The Crafty Stuff

Bye, Bye High Waters

2010-10-03T21:55:00.000-04:00

So I typically buy clothing off the clearance rack whenever possible. I mean come on who wouldn’t if you were saving a few bucks and after a few good buys you basically get one for free (my husband doesn’t see it like that). So I bought these cute light weight cotton pants for work. They were great for the summer heat. I am not pinning this on the husband but for some reason they all of the sudden got a bit too short to wear to work.

Yes, my legs spend most of the day under a desk but I don’t want to be the one strutting down the hallway with pants halfway up my ankles. So my solution…make them into capris! This is how I did it…super easy.

The first thing, take a pair of capris that are the ideal length that you are going for.

Then cut the high waters leaving two inches for the hem. Fold over and iron the cut part ½-inch and then fold and iron leaving a 1-inch hem.

I like to iron all the folds and then sew it.

Then all you have to do is sew ¼-inch from the top of the new hem.

There you have it… new capris!!! (Please forgive the silly photo)

Happy Re-fashioning!

Roaring Good Time

2010-08-26T19:27:00.000-04:00

WOW a month went by that fast. In that month I managed to visit family every weekend, attend a birthday party (or two), spend a week at the beach with my entire family, and work. So please forgive me for my delinquent blogging and rest assure that I will try and make it up to everyone. So let me start with the birthday party. I spent several long nights melting and wiping and freezing and you get the point, to create these delicious treats for Baby B's first birthday party.

They were super simple to make however I should have bought a few molds and things would have progressed a lot smoother faster. All I did was buy two molds one from JoAnn's and one from Hobby Lobby, the melting chocolates and a squirt bottle kit (also from JoAnn's). To melt the chocolate all you have to do is place chocolates into bottles and put them into microwave for 30 seconds on half power. I had to do this a few time until the chocolate was completely melted to the perfect consistency. Next squirt the color of chocolate into the mold where appropriate, bump against the counter a few times, and then stick it into the freezer for a few minutes until the chocolate hardens and then add the next color layer. There you have it, pretty simple right? So then I found the second mold but this one took Oreo cookies in the center. Can I just say yummy yummy! Same process but just stick the Oreo in the center after the last layer of chocolate. I also made chocolate covered pretzels, again super easy. I actually melted the chocolate just the same and then took the cap off the bottle and just dipped the pretzel rod into the chocolate. I dipped a few into coconut for an added flare.

I also wanted to share the awesome cake my crafty sister created for Baby B.

She used her Cricut to cut the animals out and used them as a template. We also made super cute cupcakes following the Better Crocker directions.

The party was a success and was followed by a relaxing week at the beach. I Love the BEACH!!!!

Bag the Bags

2010-07-09T19:56:00.001-04:00

Does anyone else have a mess like this?

No matter how hard I try to Go Green and reuse bags I still end up with more than my fair share, it's the quick trips into the store that get me. My goal is to go plastic bagless in 2011, we shall see how that pans out. In the mean time I needed some way to control the over abundance. I've seen various versions of bag control in the kitchen or storage sections at various stores. I decided that I wanted to try and make the bag bags you see at craft shows and I think they even have them at Wal-mart (my memory fails me again).

What you need:
Sewing Machine
18"x16" piece of material (I chose a heavy upholstery fabric)
2"x4" piece of material
Matching thread
Thin elastic (3/8")
Elastic grippers (see below for picture)
Bags

First you want to sew a 1/2" hem into one of the 16" ends. Usually I will sew a 1/8" hem and then fold it over to a 1/2" and sew again to finish it.

Then we move onto the elastic portion. You basically do the same thing creating a pocket for the elastic to go into. So first sew 1/8" hem then fold that over leaving enough room for your elastic to lay flat when it is inside the pocket. Sew the second hem in. Now you are ready to use the elastic grippers (this is not the technical term for these but it is what I call them). They are simple to use, simply grip one end of the elastic with the grippers. Stick the end of the grippers into the "pocket" you created and pull the elastic through being careful not to twist the elastic.

