Scam Alerts Beware By LilacsNDreams Google Internet

 

Scam Alerts Beware By LilacsNDreams Google Internet

Hi! Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Unfortunately, it’s that time of year, seasons change, holidays, and the scams seem to come out of the wood work a little more. I had 2 attempts within the past 1 1/2 weeks. Just horrid!! Please be aware, and take your time doing anything with purchasing and offers made to you.

My first incident happened when a woman contacted me about an item I had shown with my blog on Facebook. She asked if still available, showed a picture, and then I confirmed with her which items, and their availability’s. Things moving along, corresponding, gives me an address to calculate shipping cost, and so on. She then asked if I take Venmo, or Zelle. I confirmed Venmo, and gave her total with shipping to send. She notifies me it was sent, and have I gotten notice. I check Venmo, didn’t see anything for money sent, money pending, or anything. I then check for an email, and there was something from Venmo. Customer is contacting me also. Did I read it, did I understand it, etc. Had to deal with not having a business account, and receiving money from business to personal. I was being asked to send $300 to the customer, send proof to Venmo money was sent, and then I would get the $300 back along with the $32 for a total of $332. Could she trust me to send the $300, and I would send it back? After going through some things the money was actually sent through PayPal. Copy of transaction sent. Then…I get a notice from Venmo copy received, dealing with business account that I was going to need to send $400 for a certificate verification. I would then receive $732 total. Course I have a customer pushing me a little more because she’s out all this money till I pay it all back. Yes! I was very nervous, very worried, and all of a sudden feeling sick to my stomach. So, in between correspondence with the customer I started to google this kind of issue, and I was also sending copies of the emails to Venmo explaining what had happened. 

I found incidents on Google and Reddit with stories matching very close to what I was dealing with. At the end of all of it they had said how you have no fees, or deposits you will pay with Venmo,, Zelle, PayPal, and different payment platforms used. So, I am finally responding to an excited customer being a little pushy about paying. I told her I did not have that kind of money. I had researched this issue, and I was seeing reports of it being a scam. Course, she wanted to know who was saying something like that. She proceeded about me paying, and during all of this reminding me she is a Christian woman, she quoted a passage, and I am being accused of stealing from her. I told her that actually I was the only one with verification money was issued, I was stolen from, wanted my money back, and then sent her copies of things from the internet search, and copies fromVenmo response that the emails were not theirs, were fake, and told her she was scamming me, and I wanted my money back. She blocked me at Messenger, and I lost all contact with her. I did report all the information I had about her with names, emails, address, and so on with Venmo and PayPal.

Unfortunately, a week later I had another inquiry about a sale, availability, shipping cost with their address, and so on. Things all said, and done he asked for my PayPal information to send me money. He told me he sent it, to watch PayPal, and let me know when it was received. Few hours later…because I had appointments all morning…I contacted him about no notice received for money. He responded asking if I got the notice from PayPal regarding the business account, and it looked like there was a fee in order for me to receive all of the money with what he was being charged, and the deposit I would pay. Could I be trusted that he pays the fee, and I would reimburse him that cost. I responded with LOL!!! You are a scam, and that you should make your money honestly instead of stealing from those who work for a living. Darn!! He blocked me right away with messenger too.

After all of this, me putting notices out on Facebook about this particular scam, I came across a question from someone in 1 of the groups I follow. She was not sure, something didn’t seem right, she was questioning things, and wanted to know if anyone else thought maybe she was being scammed. Almost same issues as what I dealt with. Yes, I shared things with her and for others to also see what was happening. Scammers have been busy because quite a few others had stories to share of attempts they had dealt with themselves, or a few of them losing money.

So, again I am sharing what I know, and reminding others that it’s bad with the holidays approaching for us. Please, be aware of things, watch what you do, if you are uncomfortable…question it. Follow your instincts, and check things before you give any money. There is no harm in doing that, and people should not get upset about it. Well, if they are being questioned, or caught with their scam I’m sure they will get a little moody, and get upset. To bad for them. Better to be safe than sorry. We work for our money, and stealing money from others is a horrible way to make money. 

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams! I hope I could help you a little with being a little more careful during this time. Take care everyone, and be safe! 

DIY Top Hat Center Piece Candy Cookie Containers

 DIY Top Hat Center Piece Candy Cookie Containers

Hi! welcome to LilacsNDreams! Happy to have you dropping by! Ok, we got through Halloween. Next we have Thanksgiving, and then onto Christmas. Shoot Christmas things were coming out, and quite a bit was out before we even got through Halloween. I Love Christmas time! My favorite time of year to decorate, craft home decor and gifts, and just have fun too!

