MAD IN CRAFTS

Sprinkle Dipped Oreos

2013-05-17T07:11:00.001-04:00

These sprinkled, bark-dipped oreos are decadent, colorful, and perfect for any party. I made a batch to add to the Candy Bar on a Budget I shared a few weeks back, but I never shared how easy it is to make them. I was originally inspired by the Party Oreos that Katie from Sweet Rose Studio created. I only made a few changes to her tutorial, that I will show you below.

I used almond bark instead of candy melts, just because at my store it was a better price. In order to thin out the melted bark to make it smoother for dipping, I used a bit of coconut oil.

I added about a tablespoon of coconut oil to six squares of almond bark and melted it in a makeshift double boiler. The coconut oil melts nicely into the bark, and you can barely taste the oil when they have been stirred together.

If you are concerned about burning your fingers, you can slip the oreos onto a plastic fork before dipping in the bark. It’s quicker to just dunk them in with your hands though, so that’s how I did it. Made with love.

I dunked the oreos in the bark, laid them out on a foil-covered baking pan, and shook on some rainbow sprinkles. You could stop right there and the cookies would be perfect as is. But, you know me, never leaving well enough alone.

I had quite a bit of melted almond bark left after dipping just half of each oreo, so after the bark cooled on the cookies, I went back and dunked them again. It was a little messy, but the cookies were even more party-ready totally coated in bark and sprinkles.

The sprinkle cookies tied right in with the confetti dot theme of the candy table, but you could customize the color of the sprinkles and the almond bark to match any party theme.

Did you like this post? Think it’s worth sharing? Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons on the toolbar at the bottom of the page!

Thanks, Jessica Hill

Make a Library Tote Bag from a T-Shirt

2013-05-16T08:11:00.001-04:00

Earlier in the week I showed you the Library Journal I made for my son to encourage him to be excited about reading over the summer months. Part of the excitement of summer reading will come from our trips to the local library too. In order to have an easy way to carry all our library finds, I made a quick and free tote bag using an old t-shirt. And when I say a sewing project is easy, you know that it is!

To make a T-Shirt Tote Bag, you will need:

old t-shirt

scissors

thread

sewing machine

plate

permanent marker

pins

Any adult size t-shirt you have on hand will make a free, easy tote bag. It’s a great way to reuse shirts that are no longer being worn, without throwing them out. I used this shirt as my clean-up rag when I helped in the I Love to Create tie dye booth at the 2012 Michigan International Women’s Show. If you want to dress up a plain old t-shirt before sewing your tote bag, I recommend Tulip’s One-Step Tie Dye kits. They are easy to use, and much less mess than traditional tie dyeing methods.

Begin by cutting the sleeves off of the t-shirt just OUTSIDE of the seam. The seam will act as reinforcement for the handles of the tote bag. Save the sleeves for later.

Position a large dinner plate over the neck hole of the shirt. Trace around the plate with a marker.

Cut along the marker line. This should give you a neat hole at the top of the tote bag.

Using a sewing machine, sew the t-shirt together just above the bottom hem. I didn’t pin the fabric together because I am lazy, but it would be easier to sew a straight line if you do.

NOTE: You can see from the picture that I sewed the wrong sides of my t-shirt facing each other. I did that because I actually liked the way the inside of the tie dyed shirt looked better. If you would like the outside of your t-shirt to show on on the outside of your tote bag, you should sew the right sides together.

After you have sewed the bottom of the bag, fold the hem of the t-shirt over each side of this new hem (one over one under). Sew another hem through this doubled-up fabric. This will reinforce the bottom of the tote bag so it is definitely strong enough to carry all the books you check out!

Remember that I told you to save the t-shirt sleeves? Mark off straight lines in the sleeve fabric and cut it into a rectangle.

Flip your finished bag right side out and pin the sleeve fabric onto the front of your tote bag, making a small pocket. Use the sleeve hem as the top of the pocket and sew the other three sides to the bag. You can even stitch down the middle of the pocket to make compartments to fit both the book journal and your library card.

You know have a handy, sturdy tote bag to take with you to the library, and it didn’t cost you a thing!

To recap:

Child’s Library Book Journal = FREE
T-Shirt Tote Bag = FREE
Summer trips to the library = FREE
Helping to instill a life-long love of reading in a child = Beyond Priceless

If you are like me and have a thing for tote bags, be sure to check back in here ALL next week. HINT HINT.

My NEW ebook is now for sale on E-Junkie. Find out more about it HERE!

Did you like this post? Think it’s worth sharing? Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons on the toolbar at the bottom of the page!

Thanks, Jessica

15 Minute Faux Stacked Bangles

2013-05-15T07:41:00.001-04:00

When it comes to bracelets this year, it seems like the more, the merrier. Trendy magazines are showing bangles in colors and metallics, beads and baubles, all stacked up in a row. I like a good bracelet, so I was willing to jump on the banglewagon.

This easy project is so quick to do, I am offering it as part of Craft Lightning, hosted by my friends Angie from The Country Chic Cottage and Carolina from 30 Minute Crafts. They have organized another round of lightning quick craft projects from crafters around the blogosphere. Be sure to check out both of their blogs for highlights and link parties all week long!

To make Faux Stacked Bangles, you will need:

^{Some of the following links are affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you choose to make a purchase after clicking through.}

wooden beads

floral wire

tweezers or pliers

pop can

You should be able to find both this colored floral wire and the wooden beads at Dollar Tree. The wire is the same material I used to create my Floral Wire Pumpkins. I used not quite one package of it for my bracelet.

Begin by using tweezers or pliers to coil one end of the floral wire back on itself. This prevents all the beads from slipping off the end of the wire.

Thread the beads on the wire in whatever pattern you like best!

After all the beads are on the wire, coil the wire off just past the last bead. Cut the wire just past the coil.

I found that wrapping the bracelet around a pop can is a great way to get even coils. If the bracelet gets banged up while wearing it, you can always re-form it around a can again.

And, just that easily, you have a bright and colorful bracelet that imitates the stacked bangles that are so popular this season. I was able to make this bracelet in just about 15 minutes, but that includes all the times I was interrupted by a “helpful” two-year old.

With some adjustments, you can also wear the same piece as a layered beaded necklace.

It’s a playful look and only cost around $2 to make! If you make one for yourself, be sure to tweet or instagram a picture to @madincrafts. I would love to see it!

