Be A Homemaker

Man Birthday Card

2011-09-16T20:26:00.001-06:00

I used Cricut Cartridge "Just Because Cards" and altered the words to make it say Kick instead of Kickin'.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Couch Pillow

2011-06-07T20:11:00.002-06:00

I finally finished ONE couch pillow. I thought it turned out pretty cute. Its a little lopsided in this picture. It was just a quick snapshot from my phone. I'd love to write out instructions on how I made it, but its too difficult without having pictures, and I didn't take any pictures throughout the process.

However I can tell you this book is where I got the instructions. I've made several things out of here now. I've seen this book on Amazon.com, at Hobby Lobby, Joann's, and Hancock Fabrics. So check it out if you're interested in Americana style quilting :)

Yard Work

2011-05-09T11:28:00.002-06:00

I've been learning how to take care of the yard the past few weeks (this is the first time we've had a yard in our 7 years of marriage). I have to admit, I'm enjoying it much more than I thought I would. First of all, because I get to be outside in the sun! Oh how I love the sun! Second, there's just something so relaxing about mowing the grass. Third, its nice to look at it when you're done and know that it looks that good because YOU did it!!

Anyway, our yard is brand new and, therefore, is far from looking perfect. We have been having a hard time getting rid of the weeds. Something I learned this week is that it is much easier to get the weeds out (all the way to the root) when the grass is wet. I just thought I would share for those of you who are amateur yard workers like me :)

Ragg-ed Coasters

2011-05-04T17:43:00.002-06:00

I found a super cute tutorial HERE for fabric coasters. It inspired me to make some of my own, but I decided to stick with the theme of my living room and go with the ragged/rustic/Americana style since I had lots of scraps left over. So this is what I came up with.
I cut 2 5x5 squares of fabric.
I cut 2 4x4 squares of fusible interfacing and ironed them onto each piece of fabric.
I cut 1 4x4 piece of flannel and put it in between the 2 pieces of fabric.
I pinned it all in place, and sewed and X through the square.
Then I sewed a seam around the whole square. About 3/4".
Then I ragged it by clipping around the sqaure, careful not to cut through the seam.
Wash and dry to get the full rag effect.

Earring Hanger/Display

2011-05-03T20:39:00.001-06:00

This earring display is simply a picture frame with plastic canvas stapled to the back. I'm not sure how long it will hold up, but it works better than the shoe box :)

Project List

2011-05-03T19:54:00.002-06:00

My list of projects keeps getting bigger and bigger every day!! *Click on the italics to see the tutorials I plan on using or adjusting to my needs :)

Earring Holder
Harddrive case for my husband's upcoming "trip"
Coasters
Wall Hangings for my bedroom
Curtains for the window above the master bathtub
Shower curtain for the kids' bathroom
Paintings for my son's room
Butterflies for my daughter's room
Pillows for the couches
The kids' lightswitch covers
My daughter's lamp

Can you tell I love Make It and Love It? She has some great ideas and tutorials!!
Keep your eye out for my completed projects, coming soon!!

Texas Flag

2011-04-29T11:23:00.002-06:00

I FINALLY finished my Texas Flag wall quilt. I have to admit, I'm disapointed in how small it is. I didn't realize how small it would turn out, but thats my fault. I should have paid attention to the "finished size" measurements. Now I'm not sure what to do with it or where to hang it.
Next up on my to do list: COUCH PILLOWS!!

Jewelry/Necklace Holder

2011-04-18T16:35:00.003-06:00

I've seen lots of Jewelry holders and necklace hangers on the internet. This is what I came up with. I've had my jewelry in a shoe box for the last 2+ years, so it was time to do something about it!! I found some unframed cork board at WalMart (it came in 4 12x12 panels) and some 50% off frames at Hobby Lobby. I covered the cork board with linen and used a stapler to attach it :) I couldn't find anything else that worked as well as staples. I put the frames on and hung them up. I used cute push pins/thumb tacks that I also found at WM. Next I need to figure out a way to organize my earrings!!!

Happy Birthday Christmas Card

2010-11-15T11:04:00.003-07:00

It was my mother's birthday on October 25th. My mom is a Christmas FANATIC!!! She listens to Christmas music all year, does her Christmas shopping all year, and leaves Christmas decorations up in her office all year. She starts counting down from day 364. So, when my sister-in-law and I decided to do a surprise party for her this year, the theme was a no brainer. Here is the card I came up with. I THINK I used the Christmas Cheer Cricut Cartridge. The star is a brad, so it swivels.

Christmas Is Coming....

2010-10-20T09:16:00.003-06:00

....and I'm getting ready!!! I spent a few hours making Christmas tags the other night. I thought they turned out pretty cute (well, most of them).

My favorites are these white sparkly ones. These pictures don't do any of them justice because they are from my cell phone.

Cricut Cartridges used: Plantin School Book, Christmas Cheer, Stretch Your Imagination

Halloween Birthday Card

2010-10-13T21:20:00.001-06:00

Made with paper from the DCWV Amber Autum Fall Stack Collection and the Mini Monsters Cricut Cartridge

My mom said it looks like a pineapple :(
I thought it was cute. My husband's birthday is on Halloween, so this is for him. I'll be helping my daughter make him one within the next couple of days, so be watching for another Halloween Birthday card.

A Christmas Gift

2010-10-13T21:15:00.002-06:00

I'm sad that I can't get this to upload straight, but oh well. I'm currently staying in Utah with my parents, so I don't have any of my scrapbooking supplies. But my MIL let me borrow her Cricut and some paper along with embellishments. I pulled some of my pictures out of storage and got to work. Anyway, this is what I cam up with. These are pictures of my now-almost-3-year-old. She was born 16 days before Christmas.

TV-Free Toddler Time

2010-10-05T14:20:00.002-06:00

*This is a post I started in Korea, but never finished*

I found a great new blog called "365 Days of TV-Free Toddler Time". Click here to see it. She has some really great ideas on how to keep your toddler entertained without putting them in front of the TV all the time. However, most of her ideas just don't work for us in our current living situation, so I've been trying REALLY hard to think of ideas that WILL work. My 2-year-old asks for TV about ever 10 minutes. Sometimes she wakes up in the middle of the night and asks for a "show". Its a little rediculous. I read somewhere once that an average toddler watches 3-5 hours of tv every day! Crazy! So here is a list of things I've come up with recently.

