What Do You Get When You Cross A Paper Napkin With Decoupage? Spring Chickens…

 

Are you like me?  Do you go into quaint little boutiques and ooh and ah over everything but then leave without spending a dime?   I bet those shop owners just love to see people like us walk in the door.  But seriously, how can a girl who loves to shop at second hand stores ever in her right mind spend a wad of money on cute little home décor items that she knows she can make herself for pennies?

This project will require you to search out a few inexpensive items but I think you’ll have fun doing so.

First, you will need small piece of wood.  I used a 5 1/2” x 4 1/2” piece of pine (3/4” thick).  You will also need a fun or pretty paper napkin.   I happened to have these  funky chicken napkins on hand that I absolutely love.  You will also need a small bottle of acrylic paint (I used ivory) and a small paint brush,  a piece of fine grit sandpaper, a pair of scissors, and  bottle of Mod Podge . 

Paint the front side of your piece of wood with your paint and let it dry.  Once the front side is dry, paint the back side and edges.  Remember to rinse your paintbrush because you will need it later in the project. When all paint has completely dried, lightly sand the edges with the small piece of sandpaper to give it a weathered look.

Cut out the portion of the napkin that you want to use for your project.  I cut the napkin and then separate the layers once I’m done cutting.  This makes it easier. 

With that previously rinsed out paint brush, now apply a coat of Mod Podge on the front of your painted piece of wood.  Carefully lay the colorful top piece of your cut out napkin in place and apply a thin coat of Mod Podge over it.  I like to use a slightly wet brush while doing this so I keep a little dish of water nearby.  You have to be very careful not to over wet the brush though. I work the bubbles out with the brush and I go.   Once the first layer of Mod Podge has been applied let it dry thoroughly.  Proceed to apply three more coats (drying completely) between each application.

This particular project can be displayed on a table, shelf, or window sill.  And if you’re looking for a piece of inexpensive wall art just add a small picture hanger on the back and there you have it!

Imagine the possibilities.  Monogramed letters, quotes, shabby chic floral designs, and yes, funky spring chickens!

Looking for another clever decoupage project by The Joy of Caking?  Click here

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Retro Christmas Cards–DIY

I’m not a big Christmas card sender.  Yes, I like receiving them, and chances are, if you send me one you will get one back – but don’t bank on it.  This last weekend I was in one of my retro moods and decided to make a few cards to send out.

When I started this project I knew how I wanted my cards to look but I wasn’t sure if I could find the type of images I had in mind.  After searching on-line for a few minutes I found just what I was looking for.

For this project you will need:  printed images you wish to use, some blank cards, scissors, a glue stick, and a little rick rack.  Easy peasy!

 

So, my cards are made and sent out and I still have a lot to do before I’m ready for Christmas – eek!

Are you ready for the Christmas?  What’s left on your list of things to do?

Individual Cinnamon Tea Cakes with a Cup of Pumpkin Spice Tea #Giveaway

*This giveaway is now officially closed.  The lucky winner (Kat) has been notified by email.  Thanks to everyone for joining in on the fun!  And a special thanks to Stash Tea

I am die hard coffee drinker.  But…  Once upon a time, I was strolling through the isles of our grocery store when I happened upon a display of Stash Tea.  The boxes were pretty, the flavors sounded delicious, and the price was right.  And that’s all she wrote.

From my very first box of Christmas Eve Tea I was hooked, and I never looked back.  There are a lot of times when I reach for a cup of tea over coffee now.

I recently wrote the folks at Stash Tea Company and I complimented them on their tea.  I’m a strong believer that if a product is good then you should tell the people that produce it that you enjoy it.  And I’m also believe that if a product is not so good, then they should hear about that too.  How will they improve it if they don’t know there is a problem?

I am excited to report Stash Tea has offered to host a giveaway here on my blog.  Yea!!!  This means that you all have a chance to win some delicious Stash Tea products to enjoy too. Yea again!!!

In honor of this event, I decided to make some Individual Cinnamon Tea Cakes.

These little cakes are moist, tender and delicious.  They go perfectly with a nice cup of tea, and they will leave you hankering for another one.  I served Pumpkin Spice decaf tea with these and they complimented each other well.

Individual Cinnamon Tea Cakes

1 stick of margarine, softened

1 egg, room temperature

3/4 c. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 c. Chobani Vanilla Greek Yogurt

1/4 c. skim milk

1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

Cinnamon Filling

2 tbsp. margarine, refrigerated

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 c. brown sugar

Prepare the filling by mixing all ingredients together.  Mixture should be crumbly.

