Crafty Confessions

Tuesday Confessional Link Party

2013-05-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

I'm posting this party late because last night was a night to reflect on the awful storms in Oklahoma and appreciate my beautiful family. My heart goes out to everyone who was affected, especially the parents of the little ones who were lost.

Please link up, link back, and go hug someone you love!

Closet Pirate Hideout

2013-05-14T13:25:00.005-07:00

Arrrr Mateys! Do you have an extra little nook or closet in your house that is just collecting dust and clutter? I have the perfect solution for you today: A closet Pirate Hideout!

My boys share a room with two closets, but only one was being used for clothes and the other was being used to hide their messes. Between that, and the fact that the doors kept coming off I decided to do away with the second closet, and turn it into something more useful for my playful little guys.

After removing the doors I also removed the bottom track. After that I painted a fun little ocean scene on the wall. I was going for a children's book illustration effect.

Next, I cut out a wheel shape from a cardboard box and painted it. I super glued 1/2" washers to both sides so the cardboard wouldn't wear down as the wheel was turned. Finally, I secured it to the wall with a bolt, and a large nut behind so it wouldn't be flush with the wall. This is one of my favorite features because the wheel really turns!

Next came the flag. It just isn't a true Pirate Hideout without the Jolly Roger. I used a $.97 fat quarter from Walmart and a $.30 piece of white felt. I learned the greatest trick on Pinterest: If you put contact paper on the felt and then cut out your shape it is 100 times easier!! I used Fabric Fusion to attach the felt to the black fabric and let it dry. I like the frayed look, so I didn't bother hemming the edges.

I already made the pirate crate seats a few months ago, so they were ready to go.

Finally, I bought two decorative fish netting from the Dollar Tree and hung them as curtains. They gave it the perfect finishing touch.

A few pirate hats and a treasure map that I crocheted made perfect accessories. I'm working on a purple Pirate Princess hat for Samantha.

This was such a fun and rewarding project to do for my kids, and has already helped cut down on the bedroom clutter. Best of all, I had all the supplies on hand except the netting, so it only cost me $2 to make!

Yo-ho-ho!

Tuesday Confessional Link Party

2013-05-13T18:27:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to the Tuesday Confessional link party! I hope you have all had a great week and a smashing Mother's Day. I've been working on all sorts of fun things for my kids and trying to stay cool in this heat. Speaking of cool...let's get to the party! Link up anything you are proud of and make sure to follow this blog.

Soccer Team Washer Necklaces

2013-05-04T07:15:00.000-07:00

As if I'm not busy enough I volunteered to coach my son's kindergarten soccer team. I was really nervous at first, but after coaching a few practices and my first game I'm pretty confident I can handle it. And I just adore the kids. They are so enthusiastic.

A few weeks ago I came across this on Pinterest.

Source

I thought it was great, so I decided to try it out with soccer balls. I purchased these one inch images from IKJewelryParty on Etsy for only $.59! After printing them on regular printer paper I learned that it is too thin and the paper glaze will cause it to tear. Make sure you use card stock! Because I didn't feel like running to the store for card stock I used a sheet of soccer ball scrapbook paper from Michael's that I already had handy. I still plan on using the soccer images for cupcake toppers for the end of the season party.

To make the necklaces I cut out the soccer balls and adhered them to 1 inch washers with Paper Glaze. Next, I wrote each child's jersey number on the balls with a fine tipped Sharpie, and carefully removed the middle with a needle and an Exacto knife. Finally I covered the pendants with a thick layer of Paper Glaze.

This is a great, inexpensive team gift and can be made with any type of ball. Including the soccer images, washers, and necklace cord I only spent around $4 on this project. I can't wait to give them to my soccer munchkins at the next game!

Linking up to THESE parties.

School Cafeteria Peanut Butter Candy Recipe

2013-05-02T08:17:00.002-07:00

A few weeks ago I celebrated my 8th wedding anniversary with my amazing husband. I had no idea what to get him because it seems like the man already has everything. After wracking my brain I remembered that he is always talking about how much he loved the peanut butter candy they used to sell at school. With that in mind I found several recipes online, but none of them tasted right. Finally, after some trial and error I came up with my own recipe that tastes just like the kind from the cafeteria at school. It was just too good to keep to myself, so here it is:

School Cafeteria Peanut Butter Candy Recipe

Ingredients
3 Cups creamy peanut butter
3 Cups powdered sugar
8 Tbsp butter--super softened
6 cups crushed rice crispies
1 bag milk chocolate chips

Directions
Combine peanut butter, powdered sugar, softened butter, and rice crispies. It will take a lot of stirring so you may want to mix it in two halves.