Make Jell-O Jigglers
Finger painting
Bubbles
Puzzles
Bake muffins, or cookies, or just about anything. Kids LOVE to help in the kitchen! And they love to decorate food too!
Get a kitty :)
Visit a friend who has a kitty
Take a walk around the block (your toddler may be able to ride a tricycle next to you as you walk)
Put away toys that your toddler doesn't generally play with. In a few months take them out again and it'll be like the toys are brand new to the child.
Glue raw macaroni noodles to paper. Paint them first if you want.
Go swimming
Play in the dirt. It ALWAYS washes off
Find a rock outside, bring it inside, wash it and paint it
If you have a little girl, play with makeup or finger nail polish
Take silly pictures with a digital camera and let your toddler see them on the computer
If you have a piano, sit down with your toddler at the piano and let them play it softly. This has been a great way for me to teach my daughter to respect such an instrument.
Play-doh
Dress up
Kick a ball (we do this indoors because we don't have a yard, just put away fragile stuff)
Play with the webcam, even better, call a friend or relative on the webcam.
Go to the park
Riding a Tricycle (we also do this indoors if the weather is yucky)
Color in a coloring book
Build a tower with blocks and knock it down. A toddler can do this over and over and giggle every time.
If you have tile walls in your shower or bathroom, let your kids color on them with washable marker or fingerpaints. It is easy to wash and they get a HUGE kick out of it!!

With the winter months coming we're going to have to find a lot of indoor stuff to do.

What kind of stuff do you do with your kids when you can't get outside?

Father's Day is Coming!!!

2010-05-28T17:57:00.001-06:00

Father's Day is coming up fast. Are you ready? I'm not, but here's a start.

My First Scrapbooking Pages

2010-05-26T19:03:00.002-06:00

I haven't scrapbooked since I was a senior in High School. Okay, that was only like 7 years ago. But the world of scrapbooking has definitely changed. Its better now! There are so many cute papers, embellishments, ribbons, etc. that you can use to scrapbook. I never though I would get into it again, because it seems like an overwhelming task to get caught up, but I decided to start with my kids. They are young and if I can just keep up with them, I should be able to have a scrapbook from birth through highschool done before they get married :)

I'm starting with child #2 because child #1's pictures are all in storage in the States. I have been looking at layouts (LO) and sketches that others have done for the past couple of months. There's so many cute ideas out there for LO's. One thing I've noticed is that its very popular to have a lot of empty space or a lot of embellishments (stickers, ribbon, buttons, brads, etc.) and only one or 2 pictures per page. I find that I prefer lots of pictures on my page. Maybe because I don't have a lot of the cutesy stuff yet lol.

Sharing the Sweetness!

2010-05-20T22:01:00.005-06:00

I've sure been posting a lot of cards lately and not much of anything else. It seems like I go through phases...sometimes I'm really into cooking, other times its sewing, right now its card making. Soon it will be scrapbooking once I get all the awesome supplies I ordered from Cropchocolate.com. DID YOU KNOW THAT CROP CHOCOLATE NOT ONLY HAS THE LOWEST PRICES FOR ALL YOUR SCRAPBOOKING AND CRAFTING NEEDS, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $60 AND OFFER A 20% YES 20% MILITARY DISCOUNT!!!!???? DID YOU KNOW THAT!? WHY WOULD YOU SHOP ANYWHERE ELSE?

To shop with Crop Chocolate.com you have to create an account. If you don't mind, tell them you heard it through me and give them my email address (clint dot katie at gmail dot com). Then after you place your order, email their customer service (cs at cropchocolate dot com) and ask them for a military discount if you have an APO or FPO address. If you don't have an APO/FPO address, just mention my name (Katie :) ) and they will refund you 20% discount. Not many companies give military discounts anymore, especially a 20% discount! Thats huge! I just got $19 knocked off my most recent order plus free shipping! Not only do they offer several great deals a day, they have the most amazing customer service around!

Having Cropchocolate.com is better than having an LSS (local scrapbooking store)!!!!!

~See below for a shout out to an awesome new blog~

Shout Out!!!

2010-05-20T19:40:00.001-06:00

I just wanted to tell all of you about my sister-in-law's new blog! She just started it and already has put up some amazing projects she's completed. She's so talented she puts me to shame! Go check her out at Homemade Pizzazz.

Thank-You Card #2

2010-05-13T04:49:00.002-06:00

I've had people make fun of me for taking pictures of the cards I make, but I think its great to share ideas. I have a hard time coming up with cute ideas and like to see what other people have done. So I like to share so others can find good ideas as well. Not that there aren't a MILLION other places to look.

Masculin Happy Birthday Card

2010-05-12T16:19:00.005-06:00

I used Cricut Cartridge Beyond Birthdays-rectangle card and "Happy Birthday"
Cricut Cartridge Simply Sweet-Circle and gift
The paper and ribbon is all from the Basic Grey Mellow collection pack.

Happy 22nd Birthday Card

2010-05-12T02:33:00.000-06:00

Great Giveaway!!!

2010-05-11T23:08:00.002-06:00

Check out this blog for a chance to win some amazing prizes, including Cricut cartridges, and a Gypsy!!

Obsessed With Scrapbooking

Bon Voyage Card #2

2010-05-10T18:00:00.002-06:00

*Made with Cricut Cartride 'Beyond Birthdays'

Cricut Expression Cover

2010-05-09T20:36:00.003-06:00

This cover was made the same way as the Sewing Machine cover found HEREI simply used the following measurements:

Center strip: 7" x about 36"

2 Side rectangles: 8" x 22.5"

I used a 1/2" seam allowance.

Very simple and fast. And protects your machine from dust, dirt, moisture, and 2-year-olds' handprints!!

Bon Voyage Card #1

2010-05-03T23:00:00.001-06:00

I'm saying goodbye to several friends this week, so I've been making goodbye cards. Here is the first one I made.
*cricut cartridge "Beyond Birthdays"

2010-03-29T19:38:00.001-06:00

Another stitched card

Little girl Easter birthday card.

