Life Got In The Way........

I got a new job, my husband got a new job, I traveled for work, he traveled for work.  My Etsy shop was up and running.  I just got comfortable and blogging took a back seat.  I crafted for my shop and that seemed to be enough.

Until.......

A disagreement with Etsy resulted in them just closing down my shop without warning.  100% positive feedback, all fees paid, no complaints that I was aware of.  To this day they have yet to respond to any of the emails that I sent them. I was crushed.  They wouldn't even give me my outstanding order information to fill them.  So I got mad and than sad.  It really made me realize how much the crafting and the networking meant to me.

After doing some research I finally found a home on Zibbet.  It seems a lot of shops are making their way over there from Etsy. I love that their fee is a flat rate each month regardless of listing and sales. The community is awesome!  Everybody really tries to help promote others.  Still working through the slow process of getting all of my stuff listed but I will get there.

So long story short is that I let life get in the way until I got a painful reality check but I correct that going forward!

Mod Podge Magnetic Ribbon Bookmarks

Say that fast three times.......

I am always looking for a way to use up scraps of scrapbook paper. 

I cut out my shapes.

Than I cut out a cardboard backing for each one from an old gift box I had lying around.

Mod podged them on the cardboard.

Covered with a coat of Mod Podge Dimensional Magic.

Once they were dry I hit the ribbon stash.  I hot glued it and left enough slack to cover back over the magnet.

Than I figured out how far down I wanted the magnets to meet and hot glued another one.

Glued the second piece to the end of the ribbon.

And there you have it! A book mark!

Decided to make a smaller one for paperbacks.

These would make cute, cheap gifts too!  With the exception of the Mod Podge Dimensional Magic you probably already have everything on hand!

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Scrabble Rings

Really a no brainer of a craft but I figured I would share......

Made one for each of the girls:

Glued the blank to the tile using E6000.  I have had several people ask me where I get my blanks from so this is probably the real reason behind the post.  I have found Etsy to be the cheapest place to get them.  I use Discount Beads.  I get 50 with shipping for $8.50.  I will warn you, I have bought from some sellers on Etsy for half the price but what they fail to tell you is not only do they take 3 weeks because they are coming from overseas but you will also be forced to go to the post office and sign for a $4.00 package!  My order from Discount Beads usually arrives in 2 to 3 days.

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Rag Wreath

I did not intend to take a blogging break but apparently I did.  There are huge and exciting changes going on the home front and it has taken up a good bit of my time these past weeks including an unexpected overnight trip out of town.  Not to mention I have a two festival in two weeks that I have been trying to get ready for.

So all I have for you is a wreath I made months back.

I don't have along the way pictures but what I did was super simple.  I got a quarter of a yard of each of the five fabrics.  I made a small snip and basically ripped the fabric in strips. My wreath is one I picked up at the dollar store but I have also seen this done with a coat hanger. Double tied the strips and added some ribbon from my stash to hang.

And since I didn't use all of the strips up I made a couple pair of these.......

Rosette earrings!! 

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Covered Light Switch Plates

I have a lot of scrap paper from making coasters and haven't been able (besides maybe actually scrap booking) to find a use for them.  I was looking at the TV the other day when I noticed the light switch and a light went off.  Yeah, I had to go there.........

Picked up a plate at Lowe's for $.39 and adhered the paper with a coat of mod podge.

Mod podged over the top and then worked the sides down and applied mod podge pretty heavy.

Cut out the center with an exacto knife.

All done!  Think I am going to tackle the outlet covers next.

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Crockpot Brown Sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork Loin

I have seen several bloggers lately posting about tried and true recipes that they have pinned and I thought that it was such a great idea!

I made this roast in the crock pot the other night and we loved it!

It was actually requested as leftovers and that says a lot in my house!  The only thing I did different was use a Boston butt because it was on sale but the results were still outstanding.

Click on the link above for the picture and it will take you directly to the pin and give the original poster credit if you repin.

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Fabric and Felt Storage

Several weeks ago I came across a blog that had a post regarding using the door shoe organizers to store toys in their kid's room.  I didn't save or pin the post because I really didn't think that I had anything I needed to store.  Until...... I went looking some specific fabric the other day and had to dig through a giant pile.

I picked this up at Wal-mart for about $5.00.  This one has 24 pockets so I was able to not only store my fabric but my felt too!  Please ignore my closet, it has its own issues.

So much easier to find fabric now!

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Printed Felt Pinwheel Headbands

I came across this felt the other day and wasn't sure what to do it with.  Let's face it though, we know I always fall back to headbands and buttons!

I cut out a 4x4 square of the peace felt and a small strip of the black to attach the headband.

Cut the felt.

Glued each point to the center, added a button and glued it to the headband.

Glued the strip of black felt over.

Super simple!  Here is the peace sign with a few others that I made.

