Consignment Sale Savings

So this is what I have been up to lately.  It's that time of year again, the fall and winter consignment sales. 

Consignment Sales are a lot of work, but they also come with a lot of rewards. 

It takes a lot of time to check each item for stains, holes, etc. then hang them correctly.   You also have to input each item into the computer, print and cut out the tags and then pin them on each piece.  You then have to set up an appointment time to drop them off.

The benefits are that, when you consign, you also get to shop early before it opens to the general public.  Another benefit is that you can make quite a bit of money. I usually make more than I spend which is always a good thing.  My dropoff day is Monday of next week.  I get to shop on Wednesday of next week.  I let you know how it goes!

Shadow Box Monograms

Hello, hello!! My sweet and awesome little sister just never ceases to amaze me!! She was looking for a special gift to give her friend for her birthday.  Her friend is in the process of buying a new home so she wanted to make her something for her new house.  Here is what she came up with:

It is a shadow box with rustic wood backing.  She used the jute string to wrap the letters.  She centered the first letter of their last name.  On each side she put her husband's initial and her initial.  I think it turned out pretty awesome.  She has also started making the single monograms and guess what she has so graciously offered to do for me and you,  A GIVEAWAY!!  See, I told you she was awesome, didn't I?  She has offered to giveaway to one lucky winner, a single hanging jute monogram with the letter of the winner's choice.  She is also taking orders for the monogram shadow boxes or the single hanging monograms, all made to order.  The price for the shadow boxes is $50 plus shipping.  The price for the single letter monograms is $20 plus shipping.  Just email me with any questions or orders at applesandpnutbutter@yahoo.com  

Have a great day and good luck.  To enter below for the giveaway,  all you have to do is follow Apples and Peanut Butter via GFC. If you're already a follower, awesome, just leave me a comment below. For an additional chance to win, follow Apples and Peanut Butter on Pinterest. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking to:

I Should Be Mopping the Floor
Sew Chatty
Flour Me With Love
The NY Melrose Family
Sew Much Ado
The Shabby Nest

Freezer Corn Tips

If you garden, or even if you don't and you like garden food, you have probably been canning and putting up freezer items a lot lately.  We just put up 12 dozen ears of corn this past weekend. 

Here are a few of the tips and tricks that I have learned about putting up freezer corn.  First, the best thing is to have at least two people helping to make things move along faster.  My husband would shuck the corn and then I would wash it and put it on to boil.  I had two big pots going at the same time.  I would boil them for 10-12 minutes after they started to boil.  I laid towels out on the island to put each ear on to dry a little first.

One thing that I found worked well was using a steak knife to cut the corn off of the cob.  I had tried many different knives and gadgets and the steak knife worked great to get the corn to come off in big pieces and it makes a close cut.

Another thing that was helpful was to use the really thin cutting boards that usually come in a package of two.  That way, when you are ready to put the corn into freezer bags, you can just roll it up and pop the corn down into the bag without making a huge mess.

Last, learn from my mistake, don't stack the bags on top of each other on the counter before you are ready to put it in the freezer.  The weight of the bags on top may cause the one or ones on the bottom to pop open and squeeze the juice out:(

Have a great day and good luck with your adventures in freezing and canning!!

Linking to:
Stringtown Home
The Shabby Creek Cottage

Antique Store Finds

Hope everyone is having a great week!  I had to start back to school this week:(  I am going to miss me some babies, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.  Just wanted to do a quick post to let you see some of my antique store finds.  Score!!

First is this adorable "Grease" container.  I absolutely loved this especially the design around it.

I also found this cute vintage flour sifter with the red handle.  I'm not sure which decade the red handles are from.

Last was this awesome pitcher.  Love it.  I put it in my china cabinet.  Have a great weekend:)

Linking to:

Two Sasters

Stenciling Walls

I have still been working on our two youngest daughters' bedroom.  They are 3 and 5 now and share our biggest bedroom.  You know I love the Pottery Barn look, but can't quite afford it.  I wanted to get some vinyl wall decals, but they too can be expensive and I still don't have a Silhouette so I had to improvise. 

I told you before that being a teacher does have its advantages, one of which is access to an overhead projector/transparency machine.  I wanted a "C" monogram and a bird sitting on a branch coming out from the window.  I searched and found pictures of birds, branches, monograms, etc. and put it all together the way I wanted it and printed it off on transparency paper and blew it up on the overhead projector on the wall. 

 Next, I used a pencil to trace it all out on the wall.  Afterwards, I painted in the inside and let each color dry as needed.  Last, after all of the paint was dry, I went back and erased all of the pencil marks with an eraser along the edges.

This is what I came up with. What do you think?  I will share the entire room with you when we get it finished.  Have a great day!!

Linking to:

Our Delightful Home
Stringtown Home
Tip Junkie
Pincushion Creations
Sew Much Ado
Craft-O-Maniac

Beach Wedding

aI had always thought that a beach wedding would be beautiful.  Well I actually got to be a part of one recently.  My cousin just got married on the beach and my kids were all in the wedding.  My two little ones were the flower girls.  The wind was pretty rough, but the wedding was absolutely beautiful. 

Best wishes always guys, we love you and pray that God will bless your new life together!