Playing with photoshop today

I learned the coolest photoshop trick today on Blissfully Domestic and it is soooo simple!

I took this original picture (above) of my daughter and added a few different textures so you can see the effects.

I love how the different textures change the feeling of each picture.

Love this!!

Check it out, she even gives you links to free textures to use.

Witches and One-eyed Monster -Cake Balls

For a Young Women's activity my talented friend taught the girls (and me) how to make these fun Halloween cake balls.

So here are the basics:

*Bake one box of chocolate cake as directed.

*After cake is cooled crumble it into a large bowl and mix in 1 can cream cheese frosting

*Roll mixture into quarter size balls, lay on a cookie sheet, and stick one sucker stick in each

*Chill in fridge for several hours

*Melt your choice of chocolate (we did purple and green colored) in microwave per directions on package
*dip cake ball in chocolate and decorate as follows
For Witch: chow mein noodles for hair, oreo cookie and kiss for hat and orange frosting for eyes
For One-eyed Monster: Half of a marshmallow and one M&M for eyeball

As you can see the girls are not perfectionists... that's what makes these so darn cute.

LOVE that warty lookin' witch!

Halloween banner and pumkins

I've seen these banners all over the blogging world and figured- I've got paper, string, and ribbon, so why not make my own?!

So I did... and I like it... and I think I'm make one for Thanksgiving... and maybe one for Christmas...How fun are these glittery pumpkins I made thanks to Martha... dear, dear, Martha.

(Yes, I know mine aren't as perfect as Marthas... what do you expect? I'm no Martha. I wonder if Martha is Martha. Ya know what I mean? Does Martha even know she came up with these beautiful glittery pumpkins? I have a feeling that Martha's "people" deserve a lot more credit than they get.)
Just a few close ups of the banner. I printed the scalloped circle and square on the back of the paper and then cut them out by hand.

Surely there is an easier way to do it ... anyone know an easier way?

diaper dilemma

With a 1 year old and a newborn on the way diapers are sure to be all over the house. If they must then they must but at least I can make the best of it and create something that holds all the diaper changing necessities together and compliments the look of the room.
This is what I came up with.

I paid $5 for this corn husk basket and just spray painted it with the same color I did this truck to match the boys room. I have another (smaller) basket in the family room for quick changes downstairs.

Ahhh, much better.

Changing diapers might actually be enjoyable now... haha, probably not. ;)

Simply Sweet Handmade Cards

I love to make cards. I don't have all the cute stamps which is why I love this card

and wanted to share with all 2 of you ;).

I just cut 8 1/2 x11 white cardstock in half to make the card then I bought these darling "chiptoppers" made by bazzil paper (you can get "thank you" or "happy birthday" or

"merry christmas" etc.) and matching paper.

I cut the colored strips 1 1/2in x 4in and put one of the chip toppers on top.

Don't you love how simple and chic these cards are!

I love the colors and clean lines!So what are you waiting for... grab your paper cutter and get started!

Craft Tag

I have a new friend and recently discovered her blog. She started a "craft tag" that I thought was brilliant (especially this time of year when we are all looking for Christmas gift ideas).



Anyway here are the rules
1. Post a project that you have been working on lately or some thing you want to start soon.
2. Include pictures, a few instructions on how to make your fun project/craft idea, or a link to where you found the idea.
3. Then tag a few people to do the same!!




Okay ladies, here's mine. I actually made these awhile ago but I thought I would share this project because I gave some for Christmas gifts and they were a big hit.




I got this idea from a scrapbook store in Utah.
It's a fun way to organize your birthdays. It's a 12 month calendar and you just write the names of your fam and friends on their month/ day and fill the envelopes with cards to pull from when their special day comes.

What you will need:
*13-9x6 vertical white envelopes
*13 sheets of 12x12 scrapbook paper (its fun if you can find paper to fit the season or holiday of that month)
*ribbon to match paper
* adhesive
*Months and days printed on cardstock
*ink/ chalk for edges (optional)
*2 book rings

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Cut out your scrapbook paper 5 1/2 in. by 8 1/2 in. and a piece to cover the flap (you may want to trace the flap and make a pattern to trace for all of your pages) Ink edges if desired and add ribbon with glue dots or staples. Glue the papers to 2 envelopes so that as you turn the pages the paper and month line up with the flap opening at the top (refer to the pics).
2. Cut out Months and glue to flap. I used a pop-up glue dot on the first letter of the month to add more dimension.
3. Cut out dates, ink, add any ribbon, and glue to paper,
4. Hole punch the bottom of envelopes (you might want to finish all of the months first and put everything in place before you punch any holes, just to be sure that it flips correctly) and add book rings.

TA-DA! That's it. It's the perfect project for those of you, like me, who have a bunch of scrapbook paper laying around gathering dust.

I TAG : Melissa M., Melissa L., Adrienne, Traci, Heather D., Tiffany, Lacey and anyone else that feels like being creative!
It can be something you've done in the past or would like to do so don't stress out if you don't have something you are working on right now.

Can't wait to see your projects.

Halloween ideas

There are so many fun crafts and treats to make this time of year. These are some of my favorites I've come across... okay, more like these are the ideas I think I might actually be able to make on my own and not break the bank.

We rarely make Carmel apples because they are so huge my kids usually throw most of it away so I love this idea from family fun to use a melon-baller and make little bite-size Carmel apples, PERFECT!

And I couldn't stop giggling when I saw these mummies. What a fun dinner idea for Halloween night.

When we loaded up our HUGE (the biggest one they had) moving truck we couldn't fit everything (we don't have that much stuff... it's a long story) and unfortunately our fall/ Halloween decor was left behind so I've been keeping my eye out for some fun and simple ideas to decorate. I especially love the projects my kids can help me do like this one I saw on Hostess with the Mostess

This is another cute idea from Hostess with the Mostess. I love the candy corn in the vase with the candles. I know my crafty neighbor has something similar on her mantel.

This one is fun, I love the paper she used. It would be so cute on my black door.

That will have to do for now. Kids are calling.

binky clips

This was another fun project I did with my sister here. Binkies are like gold at our house and if my next baby is anything like my last 3 then he will have one clipped to his being at all times. It was so easy to make these clips. I found the tutorial here.

This is the back side of the clip.
I think I'll add a a big brown button just for added "cuteness".