Now this is where my opinion comes in more than technical skill. I like to pull the elastic all the way through until the end of the strip is at the starting end of the "pocket" (unless your piece of elastic is way too long, then you would just have to cut it smaller). When the end of the elastic is lined up with the end of the "pocket" sew perpendicularly across the elastic to secure is on that end. Continue to pull the elastic through. Once you have pulled it through you will want to gage how big you want the opening at the bottom of the bag. I just wrapped the material around until I got the ideal opening and then sewed perpendicularly across the elastic, securing it. Once you have the two 16" ends finished you are ready to sew it up the side. With the right sides of the fabric facing each other sew down the edge leaving about a 1/4" to a 1/2" seam.

As you can tell by now I am not too precise with measurements. Now you are almost done all that is left is sewing the hanging loop. Take the 2"x4" piece of material and fold the two long sides into the middle so they are just barely touching. I usually take a hot iron down the fold to make them stay perfect.

Then if you did it right you should be able to fold that in half again, run the iron down the fold. I like to sew down both side about a 1/8" from each side. Last step is to sew the loop into the bag. Take the 4" strip and fold it in half, place on the inside of the bag covering the last seam you sewed, and sew perpendicular across the strip. Sew in two lines to make it super secure. There you have it a simple bag bag.

Happy Bagging!

Sammy Gene

July Coupon Sammy

2010-07-02T22:18:00.002-04:00

Ok my new goal is to post coupon updates once a month preferable in the beginning. Let's see where that takes us. Just so everyone knows I am addicted to coupons! Some may think it is a waste of time however saving $85, my last shopping trip is much more than I get pain an hour. Now that was an extreme trip (saving 50%) but it just goes to show that it is possible. I know there are people out there that do much better than that even and if so please share your tips!!!! As I mentioned in previous posts I buy the newspaper every Sunday and usually trade with a few of the girls at work. With that said and the holiday coming up I want to remind everyone that this Sunday is July 4^th and from my research there will be no coupons in the paper- just an FYI. Ok so here are links to a few of my favorite coupon spots plus some direct links to coupons that I get via e-mail.

Coupons.Com
Smart Source
Red Plum
Nestle
Classico
Tide

Happy Couponing!

Sammy Gene

A Jam Good Time

2010-06-22T22:54:00.000-04:00

I realize that there a lot of posts out there on how to make jam but I wanted to share a few of my, well let's just call them calculated mistakes. I am a Splenda junkie, now I know there is some controversy on Splenda but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. With that said I was wanted to make a low sugar/no sugar jam that everyone in my family could enjoy whether they can't have sugar or they are anti-Splenda. I found this great pectin that said on the package "No Sugar Needed Fruit Pectin" which was exactly what I was looking for. I started by picking 4 quarts of strawberries from a local farm that had pick-your-own. I was a bit late in the season but I managed to find the ripest, freshest strawberries left in the well picked patch.

I started by capping (cutting the green top off) the strawberries and mashing them with a potato mashed until they reached the chunkiness I like in my jam.

Once I had the strawberries all mashed up I turned to the directions on the package for freezer jam because I think that it taste so much fresher from the freezer. After reading the directions on the package I saw this little box in the corner and after looking at it I realized it was guidelines for adding sugar… hmmm. So I decided I was going to try the honey substitution and then I made a few batches with no sugar. I ended up making A LOT more jam then expected but I am very excited to have strawberry jam in January. A few tips from my experience in jam making.

Clean and dry all your jars/containers before starting the cooking process.
Follow the directions exactly, including the exact amounts of ingredients.
Fill the jars, leaving ½" for expansion in the freezer.
Clean the rim with a damp cloth to allow for the best seal to keep in the freshness
KEY TIP!!!! Only make ONE (1) batch at a time. Doubling the recipe could prevent the jam from setting properly.
ENJOY!

Happy Jamming!

Sammy Gene

Hedgey Hedge-Hog

2010-06-08T22:41:00.000-04:00

I know this one is late but I have been a bit preoccupied with an addition to our family… Stella our newest family member is quite a handful and needs lots of playtime and attention.

So on with the crafty post. The past few holidays I have struggled with what to get my nephew because he isn't at that age where he needs/wants cool toy or toys that his mommy wouldn't appreciate (they come later when he has full range to bang and make a racket). I decided that I was going to start using my crafty skills to create a gift for him that was age appropriate. After skimming through mountains of blogs I found the cutest pattern for a stuffed hedge-hog at Matsutake. I have never made a stuffed animal before but I was sure that this one was manageable and could be done in a reasonable timeframe before Easter (I know this is overdue but it is good for anytime).

