Carrot Bags

Here is a repost of a fun Easter project from last year.  I hope you enjoy!

I got this idea from my mom a few years ago.  Check out these cute little carrot bags.  They can be used as decoration (I stuffed mine with some grocery bags), or they can be filled with candy and goodies and treats and can be given as little Easter gifts.  They come together really quick, so dig through your fabric and find some scraps of orange and green fabric.  I used some orange burlap and love how they turned out.  So fun!

 Here is a quick tutorial (but they are pretty self-explanatory).

--First make a pattern on cardstock, regular paper, or whatever you have on hand.  The above picture shows the dimensions I used for mine.  Then cut your fabric out (of course lining up the fabric fold with the "fold" side of your pattern.
--Unfold the two pieces and sew them together (right sides together).  Fold in half (right sides in) and sew along the side seam, starting at the tip of the carrot.
--Turn right side out.
--Cut strips at the top to make the leafy top.  I made mine about 1/2" wide, and I cut down about 1 1/2".
--Then use strips of your green fabric (again about 1/2" wide) to make ties for the top of the bag.
Simple.  I guess that is how I roll around here because let's be honest, my kids don't allow for many projects that take time and too much concentration!

Hello Spring

The first day of spring is officially here--now if the weather would start cooperating.  Oh how I am looking forward to warm, spring weather.  I think it is getting close--at least I am hoping.  So, to help me feel spring-ish, I pulled out the spring decor.  I love the colors and brightness.  I LOVE SPRING!

 That BLOOM sign was one of my first posts.  Check it out!

 This banner/garland is a new favorite project.  I think I did it in, oh--about 5 minutes.  I grabbed some spring-colored scrapbook paper.  Used a drinking cup to trace and then cut out the circles.  Inked up the edges a bit.  Hung them on some ribbon with some tiny clothes pins.  Yay!

Happy Spring!

A Pink & Purple Party

My daughter turned 4 last Saturday.  Hard to believe four years have passed since she was born.  I think she is officially becoming a "big girl" now.  Anyway, her birthday was cause for a big celebration--a pink and purple celebration to be exact.  (What else could a girl ask for?)

The party was complete with a pinata, games, cake & ice cream, and of course, 11 silly little girls, and 4 fun little boys.

The Birthday Girl

 The Birthday Shirt (go here for instructions)

 Our version of "Pin the Tail on the Donkey"

 A birthday at our house isn't complete without a pinata.  (Go here to learn how to make one for yourself)

Oh, and here is a little tip I have learned over the years--I fill the pinata with a little pinata-goodie-bag for each kid coming to the party.  I also put in loose candy.  That way the kids are each guaranteed a certain amount of candy, but they still get to try to grab a bunch on their own way.  This seems to help all the kids feel like things are more equal.

And the Cake:

 I used a great recipe found here.  It was DELICIOUS!  (and rather hard to stop eating)

 Don't you love the colorful layers--light pink increasing to dark pink, then dark purple decreasing to light purple.

 This is how they looked just out of the oven.

All the fun kids!  What a fun day.  Happy Birthday to my Halle girl!

Love Birds {TUTORIAL}

Okay, so I finally finished up a tutorial for these love birds.  Hopefully this will motivate you to go make some of your own!  Aren't they fun?

 

***Here is the link for the bird template that I used.  I did make it about 1/4" bigger (by just free-handing around the pattern) to allow for the seam.

I Pinned--I Did!

So if you are like me, your pins are piling up--there are SO MANY INCREDIBLE IDEAS OUT THERE!  Well, I have been trying to actually use my pins.  Here is one that I did and I am so glad!

 I got this great idea from Make it and Love it.  I'm sure you've been to her site, but if you haven't, you should.  It is fantastic.  Anyway, she posted a great tutorial for plastic storage bags and I thought, "hey, I could make those."  So I did.  Yay!  Love having specific storage places for toys.  It was fun to make different sizes.

They came together pretty well.  It's a great tutorial.  It seemed like it was a never-ending project, but that is because I took about a week in between each step.  But overall, I am happy with them.  Oh, and my kids love having their own special bags!

DIY Cookie Stamp

Happy Valentines Day everyone!  I thought it would be fun to deliver some cookies to some friends, but let our kids do the cookie version of doorbell-ditching:  Leave the cookies on the porch, ring the doorbell, and run & not get caught.

I have this recipe for delicious ALMOND BUTTER COOKIES.  If you like almond flavoring, these are your kind of cookie.  The only problem--they are supposed to be rolled into a ball and then stamped, but I don't have a cookie stamp.  So I decided to make my own--and you can do it too!
All you need is a small piece of cardboard, a little tape, and some wax paper or plastic wrap.  Simply cut your shape out of the cardboard.  I did a heart.  Cut a piece of wax paper the same size.  Tape the wax paper to the shape, and then tape it to the bottom of a cup.  Here is your stamp.

Mix your dough.  Roll balls in sugar.  I added pink sprinkles to add to the Valentine feeling.

Stamp with your newly made stamp.

Bake and Enjoy!

Almond Butter Cookies
1 c. margarine
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 t. salt
2 c. flour
1 tsp. Almond extract

Cream butter, sugar, & extract.  Add salt & flour.  Chill in fridge for at least 1 hour.  Roll into 1" balls.  Roll in sugar.  Stamp.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.  Makes 3 dozen cookies.

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I saw these great little love birds on Etsy awhile back.  While I instantly thought they were SO cute and fun, I was not willing to pay $30+ for them.  (Sorry, I guess I am cheap).  But, I also thought the project was VERY do-able.  So I attempted to do them my self.  What do you think?

 Interested in a tutorial?

 Leave me a comment & let me know!

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