DIY Fingerprint Necklace

Here is my version of the fingerprint necklaces that seem to be so popular these days.  I made these as a gift for my grandma this year.  I found a tutorial online to do it yourself rather than paying a pretty penny for the silver ones.  I used polymer clay, silver paint, and a spray sealer.  

Roll your clay into a small ball and have your child press their thumb or whichever finger you choose into the clay then poke a small hole at the top using a toothpick. Follow the directions on the package to bake the clay.  Paint them silver then spay the sealer on after they are dry.

The original inspiration for this project was found at Sarah Ortega Photography

Manic Monday

Hope Everyone had a fabulous holiday!

Friday Fix- Super Fast Last Minute Gift

I was visiting one of my favorite recipe websites Our Best Bites and I just happened to stumble upon the fabulous post for a really quick and easy gift.  I decided I had to do it for my co-workers and snazz up one of the teacher gifts I already had planned. 

 It's also super cheap!  I found 3 packs of holiday socks at Wal-Mart for under $3!!.  I made 6 of these and it was under $12 total!  You will need to visit Our Best Bites to get the printable to attach to the bag then package a cute pair of socks and a nail polish in a clear bag.  If you wanted to do a bit more you could also add a mini manicure kit and mini bottle of nail polish remover. 

Wreath Ornaments

The kids made these fun wreath ornaments to give to family this year.  We started with some crocheted wreaths (get the pattern here)

Then the kids embellished them with buttons and glitter glue.

Another super easy cute Christmas craft for the kiddos

Christmas Tree Cones

These Christmas trees were made with Sugar Cones, graham crackers, frosting tinted with green food coloring, and different candies.  The kids loved making these and they were so simple.

Happy Birthday!!!

11.  Wow!  How has it already been 11 years?  It's so true that your kids grow up in the blink of an eye.  Another fabulous year that has been filled with lots of new adventures, frustrations, and lots of love.  I can't wait to see what this next year will bring us.  I love you my sweet peanut, always and forever you will be my favorite girl.

To see last years birthday post go here

Manic Monday

My honey and I tailgating.  Go CARDS!!!

Mmmmm Kisses Chocolate Chip Cookies

These were going to be my orginal submission into the cookie exchange but the majority of them didn't hold their shape like these ones did.  I of course wanted to have pretty cookies to give out to my family so the pretty ones will be given out and the not so pretty ones will be eaten by me my kids! 

I figured out that the problem was I didn't get all the flour incorporated into the dough, Oops!  So make sure everything gets mixed up really well or you will have funny looking cookies. 

You will need:

Unwrapped Kisses

1 Cup Softended Butter

1/3 Cup Sugar

1/3 Cup Packed Brown Sugar

1 tsp Vanilla

2 Cups Flour

1 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350

Beat Butter, Sugars, and Vanilla until creamed

Add Flour until well blended and smooth

Fold in Chocolate Chips

Mold some dough around a Kiss.  You don't need a lot, just enough to cover the Kiss and roll into a ball

Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 10-12 Mintues

Now here is my one complaint in regards to my holiday baking.  Why doesn't Hershey's sell unwrapped Kisses around the holiday for baking?  I unwrapped 3 1/2 bags of regular Kisses, 2 bags of Candy Cane Kisses, and 3 Bags of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.  I think the unwrapping took longer than the actual baking!  I suggested this to them on Facebook, so next year if you see bags of unwrapped Kisses for sale, please come and thank me!

If you need anymore cookie inspiration please check out the ones I made last year

Original Recipe from Hershey's

Mmmmm Candy Cane Blossoms

Here is another cookie that I made using a recipe from Hershey along with some Hershey Candy Cane Kisses.  These cookies look so nice on a plate and they don't taste too bad either!

You will need:

48 Candy Cane Kisses

1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter 

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons milk

Red or green sugar crystals

Heat oven to 350

Beat butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla until well blended

In a separate bowl combine flour, baking soda, and salt

Alternate adding flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture

Shape dough into 1 inch balls

Roll in sugar crystals

Bake 8-10 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet

Cool for 2-3 minutes then top with an unwrapped kiss

These cook up so quickly, I ended up making a double batch so I can share with my family and friends.  I hope you enjoy them!

Original recipe can be found here

Mmmmmm Reese's Peanut Butter Temptations

This year I am doing a family cookie exchange and needed to find a recipe that could easily yeild 60+ cookies.  I scoured my cookie board on Pinterest and made lists of possibilities.  This particular recipe just seemed to call out to me.  Maybe it's because I am such a fan of peanut butter and chocolate or maybe because they look so darn cute.  Who knows but I made them and I am glad I did!  I ended up following the recipe that was on the back of package of Reese's Cups, so that is the one I am going to share with you.

You will need:

About 40 Peanut Butter Cups

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup Creamy Peanut Butter

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 Heat oven to 375°F. 

