First Blog Swap, Stephanie from Somewhat Simple

{Check out my post at Stephanie's blog here}

Happy Friday Everyone! My name is Stephanie and I am so excited to be taking over Mique's blog today! Excuse me while I kick up my feet and make myself comfortable...

For today's special post, I put together an easy tutorial for a Dry-Erase Glass Calendar- these are so fun, I am sure you have seen them- but here is my take on it!

MATERIALS: All you need is a glass frame, a sharpie marker, a ruler and vinyl stickers if you have them. (If you dont have them, just write the labels yourself with the marker, or email me- I will get you some!)

Here is the frame I chose:

(My sister actually got it years ago at IKEA in the as-is section for $1.99- I don't know what it was supposed to be for, but it sure fits perfect for this calendar of mine!)

DIRECTIONS: First, I painted the frame red and then distressed it by sanding the edges.

Then I flipped the frame over to the backside, got my free ruler from the grocery store and my trusty Sharpie marker and went to work drawing lines!

I was worried about this part, wondering if one slip of my hand would make a line not straight and ruin the entire glass, but I was pleasantly surprised at how easy the marker comes off with a little Windex and paper towel. I changed my mind on the spacing of each area and had to erase that "permanent marker" several times!!! PLEASE NOTE: It is important to draw the lines on the back of the glass so you don't have to worry about the lines coming off the more you use this calendar.

After the lines were drawn, I applied my vinyl stickers, also to the backside of the glass. (If you are cutting your vinyl, you will need to cut it backwards so it looks right from the front.)

Lastly, I added some hardware to the back so it will hang on the wall, like so:

When all of that is done, your calendar is finished! Simply use a dry erase marker to write and rewrite your family's happenings!

One cute variation I saw was done on a 12x12 frame so you can change the background of you calendar with scrapbook paper to match the seasons of the year! This idea is a lot of fun, so make one and get creative with it!

I would love for you all to come visit me at Somewhat Simple. We have an online party every Thursday where everyone is invited to "Stut their Stuff" and show off their recent creations- come join the fun!!! We are also getting ready for a serious giveaway- click on this picture for details:




I had a ton of fun here with you today! Thanks Mique for having me!

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Fall leaves headband tutorial

For last week's So You Think You're Crafty
"leaves" theme,
my project was the fall headband.
Enjoy!

To start, you will need the following:
scissors
a scrap piece of fabric for the button
cover button kit
glue gun & glue gun sticks
moss green & dark brown embroidery thread
embroidery needle
dark brown elastic headband
about 1/4 yard of moss green felt
1/4 yard of dark brown felt

To start, I cut 8 dark brown leaves & 10 moss green leaves.I did this without a pattern (I just kinda go for it usually).Let me know if you'd prefer a template for the leaves.They are approx 1 inch, you can make them bigger or smaller.

Here is my stack of dark brown leaves:

Next I ran a running stitch through my brown leaves

I then back stitched (scroll down to back stitch) the green leaves:


Here is the stack of back stitched green leaves:

Take four to five of each set and
stack them together like so:


Turn one stack over and stitch through all the leaves to hold it into place:

Do that with both stacks.
At this point your stacks should like this on the back:

Lay your stacks overlapping on each other and
stitch them together from the back:

So you should now have one big stack of leaves.

*Also- one of the greatest things about felt
is it's so forgiving. At this point (or any point really)
you can just kinda move your leaves around
and play with them until they look how you
want them to.*

At this point, make your button.
I used a 1 7/8" button cover kit:
(or if you just want to make your own without the kit,
here's a tutorial)

Lay your button on top of the leaves stack and coming from the bottom,
stitch up and through the hook of the button and then down back
and tie it off on the back side.

It should now look like this:

Take your glue gun and make a line
on the back of your stacked leaves
then lay your elastic headband on that line of glue:

Cut a piece of dark brown felt with rounded edges
to cover the back of the headband.
Cover with glue from glue gun:


Lay your dark brown felt over the
elastic headband to finish off the back:


Then put on your head or your cute
daugther's head:

Please let me know if you have questions or
if something isn't clear.

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Thanks and Giving

Super excited today. This afternoon I will be at a So You Think You Can Dance taping (one of the many bonuses of living in the LA area). While I am there, you can go here and cast your vote for So You Think You're Crafty. ;) This week's theme is GREEN- can you spot what I created? I'd love to hear your guesses. I hope to make it through this week so you can see what I created for next week (not looking so good so far- yikes!). I actually made a craft for next week's theme on accident and then had to make another one for this week- oops! Fingers crossed.
Here's what I came up with for last week's "leaves" challenge. Seriously simple, but a cute little headband for the fall.

Onto other stuff. Like Thanksgiving centered projects. WAY late on this post. But you still have a week and a half to get to them. Or stash them away for next year.

