Bentley Boutique Craft Blog has Moved

Please visit me at my new location http://bentleyboutique.com/craftblog/.

Bentley Drinkware was Featured in Ty Pennington’s AT HOME Magazine

Mama is proud! Please read about it at my new location. http://bentleyboutique.com/craftblog/2009/07/21/bentley-drinkware-was-featured-in-ty-penningtons-at-home-magazine

Michaels 40% off coupon

Click here for this week’s 40% off one item at Michaels. Valid from June 28 – July 4.

From Cracker Box to Firetruck

Have you noticed that I seem to be taking a lot of trips down memory lane lately? I've been going through my computer and finding all these projects that I made for my boys when they were smaller. I think I'm getting sentimental about them becoming teenagers, so I'm reliving the past through craft projects! I need therapy.

But in the mean time, what do you do with a cracker box?? Make a firetruck out of it, of course!

The boxes, er, I mean firetrucks, don't actually roll. That would be a nice addition if you can figure out how to do it.

These were actually made as valentine boxes (the top opens to hold the valentines). But you don't have to wait 'till Valentine's Day. Every little boy needs a firetruck, and they could hide their secret treasures in the box.

It's been a few years since I made these, so I don't have the exact instructions. But basically you cover a cracker box with red paper. I think I used red poster board for the side panels. The ladder was made from popsicle sticks and toothpicks. And I'm pretty sure that toilet paper rolls are under the truck, along with round wheels cut out of poster board.

The best part, of course, are the drivers! For the side window, I had them hold a frisbee like a steering wheel, and look to the side, then I snapped the picture. Of course, they were dressed up in their fireman outfits. Glue the picture to the window, as pictured. And for the front window, I had them look straight ahead while holding the frisbee, and I added a clip art dog!

Leave me a comment and let me know if you make one. I'd love to see a picture!

My Bind It All Book from Craft Junkie Too

Remember a few posts back I mentioned that I won a Bind It All Book from Tracy at Craft Junkie Too? Well... Ta Da! Here it is:

Isn't it gorgeous? It's personalized with my initial. I love the colors and the flower. She even decorated the spiral binding!

I will use it for something special, like maybe a journal for keeping up with all my blogging ideas:)

She even included a darling handmade card, which probably took as long to make as the journal did!

See more of Tracy's incredible projects at Craft Junkie Too.

Thanks, Tracy!

How to Age Perfectly Imperfect - or Cement Geckos on my Patio

A good friend sent me this today, and it seemed worthy of sharing! I admire the author, whoever she may be, for her positive attitude and outlook on life. If I can be a tenth as positive as she is, that would be a great achievement! I can say that I feel more empowered and liberated with every birthday:)

How to Age Imperfect

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio.. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging..

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 70's & 80's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love .... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old. I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free.. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).

The End.

Note from me. With that being said, I'm still waging war with those wrinkles and gray stuff.... so I'm drinking my Fountain of Youth Water. You can too... Have one on me. Just click on the label below for a larger view, then save to your computer. Print out, laminate if you wish, and tape to a water bottle.

Become Superman in 5 Easy Steps!

Step 1 : Lay on floor, arms outstretched, wearing a red cape (made from mom's $20 a yard red stretch velvet fabric, cut out when she wasn't looking).

Step 2: Get Dad to hold up the ends of the cape.

Step 3: Ask Mom to snap a picture.

Step 4: Ask Mom to remove the background, using Paint Shop Pro or another graphic editing program.

Step 5: Add a sky background, frame, and hang in a prominent place. Brag about your flying skills to everyone who sees it!

Introducing the New and Improved Me!

Ta Da! What do you think of the new me?

Maree at http://workathomedesigns.blogspot.com created "me." Smooth skin, big eyes, and a longer neck! Hey, it's cheaper than a facelift!

Here's what she started with:

Bentley Boutique has Moved to Wordpress

Big News - I've taken the plunge and moved my blog over to my website, using wordpress. This will be quite a learning curve for me, so bear with me while I get everything transferred. I love the new look. (Thanks to Revka at Berries and Cream Blog Design).

So please visit me at my new blog. I don't know if I can transfer my followers or not, so I might have to ask that you re-follow me there. Is that a word, re-follow?

5 Creative Things Your Kids Can Do with Your Hair Rollers

One day when my boys were about 5 years old, Nathan found these velcro hair rollers that I never used, and said, "Look mom, binoculars!"

Then he said, "Look mom, it's a spy gun!"

Next it was "Look mom, I'm George Washington!"

Then Mickey Mouse got his turn:


Ok, I was a little worried at first when he came up with this pose, but then he said, "Look mom, I'm a muscle man!"

I still have the hair rollers, but he hasn't played with them in 9 years:)