Solar System push lights

This  fun project can find you literally the center of the universe! Using Dollar store push lights (and batteries), and alcohol inks (mine are Tim Holtz for Ranger products) we created a Mars affect in under an hour. The planets you simulate will be based on the ink you use. 

For this project lay down a craft mat, and have some make-up wedges ready (You guessed it, from the dollar store). Drip the alcohol inks directly on the light, and quickly begin to dab them. Add random color splashed and dab, dab, dab! A really fun idea would be to use the moon or star shaped push lights in pastel colors for a new babies room. 

Here I have added red and dabbed it around.

These will dry fast, but are extremely reactive to each other. It is very fun to splatter and change until you find the right combo for your planet. Leave for about fifteen minutes after you have your desired affect. Spray with a clear coat and leave alone for a few hours, over night if possible. 

Here she is all done!

I can't wait to make seven or eight more. I'm gonna' have to check with NASA on that number!

Lit up!

Easy ornaments that aren't too ugly to put on your tree

So this is late, but I was super busy over the holiday, sometimes I only have time to make the memories and not actually get around to sharing them. This lovely red spiral is the highlight today, but you may see several handmade ornaments looming in the background. perhaps i will find time to post how those are made before next Christmas.
This is a pretty easy ornament that is fun for the kids, and not too time consuming, which mean you can make one or thirty if you're really feeling it. My kids did about four each. Why is that not a solid four? Well, they started to lose interest right about there.
All you need is tube netting and pipe cleaners. Choose a complimentary pipe cleaner color to the net tubing you choose. This could easily be silver on silver, get creative for Halloween with orange on black, use school colors to hang from your car mirror or whatever.
Cut the tubing to be and inch or two longer than your pipe cleaner. I need two full inches, because these knots are hard for me, but then I waste a lot at the end. Tie one knot then  feed the pipe cleaner into the tube. Tied the other end into a knot. Make sure your knots are nice and tight and then trim. When feeding in the pipe cleaner you may feel it get 'caught', this simply means you will have to inch it on, but it will be lovely at the end, I promise.

After the knots are good you can shape your noodle any way you want. We had some hearts, but my favorite were these spiral shapes, reminiscent of a set my husband and I bought in Denver years ago. Here's one of the girlies, proud of her ornament!

Cookie Cutter Chirstmas frames

Let's face it, Grandma has everything. At least everything your seven year old can afford. The only thing she wants, the same thing every year, pictures. Pictures. This magically instant way to connect with those she loves so much; but have little time for her. It's OK, she understands, she was younger before she was older.
So, let's do something special this year, and make some uber-cheap, child skill-level perfect presents. This actually means easy enough for us; because, let's face it, these kids can figure anything out.
Get some 'spare' pics, or print some special. Buy a pack of cookie cutters at your local dollar store. Trace around the pics, then cut inside that trace about an eight to a quarter of an inch inside. This will eliminate the line you drew and make up for the 'wall' of the frame. Once trimmed, place inside and press the picture against the front of the cutter. gently work the picture up against the wall anywhere it might still be a little too large.
Using a high heat glue gun- parents do this part- trace the edges to seal in the picture. Poke a hole in the top and run twine, string, or ribbon to hang from your tree. You can even plan on using ones that are self standing to decorate your desk at work! Add flowers, glitter, tiny pine cones, whatever makes it especially perfect for your recipient.
If using older ornaments, you can spray a nice sanitary layer with spray paint, we're not eating off of these, but we could also hope not to get tetanus. Have fun and add as much fru-fru as you and your kiddos like, Grandma loves glitter!

Important Product Notice/Review

Ok, I know there are people out there with more money than sense. They are the target audience for 'gimmicks'. I love to be a (self appointed) gimmick tester. So yeah, I've tried Slow Cooker Liners. They are great. But I have more time than I have money, which are both pretty low. So I have dreamt of them each time I clean out the crock pot. Telling myself, next time you need to remember they're worth it.
And this affects what I might cook. I think, did I buy those bags? Never mind, we don't want homemade beans. Because I am a Mom, and I am already thinking about clean up before the meal is made.
Perusing the Dollar Tree, looking at Thanksgiving type items I saw the oven bags were out. And I thought, 'Hmmm..... A crock pot is like a tiny oven.' Opting for the four pack, as opposed to the one piece extra large, I figured, I have several size crock pots so whatever one it works in.
Of course I checked in in my most often used large oval crock pot first. I scrunched the sides like you're putting on pantyhose then pushed the sides to fill the space. It was almost as big!
I have since cooked a ham bone with beans and sweet and sour pork, with more plans on crock pot meals. I place my ingredients in, shake it so there is a top, twist and fold it over.
Ham bone soup:
Ham bone, hopefully with some meat on it
Bag of great northern beans, rinsed
a tsp each of salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes
Five bay leaves.
Fill water to to proper level on crock pot. Cook on High for six hours. Dredge fat and bay leaves off the top. Serve over corn bread or Frito's.
Sweet and sour pork:
Pork
Onion
2  Bell Peppers
Sweet and sour sauce
Can of pineapple chunks
1/4 cider vinegar
Cube pork, rinse and shake in a bag with 2 TBSP flour. (Optional step, grill on high to a nice color on the outside) Chop Onion and Bell Pepper. Throw full can of pineapple, pork, veggies and vinegar into bag. Cook on High four hours.

