Craft closet & DIY photo canvas

Organizing. It's something I love but still struggle to keep up with most of the time.

My craft closet is one of the best examples to the above statement. Things get stashed in there, thrown aside so they're simply out of my way. New supplies get center stage, though. I love opening the closet and seeing the new stuff right away. lol Anyway, as I work on being more organized and staying that way I thought I'd share with you a couple before and after shots of the closet. Why you ask? It's the same reason I love to browse other blogs. To get a glimpse inside someone else's world. To see how they live and work through their day. And let's face it, who doesn't love a good before and after photo shoot. Ha!

Before

After

Still not fabulous but better than it was before.

(I'm sorry to say that since these pictures were taken it's now somewhat messy again)

Like I said earlier, it's something I'm working on. A daily struggle that is sometimes overcome.

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I am posting a little late about our Father's day gift but alas here it is.

DIY photo print.

Canvas was purchased at Michael's. We used a 16"x20".

Varnish medium was also from Michael's, Liquitex Gloss Medium and Varnish

16"x20" photo print from Shutterfly

When I put this together I didn't take any tutorial photos but here is where I originally found instructions on how to put it together. I realized after the fact that I used a different varnish that she did but mine still came out great.

Putting this canvas print together was so easy, I already have plans to make more.

Have a great weekend!

Opposites & Garlic Cheddar Chicken

It's interesting to me how two people so much alike

can be so very different at the same time.

My twins are this way.

They are the same in many ways, with similar tastes and favorite activities.

But there are plenty of things that make them unique, one of a kind.

Exhibit A: Eating Spaghetti

B uses his spoon and is reasonably clean afterward.

F refuses to use his spoon for this meal. Instead he uses his hand and wipes sauce all over his face after each bite. lol

Let's get a closer look at this messy face.

Sorry for the slightly blurry part, it seems as if they're in constant motion.

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I recently tried a new chicken recipe that I feel is praise worthy.

Being the chicken eating family we are, I'm always on the lookout for new recipes that are easy, healthy and delicious. I originally found the recipe at Cook written by Just Make Stuff.

It's super yummy! Try it, I know you'll love it too.

Garlic Cheddar Chicken

my version

Ingredients:

1/4 c. butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/3 c. bread crumbs, dried or you can use crumbled toast

1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese

3/4 c. shredded Cheddar cheese

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat, cook the garlic until tender, about 5 minutes.

3. In a shallow bowl, mix the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, Cheddar cheese, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

4. Dip each chicken breast in melted garlic butter to coat, then press into the bread crumb mixture. Arrange the coated chicken in a baking dish. Drizzle with remaining butter and top with any remaining bread crumb mixture.

5. Bake for about 40- 45 minutes in preheated oven or until chicken is fully cooked (internal temp 160 degrees).

Enjoy!



Emily

Random.....

Happy Monday!


A few random moments around here lately.

Did you know a package of TP can make a comfy lounge?

Brett seems to think so. lol

The boys and I put together these super cute bird nests the other day.

They did all the painting and loved squirting the glue.

My hands were full when it came to the glue, so sadly there aren't any pictures of this part.

 I've got to get better at using the timer on my camera.

We uses a washed out egg carton for our paints. Easy clean up, love it!

What we used:

leftover party plates

blue and brown acrylic paint

construction paper birds and eggs

craft paper grass

Elmer's glue

(after the boys glued the grass down, we covered it with glue and let dry for 24 hours)

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Hand Print Canvases

One of the projects from our summer list is to make hand print canvases.

They turned out wonderfully.

I love them.

The idea was borrowed from Becky Higgin's blog. She's pretty amazing.

I wanted to the boys to do as much as they could in the painting process.

They did great.

Both worked on painting the canvas a solid color and all was going smoothly.

Until Brett ate some of the paint.

This caused him to throw up, leaving a stinky blue mess behind.

We also had friends over for this project.

 Thank you for not running from the puke.

She's a mom too and knows all about puking but still, thank you! 

I finished painting the background for them. After they dried we put the hand prints on.

Super cute! I love them!

Did I mention, super cute?

They're on display in our living room. They make me smile.

Here's what we used:

6"x6" canvases from Micheal's

acrylic paint

paint bushes

Action Shot

#14 on our summer list

Rainbow Pudding Pops and Iced Coffee

The other day I was browsing the blog world when I came across these rainbow pudding pops over at Random Thoughts of a Supermom. The twins weren't into popsicles last summer, but I'm hoping this will be our year. Popsicles were a must when I was growing up and still mean summer to me.

 Naturally I want to share that with my boys.

 So, I made these a couple nights ago and pulled them out for an after nap treat.

Favre liked it the most, Brett kept putting his sippie in it, I'd call it success. :o)

#34 on our summer list

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Ice coffee at home.

Yum.

Ingredients:

brewed coffee, a little stronger than normal

sugar, (there's no set amount)

ice cubes

milk

caramel topping (optional)

whipped cream (optional)

Sweeten the coffee to your liking, cool a bit, then refrigerate to chill.

Place ice cubes in glass and pour coffee over top, filling about 3/4 the way.

Pour milk over coffee.

Drizzle with caramel topping or top with whipped cream for an extra special treat. Enjoy!

Fabulous coffee for less!

Summer List

Happy June 1st!

Where did May go?

It seems like we were just starting to think about Summer but here it is.

School is out, fun is in, along with all the heat.

Our high today is supposed to be 97 degrees.

Ugh........

Thank goodness for air conditioning.

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This time last year.

Now.

So, I've been collecting ideas over the last month creating a list of Summer fun to have with the boys.

Summer List 2011

1. Go to Farmer's Market

2. Decorate a box as a playhouse (or pirate ship)

3. Make bubbles in the bathtub

4. Plant something

5. Have a pillow fight

6. Go to story time

7. Make a nature leaf rubbing

8. Paint with pudding

9. Bake cupcakes

10. Camp inside

11. Swimming - teach boys how to blow bubbles

12. Tie dye t-shirts

13. Get snow cones

14. Create canvas hand prints

15. Banana split party

16. Put on a puppet show

17. Paint rocks

18. Create an obstacle course

19. Make homemade salsa

20. Sing new songs

21. Take a road trip

22. Go to splash park

23. Make and paint with chalk paint

24. S'mores

25. Make foot prints

26. Homemade bubbles

27. Make a fort

28. Check out and make "Flat Stanley"

29. Puzzles

30. Eat watermelon

31. Go to the beach

32. Go on a picnic

33. Make homemade ice cream
34. Make popsicles