Please excuse my absence

I'm dealing with some health issues & finals. Bad combination. Because of all that going on, I decided to take a few weeks to gather myself & then come back with some really awesome crafts. I hope you won't forget about me! I plan on making a spectacular return ;)

General Conference

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. March 31-April 1, 2012 will be the weekend of our general conference. It's where members of the Church get to gather together and hear the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speak. We get to hear apostles, elders, and other leaders of our Church give us guidance. This happens twice a year, once in April and again in October.

I visit 2 sisters each month to give them a lesson or spiritual thought. Since it's right before our next conference I decided to make them a little something to help them prepare for conference as well as provide a little snack while they're watching.

Access Google Docs file here.

If you're interested, you too can watch General Conference either by tuning to BYU-TV or by watching online at www.lds.org.

Washer Necklace

I wanted to see if I could make something without spending a dime this week. I used a bunch of left-over materials & borrowed (read: stole) a little something from my hubby to make this necklace:

You'll need:
a washer
scrapbook paper
leather cording
EnviroTex Lite pour-on (can be found in the craft department)

Cut the scrapbook paper to match the size of the washer.

Place the paper on top of the washer. Following the directions on the box, apply EnviroTex pour-on. I used a Styrofoam bowl & a cap to an old bottle of hairspray to contain the excess and elevate the washer.

Once set (my box said to let sit for 24 hours), wrap leather cording around washer to create the necklace. You can use a clasp if you wish, but I decided just to tie a knot in the cording.

Spring Cleaning Week: Odds & Ends

There are some things that people forget about or have never thought to do them. Here are some suggestions that I have. There are many others, so if you know of some leave a comment.

1. Check your smoke detector battery. Better yet, go ahead and replace it.
2. Flip and rotate your mattresses.
3. Wash curtains (if possible).
4. Clean your trash can. Sounds weird, but some gross stuff could be lurking.
5. Run your washer empty with 1c white vinegar. Helps with any smells and cleans any grime.
6. Clean out your car. While you're at it, clean the outside too.
7. Delete any old files from your computer.
8. Clean out your window sills. There's dirt in there and if you like to have your windows open, it's just going to blow around in your clean home.
9. Clean dryer vents. Also, take out the lint collector & clean with a small brush.
10. Open the windows and let some fresh air in!

Spring Cleaning Week: Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh

I love the smell of a clean home. My husband thinks that's why I clean so much. However, he has lots of allergies that make it impossible to use conventional deodorizers. Aerosol sprays cause him to sneeze and artificial fragrances makes it difficult for him to breathe. I found a couple of things that help with that problem. That's right, you're getting another 2-for-1! How exciting!

First up, a spray.
You'll need:
a spray bottle
2c hot water
1/8 baking soda
1/2c lemon juice

Dissolve the baking soda in the water and add the lemon juice. Pour into the spray bottle.

I don't know if this will affect the color of cloth furniture, so be careful! I try not to spray it near my couches though, just in case.

The second is a refrigerator deodorizer.
You'll need:
an orange
salt
a bowl

Cut orange in half & remove pulp. Pour salt into rind. Place in bowl to prevent a mess in case it gets knocked over & place in fridge. The salt soaks up any nasty odors while the orange helps it smell nice.

Spring Cleaning Week: My List

I have a confession: I'm OCD. About many things. One of the big ones is cleaning. I'm somewhat of a germaphobe. The only time I feel normal is in the spring when the rest of the world decides to pick up my habits. I'm willing to share with you my spring cleaning list! It will take about 2 weeks to complete if you follow this schedule, but it can & should be altered to fit your needs.

Before starting this, make sure you’re willing to get rid of stuff you no longer need or use. Don’t let emotional attachments get in the way of having the clean home you want. If you’d like, take a picture of the object, print the picture, then write the memory on the back of the picture.