Do You Like Paper Crafts?

2010-03-29T19:09:00.003-06:00

Then you HAVE TO check out these websites. They are "daily deal" websites. Every day a special discounted product is for sale. Only that one product every day. And once its sold out, there's no more.

http://www.scrapbooksteals.com/ (this one is located in Utah, so if you live there, you can pick up your products and skip the shipping charge!!)
http://www.craftysteals.com/
http://www.peachycheap.com/
http://www.flowerstoflourishes.com/

This one is a little different. They have several deals a day, sometimes once an hour!!!

http://www.cropchocolate.com/

Here's your fair warning.....These sights are addicting!!!

Little Girl Jewelry

2010-03-23T00:16:00.003-06:00

These were super easy to make. I bought some of the stretchy wire and some beads that looked like they might be pretty and went at it.

First I measured my daughter's wrist (4.25 inches)
Then I measured down 6 inches on my wire but I didn't cut it, I just tied a knot at the 6 inch mark. This made it easier to hold the string of beads. I kept dropping it when I cut the wire before stringing the beads.
Once you have the beads on in the pattern you like (I tried several before finally making a decision), loop the ends together and tie a knot over the one you already tied at the bottom. I tied a knot 3 times, just to make sure it would stay. Then, the lady I bought the beads from suggest using some kind of super glue to put over your knot for extra strength.

Cinch Bag

2010-03-23T00:08:00.002-06:00

I bought my daughter a beautiful set of wooden blocks a few months back. I could have spent about 5 dollars more to get the cinch bag that came with them, but figured, hey...I can make one of those. Well, several months later I finally decided to do it. You can find the tutorial here. It is very easy and took me about an hour. Of course this is a modified version of the one in the tutorial because it is just a bag, rather than a back pack. I'm wishing I had made it a little bigger.

Baby Boy Card

2010-03-19T21:27:00.002-06:00

This is the first homemade card I've done since Father's Day 2 years ago! I thought it turned out okay. I think Lori really liked it. I stitched the word "baby" using 3 strands of embroidery/cross-stitching floss.
First just write lightly in pencil the word you'd like to stitch. Then poke holes with your needle, erase pencil marks and stitch. I found the idea for stitching cards in a magazine called Paper Crafts.

Latest Projects

2010-03-06T06:36:00.005-07:00

Here's some proof that I really have been working on some projects. The first one is a crayon roll. You can find the tutorial at MakeItandLoveIt. I need to buy more Twistable Crayons to go in it. It can also fit skinny markers, colored pencils, regular crayons and even those little PipSqueak markers. The ones I have in the picture below are miniature Twistables by Crayola.

This advent calander was a panel I found at the fabric market. Each ornament is a pocket for a piece of candy and they are numbered 1-24. Each day leading up to Christmas you pull out a tasty treat. I haven't added the wooden dowel and rope to hang it yet.

Cleaning Benefits of Vinegar

2010-02-21T23:44:00.004-07:00

As part of my goal to get my family healthier this year I am trying not to use chemicals around the house. I used to use the Swiffer WetJet to clean my hardwood floors. But for over a year I was living with streaks and a sticky film under my bare feet (unless I rinsed th floor with water, but that was basically cleaning the floors twice). I finally decided to take my friend's advice and use plain old vinegar and water. The results are AMAZING!!! It evaporates quickly which means no streaks, no sticky film, and my husband can't smell the vinegar when he gets home.

Vinegar has LOTS of uses around the house. Here are some I have found and/or heard of from friends.

1. Add 1 tsp of vinegar to a bottle of shampoo and use once a week for extra shine in your hair and health for your scalp.

2. Use vinegar and a rag to polish and clean stainless steel and to remove hard water from sinks, bathtubs, showers, etc. You can soak shower heads and sink sprayers in vinegar overnight to unclog the hardwater buildup.

3. Add about 1/2 cup vinegar to the washer when doing laundry to get help with dish-rag smells, static, and wrinkles.

4. Use 1 cup of vinegar to deodorize your sink. Let sit for 45 minutes, rinse with cold water. If you have a garbage disposal make vinegar ice cubes, chop in disposal and rinse with cold water.

5. Use 2 1/2 to 3 cups vinegar in place of toilet bowl cleaner. Let sit for 45 minutes, brush and flush.

6. Put vinegar in a sray bottle (I like to add water to dilute the smell a little) and use as glass cleaner for mirrors, windows, glass tabletops, etc.

7. With the same bottle of vinegar you can use it as an all-purpose cleaner on counter tops, tables, refridgerators, and anywhere else you would use an all-purpose cleaner.

8. With again the same spray bottle you can mist the vinegar in the air around the house as an airfreshner.

Other things that make vinegar great:

It's shelf life is nearly infinite

Gentle on hands

All natural, non-toxic

No harsh smells being inhaled or lingering

No need to rinse, saves time

Cheap

Environmentally friendly, no harsh chemicals down drains

Antibacterial properties

For more cleaning ideas and information visit www.vinegarworkswonders.com/

S-A-H-M's

2010-02-10T22:28:00.004-07:00

Sometimes people ask me what I "do". You know, as in a job. And I often find myself responding "oh, I'm just a stay-at-home-mom." As if its nothing. A few years ago, after I had my first child, I realized that I had to view my position as a job (kind of). Let me try to explain.

There are a lot of responsibilities that come with being a S-A-H-M. Cleaning, cooking, teaching, playing, grocery shopping, paying bills, finances/budgeting, exercise (yourself and kids), grooming (yourself and kids), first aide, taking kids to various activities, giving husband needed attention, so on and so forth. On top of the things you need to get done, there are a MILLION things you have to remember. Diapers, sippy cups, snacks, wipes, change of clothes, wallet, keys, phone, grocery list, so on and so forth.

So, anyway, I started viewing my roll as a homemaker and S-A-H-M as a full time job, because really thats what it is (actually its a lot more than that). I decided that while dad is at work, so am I. When dad is off work, so am I (to an extent).

