Valentine's Day Projects ~ I Love Your Guts!

These are a few of the projects I did for Valentine's Day. I wish I would have done them a little earlier because I stayed up way too late last night. I couldn't be happier though. Sometimes I wonder why I put myself through the heartache of painstakingly hand making every little thing.  Maybe it's because I have such crafty friends who are so talented and I feel  like I need to keep up but lately I blame pinterest! I see all these great ideas and think "I can totally do that" and I can... I just don't have time to do it all.  I bet if I spent a little less time pinning and a little more time actually crafting I would get more done :) but when it's all said and done I am always really glad when I see the end results.

I'll start with these adorable valentines I made for Olivia's class. (I think they would also make cute invites for a monkey themed shower or birthday party) I got the idea from pinterest of course. It was from the fiskars website. It has great directions so i won't write them here but it used 5 different cutters that they sell. I didn't have any of those cutters so I just played around with sizes on my cricut until I got this.
2 1/2'" circle
2" heart
2 1/4" oval
1" circle
Instead of using the 1/8" hole punch for eyes I used googly eyes. I just love me some googly eyes! I put everything together with a glue stick and glue dots. I printed out tags for the back using trace letters so she could write her name herself. She was so proud of herself and so was I. She's only 2, so to me this is pretty impressive. She loves to "write" and draw so much so I just printed a tracing sheet for her with her name. She loves to do it so I printed more. I think I will laminate a couple sheets and let her have at it with dry erase markers.

I also made this little gift for her teacher. It's hanitizer! That's what Olivia calls hand sanitizer. I just removed all the labels and used some goo remover stuff to get the rest of the sticky stuff off. I used my cricut to make this too. I know it took me a year to take my cricut out of the box but now that I have really started using it I LOVE it so much! My friend Keli has a program called Sure Cuts A Lot that allows you to use files from your computer on your cricut. It basically does a lot of the same things cricut craft room does but with that program you still have to have all the cartridges. SCAL can use any font you have in word or download from sites like dafont.com. I can also download tons of images or make my own (which I haven't tried yet). It saves a ton of money on cartridges.

And finally, my favorite project is the card I made for Nic. When we first started dating I would say "I love your guts!" I said it to my friends too, sort of the opposite of I hate your guts, right? Anyway, in the beginning (before I could admit I actually loved all of him) I would just say this. I have said this for years but I never thought to make it into a card... until pinterest. I don't know how to embroider but when I saw this pic I just knew I HAD to make this for him. I did make some changes but I'm not sure if they were actually improvements or not. He loved it though. He actually laughed out loud, gave me a big hug and kiss and said it was "perfect". It's kind of an inside joke now so he's probably the only one who would enjoy this kind of card. I also made him an etched beer mug but I think I'll write about that later since this post is already so long.

Personalized cake carriers

 I have had my cricut for at least almost 3 years but I'm just now really getting the hang of it.  It probably stayed in the box for about a year! Although I just had to have it, it really intimidated me.  I broke it out last year to make some birthday decor for Olivia's party.  With the help of my cricut buddy I have really started to have fun with it.  My newest obsession? VINYL! It is so fun and can be used to personalize so many different things. 

Look at these fun cake carriers I made for a couple of my sisters. They are both just basic fonts you can find in Word.  You could also download some fun fonts on dafont.com  I've also used it to etch on glass but that is a gift for someone who has not yet seen it so I will post pics of that project later.  I really want to get some iron-on flocked vinyl to make some funky T-shirts or fun pillows.  I am in love with my little cricut now but my MIL got me the Cricut Cake for Christmas and I am actually intimidated by that now.  I've used it a couple times (without much success) but I plan on playing with that more so I can get the hang of that one too.

It's a girl... I think

So, in case you didn't know... We're preggers again and we are having a girl (I think).  We are still going to get a couple more ultrasounds to be sure after what happened with Ethan Olivia.  In the meantime, we have been having trouble thinking of baby girl names we both like that are not already taken.  Some of my favorite names are Sophia, Ava, Abigail, Claire, Ann, Lilly and Emily.  I have a very large family and all of those names are already taken in some form by other beautiful girls in my family.  I do have some others in mind.  Ordinarily I wouldn't tell everyone my names because sometimes people are a little, um, blunt with their opinions and I might end up choosing that name anyway then I'll know they hate it.  I really want some input this time though.  So here are some of my ideas in order of preference.  I really just want a name that is a little unique but doesn't sound made up.  Please let me know what you think (even if you hate it) but be nice please.  Also if you can think of any terrible taunting names or rhymes mean little kids might think of for these names, let me know that too (Like Josie grossy)

         My list:                                                         Nic's list

1. Eleanor                                                   1.   Madeline
2. Penelope
3. Eloise
4. Avery

On the 5th (and 6th) day of Christmas...