You need:
Sewing machine
½ yard soft snuggly fabric
Matching thread
Stuffing
Pattern

Directions:
The first thing I did was print trace the pattern. I found it much easier to lay my lap top on its back and trace the image right off the screen. Please Please Please be super careful when doing this I wouldn't want any screen destruction to happen per my instructions. Next trace and cut two body pieces and one bottom piece. Then you want to cut the ruffle strips. I cut four 1-inch by 24-inches strips of fabric and four 1-inch by 12-inches strips. Once you have all the pieces to the puzzle you are ready to sew.

First you want to sew the two body pieces together, outsides facing in, leaving a 1/16 hem. Next you want to sew the bottom on. Now this was the tricky part and I had to visualize it a few different ways. You know how they say measure twice cut once, well it is the same with sewing.

Once you get the bottom on, stuff the little guy, and sew the stuffing hole shut, you are ready to move onto the ruffles.

Sew a running stitch (loose long stitch) down the middle of the strip. Sew all eight strips this way. After all your strips have running stitches you want to pull the loose string creating as much ruffle as you desire. I used the stuffed body to gauge how long I needed the ruffles. Tie a knot at both ends of the ruffle to secure. The last step is to sew the ruffles on. I secured the ruffles on with pins and hand stitched the ruffles on. Add eyes and a nose with black thread or small buttons (I did not use buttons due to the age of Baby B).

Isn't he sooooooo cute. P.S. his onesie says "My Aunt Rocks"… that's me!!!

Happy Sewing!

Sammy Gene

Stamp Wall Art

2010-05-27T21:24:00.000-04:00

After digging and digging and digging through the shoe box lids I stored my stamps in I decided I needed to upgrade. The show boxes served their purpose however I got to the point where I spent more time digging and looking then I did actually stamping. I am a sucker for the $1 stamps at Michaels so I have accumulated a lot over the past few years.

So for this project I turned to the husband (he is handy to have around). We brainstormed a bit and I explained to him what my thoughts were and the process began.

What you will need:

Materials
2"x1" Pine or Poplar (typically comes in 8ft lengths at Home Depot)
Finish Nails (small nails)
Wood Glue
Wood Putty
Paint
12"x12" scrapbook paper

Tools
Miter Saw (hand miter saws cost about $20 at Home Depot)
Tape Measure
Router
Hammer

What you do:
First you want to decide on outside dimensions (I chose 12"x12"), cut the outside pieces of the box so that they meet at 45 degree angles (using a miter saw). Next you want to decide where you want your shelves in the box. If you can, cut approximately 1/8 inch deep slots into the sides to receive the shelves using a router, miter saw, or table saw if you have one. Cut your shelves to lengths so they fit in the slots between the sides or simply between the sides.

Using wood glue at all the contact points, put 2 finish nails at each joint and use a punch to sink the heads just below the surface. You may need to pre-dill if your wood splits. After your glue has dried you are ready to route the edges. I used a 1/8 inch radius rounding bit and just did the inside edges. You do not have to route the edges if you don't want to of don't have a router. Use the wood putty to fill and cracks in the joints and nail holes (simply apply with your finger tip). After the putty has dried sand it smooth and add more if needed.

Now all you have to do is paint and the shelves are complete! I added a 12"x12" piece of scrapbook paper as the background with the thought that they can be changes or replaced if it gets inked up. To add the paper I simply ran two-sided take down the back of the shelf and applied the paper.

Hanging your shelves:
There are several options for hanging your shelves since they won't be holding much weight. Most picture hanging systems should work. I chose to route a key hole pocket into the top of each side. After that it is as simple as hanging the shelves.

Sammy Gene

Seeds Stored Right

2010-05-18T20:03:00.000-04:00

Now that all our seeds have been planted and we have decided that we have way more starter plants than our tiny garden can support we are finally ready to put the seed to rest for awhile (or until we decide to go for a second round of some summer crops). I have looked into seed storage and wanted to share a few tip with everyone on how to store seeds. What I found was that there are no exact answers, seeds are living things, so eventually the will no longer be viable. There is no-drop dead point for the seeds, the percentage of them germinating just lessens with time.

