Meal Plan Monday

Another week is here and I have got my plan in place.  Now I just have to conquer walmart for the supplies of course that is after a doctor's appt. for my son at 7:45 am.  I am hoping since we will be first we won't have to wait long.  So here it is in no particular order:
*Ravioli  Casserole ( recipe to follow)
*Fried Chicken Strips and potato salad
*Red Chile burritos - muy bueno!! but kind of regional since I use the frozen Albuquerque mild red chile
*Chicken Spaghetti
*Pancake Supper
AND the Dessert of the Week goes to the spectacular CARROT CAKE- Yummy!!
Here is a recipe to try- it is a fast easy casserole to get through the week.- similar to lasagna
Ravioli Casserole
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 package (25oz) frozen cheese ravioli-cooked and drained
2 C (16oz) small curd cottage cheese
4 C (16 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 C grated Parmesan Cheese
Spread 1/2 C of spaghetti sauce in an ungreased 13inx9in baking dish.  Layer with half of the ravioli, 1 1/4C sauce, 1C cottage cheese and 2 Cof mozzarella cheese.  Repeat layers. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Bake uncovered at 350 for 30-40 min.  let stand 5-10 min.  serves 6-8

Happy Birthday Jewelry (Tutorial)- St. Patrick's Jewelry if it's not your birthday

This is my mom.  I wanted to use this post to honor and celebrate her.  If you ever had the privilidge of meeting her you would never forget it.  She lives way to far from me which is my fault not hers and she will tell you the same.  We try to visit as often as we can but of course it is not enough.  If you think I am crafty it is because of her.  She sees potential in just about anything and can make anything beautiful.  So today I made her birthday present and will show you how I did it.  Let me say she never goes subtle so we had to make a piece that made a statement!

Several years ago, my parents got me jewelry making tools and supplies for Christmas and I used to make jewelry all the time but when the babies were born the beads were put away.

Lets get started on this little tutorial.  My supplies came from hobby lobby they have great sales and options for me there. Bead stores are a bit expensive but the selection is amazing!

Crimping beads are key in beading.  They are metal beads you squeeze around your wire to keep the beads in place.  When you bead it is nice to have a bead board- i lent mine out to someone and now I can't remember who so if you have it please return it - thanks.  These are nice to plan your necklace.  I layed out a pattern on my plate to give a me a little direction in this neclace.

Then I started beading.   I cut some necklace wire to the length I wanted ( don't cut too short because you can cut the excess later).  I put a crimp bead at the end to let me bead with ease- i will cut it off later to add my closures.

then i got a little help!

hey he has been practicing on those lacing cards he can do it;)

Then for the center of the necklace I wanted to add a focal piece.  I used a jump ring to attach it.

I finished beading the necklace, so now lets put the lobster clasp and the figure 8 thing i found left from another closure I had.

When I finish a necklace, I put a crimp bead, the closure piece and then pull the wire back through the crimp bead and a few other beads.  Crimp the bead to secure in place and cut the excess wire.  You are done with that now lets do the earrings- fast and easy.  Start with a flat head pin:

Then load it up but not to the top.  Some beads have holes that will just slip past the flat head so you can use a small seed bead to stop it. 

I then ut it where i have like 1/2 in or so to roll a circle at the top.  You use your round nose pliers to do this. Use your wrist to make a nice circle.

Now use a jump ring to attach it to the earring.  I like using a jump ring so it dangles nicely

Now lets color some pictures for Nana

This necklace is great for birthday and st. patrick's day we don't want nana getting pinched!!

Happy Birthday MOM

Blog Award

Tara over at the fabulous blog The Trendy Treehouse has awarded  my blog this award. 

Thanks so much, I have really enjoyed jumping into the crafty blog community! The trendy treehouse has so much offered over there and is a great example of what a trendy blog should be! So this is quite an honor.

Custom Order Show off and Tutorial

If  you did not know, I have an online shop through etsy that I sell children's clothes.  I opened it back in May and it has been an adventure!  I started sewing and selling to feed my crafting habits.  However, with the economy and our budget changing so did my reasons for my business.  I want to thank all who buy handmade -not just from me but from the many.  There is no way I would be able to stay home with my children without that income.  I am able to buy our groceries every month because of it. Soo THANK YOU! I felt I needed to say that before I go on with my little show off and tutorial.

This was a custom order for a friend which I am sure I will introduce later.  She wanted a cupcake onesie with a 1 on top and a matching tutu.  Here is what I came up with. 

She loves everything boutique so she also wanted a bow holder for her daughter using her initial and the colors of pink and purple to match her room- which is pictured at the top. Let me take you through the process so if you decide to make this you can avoid my mistakes!

