TOADSPOOLS

so...my newest obsession is baker's twine...it comes in so many yummy colors...that it's just so hard to say no!...lol...of course...wanted a cute way to display all my choices...you know...just a sneak peak of what's behind closed drawers...and that's how the idea for toadspools grew!...

 

how to make 'em?...well...you'll need 1" inch x 3/4" inch wooden spools and 1" inch split wooden balls...

 

paint the top to match your bakers twine...make sure to get the under side too!...then plop some white dots on there...i wanted a shiny finish...so i hit it with some glossy acrylic sealer...then used a craft glue dot to attach the top and bottom together...

 

there you go!...easy peasy and gnome-made!...these i whipped up for my basic colors...the ones for the brights are still a work in progress!...

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A FAIRY ADORABLE FAVOR BOX

so...while strolling around blogland...i came across the most adorable fairy favor boxes...and of course...i got to thinking of how i could whip up some of my own!...well...i just might have done it!...and using my cricut nonetheless!...

the body is the bride favor box from the tie the knot cart...then i used one of the butterflies from the cake basics cart...one thing...i ended up using design studio to hide some of the cuts on the bride favor box...just didn't want all that showing!...anywho...cut the box at 10 1/2"inches...scored on all the lines...folded 'er up...and tied shut with ribbon...now to the wings...they were cut at 4 1/2" inches...scored two lines...to kinda form a body...took a glue line...and attached to the back!...

forgot to mention...before closing the box with the ribbon...i put a little container of fairy dust in there!....it's actually a vial of glitter from the martha stewart variety pack...just the perfect size!...wonder if she planned that?...lol...or you can just put whatever you want in there...but no matter what you fill 'em with....you have the most adorable favor boxes that will make any party fairy special!...

 

 

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EARRINGS IN FULL BLOOM!

so...this months challenge over at sugar sweet paper treats is flowers and bling...hmmm....two things i'm not really known for!...lol...well...got out my freshly picked cricut cart and got to work on my card!...i so loved this gate image...and how perfect...it had some flowers on it!...but...there's a greenbean twist to it...those flowers are earrings!...that's right!...and i'm going to show you how to make 'em!...

 

now this is the same technique that i used for the flowers on my tutus...but we're going to make them much smaller...and only two layers instead of the three....but everything else is the same!....

first of all...i want you to know that nothing's wrong with your computers color...i did switch it up from the red to yellow...yeah...i'm crazy like that!...lol...anywho...let's get started!...

you're going to need...satin ribbon...bling...i used pearls...fabri tac...super glue...earring posts...earring backs...and a source of fire...

 

taking your satin ribbon...randomly cut circles...one larger than than other...now...you do want to cut another set pretty similar in size and shape...you'll kinda want the pair to match!...

 

hmmm...seems that i forgot to say you'll need some tweezers...well...you don't have to...but it makes things so much easier!...

 

now...take your flame...and go around all the edges...with it being satin...it'll curl up...but be careful...don't leave it there too long...or it will catch on fire!...trust me!...lol...repeat this step with your smaller circle...and your other set of circles...

 

take the fabri tac and place a small dot in the middle of your largest circle....

 

then place your small circle on top...hold for a bit...until you know it's stuck....

 

then...take some super glue...and place the tiniest dot on the back of your bling...a little bit goes a long way...and place it in the middle of your flower....

 

flip it over...and using the super glue again...put a dot on the the earring back...and place that on your flower...

 

repeat the steps of glueing the flower together and putting the earring back on....now you have a pair!...

 

now how pretty are they?...

 

for packaging 'em up...i used this cute gate image from freshly picked...cut it and the flowers at 3"....

 

then pop dotted that bad boy up!...i did punch holes in the vine cut and had it go completely through the card...that way...they can remove the earrings...without tearing up the card...i just plan to put a little bit of foam on the inside...so that it gives the earrings a cushion!...

 

ROCK A BYE BABY

so...found out i'm going to be needing a baby shower gift...and since the mom to be is pretty rock and roll...figured that the little one will be too!...well, i just happened to have the new cricut rock princess cart that has this killer skull font!...insert rocker hand here...anywho...did up a little onesie with her soon to be initial using the freezer paper method and some fabric paint...but it was missing something...had to girlie it up a bit...then i got to thinking...what if i made it with interchangeable bows?...so...i grabbed some snaps...sewed one onto the onesie...and attached the other part to the back of some teeny tiny bows...think i ended up with one rocking onesie...that's going to be too cool for drool!....