Line small muffin cups with mini cupcake liners.

 Beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, peanut butter, egg and vanilla until light and fluffy in large bowl.

Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add to butter mixture, beating until well blended

Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place one in each prepared muffin cup

 Bake 10 to 12 minutes 

 Let cool for 1/2 minutes.

Press a peanut butter cup into each cookie

Cool completely in muffin pan

*Cheater Version

Skip all those ingredients and buy pre-made peanut butter dough and follow the directions above from the baking on down.

Original Inspiration from Baked to Perfection 

Recipe used from Hershey's

Ribbon Christmas Tree Shirt

This ribbon shirt was made for another swap using more traditional Christmas colors.  I used Liquid Stitch for the ribbons and sewed the star on on the top.  I am not sure how well Liquid Stitch will hold up with everyday wear and tear (especially with infants/toddler)  but it would make a cute Christmas picture outfit!

Manic Monday

Along with wrappting this is what I was busy with over the weekend. 

Recipes to come this week! 

Star Ornament

So easy and so pretty!   I used a cardboard star ornament, sheet music, and glitter.  Use Mod Podge to apply the sheet music to the star, put glue around the edges and sprinkle on some glitter of your choice.  Easy Peasy!

You could make these using wooden stars of all shapes and sized then hang them on the tree or make a pretty garland.  The possibilities really are endless!

Mmmmmm Cookies & Creme Cupcakes

I saw the recipe for these at Bakerella and was so excited to try them out.  I have never seen cupcakes like this before.  The trick is to plop an Oreo into the cookie before you bake it and it will rise to the top as you can see here.

 I frosted then rolled in crushed up cookies.  YUMMO!

I made these for my family's Cupcake Wars.  I don't know if we had a specific winner or not, everyone had such good offerings.

Christmas Tree Shirt

This shirt was made for the Ongoing Holiday Wish Swap.  It's a ribbon Christmas tree!  Love the way this turned out and have made another one for another swap already.

Manic Monday

Kids hanging with Gramps at the zoo

Earrings

These six pairs of earrings were made for a partner in the Ongoing Holiday Wish Swap.  My favorite pair are the blue ones in the first photo.  I want to make a pair for myself but I am not sure that I have any more of the silver beads.....

I hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving and fun Black Friday!

Manic Monday

First Trip to the State Fair and they were all Winners!

Friday Fix-Homemade Wipes

I don't have a photo for this post since it would basically be a picture of a tupperware filled with paper towels.  I am sure you can use your imagination to picture what that looks like!  I wish when I was younger I would have be more into taking care of my skin.  Now I remove my make-up at night and use lots of different face creams and sunblock everyday.  (If you need some great day/night stuff go shop my Avon store)  I like to use makeup remover wipes at night but man they are expensive!  So thanks to White House, Black Shutters I can now make my own!  Depending on what you put in here you can use these as make up remover wipes, baby wipes, or cleaning wipes.  To make the makeup remover wipes you will need:

1 Roll of Bounty Select a Size Paper Towels
2 Cups Water
2 tsp Coconut Oil (I got mine at Sprouts)
2 Squirts of you favorite facial cleanser
A Container

First you cut your roll of paper towels in half
In a bowl mix water, coconut oil, and cleanser
Place paper towels in container, pour the mixture over them
Put the lid on and turn upside down for at least five minutes
After five minutes, turn right side up, pull out the cardboard roll in the middle, then pull your first wipe up from the middle.

These work so well and keep my skin so nice and soft.  It's a win win!  Saving money and getting wipes that contain no harsh chemicals :) 

Visit White House, Black Shutters for the recipes for baby wipes and cleaning wipes.

Day of the Dead Hoopla

This was made for the Ongoing Wish swap and was VERY hard to send away.  Luckily I bought the pattern from Urban Threads and can make another for myself.  I used a running stitch for the majority of the peice.  There are a few places that have some satin stitching.  I wouldn't change anything about this one!  Love the colors and stitches.

Manic Monday

First picture of me and both my parents in about 27 years

Pick Your Plum

Pick Your Plum

I seriously adore this website.  I am not sure how I stumbled across it but I am glad I did.  They have great deals on all kinds of craft supplies and items.  They also provide some crafty inspiration. 

Everyday I get an email with their deal of the day.  The three kits I have pictured below were all under $7 and that includes the shipping!

Here are a few of the things I have ordered:

A 2 sets of metal leaves to make earrings.  The earwires and jump rings were included too!

 Skeleton Keys.  There was also a small silver one but it was used before this photo was taken

 A pendant set.  The little squares are each a blank canvas just waiting for glitter, resin, or something! 

I have also ordered a personalized stamp and a set of rings and resin flowers that I am waiting to arrive. 

You gotta hurry though, all their quantities are limited!

Manic Monday

2011 JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes