Candy countdown

Wild Child received this cute candy countdown chain from her Pre-school teachers. It had five treat chambers on it when it was first given to her. She gets to eat one treat everyday until school starts. What a cute why to avoid the when does school start question.

This could be adapted for a Christmas Advent Calendar. It would be a great gift for friends with children.

Mod Podge Some Birthday Cake

I have been working on making homemade Warm Delights with a box cake mix. (recipe here) I thought it would be fun to give as birthday gifts for friends, neighbors and co-workers. So I put this mix in a jar. To make the gift wrapping fun and to re-use what I have I grabbed small jars. You can use half pint or pint depending on recipe size.

Cut a 2 1/2 inch circle out of scrap scrapbook paper. Mod Podged onto a used, but washed canning lid.

I just Mod Podged the edge.

Then covered the top in Mod Podge. (Let's see how many times I can use the words Mod Podge in this post.)

Tie a ribbon with a candle. Include directions on tag.

Microwave cake right in jar.

Let cake cool before adding candle.

Here are a couple of other Mod Podge posts for this month. Click on photo for full post. (The bread box post is one of my favorites. Be sure to check it out if you are new to my blog.)




Be sure to check out other Mod Podging nuts at Xazmin's Mod Podge Mainia @ This Is The Year.

Homemade Bookmark

This is a fun east activity for kids. Your child may want to make a whole bunch of bookmarks to give-a-way to friends for school or even simply gifts to Aunts and Uncles.

You will need:

Paper

Clear Contact Paper

Scissors

Markers, paints, stickers or whatever you can find

You can cut the paper into strips or have your child color the entire paper first then cut into strips. You can also use existing art work.
Color.

Cut 2 pieces of contact paper for the front and back of you bookmark.

Adhere to paper. Smooth out bubbles.

Trim edges. There you have it. A homemade book mark.

You might even want to read books with your child before or after your craft or even take a field trip to the Library.

Cookie Monster

I am going to say it again. I LOVE THIS RECIPE! If you haven't tried Chef Keem's Macaroon recipe, you must get right to it.

As I had mentioned in a previous post, I made some Macaroons to took take for a raffle at Family Reunion. I wanted to find Pastry boxes with cellophane windows on top, so that the cookies would look like they came from a fancy bakery. I looked and looked. I couldn't find any. I went to the bakery at my local Wal Mart and got my ear chewed off by the gal behind the bakery counter. I was left with only what my imagination could come up with.

I made the tray with some white card stock.
I folded all four edges in about an inch.

I cut the one side of the corner piece.

Then hot glued them to form a nice sharp corner.

I finished it up with cellophane and tulle. I think it looked nice. I made small trays for lemon bars.

Edible Invitation

I absolutely love how these turned out. First you need cookies or even brownies (you can use a cookie cutter to make them any shape you would like. You could even cut the cookies into stars, hearts or flowers.) They can be store bought or homemade.

Someone ate most of my cookies. I don't know who. It will remain a mystery!

Then cut out paper the size and shape of your cookie. Embellish like crazy. Just think how cute it would be to use a scallop punch. So cute. On the back side write the party information or a little note.
Place card on the back of cookie and slip both into a treat bag. Tie with a pretty ribbon.



You could make:
Birthday party invitations
Thank you cards
Baby shower invites
Baby shower favours
Wedding/bridal favours
Thinking of you cards
Birth announcement
Reminders
Special treat in lunch box
Valentine cards
A really tasty business card


You could do chocolate chip cookies and say "Thanks for chipping in" and of course much much more.

Reminder: Today is the last day to be entered for my give-a-way. Be sure to become a follower.

100th post G-A-W

Why do my pictures turn themselves? Honestly, as if having a terrible camera and an awful end user wasn't enough!

Well here she is. My give-a-way or G-A-W if you please. My 1ooth post has come and gone. To be entered all you need to do is make sure you are a follower of this here super awesome blog. I will be giving everyone until this Friday to get er done.

This little baby comes with straps on the back for diapers. I will also draw a second name for a wipe dillybob without straps. It is good for just about anyone who has a cleaning need. By the way, baby wipes are terrific for removing eye makeup. I will wrap it in Cellophane with a ribbon. It would make a great baby shower gift.

A for Apron

Hello Round Robin friends. This was a previous post. I thought you might like it. Be sure to check out my newest post. It's a good one(edible invitations). Thank you Amy for hosting Round Robin.

I wear an apron around the house. I love them with big pockets. The more the merrier. When I walk into a room and see an item that does not belong, I pick it up and stuff it in a pocket. When I go into the room where it belongs, I put it away. This way I don't spend all day going back and forth between all the rooms.

I found these little waist aprons in the hardware section at Wal Mart for a dollar.

What a great price. I decided to make several, so when one is in the wash I will have a back up.

This one I used Fabric Markers on. First I traced my design and then colored it in.

Love it.

My niece did this one while she stayed with me. She said it was her favorite thing all weekend. Look how clever she is. It is the life of one tree through out the year.

This one I used fabric and wonder under.



I was going to stitch around the fabric flowers, but ran out of time. So, I used a black fabric marker.


You could also use crayons. (use generic for better color)

You could make these for gifts. It would be easy to customize for just about anybody women and men (remember: these are sold in the hardware department with men in mind).

Camp Cook/BBQ Chef
Crafter
Avid couponer (I like to put the coupons in my pocket after I find the item)
Cleaner
Artist
Pre-school teacher
Wood worker
Walker (I never have enough pockets when I am outside walking
Gardener
New Mom or Dad (keeps diapers, wipes and cream handy at all times.
Day care provider
Nudist (lets face it, they need some pockets)
Grandma
and so many more....

Great gift for children to make. Fun summer boredom buster.

Father's day

I don't have many idea's for Father's Day. I don't get men and won't even pretend to. Here is a quick and affordable gift for you kids to give good old Dad. Buy a book about dads. I bought the I Love You book from Wal Mart for $2.50. Then write in the cover the date and what your child likes to do with dad or a favorite memory from the past year. Give it to Dad, then update the book every year on Father's Day.

Topped with a bow

My girls don't have a whole lot of hair and what the little ones does have is in the shape of a mullet. So, girlifying them is very important and tricky. I gathered ribbons and elastics. (not pictured here is those little disposable back elastics, they work well for this.)

Cut a 3-5 inch length of ribbon...

or fabric of varying lengths.

Seal ends.

Tie in a knot around elastic.

Girlify like crazy.

Works with curly ribbon too.

Have a ribbon swap with friends and you just may end up with every color you will ever need. Because the ends are sealed, if an elastic breaks, just tie ribbon to a new elastic. I love these because they are small enough that they don't over power a little head and you can use several per hair style.

These are very cost effective and easy to make.