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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Zebra Party Favors & Zebra Cake Balls

APRIL FOOLS- Zebra Party Favors. I had to do one thing in honor of the Elmer's party being held on April Fools, so I bought some Laffy Taffy's.

I used my Doodlecharms Cricut Cartridge to cut out the mini bags. TIP: you have to use the flip button to cut out the other flipped design side, so the bags will match up evenly. Then I stapled around the
canvas corp paper and stuffed them each with a Laffy Taffy. Each guest will have one little zebra bag sitting in their spot. Plus their Elmer's Goodie bags. ;)
I am no CAKE BALL expert that is why we love Bakerella right? anyway, I made strawberry cake balls with the yellow and white chocolate. I did the yellow zig zag to resemble a zebra look. HA! one broke as I was pulling it off the chilled cookie sheet... darn I got to eat it. yum!
I am OUT UNTIL Saturday sometime. I will be back. xo winks- jen
I am linking up to Fingerprints on the Fridge for Feature yourself Friday HERE.
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another sneak peak of more Craft Party Stuff.

CAN I JUST SAY THAT i HURT! YEP' full lower back pain, and out of Tylenol. booooo! 

You see' I get this HAVE TO go overboard, detailed, perfectionism.... from my mother. If I go into labor before the party I wouldn't be surprised HA! Thing is I can't relax or take it easy, there is no one but MU-AH to do it. So I have to do it. Hubs will be home from out of town late tonight, so he will help with the cleaning tomorrow. It's all good though, I am excited. I promise I will take much better and more thorough pics of the Elmer's Craft and Tell Party tomorrow night. This is just a sneak peak collage, and some flower straws I made. I am working on the zebra cake balls right now. ALSO DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE Elmer's mini giveaway pack. The button is on the top right of my blog.



WINK wink- jen
I am linking up with Fingerprints on the Fridge for Feature Yourself Friday HERE.
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Guest Post- Awesome Homemade wood coasters!

Hi!  I'm Natalie from A Turtle's Life for Me and I'm so excited to be the guest poster today at 
Craft-O-Maniac!  And can I just take a minute to say that I emailed Jen with this idea (on a weekend, 
no less!!) and she replied in, oh, about 6 minutes!!! Say wha???  She was so sweet and I was SO excited!

I've always believed there are 2 kinds of people who go to craft shows... the ones who come home with all kinds of goodies to display around their house, and the ones who come home with a head full of ideas for how they can re-create everything themselves for much cheaper!  I've always been that second gal. No matter what I see, i.e. a painting, a wedding cake, a playhouse, curtains, I always get this silly notion in my head that "it can't be that hard, right?".  Trust me, sometimes it is hard and I should leave it to the pros, but sometimes... every so often... I actually get it right!  Today I'm going to show you one that I was just tickled with!

Homemade wood coasters!!

About a month ago, we had a stinker of an ice storm.  Our giant willow tree out back got hit hard and we were left with this mess to clean up.  (pssstt, notice my handsome hubby in the background?? He was so excited with his rented chainsaw that he went around for 3 hours doing the neighbors' trees!)
From this mess, I went around and started collecting branches that were pretty uniform in size and about 3" in diameter.  While we had the chainsaw rented, I had my hubby cut them into discs that were about 3/4" thick.
I laid them all out on a vinyl tablecloth and let them sit for a couple days to get all the moisture and sap out.  Every day I would go in and flip them over (when I thought of it. shhhh!!).  At this point they're pretty rough on the surface and not looking too pretty.
.So now came my favorite part, I sent them to my BIL who works as a carpenter and has access to a table sander.  He sanded them nice and smooth for me and when I got them back, all I had to do was add a stamp!  Once I had them stamped, I sprayed them with some polyurethane finish since wet drinks would be sitting on them.  I did 6 coats of the spray finish just to be safe.

And here they are in all their glory!

These would be awesome in an Easter basket, maybe an adult-themed basket with a bottle of wine and some new glasses.  Just wrap some cording or twine around and put right in the basket!
Let me know if you try this- I'd love to see all the different versions people could come up with!  And take a minute and come visit me at A Turtle's Life for Me!    I've got painted signs, Cricut crafts, a playhouse make-over, decorated cakes and tons more!  Stop by and say hello!  And a big thanks to Jen for being so welcoming to a newbie blogger like me!!
ISN'T THIS SO INCREDIBLY CREATIVE AND CUTE? I JUST LOVE THIS. Thanks Natalie for the tutorial and sharing this with us. WINKS- JEN
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Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Elmer's Mini Craft & Tell Party Pack- {{GIVEAWAY}}

