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So, if you're like me, you're totally into all these candy displays and themed parties.  This has to be the worlds easiest candy decoration.  It's a Chocolate Kiss made of three things... a bowl, some foil, and something to make the tail.  For this photo I just used a piece of toilet paper so you'd get the idea, but obviously you can use something a bit classier when the time comes...

The whole thing literally takes less than a minute.  <3

The Olympics are this summer! What better way to get in the spirit of the Games than to make your very own medals for your group or class.  In fact, they can help!  All you need are craft circles, like these wooden ornaments, ribbon, and gold, silver, and bronze colored paints.  I borrowed the clip art, but you get the idea :)

Design your own onsies for the new baby!  This is a fun creative way to get the older kids excited about your new addition on the way...Just get plain white onsies, some markers, stensils if you like, and a book or flat surface to put in the middle so the colors don't run through. 

Need something to do with all those egg-stra ;) plastic eggs??

....Bam!

Ever wanted to make one of those crafty, soft photo albums?  Yay, me too!  I made this one for my mom this past Mother's Day.  Turned out pretty well, considering I really haven't made one before. 

Start with a regular old photo album.  Any will do.  If you get a plain one, it's even easier.  If you get one with a slot for a photo on the front, that's ok too. 

What you need:
Photo Album
Fabric of choice, and if desired, a contrasting color (about a yard is plenty)
Poster Board or Cardstock paper
Quilt Batting
Trim (lace, ribbon, etc.)
Hot Glue Gun and Glue sticks

Open your photo album and lay it flat over the wrong side of the fabric.  Cut around the edge so there is about an inch on each side.  Set fabric aside.

Do the same for the batting, cutting it right at the edge, rather than an inch longer.   If you have the photo slot kind, and plan to use the photo slot, carefully remove it from the cover.  Don't worry if you can see tear marks, they will get covered up.  If not, skip this step and glue the batting directly onto the front and back outside of the album cover.  It will look like a puffy white book cover. 

Next, you will basically wrap the album like a present.  Place the main fabric good side down again under the opened album.  Fold the corners in and glue them down.  This will leave tabs on each side.  Fold them over and pull the fabric tight to keep wrinkles out.  Glue each side down. 

Inside the book, glue ribbon, lace, etc. around the edges so that it sticks out as desired.  Cut your cardstock paper the size of each cover and again wrap each piece in fabric like a present.  These cardstock pieces will be glued down over the top of any ribbons or trim you have inside and cover rough edges. 

For the little picture holder square thingy...again, you will wrap it in a fabric of your choice, cutting a hole in the middle for the photo to be viewed.  Glue all but 1 side down onto desired location on the book to create a slot.  Boom, you got a photo book. 

There are some good video examples on youtube if you can't understand it this way...I didn't take pictures along the way and probably should have.  Good luck!  And happy memories!

Too Freakin Easy :)

Lil Pizzas

These little pizzas are so much fun for kids to make!  I use English muffins as crust.  Any toppings work great!  Just heat in the oven and Boom...fun, fast, and easy lunch/dinner.  Great slumber party idea.

Other fashion ideas

Another 4th of July DIY and a Fall Fashion Look.  Both very easy to do.

4th of July Fashion 1

While in the military, our small community of families held annual 4th of July pageants.  Nothing bananas like you see on TV, just a fun way for the girls to get dressed up in patriotic outfits and feel good about themselves.  I really got in touch with my creative side preparing for the show.  I wanted to do something different, but still fashionable.  This dress can be made fairly easily, with a little imagination and just the right supplies. 

I started with a plain red dress.  She had this already, so it didn't cost me anything.  I had a hankerchief with the blue and white star pattern, a long white ribbon, hot glue gun or sewing kit, 1/4 inch metal rings, and a white bow clip barrette. 

Cut strips of the blue and white fabric the size of belt loops and glue or sew to the front of the dress.  If your dress is more or less plain, feel free to add buttons or other 'bling'.  On the backside, simply cut strips of the fabric again, about the same size as the ones on the front.  Fold them over to create loops, and slide one metal ring into each.  Secure the loops in the corset pattern seen above with glue or stitches.  Starting from the top, thread the ribbon through the loops and clip the loose ends together at the bottom with the barrette.  (I find it looks cleaner than tying the ends off). 

Wha-la!  You have a cute patriotic outfit!  Just add beads, bows, and other accessories and you're sure to wow the crowd!

Homemade Cars 2 Birthday Cake!

To make this cake, I used two 11x13 cakes side by side.  Any flavor is fine.  Once cooled, frost the entire thing with white icing.  I recommend tracing your track with a toothpick before adding the black icing.  Spread the black on generously so it doesn't pull up the white and make holes.  The checkered finish line was made using two wooden skewers taped to the paper part of a Cars birthday blow-out.  Don't try to frost the finish line, just use a flattened twist tie to make a straight line.  Cars were bought together at the Disneystore.com, and the bridge was a thrift store find.  The 5 is hand shaped from aluminum foil, and the rest of the emblem was made out of an aluminum cookie sheet edge cut from the pan.  Fun cake that feeds EVERYONE! :)

Simple, yet Festive

This is just your every day store bought cake mix in a cute little patriotic flag design.  For those days you know you want to bake something, and don't really have a reason.  I made this little guy for Memorial Day one year with strawberry cake and vanilla icing.  How can you go wrong with sprinkles and a happy face?!

Baby Food: Halloween for Babies!

Baby Food!  Halloween style :)...This past fall, I realized I wanted to take my infant son trick-or-treating, but in reality there was very little he could have for a treat.  I came up with these little jars using bananas, peas, and carrot flavored baby food jars and passed them out to all the other babys in the neighborhood.  What a hit!  Have fun experimenting with other flavors and characters!