If you enjoy quickie craft projects, check out my past Craft Lightning projects: PB-Inspired Golden Burlap Candles, PB-Inspired Bronze Owls, and Glitter Edged Holiday Coasters or visit 30 Minute Crafts and The Country Chic Cottage!

Did you like this post? Think it’s worth sharing? Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons on the toolbar at the bottom of the page!

Thanks, Jessica

Child’s Library Book Journal

2013-05-14T08:24:00.001-04:00

Before you know it, summer will be here. As a former teacher, I know that for some students the long break from school sometimes means a long break from reading. My son is just starting to recognize sight words, but he loves books. I want to encourage that excitement for reading during the summer, even though he won’t have preschool during the week.

^{I am part of the PSA Essentials design team. I received complimentary PSA products in exchange for creation of project ideas.}

My son was so excited for the scrap paper and cereal box journal I made for him last month, that I decided to make him a special journal just for keeping track of the books he borrows from the library this summer. I hope it makes him even more excited to read, so he can fill it up with pictures from each of the stories.

To make a Child’s Library Book Journal, you will need:

^{Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you choose to make a purchase after clicking through.}

scrap paper or cardstock, cut to the same size

hole punch

o-ring

stamps and ink

permanent marker

You can use up any paper or cardstock you have in your stash to make this library book journal. The more colorful the better! I used PSA Essentials’ Rocket stamps to decorate the cover of his library journal, but you could also allow your child to decorate his own cover.

Punch a hole for the o-ring through the cover of the journal. Use that hole as the template to punch through the rest of the pieces of scrap paper.

Thread the o-ring through the holes and close. As your child finishes each book, give him a prompt for his journal (or let him create his own idea). I have made a list of possible journal ideas and shared it below. At the end of the summer, your child will have a record of all the great stories he read!

Come back later in the week for the quick and easy tutorial for the T-Shirt Tote Bag we will be bringing with us on our library trips this summer!

What was your favorite book when you were growing up?

My NEW ebook is now for sale on E-Junkie. Find out more about it HERE!

Did you like this post? Think it’s worth sharing? Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons on the toolbar at the bottom of the page!

Thanks, Jessica Hill

Mad Skills Party #155

2013-05-12T22:44:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the 155th Mad Skills Party!

If you have participated in a Mad Skills Tutorial Link Party in the past, you have probably gotten one of my emails. I like to highlight a few of my favorite submissions each week, and email is a great way to do it! I also like to be able to thank all of you for participating in the party. It really means so much to me that you do. Commenting on each project is no longer an option for me, and I (legally) can’t spam you all with unasked for emails. BUT, if you sign up for the newsletter, I can still say thanks for your hard work AND you get to see the highlights from the weeks’ parties!

Sign up for the email by clicking HERE or using the form in the NEWSLETTER section of my sidebar.

If you are linking up today, you might be featured in this week’s newsletter!

For the Mad Skills party, as usual you can link up a post, old or new, to share with other readers. The only rule for the party is that the post MUST BE A TUTORIAL. The tutorial can be written, pictorial, or a combination of the two, but it should be a project or a process that another crafter would be able to replicate. Any Mad Skill level, from novice to advanced, is welcome!

There is a Mad Skills Tutorial Link Party button that can be found by clicking HERE! Please add to your blog post or update your party pages! You have until midnight (EST) on Thursday to enter your projects!

By participating in this party, you are agreeing to allow me to feature your project in my weekly Mad Skills newsletter. Each feature will include a link back to your project, a photo from the tutorial, and a brief explanation of why I loved your project.

Living the Garden Life

2013-05-11T09:14:00.001-04:00

All my posts had an outdoor theme this week. This is way out of my comfort zone, you guys. I could use some reassuring back pats. And maybe some wine. In addition to this week’s Mad Skills Tutorial Party, I shared these posts:

Campfire Crack S’morsels

How Not to Have a Crappy Lawn – Part Three: Using the Right Products

Life Began in a Garden Printables

How Not to Have a Crappy Lawn – Part Four: Enjoying Your Lawn

Thank you to these great sites for featuring me or my work recently:

Last year I rounded up eight delicious recipes that are perfect for your Memorial Day Celebration. If you are planning a picnic or cook-out, pin that link so you can find it in a few weeks!

Do you ever just stop and marvel at all the amazing creativity on the internet? Here are just a few of the ideas I pinned this week:

Check out all my Pinterest boards for more fun, inspiration, and silliness. You can also find me using any of the social media links found below. Let’s keep in touch!

Or you can sign up for the Mad Skills weekly newsletter HERE.

My NEW ebook is now for sale on E-Junkie. Find out more about it HERE!

Did you like this post? Think it’s worth sharing? Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons on the toolbar at the bottom of the page!

Thanks, Jessica

How NOT to Have a Crappy Lawn: Enjoying Your Yard

2013-05-10T09:08:00.001-04:00

^{This is a sponsored post for The Home Depot. I received compensation and/or complimentary materials in exchange for my work, but the opinions in this post are 100% my own.}

The leaves are popping out, the flowers are beginning to bloom, and we have been spending time outside in the gorgeous weather. Yes, I said “we.” Even I have been spending some time out in our yard. I mean, just look at these pictures. Even an indoorsy gal like me can appreciate all this pretty.

I cannot get enough of Michigan trees. When we lived further out West, I always missed the giant maples and pines that I took for granted back home. Even now, I sit out on our nice green lawn and look up to admire our lovely trees.

I am so happy that the lawn is so much nicer this year than last, that it takes my mind off of the fact that I am surrounded by nature.

Even our basset hound is ecstatic about our newly improved lawn. Trust me. That’s his ecstatic face.

I might prefer an air conditioned room and a comfortable recliner, but that yard, those kids, this weather? This is a view even I could get used to.