After you've mixed your ingredients pour them into a 9x13 pan LINED WITH WAX PAPER. This part is important because you can just lift the paper out to serve the candy. Press the mix firmly into the pan and cover with the entire bag of melted chocolate chips.

Place in the refrigerator for at least an hour so the chocolate can harden.

My extremely picky husband loved his present and said it tasted EXACTLY like the kind from school. Luckily for him, I hate peanut butter and chocolate, so he got the whole tray to himself.

What foods from your childhood do you guys crave?

Linking up to THESE great parties.

Joey Watch & Co. on Facebook

2013-04-30T19:10:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago a friend of mine approached me about giving his business, Joey Watch & Co., a little boost. He is such a great guy that I was happy to help. When I received one of his awesome watches in the mail I couldn't wait to share such a fun accessory with my readers.

Joey's watches are super fun and go with just about anything. The watches are made of light, comfortable silicone. The faces and bands are interchangeable so you can wear them with different outfits or just mix and match to change things up.

I got the pink watch and my Hubby has the blue watch. We've worn them every day since we got them.

At the moment these awesome "Joey Watches" can be purchased by going to the Joey Watch & Co. Facebook page. You can place an order through Facebook comment under the picture of the watch you want and you will be sent Paypal information through a private message.

The best part of Joey Watch and Co. is Joey Reams. Joey is a 32 year old dad with 3 active little kids. He is currently going to school AND working full time so his wife can stay home to raise and home school their kids. He is selling these fun watches as a way to bring in a little extra income for his ADORABLE family.

Check out Joey Watch & Co on FB and "like" the page. Let's show them that Crafty Confessors appreciate good, hard working dads!

Spring Time Beauty

2013-04-30T18:28:00.001-07:00

Spring is here...at least for this week...and I have been enjoying every minute of it. I especially love this time of year because of the amazing photo opportunities around every corner. Here are just a few that I found today in Gardner Village in West Jordan, Utah.

I challenge all of you to get out your cameras and go exploring. It could be through your backyard, or at a local park. Beauty is everywhere. Don't miss out on it!

Tuesday Confessional Link Party

2013-04-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to the Tuesday Confessional link party! I scheduled the party to post last week, but I must have forgotten to hit Publish. Oh well...we'll blame it on pregnancy brain. :) I'm glad to be back this week and I can't wait to browse though all the amazing link-ups that are to come.

CafePress--My New Addiction

2013-04-21T11:27:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for custom or personalized products look no further than CafePress! CafePress is an online store that sells everything from custom shirts to cute baby clothes to drink ware. Here are just a few examples:

Custom Shirts

Imagine walking into a blogging conference proudly displaying your blog's name and design!

Cute Baby Clothes

I cannot tell you how much I love this onesie!

CafePress also offers custom baby onesies.

Fun t shirts

I'm also a huge fan of their Drinkware.

I could spend hours looking at all the fun things that are available from CafePress. It is almost as addictive as Pinterest!

Repurposed Side Table to Chic Dog Bed

2013-04-18T15:17:00.001-07:00

A while back I found this adorable little gem from Lucy Designs on Pinterest and knew I had to make one for Lucy, my spoiled little mini dachshund.

After a few weeks of searching the classifieds I found the perfect side table at the perfect price.

First, I removed the door and set it aside for when inspiration strikes.
Next, I sanded the table with an electric sander--holy cow were my fingers tingling!

I painted the entire table with turquoise paint. I used a Valspar sample size from Lowes and I still have some left over!
After the paint dried I distressed the edges with sandpaper to give it a worn, antique look. At first my husband said, "Uh...dude...you missed a few spots." Civilians....

Next came my favorite part: Mod Podge. I LOVE Mod Podge! I dug into my paper stash and cut out some "fancy" dog bones and a paw print. I adhered the designs to the top of the table and gave the whole thing 3 coats. I used my brand new, fancy-shmancy Mod Podge tools, so I was feeling pretty cool.

