Cereal Keeper turned Car Trash Can

This little organizing idea just solved all my problems! I spend most of my day in the car with 3 children. The trash seems to take over the car - even when I have a designated trash sack. But now I have a trash can - just for the car! It is going into use TODAY!

I saw the idea on BHG.com. I bought a plastic cereal keeper and put a Target sack inside (a little vinyl lettering never hurt anyone either!) Then, when it is full (or too stinky) I can just pop the top, tie the handles and send one of the kids to the trash can! Yea!!!!

Quilted Heart Door Hangers

Since I painted my front doors, I am careful not to hang anything that will "clank" on them. My house has too doors so I have to have 2 of what ever - it frustrates me lots! So, I pulled out all my Valentine's Day fabric scraps and crazy pieced 2 blocks. I quilted the blocks
then cut a heart shape out. I had plans to stuff them but they didn't look good stuffed at all ....so they are flat! I attached a ribbon and hung them on the front doors! And no clanking!

A History of my Valentine's Day Quilts

I was looking around my house and I have several Valentine Quilts all with very different feels. They've been made through the years and it is interesting to see how the style and fabrics have changed.

Here is my first Valentine Quilt! I made it is 2000 just after I got my brand new Bernina! The pattern was from a Better Homes & Garden Quilt publication. Fabric has come a long way in the last 12 years!!!

2002 I made this little wall quilt which I still love even though it is made with "barn red" that was oh so popular then. I love how each of the background blocks are different creams. I still hang it up every February.

This quilt was made in 2005 - again, the fabrics are so much better these days! I always love a wonky block!
Then in 2009 came my cupcake phase. You can't see the whole thing - but there is another row of appliqued cupcakes. This used to hang in Sally's room, but now she has a Rapunzel room.
This "banner" style wall hanging I also made in 2009 - I used the applique patterns from the previous quilt, but made the arrangement and letters myself. I still love it!
From cupcakes to owls, these were both made in 2010.

This big hugs and Kisses quilt was made in 2010 also - I still love it! It hangs in my entry way.2011
I finished my "Love Birds" quilt. It is an original design by me. I love that there are a few pieced heart blocks mixed in with the plain blocks. The applique was a bit tedious - the letters are super curvy and swirly. I love the birds as well.


This quilt I also just finished and it hangs above my piano. I love the Moda valentines fabric that adds a bit of turquoise to the mix. Thanks to my mom-in-law for sending them to me! I made her a quilt like this as well - I love the birds, I love that it is off center and a little funky!


I sewed up this quick table quilt for my mom-in-law as well - just for a little spot of color somewhere.


I sewed these two small quilts for our church's Relief Society auction tonight.  I really want to keep this table runner because I still need to make myself one.


Then there is this little square quilt with two birds (who still need button eyes). I love them both.
Can't wait to see what's up for next year!  Thanks for looking!

Pantry - magnets & dry erase

In an effort to keep the front of my refrigerator looking clutter-free, I came up with this solution: Use the inside of the pantry doors! I bought a piece of sheet metal at Lowe's. I measured the inside of the pantry door and sniped the metal to that size. I used an epoxy to adhere it to the inside of the door. Now, I can keep all the cluttery things I love (random photos, magnets, notes, drawings, etc.) out of plain sight. I still see them all day long because I am always opening the pantry doors. It would be cute to put the metal down low for the children to play with!

On the other side of the pantry I wanted to paint chalk board paint - but chalk is forbidden in the house (says husband). So, I thought dry erase board. I bought this frame at a garage sale for 50 cents. It had plexi-glass in it which I almost threw away at the time. It is much lighter than glass and worked perfect for my dry erase board. I put some 3M tape on the bottom so the frame wouldn't clank around every time I open & shut the door. Every day there is a different note from Ella about her cat Marbles!

