Cynnamama's Cafe

Easy DIY Upcycle Roller Shade

2012-05-24T20:30:00.000-06:00

You know roller-style window shades are great for privacy and maintain the temperature in your home, but most are awful for style. Fortunately, it's easy to keep the handy roller mechanism and replace the vinyl with a fabric that matches the rest of the decor.

Here’s the story…

Few months ago my son had this shade from his old apartment and I grabbed it from his trash. Yep, he looked at me funny and I said, a “man’s trash is a woman’s treasure!

The day has come…

I couldn’t decide if I wanted fabric, stencil, or ?

I thought, hm? Why can’t I do the words on my roller shade?!

Gleeee!

I am sooo glad I did! I am in love with it. My husband does, too! My son hasn’t seen it yet and can’t wait to show it to him!

What did I do?

I took it in to Lowe’s to have it cut to fit inside my window (free of charge!) and bought brackets, too!

Find words you like…

Enlarge to your desirable font (mine were about 100)

Print (mine was printed in two sheets and taped together- if you want to see how it was done, let me know!)…

Trace with typewriter carbon paper (I kept them since you’ll never know if the typewriter will ever come back and I heard that they are!)

Line and fill with Sharpie Black marker, you can use any color!

Trim the border with black ribbon!

Took me an hour…

Before window:

After window:

Now my kitchen is going to be much cooler since the window is facing south and I think it’s more attractive than looking at my neighbor’s house! ~wink~

Have a great day!

What a Coke-a-brilliant idea!!

2012-02-20T21:17:00.000-07:00

I just love what this blogger has done making a piece of jewelry or charm out of Coca-Cola can! She has stop-by-step making it… take a look!

Pop Can Key Chain

I love about this particular type of art is the materials used. Something super simple can be recycled to make something beautiful. Leave her a comment!

Have a great day! :)

Google Tags: DIY craft

DIY Drop cloth placemat

2012-01-23T17:21:00.000-07:00

Hello! I can’t wait to show you what I have made today.

You see…

I bought myself a new sewing machine just a little after Christmas and I’m finding ideas to make projects! My ole’ Singer sewing machine has finally retired!

Anyho, here it is…

this project was sooo easy, you beginners can do this! It took me 30 minutes from start to finish!

Okay, here what I did. I outlined the existing placemat with a Mark-B Gone marker on two-piece of pre-washed drop cloth. I stitch (if only you can see it in picture below) 1/2” from the marker’s line. I cut along the line with pinky shears and shook it well to release the threads. Do yourself a favor, don’t pull hard if they don’t want to come off, just snip them and from time to time, there will be more fray from wash.

I cut out letters on laser paper using Cricut Plantin SchoolBook, size 2-1/2'”. I stapled (yep, you got that right, a stapler!) the paper onto the placemat including the insides pieces for “e” and an “a”. Using Pebeo Porcelaine brown paint pen was a piece of cake! Remove paper and staples and there you have a easy peasy placemat! Wait for it to dry at least 24 hours before you wash it (it was already dry within an hour).

That is all to it!

I only made one for my kitchen counter!

Like it? I do! :)

Now that’s one project I’ve done…. hm? What’s next?!

More to come…

have a great day!

Google Tags: DIY dropcloth placemat

Reuse Christmas Cards

2011-12-29T14:18:00.000-07:00

Wow, I have to tell you… my daughter and I couldn’t stop making Christmas cards! We wanted to do more, but then we decided we have done enough for this year! I have a huge; I mean huge box load of cards from the last 15 years! Some are easy to scrap, others are complicated, but we won’t give up!

Next Christmas, we’re going to do things a “little'” bit differently, you’ll see! hehe

I used the “velour” ribbon to make dots.

I used Cricut Graphically Speaking for “snow”

I added stocking sticker & ribbon over the existing stocking (Santa’s hand)!

I added glittered ornaments to one of the trees (far right).

Cut out a “window” and a wreath over an existing card.

See the polar bears in the sleigh?! Looks like one of them is peeking! :)

Cut a card into squares to resembles a window.

Added the glitter on the star.

My daughter cut the triangles and created a “star”.

Christmas and snowflake collage.

My daughter cut this angel (way too detailed for my eyes) and added the glitter!