Finally, I sewed a pillow to fit inside by tracing the top of the table. I filled the pillow with a mix of stuffing and old family blankets so she would have our smell.

Miss Lucy was a bit skittish for the first day, but quickly embraced her new puppy palace. So did the kids...

The table cost me $10 and the paint was around $3. I had the rest of the supplies on hand. In the end, this project cost me less than $13. I couldn't have bought a cheap little dog bed for that amount!

Linking up to THESE great parties.

Baby Calzone

2013-04-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

We had our first OB appointment on Tuesday and got to see and hear our sweet baby for the first time. It was supposed to be a 10 week appointment, but after an ultrasound we found that our Little Calzone (Calvin for a boy and Zoe for a girl) was only measuring 7 weeks 3 days. Normally I wouldn't mind, but this baby has given me the worst morning sickness ever, and that just means 3 extra weeks of feeling sick.

Still, we're thrilled to be welcoming our newest addition on November 30, 2013. I'm crossing my fingers for a girl, but another crazy boy would just add to the chaotic beauty that is the Moon house.

On a side note...the only things I can keep down today are Ramen Noodles and Mountain Dew, so I'm not sure if I am carrying a baby or a broke college student.

White Cloud Diapers at Walmart

2013-04-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of White Cloud Diapers. All thoughts and opinions are mine. I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Wal-Mart and try out White Cloud Diapers.

Last week I had the chance to attend a playdate sponsored by White Cloud Diapers. It was held on one of the few nice days we have actually had here in Salt Lake City, at an adorable little park in Magna. I'll admit that I was nervous to meet other blogger mommies, but we all clicked right away. While the kids played on the playground and munched on yummy snacks--including adorable little cookies--the moms got to know each other over a game of "Dirty Diapers".

Add caption

Yeah...I said Dirty Diapers! Different flavors of baby food were put into White Cloud Diapers and passed around. The object was to correctly guess the flavor. It was the first time I realized that just about all baby food looks and smells like sweet potatoes! While disgusting, the game did a pretty good job of showing how strong and durable White Cloud Diapers really are. Here are a few other great benefits of White Cloud Diapers:

White Cloud Diapers provide great leakage protection with a special ultra absorbent inner core that draws moisture away from baby's skin to keep them dry and comfy. If you've ever dealt with diaper rash you know how important that can be!

Another added benefit for your baby's sensitive skin is that White Cloud Diapers are hypoallergenic and fragrance-free.

White Cloud Diapers are comfortable. A cottony soft inside and outside keeps your baby comfortable, and sizes Newborn through 2 feature an extra soft quilted inner liner that contains the mess. They also have stretchy cotton sides for added comfort.

White Cloud Diapers are magical! Well...maybe not magical, but early stage diapers (newborn-size 2) have a color changing wetness indicator to let you know when baby needs to be changed. That is a feature I always look for when my babies are tiny.

Best of all, White Cloud Diapers are affordable and available at Walmart to help you stay on budget.

Diapering can be one of the biggest expenses in a family’s weekly budget and a great performing diaper is a must-have for parents. In order to make this affordable, Wal-Mart has reintroduced their premium line of White Cloud diapers to address the needs of today’s busy parents.
White Cloud Diapers provide your baby the highest quality diaper with superior leakage protection, exceptional softness and great fit. White Cloud Diapers are available exclusively at Walmart, where you can find low prices everyday on all your family’s needs. Check them out today!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of #WhiteCloudDiapers.

Tuesday Confessional Link Party

2013-04-16T06:44:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to the Tuesday Confessional link party! I loved looking at all the great link-ups from last week--it helped take my mind off the awful morning sickness. I can't wait to see what you have for me this week.

Tuesday Confessional Link Party

2013-04-08T17:55:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to the Tuesday Confessional link party! I've been missing for the past few weeks because I have been a bit under the weather, but with good reason...we're having baby #4!!

We're thrilled about the new baby, and just as importantly, our 3 kids are super excited as well.

Now that I've shared the good news, let's get to the link party!
Please link back here with a button or URL, and follow me on GFC or Bloglovin'.

