Skip To My Lou

A feast for the eyes…

cindylouh — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:00:37 +0000

Over the weekend my dear sweet friend Amy Barickman invited me to attend The International Quilt Market. It is a trade show for the fabric, pattern and notion industry. The show was amazing and I loved hanging out with Amy and all the wonderful gals that work with her at Indygo Junction.

Really words can’t express the beauty and creativity I saw, so I will share some pictures to give you a glimpse inside!

Bari J

Riley Blake

Amy Butler

And there is Amy Barickman wearing one of her patterns in a David Butler print.

Anna Maria Horner

Adorn It

Violette Field Threads

Monaluna

Tula Pink

Sarah Jane

Can you believe that was just a VERY small sample of the goodness I saw? What a beautiful world!

Made by you Monday

cindylouh — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:00:16 +0000

It’s Monday show us what you’ve got. It is time to link up your crafty goodness! Please don’t forget to link back! — a text link at the bottom of your post, or link somewhere on your blog is okay!

Please link up only your own projects that YOU have made ( just a couple projects please and please do not relink ones from the previous week), and link to the specific post, not your blog home page. No Etsy shops or giveaways, please!

Don’t forget to link back to Skip to my Lou. A text link in your post is fine!

Made by you Monday {Wrap up}

cindylouh — Sun, 20 May 2012 12:00:02 +0000

I’m loving the wonderful stuff shared this week!! Summer is peaking around the corner and your craft goodness has got me inspired.

This grilling and picnic caddy shared by hooiser homemade would make a great Father’s day gift!

I love this fitted apron top tutorial shared by scattered thoughts of a sahm. You could whip up this darling outfit up in no time at all.

Looking to give a piece of old furniture a makeover? 551 East Design shared this ruby red desk it’s really fun!

Decorating Cents shared this DIY sunburst mirror. It would really make a statement! Love love love it.

This Chocolate Oreo birthday cake shared by the lady with the red rocker looks sinful.

Thanks everyone for linking up this week! Make sure to stop by tomorrow for another Made by you Monday. Who knows… Next week I just might be featuring you.

Vintage Photograph Pillow {Guest Post}

cindylouh — Sat, 19 May 2012 10:00:51 +0000

Hey there! I’m Melissa and I blog over at the Polkadot Chair. Today I’m excited to be sharing with you how to make this Vintage Photograph pillow. I thought it would be a fun way to remember Dad this Father’s Day.

I love to decorate my house with old photos of our ancestors. I got the idea to make a pillow out of some of these vintage photographs. This one is of my Dad as a kid. I’m going to make one of my Mom as a kid next.

To begin you will need:

- Vintage Photo that is digital. (you may need to scan one)

- 12×12 pillow form

- 2, 12×12 pieces of fabric

- printable fabric

- Heat n Bond Lite

- Scrap of white fabric

First print your photo onto your printable fabric. Printable fabric is available at most craft stores. You can buy the fusible or non fusible it doesn’t matter.

Trim your photo so that you have a 1/2″ of white fabric showing on the edge.

Iron a piece of Heat N Bond Lite onto the back of your fabric photo (unless you are using fusible printable fabric, you can skip this step).

Lay your photo on to the top of your pillow fabric. If your pillow fabric is showing through your photo, place a piece of white fabric behind your photo to block out the fabric. Iron the fabric photo onto your pillow or the white scrap of fabric. (if you are using a white a white piece of fabric, you will need to place another piece of heat n bond lite onto the back of the white fabric, so you can iron your photo onto your pillow).

Iron your photo onto the center of one of your 12×12 fabric pieces.

Stitch around the edge of the photo to secure it.

Lay your 2nd piece of 12×12 fabric onto the top of your fabric with the photo on it, right sides together.

Sew around 3 sides, leaving one open to insert your pillow form.

Clip corners, turn right side out and press.

Insert pillow form and hand stitch opening closed.

Five ideas to organize your laundry room

cindylouh — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:00:53 +0000

Like it or not Laundry is a big part of life. Whether you keep to a schedule, assign laundry jobs out, or feel like your are playing catch up all the time {like me}. I am sure you can use these ideas to organize your laundry room.

I love this idea of building a riser to add much needed storage space and organization.

Having a place for folded laundry to go when done could change your life! This Laundry Basket dresser is genius.

This peg board is a great way to store those stain removers you are always hunting for.

This laundry tower is great for a tight space. Check out all the other fun details shared for this laundry room make over.

Need a place to iron? Creating a folding station and adding a fold up ironing board really helps use this small space!

Check out my recent laundry room renovation here.

Kahlua Bundt Cake

cindylouh — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:00:39 +0000

My friend Missy makes the most delicious Kahlua cake. It is supper moist and since it starts with a cake mix it goes together quickly! You won’t be disappointed!

