I Love to Create: He Loves Me! Flip Flip Craft Project

He Loves Me Flip Flops Copyright 2009 Margot Potter

Flip flops are the shoe of choice these days and it's pretty fun and easy to trick out your own pair. The fancier styles at the shoe stores can run upwards of 45.00!

Seriously, folks, it's a rubber shoe. Are you kidding me?!

So...being the crafty kinda gal that I am, I make my own. Here's a daisy themed idea you can take in all sorts of directions depending on the trim and flower you use. This is a great project for these last dog days of summer when the kids are all chanting an endless chorus of, "I'm bored."

(Note: Use the glue outside to ensure proper ventilation. Let the kids design and you take care of the glue.)

Avalon opted for a far less complicated project using googly eyes and mini bow ties! How cute are her shoes?!

Materials
Rubber Flip Flops
1/2" Daisy Trim
2 1 1/2" Fabric Flowers
2 8mm yellow cat's eye glass pillow beads
16 4mm Tulip Glam-It-Up Iron-On Crystals
Aleene's Platinum Bond Super Fabric Glue
Aleene's Platinum Bond Glass and Bead Slick Surfaces Glue
Beadalon Supplemax

Tools
Scissors
Butter knife

1. Glue the trim to your straps using Aleene's Super Fabric Glue. Use a butter knife to shove the trim into the space between the flip flip strap and the shoe bed. Run a thread of glue along the bottom of the trim and press firmly on strap. Allow to dry for 24 hours.


2. While glue is curing, take a multi petal fabric flower apart by removing the stem. Save one of the piston segments and the two largest petal segments.


3. Thread one end of the clear monofilament into the bottom hole in your flower, through the two sections, the piston and your bead and then back through.


4. Tie the flower on the thong portion of your sandal using a Surgeon's knot to secure. Cut off excess monofilament. Center bead so it is flat inside of the flower and be sure to tie the knot tightly enough that the flower remains stable.



5. Since the straps are rubber, I decided not to iron the crystals on. Instead I used Aleene's glue for slick surfaces and put a small dab in the center of every other daisy and firmly pressed each crystal down.

6. Allow glues to dry for 24 hours.

Here's Avalon's Fabulous Design:

Googly Woogly Flip Flops Copyright 2009 Avalon Potter

Under The Sea

Today we are going under the sea
in preparation for my Outdoor Wednesday Post.

Hunny Bunny and I went to Brookings, Oregon for
vacation. I brought a few things back, and I wanted
to share my Mermaid. She is so beautiful. I tried to
set the stage for you all.

The mermaid is a stone of some sorts. It was
very heavy and I hand carried her through the
airport in a shopping bag. I was not going to
pack her in the suitcase, as I was afraid she would
get stolen. The lighthouse in the background
is a little nightlight. It is made of marble.
The starfish that is in the picture, Hunny Bunny and
I plucked right out of the Ocean. We stayed in a
B&B so we laid them out on the grass to dry for the
week so that we could bring them home with us.
We brought home (2) and this is the smaller one.
That is sea glass that is scattered around my
beautiful little Mermaid. She captured my heart the
minute I saw her. I knew she was coming back to
Phoenix with me. She has not complained once
about being out of the water. She loves her new
home. Here is a close up of her face and hair.
Doesn't she look sweet?

I can't wait to share Outdoor Wednesday
and show you what we saw. It was so beautiful.

As always my friends, thank you for sharing a piece of your
day with me. I love it when you stop by my little piece of
heaven here in the desert, I so love to call home.
Country Hugs and Love, Sherry

Does an Egg stand up during an eclipse? Yes

Penang, Malaysia, Group tries egg-balancing act during lunar eclipse
Source from the Star Newspaper:
Wednesday August 29, 2007
Out of the five eggs tested, four eggs stood on their ends during the eclipse.

Wong Soon Aik, 22, an applied physics USM student, was by far the most successful at standing an egg on its end.

“I’m really happy. At the beginning, I didn’t think it would stand,” he said.

Astronomy Club of Universiti Sains Malaysia advisor Dr Chong Hon Yew however, denied the eclipse played a part in the egg-standing experiment.

“Some believe that there is a change in gravity during an eclipse, but so far, there hasn’t been any solid scientific evidence,” he said.

He, however, admitted though that he frequently joined people all around the world in testing the traditional egg balancing belief during lunar eclipses.

The 10 members, students and members of the public had earlier gathered to witness the eclipse at about 7pm at the USM grounds.

Due to the rain, they assembled in a nearby room to hear explanations from Dr Chong who said that the best place to view the night’s eclipse was actually somewhere near the Central Pacific, where the total eclipse could be seen overhead.

My Weekend Thrift Store Find

Hi Everyone!
You know me always looking for
a Treasure at the Thrift Store.
Yesterday was a good day for searching.
Look at what I found.

