page then this is the site I found that makes it easy!

How To Create A Facebook Landing Page

Note: You do have to have make a graphic or design and upload it to a host site like Photobucket so you'll have the html code. 

See my Link Parties page for where I'm linking to!

Have a Happy Day!!

Show & Tell-Shabby Apple

A lot of you probably already know what Shabby Apple is.  I had seen ads on several other blogs and had wondered about it just never got around to clicking.  Then a couple weeks ago I was contacted by a rep to be an affiliate and boy was I excited!! I still feel kinda new at blogging so I was happy!

I looked around their site first to make sure I wanted to go forward and wanted to share the reasons why I like the Shabby Apple.

1.  Their motto.

"A return to what dresses were always meant to be — a one-piece outfit. No need to add anything...no tank tops, no cardigans, nothing (except accessories, of course!)."

I currently do this...add a sweater or jacket to dresses, I don't ever wear anything sleeveless.  And I love to wear dresses, especially to church.  I dig their motto!

2. Their dresses are beautiful!

And come in Plus Size, Maternity, Little Girl and they offer Bridesmaid options!

Take a look!

North Shore Dress

Aloha Dress

Julie and Romeo Bridesmaid Dress

Two's Company Maternity Dress
{So cute!}

And 3. They have accessories too!
So it's a one stop shop!

Photos courtesy of Shabby Apple.

 Check them out!

Have a Happy Day!

Bash Day 3-Show and Tell-Blog Journal

Welcome to Bash Day 3!

I wanted to share with you my blog journal.  How I thought to do this from the beginning I'm not sure!  But I did and am so glad!!

I had this cute little thing (it's really like a small notebook) doing nothing.

So I started to write ideas for what kinds of things I wanted to talk about in it. 

I then just wrote down my blog week.  Sometimes I'd have Thursday figured out before Monday...which still happens since Thursdays are tutorial/tip days! I also started to keep track of how many followers I had to start the week out.  I know this may be in Google Analytics but I don't check it that often!

I also I have a place to write down something I may want to feature from one of the Linky Parties.  And a place to write if I find a yummy recipe I might want to try!

Yes it usually looks like chicken scratch! 

I feel somewhat organized doing this.  What do you do?

Bash Prize 3

Your very own Blog Journal!

Actually you can use it however you want!! Won't hurt my feelings none!

I thought the flowers on every page are too darling!!

Have a Happy Day!!

Show and Tell-Bunco Prizes!

Exciting News!  I Guest Posted yesterday at Craftionary!!
Would love for you to go over and see my latest garden flag!!
Craftionary Blog

♥

I've been being a good girl and have not been to Hobby Lobby in ages.

Well I wanted to try and make a mini dessert stand that was in last Friday's Darling Day and I needed 2 things so I thought I'd go quickly on Monday.....

{insert laugh, chuckle and a "Yeah Right!"}

I host Bunco in August for my group and for the past 2 years have gotten my prizes at Hobby Lobby's Spring sale...usually when stuff is 66% off.  So my bright idea was to take a look real quick.....

To my surprise their Spring stuff was 80% off and not much left...duh it's Fall and Christmas time at Hobby Lobby right now! (Still seems like it comes earlier and earlier........)

After seeing the 80% off sign my eyes fell on what may be the coolest Bunco prize I've done yet!............

I'm ecstatic!! Aren't they fun?! Some lemonade mix or tea will be perfect with these!

Funny thing is I thought and thought, "maybe I should come back tomorrow" ,"oh just get them today, they may not be here tomorrow!", I did this all the way to the front to get a buggy and then when I got back to the sale aisle low and behold there was someone else already grabbing some!  And guess what? I was nice and asked how many she wanted cause I needed four! Well she wanted 3 blues, that left me with 2 greens, a blue and a pink.....and then one last pink was left all by itself on the shelf.  Again, I thought "do I want that cute, my favorite color is pink last one for myself?"

Well of course!

Because of this.......

Hot Dog! That's a bargain!

Yay! Enough for everyone! And I was even thanked for sharing!

And I went for just 2 things...........

Show and Tell-A Few Things I've Learned....

I think there comes a point in a blogger's bloggin' that you need to share what you've learned.  No, you may not be an expert but what you've realized may help another.  And that's what I want to do today!  Just a few tips, you may take them or leave them, you may have heard them before...if so great! Perhaps you needed to be reminded?  I'd love some feedback!