Kahlua Cake

1 yellow cake mix
1 (6 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup oil
4 large eggs
1/4 cup Kahlua
1/4 cup Creme de Cacao chocolate liquor
3/4 cup water

Glaze

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar (about half a 1 pound box)
1/2 cup melted butter
2 Tablespoons Kahlua
2 Tablespoons Creme de Cacao

Directions:

Butter bundt pan and preheat oven to 350°F.

In large bowl, combine cake mix and the rest of the ingredients, mix until just blended. Pour batter into prepared pan, smoothing top. Bake until wooden pick or skewer inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.

Allow cake to cool in pan on wire rack 15 minutes. Invert cake onto serving platter.

In small bowl, whisk together Kahlua, creme de caco and powdered sugar. Consistency my be adjusted by adding more powdered sugar or liquor. Pour glaze over cake.

$200 Cricut Cake Mini {Giveaway}

cindylouh — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:51 +0000

Have you ever wanted to give the Cricut Cake a try? This is your chance! Leave a comment for a chance to win one for yourself!

Look at all these beautiful cakes and sweet treats!

Exclusive Skip to my Lou Reader Giveaway

Win a Cricut Cake Mini

Simply comment below on this post to enter to win.

For extra entries: Please make sure to come back and leave a separate comment for each entry. Seven entries max. Totally optional.

2. Tweet about the contest! Feel free to use this sample tweet,
Win $200 Cricut Cake mini @OfficialCricut @cindyhopper. Comment to enter! http://bit.ly/HHAKEQ Pls RT

or just click this button to Tweet

3. Like Skip to my Lou on Facebook.

4. Follow Cricut on twitter

5. Follow Cricut on Pinterest

6. Like Cricut on Facebook

7. Follow Skip to my Lou on Google+

No purchase necessary. US Residents Only. Must be over 18. Giveaway will end on May 23rd at 12am CST. One winner with a valid entry will be selected at random using random.org. Your chance of winning is determined by how many enter this contest. Winner will be emailed, the winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be selected. Cindy Hopper and Cricut are not responsible for lost or undelivered emails.

Kiwi Crate

cindylouh — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:00:55 +0000

Kiwi Crate sent my little crafting buddy one of their kits in mail. It is always fun to receive stuff in the mail!

I was super impressed with the packaging, the quality of the items and how well the instructions were laid out. I especially loved that they included name brand quality scissors.

My first grader loved reading the instructions. This made me think that these kits would provide great extended reading practice through the summer!

First up she crafted a stained glass window. It was super fun to put on colored glasses to see how the colors changed.

She was totally taken with the wooden top in the kit. She created many different covers for it and I found her going back to it again and again.

She even figured out how to spin it in her hand!

These crates do deliver! They are filled with materials and inspiration to encourage creativity and curiosity. You will find projects cover a number of developmental areas through art, science and imaginative play. The kits are designed for children ages 3-7. My daughter is 7 and it kept her quite engaged. We still have more crafting to do with our kit, more stained glass frames and a fun tote to paint with tissue paper dye. You might like to see more sample crates!

Just sign up and an engaging new crate will be delivered to your door each month.

Kiwi Crate just launched a new party site where you will find gift crates and party packs to bring creative fun to all your parties.

Made by you Monday

cindylouh — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:50 +0000

Don’t forget Silhouette is running a promotion May 9th-16th.! You can get 40% off all Vinyl. Just enter code ‘Skip’ at check out. For this limited time the Silhouette CAMEO and a Vinyl package is just $269.99 (MSRP $350)! Go to this link and enter the code “skip” at check out.

Now show us what you’ve got. It is time to link up your crafty goodness! Please don’t forget to link back! — a text link at the bottom of your post, or link somewhere on your blog is okay!

Don’t forget to link back to Skip to my Lou. A text link in your post is fine!

They Have My Number!

cindylouh — Sun, 13 May 2012 23:31:26 +0000

I was recently asked to give a sleep number bed a test drive. This couldn’t have been a more wonderful opportunity because I was not sleeping well at night. Each day I would wake up with a horrible back ache. So I couldn’t have been happier.

The bed was delivered and the delivery men took care of the set up and made sure we knew how everything worked before they left.

The bed was right at home!

Trouble in Paradise

We woke up from our first night sleep miserable. It had been the worst night’s sleep. I was worried because I knew I couldn’t possibly review this bed. Thankfully, friends told us to adjust our numbers and give the bed another chance. It took a few days but I can now honestly say I wouldn’t know what to do without this bed. It is amazing!

In Love!

Each night we go to bed enveloped in comfort!

I love that:

I don’t notice my husband rolling over or leaving the bed.
the mattress forms to my body, yet provides plenty of support
we can each individually select our numbers
the special CoolFit™ foam with gel technology provides a cool, soothing sleeping surface that breathes
I wake up rested with no body aches!

Learn more about the new Sleep Number m7 Bed. Believe me you will sleep like a baby!

Stay in touch with Sleep Number and have exclusive Insider access to deals, sweepstakes, offers, sleep tips and more by liking them on Facebook

I received a free Sleep Number® m7 Memory Foam bed to review from Select Comfort / Sleep Number for this post.