Shopping Cart Cover

So, the "Floppy Seat" costs $40, (and NOT so cute fabric). Cute, handmade cart covers on Etsy, about $50 (and who knows if they really have the good quality that I want.... so I went to Joanns today to check out patterns to make my own cart cover for Emerson.... But, they were out of ALL of the patterns that I could find in the books! So, knowing that I could figure it out on my own (or at least search online), I bought a couple of prints of fabric, batting and some bias tape. Hope I got enough! I bought all of the fabric on sale,and used a coupon for the batting... wish the sale prices had been much better.... is still spent $27.... but it is going to be OH, SO CUTE!!! :)

Here is a link to a free pattern that I found:
Cart Cover Pattern

No sew blanket

Kool Aid Playdough!

oooohhh!!! Kool Aid playdough! I have never heard of it before sounds awesome! :)

4 packages of unsweetened Kool-Aide
5 cups flour
1 cup salt... Read More
6 tablespoons oil
4 cups boiling water

Mix the ingredients in a large bowl. Knead well. Cool, then store in Ziploc Bag. It usually lasts about one month depending on how much it is used.
Also, I let it cool a little while before I knead it...

Bake It Pretty!

Hold onto your party hats! Check out this awesome site for baking decorations! BakeItPretty.com

Tutu Flowers

How to make Tutu flowers on Martha. YouTube video. Check out the video... totally easy!!!! :) Just the way craft projects should be!

Tutus

Oh I just know that the day will come (all too soon) where I will need to make pretty tutus for a little girl who likes to dance around. I found this tutorial on the Make It and Love It blog. Ah... just some elastic, tulle and pretty ribbon, LOVE it! I probably would have made it soooo much more difficult if I had tried to design it on my own! :)

Coffee Cup Cozies

While cruzing crafty blogs on the web I came accross this tutorial for coffee cup cozies. So cute! The blogger made them for teacher gifts, put them on an empty cup, with gift cards and a note from her child inside the cup.
From the: house on hill road blog

Felt Flowers

In my search to find ideas for cute felt flowers I came accross this article and tutorial

In the article the mention The littlest Bean, a seller on Etsy.

I know there is a lot more out there... but the little lady awaits!

Homemade Playdough

Nature's Playdough
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
beet, spinach, and carrot juice


Mix flour, salt and oil, and slowly add the water. Cook over medium heat, stirring until dough becomes stiff. Turn out onto wax paper and let cool. Knead the playdough with your hands until of proper consistency. Use as is, or divide into balls and add a few drops of the vegetable juices to make green, pink, and orange. Or you can add food coloring to the water before you mix it with the rest of the ingredients.

Oatmeal Playdough
1 cup flour
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup water


Gradually add water to flour and oatmeal in bowl. Knead until mixed (this playdough is sticky, but unique in texture.) Model as with clay.

Tip: Add cornmeal or coffee grounds in small quantity for texture.


Nutty Butter Playdough
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup powdered milk
1 cup honey
1 cup oatmeal


Mix together and play.


Kool-Aid Playdough
2 1/2 to 3 cups flour
2 cups boiling water with 1 package Kool-aid (any flavor)
3 tablespoons corn oil
1/2 cup salt
1 tablespoon alum


Mix ingredients and knead with flour (may take up to 1 extra cup). Use more if the dough draws moisture in high humidity. Keeps well, has a nice fragrance and is very colorful and very flexible.


I got these recipes on About.com

Red Velvet Cake Balls

Red Velvet Cake Balls
1 box red velvet cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)
1 can cream cheese frosting (16 oz.)
1 package chocolate bark (regular or white chocolate)
wax paper

1. After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.
2. Mix thoroughly with 1 can cream cheese frosting. (It may be easier to use fingers to mix together, but be warned it will get messy.)
3. Roll mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet. (Should make 45-50. You can get even more if you use a mini ice cream scooper, but I like to hand roll them.)
4. Chill for several hours. (You can speed this up by putting in the freezer.)
5. Melt chocolate in microwave per directions on package.
6. Roll balls in chocolate and lay on wax paper until firm. (Use a spoon to dip and roll in chocolate and then tap off extra.)

I also only melt a few pieces of chocolate bark at a time because it starts to cool and thicken. It's easier to work with when it's hot.

I found this on Bakeralla blog. Here is a link to their post
Be sure to sheck out the Bakerella blog for more yummy ideas!

Granola Bars

Here is a recipe I just found for home-made granola bars. I'm posting it so I can find it later! :) Let me know if you try it.

Granola Bars
INGREDIENTS:

2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup raisins (optional)
3/4 cup craisins (optional)
3/4 cup any type of nuts (optional)
3/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)
3/4 cup coconut (optional)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan or use parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, any variety of optional items and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil and vanilla. Mix well using your hands (can use a spoon, but it's hard to). Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars while still warm. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting, or they will be too hard to cut.