Homemade Caramel Sauce for a Cold Day

Before Christmas I made several batches of this lovely caramel sauce and divvied them up into pretty glass jars with tight lids for my girlfriends and the kids' Bible class teachers. Such fun!

To make each jar personal, I used glass etching cream and a stencil to monogram them.

A little blue velvet ribbon and a felt snowflake on top (attached with hot glue), and they were ready for gifting.

I told each girl to spoon a little into her coffee, drizzle it over ice cream or pound cake, or eat it straight out of the jar with a spoon (my personal pref.).

I keep my own little stash in the fridge and have really lavished my evening nip right out of the jar. Another delicious idea: use as a dip for apple slices. Mmmmm.

The weather where I live is actually as perfect as perfect could ever be, but I imagine that if I were locked indoors because of a snowstorm, this would be the nicest treat to warm up with.

The caramel sauce recipe I used is from The Joy of Cooking, and I found a wonderful step-by-step visual tutorial for the same recipe here, at Mel's Kitchen Cafe. 

Felt State Ornaments

I was whipping up another Geography Love Pillow and started thinking about making an easier version for us. We don't have our own pillow. You know what they say about the cobbler's kids never having shoes? Cue the violins.

I do want one for myself, but haven't really set aside time to make one. And Jeremy and I are both from the same hometown, met in the 7th grade. No long-distance love story for us.

So I came up with a quick and simple alternative.

I pulled out my felt stash-- it almost needs an entire closet-- and my ever-growing collection of cut-out geographical locations from pillow-making (so ironic for a girl who made her first C in geography and was in BIG trouble for a few weeks).

I used two circles of felt for the ornament and blanket stitched them together, leaving an opening for stuffing and a ribbon to hang.

The Texas, heart and ribbon were hot-glued on. Hot-gluing felt is like welding metal. That stuff is there forever.

The project took me about 15 minutes and I loved it so much that I'm planning to make a few more.

One of these days, I'm going to post about all the pillow covers I've been blessed to make. The stories that go along with the orders have made my heart swell. Who knew that a simple little wedding present would turn into an opportunity for me to learn about so many amazing people? I'm thankful for that.



Share with: Fingerprints on the Fridge

I'm Thankful.

I am the world's worst at getting my boys' handprints. They're not in daycare (those teachers are so GOOD at documenting handprints, aren't they?) and I just never think to do it.

After seeing this on Pinterest, I recognize that I do need to be better about getting those precious fingers in ink every once in a while.

The truth is, thinking of my boys growing up makes me sad. I'm just not one of those mommies who can't wait until the next stage. I'm nostalgic. I cling to every stage and beg it to last forever. I guess that doing fingerprint crafts scares me a little. It's silly, I know, but I feel like one day I'll look back at these little turkey and tree paintings and I'm not so sure I'll swell with joy. I'm pretty sure I'll be reaching for a Kleenex.

So, why do them? Because, if the Lord blesses my little men with time and years, they will grow up. It's good. And if I don't have anything tangible around to remind me of when they needed Mommy's strong, sure hand in their much smaller one, I'll regret it.

Don't misunderstand, making the pillow together was a memory that I'll look back on fondly. We had fun and laughed together and talked about color and art. I praised my four-year-old for stifling his giggles when I painted his hand to keep it steady. I was shocked at how the one-year-old was able to slowly place his hand on the fabric without wiggling his fingers into a blurry mess.

Right now, I love looking at my pillow every day.

But ten years from now? We'll see how it goes.



Shared with: Tatertots and Jello

Tutorial: Fabric Flower Broach (For Breast Cancer Awareness Month)

Autumn. Schmautumn. That's what I say.

I'm a bit enthusiastic regarding fabric and felt flowers lately, even if it is October and not April. I'm using Breast Cancer Awareness Month (which I'm celebrating in crafts all week) as an excuse to keep my pinks out for a while longer.

Want one for yourself or for a homemade Christmas present? Of course you do. It's no-sew, after all! 

Let's get out those fabric bits and make something adorably one-of-a-kind.

1. Cut a felt circle for the bottom and two green felt leaves. Hot glue together.

2. Use pinking shears to cut five circles of the same size out of fabric. Hot glue one circle on top of the felt. 

3. Fold the remaining four circles in half and then in half again and hot glue.

4. Hot glue each quartered circle as the top layer to your flower.

5. Cut a piece of flannel into a strip (about 1" x 10") with pinking shears. 

6. Make pleats with hot glue every inch or so.

7. Hot glue each end together, forming a circle.

8. Hot glue the middles of the top and bottom and sides together.

9. Glue this piece on top of the flower.

10. Add two layers of felt circles and a rhinestone.

Attach a safety pin to the back and fasten to a jacket or shirt. Or belt. Or headband. Or purse. Or your shoe. Or a hat. 