I started with the letter- i found this letter at hobby lobby along with all my other supplies.  I traced the letter on th back of the scrapbook paper I wanted to glue on  top- do you see how i already screwed up! and i only bought one piece of the perfect pink polka dot paper- don't worry I didn't figure out I screwed up until AFTER I cut it out!!

DANG - IT .... okay I did some thinkin' and I will piece the scraps together to make it work.

I used mod podge to glue it down.  don't be too stingy with this stuff! and look out for air bubbles. Now is the hard part letting it dry. Once it dries you can take your exacto kniff to cut any paper hanging over.- if it tears a little during this process don't worry because now it is time to do some sanding.

I like to sand all the edges and even a little on the top to give a scratched look. For this bow holder I decided to embellish it with some ribbon and a painted crown cut out.  I cut the ribbon to fit, sealed the ends and modpodged it on first.

Then mod podge thest of the letter and WAIT until it dries. Did I mention I hate waiting? I guess while I wait I will get my ribbon ready.  I  wanted a pink and purple ribbon but could not find what I wanted so stitched the pink ribbon on the purple using a wide zig zag stitch.  If you stitch on ribbon, it tends to wrinkle up a bit. just iron it straight.

I used my staple gun to attach to the letter. I used my glue gun to attach my crown and bow to the letter.

Lastly, to hang the letter you can attach some kind of picture hanger, which I did not have on hand so I went with the soda top.

My letter is pretty thin so this was a little difficult- I nailed and glued this sucker on.

If you don't want to make one but would like one of these or another beautiful bow holder check out all the wonderful items and sellers on etsy.

Blog Honor!

Kelly over at Chick N Charge had honored me with this award.  She has a wonderfully creative blog there be sure to check her out!

Thank you so much.  I just started blogging again the past few weeks and it has been a great joy getting meet so many wonderful folks and of course I still enjoy reading everyone elses blogs and seeing their creative minds at work!

I am to pass this along to seven more fabulous blogs but this is where i get stuck!! I love reading so many blogs I follow probably like 40 and that number seems to grow everyday I also love looking at all the blogs that link up to the different parties I link up too. SOOOOOOOOOOO to limit it to 7 is just down right impossible to me!

Knitting!! Oh MY!

My sister in law Caci is in the middle of showing her home and preparing to make the big move BACK to Texas.  Let me not forget to mention she has 4 kids ranging from 6 months up to an 11 year old!  I can't even imagine.  Anyways, Caci is one crafty mama and still finds to craft.  She has had to put away her sewing machine and a lot of her paper crafts and has focused on a new craft knitting.  She has really enjoyed this new craft and finds time to do knit just about every night.  It amazes me, because knitting seems like it takes a lot of focus and time and I am just too ADD! Caci has posted her first knitted item in her etsy shop Pickled Peppers and I am sure it won't be her last.  These blankets are wonderfully soft! I had some for the babies when we brought them home from the hospital and kept them as a keepsake they could pass down to their children.  

What's on the Menu for this week?

I hate asking Jason what do you want to eat this week and the response is always the same "I don't know?" and the thing is I don't know either yet I must come up with a plan for the week. I know everyone is in the same position so I thought I would post what the plan is and you can leave comments to help me out next week by telling me maybe your favorite meal you are planning to fix this week.  I typically plan for 5-6 meals a week and one dessert.  The reason for only 5-6 is not because we go out to eat with 2 2yrold toddlers and no money but because I take a night or two off and we have leftovers. So here is our plan in no particular order:

1. BBQ, macaroni, baked beans, corn
2.Red Beef Enciladas, guacamole and chips, rice and beans
3.Lasagna, salad
4.Grilled Chicken and Veggie Bake
5.Ham and Potato Soup

and for dessert Homemade Banana Pudding using Caci (my sister in law) recipe:) yum

What are you planning that is your favorite?

Raggy Flops Part 1

This just the first part of this tutorial.  I think my Texas colors will definitely shine on this project!! I know it is early for flip flops at least it is here.  In fact a little cold front just moved in and it has been pretty windy.  So since it is so nasty outside I have to get some fun craft inside going on.  I know you have seen these.  I have never made any but I wanted to make a pair and add some extra flair.  By the way this a craft fun for the kids to do and help with.  My kiddos loved playing with the scraps and handed me strips.

So here is how I got started:
Pick your fabrics- I decided to go with the pink black combos

I also added cowprint after I took this picture.

Next cut about 3/4 in strip across the width of the fabric.  I was using 5 different fabrics so for the flip flops I cut two strips of each fabric for a total of 10 strips.

Then cut the strips to about 5-6 in. lengths- you don't want to cut them too short because it becomes too hard to tie in knots.

Now start tying them on the flip flops.

I wrapped the straps for decorating these flip flops with a bow but it is sooooo not neccessary for this craft.

Here it is after I finished tying the rags on.

