Wednesday, January 30, 2013

LINK IT UP THURSDAY #55

Happy times it's PARTY DAY! I'm so glad you have come back to join in the fun. We've had a pretty full week, full of epic fails and happy successes. For those of you who missed it on Facebook I thought I would share a photo of the Epic Cookie Fail.

Yes, it's an ice cube tray. Yes, it said it was silicone. No, it didn't say I could cook in it. It was totally my own stupidity that it melted. I have other BAKING silicone that I love. So just a warning, make sure you are cooking with baking silicone!

I even got a whiter smile this week and get to give away the same at home teeth whitening system to one of you. You can enter the giveaway here.

Life on Lakeshore Drive ~ DIY Valinites Day Felt Rose Topiary

Tales of the Scotts ~ Valentines Day Bunting

Just Us Four ~ Countdown to Valentines Day

Semi Homemade Mom ~ Pesto Hoagie Melts

Our most viewed link of last week was:

One Dog Woof ~ End of Winter Double Strand Infinity Cowl {free pattern}

Y'all are AMAZING go ahead and grab yourself a Featured Button!

I want to see everything you have to link up! Old projects, new posts, giveaways, recipes, crocheting, any and everything. If you have more than one thing to link up, even better. Here are the very simple rules.

1. Please keep it family friendly.

2. Please link back or grab a button so others can share in the fun.

3. Following would be nice. (but don't feel you have to)

4. Have fun, be inspired. Try to visit the 2 links ahead of you.

If you would like an e-mail reminder about the party let me know in the comments. Make sure you leave your e-mail address with your comment. I will happily add you to the list.

Long Distance Valentine's Hug

This year while I'm kind of going overboard with all the Valentine's Day stuff, I figured I might as well go all the way.

We live a long way from my Mom and Dad. The kiddos and I miss them all the time. So we thought it was time to make a special Valentine's for them.

This is very easy. Get a very long roll of white craft paper or butcher paper.

Then going from the oldest to the youngest have the kids lay down on the paper and stretch out their arms. Using a pencil or pen trace around each child. I would suggest using a different colored pen or pencil for each outline. I didn't do that but I think it would make it much easier to see each "child".

Then trace each of their hands and have the ones that can, write their names in them. Of course we had to add in the hands of various toys. {it was the only way to get Lotte Lou involved}

The kids had a really good time. They chose the saying we wrote out in glitter foam letter stickers.

It was so much fun and Mom and Dad really liked their package and long distance hug.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Conversation Heart, Yarn Wrapped Wreath

I love conversation hearts! They were always my favorite Valentines Day candy growing up. Ok... they still are my favorite Valentines day candy. Lately there have been so many cute crafts with conversation hearts. Two of my favorites can be found here and here made out of polymer clay by Happy Hour Projects.

Of course I had to make something myself using conversation hearts, and a few of my other favorite crafting supplies. And because I didn't get around to making a Christmas Wreath this year, a wreath was what came to mind first.

I am reusing the same wreath form that I have used for all my wreaths. I have a tutorial on how to wrap your wreath in yarn here. It's pretty easy, it just takes some time. The yarn I used this time is called Airy by Yarn Bee. It worked really well for covering my wreath form. I did my my layer of yarn pretty thick because I wanted it to look nice and fluffy.

For my conversation hearts I used a heart shaped paper punch to cut hearts out of bright solid colored card stock. I then took basic uppercase letter stamps to write the messages on my hearts in red ink.

I wrapped the bakers twine around my wreath then taped the hearts on. Lastly I added the washi tape pennants to the twine.

After I added the bakers twine and got everything on it. I made some fabric flowers. They are easy to make.

You take 11/2 inch fabric rounds, and fold them in half and then in half again making a small triangle. Securing it together with hot glue. You make 4 of these out of each of your fabric choices. After that you glue 4 on the extra round and then another layer of 4, I alternated mine so you could see both fabrics.

It looks like this after you have glued on all your triangles.

Then take a medium sized colored brad and push it through the layers, and flatten it on the back.

Then attach them to the finished wreath with hot glue.

I think it's my favorite wreath so far! Do you make a Valentines day wreath?

Monday, January 28, 2013

Smile Brilliant LED Teeth Whitening System Review and Giveaway

I have a little secret... I don't like my yellow teeth. In fact I tend to not smile big in photos so you can't see my teeth. So, I was very excited to try out the Smile Brilliant LED Teeth Whitening System.

