I would like to say that I have tons to post and my house is magically decorated.  It's not.  And I am being craft-lazy.  I am trying to live in the moment and enjoy these fun summer days with Little Man.  Plus I am getting caught up on our family blog in a BIG way.

Although the progress on decorating has been slow (I am so indecisive!), I LOVE the addition of this "milk glass" to my kitchen cupboards.  Ever since I saw this post on Elle Apparel, I knew that this would be the perfect addition to my kitchen.

I love and adore milk glass.  I love the clean lines and the white.  Even though I really don't have any of my own!  So I decided to make my own.

(And let's just ignore the pineapple on top of the fridge.  And the odd gap between my flour and sugar canisters.  Deal?  Deal.)

I also used some things I already had on hand--like this vase.  Mr. oopsey always sends me the same flowers in the same exact vases.  Not that I'm complaining, but I have lots of these vases!  So this one wouldn't be missed.

Lovely right?! Then it was just a matter of how to arrange all of the pieces across the cabinets!  I had fun making my arrangements across the cupboards.

Mr. oopsey helped me use scrap wood to prop everything up so it could be seen from eye level.  He even created some wood pieces with grooves to fit the plates perfectly.  You can't see the wood at all from below.

I love how this turned out!  And it was so easy!

What do you think?

Like most Moms, I am always looking for new ways to entertain my Little Man especially in the summertime.  But I would prefer that his entertainment be educational and interactive.  So when I was approached to review 2 Switch & Go Dinos, I was positively thrilled.

When the package arrived on our doorstep, I simply told Little Man that I wanted him to try out some new toys.  Of course he was excited.  Typically I don't hand out new toys unless it's a special occasion or prize of some sort.  So this was just like Christmas!

For the next week, Little Man did everything with "Horns" the Triceratop and "Sliver" the T-Rex.  Little Man has always loved cars, but this was his first introduction to dinosaurs.  He was completely fascinated.  They joined us for story time.  They helped us clean the house.  They provided hours of entertainment, and even had the honor of being introduced to Grandma and Grandpa.  Dare I admit it--they even snuck into his bed!

What I loved most about these Switch & Go Dinos is the opportunity to have two awesome toys in one!  (What can I say?!  I'm a bargain girl!)  The toys are very interactive.  The cars easily morph into dinosaurs--each with individual sound effects and LCD screen options.  When the toys are in "car" mode, you can select the specific driver on the LCD screen; when the toys are in "dinosaur" mode, you can select the dinosaur's eyes!  Plus there are unique expressions that the cars say while in car mode (my personal favorite was "Turn my wheels!").  In dino mode, each dinosaur exclaimed 30 expressions, many of them handy-dandy facts about dinosaurs.  The sound effects really helped to bring the toys to life!  My husband and I find ourselves repeating the catchy phrases over and over again.  These toys are well loved!

Although Little Man is too young to catch on to the dino facts right now, I know he will continue to love these toys as he gets older.  What I loved even more was the opportunity for him to use his imagination!  It didn't take long before Little Man was pretending that they were vacuums, lawn mowers, and more!

Besides Sliver and Horns, there are 2 other dinos available:  T-Don the Pteranodon and Tonn the Stegosaurus.  You can buy them on Amazon now for $15.99.  Beginning June 18, the 4 dinosaurs will also be on sale for $15.99 at VTechkids.com.  Buy today on Amazon.

All in all, I was very impressed with these "Dino-Cars."  More importantly, so was Little Man!

So what do you think?  Which dino is your favorite?

Have a fabulous day!

Hooray!  I have time to craft for fun!  Last week my sweet nephew turned 2 years old.  Really there couldn't be a cuter, sweeter boy.  He has everyone in the entire family wrapped around his little fingers.  So with the adjustments I made to my blogging schedule, I had ample time to help my sister prepare for the big birthday party.  Today I want to share just a few peeks into the party.

My nephew loves bubbles, so this theme was perfect.  Despite the enormous wind storm on the evening of the party (and it was all planned for outdoors!), we made it work.  In fact, perhaps the massive winds actually provided for bigger bubbles!

Decor & More

Funny Story:  I made the hanging circle garlands.  Every time the door opened, the wind knocked them down.  I think we re-hung them at least 4 times!  Darn wind.  My sister was so clever!  She planned the entire dinner menu around "Round Foods" and "Foods that Pop." I was surprised at everything she thought of!

Round Foods - Pizza balls, Meatballs, Fruit Rounds, Vegetable Rounds, Sliders, Chips, Cake Pops

Foods that POP - Popcorn/Caramel corn, Candy that pops (Blow Pops, Ring Pops, Pop Rocks), Popsiciles, Popeye's Spinach Salad, Popcorn Chicken Jalapeno Poppers, Corn Dog Poppers, Soda Pop.

After dinner, it was time to play with bubbles of all shapes and sizes!  The birthday boy was perfectly content with the bubble machine all night long.

With all the wind, you barely had to blow.  The wind did all the work!  The kids loved running around chasing the bubbles!

My favorite bubbles were the fly swatter bubbles!  The kids dipped 50-cent fly swatters in homemade bubble solution and just ran around the yard.  It was amazing to see how many bubbles they made!  Little Man is already begging to do this again.  We may be doing this all summer long!

Who knew there were so many bubble contraptions?!  And the cool thing is they are all inexpensive.

The kids played a fun Cake Walk game in bubble style!  They jumped on bubble wrap with colored paper underneath.  Once the music stopped, the child on the color selected got a sticker!  They absolutely loved jumping on that bubble wrap!