This recipe makes 1 dozen individual cakes. Line cupcake tins with cupcake papers.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, cream together margarine, egg, and sugar.  Add salt, baking powder, yogurt, skim milk, and flour; mix thoroughly.  Fill cupcake papers 1/2 full with batter.  Sprinkle cinnamon filling on top of the batter, then add a dollop of batter on top of the filling.  The papers should be about 3/4 full.  Sprinkle any remaining filling on top.

Bake for about 17 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center.  Cool completely before removing from pans.  Store in airtight container.

Okay, now back to the giveaway.

Below is a picture of the giveaway prize.  Minus the sprig of pine.

 (1) boxed set of Cranberry Pomegranate herbal tea and Pumpkin Spice decaf tea,  (1) 4.4 oz. can of Mulling Spice, and (1 ) beautiful Woodgrain Mug.

To enter please do the following:  Visit Stash Tea Company and browse their website.  Then, come back here and in the comments section, tell me which one of their cups or mugs is your favorite and what kind of tea you would enjoy sipping from it.  

I have to tell you this isn’t an easy task because they have the most beautiful cups and mugs I’ve ever seen, and all of their teas sound delicious to me.  But with that said, this just might help you start (or finish) your holiday shopping!

Rules of the giveaway:  Open to US residents only; (1) entry per person; winner will be selected on or about Saturday, November 16, 2013; winner will be notified by email, if winner does not respond an alternate winner will be selected; winner must provide a valid street address (sorry, no post office boxes) for shipping purposes only. 

Happy browsing and good luck!

I received the Stash Tea products featured in this blog post.  I was not compensated for my work, and my opinions are my own.

Treat Your Ghouls with Easy to Make Halloween Goody Bags

This weekend I made some trick or treat goody bags that I’m going to surprise some little ghouls that I know with.

I used my Cricut to cut out the gift tags, and I used my Halloween stamps to decorate both the bags and the tags.  I added a little orange ribbon as a finishing touch.

Once the bags were decorated, I filled them with Spooky Eyes Wrapped Gumballs and Sixlets from SweetWorks Candy. 

It was a little hard slipping the candy past this guy, but I managed, and it was well worth the risk!  

What kind of candy are you passing out this year for Halloween?

Baby’s Got A New Pair Of Shoes! And…

With the interior of the Pink Paradise (nearly) done (I feel like I’ve said that before!) we have started to work on the outside.  The other day I spent a couple hours (no exaggeration) scraping old bumper stickers off of the siding. 

Side note: Gradually, I’ve been picking up vintage items for the camper. I’m a thrifty shopper and nearly everything I’ve bought so far has come from auctions, estate sales, thrift stores and the dollar store.

The new cedar bathroom below smells so good!

The first thing we replaced on the exterior of the camper was the tires.  The old ones were seriously dry rotted and there was no way they were going to take us very far from home.  And besides the tires, we had to replace the jack and install the propane tanks and holder. 

It does seem that some days the work on the Paradise will never end.  Yet to come, exterior lights, prep and painting, awning, and God only knows what else…

Independence Day, Simply Vanilla Ice Cream, and More

Tomorrow is Independence Day, and at this point, I have no idea how we will celebrate it.  I’m not usually a big plan in advance kind of girl.  I’d much rather act on spontaneity.  Last minute barbeques, campfires, a trip to the lake, and road trips are so much for fun when they aren’t over-thought. 

Regardless of what we might decide to do on the 4th, I am sure of one thing, we will need to eat.    I’m thinking that this Bacon, Ranch, and Onion Dip will get the party started.  I’ve made this before, but it’s worth mentioning again, especially since I just made a bowl of it.

And then there are those fat slices of my Sinful Midnight Cake resting peacefully in the freezer; right next to a quart of this Simply Vanilla Ice Cream that I made.  So, I’ve got an appetizer and dessert covered.  Hey, it’s a start!

This ice cream requires no cooking or eggs.  And it’s delicious!  I found it in a booklet that came with my Crofton ice cream maker.

Simply Vanilla Ice Cream

2 c. heavy cream

1 c. whole milk (I use skim)

3/4 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

In a large bowl, mix milk, cream, sugar and vanilla.  Stir until sugar has dissolved.  Follow the instructions that came with your ice cream maker.

Do you have plans made to celebrate Independence Day? Or are you like me, flying by the seat of your pants?

Happy Fourth of July!!!

DIY Country Décor For the 4th of July

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It’s hard for me to believe that the 4th of July is nearly here.  I’m hoping for a warm and sunny day with lot’s of good food and drink, along with a clear and starry night complete with fireworks and a roaring campfire to finish it off. 

To help make this Independence Day more festive I made this simple garland.  This decoration can be custom made to fit around any votive holder. 

