Creative Juices

Check out our Valentine's Day ideas

2012-02-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

For these ideas, and much more, CLICK HERE!!!!

(decor ideas, party ideas, printables)

Decor Ideas

2012-01-20T13:02:00.001-07:00

This is My Entryway. I love Black & Turquoise Combos. I chose the Bluebird theme because of my Dad who loved Bluebirds. He actually made the bluebird sitting in the window. I cherish this room because it reminds me of him.

For these Chargers on the wall, I actually bought silver chargers at Dollar Tree, spray painted them and then added vinyl and distressed.

This is my wreath. My sister in law made me a Christmas wreath like this and I was so sad to take it down. I decide to make the "Everyday Version" of it for my Entryway. All supplies came from Hobby Lobby. The wreath is spray painted white and then spray painted with clear glitter.

rain gutter- book shelves

2012-01-19T22:55:00.002-07:00

My latest project has been making some cute shelves from rain gutters. I got the idea on Pinterest. I bought a 10 foot rain gutter for less than $6 at Lowes.

I cut it with a big pair of pruners. It cut right through nicely. (Its a little tricky cutting in the 'dip') You can also sand any rough edges.

Then I spray painted them lime green, and once completely dried, I hung them up by drilling little holes in each (2 for small, 3 for big gutter) and used small screws to hang up. I also sanded a few spots to distress them a little. I don't think they would hold a whole lot of weight, but I did want at least 3 books on each. At first the books sat too low and you couldn't see the titles enough, so I put 2 wooden toy blocks under each to pop them up a little. Styrofoam would work nicely if you had the right size.

My 3 year old son LOVES his reading corner.

Muvazi

2012-01-13T23:45:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to tell you guys about this new anti aging skin care product I have found and LOVE.

It's called Muvazi.

I've been using it for about a month now and already noticed results. Nothing better right?

Here's what I've noticed:

Improved skin tone. I get yucky sun spots in the summer and from pregnancy and those have started to fade and lighten. So happy!

Fewer eye wrinkles. Ok, so I'm not that old but I'm in my early thirties and definitely have some lines. The funny thing is I've never used a cream that was specifically for eyes before. When you apply this around your eyes, there is a really nice warming sensation that you can tell is getting deep into your skin. Feels SO nice. {A couple friends who have used it also said their eyelashes have grown. I just barely tried applying it to my eyelashes too. Can't wait to see what happens}.

Plus the stuff is still not even 1/4 gone. It will seriously last me another month and a half if not two.

I'm so happy to have found something that I love and I know is helping my skin. I do NOT want to hit 40 someday and be furious that I didn't take better care of my skin.

I'm tired of the drugstore products I usually use that hardly work and who knows what all those chemicals do. Blah

Did I mention Muvazi is completely natural? Their website {here}will tell you in more detail...

SO...this product retails for $149.00 but through Creative Juices you can get a great discount.

Just go to their website {click here} and use coupon code CJ12 at checkout. That will bring the price down to $69.95. {Yay!} Plus FREE SHIPPING!

You can also LIKE them on Facebook {just search Muvazi} and they do giveaways and fun stuff.

Try it out! You'll be happy you did.

Chalkboard Gift Tags & Bookmarks

2011-12-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

These Gift Tags & Bookmarks were so fun to make. My kids did all the work. They love giving these to their friends and they are so cute for a teacher gift too!

All you need is Chalkboard Paint, Paintbrushes and Cardboard. (We used a cut up cereal box) Cut the cardboard into bookmark or gift tag shapes and paint on the chalkboard paint. Might take a few coats. Let dry. Make a whole bunch at once and use throughout the year! You could even make Cards and write "Thank you" , "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Birthday" etc. You get the idea....

Gift Ideas

2011-12-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

These are two Gift Ideas I'm Using this Year.

#1 The Personalized Grandparent Plate. Perfect for any Grandparent.

ORDER this HERE.

#2- Gift for Anyone. Just convo the address and the Latitude and Longitude will be put on this plate as well as the Last Name & Established Date. So Cool.

ORDER this HERE

Magic Reindeer Food

2011-12-05T15:12:00.001-07:00

My 3 year old had a blast making these Reindeer food bags to give to his friends. We used oatmeal, sprinkles, and glitter. I saw this idea on Our Best Bites. For the label, I typed up the poem and printed it as a photo 5x7 and folded in half and stapled it to the bags. The other side of label says "To:" and "From:"

magnet board

2011-11-16T17:07:00.000-07:00

Using two rectangular metal sheets put together, I made a fun magnet board for a small hallway. The magnets are buttons from Hobby Lobby that I stuck magnets to. This project was fun and easy. The vinyl above is from Vinyl Touches.

25 Ways to Wear a Scarf Video

2011-11-14T21:54:00.000-07:00

Click Here to Watch a Fun Video on 25 Ways to Wear a Scarf. . .

Thanksgiving Pumpkins

2011-11-01T22:52:00.001-07:00

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Vinyl. You can buy it HERE
or HERE

pumpkin soup bowls

2011-10-25T14:04:00.002-07:00

Just wanted to share one of our favorite Halloween/Fall traditions. Pumpkin Soup Bowls. You can get them at most grocery stores that carry Associated Foods. Or I am sure you could make them with food coloring, I just buy them at our Lee's or Macey's. They are fun and yummy.

Chore Chart

2011-10-06T12:32:00.000-07:00

This is our much needed chore chart. To make this I took pics of all the chores my kids regularly do. Using Picasa I wrote the name of the chore on the pic and printed 6 pics onto a 4x6 pic so each was a small square. I cut them out and glued them to small tiles and glued magnets on the back. Each time they get 5 Magnets they earn a Fake Dollar which can be used for a treat or saved for something bigger. If they are naughty, thye lose a magnet. It works great.

