Winter 2012-2013 Projects

A quick photo list of what has kept me busy this winter: 

3D foam ornament made out of a strategically cut and glued square.

My wonky ornament wreath. It's my first one though, and I love it!

Not very successful ornament monogram. Not too pretty, but it filled an empty wall and gave me a focal point to pin Christmas cards around. :-)

A failed attempt at making homemade ginger beer. You know, like root beer, only ginger. Too bad. I'd love to try it again sometime. The fermentation was so tricky!

I made 10 pounds of kimchi that lasted me 7 months! I've just run out and am missing the taste at meal time, so I think it's nearly time to make more yummy pickled veggies.

Homemade organic apple cider vinegar. My first attempt grew mold but my second batch pulled through! I am over the moon that it worked. And it packs a stronger punch than any store bought ACV I've ever had. I'm relieved that we can make it with the cores and peels left over from making apple sauce because ACV is used nearly every day in our home and we go through it so quickly and it's so expensive that it just isn't practical unless we make it.

Wire hangers + needle nose pliers = extra shoe storage! And I know those flip flops say Vera Wang, but don't sniff at my hypocrisy. I got them on super clearance for $2 and I love them! Too bad designer togs don't go on super clearance nearly enough.

Marbled peppermint bark.

Chocolate covered ritz crackers. The chocolate was flavored with peppermint flavoring and crushed peppermint hard candy was sprinkled over the top. A favorite Christmas treat that I learned how to make from my SIL. These are addicting!

Door sign for boys' bedroom. Using pre-cut and painted wooden rescue vehicles from HobLob. The plaque is from Hobby Lobby as well. Add in some leftover paint and letter stencils and we have a sign that little heroes love.

Little play outdoor shaded play area. Reusing a canopy from a broken tent and a kiddie pool that goes unused in the cold months created a shady cozy spot that the boys love to relax in with blankets, stuffed toys and books.

Homemade gifts

I've been working on several sewing projects to give as gifts. Here's a sneak peek at what I completed today. My sewing skills are in no way awesome, but I'm really enjoying learning. More details on these projects to come!

Baked Eggs

Watch "Alpine Eggs - Delia Smith's Cookery Course - BBC" on YouTube
We tried a new recipe (link above) and it was better than expected. It may become part of our usual rotation of easy recipes. Hope you try it!

Easy Ribbon Tag Blankie

Finished my very first ribbon tag baby toy today. I've always thought they were cute with a vintage kind of charm, but I never knew they were so easy to make! This was a test drive using a very helpful tutorial that I will try to post the link to later.
I love it. The tags & seams are a little crooked, but for a first attempt, I'm extremely pleased with it, even though Little Man looked at it for all of 3 seconds before zooming off to find something more exciting. :)

Update: I can't hyperlink at the moment, but here's the easy tutorial I followed for this adorable project:
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2010/11/make-it-taggie-blanket-for-baby/

Braided Rope for Drawstring Bag

Our ever growing collection of mega blocks needed a storage solution. We happened to have an old net laundry bag that would be perfect, but it's been missing it's drawstring for years. A spool of heavy duty string from the hardware department provided a new drawstring & now Baby Boy has an easy way to tote his blocks from room to room. :)
Using 9 strands of string (cut to the desired length) separated into 3 sections, the string was braided and tied off at the ends. This string was really prone to unwind, but a few passes over a candle melted the ends just enough to keep the knots & braids from coming loose.

Coordinated Curtain Tieback & Wall Art

Yesterday's quick project: Six months after I hung the scrap fabric wall art in it's new spot, I've finally made a matching curtain tieback.
The second photo was taken last Christmas showing the wall art on either side of the curtains. They used to be on our entry way cubbies, but I like them up on the wall, too. :)

Easy DIY Bath Storage

I will be posting projects as I get them done. Hopefully this will get me back in the habit of blogging. Today I sewed a bit of Velcro to a lingerie bag & am really happy with this simple & washable bath toy storage. There are tons of tutorials for this online so I won't go into detail. I'm looking forward to an easier after bath cleanup!

You Are God's Masterpiece

Introducing Little Man

Here's our littlest sweetheart born April 25, 2011.

God has been so good! After several complications including low amniotic fluid, me getting put on bed rest, and having to go in twice a week for a month and a half to monitor baby's heart rate and brain activity, our son was born perfectly healthy!

We're so in love with our newest little one and Baby Boy is a huge help and is always loving up on his little brother.

Huge thanks to my sis who came out and spoiled Baby Boy while we were in the hospital :)

And to Hubby, my love, who is proving to me all over again why he's a wonderful man. I couldn't have begun recovery without him taking care of the boys and me 24/7. I love this man so much!

Praise the Lord for our two boys- such beautiful blessings!

Easter 2011 Baskets

Hubby's and Baby Boy's Easter baskets. 

Baby Boy is going to love that huge thing of bubble mix and then he's going to flip over the green round thing in the back of his basket. Oh yeah, it's a gigantic bubble wand :)

Lots of candy for my sweetie.

If you noticed the makeup wipes and lipstick I threw in for myself, you're one smart sugar cookie ;-)

Bubbles, books, ink stamps, candy, stickers and toys for our big boy.

The toys include the bubble wand, some new cars, an airplane, a truck, a small ball that looks like an Easter egg, a rake and shovel set so he can help Mama with the plants (We already know this is going to be one of his favorite things. He LOVES helping outside), and a kaleidoscope.