If you’d like the instructions on how to make this decoration then click here.   I made a similar version (minus the buttons) for Valentine’s Day.  The only difference between the two is that the 4th of July garland has color coordinated buttons between every piece of material and the Valentine’s Day garland does not.

How do you want to celebrate your 4th this year?  Remember, if you aren’t hosting this years 4th celebration this would make a great hostess gift!

Frolic Travel Trailer -Pink Paradise Update – 2013

At last, I’ve made my way back to the Pink Paradise!

If you’re new to my blog,  you might be wondering what the Pink Paradise is.  The Pink Paradise is a 1972 Frolic Travel Trailer that I decided to rehab early last summer.  When this little travel trailer is finished, it will be all that I expected, and then some.  The best part is knowing that I salvaged a camper that might have otherwise ended up in the scrap yard.

When I buttoned the camper up last Fall it was plagued with a nasty leak in the bathroom.  My husband and I have tracked the leak and we hope we’ve gotten to the bottom of it.  Now, it’s time to proceed with the bathroom rehab, finish a few things on the punch list that still need to be done inside, and then outside here we come!

I am so excited to finish her up and go glamping.  Today, I hung curtains (that I made) and started the decorating process.  I’m also sharing a picture of the bench seat that hubby built.  The bench hides the ugly wheel well and still allows for some practical storage and more seating.  My father in-law is going to make a cushion for the bench seat that will match the booth cushions.

There is a lot more in-store for the Pink Paradise.  So,  subscribe to my blog, or follow me on Pinterest or Twitter to stay updated.

If you want to read more about the transformation of the Pink Paradise CLICK HERE. 

What color would you paint the inside of a camper that you were going to rehab?  If you’re re-doing a camper then we’d love to see your handy work too – be sure to leave a link to your latest post in the comments section on this post. 

Join Me in My Write a Letter Campaign

What is it that you find in your mailbox these days?  Junk mail?  Bills? Local advertising publications? And more junk mail? 

When is the last time you actually received an honest to goodness letter from a close friend or relative? 

It’s sad to say, but letter writing is nearly extinct these days.  I suppose it’s understandable with text messages, instant messaging, and email at nearly everyone’s fingertips. 

The reason that we  resort to our tablets, computers, and phones to communicate?  Time and convenience.

But honestly, I miss getting notes or letters in the mail (the old-fashioned way).  I miss the personal touch a handwritten letter conveys, and  I miss buying pretty stationery and notecards to  send my letters and notes on.

Can you think of someone you’ve lost touch with, or someone that you know would really appreciate a heartfelt note or letter from you?  If so, consider this post an opportunity to get in on my write a letter campaign.  It doesn’t have to be complicated or  time consuming;  just a quick note on a pretty notecard will suffice.

I happened to have these plain cards and pretty little paper flower kits (that I bought on clearance at  Michaels last fall) sitting around my craft room.  I wasn’t sure what I would do with them until I decided that I was going to write my favorite aunt a letter.  I want my letter to be as pretty as it will be personal.

Do you still write letters and notes and send them by mail?  If you decide to join my write a letter campaign, who will you send yours to?

I’m sharing this post with BeBetsy.com –  one of my favorite websites.  To help promote my letter writing campaign please share this post on your favorite social media sites!

Country Candle Ring for Valentine’s Day

I love handmade primitive country crafts but I cringe at the price of them.  It’s understandable why they are a bit pricey though;  considering the time that goes into making them.  For me, I DIY it every chance I get. 

This fabric rag garland candle ring is simple and inexpensive to make.  The only thing you will need is some spare time since there is cutting, knotting, and threading to be done.

I used 3 different pieces of scrap material that I had on had for this project. 

1.) Start by cutting strips of material 12” long by 1” in wide.

2.) Cut the 12 “ strips of material into thirds.  I didn’t keep count of the number of strips I cut, I just kept cutting. The amount you will need will all depend on the size of garland you want.  

3.) Once you have cut all of your strips, tie a knot into the center of each one.  You may notice that some knots are tighter than others depending on the type of materials used.

4.) Once all of the knots have been tied, take a piece of embroidery string that is double in length of the size garland you want.  Knot one end, and thread an embroidery needle on the other end.  Run the needle through the center of each knotted piece of  material (in the order you decide on) onto the string. 

5.) Tie the end of the strings together for a candle ring, or if you are using this as garland to hang, just knot off the other end.

6.) Finish your project off by placing a glass candle holder (with candle) in the center of your ring.  Make sure you use a glass candle holder to house the candle and to avoid a fire.

This was probably one of the most inexpensive crafts I’ve ever made, and yet it’s so cute.  Remember, if I can do it, you can do it!

Click on the photo below to go to my 2012Valentine’s Day craft project (Paper Heart Garland).