Whoa!! That is a MESS- let's see if it is better on.

NOPE- and as my daughter says "too much!" So don't toss out the shoes yet- I will give them a simple haircut and here is what we have now.

 I like it but I think it needs a little more definition so that will be in a later post after I get a little work done.  You can buy the flip flops pretty cheap at hobby lobby.  Thanks so much looking at my crafts.  I always appreciate comments and my followers.  If you have any questions I can't seem to figure out how to anwer in an e-mail- my computer puts me through a wizard and says i can't do it.  I guess I can answer in later posts or in the comments- sorry i am not too good with these computers.

Lacing Cards

I found some those awesome melissa and doug lacing beads at Savers for 1.99 and of course had to snatch those right up.  This activity is a little difficult for my 2 year olds but is a great educational activity I can help them with.  While playing with the beads, I thought about the lacing cards or sewing cards I had as a child.  I decided I wanted to get my cricut out and make some for my kiddos.  There are so many options for lacing cards and I was thinking this is also a great birthday present as well as party favors for birthday parties.  Here are the steps I took to make my lacing cards:
Got my handy dandy cricut and the cutting up cartridge and cute paper:

Then I cut out a J and K for there names but thinking now I wish I just cut there name out so they could see their name in print..

I cut th letters and glued them on cardstock and traced around them with marker to define them alittle more.  Next I cut them out and put them in a laminating pouch and laminated them using my yourstory from provo craft- which I found on sale for $34 at Walmart. Otherwise I would of taken them to get laminated. 

This was the first time I used this so didn't push all the air bubbles out so it got a little wrinkled on the way out

Next you cut them out and punch holes around them. Take a shoe lace and lace or you can use a piece of yarn with tape around the end.  So while I was doing this I thought how cool to repurpose the valentine cards the kids got from their great grandmother "Nanny".  So I cut the card in half and glued the writing part on the back and laminated it.

Punch holes and play. 

For the dinosaur lacing card I used the paper doll cartridge.  I drew the design by removing the blade and using the cricut marker then replacing and cutting out the image.

The Cricut

I see a couple of questions floating about the cricut and what it is and does so I thought I would at least post a link from you tube about what it is and what it does.  It is very cheesy but it is a good over view here it is:
provo craft cheesy you tube video  I use my Cricut for mostly paper crafting like scrapbooking, it is great for cardmaking too.  It can also help in making vinyl lettering, glass etching and many other craft projects.  It is alittle pricey but depending on how much you would use it- it is worth it.  I bought the expressions which is the larger model.  I thought if I go back to teaching I would definitely use it in the classroom.  However, I really bought it for scrapbooking which helps me cut down costs on stickers and pre-made embellishments because now I just cut them out with my cricut.  My expressions came with 2 cartridges and cost 273.00 and each cartridge can range from $20-on sale to $90 each.  I have friends I borrow cartridges from too.  There are programs out there now where you can use your computer to take the images and cut using your cricut but I am really not that great with computers and get easily frustrated that I have not looked into that.  The smaller personal cricut can be purchased around $100.  You can not use the 40 % coupon from hobby lobby or joanns on these but they do go on sale or you can check craigslist,  and ebay for a deal too.  hope that helps a little bit in understanding the cricut.  Here are some sample scrapbook layouts i did with my cricut- sorry the pictures are not that great and like I said the cricut can be used for more than just scrapbooking.

Another giveaway but this one is from Fancy Pants!!

Blend it baby is holding a giveaway of one of MINE!! It is the st. patrick's day pillowcase dress.  This giveaway closes 2/28 so be sure  to check out blend it baby's blog to enter to win one of my st. patrick's day pillowcase dresses !!

Giveaway to Trotter Sweet Peas

There is a giveaway going on at  Whimsy Couture Boutique.  Go to here website to enter for a $25 gift cerftificate to Trotter Sweet Peas.  She has beautiful children's skirts and some great patterns to try out.  I know I have entered -you might want to go do the same!

Quick Bubble Re-do

I don't know if you saw this adorable bubble from Carters.  It came out last year and I really wanted to get one for my daughter, but I would think of all the other things I needed to buy and talked myself out of it.  Well I found one at Savers the other day.  It is a size 24 mo. and my daughter is a 2T/3T so needless to say it would not fit her.   I figured it would fit her in the top but the length would not be right.  I decided to buy it anyway hoping I could make it work as a shirt.  To start I cut off the crotch off leaving as much length as it allowed- i figured if it was too short i could always add a band or ruffle.

Next I ironed a small rolled hem at the bottom

Stitched a straight stitch on the hem

And I was done and loved how it looked on Kate- I am such a sucker for anything yellow!!

I know this is super simple and really doesn't need to have steps explained but I thought maybe someone has a bubble they loved and didn't think of doing this yet.