DIY Mustache Cups

Monday, February 29, 2016 1 comment
 I (finally) hopped on the vinyl train.  I put together a little bucket of green treats for my secret sister at work and I decided to include some green cups...with mustaches.
 I used a pattern (download one free here) on card stock.
 I had help.
 I traced it on some vinyl (they sell waterproof vinyl that can we washed).
 Peel and press.  It doesn't get much easier than this!

Retirement Party-Pineapple Style

Friday, February 26, 2016 No comments
 On January 30th, my Mom officially entered the world of retirement.  Her work threw her a really sweet party.  She had been at UT Dallas for 29 years.  I had the family over on her last day of work for dinner.  To celebrate, we are headed to Hawaii soon.  I decided to do a pineapple theme with (sort of) Hawaiian-ish food (that my extended family would eat-they are picky).  I went with gold and yellows.
 I picked up some pineapple straws at the dollar tree last summer (yup, I plan waaaay ahead-always).
 I made Hawaiian Ham Sandwiches, sweet Maui onion dip (just onion dip and chips), roasted pigs (bbq mini sausages) and cheese, macaroni salad, slaw (gone vegan by using an Oriental Roman Noodle instead of the chicken), and a fruit salad.  I had planned to make pineapple cupcakes, but we came home with a ton of bundt cake from the party the day before, so I sliced up the lemon cake and added some little honeycomb pineapples.
 I found super cute pineapple toothpicks at Hobby Lobby.
 I also found chalkboard pineapple clothespins at Michael's and I sprayed them gold to label the food.
Very easy, and a fun reason to get together as a family.  

College Quilt in the Works

Thursday, February 25, 2016 No comments
 I recently cleaned out my closet and discovered I never need to buy another college shirt ever.  I decided to take some of the ones from my college years and turn them into a quilt since they had some meaning.  Of course, after I was finished, I found more, but....I guess there will be another project someday.  Anyway.  I found a pre-sized quilting square....
I took all those old shirts and went ahead and cut out squares.  (I'll eventually do it with my work shirts-which are in this picture).  I then just used a bunch of different yellows and greens I cut into 2 inch strips (Sic' Em!) to frame each square, and then the gals at the retreat convinced me to add a darker green to frame those and I ended up loving the look.  Nothing fancy, but I just didn't want to get rid of my 'memories', but I also didn't want to keep stacks of shirts.    I'm going to find someone to quilt this (I think) with some college slogans etc from my alma mater.  I'll post the finished project later.

Felt Wreath

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 No comments
 I recently shared some tutorials for making felt flowers on Good Morning, Texas.  This is my end product.  I've seen these all over etsy lately, and they are really fun, easy, and incredibly affordable to put together.
Here is the video from GMT.  I post these on my facebook page whenever I can.
I also have tried to start doing some tutorials via youtube.
HERE is the tutorial for the felted yellow flowers.
My goal is to keep blogging, but to slowly start adding some videos on youtube as well b/c there are just some things that are better on video!  I've been practicing with the hows etc on creating short but informative videos.  I'm still just working on camera set up, but....I'll get there!

Taco Casserole

Monday, February 22, 2016 No comments
Taco Casserole
Ingredients:  1 lb ground beef, 1 onion (chopped), 1/2 t garlic, 1 pkg taco seasoning, 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce, 1 c sour cream, 1 c cottage cheese, 2 c crushed tortilla chips, 2 c (8 oz) grated Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions:  
1.  Heat oven to 350.
2.  Brown beef, drain extra fat.  Remove from heat.
3.  Add onion, garlic powder, taco seasoning mix, and tomato sauce to beef.  Mix and set aside.
4.  In a separate bowl, mix sour cream and cottage cheese.
5.  Place half the crushed chips in the bottom of a great 2 1/2 qt casserole dish.  Add half the meat sauce, cover with sour cream mix.  Sprinkle with half of the grated cheese.
6.  Repeat layers, top with cheese.  Bake for 30 minutes until cheese is melted.

5 Dollar Quilt Ladder

Friday, February 19, 2016 No comments
 I've wanted a ladder to hold the blankets and quilts in my living room for a long time now.  On a whim, I hopped in my car and ran down to Home Depot.  I had no idea what I was doing, but for a planless project, I'm pleased with the results.
 Looking at the wood at Home Depot I found 2x3 8 foot pieces for 2.14 each.  I had the guys in the back of the store cut it down for me down to five feet each.  With the remaining 3 foot pieces (one from each pieces) I had those cut in half again so I had 4- 18 inch ladder steps.  I also bought the totally wrong screws.  So, don't do this if you care about things like that, BUT....I wanted those fat heads to show on the sides.  It holds the wood well enough to hold my blankets, so whatever. Just make sure they are long enough to go through the 2 inch wood...been there, done that.
 I then measured down the ladder starting at 1 foot down b/c I wanted the top to be a little higher than the bottom for the hanging blankets and then I positioned the rest of the steps every 12 inches.  I drilled a hole into the outside edge and then screwed the screw into the wood on through to the step.  At first, I used this little guy...
 That took forever, so I then used this little thing.  I don't know what the names are, but....it made life easier.  You can also use a nail and just hammer away.
 I decided to put each 'step' on at an angle so that the blankets hang a little neater.
 I repeated the process with side too (much easier to do with side two).  June is in her cage at this point b/c she wanted to lick wood stain.
 With 4 something in wood, and a dollar in hardware, I then went to the craft store and bought this little can of dark walnut wood stain.  It didn't even take half of the can.  I also used a coupon, so it was less than 5 dollars.
 I painted the whole thing with a foam brush, and then rubbed off the excess with a paper towel (just follow the instructions).
Last, I took a sander and sanded the edges for an aged look.
This is going in the corner of my living room to store the 17 blankets I keep on the chairs to hide from all both weeks of winter that come through Texas.  OK, maybe more than two weeks, but when the thermometer reads less than 70, I'm under a blanket.