Heirloom Silverwear Display

I found this idea on Write. Click. Scrapbook. It is such a great idea!I got out some of my heirloom silver pieces and made one in about 5 minutes. I used scrapbook paper and cardboard for the back. I marked the places the wire needed to go to hold the silver then drilled small holes through the paper/cardboard. I used thin wire to hold the pieces in place. I have it hanging in the kitchen and it makes me happy to look at it.

My Favorite Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies

I love chocolate and peanut butter together! When ever I am served those Hershy's Kiss peanut butter cookies I love them but never know how to eat them. I end up with a big chunk of chocolate in my mouth and the chocolate-less cookie remaining. Problem solved with this, my favorite PB cookie recipe!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies
1 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter, smooth
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla

Beat butter, peanut butter, 1 cup of the flour, sugars, eggs, soda, powder and vanilla. Beat in the remaining flour. Shape into balls and roll in sugar. Flatten with a fork in a criss-cross pattern. Bake at 375 for 7-9 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Return to oven for about 30 seconds. Spread the melted chocolate over the top of the cookie.

Problem solved: chocolate in every bite!!!!

I Love Hobby Lobby!

A few weeks ago I went to my sisters house for a weekend. In three days we went to Hobby Lobby 5 times! I don't live any where near a Hobby Lobby sadly. I found this fun iron owl bell in the metal department. It was $10 and then half price!!! Love that! The bell was a dark brown color so I spray painted it bright red and hung it in the kitchen. I now have a bell to ring when it is meal time instead of yelling for everyone! My kids said, "Why didn't you hang it lower!" I can only imagine life with three kids ringing this loud bell all day!!!!

Pantry Cupboard Re-Do

I am in the process of repainting my kitchen. Today's project is the pantry cupboard. I saw this cool paintable-textured wallpaper at Lowe's. So I thought I would give it a try. The photos are a little dark as I do my best work in the wee hours of the night!!

First you measure the space you want to cover and cut the wallpaper those dimensions. I used my quilting rotary cutter and mat and it worked like a dream. Then I followed the wallpaper instructions. Soak the paper for 30 seconds, let it sit for 5 minutes, then apply, smoothing out the air bubbles and wiping off the excess glue.

I applied a piece to each of the panels on the cupboards and let it dry over night.

Now the fun part begins. I wanted the wallpaper to match the rest of the cabinets so I first needed it to be red like the rest of the kitchen. It was hard to get out the Tomato Red paint when I am wanting to cover it up!

I let the red dry then it was time to paint the aqua color over the doors. I left bits of the red showing through on the texture part to give it the rustic feel I am going for.

When that step was done and dry, I sanded the edges of the doors so the red would show through here and there.


I then applied a coat of Polycrylic. This is a non-coloring protective coat that will keep the paint from chipping and give some durability to the wallpaper.

I love the finished look. The wallpaper looks like it was always part of the doors!

Magnet Scrabble Board

Update:
Every time I walk by this board it has new words on it. I love seeing what the kids come up with. It is such a fun idea - way better than refrigerator magnets!
I bought this magnet board at a garage sale for $1. It used to be pink and I spray painted it aqua to match the rest of the aqua inspired kitchen I am working on. I collect scrabble games and pick them up at garage sales for crafting. (Don't tell my mom, Scrabble is sacred to her!) Anyway, I put magnets on the backs of all the tiles and now the kids can make words and Sally can learn her letters.

Repainted Kitchen Cart

I was out walking with my husband and pushing my daughter in the stroller. I saw this sitting on the curb next to the garbage cans. The owner of the house was outside and I asked him if he was throwing it away. He said that they used it to put their birdcage on but the bird had recently died so they were getting rid of it. He told me I could have it! So, we wheeled it down this steep hill, back up another hill all the way to our house.

I sanded it down then painted it red to match my red kitchen.Only fast forward a few years and the red kitchen is going bye bye!
So I just finished painting it light aqua with a rustic finish so the old red paint shows through a touch.