I am half way through the 12 days of Christmas with the hubs.  He has really enjoyed it.  I mean, who wouldn't like getting gifts everyday, right?  Well, I have enjoyed it too.  It makes me happy to make him happy but it also makes me happy when he does the dishes, gives O a bath or just offers to run errands for me.  Oh yes, he has been doing all those things since I started the 12 days.  Honestly, he helps out so much anyway.  I think this just maybe made him want to do a little more.  I'm sure he feels more appreciated.   

So, on to the gifts...

Day 5 I gave him a $5 gift card to Starbucks.  That should get him a grande (I hope! Starbucks is so expensive~ Geez!)  I thought with the simpler gifts I should present them in a more extravagant way.  This was a pretty simple gift but I packaged it in a nontraditional way. I put it in a can. I saw this idea last year and just sort of filed it away in the back of my mind. I can't take credit for it and there are probably a bajillion tutorials online already so I will not go into detail.  It's pretty simple.  I used a can that has a pull-tab top (usually soup cans do) Instead of opening it from the top I used a can opener and opened it from the bottom.  I emptied the soup (into my belly- love Italian wedding soup Mmmmmmm!)  I cleaned it really well. 

I even used a little bleach bc I felt like it still smelled a little soupy.  after it dried completely I put the gift card inside.  I also added some little candies because I thought it needed something else.  I used one of those fancy pampered chef can openers that don't actually puncture the can.  When I went to put the bottom back on I really didn't even need any glue.  I decided I would use hot glue anyway and it wouldn't work.  With that kind of can opener, there is no space for glue.  I ended up just using 2 little beads of hot glue and just firmly reattaching the bottom.  In the future, I will probably get a cheap can opener for projects like this.  That way I have more room for the glue and it will be totally hidden underneath the can.  After I closed the can I wrapped it in scrapbook paper.  I even cut a circle for the top bc there was a big NFL logo ontop and that didn't really fit my Christmas theme.  Not so bad for the first time, eh?  He had to pull the top open to get his gift.  He thought it was cool.  I guess I put too much candy inside though bc he didn't even notice the gift card.  He was happy with just the candies. 

On day 6, I gave him a 6-pack of reinbeers.  Cheesy? Yes, but I love it!  I got this idea from pinterest.  I thought the Guinness looked super cute but I happen to know that he does not enjoy Guinness from a bottle.  BC I am preggers I have not had beer since July... maybe August but he just found a new brewery out of Colorado that he really likes called Great Divide.  IDK a lot about their beers but they smell really yummy.  This one is called Claymore.  It reminds me of claymore mines (yes I'm a nerd) but the box is green and a little festive so I chose that.  Anyway this was really simple and needs no instruction.  I just thought I would post a pic for you to see.  Enjoy! 

By the way, I'm stumped for days 8 and 9. Any suggestions?

Look what I made!

Are you on pinterest? Well, about a month or so ago, one of my friends pinned a cute little candy bar wrapped in brown paper to look like a reindeer.  I thought it was cute but didn't really have a use for it.  Last week, my daughter's teacher posted a sign-up list for their holiday party.  The first item on the list was drinks and a light bulb went off.  Hey! I could make drink boxes like those candy bars.  I couldn't remember who pinned it and I couldn't find it again. So, I improvised.  The original just wrapped a brown piece of paper around a Hershey bar,  cut out brown and red circles for noses and black and white circles for eyes then add pipe cleaner antlers.  I decided to use some bronze foil wrapping paper I got from Hobby Lobby.  I also decided to use oval-shaped googly eyes instead of paper.  For the nose I used red glitter paper.  The only problem I had was that nothing really stuck to the foil paper.  I use double-sided photo stickers for just about every project but they were too easy to remove from the paper.  I ended up using hot glue.  No biggie.  The last time I decorated drink boxes I used pop-up stickers to attach the straws back onto the box but I just used hot glue for that too and it was perfect!  Oh just don't forget to punch a hole through your paper where the straw will go.  I thought they were so cute I ended up making extra for a party we were invited to.  Hope you like them!

