Lighted Craft Block

Today, I wanted to share this lighted craft block I made. I hound the block at Home Depot for $4.99 on Black Friday. The design was cut from some black vinyl I had leftover and cut on my Silhouette (I love this thing)! The lights were $2.99 from Target. I chose a 50 bulb strand. This was my initial project.

Cute, but the design didn't quite stand out enough for me. So I used a piece of scrap vellum to separate the lights and the image. I was trying to figure out how to get the vellum to stick to the glass but it wasn't working. I tried just putting the vellum in front of the lights. So far it is working perfectly. I finished it off with some ribbon I had previously bought. I think the design really pops. And boy is this bright at night.

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

Two Ingredients....Easy Indulgence

My husband came home with this new Jif hazelnut chocolate spread that he got for free. I instantly thought of crispy , flaky chocolate croissants. Croissants are just a little too time consuming and beyond my skill levels. Sssoooo, along came crescent rolls from a can. Voila, imitation chocolate croissants! Just add a little of the spread to the wide part of the triangle before rolling. Follow the baking directions on the crescent rolls. They are prefect hot from the oven!

Customized Office Clock

I’ve finally been able to complete a few of the projects I’ve been working on! It feels great!  I’m really good at starting a new project, but not always great at finishing them.  Today, I finished a customized clock for our office.  The clock is a cheap one from Target.  I believe it was $3.99.

I used the Silhouette software to design the faceplate of the clock.  The front plastic piece to the clock had tabs holding it in place and was pretty easy to remove.  The hands of the clock are kept in place by the winding mechanism in the back that is also removable.  It was pretty easy to make and an easy way to add to the décor of our office.

I added it to what will become our office “command center.”  I plan to add a second message type board to finish out the look.

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

Bloom & Grow Art

Another project using my Silhouette!  I used my Silhouette to cut out the words “Bloom & Grow” and the flowers.  The font for the wording is Glider Girls.  The frame is an unfinished wood frame from Michaels painted using; once again, my favorite spring color Aqua.  I gave it a distressed look by going over the aqua with white.

I hope you like it!
Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

Fun, bright pillowcases!

 

I’m in love with my sewing machine!  It is one of the easiest tools to help decorate my home!  I’m still learning but I managed to wing it with these pillowcases.  They are slipcovers so I can easily change them out when I get bored or with the season changes.

To make them, start with one piece of fabric 1 in larger than your pillow.  For example, the red pillow is 20 in x 20 in so the front piece of fabric was cut 21 in x 21 in.  The second piece of fabric is the back and is open to allow for easy removal.  Cut this piece 1 inch taller and 3 inch wider.  So for the red pillow, it was 21 in x 23 in.  Cut this piece in half.  Your halves should measure 21 in x 11.5 in. 

 

            

With the wrong side facing you, fold back 1 inch and sew using a 1/2 in seam allowance.  This 1 inch edge is represented by the red in the picture below.  Your pieces should measure 21 in by 10.5 in.  This will give the back of your pillow and nice finish.  Repeat for the other piece.

                   

With the right sides together, pin and sew with a 1/2 in allowance all around the pillow.  Overlap your sewn folds when sewing around the length of the pillow.  Trim your corners and press open your seams.  Turn your pillowcase and your done! Once you figure out the logistics, you came make one of these in 30 minutes!

Here are some pillows I made to help brighten up my couch for spring.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!!

Spring is in bloom!

I'm loving our warm weather this week! Of course being northern Nevada, it will probably sneak in some more snow. My mom bought me these beautiful daffodils at Traders Joes. They work perfectly with my aqua painted knorr jar. Aqua is my favorite new spring color.

Customize your glass jars. Simply paint the inside with your color of choice. It will probably take two coats. Just make sure to allow the first coat to dry completely.

I cut off the top of a soda bottle to put inside the jar to keep the paint from getting wet from the flower water.

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

First Attempt...Dress Making

Pintrest has unleashed a monster in me...no really!  I was already one to get excited for a new project, a new hobby, a new attempt at something.  Now that Pinterest is arround, not only do I waste hours at a time, but I also find too many ideas and projects floating around in my mind.  I have many projects in the works right now.  Let's see....subway art (started), Pottery-barn inspired work station (started), custom faceplate clock (started), various scrapbooking projects (started), Easter/spring decorations (started, probably to be finished after Easter), multiple plans for decorative pillows....and the list goes on!  Let's just say I love to be creating and love starting new projects!  Pinterest has me wanting to build my own furniture and paint my kitchen cabinents (now have my husband wondering if I'm finally losing it.)  I'm also in the process of going back to school; an idea that has me fluctuating from excited to dreading.  Well, enough of that.  I thought I would show you one of my projects in the works.  This was my first attempt at sewing a girl's dress for Katie.  I followed the pattern and it looks great on the hanger.