After researching, shopping, and using the products, here are my top tips for creating and keeping a NON-crappy lawn:

DON’T OVER-FERTILIZE – Too much fertilizer can burn our your grass. Shoot for no more than 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Your Home Depot worker can help you calculate how much fertilizer to buy.
FEED YOUR LAWN TWICE A YEAR MINIMUM – Most experts suggest that you should fertilize your lawn twice a year (spring/fall or spring/summer depending on growing zone). If you have the time and budget, adding a third meal for your lawn is best.
DON’T SEED AND USE WEED CONTROL AT THE SAME TIME – If you have put down crabgrass preventer, wait a while before seeding any bare areas in your lawn. The crabgrass preventer will also prevent new grass from sprouting.
WATER FIRST THING IN THE MORNING – Water early so that the hot afternoon sun won’t evaporate the water before it can reach the roots of the grass (not to mention it can heat the water in your hose). Avoid watering at night because lack of sun overnight can cause un-evaporated water to pool, which makes lawns susceptible to disease and pests.
DON’T MOW WET GRASS – This seems like a no-brainer, but some people still do it. Everybody is busy, I get it, but it’s bad for both your lawn and your lawn mower to try to cut damp grass.
VARY YOUR MOWING PATTERN – Take a tip from major league ballparks and try out a fancy new pattern on your lawn! Mowing the same pattern in your grass each time damages the blades of grass and creates an unnatural grain to your lawn’s growing pattern.
MOW LESS, MORE FREQUENTLY – Seems like an oxy moron, yes? While it’s easier to give your lawn a buzz cut so you can squeeze a few more days in between mowings, it’s harmful to the grass. Set the blade higher and mow more often for thick, green grass.
PULL WEEDS AFTER RAIN – New weeds sprout after a rain, so their roots won’t be as large, AND the moist soil makes pulling weeds less work.

And if all else fails, you can always hire a kid to do all the work for you. ;)

It’s home improvement time, and The Home Depot has everything you need to #DigIn for Spring. No matter what projects you want to tackle, they have great values on all you need. They’re ready to help you with renovation ideas and expert advice, too.

Get over $300 in email exclusive savings each year, sneak peeks on new products, monthly lawn & garden ideas for your region and access to The Home Depot’s gardening experts. Click here to join the world’s largest garden community today! Or go to homedepot.com/gardenclub to see some of the many benefits of membership.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Home Depot.

Did you like this post? Think it’s worth sharing? Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons on the toolbar at the bottom of the page!

Thanks, Jessica

Life Began in a Garden–Free Printables

2013-05-09T08:22:00.001-04:00

Even though I am not a gardener, all these lawn maintenance posts I have been working on have gotten me into a gardening state of mind. I found this quote online, and I just love it. With the help of the great Pattern Pieces from Sprik Space, I made up a few free printables for your enjoyment. Just click through the links below for a free PDF download.

Life began in a garden. (Teal)

Life began in a garden. (Sage)

Life began in a garden. (Ocean)

Life began in a garden. (Green)

Life began in a garden. (butter)

How Not to Have a Crappy Lawn: Using the Right Products

2013-05-08T07:58:00.001-04:00

Now that I had made a trip to The Home Depot to pick up the supplies I had researched, it was time to get the fertilizer down on the grass. It’s important to put down crabgrass preventing fertilizer early in the year to kill off that nasty crabgrass before it can even begin to grow.

My mom brought over their fertilizer spreader and filled it with the Scotts Turf Builder Crabgrass Preventer. We were really impressed with how quickly the fertilizer started to work. I have a feeling my husband is going to be mowing the lawn a lot more often this summer!

It’s important when spreading the fertilizer to make sure you are covering the whole lawn, and not over-fertilizing any one area. Over-fertilizing can burn out the grass. It’s also a good idea to spread the lawn fertilizer before predicted rain, or you should make plans to give your grass a good soaking after spreading the fertilizer. Water helps the fertilizer work properly, so rain or watering is required.

It is also very important that you use the right products when you are caring for your lawn. If you don’t have a problem with crabgrass like we do, then a regular lawn fertilizer with weed control may be all that you need. I recommend Scotts brand, no matter what fertilizer formula you plan on using. I have used Scotts products for a variety of gardening projects, and I have never been disappointed.

I am also happy with the full-circle sprinkler I picked out. Once I figured out how to set it, it is simple to position it to cover just the areas of our lawn that need watering. For the relatively low cost, it’s a purchase well worth making.

Our lawn still has a few issues with which we will have to deal this summer. There are some broadleaf weeds that have sprung up, so we will need to put down some Scotts Fertilizer with Weed Control later in the summer. That formula will help with weeds like dandelions and clover. We might also have to do some re-seeding in the backyard where the dog has created burned-out yellow patches. Even with those issues we are already on track for a MUCH nicer lawn than we had last summer!

Just to give you a comparison of how things can change in (less than) a year, this is a picture of our front lawn last summer.

And here is a picture of our front lawn this year. Quite a difference, huh? In addition to the MUCH more favorable weather we have had this Spring, we are taking better care of our grass by using the right products on the lawn, watering when needed, and mowing on a better schedule. I hope this encourages you that, even if you have a crappy lawn, you can turn things around!

Get over $300 in email exclusive savings each year, sneak peeks on new products, monthly lawn & garden ideas for your region and access to The Home Depot’s gardening experts. Click here (http://thd.co/ZNbhDj) to join the world’s largest garden community today! Or go to homedepot.com/gardenclub to see some of the many benefits of membership.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Home Depot.

Did you like this post? Think it’s worth sharing? Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons on the toolbar at the bottom of the page!

Thanks, Jessica

Campfire Crack S’morsels (and the Lost Art of Handwritten Recipes)

2013-05-07T07:54:00.001-04:00

Do you have a recipe? Not just any old recipe, but one for which you are known? One that people ask you to bring to parties? One that your kids ask for specially? My recipe is my Christmas Crack. I have been called both an angel and a devil for bringing it to parties. It feels good to be known for making food that people love. And it feels even better to be able to share that recipe with other people. More about that later.

While I love making Christmas Crack year round, I had one of those lightning bolt moments last week which resulted in two words: Campfire Crack. All the goodness of s’mores in little cracked pieces. Little s’morsels of deliciousness. Today, I am sharing that inspiration with you!

These three ingredients are what turn classic Christmas Crack into Campfire Crack. They also happen to be the three ingredients in a s’more: graham crackers, milk chocolate, and marshmallows. Other than these three changes, the process of making crack is still the same.

I have had some friends tell me that when they made their crack, it didn’t turn out quite like they expected. It’s is a simple recipe, but if the process is going to go wrong, it will go wrong here in the boiling step. There are two tips that you must follow in order for your crack to magically develop.

USE REAL BUTTER. BOIL AND STIR FOR THREE MINUTES.

Don’t cheat on either of these fronts, and you will be golden.

That hot buttery concoction gets poured over a bed of crackers. My graham crackers didn’t fit as neatly into my jelly roll pan as the club crackers do, so I had to do some cracking and rearranging. Don’t worry if you have to also.

