Burlap Candy Corn Banner

I wish I could take credit for coming up with the idea for this super adorable burlap banner, but I actually found it in the motherland (A.K.A. Pinterest.) I came up with a pattern and got started. There are actually 6 pieces on this banner but it was too hard to get them all in the photo. You'll just have to trust me. ;-)

This project is simple. Just cut out triangles in burlap, paint them (and allow them to dry in between colors,) polka dot them (with the end of a foam brush,) then fold down the top edge about 1/2 inch and sew a loose zigzag stitch across the top and stitch them to twine, which has been hidden in the fold. Then cut various ribbons and rick rack and tie them in between the triangles. Then trim up the edges to get rid of the fraying burlap. Voila!

I keep on selling these so I am guessing that I am not the only one that thinks it is cute. I finally had a surplus and was able to keep one for myself. I think that is the hard part of being a professional crafter. You make them for others, and then miss out on having them for yourself! Oh well. It is fun to send my projects to new homes. I kind of like the fact that they value my work enough to pay for it. Very vindicating. (See kids, the messes are worth it! Yes, you can buy more Pokemon cards...) ;-)

Happy that the weather is starting to change around these parts. Can't wait for the cooler weather to stick around. Happy that pumpkin spice EVERYTHING is happening now. So fabulous. Happy Jen is happy! :)

"Be You Bravely" MOPS/MOMSnext Nametags

This Thursday is our first meeting for my new job as co-coordinator for our moms group. We met recently and got things settled for the upcoming year. One of the tasks that was needed was for someone to come up with a nametag for our MOPS/MOMSnext leadership ladies. I love doing these sorts of things so I gladly accepted the challenge.
Here is what I came up with. I used the Silhouette studio software that comes with the machine and made my own file. I purchased the feather from the online silhouette store and added each ladies name in separately before printing and cutting. I then added cute little feathers on each of the tags to represent how many kiddos each mom has. I bought some paracord and will be punching holes in the top and hanging them from the cording. Simple, cute, and effective. If you ask me nicely, I may share the file. ;-) Have a great week!

MOPS and MOMSnext "Be You Bravely" Wood Sign

I thought I would share this sign I made recently. I am a coordinator for one of our local MOPS/MOMSnext groups here in town, and I thought I would try to come up for something cute for one of our "on-time" basket prizes. I designed it using my Silhouette (which I looooooove so much!!) and painted over the vinyl. Tada! An excellent reminder of the yearly theme of Be You Bravely! Also, I will be selling these in my Etsy store, so be sure to check back for that. Someday. Soon. I promise..

giant post of my stuff...

More pics of my stuff

Stuffed Burlap and Fabric Pumpkin Trio

These are some super simple pumpkins I made for an upcoming vendor fair that I am participating in. I am so excited! I haven't done anything like this in such a long time! 

It is nice to show what I have done with my time over the last month or so. Makes me feel like I am not such a lazy butt. Sort of. I have about 27 loads of laundry piled on my couch waiting for me to fold them, and I haven't cleaned my stovetop properly since the end of June. Yeah. It's been like that. SO... I am excited for this weekend so that I can put down my stuff and breathe a little. Being crafty is hard work! ;-) 

So here is the first of several posts I will be making showcasing what I have been up to. They will serve a dual purpose. I need to have a place for people to see what is available so that I can accept special orders, and I need to keep up this blog since I committed to doing it. I don't want to let myself down! Hope you will enjoy the upcoming posts. 

Special thanks goes out to my hubby for taking all the fabulous photos in his newly established photo studio in the garage. His talents are endless... ANYWAY... Thanks for stopping by!

Patriotic Pallet Tray

I was recently commissioned to make some patriotic accessories for a relative. I was given some odds and ends from a goodwill store, and challenged to make them into some cute Americana decor. One of the pieces was a woven serving tray that I just couldn't get to cooperate. I decided that it would be much easier to make one on my own. And so I did! This is what I came up with. It was a matter of cutting some wood pieces about 18" long and then painting them, then I cut the 13" rails and painted them as well. Next, I attached the handles, which I decided to distress a little with sandpaper, to give them a little more character. To further embellish my pallet tray, I decoupaged some scrapbook paper flags that I had cut out and finally added "God Bless America," that I had cut out of vinyl with my Silhouette. I used the outdoor Mod Podge over the whole piece and then finished it with Annie Sloan finishing wax to make it more durable for outdoor use. That's about it! I have plans to make some more of these. I picked up some additional handles today, in fact. I am so excited to see what I can come up with! Stay tuned!

Patriotic Wooden Fireworks Decoration

So, apparently I like wood. Or at least I like to craft with it. I can't seem to get away from using it every chance I get. But that's ok! I have been coming up with some awfully cute designs, if I do say so myself. Oh, wait... I just DID say so. ANYWAY...

It's about time for another monthly crafty group meeting and I was asked to come up with something Americana/patriotic/4th of July-ish. I had some wood 1x4" boards and some navy blue vinyl and some assorted paints and stuff on hand, so I went to town.

This is what I came up with. A cute little trio of firecrackers wrapped in twine with a little sign hanging from it. I just think it is precious. Yep. Americana preciousness. Awwwww.