Halloween Pumpkin Vinyl

2011-09-23T15:08:00.002-07:00

These Vinyl Stickers for Pumpkins are a hit. You can arrange them any way you want. My favorite are the Polka Dots. Get the Vinyl Here.

Dinosaur party

2011-09-20T22:55:00.004-07:00

My sister-in-law, Nichole, made these yummy foods for her son's dinosaur birthday party. So cute and a big hit!

Diaper Cake

2011-09-13T10:23:00.002-07:00

Make an easy diaper cake for the perfect baby gift. You only need one package of diapers. Any size is fine, I used size 2 so they could enjoy the cake for a little longer.

Simply roll each diaper and put a clear small elastic hair band around each to hold
Tie ribbon around each tier to hold in place (tie it tight)
Stack them on top of each other
Add a flower on top and stick small lotion, shampoo, binkie, onesie, washcloths etc. throughout

Back to School

2011-09-06T12:16:00.002-07:00

Took these pictures of my two boys with this old bus. They thought it was super cool because they don't actually get to ride a bus to school {we live too close}.

However you capture your child's back to school year, the important part is that you make it fun and memorable.

We hope you have a fabulous school year!

Tami's latest creation

2011-09-01T11:03:00.000-07:00

Meet Trey Kacey, Tami's newest creation

6lbs 5oz.

Congratulations Tami, he is so adorable!

Love, Julie & Kelli

Car Seat Canopy with Window

2011-08-29T08:37:00.005-07:00

I am having my baby in just a few days. I finally got up some energy and made a new
Car Seat Canopy.
I found the idea to make a peep hole HERE. I sewed clear plastic in mine instead of leaving it empty. It turned out better than I ever thought. I really love it.

Live What You Love Vinyl

2011-08-25T20:23:00.003-07:00

Hey Everyone, as you know it was a rough, heartbreaking summer for our family with the loss of our sweet brother, Kacey. I also lost my nine year old nephew Dylan to an illness. Enough already. I am finally trying to be creative again to keep my mind busy and happy. :) This is my newest Vinyl Decal. If you would like one, you can get one HERE.

We will be making more posts soon I promise.

our Brother

2011-07-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

On July 18th, we lost our big brother, Kacey in an airplane accident. He left behind a wonderful wife and adorable kids. Click here for an online auction to benefit his wife and kids. 100% of proceeds go to them. There are some really fun items to bid on.

Words cannot express how much we love and miss you Kacey.

Julie, Tami, and Kelli

Radley's Root Beer Party

2011-07-11T15:28:00.008-07:00

So, this year as we were trying to think of a theme for my son's 3rd birthday, I kept thinking "Root Beer." It is afterall his FAVORITE drink ever and he's been asking waitresses for it since he was one. With Root Beer at the back of our minds, we kept finding Root Beer things, like taffies, jelly bellies, barrels, and more, so before we knew it, we had enough Root Beer paraphernalia to have a party. :)

For his '3' shirt, I bought the blue shirt and fabric at Hobby Lobby. I cut out a three and hand sewed it on. The total cost of the shirt was about $3.50.

We had a great turnout and ended up having the party at a park. We had pulled pork with Root Beer bbq sauce. (it is made by A&W and I found it at Lee's Marketplace)

This is the 'Root Beer Smorgasbord' table. I got these root beer mugs at Hobby Lobby and filled them with Root Beer float taffies, root beer dum dum suckers, root beer jelly bellies, root beer barrels, and gummy soda pop candies, which are actually coca cola. (shhh...) The kiddos had fun filling up a little treat sack to take home.

We also sent the kids home with their own glass Root Beer bottle. I labled them "Radley's famous Root Beer" and tied a tag to each saying "Thanks for Celebrating with me! Radley" I taped an old fashioned paper straw to each. I ordered the straws here. (they deliver super fast)!

Don't ask me where this came from, but my dad had it, and was sweet to let us borrow it. We filled it with ice and put the glass bottles of IBC Root Beer in it. It was the perfect touch!

Here are the Root Beer float cupcakes. They were the easiest cupcakes I have ever made. The birthday boy even got to help and he's only 3.

I got the recipe for these EASY cupcakes here.

The three items above are ALL that you need for the cake. Your kitchen will smell like a yummy soda shoppe. I also tried French Vanilla cake mix and it works too. I liked this one better because it is super moist. I just used Betty Crocker's vanilla icing, and then stuck a soda straw cut in fourths in each one.

(The best part about cooking with soda and not eggs and oil is that your cupcake liners don't get all greasy and ugly. They stay colorful.)

The cake is the same recipe, and I put root beer barrels around the outside. They did start to melt and get gooey. :)

It was a BEAUTIFUL, hot, July 9th, summer day in Utah. My biggest concern was if we should move the tables a little more into the shade so it wasn't too hot. Thats when I heard the thunder. No sooner had we heard the thunder, there was a big dark cloud hanging over us. It was exactly 6pm, time to start the party. Thankfully, I listened to my husband, and we moved everything under a pavillion that had just become vacant. And then, it hit.... the BIGGEST rain storm I've ever been in. It was raining SO hard and blowing so hard. Even under the pavillion, we got wet. My husband quoted Forest Gump and said, "It was raining sideways, and the rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath."

At first, the birthday boy was nervous and just clung to me.....

but then, the puddles were ALL worth it.

The party was perfect, even if we were wet, the party banner blew away, and the Root Beer bottle favors got all wet. It was a very memorable party, we were with our family and friends, and my baby turned THREE! The only thing that could have made it better, was if it had rained ROOT BEER.

