10th Anniversary Gift :Tin

So if you follow the traditional anniversary gifts,  there are a lot of years where finding something meaningful that follows the medium you are supposed to use is tricky.  For example,  we just celebrated our 10th anniversary on Thursday.  10 years is a big deal,  you would think the gift would be a car, or a house, or some big jewel.  but nope,  tradition says that year 10 is Tin / Aluminium!

So I started to think,  I suppose there is a nice car out there made mostly of aluminium,  or maybe some earrings,  hammered tin?  I am at a loss.  I googled it thinking I couldn't be the first not to know what to do for tin.  I came up pretty empty though.  I even looked on pinterest (which if you know me,  is a pretty big deal) for ideas around 10th anniversary,  and these 2 metals,  there wasn't a lot there either.

One thing I did find in all that searching was how to make candle holders out of old cans.  I thought about it, and decided that it could work,  if somehow I could incorporate the 10th anniversary into the candle holder project.  AH HA!!!  I will get 10 cans,  number them; 1 to 10,  and have them get bigger by the can!  My idea was in place,  only one problem.  I did not have 10 cans.   Which brings me to step 1

Step 1: Have 10 cans

Step 2 could be to start cleaning the cans, but I think that mentioning this part is important too.   When I was at the store,  I was so focused on getting 10 different growing can sizes,  that I paid absolutely no attention to what I was buying.  With the exception of the sauerkraut  and Vienna Sausage,  it was actually mostly all foods that we eat.  The problem?  I cant just tell my wife that I bought a bunch of canned goods,  and we should have a casserole.   So I am not proud of this next part, but no,  I didn't eat any of this.  Although I also didnt waste it.  It went straight into the compost bin,  and will supplement the veggie garden through out the season,  so I will actually be eating it,  eventually.

So here is the real step 2: empty the cans (preferably use the food inside,  or use cans that you already had empty) KEEP THE LIDS!!!

Now that you have 10 empty cans,  you will need to clean them.  This is important especially if you bought things like mushrooms, and sauerkraut,  because no one wants a gift that smells like that ... Gross!

Step 3: Wash the cans

Step 4 is really just an extension of step 3,  but is very important to do before step 5,  step 5 just doesnt work if you dont do step 4.  I know because I accidentally tried it.

Step 4: Dry the cans

Steps 5 and 6 are pretty interchangeable,  as long as the cans are now dry.   If you have ever seen my Etsy Shop,  you know that I like a distressed look,  so I painted the cans before putting the holes in them.  I figured,  if they got a little scratched it would look cool.  

Step 5: Paint the cans

next,  using a small finish nail, and a hammer,  we will put the numbers into each can.  When hammering the nail toward the bottom of the can,  it is relatively easy as the cans structure holds up.  However when hammering the nail toward the open top, the can tends to want to fold in half,  especially the smaller ones.  This is why I said to keep the lids in step 2.   Put the matching lid back onto the can,  and hold it tightly.  you can use tape, or press the can against the side of the workbench to hold the cover on as you hammer it with the nail.  The smaller the nail you use,  the less resistance you will have, but it is also less light at the end.

Step 6: punch holes in the cans

 Here I scratched the number into the paint as a guide.

At this point (ok technically before this point) I realized that buying the cheaper coffee, didnt pay, because it is not tin, or aluminium, its cardboard.  Not a huge deal,  because it actually allowed me to carve the whole word into it rather than just the number,  setting 10 apart from the rest as it is the whole point.

At this point it should look something like this,  I know what you are thinking,  and I dont really like the way the 9 looks either.

Once you have all the holes punched,  you are ready to go.  You will need 10 tea lights,  or other candles,  light them carefully,  and place them in each can.   line them up somewhere you spouse can see them,  and you have yourself a handmade anniversary gift, that represents your 10th anniversary,  and sticks to the traditional material!

Step 7: Light 'em up!!

Oh,  and yes,  we will be going away together for our anniversary later in the year.  We wanted to wait for the baby  to be a little older before we left him for the weekend.

May Day Festival - Kennebunk

Its not NYC, or Chicago,  its not even a suburb of a major city,  it is a coastal town in southern Maine,  and it is where I live.   I love this time of year,  because the farmers market is open again, the Tuesday evening craft fair is firing up,  and this past  weekend,  we had a giant festival day,  and opening day of Little League all at once.

 After the  kids get to walk in the parade, there is an opening day ceremony at the ball park,  complete with national anthem,  and the local baseball teams mascots!

The Library and Church on Main St

Festivities List

Craft fair and Farmers Market all in the same place!!

Too Easy

Not to write lately has become a commodity.  How can that be?  I love writing blogs here,  I bring my camera out with me,  take photos,  and plan the post I will include the in!   Yet every day that I don't write still feels fine.  I enjoy not having to post.    I think that for all bloggers,  realistic expectations of yourself are important.  No one is holding me to post regularly,  I do have regular readers,  but am I actually providing content that they will "miss" if it isn't there?  Probably not.   There is no real business purpose to this site,  so I am not actively losing money if I don't post.

All this to say to my fellow bloggers,  it is ok not to post,  it is ok,  not to commit to a schedule,  however,  IF that is how you view your blog, it is also how your readers likely do.

Many times,  I have taken a look at the blog for someone who said they aren'
t getting the hits,  or the comments, or the followers they hoped for.  I look,  and its been a month since their last post,  which was a tiny picture of an etsy treasury they made.

Treat your blog the way you want your readers to.  If you are not on it every day,  why would they be?  If you are not looking through your older content because it is easy to access,  they certainly aren't going to,  and furthermore  what would compel them about your blog that they would share it with their friends family and followers?

Here's hoping you all find some writing inspiration (and then write about it) as we come into the SUMMERTIME

New Additions Part 2 - signs

I have always been fascinated with hand made signs,  but never quite understood how they were made.   Were they hand painted,  hand stenciled,  screen printed?   I decided that I wanted to finally try making some,  and it did seem to work.   I realized that I have a TON to learn about materials,  and techniques,  but it is really fun to me.   I try to always encourage those around me to find things they enjoy and do them,  so that is what I am doing with the signs.

I have added some to my etsy shop to get a feel for what others think of them.   Take a look,  and let me know what you think.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/125418712/painted-drink-good-beer-sign-multi-font

Do you have something that you really enjoy learning how to make?

New Additions Part 1 - Harper

As some may remember,  My wife and I were expecting our 3rd baby boy in Early December.  As you may have noticed,  I haven't really blogged since.  I blame this on a combination, of holiday insanity,  and the natural insomnia that is having a newborn in the house.

Without further adieu,  I give you Harper!

He was actually born on December 9th,  so being 2 months old,  he is having a blast now, doing the fun stuff like, discovering his hands, scaring himself when he sneezes,  filling up diapers, and laughing when his older brothers get in trouble just because he likes the sound of our voices.

It has been crazy so far remembering how much work, time, effort, love, coffee, and patience it takes to have a new baby,  but I wouldnt trade it for anything!  This was the first time we were able to hold one of our kids right when they were born.  The other had to go to the NICU immediately,  so this photo below of mommy and baby was an extra special moment

There are 2 other new additions coming to Progressions,  (no the others are not adorable babies) .  I couldn't think of a better way to kick the blogging year back off than to bring out the new stuff and start sharing.