I’m fairly new to the contact paper world.  In fact, I bought a roll of super cool stainless steel looking contact paper and had it sitting in my closet for months before I knew what to do with it.  I know, it’s shameful.  But after hours of online window shopping one day, it dawned on me.  This stuff can make anything look like a million bucks!  My first project:  classic clear vases.  Although they’re pretty on their own, with the help of some sticky paper, it now looks modern, fresh, and well…expensive.  Here’s what you need:

A rotary cutter or scissors, a ruler, an X-Acto Knife, maker or pencil (not pictured), and of course, contact paper and the vase

Measure the area you want to be covered.  I only wanted the bottom half of my vase to be covered, so I measured up to half of it and cut.  I decided a on a cool river rock pattern because the design is simple, modern, and cutting it out would be easy.  Then, carefully stick your new design to the vase being careful not to make too many bubbles or creases.  If you run across a bubble, with your X-Acto knife, just pierce a tiny hole and flatten.

Tada!  Enjoy a fresh new vase with minimal cost!  Ah, I ♥ crafting.

Pom Pom Flowers Tutorial by Domestifluff

I love Dandelions.  They’re probably the daintiest weed sprouting on your lawn and just the thought of them reminds me of my childhood–I honestly believed that if you made a wish on them it would come true.  But, I like many humans suffer from allergies, so it’s not always fun to play with them.  You can still get the look and it’ll last longer with this project from Domestifluff.com.  (By the way, how cute is the name of that website?)  These can make some great home decor accents, gift toppers, and much more!  Best part, no allergies.  Unless you’re allergic to yarn, wire, or creativity.

Sometimes I steer away from crochet magazines because their patterns are often… tacky.  I’m sorry but they are.  I might be the color combinations, the pattern itself, or the photographs with the perfectly coiffed models and plastic smiles.  But Crochet Today (I’ve discovered) is a great magazine for young crochet addicts like myself.  There are lots of cute patterns and the colors are inspiring.  Sergio just bought me their latest issue that features over 30 projects and as they advertise, they are very quick and easy.  I can’t wait to get started.

But that’s not what I’m writing this post about.  No, this post is about the free pattern advertisement on the back cover of the issue.  A crocheted “Snuggle Blanket”.  I’m not a huge fan of this, although I’m sure it’s extremely warm, I just can’t get over the concept of a blanket with sleeves.  I’m sorry.  I like my blankets rectangular and without a pre-designated space for my arms. What really made me laugh was that they have this pattern for everyone in your family….

The traditional Snuggle Blanket Sizes.  Adult and Kids.

For Baby/Old Person in recliner look-alike.

And don’t forget Barbie.

The baby in the green snuggle blanket does look incredibly comfortable though…  I may start to change my mind.

Amy, the awesome writer of Mod Podge Rocks, not only has a website with tons of project ideas featuring the popular medium but she’s also hosting another giveaway.  This time, she has six–count ‘em, SIX, copies of Rosie O’Donnell’s Crafty U.  All you need to do is follow her blog or twitter (do both and you get 2 entries!) and winners will be picked at random next Friday.  See the post for more information.

And if you don’t like Rosie, you should enter anyway because 1) you won’t regret visiting Amy’s blog and 2) it’s a free book.  What do you have to lose?

Borage Pattern from Lion Brand

It was a pun.  Get it?  I know.. cheesy, but I told you early on our adventure together.  I like puns.  Moving on… I like these dainty flowers from Lion Brand.  They’re really simple and could make a really cool project.  Oh, you’re waiting for me to provide something to do with them?  Just a second, I’m still thinking.  I will post when I think of something!  Pinky swear.

Yay!  About 2 weeks into this blog and we have our first bit of recognition.  (At least what I know of.  Maybe I should google myself.)  The awesome, awesome blog, One Pretty Thing has featured my pattern of our favorite cat–Ramses.  And the coolest part–maybe tied with the fact that we’ve been featured–is that my very good friend, Amy from Mod Podge Rocks, project got featured as well!  Well, she wrote the project for a blog swap she did with Somewhat Simple.  Phew!  That was a lot of links for one post!

Thanks again One Pretty Thing!  And make sure to check out the other links.  But make sure you have time because you can get lost in all the great projects and posts in these blogs.  I ♥ crafting.