What a fun time!  On our way home from the party, Little Man said at least 3 times, "Mom, I really loved that bubble party."  Great party, sis!!

Did you have a happy Memorial Day?  I hope so!

P.S. Oopsey Daisy's final business post is coming up in the next day or two.  From here on out--it's all fun!!!  So exciting.

I know... I know you will love her and her blog as much as I do!

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Hi Oopsey Daisy readers! And thanks Alison for having me as a guest poster!

I am Amber from Crazy Little Projects. I am the mom of 4 boys, so this tutorial fits perfectly into my life. I love to sew and I love to bake and I love to show off my sewing and my baking on my blog.

Every little boy loves superheros and with 4 little boys running around my house, that means superhero capes and masks are a hot commodity. I started making personalized superhero capes years ago for the online sewing business that I ran at the time. They were such a popular item I couldn't keep up with the demand. Add a mask to that? Way too cool!

This is a tutorial for those cool masks. Want to create a matching, personalized superhero cape to go with it? The tutorial for that is here.

I let my little 4 year old pick the colors on the one he is modeling...he picked red and white with yellow accents. I was thinking lime green and black or something cool like that, but oh well. Turned out pretty great anyway.

Superhero Mask Tutorial:

Here's what you need:

A small amount of 2 colors of fabric (or you can use the same color on the front and the back)

1 package double wide folded bias tape in a coordinating color

1 piece of elastic (about 1 foot long)

Pattern pieces for mask

How to make the Mask:

This mask is different and more sturdy than most masks you will see because it has a double layer of fabric. It seriously took me some major brain power to figure out how to do this. (Don't laugh) It won't seem all that tricky to you now, but it's quite a feat of engineering!

Print out your pattern pieces. Cut 1 piece of fabric from the large pattern piece and 2 from the smaller one. They can be the same color or different, it's up to you.

Trace the eye holes on with a washable marker or chalk. Also trace the dotted line on the smaller pieces.

Pin the 2 smaller pieces on the large piece matching up the edges.

Sew around the eye holes about 1/4 inch outside the markings.

Using some nice, sharp scissors, cut out the eye holes using the markings as guides:

Now, pull the small pieces through the eye holes:

And press them smooth:

Now here is the tricky part. You are going to fold the front side of the mask (the part shown in the image above) in half and pull the two ends of the small pieces from the back around so that you can sew them together on the dotted line you made earlier. Make sure you have right sides together when you do this:

Then turn it so that it is all right side out. It should look like this when you are done:

Now press it flat.

Using your bias tape, pin it all the way around the mask and sew it in place:

To make the band for around the head, cut a piece of fabric about 22 inches by 2-3 inches and sew it together the long way:

Turn it right side out (use a safety pin pinned to one end, push it through the inside until it comes out the other end, then pull the remaining fabric through). Insert your elastic (about 12 inches) into the casing you just made and pull it through making sure to sew it in place on the starting end and then pulling the fabric down around the elastic and sewing it on the other end. Sew it in place on the mask...and you're done! (See, I got my lime green and black mask made anyway. My 7 year old liked this one.)

Now try the matching cape!

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See?! I told you she was ah-MAZ-ing!  Here are some more incredible ideas from Crazy Little Projects:

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Cupcakes - YUM!

Frog Hooded Towel

Baby Girl Peasant Dress Ensemble

Go stop by Crazy Little Projects and tell Amber hello. I know you will love what you find!  I can't wait to check out the superhero cape!

Have a fabulous weekend!

I'm just popping in today to share the latest and greatest deal on the Silhouette.  Oh how I love my CAMEO!  I have spent many hours getting to know my CAMEO since I received it just a few months ago.   The creative possibilities really are endless!  I teach the Young Women at church, and I have loved making cute hand-outs and paper crafts to go along with my lessons each Sunday using the CAMEO.

Because I am a bargain girl,  I really do love to help spread the word about a good deal.  Especially when it comes to the Silhouette.  This month, there is an incredible bargain on the Silhouette CAMEO® rolling tote.

(Did I mention that we live next door to a park?!)

The rolling tote is a genius idea!  Before receiving my tote, hauling my CAMEO to craft night was much more difficult.  The tote has plenty of room for my CAMEO, laptop, cutting mats, and all of the accessories!  It is available in both pink and teal.

From May 24-31, you can redeem this amazing deal only at this unique link:

You can save about $60 purchasing a CAMEO and a rolling tote for the price of $309 (instead of $370).   If you already own a CAMEO, you can still a purchase a rolling tote at the discounted pride of $54.99.  Just use code "OOPSEY" at the unique link above if you're interested.

Thanks for reading!  Have a great day!

Let's start with thank you.  Although "Thank You" doesn't seem nearly enough.  As I closed my eyes and hit "publish" on my last post, I was almost afraid to  check my e-mail the next morning.  Your kind responses have absolutely overwhelmed me with happiness and encouragement.  I sat at my laptop and cried outright for a few days.  I saved each and every thoughtful comment and e-mail.  I plan to respond to each one.  As my second family, thank you for giving me "permission" to enjoy my first family.  I think I needed that.

The last few days have been wonderful in every way.  I can't believe I thought I might have spare time without blogging every day!  I am still incredibly busy!  But I find myself doing the things I want and need to be doing as a wife and mom.  Putting family first just feels right.  I can enjoy each moment with my sweet boys.