Source

Monday:  Clean out fridge & freezer. Take everything out. Wipe down all bottles & jars. Throw away anything past its date. Wipe down shelves, drawers, and doors. Clean out any crumbs in the rubber seals. Clean the top, front, and sides with Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. Put everything back in its place. Sweep and mop kitchen floor.

Tuesday:  Clean out cabinets. Work one cabinet at a time. Take everything out and wipe down every item. Throw away anything past its date. Wipe down shelves, sides of cabinet, and doors. Line shelves if necessary. Sort cabinet contents by container (can, jar, bottle, bag, etc) and/or contents (fruits, veggies, beans, etc). Place back in cabinets according to categories. When working on plates, wipe each one with wet washcloth or towel to remove any dust. Inspect dishes for cleanliness.

Wednesday:  Clean under cabinets. Take everything out. Clean all surfaces. Inspect all containers for leaks or faulty packaging. In bathroom, organize all contents by their use, person using them, frequency of use, etc. Place back according to categories. In kitchen, organize contents by their use, frequency of use, etc. Place back according to categories. If possible, place all cleaning supplies in a large container (bin, bucket, etc) for easy access in future.

Thursday:  Clean stove, dishwasher, and drains. In kitchen, pour boiling water down all drains. In bathroom, pour baking soda then a mixture of vinegar & boiling water down all drains. Wipe down front of dishwasher. Clean around seal of dishwasher. Run empty with no soap. Wipe down top of stove & panels where knobs are located. Take out all burners & drip pans. If possible, lift stove top. Place drip pans in sink filled with hot soapy water. Clean underneath stove top. Remove oven racks and place in tub or large sink. Mix baking soda & hot water into a thick paste. Place on all surfaces of oven and on racks. Let sit 20 minutes. Meanwhile, use rough side of sponge or a scouring pad to clean drip pans. Allow to dry. Fill spray bottle with vinegar. Working in small sections, spray vinegar onto surfaces of oven & racks & wipe clean. If needed, take pumice stone & lightly scrape burned on foods (be careful not to damage finish). Line bottom of oven with aluminum foil. Replace racks. Cover drip pans with aluminum foil. Replace drip pans & burners.

Friday:  Dust. Make a mixture of 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water. Be sure to wipe down blinds, window sills, baseboards, doors, and light switches.

Saturday:  Catch up on laundry. Keep machines running. Iron as needed right away. Put clothes away as soon as done folding. While in closet, turn all hangers with the open end of hooks facing you. When putting away clothes after laundry day, turn so closed end is facing you. At the end of a year, give away any clothes that haven’t been turned around. These are clothes you do not wear. Place unused dryer sheet in drawers to keep them smelling fresh.

Sunday:  Rest. Enjoy your family. Bask in how much work you’ve gotten done in 1 week!

Monday:  Clean pantry. Take everything out. Check all dates. Wipe down all shelves. Line shelves if needed. Sort contents. Place back contents according to categories. Sweep & mop floor.

Tuesday:  Clean living room. Remove all cushions from furniture. Using attachment, vacuum all cushions and pillows. Vacuum area on furniture where cushions were, especially deep crevices. Put cushions and pillows back. Clear all surfaces possible. Wipe down surfaces and all items removed. Put them all back. If possible, move furniture & vacuum where they sit. Move furniture back & finish vacuuming.

Wednesday: Clean bedrooms. Remove sheets & wash. Remove anything from closets that isn’t clothing. Arrange hanging items by color. Make sure all items in closet are on hangers. Place toys in bins. Take all items from under beds. Vacuum under beds, if possible. Dust dressers. Take all items from bedside tables. Dust each item. Try to keep only necessary items on tables (alarm clock, glasses, book if you read at night, etc). All items that do not belong in bedroom return to their respected areas. Enlist the help of children if possible.