Water Balloon Flip Flops

2011-07-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

This is a craft my daughter did with her Grammy this summer. They took a pair of flip flops and then single tied several bright water balloons from Dollar Tree onto them. My daughter was able to tie them by herself and loves wearing them. Super Cute.

how sweet it is

2011-07-05T14:47:00.001-07:00

I am super excited to share my latest favest recipe website. This girl is a talented cook and writer- you can tell by how well she captivates you in her posts. Her recipes are too yummy not to make. Click here to check out How Sweet It Is.

Father's Day poem

2011-06-19T14:19:00.000-07:00

Dad’s Hands

Bedtime came, we were settling down,

I was holding on to my dad.

As I grasped him so tight, I saw a strange sight:

My hands. . .they looked like my dad's!

I remember them well, those old gnarled hooks,

there was always a cracked nail or two.

And thanks to a hammer that strayed from its mark,

his thumb was a beautiful blue!

They were rough, I remember, incredibly tough,

as strong as a carpenter's vice.

But holding a scared little boy at night,

they seemed to me awfully nice!

The sight of those hands - how impressive it was

in the eyes of his little boy.

Other dads' hands were cleaner, it seemed

(the effects of their office employ).

I gave little thought in my formative years

of the reason for Dad's raspy mitts:

The love in the toil, the dirt and the oil,

rusty plumbing that gave those hands fits!

Thinking back, misty-eyed, and thinking ahead,

when one day my time is done.

The torch of love in my own wrinkled hands

will pass on to the hands of my son.

I don't mind the bruises, the scars here and there

or the hammer that just seemed to slip.

I want most of all when my son takes my hand,

to feel that love lies in the grip.

We Need S'more Dads Like You!

2011-06-16T13:39:00.001-07:00

Just like the teacher idea, Here is one for Father's Day.

They are easy and Kids can help too.

I put in a clear cellophane bag:

4 Marshmallows

8 Graham Cracker Halves

4 Mini Hershey Bars

2 Skewer Sticks

Tea Light

Then I printed off the label and Directions as a 4X6 Photo. I folded it over the top and stapled and put it in a cute Target $1 Tin. Also cute without the tin. Choose Between We need more Dads, Papas, or Grandpas below.

Click below to Enlarge and Download. Either Print it off or Upload to Walgreens or a Photo Place to be printed as a Photo.

paper blossoms

2011-06-02T15:32:00.001-07:00

Why not bring the blossoms inside? I just LOVE these adorable handmade paper cherry blossoms by Martha Stewart. See the tutorial here.

Also, these paper dogwood flowers are so cute. Find this Martha Stewart tutorial here.

Teacher Gifts!

2011-05-23T11:50:00.003-07:00

If you're like me, you are frantically in need of a teacher gift this week. I researched online for a few ideas and then put this together. It is a S'more Kit for your favorite teacher with the title WE NEED S'MORE TEACHERS LIKE YOU!

I put in a clear cellophane bag:

4 Marshmallows

8 Graham Cracker Halves

4 Mini Hershey Bars

2 Skewer Sticks

Tea Light

Then I printed off the label and Directions as a 4X6 Photo and had it printed. Then I folded it over the top and stapled and put it in a cute Target $1 Tin. I also made other versions for coaches "We need S'more coaches like you, Fathers Day, "We need S'more Grandpas like you", "We need S'more Dads like you"....you get the idea...I made a few different labels so you can use these as any gift.

Click below to Enlarge and Upload. Either Print off or Upload to Walgreens or a Photo Place to be printed as a Photo.

Kid Food Inspiration

2011-05-20T16:25:00.002-07:00

I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for ways to get my kids to eat healthier. I love the KRAFT FOODS website and I picked up some inspiration from them.

This is what I've learned-escpecially with BOYS: They will eat anything better if it's on a skewer...aka "a sword." I've done tomatoes and cheese, fruit, and even chicken or fish nuggets like the picture.

Try it. They will love the sense of adventure it brings!

Personalized Binky

2011-05-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

This is the Binky I made for my newest little nephew, Graham. Of course a binky has to be personalized right?

If you would like your own vinyl to put on a binky, you can e-mail me at Tamiroxie@hotmail.com. I can make 3 names for $6.

flower pot

2011-05-09T10:52:00.002-07:00

First of all, I am sorry I didn't get this posted sooner, but I didn't get them done until Saturday night. But, you could use this idea for a birthday gift or spring project. I gave these to the mothers/grandmas for Mother's day with grandchildren's photos in the middle.

FLOWERS were cut out using Sizzix

Photos were cut out using circle Sizzix

They are attached with tape to the back of large and small skewer sticks

They are poked into green foam

I then covered the foam with mossy grass

I also inked the flowers

This was a fun project and great for kids to help with!

The Invisible Mother

2011-05-06T05:05:00.001-07:00

I love this anology of Motherhood. I think it would be cute to print this off with a book about Cathedrals or something similar. Or this by itself is great.

I'm invisible - The invisible Mom.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more.

Invisible Mothers
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store.
Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'
Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.
I'm invisible - The invisible Mom.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more.
"Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?"
Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?'
I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?'
I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner,celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well.

It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:
'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built,
and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man,
'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof?
No one will ever see it.'
And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.
No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will
become.'
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.
The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime
because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Great Job, MOM!

Pink Birthday Party

2011-05-03T15:45:00.001-07:00

I wanted to share some ideas from my little girl's 1st birthday party we celebrated this last weekend.

