Grandkids Ornaments

This is what I made for my in-laws for Christmas this year.{ I didn't do this for my parents because they have about a hundred grand kids altogether. That would have been too much work!}
I cut a 2x2 into little blocks. Then I painted them and mod podged scrapbook paper on all sides but one. On that side I mod podged a photo of one of of the grand kids. Then I had some little hook thingeys that I stuck on the top and tied a ribbon loop through that so they can be hung on the Christmas tree.

All of the ornaments with the grand kids that I made for them. { Only one of these little cuties is mine, but there are 7 grandkids all together}

Here's a close up {fuzzy, I know} But you can see a little better the hook and ribbon and stuff I used.

Exploding boxes

These are Christmas gifts I've made for a couple of people in our families. They are called Exploding boxes. I don't have a tute on them. I learned how to make them at my sister's 'Super Saturday'.{That's a day where, once a year, in our church the ladies get together and craft all day! My ward didn't do one this year, so my sister invited me to hers!}
But what you do is get a 12x12 scrapbook paper. Cut about a 4 inch square out of each corner. Then with what's left is what you make your box out of. Does that make sense? You can add as many layers as you want. Just make sure each one is smaller then the one before. So that means, with my next piece of paper, I cut 4 1/4 inch squares out of the corners. Then you just glue your layers together.....Am I making sense? You follow? The lids are made with a 4 1/2 inch squared piece of paper that you fold and glue to fit on top if the box.....Again, it's hard to explain. I've seen tutes on these on others blogs. I'm sure you can find one somewhere...
At first look, they look innocent, don't they?

Here's what happens when you take the lid off. The sides fall open and I've added pictures all around! There are a few layers of pictures.

Here's a closer view of the layers. Again,you can add as many as you want. Just make each one smaller than the one before.

Let it Snow blocks

These are some blocks I made last year. I cut a 4x4 into three blocks, painted them blue, then mod podged some scrapbook paper on the sides. This was before I had my Cricut, so I just used a fat, black, permanent marker and free handed it! The blocks say~ Let it snow! on each one.

Here's another view. I found some scrapbook paper with a snowman on it. So I used that on the top block. You can see the snow man on the side. So cute!

Mother Teresa quote block

Here's what I made for my daughter's pre-school teacher. I painted a piece of wood,{it measures 6 ins tall and 6 ins wide}.I painted it black and distressed the edges a little. Then I just printed out my quote off my word perfect and mod podged it on. So easy!
The quote says~
We can do no great thing, only small things with great love. Mother Teresa.

JOY Blocks

I made some cute blocks that say JOY. Very festive! I mod podged some paper onto painted blocks and used vinyl lettering. Very easy and fun! This first set measures 6 inches tall and 5 1/2 inches wide.

These are a smaller version. They measure 3 1/2 inches tall and wide.

2010 Primary birthday gifts

I was in charge of finding something to give the Primary kids on their birthdays next year. We wanted something that had the years theme on it. This is what I came up with....

I just painted some blocks and cut the lettering out with my cricut. The ones with the ribbon is of course for the girls. And the black ones will be for the boys. I think I figured the cost for everything will be around $20 total. We have only maybe 45 kids in our Primary. So very affordable, and something they can keep with the years theme on it.

Last name blocks

Okay, I saw these here, hers look much better than mine. And since it was her idea please go to her blog to see directions on how to make them. We've had three weddings the last two weeks, so I made some up.

They are so easy, I think I'll make some for Christmas gifts as well!

Thanksgiving Turkeys for Pre-Schoolers

This last week, my daughter had a turn to bring a snack to pre-school. At first, I thought about making Navajo Fry Bread, because they had been learning about the Indians and pilgrims. And my husband is half Navajo, so I have his mom's recipe for fry bread. But then I saw these cute turkeys on a blog somewhere, and I thought I had to make them! Aren't they cute! Okay, some look a little deranged, but it was my first time making something like this!

I made them using oreo cookies, candy corn, Reese's Peanut butter cups, Whoppers and of course, frosting to hold them all together!

I asked my husband if they looked okay. If he thought the kids would like them. He said," They're pre-schoolers, all they're gonna see is sugar." He's right! They aren't going to care what they look like. It's all yummy goodies!