When you go to a job you have specific things you are supposed to be doing or supposed to get done. Sometimes they have time limits, sometimes they don't. I decided to give myself a job list every day, things that had to get done before dad got home.

Monday-clean the kitchen
Tuesday-clean the bedrooms
Wednesday-clean the bathrooms
Thursday-laundry
Friday-clean living room and entry way

I decided I would work on each job throughout the day. In between feeding time and nap time and exercise time, cooking, and all the other things going on. This has really helped me to stay caught up on house work, to keep our home clutter free and a place where we all want to come home to, and have the evenings and weekends off with my husband.

It has also helped me to manage my time a little better so that I can get in some good quality time with each of my children and then have some me time as well. I get up at the same time every morning (no sleeping in on the job right?) and focus on getting my chores done (between child time) as soon as I can, so that when the kids are napping I can do what I want to do for myself. Sometimes I read a good book, sew, watch some tv, nap, shower a little longer than usual, or whatever. Its important to get that relax time so that when dad does get home you're not ready to pull your hair out.

A great book on the subject of being a Stay-at-home-mom is In Praise of Stay-at-Home-Moms by Dr. Laura Schlessinger. A great lesson I learned from this book is that I am first and foremost a wife, then a mother, and then a homemaker. My relationship with my husband is crutial, my time with my children priceless, and everything else falls in behind them.

So I'm curious to know what all you ladies out there do to make things run smoothly around your house. I'm always looking for ways to improve. Leave a comment and share your ideas with us!

Deceptively Delicious Garlic Parmesean Mashed Potatoes

2010-02-05T15:45:00.002-07:00

This cookbook is a great find! It is by Jerry Seinfeld's wife. It is full of recipes that get your family eating vegetables without them even knowing! Here is a mashed potato recipe I adapted from a recipe in her book.

1 lb baking potatoes-peeled, cubed
1/2 C cauliflower puree
2 Tbsp butter/margarine
1/2 C milk
1 tsp. Salt
3 oz. grated parmesean cheese
1 1/2 cloves minced garlic

Put potatoes into large pot and cover with water til there is about 3 inches on top.
Boil until tender enough to pierce with a fork.
While potatoes are boiling
Put milk and garlic in a small saucepan. Cook on medium heat about 5 minutes
Set aside
When potatoes are finished cooking
Drain and put in a mixing bowl
Add milk mixture, parmesean, butter, salt, and cauliflower.
Mash or beat until desired texture is reached.

My husband claimed that these are the best potatoes I've ever made, before he knew there was cauliflower in them :) Which was the only thing I did different!

How To Heat Seal a Ribbon

2009-08-20T18:06:00.005-06:00

I know this is probably so simple and silly to some of you, but I've never had to "heat seal" a ribbon before. However I was working on a project today that included this as a step. So of course I had to look it up.

To heat seal a ribbon:

Simply hold the end of the ribbon tightly over a flame (candle, lighter, etc) and move from left to right once or twice.

(picture courtesy of http://needlesfabricandthread.blogspot.com)

Compassionate Service

2009-08-19T01:52:00.002-06:00

At my church we have what is called a "Compassionate Service Leader". This person is responsible for making sure that other women and their families are taken care of. It can be anything from someone needing meals brought to their home after a baby is born, to someone looking for a good home for their old clothes.

Well....I was asked or "called" to be the Compassionate Service Leader for our little branch. So I made up this folder that will be passed around each Sunday during our meetings. Its very basic and self explanitory. The women can write down their specific needs or write down that they have something they're giving away or selling for a great price. It will also have my phone number in the front cover, in case someone has a very personal need that they don't want everyone reading about :)

~Scroll down for another new post~

Thank-You Card

2009-08-19T01:47:00.002-06:00

I'm not very talented at card making, and I have no supplies to make cards whatsoever. I have cardstock and thats it. But here's proof that you don't have to have all the fancy trimmings to make a homemade card that looks {halfway} decent....
All I did was type "Thank You!" on my computer and then chose a font that I liked. I taped the printed letters on green cardstock and cut them out. Then cut the border with just siccors, no straight lines. Adds character?

New Fav Blog!

2009-08-16T22:52:00.004-06:00

Thanks to a comment given under my tote bag post, I have found a new favorite blog for project ideas. Its called Make It And Love It . I have yet to see a project on her website that I don't absolutely love and want to try! So check it out!

Tote Bag

2009-08-13T22:59:00.005-06:00

Here's a picture of my most recent sewing project. I'm not about to try to explain how to make this. So click HERE to see the tutorial that I followed. I made my bag a little smaller than the tutorial's, and I also added interfacing to the lining, and covered some cardboard and stuck it in the bottom to make the bag a little more sturdy. It turned out bigger than I expected. I fit the contents of my purse, 4 diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, and 2 bath towels in there yesterday when we went swimming.

Getting Rid of Unwanted Knats

2009-08-03T23:41:00.003-06:00

I think thats how you spell it. Anyway, you know how sometimes you get those pesty "fruit flies" in your house? Maybe from your fruit, or your garbage, or your inside plants? Well, here is a solution I heard today (haven't tried it yet):

Crush up a garlic clove or 2.
Place them in a cup of water.
Allow them to sit overnight.
In the morning, or the next time you water your indoor plants, water them with the garlic water.

My friend swears by this, so if you try it let me know how it works out :)

Goo Gone

2009-07-31T20:54:00.002-06:00

I just have to share this with you. My husband, once again, left gum in the pocket of his pants. Which means it ended up ALL OVER my dryer AGAIN! I was so furious. Well, a good friend of mine let me borrow her Goo Gone because I couldn't find anything that would remove the gum without a massive amount of scrubbing. I sprayed this Goo Gone on the gum spots, waited about 2 minutes and it wiped right off...no scrubbing AT ALL! I was ecstatic! Last time this happened, I used another brand of goop remover and spent about 2 hours scrubbing...so lets just say I'll never go back.

What do you use to remove gooey, greasy, gummy messes?

Storage Cubes

2009-07-23T06:02:00.005-06:00

I got this idea and the instructions from Crazy Mom Quilts. She has lots of amazing things on her blog!