Some ideas include:

Fresh spring flowers {albertsons}

Photos hung on a ribbon for display

Jars filled with sweet treats

Banner with birthday girl's name {enjoyed making this a lot!}

Pink cupcakes with "A's" and "1's" {paper matched banner}

Pink and white polka dot balloons {big impact for small $}

Pink lemonade {to match decor of course}

Pink tissue balls {see tutorial on sidebar}

More photos on ribbon and jars

Pink party dress {old navy}

Pink personalized chair {pottery barn}

Birthday hat {zurchers}

Miniature crown {adorable but didn't stay on very well}

Photo book documenting 1st year for guests to look at {also for me to look back and cry at how fast she grew}

More pink flowers {this one was my fave}

Princess wands for the kiddos {even the boys loved these}

Pink bucket {also her Easter basket}

Invitation {accordian style designed by Chantri Keele}

It was a super fun day! Even though I know Miss Ava won't remember this party, I hope she will always feel how much she is

LOVED.

toddler color learning

2011-04-29T14:14:00.001-07:00

My two year old son needed some help learning colors, so I decided to make something tangible that he could hold and feel while memorizing their color. I grabbed little odds and ends (pictured above) and put them in individual baggies. He gets to open a bag and get out all the green and notice the different shades, and lay them all out, and then put them back in the bag. He did so well with this, and learned them pretty fast. You'll be surprised at all the little colored things you have lying around. My favorite is the army men since they come in three shades of green.

Sock Monkey Baby Shower

2011-04-22T08:25:00.004-07:00

Last month we had a Sock Monkey Baby Shower for my cute sister in law. I thought it turned out great. Here's some pics.

The Table (Balloons from Macys)

The Cupcakes

The Candy Jars filled with Kit Kats, Twix, Peppermints and Licorice Nibs.

The Banner

Spring Plate

2011-04-15T05:10:00.002-07:00

This was a fun project. It is a $2 Spring Plate from Walmart in their seasonal sectional with the Spring Vinyl. (If you would like to make one, I can make you the vinyl for $5. Email Tamiroxie@hotmail.com to order.)

quick sewing projects

2011-04-11T20:17:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple of my latest sewing projects. Nothing too exciting but I LOVE this fabric! I found it at Hobby Lobby. I just made a basic valance curtain for my living room, and added this ruffle to a dish towel for my kitchen. Click here to see Tami's cute dish towel that inspired mine.

Vintage Recipes

2011-04-08T04:15:00.002-07:00

I got these old food covered Recipes from my Mom. I decided to frame them. I love the way they look in my kitchen.

eggy craft

2011-04-02T20:19:00.001-07:00

Using scrapbook paper and ribbon, I made this fun little egg decor. I used my Cricut to cut out the egg shapes, and letters to spell out 'happy easter.' I inked the edges of the eggs and hole punched two holes in each one to attach them together with ribbon. I added little flowers and bunny ears to some.

Embroidered Stuffed Animals

2011-03-31T05:30:00.003-07:00

My kids are in love with stuffed animals. My daughter wanted to make her own. So, this is what we came up with. Instead of just sewing one for them, I decided to teach them how to embroider. My son really wanted to learn too. This is what we did.

First they drew a simple picture of what they wanted.

Then we traced it onto Muslin Fabric with a pencil.

Then they started to Embroider (with a LOT of help they finally got the hang of it)

Afterwards, we got some fabric and cut around the animal. I sewed right sides together leaving a small hole and we stuffed it with cotton. Then I stitched up the hole. Not so adorable but the fact that it is stitched by them is priceless. (It would also be cute to frame a picture on fabric that was embroidered by your kids)

Easter Inspiration

2011-03-25T08:57:00.001-07:00

Gushing over these ideas from the lovely Martha Stewart. I think Easter is one of my favorite holidays.

Rain Boots!

2011-03-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

Need something to fill up your Easter Baskets? I just found this deal at Walmart.... CUTE kids rain boots for $6 and womens boots for $12. Shipping to Home is .97 for each pair. And a huge selection. Not sure how long this will last. I'm ordering mine today. LINK HERE

before & afters

2011-03-22T21:47:00.001-07:00

I am SO looking forward to SPRING so I can get outside and do some spray painting! Here are pictures of some favorite projects I did before it got so cold. The book shelf and chair got spray painted fun colors to go in my son's room. The easel and old calendar holder both got a nice coat of chalkboard spray paint. I am excited to get outside and do more projects!

Shamrock Pie

2011-03-17T13:44:00.000-07:00

This pie looks so easy and delicious. Anything made of sweetened condensed milk has got to be yum, right? You could even dye the filling green. A great St. Patricks Day Snack from Family Fun. Happy St. Patrick's Day.

yummy snack!

2011-03-11T11:13:00.003-07:00

Try this fun and easy snack, they are actually quite filling! My 2 year old son calls them 'circles' and he loves them.

Ham and Cheese Tortillas

Spread cream cheese on tortillas (I use garden vegetable or onion chive flavored)
Add sliced ham and sliced cheese
Roll really tight
Cut in little slices

enjoy!

Yummy!

2011-03-07T15:23:00.002-07:00

Are you familiar with these super talented cooks?

Sara and Kate are from Our Best Bites and they just released a fabulous cookbook.

I bought it last week and came home and have already made 3 recipes.

The book is filled with awesome info and a gorgeous picture accompanies every recipe.

{I don't know about you, but I have to see a picture when I'm trying a new recipe}.

You can also check out a lot of their recipes at Ourbestbites.com.

I promise you won't be disappointed!

Easter Centerpiece

2011-03-04T05:00:00.002-07:00

I saw this Centerpiece and thought it would be fun to make with fake or real colored eggs. This is from bhg.com. I love it. Instructions here.

A New Favorite

2011-02-28T17:06:00.001-07:00

I have been a fan of SCARLET LIME for a couple years now. If you're not familiar with this fabulous scrapbook company check them out here.

The owner, Christy, has recently started advertising something new for their company. It's called mixed media art. Not a new concept really, just new the way she does it and uses her scrapbook kits to make the cool art on canvas.

Check out her website for more inspiration and if you fall in love like I did, you can sign up for one of her online courses. It's seriously addicting!

