How to Make a Ruffled Heart T-shirt

So, I have all these colorful T-shirts that I've been using for crafts, and I love the look of those little girls' ruffled heart t-shirts. I happened to have a colorful Tangerine Tango T-shirt and my daughter had a plain white T-shirt, so I decided to put one together myself.

To make the ruffles, take the T-shirt you'll use for the heart and cut it into strips about 2 inches wide. The T-shirt I used had seams down each side from the armpit to the hem, so I cut horizontally along the bottom of the T-shirt then trimmed the seam off each side to get the strip you see here. Doing that would make two of these. If your T-shirt doesn't have seams down each side, you would end up with a large loop after each horizontal cut which you could cut in two to give you these strips.

To turn your strips into a ruffle, stitch a long stitch down the middle of the strip (I set my machine on the longest setting - 5), and do not back-stitch the beginning or the end of your stitch.

Hold the strip at one end, and pull one of the threads (either the top or bottom, but not both) in one direction (toward you) while pushing the material in the other direction (away from you).

You'll end up with a ruffle like this! Space the ruffles evenly by sliding the material along the thread, then place it onto your T-shirt and pin it into place. Continue making the ruffles and placing them onto your T-shirt until you have the size and placement you want.

You'll want to be sure to place the centers of the ruffles as close to one another as possible, otherwise when you wash it, you'll end up with gaps inside the heart in which the T-shirt underneath shows through.

Once you have everything pinned, simply sew the ruffles onto the shirt (taking extra care not to hit any pins!), and you're done!

Graduation Cap Candies

My daughter graduated preschool last night. It was bittersweet to see her walk on stage in a little cap and gown to accept her certificate of completion. She looked so much older with her hair curled and styled and pulled back into her graduation cap. I suppose these ceremonies are really designed more to prepare the parents - emotionally and mentally - for the future than those actually "graduating". It certainly was a dose of reality for my husband and me: our little girl is growing up.

Of course, any ceremony has to be followed by gluttony or it just wouldn't be American. Every family was asked to bring two dishes and a dessert, and I took the easy way out and brought a fruit and veggie tray for my two dishes. The dessert was really simple, too - but fun and fit the occasion. I made little chocolate graduation cap candies from store-bought candy and icing.

To put these together, all you'll need are:
-Chocolate squares (I used Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate - found on sale at Target)
-Miniature Peanut Butter cups (I used Reese's)
-Cookie icing (I used Betty Crocker)
-White Fondant icing (I had some left over in the freezer from decorating a birthday cake recently)

I originally thought that I would use graham cracker squares dipped in chocolate for the cap tops, but the chocolate squares were so much easier. It occurred to me later that I could also have used brownie bites in place of the peanut butter cups - maybe I'll do that next time! Brownie bites would also be best if someone has a peanut allergy.

To assemble, unwrap the candies, and turn the peanut butter cup upside down. Place a small amount of cookie icing onto the peanut butter cup, then place the chocolate square on top of the icing.

To make the tassel, add a little icing on the center of the cap, then roll a small amount of fondant into a long string-like shape, and place one end of the string into the icing.

Give the icing time to set up (Betty Crocker's cookie icing is great for setting up very quickly!), and you're all done! They were a huge hit at the graduation dinner, enjoyed by kids and parents alike.

Happy Graduation to all of this year's graduates out there! And to both the parents and graduates - you did a Great Job!

The Perfect Mother's Day Gift (and it's FREE!)

Are you still searching for the perfect Mother's Day gift for your wife or significant other? I'll share a secret Mom's wish with you guys who are out there, desperately searching the ether for last minute ideas...

This is what Moms really want:

1. Let her be able to do something - anything - of her choosing, unrushed and uninterrupted. I haven't been able to do this in over 5 years now. A pregnant friend recently asked me, via email, if I had any advice for her, and I told her to expect to not be able to finish anything uninterrupted for the next few years. I still haven't heard from her, but I'll bet she'll agree with me in a couple of years.

