Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye something... 

heartfelt.

Clockwise, starting top left:

Scandinavian Pendant Necklace

XO Chunky Book

Flowering Heart Cross-stitch Pattern

Traveling Mouse

Fingerless Gloves

Newborn Scandinavian Hat

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

It warmed my heart...

Last week I received a package in the mail. It was sent to me by a reader of my blog as a "thank you" for the free tutorials I had published on my blog over the last few years. It warmed my heart, and I appreciated her thoughtfulness so much. {Thank you again, Chris!}

Among several things in the box was this adorable Snap Happy Bag that she made for me. I fell in love instantly...

This little bag has a carpenter's metal tape measure cut to the correct lengths to form a "hinge" at the top of the bag. It "snaps" open and shut -- thus the name "Snap Happy Bag." It's the perfect size to put in a purse with a couple of makeup items or to hold a gift card.

I knew I wanted to make a version of my own and publish a tutorial, so yesterday I got to work and came up with this version...
 

Early next week I'll publish the tutorial. With Valentine's Day approaching I can foresee making these and filling them with all sort of goodies!

Linked to:
Sisters Sunday Link Party @ Sisters of the Wild West
Show & Tell @ Be Different Act Normal
Friday Favs @ Naptime Crafters
Friday Flair @ Whipperberry
Catch as Catch Can @ My Repurposed Life
Free for All @ Sassy Sites
Made Monday @ Toastie Studio

Simple Ruffled Pillow...

I was shopping the other day and came across a simple ruffled pillow. I loved the uncomplicated look of this pillow with its two little rows of tiny ruffles. {Below is the photo I took with my cell phone.} It was $78 and 21" x 27" -- a whopper of a pillow in cost and size. The cost would have discouraged me enough, but it was also too large for what I had in mind, so I decided to make one instead. 

Our bedroom redo is almost complete, but I still have a few finishing touches and a pillow accounted for one those. I wanted a 15" pillow to sit on a leather reading chair that would compliment the knitted throw that I had recently bought. This pillow with its little ruffles was exactly what I was looking for. Here's what I came up with...

This is what you'll need to duplicate this pillow:

front panels - 3 strips of fabric 6" x 16"

front ruffles - 2 strips of fabric 2" x 40"

back panel - enough to finish the pillow the way you choose
1/2" seams

Because this pillow is so simple, I'm not going to give detailed instructions. Just fold and press the ruffles in half lengthwise, gather them up and tuck them between the seams of the front panels. Then finish the back of the pillow and you're done!

This time I experienced something new when making a pillow. I love the softness of a down pillow -- so luxurious. I wanted that for this new pillow, so I went to Target and bought a down pillow. It was $24, but I knew I could use the down as filling for at least three pillows, so I easily rationalized the expense. I slit the pillow to retrieve the down. Yikes...

It was messy.

Very messy.

I persevered, however, and filled up my pillow insert with a thousand and two little feathers. {And it only took me 30 minutes to vacuum up the feathers that escaped to every corner of my main floor.} Thankfully, it was worth the effort, because this pillow is soft and luxurious...

Cost...

 Down-filled pillow insert: $9

Pillow cover: $2

Total: $11

Linked to:


Make-It-Yourself Monday @ An Original Belle
Sister Sunday Link Party @ Sisters of the Wild West
Show & Tell @ Be Different Act Normal
Sat Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Friday Favs @ Naptime Crafter
Made Monday @ Toastie Studio
Friday Flair @ Whipperberry
Free for All @ Sassy Sites
Hookin' Up with House of Hepworths
Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple
Sew Cute Tuesday @ Creative Itch
Transformation Thursday @ Shabby Chic Cottage
Show Off Your Stuff @ Fireflies & Jellybeans
DIY Under $15 @ A Little Tipsy
Party Time Tuesday @ Northern Cottage

Bunting Kindle Case...

This Christmas my 8-year-old granddaughter received a special gift. She is a voracious reader, so her parents presented her with a Kindle for Christmas. I love that they encouraged her love of reading with that gift. While they were visiting her parents asked me if I might make a case for her Kindle, so a couple days ago I got busy...

