do it yourself divas

DIY: Firecracker Cookies

2013-06-19T18:42:00.001-07:00

My sister-in-law texted me the other day with this BRILLIANT idea! Thanks for sharing! These are perfect for the 4th of July. All you do is make sugar cookies and sprinkle some pop rocks on top for an explosive party in your mouth!

Here are the kids' reactions...

Priceless! Here is my recipe for these delicious Sugar Cookies with Almond and Vanilla Frosting.

Sugar Cookies

Dry Ingredients:

6 cups of Flour

2 teaspoons of Baking Soda

1 teaspoon of Salt

(mix together is small bowl)

Wet Ingredients:

1 cup Shortening

2 cups Sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup Sour Cream (or 1 cup milk with 1 T vinegar, aka sour milk)

(Blend wet ingredients until smooth in large bowl)

Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients.

Roll out amazing cookie dough. Use your favorite/festive cookie cutters.

Bake @ 400 degrees for 7-8 min.

Let cool.

Almond and Vanilla Frosting

Blend together the following:

1/2 cup Shortening

1/2 cup Butter

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

4 cups powder sugar

2 Tablespoons milk

Dye the frosting whatever color your heart desires.. and taste the beaters if you like :)

Once the cookies are cooled... frost away!

DIY: Clean with Natural Products and Essential Oils

2013-06-18T13:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spent the day making my own cleaning products and some even have essential oils. Let me start off by saying how impressed I am with these cleaners. They really get the job done! These cleaning products are safe and natural so I no longer have to breathe in harmful chemicals while I clean. As a mom of three, I'm cleaning a lot, so I'm beyond thrilled I won't have to worry about what I'm inhaling or what my kids are inhaling while I clean our daily messes. Not only are these safe and natural, but I plan on saving bank because of them! These a crazy inexpensive, crazy! It only took me about an hour to mix up 6 different spray bottles of cleaning supplies. Here's my own spin on a few natural cleaning products.

All Purpose Cleaner
1/2 spray bottle of vinegar
1/2 spray bottle of water
1 Tablespoon Dawn Liquid soap
*5-8 drops off essential oil (optional)
Shake before use

*I used Deliverance from Butterfly Express because it is often used as a home cleaner. It is an air purifier and fights viruses. It also helps hide the smell of vinegar. You could also use a citrus oil so your home smells extra clean.

Dusting Spray
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Cups of Water
1/4 C Vinegar
8 drops of essential oil (lemon or orange)

This spray brings the shine back into any wood. Shake before use.

Windex Window and Mirror Spray
1/2 a spray bottle of Rubbing Alcohol
1/2 a spray bottle of Water
2 T Vinegar

*Clean with a microfiber cloth. Shake before use. I was very impressed with this cleaner. I think it works just as good as windex. For tough dirt, first spray it and wipe the dirt away with a paper towel, then spray again and wipe with the microfiber cloth so it is smudge free.

Stain Remover Spray
Click here for the recipe

Granite Spray-Clean and Shine
1/2 C Rubbing Alcohol
1 tsp Dawn Liquid Soap
2 C Water
8 drops of essential oil (Deliverance -see above)

Shake before use. I usually spray my granite with the All Purpose spray first and then shine them up with this spray. It leaves them looking gorgeous!

Spider Repellant Spray- Thanks whoever you are on Pinterest!!
Fill one spray bottle with water
Add 10 drops of peppermint oil
Shake before use

*Spray around exterior of house, windows and doors. Inside the house, spray under the sinks, around windows, and doors.

I LOVE the spider repellant spray! It truly works and I'm glad I am not longer forking out the big buck to have that spiderman come to my house and spray. :)

I labeled everything and put the recipe on the bottle so I don't have to keep going back to the internet to get the recipe. Enjoy a toxic free, fresh, clean home!

Stephanie

Mombo Pillow Winner

2013-06-13T08:44:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who entered this giveaway! And the winner is...

My Boy and I!

Congratulations! Here is a picture of the actual pillow I will be sending your way! You have 24 hours to email me at diydivas2@gmail.com with your address before I announce a different winner. Hope to hear from you soon!!

Shabby Apple Giveaway

2013-06-11T01:00:00.000-07:00

We were beyond thrilled when , the fabulous and fashionable online women's store, contacted us and asked if we would like to host a giveaway on our blog. Heck yes we would!!

Shabby Apple is an online dress boutique that specializes in vintage and retro dresses.

One of our lucky readers will win the grand prize of a $50 dollar gift card by simply entering! This is an AMAZING gift, and allows the winner to choose anything they want from the entire Shabby Apple website!

You could buy this darling vintage inspired striped sheath dress...

or this adorable and flirty Gondola dress...

Maybe you want to dress up with this bubble gum colored lace dress...

or maybe you are ready to hit the pool in this retro swimsuit...