2. Pretend she isn't there. That's right! That means you and the kids figure out the day's details, events and activities - everything from eating meals to wiping butts to finding the duct tape - on your own. Even if she's there, pretend she isn't and improvise if you must. Whatever you do...don't ask her where something is, or how to do something, because that really isn't giving her a break at all, much less letting her have some uninterrupted time (see #1).

3. Pick up your own stuff, and your kids' stuff, if only for one day. She picks up her own stuff and puts it back where it belongs, all day, every day. Guess what! She also picks up your kids' stuff, all day, every day. You don't notice it, but trust me, she's doing it. All. Day. Long. And - BONUS! She also picks up your stuff. You probably don't notice that either, but it's always where it belongs, isn't it? And - hmmmm...I'll bet you weren't the one that put it there, but like magic - POOF! It was there, in it's place, when you went to get it. So, just for Mother's Day, don't leave her anything extra to pick up and put away.

Forget the jewelry, fancy dinners, breakfast in bed, and anything else that you thought she might want. Trust me when I say that if you can swing these three things, you'll have a happy Mama in your house.

More Scent-sational Teacher Appreciation Gifts!

A few weeks ago, I posted about finishing a Teacher Appreciation Day gift early. In true fashion, tomorrow is the big day, and I haven't done anything more to add to it. So, at the last minute (you call it procrastination, I call it forced efficiency), I decided to make a few more of the aromatic shower bombs I also made recently, and put them together as a Super-scent-sational gift.

I dressed up the shower bombs by using decorative foil cupcake liners, wrapping each individually, and making a label for the bottom that explains to the teacher what it is ("Aromatic Shower Bombs - place in the bottom of the tub while showering. Do Not Eat! Contains baking soda, food coloring, and essential oils.")

I put a couple of the bombs into a decorative little watering can I picked up for a couple of dollars at Dollar General, then added the lavender sachets and a handmade card from my daughter.

For the finishing touch, I wrapped them in cellophane and tied the top. I love the way they turned out!

I'd love to hear other ideas for Teachers' gifts. What is your favorite thing to give to your child's teacher?

Rainbow Pour Paintng

I love this idea!

Grilled Cheese in the Waffle Iron

Today is National Grilled Cheese Day (who declares these things, really? I'm curious). To celebrate, I made my daughter a grilled cheese in my Winnie the Pooh Waffle Maker. It couldn't have been easier, quicker, or tastier than this!

I love this waffle maker. It was a Christmas gift a few years ago, and I love using it for everything from waffles, to cinnamon rolls, to sandwiches!

Everything comes out with Tigger on one side, and Pooh on the other, so it makes for a fun treat for my daughter.

Prior to putting it in the waffle maker, I did fold two edges of the cheese so that the cheese wouldn't ooze out onto the hot interior surface.

I then buttered the bread and closed the waffle maker. I waited about 60 seconds, and that's it!

She loved it! And it was fun for me, too!

How to Make Your Own Aromatic Shower Bombs

According to many experts, we may see record-breaking pollen levels this Spring. That is bad news for allergy sufferers, and I'm already feeling the miserable effects of all this pollen. I went in search of something to help clear my stuffy head, and I was lucky enough to come across this post.

I was lucky enough to already have most everything needed, so I decided to give them a try. I changed it up just a little, though, and I was very pleased with the results.

I decided to make shower bombs with three different scents, and I added food coloring to help me tell the difference once they were done. For one group, I used Eucalyptus Oil, Lavender Oil, and green color. For the second, I used a Refreshing blend of Lemon, Geranium, Rosewood, Maychang, and Cedarwood oils, and yellow color. In the third, I used a Stress Relief blend of Lavender, Ylang, Black Pepper, Petitgrain, Pine, Clary Sage, and Vetiver oils, with a few drops of red color, giving me a nice pastel pink.

I mostly followed the original instructions, using 2 cups of baking soda, enough water to make a paste, and 20 drops of oil (total) for each batch. I also added 4 drops of color to each batch.

I then spooned the paste into the paper cups. Since I was in a hurry and wanted to use them quickly, I baked them at 300 degrees for 30 minutes, then turned the oven off, left them in the oven with the door shut, and waited until they'd cooled. They had dried by that point (and boy, did my house smell terrific!), so I took them out.