There are three enemies of seeds; moisture, heat, and fluctuating temperatures. So to keep those seeds super dry place the packets into an air tight container, to keep the seeds away from heat and at a constant temperature stick the container in the refrigerator or a cool dark location that will not be impacted by fluctuating temperatures. Leaving your seeds in the shed is the worst place to store them simply because that allows moisture and temperature fluctuations to impact the tiny little guys.

After a bit of research these are the holding times that seem reasonable for seeds as long as they are properly stored in a dark and dry location that has a consistent temperature.

1 year - Sweet corn, onion, parsnip, okra, parsley
2 years - Beet, pepper, leek
3 years - Asparagus, bean, carrot, celery, lettuce, pea, spinach, tomato
4 years - Cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, Swiss chard, kale, squash, pumpkin, radish, turnip, rutabaga
5 years - Cucumber, endive, watermelon

Happy Seeding!

Sammy Gene

File All Your Paperwork Here

2010-05-11T22:33:00.000-04:00

I am not MIA however I did leave my camera cable in PA so that should explain no posts in over a week. Well the husband and I have been looking for quite some time for the perfect filing cabinet. Guess what? They are all U-G-L-Y or cost $200. As luck would have it my MIL was purging her house of all her sons (my husbands) belongings and she said take that filing cabinet its ugly… and that is how we ended up with an ugly filing cabinet (free, which makes it kinda ok). Then came the challenge of how to make it not so ugly. It all started in the paint isle and the monster grew from there… So here is how I went from drab to fab…

Step 1
Remove the hardware and the lock bar (at least that is what I am calling for the purpose of this blog).

Step 2
Tape off any area that you do not want painted.

Step 3
Use a very fine sand paper and scuff up the existing paint and sand chips in the paint or miscellaneous bumps.

Step 4
Wipe down the cabinet with a micro-fiber cloth to pick up all the paint dust and small particles.

Step 5
Apply a thin coat of the paint of your choice. I used a foam roller and got a perfect smooth texture if you want paint with more texture check out the different options of rollers.

Step 6
Let dry for 6-8 hours then apply a second coat. Repeat this step until you reach your desired color.

Step 7
Once you have the cabinet painted you are almost done, all you have left is replacing the hardware. First measure up the old hardware with the new and see if the holes will match if not you may have to re-drill holes to fit your new handle. If you need to re-drill the holes, make a template to get the position right.

Step 8
Apply handles and file away!

Sammy Gene

Coupon Sammy

2010-04-30T20:44:00.004-04:00

I just thought I would share some of the great coupons I have been finding on-line!
Olay Quench Mail-In Rebate (I know it sounds like a hassle but come on it is free!)
Scrubbing Bubbles Products
Windex Products
Red Plum Coupon Site
Aveeno
Ortega Salsa
Keebler Pecan Sandies (Shortbread Cookies)
I know a mixed matched bunch of coupons, but hey savings are savings!
Sammy Gene

Flower Power Part I

2010-04-28T22:00:00.002-04:00

I get inspiration for projects from just about anywhere. I scour magazines, catalogs, website, and stores looking for things that I can recreate with my own flare. This project came to me when I was shopping with some friends and one of them picked up a cute flower pin/clip and said this is cute. Of course I said "I can make that" (sounding just like my husband). So this is Flower Power Part I because I am planning a few variations but wanted to get the ball rolling.

You will need:

A few scraps of fabric (feel free to mix and match). I chose thick tweed from this blazer I picked up at Goodwill for $2.

Pin/Clip
Button

Thread

Hot Glue

Print out the pattern. Trace and cut eight petals on the fabric of your choice.

If the fabric you choose is lightweight and will not be as sturdy as you had hoped, use starch spray to stiffen the fabric. Next you want to take a petal, pinch the small end, approximately 1-inch from the end, and sew an X securing the two sides together. I crossed the X about 4 times for each petal. Next cut approximately a 1/2-inch off the end creating a flat end.

Once you have all the petals stitched and cut you are ready to put them together. Take the petals and start your stitch through the X of one petal, loop around the flat end of the petal and back through the X you just started with, next thread the second petal, going through the X and again loop around the flat end and go back through the second petal X. Continue this process until you have all eight petals strung. Remember to keep the thread tight. Once all the petals are strung tie off the tread securing the circle. The flower may be a bit floppy, don't worry.