Did I mention how much I'm liking these flowers?

If you missed my other pink posts for October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, you can find them here:

Pink Mantel

Sugar Scrubs

My Halloween Mantel

Because of my white-white-white painted brick fireplace, I loved the idea of going with a stark contrast and using black, bright orange and bold yellow pops for a festive Halloween look. 

I've never really been into scary stuff so I wanted elegant yet whimsical.

Here are my great-grandmother's ashes.

Just kidding.

I started off with half a yard of bold Houndstooth fabric, then added a few black and white accents. 

The  pennant was made with orange felt and yellow pom pom trim.

In frames are the numbers, 10 and 31, for Halloween. 

You can find the post for my Boo pillow here.

Shared with: Miss Mustard Seed, Tatertots and Jello, Today's Creative Blog

Candy Corn Wreath (an upcycle)

One thing I've learned since starting my blog is this...

Everything is a possible craft. I think twice before throwing even the ugliest of uglies away.

Exhibit A:

I see the potential in things, which makes me an optimist.

Jeremy, are you reading this? I know you see my growing mound of future projects in the garage and you fear that I may need to seek professional aid. 

But I don't, because look! The pile is dwindling down! 

Please don't submit my name to the producers of "Hoarders."

Shared with: Today's Creative Blog, Sugar Bee Crafts, Li'l Luna, Tatertots and Jello

Thursday's Theme: On My Craft List

I've been busy-busy with my new Thirty-One business and haven't done a Thursday Theme in a few weeks. But I've still been Pinning away and am more inspired than ever to scratch some homemade Christmas presents off my list. There are so many creative people in this world; I'll never cease to be amazed!

Gold Thumbtack Wreath by Madigan Made

Scrabble Ornaments from Martha Stewart

Globe Bowl from BHG.com

Felt Bows from Twig & Thistle

Comic Book Letter from Not on the High Street

3D Book Page Christmas Tree from Suite 101

Baby's First Christmas Ornament from A Sorta Fairytale

Crocheted Spider Web by Betz White

Fall Leaves Garland from A Beautiful Mess

Pennant Notecards from Homemade by Monica

Ghosts Say "BOO"

I had both boys in bed at 8:30 last night when my craftiness started flaring up... 

now doesn't THAT sound flattering?

 It happens every single night. Dinner done, boys bathed, jammies on, teeth brushed, prayers said, drink of water-- check! And mommy is running on fumes.

But just as soon as I tell the man-cubs their "nighty-nights" and "I love you forevers"and the door gently latches shut...

WHOOSH!

 A surge of energy rushes through me-- I want to slide across the floors in my socks and turn up the music!

I feel this need to be free with my crafting closet... Now doesn't THAT sound flattering?

Well, last night I was thinking about decorating for Halloween. Last year we were moving and the year before that, I was newly pregnant and not feeling well at all. This year, though, I am feeling inspired.

Project #1: a new pillow for the couch. I picked this Cynthia Rowley slipcovered pillow up at Marshall's for $10 on clearance. In fact, I grabbed two of them and removed the ruffles on the first to make my Geography Love Pillow.

The black-lined ruffles look perfectly festive so they stayed on. I cut out my letters from a heavy black fabric--almost like felt, but not as fuzzy-- and hot glued them in place.

And I even had enough left over to make my little ghost a mask for his costume.

This is not his official costume. It's mosquito netting that fits over my stroller, but he picked it up one day and called himself a ghost. I love how little kids' minds work creatively and without limits.

Now that I think about it, this is the first year he's had an opinion about his costume. 

Until now, I had always picked. 

He is growing up, but I must admit that I'm relieved he picked a costume that is still sweet and easily made at home. I just have this thing about wanting my boys to wear homemade Halloween costumes. They're so much more fun that way.

Plus, I have really special memories of rummaging through my mother's fabric drawer, jewelry box and craft supplies to come up with Santa Claus one year, a gypsy one year and Laura Ingalls Wilder another year (ha!). 

The excitement came from piecing together the perfect characters before heading out with our flashlights to fill our orange plastic pumpkins with loot.

I want my boys to remember their Halloweens like that, too. 

And I know that a time will come when they'll want to be a store-bought superhero or wear a scary mask. So I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

Shared with: The Idea Room, Tatertots and Jello, Under the Table and Dreaming, I Heart Naptime