I could seriously get lost in blog land for hours looking at all the great projects posted from all over!  I like to feature a few ideas each week and add them to my forever growing to-do list!!

I LOVED this effect on these Snapple bottles over at The Hand Me Down House

Check out this fabulous way to display your photos over at Beans and Buttons!  So shabby chic, I can’t wait to try this!

And finally, Go over to Fowl Single File, and check out the most adorable little birdie place setting ever!!  I’m in LOVE with this birdie theme:)

Hope you enjoy these as much as I did!!!

Have a fabulous weekend!!!

This is my youngest, and he’s growing up way too fast. Learning to swim, jump off the diving board, go potty, and all the things babies don’t do…

I kinda want my baby back!!!

Know anyone with a birthday coming up?  Running out of time for a handmade gift, or just plain out of ideas?  (I’m only speaking from my own personal experience:)

I got one for ya!!!

“The Birthday Bucket”

I had purchased this adorable set of clear paint cans forever ago, knowing I would use them for some crafty purpose…

I found a purpose…

Supplies:

• clean paint can
• scrapbook paper
• embellishments (buttons, stamps, stickers, etc…)
• coordinating ribbon for the handle
• modpodge
• sponge brush or paint brush
• scissors and paper cutter

Step 1:

Apply the paper.  First of all you’ll need to measure from where the handle is attached, to the top of the paint can.

Cut two strips of paper slightly smaller than your measurement.  Turn the paper strips over and paint an even coat of modpodge to the back.

Firmly apply the strips to the top of the paint can, one in front and the other around the back.  You may need to overlap your strips, if so just hold firmly in place until the modpodge sticks.

Follow the same steps for your bottom piece of paper.  Measure, cut your paper, modpodge it on.

(Sorry I missed a couple of pictures)

Step 2:

Your going to paint a layer or mod podge over the paper. 

 At this point I added a coordinating ribbon to the open space between the two pieces of paper, while it was nice and sticky.  Just cut the ribbon to fit nicely around the can.  (Sorry I missed taking a picture for this step!!!)

Step 3:  Name your paint can.  You can use this as a birthday gift like I did, or however you like.  I had some sparkly chipboard letters that matched, but I layered them over orange paper so they would stand out.

I actually used hot glue for the letters and the rest of the embellishments so that they would stay better on the round can.

After applying your letters, be creative!  Use whatever stamps, buttons, or ribbons you have on hand and decorate it up!!  I used some flower stamps, buttons, and ribbons.

Step 4:

Don’t forget about your lid!  Place your lid on a piece of coordinating paper (the side that won’t show) and trace around it. 

Cut the circle out slightly smaller, and mod podge it to the lid of your paint can.  Add any embellishments to the lid that you would like.  (Sorry, forgot another picture)

Step 5:

Add your ribbons to the handle.  You can add as many as you would like, but I think this part totally finishes the look!  Just cut different sizes of different ribbons and tie them in a double knot all along the handle.

(Ok, so you can see the lid a little bit better in this shot, I added buttons)

Don’t forget to add your treats and treasures to your birthday bucket!

I’m linking up with these fabulous blogs.

Including:

I apologize for my blog being down all of yesterday!!!  My husband finally got our server back up and running, so I will have your tutorial shortly:)

Thanks!!!

Ok, if you haven’t had this most excellent dessert before, you’re missing out!

Easy Peach Cobbler

Ingredients:

• 2 cans peach pie filling (sorry I don’t remember the size of the cans)
• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 2 Tbsp cinammon sugar mixture

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.  Pour peach pie filling into the bottom a 9X13 baking dish.  Spread yellow cake mix evenly over the pie filling.  Pour melted butter evenly over the cake mix.  Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture on top.  Bake for 30 minutes in oven. 

Serve warm with vanilla ice-cream.  Yummy, easy, summer dessert!!!

Check out the AMAZING transformation of this new sofa over at In His Grip!!  I totally want it… Or maybe I’ll just add it to my todo list:)

Or how about this fun idea for those LONG summer days we sometimes have with our kids at home, from Bubsie’s Boutique  I’m so making one of these!

Or this one from Something about Katie  LOVE this fabric!!

Check out these fabulous bloggers, and their fun tutorials:)  Have a fabulous weekend!!

