Button Rings

So.. RINGS!! Its all the rage in accessories. My darling, perfect, niece Maddie came for a couple days to hang out with me while her dad went to a Vet conference. We went shopping, running around, getting our hair done, and playing hard. Our last morning.. we had to craft! We made Dog tag jewels, and then she showed me how to make these Rings. So Cute... I love all the possibilities!

You begin with about 2ft wire. Flexible, it doesn't matter the gauge, just as long as it will cooperate and go through the buttons. I just had some floral wire (isn't she adorable?)Wrap it around your finger 2 times, this is what you'll use for the size...

thread your buttons.

pull the wires together and twist, like your closing a bag of bread

Then start coiling it around, until you want to stop, you don't even have to coil, you can skip a this step, and the prior entirely...

split the wires to go down each side of the buttons

Coil the wire around the ring, repeat on the other side.

clip

Viola...

Good Listener Chart

I love reward systems and have done several different ones in the past, and will probable do several more in the future. Am I ADD or do reward systems loose there appeal after a while? Oh well, it might just be me.

But right now our new family system is "Good Listener Charts" . The concept is simple. When my children get asked to do something and they do it the first time then they get to color in an ear. This will include chores, homework, piano practice, and changing a negative behavior (although this will be something they earn only once a day--at the end of the day. Ex: "Please stop bossing your friends" They will get to color in a ear if that happened the whole day!)

Then when they fill their chart (25 ears) they earn a prize. Which will include anything!!! Okay I haven't bought the prizes yet...but I will.

If your kids are already "good listeners" one of my favorite web sites has a ton of free printable charts. http://www.freeprintablebehaviorcharts.com/

Upholstered sewing table

I have been busy working on my craft room. That's right, I can't believe I have a craft room... So, I laid out a quilt, then layered the lovely fabric, batting (normal quilting batting 3layers) and put the table on top. As you can see I spray painted the table legs prior.
My phone is usually a crucial thing, It's my mom on speakerphone... Love that girl! While I was doing this she was actually sewing drapes. Funny! I called to ask her if I needed to wash the fabric first- which she said "no, that just makes upholstered fabric weaker... (great tip) and one less step! I just pulled the edges tight and stapled. **another great tip: when stapling, if your staples are going in all the way, you aren't applying enough pressure. So really put yo back into it! I was sure to staple a couple on one side, and then a couple on the opposite side so I wouldn't get it puckering... It was nice and even.
I then just trimmed the excess fabric off. Now I can sew, and not have to move too much to iron something. I love it.

Oreo Truffles St. Valentino

One of my favorite indulgences has to be Oreos. Growing up there were ALWAYS Oreos around, Laura, can you remember all the oreo shakes? Well, my Dad had a signature OREO shake... and we had it almost every Monday night for Family Night. So it was "love at first bite" when I had Oreo Truffles! They are sooo easy. Savannah decided she wanted to take them for her class treat tomorrow. We made them together. Its just oreos, cream cheese, and dipping chocolate! They are sooo rich, you only need one to be totally satisfied, and then 20min later you can have another...and 20min after that, another... and so on!

New Recipe Book

This project has been hanging over my head for years. I have wanted to put all my recipes in one place, and organized. But then I realized I didn't want to loose the hand writing, or the actual purple note- because then, how could I find the recipe. So I just folded them any way I could and put them in a photo album. Its been so much fun to cook again. And I just love to look at all the different things I wrote recipes on, Post its, receipts, labels, note cards, wedding invitations... apparently, whatever was nearby when I needed to jot something down. Love it!

Valentine Advent

I got this in the mail this week from my Amazing Sister. She is a crafting contessa! This measures about 2 1/2 feet across, its pretty big. She just used felt, cut a heart, glued a smaller pink heart, and even hot glued the ric rack around the edges. Then she did the smaller hearts- they have little pockets in them, and then just sticky felt numbers... she might have used the cricut?! Anyhoo... each little pocket has a little paper in it that either says an activity like "make a love shack" (a gingerbread house) or "show love to Savannah today by giving her one act of service" or "write a love note to CJ...." The kids love it, especially when the message is something about them~ Thanks LISA!! xoxoXOxoOOXxo

Valentine Bark...ruff!

I came across this idea from November 2010 Real Simple's Magazine article on something like .."What to do with leftover Halloween Candy" They just used Pretzels, raisens and candy corn. When I saw Valentine candy corn, I knew this would be a fun treat my kids could make. For a cookie sheet, I used 2 bags of White Choc Chips (nestle brand... on sale at Target) Melted, spread, then dripped red food coloring, and dropped on candy(m&ms, candy hearts, candy corn) and pretzels. It hardened pretty quick, maybe 10 min. If you need to rush it, put it in the freezer or fridge! So easy, so tasty.