So now I am on to assembling all the kits for my friends and I to put all these together. I am blessed to have friends who like to craft with me. It really is my passion. Love love love it!
I wish I could start a business making and selling the things I made. Oh wait!! I did! ;-)

Note to self: stock your dang Etsy store....

Summer Mini-Pallet Custom Sign

Been working on some cool projects lately! Would have been nice if I had remembered that I am a blogger and should have taken pictures so I could brag about share them with you! Right?? I keep doing that. (Or not doing that...)

Anyway, thought I would show you the latest project. Kim, (same person that I made the giant pallet art sign for,) asked me if I could come up with a cute way to remind her 4 kids not to put their wet towels in the regular dirty clothes basket. I am still loving that she gives me so much leeway. Just a suggestion, and then tell me to go for it. So awesome!! Then she tells me how cute my stuff is! And she pays me for it!! BEST.THING.EVER.

So here it is! The mini pallet, custom, no wet towels reminder sign/craft! Ta da!

He is Risen Sign

I have been happily making a bunch of these He is risen signs for the last few weeks. They are so quick and easy to do! In fact, I recently shared this craft with a group of about 20 women, all part of my MOPS/MomsNext group. We got together on a Thursday evening and we all went home with a version of the cross sign. It was a total success! Even the ladies that aren't that crafty had an easy time doing this one.

I purchased the crosses at Hobby Lobby and cut the boards myself. The words were cut on my Silhouette machine and then we decoupaged the paper onto the wood pieces. Then we embellished.

I have posted a couple of my favorite examples. Really, the sky is the limit! Just find coordinating paper and a few supplies and you are ready for for action.

Bunny Wreath

So, I realized that I had been neglecting my little bloggy-poo. Thought I would at least post some pictures of what I had been working on lately. This little bunny wreath I created for my crafty group to do this weekend. Straightforward craft really. I just think it is super cute. Should be a fun night with my lady friends! Looking forward to it!

I just cut the bunny out of wood, tied a bow around its' neck, attached it with some craft wire. I tied some tulle around the wreath form in a bow and added some foam eggs that I had on hand. I cut the words from vinyl using my silhouette and decoupaged the decorative paper over the wood sign, which I also cut with my scroll saw.

Though you can't really tell very well in this picture, I used some light pink ink and a sponge to the inside of the bunny ears, just to give it some color.

Let's call this bunny done. Tada!

Super Fantastic Cinnamon Sugar Crisps

We are having another tight budget week and are low in the snack food department. I had kids just getting home from school and demanded asked politely for something to eat since they were DYING OF STARVATION very hungry. (Haha...) So what was I to do? I grabbed the tortillas, some sugar and cinnamon, a little bit of oil, a brown paper bag, and my frying pan.

How is it possible that something so simple could be so good??

The "recipe"- Cinnamon Crisps (a.k.a. Bunuelos)

I cut up about 5 flour tortillas into wedges and set them aside. Next, I heated about 1/4 cup oil in the frying pan. Then, I mixed up about 1 cup of sugar and about 1 Tbsp of cinnamon and put it in the bottom of a giant brown lunch sack.. After that, I put about 5 wedges in the hot oil at a time and fried them until they were a light golden brown on each side. This only takes about 15-20 seconds per side. Then I removed them with tongs, drained off the oil by tapping them on a paper towel, and then threw I them in the bag. Once I had fried all of them, I closed up the bag and shook them well until the tortilla wedges were coated with the cinnamon sugar blend. Then I served them to my "fainting-from-hunger" children and niece. They loved me again and perked up enough to go back to playing their video games. (It is Friday after all...)

Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls

I got my "husband" the coolest gift for Christmas. A bread machine. Yes, an appliance of such greatness that it isnpired some experiments. I figured he wouldn't mind if I "borrowed" it for a little bit. After all, he'd get to enjoy the trials. So I got to work searching for a workable cinnamon roll recipe. MAN!!! I have found a winner in this recipe!! I am so excited to share it with you. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. My family loved them and a few of my friends gave them a thumbs up as well. So, if you have a bread machine with a dough only cycle and a couple of hours to kill, I suggest you get on this yummy bandwagon. Here is the recipe:

Right out of the oven before the glaze is added.

Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls

1 cup water
2 Tbsp softened butter
1 whole egg
3 1/3 cup bread flour (must be bread flour, not all purpose)
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
3 tsp active dry yeast

filling:
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp softened butter

glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1-2 Tbsp milk

Place all the dough ingredients in the bread pan in the order listed (or in the order according to your bread machine.) Set the machine to dough only cycle. Press start.

Spray a baking sheet or 9x13 pan lightly with cooking spray. Mix the cinnamon and sugar filling ingredients together and set aside.

Remove dough when the cycle is complete, and roll into a rectangle about 18" long and about 9" wide. Spread with 2 Tbsp softened butter. Sprinkle with the filling mixture. Roll gently into a tube, starting from the long edge and rolling up. Pinch the ends lightly to seal.

Slice the roll into 1 inch slices. Lay them in the prepared pan. Cover and allow to rise for about an hour or until doubled in size.

Heat the oven to 375 degrees and bake them until they are golden brown, about 23-25 minutes. Remove from oven and spoon the glaze over the top.

Enjoy!!