After baking the crackers and melting the milk chocolate, I dotted the whole pan with mini marshmallows and popped it under the broiler until the marshmallows got toasty brown. It’s not quite the same as a smoky golden fire-roasted marshmallow, but it’s still darn good.

Some of the marshmallows broke off of the s’morsels when I was cracking it into pieces, but enough stayed in place to give each bite some mallow-y goodness. This is recipe people are going to be asking you for.

Speaking of that, I want to take a minute to sing the praises of the hand-written recipe. The digital age has made searching for and storing recipes easier than ever. One quick search of Pinterest, and you will find a dozen version of the same recipe, complete with detailed directions and full-color step-by-step photos. It’s a huge advantage, but it creates some consequences too. Namely, the decline of the hand-written recipe card.

Food is the basis of so many traditions, so many memories. Think of how it feels to cook your grandmother’s famous chocolate sauce or to serve the traditional family Easter ham. Years of emotions and memories mix together to enhance the experience of cooking and enjoying nostalgic recipes. Hand written recipe cards are tangible versions of those same experiences.

I love hand-written recipes. So much so, that I even framed some of my grandmothers’ recipes and hung them in our kitchen. Seeing their special recipes written in their own hand, the cards smudged and wrinkled, is so much better than searching Google for a recipe with similar ingredients. Sometimes I worry that my kids and grandkids won’t have those same treasured ways to remember me. So, I am going to make an effort to handwrite more of my special recipes. Not every meal I make, obviously, but the ones I am known for, like my crack recipes.

I only had plain index cards in the house, and I wanted to make them a little more personalized before I got to writing. I used PSA Essentials’ Beagle Scout stamp pack to embellish the corner of the cards. The stamps go perfectly with this recipe.

It felt good to sit down and write out the ingredients and instructions on those little cards. And now I have a way to share this great recipe with the ones I love, a way that doesn’t involve wi-fi access.

Think about doing some recipe-gifting of your own. Slip a simple recipe into the money card you give to a college graduate. Include a hand-written recipe card with the plate of treats you give your child’s teacher. Tape the recipe to the top of the freezer meal you share with the new mom in your neighborhood. Let’s bring back the hand-written recipe!

CAMPFIRE CRACK S’MORSELS

1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
a sleeve of graham crackers
12 oz. bag milk chocolate chips
1 cup mini marshmallows

In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar in the butter and bring them to a boil. Boil for three minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cover a jelly roll pan with aluminum foil. Cover the foil with a layer of graham crackers.
Pour the buttery/sugary mix over the crackers, making sure they are all saturated. Put pan in the oven for 10 minutes.
Take pan out and sprinkle chocolate chips over the crackers. Let sit until chips soften. Spread the chips with a spatula or the back of a spoon.
Sprinkle mini marshmallows over the melted chocolate. Let the pan cool.
Freeze until fully hardened.
Remove the pan from the freezer and peel off the aluminum foil. Crack it up into pieces, whatever size you’d like. Store in a container and refrigerate until you’re ready to eat!

My NEW ebook is now for sale on E-Junkie. Find out more about it HERE!

Did you like this post? Think it’s worth sharing? Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons on the toolbar at the bottom of the page!

Thanks, Jessica

Mad Skills #154

2013-05-06T07:36:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the 154th Mad Skills Party!

Sign up for the email by clicking HERE or using the form in the NEWSLETTER section of my sidebar.

If you are linking up today, you might be featured in this week’s newsletter!

By participating in this party, you are agreeing to allow me to feature your project in my weekly Mad Skills newsletter. Each feature will include a link back to your project, a photo from the tutorial, and a brief explanation of why I loved your project.

May the Fourth Be With You–15 Star Wars Crafts

2013-05-04T10:25:00.001-04:00

Happy Star Wars Day, friends! In its honor I put together a round-up of my Star Wars tutorials and some of my favorites from around the web. A few of these have been on my pin boards as to-do reminders… I should really get going on them today, huh? If you have a Star Wars related tutorial, share the link in the comments, I would love to see it!

DIY Death Star

DIY Space Geek Bedroom

Lego Star Wars Clock

R2D2 Lamp Hack

Star Wars Pillowcases

Space Geek Printables

Vader/Luke Light Switch

Star Wars Favors

Star Wars Crawl Invitation

Star Wars Party Decorations

Star Wars Party Menu

Star Wars Birthday Cake

Darth Vader Sweatshirt

Wookie Bandolier

Lightsaber Earrings

Did you like this post? Think it’s worth sharing? Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons on the toolbar at the bottom of the page!

Thanks, Jessica

Grilling, Gardening, and Great Big Hair

2013-05-04T07:28:00.001-04:00

Spring has finally sprung here in Michigan, and we have been enjoying the fresh air and flowering trees. I have been enjoying them through the windows of our house because I am indoorsy, but I have been enjoying them all the same. I had some Spring-influence posts this week too. In addition to this week’s Mad Skills Tutorial Party, I shared these posts:

Albion Fitness Wear Giveaway

Honey-Lime Grilled Salad

How to Not Have a Crappy Lawn – Part One: Researching Products

Totally DIY an 80s Outfit

How Not to Have a Crappy Lawn – Part Two: Visiting the Store

Thank you to these great sites for featuring me or my work recently:

Last year I shared the recipe for an easy and inexpensive dessert that is perfect for Mother’s Day. Schaum Torte with Strawberries is an elegant and refreshing treat, especially if you can find fresh, ripe berries!

I like to share little peeks into life in The Mad House via my instagram account. Here’s what was up this week:

This week, I re-read The Great Gatsby for the umpteenth time to be ready for the Baz Luhrman movie that is coming out on the 10th. I hope it lives up the novel, but it’s hard to translate writing like that.
The fertilizer, rain, and sun have conspired to turn our crummy lawn into a thriving green jungle! Hooray!
We were so happy to be able to open windows this week and see some long-awaited sun streaming through the kid-decorated windows.
I thought I had seen every use for duct tape imaginable, but I was introduced to a new use thanks a car in the Wal-Mart parking lot!

Check out all my Pinterest boards for more fun, inspiration, and silliness. You can also find me using any of the social media links found below. Let’s keep in touch!

Or you can sign up for the Mad Skills weekly newsletter HERE.

My NEW ebook is now for sale on E-Junkie. Find out more about it HERE!

Did you like this post? Think it’s worth sharing? Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons on the toolbar at the bottom of the page!