1. Using 2 different fabrics, cut out 5 6-inch squares from each fabric for a total of 10 6-inch squares. If the fabric is thin/lightweight, use interfacing for best results. (interfacing is the stuff that you iron or sew to fabric to make it more stiff).

2. Outer shell: Sew 4 of your 6-inch squares together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance as pictured below.
3. Sew the 2 ends of your row together to make an unfinished cube.

4. Pin the 5th square to the bottom of your cube and sew with a 1/4 inch seam. Reapeat the process for the inner shell, except when sewing the bottom square, only sew 3 of the 4 seams. You will use this gap for turning and placing your cardboard inserts. You should now have 2 topless boxes.

5. Once your inner shell is complete place it inside your outer shell with the "right" sides together. Pin and sew around the entire perimiter of the cube using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

6. Through your gap, turn the cube right side out and sew around the perimiter once again using a very small seam allowance. Pictured below.

7. Using any type of cardboard box (I used cereal boxes), cut 5 sqaures each measuring about 5 1/8 inches. Don't use any cardboard that has a fold in it. It won't stand straight once your finished.8. Through the gap wrestle the cardboard into each side and the bottom of your cube.

9. Carefully sew your gap (I have no suggestions on the easiest way of doing this), making sure the cardboard doesn't slip out of place and you're finished.

Things I would have done differently: Used stiffer interfacing or stiffer cardboard, ironed the fabric before sewing it together, and I wish I had known a good way to sew up that final gap. It was awkward and difficult and doesn't look very good. But it worked I guess. Also, I accidently trimmed my cardboard pieces a little too small, so the fabric isn't as tight as it should be.

Sewing Machine Cover

2009-07-09T23:54:00.006-06:00

My husband bought me a sewing machine back in February for Valentine's Day. A complete surprise. Something I had been BEGGING for. Well, come July and its sitting on my desk like this......unused......
So I decided to learn how to use it this week. My first project was a sewing machine cover. Sewing machines are usually pretty expensive, so its important to keep them covered to protect them from dust, scratches, etc.

I think my machine is a pretty standard sized machine...so here is how I made the cover. It took me less than an hour. Keep in mind that I cut my fabric too large by accident, so you may want to measure your sewing machine to get a more accurate measurement. Also, I wanted my cover to touch the table, but some people just want them to cover everything but the base, so its totally up to you. You can make it however you want.

1. First I cut out 2 rectangles measuring 17" x 14" and one long strip measuring 7" x about 45".

2. Then I rounded the 2 top corners of my rectangles.

3. Next, I pinned one of my rectangles to the strip. I ended up having to trim a little bit off the end of my strip because 45" was too long. But thats okay. Better too long than too short. Pin the sides and the top, leave the bottom open.

4. After pinning the strip to one of the rectangles I sewed about 1/4 inch around the edge using my pressure foot as my guide.

5. Pin the 2nd rectangle to your stip and sew in the same manner as the first.

6. On the "wrong" side of your cover, fold up the bottom edge as far as you need to in order to make a hem. I folded mine up 2 1/4 inches because I cut my fabric too large. I later learned that on a hem you usually fold it up about 1/4 inch, press and then fold it up another 1/4 inch and press it again.

7. Press your seem with an iron.

7. Sew your hem and your sewing machine cover is finished!!

Great Deal!

2009-05-01T17:55:00.004-06:00

Have you ever heard of Dave Ramsey? Well, he's a financial guru who has helped millions of people get out of debt and take control of their money, including my husband and me. We've recently become debt free thanks to Dave and the feeling is undescirbable!!!

Right now, on Dave's website you can get any one of his books, audio CD's, DVD's, children's programs, and lots more for only 10 dollars each!!!! Thats an amzing deal! I think its only going on this weekend, so hurry up! If you have any desire at all to be debt free then you will love Dave and his ideas.

Thank You's

2009-03-13T20:13:00.002-06:00

Just a little background: In our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, each ward (congregation) has what we call the Primary. Primary is made up of children ages 3-12. There is a Primary presidency made up of a President, 1st and 2nd counselors, and a secretary. I am currently serving as the 2nd counselor in our ward.

We often have to ask people to substitute teach a class when a teacher is sick or out of town. So I made a bunch of the above thank you's to keep in our closet and give to those who help with the kids. Its pretty cheesey, but I thought it was cute. I wanted to do something that went along with the month of March (like the candy gold coins), but I can't find them anywhere in Korea, so this is what we went with. I'm looking for ideas for April. I'd love to hear any ideas that you may have.

Fabric

2009-03-12T06:05:00.008-06:00

Yesterday I went to the fabric market here in Seoul. I was OVERWHELMED when I walked into the 4 story building. 2 of the 4 floors were strictly fabric. Every type you could possibly imagine. I had my daughter with me, so I wasn't able to spend the time I would have liked. And I'm not sure when I'll be able to get there without her....So,

I've been desperately trying to find fabric online that isn't going to cost me a fortune. I think I've looked at hundreds of online fabric stores and have come to the conclusion that Fabric Worm is the best place to buy fabric if you MUST buy it online. He sells it by the half yard. Which is great, I can't find any other store that sells it that way.

The fabric at the market here in town was SO CHEAP!!! I paid around 2 dollars for a yard of 100% cotton. I've got to get back there when I don't have my daughter with me and I can spend about 7 hours just browsing.

PS I found this super cute quilting blog...CrazyMomQuilts. Check out her Ragged Squares Quilt. Thats going to be my next project. Once I get my fabric :)

Strawberry Yogurt Pie

2009-03-05T02:54:00.005-07:00

I went to lunch at my girlfriend's house today and I made this yogurt pie for the occassion. It turned out so delicious. I used lite/lowfat everything, so it made it VERY easy to justify eating it :)

12 oz. Cool Whip Dessert Topping
16-24 oz. Strawberry Yogurt (or any flavor you desire). I just kept adding more until it tasted good.
2 any brand ready-made graham cracker pie crust (or make your own)
1 cup sliced frozen or fresh strawberries (or whatever fruit you want)

Combine Cool Whip, Yogurt, and sliced fruit
Pour into pie crust
Cover with pie lid
Freeze for 3 hours or overnight
Remove from freezer about 20 minutes prior to serving
Top with additional Cool Whip and Strawberries if desired
I like to crumbled graham cracker on top for a little extra decoration

Sale

2009-02-10T20:00:00.001-07:00

Oldnavy.com is having a pretty good sale on baby, kids, and maternity clothes. Plus its only 7 dollars shipping no matter how much you purchase.

