Did you happen to notice the exclamation point? The one up there in the title? Yeah, that one …

If you’ve hung around here awhile, you know I don’t throw around exclamation points lightly. Let alone feature one in my headline …

* Gasp *

I think they’re overused.  Abused.  Bordering on the “cry wolf” syndrome.  I mean, no one can be that excited all the time, can they?  And if everything is always exclamation point worthy doesn’t that take away from the really and truly exclamation point worthy things?

Take, for instance, this giveaway I’m taking part in …

a giveaway of a set of my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint painted and distressed mason jars.

A giveaway taking place on the fabulous Oh So Shabby by Debbie Reynolds Facebook page right now …

And a giveaway that is taking place on the Oh So Shabby by Debbie blog …

Now that’s a giveaway worthy of an exclamation point!  Or two!!  Okay three!!! But that’s where I draw the line …

So if you’d like to win that “Shabby Set” in the photo ~ one quartz sized mason jar flanked by two pint sized jars painted in Annie Sloan Old White ~ CLICK HERE TO ENTER …

Good luck!!!  I’m rooting for you!!!

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The mason jar has become ubiquitous in our home.  They’re everywhere.  As in can’t swing a dead cat without hitting one everywhere …

And my family has become so accustomed to their presence, they no longer question my varied and increasingly bizarre mason jar projects … or my sanity.  And when I decide to serve them up a dessert or a meal in a mason jar, they simple shrug and grab a spoon …

But beyond the confines of our home?  Well, that’s a whole different world.

I’m not sure what my neighbors or friends or family members think about mason jars. If anything.  Though, I’m pretty sure they’re not painting and distressing them or dying them with food coloring …

And every time I check out at the store with a case or two in tow, the clerks are always extremely curious about my plans.  And when I try to explain, I can see the giant question marks forming over their heads …

So when Mike and I were recently invited to a dinner party, I had the bright idea to making a dessert in a mason jar to bring along.  Knowing full well that our new friends would either think I was totally brilliant …

or a total nutcase.

And I didn’t start with a recipe.  No, I started with the cutest 1/2 pint mason jars I found at Target. And when I found a key lime pie square recipe at Sally’s Baking Addiction I knew it would be perfect fit for those mini mason jars …

Key Lime Pie Squares … in a Mason Jar

Crust

2 cups finely crushed gingersnap cookies

3 TBS salted butter, softened

Filling

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

4 large egg yolks

14-oz can of sweetened condensed milk (not fat free)

1/2 cup key lime juice

2 tsp. lime zest (about one lime)

Start by pre-heating the oven to 350 degrees and greasing bottoms of mason jars.

To make the crust, I started with the gingersnaps and butter.  I zapped the butter in the microwave for 5 second intervals until softened ..

Then I crushed the gingersnaps until they were finely crushed.  You could use a food processor, but I don’t have one.  So I just put them in a Ziploc bag and beat them with a rolling pin …

I mixed the gingersnap crumbs with the softened butter by hand, and pressed into the bottoms of the mason jars …

,,. using the back of an ice cream scoop to press down in place.  I baked the crust for 8-10 minutes in the oven.

While the crust baked, I made the filling …

I started with the cream cheese first.  Then added in egg yolks one at a time. Once mixed, I added the condensed milk, lime juice, and lime zest until combined.  My final step was adding a bit of green coloring with the addition of some food coloring …

And then I poured it on top of the ginger snap crust and baked at 350 for 15-18 minutes …

I refrigerated them for a few hours before the party while I got  ready.  And with great trepidation I packed them up for their debut in the real world …

And, yes, there were a few question marks forming over heads when I unpacked the desserts …

But they did become a topic of conversation …

,,, and, thankfully, everyone enjoyed not just the cute mini mason jar containers but the key lime bars contained within!

