dollar store display

 Ok so I totally had planned on being really crafty today and sewing another burlap pillow like seen here or maybe even painting a piece of furniture ( I have three pieces waiting on me), or maybe sewed something cute for my son (have all the material and plans for something super cute). Unfortunately life intervened and I was beckoned elsewhere. Oh well such is life! So what do I have for you? A simple dollar store craft that will take you about 2 minutes (if you don't count the time it takes you to go to the Dollar Store to buy the stuff). The supplies:

 Also attending was a tube of Goop (not pictured, but you can buy it at Lowes or your local craft store). So I put some goop on the bottom of one candle stick and the bottom of the blue ice cream dish and stacked my little heart away (I didn't use the second glass candle holder, but I'm sure I will find use for it elsewhere). The end result is a perfect little cupcake holder for the spring (or maybe some chips and dip, or veggies and dip, or candies...you get the idea):

 

Banana muffins with a crumple top

All I can say is yum! I love this recipe. It will definitely be filed away to be made over and over! I made a dozen of these yesterday and there are only 3 left. I think next time I will have to make a double batch. My little one even enjoyed them! Here is a pic of the delish finished product:

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 large ripe bananas, mashed
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
• TOPPING:
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon cold butter

Directions

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. Combine bananas, sugar, egg and butter; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Combine the first three topping ingredients; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over muffins. Bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until muffins test done. Cool in pan 10 minutes.

Enjoy! They are so good warm!

Burlap pillow

 As you may know already, I have jumped on the burlap band wagon! I love the stuff. It is so diverse, the texture is amazing, AND it's super easy to work with! Oh another bonus: It is pretty cheap. So I first made some burlap curtains for my kitchen that you may see here. After that little project I was hooked. Not to mention all the cool kids are doing it:

Ballard Designs

Restoration Hardware

So I kind of did a little bit of a morph of these pillows. I love them both, so I figured I would really adore them as one. So here is my hand painted burlap tutorial:

 I first made my own pillow insert because they are easy to make and too expensive at hobby stores. So here is what I did. I cut two pieces of fabric in a square

 I then did a zig-zag stitch around three of the sides

 I then stuffed the pillow and closed the last opening

 Doesn't need to look purty cause we are going to cover this bad boy.

 Ok so on with the burlap. I cut two more squares, slightly bigger than the pillow inserts. I then did a zig-zag stitch around the edges of each piece individually. Burlap shreds like crazy. Problem solved!

 I then took my handy dandy stencils and put in some words with fabric paint. Then I taped off three stripes and painted that as well.

Loving this so far? Cause I am! Next I took four strips of cream fabric (twice the length of each side of the squares)

I made my top ones thicker than my bottom. I then folded the fabric over and made a seam with a stitch length of 4.5 ( I have a Brother sewing machine). You then take the top stitch and pull, pull, pull, until the fabric is gathered and it "ruffles"

 Do this until it is the desired length. You want about a quarter of an inch extra on each side. This is for when you are finished with all of the sides and you will sew the ruffles together on the corners. Now pin the ruffle between the two fabrics and do a zig-zag stitch:

 Do this for three sides and insert pillow form before closing the last side:

 Now you are going to take the corners of the ruffles and fold them under to sew them together:

 Cut off the excess ruffle and you are done! yaaaaaa! Super cute pillow below:

 Oh I really really LOVE this one. I think it needs a burlap friend, don't you? Off to make some more pillows!


Check out where I like to party

Kitchen before and after

On an exciting note I did the Valspar free paint sample thingy this morning on Facebook and my rainforest mist sample is on its way, cute little package and all. If you haven't heard about this, you have to "like" Valspar on facebook. Then at 9 am central you have to click for the free sample. They are only giving away 1000 a day so you have to get in at 9. I pressed refresh on my computer like ten times to get in on it! Ha!

O.K. so on with the good stuff. I have totally done so many projects in my kitchen and realized that I have never done an actual "before" and "after" of the said kitchen. Here is the before:

 This was great for awhile, I just got sick of the mustard yellow. I wanted something more upbeat and happy for my kitchen. So I did a bunch of little projects here and there, found some great deals on craigslist, and then painted the kitchen. Now we have a bright cheery kitchen:

If you look under the categories tab on my pages, you will see a list of projects that I have done in the kitchen. Email me with any unanswered questions!

I still want to buy a rug for under my table. I am thinking a jute rug and then hand stencil a design in red. I would also like to replace my two side cabinet doors with glass panels for display. Finally, I would like to reupholster my bar stools in a pretty red fabric. I will keep you posted!

Organization is the key to life

Reading through my blog list, I saw that Thrifty Decor Chick was doing an "Organize it" party and my mind immediately went to my pantry. Oh the dreaded messy pantry. I guess this would be a good excuse to clean and organize the darn thing. So here is the before (Don't judge. Seriously I am a NEAT freak. I have no idea how it got so bad):

These pictures make me cringe!!! I probably should print then out and post them somewhere so I am reminded how horrible my pantry use to be.

 Any who, I went to Walmart and bought some storage bins, Hobby Lobby for some glass containers (50% off this week!), and the Dollar Store for some plastic storage. I also bought some decorative card stock, used stickers, mailing labels, and ribbon.

 The end result:

Oh my! So much better! This really appeals to my OCD ways. Seriously I could stare my pantry for hours, so soothing! Notice the little step stool? I re-upholstered that in about ten minutes to match my bench cushion I made.

 It's your turn! Get on it! You will feel so much better. Next project organization is going to have to be my laundry room.