The Gift of Sweet Memories

Handmade gifts…..I love them!

Personalized canvas art….oh so simple.

We have two grandparent birthdays right in the middle of the holidays season so we have to think of gifts for several occasions. 

Our grandparents love handmade gifts. 

Shhh, don’t tell them I shared…..but it is really sweet when grandpa or grandma gets a picture made just for them and the other gets jealous and puts a request in that they would love something like that.

We recently went to visit and little guy was able to take his first ride in the boat on the coast.  Grandpa and Grandma love to fish and crab.  So what better to give Grandpa than the memory of this little guy doing something so special with them.

How did I do it:

1. Paint the canvas a solid complementary color.
2. Print pictures. (I used a 8x10 and 4x6)
3. Choose a scrapbook paper that works with your theme and rip the edges back to front.  This will leave white edges around your paper.
4. Ink edges of paper is desired.
5. Mod Podge paper onto canvas and coat once on top.
6. Mat pictures on cardstock and embellish. 

This can easily be done in a day.

Allow each wet step 15-20 minutes to dry.

(I  placed 8x10 flat and used foam adhesive to raise the 4x6.  I found 3 coordinating fibers and stapled to each side of the picture tying a bow where they met on the front.  “Precious memories” was a rub-on.  I made two tags with some journaling and again adhered with foam adhesive to give dimension)

He is going to love it and I am sure Grandma will too!

Don’t forget little ones can help with many of these steps, and they will be so proud of what you create together.

I am linking up here, go by and check out all the fun!

Living Life Intentionally

Bear Rabbit Bear

Tater Tots and Jello

Simple Ribbon Stand

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I needed a solution for containing spools of ribbon.

I first got my inspiration from Sew Many Ways.  You have to check out her series called Tool Time Tuesday.  She thinks of so many clever uses for things found at hardware stores as well as recycling.  So the inspiration was to use the 12 inch spikes found at a hardware store to hold spools of ribbon.

(similar to this)

{can be found on the same aisle as nails and screws}

I bought three 12 inch spikes for a very nominal amount.  For a while, I just stacked my ribbon on them.  However, with little guy now running around and climbing I can’t take the chance that one might fall.

So my solution was to make them part stable and steady!

All I needed was:

• Scrap piece of wood
• 3 – 12 inch spikes
• Drill
• Hammer
• Felt pads

1. Cut scrap piece of wood to 12 inches in length
2. Find center of board and make a mark at 2 inches, 6 inches, and 10 inches.
3. Drill a hole about the same diameter as the spike.
4. Paint board and finish as desired.
5. Use hammer and tap spikes through the holes.
6. Place felt pads on each corner of the bottom.
7. Stack ribbon spools on spikes and enjoy.

My finish was Rust-oleum’s 2x coverage heirloom white spray paint with Valspar Asphaltum antiquing glaze .

The felt adhesive pads help prevent scratches, allow stand to sit evenly, prevents need to countersink spike heads.

And here she is in her home.

(Sorry craft room doesn’t have natural light for photo)

How do I keep the ribbon from unraveling?

pearl push pins

Cute, simple, and easy to use!

I’m linking up here:

The Girl Creative

Skip to my Lou

Home Stories A2Z

Blue Cricket Design

Lil Luna

House of Hepworths

Between U & Me

Momnivore's Dilemma

Sew Many Ways

Designer Garden

Bear Rabbit Bear

My Repurposed Life

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

The Shabby Next

Tater Tots and Jello

Oven Roasted Salted Pumpkin Seeds

Who knew such yumminess existed?

I have always discarded them!

Who knew they were so good for you?

Who knew they were called pepitas?

Well I don’t know where I have been all my life, but it just changed today with my first pumpkin seed experience!

I followed this easy recipe by Petit Elephant.

They are delicious!

I can’t wait to search and find some sweet and spicy variations.

My little pepitas,  I will never discard you anymore

Snow Cream

Last year, I said…when it snows next year!

Then a friend of mine reminded me that one of my to-do’s was to make snow cream.  Growing up in Florida, I have had to wait until an adult age to make snow cream.  I don’t have a childhood memory of this, but even better I think little guy and me will have this memory together.

