What can I craft this Tuesday? A Long Distance Mug

As much as I love a good alliteration, Tuesday Thriftovers wasn't working for everything I wanted to do. It's restrictive and I didn't like it. So I'm renaming Tuesdays. Don't worry, it's all the stuff you would've gotten anyway. Here's today's post:

I'm not sure what's gotten into me, but I'm all into Christmas right now. I've already gotten presents for my mom, my sister-in-law, and I've started on my nephews. I saw this really neat pin a while ago and I knew instantly I wanted to make it for my best friend. Since she doesn't read my blog (yet) I can post it here well before Christmas time. As I mentioned before I'm going to add more pictures of my steps so you can see the progress at each step.

I started with two plain white mugs I picked up from the dollar store. I had a black sharpie, black sharpie paint pen, and red bic permanent market on hand.

I wanted it to look and with Colorado it's not hard because let's face it, it's a box. New York is a bit trickier. No matter, I printed out pictures of each state and used my superior scissor skills to make templates. I held down the Colorado template because it was four straight-ish lines. I taped down the New York in order to keep it steady.

Here's the result. See, Colorado is totally a box.

Then I added little hearts as to where we both live. She lives in Denver, I live near Albany. You can see the map on my monitor that I used to put the hearts in the general vicinity of where they are actually.

I found this quote that I love and it always reminds me of our friendship. "Together forever, never apart. Maybe in distance but never in heart."

Then I threw these bad boys in my cold oven to set the ink and mesh it with the glaze.

I set my oven for 400 F and let the mugs heat up with the oven. Then I set my timer for 30 minutes and went back to work. After the 30 minutes I turned off the oven and let the mugs cool down with the oven.

 

After they were cool, I wiped them down to make sure I didn't screw up the ink was truly set. While working on this today I found a great post with some tips and tricks for crafty on mugs, plates, etcs. Now I wait for Christmas so I can send it out! I'll package it with tea, some honey sticks, and a note of love to her!

I'll leave you with a picture of us from my wedding. Love you Christina!

Tunetastic Thursday - New Order "Love Vigilantes"

I believe this is a fitting song as our President lobbies for a strike in Syria this week. It's hard to imagine that we ended an eight year war a little less than two years ago and another war, nearly twelve years long, is still going on. I don't want to get political or anything like that. I'll just leave you with some great lyrics.

Iron and Wine also does a fantastic cover of "Love Vigilantes" by New Order. It's a little more mellow and might make you think a bit more. I know I will and then I'll say a quick "thank you" to all the troops that protect us and are on the front lines. Then I'll say a quick prayer that they'll make it home at the end of their tour.

What's on your play list this week? Do you have songs that remind you of current events? What about songs that go along to some of your memories? Feel free to share.

Tuesday Traveler - Columbus, Ohio

One of the really neat things about my job (or maybe it's the company) is that I can be a part of the guest auditor program. The program allows finance professionals to join the internal audit team on various audits around the world. Last week I was selected to go to Columbus to help the team with annual SOX audits. Not the most exciting thing ever, but I get to travel. I'm hoping next year I'll be able to travel some place exciting like Termoli, Italy or Leverkusen, Germany.

The one downside to traveling to Columbus is that the folks I work with there are based there so at night I'm on my own. I don't know about you, but there's nothing more awkward than "table for one, please." I did get to eat at some fantastic places for dinner and I managed to check out the Columbus Art Museum. Here's some photos of my adventures.

The awesome light show when switching terminals in Detroit.

Dinner at Milestone 229.

View from dinner overlooking John W. Galbreath Bicentennial Park

A walk down the Scioto Mile.

What city wouldn't think like this?

Dessert at Barley's Brewing - Crème brûlée with grand mariner? Yum!

Dessert at Due Amici - S'more

When all you bring are short sleeved tops, finding a random space heater is a God send.

The Columbus Art Museum.

Right there in the middle of Downtown, there's these great older buildings, just hiding out amongst the skyscrapers.

Goodnight Colombus! It's been real.

Have you been to Columbus before? What did you do when you were there? I'm sure I'll be back there again and I'd love to try something new.

Happy September - Happy Wedding Day!

This past week I was Columbus, Ohio for work. I flew back in earlier on Friday because today, September 1st, my cousin is getting married! We've been like sisters since birth, being only two months and a day apart, and I'm her matron of honor. I'm a nervous wreck over speaking in front of family and friends, although I rather like the speech I have prepared. Happy wedding day, Katie and Alex!

But today is also the first day of the month and I didn't want to not give you a printable! This one is really for all of Fall which will be good for the next three or so months. I hope you like it. Don't worry I won't gyp you on October and November.