However, the fit is not so great on my little girl.  She looks like she needed to be an oompa loompa for it to fit.  It's a little short, easily fixed by adding a cute pair of shorts.  The width of it is a whole other issue.  It's very wide, so I'm planning on taking out the side seam and bring it in two inches or so for a better fit.  I'm hoping it's done in time for her to wear this year!  Better go get working on busting that seam!

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!



Reusing and Repurposing

I’m finally getting around to creating a useable, working space for my many hobbies.  I’m trying to reuse products I already have and finding new ways to use products.  I found this jewelry hanger at Target and instantly thought of using it as a quick way of storing my most commonly used items.

                                     

It is two sided and swivels on the hanger easily.  So far it is working out perfectly!  I also found in my master closet a hanging holder for sweaters that was rarely being used.  It fits my 12x12 papers easily and makes organization by color a breeze.  Now I can quickly see what colors I have.

                                     

I’m still working on my space but so far these two changes have made a big difference!

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

St. Patrick’s Day Subway Art and Topiary

                                     

 

I’m loving all of the subway art that has flooded the web lately.  Here is my version for St. Patrick’s Day!  Also pictured is a St. Patrick’s Topiary using cupcake liners.  I wish the Luck of the Irish for all of you today.  Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

Free Preschool President's Day Pack

Since my son's school will be closed on Monday for President's Day, I decide to make a little schoolwork for him to do at home.  Feel free to print a copy for personal use here!

Valentine’s Day Card

     

I had fun making this little card for my hubby for Valentine’s Day.  I used my Silhouette to cut out a lot of the elements and used the paper pack from K & Company.

     

Here’s a view from the inside.  Again another element using my Silhouette!  Hope you all had a very special Valentine’s Day!

 

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

What happens when you leave your camera laying out…

I was going through my pictures to get ready to upload them and found this one of AJ.  Pretty cute, I have to say!

AJ took this one himself.  KJ is very big on saying cheese right now.  Not bad for a three year old photographer!

Just thought I would share a few moments of random bliss in my life!

Thanks for stopping by!

“Healthier” Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

My son is in love with pumpkin bread.  I decided to make some pumpkin muffins for him while he was at school and was a little sickened by the ingredients my cookbook; 3 cups sugar, 4 eggs, 1 cup of oil, etc.  So I decided to play around with my own recipe.

15 oz. pumpkin puree

2 eggs

2/3 c milk

2/3 c granulated sugar

1/2 c packed brown sugar

6 oz. apple sauce

1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

2 1/2 c flour

Chocolate chips

I beat together the eggs, pumpkin puree, applesauce, and sugars.  Add the granulated sugar and brown sugar and beat until smooth.  Add milk, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice.  Slowly add the flour and mix until combined.  Add the baking powder and baking soda.   Add your desired amount of chocolate chips.  Pour into a prepared muffin pan and bake in a 350^* oven for 12-15 minutes. Yields approx. 32 muffins.

I used almost a whole bag of chocolate chips, but think that maybe half a bag would be better next time.  I individually wrapped some of the muffins in saran wrap and placed them in a freezer bag to be frozen and enjoyed later.

             

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Falling For You

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s time to start breaking out love-inspired art!
             
Here is my newest work! I used an old picture frame I had from a Thanksgiving craft and my Silhouette to cut out the elements. 
    
Check back soon as I hopefully get this entry table ready for Valentine’s Day!

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

Homemade Minestrone Soup

Inspired by the recent cover of All You magazine and our first cold and snowy day, I decided to try and make homemade minestrone soup.  I’m also trying to get back on board with freezer cooking.  We’ve had a lot of nights of “free for all” recently. 

For my recipe, I used the following:

8 cups of chicken broth

3 carrots, finely sliced

3 stalks of celery, finely sliced

2 cans of Italian-style stewed tomatoes

2 Tbsp. tomato paste

Italian seasoning to taste

2 cans cannellini beans

Kale

1 cup of pasta for now, 1 cup for later.

I put the broth, carrots, celery, tomatoes, paste and Italian seasoning in the crockpot on high for 6 hours.  I then added the two cans of cannellini beans.  I then pulled out half of the mixture to freeze for later.  Add the kale and the pasta to the crockpot mixture and reduce the heat to low.  Cook for approx. 20 minutes or until the pasta is soft.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Add your kale to your freezer portion.  Cool and store in a freezer Ziploc bag.

I like to put mine on a cookie sheet in the freezer in case of any leaking.  To prepare your freezer portion, take the bag out of the freezer the night before.  Once defrosted, place into a large pot.  Add 1 cup of pasta and cook until soup is warm and pasta is soft.  I always like to have extra chicken broth on hand in case you need a little more broth for your soup.

 

Thanks for stopping by!