So much has happened!  Our house is coming together.  After a week with mr. oopsey daisy home all week {finally!}, every room in our house is finally unpacked and organized except for my craft room.  And that's only because  I'm actually preparing to paint my craft room.  I am thrilled to paint a room in my own house for the very.first.time!  The dear sweet paint lady at our local Ace has become my new best friend.  I have her on speed dial.

We have been getting A LOT of work done inside our house.  My fabulous brother-in-law and husband needed three ladders to hang the light fixture in our entry way.   Precarious.  Our electrician is my new favorite person.  (Second only to the paint lady.)  We had lighting wired and installed in every room of the house.  All I can say is thank goodness for Pinterest for giving us lots of last-minute ideas for light fixtures!

We are getting plenty of work done outdoors too!  We love our back yard and never want to go inside.  Hubby is taking such great care of the yard--I find it kind of cute.  His dreams are coming true as he is finally building a shed in the back yard.  LIttle Man's dreams all came true when he got to sit inside this Bobcat.

I have a lovely raised garden that I just can't get enough of!  Just yesterday, this happened!  My peas and beans have sprouted, and now I just need to make plant markers for them!  I love my garden!

Summer has finally arrived.  Little Man loves playing in the sprinklers, helping his Daddy take care of the grass, and just running around outside.  Gotta love his farmer's tan.

Remember how I mentioned that I still have a few outstanding "business" posts?  Well, there is a great deal on a Silhouette coming up tomorrow.  But I just had to check in before that to tell you how grateful I am for each one of you who read this lil' blog.  Thank you for everything!

Have a happy day!

Mother's Day was a beautiful day for our family!  It gave me the perfect opportunity to put things in perspective and make some important decisions for me and my family.  This is a post I have considered for a very long time. So today's post is all about keepin' it real.

Photo Credit:  Janine Grover Photography

What Blogging Means For This Mama

All I have ever wanted is to be a Mother.  Little Man is everything I could have ever wanted in a little boy.  He is sweet, compassionate, patient, and bright!

But for a very long time, we have been trying to grow our little family.  I know that our struggle with infertility is not unusual.  So many incredible families wait and wait--hoping to experience the miracle that is a brand new baby.  About 6 weeks ago, we were given the devastating news that our chances of having another child were very, very slim.  There is very little that the doctors can do, so they offered very little hope.  At first, my world seemed to crumble all around me. After weeks of prayers, I feel at peace.  All we can do is wait and hope!  I am learning faith, patience, and a whole host of new virtues all at once!  Of course we will never give up in our hopes for bringing another baby into the world.

My very first reaction to our news was:  "This is could be my only chance!  I've got to make every.single.moment.count!"  Little Man is already 3 years old.  He is growing up so fast that some nights when I put him to bed, I can't help but blubber.  He is such a good boy, and I can't believe he can talk and walk and go potty and spell his name and recite 15 brands of vacuums off the top of his head.  He is an awesome kid.  But I'm not doing enough as his Mom.  This might just be my only chance to be a Mom!

Oopsey Daisy has become a fulltime job for me.  (Crazy, right?!) The problem is.... Being a Mommy is also a fulltime job.  I simply can't be the best at both jobs--I've tried.  I either fail at being a Mom and succeed at being a blogger or vice versa.  I can't afford to fail at being a Mama!  This might be my only chance.

So from here on out, I am choosing to be a Mom.  And I am thrilled about it!

Our family has chatted about this option for months.  We are incredibly excited about what this means for our family.  I can now go to bed with my husband.  (And I might just get a full night's sleep!)  Instead of shooing my boys out of my way on the weekends so I can complete crafts, we might just go hiking.  Or play t-ball together.  And guess what?!  I think I'll start cooking dinner every night.  This is huge!  But from now on, family comes first.  Blogging will take a back seat.

But....

Blogging is a blessing.

I don't know if I can really explain this, but I need to blog.  When I began Oopsey Daisy, I was a brand new Mommy (and often a "single Mom" when the Mister traveled every week), and I needed a creative outlet just for me.  The blogging community became a second family to me.  I can never thank you enough for welcoming me into the blogging world.  You will never know what your support--a kind comment or e-mail, a retweet, or a "like" on Facebook--has done for me!  So thank you!  Creative blogging is my own therapy!

Of course blogging has changed a lot over the last 2 1/2 years.  There have been lots of exciting changes for sure.  But the one thing I do miss is the personal connection.   The truth is that I spend 3-4 hours editing pictures and writing a craft tutorial, staying up until about 2 AM on average.  Although I see my posts stumbled, tweeted, and pinned I actually receive very few comments.  Of course seeing my posts on social media is thrilling. I absolutely appreciate the love!  But I truly miss the positive feedback and the personal outreach.

I have always felt that blogging is a strange sort of "calling."  I have no idea why I feel compelled to share my ideas.  But I do!  I have an inexplicable desire to share the few things that I know and that work for me.  I love hearing from readers and sharing experiences!  One of the most inspiring parts of my blogging adventure has been meeting other real-life bloggers.  They all feel that same desire to share their creative journeys, and it brings us together.  I love that!   Some of my closest friends are blogging friends. We have an unexplainable bond.  I hope that never changes.  For me, blogging is all about the friendships.

Please stick with me!

I hope you'll continue to read Oopsey Daisy!  I might post 3 times a week or 3 times a month!  Who knows?!  But taking the pressure out of blogging means it will be 100% fun.  YAY for fun!  Here is what I'll be blogging about:

* I am passionate about Mommy School and sharing my Mommy School packets with you.  Now I'll have more time to dedicate to Mommy School.  So if you're a Mommy School fan, stick around!