Ruffle Scarf

2011-02-25T05:00:00.003-07:00

I'm in love with this Ruffly Scarf. I made one for me and my daughter so far. I would love to make more as gifts. The best things about them are they are cheap, easy and no sewing involved. This is from the DIY Dish. Instructions are here.

Pretty cute huh?

free recipe card printable

2011-02-22T11:02:00.002-07:00

Here is a fun free recipe card. Either print the tan one on white cardstock or print the white version on a paper color of your choice. The recipe box shown in picture is a box from Hobby Lobby, the recipe holder on easel is one made for an enrichment project.

click here for white printable

(print on any color paper you want)

click here for tan printable

Check out these Nails

2011-02-18T05:30:00.004-07:00

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips are my newest favorite thing. My sister in law introduced me to these and they add a little sass to my short nails. They are sticker strips that stick to your nails and come off with nail polisher remover. They are meant to mimic MINX like Lady Gaga has. And who doesn't want to be more like Lady Gaga? Oh wait....

I put these on for my daughter and her friends and they were a hit. It is an easy process and lasted for a couple weeks.

They are about $8 at Walmart, Walgreens, etc.

car caddy

2011-02-16T13:59:00.005-07:00

Using 1/4 yard of heavy fabric (from Hobby Lobby) and some scraps of felt, I made my son this little car caddy with ten car pockets. I got the orginal idea HERE. It is perfect to take in the car or to church, or anywhere. He loves to line up the cars on the crazy road, and especially loves putting them each in their own little pocket. I am not a great sewer, but by folding the 1/4 yard in half 'hamburger style', it makes the perfect amount of fabric and makes it double-sided. I then hemmed the edges, folded up the bottom, and started sewing a 'car length' between pockets. It worked out great for ten cars. Once the sewing was done, I hot glued the little car, the road, and the strap with velcro onto it.

TO FOLD: Fold in half (hot dog style) and then fold in thirds.

Also, see our past post on Tami's Crayon Rollups!

Valentine Party

2011-02-11T21:43:00.013-07:00

Who else besides me has to come up with games for their kiddos Valentine class party?

I was searching for ideas online and came across the CUTEST source. Find it HERE.

The games looked so FUN and EASY to do with any class. Some of them remind me of what you'd see on "Minute to Win It." Love that show...

I will definitely be using these ideas. Hope you LOVE 'em too!

Find your heart mate

Guesstimation

Sweetheart Valentine

2011-02-11T05:30:00.004-07:00

Here's an easy Valentine for your Sweetheart. It is a 6 pack of Crush with a label on the front that says "I've gotta CRUSH on you". Dump out some of the soda and fill with his favorite candy.

Get your Printable Here:

Kids Valentines

2011-02-09T20:34:00.001-07:00

This year, we wanted to do something new for Valentines. We decided to make bags of candy with their pictures on them that looked factory sealed. We added a Yoda on the back for my son who was set on Star Wars Valentines. And my daughter made a Valentine drawing for the back of hers.

I made these on Picasa as 4x6 photos
Printed them
Folded in Half
Stapled to Bags of Candy (We used the jewelry bags from Walmarts handmade jewelery section)

FRONT

BACK

FRONT

BACK

This is what the pictures looked like when printed:

xoxo

2011-02-08T06:00:00.002-07:00

Using big chipboard letters from Hobby Lobby, I made this XOXO craft.

-trace the letters onto the backs of scrapbook paper

-glue scrapbook paper onto letters

-ink the edges (if desired)

-tie together with ribbons

-reinforce the backs with some tape to help support the letters

xoxo,

Love Dice

2011-02-06T04:00:00.005-07:00

Here is another fun printable for you! LOVE DICE! These cute blocks will surely add some fun and romance to your Valentines day! They would also be a fun bridal shower gift. I made them clean, although both blocks have one side that says 'surprise.' ;)

Simply print on colored paper, cut out, fold, and glue tabs.

(he can thank me later...)

Click here for free printable!

Valentine Bouquet

2011-02-04T05:00:00.013-07:00

Our Enrichment Leader showed us how to make this sweet Valentine Bouquet. These are fun to give to kids, husbands, friends, and neighbors. We decorated paper bags with valentine heart paper. Then we put a block of floral foam inside. We attached assorted gummies and cookies to the skewers and stuck them inside. The gummies are the "glue" to hold on the cookies. We covered some of the skewers with red vines but they seemed to be tight and tear easily. All around an easy, cheap project.

Heart attack printable!

2011-02-02T21:47:00.001-07:00

I made some fun heart printables for you to give someone a 'heart attack.' I laid mine out on my husband's side of the bed, for a fun surprise after a long day. You could attack someone's car, locker, desk, door, mailbox, etc. I printed mine on both pink and red papers. The thick black lines make the hearts easy and fast to cut out. Make someone's day!

Click here for FREE Printable!

Hair Bow Holder

2011-02-01T20:37:00.004-07:00

I know this is by no means a unique idea, but I wanted to share my version of a bow holder that I made for my baby Ava.
I found this 16 x 20 frame in some of my stuff I was going through {so no new investment there-yea!}

And I had some of this leftover fabric from her bedding that I cut and placed in the frame.

Then I added 5 strands of different styles of ribbon and secured them at the back.

Last, I added her collection of rosettes and clips and flowers....ok so maybe they wouldn't ALL fit, but I added most of them:)

I'm way happy with how it turned out. So adorable AND functional.

Love it when that happens.

Giveaway Winners!!

2011-02-01T15:08:00.005-07:00

We are happy to announce the WINNERS for our GIVEAWAY!!

{We selected our winners via Random. org}

Drumroll please....

CONGRATULATIONS!

Comment #13 is the winner of the bracelet {username: Joe'n Kara}

Comment #18 is the winner of the rosette {username: Kirsten}

Please send us your address via our email and we will get them shipped to you!