There are HUNDREDS of dresses, blouses, skirts, swimsuits, accessories and more that you can choose from!

Simply Enter the Giveaway below...

Good Luck!

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DIY 1 Hour Bread

2013-05-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

There's nothing quite like homemade bread, and now you can make it from start to finish in just one hour. This recipe is incredibly easy and will leave you begging for more, even though it makes 4 loaves! I got this recipe from my neighbor and I've been so pleased with the results I just had to share. You need to get the exact ingredients if you want it to turn out just right every time. You can also use this dough to make pizza, bread sticks, cinnamon rolls, scones, rolls, or tortillas.

10 1/2 Cups White Unbleached Bread Flour
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Tablespoon Salt
3 Rounded Tablespoons Saf-Instant Yeast
3 Tablespoons Liquid Lecithin
4 Cups Hot Tap Water

This is what my Lecithin looks like. I bought mine at local grocery store called Maceys. This is sort of a food storage item, so just think of a place near you that would sell food storage items or bread making products.

This is what a small bag if Saf-instant yeast looks like. You can buy this on Amazon if you cant find it at the grocery store. I can buy mine at any grocery store in Utah.

Mix flour, sugar, and salt in a dough mixer. In a separate bowl, mix the water and yeast, and then squeeze in the lecithin. Don't measure the lecithin with a measuring spoon; it's too sticky. Pour the liquid mixture into the dough mixer and mix for 1 minute. Check the consistancy. If the dough is too dry, add more water. If it's too moist, add more flour. Mix for 5 minutes. (Do not add water or flour to the dough after it has finished mixing.) Spray counter and pans with Pam. Shape loaves and cover with a dish towel. Let raise 25 minutes. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. This recipe makes 4 loaves of bread.

Freeze It

Too much bread you say? Well I'll let you in on a little secret. Sometimes I freeze a couple loaves. I just shape them and stick them in a freezer bag. Each loaf you freeze needs it's own bag since it still rises a little bit in the freezer. I don't know exactly how long they can stay in the freezer, but I've gone a couple weeks before popping one out to bake. When you are ready for one, just pull it out of the freezer and let it sit on the counter for a few hours. Once you notice it rising, pull it out of the freezer bag, into a greased pan, and cover with a dish towel. Let it rise until it comes to the top of the pan and then bake. Easy as that! I'm betting you can also bake it and then freeze it for later. More often than not, I just bake all four loaves and then give them to people I'm thinking about. It's sure to bring a smile on anyones face, unless you are my gluten intolerant brother... Enjoy!

Stephanie

Albion Fit Swimsuit Giveaway

2013-05-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Are these not the most darling suits you have ever seen? Wouldn't you love to own one for FREE? Well, Albion Fit has just teamed up with us to offer our readers a chance to win one of these suits just in time for summer. This suit comes in Poppy, Charcoal, and Navy. The winner of this giveaway will get to choose their favorite colored suit.

Albion Fit, is a Utah-based company whose women's fitness clothing and swimwear balance style, modesty, performance and quality in a beautiful way. They have just opened their flagship store at City Creek Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. We love that this store is so close to where we live... dangerously close!

Just follow the directions below and enter this awesome giveaway! Good Luck to all our readers!

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But wait... that's not all!! The best part about this giveaway, is that each and every one of our readers is a winner. By simply using the Promo Code diydivas15 at checkout you will automatically save $15 on any purchase of $50 or more.

Some of my favorite items that I found on their website, and that might just find their way into my shopping cart/closet are...

LOVE RACER, CORAL

SIGNATURE HOODIE, HEATHER GREY

PETAL SUIT - TOP, RED

GO LONG CREW, WITH THUMB-HOLES, JADE

GOOD LUCK!!!

The BEST way to Load the Dishwasher... in my opinion

2013-05-20T12:25:00.004-07:00

Who here HATES unloading the dishwasher? Don't get me wrong, I am beyond grateful for my dishwasher, but it is just not my favorite thing in the whole world to unload it. My family has the tendency to just through things in, and stuff it full.

I am always trying to find ways to save time, so that I can do more of the things I want to do... like be with my kids, craft, go for a run or take a yoga class. So how about shaving a few minutes off dishwasher unloading and add those extra saved minutes to something you love to do?

Ok, maybe this commonsense...

Maybe everyone in the entire world already does this, and I am just really slow...

But I had a serious "AH HA" moment the other day when loading my silverware in the dishwasher.

Instead of just throwing it in, put it in it's rightful place. As you can see above, I have dedicated a specific place for each piece. Forks have their own home etc. I love this so much. Instead of sorting my silverware when it is clean, I just grab it and drop it into the silverware tray. My kids and husband help by keeping each utensil in it's rightful place too. This makes my job so much easier. I do the same for my dishes. All like dishes stay as a group. Easy as that!