Next take the hot glue gun and put a bead of glue between the petals as close to the X as possible. You can also add a small bead of glue near the top of the petal to secure the petals.

Once all the petals are where you want them put a small bead of glue in the center and place the button. Flip the flower over and glue the pin/clip onto the back and away you go!

Enjoy!

Sammy Gene

Taco Soup

2010-04-19T22:42:00.002-04:00

Mexican is my all time favorite type of food. So when in a pinch I love to create with my taco seasoning. What you will need:

2 cups shredded chicken (rotisserie or precooked)
1 jar salsa (any kind)
1 jar taco sauce (or tomato juice whichever is handy)
2 cups frozen corn
A few shakes of taco seasoning (to taste)
A few shakes of chili powder (to taste)
2 avocados
1 lime
1 cup sour cream, plus a few scoops for garnish
Shredded cheddar cheese

In a large pot over medium high heat add chicken, salsa, taco sauce (save a table spoon for guacamole), and corn. Let the ingredients simmer for a half hour, then add the taco seasoning and chili powder to taste, one cup sour cream, and cover for another half hour. In the meantime cut the avocados. In a small bowl add taco seasoning, a tablespoon of taco sauce, and a tablespoon of lime juice mix and stick in the fridge. Back to the soup, if the 'soup' is not soupy enough add a little tomato juice to loosen things up. After all the flavors have had time to merge you are ready to serve. Scoop soup into a bowl and garnish with the guacamole, sour cream, and cheddar cheese.

On this beautiful evening I also made some ice coffee for the Hubby and myself! Yummmmm

Oh and the tater-tots, that is where the meal planning process started so I felt the need for follow through (as mentioned before I am not planner)! Happy eating!

Sammy Gene

Lacey Lacey Appliqué

2010-04-08T21:47:00.003-04:00

Everyone has those tanks in their drawer that you wear as layers or just throw on for a day of running errands. Well I have a ton, why you ask? Well every time I see one on sale I pick it up so I have a rainbow of tanks and I got this one for $3.98 at Target!!

I got a wonderful idea from Disney at Ruffles and Stuff to do a lace appliqué on the tank to spice it up a little and make it more than just a simple tank.

So first thing first find a lace pattern that you would like to use as an embellishment and then cut out the piece (larger than the actual design). I had an old lace table cloth that I don't use anymore (huge stain right in the middle) for the perfect pattern.

Then you want to take a piece of wax paper, the lace, and Heat-N-Bond (paper side up), in that order and place a medium heat iron over the stack for a few (2-3) seconds. Take a peak and see if everything is properly 'glued' together.

The hard part is over! Now cut around the lace design.

Once you have your design cut you are ready to apply it to the tank. It took me a few maneuvers to figure out exactly how I wanted the pattern to lay. Then it is time to iron again… I like to put wax paper between the iron and the appliqué to avoid any stickiness transferring to the iron and iron for a few more (8-10) seconds until everything is secure. Another hint when using wax paper, shiny side down.

And you just crafted yourself a simple new tank top for the warm weather to come, and if you live where I live you will be wanting to wear this tank now!!! Let's just say it went from Winter to Summer here!!!

Sammy Gene

Running Shoe Re-new

2010-04-01T21:38:00.001-04:00

I have been holding on to my old running shoes with the intention that someday I will wear them until they are completely shot, but in reality I only need one extra pair to mow the grass in. I recently got a snazzy new pair of running shoes and realized that it was time to purge. So I kept: my new pair (treadmill ONLY), the last pair I bought (outside running), and ONE old pair for mowing and yard work (ha like I do any of that). That leaves me with four (yes, four) pairs of running shoes to be disposed of. Now anyone who knows me, knows that I am not going to just throw them away! Usually I make regular donations to the local Goodwill when I have wearable items, but this time I decided to do something a little different. I found this wonderful organization, One World Running, which will send running shoes to people in need around the world. If the shoes are deemed too worn (to be worn) they are sent to Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program instead, and wind up paving a playground. It's a win-win in my mind.
Sammy Gene

Peanut Chicken and Noodles

2010-03-28T20:45:00.002-04:00

After a long weekend of doing yard work I didn't want to spend all night preparing a nice Sunday meal so I made one of our favorites. Peanut Chicken and Noodles. This recipe is so simple, it literally took all of 15 minutes to prepare plus I don't have to cook tomorrow! BONUS!!!!