* I have a whole house that needs decorating!  I can't wait to share my adventures with you.  I know nothing about decorating, my friends.  But I have tons of ideas and can't wait to get started!  I have an entire entry way that is 100% empty.  Yikes!  It's a blank slate just waiting to be painted.

* Besides a few "business" obligations I have already committed to, I will be blogging purely for pleasure!  I feel like I'll only be sharing the "good stuff" with you from now on.  No more manufactured posts.  I will be blogging authentically.

The truth is:  I am excited.

Starting today, I will live first and blog second.  Instead of the other way around.

Today I wanted to share some beautiful spring photos we took at the Denver Temple just a few weeks ago.

In my life, I am surrounded by amazing women:

My own mother - She is absolutely everything I want to be.

My sisters - My best friends!

My grandmothers - Both of my sweet grandmothers have passed on, but what a legacy they left for me!

Plus an incredible mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, cousins, and friends.

These women are my my support and my inspiration.

And this little guy....

Well, he makes me feel like the luckiest lady in the whole entire world.

Enjoy your day my friends!

This sweet and sour chicken and I go waaaaay back.  This is the very same recipe that I made in 7th grade "Foods" class in middle school.  (I would show a 7th grade photo just for nostalgia, but trust me no one wants to see me in my adolescent glory.)

When we were first married, mr. oopsey daisy called my Mom to get directions on making this dish.  He surprised me one day when I came home from work and I discovered him making (you guessed it!) sweet and sour chicken.  Now that I think about it, I might have to encourage future surprises such as that.  :)

Most recently, this was the very first dish that I made in our new house.  Working my way around the kitchen for the very first time was exciting!  I know it's silly, but I am still relishing all of the "firsts" in our new home.  Mopping the floor for the first time is much more exciting than mopping it any other time after that.

This recipe makes plenty.  So either half the recipe or share it with some guests!  There are a few steps, but it is surprisingly simple.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Begin with 3 lb. uncooked chicken, cut into 1-inch pieces.   Mix together 1 egg, 1 T. cornstarch, 2 tsp. soy sauce, and a dash white pepper.  Stir chicken into this mixture, and refrigerate for 20 minutes:

Mix together: 1 c. flour, 1 c. water, ½ c. cornstarch, 2 T. olive oil, and 1 tsp. baking soda.  Add chicken mixture.

Heat oil in skillet to 350.  Fry 15 pieces of chicken at a time, for about 3 minutes.  Drain on paper towels.  Heat oil in skillet to 375.  Fry chicken all together for 1 minute, until golden brown.  Drain.

Heat together 2 ½ c. sugar, 2 c. chicken broth, 1 ½ c. white vinegar, 2 T. olive oil, 4 T. soy sauce, and 2 cloves garlic.  Bring to a boil.

Mix ½ c. cornstarch and ½ c. cold water.  Cook and stir until thick.

Stir in 2 cans pineapple chunks, 2 green peppers, cut into small slices, and 3 tomatoes, cut into small slices.  Heat to a boiling.  Add chicken.  Serve over rice.

Enjoy!

No need to copy down the recipe... just click here!

 Have a fabulous weekend my friends!

I can't wait to introduce you to a new favorite etsy shop!

Daisy Decals is a mother-and-daughter team.  This stay-at-home Mom and struggling college student love all things creative--especially with a retro flair.  They love designing decals together and bringing vintage images to new media.  They love creating vinyl that bring back old memories or strike up an interest in the past.

This week I had the opportunity to try 2 of my very own decals.  I love receiving packages in the mail.  So I was thrilled to find these lovelies in my mailbox.  The directions were very thorough, and they were so easy to apply!  I had worried that considering the detailed images, they would be more difficult to apply.  But it was simple!  I love this retro typewriter decal, and it's found a new home on my Macbook Pro.

Here are just a few more designs available in the Daisy Decals shop:

I seriously love.them.all!

By the way, I am in trouble with Little Man.  He took a peek while I was selecting my own decals.  He really wanted the Volkswagon Bus, and was sadly disappointed when I selected some different options instead.

I had the most difficult time selecting just two decals because they are all fabulous!  And there are so many beautiful colors of vinyl to choose from.  Although these decals are shown on computer devices (and all Mac products, too!), there are countless ways to use them.  You could use these decals on message boards, notebooks, cars, etc.!  So even if you don't have a laptop or iPad, the possibilities are endless.

Today the lovely ladies at Daisy Decals are offering TWO Oopsey Daisy readers TWO decals of their choice.  Fabulous right?!

Here is how you can win 2 decals of your choice:

{There will be 2 winners here!}

1.  Check out Daisy Decals' etsy shop.  What is your favorite item?  Come back and leave a comment here.

2.  Where do you want to apply your decal {remember that it doesn't have to be on a laptop or iPad}?  Leave your ideas in a comment here.

This giveaway will remain open until Tuesday, May 16 at midnight.

Both giveaway winners will be announced via Twitter, e-mail, and updated on the original post.

That's it! Have a happy day!

I have been excited all day long to see your ideas linked up tonight.  I can't wait to see what you've bene making lately.

Tonight's linky party is brought to you by Pick Your Plum.  Can I just tell you how much I adore Pick Your Plum?!  I love all of the incredible daily deals.  (Sometimes I think I need to set my alarm just so I can be sure to get the good deals before they sell out in the morning!)  But they are also really nice people. Genuine.

