I wanna hold your ha-a-a-a--a-and....

I scored some sweet scrap wood pieces from my grandpa's "woodshop" behind his house. It didn't take me long for the ideas to pour out. Actually, Coop gave me the idea for this one, in a way. He saw the wood, he saw the paint, and said "paint my hand, mom!" Soooo.....the idea was born!

I'm totally into the green/blue combo these days. And, while the rest of my house is very thoughtfully decorated, my bedroom has suffered a bit in that area. Since blue/green won't match a-ny-thing in the rest of my house, I thought.....you know?? Favorite colors in my bedroom....not such a bad idea! :)

I don't have step-by-step pictures for you, but the process is pretty easy.

• First, sand the piece of wood you'll be working with.

• THEN, paint the base color the color of your choice (I just used craft paint!) and let dry

Sand a little bit, especially the edges.

• Next, stamp your hand with a different, coordinating color. (I painted my hand, then stamped it, I didn't go for the dip/stamp method) and let dry. FYI, I don't have a forked alien double pinky. Cooper decided to help during that part.
  

Sand again

• It's your munchkin's turn. I painted his hand, then stamped it. And it's super tickly when you paint their hand!

Yoouuuuuuuu guessed it! Sand, again!

• I added a little heart that I painted with a Q-tip. I wasn't super thrilled with how the heart turned out, but the perfectionist in me just decided to be "ok" with it.
• Add a little clear varnish on top to seal in all of the cute-ness, and voila! All done!

I paired it with another project that I'll show you soon and it couldn't be more perfect in my room!

Total cost? $0. Even better!

I'm linking up here (my first time to link up!) at A Diamond in the Stuff. Check her blog out while you're there....today's post is AWESOME!!! Anybody have some extra circle frames lying around??

A little Valentine action

A little paint, some scrap wood, vinyl cut out using my Cricut (and mini monograms cartridge) and suddenly there's a lot of kisses and hugs in the air. Even with my anti-Valentine's day campaign that is currently running from now until...........forever, I have to admit, I kinda love it!

Sugar - part II

I l-o-v-e the sugar scrub.

During one of my most recent cooking disasters, I discovered that it works wonders when scrubbing a thick layer of burnt grossness off of a pan. Smells great, feels good, and it's HANDY! Who could ask for more??

So, a friend made some for her mom in a large Mason jar. And she called me with a question: "Ummmm.....how's mom going to reach the sugar at the bottom of this huge jar?" Not real sure why I haven't thought of that. SO......

During one of my most recent Goodwill adventures, I found some GREAT spoons! 8 for 99 cents. What?!?!
and, then.......sad face......i took a closer look once I had already made the purchase and sealed the deal.

Whoopsie. Really?? United...like, the airline??? Have you ever seen a real spoon during a flight? Not me! Dilemma. But nothing that some seed beads and ribbon/lace can't fix.


Speaking of sugar....my sugar bowl got a little makeover a couple of weeks ago. I happen to love it, too! :)

We're breaking up...I hope

I have a love/hate relationship with my Cricut.

I love that I can do a lot with it (scrapbook, vinyl, paper crafts, etc.)

What I don't love is that cartridges are so stinkin' expensive! I almost peed my pants the day I found one at Goodwill for 5 bucks. And....do you know that I bought one for $35 (plus shipping!) just for my son's birthday party decorations?!?!? Haven't used it a single time since!

I'd like to break up with my Cricut and focus on a new friend: The Silhouette.

One of the Blogs I follow is 'Keeping it Simple' and I love it. Kaysi (great name, right? :) announced that she has a GIVEAWAY for The Silhouette!

I entered, so you go there and enter, too! I'll give you the link, you do the rest! Good luck! I'll only stay mad at you for a little while if you win, instead of me. BUT, I'll let you use it sometimes if I win! :)

Somethin' Special

I've been on a craftin' rampage this weekend. So many ideas!

I've recently fallen in L-O-V-E with finding deals and bargains and treasures at antique shops, Goodwill, and other resale shops. I found a SUPER cool frame (plastic...whatever!) at Goodwill for 39 cents and had my heart set on an earring holder, like ones I've been seeing in blogland. HOWEVER, creativity struck and I found an alternate use for it that I think is pretty stinkin' cute!


I love it!~

Pay no mind to my poor, poor berry wreath that I've had for 10 years (10 YEARS!). Touching up those faded berries needs to be higher on my list.

The heart says "YOU ARE SPECIAL" and it was attached to a Bath and Body Works gift set that I got when I was a freshman in high school.... Yep...back in the "Sun Ripened Raspberry" days!

Umm...wondering if it's more of a problem that I hold on to things for so long or that I can remember the exact moment I got them?!?

Anyway, here's a close-up!