Thanks, Jessica

How Not to Have a Crappy Lawn: Visiting the Store

2013-05-03T08:04:00.001-04:00

^{This is a sponsored post on behalf of The Home Depot. I received compensation and/or complimentary materials in exchange for my work, but the opinions in this post are 100% my own.}

After researching lawn fertilizers, I felt reasonably confident heading to Home Depot to buy what we needed for our lawn. The information I got from the Garden Club helped me narrow down what I needed and gave me an idea of how much I needed to buy.

We finally got a break from the dreary weather, so my kids, my mom, and I headed out to our local Home Depot to pick up the items we would need to green up my lawn.

Usually I am a mean mom and don’t let the kids get a special cart, but we grabbed one of the available car carts and headed into the store. And, yes, it was still winter coat whether that day.

The display of Scotts fertilizers was right inside the door at my Home Depot, so we wheeled over to take a look. There was a HD employee named John who was stocking the shelves and he immediately came over and asked if we needed any help, which, even though I had done my research, I did need. I knew I wanted the Scotts crabgrass preventer for both fertilizer and weed control, but I wasn’t sure when to put it down. Since we were going to be getting rain soon and we were out of the threat of deep frost (you wouldn’t think we would have to worry about that in April), we could put the fertilizer down anytime.

He also explained that the crabgrass preventer was the first step in lawn fertilization; the turf building, weed control, and summer would follow as the summer went on. Here I was thinking that fertilizing once was all it took!

After we picked up a few bags of the lawn fertilizer, we headed over to the sprinkler section. Since we don’t have any hanging plants, we didn’t need a shower wand, but we did need a sprinkler. Since this is the first full year we have owned a home we haven’t really watered our lawns before. The sections of grass that were hit by the kids’ water toys got green and the rest just didn’t. This year I want to make a better effort to keep the lawn watered.

We picked up a full-circle sprinkler, which took a little bit of fiddling to figure out how it works. In case you are a dummy like I am, this is how you set the sprinkler to work.

I am eager to get the product down on our lawn to see it start to green up!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Home Depot.

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Thanks, Jessica

Totally DIY an 80s Costume

2013-05-02T07:38:00.001-04:00

The 80s were a big decade. From big bangs to arena rock, most things were just bigger in the 80s. (Except for men’s shorts. Those were definitely not bigger.) If you are going to rock an 80s costume, be prepared for a lot of look.

A few weekends ago I went to a local 80s fest, and I was able to completely DIY my totally rad outfit from items that I found at Goodwill. If you can find a few basic pieces at your local thrift store, you can make your own throwback outfit for an 80s party, Halloween, or any day you want to be a little more bodacious!

To make my 80s Costume, I used:

a large sweatshirt

a neon tank

a denim skirt

a sweater

colored tights

a neon scarf

colored flats

To make an 80s-style off-the-shoulder sweatshirt, cut the neck of the sweatshirt about one inch around the collar. Cut the sleeves off above the cuff. You can also cut the bottom band off of the sweatshirt if you would like a cropped shirt look. My tank top was long enough that I could just fold the waistband of the sweatshirt up and the tank would show.

I found this jean skirt at Goodwill, but it needed to be 80s-ified before it would work with my costume. I cut a few inches off of the bottom hem to both shorten it and give it a frayed 80s hem.

I had wanted a more stone-washed denim look for the skirt, so I initially tried spraying the skirt with a squirt bottle full of bleach water. The watered down bleach wasn’t even making a dent in the color of the denim, so I gave up on that technique.

I ended up bunching the skirt up and leaving it in a bucket of bleach water overnight. In the morning, the skirt was almost all white, with the exception of a few un-dyed patches.

To make my leg warmers (which I got NO pictures of), I just cut the sleeves off of a light-weight ribbed sweater. I think choosing a ribbed sweater may have been a mistake. The fabric stretched so much over the course of the night that the leg warmers ended up drooping around my ankles. A tighter weave sweater would be a better choice.

I layered up my outfit, made my thick, heavy hair as big as I could get it, and tied in a bright pink scarf. The makeup consisted of lots of teal eye shadow and light pink lipstick. I think the costume looked pretty authentic, and it was also really comfortable.

We were a pretty sassy looking group, if I do say so myself. We had a blast listening to an 80s cover band and checking out all the other rad costumes. I even got in on the Thriller dance lesson, but thankfully I don’t think we got any video of that.

Tell me: What were you doing in the eighties? Growing up? Graduating? Getting married? Being a twinkle in your father’s eye?

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Thanks, Jessica

How NOT to Have a Crappy Lawn: Researching Products

2013-05-01T08:29:00.001-04:00

^{This is a sponsored post on behalf of The Home Depot. I received compensation and/or complimentary materials in exchange for my work, but the opinions in this post are 100% my own.}

I am very excited to be working with The Home Depot this Spring to improve the state of The Mad House yard! We have a good sized front and back yard, but some typical Michigan weather extremes have taken a toll on the grass. Weeds, crabgrass, and bare spots are just some of our issues.

This is what our yard looked like last summer when I completed my Craft Desk project. Michigan had a drought last year, combined with scorching temps, which meant the only thing that grew in our front yard was crabgrass. Lots of crabgrass.

This spring we have the opposite problem. Heavy rains and lower temperatures have caused flooding in my hometown and the surrounding cities. In addition to the unpredictable weather, we have a dog who has left burned out patches of yellow grass all over our backyard.

Over the next weeks, I am going to share the steps that I took to improve the health of our lawn to make sure that this year we do NOT have a crappy lawn. Before I could start fertilizing or controlling the weeds, I needed to do a little research.

I almost always research before I buy, so I wanted to make a list of what we needed and which brands would best meet our needs. We need:

Lawn fertilizer with crabgrass preventer
Fertilizer spreader
Sprinkler for watering

I consulted The Home Depot’s Lawn Fertilizer Buying Guide to get a better sense of what we needed to get. After browsing around a bit, I think that Scotts Turf Builder Crabgrass Preventer would be best for our yard. I am going to take a look at the sprinklers that Home Depot has in stock in our local store to determine whether an oscillating or full-circle sprinkler would be better for us.

Now that my list is made, I am going to heading to the store to pick out the tools to green up our crappy lawn!

Get over $300 in email exclusive savings each year, sneak peeks on new products, monthly lawn & garden ideas for your region and access to The Home Depot’s gardening experts. Click here to join the world’s largest garden community today! Or go to homedepot.com/gardenclub to see some of the many benefits of membership.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Home Depot.

