Studio 5 Dollar Bill Origami

Today on Studio 5 they had a segment called Fun Ways to Give Cash. Michelle Lunt from Faith, Trust and a Little Pixie Dust showed everyone how. It is such a clever way to give money as a gift by adding a little personality. There's everything from a tie to an ATM machine! It looks so cool. Everyone loves getting cash as a gift, why not make it interesting? Go to Michelle's blog for the tutorial.

ChelseaAnn

Tater Tots and Jello Giveaway

Over at Tater Tots and Jello, Jen is hosting a giveaway for a free dress from Shabby Apple, that's a $130 value!! And they have a ton of really cute stuff. Head over to TT&J to see how to enter...I just did!
ChelseaAnn

Oh My Goodness, Berry Pies!

If you jump on over to Taste Of Home you'll come across this delicious looking pie. It looks so yummy and I can't wait to try it out! This recipe does use phyllo dough which I know can seem daunting to some. Just remember it is very thin and fragile. It dries out extremely fast so keep a damp towel over it.And while you're there, check out this yummy looking Raspberry-Lemon Pie. It looks so refreshing, perfect for summer! Mmm...I love raspberries!


ChelseaAnn

Picture Frame Makeover

This picture frame was given to me a few years ago from a friend of mine. She was a foreign exchange student from Brazil. After we graduated we stayed in touch for awhile, but now it's been a few years and we've both have moved a few times and have lost contact. Now I think it's okay to update the frame without hurting her feelings, because frankly the frame doesn't match my decor at all. So I ended up turning that into this:
The first step was the clean the frame and remove the "smile" embellishment. After that was done I pulled out my best friend...Mod Podge. Okay, so really the hot glue gun is my best friend, but Mod Podge comes in at a close second! I love a black and white color scheme, so classic and elegant. So I had some black tissue paper that I simply tore into pieces and glued on with MD (Mod Podge). The bright orange was still peeking through so I ended up doing two layers of the tissue paper and it turned out just the way I had originally pictured it (when does that ever happen??).
I cut a strip of black lace and attached it to the bottom of the frame, pleating as I glued. I trimmed off the excess lace (and kept it for later use of course!). I originally wanted two posies made from text like these I saw at From Glitter to Gum Drops. But that didn't turn out and I ended up just cutting out a lopsided circle, inking the edges and gluing a black with white polka-dot scrapbook flower. I added a white ribbon and a few rhinestones and that was that!
ChelseaAnn

Easy (and Yummy!) Fruit Dip

So summer is slowly arriving here and tons of fruits are now in season. I love fruit and I will eat it regardless, but I know some people need a little encouragement to eat healthy. So here's an oldy but goody: Cream Cheese and Marshmallow Fluff Dip. It is so simple, yet so delicious! The first time I had this I about died. And I'm not a fan of marshmallows, and I pretty much won't even look at marshmallow fluff...but in this recipe, it is SO yummy! Can you tell I'm obsessed?

So the recipes is quite simple. One brick of cream cheese (8 oz) and one small size jar of marshmallow fluff (6-8 oz). You can use flavored cream cheese if you like, or go classic, that's up to you. I do recommend not using Fat Free cream cheese because it just doesn't mix up as well and of course the taste just isn't the same. So you just combine the two ingredients and beat for about three minutes until its really fluffy. Then you are good to go!And yes...I did cheat, that is pre-cut fruit from the store...I won't tell if you don't.

ChelseaAnn

Camera Case

For my birthday not too long ago I was given a brand new point and shoot camera...something I desperately needed/wanted! I needed a case for it so I was just going to throw a quick one together from some fabric scraps. Well, that was until I became aware of the felt craze that is going on. Can I just say I love felt? It's easy to work with, it's cheap and it doesn't fray. So I decided to make a felt camera case.

I had a picture in my mind of a simple case with a top flap that was accented with some sort of decoration. So I started with four different sheets of felt, I chose teal, white, purple and baby blue. I started with my decoration just because I knew that would take the most time. Here's what I came up with:

My materials:
I just measured out three circles. The first one is about 2 1/2 inches, the second one is 2 inches and the third is about an inch and a half.

I had my handy dandy glue gun nearby so I put one dot of hot glue in the center of the two larger circles and attached them as shown in the picture. Then I threaded on multi-colored seed beads. This part is hard to explain so I'm going to do my best! So after threading four beads on you back track and thread your needle through those four again before adding on the next set. Make sense? Probably not. If you need more clarification I'll post a video on the tutorial to better explain it. So you'll continue that process all the way around each circle. For the center decoration I threaded three beads on and made the second stitch right next to the first one so that they would bunch. I repeated that two times, but of course you can do it as much as you like.

Now for the actual case! After measure my camera I cut out three pieces of felt (one teal, two baby blue) that measured the length of my camera plus an additional inch and a half on the length side and the width side. Just to clarify, the ouside of my case is teal and for extra cushion the inside will be a different piece of felt in baby blue. Anywho, the second piece of teal felt is going to be the same width, but an additional 3-4 inches. This one will be used as the back and the flap piece.