I'm not sure I'm ever going to tire of the banner craze. There's something so fun and whimsical about banners, and I thought they would look perfect on a Kindle case for our Zoey.

Before they left her parents measured Zoey's Kindle because not all Kindle's are created equal. It turns out hers is a little more demure than mine with measurements of -- 4 3/4" x 6 3/4". I decided to make the finished case 6" x 8", so I cut two pieces of muslin 7" x 9" for the outside of the case and two pieces of complimentary cotton fabric 7" x 9" for the lining. I also cut out two 7" x 9" pieces of fusible fleece and secured them to the muslin. A 12-inch zipper is also required. I used 1/2" seams.

I used the same approach that I illustrated in my "Bunting Cosmetic Bag" tutorial to string the bunting across the front of the case...

 
Then I used the same technique to sew the bag together that Anna {from "Noodlehead"} showed us in her tutorial of her Lil Cutie Pouch...

I hope Zoey likes her case and that her Kindle continues to feed her addiction to reading!

Linked to:
Make-It-Yourself Monday @ An Original Belle
Head to Head Showdown @ I Can't Stop Crafting
Sunday Sisters Link Party @ Sisters of the Wild West
Show & Tell @ Be Different Act Normal
Friday Fav @ Naptime Crafter
Made Monday @ Toastie Studio
Friday Flair @ Whipperberry
Free for All @ Sassy Sites
Hookin' Up @ House of Hepworths
Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple
Sew Cute Tuesday @ Creative Itch
Show Off Your Stuff @ Fireflies & Jellybeans
DIY Under $5 @ A Little Tipsy
Party Time Tuesday @ Northern Cottage
Show & Tell @ Blue Cricket Design
Handmade Tuesdays @ Ladybug Blessings
Ta-Da Tuesday @ Mommy by Day; Crafter by Night
The Inspiration Board @ Homework
Show Me What You Got @ Not Just a Housewife
Get Your Craft On @ Today's Creative Blog
Made by You Monday @ Skip to my Lou
Make it Monday @ Brassy Apple
Made with Love Link Party @ Sew Chatty
Craft-O-Maniac Link Party

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye...

winter gray.

Clockwise, starting top left:

Linen Napkins

Lotus Leaf Pleated Shirt

12" Industrial Metal Letters

Leather Brooch

Wool Baby Socks

Wishing you a wonderful weekend! 

2012 Mutual & Primary Themed Plaque Attacks...

At the start of each new year a theme is chosen for the children's organization and the teen organization in the LDS church. Throughout the year these themes are the focus of lessons and activities within those organizations. I particularly love the thoughts conveyed in the themes this year, so I decided to make them the focus for my January Plaque Attacks.

As you can see I made two versions of the Primary (children's organization) theme, which is "Choose the Right." I also made a plaque version of the Mutual (teen organization) theme -- "Arise and shine forth that thy light may be a standard for the nations." I think we can all agree those are good words to live by!

For those new to the "Plaque Attack Club," each month I feature a new printable document. You'll need to check back every month to receive each new document.

Collect the following materials to make a plaque of your own:

• 6 1/2" square wooden plaque {available online or at craft stores}
• 1 piece of scrapbook paper 
• acrylic craft paint to compliment your paper
• Mod Podge {I like matte finish.}
• paint brush
• Rust-oleum Matte Clear Sealer

For a tutorial on how to make these plaques, go here!

I am offering all three January Plaque Attack printables in a single document for anyone upon request. Simply do the following:

1.) leave a comment below,

2.) consider becoming a follower of my blog,

3.) then send me an email with the words "January 2012 Plaque Attack" in the subject line of the email.

My email address is on my sidebar under "Welcome -- Contact Information."
I will return the plaque images in a single Microsoft Word document.

These documents can be made into plaques by children, teens or those who love them! 

FYI:  Here's another fabulous free Mutual themed printable from The Crafting Chicks. {Don't you just love it!?!) Their printable is beautiful and would be great to use in a classroom situation or at home, however, if you want a printable personalized to compliment colors in a child's bedroom you might want to consider buying a "matching" scrapbook paper and making one of these Plaque Attacks!

Enjoy!

Bloomin' Tuesday...