AS I MENTIONED IN YESTERDAY'S POST... Elmer's contacted me and is offering "TWO" winners each a prize pack as a giveaway on my blog for two readers to host a mini Craft & Tell party of their own!
Most the tools aka Elmer's glue stick, Elmer's dot runner, and glue dots (i love) I have used to help create stuff for the Elmer's party.
 
these are just three of the things you will win in your party pack. Each product I love. The painter markers are so awesome and fun.
SO WHAT WILL YOU BE GETTING IN YOUR PARTY PACKS-
*  3  X-ACTO Retract-a-Blade knives
*  3  CraftBond Extra Strength Glue Sticks
*  3  CraftBond Tape Runners*
*  3 Mini Bi-fold 9x12 Foam Board packs 
*  1 Painters Markers pack
*  1 X-ACTO Decorative Edge Scissors pack 
*  1 Circle Cutter
*  1 X-ACTO Self-Healing Mat

*  1 Glue Dots pack
*  2 Photo Corners packs (various colors)
*  1 Gel Pens pack
*  1 Tacky Glue bottle

TO ENTER:
1- YOU MUST FOLLOW CRAFTOMANIAC  
2-  like CraftOManiac on FB
3- Tweet, FB, OR blog about this giveaway
4- tell me how much you loved peeling Elmer's glue off your hands as a kid? I DID, AND STILL DO! 

I will announce the winner SATURDAY MORNING, after my own E. C&T Party! GOOD GOOD LUCK! xo jen
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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Some Elmers C&T Party Stuff ...plus....

Above is a sneak peak of some of the stuff I have made for my Elmer's Craft & Tell party. I AM WORKING MY HINNIE OFF (not really its still juicy and big ha!) everyday to gear up for my P-AR-TY FRIDAY NIGHT. Crossing fingers I have a descent turn out, because with only "10" invites and not everyone showing... it could be pooie... :(
I may CRY! sad face they will miss out.

ANYHOO- I used an Elmer's Bi-fold Styrofoam board that was in the package they sent me, to make a zebra fun sign for the party. As you can see my colors are the Pink, Black, White, Yellow and ZEBRA!
I used a huge fat magic marker and traced out the design first, and then colored it all in.
YOU LIKE? my hubs couldn't believe that I did this... HA! I guess he was impressed, it was so darn easy. ;)
then I used my cricut to cut out some letter's E- for Elmers and C & T for Craft & Tell. Also if you dig the paper its all from Canvas Corp. super nice cardstock paper.
SOOOOOOOO GUESS WHAT?
if you follow CraftOManiac on FB then you read that Elmer's contacted me and they are going to be offering a mini Elmer's Craft and Tell package to "TWO" LUCKY WINNERS... Stay tuned for all the deets.. HA- Details/ Giveaway info. tomorrow..... SEE YOU BACK THEN. 
thanks FOR STOPPING BY. winky winks- jen
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Guest Post- CUTE- High Chair Pad Tut.

Hi, my name is Jeanene, from 
The Queen Bee's Hive love to craft, cook, quilt, and be involved with our family. I have 5 kids and 4 grand kids, I'm learning that this side of the coin is a little different than the other side, but also, so good. I love to blog about all my crafty things and all kinds of family matters, because in the end family really does matter. :)

I volunteered to make a new high chair pad for my daughter when she really wanted one, and then thought' really'? However, it was much easier than I thought it might be ~ yeah!

Ever look at that high chair pad and wish for a new one? Face it ~ it's had it, it's ugly and you want something fun, and trendy. So, here's a High Chair Pad Tutorial to guide you.

Guess what? It's not as hard as you think it might be.

Little Blayke needed a new high chair. Hilary, my daughter, and I shopped and looked, ummm, rather expensive. Then we looked on KSL, (Craig's List), and found an Eddie Bauer highchair just like the one we liked in the store! Of course the price was much better, so we bought it.

It had a few scratches, so we took it to the garage and re stained it. Just like new! Actually, you can see it right here at Spending Less Living More, Hil's blog.

Now, for that pad....I volunteered to make a new one. Hilary picked out the fabric she wanted, and I was all set. Or was I, I didn't know where to start! That's the hard part, just getting started, but it wasn't bad at all.

Here we go:
Gather your supplies: ~ the old high chair pad (this becomes your pattern) ~the new fabric ~velcro. 5/8" wide ~5/8" wide ribbon to coordinate with fabric ~glue stick ~elastic, 3" and ~batting (whatever you want, I used a polyster batt).

I was sooo hesitant to start, but just lay the old pad out on top of your batting and your fabric, (right sides together), and cut about 1/2 inch larger than the chair pad. This pad is 2 pieces, so cut 2 pieces, the back, and the seat. (Easier this way too, then you join them together later on.) (There are lots of pictures, so this first easy part doesn't get as many pictures, 'cause I know you can do this :).