I think I'd be happy to walk in to a home that reminded me just how special I am! :)

Quotes of the year

While out "junking" today, my friend Lacey and I scored some pretty sweet deals at a local resale shop. Our grand total combined?? $3!!!

Last week, a super special friend of mine (Rachael Edge Kiker!) came over to visit. She wanted to see my new crib, so I showed her around. She commented on a really sweet mirror I have that I found at Hobby Lobby. The original price - - - - $99.99. My price? $9.99! I kept the tags on because I was so proud of that bargain.

Rach said "Some people need drugs, I just need a good bargain!"

And later, Lacey and I were talking about "junk" and she said... "My craft mantra: It's cheaper than therapy!"

Amen. And amen.

Therefore, I'd like to officially declare these as the best quotes of 2011! :)

P.s. Go see Lacey's great site - - here! She's got your card needs covered...and they'll be the cutest things you've ever seen!

Pour a little sugar on it, honey!

Know what I love?? Sugar scrub. I like to call it "sugah scrub". Way more southern. Way more fun to say.

Know what I don't love about sugar scrub?? Sometimes I like to use sugar scrub by the kitchen sink, since a lot of my hand washing happens there. I've purchased some great ones, and even made some great ones with a recipe I googled, and they have left my skin feelin' smoothy smooth. BUT....I really am not too crazy about my kitchen sink being oily or super highly fragranced by those scrubs. Know what I mean??

Here comes the latest great idea: (pretty sure I'm the last person on the planet to try this, but maybe it'll come in handy to bloggy friends, too) I'm super excited about this because I'll be sugar scrubbing at the sink all the time, now!


What you'll need:
Mason jars
Sugar
and DAWN "Hand Renewal with Olay Beauty" dishsoap. That's right. DISHSOAP!

I used the Pomegranate Splash HOWEVER, one of my favorite-avorite smells eeever is Lavender. And there is a Lavender scent of this dishsoap, too! Yay!

Fill the jars up about 3/4 full or so with sugar, top with dishsoap, and stir with a butter knife.

Note: Don't ask how I know this, but DO NOT TRY TO STIR WITH A SPOON! Hot mess!

Mine's plain jain sitting on my cabinet, which suits me fine because I'm a huge fan of mason jars, but if you're gifting, I'll lead you in the direction of some cute-sy ways to decorate them - - click the link below!

Might I recommend this site to you!?!? The Gaines Gang Super cute blog. Follow her while you're there. Annnd.....I didn't bother with any pictures because she has the best pics of the process there. Go! Follow! Do it!

Just can't wait....

To show you my "Very Homemade Christmas" post! It's gonna be a good one! Coop and I have "moved on up" to a precious little rent house. LOTS more room to stretch out. And even better, lots of room to decoraatteeee!!!!!

In the meantime, prayers would be appreciated. School's out Friday. Kids are insane already today (Wednesday). They were insane a week ago. There's not enough Ibuprofen in the world to deal with crazed, hormonal, no-Santa fearin' 6th graders.

I love what I do. Really. I mostly love it for a week in March, the months of June and July, and 2 weeks in December. Haha, kidding, kidding. Sort of.

I got this e-mail today and got a kick out of it. Sing it, too, even if you're not a teacher. Don't forget your East Texas 'twang'!!!



(to the tune of "Walking' in a Winter Wonderland")


Children scream, they won't lis-in'.

When they go, we won't miss 'em'.

In all of this pain, we try to stay sane,

Workin' in an element'ry school.



Christmas comes, they're excited,

Though our nerves, they've ignited.

They're off of the walls, they run in the halls,

Workin' in an element'ry school.



In the lunchroom we can hear them yellin'

And we know that they are really wound.

Someone hits the other, says "I'm telling"

And that is when our heads begin to pound.



Pretty soon, we'll be restin'

Cause our nerves, they've been testin'

We're happy it's clear.

It comes once a year.

Christmas in an element'ry school!


--Casey

Give THANKS!

What a pretty little idea! I can think of a hundred things I'd like to pin on that little string!






Why didn't I think of that??

BTW.......toooootaaaaaaallllllllly stole this idea from www.thecraftingchicks.com

Check THIS out.

Want to get your mind BLOWN?? Go to www.mycreativestirrings.blogspot.com and prepare to be there for at least an hour. :)

Local friends, this is Thomas Orsak's wife's blog. She has lots and lots and lots of fun ideas!

Pretty Poppies!

I've become quite the pyromaniac with this one... SO fun to make and if I had it my way, I'd surely make this pretty little flower a daily, mandatory, fashion necessity.

Here's how!

1. Cut fabric into various sizes of circles. (You'll need 7 to 10 of them) The more random the better, and the more circles you cut, the fluffier the flower!
2. Next, burn (yes burn!) the edges of the circles. I've found that a candle is the most efficient way. NOTE: Fabric is EXTREMELY flammable! Keep a cup of water handy in case you get a blazer. lol The petals will look like this:They'll fluff up like the pic above!