So if you were like me, and were just throwing dishes anywhere... you're welcome! If you were already doing this... you are a genius! ;)

Yay, for simple things that save time! I think I will go for a run now!

-Megan

Mombo Pillow Giveaway

2013-05-14T16:01:00.001-07:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Comfort and Harmony for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

If Oprah was a mother, this pillow would be one of her Favorite Things! When it comes to nursing pillows, this is probably one of the best nursing pillows out there. And I just love the design. I was so excited when I opened my front door and saw a giant box sitting on my from porch with my Mombo Pillow inside! One for me and one for a lucky lady out there!

Meet my little guy; my baby number three. Oh, I just love those cheeks!

I have never used any sort of pillow to support me while I nurse, so as you can imagine, this mombo nursing pillow was a dream come true! In fact, ever since I became a mother, my shoulder has been giving me trouble. After using this pillow to nurse my little guy, I realized that maybe the lack of support I was giving myself during feedings could have been a huge factor in my shoulder pain. Using the pillow literally took so much weight off. I loved how he was positioned higher and we could have more body contact instead of his legs dangling down as he sits awkwardly on my lap. I felt like I could cradle my baby and this made feeding him even more special.

Comfort & Harmony on Twitter

The thing that I love about this pillow is that it has a firm side for nursing, which provides excellent support, and a soft, plush side for lounging. My little guy loved it when I propped him up on the pillow especially because it has the option to have vibration which was completely and utterly soothing. Sometimes I just need to set him down while I get things done around the house or take care of my other kids. My arms have needed a break and this pillow has kept him so happy while he lounges on the floor.

Be sure and check out other mombo nursing pillow products found at Toys R Us. You can choose from many different, cute patterns and designs. You may also want to follow Comfort & Harmony on Facebook and on Twitter to stay informed about all sorts of mommy news, from delicious smoothie recipes and baby health tips, to cute baby crafts and other cool infant accessories.

How to ENTER the GIVEAWAY!

So who will win this dream come true mombo nursing pillow?? All you have to do to enter the giveaway is leave a comment below telling us why you want this pillow so badly. Good luck to EVERYONE!

Giveaway ends June 13th.

-Stephanie

Familyshare.com Review...

2013-05-09T12:45:00.000-07:00

I have discovered the most INCREDIBLE website that I am beyond thrilled to share with you.

Familyshare.com is a website full of informative, uplifting, and simply wonderful articles geared towards the family.

Here is a peak at their homepage.

With Mother's day approaching, familyshare.com is featuring a variety of articles written with mother in mind. One such article titled, 15 Things to Say To Your Mom While You Still Have the Chance, caught my eye. Attached was this moving video.

Another article titled, What Kind of Mother are You?, was among my favorites on the site. It turns out I am a "touch feely mom", and proud of it might I add! Click on over to discover what kind of mother you are!

This site is not only for mothers. There are groups and question and answer pages. There is even a space where you can show love to that someone special in your life. It is like the ultimate E-card and just in time for Mother's Day. Check that out HERE.

To add to the list, you can find great advice on managing finances, pregnancy, being a grandparent, keeping your marriage strong and so so so much more.

I know this will for sure be a go to site for me. I hope you love it as much as I do!

Giveaway Coming For Nursing Mothers!

2013-05-02T13:53:00.000-07:00

Look what showed up at my front door today! One for me and one for a lucky lady out there. I can't wait to try it out and let you all know what I think about it. Maybe the vibration option will sooth him and help him focus on the meal. Im betting it will make a great lounging pillow too, allowing him to sit up enough to see whats going on around him. Stay tuned and get ready to enter this great giveaway!

Stephanie

DIY: No Sew Striped Curtains with Rope Tiebacks - POV

2013-04-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Are these projects not amazing? It is beyond fun to be a part of POV with these lovely and talented bloggers. I love seeing each persons different perspective on the topic of windows that was given.

Check out everyones incredible projects in the links below...

And if you keep scrolling down you can check out mine!

Stephanie from Crafting in the Rain
Leanne from Organize and Decorate Everything
Amy from Ameroonie Designs
Jonie from Just between Friends
Ashlee from I'm Topsy Turvy
Megs from Do It Yourself Divas (You're HERE.. just keep scrolling down to see my no sew striped curtains and nautical rope tiebacks!!)

Here is my project!

DIY Easy Striped Curtains with Rope Tiebacks

I made these easy striped curtains for my little boy's room. This no sew project was a piece of cake. Yes... I did say NO SEW!!!

My son is obsessed with all things blue. I am obsessed with horizontal stripes. Here is a result our obsessions combined, and a tutorial to create them yourself.

DIY No Sew Striped Curtains

Let's start with these simple striped curtains.

You will need:

White Curtains

Heat n Bond

Ribbon (any width your heart desires. I chose 2.5 inches wide)

A measuring tape

A Hot Iron

I got my white curtains at Ikea for cheap cheap cheap. They were very long, about 96 inch. I just did a little math and figured out that spacing my ribbon stripes 9 inches apart looked great.