My daughter did the detailed cut out and added the glitter!

Cut three circles and glued them together!

I used Cricut Plantin Schoolbook to make tiny bags for tea lights to give to neighbors. Bag stands 3 1/4” tall… so cute! And cut out stocking for name tag!

My daughter cut out the reindeer & star and added the glitter. She used Swirls & Curls (PR1002) stamp using the color of cranberry ink! So pretty! Nice job, Samantha!

I tore a few pieces of paper for “snow” and added the glitter. Now that looks real! ;)

I used snowflake punch.

Aren’t they fun to look at?

You know, you’re not alone… we need help getting ideas, too, so we searched in Google and Pinterest to get tips!

Not that bad, it was FUN especially doing it with a friend or with family.

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and have a prosperous 2012 New Year!

I have so many projects I want to show you and I’ll do my very best to come back more often next year! Cross your fingers… ;) hehe!

Google Tags: reuse Christmas cards

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'm most thankful for all the people in my life and the freedom to see the world. We all have something to be thankful for.

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Google Tags: holiday of the year

Ham and Egg Crepe Squares recipe I want to share…

2011-09-01T14:58:00.000-06:00

~waving~ Hello, everyone!

It’s been months and months since I’ve been here! My own little world has been spinning so fast I find little time to post anything here!

Ugh! Shame on me!

Yes, I am still so much alive and happy!

Anyho, I came across with the recipe in my Facebook and I MUST share it with you if you love having eggs for breakfast!

Wanna see… look below!

You’ll thank me! :) Click the recipe below the picture!

Ham and Egg Crepe Squares

Whattadayathink?! Doesn’t that look yummy!

Ugh! I’m salivating now! Sorry!

You will have to read the blogger’s story cause she cracked me up!

Anyho, have a wonderful, safe Labor Day weekend.

I’ll do my very best to come back and show you some things I have done for months! In case, you didn’t know, I’ve been blogging nothing but chocolate recipes I’ve been collecting from all over the world!

Check it out!

One and Only Chocolate Chic

Have a great day!

Google Tags: recipe, blog community

A birthday wish…

2011-03-02T07:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Chuckles!

Hope your day comes with lots of love and happiness!

♥ Happy Valentine’s Day! ♥

2011-02-14T09:19:00.000-07:00

Hello!

I know what you’re thinking… heavens forbid, where have you been?

I have been so busy doing stuff around my house, my job, my chocolate blog, on and on.! I really miss this blog so much and I’m coming back to show you some things I have done around my house, scrapbooking, before and after furniture and much more!

I haven’t forgotten you and wanted to be here today to wish you a

happy ♥alentine’s Day!

I’ll be back soon…

really soon!

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Google Tags: holiday of the year, Valentine's Day

2011-01-01T10:01:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year, everyone!

May the new year 2011 bring you all health, happiness, and wealth! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T06:41:00.001-07:00

Yep, today is really my birthday!

and I want to wish you all,

Happy Thanksgiving!

30th Wedding Anniversary!

2010-11-08T07:52:00.001-07:00

Yep, 30 years ago on November, the 8th and we are still in love!

Dear Chuck,

You are truly a blessing from God.

Thank you for being my partner, spouse, lover, and friend.

Happy 30th Anniversary.

Our wedding!

Our 25th Re-vowed Wedding Anniversary!

Nope, no 30th picture as of yet!

We are heading up to the mountains for a get-away!

This picture here; it looks like I’m driving! haha!

We’ll be back soon!

I have great news!

2010-10-25T09:05:00.001-06:00

My son and his finance’ have finally decided their wedding date!

Their wedding bell will ring on

May Seven, Twenty- eleven…

sweet Amanda has asked me to help her with the invitations!

Oh, I’m tickled!

I lurve good news!

Congratulations, Chuck and Amanda!

I’ve posted about their engagement not too long ago and if you like to see it, it’s right here!

Here’s my tip removing Bing from computer…

2010-10-24T14:52:00.002-06:00

I updated Windows Live 2011 about a week ago and apparently, Bing broke into my computer without my approval. Ugh! How rude!

I have always like using Google, it is the most simplest search engine ever since I came to the computer technology about 25 years ago.

