Cookie Nut Creations

Friday's Feature {How To Make A Terrarium}

2012-05-24T23:17:00.000-06:00

I'm loving this DIY terrarium that was made by Kandi from Woven Home. Such a simple way to add just a touch of spring to a room. Unfortunately, this would not work with my three little girls running around, but it's definitely on my "things to make once the girls are older" list. Rules:

Any creative idea will do
No selling or promoting, so no etsy stores
Giveaways are now permissible ONLY if they are a handmade object
Grab a button to link back to this blog
Start sharing!
And don't forget to check out other link party projects.

Card Board Creations

2012-05-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

Isn't it great when you come to discover that your kids love playing with a card board box more than any store bought toy. A few weeks ago my girls and I discovered just how fun a plain card board box can be.

When I had originally made this little "house" for my girls I simply taped two boxes together, cut out some windows, then a door, and had two happy little girls on my hands.

When I pulled it out from storage to be played with again, I thought I would be fun to add a few embellishments. So, I pulled out their kitchen, camping chairs, some books and baskets, and then let their little imaginations run wild.

While I sat watching them play my own imagination took off. I decided that their little home needed some "homey" touches. So, I cut up an old sheet and used some ribbons and push pins to hang up some curtains. Then, we hung up some art work thanks to some old Ensigns we had on hand. Finally we added a bench with a vase full of flowers.

The place was really looking like something you would find on the Parade of Homes. However, it was the idea of my oldest daughter to open the box up and create a wider space to live in. After all who really wants to live in a box.

With my help we opened everything up. Their little home was finished complete with a gourmet kitchen, a sitting room and reading room, and a pleasant little entryway. Not bad for and afternoon of play which lasted a full two days. It would have lasted much longer than that, but by the morning of the third day I was ready to have my living room back to normal.
What card board creations have you come up with lately?

Friday's Feature {Craft Trifecta}

2012-05-18T07:02:00.000-06:00

This week, I wanted to feature Delicate Construction - Craft Trifecta. I have seen string art before and I have seen ombre before, but I love the combination. I think that this would be adorable as Artwork in a girl's or boy's room. So cute.

Rules:

Any creative idea will do
No selling or promoting, so no etsy stores
Giveaways are now permissible ONLY if they are a handmade object
Grab a button to link back to this blog
Start sharing!
And don't forget to check out other link party projects.

Recycled Leapster or DVD Case

2012-05-16T07:19:00.002-06:00

This year, my son needed to complete a recycled project. I didn't want to just make a piggy bank from an old container or some other thing I would just throw away later. So thanks to wonderful Pinterest, I found this great solution. She used a DVD case. I used a Leapster case because it was a little wider and could fit more colored pencils.

This project wasn't as fast as I thought it would be but part of that is because I probably took some unnecessary steps. Here is the tutorial of how I did it!

Take out the cover and save it.

Remove anything from inside.

Cut out anything that isn't flat.

Be careful not to cut the outer sleeve.

Pick out two coordinating fabrics and cut them out.

Find a piece of something hard and flat. This was a thick clear sheet. You could use chip board, cardboard, etc. Cut it down to fit inside the case.

This is where I could've made this simpler. I tacked it down with tape.

I did it with the other fabric as well.

Then I sewed around the edges.

To make the front a little more taught, I sewed a dividing line. You may not need to do this if you make your fabric tight enough, but I left enough room to do it because it would keep the colored pencils from moving around so much.

Then I super clued the back down. BAD IDEA. It didn't work very well. Use hot glue!

Then I weighed it down so that it would adhere properly.

Then we took the leftover case and drew on the back of it.

We slip it back in and this was the end result.

Place in the colored pencils and paper on the opposite side.

Let the kids color!

I loved this project because now I have something that is portable and fun for the kids to do. I want to make one for all my kids now. It's perfect for church, for the doctors office, road trips, etc. You could also make one as gifts. It would be great for Christmas, for Easter baskets, etc.

This one is a lot of fun. Hope you enjoyed!

Happy Mother's Day!

2012-05-13T20:30:00.000-06:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day! Reflecting on the sacred role of motherhood is a very tender and special thing. To think about what our mothers have done for us, and also what we as mothers are called to do! It is something that can feel overwhelming, but also bring the greatest rewards. I believe that is how Heavenly Father intended it to be, because sacrifice brings forth the greatest blessings. And as President Packer taught us, it brings forth understanding. I made this printable after April General Conference from his talk, "And a Little Child Shall Lead Them". It was my favorite quote from conference, and I hope you enjoy it. It is my gift for Mother's Day. I hope you all know how wonderful you are, and thank you to the many mothers who have inspired me!