Snapfish

2009-01-27T04:40:00.004-07:00

I usually upload and print my pictures from WalMart.com. Well, the other day I tried to order something like 200 photos and they wouldn't ship it to my APO address. So I tried Snapfish for the first time. The prices are comparable, but let me tell you...the quality of the Snapfish pictures were way better than the Walmart pictures I've been getting for years. And they often have great deals, like your first 20 prints are free. Anyway, thought I'd share my opinion.

Did You Know You Can Get it For Free?

2009-01-27T04:20:00.004-07:00

I didn't know this until just the other day, thanks to my sister-in-law. Walmart.com gives lots of free samples of selected products so you can try them before you buy them. Click here to see whats available now. I know they have Crest Whitestrips right now, which, from what I've heard, are kind of expensive. So hurry! Unfortunately I couldn't find any samples that would ship to an APO address.

Dusting Solution

2009-01-21T17:32:00.005-07:00

I have lots of blinds in my new apartment. In Korea there is a very thick black dust that covers everything inside and out. I've tried to use a cloth and dusting spray, but that usually just smears the dust and takes hours to clean. So I bought some of these little Swiffer Dusters and they worked wonders! I loved them! My blinds look amazing and it took half the time to get them all clean.

Sour Cream Chicken Enchilladas

2009-01-15T19:20:00.004-07:00

I got this recipe from my mother-in-law and it was a big hit!

2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
Mix together in a large bowl

In seperate bowl mix
2 cups cooked chicken (cubed or shredded)
2 cups cheese
3 chopped green onions
1 cup of the above soup/sour cream mixture

Dip tortillas in soup/sour cream mix
Place chicken filling in tortilla and roll up
Place in greased 9x13 pan (makes about 8 enchilladas)
Cover enchilladas with remaining sauce and extra cheese if desired
Cover and bake at 325 degrees for 30-45 minutes

Reindeer Cupcakes

2008-12-24T04:59:00.003-07:00

I thought this was such a cute idea. My friend made these for a Christmas party. She used mini M&M's and pretzels.

2008-11-18T00:11:00.001-07:00

Wow, I've been out of the loop for some time now. I just recently joined my husband in Korea for a 2 year tour with the military. We are still living in his officer quarters, so not much 'homemaking' going on here. Hopefully we'll have our own place soon and I can get back into the swing of things. Hope all is well with everyone and that you're getting ready for the upcoming holidays!

New Toys You Don't Have To Buy!

2008-10-11T15:49:00.003-06:00

Do your young kids have a TON of toys?
Does it seem like they get bored of their new toys after a week or 2?
Is your house getting cluttered by them?

If your child(ren) is anything like mine, then you answered yes to all of these questions.

Well here is an idea that may help. It came from my brother's wife's mother (lol). Take half of your pile of toys and put it in the garage or storage closet. In a couple of weeks or months, when the kiddos seem to be getting bored of the ones they have, swap the stored ones for the ones in the house and they'll feel like they have new toys to play with. I'm not sure if you could do this for older children, but I think it'd work great for early school-aged children, toddlers and babies. It will also clear out some of the clutter that might build up in the corner of your living room.

Blog Award-September 21, 2008

2008-09-21T20:42:00.009-06:00

Thank you Holly from Day 2 Day With Holly J for my first blog award! You're just too sweet! I'm so excited that you thought me worthy of it! The deal is I get to pass along this award to five other awesome people! So here's who the award goes out to:

1. A Daily Scoop (http://adailyscoop.blogspot.com/) The author of this blog, Stephanie, has experienced every mother's worse nightmare. She uses her blog as a way to help her through the grieving process. Because of Stephanie's willingness to share her experience and feelings, people from all over the world have been lifted and inspired. She has so much strength and faith, and I have learned a lot about being a mother from her.

2. OB Nurse (http://www.ob-nurse.blogspot.com/) The author of this blog uses her blog to explore all issues surrounding reproductive health, issues, and infant care. As I nurse I appreciate the work she does and love that she shares her experiences, thoughts, feelings, and knowledge with others.

3. Diet Divas (http://www.wearedivas.blogspot.com/) The authors of Diet Divas have unified in one great common goal. Their goal is to get rid of excess weight, sadness, negativity, depression, low self-esteem, and bad self image. They provide recipes, motivation, exercise information, links to other great health and fitness websites, information on how to eat right, and a network of support for others with the same goals.

4. Mormon Mommy Blogs (http://mormonmommyblogs.blogspot.com/) Mormon Mommy Blogs is a collection of the many Mormon women who have joined the blogging community. Sue created the site because of the stereotyping of 'mommy bloggers'. So she put together this site to show just how many of us there are and how very diverse and unique we all are. She's also created a network of friends who can learn from each other, support each other, laugh with (or at) each other, and so much more!

5. A Comfy Chair and a Good Book (http://jeanettesbooks.blogspot.com/) I love to read. And I actually used to write quite a bit, very passionately actually, but haven't since graduating high school. Anyway, Jeanette's blog is a great resource for finding books to read and sharing your thoughts and opinions about them.

Frugal Wall Decor

2008-09-06T23:29:00.002-06:00

This is so simple and easy. My friend took pictures of a train, car, and boat that were on a quilt. Then she printed them and framed them in these 6x6 frames. What a creative and inexpensive way to add some decoration to a child's room.

Baby Food Lid Fun

2008-09-06T23:20:00.002-06:00

This is a fun game my cousin created for her toddler. Very easy and very resourceful. She simply cut a slot in the lid of a Tupperware container and pulled out a bunch of old baby food jar lids. Her child loves putting the lids in the container like a piggy bank and then taking them out again.