Time for a nice, long, hot shower!

A few lessons that I learned and will change the next time I make them:

• Don't fill the cups past the half-way point. I filled mine like I would normally fill when making cupcakes, and it was too much. The weight was too much for the paper cups, and they ended up sticking to the cupcake tins. Spraying the cupcake tins with non-stick spray probably would have prevented this, too.
• Instead of paper cups, I plan to use the foil baking cups next time. I think they will hold up better, and they'll be easier to peel off in one piece when I'm using them, rather than fall apart like the paper ones. I think they'll look nice, too.
• The original post said that you could put the bomb anywhere on the floor of the shower, and I agree. However, I get more scent when I put it toward the back of the shower, out of the direct path of falling water. It definitely lasts longer this way! My husband also suggested that it might be beneficial to plug the drain while you're showering, to get even more scent while you shower. I may try that, too!

Dyeing Easter Eggs with Natural Colors: An Experiment

I thought I'd try a little experiment with the Easter eggs to see if we could get some decent color by using all natural things that we had on hand. When I look around, I see so many lovely and vibrant colors in nature, I thought it would be simple to find something that might give us similar colors on our egg shells. I was mostly wrong this time, though.

I used Blueberry juice concentrate, beet juice (the liquid left after I cooked a beet), and crushed spirulina in water. I added vinegar to hopefully help set the colors, then heated them in the microwave (to hot, but not boiling).

I soaked the eggs for around 10 minutes, then pulled them out to dry. The results were readily apparent: only the beet juice is worth trying again. 

What's even more amazing is that the beet juice egg was brown to start with - such a lovely dark pink it is now! The spirulina egg just looked dirty, and the blueberry juice only highlighted the "A" I'd drawn on the egg in clear crayon. 

So much for natural egg dyes...we'll stick with the tablets again this year!

Make Your Own Peeps (Without All the Bad Stuff!)

Growing up, I always found a few Peeps in my Easter basket on Easter morning. I looked forward to it all year long...that crunchy sugar coating with soft marshmallow inside. Now, we can buy Peeps all year long, as they're usually themed for every holiday and not just Easter. While they're cute (and still just as delicious!), I thought it might be fun to make our own for a change, leaving out the artificial colors, corn syrup, and preservatives.

Peeps are pretty simple: shaped marshmallow covered in colored sugar. So, I started by making my own marshmallows. I'd never made marshmallows before, but I'll try most anything at least once. I found this recipe online and thought it sounded fairly straightforward. I didn't want to use corn syrup, though, so I substituted honey in its place. The only problem with using honey is that the marshmallows were honey-flavored. This is fine if you and your family like the taste of honey, but if you don't, you might want to try this recipe instead. I found it after I'd already made the marshmallows, and I'm definitely planning to use it next time I make something that calls for corn syrup.

Making the marshmallows was a lot of fun, and yes, it was messy, but not as messy as I thought it'd be!

Next, I picked out my cutting shapes and got the colored sugar ready. For the shapes, I just used my Spring cookie cutters, but you could also put the soft marshmallow into a decorator bag and use a piping tip to pipe chick shapes.

To make the naturally colored sugar, I used orange juice for yellow, strawberry preserves for pink, and blueberry juice concentrate for purple.

I simply put some sugar into a plastic bag, then added a bit of each juice until I got the desired color. I did like the results, and the juices gave the peeps a subtle flavor that was an unexpected surprise.

My marshmallows turned out a bit thick, and with my large-sized cutters, they made some huge Peeps!

Once I had the shapes, I just sprinkled them with the colored sugar. I then melted a bit of dark chocolate to add some detail, and used a toothpick to create the eyes and lines.

That's it! I used the extra marshmallow and cut it into smaller pieces, and drizzled the leftover melted chocolate on them. Both the Peeps and the marshmallows here a big hit with the family, and with me!

Even More (Yes, I Know!) T-shirt Yarn Crafts

Okay, my obsession with this stuff is never ending. I'm working on some necklaces that will allow the wearer to change out the beads and charms, but in the mean time...I bring you the T-shirt yarn watch!

This was really just so easy, I'm planning to make a few more.