I think I may have a convert or two into my not-so-secret mason jar lovers club …

 Looking for more mason jar ideas?  Look no further.  Check out my Mason Jar Project Gallery here …

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I wasn’t going to write a Father’s Day post (sorry honey, sorry dad).  It didn’t even cross my mind …

does that make me a terrible wife?  A terrible daughter? A terrible person?

But then I came across this amazing post from one of my favorite bloggers.  And as I wiped away the tears after reading her eloquently written prose, the guilt settled in …

I mean, it’s not like my husband’s a terrible husband.  He isn’t.  He’s a wonderful, caring, giving man.  And a man who does the laundry. I mean, what’s not to love?

It’s not like he’s a terrible father.  He isn’t.  In fact, more often than not, he’s a more patient father than I am a mother.  A man who, when the kids were little, would take them on Mother’s Day so I could have time to myself.  And a man who, when the kids were little, would take them on Father’s Day.  Because he defined Father’s Day as a day for him to spend time with his kids …

Mike lost his father when he was young.  Just a boy.  In fact, he surpassed his father’s age last year …

When we first married, I know Mike was worried about being a father.  Not because he didn’t want kids.  But because he wasn’t sure what that meant; how to act …

When we first had Sam, I know Mike was worried about being a father to a son.  He could draw on a few distant memories of time he spent with his dad.  But beyond nine years of age, he was at a loss …

I like to imagine Mike’s father looking down on him.  Smiling that smile only a proud father can wear.  Because that’s what he’d be of his son.  His little boy who has grown into a wonderful man.  A wonderful husband.  And a wonderful father who is beloved by his children … and his wife.

Happy Father’s Day, honey!

P.S.  I’d like to send some Father’s Day love to my father – a bull of a man and a pussycat of a father (to me, anyway, his baby) — who is still going strong ….

P.P.S.  And I’d like to send a collective “Happy Father’s Day” to all those dads out there …

I’ve been remiss. I’ve kept you in the dark.

Can you forgive me?

I promised a tutorial on the sequin mason jar that I shared last week.  You know the post, right? The one where I ran a giveaway for a case of amazing blue Ball mason jars …

… and before I get to the ‘how to’ part of this post, how about I finish up that piece of unfinished business.  Because the giveaway is closed.  A winner has been chosen.  And notified by email.  And I have her address (congratulations Nancy T.) and her prize should be winding its way to her soon …

Now, I told you this project was super simple, right?  Like super duper simple.  So don’t blink …

Step 1:  Take some Mod Podge gloss and brush some into the bottom and around the top of the mason jar …

Step 2.  Dump in sequins, put on the top and shake …

Step 3.  Let dry overnight.  Style with flowers …

Now, keep in mind that Mod Podge is, at its core, glue.  So you can’t put water in these vases.

I found a pin on Pinterest that said you can just add water and sequins to your vase.  They claimed some some would float and some would sink.  So I tried it.  And, for this project, I can tell you it didn’t work as envisioned  No, I can do one better.  I can show you …

See?  Okay, some did float.  Some did sink.  But the overall effect was a mess …

I may need to pin it to a pin-fail Pinterest board. 

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* i heart naptime *

Did you ever invite yourself to a party?

And I’m not talking about some coy, roundabout way of trying to pull an invitation out of someone.  Listening with rapt attention as they regale you with tales of their past parties.  Gasping and laughing and expressing with great enthusiasm about how much fun it sounded …

… letting your voice trail off as you look longingly at the storyteller.  Hoping an invitation would be forthcoming. I mean, you did laugh at all the rights spots, didn’t you …

No, not that kind of inviting yourself.  I’m talking about the brazen-put-someone-on-the-spot with a direct invitation invite yourself.

Yeah.  I did that.

It was about seven years ago.  At a party with the full extended family.  And my husband’s nephew’s wife’s mother (got that?) and her family were talking about their annual Fourth of July bash.  And all could think is that I needed to be a part of all that crazy fun.  About how I needed to be included.  So I did it.  I asked if we could could get an invitation …

And the rest, as they say, is history ….