This measurement will vary depending on the width of your ribbon, the length of your curtains, and on how you want your curtains to look visually.

Follow the directions of the heat and bond and iron on the ribbon just like so... (the heat n bond is just underneath the ribbon, sandwiched between the ribbon and curtain.)

iron on striped curtains

Umm.. How easy is that?! AMAZINGLY easy, and if you ever get sick of the stripes you can just peal it off without damaging the original curtains!

Now for the tiebacks... my favorite part. Head to Home Depot, or any hardware store for thick natural looking rope. I had them cut 4 pieces, each measuring 2 feet long. It was about $.67 a foot!! They wrapped electrical tape around each end so that it wouldn't come unraveled on my drive home. This came in very handy.

You will need:

Rope

Twin

hot glue

Use the electrical tape to keep the twin in place. Make a little loop. A "hanging loop" if you will...

Now just hot glue the crap out of the twine to cover up the tape. This makes it looked fantastically finished.

tada...

Here is how I hung them...

That's it! Soon...someday... I will have to post pictures of his whole room, but for now enjoy his window.

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Doors Organizing posts Closets

White Bean & Ham Soup

2013-04-22T20:40:00.001-07:00

Have you had ham for dinner lately? Don't throw away that bone! Instead, make this incredibly delicious White Bean and Ham Soup. You will be left wondering how it can have so much flavor without adding any dried seasonings. It's sure to please the entire family.

White Bean & Ham Soup

Leftover ham and bone

Water

1 lb Dried Navy Beans

1/2 onion, chopped

1 rib of celery, chopped

1 carrot, shredded

Directions
Remove large bits of ham from bone. Cover bone with water in a pan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 hour.

Remove from heat and remove the bone from the water (stock). Let cool. Scrape away remaining ham from bone. Refrigerate stock and ham bits until ready to use.

Prepare 1 lb of white navy dried beans according to directions on the package.

Combine beans, stock, onion, celery, carrot, and ham drippings in crock pot. Add enough water to cover the veggies. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. 1 hour before soup is finished, add ham bits.

Enjoy a hearty bowl of soup for dinner tonight! Special thanks to my mother-in-law for providing this recipe.

Stephanie

Miss Thing Bling Giveaway

2013-04-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

Do you have a "Miss Thing" in your life? If you do, you absolutely need to check out these adorable necklaces, leggies, and headbands.

(You HAVE to check out her Facebook Page when you can, and check out all her other darling necklaces!)

I couldn't take the cuteness, and just had to order my little girl the pink sunrise necklace. It is beyond precious and high quality too!

We can't thank "Miss Thing Bling" enough for giving our readers the opportunity to win one of the above sets. Each set comes with a headband, a necklace and leggies. Now for the hard part, choosing which set you want to win for your little "Miss Thing."

Follow the directions below to enter this INCREDIBLE giveaway worth more $40! GOOD LUCK!!

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Smantha B. has won the giveaway! Please email us at diydivas2@gmail.com to get more information. If within 48 hours (April 19th) we have not heard from her via email we will pick another winner. Thanks!

DIY Strip Fabric From a Couch and Reupholster It

2013-04-09T09:00:00.001-07:00

I don't exactly have $$ to buy the couch of my dreams, but lucky for me, my husband and I were able to reupholster this beauty. We found a living room set that included a large sofa, love seat, chair and a half, and an ottoman for $50. Engineer hubby and I totally transformed the sofa AND an ottoman for $200 (ottoman will be coming soon). We are going to go through the steps of stripping the fabric off of the couch and reupholstering the couch.

I promise you this is the same exact couch. This proves that almost anything can become something new.

Use your imagination when finding the right couch. The diamond in the rough is usually really rough at first. So, look past dingy, pastel colored, floral fabrics and look at the general shape and structure of the piece to find the right candidate for reupholstering. Here are some things to consider when looking for the right couch:

Step back and look at the couch to determine how many "sections" you will be reupholstering. The "visible" sections for my couch were arms, back of back rest, front of back rest, sides (under arms), front bottom, pillows, and cushions. There were two "hidden" sections which included under the couch and under the seat cushions.
Typical upholstery fabric is sold on a large bolt that is about 54" wide. Knowing this may help you estimate how much fabric you will need per section.
Cost to reupholster. A sofa can take anywhere between 12-20 yards of fabric depending on its size and shape. Keep that in mind when choosing fabric; things can get pricey. We used 16 yards on our couch.
Is the structure sound? Can I reuse the tack strips or any upholstery hardware? Will the feet need to be replaced or renovated? Are the foam cushions worn out or do they have plenty of body left? Is this couch more comfortable than a $200 couch I could buy new? Will any odors remain once the fabric and batting have been removed?
Our couch was easy to reupholster because the seat cushions and the pillows were detached. I imagine it would be harder to reupholster a couch that had cushions and pillows sewn onto the body of the couch, but I'm sure it can be done with a little determination.