Then I had fun putting together my sister's Easter basket. Girly stuff is always more fun :)

She arrives soon and Baby Boy is all in a tizzy about presenting her with her Easter basket because he knows he doesn't get his until she gets here ;-)

I decided to make a sweet girly spring break survival kit for her. I just thought it would be fun since she's coming here for her spring break and the weather's finally warming up around here.

Girly Spring Break Survival Kit

Cute girly travel bag

3 oz refillable travel bottles

A photo of her cute nephew

Chapstick in smoothie flavors. Yum!

Tissues

Antibacterial gel

On the go makeup cleansing wipes

Deodorant

Peeps marshmallows

Cute bright colored flip flops

Shower poof

Mini manicure set

Top it off with some Easter candy and voila! A grown up girl version of the traditional basket.

The women in my family are crazy great about having some kind of a welcome basket for extended stay guests (and I'm one of the worst ones! I usually forget because I'm too busy last minute cleaning, but I always appreciate the thought when I visit their homes). So here I sit feeling decidedly more welcoming and housewife-ish :)

Spa Night: How I Cut My Hair

I've been doing my own layered cut for several years now. Yes, at HOME. I know I seem very cheap sometimes, but this is not all about the money. I got so tired of going to a professional salon and telling the stylist exactly what I wanted (A trim. Keep the length and add layers everywhere with lots of layers framing my face from the chin up) and leaving a little less richer and with LOTS less hair! They would always chop off at least 4 inches from the bottom and I would leave unhappy. Well, several years ago I searched online for an at home alternative. I can't find that original video, but the one below is exactly how I cut my own layers. I don't do the really short layers and bangs near the face, but I do everything else, including cutting upwards on the pieces of hair combed forward from the crown of the head.

Every now and then I break down and get a professional cut, but I always come home disappointed. So I vow to keep doing it myself... until the next time I'm sucked in by a great deal.

So give it a try if you dare :) I'm definitely happier with my hair when I cut it at home!

Chocolate Biscotti

I made chocolate biscotti for the first time last week. It was fabulously easy with this recipe my SIL posted a while back. Hope you get to try it! It's ridiculously scrumptious with coffee or tea...

This was a part of Hubby's gifts during his birthday week :) We're enjoying the excuse to sit down with a cuppa more often so we can have some biscotti. Yum.

Today I'm out on the balcony potting plants in the gorgeous warm weather. It's about time Spring decided to stick around and Baby Boy and I are loving being outside! We spend lots of time out there during the warm months. With the typical apartment lack of a yard, it's the perfect relaxing spot for me and play space for Baby Boy.

I'll be taking some time to work on my hair (still haven't dyed it yet...procrastinator) and hopefully get a foot soak in this evening. Hope you choose to pamper yourself a little today... You deserve some guilt free relaxation. Happy Spa Night, Beauties!

Homemade Interchangeable Flipflop Bling

So the other day I was in a boutique and saw a thing called Switchflops, which are basically flip flops that have a metal snap where you can place decorative flowers or faux jewels on your flip flops depending on your outfit. Well, I thought I just had to have some, but wasn't going to pay $20 and up for them. I've racked my brain until I came up with a homemade solution and now I cannot wait until the warm weather sticks around so I can show them off! Also, I've got visions of flip flop bling made out of fashion jewelry... but I'm getting ahead of myself.

If you've already done this for yourself, my cheap creative heart salutes you. And why didn't you tell me???
;-) Here you go homemade divas. Enjoy the endless possibilities to prettify your flip flops and show off your pedicure this spring and summer!

Here's the type of glue I use for all my projects. It's amazing! Once it dries it's permanent, waterproof but flexible. Perfect for hair or flipflop bling :)

I started out with 2 pairs of plain flip flops. They're on sale everywhere! Big Lots has them for $2 a pair and Old Navy is selling tons of colors and sizes for $2.50 a pair if you buy 2. I can't get them at WalMart because I have a latex allergy and theirs always seem to make me break out in hives, but anyway.....

Place a line of glue on the underside of the straps in this area.
Let the glue cure for 1 or 2 minutes until it becomes tacky.

Measure and cut a 2 1/2 piece of ribbon. This will work for larger feet which I *ahem* have. You can measure and figure out what length you need once you see what it's for.
You'll need 2 precut pieces of ribbon for each flip flop.
So I cut 8 for my two pairs of flip flops.

Place one piece of ribbon on the underside. Be sure only half the ribbon is glued to the underside. The other half will need to wrap over to the top.

Here's how it should look from the top after you apply the ribbon to the glue underneath.

Place a dab of glue on the end of the ribbon...

And fold it over the top. Press firmly into place. Repeat on other side so ribbons overlap each other.
You'll have a ribbon X with ends glued down and no glue in the center. We need the top center to stay glue free so you can add your bling.

Clamp into place with clothespins or whatever you have. I used alligator hair clips because I have a ton.
Let cure for 24 hours for best results and then remove clamps.

I made a few 2 inch flowers to personalize my flip flops. They're attached to alligator clips. I'd like to find smaller clips than these next time, but it's what I had.

Place the bottom of your clip through the unglued loop we created with the ribbon pieces.

Oh the pretty frilly girly possibilities!

So yeah... now I'm on the lookout for brooches and clip on earrings in the clearance sections to add more bling to my flip flops!

Hope you are inspired to make some pretties for yourselves, Beauties! Have a wonderful weekend!