The most viewed link from last week's party was {drumroll please!}:

Teacher Appreciation Gift from Homespun With Love.

Here are some other favorite/popular features of the week:

More Gift Ideas

{Teachers, Mothers, Birthdays, & More!}

1 - Birthday Boy Pop Box Set @ Lil' Luna

2 - Printable Teacher Cards @ Shaken Together

3 - Coach Teacher Gift With Printables @ Simply This and That

4 - Caramel Apple Gift @ Makoodle

5 - Grilling Teacher Gift Idea @ Mom on TimeOut

6 - Dinner and a Movie Teacher Gift @ Desperate Craftwives

7 - Vintage Book Flowers @ Sweet Little Gals

8 - Personalized Appreciation Gift @ Creative Preschool Resources

9 - Silk Flower Corsages @ I Gotta Create

Furniture/Home Decor Lovelies

10 - Pallet Coffee Table @ Mommyapolis

11 - Chalk Paint Dresser @ Sweet C's Designs

12 - Farmhouse Kitchen Table @ Look What Jeff Did

13 - Living Room Update @ Cheap Crafty Mama

More Creative Lovelies

14 - Airplane Baby Shower @ I'm Topsy Turvy

15 - Chore Chart Tutorial @ Ginger Snap Crafts

16 - Giant Photo Booth @ Girl In Air

17 - Front Porch Reveal @ Design, Dining + Diapers

18 - "I'm Bored" Jar @ Shabby Beach Nest

So let's party!

Just a reminder about the party guidelines:

Grab a button (from the sidebar) so you can play along.

Happy linking!

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It is almost summertime- and I am so ready for warm weather, and enjoying nice, cool beverages on our back patio. There is nothing better than something fruity and sparkling when you're trying to beat the heat and relax on a warm summer evening.

To get myself in the mood, I wanted some fun and summery coasters for our outdoor patio table. I browsed around online at some gorgeous sea glass coasters, but I just couldn't justify spending more than $6 for a set of two coasters. I decided instead to set out to my local hardware store to make my own!

Seaglass and tile coasters can be very expensive, and a bit uneven- but I found a fabulous alternative in the shower tile aisle- and you are going to love the pricetag and how incredibly easy these are to make!

I grabbed two ceramic white subway tiles for $.14 a piece, and a package of mounted mesh mosaic shower tile for $5.

I didn't have any E6000 on hand, so I decided to try hot glue to adhere the mosaic tiles to my coasters- and I was thrilled to see that it worked wonderfully.

First, lay out your tiles, and wipe them down with a damp rag to remove any dust.

Pull gently on each individual tile to remove it from the mesh, and place onto your subway tile in a pattern you like. I went for a 5x5 placement, but you could make a circle, swirl, or other design if you'd like! Since I like to use my plastic goblets and wine glasses outside, I figured a simple square grid would be the most stable for stemware (especially my precariously wobbly plastic stuff).

Once you have a pattern you like, hot glue the mosaic tiles in place. Since the tiles were mesh mounted, the glue doesn't show through the glass as it has a thin white backing.

I wasn't sure about using hot glue- but it holds up really well, and dries SUPER fast (be careful when placing the glue backed tiles on your subway tile- they will not be re-positionable without completely removing the tile). You can pull the tiles off when using hot glue- but not so easily that they will knock off.

When your grid is done, place some small felt stickers in the corners of the bottom of the tile if you need to protect your surface from scratches. You can find the small round felt backings in most grocery or hardware stores.

How great do these little beauties look? I love the design and the size of the mosaic tiles worked out perfectly.

As long as you use about the same amount of glue on each mosaic, the small tiles are very uniform in size and will create a flat surface.

I tested the coasters out with my favorite summer sipper- lemon, cucumber and strawberry sparkling water- and the stemware was perfectly supported. Can't wait to use these more this summer!

I just love these little cuties- and I am so honored that Alison has welcomed me to share some of my craft ideas with you over here at Oopsey Daisy!  If you enjoyed this post, I'd love for you to stop by the Sweet C's Designs blog, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest page and say hello!

Pottery Barn-Inspired Peony Lamp

Quick and Easy Jellyroll Party Banner

Baby B's Nursery

Have a great day, my friends!

Congratulations to Becca, the winner of the gift card! 

Happy Giveaway Day!

Today's giveaway is fantastic because it's all about one of my very favorite restaurants, Chili's!

In our family, Chili's is one of the only restaurants that we can all agree on so we dine there often.

One of my favorite things about Chili’s is their fabulous promotions!  A while ago, I signed up for Chili’s e-mails spotlighting their current deals and promotions.  These tasty deals often brighten up my inbox.  Free chips and salsa is all the convincing that mr. oopsey daisy needs to take us out for a yummy meal!  Although I personally choose not to drink, the current promotion is CoronaRita at Chili's.

Over the weekend, my family went out for a delicious dinner at Chili's! We had been cleaning out our old house all day long, and our favorite chips and salsa never tasted so good! On good days (like this particular day!), I can convince my hubby to splurge on my all-time favorite queso, too. Yum! Little Man and I love to dip our chips in both salsa and queso. The only problem is that I always fill up on chips before my meal arrives!

We now have our "usual" meals at Chili's. Mr. oopsey daisy always orders chicken fajitas. He loves how they always come out sizzling.

I guess we all love a little Tex-Mex because Little Man and I like typically share these bacon ranch quesadillas. Although he is usually too busy drinking chocolate milk to eat his fair share!