3. Once all of the edges of your circles have been burned, you now have petals! Stack them on top of each other with a little dab of hot glue between each one.

4. Now, add whatever you want to the middle. A pretty pearl, an old broach, jewels, buttons, whatever you'd like!

5. Hot glue a piece of felt to the back to help with stability. Your pin can be glued to the felt.

6. Snaz up your favorite denim jacket....or purse....or shirt...or skirt....or necklace with one of these things!

I made a red one, too....and I couldn't decide if I wanted it to be a hair clip or pin, so I glued a pin and a hair clip and made them both!
just in case....save yourself the trouble and don't try to do this with sild! Doesn't work. Just regular ol' fabric works.

Also, can not remember where this idea came from. It's not my own idea. If I remember, I'll add the site!

The easiest thing you will EVER make. Promise.

While walking through a shop called Hearts and Hands in Katy, TX during my brief stint there a few years ago, I saw this idea and immediately knew it would be one I'd be trying for myself. It is the perfect gift for a teacher...or a mommy...or a secretary....or a ....well, you get the point.

It's quick, it's easy, it's handy, and it's CHEAP! It's......a.......Post-it note holder!!!!!!

Take a cheap-o plastic 4x6 frame, a little pretty paper to slip inside, some ribbon( if you please), and a post-it note pad, and you've got yourself a handy little spot for all of your note-taking needs. Sometimes I feel like I couldn't survive without post-its!

Here's what it looks like from the side:

Another variation:
And some more paper ready to be put to work:

Here are some tips: Don't go the super cheap route like I did and purchase your frames at a "Dollar Store". They are pretty flimsy and "bow" a little when you write on them. Hobby Lobby's are the best I've found ($1.99) and are much sturdier than the others. Also, even the "super sticky" post-its aren't quite sticky enough to stay "stuck" to the frame. A little hot glue works great to keep them secure.

I dazzled mine up a little bit with the help of my Cricut machine (couldn't live without it) but if you don't have one, stickers would work great.

There are some fun post-it note colors these days. Right now, at Wal-Mart, individual packs are just $1!

Easy Peasy! Why didn't I think of that?

Funky Chunky Recycled Crayons!!!

I don't have the "million broken crayons" problem yet, but it certainly isn't too far away. I did, however, encounter a "million broken crayons" issue when I moved into my new classroom a couple of weeks ago. I threw A LOT of things away, but couldn't bring myself to throw away those crayons. I was on a mission to find a good solution and then I remembered that several months ago, I came across a GREAT idea to solve the problem.

The site: www.makeandtakes.com/recycled-chunky-crayons (gotta give credit where credit is due! :) ) I haven't attempted it YET, but am definitely planning on it. All photos came straight from the site. (Illegal, maybe?) I'm feeling rebellious... haha!

I think you'll LOVE this!

Before you start the fun stuff, preheat your oven to 275 degrees.

FIRST, take all of the paper off of the crayons and break them into small pieces.

THEN, spray a mini (or regular) muffin tin with vegetable spray.

NEXT, place crayons into each spot in the tin, like this:

Place them in the oven for 7-8 minutes. They'll look a little like this when you do:
Want swirly crayons? Grab a toothpick and swirl 'em around before they cool!

Let them cool completely before you pop 'em out of the muffin tin.

Looky looky!!
Those look like WAY more fun than the real things. And I just think they are PERFECT for little chubby clumsy toddler hands.

Here are some other ideas: Melt crayon bits in small paper cups in the microwave for about 4-6 minutes and pour them into ice trays....or candy molds....or decorative ice molds!

I have a star ice tray somewhere that I'm dying to find so that I can give this a shot!!!

What a great idea!!! Why didn't I think of that? :)

p.s....already working on the next idea! The easiest thing you'll ever make - - - PROMISE!

Here goes nothin'....

I copy ideas.

There, I said it.

I copy ideas a LOT!

Now that THAT'S out of the way, welcome to my new little blog getaway. A work in progress for now, but an idea I dreamed up a couple of days ago while fighting a little insomnia. I do my best thinking when I'm trying NOT to think.

There are MILLIONS of blogs out there with great ideas. BILLIONS of websites, too. I find good ideas all the time and just copy away! This blog, I hope, will be a collection of those great ideas. Sometimes I'll post a pic of someone else's great idea, sometimes I'll post a pic of my own take of someone else's great idea, and sometimes, if I'm feeling productive...:) I'll even post a tutorial!

I'm excited about this. And maybe it's because it's reallllly late and I'm reallllly delirious, but excited. I'm never one to shy away from a chance to be creative!!!