Crochet Easter Basket Pattern

2013-03-22T20:56:00.003-07:00

With Easter just around the corner I have had requests for the pattern for my Hello Kitty and Elmo Easter baskets. I never wrote down the pattern, but here is basically how to did it:

Basic Basket

Bottom:
Using 2 strands of yarn hdc 6 in a magic circle. If you don't know the magic circle chain 4 and join. Hdc 6 in the inner loop.
Round 2: Hdc 2 in each stitch around (12). Join.
Round 3: Ch. 1. *Hdc 2 in the first stitch. Hdc 1 in the next stitch. Repeat from * around. Join. (18)
Round 4: Ch. 1. *Hdc 2 in the first stitch. Hdc 1 in the next 2 stitches. Repeat from * around. Join. (24)

Continue to increase until your basket is the desired circumference. Ch. 2.
*Before moving onto the sides cut plastic canvas to the same size as your bottom.

Sides:
Double crochet in the top part of each stitch to allow the sides to come up from the bottom. Join.
Ch 2. *Double crochet in each stitch around. Join.
Repeat until your basket is the desired height. I did 8 rows.
*About half way through you can sew your canvas to the bottom (inside) of your basket using the same color yarn.

Ch 1. Sc in each stitch around. Join. DO NOT BREAK OFF!

Handle:
Row 1: Ch 1. Sc in next 3 stitches. Ch. 1. Turn.
Row 2: Sc in each of the 3 stitches. Ch. 1. Turn.
*Continue until your handle is the desired length. Break off leaving enough yarn to sew the handle to the other side of the basket.

I will be posting instructions for the faces a little later.

Happy Hooking!

Dashes and Dots Giveaway Winner

2013-03-22T08:05:00.001-07:00

Good morning Crafty Confessors! The winner of the Dashes and Dots giveaway is....(drumroll with crochet hooks)...

Jennifer T.!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congrats Jennifer! You'll be contacted soon about your prize.

Keep Calm and Follow Me on Bloglovin'!

2013-03-20T19:58:00.001-07:00

Google Reader is shutting down! Yeah...I'm a bit behind on my bloggy news. I had a momentary heart attack until I realized that Google Friend Connect would still be available on my blog since I have a Google blog. Still...it is a bit disconcerting to think that I could lose beloved friends (yes...my followers are my friends. I love you guys)!

Just in case...I have signed up for Bloglovin'. I would love it if you guys would follow me there as well.

Source: The Keep Calm-O-Matic

Keep calm everyone. We'll make it through. :)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Tuesday Confessional and Dashes and Dots GIVEAWAY!

2013-03-18T18:23:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to the Tuesday Confessional Link Party! I have a special treat for you this week: A giveaway from Dashes and Dots!

Dashes and Dots is a new children's boutique that is a little bit of classy, sassy, and a lot of fun! Here are a few examples of the adorable items Dashes and Dots offers:

Today Dashes and Dots is giving away one of their "Little Tot Floppy Hats" (retail $10).

These adorable hats come in a variety and fun spring colors. The hat has an elastic strap for tiny tots (not pictured) that can be tucked into the hat for older kids.

Enter below using Rafflecopter. The giveaway goes until midnight on March 22nd and the winner will be announced the next day. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now onto the Tuesday Confessional link party! Be sure to follow me on Google Friend Connect and check out some of the other great link ups.

Tuesday Confessional Link Party

2013-03-04T17:57:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to this week's Tuesday Confessional link party! I can't wait to see what you have come up with this week.

Before we start just a few requests: Please follow me on Google Friend Connect, link back here with a link or button, and stay to check out a few of the other linked up projects.

Home Sweet Crack House...WHAT?!?!

2013-02-26T08:31:00.000-08:00

Source

You may have noticed another gap in posts over the last few weeks. The reason for that gap is CRAZY! Here's what happened:

Around the beginning of January we moved from our two bedroom apartment to a 3 bedroom townhouse and we were THRILLED! We quickly settled in and unpacked everything. I also went to work on turning a back room in the basement into a playroom for the kiddies.

This was the start of the playroom for the kids...

While painting one of the playroom walls I discovered a broken crack pipe. Not a "Oh no! Call a plumber!" cracked pipe, but a "Holy mother of all things illegal!" CRACK pipe. I called the police and they sent an officer to retrieve the disgusting piece of glass from our home. I swear I washed my hands at least 40 times that day. A few days later an inspector came to our house to test for meth residue. After a week we received the results: Our house tested 6 times over the legal limit for meth residue!!
I felt dirty, and panicked and unsafe in the house that was supposed to be our "step up." The thought of my precious babies breathing in poison was enough to send me into several anxiety attacks.