I think I am probably going to make another zebra print and flip it but still loved how it turned out!

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Slow Cooker Lasagna

Before I forget, I am having a giveaway over at A Creative Princess!  Go enter!!

Now, on to the lasagna. I really need to learn to take more appealing pictures.  Food photography is truly an art!

I am really pleased on how well it turned out.  I put it together the night before and stuck it in the fridge.  Since the suggested cook time is 5 to 6 hours I figured that the cold would prolong the cooking since I wouldn't be home for about 7 hours and it turned out perfect!

Here's the recipe:

1 lb ground beef

1 jar spaghetti sauce

2 small cans sliced mushrooms



1 cup water
1 15 oz container ricotta cheese
1 8 oz package mozzarella cheese, divided
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, divided
1 egg
2 Tbsp parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles

Brown the ground beef and drain.  Mix with spaghetti sauce, drained mushrooms and water. Mix the ricotta, 1 1/2 cup mozzarella, 2 Tbsp parmesan, egg and parsley.

Spoon 1 cup of the meat sauce into the slow cooker.  Top with half of the noodles, breaking to fit if needed.  Then top with half of the cheese mixture.  Cover with 2 cups of sauce and repeat the noodles and remaining cheese mixture.  Top with remaining sauce.

Cover with lid.

Cook on low 5 to 6 hours or until liquid is absorbed.  Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese.  Cook until melted.  Let stand about 10 minutes before cutting

Hope you enjoy it!

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Butterfly and Dragonfly Earrings

I found these in the button section at Joann's. They have packages of different shapes labelled Favorite Findings.  These usually go on sale once a month and you can pick a pack for around $1.15.  I believe there was enough to make 12 or 13 pairs.

Glue, earring post. Super simple!  With all of the birthday parties kids get invited to this would make a great girl gift!

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Coasters

Ok, first things first, the winner of the 200 follower giveaway is #5.  Sabrina!  I have sent you an email and am looking forward to see what you pick out!

Secondly, I have received a few emails asking me how I make my tile coasters so I thought I would share.

I don't really do anything different than most of the tutorials out there.

I use 4 x 4 tiles from Home Depot or Lowe's and a 12 x 12 piece of scrapbook paper for each one.

Now here is where I probably differ a little.  When I first started making these I either traced or measured and cut.  I have said it before, I don't do straight lines.  And as a result 2 out 3 were never even.  So I started winging it.  Since one sheet only gives me 4, I hold the tile to each of the four corners and cut around giving me extra on each side.  I then know that I have two straight sides to start with.

This method work perfect for me.  I then mod podge the paper on the tile (just the tile, not on top yet) and then when it dries I trim around the edges.

Then two coats of mod podge which I let dry at least 24 hours.  I then spray with a clear gloss and protector, I use Rust-oleum.  Let dry in the sun for several hours. 

 Add felt pads and you are done.  I use the felt pads because I sell mine but I saw a great idea the other day using a big felt square.

Hope that answered the questions!

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How I Make My Tile Pendants

There are many tutorials all over blog land on how to make but I figured I would go ahead and share.  Since I make mine for my shop I have tried to find the cheapest way to make them but still have quality in the end.  The glass tiles were driving up my cost so I decided to go with the mosaic ones.  I get a bag of 50 from Michael's for about $2.75 with their coupons.

Most of my designs are scrapbook paper and after screwing many up trying to trace around and cut I just kinda hold the tile against the paper and cut generously and trim up after I have placed it on the tile.

Mod Podge them on.  I usually do one coat to adhere the paper, let it dry and do a coat over the top.  Dry and  do a second coat. 

I leave them overnight and then apply the Mod Podge Dimensional Magic.  I love this stuff!  It has taken me awhile but I have finally perfected 'no bubbles'.  My tip, once you get started DO NOT pick the tip up until you are done.  If you have to go back and add more, you are going to have a bubble.  I have found the easiest way to get rid of it is by working it to the end with a straight pen.  I then let them sit for at least 24 hours.

And another side note, I have made hundreds of these and I am only about a 1/4 into my second bottle.

Then comes the baile.  I have tried many glues to adhere.  Expensive glues.  I finally ended up with what should have been my first choice, E6000.  The drying time is longer but in the end it is cheaper and a better bond. 

As far as the bailes go, I had been purchasing at Michael's and Joann's but someone finally clued me in on using Etsy.  Much cheaper!

And there you go!  Since it can be a several day process I do try to make as many as I can at a time.

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Craft Fair Earring Displays

I have been trying to come up with a way to display my earrings for sale at craft shows and last week when I came across this idea on Craft Geek's blog I knew I had found it!

I already had the hoops so they are bigger than the ones she used but go with what you got I say.  I picked up a roll of this shelf liner at the dollar store.

Spray painted the hoops, put the liner in and cut around the edges.

Love how they turned out and they are going to look adorable on my display table!

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