I have items on hand to make what I am about to share with you. A DIY Christmas Top Hat Center Piece Cookie Candy Container. The 2 major pieces you will grab right away is a plastic container from DT. Their seasonal ones that come with a lid, and can be used for many goodies, storage, and so on. Another thing to use that is popular is one of the charger plates from Dollar Tree. You can also consider a plastic plate from there too. Actually, if you find similar pieces being used from other places, while thrifting, etc make sure you grab them there. With these you can make big, you can make small, make little ornaments, and so on. 

Once you have the 2 major pieces then you will want to consider the color of hat you want. Grab spray paint for that. Also, think of embellishments you wish to use too. Ribbon for the band, for the bow, if you want some greenery, some berries, maybe some snow flakes, cardinals, birds, and so many things you can do to make it yours.

First you will lightly sand your plastic container, and lid. Helps with painting it. You can then mod podge, and paint, or just paint it by itself too. If you want the plate….which will be the hat bottom, the rim…same color as the top hat part you will paint this too. If you were able to get a black plate, or even a red one you might not have to paint the plate. Remember, it’s yours so you do as you wish. Do not paint the inside of the plastic bowl because you might want to put cookies, candies, or some kind of snack in there. This could be for at home, sitting as a center piece with a floral decoration maybe, or they are great given as gifts too. Once everything has fully dried apply the bowl to the plate, and then you can apply the embellishments you wish to use. There is so many things you can do to make it your own, or maybe a fun gift for someone too. 

I was thinking of it today, after looking at a picture, what if I didn’t paint the plastic bowl. What if I just left it like it is, find a plate to match color of the lid, or maybe paint a plate to match the lid. Put some ribbon around it, and some embellishments of sorts to fit the theme of the bowl, and just make it like that. Think it would look good? Anything is possible, right?

These are the plastic bowls from Dollar Tree. Gives you an idea of things to use. Old coffee cans could be used as well, maybe some other bowl you found, some kind of container, or whatever you might find to craft with.

Bowl and Plate chosen, and how the finished product is once they have done what they wanted to do, Many don't paint the inside of the bowl, and will put some kind of liner or parchment paper in it to then set the snacks chosen to be in it. Remember, you could always consider some kind of floral or woodsy like arrangement in it too.

This is an idea of some things being used towards how this one will be made.

Black if very popular. Here is a finished product.

Another DIY Top Hat done in black.

This top hat was done a little different, a metal container was used, and they chose the color red for this hat.

When attaching the plates you can sit them upright, or they can be flipped over too. Depends on what look you would like with the rim for the hat.

Here it is in black again, the more popular color. 

I’m happy to have you dropping by, and I hope you enjoyed this idea for a craft. Something to do for you, gift giving, maybe having some little craft party, and so on. Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Stop by anytime, and hope to see you again. 

Halloween Trick or Treating With LilacsNDreams

 

Halloween Trick or Treating With LilacsNDreams

Hello, and welcome to LilacsNDreams! Excuse me it has been a while. I had been sick, and trying hard to get rid of it because I had a scheduled procedure last Monday. Yeah, I was able to do it, and now just spending time healing. 

Sunday, October 27, 2024 is when our little town scheduled Trick or Treating for the kids here. We had fun decorating the outside, and bay window prior to this. Then, when we set up for Trick or Treating I generally sit outside to greet, and make sure they take plenty of candy. Love seeing the littles, their costumes, and some of the parents enjoy watching their kids with the animated figures put out for this time. It makes the holiday season fun, and enjoyable watching it all. 

Here is the front of the house with our little set up. The spider is censored, and does jump out, but never hurts anyone. The headless man kept talking the whole time….slight wind, and it kept blowing right on the sensor that the pumpkin head talked. Now, the scarecrow worked too. When you reached into the bowl to get candy a sensor activated that he would sit straight up with his comment. Sooo fun watching kids with this, the parents enjoyed, they took pictures and some videoed the spider jumping too. 

These pictures give you an idea how the side of the house looked a little bit too. The headstones had been glued to a piece of wood making them a little more sturdy. Then, expandable foam was sprayed around the bottom of the stone and wood. Once it dried the foam was then spray painted a dark brown giving it more of a dirt ground look. We used skeletons, and dressed them with costumes, and they were set with stakes in the ground. It’s nothing fancy, but fun. Better yet watching the kids, and how people look and react is very fun, and enjoyable. 

Thought I would show you some pictures of the night view when the bushes, and lights are all on. The front door has a door cover with a strand of lights around the door frame to appeal to the picture.