A HUGE

to everyone who participated and left comments and became followers on our blog and on Facebook!!!

Reading your comments and seeing all your beautiful faces thrilled us and made us want to be even better.

We are so excited to keep those creative juices flowing with ideas! We have a lot of new, fun, fabulous ideas to share so make sure to stay tuned!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar felt story

2011-01-31T10:33:00.002-07:00

Using the book as a guide, I cut out felt pieces to my son's favorite story: The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The cut-outs are very basic, but they tell the story. Once the pieces were cut out, I glued them with hot glue. I usede a crop-a-dile to hole punch a hole in each of the foods he ate. (The flannel board is a frame my dad made me, with flannel fabric inside.)

Valentine Mailboxes

2011-01-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

These are the Mailboxes you can buy in Target's dollar section. We labeled ours with vinyl and keep them in our rooms where we can give each other little treats and messages. We keep them out for about a month before Valentines Day. My kids check their mailboxes 10x a day and love to leave "secret admirer" notes. The only problem is I have to remember to reply to their sweet little notes.

Creative Juices Giveaway!

2011-01-25T11:28:00.001-07:00

Click here to link to Creative Juices on Facebook

WINNER #1 will win this darling rosette from Roxie Flair

Winner #2 will win this charming bracelet from The Chunky Pearl

Good luck!!

Valentines Day pop top cans

2011-01-25T11:02:00.002-07:00

Here are the candy filled cans that I made for gifts.

1- Open a pop top can from the bottom with a can opener. (A smooth edge one is best)

2- Use the fruit or whatever is there

3- Wash and dry the can

4- Fill with candy or surpises

5- Hot glue the bottom back on

6- Decorate the can

This was a fun little project. The idea is not my own, it has been around for a while now. You can even go to the cannery and get a can there and have it sealed. There are so many possibilities with this idea. Have fun!

Valentines Day frame

2011-01-21T17:14:00.002-07:00

This is the same frame I used for my Christmas 'traditions' frame. I just love this frame, so I decided to make a Valentines Day theme for it. (I am sure this isn't the last of this frame you will see, as there are many holidays). I just used scrapbook paper and made strips of paper. I added a piece of notebook paper and hand wrote on it what looks to be a love letter. It is actually my favorite love quotations. I also added a piece of ribbon and the brackets and hearts were cut out on my Cricut. Once done and framed, I added three little flowers and taped them right to the glass. They add dimension and style. Find any size or shape of frame and make your Valentines Day decor.

Family Oath Plaque

2011-01-21T05:00:00.003-07:00

Lately, I heard a great idea about making a Family Oath and displaying it where your family will see it. I wasn't so sure I would want to display it until I saw this fabulous idea today. This is from Raymond Designs which has a 50% off code right now: LOYAL. You could also make this using vinyl....

This is the same site I found my Temple Pic at for cheaper than anywhere else with the code.

Valentine Wreaths

2011-01-17T15:14:00.002-07:00

I was searching for a cute Valentine Wreath today and came across a few ideas. Here they are...

From Every Crafty Endeavor.

Valentines day countdown muffin tin

2011-01-13T18:53:00.005-07:00

Using scrapbook paper (from Hobby Lobby), I cut out some squares, hearts, and rounded edge squares. I made them just big enough to fit over the muffin tin holes. On the back, I put a small magnet on the top and bottom of each one. Below is a FREE printable to use for the numbers. Since there are only 12 muffin holes, two of my muffin holes have two numbers. Or you could start with number 3. Add ribbon, ink edges, and embellish however you want! This project is cheap and so fun for you and your family to have a little chocolate kiss, candy heart, or love notes in each one.

CLICK HERE for this FREE PRINTABLE!!

Wall Art

2011-01-11T10:20:00.002-07:00

These are great if you have wall space you need to fill for a minimal price. I made these using 9 thick Foam Boards I cut to size and covered with Fabric. It was cheaper to use Foam Board (Hobby Lobby) rather than canvases, but next time I would definitely just go with the canvases because I had to add hooks to the backs of these which was a nightmare getting them all the same level and you wouldn't have to worry about that with canvases. I think they will look better once I have furniture and paint the wall a fun color like apple green. Someday...

Great Deals on Canvas

2011-01-09T16:48:00.000-07:00

I love WINKFLASH, the online photo printing shop. Right now they have some great deals I thought I'd share.

16 x 20 Canvas 60% off. Use coupon code CANVAS@2010
All other canvas sizes 40% off. Same code
50% off photo books

Here is the 16 x 20 canvas I had made. I got it last week and it looks awesome! The quality is great.

Go to Winkflash.com to order yours.

Ruffle Dishtowel

2011-01-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

This is the newest edition to my new Kitchen... A Ruffle Dishtowel. I bought the dishtowel and sewed on two hemmed ruffles. I can't wait to make more for Holidays such as Valentines, Christmas, etc. Kitchens need decorating too!

Countdown clipboard

2010-12-30T19:16:00.003-07:00

I found this old clipboard at DI. It has 2 metal binders that open. I covered it with scrapbook paper and made squares with numbers typed on them for the countdown. I tied ribbon to the hook in the back. You could use it for any holiday! I chose New Years because it doesn't usually get much attention or decoration at my house.

candybar sweaters

2010-12-23T08:47:00.001-07:00

I hosted an 'ugly sweater Christmas party' last week. The prizes for the contest were these big candybars with sweaters on them. I didn't have a whole lot of time to spend on prizes, so I didn't hem them or anything. I just folded it over and hot glued it down. This fabric was at Walmart for $1.99 a yard. These would also be cute to give to neighbors and friends. You could also put a sweater on a roll of cookie dough. :)

scrapbook paper- christmas frame decor

2010-12-23T08:09:00.004-07:00

Using scrapbook paper, and a little wrapping paper, I made a 'collage' of the strips of paper. One of the strips has our Christmas traditions written on it. You could also type this. I put the project in an old frame I had lying around that was not a normal size, and voila- a fun holiday decoration. Even though you know your traditions, its fun to read them and make sure you don't forget to do something. Even add things you do during December (not just Christmas Eve/Christmas) such as 'watch Frosty the Snowman, 'decorate the tree.'