Did you like this post? Think it’s worth sharing? Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons on the toolbar at the bottom of the page!

Thanks, Jessica

Honey-Lime Grilled Chopped Salad

2013-04-30T08:53:00.001-04:00

Warmer weather is the only excuse we need to bust out our grill and start adding that smoky flavor to our meals. But hamburgers and brats aren’t the only food you can grill up for dinner. This grilled salad incorporates the tasty flavor of the grill with a delightful honey-lime dressing. Whether you serve it as a side or the main course, your family will love the taste of the grill, and you will love that they are eating their vegetables!

This recipe calls for tons of fresh produce, so hit up your local farmer’s market or produce stand to get the best and freshest vegetables you can find. We have a month until our city’s farmer’s market opens, so I picked through the produce section of our grocery store for the best items I could find.

Yes, you CAN grill lettuce. It sounds crazy, but hardier lettuces like romaine stand up to grilling very well. Drizzle whole heads of lettuce with oil (I used grapeseed oil), and char them for a few minutes on each side. Remove the hearts of the romaine heads AFTER you take them off the grill.

We aren’t quite in outdoor grilling weather yet, so I had to do my grilling on our electric grill. A real grill is preferable because the veggies will taste better and you can cook them all at once.

The goal of grilling the vegetables is to get a good char on everything to add smoky flavor, and to soften the vegetables up a bit.

You might want to make up an extra large batch of the honey-lime dressing, because it is delicious on much more than just this salad. It has the right combination of tangy and sweet, and it is a breeze to make.

Grilling the ingredients elevates this salad beyond a typical summer chopped salad. The dish makes for a colorful addition to a healthy meal. So get out there and experiment with grilling your veggies!

HONEY-LIME GRILLED SALAD

3 heads romaine lettuce
2 cans (15.5 oz) black beans, rinsed
4 Roma tomatoes
1 cup frozen corn kernels (or 2 ears of fresh corn, shucked)
1 avocado
3 bell peppers, halved
3 limes, halved
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

Grill lettuce, tomatoes, corn, peppers and limes until softened and charred.
Chop lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and avocado into bite size pieces.
Mix all the ingredients, except limes, in a large bowl.
Reserve grilled limes to make the honey-lime dressing.

HONEY-LIME DRESSING (adapted from Group Recipes)

1/4 cup honey
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
juice of 3 grilled limes
1/4 cup chopped onions
grapeseed oil

Add all the ingredients, except the oil, to a food processor. Process ingredients together, until smooth.
Stream in oil until the dressing reaches your desired consistency.
Pour the dressing over the grilled salad and toss to coat.

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Thanks, Jessica

Albion Fitness Gear Giveaway

2013-04-29T12:41:00.001-04:00

^{This is a sponsored post. I received compensation and complimentary materials in exchange for my work, but the opinions in this post are 100% my own.}

I am sure you have seen the graphic floating around pinterest saying “According to this BMI chart, I am too short.” I had a moment like that at my latest physical. Before the doctor showed me my numbers, I knew he was going to tell me that it would be worth while to drop a few points on the BMI chart. I have been lazy all winter, and that laziness is showing in the way my clothes are fitting. In order to get myself off the fast track to blogger’s butt, I am trying to make a few attainable changes.

LATE NIGHT SNACKING: As in, I need to stop doing it. I am go, go, go all day with the kids, so after they are finally asleep, I tend to treat myself with a snack that I don’t have to share with grabby little fingers. Although Tom and Donna from Parks and Rec would tell me to “TREAT YO SELF,” I need to each find other ways to have me time at the end of the day.
GO OUTSIDE: I hate being outdoors. Go ahead and put your judging faces on, but I really don’t enjoy it. BUT, for both my health’s sake and my kids’ benefit, I am going to try to find ways to enjoy outdoor activities this year. Usually if I am involved in outdoor DIY projects, I can deal with all the nature around me, so I might have to plan some gardening posts this year.
WEAR DIFFERENT CLOTHES: I honestly think this is a big part of how the change in my physical shape snuck up on me. As a stay at home mom and blogger, my uniform is generally sweatpants and an old t-shirt (aka my pajamas). As a SAHM, I don’t need to change into trousers and a button-down for work, so why make more laundry for myself, right? And as a creative blogger, I jump in and out of projects throughout the day, meaning that 75% of my clothes have paint on them. I don’t even think that is an exaggeration. My “good jeans” are good because they have the least amount of paint and glitter on them.

When Albion offered me a chance to try some of their workout clothing, I saw a chance to make good on this last goal. Albion sells a wide range of women's fitness and swimwear in cute styles and colors. I was especially pleased to see that the swimsuits were both pretty and modest, which is a rare combination anymore. I don’t have much need for a swimsuit, so I decided to order their Signature Hoodie in Heather Grey and their black Mantra Yoga Pant. I figured the hoodie and yoga pants are a nice stepping stone between baggy sweats and skinny jeans.

Both the hoodie and the pants have a very feminine fit, slim to the body but still comfortable, which is perfect for around the house or putzing in the yard. The Signature hoodie is now my favorite hoodie because it is comfy without being shapeless, unlike the other oversized, university sweatshirts I own. I love the thumb hole detail on the sleeves too. I compulsively push long sleeves up to 3/4 length, and the cute thumb holes keep me from distractedly shoving the the sleeves up my arms for no reason.

Albion has offered to give one Mad in Crafts readers the same pieces I was able to try: the Signature Hoodie and the Mantra Yoga Pant. Just use the rafflecopter widget below to enter.

If you can’t wait to get your hands on some Albion pieces, they have offered a special discount for Mad in Crafts readers. Enter madincrafts15 at checkout to receive $15 off of an order of $50 or more. The discount is good through 5/3/2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks, Jessica

Mad Skills Party #153

2013-04-28T22:30:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the 153rd Mad Skills Party!

Sign up for the email by clicking HERE or using the form in the NEWSLETTER section of my sidebar.

If you are linking up today, you might be featured in this week’s newsletter!

By participating in this party, you are agreeing to allow me to feature your project in my weekly Mad Skills newsletter. Each feature will include a link back to your project, a photo from the tutorial, and a brief explanation of why I loved your project.

