A Few Projects

I may or may not have a million projects that need finishing and/or starting. They are taking up my garage, my basement, the kitchen and that huge amount of space between my ears. Someone come dig me out...
1. Build a bed frame for my daughter's room. I just bought the lumber for this GIGANTIC project that is bigger than me. The skill level for this undertaking is way bigger than I have the brains for. I'm not sure why I chose to do this, other than, I wanted a challenge. And it WILL be a challenge...
2. Finish the board & batten in my living room. I've had it half painted for months, yes you read that right- half painted. That is so ghetto. But I'm beyond ready to have everyone who enters our home to not stare at this hideous wall (which I will post pics of when I do this particular project.) *SIGH* I just committed to showing you this ridiculous sight.
3. Obviously my daughter is remodeling her room and obviously I've promised to do the furniture part. I am painting an old dresser for her. This project will take place in the garage when the weather changes. At this point I'm thinking--- NEVER.
4. My kitchen. The whole entire thing. Like the dining area AND the kitchen part. I dislike, almost HATE, kitchens! But I think I could like mine IF (that is a big if) it was cute and repainted and was bright and yellow with some fun gray accents and...
5. A whole bunch of vinyl to stick on the wall. In the past several months I have purchased too much vinyl. Yes, I bought pre-cut vinyl shapes and yes I have a Cricut and too much vinyl. Don't ask!
And many more...
I will finish these projects, I WILL! And I will blog about them.

I Can't Keep Secrets

Remember this POST?
I just can't take it anymore, I am just so excited about this chair:

Please excuse the garage clutter. I bought this solid wood chair for $6 at a local junk store. Deal? I thought so. I'm re-upholstering the seat and she's gonna get painted! I've already started, but this one's gonna take a minute...
I will try to hurry... believe me, I'm just as excited to get it done as my husband is to get it out of the garage. He just doesn't know that as soon as that's done, there's a big ol' dresser going in there to be refinished! I have soooo many ideas rolling around up there in my melon, now to find the time...

In Hopes of Spring

I really thought that Spring was on it's way... no dice. The weatherman says "snow." Um, NOOOOO!
So I'm doing my part to try and usher in the warmer weather by wearing flip-flops and making a cute tee! Ya gotta check this baby out! (But promise not to laugh.) I was at that one "big box store" the other day and spotted these cute little numbers for $3 each. Uh, no way?! Deal, I'll take two! (Maybe I got more than two?)

I simply cut off the bottom of the grey one. I have intentions of making that one cute, too. Lucky you, a future post to look forward too. If you're doing the math- that's 2 shirts for $6! And not just "off the rack" fashion, either. I won't be looking like everyone else who saw that bargain and stuffed their carts full, er, I mean, bought just two of them. :)
Next, I cut out a flower, 2 sizes, from a piece of junk mail. Go figure. I then pinned it on the grey and started cutting like a mad woman. I don't even know how many flowers I cut. That's a good tutorial for ya, right? And then I started placing them around the collar. Before I *hand-stitched* them on, I folded them in half then in half again so that they popped out more.
I decided I didn't like the flowers all the way around, it looked too much like a lei. NOTHING wrong with a lei, I just didn't think I would want to be wearing one every time I wore this shirt. So I started sewing from the center front and "built up" from there, until I liked the look. Eventually it looked full enough and I stopped cutting flowers and stitching.
AFTER:

This Is A First... A Page To Share

While I was blogging around this morning, I found a challenge. A scrapbook challenge. And since I've been itching to dig into my forgotten supplies, I threw myself into the game. I would really, really like to win the prize, but I am ever thankful that I had this opportunity to remind myself how to scrapbook. It all came back to me pretty quick! (I seriously haven't done a layout in months!)

So, Erin- enjoy! This page was created with ONE page of the Animal Crackers paper. Really, just one! I {heart} that stack so much! Thanks for the challenge.

I cut apart a "border sheet" of the Animal Cracker Stack (DCWV) and used every little piece of it. I don't know how to get a good photo of a layout, hopefully you can see it.