September Printable Mash Up

Later on this week I'll post about my adventures in Columbus. Unfortunately, the hubbs couldn't join me again because school started last Monday for him. The team I was working with is based in Columbus so at night I was on my own. I hope it's not just me, but isn't it always a little awkward walking into a restaurant and saying, "table for one, please?" I managed to not look completely weird though, at least I think.

I have so much to share this week besides our regular posts. Let's hope I find the time to write it all up. In the meantime, have a wonderful and safe Labor Day!

Tunetastic Thursday - Erick Baker "Unbroken Promise"

For some reason, I've been in a really lovey state of mind. I find that music tends to exacerbates moods and feelings. Naturally, I have been listening to just that type of music. Or at least music that has "mellow instrumentation, folk influences, acoustic sonority, a twelve-eight time signature and repetitive melodic phrasing." (Thanks Pandora for the descriptors.)

I've been a member of Pandora for quite a while. I joined when I was in college and have really enjoyed the music it's opened me up to. When I was planning my wedding, I first heard about Ray LaMontagne. Like with most good music I initially listen to, I become obsessed and listen to songs/artists on repeat until I hate them. I saw a meme once that described my process to a "T."

But I always come back 'round. Which brings me back to the oldie but goodie, my Ray LaMontagne station. Of course they play him, but they also play great artists like Amos Lee (who I've seen live - awesome!), the Head & the Heart, Bill Withers, and Van Morrison. One person I hear every now and again is Erick Baker. The song "Unbroken Promise" is really good and I love the way it makes me feel. Then again, who wouldn't want a man to sing them promises of the best love and plans for the rest of your life? I've shared the station here so you can enjoy the mix too.

What's on your playlist this week? Do you listen to music to put or keep you in a certain mood? What puts you in a happy place?

Tuesday Thriftovers - Closet Reorganization

We have limited storage options in our apartment. Ryan has a closet, I have a closet, and there's a closet in the living room. Mine is the biggest (surprise, surprise) but it works like quadruple duty. It acts as clothes closet, craft closet, hobby storage, and guest bed storage. Things just tended to get shoved in with no rhyme or reason. My crazy got a hold recently and that disorganization needed to change. Here's a disappointing before picture of the closet.

Basically, it was a disaster. I could get to my clothes easily enough but crafting supplies, wrapping supplies, workout gear, etc...was pure hell. So naturally when you start any good project you start with a blank slate. This involved pulling EVERYTHING out.

Didn't know all that stuff could fit in there could you? I was shocked too. 

Now I loathe my closet system. It's heavy duty but it's free standing and not anchored. (The back wall is brick which makes it difficult to get any useful closet system in there.) I do like the brass color though. But it's all "stackable" shelves. So unless you want to deconstruct the entire thing, you're stuck with how you initially put that sucker together. I didn't want to put the plastic drawers I had back in so I "relieved" my parents of this old french country style dresser. 

I started with a trip to the dollar store to pick up some baskets for colored pencils, markers, sharpies, etc. For about $5 I picked up everything I needed. Then I went to work going through all my craft supplies. I weeded out all the dried up markers, all the crusty paint brushes, and all the random momentos I don't need. Then I organized my clothes, getting rid of things I don't wear and folding up t-shirts to put in an empty drawer.

Here's what my closet looks like now.

My hobby and craft stuff is all organized to the right of the closet. The clothes on the top rack and left tower. I love it. It might not be the best closet set up but it works for now. Someday I'll have a professionally designed closet that has plenty of storage for clothes, exercise crap, and craft items. 

Next week I should have a good one. I went shopping in my parents basement for some upcycling ideas and came back with a few old drawers and crates. I can't wait to dive into those projects. 

I'm thinking about taking more pictures of the steps of the projects. I know when I pinterest I like to see the process steps. Is that something you would like to see? What are you working on this week?

Tunetastic Thursday - Vampire Weekend "Unbelievers"

My favorite radio station, WEQX, is always bringing me great new music. I heard this little diddy on the way to work on Monday and haven't been able to get it out of my head since then. I didn't catch the name of it that morning as I was rushing into work but thankfully EQX puts up their playlist online. I just went online that night and found out who it was. How I didn't guess Vampire Weekend was beyond me. I hope you like it. And if you haven't listened to EQX yet, do it. Go check them out. They stream online. It's free (after you pay your internet bill or go to the library).

After you listen to them for an hour or so and still aren't convinced they're the bees knees, know that they bring awesome bands and artists to the Capital District. In about a month, they'll host the annual Pearl Palooza. A free outdoor concert that lasts all day, with bands like Portugal the Man and Crystal Fighters.

What's been on your playlist lately? I'm always up for listening to something new. I'd love to know what you're into.