Everything Has It’s Place Now!

Well, here’s my most recently finished project, a message board/drop off station in the kitchen right by the door leading to our garage.  

I know my husband was a little scared the day he came home from work and saw a huge black rectangle painted on the wall, but surely he’s getting used to my shenanigans by now.  Come on, we’ve been married for 9 years now… hehe.

Anyhow, I used Valspar’s Chalkboard paint on the wall, and then tacked up a ribbon border (measured, cut, and singed some grosgrain ribbon to fit the chalkboard outline) with a few little pinches of …

this amazing stuff!

Aahh, no extra holes in the wall, and I can change the ribbon border to suit the seasons and holidays!  Plus, it’s super easy to take off.

My husband got these plastic file holders from work (they were actually going to throw away these gems!).  They hold the boys’ schoolwork perfectly!

The monogrammed hooks were at Hobby Lobby for only $2.50 each because they were half-off the week I was in there.  Do you ever find yourself only shopping there for something particular when you know it’s going to be half-off?  We’re so cheap frugal, aren’t we?

Just perfect.  The kids can look at the schoolwork they’ve done any time they want, and it’s not cluttering up the kitchen.  Plus, I have no reason to leave the house without a backpack or important note anymore because the notes are stuck right to the chalkboard with my Loctite putty, and the backpacks are right there as we head out the door.

Time for my usual Coke break.  It’s totally well-deserved today.  After all, that was a big project (wink, wink).

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I Can’t Believe You Can Eat This!

How much do you adore this cake?  That’s right.  I said, “Cake.”   This is actually a four-layer cake made to resemble a tin bucket filled with ice (jello shots) and bottles of libations that would be appropriate for a 21st birthday.  The coolest part, though, is that the bottles are edible, too; they’re hard candy.  She actually made bottle molds for the candy to harden in.  Honestly, would you not have loved one of these at your 21st birthday party? 

My Aunt Lisa, the one who made this masterpiece, is an amazing baker and food artist.  So, when my sister showed me a picture of this cake today, I immediately knew I had to show it off.  You can check out a few of her other cake creations here on her facebook page.  So, if you’re in the Louisville, KY, area, and you’ve got something special on your mind that you’d like to see on a cake, get in touch with her… she’s the boss of cakes around here!  

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The Wicked Witch of the Midwest!

I call this the Wicked Witch of the Midwest, and she’s falling through my ceiling.  AAHHH!

My mom and sister made this for us over the weekend, and I am just smitten with it for a couple of reasons.  One, they spent their time, effort, and love into making it for us, and two, I love anything EVERYTHING  Halloween!

So, because I didn’t make it, I don’t have a tutorial for you, but I will tell you how they did it.  They cut the handle off of a black umbrella and hot glued black tulle around the center of the umbrella to cover it up.

To make the witch’s dress, they tied stiff, black tulle to the metal pieces of the umbrella.

For the stockings, they sewed striped, cotton fabric to make two tubes and stuffed them with plastic shopping bags… I know, they’re very resourceful.  They pinned the stockings to the top of the umbrella with safety pins.  You’ll never see it with all of that tulle.  Finally, for the shoes, my sister simply drew a shoe pattern on black felt, cut it out, sewed it together, and stuffed them with shopping bags.  She then just hot glued the shoes to the stockings and  glued a lime green bow onto the front of each shoe.

To attach the Wicked Witch of the Midwest to my ceiling, I pushed four thumb tacks from the underside of the umbrella right into the ceiling.  They hold it perfectly!

If you make one, send me a picture.  I’d love to show my mom and sister.  Have a great weekend, Friends, and don’t forget to take your Coke break with the ones you love!

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Celebrate With a Rice Krispies Treat Cake!

My younger son’s teacher’s birthday was last week.  So, of course, we had to do a little something special for her.  Together, Dane and I made a 2-tiered Rice Krispies Treat “cake”.  I saw this idea at eighteen25, but changed it up slightly.

To make the “cake” extra colorful for the occasion, I replaced about 1/2 cup Rice Krispies with 1/2 cup Fruity Pebbles.  However, you could make the ratio any way you want it.  Here’s the recipe for Rice Krispies Treats, just in case you forgot it (like you could ever forget such a delicious thing like that… haha).

To make the tiers, just spray two wax paper-lined pans of different sizes with non-stick cooking spray and fill them up with your gooey concoction.

After they’ve hardened up, flip your bigger tier out onto your plate and then your smaller one onto the bigger one.  Now just insert your cutesy banner (go here for a quick tutorial), and your cake’s not going anywhere.

Enjoy this treat for any occasion (like Happy Thursday!). 

Now go ahead and clock out; you need a Coke break

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Wikileaks and the Constitution.

Wikileaks.

You know you’ve heard of it, but my question is what do you think about it?  I watched an interview with it’s founder, Julian Assange, on 60 Minutes on Sunday.  It was pretty interesting.  However, here’s my question, “Should it be against the law to publish classified/sensitive documents?” 

…and enter the can of worms.  Do we open it, or keep it closed? 

Let’s open it because I want to know what you guys, fellow publishers, if you will, think about prosecuting someone who does the aforementioned.  It is against the law to disclose classified government information here in the United States.  However, the First Amendment of The Constitution of the United States states that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.  There you go, the worms are coming out.  Is Julian Assange in the wrong for publishing documents, albeit classified ones, that are given to him.  He is not the one who went and sought them out himself.  He merely published them. 

Please weigh in.  Tell me what you think.  The Constitution of the United States says that you have that freedom. 

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Picture Turned Dry Erase Board!

This is the easiest message board you’ll ever make.  Trust me.  I saw this idea somewhere a couple of weeks ago online.  I can’t remember where, but I didn’t forget what… haha.  It’s a picture turned dry erase board.  It’s the perfect desk area accompaniment! 

Now go get out a picture frame you’re not using and stick some fabric in it.  I used burlap because I always have it on hand. 

Put your cardboard piece back on and trim the excess fabric off.  Now go get yourself a dry erase marker and starting making your notes!

Have a great Labor Day Weekend, Friends!

Miranda

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A Birthday Bib Necklace!

                                                                                                                                                                               
 Blair had her second birthday last month, and I just knew the birthday girl had to have something spectacular to wear.  So, I decided to make her a bib necklace to go with a plain white tank top and her pink pettiskirt, oh, and, of course a tiara (from JoAnn’s.)  To make the necklace, I just made a couple of singed fabric flowers, a ruffle, and a ruffled-looking kind of fabric flower and sewed them all onto a small piece of pink fabric and sewed a length of satin ribbon to each side.

To make the singed fabric flower, just cut a couple of circles or ovals of different sizes and (with much caution!) get the edge of a lighter and singe the edges of your circles.  Then stack them together and sew a pearl or button into the center. 

To make a ruffle, check out my easy tutorial here.

Finally to make the ruffled-looking flower, cut our several circles of the same size.  Then fold one in half and then in half again.  Now stick your threaded needle right through the bottom of it.  Do this to all of your circles until you have the size flower you want.  Then knot it up on the backside of it with your needle and thread.

Once you have all of your flowers and ruffles made, sew them onto a small piece of coordinating fabric.  It really doesn’t matter what the backside of this looks like because it won’t be showing.   Grab your ribbon and make sure it’s the appropriate length for your necklace once it’s tied around your neck and stitch those to the back, as well. 

                                                                                                                                         

Now you’re done. Voila! A perfect accessory for any special occasion… especially a birthday for a Princess!

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