Friday's Feature {Paint Chip Matching Game} and Link Party

2012-05-11T06:20:00.000-06:00

I love, love, love this idea from Sew Fantastic!!! It's absolutely brilliant and too cute. In fact I loved this idea so much I ended up pinning it onto Pinterest. And, before we headed out of town this weekend (we've been overdue for a family vacation) I decided to make these for my girls to play while we're camping. Such a simple concept, but something that is sure to keep the kids busy and having fun for hours. Well, maybe not hours, but long enough for me to start a load of laundry.

Rules:

Any creative idea will do
No selling or promoting, so no etsy stores
Giveaways are now permissible ONLY if they are a handmade object
Grab a button to link back to this blog
Start sharing!
And don't forget to check out other link party projects.

Easy Menu Planner

2012-05-06T18:00:00.001-06:00

Sorry I have been MIA for the last little while! Previous to becoming an author on this blog I had taken a short hiatus from blogging and I am still trying to get back into the groove. I have a few posts lined up and more ideas coming! I also LOVED Camie's post about the DIY Custom Framing. I will definitely be trying that in the future, it looked amazing.

The menu planner I am featuring today is an idea I found on Pinterest (of course :)). I am constantly struggling with menu planning and finding a cute and easy way to organize/display it. When I saw this FREE Menu Printable from Kaylee at Home I knew it was for me! It isn't the elaborate chalkboard menu board that I have envisioned in my mind, but I think it is really cute and only took me about 2 minutes to put together. After printing it, I just placed it in a sheet protector and plan on using a dry erase marker, simple! Simplicity and efficiency are something that I lack when it comes to menu planning, so this was a good start!

Now to start filling it.......

Friday's Feature {Washi Tape Storage} and Link Party

2012-05-03T22:06:00.000-06:00

First off, I would like to apologize. With the new changes that Blogger has made, last Link Party went out very late in the day. I have had problems scheduling posts ahead of time where they won't post when they are scheduled to. It has not given people a chance to share their ideas. I will do all I can to make sure it doesn't happen again. I'm sorry if this has inconvenienced anyone.

Now to the fun stuff. This week I am featuring, Delicate Construction and their Washi Tape Storage. I love this idea and it can be used for SO many different things.

Rules:

Any creative idea will do
No selling or promoting, so no etsy stores
Giveaways are now permissible ONLY if they are a handmade object
Grab a button to link back to this blog
Start sharing!
And don't forget to check out other link party projects.

DIY Custom Framing

2012-05-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

We recently participated in a very special wedding ceremony and reception for my daughter's birthmom. This was such a great day for our family, and we wanted to make sure that we had the perfect gift to give to the newlyweds. I decided that I wanted to give them a large framed picture of the Draper Temple that they could hang in their home.

After searching the internet for just the right picture I found this one at Inspirational Art Shop.

I loved the antiqued look and the large frame which measures at 47x29. This particular piece of art sells for $318.00 which unfortunately was out of the budget. So, I decided to recreate this look all on my own. Easy enough right!? Well, it was just that...EASY!!!

First, I had to locate the ideal image. Lucky for me I found the perfect picture at Lil' Luna.

She offers a wide variety of FREE temple images. I simply saved the image I wanted onto my computer and went into Sam's Club photo shop to enlarge, edit, and have it printed. The total cost for all of that was $6.35.
Then, I headed over to Home Depot to pick up some base board and mdf handy panel hardboard. The base board is what I used to create the actual frame and the handy panel is what I mounted the picture onto using some Tacky Spray that I already had on hand.
Total cost for those supplies was $18.25. (FYI-The base board is sold by the foot and the handy panel was $6.42 for a 2x4 sheet. I had the handy panel cut to the size I needed and will use the extra for future projects.)

Once my picture was glued to the handy panel I then sought the help of my friend Becky from the Crafting Chicks. She has some amazing cream from Poppy Seed Creations that gives your photos a protective and textured coating that dries clear. It also eliminates that photos finish/shine.