Snow Dusted Pumpkins

Okay, these look ALOT better in person! They look like I missed spots in the pictures, but they really are beautiful! They look like snow has fallen on them and are all glittery!

I hosted a 'Cents of Style' party the other day. This was my refreshments table. The Pumpkins looked so good on the table!

All I did was 'paint' some craft glue on my mini pumpkins and then dusted on some white glitter. Honestly, they sparkle and look so pretty in real life! You'll have to try it to see!

Countdown to Christmas Blocks

Alright, I already showed you how to make a 'Spooky Countdown' block set for Halloween here. Here is my Christmas Countdown set.
This first one is for me...

I made this one for my friend Stephanie at http://mycreativebug.blogspot.com/

I almost want to keep it for myself, it's so cute! Hope you like it Stephanie!

Thankful Block

Here's a Thankful block I made...

I just painted a block of wood brown, mod podged some paper on it, then added some vinyl lettering. Fast and easy!

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Frosting

I found this recipe on here, She found the recipe on Good Things Utah. I knew I had to try these!
I was going to take a picture to tempt you to make some of your own, but.... My hubbie had the camera, once again, and he was off hunting.
Honestly, I think it's time we each got our own cameras!
But trust me, these rolls are sooooo yummy! You have to try them!
The only thing I did different was make 1 1/2 times the frosting recipe. Because I LOVE frosting on my cinnamon rolls!



Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Frosting!



Ingredients:



2 T. yeast

1/2c. warm milk

1/2 c. canned pumpkin

2/3 c. sugar

½ t. salt

1 egg, beaten

¼ c. melted, butter

1/4 t. ground cloves

1 t. cinnamon

4-5 c. bread flour

1/2 c. brown sugar, packed (On top of rolled out dough)

2 T. cinnamon (On top of rolled out dough)

2 T. melted butter(On top of rolled out dough)





Method: Dissolve yeast in warm milk. Wait 5 minutes. Add pumpkin, egg, sugar, butter, salt, cinnamon and cloves and mix well. Slowly add flour one cup at a time. Scrape down sides of bowl after each addition of flour. Turn into lightly greased bowl, cover and set in warm place until double in bulk. Punch down dough and let rest for 5 more minutes. Roll dough out into a rectangle.Brush dough with melted butter. Sprinkle the dough with sugar and cinnamon mixture. Starting with long side of dough, roll up jellyroll style. Pinch seams to seal. With sharp serrated knife cut roll into 12 1 in. pieces.{ I actually use some floss or thread to cut thru the dough. Much easier!} Place rolls, cut side up in greased 9x13 pan. Cover and let rise until double, 30 to 45 minutes.Bake rolls at 350 degrees about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Drizzle with caramel frosting as soon as they come out of the oven. Let cool until warm, add the rest of the frosting. Enjoy!



Caramel Frosting



¼ c. butter

½ c. brown sugar, packed

2 T. milk

¼ t. vanilla

Pinch of salt

½ c. to ¾ c. sifted powder sugar



In a small saucepan, heat butter until melted. Stir in brown sugar and milk. Cook over med. Low heat 1 minute. Transfer to small bowl and cool mixture. Stir in vanilla, salt, and powder sugar. Beat with Electric mixer until well blended. If necessary, add more sugar for desired consistency.

Super Hero Cape

For my daughter's fourth birthday I wanted to get her a super hero cape, since she is always running around with a blanket or something tied around her neck. I was going to make it myself, but...sewing really brings out the worst in me. I, in no way, find it relaxing or enjoyable. Yes, I can sew. But I try to do as little as possible!
A friend of mine, Jill, loves to sew! She has her own business, http://jillscraftycovers.blogspot.com/ and she just started selling super hero capes. So I asked her if she would make a double-sided one for my daughter. I changed my mind about a dozen times with how I wanted it to look. But I finally made a decision and she had it made and in the mail before the week was over! And it turned out perfect!
On one side I asked her to do the CTR symbol.{CTR= Choose The Right}

Here's the other side, My daughters first initial~ Jill also makes hooded towels, nursing covers, and toy mats. Perfect gifts for Christmas, Birthdays, Baby showers, etc. And I think her prices are great! So go check her out at http://jillscraftycovers.blogspot.com/ and tell her Mary sent you!