This system worked amazingly well for me. I love, love how much whiter my teeth look, and how clean they feel. I used my system for a little over a week, for 20 - 30 minutes at a time. The mouth guard fit comfortably in my mouth. While I did have some sensitivity after using the system for a few days {which is normal with any whitening system} it wasn't as bad as I had expected it to be, and is now gone.

I especially liked how easy it was to use. The whitening gel is easy to paint on your teeth and the trays keep the gel off your lips. The blue LED light intensifies the gel so it works faster and better than other home systems.

I'm extra excited that I get to give this same system away to one very lucky reader. However if you don't want to wait to see if you win your own Smile Brilliant system I have a discount code for you, just type SMILE20 at checkout and it will knock off 20%. Of course they have other at home teeth whitening systems. That the discount will work on as well.

So how about you? Are you ready to win your own at home teeth whitening system? I think you will love it just as much as I do! This giveaway is open to Canada and the USA {yay for our Canadian friends}.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, January 25, 2013

DIY Towel Hangers

I don't like picking up wet towels off the floor. How about you? No? I didn't think so. My oldest two are pretty good at hanging up their towels or putting them in the basket. However the younger three have a hard time remembering. Mostly because they are too short to reach the towel hooks. (they hang on the back of the door) part of the problem is that we don't have much room. Wall space is limited, and anything I like costs much more than I want to spend.

So it was time to think outside the box a little. I remembered I had some large fabric covered buttons from Whole Port.

So I got out my pliers and snipped off the hank on the back. These are plastic on the buttons I have, they may be a little harder if your button backs are metal.

After I got the hank off and the back as smooth as I could. I filled the small hole left with E6000 glue, you want to use something stronger than hot glue for this, super glue, gorilla glue, or another type of epoxy will work best.

After I filled the in the hole with my glue. I nailed a finishing nail into the spot I wanted the towel hanger, leave the nail out from the surface so the towel will hang easier. I chose to put mine on the back of our bathroom door, however I know this isn't going to be ideal for everyone.

I let the glue dry for a few minutes so that it was just starting to become tacky and them stuck it on the nail. I chose the finishing nails because the head of them fit perfectly in the little hole left after clipping the hank off.

Because they are tacky they shouldn't move to much while they cure. You want to let them cure for at least 24 hours before hanging any thing on them.

I only had one Minny Mouse but I think she looks cute up there with all her brothers.

They work out great and are at the right height for the kids to hang up their own towels. Now if they will just remember to do it.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

LINK IT UP THURSDAY #54

I glad to see you all back for another party day! We have been getting really excited for Valentines here. Still really early but hey that's okay. I do have a great giveaway going on you can enter here.

I also get to announce the winner from last weeks book giveaway.

Winner Comment # 34

Hannah

Congrats Hannah, I have e-mailed you with the information to collect your prize.

We had the most link ups ever last week! Thank you all so much for stopping by and partying with us. It's so great to see all of your wonderful projects and get inspiration from you.

To celebrate we have a extra features this week. YAY!

Here are a few BELLES of the ball from last weeks party.

24 Cottonwood Lane ~ Super Cheap and Easy Art for Nursery (you have to go see how she made these)

Happy Hour Projects ~ Conversation Hear Charms

One Dog Woof ~ Flower Coasters Pattern

Pinkie For Pink ~ Valentine's Day Decor

Petals to Picots Crochet ~ Grandma Jennie's Snowflake Pattern-Part 2

Our most viewed link from last weeks party was:

A Proverbs 31 Wife ~ Have Fun Together

Y'all are AMAZING go ahead and grab yourself a Featured Button!

1. Please keep it family friendly.

2. Please link back or grab a button so others can share in the fun.

3. Following would be nice. (but don't feel you have to)

3 Easy Semi-Homemade Valentines Day Cards

For some reason this year I thought it would be fun to make all of our Valentines Day cards. You remember that I have 5 kids right? Yeah, like I said I don't know what I was thinking. At least my 13 year old doesn't want any. He's way to cool for that, and luckily doesn't have a girlfriend. That still leaves over 50 cards to make, so we are going with a semi- homemade approach that the kiddos can help me with. We came up with 3 different cards for some variation.

It all started with these heart shaped cutouts I found at Hobby Lobby.

Card #1 ~ I only have eyes for you.

We made these really easy by using the super fun wiggly eyes sent to us from Craftprojectideas.com (thank you), and double sided foam mounting dots to stick them on the card. They were mess free and the eyes stick up off the card a little.