The season(ing) of gifting

Anyone who knows me knows the importance I place on gift giving, after all, it is my Love Language.
Also, anyone who knows me knows I love food. Seriously. Like to a sinful level. And people like my cooking. They love the Hubs cooking. It's all about flavor. So why not combine the two?
A seasoning shaker is like the gift that keeps on giving. Like four or five or ten meals worth.

To make a few jars of Beef seasoning buy the following ingredients
3 pack of gravy mix
'jars' of  red pepper flakes, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, minced onion, cumin, and pink salt.

Combine the full amount of paprika, garlic powder, minced onion, brown gravy.

All of this goes in.

Next add just two Tablespoons of cumin, pink salt, black pepper. 

2 TBS of these

Finally you will add just two teaspoons of the red pepper flakes.

Just a wee bit o' this one.

The end result is a very lovely rub/seasoning/mix in. 

Wow, look at the texture!

Place the mixture in two to three Parmesan shakers. Cut a tag from some rustic looking paper. Give it a name. Use a coffee filter before screwing on the cap. After screwing on the cap trim the filter to a more appealing length. Tie on the rustic tag with some twine. Voila!

The fully used seasonings account for four dollars. The minuscule amount of other seasonings may equal another dollar. The shakers are one dollar each. So we have seven dollars divided by two here, making each shaker 3.50. The more you make, the more value you get, as the unit cost can go down by shopping elsewhere. This is feasibly enough to fill three jars, increasing the number to eight dollars, but decreasing the cost by dividing it three ways. At two sixty-seven a jar this is a great gift for neighbors, work mates, and pastors!

Results are in!

An important element to any craft-ivity is authentic excitement. I wanted to create an air of seriousness, of importance, to what we were going to do, so I created the style box. When I broke down the cost of each style box it was 1.62 each. Of course, if doing bigger dolls, you would include two full sheets, which is one dollar on it's own, larger recyclables, like Pringles cans, and a longer piece of ribbon or tulle.
Some free things to include; mesh from fruit bags, toilet paper rolls, lids, round containers. And for pennies; plastic rings (the backs can be snipped off, or not), mesh tubing, tulle, plastic insects or animals, stickers, and of course the big money item, a variety of Skinz.
I called in my neighbor to hand letter the Style Box and challenge cards, because my writing looks like a two year-old. Cat. On Prozac. I am very happy with the end result, it looks like something that might excite me, if I was a young child. Ok, I am excited at this age.


                                         

Style Box

The boxes were presented, clothing was designed. Voting was done. In a terrible upset Mom was the only loser. I am inconsolable. However, the girls tied and were rewarded with a fun book of word games, puzzles and stickers! We discussed doing this once a month. sounds like fun to me!

Americas Next Top Monster

I don't know if the headlines will read, "Dollar Tree saves Skinz", but it might. I don't know if it's a bail out move, or a smart move for Skinz to get the word out on it's product (insert product research, blah, blah, blah). Either way it's awesome for me!Skinz, for most people who have never heard of it is a sticky backed fun fabric. You can make frames, or put it up in your locker or stick it to your headphones, etc.
I originally picked some up for the Monster Dorm we are working on, I mean it's already a rectangular fuzzy, pink carpet, a Pringles can later it's a set of stylish stools, you get the idea. Also for scrapbooking I saw endless possibilities (remember, I have a Sizzix); cutting frames, letters, shapes, FUN! Even using as a cover for a fun brag book!
But, I also have this other problem, with the Monster Dorm scraps. I play with those leftovers until they become something to. Hence, the creations Of Ichabod's Millinery. But with these leftovers, an idea forms.
A lot of families have a show they watch together, even we (I who do not watch television much), have bonded over The Voice, Project Runway, and Home Free. I have heard many stories about family bonding over American Idol. Seriously, like hundreds. And I don't have that many friends.
Know, take these completely random thoughts, barely passing each other. And BAM! I have just created a brilliant idea for craft time with the girls.
You will need, whatever doll you child does, size does not matter, you will just need more sheets of Skinz, each player needs a doll, even Mom. You will need a few different packs of Skinz (double for large dolls), mesh tubing (maybe multiple colors), lids and toilet paper rolls, be on the lookout from your daily garbage this week, scissors, work space. Each kid gets an equal package of items, mesh tubing, recycling, Skinz. The design challenge is announced, a stylish day in the park, lunch at McDonalds, whatever. And Mom or Dad must play, That's when simple seeds of confidence and gentle kindness are planted.
So here's my sample Model, and I will let you know more this weekend. Blessings to all!