The next few days were a blur of packing, washing clothes (3 times for every piece of laundry in the house), and doctor appointments. Thank God the kids all tested negative for drugs. We also had to throw away anything porous that couldn't be washed. This included pillows, mattresses, and some beloved stuffed animals, as well as our vacuum and humidifiers.

We have been in our new place for about a week now, and I must say that it is MUCH nicer than the old townhouse. The basement walls are actually "finished", and back yard is HUGE, and we have a garage.

The playroom alone is a good indicator of how much nicer the new place is!

I feel so much safer and at home in this new place. Maybe everything happened to lead us here. Whatever the reasons, I'm just glad my family is safe and comfortable, and I'm happy to be back to blogging (again).

Homemade Bailey's Recipe (Confessions and Cream)

2013-02-24T20:26:00.000-08:00

Hello again Crafty Confessors! It has been almost 3 weeks since I have posted because of DRAMA! I'll post more on that later....
Today is my birthday! I am 29 today! In honor of the last birthday in my twenties I made some homemade Bailey's Irish Cream. I tested a few recipes I found online but they were much too strong for my taste. I came up with my own little mixture that is perfection, so I've taken a break from the birthday festivities to share it with you:

Macy's Confessions and Cream:

1 2/3 cups Johnnie Walker Red
1 1/4 cups half and half
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
14 oz can fat free sweetened condensed milk (I used Eagle brand)
1 teaspoon instant coffee (I used the Folgers singles packets)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 Tablespoons chocolate syrup

Combine all the ingredients in the blender and blend for around 30 seconds.

Serve over ice if desired and top with whipped cream and chocolate syrup.

Pour remaining yumminess into a bottle and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Drink responsibly and take the TARDIS home. ;)

Happy Birthday to Me!

Tuesday Confessional Link Party

2013-02-04T18:42:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to the Tuesday Confessional link party! I hope you all had a great week last week, and I can't wait to see what you have created. Don't forget to check out the features from last week's party HERE.

Adorable Features from Last Week's Tuesday Confessional

2013-02-03T19:24:00.000-08:00

What is pink and red and cute all over? This week's Tuesday Confessional Features! Check them out!

Love Birds Wreath from Navy Wifey Peters

Felt Ribbon Heart Bookmark by The DIY Dreamer

Just Us Four shared her Countdown to Valentine's Day

Fabric Takeout Box Tutorial from Sew Can Do

Paper and Yarn Heart Trees from The Enchanting Rose

DIY Love Board by The Hankful House

Love Kindling from Lemon Tree Dwelling

Valentine's Day Ribbon Wreath from Love Grows Wild

Believe & Inspire shared her tutorial for a DIY Spiked Phone Case

Quick Valentine's Day Garland from Vixen Made

Easy Owl Cake by Happy Hour Projects

Crochet Tea Bag from Fancy That Notion

Thank you to everyone who linked up last week and congrats to those of you that were featured. Don't forget to grab your brag button!

Tuesday Confessional Link Party

2013-01-28T16:52:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to the Tuesday Confessional link party! You can take a look at last week's features HERE.

Just a few "rules" before we start:
Please follow this blog on GFC or subscribe via email.
Link back here so others can join in on the fun.
Check out a few of the other link ups and give them some bloggy love!

Tuesday Confessional Features

2013-01-27T12:16:00.001-08:00

Wow! I loved the projects that were linked up last week. So many of these are now on my Crafty To-Do List. Check them out!

Valentine's Day Heart Art from Missy Inspired

DIY Valentine Chair Backer from The Chirping Moms

Scratch Card Valentines + Template from Kiki's Korner

Twigg Studios shared this awesome Marshmallow Roses Tutorial

Homemade Oreos from Sugar Tart Crafts

French Toast Casserole by Countrified Hicks

Creative Holders from My Crazy Beautiful Life

Fabric covered cabinet doors from Pandora's Craft Box

Vintage Inspired Granny Square Pillows from Happy in Red

DIY Glitter Frame Glasses from Creative Khadija.

Diana Rambles shared her free Super Bowl XLV11 Cupcake Toppers Printable.

Congrats to everyone who was featured this week. Don't forget to grab a brag button!