Recycling, Budgeting, and Organizing

2013-04-27T07:59:00.001-04:00

Recycling, Budgeting, and Organizing: Those don’t sound like fun blog topics, but this week’s tutorials were full of color and fun! Make sure you didn’t miss any of the tutorials I shared on the blog this week. In addition to this week’s Mad Skills Tutorial Party, I shared these posts:

Shaklee Get Clean Kit Giveaway

Colorful Kids’ Journals

Candy Bar on a Budget

Polka Dot Paper Garland

20 Creative Craft Organization Projects

Thank you to these great sites for featuring me or my work recently:

Spring is prom and wedding prep season! Last year I shared the easy process for making Faux Pocket Squares for your prom date or wedding party. They are easy to make and look so classy!

Mexicorn Dip from The V Spot

Easy Beaded Necklace from Madigan Made

Wirework Pendants from Clothespins from Mich. L. in L.A.

Truthful Labels for Handcrafted Items from Knit Picks

These are just some of the things I found pinteresting this week. Check out all my Pinterest boards for more fun, inspiration, and silliness. You can also find me using any of the social media links found below. Let’s keep in touch!

Or you can sign up for the Mad Skills weekly newsletter HERE.

My NEW ebook is now for sale on E-Junkie. Find out more about it HERE!

Did you like this post? Think it’s worth sharing? Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons on the toolbar at the bottom of the page!

Thanks, Jessica

20 Craft Organization Ideas

2013-04-26T07:19:00.001-04:00

Creativity is messy. And whether you have an entire craft studio or a few shelves in a closet, it can be tough to keep your crafting supplies from exploding and multiplying all over your home. To help curb some of those creative messes, I have gathered together 20 of my favorite craft organization ideas.

On my Creative Craft Organization Hometalk clipboard, you will find organization ideas that will help you no matter how much space you have dedicated to crafting. Some are small, easily achieved organization tips, and some are larger DIY projects. You are sure to find inspiration from one of the links!

Speaking of inspiration, have you checked out Hometalk? It is a site dedicated to helping renters and home owners get inspiration, and solve problems, relating to home and garden. The user-submitted questions and projects can be clipped and stored in specific clipboards so you can find them again later. It’s a neat resource, and the ladies behind Hometalk are incredibly supportive of other creative types.

You can find and follow me on Hometalk HERE. Be sure to browse around, you are sure to find ideas from your other favorite creative bloggers there too!

^{This is NOT a sponsored post. I received NO compensation or complimentary materials in exchange for my work. I just think Hometalk is a great website!}

My NEW ebook is now for sale on E-Junkie. Find out more about it HERE!

Did you like this post? Think it’s worth sharing? Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons on the toolbar at the bottom of the page!

Thanks, Jessica

Sew an Easy Polka Dot Paper Garland

2013-04-25T08:06:00.001-04:00

I love homemade party decorations that make a big statement but have a small price tag. This polka dot paper garland is one of my favorite party projects yet. It was colorful, happy, dynamic, and both easy and inexpensive to make. You can easily make a garland for your next special event using this technique that I learned from the fabulous Aunt Peaches!

^{I am part of the PSA Essentials design team. I received complimentary PSA products in exchange for creation of project ideas.}

To make a Polka Dot Paper Garland, you will need:

^{Some of the following links are affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you choose to make a purchase after clicking through.}

construction paper (mine was from the dollar store)

circle cutter

stamps and inks

tissue paper (dollar store)

sewing machine and thread

^{Sorry for the crummy picture. It is an Instagram shot.}

First you will need to cut out dozens of circles from dollar store construction paper. To make the work a bit quicker, try cutting several pieces of paper at once. I used my PSA Essentials stamps and inks to layer on some stamped sentiments on to the garland.

After the circles are cut, you will lay them out on the tissue paper and then cut the tissue paper in strips.

Feed the strips of tissue paper through the sewing machine, overlapping a new strip onto the end of each completed strip of circles. If you need to store or transport the garland to the party, you can just fold the tissue paper up, and the garland won’t get tangled!

When it’s time to party, simply tear the tissue paper away from the circles which have been sewn together to make a colorful garland! You can cut the garland to whatever length you need, and it will all stay connected.

For my cousin’s grad party candy buffet, I hung several strands of polka dot garlands down over the table. The garlands made that corner of the room look festive and fun as the dots turned in the air.

For the cost of a pad of construction paper from the dollar store and some thread you can make a polka dot garland that makes a big impact at your party. I made at least 20 feet of garland for just a dollar!

Did you like this post? Think it’s worth sharing? Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons on the toolbar at the bottom of the page!

Thanks, Jessica

DIY Party Candy Bar on a Budget

2013-04-24T08:53:00.001-04:00

Candy bars are a really fun party trend, but they can be expensive to put together. When my cousin Mollie requested a candy bar for her graduation party, her sister and I worked together to give her a candy buffet she would love, without breaking the bank. Today I am going to share some of our money-saving tips with you!

My cousin and I made up a list of Mollie’s favorite candies. Thankfully most of her favorites are bright, multi-colored candies. It’s actually much easier to create a color scheme around basic rainbow colors, than specific custom colors like coral or Tiffany blue. Because were were going for a rainbow color scheme, I could use cheap construction paper instead of scrapbook paper, and markers and inks I already owned instead of having to buy new. That alone saved quite a bit of money.

I had the vases leftover from my wedding reception, but you can also buy glass vessels at the dollar store or find them marked down at craft stores like Hobby Lobby. Another cute option would be to use large mason jars, if you have them on hand.

Many of the candies we used are round, so it seemed like the obvious choice was to carry a polka dot theme through the candy buffet. Instead of a precise polka dot pattern, I used a more informal, and trendy, confetti motif. It’s easier to DIY and it has more energy that straight polka dots.

My inspiration for the tablecloth was this gorgeous confetti tablecloth from Oh Happy Day. Instead of buying a pricier white tablecloth, I bought an inexpensive drop cloth at a home improvement store and then painted the dots. For a few dollars and an hour of my time, I got a homemade candy bar tablecloth that tied into the theme perfectly. Sure, it would have been less work to buy a polka dot tablecloth, but it would have cost more money too.

I always, ALWAYS visit the dollar store before a party. It’s the best place I have found to buy decoration supplies, gift wrap, and other party accessories. I bought the construction paper for the signage and the garlands at Dollar Tree. I also found the clear plastic scoops in the wedding section of DT. We even found some of the candy at the dollar store.

When you are using less expensive materials to decorate for a party, it’s important to add in special details wherever you can. The candy bar signs didn’t need to wrap around the glass vases, but by cutting contrasting colors of construction paper and then punching out a confetti pattern with my hole punch, I added a special detail to tie them in with the confetti dot theme. It didn’t take much extra time, and it was worth the added effort.