So let's get started:
Ingredients
1/2 lb. (4 oz.) spaghetti, uncooked
1-1/2 cups snap peas
1/2 cup red pepper strips
1/2 cup Catalina or French Dressing
1 lb. (16 oz.) shredded chicken (I like to use rotisserie chicken)
2 Tbsp. peanut butter
2 Tbsp. lite soy sauce
1/2 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts

Cook the spaghetti as directed, add snap peas and red pepper to the water for the last few minutes of cooking time. While the spaghetti is doing its thing, heat the dressing in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add the chicken and stir-fry for a few minutes (like 1-3) and then add the peanut butter and soy sauce and stir-fry for 1 minute or until sauce gets thick. Once the spaghetti is done add it and the vegetables to the chicken mixture. Stir in the peanuts or sprinkle on top for presentation. And there you have it yummmmm!

Now seeing that I am never prepared and I am a spur of the moment cook, I didn't have spaghetti so I substituted the spaghetti noodles with Amish noodles (they are an egg pasta and much heartier than plain old spaghetti). I also did not have the vegetables but I think it was good without them.
Happy Cooking!!!
Sammy Gene

Cents Make Sense

2010-03-26T18:39:00.021-04:00

Now I wouldn't call myself a penny pincher, but I do like to get a good deal where I can. Over the past year I have found a joy in clipping coupons. Yes, it sometimes take time to clip, organize, and prepare the coupon folder but in the long run I find that it is way worth the effort. In the beginning I would save a few cents here and a few cents there but then I got really into it as if it were a game. My grocery story receipt breaks it all down and tells me the exact percentage I saved using my bonus card, coupons, and double coupons. Once I realized this I was hooked, plus big bonus, our store offers gas rewards so for every $50 spent, we save 20¢ per gallon of gas up to 30 gallons at one time. That adds up to $5 for every $50 we spend (we sometimes fill up my husband's gas guzzler for ZERO dollars)!!!! Back to the coupons – Last week I spent a total of $109.41 at the store, not bad for a family of two for two weeks right? Well let me tell you how much I saved – I walked out of the store paying $62.66, meaning I saved $46.75 (that's 43% of the total bill)! Now $46.75 in my book is well worth the time and effort of clipping and organizing coupons. A lot of people say that coupons aren't for the stuff I buy or coupons are the way name brands get people to buy their products, well I have a few tricks:

1.) Only buy name brands when you have a coupon and the item is one sale (doubling your savings off the bat).

2.) Think twice about how much the coupon is for. Yes the 60¢ coupon is not as good as the $1 one but if you get double coupons on anything less then 99¢ well then you are actually saving $1.20!

3.) Be flexible in the brands you buy. (Following #1 only buy an item when it is on sale and you have a coupon). Items such as yogurt flip flop from week to week on the brand that is for sale. Does it really matter if you get Yoplait or Dannon?

4.) Different newspapers have different coupons. I live in Maryland and the local paper has different coupons then the Washington Post has.

5.) Share- My co-workers and I have a system that we clip what we want and then share the rest. This works great because we all live in different areas and get different papers.

6.) Don't limit your savings to the grocery store only! I get coupons for everything and anything! Restaurants, home stores, auto repair, and the list goes on. We saved $250 on a shed we were planning to purchase because I had a coupon!

7) Printable Coupons - Stalk Coupon Mom, this website provides links to many other sites with printable coupons!

8) HAVE FUN… I like to make it a game!

Here are a few links I like to check out for extra savings:
Save $6.49 on Glade Products (EXPIRED)***
Tide Products
Nestle
Pledge (EXPIRED)***
Arm & Hammer

I love to tell my hubby how much I saved and his quick response is always "how much did you spend!"

Happy Saving!

***Look for newer posts with new coupons!
Sammy Gene

All Business

2010-03-22T23:09:00.007-04:00

I went to a business meeting on last week and it was the kind where you chit-chat and smooze. So I was working the room (hahaha yeah right) and the time came when I had to give someone my business card and out I pull a stack of cards held together with a binder clip. I felt kinda tacky in a weird way as I fumbled to unclip the cards. After that experience I started thinking about it and an idea just popped in my head when I was getting a piece of gum out of my desk drawer. Bam, it hit I could use the gum package as a template. After digging for awhile I found supplies that I had in my craft closet already.

