Curtains!

Am I a dork if I'm really excited about accomplishing something as straight forward as curtains?  Awh, what do I care...

I MADE cuRtains, and I'm excited about it.

Okay, actually...it was just A curtain. 

One simple panel. 

And so what if I kinda cheated and used these...

If you haven't discovered the drapery clip, let me tell you...they will change your life.  For a couple of bucks you can hang you curtains in a snap and add a little interest at the same time.  I love them!

I did have to use my brain a little and get a creative with the fabric.  I really wanted a horizontal, wide striped fabric (preferably in black and white).  Well, guess what...you can't find it.  At least not in this part of the country.  I know, I looked...everywhere.  So I had to improvise.  I used 2 yards of this fabric (from Walmart) which was a vertical striped print.

To fix that problem I sewed two pieces together (1 yrd each) to make my panel long enough to reach the length I wanted.  Does that make any sense at all?  Sorry people, I don't know all the technical sewing terms.  And I know what you're thinking...what about the BiG fAt seam down the middle of the drape?  I was really careful to match up the pattern and sew a straight line (er, straight enough) right down the line of the stripe on the fabric.  And really you don't notice it unless you REALLY look for it.

After thinking that hard about making the stripe run the right way, I hung them up and ran into another small problem...they were too long.  But thank goodness for those cheater drapery clips I was able to make a simple fold at the top of the panel and...voiLa.  Problem solved.

I got it done. 

So what if there were a few snaGs. I was able to make it work (my way). And now I'm a BiG dork who is happy she has one black and white, wide horizontal striped curtain panel...that I made all by myself (did I mention that already?).

:)

This is one of the simple changes I've made to our play room, but think they make a BiG impact against the teal walls.  I love me a little contrast! 

See them just pOp there in the background...makes me happy. Yup. I'm a dork.

It's a PeePs PaRtY

What would the Easter holiday be without them?  Uhh...NOT Easter.  Personally, I think PeePs taste like PooP...but, they are cute and festive nonetheless.  And did you know you could get crafty with your PeePs?
Check it out...

I will be making some of these up this year.  Found them here, go now...get your FREE download!  I have a thing for cute packaging, and these cute sandwich bag toppers fit the bill.  Love 'em!

I could maybe do PeePs this way, they're S'meePs...covered in chocolate and graham cracker.  Yum.

Or it you prefer them in a jar...

Or perhaps just eating them isn't enough for you, how 'bout decorating with them?  Dana from MADE made this cuteness...

PeePs...hangin' with their PeePs.  Can you say...

C.R.E.A.T.I.V.E .

And if that's not fun enough for ya, check this out...

You could dress your kid in a PeeP.  Now, I don't know, but I'm thinking that's a bit much...even for me :)

Really, if you're not careful, this could be your brain on PeePs...don't get too carried away!

Alright, here's my own contribution to add to this sugared marshmallow craze.  I'm sure you've seen the bird's nest cupcakes everywhere by now. 
I made these nest cupckaes for Easter last year (sorry bad pic!)...

I thought that nest needed a birdie...the PeeP worked perfectly.

 So, have you gotten crafty with your PeePs?  Join the party, tell us about it!

Secret Service (Activity Days Activity)

Thought I would share another activity I had with my Activity Days girls last week. 

We were on a mission, we went undercover and performed 7 days worth of SecRet SerViCe.  Before we got started we talked a bit about service and the blessings that come when we help others. 

I found some manila envelopes at the dollar store and personalized them with their names on them.

Inside I included a pen and these "forms" that they were to fill out during the activity.

I also included a list of ideas for serving to help get them going.

I was also lucky to find these fun "undercover" glasses to stick inside.

Just to help them really get into the part...AND they would know if anyone sneaking up on them ;) 
(they really did kind of work!)

The girls thought it was great.  Honestly, I was pretty surprised with how excited they were to get going on their challenge.  A lot of them told me they were going to go home and get started right away.  Just goes to show that it doesn't take much (couple of bucks at the dollar store) to get kids excited about doing things for others.  It turned out to be a fun, easy way to teach the important principal of SeRviNg oTheRS...

LuCky CuppY CaKes

Edited:  I've added a How To here if you're interested in making these.

I know, I know...I'm late again with this post.  But that's the way I roll...LaTe.  I figure I made all of these and took the pictures, so I might as well post them.  Just save the idea for next year.  Or even better, take the idea and make it work for the next holiday, party, celebration you're having.

I made a few cupcakes on St. Patty's Day.  The hubs was put in charge of treats for his youth group of about 60 or so teenage boys and girls.  So of course there had to be enough for everyone to have two...did mention they were for teenagers?

A little food coloring goes a long way.  You can change the color of your cupcakes to match any occasion...red/pink for Valentines, orange for Halloween, red, white and blue for the 4th of July.  I did these ones rainbow colored to go with the leprechaun/end of the rainbow theme...

They're even rainbow on the inside.

And of course there had to be some chocolate...wouldn't these be fun with mint frosting?

Fun and festive aren't they?

For the frosting I whipped up my favorite buttercream frosting (recipe below) then put it into a plastic bag, snipped the corner of the bag and pipped the frosting into swirlies on top of the cakes. 

So there you go.  Cinch.

Now go make some fun festive cuppy cakes of your own!

Easy Butter Cream Frosting:

1/2 cup butter

1 lb. powdered sugar (approx. 4 cups)

3 TBS milk

2 tsp vanilla

Mix the butter until smooth and creamy.  

Add sugar, milk and vanilla on slow speed. 

Continue to mix until light and fluffy.