Here's what I did a couple of years ago when we hosted at my house. I had my kids make placemats for all the guests displaying turkey handprints (3 turkeys above = my 3 kids hands) and their names.

I also had them decorate lunch bags for everyone.I passed out paper and had everyone write what they were grateful for from that person. Then we rotated the bags.
These were really simple projects but made our Thanksgiving just a little more meaningful. We ate yummy food and made some great memories.

Onto other ideas:

I really meant to post about this weeks ago:
Melissa's amazing Thanksgiving Advent Calendar at Polka Dot ChairThankful Turkey Keepsake by Roots and Wings
Kind Over Matter's Thanksgiving fortune cookie printables

Thanksgiving bunting by Stitch/CraftPumpkin pie & whipped cream
by Smashed Peas & Carrots
(check out her turkey dinner too if you didn't catch it on my last post)
Little Birdie Secrets' Thanksgiving thankful jarThanksgiving {recession proof} place settings on Maya RoadSomewhat Simple's Thankgiving Countdown Jar

You can also check out my past Thanksgiving post for more ideas.
ETA- check out this cute thanksgiving garland
by Simply Modern Mom via Tangled & True
(thanks for the heads up Tiffany ;)

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For the love of felt

First off- thank you Disney!! I mentioned to her that we make a good team- Disney and Mique. ;) I loved having her guest blog. Isn't that hat a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e? And her tutorial, so easy and clear cut. Love that. Thank you, thank you. And if you came over to 30days via Ruffles and Stuff- welcome.

Today's post is centered around my love of felt. It's no secret. But I've found MORE cute felt ideas/tutorials. This time, food related and I had to share:

Smashed Peas and Carrots Thanksgiving dinner

Let's do lunch from Myrtle & Eunice

Dana's dinner for two, last week's So You Think You're Crafty winner

Check out the Flickr handmade felt food group -
amazing stuff going on over there.
And look at this post in Craftster-insane!
And One Pretty Things felt food roundup is great too.

{Happy weekend everyone!}

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Guest Blogger: Disney, Ruffles and Stuff

Hi everyone!

I am so honored to be here at 30 Days guest blogging today!

My name is Disney, and I have a little craft blog called Ruffles and Stuff, where I share my ideas, projects, and as many tutorials as I can. :o) I love to make anything girly & cute, and the easier the better! I also try to focus on recycling and thrifted projects, as most of my materials come from what I have lying around the house. I love the challenge of a low budget!

Today I'm going to share with you a project that costs nothing at all if you've got an old sweater lying around!

The cardigan hat:

I was inspired by this little cutie at Anthropologie:

Here's how I did it!

1) Start with an old cardigan (I loved this one, but sadly, it's too small!). Cut a circle out of the middle, the larger the better!

2) Cut off the ribbed band around the bottom.

3) Sew a long stitch (the longest stitch length on your machine) around the edge of the circle, and pull the top string to gather into a circle the size of your head, or the person's head your making it for.

4) With your gathering stitch threads hanging out, fold the band of your sweater around the edge of the hat, and sew a zig-zag stitch just above your gathering stitch. Then pull your gathering stitches out. (this way it will be able to stretch)

If yours turns out a little big (like mine, I didn't measure first! Naughty!), you can sew some elastic on the inside of the band!

5) Tie a ribbon bow, and hand stitch it on!

All done!

I would have added a pom-pom, but I was out of black yarn! Beans!

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Seriously what are you waiting for?

These are projects that I want to do as soon as I walk away from this computer. You too? Thought so.

Hope Studios' scrunchy gathered scarf Ruffle-y, J-crew-y dress from Kojo DesignsLarge layered flower pin by My Mama Made It At The Storque from the book, Applique Your Way, rose petal tee Pom Pom Wreath by Bleubird Vintage

Enjoy!

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Manic Monday

Just another manic monday....so after a crazy weekend I am ready for better week. Wedding (brother-in-law's). Puking. Need I say more? Hoping to start it off well.......I'm having a 24 hour sale in my little shop. From now until 9am tomorrow morning if you mention in the notes to seller that you came from 30days in my shop, I will discount your design to $8 (pay for it and I'll refund you the $7). That's almost half off. Woo hoo.
Also I survived another week in So You Think You're Crafty- phew! This week's theme is leaves and holy cow, the crafts are amazing. I'm not sure I'll last this week! Can you spot mine? If you guessed mine was the Count Your Blessings sign last week, you were right. If anyone is interested in a tutorial here, let me know and I'll share. Go vote for your favorite from this week here.
I almost forgot to say thanks to my blog hacking sister {love you Jess} and all the sweet birthday comments. Thank you!!! And to the lovely and talented Melissa and Brittany. You guys are the best. Didn't you love their ideas? Luckily for me (and you), I have a few more guest bloggers lined up. But I'll be back later today with a craft post.