Card #2 ~ You make my heart beep.

Hobby Lobby also had these really cute robot stickers. It's so easy to just stick a couple on the heart cut out and your done.

Card #3 ~ I'm stuck on you. I'm sweet on you.

Taking a small paper punch make two holes in your heart cut out. Weave the stick of your sucker through the holes. Easy peasy!

They were easy, quick and the kids LOVE that they made their own cards.They are pretty cost effective too. The heart cut outs were on sale $1 for a package of 30. The suckers were the most expensive thing at $4 for 50. Total cost $3 per class, not bad.

How about you and your kiddies, are you making Valentines Day cards this year?

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Etched...Upon My Heart Review and Giveaway

I'm so excited to be able to bring to you another book review. I LOVE to read especially when it is an uplifting book that I can learn something from. Etched... Upon My Heart is just that kind of book.

This is the heartfelt journey of author Jill Kelly, to teach her daughters how to recognize God's grace in life. While this book is written from a Christan mother's point of view I think it would be wonderful for any parent of any religious persuasion.

Jill, wife to football player Jim Kelly, shares some of her most raw, life changing moments in her life. She shares several of her own missteps in life. I really like that she doesn't try to paint a picture of herself as being perfect. It is a very honest look at the road she took in finding God's plan for her. This look into her life includes the death of your young son, and the pain in watching him battle the horrible terminal disease that took his life. As a mother it is so heart wrenching to contemplate the loss of a child. The loss of a child alone could be enough to turn you into a bitter, unhappy person. Jill shows grace and understanding after so much pain. This is a beautifully written book that is ultimately full of hope, and forgiveness.

About the Author: Jill Kelly is the wife of former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly. In September 1997, months after their infant son, Hunter, was diagnosed with a fatal disease called Krabbe Leukodustrophy, Jim and Jill founded the Hunter’s Hope Foundation. As chairman of the board of Hunter’s Hope, Jill helps children suffering from Leukodystrophy, and their families by raising awareness and research funds to fight this devastating disease. She and Jim live in Buffalo, NY, with their two daughters and three dogs. Hunter’s Hope Foundation can be found online at www.HuntersHope.org. Jill is also the author of Without A Word.

I am excited to be able to give a copy of this book away. All you have to do to enter the giveaway is to leave a comment on this post. Please leave your e-mail address in your comment so I have a way to contact you if you win. Giveaway is open to U.S.A and Canada, and will close on 1-29 at midnight. Winner will be announced on 1-30. Good luck to you all.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Layered Chain Crocheted Cowlette Pattern

I have been wanting to write up a pattern for this cowlette since before Christmas. Like happens often in my life I ran out of time. Now that things have slowed down again got to hooking and got the pattern figured out. I even added a little Valentine day flare, if your into that sort of thing.

Of course you don't have to add the heart and can ware it plain.

With the thick part either to the side or the back of your neck. It is reminiscent of having layers of necklaces together. Only this one will keep you warm while looking good.

Materials Needed:

LAYERED CHAIN COWLETTE

Super Bulky weight yarn. I used Santa Fe Tweed in Hometown USA from Lion Brand.

Contrasting bulky yarn for heart. I used Rhubarb (roving) in Martha Stewarts Crafts from Lion Brand.

Size N hook

large needle

The Pattern:

Chain 50, without twisting the chain join to first chain by slip stitch. This will create your loop.

Row 1-10, Single crochet in the next 10 stitches. *Chain 40 with out twisting join in the first single crochet with a single crochet, single crochet in the remaining 9 stitches* repeat from *. Tie off and weave in ends.

With contrasting yarn make your heart using the simple pattern here. I added an extra row of single crochet around the heart to make it larger. Attach to the single crochets on the cowlette using a large needle.

If you are new to crochet this would be a perfect project to start with. The count doesn't have to be perfect and if you get a chain twisted it doesn't matter.

It will be great for spring being that it isn't to heavy but will keep you warm. I hope you enjoy the pattern.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

LINK IT UP THURSDAY #53

Hello, hello! I'm so glad you have joined me for another PARTY day!

Thanks so much for all the sweet Anniversary wishes at last weeks party. We had a great night away!
I even started to decorate for Valentines day. I know it's a little early, what can I say?

I was really excited to see how many link ups we had last week and SO many great projects! Y'all make it hard for a girl to pick a few to show off.

Here are a few BELLES of the ball from last weeks party.

Repeat Crafter Me ~ Monster Push Up Valentines