A Little Recipe Share

Um, I don't even know where to begin. I actually played Rachel Ray and made some serious orange rolls. They are to. die. for! Let's just say my diet will be suffering until they are gone... and leave it at that.

If you know me very, very personally, you know I hate, pretty much more than most things, to be in the kitchen slaving over a hot stove or oven. To the crockpot inventor person, I say- thank you from the bottom of my heart! I can also make a mean sandwich, you know, the peanut butter and jelly kind? Fast and easy.

One day my sister saw a sign in a magazine and told me that I really should have it for my house. It said "I only have a kitchen because it came with the house." And that, my friends, sums it up to a tee!

See why I'm makin' such a HUGE deal out of these rolls? And they are perfect for Easter... with a little imagination!

Bunny Buns

1 package dry active yeast

1/4 c.warm water

1 c. milk, warmed not quite to boiling

1/3 c. sugar

1/2 c. shortening

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 c. orange juice

2 Tablespoons grated orange peel

5 1/2 c. flour, sifted

GLAZE: 2c. powdered sugar, 1/4 c. hot water, 1 t. butter

Sprinkle yeast in the warm water and set aside. In a large bowl combine: milk, sugar, shortening, and salt. Cool until lukewarm. Add eggs, water with yeast, orange juice and orange peel. Stir in flour a cup at a time to make a soft dough. Let stand for 10 minutes.

Knead dough 5-10 minutes on a lightly floured surface until dough is smooth and elastic. Place it in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease surface. Cover and let rise for 2 hours until doubled in size. 

Punch down and let stand for 10 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a rectangle 1/2" thick. Cut dough into strips 1/2" wide and 14" long. Roll between hands into rounded snake shapes. Cut one strip into pieces 1/2" long and roll into balls. Place a long strip onto greased baking sheet in a U shape. Twist ends once to create "ear shapes." Place a rounded ball into loop to create a "tail."

Cover and let rise for 45-60 minutes until doubled in size. 

Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes.

Mix all ingredients together for glaze and frost while "bunnies" while they are still warm.

I'm Teasing You

I'm throwing in a little teaser here...

No pictures, sorry.

I purchased something extremely exciting {if only to me} yesterday.

Another project. Hint: Re-do to fabulous. At least I hope it will be fabulous...

Just wait...

For My Peeps

Do you read this blog? If you don't, you should. Cuz that's where I found this project. I'm tellin' ya- I saw, I thought, I made. That's pretty much how it went!

I so wanted to find some pink felt, but I couldn't find the right pink color. So I went with little yellow Peeps. Let me tell you how ecstatic I was when, before I even painted the eyes on, my daughter said "Mom those look like the marshmallows that come out for Easter." Yes!!

I'm still trying to decide what to hang on this rod, after all the holiday schtuff comes down?! Ideas?

Butterfly Kisses

Remember that song? Okay, I'm dating myself. I apologize.

 BUTTERFLY MOBILE

Sorry about the dark, blurry photo. 

This was super fun, super easy and quick, quick, quick to make! I scoured my scrap paper bin for spring colors. I didn't even worry about "matchy-matchy." As long as it was pastel, spring-y, I went with it. And then I pulled out my trusty Cricut. {Shameless Plug: The Wall Decor and More cartridge is da bomb dot com!} I cut out 3 1/2", 3" and 2 1/2" butterflies. 19 of them to be exact. Since I didn't want the antenna getting all wrapped up in the string, I simply cut them off.  Uh, seriously- this next part is a little "ghetto" but it's true. I cut about an inch strip off a cereal box, twice. Yes, a cereal box. And I taped it together and taped it again into a circle for my pretty butterflies to hang off. I then arranged 5 different lengths of DMC floss around the circle. Glue Dots helped me sandwich the floss between my butterflies. Bend the wings out a little and they're flying!! I used ribbon, 4 strands, to use as a hanger. Oh and then I gathered, with a glue gun, a little fabric around the circle, just to cover the Rice Krispies box. 

Phew, that was a long description for such an easy project! But I betcha you could figure it out without my babbling.