Thursday:  Clean bathroom. Remove all items from tub/shower. Make mixture of equal parts hot water, white vinegar, and Dawn dish detergent in a spray bottle. Spray this mixture to shower doors, walls, and tub. Let sit for at least 30 minutes. Rinse well with clear water. Replace shower liner if needed. Wipe down edge and front of tub. Wipe down each item from shower & place back. Clean mirror with solution of 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water. Use this same solution to clean counters, sink, and front of cabinet doors. Wipe shower curtain rod with washcloth or towel wet with vinegar/water mixture. Empty trash can. Wipe down outside of toilet with vinegar/water mixture. Using gloves and an old sponge, scrub inside of toilet bowl with a paste of baking soda & water. Flush. Wash bath mat. Sweep and mop floor. Do not let children use vinegar/detergent/water mixture & use mixture with exhaust fan on. Remove all contents of medicine cabinet. Wipe down all shelves and doors. Wipe each item. Check for items past their date & discard. Toss anything that is hard that’s supposed to be soft or soft that’s supposed to be hard or has changed color. Place the rest of the items back.

Friday:  Focus of floors. Sweep all bare floors & mop. Vacuum carpets. For stains, sprinkle area with baking soda, then spray with mixture of 1 part white vinegar & 1 part hot water. Use towel to apply pressure & bring up stain. Allow to dry. Vacuum again.

Saturday:  Outside area. Sweep porch, entry way, patio, and sidewalk. If possible, power-wash concrete surfaces. Sweep any cobwebs down inside & out with a broom covered with a damp towel. Also use this day to catch up on laundry. Iron as needed right away. Be sure to place newly-laundered clothes with closed end of hanger facing you.

Sunday:  Rest. Enjoy your clean home!

Knock-off Week: Rose pillow

Note: I'm having some issues with pictures. Sorry! I was able to salvage one.

I'm not usually a throw pillow kind of girl. You know, the one who has 20 pillows on the bed and another 10 on the couch. I think they're a waste of space and money. However, I do like pretty things and I do like my home to feel welcoming. I also like for my guests to think that I care about my home's appearance. I found this at West Elm while surfing the net one day:

Source

Isn't it precious? However, I flat-out refuse to pay $47 for one pillow. $47! And that's marked down! Heck no! ...So I decided to make it instead.

You'll need:

felt

hot glue & gun

fabric that coordinates with felt

pillow form

sewing machine

coordinating thread

Measure the pillow form & cut out 2 pieces of fabric to cover it.

Remember my St Patrick's Day wreath? Repeat the same process for making the felt rosettes until you get enough to cover one piece of fabric.

Sew the 2 pieces of fabric together on 3 sides.

Slip in the pillow form & sew the remaining side closed.

Glue the rosettes onto the front of the pillow.

Knock-off Week: Tiered Platters

I love this from JSG Oceana:

Source

However, we are college students getting ready to move across the country and are, therefore, broke.as.a.joke. No lie. I still want a "fancy" tiered glass service set though for those time when we have friends over & the food just won't fit on our table.

Thank goodness Dollar Tree is just right down the road. 

You'll need: 

2 plates

1 bowl

2 taper candle holders

strong glue

Glue one candlestick holder onto the bottom of 1 plate and another onto the bottom of the bowl according to the directions on the glue. 

I didn't glue all three dishes together for storage purposes, but you can if you like. I just don't have a space where something of this size will fit properly. Besides, not gluing them all together gives me different options in stacking them.

Now, I don't trust the glue to hold up in the dishwasher, but the glue you use may be fine. Also, if one breaks, no big deal! I can just run to the Dollar Tree & replace it!

Knock-off Week: Calvin Klein bracelet

I am all about being frugal. I've said many times, "Don't buy what you can make." This week is dedicated to proving that you don't have to buy everything. Sometimes going the cheaper route is best.

I love jewelry! Even using "love" is still a bit of an understatement...ask my husband. I have so many necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, etc he complains a bit every time I open my jewelry box. I must admit though, most of my pieces I get at really good prices, but I knew that he would flip out if I paid retail for this beauty:

Source. $100!!!

