My $1 Wreath Form

Can you guess what I made this wreath form out of????
It's a pool noodle !!!
From the Dollar Store!!
Here's how to do it:

And you now have a wreath form for $1 out of pocket!
Stay tuned tomorrow to see what I did with mine.

Making Me Happy Monday

Wyoming

It's where I grew up, where my parents and brother & family still live, and although the least populated state in the US, one of the most beautiful (at least in my opinion). Some photos from a recent trip back:

Recipe Card Maker

So the other day I posted the apron that I made for my dad. Well, to go along with it, I wanted to print out a couple of my family's favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes. This is the absolute best free recipe card maker, from Skip To My Lou. It's so easy to use and such pretty designs - I want to do all of my recipes this way!!

Here are the ones I created for my dad:



And of course I had to make a few for myself as well:

Bathroom Re-do #2

The before looked pretty much just like this only with a white laminate countertop instead of the green:

And now my husband says I have to stop because apparently we don't need every surface in our house covered in mosaic tile (although I still do plan to paint my kitchen cabinets). See here for my original tutorial on how to paint and tile a cabinet.

An Apron For Dad

I actually made this for my dad as a retirement gift - to aide him in his quest to make the world's best chocolate chip cookies - but I think it would also make a great Father's Day gift.

Here's what you'll need:

1 adult size apron (mine came from Jo-Ann's)
yellow fabric - I used a canvas type material
Freezer Paper
black fabric paint
xacto knife
double stick fusible web


1. Print your text using a word processing program
2. Trace onto the dull side of freezer paper
3. Cut out your letters with an xacto knife (warning - kind of tedious)
*** be sure to save the little cut-out middle pieces like the center of the "D"***


4. Place your freezer paper on your yellow fabric, shiny side down. Iron - this will adhere the freezer paper to the fabric (temporarily). Be sure to also iron down all of those little middle pieces that you saved.
5. Dab on your black fabric paint - dab, don't brush, to prevent bleeding. I also used a q-tip here to add the colon.
6. When paint is dry, carefully peel off your freezer paper
7. Trim your fabric down to size - mine ended up 9" X 9" but this measurement will depend on your font size and your apron size.


8. Follow the instructions on package for adhering your fusible web. I also ran a straight stitch close to the edge in a matching yellow thread - but that's optional.


9. Use black thread to zig-zag stitch around the edge of your design.


10. Give to the man of your choice and hope they make you a batch of homemade cookies to say thank you. (I made my husband model it for this photo, and no, he did not make those cookies.)

Linen Closet Organization

I have to say, I think my linen closet is a thing of beauty. Honestly, I keep opening the door to look in and see how clean and organized it is! But, this wasn't always the case - prior to last weekend, it was a huge disorganized mess! It had gotten so bad that I literally had to lean on the door to get it to close.

But check it out now:

Unfortunately I don't have a before picture because I simply forgot to take one - but I promise you it was awful. Even I was slightly amazed at what I pulled out of there. Why did we have so many towels (most old, worn, raggedy and unused anyway)? Why was I saving a baby changing pad? A mattress pad that doesn't fit any of our beds? Ugh!!

Little Yellow Dress Refashion

I had to hurry up and finish this dress so I could enter it in the Around the World in 80 Dresses Challenge. This refashion didn't involve any drastic changes - but I did take it from unwearable to wearable. It started as this plain strapless dress (thrifted for $3):



I loved the pale yellow color and the detailed bottom trim but I don't do strapless. And unfortunately I didn't have any matching yellow fabric to make straps out of. So I went with a darker yellow for the straps. But then it definitely looked like I had added the straps - the darker color just stuck out and didn't look like it belonged. I made a few yo-yo's in the same darker yellow and tacked them onto the front - this seemed to help integrate the darker yellow color into the dress.

I love it now but unfortunately, haven't been able to wear this dress as it has been too cold and rainy here.

Thrift Store Score!

I kind of have a thing for handbags and am constantly switching them out. I picked up these two at the thrift store the other day for $3 a piece. I love them both, although they couldn't be more different.

a Badgley Mischka! (their HSN line but still well worth $3) - this bag is huge - one of my main requirements in a purse

an old, worn leather purse (also large) - love the details on this one

Gray & Rainy

Wow, it's been gray and rainy in Colorado for the past few weeks!!

(I'm actually really enjoying it - I should live in the Pacific Northwest)

gloomy

grey skies

and the rain arrives (taking pictures while driving - not recommended)

Rescuing Antique Patchwork

I picked up this antique pillow cover for 50 cents from the thrift store:

It was beautiful (all hand pieced!) and in pretty good condition except for one little spot:

burn (?) mark

I knew immediately that I wanted to rescue it. So . . . a little flower applique and some stuffing and . . .

. . . a brand new throw pillow

The Summer Survival Kit

Summer Vacation - I have a love/hate relationship with it. Yes, the weather's nice and I do (mostly) enjoy spending time with my kids. But then there are the "Mom, I'm bored" days where they can't come up with anything to do and I'm at a loss. So they end up a.) fighting with each other b.) pestering me c.) watching TV - none of which are good options. So this summer I'm going in prepared!

The Summer Survival Kit - contains books and games that I picked up at garage sales and thrift stores for cheap and lots of free online printable activities. If you'd like to create your own, here are the links that I used.

Here's my "I'm Bored" Jar - idea from HomeSpun Threads
and check out this list of over 200 Ideas for Bored Kids


Kids Charades - free printable here - in a re-purposed thrift store tin




printable games from Kristine McKay Designs

(Here's a hint - I wanted to make the Fib Flab game but it's 27 printable pages! Instead I cut my pictures out of an old kids picture dictionary - cheaper than buying a new print cartridge)

































Measure the House activity page



Lots of free printables here at Kids Can Have Fun


And finally, I printed out bunches of Scavenger Hunt lists. Here are some good ones:

Scavenger Hunt & Nature Hike - good for kids who don't read yet

ABC Scavenger Hunt

Indoor Scavenger Hunt

Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

Magazine Scavenger Hunt

Friday the 13th + A Healthy (er) Nacho Recipe

****First, let me remind everyone, in case you didn't already know, today is Friday 13th. And as a little Friday the 13th present, Blogger has managed to develop some pretty major gliches - in the form of deleting all blog posts and drafts from yesterday. I can't even imagine how many people lost info and I'm guessing there are some very unhappy bloggers out there. Luckily my post from yesterday wasn't a long detailed tutorial or I might be one of those pissed off people. Anyway, here's hoping that will be the worst thing that happens on this Friday the 13th***

Edited: Yay!!! Posts and drafts have been restored!! Thank you Blogger!

And onto today's recipe:


I love, love, love nachos - they're probably one of my favorite foods. Unfortunately, my waistline does not appreciate them the way I do. But sometimes, a craving's a craving so here's my somewhat healthier recipe. Although no one would ever confuse this with true health food, I did up the nutritional ante with diced red pepper and lots of beans, no meat.

Saute 1 small onion, diced, and 1 diced red pepper in olive oil until tender.

Add 2 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp salt and minced garlic and saute 1-2 minutes more.

Add 1 c. of chunky salsa and 3 cans of beans of your choice, drained (I used black beans, pinto beans, and garbanzo beans) and heat through.


Transfer to a greased baking dish.


And here's where this dish ceases to be healthy - top with shredded cheese. And to me any good nacho has to have a fair amount of cheese. I also place some tortilla chips around the edge of the dish just to make it look nice. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

Serve with additional chips and toppings of your choice.
(See I'm trying to be healthy - I even put some lettuce on my plate!)