Blue is one of my favorite colors.
I found this beautiful Pottery Barn Quilt
It cost me $1.99 for a Crib Size quilt.
I think it looks beautiful on my
table for a covering. It has a beautiful
pattern and so many beautiful shades
of blue, going in different directions.

The next bargain was at my favorite
neighborhood Fry's store once again.
The blue vase. It cost $3.99 on clearance.
I knew I had to have it for my table. It just
looks beautiful with my table covering quilt.

I had a string of red grape cluster lights,
and I draped them inside of the vase and
over the side of the vase and around the base.
The lights look so pretty all lit up on the table.
Just that little extra bit of punch the table needed.
I took two candlesticks with the dark red candles
and set them on either side of the vase. I like the look
that it gave to the table.

Have a beautiful Rainbow Monday Morning.
Full of color and happiness.
As always thank you for stopping by to
visit me in my little piece of heaven in
the desert, that I so love to call home.
Country Hugs and Love, Sherry

A Beautiful Sunday Thought

On this beautiful Sunday morning,

I wanted to share with you a favorite quote
of mine by Norman B. Rice. He said,

"Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness

to pull another hand into the light."

Have you reached out today?

Will you reach out tomorrow?

As always thank you for stopping by my little piece of heaven in the desert that I so love to call home. Have a wonderful blessed Sunday today, and reach out your hand next time you see someone stumble or fall. Help them to their feet. They are your sisters, your brothers, your mothers, your fathers. They could be us.
Country Love and Hugs, Sherry

NAAGA PANCHAMI

RESPECTING THE SERPENTS..........................

26th july,2009,

3 p.m

Dear friends,

I was waiting for today.religiously an auspicious day,Naga Panchami.today was pambin kavil puja in our Naga temple too.on the same day,we offer one day's puja at Chemabalakulangara Devi Temple.our machil Bhagawathy is in this devi temple.preparations started days before for Naga pooja.and today is uthram,amma's star.since days nanda was running around arranging the pooja materials;i just can't imagine how she can do all these without any help.early morning nanda and amma with the helper drove down to Guruvayoour.our house is in a nearby village.like my little star, nanda drives so well.[i enjoy being with her when she is behind the steering wheel].after going to Devi Temple,praying and receiving prasadam they reached our house.it's so difficult when the house is closed for months and you have to open it and start right from cleaning.madhav and family also joined in the pooja.i satisfy myself with the detailed information from amma and nanda.these days it is very difficult to conduct these rituals.i'm so happy that amma could attend the poojas.you know friends,one friday years before when amma was sitting in sit out in the evening,one snake appeared near the steps;only then amma remembered,that evening amma had forgotten to light the lamp.we often see snakes and mongoose in our landed property.by evening,the cleaning will be done once again,and to lock our house and go back to trichur.i know,nanda,it's so tedious.you will be blessed and the peace prevails.pulluvan pattu was sung in hindu families these days.pulluvar perform nagakalm pattu pooja and we had conducted it in our Ayyappa Temple.that attracted many devotees.

after the Naag Pooja,it rained heavily.what a refreshing experience!i terribly missed the pooja and i can visulise what was happening.when the pooja goes on all of us chant the Naaga prayer written by Amma.

with thick trees,bountiful rains,muddy rivers,spectacular waterfalls,steep hills and the bridges connecting villages,it's an ideal place to live.but,i miss my home,the poojas,the rituals,my amma n my dear ones.i have taken a break from the hectic life style and i'm trying hard to relax and get rejuvenated. but we adjust lives in our second homes.but often,i live in a dreamworld,cherishing the childhood memories.each and every happening take life infront of me.

Naaga Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day of Shravan month.the festival is celebrated all over the country.it is one of the most important Hindu festivals celebrated on the fifth day of the first fortnight of the month of Shravan.mud idols of the snakes are worshipped on this auspicious day with offerings of leaves of Bel,Durva and Tulsi,Milk and puffed corn;before sunset, the same day the Naga idol is immersed.the festival dates back in time right to the pre-vedic period.idols of snakes were found at Mohenjodaro.the snake around Lord Shiva's neck and the seven-headed serpent that Lord Vishnu rests on are just two references to snakes in the Indian culture.Snakes which are usually feared,are also worshipped.fear of death through snakebite,especially during the rainy season could be a reason behind the origin of Naag Pooja.whatsover the reason,this day calls for their worship and no snake is to be harmed this day.and here,we have a wooden statue of a serpent,in our home.the carpenter has carved the shape so,well.