 

 

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I GET AROUND...

to other blogs that is!...what were you guys thinking?...lol...i just wanted to let you know that i'm super excited...because i'm going to be over at seven thirty three showing off a little something something!....lol...so why are you still here?...head on over there and see all that creativity week has to offer...i'm really hoping that kim's not going to regret inviting the bean...but it's a little too late now!...hee hee...so go on...get!...

WASH YOUR MOUTH OUT!

so...i was figuring that it's never too early to start washing your kids mouth out with soap...and now that can be done with these soapsicles!...lol...i'm thinking i'm not going to be asked to babysit anytime soon!...hee hee...anywho...thought i'd do up a tutorial on how to make these yummy tasting smelling soaps....

you'll need....a popsicle mold...this one's from go planet earth...but you can certainly use whatever mold you want...small soap bags...also from go planet earth...popsicle sticks...and large binder clips....

also...grab some clear melt and pour soap...glass measuring cup...soap colorant...i prefer liquid over the powder or gel...fragrance oils...and rubbing alcohol in a spritzer bottle...

take your soap and cut up into chunks...and put in glass measuring cup...it takes about 2 1/4 ounces for one soapsicle...now that's solid weight...not liquid...

head on over to the microwave...you'll want to do 1 minute at 50% power...then...until it's completely melted...do 30 second bursts at 50% power...you want it to melt...but not to boil!...

once it's all melted...you'll want to spritz with rubbing alcohol...this takes the bubbles out of the soap...

add a couple of drops of colorant...a little goes a long way!...i tend to do a drop or two...stir...and decide if i like what i'm seeing...if not...add a drop more...

then add your fragrance oil...the amount is up to you and your sniffer!...make sure to stir!...

spritz again with the rubbing alcohol...keep on going until you don't see hardly any white bubbles...

pour slowly into your mold...

see all those nasty bubbles?...gotta get rid of 'em...

once again...spritz with your alcohol until it's pretty much bubbleless...is that even a word?...lol...

after you've filled all the popsicle slots that you want to...put the cover on...note...if you're wanting to do multiple flavors scents...you gotta act kinda quick...you can't have the soap setting up before you get the popsicle sticks in there!...

now...take the binder clips...and put on the popsicle sticks...i do this so that the sticks don't get lost when you put them in the mold...

insert all the sticks into the slots of where you've poured the soap...see how the binder clips just rest on top?...now...just leave it be!...it's going to take about an hour to set up!...

remove the binder clips from the sticks...then lift the top off...just slighty jiggle the stick...if it still moves....it's not set completely!...give it a little bit more time...

now...this might be the most difficult part of this project...getting 'em out of the mold!...it's tough!...anywho...you'll want to pry the sides of the mold from the soap at the top...this will start little air pockets...

 

you'll keep squeezing all around the mold...if you notice...there's little areas that you can see a color difference...this is because the soap has pulled away from the mold...you want to keep going until there's that difference in color everywhere...

starting pushing from the bottom...put a little muscle into it!...lol...eventually the soap will pop up a bit...

grab the stick and slide on out...

you'll want to air them out a bit...just in case there's condensation on the soap...i do this by just grabbing a piece of styrofoam and putting the stick in there...you'll want to let 'em hang out for a while...this makes it so much easier to put in the baggies!....

if you want your soap to look like it has a bite mark...you'll need to get a tiny little scalloped circle cutter...or...you could just take a nibble!...lol...

 

right on the corner...use the cutter...see...looks like little bucker marks!...

 

take your baggies and plop 'em in!...

 

twistie tie 'em up!...add a ribbon, label, or anything else you want!...

 

now...the one i just did was fruit punch flavored scented...but take another looksie at all the ones you can do up!...aren't they purty...sorry...that's my wv showing...lol...now of course...it's totally up to you whether or not you want to tell the kiddies it's soap....you can just let 'em find out for themselves!...lol...enjoy!...

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PERHAPS THEY ARE NOT STARS....

so...with not being much of a cardmaker...i was super nervous to attempt my first sympathy one...but working with a stamp that has one of my most fav quotes...i think i might have actually pulled it off...used some scrap ribbons...kraft cardstock...the star cut from the george and basic shapes cricut cart...and my white signo pen...what do you think?...