Couch
Heavy Duty Upholstery Fabric
Inexpensive fabric to use in "unseen" places, i.e. muslin
Staples
Cereal Box Cardboard (we will explain later)
Batting
Spray Glue
Zippers, thread, or anything else needed to sew cushion covers
Any replacement items for worn out material, i.e. foam or feet
Pliers
Staple Gun
Hammer
Sewing Machine
Fabric Scissors
Measuring Tape
Any other job specific tools

We went to Home Fabric in Orem, Utah to find our fabric. Here's the criteria we used to find the right fabric...

No continuous pattern. Patterns, such as stripes, can be difficult to line up during reupholstering and may require more material to make patterns align.
Fabric with a sturdy weave. This may go without saying, but make sure to get a durable fabric that is meant for furniture if you want your legacy to last.
How much? Remember the sections I talked about? Measure the length of each section and add a few inches extra on each end so you have enough fabric to work with. It would be bad to not have enough, so measure a little generously. We didn't have to worry about the width since 54" wide fabric fit each section on our couch perfectly. As I mentioned above, we used 16 yards on our large sofa.
Price point. We are on a budget and the fabric had to fit within that budget, so we didn't waste time looking at fabric above a certain price point. Our fabric was about $9 a yard.

Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of the fabric on the sofa before is was ripped off. Hubby was anxious to get going and started ripping off fabric, batting, and foam, so to give you an idea of what it looked like with it's original fabric, here is the love seat.

Here is the sofa all stripped down with the seat cushions and pillows set aside. Engineer hubby ripped off the fabric, the batting from the whole couch which he thought was holding in all the odors. He also removed the foam from the arms. When we realized that foam is really expensive, we salvaged the original foam and "Lysol-ed" it liberally ;) All that remained of the couch at the end of Step 4 was the wood structure, cardboard on the arms, springs, the blue mesh material covering the springs, foam (foam not pictured), and metal tack strips.

In our case, the next step was to put the foam back on the arms. Foam only covered the front, sides, and tops of the arms. Sadly, I don't have a picture of this so just use your imagination. I did however attach a photo of a roll of foam you can purchase at your local Joanns. It's called High Density Urethane Foam 1"x24"x30". Remember, any staple dimples or irregular shapes in the foam may show through when you cover it with new batting and fabric, so use spray glue on the back and try to staple it nice and evenly on the edges.

New batting stapled into place. You will notice some dimples caused by the staples, but these were not too sever and were easily smoothed out once the fabric was stretched over it. We used about 3 packages of 8oz batting that had been pre-cut for a queen size quilt. (10oz would have been better but it wasn't in stock). You can buy it at Walmart. Roughly cut it into pieces that cover each section of the couch. Sections meaning, front of arms, around each arm, front of couch, and back of couch. Just go for it, it doesn't have to be perfect.

Under side of couch

Notice the feet have been removed. Also notice all the yucky stuff that came out of the couch when it was stripped. Among the "treasure" was 75 cents, "the lost sock", cocoa puffs, the top hat from a Monopoly game, and much more.

We first attached muslin over the seat cushion springs/base (see finished product below).

Locate areas on the frame of the couch where you can staple the muslin. Cut muslin to fit. Be generous and give yourself plenty of fabric to work with.
Use the cardboard trick, described two paragraphs below, along the front edge of the couch in order to hide staples and give a uniform edge.
Fold the muslin over the stapled cardboard strip and tuck under the arm and back.
Pull the muslin tight and staple to the frame. You will be working under the couch at this point in oder to staple the muslin to the frame.

Drape a large piece of fabric over the arm of the couch and staple in the joint. Notice how we have a lot of extra fabric hanging off the front and back of the arm. That fabric will be folded into a fan later on.

Use the cardboard trick to attach the fabric to the front of the couch. The cardboard makes it so you don't see any staples and you will see how.

Place the fabric "right side" to the muslin and a couple inches away from the edge of the couch.
Cut a few strips of cardboard (cereal boxes work great) about 1/2" wide and as long as the couch goes.
Staple through the cardboard and the edge of the fabric into the wood frame.

Flip the fabric over and you have a nice, clean, finished look for the front part of your couch.

Staple the fabric to the bottom. Wrap and staple the fabric around the sides of the couch about 5 inches.

Notice the front bottom piece. It is tightly secured with staples, no raw edges showing. The back fabric piece is just draped over the back for fun at this point; the next step is to work on the arms again.

Arms. This is the trickiest part.