Glue (spray and tacky)

Scrap of fabric

Hair tie

Scissors

Something to measure with

First I took the gum package apart, very carefully, so it was laying flat. I used spray glue and sprayed the outside of the package and laid it flat on the material and placed a book on top for a few minutes to allow it to adhere and dry a bit. Once I had the template and the material glued together I cut around the template leaving a ¼-inch overhang.

Then I used the tacky glue and glued the sides in and manipulated the corners where necessary. I did snip the tight corners in order to get a nice straight edge. I placed a book on top again and let it dry for a few more minutes.

While giving the glue time to dry I cut a piece of fabric to line the inside flap in order to make the card holder look finished. My husband mentioned to me I should have stitched around the edge before gluing it back in the shape of the gum package and I think that was a good idea but that was after I already glued it together. So if you have the time run a stitch around the edge to help hold everything together and then glue the package back into the original shape.

You may have to hold it together for a few minutes to let the glue set. After letting the glue dry I added an eyelet in the center of the front flap.

Then thread a hair tie through and snip off the inside loop and singe the end to create a ball at the end so the tie cannot go back through the eyelet.

There you have it, a fashionable business card holder.

Just think you can make one for every season, holiday, or event you go to! This would also be a fashionable way to carry gum!! Remember it is a pack of gum no big loss if you have to try a few times.

Sammy Gene

To Bolt or Not To Bolt

2010-03-14T20:22:00.001-04:00

That is the question. I often find myself in the upholstery fabric clearance section of our local craft store thinking I really like this print but I don’t need any more pillows, curtains, or chair covers. So in the end I buy the bolt of fabric (because the print moves me), I mean come on at $3 a yard who wouldn’t. That leaves me to figure out how I am going to use the 3 yards I impulsively purchased.

That leads me to my next problem: I have the hardest time finding table cloths I really like. Either the clearance table cloths are the wrong size or UGLY and the in season ones are too expensive, and not always what I am looking for. I mean if I am going to pay upward from $20 for a table cloth I better like it. So with Spring/Easter coming up I thought this would be a perfect time to try my table cloth making skills. I mean come on, how hard can it really be? Typically rectangular or oval, ah piece of cake. So I decided to replace our “Spring” table cloth (it is faded from washing) in the dining room.

Now I cheated a bit on this one because the fabric that I am using has a checkered pattern so I had go-by lines and didn’t have to measure anything. I first started by laying out the checkered fabric. I then placed the table cloth on-top to get a good measurement of the length (see I am not one for actually measuring, I like to trace). I cut the checkered pattern to fit.

(Good thing my helper was there just in case a gust of wind came through the house!)

Next, I measured the seam at ¾-inch to allow enough room for the sewing machine foot to be guided by both the inside and outside lines. This allows for a consistent line down the whole side. If you are concerned about folding and sewing at the same time, just take a hot iron and put a crease to hold your fold. My suggestion would be to fold (and sew) both long sides first and then fold (and sew) the short sides so your corners all look the same.

After your long sides are folded you are ready to sew. Now I am not claiming that I am a sewing expert, but a helpful hint while at the machine is to push and pull at the same time, especially with a heavy fabric like this one. By pushing and pulling I mean have both hands on the fabric, one guiding on each side of the foot. This will prevent the fabric from getting all jammed up either going in or coming out from the under the foot. This also helps to make sure you seam is consistent and the fabric isn’t sliding out of place.

Now wasn’t that simple. Just a simple straight stitch and viola new table cloth for under $10!

Re-Store Your Lights

2010-03-07T11:52:00.032-05:00

Do you ever get tired of the shiny contractor grade fixtures in your house? Well I have had it! They just don’t match my style, so I have taken it upon myself to correct the matter for as little cost as possible. This first item on my hit list… the vanity lights in our guest bathroom (after all this is the bathroom closest to my craft room). I really like the vanity just not the light fixtures!