I love plushies.  They’re soft, cute, and they’re a fun and quick project!  I was like you about 4 months ago.  I loved them but it seemed impossible to find free patterns online of plushies that were simple to make.  Fortunately, I somehow woke up with the knowledge one day of how to make them and now I’m sharing the wealth!

Ramses is a new member of the Janie XY family.  Here’s his story:

Ramses was named after the great Pharaoh (um, his name was Ramses in case you were wondering).  Unfortunately, this cat doesn’t like all the attention or responsibilities that comes with being someone in the public eye.  He enjoys his privacy, likes to read under the dining table,  and in his own words, “excels at mediocrity”.  His parents don’t always approve of his behavior as they’re celebrities (you might have seen them before–they were extras in The Aristocats) but Ramses could care less.

Download the Pattern by clicking the link below:

Download Ramses the Cat Pattern

If you like Ramses, check out my shop!

We love fruits at our home.  So much that whenever we see a good deal, we stock up.  I mean, Y2K stocking up.  Raid the grocery store of all the prettiest apples, peach, pears, etc; go home and lock ourselves up with our groceries and wait for the end of the world to pass.  Well, the first half of that was true.  We still live our lives normally.  I promise.

The only thing is that we can only eat so many fruits a day, so we always get left with those apples that go soft and at that point, who wants to eat that?  Well, I couldn’t let it go to waste (and I’m not that fond of apple sauce) so I decided to bake up some apple streusel muffins.  One word:  YUMMY!  And the best part is that they’re super easy.  I would say they’re  fail proof, but I don’t want to get angry emails about how I mislead people into thinking they could let their 4 year old kid and their dog bake the muffins.  (Although, they probably could… just saying)

Apple Streusel Muffins

Time:  1 hour total

Difficulty:  Are you kidding me?

Servings:  Makes about 18 Small Muffins

Here’s what you need:

• 1 chopped apple
• 1 shredded apple
• 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg

For Streusel Topping:

• 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 tbsp all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tbsp butter

What you need to do:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Place baking cups into cupcake tray.
2. In a small bowl, combine apples and white sugar.
3. In a large bowl, combine all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, butter, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
4. Mix in the apples and sugar mixture and combine until the batter is thoroughly mixed.  (Be careful not too mix it too much, that creates bubbles in the batter.)
5. Scoop batter into the baking cups and it fill it 3/4 full.
6. To make streusel topping:  in a small bowl, combine brown sugar, all purpose flour, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Cut the butter into the mixture to create a course texture.
7. Sprinkle streusel topping onto the prepared batter in cups.
8. Place in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until a skewer is inserted into the center comes out with a few crumbs stuck to it.

Videos that are narrated like this make me laugh (reminds me of “video days” in high school) BUT there is some good information in here! I think I may be the only person left on Earth that doesn’t own a dog, so maybe you can all appreciate this. And, if you’re friends with someone that indulges in their dog and you find yourself at a doggy b-day party, you now have a great gift or gift topper!

I don’t wear much make up, but the little make up I do have is BROKEN!  I was so upset the day I brought home some blush and opened it only to find that instead of being a nice solid piece of slightly textured rosy powder, it instead looked like the cracked ground of a dessert.  This was about a year ago.

Yes, that’s right, for an entire year, I was carefully opening my blush compact and lightly dipping my brush in so, not to begin an avalanche of pearlescent pigment on my clothing.  Until, my sister reminded me of a simple trick to fixing broken make-up.  The answer lies in $1 rubbing alcohol.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

What you need:

Your broken make up

Rubbing Alcohol

Your finger

A paper towel or something to protect the surface you’re working on.  It may get messy.

Directions:

1. Lay out your paper towel or something to protect your surface, unless of course, you don’t ming getting some make up on it.
2. Pour some Alcohol into the cap of the bottle and begin adding the alcohol a few drops at a time.
3. Mix the alcohol and make-up together by patting it down and breaking apart the make-up clumps.
4. Add alcohol as needed
5. Continue Steps 3 and 4 until you have achieved a smooth surface, or at least one solid block of make up.
6. Leave it out for at least an hour so that the alcohol can evaporate from the make-up.
7. Enjoy!

And the verdict: I did this about 2 weeks ago, and it still looks exactly the same!  Save your make-up with this cheap and simple tip!