I also cut out extra construction paper and stamped sentiment circles with my PSA stamps. The circles were then scattered around the table like confetti.

Custom-made boutique baked goods are adorable at parties, but they are also REALLY pricy. If you are able to take a little extra time, you can make some really fun treats yourself. The morning of the party I dipped Oreos in almond bark and sprinkled them with rainbow sprinkles. It took less than an hour, and they were a favorite at the party.

The candy bar was a memorable part of the celebration, and I think we fulfilled the graduate’s dream of a great candy buffet even though we cut costs where we could. Here are my Top Five tips for creating an inexpensive candy bar:

USE BASIC COLORS: Choose basic, easy-to-find colors over custom colors
HIT UP THE DOLLAR STORE: Shop the dollar store for everything from candy to jars
DIY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE: Only buy what you can’t make yourself
BUY BULK: Buying the candy in bulk will allow you to buy only what you need
SPEND TIME, NOT MONEY: Making the decorations yourself WILL take longer, but it will also save you money

Do you think you might try a candy bar at your next get-together?

Did you like this post? Think it’s worth sharing? Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons on the toolbar at the bottom of the page!

Thanks, Jessica Hill

Colorful Kids Journals Made from Cereal Boxes

2013-04-23T08:06:00.001-04:00

These journals can be made with materials from your craft stash and your recycling bin… for FREE! When I call these “journals,” I am using the term broadly. They don’t have to be diaries full of ideas and musings, but they can be catch-all books for anything your child deems worthy of saving: stickers, leaves, pictures cut from magazines, drawings, whatever their little imaginations desire!

^{I am part of the PSA Essentials design team. I received complimentary PSA products in exchange for creation of project ideas.}

To make Cardboard Kids’ Journals, you will need:

^{Some of the following links are affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you choose to make a purchase after clicking through.}

lightweight cardboard boxes (like cereal boxes)

paper trimmer

scrap paper

embroidery thread

needle

stamps and ink

How many of these bad boys go in the garbage or recycling container each week? In our house, it is way too many. You can reuse some of these lightweight cardboard boxes to make these easy journals.

Begin by opening up the boxes all the way and flattening them out.

Fold the cardboard in half.

Trim off the excess flaps of cardboard to create the cover of the journals.

This is my scrap paper drawer. Whenever I use part of a piece paper, but not the whole thing, it gets stuffed in here. Most of the time these leftover scraps aren’t usable for projects, but they are perfect for these journals. You can use up that stash and make the journals extra colorful!

Trim the paper to fit inside the cardboard covers. Fold the paper in half.

Run the center fold through your sewing machine or hand sew the binding with embroidery thread.

You could leave the journals like this and let your kids decorate the covers. I decided to spruce up the journals with some of my PSA Essentials stamps.

First I glued some more scrap paper to the covers. I used some leftover Valentine’s paper for the journal for my daughter, and some gear paper left from the Playroom Art I made years ago (yes, I save too much stuff) for the cover of my son’s journal.

I decided to turn my daughter’s journal into an alphabet book, since we are working on letter recognition with her.

I stamped the cover with PSA’s Vanilla stamp packs and Cranberry, Grapefruit, and Holiday Red inks (although you can’t really see a difference in color here).

I used black ink to stamp one letter on each of the rainbow-colored pages. At first we can just use the book to learn letters, then eventually we can add pictures of things that start with the corresponding letters on each page.

I can through this journal in my purse to keep her quiet at the grocery store or at restaurants, or we can just look at it together at home.

I stamped some spaceships onto my Star Wars-loving son’s journal using PSA’s Rocket stamp pack and Poppy Orange and Lime inks.

I am going to let him use his journal however he likes, so I have a feeling it will end up being filled with stickers and his drawings of Jedi.

Kids will love filling their special journals with all kinds of ephemera, and you can bust through your stash as you do it!

My NEW ebook is now for sale on E-Junkie. Find out more about it HERE!

Did you like this post? Think it’s worth sharing? Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons on the toolbar at the bottom of the page!

Thanks, Jessica Hill

Shaklee Get Clean Giveaway

2013-04-22T09:04:00.001-04:00

I am not a great housekeeper. I try to keep the house acceptably clean, but I am not one of those women who vacuums daily, has a monthly deep clean schedule, and is never behind on laundry. I would rather be making a creative mess in my craft room than wiping down baseboards.

^{This is a product review. I was given complimentary materials to use and review, but the opinions in this posts are 100% my own.}

When Sharon from Parents of a Dozen offered to let me review a Shaklee Get Clean Kit, I was excited. I had heard from other bloggers whom I trust that the Shaklee products were amazing and that they make the cleaning process more streamlined because many of the cleaning formulas are mixed from the same concentrate.

Shaklee products are concentrated, so you use very little of them when you clean. You mix up the various formulas in the Shaklee spray bottles or containers, which can be carried around in the sturdy carrier. For me, this is so much better than digging under my sink for the 8 different cleaners I need to get the whole house in shape.

After mixing up the various formulas, the first product I tried was the Degreaser. I had this stubborn patch of baked-on grease around one of the burners on our gas cooktop. I had already tried baking soda, orange cleaner, and lots of elbow grease and still couldn’t budge the spot. I squirted on some of the Shaklee Degreaser and let it sit for minute or two. Then I attacked it with the Shaklee scrubbing sponge, and, well, you can see how it turned out. I was pretty impressed at how thoroughly it removed the stain!

I went through and cleaned the rest of our house with the products from the Get Clean Kit. I washed our kitchen floors, wiped down the bathrooms, and washed our windows (actually my 5-year-old did that last one). All the products worked extremely well, and I used very little of the cleaning products to get everything done.

While I am thankful for the environmentally-friendly aspects of Shaklee products, I am most impressed with how affordable they are. While it might seem like $115 is a big investment in cleaning products, think of how much you spend on all the other cleaners you have in your home. And, from what I have heard from other Shaklee users, the products last a LONG time, making them significantly cheaper in the long run.

Would you like to try out Shaklee products? Of course you would! One Mad in Crafts reader will win a Get Clean Kit valued at over $115. Just use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter.

If you can’t wait to see if you are the giveaway winner, you can go to this site to order your own products.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Did you like this post? Think it’s worth sharing? Please share with your friends using the social media share buttons on the toolbar at the bottom of the page!

Thanks, Jessica