But we sure have fun sharing together!

What a fun night out!  As many of you know, Mr. oopsey daisy travels frequently, so we treasure our family time together! And guess what?  Because I had so much fun, I went back to Chlii's for dessert later that night with some friends!

Today I am giving away a $25 gift card to Chili's for one very lucky reader! So one of you will soon be enjoying a night out, too!

Here is how you can enter to win:

{You can view the official rules here.}

1. What do you like to eat at Chili's? Let me know in a comment.  I want to hear what Chili's menu item is on your mind!  Please be sure to leave your e-mail address with your comment.

2. Share this giveaway! If you are a tweeter, feel free to copy and paste this tweet:

Treat yourself to a night out at @Chilis!  Win a $25 gift card at @OopseyDaisy917. http://bit.ly/KPEvvP #giveaway

As always, giveaway winners will be announced via Twitter, e-mail, and on the original post. Good luck!

You must be 21 years or older to drink alcoholic beverages and as always, please remember to drink responsibly.

I hope you'll forgive me for not commenting on all 200+ links this time around.  Life just happened this week! But as always, you have totally and completely inspired me with your creativity!  Many of my non-blogging friends tell me how much they love to browse the Wowzers links.  I feel so blessed to have such a talented group sharing their great ideas right here!

Wednesday's Wowzers is brought to you by Cute and Preppy.  There are so many fun items in Michele's shop, and I love the personalized embroidery options too!

The most viewed link from last week's party was {drumroll please!}:

10 Minute Burpcloths at Sweet C's Designs!

Aren't these darling?!  Courtney is a pro!  And while you're at Sweet C's, you've got to see Courtney's chalk paint dresser!  I have seen her baby's nursery in person--and it is absolutely stunning!

Here are some other favorite/popular features of the week:

1 - DIY Stamped Washer Necklace @ Crafty Imaginings & Silly Things

2 - T-Shirt Turned Barefoot Sandals @ Tutus & Tea Parties

3 - "Walk Tall" Dresser Vinyl Tutorial @ Tales of the Scotts

4 - 50-cent Frame Makeover @ Today's Fabulous Finds

5 - Snickedoodle Bars @ Lil' Luna

6 - Puffy Quilt @ Once Upon a Childhood...

7 - Nightstand Makeover Using Chalk Paint @ Nifty Thrifty Things

8 - May Day Baskets @ Mommyapolis

9 - Paper Earrings @ Crafting In the Rain

10 -  Photo Case Thank you Gift @ Simply This and That

11 - Good-Better-Best Printable @ Makoodle

12 - Simple Skirts @ Confessions of a Desperate Mom

13 - Very Hungry Caterpillar Party @ The Bean Sprout Notes

14 - Teacher Appreciation Frame Gift @ Yesterday on Tuesday

15 - Visual Schedule @ How Does She

Are you ready to party?!

Just a reminder about the party guidelines:

Grab a button (from the sidebar) so you can play along.

Happy linking!

So 2 weeks ago, my sweet husband patiently drove me to Utah (Thanksgiving Point, to be exact).  It worked out beautifully so we had several family events in Utah the very same week as SNAP.  I had the chance to see my entire extended family plus my blogging friends--all in one busy week!

Unfortunately, the unthinkable happened.  My camera took a tumble out of the car and my best lens broke just days before leaving town.  So I took far fewer photos than I would have liked.  Yet another reason to return next year for SNAP 2013!  But I do have a few snippets to share!

Thanksgiving Point was a stunning location.  And those tulips! I couldn't get enough of those tulips!

My brand new business cards had arrived just in time.  Phew.

Top:  Kelli & {me}; Middle:  Amy, Amy, {me}, & Gwen; Bottom: {me}, Michelle, & Aimee

I could hardly wait to check in and get started!

Everywhere I went, I heard the same comment, "I love your bag!!"

The amazing Kellie from Nest of Posies made this bag just in time for SNAP, and I am still crushing on how cute this is!

{me}, Amanda, Michelle

These gals were my room-mates and pals.  LOVE them!  And we totally rocked the Homes.com photo booth!

The food was delicious!  Is it sad/slightly pathetic that I judge almost all events by the food?!  Thanksgiving Point really knows how to throw a party!  And welcome to my world, Velata fondue (a new product from Scentsy.)  YUM!  Those chocolate-covered strawberries were definitely a highlight for me.

One of my favorite parts about SNAP was the make-and-take crafts.  I'm a hands-on type of girl!  After doing some sitting, I needed to CREATE!  I made this cute glasses pouch.  Yeah. I love it.

It was definitely a meeting of creative minds.  The classes were jampacked full of talented speakers (many of my blogging idols!), and everywhere I turned--I found someone else I was dying to meet!  I only wish I had more time with every one of these people!

These Arizona girls, Kristyn and Kelli, are some of the sweetest!

Kami was one of my favorite people to chat with!  I have always admired Kami in the blogging world!

Heather, Tara, Kirstin, {me}

And my local Colorado crew!  (We're claiming Heather as a Coloradan because she grew up here!)

Tam, Brooke, Amanda, {me}, Kirsten

Oh how I love these girls.  And their dance moves.  How had I NEVER met The Crafting Chicks until now?!

{me} and Jen; Allison and {me}

I love these sweet ladies so, so much!  Even though they out-dressed me. They looked so glam!

Michelle, Amanda, {me}, Linda

Our final night at SNAP!  It ended too soon. There were so many more incredible women I didn't snap a photo with.

