Friday, March 23, 2012

Liebster Award~

It's Christmas early!!...I found the best little gift in my Inbox today! Sarah at Dotted Line Crafts { http://www.dottedlinecrafts.blogspot.com/ } passed on the Liebster award to me and my little blog!
Take a look and see who else she shared some bloggy love with! http://dottedlinecrafts.blogspot.com/2012/03/leibster-award.html
I'm super excited and thankful!! I can't wait to pass it on to a few of my favorites!!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The Looooong Pillow~

You might have seen this over at Imprintalish! I'm over there doing some sponsoring this month and did a little giveaway {Ladybug Scrapbook~Congratulaitons Melanie at Happy Jax!}
I wanted to share my post over here as well, so here's the Long Pillow~
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It started by wanting to remodel our guest room. I got this fabric (another addiction) to "work the room around". I saw a pillow similar, but not quite what I was looking for, nor was I big on the $50 price tag! So, I made my own!! Oh, and let me start by saying I do not sew much at all! If it is square or rectangle I'd say I'm average, but nothing more than that!

I started out by figuring out how long I wanted the pillow to be and then Cut out the letters on the cricut to get a visual of how they would be placed. These letters are real dial size 6".









Next I intended to use the cricut to cut the letters but...the cricut didn't feel like it... so I flipped the fabric over, traced the paper letters on the back and cut them out.









I placed the fabric letters where I wanted them and lightly tacked them down with fabric iron tape to keep them in place when I tossed it around sewing!









I used #5 to sew them on hoping it would look like frayed old letters...if that makes sense!? In high n' sight I probably would have used a backing or a darker fabric so the letters would POP more, but this gives a soft subtle look. I realized in sewing letters that I might have bitten off a bit more than I could chew, but when it came to going around the corners, I'd let the needle be down in the fabric not moving and then lift the foot and move it myself a little bit each time and sew...stop, move, sew, stop move, sew...those that are more experience won't have a problem with this at all!









Viola...here it is! Something different for the room and so many options for other pillows to place with it! It doesn't show up as well in the picture but it does in the room!
I also added a little something to the other side...
















Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Yummmmmy Spaghetti Bake


If your looking for the perfect dish to surprise your families taste buds or have any kind of gathering coming up, look no further! It's your lucky day and this dish is it!!
I found it forever ago in I think a Taste of Home Magazine. I have the little card!
I usually double the batch and have one for dinner that night and pop one in the freezer!
Get ready to share the recipe because people will be asking for it!! Here ya go...

What you will need:
1/2 pound ground beef {ya know, hamburger!}
1 small package sausage 1 lb.
1 jar meatless spaghetti sauce (26oz)
2 eggs
16 oz spaghetti noodles (not thin!)
1/3c grated Parmesan cheese
5 Tbsp Melted butter
16 oz small curd cottage cheese
4 cups shredded mozzarella
Small carton sliced mushrooms (optional)
First: Start water boiling and boil 16oz of regular size spaghetti. While that's cooking 3/4 of the way... {do not cook it completely or it turns soggy when you bake it}

Brown 1/2 pound of ground beef and one package sausage. I use good 'ol Jimmy Deans. Add 1/2 carton of sliced mushrooms half way through cooking. Your noodles should be done now...drain them. In a bowl melt 5 Tbsp butter. Add 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese and two eggs. Pour the drained noodles in and mix, toss and set aside.

When your hamburger/sausage/mushroom mix is completely cooked, drain and put back in the skillet. Pour in almost all of one jar (26oz)of spaghetti sauce. Any kind you choose. I prefer a traditional with nothing chunky in it.






The sauce you saved will go on the bottom of your 9x13 to keep the goods from sticking.

Now, grab your noodles and place 1/2 in the bottom of your baking dish.







On top of the noodles place 1/2 of your saucy meat mixture.

On the meat mixture sprinkle 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese and 1/2 carton of cottage cheese 8oz. {trust me, it's good} Repeat the process.
Place it in the oven @350 for 40 min. covered!
Uncover and bake another 20 min. more.


I promise this is so yummy! It's great as left overs too!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Burlap Runner~

Because I have an everlasting love with Burlap right now...I made this simple little table runner!
If you've worked with burlap you know it's a Pain in @#$@#$@# to work with! For me it's hard to keep straight lines and when you sew it, it tends to make your lines crooked! So, I used a wonderful little goody that my girlfriend gave me "Dritz Fray Check" !!! It dries clear and your ends don't fall apart or fray!!
The little gal in the middle matched perfect, so I tossed some pine cone mix in a big wooden bowl and popped her in the middle! Pretty cute!

Here's to Handy Andy~

Ok, I may be WAAAAAY too excited, but I was featured at Here's to Handy Andy! I'm new to the blogging world, so this is like a little kid getting their #1 most wanted Christmas gift! Silly as it may seem, I'm stoked!!
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She's also got another link up happening as we speak!....Buzz over and check it out!! Oh, and don't forget Tutus & Tea Parties! You'll love these blogs...I promise!

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Thursday, March 15, 2012

Welcome to my Home Sweet Home...


