Jewelry Holder Tutorial .. made by yours truly!!!!

So the credit for this post totally goes to my friend Tricia over at I Heart Rock n Roll for putting up pictures of her awesome tutorial and for giving me the courage to try my own project.  You can check hers out here:

http://iheartrocknroll-tricia.blogspot.com/2011/05/picket-fence-tutorial.html

After seeing what she came up with, how could I not be inspired to try my own.. so off to the dollar store I went (me and 5 kids who didn't want to behave and all wanted a chocolate bar and whom I threatened a gazillion times with NO CHOCOLATE if they didn't shush and STOP touching.. ok, I exaggerated there.. Grace was pretty well behaved and she only grabbed a dozen or so things off of the shelf each time I stopped the cart).

BUT...

I made it home with my supplies (and chocolate bars for the kids (I suck at being the harsh parent sometimes) )

And so here's what I did while the kids ate supper:

Supplies:

Paints - 3 colours at $1.25 each (and I won't have to buy more for a looooooonnnnngggg time)

Foam Brushes - 1 pack at $1.25 (but I would buy the small bristle brushes next time)

Bristle Brush - (I had it on hand but it would have been $1.25 too)

Plastic Cups (again.. on hand but max $1.25)

Stir Stick - I have no idea how much 1 would cost.. we have a tonne laying around

Canvas - 12" x 14" size $1.25

Stick on hooks - 1 pack at $1.25

(for those who don't like math that's $10 at most to get started.. and to do more you'll still have supplies left over so it'll only cost a couple of dollars the next time)

And then the fun began :-)

Doesn't my space look all clean and organized?

(ya know that didn't last.. lol)

 I mixed up my blue paint with some water (I'ze talented like that)

 Then, I used the bristle brush to paint on the blue.. I did the sides and top too because that's just the look I was going for.

 Ok, so here's where my lack of artistic skills totally comes into play.. I used one of my business cards and did a rough sketch of the butterfly (sorry, I got excited once that was done and almost forgot to take the picture)

 And voila.. the finished butterfly.. and the waiting began.. and I waited.. and waited, and waited some more for it to dry (actually.. it only took 10 minutes but I'm soooooo impatient)

I lined up my hooks and then stuck them on upside down (no.. that wasn't a mistake)

 They need to be so that my chains don't fall off once they're hooked on

 And finally the finished product.  I like it.. Actually, I'm lovin' it and I'm going to make a few more of them ready for the next craft fair!!!



So.. what do you think???

Do you have any easy ideas for a way to hang a bunch of necklaces (or headbands.. hint hint).  Ideas are most welcome.. send 'em my way :-)

An Oxymoron of sorts :-)

Ha ha.. (you'll understand why I'm laughing once you read the rest) .. so here I am.. wondering what I could possibly write about today.. what exciting thing has happened to me.. Well.. I hit a darned good milestone in my weightloss (as in 40lbs) .. yayyy me.  I'm pretty excited about that one.. I'm half way to where I want to be :-) :-)  (and need to be to be healthy!!)  I am using the hcg drops and the low cal diet that goes with it.. and no.. I'm not hungry!! .. I realize they might be controversial but to date they are the ONLY thing that has worked.. I am not an excersize nut, and I don't like most foods so I need something very limited like this.  Now.. I just need to maintain it once I come off the drops.. but I bought a pair of size 11 capris today and even though they're snug.. they go on.. they do UP, and I can wear them!!!!! (side note.. how do you put smiley faces on a blog???)

And now for the HA HA part....

The first thing I actually thought about posting on here was my favourite cheesecake recipe.. mmmmm cheesecake.. a good part of the reason I still have 40 lbs to go I'm sure!!  I found this recipe online and modified it to suit my tastes.. which are finicky to say the least.

So here's my favourite cheesecake recipe.. if you have read down this far.. and you gain weight after making it.. don't say you weren't warned :-D

Crust:
1 3/4 c. chocolate wafer cookie crumbs
1/2 stick butter, melted

mix together and press into the bottom of a springform pan and maybe an inch up the sides ... put into the fridge until the rest of the cheesecake is mixed and ready to go.

Cheescake: 3 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese softened (or 1/2 of the big boxes you can buy of them 1.5? kg)
1 c. sugar
4 lg. eggs, room temperature
2 tbsp. Grand Marnier (or any orange liquour)
Zest of 1 lg. orange

cream together cream cheese and sugar, add in other ingredients and mix well for about 5 minutes (make sure the orange zest isn't all clumped together)

bake at 325 for 1 hour.. you can bake it in a water bath if you like but since I cover mine with the sauce I don't care if the top has cracks in it :-)

cool on the counter until only warm to the touch, then cool in the fridge for at least a few hours.. or overnight if you have that kind of willpower
Sauce:

about 1 C of the milk chocolate wafers for melting
about 1 heaping C of frozen raspberries (thawed).. I use the frozen ones because then I seem to get more juice for the sauce

melt the chocolate and then still over a low heat add in the raspberries and mix unti the raspberries are mushed up. Pour over the cheesecake and down the sides if you want and enjoy :-)

 

So if you make it.. leave a comment and let me know what you think!!!

And have a nibble for me too.. 'cause it's gonna be a looooooooong time before I can have it again :-(

My First Time!!!

Well.. if that doesn't get you reading.. I don't know what will :-P

I actually mean that this is my first time ever blogging.. eek.. I feel wayyyy too much pressure.. ok.. must relax.. breathe.. I mean.. c'mon.. it's only a blog right???? RIGHT????

So.. about me.. I have 7 kids .. yes S-e-v-e-n.  Five of them live with me and the other two are sadly (for me) with their dad :-( .  But I love them all and couldn't be prouder of them no matter what!!.  I'm married to a wonderful guy who spoils me wayyy too much (and no one tell him that.. I don't want him slackin' ok).  I have ups, I have downs, I homeschool my kids, I love to bake, I hate to cook meals, I'm on a diet :-(, I like to make crafts (a shock to me for sure!!!), I want my house showroom clean every day, I'm too lazy to do that though so I'm learning to adjust. 

Anyways...

I'm not sure how often I'll blog.. or what I'll even for sure blog about.. life with all these little ones.. favourite recipes.. jewelry making, magnet making.. maybe a tutorial or two.. mabye a giveaway or two of some of my work.. who knows.. but if you read my blog, .. I hope you at least go away with a smile on your face.. and if my blogging doesn't do that.. think of a baby smiling or chuckling.. everyone smiles at that thought!!!

Until next time..

Have a great one

oh yeah.. I will figure out how to post pictures and links and such soon :-D