With the picture now ready to go I simply had to cut my base board. For this project I needed the edges of the base board to be cut at a 45 degree angle in order to create the shape of the frame. It's not necessary, but I would recommend that you use a miter saw for this step. Once the wood was all cut I went ahead and painted each piece (front and back) a flat black. You could use a nice paint, but I opted for spray paint. It's quicker and easier to deal with. The total cost for this process was $0.00. I had a neighbor cut the word with their miter saw and Becky let me use a can of spray paint that she had on hand even though I was willing to get it on my own.

After my wood was done drying I simply used a staple gun to connect the frame pieces. Then I mounted the picture onto the back of those pieces with a staple gun as well. This is definitely a two man process. You want to make sure all of the edges are nice and tight. Again Becky offered her services. (I have such great friends!!)

At this point all I had to was attach a hanger onto the back. I also covered the back side with some butcher paper to give it a nice clean finished look. And that's my easy way of creating a custom looking frame on a budget. Not too shabby for less than $30.00.

YW Theme Handout

2012-04-30T07:00:00.001-06:00

I love serving in Young Women. It gives me a lot of opportunity to make things like this. We gave this at New Beginnings to our new Beehives. It'd be good for a bookmark or a card they could have in their purse. Hope you like it!

Friday's Feature {Hot Chocolate Dippers}

2012-04-27T06:56:00.001-06:00

This week I am featuring Jellyfish Jelly's Hot Chocolate Dippers. We've all seen chocolate dipped spoons, but I love the creativity of tucking sookies, candies, and teddy grahams with a blanket of chocolate. If only it wasn't getting so hot here in Texas, I's made me some of these.

Rules:

Any creative idea will do
No selling or promoting, so no etsy stores
Giveaways are now permissible ONLY if they are a handmade object
Grab a button to link back to this blog
Start sharing!
And don't forget to check out other link party projects.

Indexing Volunteers Needed

2012-04-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

On April 2, 2012, NARA released the digital images of the 1940 Unites States Federal Census after a 72 year embargo. These census images will be uploaded and made available on Archives.com, FindMyPast.com, National Archives, and FamilySearch.org.

Additionally, the entire 1940 census will be indexed by a community of volunteers and made available for free. The free index of the 1940 US census records and corresponding images will be available to the public for perpetuity.

I've actually been indexing for a few years now, but have recently been focusing those efforts on the newly released 1940 census since the need for volunteers to complete this project is in high demand. Indexing is very easy to accomplish and something anyone can do. It doesn't require a ton of time and is something that the entire family can participate in. For those of you who are unfamiliar with indexing and census records let me give you a brief run down.

When you begin indexing you are given a single census record image to index. The image below is an example of what a census record from 1940 would look like.

Then you simply enter the information found on that image. It's really as easy as that. There is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to distinguishing the penmanship from back in the day so some mistakes are obviously made, however each census batch is indexed by two people which helps eliminate those simple errors.

If family history is something you would like to get involved with then indexing is really the place to start. Becoming familiar with census records and learning how to read them is essential in searching out family ancestors. To get started simply visit one of these two sites. Family Search.org or The 1940 Census.

Plan of Salvation Diagram

2012-04-23T07:00:00.017-06:00

Well, there's not a whole lot to say about this other than I made this Plan of Salvation Diagram for your printing pleasure.

A while back I made a different diagram. You can see the original post here. Camie, before she joined the blog, had made it and sent me the images for me to copy. I loved it because it was great for my kids and we could use it to play games.

There are a few reasons why I wanted to make this new one.

My kids are still young, but they are growing fast. I wanted to have something that they could put in their scriptures
I'm also serving in Young Women and it was a great way for the girls to pass off one of their Faith value experiences.
I think that it's something that could be a great (and more portable) missionary tool.
(I wish I had thought if it sooner) It would be a great addition to an Easter basket.

Hope you enjoy it.

And just so you know, I will be selling the enlarged images, game pieces, and game questions so that you will be able to play this game with your family or in your ward calling. Coming to our 'Shop' when I get some time on my hands.

Friday's Feature {Frosted Grapes}

2012-04-19T00:00:00.000-06:00

Once again, I found myself torn between two of your fabulous links. I actually came really close to featuring both of them this week, but because I didn't have a spare dresser in my house in which I could convert into a gardening box, I decided to feature these Frosted Grapes from One Sweet Appetite.
I love this idea (something I never would have thought of) and I know my girls are going to love it too. I especially love the versatility of this recipe. Two ingredients that can be changed multiple times.

Strawberries with Strawberry Jell-O
Raspberries with Rasberry Jell-O
Red Grapes with Grape Jell-O
Kiwi with Strawberry Jell-O
or what about trying this with an instant pudding mix...
Bananas with Cheesecake or White Chocolate Instant Pudding
mmm..the possibilities are almost limitless.

