Need a little Laugh

I have been super distracted lately with something's going on in the family.  So I haven’t posted any projects on the ol’ blog.  So when I logged on this morning to start a little post I was really surprised to see a lot of traffic when I haven’t posted anything.  So of course I had to check it out and I was more than a little surprised to see this post at Apartment Therapy.  First off I hadn’t given my permission to post it and no one had even contacted me to let me know they were using it.  But I don’t really care, since I’m not trying to sell anything and really I post stuff so other people can use the ideas and it was an awesome feature.  PLUS it increased my audience.  In one day this post had over 1,000 views and for a little blogger like me that’s a lot.  BUT the funny part is the comments. Seriously the debate about whether my little project should be considered art is hilarious!!  It was just the little laugh I need this morning so thank you! 

Distracted

Have you ever had something on your mind that keeps you from being a productive member of your family, society the world??

Waiting is horrible….

hopefully I’ll get focused and have answers for what the future might hold sometime next week.  Fingers crossed!

Sewing for my sister

I have two awesome sisters, and one of them is about to have her 2nd baby but first girl so I have been making her a couple of things.  Mostly I’m posting these for my mom and sister to see but I hope you enjoy them too.  Here are two the the projects I’m finished with. 

Your nursing cover.  I love this fabric, I hope you do too!

And a diaper and wipes holder for inside your diaper bag.  I’m not sure how I feel about this one, what do you think?? It’s super easy to make if you what something a little different.

oh and it’s lined

Let me know what you think.  Please…

Raisin Date Nut Bread (yeast)

So I made up another bread recipe today.  ( I know I have a disease) This one was inspired by my trip to the grocery store.  I went there to get the apple cinnamon instant oatmeal for my Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal bread and I saw that Quaker makes a Raisin Date Walnut instant oatmeal and as my luck would have it, it was  on sale so I thought I would try it and (luckily I restrained myself from getting all the varieties that were on sale). 

The Recipe

2 cups of warm water

1/2 cup of honey

2 TBS yeast

5 1/2 – 6 cups of flour (mixture of wheat and bread flour)

5 packets of Raisin Date Walnut instant Oatmeal

3 TBS of butter or canola oil

1 tsp. of salt

add all of the ingredients in your mixing bowl in the above order and mix for 2 minutes add enough flour that your dough just begins to clean the sides of the mixing bowl.  Let rise until it doubles, punch it down and knead it a few times.  Form it into loaves or what have you.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-32 minutes.  Bask in the heavenly smells emanating from your oven as your bread bakes and ENJOY!!

Today I had enough dough to make 2 loaves plus some pull-a-parts for the kids after school snack.

Remodelaholic

I’m so excited!  Today I’m having a guest post on Remodelaholic!  They are featuring those Shirred curtains I did not to long ago for our bathroom redo.  If you haven’t ever been to Remodelaholic you should go check them out!  They have the coolest projects ever.  Well what are you waiting for go…

Placemat Handbag 2.0

A couple of years ago my friend Heather taught me how to make a handbag out of a placemat so I know this is not a new idea. BUT the other day I was at WM and saw the COOLEST placemats and the first thing I thought was those would make the best bags so of course I had to give it a go again. This is what I created with 2 placemats and a few embellishments.  I’m really happy with it and in the words of my husband…

 “I can’t believe you made that.”  Yeah, me either.

 

I would normally show you how I did this but I decided that if I were to make it again I would do it differently so I’ll just hit the highlights.

Materials needed

2 place mats (these were only $3.00!)

material for lining and pocket

snap, grommets, rings,  purse clip ( all optional)

I just used a quick cut, from the sewing sections that was just slightly bigger than the placemat on all sides.

first I added a pocket to the lining I added a snap to keep the pocket closed.

Then I added a side sections to both sides of the placemat, (this is the part I would do differently)

So it ends up like this.

Then I sewed in a piece of elastic on both sides so it would have the ruffled look.

then I sewed the lining in.  *NOTE* about sewing this stuff.  You’ll want to use your longest stich if you make your stich to small it will just make it perforated and it will just make holes in it and use a heavy duty sewing needle.

I used the rest of the 2nd placemat to make a strap and then I just started adding little embellishments.

I also added a purse snap.

Before

AFTER

love it

Darth Vader Lamp

Our oldest boy turned five today and he LOVES Star Wars so I made him a Darth Vader lamp to go in his bedroom.

I got this lamp from a lady I purchased a dresser from, we were just finishing up loading the dresser in the back of the van when she says “yeah, do you want this lamp too?” I looked at it and thought, ummmm NO!  It smelled horrid and it looked like

the 80’s had a little too much fun

 

with the 70’s and produced

this lamp.  See what I mean?

But I took it as not to hurt her feelings and I thought I might be able to do something with it.

So I got some new plastic because the old plastic smelled.

I used the old plastic as a pattern

Okay now doesn’t this lamp shade look cool like this?  I need to find another lamp ASAP!  So cute.

I used spray adhesive to cover all the panels with black material.

While I was working on the shade my hubby pained the bottom part black.

I used hot glue and double fold bias tape to put it all back together.

SEE LOOK HOW COOL IT LOOKS WITH THAT NEW PLASTIC.  I SERIOUSLY NEED ANOTHER LAMP TO REDO ASAP.

 Then I added a simple cape.

I added a Darth Vader mask I got off a Halloween costume that I just happened to get on clearance for $ 3.00.

All done!  He loves it, I just hope it doesn’t give him nightmares.

Before

AFTER so much better!

Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls

So today I’m watching my friends kids for her while she is on a little vacation.  That means I have 9 kids running around here and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to use them as guinea pigs.   So while I was making bread this morning I decided to turn my Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal Bread into Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls.  

This is what I did.

First you’ll need some dough I used this recipe that I just made up today, but you could use whatever your favorite recipe is.

Roll the dough out like cinnamon rolls. (Incase you didn’t read the recipe the little chunks in the dough are dried apples)

Slather it with butter

Then I peeled 1.5 apples but I should have used 2.

Then I grated them

and added some cinnamon, sugar and cornstarch.

Then I sprinkled the grated apple over the dough and added a little bit more cinnamon and sugar over the top of it.  I would have preferred to use brown sugar but I was all out   then I rolled it up.

I would have also like to sprinkle brown sugar in the bottom of the pan before I placed the cinnamon rolls down but because I didn’t have any I used caramel sauce instead, oh and a few chopped pecans.

in the other pan I made a crunchy crumb topping kind of like an Apple Betty and sprinkled that over the top.  

Then I let them rise for about 30 minutes and baked them at 350 degrees for about 28 min or until they felt done.  Make sure you oven rack is set below the middle of the oven!

Remove from oven and dump out on a plate.  ENJOY!!

Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Apple Betty Cinnamon Rolls

Apple Betty Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Sauce

or Apple Betty Cinnamon Rolls with icing

They must have been good because they didn’t last very long!