Just for fun I will share my top 3 traditions:

-Wearing elf hats to bed with new jammies (carried on from my parents)

-Sleighriding on Christmas Eve

-Making gingerbread houses together as a family

Candy Cane Cookies

2010-12-21T12:59:00.001-07:00

This is what we are leaving for Santa this year! Don't they look yummy? Find the Recipe Here

Neighbor Gift

2010-12-16T22:00:00.001-07:00

This is what I'm doing for Neighbor gifts this year. Easy, practical and cute. It is just a roll of wrapping paper with a roll of tape attached to it. My tags say:

"The best GIFT around a Christmas Tree is the PRESENCE of family and friends, all WRAPPED up in each other."
Or you could say "Wrap Yourself in the Holiday Spirit."

Fun websites

2010-12-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

This is a GREAT website for adorable printables that are FREE. Click here. Take a look-you will love it!

Another FUN idea is the PORTABLE NORTH POLE. This site lets you personalize a message from Santa to your kids. I used it last year and we LOVED it! Go to portablenorthpole.tv to make your own.

from SANTA

2010-12-12T04:40:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share this adorable $1 stamp from Michaels. Make as many Santa tags as you want- without using your handwriting! You can stamp their name in if you have a custom alphabet stamp, or just write it how santa would!

easy snow ornament

2010-12-10T23:19:00.001-07:00

Simply open the top of the glass ball, fill with fake snow, put top back on. Decorate the outside with puffy paints and whatever else you want! So easy and fun!

Ruffled edge, Christmas tree skirt

2010-12-06T01:39:00.002-07:00

First, pick the fabric you would like for your skirt (about 1 1/2 yrds), then cut it into a big circle. Cut a small circle in the middle of the circle. Then cut up one side of the large circle so you can actually wrap it around your tree. You can put a velro clasp or button here. Now for the RUFFLE- Cut fabric strips about 8" wide, I ripped mine because my fabric allowed it and it created more of a raggy edge.

You will need about 7 or 8 of these strips depending on how ruffled you make it, and how large your tree skirt is. Now, fold in half (hot dog style) so you now how about a 4" piece.

Gather and fold, gather and fold, gather and fold..........

You can make the edge as ruffled as you want by how big of pieces you gather and fold. You can make it as different as you want by which way you fold your fabric (away from you, towards you). Have fun and be creative. Keep sewing your strips on until you get all the way around your circle.

Also, if you are in the same situation I am, with three trees, you can set that small circle piece (cut out of the middle) right in the middle of it, to fill in the hole and make it look like a skirt made for three trees. :)

Festive Drink

2010-12-01T15:29:00.002-07:00

Looking for a {non-alcohol} FESTIVE DRINK for the holidays? Search no more. This YUMMY recipe is just 3 ingredients: 1) Sprite 2) Cranberry Juice 3) Lime

Combine half sprite, half juice and squeeze a little lime in and add another for the garnish. You couldn't ask for a cuter RED and GREEN combo for your holiday table. Plus it's SUPER EASY and delicious!

Christmas TRAIN advent calendar

2010-11-29T21:57:00.003-07:00

My little boy LOVES trains. Because of this, I decided to make him a Christmas advent calendar with train cars. Each one is a pocket for a little surprise, and each day he can move the little sock monkey to that date. I free handed the train cars out of felt (easy little shapes), but used a sizzix to cut out all the circles for wheels. I added ribbon and polka dots and wrote the numbers with puffy paint. There is also a lion and elephant he can switch out with. These vintage little stuffed animals are ornaments at Kohls. They fit perfectly in the little train cars.

Neighbor Gift

2010-11-24T14:57:00.001-07:00

Looking for an affordable yet classy neighbor gift? I just made this 6x6 collage to go on a plate, frame or tile. I love the clean white look on this plate. Fill a plate with cookies and use it as a neighbor gift or any small gift. Grab the vinyl here for $3!

Turkey Shirt

2010-11-19T20:25:00.000-07:00

Why not a Turkey shirt? The complete tutorial is here.You could pull off a boy a boy version as well. Love it.

FREE fonts and digital scrapbooking!

2010-11-17T17:42:00.004-07:00

I LOVE Fonts and Digital Scrapbooking! I wanted to share a few tried and true websites!

Here are a bunch of my free FAVES! If you see one you like but can't find it, sometimes you can find it just by googling i.e. "free Starshine font"

FONTS

TO DOWNLOAD (windows):

Click 'download'

'Open'

'Extract all files'

'Next'

'Browse'

'My computer'

'Local disk C'

'Windows'

'Fonts'

This will put the font into your computer's font file so the font can be used with ALL programs! :)

NOTE: Sometimes fonts will have a missing letter... example: my Beyond Wonderland font is missing the lower case C. So I substitute Ginga font's letter C for that one. :)

DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING

TO DOWNLOAD (windows):

Click 'download'

'Open'

'Extract all files'

'Next'

'Browse'

'My documents'

'My pictures'

'Whatever file you choose'

Thanksgiving Turkeys

2010-11-11T15:29:00.001-07:00

For all you Oreo Lovers... these look super easy and fast for kids to make. Ingredients are Oreos, Candy Corn, Whoppers and sprinkles for the eyes. They were on parentsconnect.com.