On the smaller teal piece I attached the soft side of the velcro. I really wanted a snap to make it "classier" but I didn't have any on hand so velcro had to do! Oh and since I had my best friend on hand (aka the hot glue gun) I both glued and stitched on the velcro. I'm not too confidant in my sewing skills if you couldn't tell. :P

After that is stitched on, I layer the four pieces in order from bottom to top: larger teal pices, the two baby blue pieces and the smaller teal piece with the velcro strip. Using baby blue embroidery floss I stitched around the edges, about an inch in. I preferred the larger stitches but that's all up to you, my friend.

Once you are happy with that, cut off the excess felt. I cut my teal felt closer to the seam than the baby blue so that the dimension of the accent color can show.

Back to the circle decoration...on the backside of the circle I sewed on the rough side of the velcro strip. I attached it very close to the bottom of the circle. The other half of the circle I sewed/glued on to the top of the flap.

Then ta-da! You, my friend, are finished and ready to protect your camera!

(PS...Miss Blonde here really wanted to take a picture of her camera in it's case....until she realized that's not really possible. Whoops!)

ChelseaAnn

Rainbow Cupcakes

A few months ago, while we were immersed in St.Patty's, I decided to do this cupcake that's been on my mind for awhile. It's nothing new...but it's a cupcake. I had no chance of resisting it's lure. I cannot honestly remember where I saw this idea for the first time, but if I could, I promise I would give credit where credit was due.

Anywho...onwards we go! Pretty much all you need is white cake batter...now here you can be an awesome over-achiever and make yours from scratch or you can be like me and say hello to good old Mrs. Crocker (or is it Ms. Crocker?? Hmm...we have a mystery, folks). After you get your cake batter whipped up, divide the batter evenly into six bowls. Add some food coloring in the colors of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue & purple) or whatever colors you fancy. You should get this:



Then fill your cupcake liners with a spoonful of each color, layering evenly. Just a fun tip, use plain white liners. When you finish the cupcake, the liners look awesome! I almost wanted to save them to use for another crafts...but luckily I stopped myself. I have limits...that I mostly adhere to.

Back to the project...So like I said, layer a spoonful of purple batter and coat the bottom evenly, then follow with blue, making sure not to disturb the layer below. Continue until you finish with the red layer. Or you can be different and put them in any order you please. Go ahead, be a rebel.

Once everything is layered-out, pop those suckers in the oven according to the mix's directions. Mine were in at 350 for about 30 mins...they needed a few more minutes than the recommended time. And when that dinger dings...you get these yummy concoctions:

So I left it up to the kid-lings to frost. I just used some Whipped vanilla frosting combined with a bit of Cool Whip for a lighter look and taste. In my mind I was picturing white, fluffy clouds. Of course the kiddos saw things differently, like they always do. Oh and I couldn't help but break out the sugar sprinkles...guilty. Now, if only I could've left it up to a maid to clean up the mess....oh, I guess that's me.
That darling ten-year-old pictured above is Emily...aka, Emily May-May, being very precise in her sprinkling. The kids loved them and I'm sure we'll get around to making them again this summer. I already have tons of variations running through my crazed mind.

ChelseaAnn

My Someday Folder

Since I'm not yet a mom, I have anxiety about seeing craft and design ideas I love but will eventually forget once I get to the motherhood chapter of my life. This wall art by LollyChops is definitely giving me that anxiety at the moment.

Did I mention I'm selfish when it comes to crafts? I am. I need this! I have absolutely no legitimate reason. That's why I need a kid, a little girl to be exact. Don't freak Mom! I will control my urge...for now. So here I am, putting yet another adorable project into my "Someday" folder. Oh...and I need to learn how to crochet. That I can at least get started on now.

ChelseaAnn

One Crafty Mamma

I mentioned before that I grew up with an incredibly crafty mom. I can't even begin to explain how my childhood was blessed with creativity! We had a whole room dedicated to crafts containing bins upon bins of supplies. I just wanted to spotlight my mom real quick and let everyone know about her eBay store. She sells these really cute Potato Bags:

They come in all different fabrics. I'm going to let her explain what a Potato Bag is just in case you're wondering:

"BAKED POTATO MICROWAVE BAG AND SO MUCH MORE!! THIS SIMPLE BAG CREATES A 'JUST RIGHT' BAKED POTATO IN YOUR MICROWAVE! THE INSIDE IS WELL DONE; YET MOIST. WHILE THE SKIN REMAINS TENDER! THIS BAG WILL COOK ONE TO FOUR MEDIUM SIZE POTATOES.