Rules:

Any creative idea will do
No selling or promoting, so no etsy stores
Giveaways are now permissible ONLY if they are a handmade object
Grab a button to link back to this blog
Start sharing!
And don't forget to check out other link party projects.

Easter Skirts

2012-04-18T08:43:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to show off the skirts that I made for my three little girls for Easter. I bought the paisley material last spring when it was on sale and ended up using some leftover fabrics from their quilts to create these three creations. I didn't want them to be identical, however I did want them to compliment each other. I love what I ended up with. Although I will say that I did a ton of unpicking...more than I would like to admit.

I was going to give you a few step by step instructions on these skirts, but it's really self explanatory. I simply sewed the separate fabrics together, added some ribbon, and put the elastic in the waste. Easy Peasy! I also made each of their hair clips (which I am in love with) and will be showing you how I did those next week.

Families can be Together Forever Braclet and Printables

2012-04-16T07:00:00.004-06:00

I guess that the title of this post is a little deceiving. I didn't actually make the bracelet with the 'Families can be together forever' phrase. I did a two others that were a little different. I did highly consider making that one, but I wanted one that was a little more personal.

First I made a Hunger Games bracelet. We were going to see the Hunger Games movie and I wanted to have something that was both fun, but something that wasn't too obvious (my 'Peeta' shirt was doing that enough for me). So I took out my book...NO...I didn't cut it. I don't have the heart to do that to a my books. I made copies of the pages.

So, I cut out the names: Katniss, Peeta, Gale, Prim, and Rue. These are the names I would do for Hunger Games. For Catching: Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch, Cinna, and Finnick. For Mocking Jay: Katniss, Peeta, Gale, Finnick, and Prim. That's just me personally.

Then I decided to make these and show you how I did it.

Start with a chain like this (got it at Michaels) and put on a clasp

Glue or Mod Podge the papers down

Super glue the glass down and let it dry ALL THE WAY before wearing

Here is the printables to use if you want to do the 'Families can be together forever' bracelet. The reason these are so big is because they are at a resolution of 300.

Touch the Temple

2012-04-14T13:27:00.002-06:00

This is my first post, and I am so excited to be here! I hope to share some ideas, and also gain a lot more. Karena featured a few printables of mine earlier, so I figured I would start with a photo edit that I did a while back. I really love to play with pictures and words to make something great for my home.

As a family we traveled down to the LDS Temple in Houston, Texas last year. We wanted out kids to touch a new Temple and to realize that the gospel is spreading throughout the world! They really enjoyed it, and I saw it as a perfect photo opportunity. I wanted there to be more to it, so I added the quote from President Monson. I just used an online photo editing site to make it black and white and add the text. I hope that it helps to carry the spirit of the Temple into my kiddos hearts. We plan on visiting more temples to add to the collection.

Friday's Feature {Evil Eye Bracelet} and Link Party

2012-04-13T07:32:00.002-06:00

The Evil Eye Bracelet from Typical House Cat is my choice this week. I love the idea and would love to put my own spin and colors into it. This looks like a very easy project and I can't wait to do it.

Rules:

Any creative idea will do
No selling or promoting, so no etsy stores
Giveaways are now permissible ONLY if they are a handmade object
Grab a button to link back to this blog
Start sharing!
And don't forget to check out other link party projects.

Book Art

2012-04-11T07:00:00.002-06:00

I have always enjoyed Calvin and Hobbes. My brother and sister would cut out some of them to turn them into cards, calendars, and things to paste up in our bedroom or bathroom. So, I few years ago, I bought several of the paperback books. Years passed and I had barely looked at them.

One day, as I was spring cleaning, I ran across the books again. I began reading and reminiscing. My oldest son came over and started reading them too. He really enjoyed them. I decided to do the unthinkable. I tore some of his and my favorites out of the book and decided to make a this.

If we weren't renting, this wall would be painted. So this project doesn't look as good...yet. For now it's still great. He loves the pops of color and and the stories. I love that I bought these frames for $1 and already had the books. The pictures were 100% free and the project only cost me $12.

The best part about this is that you can use any book you want. You could use sheet music, a children's favorite book, children's artwork, encyclopedia pages, you could even do the book covers of several different books. The possibilities aren't endless, but it's pretty darn close.

