Initial Name Sign

Don't you just love inexpensive crafts?  I sure do!

I decided to whip this up as an extra little gift for my sister {and her hubby}.

{The "finished" sign actually has their full last name on it - just above the EST. 2008.}

In a previous post I mentioned that I picked up some {mdf} pictures/wall hangings at the dollar store for a quarter each.  {I picked up a handful of them...they were too cheap not to.}

I painted over the entire piece with black craft paint that dried with a matte finish.

Next, {just from Microsoft Word} I printed out the lettering that I wanted on my sign.

I positioned the paper on my board where I wanted my lettering to be and traced the lines on my paper pressing hard enough so that it left an "imprint".

I then went in with a white colored pencil and colored in my letters.  {The white pencil makes it look like it's chalk.}

15 minutes later...done!

 It's no "Pottery Barn" decor, but it's just a little something extra.

F-U-N Addressing Cards {Mail}

Being on top of my game this year {getting to my Christmas cards with more than one day left until Christmas}, I decided I was going to make addressing my Christmas cards a little more "F-U-N".

Why not bring the "beauty" of the card to the envelope too?  I figured there's so much envelope...why not use it?

I gathered my supplies...cards, envelopes, and my trusted Sharpies.

I just l-o-v-e Sharpies...don't you?

I sat down in front of the television after the kids went to bed and got to "work" on addressing...

It's all free hand.  Nothing too fancy or professional, but it adds a little "flair" to the envelope.

Now I just need to get myself one of those "cutesy" return address stamps!

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you are having a peaceful and joy filled Holiday season!

Easiest Muffins EVER! {Pumpkin Spice Muffins}

It's no secret that when it comes to cooking or baking I like to keep things as simple as possible.

My dear friend shared this muffin recipe with me the other day, and it is so simple and such a hit with my family that I have already made it twice in 3 days! {Plus, it has pumpkin...which is good for you.}

I'm sure it's posted a bazillion and one times on the internet, but I'm going to share it for the bazillion and second time...{because it's completely new to me and maybe just maybe someone out there is like me...they might not be the type to search for recipes, but if they "happen" upon one they may be interested}

Pumpkin Spice Muffin Recipe...

Ingredients:
1 box - Spice Cake mix
1 can - Pumpkin

Prep:
{preheat oven to 350}
{spray muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray}

To Make:
Empty contents of dry Spice Cake mix into a bowl {large enough for mixing}
**DO NOT prepare cake mix {meaning don't add eggs, oil, water, etc}

 Add the can of pumpkin

Stir the two ingredients thoroughly

**at first in stirring, you may be tempted to add a bit of water or something...DON'T! Just give it a minute of stirring and it will mix beautifully

Spoon mixture into muffin pan

Bake for 20 minutes...and done!

OPTIONAL: sprinkle with chocolate chips before baking
{Don't use milk chocolate chips like I accidentally did though - they don't bake well}

How easy is that!?  Bonus...hardly any clean up!

Happy baking!

Purses. Bags. Totes.

I don't know what got into me the other week, but I went on a bit of a bag making "spree".


While going through my fabric "stash" one day, I came across a few pieces that I thought would make good bags, as well as a piece I had bought specifically to make myself a purse/bag {but had yet to do}.  So I started whipping up bags {mainly variations of a simple tote}.

They're so easy and fun to make.

They're also really easy to "change up", and make a little more interesting than just a basic tote bag.

My problem now is I have all these extra bags around.


Maybe they'd make a good gift or giveaway?

Kid Crafting. Felt Christmas Ornaments & Gift Toppers

Previously I mentioned that the kids and I have been Christmas "crafting" and decoration making nearly daily.  Their new favorite craft is sewing felt ornaments.

They have diligently been busy creating felt ornaments and gift toppers for everyone.  It's quite cute and sweet of them.

{Plus...it keeps them "busy".  Which we mommies need sometimes, right?}

They're so simple to do...they've done so many that they can completely do them on their own now.

We bust out the felt.


Grab the embroidery thread.

Cut out a couple felt circles {we are now "graduating" to hearts}.

Cut out our "embellishment"...usually initials, hearts, or stars.



And away they go...sewing to their heart's content.

We stuff them with a little "stuffing".

Stitch it closed, add a little hanging loop...and voila!


The result...simple, inexpensive projects that make great gifts or gift toppers.