Martha Stewart Paper Bag Flowers

These paper bag flowers are so easy, fast and darling. I have made these a bunch. They are the fastest decorations to take up space. And it seems like everyone is always freaking out that they look so fabulous. A few friends and I had to decorate a room at church with blue and purple. It was tough to come up with something, until I remembered making these for a going away party for a precious friend. They were so easy. Usually I don't put a heart center, but we couldn't find purple bags, or white, so we just improvised- and it turned out cute! Also hanging from the ceiling were the words "Divine Nature" and "Integrity" There was a talk given on those values. It was lovely. And so fun, fast and easy. They can be made in different sizes and shapes..

la Isla, the lsland

We purchased a short-sale home and closed August 31, 2010. WE then spent the month of September remodeling... well more like painting and redoing flooring. We hired some of the help, and did a lot ourselves. So here you can see the monster island. It measures about 8ftx4ft, Its huge, and deserves more of a focus than just a glance. So I started brainstorming with our carpenter friend..... I wanted it to look like a "unique piece" not just part of the existing scheme.

I just didn't like the way the island was just 1/2 cabinetry and 1/2 drywall... so I had him beadboard, and batten board-frame it all out. I love how it turned out. We cut a lot of costs by going with MDF, especially since I knew I was going to paint it. I think the perfect color is red. Red is totally neutral in my book. If you ever want a splash of color- RED, it goes with everything.... well, if you get the right red. I tried about 4 different shades. It had to be a cooler red, not too orange. And Red is a tough color to paint. I recommend using a blue primer if possible. And lots of coats, and patience in between drying times. You can't really go off of they labels. I don't think it was dry until about week 2.

IT WORKED!! I finished it with Black glaze. I will soon post my window to match.... and maybe another view of the other side. Sorry! I also found cute knobs to make it stand out even more. You totally need more views of this beauty. So I'll post more later darling!

Pottery Barn Remake

Loved this card holder, but I had some other ideas. Not just for the holidays, all days.
Just wanted you to see the price, $199, and they don't have the image on their site any longer.

Purchased a frame, $3 at DI, Some picture hanging wire $3 for 15ft, and busted out my staple gun to secure. I just measured and stapled. (all while talking to my dear friend Emily... see Em, this is what I made)

And here it is up and running in my hallway of the mudroom. Love! It actually took longer to hang than it did to make it!

Great new cookie recipe

step 1. set out my butter to sit till it is room temp.

step 2. wait and wait for that darn butter to come to room temp.

step 3. finally butter at room temp. now get out toll house chocolate chip package and follow recipe on back for chocolate chip cookies.

step 4. pull freshly baked cookies out of the oven and wonder what I did wrong. Again. Because those darn cookies are FLAT!!!

Is is just me, but I can't make a chocolate chip cookie to save my life! Until now. I've been on a search for the best chocolate chip cookie recipe. A recipe that produces a warm chewy chocolate chip cookie that does not look like a pancake when I'm done. I know there's a lot out there but I found the one I'm gonna use the rest of my days.

Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
(Source: Baking Illustrated, page 434)

Makes about 18 large cookies.

These oversized cookies are chewy and thick, like many of the chocolate chip cookies sold in gourmet shops and cookie stores. They rely on melted butter and an extra egg yolk to keep their texture soft. These cookies are best served warm from the oven but will retain their texture even when cooled. To ensure the proper texture, cool the cookies on the baking sheet. Oversized baking sheets allow you to get all the dough into the oven at one time. If you’re using smaller baking sheets, put fewer cookies on each sheet and bake them in batches.

2 cups plus 2 tablespoons (10 5/8 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled until warm
1 cup packed (7 ounces) light or dark brown sugar
1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1. Adjust the oven racks to the upper- and lower-middle positions and heat the oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or spray them with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl; set aside.

3. Either by hand or with an electric mixer, mix the butter and sugars until thoroughly blended. Beat in the egg, yolk, and vanilla until combined. Add the dry ingredients and beat at low speed just until combined. Stir in the chips to taste.

4. Roll a scant 1/4 cup of the dough into a ball. Hold the dough ball with the fingertips of both hands and pull into 2 equal halves. Rotate the halves 90 degrees and, with jagged surfaces facing up, join the halves together at their base, again forming a single ball, being careful not to smooth the dough’s uneven surface. Place the formed dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, jagged surface up, spacing them 2 1/2 inches apart.

5. Bake until the cookies are light golden grown and the outer edges start to harden yet the centers are still soft and puffy, 15 to 18 minutes, rotating the baking sheets front to back and top to bottom halfway through the baking time. Cool the cookies on the sheets. Remove the cooled cookies from the baking sheets with a side metal spatula.

One thing, I didn't follow step 4 and 5 exactly. I did scoop my dough out with a 1/4 cup and make a ball, then pull it apart so I got that jagged edge effect. But then I plopped the two balls, jagged edge up, on the baking sheet. so I came out with 2 dozen and slightly smaller cookies. (still bigger cookies than my usually toll house). And I baked my sheets one at a time, instead of two at a time suggested in step 5. I just cooked them at 325 for 15 minutes--exactly! No rotating for me. And I did cool them on the sheet. They turned out PERFECT!!! Yummy.