Start from the outside of the arm and work your way up, around, and down creating small folds.
Staple as you go; you can always pull the staples out and readjust.
When you get close to the end, fold the fabric under to give it a clean finish and staple in place.
Don't staple on the front of the couch, just pull the fabric tight and staple it in place on the sides of the couch.
The fold at the bottom of the arm should cover the fold you made earlier on the front bottom piece.

Trim away bulky fabric as needed. Notice where we stapled. All these staples will be covered by the side fabric piece.
Move to the back of the arm and follow the same process creating a fan with the extra fabric.

We applied a little bit of super glue behind the small fan folds to keep them in place. So far so good four months and three kids later!

Here is an overview of what you will be doing to attach the side piece. Notice the order.

First, use the cardboard trick to attach fabric under the arm curve.
Second, staple fabric around the back of the couch and staple in place.
Third, use a tack strip to secure fabric in place on opposite side. Here is a picture of a tack strip. This little strip of metal allows us to create a finished edge much like the cardboard trick.

**Here is a closer view of how to attach the tack strip.

Along the edge, push tack strip through the back of the fabric.

Fold it over so that the back of the tack strip is against the back of the fabric.

Hammer the fabric and tack strip into place along the side. Wrap and staple bottom edge of fabric onto the couch.

This is what the side should look like finished.

Attach fabric to the "front" of the back rest.

Use cardboard trick to staple fabric in place along the top of the back frame.
Flip fabric over to the front of the couch, pull it tight, tuck in bottom, and staple to frame. Make sure the "right side" of your fabric is showing once you flip it over.
Fold under raw edges on the sides and staple to frame from behind the couch.

Add back piece.

Use the cardboard trick along to top of the back. Flip fabric over.
Begin working on the bottom. Wrap bottom fabric under couch and staple. The staples under the couch will be covered by muslin later.
Then work on the sides of the back piece using tack strips. All staples should be hidden.

Here is a closer view of the back rest so you can see more clearly what we did and where we used the cardboard trick. Notice that the "front" back piece actually wraps over the top and down the back of the couch a few inches. Then the "back" back piece is stapled on top of the "front" back piece.

Attach the muslin to the "unseen" underside of the couch. No need to make it look pretty. Just cut a piece to fit the bottom and just staple it on. Start on one side and work your way around. Then attach the feet.

Here are the feet Engineer Hubby designed and made since we didn't like the original feet. We really liked the blonde look, but you could always stain them.

We added the center block for extra support.

Wrap cushions in new batting as pictured.

Use spray glue to secure the batting to the foam cushion.

Make a cushion cover. I used THIS tutorial.

Make Pillow Covers. I made simple envelope pillow covers so I didn't have to sew on a zipper. I used THIS tutorial.

I didn't want the corners of my pillows to poke out, so I just sewed them down into the form.

All done! I promise this look isn't too hard to achieve. Just have patience and always over estimate on your fabric so you have enough.

Stephanie & Engineer Hubby

Chalk Paint

2013-04-06T13:36:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered Chalk Paint! In case you aren't familiar with this product, it is paint that sticks to everything except grease, so you don't have to sand anything. Just clean your project well with Dawn Soap and warm water, paint it with Chalk Paint (however many coats you need), and rub on the wax. Supposedly after 21 days, you won't even be able to put a scratch in your project. You can use your project a day later, just be careful. One thing I'm not too thrilled about is that it only gives a flat finish, and I like a little bit of gloss. But hey, if you don't have to sand before hand, I'll take it. Too bad this stuff is so expensive... I'm going to see about making my own soon, and maybe figuring out how to add some gloss.

I've been able to transform a few things around my house. For example, this chair used to be the same color as my wood floor, but now it has a fresh, clean, white finish and I didn't have to do any prep work except washing it! How convenient, especially since there were spindles. It's going to add the perfect touch to my craft room!

My bathroom cabinets needed a face lift since they are about 15 years old and really scratched up. I still wanted white, so I just washed them and painted them with chalk paint. Sanding these would have been a nightmare I'm sure.

New hardware also helps ;)

Overall, I'm pretty happy with this convenient product, but I really want to make my own for my next projects so I can save some big bucks. I'll let you all know how it goes when I do.

Stephanie

PICK YOUR PLUM GIVEAWAY

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

Enter to win a $25 Pick Your Plum Box of AWESOMENESS!!

Just head over to our Facebook Page and look for this picture...

Click on the icon on our Facebook Page and you could be the lucky winner!!

This Giveaway will only last 24 hours, so hurry.... go enter!

GOOD LUCK!

Test Your Cleaning Logic Round Two: It's a GIVEAWAY

2013-03-31T21:01:00.001-07:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cottonelle for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Remember a few posts ago when we introduced you to the Cottonelle Care Routine? Just to refresh you memories let me show you this amazing duo...

(Image courtesy of Cottonelle)

Pictured above are Conttonelle's flushable wipes and Clean Care toilet paper.