*There is usually a little piece of fabric on the back that slips over the high chair, to hold it on. Measure that, and cut a piece to look like it. In that little seam, put about a 3 inch piece of elastic, pull slightly as you sew it right into the seam. This will give it a little 'give' so it will fit nicely over the top of the high chair.
*Now, just layer the batting, the fabrics, and that little back piece and sew a 1/2 seam around the edges. Turn right side out.
*If there are stitching lines on the original, go ahead and do those. There you go, your back part is all done! Let's head on down to that seat part, he's the one with all the details. *If you haven't already cut out the seat part fabric and batting, go ahead and do that now. See all those little velcro ties on there? Cut ribbon that is twice as long as they are and about 2 -3 more inches. (They are not all the same length, so be careful.)*To give your ribbon the strength you need, fold it in half, run the glue stick over it, and glue it together. (Use that glue stick whenever you need, sooo helpful in holding things, and doesn't gum up your machine. Who knew? Trust me I use this on quilts!)*Cut your velcro pieces and place them where they will go. (Different sizes for different places.) Cut about 1/2 extra to sew inside. *Sew the velcro to the ribbon on both edges.*Carefully position those velcro guys where they need to go. Look at the old one, measure and be accurate. Take your time here.*Now turn them exactly opposite, so the velcro is in the center, and your exra ribbon is on the outside. Also layer your fabrics and batting so you can sew all together. Go ahead and stitch everything together, scary, but you can do it! Go slow. Isn't it Nice? You're almost there. *Sew the two pieces together with a good strong seam (sew twice), or serge if you have a serger. I serged twice.

You're FINISHED! Beautiful isn't it? There's our girl trying it out, I think she likes it! ;)

Enjoy your new High Chair Pad!! 
JEANENE what a great tutorial and that new high chair pad is darling, but nothing is more darling that that sweet baby girl sitting on it. WINKS- JEN
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{{Kitchen Couture}} Apron WINNER.....

THE LUCKY WINNER OF THE RASPBERRY TRUFFLE KITCHEN COUTURE APRON IS
# 108 TABITHA OF THE KLUCKING BEAR 
CONGRATS TABITHA! WOOT WOOT!

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Sunday, March 27, 2011

Craft-O-Maniac MONDAY link PARTY

ITS HERE ITS HERE- CRAFTOMANAIC MONDAY!


{{{RULES}}}   
please link back to your host CraftOManiac
Please link up only "3" cRaFts. DIY PROJECTS. or Recipes.
DO NOT link up giveaways, or craft posts attached to your own link party. Please visit some other links and show some comment love!
THANKS A BUNCH!

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GUEST POST- Soda Tab Bracelet!

What a great way to recycle your soda tabs, I think this is darling and creative idea. Today we have Lori from Kitchen Funk GUEST POSTING! Thanks a bunch Lori- Jen C.O.M.
Can Tab Bracelets
We collect Can Tabs at our house. We don't drink a lot of drinks from cans, but when we do, we try to save them. Our schools collect them for a local Ronald McDonald House.

Today I was at a Hallmark Store shopping for a birthday gift, and I spotted a Can Tab Bracelet for sale. I couldn't believe it! It occurred to me that I had never made these before but I wondered how hard it could be. NOT HARD AT ALL, apparently.

I made two and I will show them both here. The tutorial is easier to see using the elastic thread, so you'll see that first.


You will need to cut off about 2 feet of string and 20 to 25 Can Tabs - washed clean.

Take your first Tab and thread the string through the top and bottom holes. I tied it so that it would be easier to manage, making the Can Tab on the end immovable.


Take your second Tab and, keeping the rough side together with the rough side of the first Tab, thread the string through that one.

Then, alternating sides and overlapping (like brickwork), you need to add another Tab. See how I have the lower Tab, rough facing up, and the top Tab (rough down) is sort of off to the side? That is where the next Tab will go.

Place it rough side down next to the top Tab. Then, cross feed the string, like you thread a sneaker. Making an X.

Then you just keep doing it...

I found a random green Can Tab. How cool! I have no idea what it is from...


And then I had some interference...

He really wanted to play! I was holding the Tab chain for a picture.

Then it looks like this:

And this:

Then I made the one with the blue ribbon. Make sure you leave enough ribbon (at LEAST 2 and a half feet) because the ribbon is not stretchy like the elastic string used in the first one.



I hope you give these a try. They are so simple - Using my phone, I took photos of the ones at the store and was able to make them myself. Though they used a different material (wire, it looked like, wrapped instead of crossed) they look similar. My teenagers love them. The ones I saw at the Hallmark Store had a bead attached to them, so maybe I'll try that next.

I hope you get the chance to be creative today!




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