Rag Quilting

2008-08-26T20:54:00.001-06:00

So I've finally learned how to sew. This is my very first project so keep in mind that it is very amateur. I made a rag quilt which was so much easier than I thought it would be. And if I can do it, having never sewn anything before, then you certainly can too! Most of my instruction and information came from Love To Sew. If you have any questions you can refer to that website, email me, or leave a comment.

The following directions are for a 26" by 34" quilt, which is the size of most Pack 'n' Plays or portable cribs. To double the size of your quilt cut out twice as many squares. You can use nearly any kind of fabric, but from the research I've done flannel and/or cotton are the best choices. I used flannel because of how soft it is.

Materials Used

Rotary Blade

Rotary Mat

6" x 6" Omnigrid Square

Sewing Machine

About 4 1/2 yards of fabric

Scissors

Straight Pins

I used the Rotary Blade and Omnigrid to cut the fabric out on the Rotary Mat. Use whatever method works best for you. Before cutting out your fabric decide whether or not you want your squares to follow a repeated pattern. That way you don't waste fabric or time cutting out too many or not enough.

STEP 1-CUT OUT YOUR SQUARES

Cut out 48 six inch squares for the top of your quilt and 48 six inch squares for the bottom. This will give you a total of 96 six inch squares. I used Strawberry Shortcake patterned fabric for the top and solid pink for the bottom.

Note: Batting is completely optional. If you chose to use it, then cut out 48 four inch squares of batting. I didn't use batting on my quilt.

STEP 2-PIN YOUR LAYERS

If you're using batting put one square of it between 2 squares of fabric. If you aren't using batting then just put 2 squares of fabric together. Make sure the pretty sides of the fabric are facing out and pin the layers of squares together. You should have 48 layered squares. This makes 8 rows across the long side and 6 rows along the short side as pictured below.

STEP 3-SEW YOUR LAYERS TOGETHER

Sew from corner to corner of your square to make a / across the middle. Do the same thing from other corner to corner to make an X across your layered square as pictured below. DO THIS TO ALL OF YOUR LAYERED SQUARES. You should have 48 layered squares with an X sewn in the middle.

STEP 4-SEW YOUR SQUARES TOGETHER

Note: you will be working across the long side of you quilt, pinning squares together. If you work along the short side you will be creating more work for yourself.

Start by pinning 2 squares together. The larger your seam allowance the more your quilt will "rag". I used 3/4 inch seam allowance. The Love To Sew lady used 1 inch. Whatever size you use keep it consistent throughout each step. Sew the 2 squares together. Do this to all of your squares. You should have 24 sets of 2 squares sewn together (pictured below).

STEP 5-SEW YOUR SETS OF 2 TOGETHER
Pin 2 sets of your 2 squares together and sew down the seam to make a set of 4 squares sewn together. Do this to all of your 2 square sets. You should end up with 12 sets of 4 squares sewn together as pictured below.

Below: 12 sets of 4 squares

STEP 6-SEW YOUR SETS OF 4 TOGETHER
Pin 2 sets of 4 squares together and sew down the seam to make one long row of 8 squares. You should have 6 rows of 8 squares sewn together as pictured below.

Below is a closer picture of what the rows should look like.

STEP 7-SEW YOUR ROWS TOGETHER

Pin 2 rows of 8 together allowing for the same seam allowance as when you pinned the squares together. Be sure to match the seams in each row as closely as possible. Sew down the seam of your long row. You should have 3 sets of 2 rows sewn together as pictured below.

Below is a closer picture of what your seams will look like.

STEP 8-SEW YOUR SETS OF ROWS TOGETHER

Continue to sew your sets of rows together until you have completed sewing all rows.

STEP 9-SEW THE EDGES OF YOUR QUILT

Sew a 1 inch seam around the entire outside edge of your quilt.

STEP 10-CLIP YOUR SEAMS

Clip every single seam on your quilt. The smaller the clipping, the more ragged your quilt will look. Make sure you don't accidentally cut over where you've sewn. End your clipping just before your seam. Once you're done clipping your quilt is finished!

Wash your quilt in cold water and tumble dry low. I haven't washed mine yet, but from what I understand the ragged part gets softer and better looking after washing.

Coming Soon-August 21, 2008

2008-08-21T11:09:00.001-06:00

HOW TO MAKE A RAG QUILT...COMPLETE WITH STEP BY STEP PICTURES AND INSTRUCTIONS!

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

2008-07-28T16:09:00.002-06:00

Here's a bread recipe I give out a lot for using home ground wheat. It is the most fail-proof, easiest one I've tried. The vital wheat gluten (found in the bread/baking aisle) helps it rise very well and gives it a good texture.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread
2 cups warm water
1 Tbsp yeast
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup oil
1 Tbsp salt
3 Tbsp vital wheat gluten
about 6 cups freshly ground whole wheat flour (approximately 4 cups wheat)

Mix first 6 ingredients, then slowly work in enough flour to make a soft dough that is not sticky but not dry.
Place directly in greased loaf pans (only one rise is needed) and let rise until top is 2 inches or so above rim of pan.
Bake at 325 for about 30 minutes.
Let cool in pan for 5 minutes, then remove to cooling rack.
If desired, brush top with butter.
Cool completely before bagging.
Makes 2 hearty healthy loaves.

Mini Banana Bread

2008-07-28T16:03:00.002-06:00

No need for a mixer for this recipe. I like to make the mini loaves because, for some reason, they always turn out better for me and cook more evenly than one large loaf.
4 ripe bananas, smashed
1/3 cup melted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl.
Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla.
Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in.
Add the flour last, mix.
Pour mixture into a greased 4 mini loaf pan.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack.

Easy Americana Flag Decoration

2008-07-27T21:43:00.002-06:00

This seriously took me maybe two hours, it's just made of material and buttons, and fabric glue.
You can make any size you want. I made mine to fit an 11X13 frame. I cut the white fabric 10" by 12". Then I cut the blue square to the size I though looked best. Next I just cut the red strips (no need for straight lines). I cut the start out of paper first and then pinned my little template to the fabric to make my star just right. Use fabric glue to put everything together and you're done!