Ohhh and did I mention the Queen Bee Market?  I bought some totally cute goodies there.

It was even worth the 2 hours standing in line to check out!

So.Much.Fun!

Most of all I just feel blessed.  Meeting with women who "get" me and what I do is just amazing.

Until next year....

I used some Silhouette sketch pens to create this quick and easy Mother's Day card.

Say hello to my brand new CAMEO!  This beauty arrived on my doorstep just a few short weeks ago.  I am in LOVE, my friends.  I have long supported both the Cricut and the Silhouette--as equally as I possibly could.  I have seen pro's and con's to both machines.  However, this week I have really gotten to know my CAMEO.  The Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition software is beyond incredible!  I am excited to practice even more!

BUT my lil' machine came to me with a defective blade.  So I put my thinking cap on to create a project that did not require any cutting.  Instead, I wanted to practice a bit with my new sketch pens.

I was given a pack of glitter sketch pens and metallic sketch pens.  Aren't they pretty?  I learned a little trick along the way.  It appears that the sketch pens work best if the paper has not been touched.  If the paper has any oils from your fingers, the image shows up only part-way.

The rest was simple!  I inserted the sketch pen into the blade holder, designed the card and image in the software, and it came out beautifully!  This image is butterfly_floral_lace_square_C00500_19210.

I just had to use the old-fashioned method of doing the actual cutting out of the card.  (Can you believe I actually had to use scissors?!  Sheesh!  The Silhouette just makes me lazy.)

One of my Mother's favorite songs is "I Often Go Walking", and I wanted to use one of the lyrics for her card.  My Mom loves flowers.  She could spend all day long in her garden.  Everything about flowers makes me think of my Mother, so this lyric was just perfect.  I used the black sketch pen to sketch the tag and the words on burgundy cardstock.

SO easy!  And I love the subtle glitter shine.

I know my Mother will love this along with her stenciled mason jar vase with flower love notes.

I loved this card so much that I made another for my mother-in-law!

Isn't that big sketched flower gorgeous?!   (I used small_chevron_backround_C01268_19547  and sketch_flowers_C00036_27011 from the Silhouette library.)

Don't forget... you have until April 30 to purchase your own Silhouette™ CAMEO (plus sketch pens and more!) with the savings of $75.

Use code "OOPSEY" to purchase a whole bundle of Silhouette goodies here.

Enjoy your weekend!

Oh my friends.  I am so creatively inspired right now!  My family just returned from a week in Utah.  (So more unpacking!  Add those suitcases to the piles of boxes, right?) I have so much that I want to share from SNAP conference! I just need to get my photos ready to go. I met so many amazing women in real life.  I learned A LOT.  Plus I purchased some fun crafty treats at the Queen Bee Market.  All in all, I am one happy lady.  Stay tuned for my SNAP conference recap...

Wednesday's Wowzers is brought to you by Uppercase Living's independent demonstrator, Kelly Koons.  You can design vinyl for any space at Uppercase Living.  I love all of their creative inspiration!

The most viewed link from last week's party was {drumroll please!}:

Pink Polka Dot Creations' thank you note gift.

I'll give you a hint:  It involves 2 of my favorite things:  Chocolate and scrapbook paper!  I had the chance to meet sweet Rita at SNAP Conference over the weekend.  She is incredible!!

Here are some other favorite/popular features of the week:

1 - Medical Party @ vixenMade

2 - Balloon & Corker Ribbon Wreath @ The Bean Sprout Notes

3 - Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Cupcakes @ Crazy Little Projects

4 - Baby Quilt @ Stars & Sunshine

5 - Toddler Pudding Finger Paint @ Homespun With Love

6 - Lollipop Wash Cloth Centerpieces @ The NY Melrose Family

7 - Ruffle Tank Dress @ Artzy Creations

8 - Keepsake Card Books @ Life With Both Hands Full

9 - Mom's Chore Chart @ Daylights

10 -  Farmhouse Table and Bench @ Domestic Imperfection

11 - Making Vases and Votive Candles From Recycled Jars @ Design, Dining + Diapers

12 - Gingham Picnic Cookies @ Munchkin Munchies

13 - Free Printables for Mothers Day @ Naptime Delights

14 - Dollar Store Organization Board @ Better Together

15 - Baseball Wreath @ The Pinterest Project

16 - How to Tease Hair (video tutorial) @ Watch Out For the Woestmans

Now on to the party!

Just a reminder about the party guidelines:

Grab a button (from the sidebar) so you can play along.

Happy linking!

The thing I love most about the Silhouette is all of its fabulous capabilities!  Girls, we love our accessories.  Am I right?? Well, the Silhouette CAMEO™ has all sorts of lovely accessories!  I love the heat transfer, the tattoo paper, the rhinestones, and the etching cream!  Project possibilities are simply endless.  This leads me to some very happy news:

From April 24-30, Silhouette is offering a screaming hot deal on a brand new Silhouette CAMEO™ plus a special deal on sketch pens!

Using code "OOPSEY" you can save $75!  For the incredible price of $269.99, you can purchase:

* 1 Silhouette CAMEO™ machine

* 1 $25 download card {I redeem these on fantastic images in the Silhouette library}

* 1 pack of metallic sketch pens

* 1 pack of glitter sketch pens

Curious about sketch pens?  Well, sketch pens fit directly into the blade holder of your Silhouette making it easy to transform any digital design into a work of art. There are special sketch designs in the Silhouette Online Store designed specifically for use with sketch pens.