Thanksgiving Stacker

Well, here's my Thanksgiving stacker. I think I might make another one that's more about being grateful, or something. But this works for now!
You wanna know what's real thrifty about this? I did it on the back of my Autumn stacker. So now I have something on both sides, and I just turn it around for the two different seasons/holidays. Does that make sense?
A cinch to make! I cut and sanded a 2x2 into three different blocks. The bottom measures 10 1/2 inches across, the top is 7 1/2 inches across. I painted them, then sanded the edges. Then I just added some vinyl lettering! Easy!
I can't wait for Thanksgiving...A Holiday where you can stuff your face with good food and nobody judges you because they are doing the same thing!

Pumpkin Cookies

This is another easy peasy recipe! Here are your ingredients....

Once again, use ONLY the Spice cake mix. NONE of the ingredients on the back of the box!
And for cookies you use a 29 oz. can of pumpkin.

Mix well. At this point you can either leave it as is, or add nuts or chocolate chips. I prefer to use chocolate chunks in my baking!

mmmm.....

Then drop by tablespoonful, {I have a handy dandy cookie scoop that I use},onto a greased cookie sheet.Bake in oven at 400 for about 15 minutes. Cool slightly on cookie sheet, then transfer to a cooling rake. This recipe makes about 3 1/2 doz. cookies.

Don't they look yummy!

They look even better when you put some on a Halloween plate to take to the neighbors!

Don't you wish you were my neighbor?

Easiest Pumpkin Spice Muffins ever!

So I am going to share with you the easiest recipe EVER, {unless you buy them premade at the bakery} for making Pumpkin Spice Muffins.
You ready for a picture of the ingredients?
Here it is...
That's right! Two ingredients! One box of Spice cake mix. One 15 oz. can of pumpkin. That's it! Nothing else!

Dump it all into a mixing bowl and mix well.

Do not add any of the ingredients on the back of the cake box! Just the mix, and the pumpkin. Nothing else!

At this point, you can either leave it as is, or add chocolate chips or chopped nuts. I left it as is!

Fill your muffin cups, this doesn't rise, so you can fill them pretty full with out it spilling over during baking.

This recipe makes an even dozen!

Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in one muffin comes out clean. Cool in pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.

Don't they look good?

um....yeah. I had to have a bite. So good! Try them!

Flower Loop Bows

I made some more bows for my daughter's hair. They are called 'Flower Loop Bows' and were so fun and easy to make!
I LOVE this brown and blue one! I found directions for these at www.theribbonretreat.com. On their home page at the top it says 'free how to projects'. Click on that and it will take you to a page full of hair bow instructions. Have fun!

Halloween countdown blocks

I have seen these on alot of blogs, but I actually saw these first LAST fall at a craft fair in my town. I made one for Christmas last year that I'll show you later. Each side of the blocks have a different number on them. You rotate them as you progress towards Halloween.
I used three different colored scrapbook paper. I cut them to the size I needed then I mod podged them onto painted blocks,{ the base is a 2x4 that I cut to about 7 1/2 -8 inches} then I used Vinyl for the numbers and lettering . But stickers or die cuts would work as well. Just glue those on.
These are the numbers you'll need~0,0,1,1,2,2,3,4,5,6,7,&8{ make sure the 6 can double as a 9 if it's turned upside down}.
On the first block you use ~0,1,2,3,4,5. On the second block~6{doubles as 9},7,8,0,1,2.
Have fun counting down to Halloween!

Dinosaur Birthday Cake

We had my daughter's fourth birthday party yesterday. She said she wanted a green dinosaur cake. I found directions on how to make one at http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/rex-the-dinosaur--cake. It was much easier than I thought it would be. What do you think?