As most of you know I have a "Country" Decorated home on the inside...so WHY don't I have anything inviting on the outside???...Well, now I do!!! I've always been against putting anything on my door, but maybe it's because I didn't have just the "right" thing??...
Since my new love has been burlap and felt, this fit perfect!
It's simply a straw wreath wrapped in burlap strips, felt rolled flowers, linen stampled with regular card stamp ink and twine! Super easy!...I think it turned out pertty darn cute!
I see sooooo many cute wreaths on Pinterst and really wanted to do one that I could 100% enjoy, I think this one I will!


I linked it over at Live.Laugh. Rowe (dont' forget today's her kick off!!!)
http://www.livelaughrowe.blogspot.com/2012/03/live-laugh-linky-thursday-1.html
AND over at Young House Love!
http://www.younghouselove.com/2012/03/winter-pinterest-challenge-bag-it/


(Not affiliated with Pinterest or any other site in any way)





AND at The 36th Avenue
My entry into Show Me Extraordinary sponsored by Appliances Online and Bosch Washing Machines.
I'd love to win the $75 and buy as much bakers twine and felt as I could!!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Live.Laugh.Rowe Kickoff~ 3/15

Today's a little shout out to tell, remind and share a wonderful kick off over at Live.Laugh.Rowe on March 15th..2 days away!
It you haven't been over to Kelly's blog..well, you're missing out! Go visit you won't be disappointed! I've made it easy for ya...click below!!
http://www.livelaughrowe.blogspot.com/2012/03/linky-party-coming-soon.html

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Giveaway at Imprintalish!!


Want to get a fun 8x8 fabric scrapbook? Buzz over to Imprintalish and enter the giveaway!!
http://imprintalish.blogspot.com/2012/03/giveaway-tutorial-from-kristy-lil-cup.html

Bring on Spring!


Washington is not exactly the place you should live it you love the sunshine, but here I am! After 20 years you'd think I'd stop complaining about it...nope not gonna happen! I had to make a little of my own sunshine today on this rainy, snowy, cold grey day! With Easter right around the corner I might put a few small colorful eggs in it as well!
While I'm on the topic of wreath's...make sure to jump over to Gingersnap Crafts and check out their Pinspired & Rewired! (Button on the right sidebar!) I'm soooo excited for this because it MAKES me get crafty when I could easily make many excuses! You have 3 weeks to get your goods together after it's posted, so ya have plenty of time to be prepared!! Check out the details over there!! My wreath is almost finished and I have to say....it's probably the best one I've ever done!! It's all my favorite fabrics right now and perfectly warm for my country home!! You have 2 weeks, better get started!!


Same wreath, but changing things up a little with Velcro accents!...

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Starring Burlap~

Burlap was my "New Black" for awhile...It might still be!! I love this rustic heart! I had just discovered burlap and was given an actual burlap bag off the farm! I love how the real bag gives you great texture, but I still went out and bought yards of the thinner stuff from the fabric store! It's like duck tape, it has thousands of uses!!!!

Keys to Happiness


Yesterday I was browsing through Barnes & Noble and passed a journal that said 'Love your Life'.
I don't know why, but as I walked around the store that kept rising to the front of my thoughts.
I know things happen and we don't quite understand why...things aren't always like we plan...but still with that being said, I do love my life! I'm blessed with family, friends, hopes, dreams...it goes back to, "is your glass half full or half empty??" Mine is pretty darn full!
I made this frame last week and thought I'd share it since it captures words for my happiness!
Of all places I found these keys when I was at the Dupont Girl Scout store! I love finding little treasures! Look at the picture below to see the words on them!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Family conversation~

Let's face it, with the hustle n' bustle of every day life we sometimes loose sight of "Quality Family Time". I love this little box! It was a plain little wooden box that I bought from Ben Franklin and then decoupaged it with scrap book paper and peel n' stick letters. Inside are several different topics that can be discussed at dinner. It may only happen a few times a week, but that's better than none at all. My daughter is only 6 and loves it, but a friend of ours started using it with her pre-teens and it's been an eye opener to some of the every day struggles at school! Even if you don't have a box, you can use the 3 table topics (we love this one!) 1. Worst part of your day
2. Something you learned today 3. Best part of your day ...It's great how something you may have done that you thought was so insignificant was quite a treat to someone else!!

Friday, March 2, 2012

Hearts n' Cricut~hand n' hand


My cricut can never cut enough hearts!!
All my side of the family lives out of state, so I made this for my mom recently. Yes, another frame from Ben Franklin ( 2 for $14.00)...If ya know of any other great places to get frames I'm all ears!!.... It's another simple gift and the hearts could be the butterflies I did on a previous project or any little figure ya like! You could put all the hearts in and say, "I love you" .... use your imagination and beautiful things will happen!!!

Little chalks ok~

Alright, I know I said that chalk WASN'T for me on the wall, but I LOVE it for frames! These are great easy gifts!! Ben Franklin always puts their frames on sale 2 for $5, so I love to stock up!
Ya paint them with chalk board paint, add a few embellishments and boom!~ Write Happy Birthday, Miss You, Love you, Happy Mother's Day...you get the jist!~ We always celebrate all April birthdays at our house, so last year I made a frame for each kid with a baby picture in it and put it at their place setting! They were a fun little touch and they each got to take theirs home to change if they wanted! Their also super cute to put scrapbook paper on the bottom and leave just the top to chalk on! So many possibilities!!...