Basically, I just picked up a few of these at my local craft supply store:

I used beading wire and findings to attach the watch to a piece of T-shirt yarn, then I wrapped it around my wrist.

The best part is that if I get tired of the orange, I can always just attach it to a different colored strand for a totally new look. I could also layer this one with another color for a different look. The possibilities are endless!

How to Get The Sweaty Smell Out of Your Work Out Clothes

Today's work out clothes are made of wonderful fabrics that keep you comfortable and "wick" the sweat away from your skin. The only problem with the fabric, though, is that it tends to hold that sweaty smell after a while. You don't need to toss your favorite running shirt as soon as you notice a lingering smell...just use these steps to freshen it up!

What You'll Need:

-Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (regular baking soda works well, too!)
-Tea Tree Oil
-A bucket or sink large enough to soak your clothing

Just put your work out clothes into a bucket or sink large enough to hold them, then sprinkle about 1 cup of washing soda on top. Add 15 - 20 drops of Tea Tree Oil, and add hot tap water (the hotter, the better) until the clothing is covered in water. Since you're using hot water, you may want to soak whites and colored fabrics separately.

The soda and Tea Tree Oil both work to remove the odor, and since the Tea Tree Oil has natural anti-fungal properties, it helps prevent any potential fungus-related issues, since fungi tend to love sweaty places (think: Jock Itch and athlete's foot - ugh!).

Leave the clothes soaking until the water cools, then wring the extra water from the clothing and wash and dry as you normally would. Afterwards, everything should smell much fresher! I do this for my work out clothing about once a month, and it really has made them last much longer.

If this doesn't do the trick, make a thick paste of washing soda and a little water, and apply it directly to your shirts' armpits, then wash.

More Experiments with T-shirt Yarn

In my previous posts, I made three types of scarves from t-shirt yarn. Now that Spring is near, I wanted to use some colorful t-shirt yarn to make a necklace or two, though.

I found a bright blue, solid t-shirt at our local thrift store for $1. When I last made my t-shirt yarn, I made parallel cuts to create many long loops (the dark green infinity scarf in this post). This time, I decided to make a continuous piece of yarn by removing the hem, then cutting a single layer all around the bottom until I reached the armpits.

This made a lot of yarn, a big heap of it.

My four-year-old daughter found it all very intriguing and wanted to help. Who am I to refuse? She also wanted me to make a video of her showing us all how to make it:

As you can see, we have a future McGalver on our hands, which makes me really proud!

I learned a very important lesson, though - as you turn your cut t-shirt into yarn, make sure you either roll it up into a ball as you go, stack it, or somehow otherwise keep it nice and tidy. If you don't, you'll end up with a big ol' knotted mess, like I did.

It took me an hour to turn this:

into this:

Once that was tidied up, though, I was good to go. I have had my eye on Sailor's Knot necklaces, like this one, for a while, and set out to learn how to make one like it.

I found a wonderful, step-by-step guide to the Carrick Bend (often used in Sailor's Knot necklaces) here. I viewed other websites and videos, but this one was, hands-down, the easiest for me to follow. I decided to try it using the t-shirt yarn, even though it isn't as stiff as the twisted rope that is often used in these necklaces.

This was the result:

I like it! I used 4 strands of yarn on each side, for a total of 8 when the necklace is finished. I also varied the knot a bit, too, by tucking the bottom 4 strands on each side through the back of the upper loops. I finished it by knotting each side, then adding a dab of fabric glue to hold it. I then used jump rings and a necklace clasp, and it was complete!

Quinoa and Black Bean Casserole

All this talk of Meatless March has inspired me to try out some new vegetarian dishes. I came across a vegan quinoa and black bean casserole that used non-dairy cheese, and I decided to use a few of my ingredients on hand to come up with a spicy version of my own.

Ingredients

-1 large Sweet potato, raw and diced 

-Whole Grain Quinoa, 1 cup dry or 2 cups cooked 

-2 cups cooked black beans 

-Ground tumeric, 2 tbsp  

-2 cans Cut Diced Tomatoes with green chiles 

-1/2 tbsp ground Oregano 

-6 oz. shredded Cheddar Cheese 

-1 tbsp Basil 2 oz shredded Mozzarella Cheese, part skim milk

Directions

Cook Quinoa and Black beans according to directions on label.

