Friday, June 28, 2013

The Cup's First Collage

Evenin' everyone!  Not long after getting home from our maiden Java Journey together, I created The Cup's very first camping collage.  I've been doing these fun remembrances with SplashT@B since our first trip way back in 2007.  It's only fitting that I make them for The Coffee Cup too!  A click on the collage will enlarge it for you to see it a bit better.


Here's to all my camping buddies from Rob's R-Pod & Friends Rally!  Have a great 4th of July holiday and remember . . . 

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Coffee Cup Thank You Notes


Being in an artsy-fartsy mood lately and having a need for some thank you cards, I spent the afternoon in my studio creating some coffee-themed cards.  I really didn't have a design in mind when I started, but one came together quickly once I got several sheets of plain and patterned scrapbooking paper pulled from my stash.

Several years before there was even a daydream of a vintage trailer, I was making an altered book with a coffee theme. Because of that, I had all the right colors of paper, lots of rubber stamps, and even a bunch of stamps I designed and carved myself. 

PUNCHED PAPER, MESSAGES & ACCENT STRIPS READY
ACCENT STRIPS AND ENVELOPES READY
FOUR NEAT RUBBER COFFEE STAMPS
ANOTHER TRIO OF RUBBER STAMPS 
COFFEE-THEMED STAMPS IN MY COLLECTION
2002 STAMPIN' UP SET

Rubber stamps can be pricy, so I decided at some point to make my own and it wasn't as difficult as you might imagine.  I made a dozen or so and they turned out quite well I think.

THREE COFFEE CUP DESIGNS
COFFEE AND TWO MUGS

After about an hour of stamping messages, punching out shapes, cutting paper stock, and taping everything together, I now have a supply of thank you notes ready to pop in the mail!

FOUR NICE NOTE CARDS
FOUR MORE IN MY SUPPLY

Thanks a latte for dropping by again today to share a bit of my Java Journey and remember . . . 

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"




Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Java Trailer Lights

OK campers, here are my homemade java trailer lights as promised!  Let me state right up front that I cannot take credit for these lights though since I snitched the idea from Pinterest . . . LOL.  Your supply list will be a short one, inexpensive one, so have at it yourself!!

SUPPLIES:

- Mod Podge {I used the one for fabric}
- plastic cocktail cups {I used Solo}
- X-acto knife
- fabric of your choice
- cutting mat & rotary cutter {plain ole scissors will work too}
- old paintbrush {Mod Podge can gunk up a good brush if not washed out quickly}
- string or two of outdoor Christmas lights with tiny bulbs

WHAT YOU DO:


1.  Make a template by rolling a plastic cup on paper and drawing the outline as you go.  I marked a starting point on the cup so I knew when to stop rolling and how far to overlap.


2. Transfer the template to a sturdier piece of paper like a file folder or cardboard so it holds up to multiple tracings.  If your fabric has a definite vertical pattern like mine did, mark your template so you cut it correctly each time.  If not, just trace and cut out any which way you want.


3.  With a fine point marker, trace your pattern on the reverse side of the fabric and then cut it out.  Here's where I used my rotary cutter and cutting mat, but a pair of scissors will work just fine.


4.  Grab your old paintbrush, then pour some Mod Podge in a smaller container.  I slipped my hand inside the Solo cup to hold it steady while I painted on the Podge.


5.  I put a nice even layer all the way around.


6.  With the X-acto knife, poke a hole in the middle of the cup on the bottom, then cut a cross.  I cut a couple before gluing on the fabric, but found out that it actually stiffens the cup a bit to do it after the fabric has been put on and allowed to dry.  


7.  While the Mod Podge is still wet, position the fabric and rotate the cup around so that the fabric sticks.  Work out any bubbles with your fingers.  I applied a little more Podge where the fabric overlapped to hold it in place.  After the fabric dried completely, I trimmed some edges to straighten them up.

 
8.  Let your lights dry overnight and then apply another layer of Mod Podge on the outside of the fabric.

9.  Push your small Christmas light through the + on the bottom of the cup.  I put a shade on every other light, but you can put one on each light if you choose.



I keep both strands of lights stored in one of my vintage train cases.  Here's one strand attached to the front of The Coffee Cup's window . . . 


Thanks for being patient as I located the photos and I encourage you to make some trailer lights unique to your sweet trailer!!  Have a great day and always remember . . . 

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"



Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Raffiaware Ice Bucket

I had intended to tell you today about the trailer lights I made for The Coffee Cup, but I cannot find the folder that has those photos and I'm too settled in for the evening to do a serious search for them.  Instead, I'll tell you about my most excellent find at the Sweeten Creek Antique Mall near Biltmore Village this past weekend.

I bet we hadn't been there five minutes when I looked down and sitting on the bottom rung of a step stool was the ice bucket.  I haven't been actively looking for an ice bucket, but was just hoping that I would run across a nice one on one of our junkin' junkets.  Unlike the sky-high prices at The ScreenDoor, the price of $18 was just right on this!




It's a perfect match for the beige raffiaware glasses I've been able to find over the past year, so I'm tickled to death with it.

I promise I'll locate those trailer light photos and share them with you tomorrow.  I've got several Coffee Cup projects in mind and look forward to showing them to you in the coming weeks also.  In the meantime, thanks for stopping by, and always remember . . . 

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"

Monday, June 24, 2013

R-pod & Friends Finale

Welcome back to another week of news from my sweet Coffee Cup.  Today I'll give you a final report on my recent camping trip with Cousins Rob and Trisha at their R-pod & Friends Rally.  

As you know, it was our maiden voyage together and it couldn't have been more perfect!  The entire five days were filled with friends and food and fellowship . . . camping-style.   