Anyway, I have Google searched everywhere to get help deleting Bing with everyone’s tips! Here’s what worked for me in no spare time! I have Mozilla Firefox, for I don’t know it it’d work with IE8.

Anyway,

Click Tools
Click Add-Ons
Enter Extensions

You will see a list of programs to enable or uninstall

If you see, Bing Default Search Engine and click uninstall

My suggestion is to restart the computer and Bing should be gone!

I am not responsible to any damage you may have caused; if you are not so sure, contact a professional!

Have a good day, everyone!

Google Tags: delete Bing Default Search, remove Bing from computer, remove Bing homepage

What a spooktacular idea!

2010-10-22T09:28:00.002-06:00

I have to share this with you all… what a brilliant, cute idea for Halloween! I would love to do this, but I don’t have it that anyone can see, but from our basement!

Take a look at Thrifty Chick blog for her staircase! I love, love, love it! So cauuute!

Halloween is just around the corner! I can’t wait to see trick' o’ treaters and… and I hope the weather will cooperate so they can show off their costumes!

Have a good Friday!

Google Tags: halloween ideas

Birthday Wish for my Sweetest Son

2010-10-07T20:17:00.001-06:00

It's your birthday again! I hope you’ve enjoyed your day because I did when you came into my arms 28 years ago, If I have nine hundred and ninety-nine sons just like you, I’d be the happiest mom in the universe!

Thank you for being a wonderful YOU!

Happy Birthday, Chuckie!

Birthday wish…

2010-10-05T16:32:00.002-06:00

Happy Birthday, Judi!

Wished I can be there to have a beer with ya!

2010 Motorhome Trip

2010-09-07T19:18:00.002-06:00

This digital collage personalized with Smilebox

We took our motorhome trip traveling around southwestern Colorado. Our son and his finance followed us in their truck to get around places to sightsee and visit towns. We stayed in Salida, Ouray, Olathe and Glenwood Springs RV resorts.

We enjoyed 4-wheel rides, hiking, gondola rides, hamburgers & hot dogs, swimming, coffee drinking under our motorhome awning listening to river waves and trains and of course, relaxing in the evenings with sunset. Oooh, one more thing, we even had massages!

Sadly, time went by so fast and we wanted to stay just o.n.e. m.o.r.e. night, but we couldn’t. It was already reserved by someone else for Labor Day weekend.

Google Tags: Colorado, motorhome, RV, sightsee, 4-wheel, hiking, gondola rides, swimming, fishing, massages

Pardon me…

2010-08-20T17:13:00.002-06:00

I’m testing!

Before and After Vanity Chair

2010-08-20T13:21:00.002-06:00

This poor little vanity chair was ~~dumped,~~ ~~thrown,~~ well I guess given up at Goodwill for I have no idea why! It was a little overpriced, $19.99, but I couldn’t walk away from it. I had a great envision of what it was going to look like.

My family dropped their jaws, thought in their heads “Mom, why did you want to have it? It’s ugly, and I hope you didn’t pay for it”!

Well yes, it was ugly, but wait until you see what I’m going to do to it! :)

The first step was sanding it down to bare wood, then patching the cracked veneer on the back of the chair and finally priming it. The last step was painting it!!!! I used Lowe’s Valspar Satin Bistro White finish.

To cover the seat I had to search high and low for fabric at Joann’s and Hancock. The color I was desperately searching for in our master bedroom was something that is lovely, warm, cozy, using white and brown.

I ended up with this floral fabric and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I bought a matching fabric for our piano bench to recover (I forgot to take before picture of it because I was too excited.)

oopsy daisy!

Anyway, here are before and after of the chair. Hope you like it as much as I doooo!!

After

I found the softest feather-like chocolate brown throw at Sam’s Club and I had to have it for our naps! It fits nicely on the shelf, my sweet husband added under the bench!

I love these changes so much, but still have so much work to do. I’ll start with finding an area rug, pillows, and wall art for one of my bare walls.

I’ll show you that soon.

Have you started warming up your spaces? If you are, which room are you doing?!!

We’re packing up our motor home for a 10-day trip in the Rocky Mountains with our son and his fiancée.