After going to home store after home store looking for the perfect replacement lights to illuminate our guest bathroom I came up with one conclusion – It doesn’t exist. Well I guess I shouldn’t say it doesn’t exist, I should say it doesn’t exist in our budget. Yes I could go to a specialty shop and special order the perfect lights, however that comes with a high price. Now I am not saying that I won’t eventually take that step but I needed a quick (cheap) fix. So, after a bit of hunting I found the perfect replacement lights (globes included) at a Habitat ReStore. I have visited this shop for-a-cause on a few occasions usually to donate some items and then I drag my poor husband through the store until I have looked in every little corner(I wouldn’t want to miss the perfect refurbish). Now, with my love of refurbishing existing items, I was looking for globes that were different from the typical run of the mill home store version (our half bath has he only ones I liked and I don’t want every room to look the same). Well as luck would have it I found the perfect light fixture and globes in one piece (I liked the globes more then anything). Downside-IT’S WHITE. Upside-The whole light (fixture and globes) ONLY COST $6!! Now that is a steal! I did a little research once we made our big purchase and found the same exact light (chrome) at a home store and it cost wait for it… $49 (and that was with UGLY globes, new ones cost upward from $6 each)!!!!!! I think this was a GOOD purchase!

Let the modifications begin. First I started by removing the globes and covered the sockets with newspaper to prevent the paint from getting on the white portion of the socket.

Now for my big secret!! My new favorite item I cannot leave the home store without… CHALKBOARD SPRAY PAINT! Sounds odd to put this kind of paint on a light fixture however, the finish comes out flat and looks very similar to wrought iron. After prepping the fixture I moved on to the fun part… getting my spray on. I applied a few coats of paint to get full coverage.

After the fixture was fully covered in paint I moved onto the screws. Typically painting screws is not so easy, you know holding the screw and then you get paint all over your hand, I came up with the idea to stick the screws into Styrofoam and then paint!

And TaDa!!! New Vanity Lights!!

Connecting the fixtures to the wooden panel was easy, there was a nut that holds the fixture in place. I do have to admit my husband did do all the electrical work (he is a very handy man to have around). I really like how the lights turned out. They compliment the remodel very well. In total I spent approximately $12 ($6 on the light and $6 on the paint). Spray paint is my favorite quick (cheap) fix. Look for more spray paint fixes in blogs to come!

Sammy Gene Y

Got Buns Hun

2010-02-28T21:30:00.001-05:00

One kitchen appliance I find incredibly addicting is my hand-me-down bread maker. In the past few months I have blown through the standard book of recipes that come with the machine and I have started to get a little creative by adding a few spices here and spiced olive oil versus plain olive oil there. One lesson I learned the hard way (or should I say the sticky way) is when the recipe calls for bread flour it is a good idea to stick with that. I tried to substitute all-purpose flour for bread flour and the result was a sticky dough ball. Not to worry I rescued that little guy by kneading in a little more flour and letting it rise just a bit longer.

The lesson here is that BAKING is like chemistry (you can tell everyone you are a chemist in the kitchen), the recipes are mixtures with precise amounts of each ingredient that will react in such a way to produce an end-product that resembles (or in some cases slightly resembles) the picture in the cook book. Altering a baking recipe will alter the outcome causing a so-called "flop". I have flopped many times, I am not big on pre-viewing the recipe before starting the baking process, therefore usually missing one key ingredient. Below are a few tricks that I have found work in a pinch for key ingredients:

1 cup milk: 1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water, or 1 cup nonfat milk, or 1 cup water plus 1/3 cup nonfat dry milk powder
All-purpose flour: An equal amount of whole wheat flour can be substituted in some breads, cookies and bars; texture will be coarser
Flour, self-rising: An equal amount of all-purpose flour plus 1 Tsp. baking powder, 1/2 Tsp. salt, and 1/4 Tsp. baking soda (the things you learn the hard way)
1 Tsp. baking powder: 1/2 Tsp. baking soda plus 1/2 Tsp. cream of tarter
1 cup half and half: 7/8 cup milk plus 3 Tbsp. margarine or butter, or 1 cup evaporated milk
1 egg: 1 Tsp. cornstarch plus 1/4 cup water
1 cup brown sugar: 1 cup granulated sugar plus 2 Tbsp. molasses

So the key is to follow the recipe and if you are missing one of those key ingredients do not omit it entirely or alter the amount. Some recipe books have a section in the back with key substitutes to help in a pinch. Happy Baking!!

Sammy Gene Y