tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55363026087562894012026-05-26T21:09:39.908-04:00Art, Household Tips, Crafts/DIY, Recipesmerrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-10776552717557246452012-10-02T22:08:00.001-04:002012-10-02T22:09:54.034-04:00

We're back! Sorry for the long long break we took.  Summer was just too busy.  We have been busy creating new and fun items and are excited to be sharing them with you.  Hopefully in the next few weeks we will share our big changes with you, if all goes according to our plan, like anything does :)!  Please check back with us to see our new changes! -merrellgirls

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-61978395786748160902012-05-31T12:52:00.000-04:002012-05-31T12:52:14.764-04:00

Here’s a tip for when you use masking tape to hang something on a wall.  This might only apply to teachers, but who knows, you may find yourself in a tape predicament and you will be thankful you read this. I hang a lot of artwork in the halls of our school and I want them to stay up for a long time since it takes me hours to hang them.  An art teacher many years ago gave me

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-27326997576397241702012-05-22T12:47:00.000-04:002012-05-22T12:47:43.674-04:00

I don’t even remember where or when we got this Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe but we have been known for it for years.  It is so simple and yummy.  Now the girls might argue which cake mix to use, but I only use Betty Crocker. Cake Cookies: 1 box of Betty Crocker Yellow cake mix (do not follow the box instructions) 2 eggs ½ cup oil ½ a bag of chocolate chips Stir all the

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-68411484167635463822012-05-16T11:48:00.000-04:002012-05-16T11:48:01.969-04:00

I seem to have an overabundance (thank you to my sweet friends who have given my their daughter's hand-me-downs, they will be put to good use!) of long sleeve white onesies in the same size and a lack of shirts or onesies that my daughter can wear with patterned pants and skirts.  So, since I am all about finding ways not to spend money by using what I already have I decided to make a new

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-16079966168562818662012-05-09T08:03:00.001-04:002012-05-09T08:03:19.400-04:00

My family LOVES hot out of the oven brownies!  But it bothers me when they get all torn up when you cut them.  I know I could wait till they cool to cut them, but I like them warm. Well, here is a tip my good friend gave me a couple of years ago.  Use a plastic knife to cut your brownies.  I have to admit that at first I didn’t want to try the tip because she is younger than

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-20138686650867148532012-05-05T22:18:00.000-04:002012-05-05T22:18:20.727-04:00

I finally got my husband to clean out his closet and dresser drawers and he accumulated quite a pile of clothes.  So before I donated them, I picked out some nice t-shirts that I wanted to add to my wardrobe.  These t-shirt were in good condition, he just didn't wear them anymore.  All I needed to do was tailor them a little so they would fit me better! I like to sew, but I

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-39958310606498194572012-05-03T08:40:00.000-04:002012-05-03T08:40:06.161-04:00

This is a tip that we learned from our mom.  When we were younger and were going to go on a vacation or a weekend away our mom would always make sure the house was straightened up and the kitchen clean.  We just thought that was crazy, we were going to come home and mess it up anyway.  But now that we are older and wiser :), we see the value in a quick clean before leaving for a

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-79996938221533171642012-04-30T09:47:00.003-04:002012-04-30T09:47:42.991-04:00

My sister was telling me about a great idea to help babies/toddlers recognize family members, animals, objects whatever you would like.  They are kind of like flash cards but with photographs and they can stick to the refrigerator.  I thought it would be a great way for my little one to become familiar with her family members.  I call them photo cards but you can call them what

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-13847872948195620072012-04-25T22:05:00.000-04:002012-04-25T22:05:24.378-04:00

My family likes to have cookies once in awhile but when I make them, the 3 of us can never eat them all.  Then I remembered that a friend had mentioned freezing her cookies after they cooled.  Well I decided to change that idea a little because I only like cookies right out of the oven.  When I make cookies, I bake 6 (2 each) and then continue to ball the rest of the dough into

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-33884316504413685942012-04-23T08:34:00.000-04:002012-04-23T08:34:22.086-04:00

I made the curtains for our house.  Nothing fancy just simple straight rod pocket curtains.  I usually put the curtains on a tension rod and stick the rod inside the frame of the window.  We open the curtains daily to let in as much light as possible, so I needed curtain tie back hooks to keep the curtains open.  Curtain tie back hooks can be expensive.  A lot of the

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-32255934743612215702012-04-20T14:17:00.000-04:002012-04-20T14:17:38.050-04:00

Parchment Paper...not just for baking. I do a lot of things with Hot Glue because I love how it sticks to almost everything.  Well, one time I needed something that hot glue would not stick to.  I tried wax paper but the hot glue melted the wax and stuck right to the wax paper.  Then I tried parchment paper and that was the answer!!  You can draw with the hot glue right

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-86310351303339363102012-04-18T21:21:00.000-04:002012-04-18T21:21:25.885-04:00

I love pictures.  I love looking at them, taking them, and sometimes I don't even mind being in them.  The last few years I developed a love for taking pictures of nature.  Capturing God's beautiful creation is truly amazing.  I don't really know the ins and outs of photography or the technical terms, and I am by no means professional.  I just love taking pictures and I