Our friends at Cottonelle want to give you the chance to try this duo for yourself, for FREE! You won't regret entering this giveaway. Who doesn't need a little extra TP in the cupboard?

To enter this giveaway, you can simply do the following three things.

1. LIKE Cottonelle on Facebook

2. FOLLOW Cottonelle on Twitter

3. And Finally leave a comment on this post letting us know why you want to be the winner and your email address.

The Last Day to Enter the GIVEAWAY is April 30, 2013

Not too shabby right? We want to thank Cottonelle for giving our readers the opportunity to win such an amazing prize!

Wait, why do you want to try this duo for yourself? Well let me tell you about a little experiment I tried out with my little kiddo.

Oh, look at this little face. So clean and angelic.

Well, it isn't so clean after eating at my all time favorite restaurant Cafe Rio. Although she is in black bean heaven, her face is totally a mess.

I attempted to wipe away this black bean mess with a dry napkin with no avail. Hardly any of the mess came off onto the napkin. I think this is why moms, like myself, always keep wet wipes in our purse or diaper bags. This sure says something about the need for the combination that Cottonelle provides with the fresh care routine.

It just makes sense to use both together doesn't it?

You wouldn't wash your car with a dry cloth, would you?

Still not convinced? Just watch this...

Cottonelle is unveiling a series of hidden camera videos to show people that nothing is completely clean without the combination of cloth and water. Just a little food for thought.

AFter you enter the giveaway from above, don't forget to stop by Cottonelle to enter the contest to win a $10,000 bathroom makeover! sweepstakes rules

GOOD LUCK!

DIY: Baby Rag Quilts in Strips and Stripes

2013-03-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

Check out our ETSY shop if you would like to purchase one of these blankets. You can even custom order a blanket that is perfect for your little one!

Just click HERE!

Remember this tutorial...

Well, one night I was lying in bed and the thought came to me... why not make the strips into stripes. And that is exactly what I did.

This Easter I decided that I would make my little ones, and my sister's little ones a quilt each. I thought the stripes resembled an Easter egg. Kind of perfect don't you think?

The only difference between my original tutorial is that each strip is 2 layers rather than 3 layers like my original quilt. Here are the following fabric measurements you will need.

2 yards of a solid fabric of your choice cut into 12, six inch strips.

1.5 yards of white fabric cut into 14, three inch strips

1/2 yard of fabric cut into 2.5 inch strips for your binding.

I omitted the fabric in between each strip...

Now simply follow the instructions found HERE to create your quilt.

They end up being about 48in x 42in.

Well there you have it. I can hardly wait to give these to the kiddos. They will be perfect for picnics, the beach or whatever spring and summer activities come our way!

-Megan

P.S. I think the kids kinda love their new blankets! YAY!!

Instagram

2013-03-26T13:01:00.000-07:00

We decided to make our Instagram profiles public, so follow along and see what we are up to. Get to know our families a little better and see sneak peaks of all our many DIY projects!

Steph's Instagram

Meg's Instagram

DIY: Chore Chart

2013-03-18T10:05:00.000-07:00

I am a list person. There is something so fulfilling about checking something off my list of to-dos. I don't necessarily want my children to be just like me in the area of getting things done, but I do want them to have a sense of ownership and responsibility when it comes to the daily tasks I expect them to participate in. Instead of having my son simply check something off a list, I thought it would be fun to make him this simple chore chart.

It was so easy to make.

I simply found some wood from Hobby Lobby. They had it already cut and ready to go. All I had to do was stain it. You could stain or paint it any color.

After I stained the wood, I drew some little chore pictures and modge podged them to the little stained wooden squares. (I am no artist.. I know this!) My husband helped drill small holes at the top of each chore square.

I used wood glue to put a sun and a star on the large piece of wood. I wanted to separate morning and night chores. Plus it looks really cute!

Then I simply screwed in little cup holder hooks evenly so I could hang the chore squares/cards.

Finally, hang the chore cards. My little boy helps
me choose his chores each night before he goes to bed. I made enough chore cards so that his chores will change each day. Once he has completed a chore he simply flips the chore card over so that the back of the square is showing. Once all the squares are facing backwards he knows he is done with his chores.

He kind of loves it. Like Mother like child?!

He only wanted to do "silly" faces...

So "silly" faces it is...

-Megan

Congrats to our Winner

2013-03-14T11:14:00.001-07:00

Congrats to Jessica, entry number 18.

You have won the My Memories digital software giveaway!

Please email us @ diydivas2@gmail.com so that we can get you your prize!

Thanks random.org and My Memories for helping us with this giveaway!

Oreo Balls

2013-03-11T16:34:00.001-07:00

Chewy Oreo goodness all decked out! My sister-in-law came into town last weekend and taught me how to make Oreo Balls. They are incredibly delicious, way too tempting, and oh so easy to make. Chocolate lovers beware!