Edited to Add:  The rainbow candies are Airhead Extremes, usually can find them in the candy isle at the grocery store.  I believe I've seen them at the dollar store, too.  Also, I used gel food coloring to get more vibrant colors for the rainbow cake. 

Life...

Hi.  Hello...hello...hello...anyone out there...there...there?  (crickets...)  It's been a bit...okay, a long bit of time since my last post.  Why is it when you say outloud that you're going to take little break,
LiFe decides to throw it at ya. 

Ahh, LiFe. 

We've had a good dose of it happening here the last couple.  So the blog, the email, etc. has gone unnoticed, ignored, overlooked or unlooked or whatever...just hasn't been a priority.  But here I am, checking in, just saying hello.  And also to say I have managed to work on the pLaY rOom a bit and might even have a little peeky...

Still have a few things to finish up before I unveil the entire room.  But I can say, the blue paint is a very nice change! 

Now I'm itchin' to get going on the rest of the house...just not so sure how the hubs feels about that quite yet.  See ya again soon (so to speak) with more.

Answering Questions and Painting Walls

Alright.  There have been questions about shirts and I thought I might make a post just to clarify a few things.  I have just finished up my last orders and do NOT plan on taking any more for the time being.  I really do appreciate the interest and sweet comments.  And as I have told a few of you, I really do enjoy making these shirts and coming up with different designs, thing is, it takes some time to make them.  Time away from my family, house cleaning, sleep, etc...  Also, it has started to feel more like a job than a hobby, really I dare say I've made well over 100 shirts since last May...I already have a job (chasing ThinG 1 and ThinG 2 around all day long) and haven't the energy for a 2nd.  Lastly, have I mentioned that I am fiCkLe?  The whole mass producing thing got old for me REAL quick, I like to change it up often and would rather not make the same thing over and over and over...  Therefore, I am done with shirts for now.  Notice I say for now, I do reserve the right to go back on my words :)  Perhaps, I will change my mind at some point.  I've also had questions about selling patterns.  I am considering doing that, but need to figure out how to go about that.  For now...I've got things I'd really like to get done around here.  Call me selfish.  I've got the hubs up stairs right now slapping a little paint on the walls...

Excited about that.  I've only had the paint for since last March (almost a WHOLE year in the making).  I will post more pics as we go.  I've got a lot of projects I'd like to get done.  Stay tuned.

HAVE to make one of these!

When I first saw this I knew I was absolutely making one!

Nevermind the fact that I've never made a quilt in my life, let alone even know where to begin with one.  And then there is the whole needing a baby to make it for...  Regardless, I'm SO making one of these.  Thanks to V & Co for the tutorial.  She's made it easier for me to fake my way through this sewing project...don't tell anyone, but when it comes to sewing I really don't know what I'm doing still!  Totally faking it :)

Valentines...Just in Time

I got them done.  And really, it was just in time.  Why do I put things off? 
I gave my four year old the choice between dinos or guitars to hand out for his preschool V-day party.  He thinks he's a rock star, so of course guitars was the obvious choice.  I found these cute {free} printable valentines here.  Love 'em.

And I HAD to add PoP RoCks!  Is there a funner candy?  I don't think so.  Brings back childhood memories.

I made up little treat bags to go with the cards.  Just printed them up in Word, added a piece of scrap paper and attatched to a cello bag.  Easy peasy.

And because Valentines fell on Sunday this year, I thought I'd make another version of Valentines for my activity day girls (I teach their primary class on Sunday, too).  This idea I copied from here.

And just to get rid of the rest of the candy floating around here...for my boys' primary friends...

Found this one here.  Another freebie.  People are so kind to share! 

And that's it.  I'm so over paper hearts I could puke right now. 

Good bye Valentines, bring on the shamrocks!

fuN with fLoWers

I started making these little flowers and I just can't stop!  I'm putting them on EveRYthInG.  Pillows, shirts, necklaces, gift bags...even babies!!  They're fun.  And quite trendy at the moment.  Seems everyone is flowered up these days.  This all kind of started when a neighbor asked me one day if I thought I could make these silly, shabby, twisty (I don't know, what would you call them?) flowers.  She had been to a baby boutique and purchased a few and I almost dropped dead when she told me how much she paid.  Seriously!  Lots of $.  Hers were a bit more fancy than mine.  But I'm hoping to get fancier, I'm still practicing.  The possibilities are endless here, and people...DO NOT pay the boutique prices for these!  They are so easy to make and you can find tutorials ALL over the place (try this one)...making your cost a LOT less.  Go try them, have fun with these silly, shabby, twisty flowers.

On Pillows

On necklaces.  I made the blue one, the white one came with the necklace.

I was selfish and made myself a shirt!

These are great in place of a bow on packages (this one is a pin).

And of course, headbands.

Ready to Receive

As mentioned in the previous post we're ready for Mr. Cupid to pickup and deliver our Valentines...and I'm sure you'll be happy to know (or not, whatever) that we are now ready to receive our letters and love notes also.

 

I found the mailboxes a Targets $ spot about a month ago and held on to them thinking I would do something fun with them in time for Valentines.  Well, then I forgot about them.  Luckily I found them in the bottom of the pantry last night...just in time to spiffy them up for the BiG day next week. 

I didn't have the color of paper I wanted to cover them, so I ended up Mod Podging fabric onto them...it worked great. Then I just inked the edges of the box and the paper heart with my boys names on them (sewed to felt).

My little guys are really excited about having their own designated mailbox and can't wait to see what Mr. Cupid will be delivering.  I plan on sneaking anything we get in the real mail into their boxes so they can check them every morning to see if they've recieved any love letters.  I'm thinking these would be fun to leave out year round, then we can leave little love notes whenever we feel like it.