Introducing Jodi

2012-04-09T07:00:00.005-06:00

A little while ago, I shared the post, Subway Art. I had mentioned that it was a creation of my friend's making. She has been my friend, my workout buddy (aka my makeshift personal trainer) and then my very, good friend despite her pushing me to run harder and lift more. Besides the Subway Art she made, she has done several other things that she has wanted to share. So, I seized the opportunity and asked if she wanted to become an author.

So here's the introduction to our new author and my friend, Jodi.

I am a Southern Utah girl who is finding her way in Texas! As a mother of three children, and wife to the most amazing man in the world, my to do list can get pretty long. I enjoy finding manageable solutions to help me enjoy my journey a little more (and actually help me check off that list). If I happen to spray some paint or Mod Podge something along the way, even better! I find so much satisfaction in creating something new.
My Grandma Rae is my inspiration for all things colored, thrifted, sewn, made new, re-purposed and just plain wonderful. She is the one that instilled in me to always try, I could make anything beautiful, and that I could do it myself. I am always looking for simple ways to enhance my little corner of the world! More importantly, I am looking for moments when I can teach my children the gospel, read to them on a lazy afternoon, or take a trip down the slip and slide.

Friday's Feature {Turquoise Love/Giveaway}

2012-04-06T08:23:00.011-06:00

I love that we are now featuring your links on our Friday's Feature. I love reading all of your posts and seeing all of the fun projects and creations that you are putting together. However, I don't enjoy picking only one of the links to feature. This week was no exception. I finally decided to feature the link

Turquoise Love from My Champagne Taste.

I decided to feature this link because it simply inspired me. Right now I have secret wish to redo my entire bedroom in just these colors: dark grey and turquoise. This revamp of her entire living room/dining room was just the inspiration I've been looking for. I love some of the ideas and interior design that went into this makeover and just had to feature it.

I hope you find it as inspiring and refreshing as I did. Also, right now on My Champagne taste she's having a great GIVEAWAY. Click here for a chance to enter and win some fabulous stuff.

Sorry I got the link party up later. Between General Conference and Easter...things get busy.

Rules:

Any creative idea will do
No selling or promoting, so no etsy stores
Giveaways are now permissible ONLY if they are a handmade object
Grab a button to link back to this blog
Start sharing!
And don't forget to check out other link party projects.

Faux Metal Wall Art

2012-04-02T07:00:00.002-06:00

I saw this idea and just had to share it. Super easy, super cheap, and super cute.

Believe it or not, this is made from paper towel rolls. Over at Suzie's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom is this amazing tutorial. Go check it out.

Friday's Feature {Pink and Green Bedroom} and Link Party

2012-03-30T00:00:00.004-06:00

I am featuring from last weeks link party, Totally Lauren Amber. I picked this submission mostly from this picture. My favorite things about this room makeover is the picture rail and the pictures and artwork place on it. I think that it comes together so well...and I LOVE that big letter "M"!

Rules:

Any creative idea will do
No selling or promoting, so no etsy stores
Giveaways are now permissible ONLY if they are a handmade object
Grab a button to link back to this blog
Start sharing!
And don't forget to check out other link party projects.

Envelope Pillow Cover

2012-03-28T07:00:00.021-06:00

I was so sick and tired of the pillows in my family room. Drove me crazy. So boring and blended into the sofa way too much. There were 3 options.

I could keep them and get over it
I could buy new pillows
I could make new pillows

I decided the later, but I didn't want to buy three new pillow form because it can add up fast. So, I decided to make pillow covers. I fell in love with this orange fabric the I found at JoAnn's Fabric. Then all I had to do was make them. It was so easy, very cost effective, and the end result was just what I wanted. This project only cost me $8 dollars, with most pillows running over $20 a piece...I think this is a much better solution.

Before

After

I used an awesome tutorial that I found and it gave perfect instructions. You can see the YouTube video here.

Make Shift Pacifier Clip

2012-03-26T07:00:00.003-06:00

This is my daughter and she loves her pacifier. While she does has 2 pacifiers, we have only 1 pacifier clip. This was a bit of a problem for those busy weeks and everything gets misplaced. For two days this week I had to think of another way to keep it from falling on the floor or getting lost. With an old necklace of mine, I made this quick solution.

Now, this will only work if there is something to loop through. I have 2 shirts that have this loop at the sleeve, but you could also string it through a jacket or sweater zipper pull or through button hole. I loved that it was a pearl necklace, but boys would be cute with some twine or shoelace.