Journaling

2008-06-22T20:26:00.000-06:00

I thought this would be a good idea and wanted to share. I realized the other day that since I started blogging, I don't write in my journal very often. So I've gone through every single post on my blog and copied/pasted to Microsoft Word. I am going to print out each post and put them into a binder to serve as a journal and will continue to add to it as long as we keep our blog. Of course you can't put everything on a blog that you would write in a journal, so when I have something to write thats a little personal I'll just go into Microsoft Word and add to it that way.

3 Questions

2008-06-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

1. How do you get rid of discoloration spots on your face?
2. Does anyone have any ideas for crafts/projects using baby food jars?
3. Does anyone need cardboard for any projects? I have a ton and hate to through it away.

Mod Podge Serving Plates

2008-06-12T08:17:00.002-06:00

This is a fun and simple project and makes a great gift idea. I bought the clear glass plates at Wal-Mart. I think it came in a box of 8 or 12.

Spread Mod Podge underneath bottom of the plate
Place desired fabric over Mod Podge and smooth out, working out bubbles as you go
When it is fairly dry cut the fabric at the edge of the plate (another option is cutting the fabric prior to Mod Podging it, but make sure you get the measurement exactly right before cutting)
Spread more Mod Podge over the fabric and allow it to dry completely

You CANNOT wash these plates in the dishwasher. In fact you don't want to get the back wet if you can help it. They are for serving only. You can make one for every holiday and/or occassion. The one pictured below is a Spring plate. It was my first one, so not exaclty perfect.

Father's Day Cards

2008-06-12T08:11:00.002-06:00

These are the Father's Day cards I made with my friend, Mindy's, help and ideas. They're so fun to make and fairly easy. Check out Split Coast Stampers for more cardmaking ideas. All of these cards are made with scrapbooking paper and ribbon.

Homemade Burp Cloths

2008-06-11T13:53:00.002-06:00

- Make sure you PREWASH ALL FLANNEL!
- Cut pieces 21 inches, by 31 inches.
- Iron over 1/4 inch on one of the short sides to make the outside finished edge.
- From the other side, measure 9 inches and fold on the line, then fold the finished edge over, overlapping the middle to make a rectangle roughly 21 X 13 inches.
- Top stitch up the finished edge about 1/8 inches in.
- Using the inside edge as a guide, top stitch up the edge of it to hold it in place. You will be able to feel the inside edge, I feel it and line it up with a mark on my sewing machine...This will give the look of thirds. Which is how I fold them.
- To finish the raw edges, cut the ends off so they are even. Then, if you have a surger, use it! If you have a surger stitch on your machine, use that, otherwise use a zigzag stitch barely overlapping the edge.

Firehouse BBQ Grilled Chicken

2008-06-11T13:47:00.001-06:00

*From Picky Palate

I'm not going to put a ton of recipes on here, but I made this for dinner last night and it was AMAZING! I served it with Picky Palates roasted garlic parmesean potatoes and roasted vegetables.

6 thawed boneless skinless chicken breasts
½ Cup Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
¾ Cup of your favorite BBQ sauce
4 Tablespoons melted butter
2 Tablespoons Worstershire sauce

Place all ingredients in a large ziplock bag and marinate for at least an hour.
Preheat stovetop grill pan (this is what I used) or outdoor grill over medium heat.
Grill chicken for 5-6 minutes each side or until chicken is cooked through.

Tag Toy

2008-06-11T13:44:00.003-06:00

If your babies are anything like mine then they love tags even more than they love the toys that they're attached to. All this is is ribbon folded over and sewn in between 2 pieces of fabric, similar to tags on a toy. My little girl loves it. And I love it cause I can throw it in the wash after a few slobber sessions.
To add a little more fun to this toy, add crinkle material to the center.

Mod Podge Decorative Blocks

2008-06-11T13:37:00.002-06:00

Another easy, fun craft. All you need is:
Mod Podge
Scrapbook paper
Precut letters
Paint
Wooden blocks cut to fit your letters (these ones are 4" tall and 3" wide if I remember correctly)

1. Paint your blocks whatever color you desire
2. Mod podge the scrapbook paper onto the blocks leaving about 1/4 of an inch border around the paper
3. Mod podge the letters onto your paper and there you have it. (you can also mod podge or glue the letters onto the paper before putting it on the blocks if you want)
You can do these for just about any holiday or season and they make great gifts!

Quick Lampshade Makeover

2008-06-11T13:25:00.003-06:00

This was really simple. I bought the lampshade at Wal Mart. I glued pieces of fabric to it and then cut them to fit. If you don't want the frayed edges then you can precut your fabric to be just a little bit too big and fold the edges under. I recommend ironing your fabric first so that you don't get any unwanted creases. I used fabric glue.

Homemade Sweet Potato Baby Food

2008-06-11T13:18:00.002-06:00

This was really easy and didn't take much time at all. I got this off of one of my favorite websites Wholesome Baby Food.

1. Wash and poke holes in sweet potato with fork then wrap sweet potatoes in tin foil - do not peel for baking/microwaving.
2. Place in a 400 degree oven and bake for 30-60 minutes or until soft
3. Remove skins by slitting the sweet potato lengthwise when cooled then scoop out the "meat".
4. At this point you can either use a blender or a food processor to puree the "meat". I don't recommend adding water to puree it because it may seperate when you freeze it.
5. Place pureed food into ice cube tray. Each cube makes approx. 1 oz.
(I baked 2 sweet potatoes and got 16 oz.)

Mog Podge Decorative Letters

2008-06-11T13:15:00.002-06:00

This was really easy to do. I just picked out some scrapbook paper and mod podged it onto some precut letters I found at Hobby Lobby for $1.99. Then brushed more mod podge over the top of the paper gradually working out the bubbles while it dries. The paper was $.40 and the brushed nickel '&' sign was $5. Total cost- somewhere around $8.

Not Sure What Happened

2008-06-10T17:07:00.000-06:00

I'm not exactly sure what happened to the blog. I tried to put a new background on ( I know, I should give it a rest) but the next time I tried to log on it said the blog had been removed. So I'll try to get stuff back up. If you have a specific request let me know and I'll get it on here ASAP. Sorry, I won't mess with the layout stuff anymore.