After we return, we’ll be heading up to our favorite spot for a weekend and that is Estes Park!

I can’t wait!

See you when I get back and have a safe and fun Labor Day, everyone!

Google Tags: before and after, chair, ottoman, piano bench, thrift finds

Before and After Coffee Table

2010-08-10T17:22:00.003-06:00

I bought this ugly, worn coffee table, but for one dollar, hey! I can’t argue with the sellers! I told them instantly that I was taking it home! They probably thought I was crazy, but I knew they were thrilled to get rid of it!

I got right to work; it’s been awhile since I’ve refinished furniture. It’s a favorite hobby of mine and my husband always gives me the face when he comes home after I’ve found “ junk”.

He hates having the junk in “his garage” because they are in his way…

I have to keep reminding him that it is “my garage” as well because my dad knew how much I love to ~~play~~ work with the tools. He made sure I had his tools after he passed away!

Thanks, daddy!

Before

After

By the way, there are 8 drawers! So roomy to store good stuff within your reach! I bought the hardware at Wal-Mart and they turned out nicely!

I put an ad on Craigslist and wow, did I get emails wanting to buy it, without even touching it!

Here are couple of emails:

Hi,
I'm interested in the coffee table- could you send me the measurements so I can make sure it will fit in my car?
Thanks!

WOW you did a bang up job ! I want it!!! working in westminster get off at 5:30 will this work for you?

Kelli

Well, they didn’t have the luck because they were bit late… first come, first serve is what I do!

Sorry, Craigslisters!

I LOVE to see the outcome with anybody doing to

~~it is~~ ~~totally worthless~~

~~must throw it away into trash~~

their ugly, useless furniture.

Trash to treasure is women’s #1 favorite hobby, don’t ya agree?!

Thanks for looking and I have more before and after furniture to show you!

Have a great day!

Google Tags: painting, before and after, garage sale finds

A Very 1st Birthday Wish for

2010-08-02T07:01:00.002-06:00

my sweetest little granddaughter today!

Happy Birthday, Kyla!

Hope your wish will come true!

Love you, Kyla!

granamama & grandpa

Google Tags: birthday wish, Kyla

2010-08-01T19:43:00.002-06:00

Pardon my mess with my blog background and everything else! I've been so busy doing everything else, I haven't had a chance to take care of this! Sigh!
I'll be working on it to what I'd like of my very OWN!

Have a good evening!

This is totally amazing…

2010-07-20T13:39:00.002-06:00

what do you think?!

Happy Tuesday!

I just don’t get it…

2010-07-12T08:13:00.001-06:00

You damn well can be fooled by what you see in the picture and you pay pretty good amount of money so they can profit.

Before (picture as shown)

Beautiful and healthy looking bowl of broccoli and cauliflower!

Mmmm!

To this?!

After

Oh, come on! Give me a break!

It is why I prefer fresh produce because you get what you want and there will be no waste!

Dear Kroger,

I’m not going to buy any more of your food! And there’s no question about it!

Thank you.

Regards,

cynthia

Anyone have the same situation or is it just me raving?! Sigh!

Have a good day!

Sprinkles Child Apron

2010-07-09T08:24:00.001-06:00

I awed at it so many times and I had to have it while Samantha was searching for some fabric for Kyla’s new outfit for me to sew.

I was surprised to see that I couldn’t find it anything like it in Google or even on Hobby Lobby’s site. I want to know who designed it. There was no signature… if you happen to know, please let me know!

Anyway, it was the simplest preprint pattern I have ever sewn.

Is it easy for sewing beginners?

I’ll say, YES!

It was a piece of cupcake!

Since the fabric was so thin, I added solid black fabric for the back of apron for more sturdiness.

Now I have this cute little apron hanging, awaiting in my kitchen for when my granddaughter grows up. She can bake cookies, cakes, and any sweets she wants to do with granamama, I know she’ll be wearing this apron!

I can’t wait… you see, she’s only 11 1/2 months old!

~giggles~ silly me!

I’m fortunate to have this apron because I don’t think it will be in the coming years! It’s better to have it than being sorry! Right?!

Now I can’t wait hear Kyla saying “more sprinkles please”!

Have you done any sewing lately?

Have a good day!