So now that my yard looks like this,

I went out and got some fresh snow.

Then I turned it into this sweet white fluffiness.

And now I have some sweetness in my freezer.

I am sure that there are many recipes out there on how to make snow cream, but I just went with my friends advice as a place to start.

1. Gather snow in a bowl
2. Add milk to the consistency that you prefer
3. Add sugar and vanilla to taste

Then enjoy!  It is so good!

Breakfast Burritos

So there are times during the year when I look like this.

And this coming week is one of those times.

{as a matter of fact, I am leaving as soon as I finish this}

Yes, I love hunting.

So we are in the woods during archery and rifle season.  Since little guy came along we go both seasons so that we can trade off hunting with little guy duty.  This year rifle season again is my turn to hunt and little guy gets to hang out with daddy.  Oh…of course we all go and camp, little guy is just still too small to actually be still or quiet. 

So to make our week a little more relaxing, I usually cook some things ahead.

Breakfast burritos are something that is easy, handy, warm, portable, and so yummy.

I have received many compliments before and they are so easy….

So here is a tutorial that is so simple

{with lots of pictures}

I have not given measurements or amounts as this is super easy to adjust to the amount you prefer.

Fry some potatoes

{I peel, microwave or bake them ahead, and then cube}

Brown and drain sausage

(or any breakfast meat that you prefer)

{any kind works, I am using antelope sausage}

Scramble eggs

Combine potatoes, sausage, and eggs with shredded cheddar cheese

Then my secret sauce….

{yes, it is that easy.  I hope to learn to make green chile in the future, but for now this works}

Add sauce

Mix

It is good enough to eat this way, but….

Have you ever had fresh tortillas?

I will never buy tortillas in the grocery store again.

Gather your tortillas, foil, pan, and mixture.

Place some of your mixture on a tortilla.

Roll the center of the tortilla over the mixture and fold both sides in before rolling.

Fill you pan, warm in the oven and enjoy.

We will certainly love taking these out and eating while we are camping in the colder weather.

Thanksgiving Thumbprints

It is busy around here between Halloween, Little Guy’s Birthday, and Thanksgiving….then straight into Christmas and New Years.  No wonder everyone feels the bustle.  But after birthday and Halloween, I wanted to switch gears for little guy and begin focusing on Thanksgiving and giving him something to look forward to and appreciate. 

So as soon as the Halloween decorations were down, we need a craft that incorporated something more than pumpkins.

Since we are still little and not completely independent (or mom isn’t completely afraid to let him make a huge mess), we like to do thumb print art.  He can also help with paper punches and turn his art work into something a little cuter.

A turkey it is!

Isn’t he cute?  And little guy is so proud!

A new word, a new holiday, new experiences and memories.  This is going to be so much fun.

Linky parties I love and hope you will visit too:

Living Life Intentionally's TGIF

Bear Rabbit Bear's Things I've Done Thursday

Sharing Saturday with Crafty Moms Share

The Sunday Showcase "Child Centered" with Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas

Pumpkin Patch Fun

We had so much fun going to the Pumpkin Patch!

Every year we go to a true pumpkin farm and pick pumpkins from the fields.  There are so many fields that you truly can get away from crowds.  Last year we went just prior to our little guy beginning to walk so he sort of propped on pumpkins. 

Now we run and laugh making the pumpkin patch so much fun!

Front Door Rescue

Rescue is the word that I wasn’t intending on needing until we got our house painted this year and noticed that the front door needed to be a priority so that we didn’t lose it!

Really….lose it?

Really!!!

It was a stained door that is west facing and through the years has taken a beating from the sun!

Although we decided to have the exterior of the house painted by professionals, I decided that I would rescue the front door.

I am really bad about remembering the BEFORE picture so this was taken after I sanded the door and began prepping it .

There was a decision to be made stain or paint.

Paint, won!

My general thinking after rescuing the door was that paint would give a little more protection from the elements going forward.

So after some deliberation over what color works best with the house….here is the finished door.

Pumpkins and all,  Happy Fall!

Mickey Mouse Birthday Party

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It has been busy lately getting ready for our first real birthday party.  Last year our little guy’s first birthday was celebrated with mommy, daddy, grandparents (via Skype), and a large cupcake! 