The 12 days of Christmas



This year has been so hectic for our family.  In January I started an accelerated full-time nursing program.  We are also expecting another precious little girl.  Needless to say, it has been a whirlwind of stress and emotion.  My husband handles it all so well.  In the past I always found little ways to show him how much I appreciate him and not just on special occasions.  This year (when he has helped the most) I feel like I really let that part of our relationship slide.  Well, it's Christmas time and we always exchange gifts but I thought this year I would do something really special for him.  It's the 12 days of Christmas.  I started on the 13th and each day I am giving him a little gift that corresponds to that number.  I also add a little tag that says "On the (whatever day it is??) day of Christmas, my true love gave to me..." with some goofy Christmas clipart.  For day one I give him one thing, day two I give him two things, day twelve I give him twelve things... you get it.  Some are nice gifts and some are really small but it has been a lot of fun so far trying to get these gifts to him without him catching me.

Oklahoma shirt from Unlabeled

  So, for day one I gave him one great T-shirt.  On the second day I gave him a pair of gloves.  Yesterday was the third day so I got him Battlefield 3 for the PS3.  I'm pretty sure I will regret that one but he was excited about it and that's what I was going for.  Apparently, you play this one with a squad so he has to get on when his buddies are online and they fight battles together.  Yeah... whatever.  I don't think it could be any worse than COD but we'll see.  I felt like he was gone for the first few weeks Modern Warfare came out but this last time he wasn't so bad.  I'm really thinking I should have given him a 3-pack of golf balls or something instead.  Oh well.  Anyway, it took him until last night to figure out what I was doing.  He asked, "So do I actually get a gift all 12 days?"  My answer? "If you're good!"  ;) 

Sometimes he works 24 hour shifts and he leaves before 5:30am. Ugghh! So I have to get his gift ready and put it somewhere he will see it in the morning but not the night before.  It has been a challenge. So far, I have just put them in his truck when he isn't paying attention (like when he is playing his stupid PS3.  Today is the fourth day so I gave him a 4-pack of snacks.  I used Starbucks frappaccino bottles, removed the labels, washed them really well and used scrapbook paper to cover the little carrier and add detail to the bottles.  I basically made a template for the box and just cut strips of paper to wrap around the bottles.  I also used a circle punch for the bottle tops.  Mine was 1.5" but I think they look just a little on the small side.  I secured everything with double-sided photo stickers that are used for scrapbooking. 

This is what I ended up with!  I think they're pretty cute.  I would have preferred the mocha frappaccino light bottles because the caps are blue but I don't think Nic would drink those.  I thought about posting a template but I'm really not that computer savvy.  Anyway, you could really fill them with anything but I chose puppy chow, caramel popcorn, trail mix (with cranberries- his fave) and a spicy chex party mix.  Now that I have all these snacks I'm thinking I probably should have filled all the bottles with the same thing. I could always take them to a party (or just eat the puppy chow myself- hmmmm...) What do you think? 

Pumpkin Spice Cookies



Pumpkin Spice Cookies



I make these cookies every year and they always get rave reviews.  I made these for the nurses on my last day of this clinical rotation.  They went so fast I couldn't even get a picture.  So I'll update the next time I make them.  This can be made from scratch but it is so much easier to use a spice cake mix. It has the spiciness of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves combined with the sweetness of pumpkin and they actually aren't too bad for you because I use applesauce or apple butter instead of butter, oil, or shortening. These are my new faves. They are super quick and super easy! I do make them a little less healthy by topping them with cream cheese icing. They taste a lot like the pumpkin cookies from City Bites... only BETTER!

1 (14 ounce) can 100% pure pumpkin

2 eggs

1/2 cup applesauce

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 (18.25 ounce) package spice cake mix

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease two baking sheets.
2. Beat the pumpkin, eggs, applesauce, and vanilla together in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the cake mix, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves until well blended and creamy. Drop by spoonfuls on prepared baking sheets. The batter is runny like a cake mix but they don't expand or run on the cookie sheet. So, whatever they look like when you put them in the oven is what they will look like when you pull them out.
3. Bake in preheated oven until tops are firm when lightly touched, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on racks. If you use stoneware, they take just a bit longer to bake.  Honestly, they are so moist that they are hard to overcook.

The cream cheese icing recipe I use is 1 stick butter and 1 block cream cheese creamed together well, then add about 2 cups or so of powdered sugar. I know it's not exact but I just add more until I like the texture and taste. Unfortunately I have to taste the icing each time I add more. You know, like quality control. It's a painstaking process but I will make the sacrifice.  Enjoy!!!