So in honor of our wonderful, annual Fourth of July hosts, I decided to make a appropriately themed gift to properly thank them for overlooking my rudeness and welcoming us into their family celebration …

… with some mason jars. Of course.  This time painted and distressed in red, white, and blue.  And put together to make an American flag.

I started by painting two jars white and one blue using craft store acrylic paint (Americana Snow White, Primary Blue, and True Red) …

Then I moved on to the stripes …

Followed by the stars …

And then I distressed them using sand paper.  I also used an emery board on the smaller spaces around the raised lettering …

After a coat of clear enamel spray paint …

They’re ready to party!

P.S.  Today is the last day to enter for a chance to win a case of Ball canning vintage blue look mason jars.  Click here to enter …

If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out my mason jar project gallery here …

And you can check out my new Mason Jar Crafts Love Facebook fan page here …

… and Mason Jar Pinterest Boards here …

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Today I’m a teaser …

Not a ‘ha ha’ teaser.  And definitely not a make people laugh at your expense teaser.  That would be mean.

No, today I’m a flirty teaser.  With a bash of my eyelashes …

… and a wink.

I may even throw in a hair flip as I tell you that I’ve got a guest post up today over at i heart naptime  …

It’s a summer project.  Hence the colorful sneak peak pic …

So head on over.  I’ll show you what I made and how I made it.

 ***** I go live at 1 PM *******

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

P.S.  Have you entered yet to win a case of Ball brand vintage blue colored mason jars?  If not, click here …

My baseboards had an inferiority complex.  They’re very insecure.  Self-conscious.  Constantly comparing themselves to other baseboards in the neighborhood …

… and coming up short.  And skimpy.  And, well, wimpy.

If my baseboards were on the playground at school, they would get picked last for kickball.  The definitely can’t climb that rope in gym class.  And I fear they would be in serious danger of getting a wedgy in the locker room from the bigger and beefier baseboard mouldings …

So when I decided to put board and batten up in the dining room, I knew I’d have to come up with a solution for those wimpy baseboards.  A solution that would not include a crow bar and me trying to pry those old baseboards off the wall.  Because that is a skill beyond my talents.

My solution:  Just cover them up.  That’s right.  I would install my new beefier mouldings right on top of them.  Using these pieces of MDF and decorative trim …

We started with the 1 x 4 MDF board …

Followed by the 1 x 2 MDF board …

And then finished it off with the decorative moudling …

We just used liquid nails to attach and held it in place with painter’s tape while it dried …

After some caulking and painting, now our baseboards can hold their little baseboard heads high …

… with pride.

P.S. You can see the dining room before and after here …

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* Under the Table & Dreaming *

Do you know what happens when you (read: me) decides to tackle a bazillion mason jar projects while your (read: my) injured finger heals?

You catch the attention of the Ball brand people, that’s what happens.  And they send you a very nice email asking if you’d like to receive a case of their Heritage Collection 100th anniversary Ball brand mason jars to craft with …

Why yes. Yes indeed. I would love to receive a case of your Heritage Collection 100th anniversary Ball brand mason jars!  Oh, and while you’re at it, can you pinch me …?

And they didn’t send me just any old mason jar that you can find at any old grocery store.  They sent me a case of very special mason jars in a lovely hue of blue to commemorate 100 years …

And I can go on and on about how very lovely they are, but why don’t I Iet the folks at Ball brands tell you more (from the Ball Fresh Preserving website) …

“2013 marks the 100th anniversary of the first series of jars designed by the Ball brothers, each jar intended to be better than the one before. 1913 saw the launch of the first true “Perfect Mason” jar. These limited edition blue Ball jars are a celebration of the heritage featuring period-correct blue color and embossed logos on the front and back. These vintage-inspired blue jars maintain all of our modern standards for quality and reliability. Perfect for all of your home canning needs… or as a collectible item!”

And then, to make things even more exciting, they say I can offer you ~ that’s right, my dear readers, you ~ a chance to win a case of your own!