This year was going to be a small event! 

I knew it was going to be a Mickey Mouse themed party and began searching for ideas because I knew it was going to be homemade as opposed to the limited commercial products available.  So here it is!

The centerpiece was one of those inspiration pieces that I found here at Shay Bocks.  I decided to take the general idea, but adapted the technique to something that worked best for me.  Tutorial to come soon….

The entry was decorated to greet our guests with balloons and a sign that I made with paper and a spray painted dollar tree frame.

The sign said….

My little guy loves to say things are “big, big” . 

The other great inspiration that I found…..

The cupcake stands were from Bee in Our Bonnet.

The chocolate cupcake and vanilla cupcake recipes were found at Our Happy Medium.  Thank goodness I found these recipes that were delicious and perfectly adjusted to work at altitude!

Paper straws in milk bottles was a great idea that I had seen somewhere in the past.  I had to improvise, and decided that Frappuccino bottles were perfectly within budget.  The bigger kids actually loved the straws and drinking from the bottles.

The candy coated cake ball cupcakes were adapted to color coordinate from Bakerella's Cupcake Bites.

A birthday banner made on my computer.

Script was a free download “Walt Disney Script v4.1”

What do you do with a light fixture.  Well, that is a craft fail story….I originally tried to cover it with a drum type shade that I made, but without some more reinforcement to keep it’s shape, I could not make it work.  I would have been better off trying to cover each shade, but I was out of time so the next best option….

I had extra cupcake toppers and a pom ball, so improvise with some coordinating ribbon to hang from the light fixture to incorporate it, but not hide it. 

Great last minute solution.

As favors for our guests I put together a bag of little goodies.

I kept it simple with white lunch bags, blue ribbon, and red tissue paper.

Inside the bags….

A bottle of homemade bubble solution for “Big, Big, Fun”

A Mickey Mouse bubble wand made from a black pipe cleaner

Extra pipe cleaners for some wand creations

A bag of animal crackers with a Mickey Mouse topper

Mickey Mouse stickers

A Mickey Mouse coloring sheet with a Thank You for coming to Matthew’s Party

Mickey Mouse crayons (markers for the older children)

 

And to share why this celebration means so much to us…

Our little blue eyed charmer is now “2”!!!

A celebration like this deserves more partying, so…you can find me here:

The Girl Creative

Skip to My Lou Made By You Monday

Craft-O-Maniac

Under the Table and Dreaming

Tip Junkie's Tip Me Tuesday

A2Z Home Stories

The Frugal Girl's Chic and Crafty Party

Sugar Bee Crafts' Take-A-Look Tuesday

Night Owl Crafting's Hoo’s Got Talent

Blue Cricket Design's Show and Tell

Lil Luna Link Party

Hookin-Up with HoH

The Shabby Creek Cottage's Transformation Thursday

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating's Flaunt it Friday

My Re-Purposed Life's Catch as Catch Can

The Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday

Fingerprints on the Fridge's Feature Yourself Friday

Fridays on Remodelaholic

Tater Tot and Jello's Weekend Wrap-up

Bear Rabbit Bear's Things I Done Thursday

Whipperberry's Friday Flair

Lolly Jane's Whatcha Got Weekend

Be Different Act Normal's Show and Tell Saturday

Designer Garden's VIP Party

Sew Many Ways' Sew Darn Crafty Party

Living Life Intentionally's TGIF Party

I’ve been featured here:

Living Life Intentionally

Tip Junkie

Acorn Squash from the Garden

Our garden was abundant with acorn squash this year.

Fortunate for us our little guy likes this as well as we do.

I used to prepare my squash (acorn, butternut, spaghetti…) by cutting in half and removing seeds.  Then I would place it in a glass dish face down with a little water and cook in the oven.

It changed my life once I read that you can cook any of these squash by piercing with a knife and baking them whole.

Now, I line a cookie sheet with foil and bake all my squash at once whole!

Once they are done, I split them and scrap my seeds.

Our favorite way to enjoy acorn squash with our little guy is smooshed with butter and cinnamon.

I can’t wait to make the next batch.  I think they will be halved and filled with maple granola and drizzled with honey!