Rock Star

This past Saturday I attended a baby shower for one of my little cousins. I say little, but of course that is just my perspective. Oh I am getting older and none the wiser. Anyhoo didly doo, it was great to see my cousins. While there my cousin (hmmm, I didn't ask to use her name) S, showed me a cute little rock covered in melted crayon. So cute, so fun and of course cheap and easy.

For this activity you will need to send your kids on a rock hunt. Just about any rock will do. However, a smooth rock looks better.

Place rocks on a baking sheet. Heat rocks in oven until they are hot. I just put them in while the oven was pre-heating to 375 degrees, then removed them when the oven had reached it's goal.
Give each child a piece of wax paper. After giving a lesson on not touching hot things, place the rock on the wax paper and give your little artist some crayons. This is a great way to use you broken crayons.

The crayons will melt as soon as they touch the hot rock. Caution: the rocks stay hot for a long time.

Even Baby Bug (2) was able to color a rock.

My kids had a blast and I hope yours will too. Thank you Cousin S!

By the way, if you do any of the crafts, activities or other idea's be sure to let me know. I would love to see what you have done.

Easy as pie

This honestly is the easiest pie to make and it's the perfect dessert to cool down your hot days.

You will need:

1 can frozen juice, almost thawed (my favorite is limeade)

1 lrg. Cool Whip, almost thawed (you can use reg., light or even fat free)

1 can sweetened condensed milk (you can use fat free)

2 graham cracker crusts

Mix together first 3 ingredients.
Pour into shell.


Cover and freeze until firm.

Let sit for a few minutes before serving.

Eat fast so you can have seconds.

S'more ideas

I was inspired a long time go by Lisa @ OneGirlieGirl. She had posted about her gourmet s'more. Instead of chocolate she used Andies Candies. So of course I had to try. Except I used Dove Chocolates. Carmel and Peanut Butter. I think the Ghirardelli squares would be perfect. I am going to have to try the mint as soon as I can get a hold of some.

Why is it some pictures look completely normal in the file, but as soon as they are saved to a post they end up sideways?

I just used the broiler. I placed 4 Marshmallows on 4 crackers and broiled them for about 1 minute. (just until slightly toasted) The I added the crackers with chocolate on top. Next time I will use two chocolates per s'more. Broil with Marsh mellows 30 sec. or so.

Place the two halves together and well you know what to do.


I will be back later today with my Trash to Treasure for this fine Tuesday.

Frame tutorial

I finally finished up another frame for craft it forward. Wow, it's a good thing I got procrastination out of the way. Just in time to be several days late for Mod Podge Mania @ This is the Year with Xazmin.

You will need:

A wooden frame (from Michaels)

Wooden letters (optional)

Scrap paper

scissors

Pen

Mod Podge

Paint

Stain

Ribbon (optional)

Embellishments (optional)

Paint or stain frame and peg. (the peg comes with the frame)

Trace frame on paper. I include the dot to represent were the hole for the peg is on the back so that when I glue the paper I know exactly what direction to place it. Be careful were you place frame. I have cut the paper several times to find out I included that little white strip on the bottom of the paper. (Classic Melissa :))

Paint letters. I also inked the edges.

Mod Podge it all together.

I love these little stickers on frames for girls.

These frames make great gifts! They would be even better with pictures of me in them. No they wouldn't. I joke. I would never be that mean.

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.

Just Bead Happy

I never been very girly. I just am now getting in touch with my soft chewy center. My girls have been benefiting from my new interest in all things pink and poofy. Recently, I have been putting more of an effort into their hair. Thanks to blogs about little girls hair dos and my neighbor who should go in the hair book of geniuses for the fabulous styles she gives her girls, my girls are looking a bit more kept. When it comes to hair embellishments there are a lot of options every where you go. However, I have got to be a creative and a smidgen frugal. I have come up several idea's already as seen here and here. So now I will share one more idea.

You will need:

24 gauge wire

Package of beads (I got the pkg. shown in the picture at Wal Mart for $2)

Package of bobby pins

A few of the beads and bobby pins is all you will need.

Select 2 coordinating beads and cut about 3"-4" inches of the wire.
Slide one bead onto one end of the wire leaving enough wire to wrap around bead.

Push end of wire through the other side of the bead. You can do this a couple of times to secure the bead. Pull tight.

Twist the wire together with the top part of the remaining wire. ( I know, I need a new camera and maybe a new end user. If you have any suggestions for a new camera I am listening. If you know of any Internet camera classes I am still listening.)

Do the same with the other bead on the opposite end.

Then slip wire into bobby pin with a bead on each side.

Twist beads until secure on the bobby pin.


Then decorate that cute little head of hair. With these cute little buggers you can make one to coordinate with each of your bows and flower clips.

Seriously, so cheap. So easy. So cute.

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.