In fact, you have a chance to win one case from the very first certified 100 cases of the Heritage Collection produced to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Ball brand Perfect Mason Jar!

They even come with a certificate of authenticity!  (And look at me with all the exclamation points!  You know I’m excited when I use exclamation points!)

Now I was going to share a quick tutorial on how I made those sequin mason vases (trust me, it’s not complicated) …

… but I then thought, “enough about me.”  This post is all about you and how you can enter to win your very own case of vintage style blue mason jars:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and I hope you win!!

Oh, and I’ll share that mason jar sequin vase tutorial later this week …

Looking for more mason jar project ideas? Then check out my project gallery …

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Hey – here comes summer! On Memorial Day weekend I still had the heat on!

I am very upset with the chilly and wet spring in Chicago, and I’d like a refund. If I can’t get any money, I’ll take whatever is in the big box, Monty.

I was even more upset the other day to realize my kids have grown up. Couldn’t someone have sent me an email about this before now? I was walking Ernie along our street and children from our block were running up and down the sidewalk, screeching at each other, drawing with chalk, laughing, drinking out of juice boxes…being happy children in the brief warmth of this stilted spring.

Those once were my three- and six-year-olds, delighted to be outside and running wherever they could in the dappled sunshine, as we parents paid some measure of attention while we reintroduced ourselves over beer and wine on our porches and lawns.

My children are no longer running up and down the block, and that makes me a little sad, though given their age, it makes sense. It would have been creepy had I been doing that in front of my mom’s house when I was 15.

So summer has changed. It’s still about the coming warmth and putting the top down and cooking out, but now it’s also about ballet and driving lessons. Change must come with acceptance of that change.

And change must accept the next round of Mason jars. If I come home one day and find my kids sitting in very large Mason jars, I won’t be surprised.

~ Mike

My less-than-stellar track record with plants has been well documented here.  On the blog.  Here …

and here.  Oh, and here too.

I’ve even resorted to making paper flowers.

But now that area nurseries are stocked with annuals … and those mini nurseries have popped up in the Menards and Jewel parking lots … I’m getting a bit anxious.  And not just because I haven’t tended to the garden yet …

… and that makes it sound like I know what I’m doing. “Tended to the garden.”  Like I putter around with trimming shears and rubber boots and a big giant hat to protect my ivory skin from the sun’s harsh rays.  Daintily cutting blooms to display in the foyer (yeah, I don’t have a foyer in which to display my prize-winning blooms) …

No.  My gardening routine includes me in paint-splattered capris and flip flops with a hap-hazard pony tail with dirty fingernails bent over with a spade and that fork looking thing trying to dig up indestructible dandelions roots …

the only thing I seem to be able to successfully grow in my garden.

So before I make the full commitment and pick up those flats of impatiens and geraniums and spikey-looking plant things (see what a horticultural expert I am?), I thought I’d start small …

as in really small …

and I mean really, really, really small.

With some wine corks.  And those purportedly hard-to-kill alien-looking succulents …

Step 1. The fun part:  drink some wine and save the corks.

Step 2. Gather your supplies.  You’ll need wine corks, a glue gun, magnets, a steak knife, and plants.  I used hardy – and hard to kill — succulents since I’ve got a bit of a plant-killing reputation.

Step 3.  Using a steak knife, core out centers of the corks.  Start by putting tip in center of cork and turning knife in a circular motion. Just make sure you don’t go all the way through; stop about ¾ of the way down.

Step 4. Use glue gun to affix magnets.  Note: once plants are planted, the cork will be much heavier.  Depending on the strength of your magnet, you made need to affix more than one to handle the added weight.

Step 5. Add soil.

Step 6. Add plants.  Use a ¼ teaspoon measure spoon to add dirt and pack down. Drizzle with water.

Step 7. Stick to a metal surface …

and …

Step 8.  Join hands with me and pray for their survival…

* This tutorial originally appeared on Buzzfeed *

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