If you already have a Silhouette CAMEO™, you can still purchase the sketch pen packs for just $6.99.  But all of the promotional deals can only be redeemed through a special link here.  Don't forget to enter code "OOPSEY" at check out!

I can't wait to show you my very own project using the sketch pens coming up later this week!

Don't forget to come back tonight for Wednesday's Wowzers!

I was thrilled to participate in Plaid's Mother's Day Campaign.  They sent me a whole box full of crafting goodies to create a beautiful and meaningful gift for my Mamacita!  Here is what I came up with:

I created this stenciled mason jar vase with burlap and bakers twine!  Each flower has a very special meaning because each one represents a member of our family.  (More on that later!)

I love daisies.  The name of my blog is no accident.  Daisies equal happiness for me!  I thought these would be the perfect way to express our appreciation for my Mom, a true flower enthusiast!

It was like Christmas morning when I ripped open this package of amazing supplies from Plaid's Martha Stewart's craft line.  Talk about creative inspiration in a box!  There was acrylic paint, glitter, all sorts of stencils, a heating tool, a spray painting kit, every kind of brush I could imagine, a sweet tote bag, and all sorts of stenciling accessories packed inside.

I even created a "haul video" showing the entire crafting stash as I opened the box.

** For the record, I set up the tripod and taped myself while mr. oopsey was out of town.  I felt a bit awkward!  I'm still new to vlogging, but if you want a tiny sneak peek of the new house, maybe focus on the background instead of me!  Ha!

For this particular project, I wanted to try out the spray painting kit.  Hello!  Turning acrylic paint into spray paint just sounds fun.  So I gave it a shot! This was shockingly easy!

I carefully followed the directions on the sprayer kit to mix the correct proportions of the gloss spray medium with acrylic paint.  Then I simply twisted the sprayer onto the bottle.  Easy, right?

I found the trick to spray painting with this sprayer was holding it very upright.  Once I figured out that little trick, the rest was easy peasy.  It dried quickly and sprayed evenly.  I gave the mason jar 3 good coats in my favorite shade of aqua.

I decided to choose from these beautiful flower stencils included in my package.  I had a difficult time selecting which stencil to use.  Aren't they all lovely?!  I love these stencils.  They peel on and off just like stickers with no budging during the pain process at all.  And you can use them over and over!

Originally I had planned to stencil the jar.  But... oopsey daisy!  After the paint dried, I attempted to peel off the adhesive stencil, and it stuck to the paint on the jar.   It actually started pulling up the paint.  So as with most of my projects, I invented a Plan B!

Spur of the moment, I found some burlap.  (This in and of itself was a miracle considering the state of my craft room!!)  I just started stenciling flowers on a strip of burlap.

I wrapped the burlap around the jar and secured it with some Baker's twine.  I must say--I think I like Plan B even better than Plan A!

I purchased 11 daisies (50% off at Michael's!)--one for each member of our family.  I cut the stems and placed them inside the jar along with some marbles.

I have asked all 11 members of our family (my Dad, all of my siblings, and all of the grandchildren!) to write my Mom a brief note expressing why they love her.

Here's my note!

I just rolled my note around the stem of the daisy.

All done!  I love the colors of this project!  

I can't wait to see what sweet little notes my family members write about my Mom.  I know she will love reading the notes most of all!

I hope my Mom likes this gift!

What are you making for Mother's Day this year?

Thank you so much, Plaid Crafts, for offering all of these amazing supplies for this project.  You can keep in touch with Plaid Crafts on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Have a fabulous week!

You can find my disclosure here.

Congratulations to sara @ applestone drive, comment #57.

It's Thursday, and you know what that means:

A fabulous giveaway!

Today's giveaway is sponsored by Laura Beth Lamb, Independent Thirty-One Director.  Thirty-One's mission is to celebrate, encourage and reward women by offering quality products and an outstanding opportunity to become successful business owners.

Thirty-One offers a variety of products, and one of my favorite things about the company is that they offer personalization of their products through embroidery.  So you can really make these products your own!

Gorgeous cream rosette

Beach totes! 

Mini utility bin 

Every month, there is a special deal.  The April customer special is fantastic!  If you spend $31, you get a purse for 50% off.  So you could score a cute bag like the "Retro Metro" bag (the butterfly bag) for just $26.   What a great deal!

If you would like a catalog of your own, just contact Laura Beth Lamb, Independent Thirty-One director.  And if you are interested in earning more income for you and your family, now is the time to sign up to be your own business owner!

The giveaway will be a lovely picnic thermal in the spring pattern, Awesome Blossom (valued at $42)!  Don't you love the yellow/gray color combo?!  I do!  And this will be perfect for upcoming summer picnics or trips to the beach or zoo!  Plus you will be able to personalize the thermal with embroidery of your choice!

Here is how you can enter to win this picnic thermal:

1. Visit Thirty-One, and let me know what your favorite item is by clicking on the catalog!  Please leave me a comment here and let me know.

2.  Please share this giveaway using any method you choose.  If you are a tweeter, feel free to copy and paste this tweet, and then leave a comment here to let me know.

Win an adorable personalized yellow/gray Thirty-One picnic thermal from @LauraBethLamb at @OopseyDaisy917 http://bit.ly/J3VlCT #giveaway 

This giveaway will remain open until Wednesday, April 25 at midnight.

All giveaway winners are announced via Twitter, on the original post, and e-mailed directly.

Good luck!