It gave me an opportunity to start a collection of Coffee Cup camping photos, trade names and comments from folks who wanted to peep inside for a tour, show off items I've made and collected for her, answer questions from oodles of curious campers, go junkin' for treasures, and simply relax and have fun! 

EARLY SUNDAY MORNING IN THE HOLLER
TAKING MY TIME PACKING UP FOR HOME
TRAILER LIGHTS MADE FROM SOLO CUPS & FABRIC
JUNKIN' FINDS: CAMP STOOL & TABLE, COFFEE TIN, BROWN THERMOS
SATURDAY AFTERNOON HAPPY HOUR AT MY "HOUSE"
Thanks for stopping in on this last Monday in June.  If you happen to have a bit of time to come back tomorrow, I'll share some information with you about those cute little trailer lights that were hanging on The Cup's front window.  Ta ta from me and The Coffee Cup!!


"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"

Friday, June 21, 2013

It's All Good With Friends . . .

It's been so wonderful this week to be able to share java stories and photos with you of an actual camping trip . . . not a daydream, not a wistful vision, but an actual adventure!  That Long, Long Wait seems like a long time ago.  I'll wrap up this week of coffee-camping with a few more photos and Scotty tales before heading off to The Wee Cabin with Becky and the Schnauzer Herd for the weekend.

Rob and Trisha fixed everyone a Welcome Bag for the R-Pod & Friends event last week.  I think I threw them a curveball by bringing The Cup instead of SplashT@B.  Most everything in the goodie bag was lime green and blue except for one sweet item . . . a potholder with "The Cup" embroidered on it.  Have a look . . . 


Friday and Saturday at the rally were so much fun mainly because we got to explore the High Country with Rich and Sue. Now don't get me wrong . . . I love spending time with ALL my camping buddies, but it's extra special to get such quality time with dear friends!

One thing that we almost always do is play some kind of card or board game.  I usually like to sit back, watch, and listen to all the fun.  But if the game is Phase 10, I'll jump in for a game or two. We spent Saturday afternoon rolling dice on the picnic table outside the Scotty.  Can you see the tablecloth?  It's got coffee stuff all over it.  That was one of my unexpected finds in the sale bin at Hancock Fabrics . . . tee hee.


As I mentioned earlier, I gave so many Scotty tours over the weekend that I lost count!  At one time or another, I had upwards of four or five people inside looking at all my java goodies.  So I thought I'd share some of what they saw with you . . . 






I'll have a few more posts for you after I get back from the mountains, but in the meantime, I hope you have a great weekend, and remember . . . 

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"

Thursday, June 20, 2013

A Great Scotty Thursday

Darting around the campground all weekend was a precious kitten. It wasn't afraid of all the pups and it would jump on the lap of anyone who was willing to let it cuddle.  I am not much of a cat person, but I must admit it was pretty cute.  Trisha was calling it "Bean", as in coffee bean, and telling me to take it home.  Well that just wasn't going to happen, but I did hold it every time it came around to visit.


Becky had church duties on Wednesday evening, so she wasn't able to join me until Thursday morning. She was with me throughout the Long, Long Wait, so being able to camp in The Cup for the first time was special for her too.  We quickly found out that we didn't have to do the "dance" around each other inside the Scotty like we have to do inside the T@B.  It was so nice to be in separate beds too . . . tee hee!


When working through my wish list in the planning and re-framing stages, I knew exactly where I wanted a TV to be mounted.  On the back side of the tall cabinet, with a swivel arm mounted, Becky and I would be able to watch TV from both beds if we wanted to.  When not in use, the TV is completely out of sight and that was the whole plan all along.


We made a quick trip to Walmart around lunchtime for a few items and before the predicted afternoon storms arrived.  One thing on my shopping list was a folding wooden drying rack similar to what my Sister-friend Rebecca has for the Bookmobile. What I didn't realize was that I would have to put it together. Thank goodness another item on my shopping list was a small hammer . . . LOL!



Those thunderstorms rolled in mid-afternoon and it was a good test of The Cup's water-tightness.  I'm so tickled to report that everything was A-ok . . . no drips, no leaks, not a drop of water to be found!  Sue sat with us throughout the entire storm and it was nice to have room for a visitor to sit and keep the front window open for ventilation.  Add it to the list of reasons I love this camper so much!!



After wiping down the picnic table and putting down plastic to sit on, we joined our neighbors Tink, Tom and Ella for supper.  Bec brought marinated chicken breasts that Tom grilled for us and along with our veggie salad, we had another excellent camping supper.



We both joined Rich and Sue in their T@B called "Happy Camper" for several games of Phase 10 before finally calling it a day and getting ready for Beck's first night in the Scotty. 


I appreciate you coming by today to hear a little more about my maiden Java-Jouney.  I'll see ya back here tomorrow and always remember . . . 

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

A Hella-Cool Happy

Over the course of the last two years, I've received so many java-related happies for The Coffee Cup.  They have ranged from plastic trays to candles, books to napkins, place mats to bumper stickers, postcards to coffee cups.  

Without a doubt, one of the most special gifts I've gotten was given to me last weekend by my dear friends Rich and Sue.  At the Blue Ridge Rally, Sue told me to measure the spare tire on the Scotty because they were going to get a Life Is Good tire cover for me.  I was blown away to say the least!

Here you see what The Cup's generic white tire cover looked like before . . . 


Here's what her gorgeous new Life Is Good tire cover looks like after . . .


Is that just beyond hella-cool or what?!!  While shopping in Valle Crucis on Friday, all of us bought new Life Is Good t-shirts at the Mast General Store, so posing in front of the tire cover in our shirts was a no-brainer.


Without a shadow of a doubt, my sweet Coffee Cup and my dear friends make my life sooooooo very good!


"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"