Thankful jar

2010-11-08T21:03:00.001-07:00

I covered an old can with scrapbook paper and added "We are thankful" and some ribbons. For FHE, my family wrote little notes of things we are thankful for. We will continue to add more until Thanksgiving, and then we will read them.

sNaPfIsH dEaLs

2010-11-08T20:50:00.001-07:00

I recently came across some great SNAPFISH coupon codes! I am pretty sure they all work, I used the 50% off photo books today and got some great Christmas gifts on their way!! Such a great deal!!!

50% off photo books [Exp. 11/09]
Use Snapfish Coupon Code BKS50DL

75 Free 4x6 Prints [Exp. 11/30]
Use Snapfish Coupon Code ISTOCK75

25% Off Cards [Exp. 11/30]
Use Snapfish Coupon 25CNGRDS

50% Off 8x10 Enlgargements [Exp. 11/30]
Use Snapfish Coupon Code 508X10E

Free shipping on $25 or more
Use Snapfish Coupon FREESHIP [Exp. 12/31]

50% Off of 12x12 - 12 Month Calendar with no additional pages [Exp. 11/30]
Use Snapfish Coupon 12x12CAL

Earring Holder

2010-11-05T05:10:00.000-07:00

This would make a cute Christmas gift and it's really easy and cheap. This is how I made it:

Get a 8.5 x 11 Scrapbook Paper

Cut a piece of Netting about 11x13

Take the back off your Frame and Discard Glass

Place your Paper onto a piece of stiffer paper (Cardstock or Cardboard that came with frame)

Place your Netting on Top of the Paper

Fold the corners of the netting over and secure onto the back of the stiff paper with tape

Fold each netting edge over and pull until tight and secure with tape.

Place in the frame and and replace the back.

fall pumpkin decor

2010-11-01T20:05:00.000-07:00

To make this fun fall decor, carve out a pumpkin and fill with water and add fall branches. It is so fun to bring the different colors inside your home.

Monster Party

2010-10-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

We had a Birthday/Halloween Monster Party complete with Monster cupcakes, Monster necklaces, Monster Masks, and Monster Party Favors. I got everything from Oriental Trading or Dollar Tree. Everyone that knows me is laughing right now because I can't get enough of their cheap crap. Here are some pics...

These are the Monster Eyeball Cupcakes made with Gummy Eyeballs from Oriental Trading and Pull and Peel licorice.

Simple Monster Cake made with the same Gummy Eyeballs.

Monster Masks from Oriental Trading that came in easy kits.

Monster Necklaces that were a hit! Beads from Oriental Trading.

And the little guy that made this all possible!

Halloween Party

2010-10-27T13:49:00.003-07:00

Last weekend we had a huge HALLOWEEN PARTY!

It was a blast! Here are some of the details...

The Adorable Partiers

The Yummy Cinnamon Rolls

All printouts are from TomKat Studio.

The Table

Ding Dong Spiders

Witch Fingers

Bat Pinata

Halloween popcorn sleeves

2010-10-26T01:25:00.000-07:00

Using the Mini Popcorn bags, I made a sleeve out of scrapbook paper and decorated the outside with ribbon, a little halloween stick-on, and the words

"Hope your Halloween is POPPIN' and not CORNY!!"

I know, I know, the saying itself is corny, but my friends will love it!

FYI- you can get a box of 10 mini bags for under $2. Makes a cheap little give away- and trick or treaters would also love it.

Spooky Countdown

2010-10-23T07:33:00.000-07:00

My Kids love this Halloween countdown. We also made one for Birthdays and Christmas that I will post later. It's so nice not to have to tell them each day how many days are left because they already know.

bead board wallpaper

2010-10-19T08:09:00.002-07:00

I love bead board but don't have a saw, and hate to bug the guys at Lowe's to cut it for me. I recently discovered bead board wallpaper!!! It is at Lowe's with the wallpaper and is $13 for a roll of 53 feet. It is a huge money/time saver. It is great for small projects or crafts. (although you could do a room) Anyway, here is my first project with it- a little makeover to my desk. I spray painted it brown, and spray painted the bead board wallpaper turquoise. After it dried I stuck it to the back of the desk and one of the cupboard doors. It was really easy to use and I am excited to have it on hand for future projects

{And yes, I also spray painted my white making memories organizer PINK! My husband says I have a spray paint disorder :) }

Boo Someone!

2010-10-15T05:00:00.001-07:00

Our family has had so much fun BOOing our neighbors. I found THIS GREAT WEBSITE where you can print off the poem as well as the sign for them to hang on their door after. We even got BOOed the next night from the people we BOOed. My kids love it! Now go BOO someone!

Costume book

2010-10-11T06:48:00.000-07:00

This 'Halloween Book' shows my son's costumes each year. I just made it out of cardstock and scrapbook paper. It will be so fun to look back and see all the fun things he was for Halloween and how he grew. It also makes a great little decoration on an easel. Get out your old Halloween scrapbook scraps and make something!

Towel Decor

2010-10-08T05:13:00.000-07:00

This was made by turning a strip of a towel into a Rosette and then adding a fabric covered button to the center. For the gathered strip holding the towels together, I cut another strip of fabric and ruffled it. Now what can we add ruffles and rosettes to next?

Baby Girl Nursery

2010-10-06T17:30:00.003-07:00

Thought I'd share some pictures of my baby girl's nursery. My husband hates the pink but I think it turned out cute. My mom and I made the pillows, bed skirt, and window valance. The lamps are from Hobby Lobby...

What do you think?

wooden midgee pumpins

2010-10-04T06:19:00.000-07:00

Using these cute little wood stumps that range from 4-8 inches tall, I made little pumpkins. They are just like the ones that are big and go outside, but small for indoor or outdoor use. I spray painted them orange, and the stems brown, hot glued the stems on, and sanded some edges. What a fun, easy, project! (thanks to my dad for cutting the wood)