Thanks so much for stopping by LilacsNDreams! Glad to have you here. Enjoy the rest of the week with Halloween festivities. Be safe, and see you again soon. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Halloween Decorating Home Decor Outside Decor

 

Halloween Decorating Home Decor Outside Decor

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! It’s October, some leaves are changing, weather is undecided about being hot or cold, seasons are happening, and right now I am focused with Halloween. I have done some decorating inside the house for the season. I do a lot of fall decor that can also be used for Halloween time too. Most of it can stay out until the house is prepared for Christmas time. 

Today son and I worked on getting the outside decorations done for Halloween. For all we do it takes time. Love doing it to watch and listen to kids, and adults with their reactions, driving by, and so on. Still 1 of my favorite times of the year to enjoy.

We have spent money for decorations, and trying to make things a little different every year. Ever since we have moved in we have been known as the spooky house. So, each year we try to do what the kids enjoy. This year I bought 5 more skeletons making a total of 11. I also bought the 7 foot skeleton too. We have costumes from the past 1-2 years with the masks too. This year we put the costumes on 5 of the skeletons. We have IT, Michael, Georgie, Scream, and some pig face mask from last year. As of this afternoon the skeletons were dressed, and put outside with a metal stake support. We also put up a cob web with a spider on it, and we hung a wrapped body form on it too. In our big bay window we have an animated woman who is holding a head in her hands. On each side of her is a 3 stack of plastic pumpkins that light up. Decorative dome lights have been added outside too. Red one is facing towards spot the cemetery will be at tomorrow. A light faces up to the lady in the window. The other light is showing ITs face on the wall of the house where IT is standing in one of our bushes.

All the pictures above are preparations of the characters being completed, and ready to be put outside. Once the graveyard, big skeleton, tombstones among bushes, and more skeletons are added to the front porch we should have the outside complete. That should be done in 1-2 more days. We are a little behind from our normal decorating schedules, but it is soon completed. 

Sadly, over time it has been noticed that not many people decorate for Halloween anymore. The spirit of the Holidays has been missing. It’s nice to see some still do things, and we enjoy it. Listening to the kids going by the house, the looks they give seeing everything, watching adults driving by slowly and enjoying…this is one of the biggest joys of doing this.

Hope everyone is able to enjoy the fall Halloween season upon us. Thanks for sharing time with LilacsNDReams! Hope to see you again soon. Take care. Toodles!

Methods of Decoupage Generally Used

 

Methods of Decoupage Generally Used

Welcome to LilacsNDreams! There are so many ways of crafting. There are many techniques you can use. Just so many fun ways to create what you want, and decoupage is another popular technique that is used.

What is decoupage some might ask? It is one way of transforming objects into more of a personalized decor for yourself, for gift giving, or maybe to offer online or with vendor fairs too. This can be an easy craft for adults, and for children too. It helps to practice just a little bit so you can get a feel of this technique, and to find the way that works for you that you enjoy.

Decoupage can be done with napkins…which is popular with so many designs. You can also use tissue paper, wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, fabrics, etc. With some of the projects you can also consider some sort of embellishments to finish some projects with too.

First you’ll want to choose a base you want to design with. Wood, tin, glass, ceramic, metal, or terra cotta. I have also seen different baskets that were done with decoupage too. Once you have the base chosen you wish to use you can than pick something to stick on the surface. 

Once you have made your choices you will then want to decide which method of decoupage you would like to do. You have ironing, burning, using press n seal cling wrap, and just plain old mod podge too. You will find that using the ironing method helps with making your design smoother, helps with removing bubbles, and other things that would make the surface not so smooth.

You will want to make sure you have other supplies there for you to use with making your creation. Scissors to cut and trim, some brushes, nail files or emory boards, maybe some sandpaper instead of the files, parchment paper…not wax paper, a mat or whatever you want to work on, and some might prefer to use a squeegee too. 

Before you start decoupaging make sure your surface is sanded if needed, and clean too. You will want to prepare the item you wish to decoupage. If it’s a napkin you will want to separate the 2 ply because you only need to use the 1 sheet. You may also need to cut, or tear the item to better fit with the surface you have chosen to use. Sometimes you will want the surface painted so your design better shows too. Keep in mind once things have dried you will want to add a protective coating too. You can do this with mod podge, or you can also use an acrylic sealer as well.

These pictures were used from Pinterest. Great place to find techniques, get some ideas of what others have created, and so on. I would also suggest visiting DiyDreaming on Facebook, and view some of her reels that she shares with some of the methods used. It will better help in understanding what to do with the mod podge, ironing, burning, press n seal, using parchment paper…not wax paper.

I want to thank everyone for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Hope this gave you a little something to think about. Enjoy, and have fun crafting. Take care, and see you again soon. Toodles!