Ladies keep fasting the previous day.and early morning of Nag Panchami,they offer pooja,milk,flowers and layo to Nagas to protect their brothers by saying,''Dudh,layo chakh......Bhavak majya rakh....''[consume the milk and layo-puffed rice-and protect my brother]''.one of the highlights of the day is the preparation of the traditional sweet,'patolleo''.this is so delicious.a paste of rice flour is spread on a turmeric leaf,a mixture of coconut and jaggery is added to it and it is then steamed to perfection.this is our ada,what we prepare in vazhayila[plantain leaf].but today morning ,i tasted pateolleo the prasad from SHREE AYYAPPA T EMPLE.''wow''.what a unique smell of manjal ila[turmeric leaf]!you must give it a try.for the last so many days,i was seeing vegetable sellers selling bunches of turmeric leaves-Rs.10/ for twenty five leaves.

One particular belief is that snakes drink milk.this has led to the offering of milk to snakes on Naag Panchami.it's not right to offer milk to snakes as their system doesn't digest it well and it could even kill them.

Since ancient times,snakes have been protecting crops from rats and other pests.this festival signifies the gratitude of people towards snakes.snakes do have a role to play in the ecosystem.they have a right to life just as much as we do.just as we respect and worship them on Naag Panchami we should ideally do so throughout the year.Naag Panchami is an eco festival.Buddhists and Jains also perform thepooja.Even in countries like China and Japan people believe in the Snake God.people should realise the importance of snakes in nature and not kill them mercilessly.let's educate people on how to protect snakes.

Friends,please be the part and parcel of each and every festival of your state and the state where you live.i must tell you,it's amazing,exploring the roots,the stories behind each festival.and i love to interview local people to know their views and ways of celebrations.and this time i was interviewing mangala ,the local resident.i felt so nice when she invited me to her house.

It's anu signing off..................................

friends,i must express my sincere thanks and love to my friends abroad who were with me till this moment and their presence made a real difference.

anu wants to take a short break from mails,posts,chats and phone calls and i hope no questions will be asked.getting to know one's own soul and to be with one self is the need of the hour as the burning heart needs loneliness.

let's love the rain,the birds,the animals,the river,the sea and the universe.anu loves you all.

and today's dedication is my amma's favourite song-anu also loves this song.....................and for the next days,anu will be with her Kannan................

Ambhalapuzhe unnikannanodu nee

Enthu paribhavam melleyothi vannuvo?

Kalvilakkukal pathi minni nilkkave...................

Enthu nalkuvan enee kaathu ninnu nee..................[please enjoy the song praising UNNIKANNAN by watching the video given above].

wishing all of you friends, a beautiful evening...............................and i will get back to you after my short break............................

sasneham,

anu

Saturday TastyLinks™!

Image Copyright Enoch Bolles

Well hell, Maybelle, has it really been a week? Really? I'm almost ready to leave for Orlando, just a few more things to do before I go on Monday morning. I'll have an I Love to Create post for you this Tuesday, but that's probably going to be all she wrote until the following Monday. I promise to give you a peek at my CHA Show trip.

I wanted to send a little Linky Love shower to my dear friend Fernando DaSilva for the glowing review he posted yesterday of Beyond the Bead. He's an amazing designer, and if you've not visited his blog and website you're really missing out. I truly appreciate his high fashion sensibility and effervescent personality. We're on the Beadalon Design Team with Katie Hacker and I think we make a great team. I'm a lucky gal for sure!

Here's this week sampling of TastyLinks from The Crafty Bloggers! Open wide and say, "Ah!"

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love 25 Signs that you love to create!

The Artful Crafter Do you know what a bead board is? No, not the kind you nail to the wall. LOL.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Check out a A Floral-tasticly good project from the new book- Kanzashi in Bloom

Naughty Secretary Club Jen takes some of her favorite free embroidery patterns on the net and transforms them into plush dolls.

Mixed Media Artist If you get inspired by seeing fabulous work by other artists, check out some of the fabulous profiles that Cyndi has posted!

Crafty Princess Diaries If you have always wanted to make your own crafting video but didn't think you had the techie know-how, then you'll love this new free software the Crafty Princess recently discovered.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to do recycled paper napkin casting, make a movable fighting girl element, an interview with Norma V. Toraya author of Paper Puppet Palooza, a video on how to die cut and needle felt a bookmark from a recycled wool sweater and how to create a window for pressed botanicals in your gathering journal.

Cathie Filian Whip up a custom belt buckle with a little paper, creativity and Dimensional Magic.

Aileen's Musings Aileen has an exciting announcement! She's just finished creating a book for Project Ties That Bind benefiting Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF). 100% of all proceeds from the book are going to OCRF. Stop by and take a sneak peek at this beautiful 68 page book filled with beautiful vivid pictures and inspirational quotes and stories.

About.com Cross Stitch Can You Stitch and Ride? Connie barely can and she wants to hear what your situation is - be sure to read the comments and add your own.

About Family Crafts Is it too early to start thinking about Halloween crafting? How early do you start your Halloween planning?

The Impatient Crafter Madge shares a couple of sneak peeks of some mixed media jewelry she's created to wear to the CHA Show!