Ham and Cheese Pinwheel

Thursday, February 18, 2016 No comments
Last Christmas I needed a quick appetizer to take to a Christmas party....my second in less than 24 hours.  I read about these via the Pillsbury website.  They were super simple to throw together.
 You need a can of thin crust pizza dough, 6+ slices of cheese, and half a pound of ham, salt, and an egg.
You spread out the dough, lay the ham all over the top, and then lay the cheese on top of that.  I, clearly, didn't have enough sliced cheese, so....same difference with the grated, though, I'd recommend the sliced b/c you don't have to chase it around and push it back in your spiral when you cut.
 Roll tightly (the long way) and then cut into 16 pieces.  You then crack an egg, glaze the top of the pinwheels and then sprinkle with a little sea salt.
Bake at 425 for 15-20 minutes.  I'd suggest serving it with a dipping sauce-ranch, pizza sauce, honey mustard.  Everything is better with a dip-choose one to match your taste, or throw them all out there.

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bar

Tuesday, February 16, 2016 No comments
This dessert is the trifecta of all I love.  Peanut butter.  Chocolate.  Oatmeal.  I hope they serve this in heaven.  In the meantime-I'll eat it down here on earth and thanking the inventor of these little goodies, whoever you are!  A friend passed this along to me, some friend-as if I needed this recipe.
Peanut Butter Bars
Cookie Ingredients: 1 c butter (softened), 1 c. sugar, 2 c. brown sugar, 1 1/2 c peanut butter, 3 eggs, 2 t. vanilla, 1 1/2 t. baking soda, 1/2 t. salt, 3 c. flour, 3 c. quick oats
Frosting Ingredients: 4 c. powdered sugar, 1/2 c. cocoa powder, 1/3 c. butter (softened), 1/3 c. boiling water, 1 t. vanilla, 3/4 c. peanut butter
Instructions:
1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 9x11 cake pan.
2.  Beat butter and sugar for 2 minutes (until fluffy).  Add peanut butter, vanilla, and egg.
3.  In a second bowl mix the flour, baking soda, and salt and slowly add it to the peanut butter mix.  Beat until combined.
4.  Add oats and stir.  Press dough into pan and bake for 12 minutes (center will be puffy).
5.  Whisk powdered sugar and cocoa.  Add soft butter, boiling water, and vanilla.  Beat until glossy.
6.  When cookie is done baking, Heat 3/4 c. peanut butter just until warm and drizzle it over the cookie.  Spread.
7.  Spread frosting over peanut butter.  Let cool and cut into squares.

Applying Vinyl 101

Monday, February 15, 2016 No comments
I recently made my own monogram for my iphone and iphone charger.  I did a quick video on applying the vinyl.  You can find that here.  I saved myself a lot of money on a case by doing in myself.  Win.  I'm slowly adding video demos.  I'm just getting my feet wet, but I promise they will get better, and more crafty.

Cake Balls in a Cup

Friday, February 12, 2016 No comments
 Last year I made a bunch of cake balls and packaged them up several different ways.  I used this recipe for red velvet cake balls.
 I found some cute little coffee cups at TJ Max, but you could cover plain white cups with scrapbook paper as well.  I filled each one with cake balls.
I made little tags to go on each one.  I found some conversation heart stamps at Michael's and I stamped and embossed them to make them shiny.  Everything is better with a little sparkle.  

Glitter Cake Balls

Thursday, February 11, 2016 No comments
Here's a quick little video on how to 'glitter' cake balls.  It includes some tombstone ideas....riveting, I assure you.

Bling It On

Wednesday, February 10, 2016 No comments
 Today there should be a segment airing on Good Morning, Texas with bling.  Lots of bling. Six projects filled with bling.  There are a few I won't have time to demo, so I'll be posting those instructions soon.
You can watch the segment via my facebook.  I'll post a few tutorials I don't have time to show on youtube.  
The above bobby pins are one of the projects.  I made them using these fun little spare parts pieces and bobby pins with the flat circle I hot glued the little pieces to and then I wrapped the brad ends around the pin to secure it into place.