Spray a 9" x 12" casserole dish with non-stick spray and spread Quinoa into the pan.

Combine everything else, except the Mozarella, into a mixing bowl and stir to mix. Spread the mixture onto the Quinoa, then top with the Mozzarella.

Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes.

Serving Size: Makes 6-1 cup servings

Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 6
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 380.1

• Total Fat: 13.3 g
• Cholesterol: 35.1 mg
• Sodium: 398.4 mg
• Total Carbs: 46.6 g
• Dietary Fiber: 9.9 g
• Protein: 19.7 g

It was so yummy! I think it would be great on a bed of fresh greens. I'll have to try that with all the leftovers!

How to Make Your Own Stuffed Animal Hammock

A couple of days ago, I realized that my daughter has developed an addiction to stuffed animals. It's getting to the point that if we don't intervene soon, she very well may end up on a Preschool edition of Hoarders. Don't believe me?

I'm ashamed of this picture, and this isn't even all of them...more are already stored in tidy cubes along a wall behind me. These didn't have a home, though, other than the floor or bed, and I vowed to find some way to get all those little dust gatherers off the floor.

I have had my eye out for a toy hammock for some time, but the few that I found didn't appeal to me. So, I set out to try something on my own.

What You'll Need:

-1 pair of long, lightweight sheers or drapes (can usually be picked up for a couple of dollars at a Thrift store)
-8 small screw-in hooks

I started by screwing the first four hooks into the ceiling, near the corner but out a bit and at an angle. I didn't worry about measuring or straight lines - the fabric will cover the hooks.

Next, I took one of the sheers and laid it on the floor. I folded it in half to find the middle, then tied a knot about a foot up from the middle / bottom. I then tied a second knot near the top.

I hung this on the four hooks by pressing the four corners of the top of the tied sheer onto the four ceiling hooks. Yes, I ripped the fabric by doing this, but it should hold if you're sure to hook the fabric below the hemmed edges.

I filled both levels with the animals that my daughter doesn't usually play with, and made sure to leave a few peeking over the edges for a decorative effect.

I then placed the remaining four hooks into the two walls, and hooked the remaining sheer in a hammock fashion.

This bottom layer holds her favorites, and she's able to easily reach them whenever she wants. The best part of this solution (other than no longer having all these animals spread around the room) is that I can easily take it down whenever needed. I keep hoping she'll outgrow this stuffed animal obsession soon, but that may just be wishful thinking on my part.

How to Throw a Mad Men Party, Part 4 of 4: Decorations

Our party decorations were pretty simple: I searched Google Images for Mad Men Ads, found a few good ones, printed them, and taped them to the walls. Some of my favorites are from this page; they should look familiar to fans of the show. I also found quite a few entertaining, real ads from the era, and printed those as well. This is a great example:

We also wanted a great soundtrack to set the mood. A few months ago, my husband had the foresight to pick out a new television that allowed us to watch YouTube directly on the television. So, I chose the first hour of the Trololo 10 hours video for the first part of our party.

No one really seemed to mind, or notice, even, since they were just getting here, meeting and greeting everyone, and catching up. Once everyone was here and settled, my husband cut over to a playlist of 1960's-era ads. Alternatives this could be streaming Mad Men on Netflix through your Wii, or even playing episodes on your DVD.

As an added bonus, I made personalized wine glasses for all the ladies that came to the party. I used the same font I mentioned in Part 3 and printed out each name. I then cut the name to fit into a wine glass and taped it to the inside of the glass. I used a Pebeo Pen to trace the name on the outside of the glass.

These pens are wonderful for personalizing and painting on glass and ceramics. Just let the paint dry, then bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes, turn the oven off, and leave the glass inside the oven until it cools. Once you do this, it's microwave and dishwasher safe. The Pebeo paints really do hold up well and last much longer than others I have used.

We had a great time at our party! We had a lot of booze left after our party, so we're thinking about having a premiere party on March 25. Too bad it's on a Sunday night, though...