Yeah, he would have flipped his lid on that one. So...I decided to try my hand at making something similar for about a 1/10th of the cost.

You'll need:
6-8 inches of black leather cording, depending of desired length

jump rings, I used 62

round disks (you can find these near the jump rings), I used 10

1 clasp, I went with a lobster clasp
2 cord ends

Fasten 1 cord end to one end of the cording. Attach one half of the clasp. This will help the jump rings and disks not slide off while you're working. Slide on jump rings and jump rings with disks attached to them (or loaded) onto the cording. I alternated using the following pattern: 5 empty, 1 loaded, 6 empty, 1 loaded, 5 empty, 1 loaded, 6 empty, 1 loaded.... until I reached 10 loaded jump rings. Then I ended with 5 empty.

Attach the other cord end and use a jump ring to attach the other half of the clasp.

Cherry Blossom Tree

One of my favorite things about the East Coast is the Cherry Blossoms. They smell wonderful and are a definite signal spring is on its way. Here in the Idaho desert, there are no Cherry Blossoms...unless you count the one in my kitchen.

You'll need:
1.25 or 2L bottle
black paint
pink paint (you may need white to tone it down)
a canvas or piece of wood

Paint a random "branch" onto the canvas with the black paint. The lines don't have to be perfectly straight. I think it looks better if they aren't.

Mix the white & pink paints to get a nice pink color. I mixed 2 parts "hot pink" to 1 part white.

Dip the bottom of the bottom of the bottle into the pink paint.

Press the bottle bottom onto the canvas to create the flowers. I used an eraser tip to create the flower centers. Allow to dry & hang.

St Patrick's Day Wreath

I think before long my new neighbors will realize I have a wreath for every holiday. Yeah, I'm one of those people.
My hubby & I are both of Irish descent. We don't take St Patrick's Day too seriously, but we do take time to honor our Irish heritage.
First stop: a wreath.

You'll need:
plain Styrofoam wreath (or something of similar material)
glue gun
scissors
1/2yd fabric
felt (I used 6 pieces)

Using a template, cut circles of at least 2 sizes out of the felt. The smaller size will help fill in the gap that the larger ones create.

Cut the circles into spirals. If you have fancy-edged scissors use them to create interesting edges on your flowers.

Starting on the outside, roll the felt together. Try to keep the bottom edge as flat and even as possible.

Cut the fabric into 3 inch strips and wrap around wreath.

Use a low-temp glue gun to glue the flower together. Then glue the flower to the wreath.

Keep going until the wreath is covered or the desired look is achieved.

Camera Buddy

I often kid that I have four jobs: housewife, student, shoe salesperson, and photographer. I love all of my jobs (sometimes I love the student job less), but I'm most excited about being a photographer. I get to meet lots of interesting people and capture so many special moments. One of the toughest things about that job though is making sure the kids look at the camera. Most of the time they want to focus on Mom or Dad or some shiny object that just caught their eye. This helps:

I love my little guy! He's really easy to make. Even better, I bought everything I need from the Dollar Tree! I made this little guy for $2!

You'll need a puppet animal, scrunchy of a coordinating color, fabric pen or marker, needle, and thread.

Place the scrunchy on top of the body of the puppet & trace the outer circle with a fabric pen or marker.

Cut out the hole.

Sew the scrunchy into the hole that you just created. Also, sew the bottom closed where your hand would normally go.

Slide the puppet onto the lens of your camera.

Pretzel Treats

I'm gonna do a two-fer. Two treats, one episode ;)

Depending on the one you want to try, you'll need either Rolos & pecan halves or Hershey Hugs to go along with the pretzels. The squares work better than most pretzels. I've tried many kinds and this is best.

Lay the pretzels in a single layer onto a cookie sheet. Top each pretzel with a Rolo or a Hug.

Bake at 350 3-5 minutes. Top Rolos with pecan halves. Top Hugs with another pretzel.

Enjoy those little guys!