I HAVE FOUND MANY MORE USES FOR THIS MICROWAVE BAG, NOT ONLY POTATOES CORN ON THE COB, TORTILLAS AND ROLLS. I HAVE USED MINE FOR TAMALES, CROISSANTS, MUFFINS AND MORE. JUST REMEMBER TO WRAP EVERYTHING IN A PAPER TOWEL. I SUGGEST ONLY USING THE BETTER BRANDS OF PAPER TOWELS FOR DURABILITY AND YOU CAN REUSE THE PAPER TOWEL ONE TO TWO MORE TIMES IF YOU CHOOSE TOO.

MY 'POTATO-TAMALE BAGS' ARE BIGGER THAN EVERYONE ELSE. THEY MEASURE 10 1/2" WIDE, 9 1/2 HIGH. I MAKE MINE A BIT BIGGER. WHY YOU ASK? I HAVE TEENAGE BOYS AND THEY WANT 'THE MONSTER SIZE POTATOES' POTATO BAGS, SO I MET THE DEMAND! I PREFER THIS OVER MY FIRST ONE I MADE THAT IS THE 'TRADITIONAL SIZE.' BUT YOU CAN STILL USE THE 'TRADITIONAL SIZE POTATOES'. IT CHANGES THE AMOUNT OF POTATOES YOU CAN PLACE IN THE BAG!

DIRECTIONS ARE INCLUDED!

MY 'POTATO-TAMALE BAGS' ARE DESIGNED WITH A FLAP TO HELP RETAIN THE MOISTURE IN. THIS HELPS PREVENT THE POTATOES FROM DRYING OUT!

EACH 'POTATO-TAMALE BAG' IS HANDMADE WITH 100% COTTON FABRIC AND THREAD. THE LINER A SPECIAL THERMAL LINING. I HAVE MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN SEWING.

EASY CARE OF 'THE POTATO-TAMALE BAG'. CHOOSE TO AIR DRY OR YOU CAN MACHINE WASH IN COLD WATER AND TUMBLE DRY ON VERY LOW HEAT. I DO TURN MINE INSIDE OUT.

A CHARITY DONATION IS MADE TO FEEDING AMERICA, A LOCAL NO KILL SHELTER AND ANYTHING THAT HAS PURPLE OR BUTTERFLIES IT IS DONATED TO EPILEPSY RESEARCH. "

So there you have it! Check out her ebay store, Horse Creek Farm and Design

ChelseaAnn

Fantastic Felt Flower

Oh me, oh my! Another thing I obsess with...buttons. And buttons plus flowers? Heaven. I don't have any felt on hand...and I can't say I know what to use the flower for, but I WILL make this adorable piece of heaven! Check out LollyChops for the tutorial and some of her other (not as ridiculously cute, but still adorable) flowers!

ChelseaAnn

Bottle Cap Magnets

So I subscribe to Family Fun magazine and if you don't, make sure you check out their website every now and then. Although I'm not a parent myself, I am a nanny to three great kids. So I love Family Fun for giving me some great ideas when my own creative juices are running low. I was flipping through an older issue the other day and came across these:

Needless to say, I had to make my own. What can I say? The cartoon animals with their irresistable googly-eyes were calling my name! I really, REALLY wanted to make one with a cute litte panda. So I jumped in my car and rushed to the craft store. After searching endlessly (a whole fifteen minutes!) for a panda sticker or something else I could use...I eventually gave up. My itch to make these was just becoming so strong. So I grabbed a new bottle of Mod Podge and drove home. After reading these directions I came up with this:

Not too shabby, eh? No, really, I was completely rushed for time so I had to run through this one at lightning speed. When I actually make these with the kids this summer, I think I''ll put something under the paper or triple the thickness to make it rise a bit more. It just seemed a little too shrunken in for me. Once I got everything ready, it took me about five minutes to complete. A project my no-patience children will actually complete!All the stuff I used (minus the magnet and tape). I got these mini sequins from a skirt I bought a few weeks ago. I knew I could use them!

ChelseaAnn

Hedgehog Cupcakes

Need a recipe for hedgehog cupcakes? Of course not, but how could you not make these?? They're adorable and from what I can see, incredibly easy to make. Don't be scared by the f word...I mean fondant. It really isn't difficult to work with. This idea comes from Wee Love Baking and you can read the tutorial here.

If there's one thing you need to know about me...it's that I love cupcakes. And why wouldn't I? They're mini cakes...how much cuter can you get?

ChelseaAnn

About Time

After spending most of my lazy days surfing blogs for crafty ideas I couldn't handle the endless cuteness...and decided I had to have my own! I don't know why I'm taking this task on...probably because I love showing off my crafts...however kid-like they may be.

I grew up with a wonderfully crafty mom...something I now realize I took for granted. I love taking pieces of nothing and creating something beautiful. I love all sorts of crafting...although I'm not much of a seamstress. That's on my to-do-list (my ever-growing to-do-list!). So this blog is more for me to keep track of my "someday" crafts and projects...but you're welcome to join me! So here we go!

ChelseaAnn