Have you seen the new button on my sidebar? It looks a little something like this:)

For all the time I spend oohing, aaahing, and dreaming over the creative posts galore all over blog land, I thought I would feature a few every Friday.  We’ll call it Feature Friday.  I know, super original huh:)

So… stop by tomorrow and check out some of my faves!!!

Sometimes I catch a little paper crafting bug.  When I do, my living room and kitchen floor are buried with scraps, for awhile.  A long while…  This is why I’m in desperate need of a craft room people!!! 

This week has been no exception, I even have a tutorial to share with you on Tuesday to prove it!! So… paper crafts…

Here’s a few greeting cards I made for some friends

 Was it worth all the paper scraps and trash?  Let me know after Tuesday’s tutorial:)

See ya tomorrow!

A fun day at the pool!!  I hate getting water dumped all over my head!!  Not these darling kiddos:)

My MIL LOVES the 4th of July.  She is the cutest most patriotic lady I know:)  So I made her an apron with a coordinating oven mitt, and potholder to go with it.  It turned out pretty cute…

I made some tweaks on my own potholder, but decided to share this tutorial for an even easier one!!  Seriously, you’re gonna die when you see how easy this is!!  I found this over at the cutting corners blog…

Simply Chic Potholders:

Supplies:

• self-healing cutting mat
• rotary cutter
• sewing machine
• 1/4 yard of 4 or5 coordinating fabrics (you can make a few)
• a piece of cotton batting large enough to give you two 8 1/2 inch squares
• button or embellishment for the center

Directions:

Step 1:

You’ll need to cut five 8 1/2 inch squares for one pot holder.  If you only use 4 different fabrics you need to cut one extra square out of one of your coordinating prints.

Next, cut your batting into two 8 1/2 inch squares.

Step 2:

Set aside one of your squares (this will be used for the back) and fold the remaining four squares in half diagonally and press in place.  (In this picture I have done enough to make two pot holders.)

Step 3:

Stack the two pieces of batting one on top of the other.  Place the unfolded square on top of the batting right side facing up.  Lay the triangles on top of that one at a time, with the folded edges toward the center, touching each other, and the raw edges along the outside.

After you place you first two squares, tuck the third and fourth under the first and second, so a small triangle of each fabric shows.

Step 4:

Once all your triangles are straight and in place, pin all four corners.  Sew about 1/4 inch along each side of the square.

Step 5:

Clip corners and turn right side in.  Run your finger or a pencil along all edges and corners to give your self a smooth edge.  Press the pot holder to make it lay flat.  Sew one more time 1/4 inch along each side of the square.

You can leave it like this, or add an embellishment to the center.  I stitched a cute little button to the center of this potholder tying it all together.

Finished!!!  Fun huh, see how easy!!

I made a coordinating oven mitt to go with this set of potholders using one of my tutorials from last month…

A fun little kitchen set, now we just need a coordinating apron:)

I’m linking up this week with these fabulous blogs!!

Including:

I’ve been meaning to write this post forever!  Is it really July 18th!!!!  Where did the summer go!!!

We had a blast for the 4th.  We saw a fireworks show that went a little crazy shooting fireworks into the crowd. Luckily nobody was hurt, but it got my adrenaline pumping!!  We went boating, played games, and ate some delicious food.

Speaking of food…

These were my contributions to our family cookout:)

This next trifle I saw on The Sac Chef and would be a perfect summer potluck pleaser…

Berry Layered Trifle

Ingredients:

Directions:

Cut cake into 1-in. cubes; set aside. Hull fresh strawberries and cut into quarters. Set aside ½ cup of the strawberries and ½ cup of the blueberries for garnish.

In a bowl, combine remaining fresh and frozen strawberries; mix well.

Juice lemon to measure 2 tbsp juice. In a bowl, whisk yogurt, pudding mix and lemon juice until smooth using  a whisk; immediately fold in 1 cup of the whipped topping.

To assemble trifle, place one-third of the cake cubes into trifle bowl. Top with one-third of the strawberry mixture and one-third of the blueberries, pressing down lightly. Top with one-third of the yogurt mixture, spreading evenly. Repeat layers two times, spreading last layer evenly to create a flat surface.

Optional:  To garnish, fill a piping bag or Ziploc bag fitted with open-star tip with remaining whipped topping. Pipe whipped topping over top of trifle; garnish with reserved strawberries and blueberries. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

I just spread on the cool whip and decorated using my remaining berries.

Yummy!!!