The lady to thank for my newly found chocolate chip cookie confidence:

The brown eyed baker. Here's the link to her site: http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2008/06/21/thick-and-chewy-chocolate-chip-cookies/

Alrighty Then

OK, I just love the New Year.
And this year, I'm back to blogging. I don't want to intimidate myself again. So I am shooting for one post a week. Easy enough? I think so. Lets stay connected Lou!

So... we closed on a home in August, did some some serious stuff, including paint. And then we decided to move. It was rough. There was a lot of stuff. These were my color choices. ...and the fitting color of my dreams, for the accent wall, is the dark center green-blue. Its Behr's Agave Nectar. I have been up to my neck in projects. Its so fun. But, like Laura, I do need to document. So, I'll toast with my Martinelli's and... hope for the best!

A quick warm gift

Our family loves heating pads in the winter time. A few years ago my SIL and her family sent each of us one for Christmas. We all fight over the microwave at night. We love to use them for ear aches, headaches, muscle aches, and my children love them especially for warmth! It's cold here in New England.

We love to make them and give them away as teacher gifts, or gifts for extra special people.

We fill ours with regular long grain rice. There are other options out there, but this seems the cheapest.
There is no right or wrong size. I don't use a pattern. I just cut rectangles and start sewing and filling.
We add instructions inside the gift bag. Heat for 2 minutes on high in the microwave. I put together little gift bags with a note on the outside saying, "to warm you up on cold winter nights." I can't wait to give these great, personal gifts away.

an update from Laura

Poor Sad Craft blog. Lonely, ignored, neglected, does anyone even check on you anymore?

I humbly take my hat off to all of those amazing, talented, creative women out there who run a craft blog. Most have families and busy lives, still they keep their followers updated everyday with a new project or post. Thank you. (running a craft blog is Hard! Not that it's hard to do crafts, it's just hard to document it along the way, and make it interesting. Never mind the pressure of having to come up with your own idea. I'm a big, fat, copy-cat!) So with that in mind, let me introduce you to one of my FAVORITE sites. It is one of the few I go to daily. And am always trying out the crafts.

http://www.theidearoom.net/

Right now I am working on one of the crafts for my children and a few of our friends. I don't want to ruin the surprise so I will share later. But check it out if you haven't yet.

And know, K and I are still out there crafting, but we are probable camera-less and vowing to document the next project...

Slap a bow on it, and call it good

In my search for a creative Fathers Day gift I came across this easy, super cute, paper bow. I knew whatever I did, it had to include a bow like this. Since I was in charge of our primary's gift for the fathers, why not make 20 of these bad boys. http://thecraftingchicks.com/2010/06/medallions-ribbons-and-donuts-to-share.html The paper I used was called "Dude" how appropriate.


They turned out so cute, we attached them to apple pie caramel apples, that the kids made themselves. The end result was so fun, and the Dad's loved their gift.




And because I was on a roll, and loving the cute bows, I made some for my children's teachers and teacher helpers. (Our school just got out on the 18th.) We picked up some yummy turtle brownies from our local BJ's (like Costco). The kids each wrote out a cute thank you note, and then we attached the bow. G.'s teacher wore the bow like a corsage on her shirt all day.


I love G's note to his teacher..." Dear Mis Widacher I well mis you. I well nev forget how much you like wering crocs. Senc you were crocs so much I were myn often now." Hope you can decipher that. He is the cutest, I almost wish he never learns how to spell correctly. His writing won't be as much fun to read.

How cute are these?

Irresistable chocolate chip cookie bowls

Ice cream just found a new home.... a chocolate chip cookie bowl. These things were super easy to make, and worth the extra time (you can only make 6 at a time). They were originally found in Family Fun, but I found great instructions here: http://www.theidearoom.net/2009/05/chocolate-chip-icecream-bowls.html

I cheated and used store bought cookie dough, but next time I will try home made dough. Even though mine turned out dark and slightly overcooked, they were to die for.



We added plain Vanilla ice cream, Carmel, hardening chocolate, cool whip, and pecans. The Carmel and hardening chocolate were soaked up by the cookie bowl and lets just say...mmm.


The kids ate them to the last chip!

Place your orders.

I wanted to add some whimsy to my back porch, so I was inspired to make some fun food signs.

First I checked the back of Home depot in their scrape pile and found a board for .51 cents. Score. I cut it up for my 3 signs.


Next...continuing with my Red and Yellow theme, I painted the boards
Next came the lettering. I used sponge letters I got from Walmart, (sorry no picture)
Then I sanded, and glazed them, so they looked well used.
I attached them to the siding with self stick Velcro (easy to remove, when we move from this home, or in the winter time.)
I love the FUN element they bring to the porch, and they bring in more color!