Quiet Book

This is the first craft project I took on last fall. I had no idea what I was doing, what materials would work best, and how durable it would be. I also never really finished it, and just remembered I still wanted to add to it. Just in time too, we're leaving town in 2 weeks, complete with long hours of sitting for little ones (me too)! I figured I'd show you what all I've made and then I'll be able to keep you posted on new pages I add. I wanted to keep the cost to a minimum(as always) so I used felt, hot glue, felt, buttons, felt, velcro, felt, ribbon, and oh, FELT! What can I say, it's inexpensive and perfect for child's play :)

Cover with handle:

Flowers button on and off for practicing skills. Counting beads and using patterns:

Play purse with mirror and lipstick/ Hair page with pocket to hold hair supplies:

Dress up closet:

Ice cream scoops:

Tic Tac Toe

Oven opens for baking cupcakes/muffins:

I still plan on doing a few more pages for this book. I'll also see if I can start and finish another one for my little guy, more catered to boys :)

*Brittney*

P.S. I took some of these ideas from other bloggers, but since it's been a while I can't remember where! If you recognize any, let me know so I can give the credit due!

Linking up to:
Keeping it Simple
Craftastic Mondays
Market Yourself Monday
Get Your Craft On

"Sweet" Baby Shower Gift

Hi, hope you all had a great weekend! Ours was busy, but we had lots of fun :) A fellow Coast Guard couple here is expecting their first baby soon and had their co-ed baby shower on Saturday. Our family wasn't able to attend, but I wanted to make sure I congratulated them with a little gift. I've loved doing diaper cakes lately, and I really wanted to do a boy one, but it dawned on me that not everyone uses disposable diapers! Since I wasn't sure, I just made a small one and then added some other "sweets" to create a "dessert tray" for Baby Sitko:

"Candy rolls":
made with 6 washcloths each

"Cupcakes"

made with 2 burp-cloths and 2 pairs of socks each

Diaper/blanket Cake:
made with size 1 diapers, 1 receiving blanket, and 1 fleece blanket

I used the tutorial over at Cute as a Fox for the candy rolls and cupcakes. It turned into a "dessert tray" because I wanted to try them all and didn't know how to package it... DELICIOUS!

*Brittney*

linking up to:
Keeping it Simple
Craftastic Mondays

Not what I pictured

I've only been crafting for the past 9 months or so, I know most craft bloggers have basically done it their whole lives. I made it a goal last fall to develop some skills, and I'm pretty happy with my progress so far. I've tried a lot of things that would have intimidated me before, yet they turn out to be the projects I'm most proud of.
Well, this is not one of them...enter, this ugly picture...

Before:

After:

The finished product was supposed to be a cute dry erase board. Not so much! I think I need to change the paper inside the frame and add embellishments? Let's hope so!

Ever had a project that DIDN'T turn out the way you envisioned it?


*Brittney*

Paper Purses

I saw these a few months ago over at Aly and Ash and thought they were just so cute, and simple. I finally got around to making a few the other day and filled them with candy for my visiting teaching route. I thought they turned out pretty cute with the very short time I had to make them :) These were great for what I used them for, but wouldn't they be adorable for goody bags at a girls b-day party, or baby shower!? I used the template here and enlarged it make bigger ones on my copier/printer from 12x12 scrapbook paper, and ribbon for the handle. Then I added a little scrapbook brad for a little embellishment, so easy! Here is the purse pattern.


*Brittney*

Summer Time Treats

We've had fun making some delicious summer time treats around here this weekend, and it's only fair to share them with you :) Pictured below is a favorite recipe from my Grandma. Strawberry Sherbet, and like all the recipes I'll ever post here, it's fast, easy, and yummy!

Ingredients:
Strawberries (or fruit/berries of your choice)
buttermilk
sugar

Blend equal parts of your berries (pureed), sugar, and buttermilk in a blender,put in freezer safe container,freeze, and ENJOY :)
(Told ya it was easy!)

As if that wasn't enough frozen sugar in the house, we made some popsicles. Simple and very kid-friendly. Skylee and I made all different kinds using different flavors of juice and then added sliced up strawberries in them. They were a perfect treat after the pool :)

Hope you're having a great Summer :)

Linking up to:
Motivate Me Mondays @ Keeping It Simple
Craftastic Monday @ Sew Can Do

*Brittney*

Lemon Chicken Pasta Recipe

I'm really not a fan of cooking, but this recipe is perfect for me. Why you ask? It's easy, yummy, fast, healthy (in my book), and only uses like one pot. I saw it on Live with Regis and Kelly last week and decided to give it a try. It will go into our routine for dinnertime, and it's perfect for summer, served warm or cold. Try this one, hope you like it as much as we did :)

INGREDIENTS:

4 Chicken Breasts (salt / pepper to taste)
1 1/2 pounds Rotini Pasta
2 cups Grape Tomatoes, sliced in half
3 whole Lemons, 2 juiced-1 garnish
1 cup fresh grated Parmesan
1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley
Red Pepper flakes to taste
5 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

DIRECTIONS:

1. Salt/pepper chicken breasts, grill until done then let sit covered 5 minutes
2. Cook Rotini Pasta according to box, drain when done and put back in pot
3. Slice Chicken
4. Add chicken, sliced tomatoes, olive oil, parsley, lemon juice and red pepper flakes (to taste) to pot with drained pasta
5. Toss pot to coat
6. Top with Parmesan, salt/pepper and extra lemon to taste*

*You can use any kind of pasta, I actually only had angel hair and it was de-lish!
*It was also raining outside and we didn't really prepare much for this dinner (which is why I love this recipe...) so I just grilled the chicken on the stove.

Sorry I didn't take a picture, we were just too hungry! :) Enjoy

*Brittney*

P.S. My kids even liked it!