Oreo Balls

1 Box Oreos

1 pkg. of soft cream cheese

1 pkg. of almond bark, melted

1/4 C milk chocolate chips, melted

In a food processor or blender, pulse 1 box of Oreos.

Add 1 pkg. of soft cream cheese.

Roll into small 1" balls and place on wax paper. Freeze until they become hard; about an hour.

Remove them from the freezer and...

Melt 1 pkg. of Almond Bark. Plop each chocolate ball into the melted Almond Bark, roll until fully covered (be gentle), and place on a baking sheet with wax paper.

Drizzle with melted milk chocolate chips.

Stand back and look at your beautiful art work.

Enjoy!

Stephanie

Giveaway from My Memories!

2013-03-07T07:39:00.000-08:00

Heres to another giveaway! This one's for all you scrapbook lovers and photo book lovers! Today, you can enter for a chance to win free software from My Memories. This software allows you to easily create beautiful scrapbooks from your computer and share them with your friends and family. But don't be discouraged if you don't win. Everyone gets to walk away with a prize! All our readers get a code that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store. That a $20 value! Enter code STMMMS85841 at the checkout. Take a look at what I made with my My Memories Suite software. These cute page layouts were already included in my software, and of course, there are options to buy many more cute page layouts for a reasonable price.

Isn't it cute? I easily turned my book pages into JPEG files so now I can do whatever I want with any individual page. With this software, your options are limitless since you can always buy new cute paper, layouts, and embellishments. Once you have completed your project, you can order a copy that will be sent right to your front door. You don't want to miss out on this giveaway!

You have until Thursday March 14th at noon to enter and the winner will be announced that evening. Here's how to enter the giveaway:

1. "Like" Do It Yourself Divas on Facebook

2. Go and visit the My Memories site at www.mymemories.com and choose your favorite digital paper pack or layout.

3. Come back to our blog and leave us a comment telling us which one you chose.

It's that easy! Don't forget, everyone gets a code that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store. That a $20 value. The code is STMMMS85841. Enter this code at the checkout. Good luck everyone!

today we have linked up with...

Test Your Cleaning Logic

2013-03-02T02:00:00.001-08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cottonelle for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

How would you like the chance to win a $10,000 bathroom makeover? Not too shabby right? We want to thank Cottonelle for giving our readers the opportunity to win such an amazing prize!

How can you enter to win this amazing giveaway? It is super easy to enter. Sit tight and we will tell you how.

But first, meet my little angels...

Darling little nuggets, aren't they?

My three year old has been potty trained for some time now and my little 20 month old is on her way to learning.

The other day we were given the chance to try out the Cottonelle Care Routine. This couldn't have come at a better time, as I am starting the dreaded potty training game with my daughter.

What is the Conttonelle Care Routine might you ask? Well let me show you.

(Image courtesy of Cottonelle)

As you can see it isn't just Clean Care toilet paper but flushable wipes as well.

We had never tried the two together, and thought it would be fun to give it a go when we... well... go.

Let me tell you, my kids are pretty happy about these products together. Let's be honest, I am pretty happy about it too. Not only does it help you feel fresh and clean, it is truly a gift from heaven when potty training your little ones, or if you have a potty trained child who needs a little extra help getting clean.

The Divas decided to take a survey of real people and their real experience with this great product. Here are a few quotes from Stephanie's family that are in town from Idaho who gave the Cottonelle care routine a go.

Quote 1: "Cleaner than usual! Very comforting."

Quote 2: "I really like the smell, the wipes are cool-refreshing. The t.p. is soft. I would buy it."

Quote 3: "Great for kids!"

It just makes sense to use both together doesn't it?

You wouldn't wash your car with a dry cloth, would you?

Still not convinced? Just watch this...

Cottonelle is unveiling a series of hidden camera videos to show people that nothing is completely clean without the combination of cloth and water. Just a little food for thought.

Here are a couple more of those videos to convice that nothing leaves you feeling cleaner and fresher than using the Cottonelle Care Routine.

Now for the fun part. Here is how you can enter the amazing giveway sponsored by Cottonelle.

It's time for you to test your Cleaning Logic at Cottonelle. While you are there don't forget to enter the contest to win a $10,000 bathroom makeover! Just go to Cottonelle to enter.

Make sure to leave a comment below in the comments, telling us why you want to win this amzing prize!

GOOD LUCK!

DIY How to get the most juice from lemons and limes

2013-03-01T10:06:00.002-08:00

It can be tough to juice lemons and limes, and thus tempting to just buy the bottled juice. But fresh is best! Here is a great way to easily get the most juice from those sometimes stubborn lemons and limes.

Place the lemons or limes in warm/hot water and let them sit for a bit.

Once they have warmed up, roll them on the counter, pressing down firmly to loosen things up inside and soften the lime or lemon.

Cut in half and squeeze easily!

And that is the best way to juice a lemon or lime.

Stephanie