#1

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

I like photos in a post.  For me, it helps me get the point.  And the bigger the better. And if I'm using photos I did not take I try and make them as big as I can, sometimes there is some blurriness so I may make it medium or large.(The above photo was taken with my cell phone, I had to leave it original size, larger just didn't look good!)  Photos break up the 'black and white' and keep a reader interested.  Photos that I take, I try and be mindful of what's going on in the background and to the sides....I want you to see what I'm doing not the mess I made to do it! ☺ I'm still working on lighting, so please forgive if some of them have been a little dark....I usually do projects after Lil' Hunkie has gone to bed.  He just turned 20 months a few days ago and boy he's in to everything!  I do edit all of my photos in Photoscape and add "Vintage Gwen" usually, especially to tutorials or projects.  I simply add a text box, haven't explored a watermark yet, I like the text box just fine. And one last thing about photos...after Photoscaping I then go to "My Pictures" on my desktop and edit one more time.  Yes I know what you're thinking!  But it was taking FOREVER for my photos to load into a post.  Now this could be my lack of knowledge of my camera and I may need to adjust my camera so the size of my photos are smaller! But until I tackle that this is what I do:

Right click on a photo

Click on edit

Click on resize

  Click on predefined width x heigth

Click on arrow down

Click on web-large (640x480 px)

Click on ok

Save!

And let me tell you! SO much better!  I'm sure you knew this already! Glad I know now!

These are my thoughts on photos! ☺☺

♦

#2

Email, email, email!

If you're like me, you got emails coming out the wazoo! I have 3 email accounts! Thankfully I can somewhat manage them from my cell phone.  Which is helpful, cause I try my best to respond to every comment, even if it's a "Thanks so much!" and right now I'm pretty good at responding except when I come across the infamous "no reply blogger".  And I'm a little surprised at some 'bigger' blogs that have this going on still!  I've seen many, many other bloggers mention this and give the quick fix and I wanted to follow suit.  We all know that comments fuel us and being able to acknowledge that fuel keeps all the love and inspiration going!

After signing in and you're brought to your Dashboard, go to the links by your photo...click on Edit Profile...

Next check mark the box beside Show my email address and save!  That's it!  I had to be enlightened to this and I enjoy getting responses from my comments! (Note: if you don't respond to my comment then I'm pretty sure your busy with bloggin', mommy stuff, wife stuff, etc,etc and I understand!)

♦

And #3

Giving Credit

This is something fairly new that I've decided to change my ways on.  I recently read the opinion of  a much, much, much bigger blog than mine about giving credit and must say I agree with her....

Not going to quote her because I don't remember word for word but basically in her opinion putting 'photos courtesy of....' and 'via' in small letters is barely giving credit.  And I am guilty of this! Egads!  Now I do try and put as many links as I can to a post/blog/website but when it comes time to credit photos I have done this.  And so I thought to myself, 'why do I do this?'...it's what I've seen some others do and thought that's what you do!  I'm sorry, I should have done more research! Thank goodness for a new light bulb turned on!  So from now on, no more small photo credits!  They deserve to be regular size!

♦

These are just a few things I've learned so far in blogging. What have you learned? 

I'd love to hear....maybe you got something I need to know!

Show and Tell-Tree of Life Jewerly

I'm excited to be showin' and tellin' Tree of Life Jewelry by Teri today!

Teri is a follow church member and wanted to share her love of jewelry with the world.  She makes some unique items and can customize anything!

♥

Dr. Seuss Necklace

Happy Necklace

Believe Necklace

Coin Ring

These are just a few of her selection!

You can contact Teri by email at teridyerim@gmail.com for prices and more selection!

Show and Tell-Secret Sister Goodies

My church's ladies group has a Secret Sister program.  At the beginning of the year we draw names and who ever you draw you pray for that person.  And on occasion give them gifts or cards to let them know you're thinking of them.

Well the lady who drew my name has been so good to me!!!  I have enjoyed all the cards and gifts and truly feel special. This past Sunday she gave me a "Just Because" gift and it tickled me so much I wanted you to see!

♥

I got my first ever bamboo plant!  Wasn't quite sure where to put it or how to take care of it! My sis said to put ice cubes in it every couple days to keep it moist.  Any other suggestions?

Yay for scrapbook paper!!  And I love the top prints!!

This is so cute!  I can't wait to preserve some family recipes with this!

And this...well I couldn't believe this!  $25 dollars!!  I offered to use it for diapers and wipes but Hunkie said I needed to use it for what I wanted! Yippee!!

All that 'just because'!  Thanks Secret Sis!! 

And here's some other things she's gotten me this year....

....scarf that I've worn a ton already!!  And cute, cute rings!  The 'globe' is my fav!!

I am truly, truly blessed!