I cut the shape out of two 9" pans.{one cake mix}. The website shows you how to do that.
Then I made a homemade Buttercream frosting and tinted it green, then I frosted the cake. When ever you are frosting a cake, always do a thin layer of frosting first. This is called the crumb layer because it collects all the crumbs. Chill the cake for about 30 minutes, then frost it again. You won't have any crumbs showing because of the first layer you did.
Then I used white Buttercream frosting for the mouth and dots on the eyes.
For the eyes, toes, and small dots I used chocolate chips. I pushed them into the cake with the tips facing down. The bigger dots are Hershey Kisses that I did the same thing to. Pushed them in, tip side down. I also used Hershey Kisses as the spikes along the tail, back and up the head of the dinosaur.
My daughter loved it! And it was so fun to make!

Halloween canning jars

Have no idea what these are for?

How about now? Aren't they cool!

I saw these on a blog somewhere but I can't find where! If you know where I might have seen these, let me know so I can give that blog the proper credit. I was planning on sending you to that blog for directions on how to make these. But since I don't know where to send you, I'll hurry and give you some directions. But I don't have step-by-step photos because I wasn't planning on doing this!

I took some old canning jars{the rims had chips in them, so they were no good for canning}. I brushed some Mod Podge on the jar, then put on strips of tissue paper. Then Mod Podge once again. When they were dry I cut the faces out of construction paper{vinyl would work as well} and glued them on. I also painted the lid rims to put on top. Then I put electric tea lights in them. {I might tie some raffia or something around the tops to complete the look}

Here they are all lined up. The monster ones don't work too well because the green tissue is too dark to let much light thru. But I still LOVE them all!

I'm thinking if it's not wet outside on Halloween night, I might put these out along the walk to light the way for trick-or-treaters. If I do, I'll try to remember to take some photos to show you! Have fun crafting!

Birthday Monkey cupcakes

My daughters' birthday is this weekend. So she gets to bring cupcakes to pre-school today. This is what I made.
They are supposed to be monkey cupcakes. I made chocolate zuchinni cupcakes{ you can find the recipe for them in my 'recipe' section}, and then got the idea for the monkeys off of http://servingpinklemonade.blogspot.com/. But hers look much better. Go check them out!
My daughter loved helping me bake these, a.k.a. licking the cake batter bowl, and she was so excited to share them with her class. I guess when I go to pick her up we'll see how the kids liked them!

Pumpkin Bread

I made this over the weekend and was going to take a picture to get your mouth watering. But I couldn't find the camera. My hubbie had taken it hunting! I think it might be time for me to get my own... Anyway, my three nieces and nephew were over, so by the time I DID have the camera, there was no bread left to take a picture of.
But let me tell you, this is really yummy bread. I loved it and the kids loved it! You need to try it out!
I got the recipe out of 'The Essential Mormon Cookbook'. Again. But honestly, everything I try in this book is yummy! And I have to share it! Plus, it will make your home smell yummy!
{This would also be a good treat to take around to your visiting Teaching sisters, or your husbands home teaching families}


Pumpkin Bread

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1 3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped pecans

Cream butter, sugar, and eggs. Add pumpkin and mix; set aside. In another bowl sift dry ingredients. Gradually add dry ingredients to creamy mixture. Beat until blended. Add chocolate chips and pecans, if desired. Grease one loaf pan or four mini loaves. Pour batter into pans. For one loaf, bake at 350 F. for about 1 hour or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. For mini loaves, bake at 350 F. for about 35-40 minutes. Makes one loaf or four mini loaves.

Glitter Pumpkins

I saw these pumpkins on Martha Stewart's show, like, 5-6 years ago. They are so easy to make and look great for the fall season.

Here's what you need to make them...

Mini pumpkins, mod podge{or any craft glue, I've even used Elmers glue before and it works fine}, a paint brush, and glitter. Now some people will say you need to use the really nice, fine glitter. But I just use my daughters craft glitter.

Paint some glue on your pumpkin...

Then sprinkle on some glitter and shake off the excess...

There you go! I put mine in a long wooden plate I got at Wal-mart last year for cheap. I think they still have something similar in the dishes aisle. Then I added some leaves and I wish I didn't run out of berries, I might go buy some more to add....

I ran out of the gold glitter, so the middle pumpkin doesn't have as much on it as the red ones. But I think it still looks good. You get the idea!