I hope you had a nice Christmas. Ours was wonderful! Our children and grandchildren (all 23 of them) have flown back to their nests and my husband and I are alone once again. There's a bit of sadness and relief in that fact. We're fairly certain our house was bounced a good three inches off its original foundation during the four days they were all here. Lots of action and fun!

I'm looking forward to a new year filled with hope and excitement. I've got a few designs percolating in my little noggin that I'd like to bring forth. I'm anticipating a lot of "creating" in the months to come! Tomorrow the January Plaque Attack will be published. The 2012 Themes for Primary and Mutual (LDS) will be the subject of January's plaques!

Two weeks ago I published a Bloomin' Tuesday post that featured some Paperwhite Narcissus bulbs that I had just planted and looked forward to blooming in about four weeks. They looked like this two weeks ago...

Little did I know that these bulbs were such fast growers. 

Last night they look like this...

As you can see I already have beautiful white blossoms from these bulbs...

This morning their little white faces were turned toward the sun.

There's a dichotomy that is fascinating in having something grow with abandon 

and blossom in the middle of winter!

Happy Bloomin' Tuesday!

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye...

a countdown to the New Year!

Clockwise, starting top left:

Happy New Year Cupcake Printables

2012 New Year's Resolution Notepad

Antique Brass Watch Necklace

Watercolor Calendar Print

New Years Eve Party Hat

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Top 5 Blog Posts of 2011...

It's always amusing to look back on a year and remember some of the posts that made an itty-bitty dent in the blogging world. Here are my Top 5 Posts of 2011 -- determined by the number of pageviews per posts. I'm looking forward to another year filled with creating, sharing and being inspired!

 5th most viewed post in 2011

 Baby Burpies {the easy way}...

#4

The availability of my Manfred Tooth Pillow Pattern...

#3 most viewed 2011 post
The introduction of the Chick-sicle Cooling Pad with Pattern...

second favorite in 2011
My Bunting Cosmetic Bag with Pattern & Directions...

And finally the Numero Uno most viewed post on my blog in 2011
{with over 40,000 page views}
My "Love Bird" Rice Filled Heating Pads Pattern & Tutorial...

Thank you so much for your kind, constructive, and encouraging comments this year.
They are so appreciated!

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye... 

a very Merry Christmas!

Clockwise, starting top left:

Felted Christmas Tree

Red Footless Tights

Vintage Tile Pendant

Red Floral Scarf

Cherry Red iPhone Sleeve

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

Best Peanut Brittle...

I dreamt of a white Christmas last night, and this morning my dream came true. Colorado is gorgeous today. More than a foot of snow fell last night, and it truly is a winter-wonderland outside. It's a perfect day to hibernate inside and make some candy...

Last year I tried my hand at Peanut Brittle. I'd never had much luck with candy-making before but for some reason my ability increased dramatically last year, and I became the Peanut Brittle Queen. {Probably due to this easy recipe I found!} Yesterday I chose a different twist and "frosted" the peanut brittle with chocolate and chopped peanuts. It's good. Very good.

 This particular recipe is light and airy. 

{Easy on the choppers!}

I don't know if you're snow-bound in your neck of the woods, 

but here's the recipe just in case...

Best Peanut Brittle

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
Tip: You can also make 1/2 recipe with great results.

Ingredients:

2 cup white sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup water

2 cup peanuts

4 tablespoons butter

2 teaspoon baking soda

{candy thermometer} 

Optional:

1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup chopped peanuts

Directions:

1. Grease a large cookie sheet (with sides) and set aside.

2. In a heavy 2 or 3 quart saucepan, over medium heat, bring to a boil sugar, corn syrup, salt, and water. Stir until sugar is dissolved and add peanuts. Set candy thermometer in place and continue cooking. Stir frequently until temperature reaches 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). 

3. Remove from heat; immediately stir in butter and baking soda; pour at once onto cookie sheet. Push peanut mixture into the rectangle about 14x12 inches.

4. {Optional "Frosting"} Immediately pour bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips over hot  peanut brittle. Wait several minutes until the chips have melted and are spreadable. Spread chocolate over the top of the brittle and top with chopped peanuts.

Have a wonderful day!