Spring Cleaning

Click here to get a link for 15 pages of household cleaning recipes. I can't wait to try them just in time for spring cleaning. The laundry detergent recipe is at the end you can do 640 loads for about $20. Can you imagine?

crappy crafter

This is the Birthday card from my brother Don. HE is so funny he makes me laugh until my side hurts. Thanks for the laugh!

Yummy Easter treats.

The kids will also be helping me make some of these for everyone we know!

Click here for instructions on making your own.

My plan to survive Spring Break

#1 chore charts and strict rules of no playing til done. (adding to their chore charts a few spring cleaning jobs to really help me out!)

#2 A list of friends who are NOT out of town for spring break

#3 Mugs - During Christmas Break they each had a cute christmas mug to drink out of, They have been placed next to the sink.

#4 Snack boxes - Their lunch boxes have been filled with their snacks for the day. NO RAIDING THE CUPBOARDS. I get sick of putting boxes of snacks crackers granola bars away and then putting them away, and not to mention sweeping up the crumbs constantly.

#5 A list of activities they can do on their own without my help or little help. New crafts, or easy treats to bake etc. I don not want to hear I'm Bored. Nope not gonna put up with it.

#6 A little one on one date with mom sometime during break for each kid.

#7 A special surprize for no fighting. I've actually allready been doing this one for a week and its been AMAZING. I am all about Bribes/rewards.

#8 Emergency numbers on speed dial. Including Jeff and CPS.

A few new things

I finally got around to making a pin cushion, it was badley needed since I have been sewing a little more than I used to.

this other jewelry are some of the things I made while I was in Boise for Presidents day. And they are my fav. jewelry that I have made. ♥

This is my next project. You know when life calms down.

http://thisandthat-amy.blogspot.com/

Gift Tags Galore

After just reading this post on Little Birdie Secrets I am excited to wrap presents. Look at their cute ideas but especially their GIFT TAGS. My favorite were from this website. lollychops.com has so much free digi scrappin stuff I might have to start.

Christmas Jammies.... check.
FYI when you get to pair #7 they only take like 15 minutes. So don't give up on the first pair. However I was at 'ol Navy last night and they had fleece bottoms for $5. Not COOL.

I Love, LOVe, Love, these flowers. My friend Sunny, mentioned she wanted to make some for teachers and I did what I always do... Totally took over. Sorry Sunny. She is so nice and just let me. I LOVE trying something new. I couldn't even give it to the kid's teachers. I have too many other ideas. McKinley's new sweater she is getting for Christmas, a couple of hats, a purse. hmmmm. the ideas are endless. And she found the tutorial here.

Tea towel Apron tutorial

First, find a cute tea towel. I found this cute 4th of July one at Roberts for about a $1, then you will need about 1/4 yard of coordinating fabric.














then measure it into thirds, make two triangular tucks on each of the 1/3 marks.

Cut your coordinating fabric into approx 6 inch, strips, sew 2 of the strips end to end. It will be about 90 inches long (plenty long enough to wrap around your waist, I like to tie it in front). Iron it like I have in the picture.
















find the middle of the strip of fabric and pin the apron in it, then fold the fabric over and sew the strip closed.

TADA!!! If you have more of the strip of fabric you could sew a pocket or another strip onto the bottom using the same process above. I am too lazy.

These were the treats. Halfway through the Bday party they were mostly gone, can you say SUGAR RUSH, we took the party outside to play tag on the church lawn, To hear about a birthday party and a service project all in one, just click here on my other blog

We finally got our tree up, it is a simple tree, we actually got a Real tree that started out at 12' I don't know what it is now. Growing up I really took for granted the REAL tree, and we have had a fake pre-lit tree for several years now, but every once in a while it is so fun to switch it up and get a BIG one. We like to decorate with the ornaments that the kids have made and collected, it is so much more special to us that way.

I wrapped these christmas books we already had, since there was 20 we started on the 4th of december and they unwrap one book each night, it is fun to get to be surprised which book we will read, we probably would have left half of them on the shelf to collect dust, but they are brought back to life.

OK, its nothing to brag about I know, but I was tossing out a whole bunch of craft supplies when we were cleaning out the garage, and I did a double take... and then I pictured the flowers ON the wreath. hmmm. I am still thinking about the bow, I kinda like it with out, just simple.

So our outdoor decorating is pretty much done. Jeff even hund a few of the HUGE snowflakes outside. He is such a scrooge whenit comes to decorating, besides he hung enough lights in WA to last us a lifetime, now we live in a colder place and we don't have the pressure of the "neighborhood luminaria", even though I miss it. I have many more ideas I would like to try.... but I am going to stop putting so much pressure on myself. I will post them if I do them.

My Favorite Blogs

I am going to start posting some of my favorite blogs for crafts and decorating. #1 Livin Life Patino Style. This AZ Momma amazes me. With 5 kids she is always working on Food storage, decorating something, canning something, or crafting something. She is so awesome, take a look at her Christmas tree's, and her cute Santa's cookies tray, oh and also her countdown with the Christmas Kisses. ::LOVE IT::

busy busy

I like this grandmas kitchen sign with the antique silverware for hooks, you can purchase it for {$5} Yes its cheap I know, but I am cleaning house remember.

Do you want this teddy bear nativity? You can have it. Just leave a comment and come pick it up :)

I made several of these boxes to fill with Christmas garland, you can switch it out for more summery stuff in the summer. This one just comes with the christmassy stuff { $5}

This is a Special Order for Mary, I am usually very critical of my own scrapbooky stuff, but I really like it so decided to post a picture. a mini tutorial is on my sidebar.

Westin asked me why we had an ornament of a burned hamburger, that kid cracks me up. I have so many of these lumps of coal (like 30). I ordered them for a bazaar and they didn't come in time.

They are only {$1}

The tag reads:

Santa came up with a new plan this year
For those who are especially cherished and dear.
A wee lump of coal in your stocking you’ll find,
not because you’ve been bad but
because you’ve been ever so kind.