P.s. See that poll over there on the upper left sidebar? Wanna vote so I know what you'd like to see here at the blog? Thanks. :)

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party invites

Brittany here from One Charming Party guest posting. Since we're celebrating Mique's birthday, I wanted to share with you a bunch of fun, unconventional invitation ideas that I've collected over the past year. These can be used for birthday cards, party invitations, or even adapted as holiday cards & presents. The possibilities are endless. Enjoy!Wouldn't these fortune cookies be darling for a New Years Eve party invite? The full tutorial is over at For the Love of Paper.I've loved this Lemonhead baby shower invitation ever since I first saw it. Check it out over at Jordan Ferney's Oh Happy Day.A more youthful twist on the previous idea, I love the bubblegum that reveals "Happy Birthday!" What child wouldn't love a box full of gumballs? See the whole post at Inchmark. Remember this Candyland Party invitation made from an Altoid tin? This could easily be changed up to fit any theme or holiday. Love it! From Katherine Marie Photography.This is a fabulous idea that you could replicate (I love the little milk heart). Take everyday items and turn them into a sweet birthday or holiday message. Photograph it and send it out postcard style or tucked in a simple card. See them at Shoot the Messenger and more examples here.I've been dying for an excuse to make this card. It's perfect in its simplicity. Another darling idea from Inchmark.The accordion envelope card, a classic from Martha Stewart. Stick 8 envelopes together and fill with surprises for the eight nights of Hanukkah or fill 12 envelopes for the twelve days of Christmas.

This card is unbelievable and could really be a present too with a gift card, money or other surprise tucked inside the bag. Get the scoop and two more card ideas at Little Birdie Secrets.

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Our Favorite Christmas Breakfast

Hi there!! My name is Melissa Mortenson and I'm the girl behind the Polkadot Chair blog. Mique asked me to be a guest blogger, for her this week and I'm so excited to be here to share some things with you.

If you get a chance stop by my blog and say "hi"- I have lots of craft tutorials and project ideas there.

I don't usually post recipes, but I thought I would for Mique today since this one is unique. (plus a good friend of mine suggested it). Most of my recipes come from my Mom, friends or my favorite cookbooks, but this one I came up with myself, and it took lots and lots of tries to get just right. After a few failed attempts and some burned dishes, I finally nailed it.

I know what you are thinking... it's not even Thanksgiving yet, and this girl shows up with a Christmas post? Well it's never too early to start getting ready for Christmas, I think that's the key to a stress free (or at least less stress, Holiday). Plus this breakfast is good anytime of the year, not just Christmas.

I had always struggled with what to feed my family for breakfast on Christmas day. I usually have intentions of making cinnamon rolls the night before, or waking up and making a super fancy meal. However, I always get too busy for the cinnamon rolls the night before, and I'm usually super tired Christmas morning (due to my kids waking me up every hour all night!).

One of our favorite restaurants is The Original Pancake house, they have this dish called the Dutch baby, it's to die for! We don't have a restaurant in town, so I've been trying to find a dish that is close.

This one is NOT the same as the restaurant but a close second. It's the combination of a few different recipes, then changed to be made individually.

The best part!?!? Well you make it in the blender, so there is little mess, and it bakes in less than 15 min! The hardest part is cutting up all the fruit.

You will need individual baking dishes, ramekins won't work, you need something with short sides, like mini pie plates or petite au gratin pans.

Individual Puff Pancakes -

Yield 4 small or 3 large pancakes (depends on the size of your dish).

I doubled this recipe and it gave me enough for 6 dishes, my dishes are pretty large.

Preheat oven to 425

In blender mix:

1/2 c all purpose flour

1/2 c whole or 2 % milk

2 eggs

3 T sugar

1/2 t vanilla

1 T fresh squeezed lemon juice

pinch of lemon zest

pinch of salt

Place 1 T of butter in each baking dish. Place dishes in the oven for about 10 minutes until the butter melts and the dishes are hot.

Without removing the dishes from the oven, pour batter into each baking dish about 1/2" deep. Do not stir and mix in the butter. (just evenly divide your batter among your dishes).

Close oven and cook for 10 min. Check. Cook additional time if necessary. They go from done to burned fast.. so watch them.

The pancakes are done when they are lightly golden brown and puffed. (see photo). Serve immediately

Serve with: (this is the important part!)

fresh sliced strawberries

fresh sliced bananas

sifted powdered sugar

strawberry syrup

whip cream

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happy birthday to mique!

i must know my sister pretty well since hacking into her blog was that easy...

jessica here just making sure you all know to wish her a happy birthday!! i know she probably wouldn't tell you, so what's a sister for?

love you miq and i hope you have a happy, happy birthday! wish i could be there...

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