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-53967869729046325892012-04-03T09:53:00.001-04:002012-04-03T09:57:03.864-04:00

Mother's Day is May 13th, almost a month away.  Do you have a gift for your mother or wife?  Then its time to put in your order for a Custom V & P painting.  What mother or grandmother wouldn't love to have their child or grandchild's drawing transformed into a beautiful work of art? V& P paintings are hand painted onto the canvas size of your choice.  You get to

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-88602360576902583552012-04-01T13:12:00.000-04:002012-04-01T13:12:12.066-04:00

We got the Bath Towel Saver tip from our mom.  Whenever all of us kids and our families get together at our parents for a long weekend or the Holidays, there is always an over abundance of bath towels being used.  If you are like our mom or most people, you have matching guest towels.  With all those towels it can get confusing as to which towel is yours.  Our mom

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-72033518439378866752012-03-29T08:02:00.001-04:002012-03-29T08:02:11.693-04:00

My family loves games, but my husband's family really loves playing games.  Every time we get together we play games.  Board games or card games, it doesn't matter, as long as we are together and having fun!  I learned this little organizing tip from my mother-in-law.  She keeps all of her card games in a small plastic storage tub!  Brilliant!  Its perfect, whenever

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-45319226296338260752012-03-24T14:57:00.000-04:002012-04-01T13:11:03.600-04:00

In my post Makeup Remover and Shower Cleaner, I gave a recipe for a make up remover, and I mentioned that I was going to add more olive oil to it.  I added enough oil to make the total amount 1/4 tsp.  I got the same results, the eyeliner came off great but the majority of the mascara stayed.  I think this recipe is a little to watery.  I wear waterproof mascara, so I need

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-65220944074818181272012-03-19T16:37:00.001-04:002012-03-19T16:37:27.719-04:00

Here is another idea for the Custom V&P Painting, a house warming gift!  My friends were building a new house so my husband had a great idea to have their 2 children each draw a picture of their new home!   Here is their drawings and the finished paintings.     Annaliese age 9 Child's actual drawing Finished Custom V&P painting Will age 6 Child's

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-58547172754643327572012-03-17T15:02:00.000-04:002012-03-17T15:02:04.439-04:00

I decided that I wanted Roman shades in a couple of rooms in my house.  Well I wasn't about to buy them, they can be so expensive, and you know how we like to save money.  So I got the brilliant idea to make Roman shades.  So I searched online to find the quickest and easiest way to make Roman shades, and I think I found it.  Little Green Notebook has a great DIY for

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-283840351539179982012-03-12T16:01:00.001-04:002012-03-12T16:01:40.312-04:00

Here is a quick household tip I got from my mom.  She takes dryer sheets that have already been used and uses them to dust.  I thought that is silly just get out your dust cloth and dust spray.  But the dryer sheets really do work.  Its great for a quick dust job.  Now it won't give you a perfect polished furniture look, but it does pick up the dust.  After my mom

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-1016602455195028822012-03-08T15:50:00.002-05:002012-03-08T15:50:33.894-05:00

These are cute little rings I made too, another crowd pleaser : )  Myka made the ones on the left and I made the ones on the right. -Piper

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-49247697506907551912012-03-08T15:50:00.001-05:002012-03-08T15:51:42.721-05:00

I figured that girls are crazy about thing hanging in their hair right now, so I created Dangling Hair Clips, my daughter's favorite.   Of course the pink ones sold first. -Piper

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-50213982153166192142012-03-08T15:50:00.000-05:002012-03-08T15:50:08.181-05:00

Well, I saw some flowers made from T-shirts on Pinterest and decided to make my own version of them.  We (merrellgirls) sold them at my schools Christmas Bazaar and the kids seemed to really like them.  These are the original hair clips, they are the size of a golf ball to the size of a tennis ball. -Piper

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-76284805107143270152012-03-05T15:15:00.000-05:002012-03-05T15:15:06.911-05:00

I am not a big fan of oatmeal raisin cookies (I don't like raisins in things).  If you're going to have a cookie it should have chocolate in it!  When I found this  Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe on the back of my flour bag I knew I had to try it. Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar 1 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 large egg 2 cups

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-85661938248802114452012-03-03T15:57:00.002-05:002012-03-03T15:57:41.780-05:00

My little cutie is always outgrowing her one-piece outfits before she gets to wear them very much.  I don't know if she is super long or if they just don't make them very long.  But they usually end up either all "capri style" or I can't even snap them at the bottom.  Both versions are not so cute!  So, I thought I would do a quick and easy fix and turn it into a shirt. 

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5536302608756289401.post-75587703092179775492012-03-02T08:24:00.000-05:002012-03-02T08:27:13.918-05:00

I light candles all the time.  They smell great and I think they help warm our drafty house.  When the wicks burn out and there is still a lot of wax left in the jar I hate to throw the candles away.  So I usually use those candles for my candle warmer, they still smell great but I don't get the extra heat.  Then I got the idea to put a new wick in my old candles.  

merrellgirlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15084448214188999982noreply@blogger.com0