Personalized Hand Soap Dispenser (Teacher Gift)

I'll admit, I stole this idea from Pinterest, but I just had to share. This project turned out to be so simple, inexpensive and cute. You start out with the Softsoap(r) brand hand soap which is about $1-$2 (the lighter colored soaps work best so that the design shows through...pink, green, peach, yellow).

You need to remove the front and back labels from the bottle and use Goo Gone to remove the sticky residue.

To make the personalized label insert, I used the template from this blog (which is where the original project idea came from) and added a picture of Hayes in black & white and his name at the bottom. Is used a photo editing program called Picasa to edit Hayes' picture to look like a black & white sketch. You could use anything for the picture...on the original blog, she used a silhouette of her children and also recommended using a picture that the child had drawn. Other ideas would be a monogram or any type of clip art. I had to glue the picture and name on the template after it was printed out because I was unable to edit the template which was in Adobe Acrobat (I'm sure it's possible to edit it on the computer, but I'm not savvy enough to figure it out).

I took the template page with my additions to Office Max, and they made a copy of it on a transparency for about 75 cents.

Next, you cut out the rectangle template (not on transparency), open the top of the soap, roll the transparency section slightly so that it fits in the top, and insert it. You can use the tube on the soap dispenser to make sure it is aligned correctly.

Now you're basically done, just add any personal additions like a tag with a note and/or ribbon. This would be a great idea for any kind of gift, for parties or showers. Here's how mine turned out (the words say "You are an Awesome Teacher. From, Hayes):

The transparency is the perfect size to sit in the soap container and remain centered. It just "floats" there.

The finished product with tag and ribbon

The BEST stain remover (makes dingy clothes like NEW)

About a month ago, I purchased an adorable outfit for Hayes at a consignment sale. The only problem was that the front had an area that, at one time, had been white, but was now dingy. I have been researching different methods for removing stains and dinginess, and today I decided to try one. It uses things you probably already have around the house and it worked GREAT so I decided to share.

Ingredients:
1 part dish soap (I used Ajax...any type would work)
1 part baking soda
2 parts hydrogen peroxide

Mix all ingredients well and apply liberally to the area you wish to clean. I put my garment on a baking sheet so that it would not make a mess.

Use a scrub brush to work the solution into the stain or dingy area then apply more of the solution on the top to saturate it.

Let it sit for about an hour, then wash and dry as usual. I was very impressed with the finished product. The white is much brighter does not look as worn (just wish I had thought to take a "before" picture for comparison, but trust me...it looks much better).

Easter Egg Wreath

This week, I did my first Easter craft project. I compiled a few ideas that I have seen online to make an Easter egg wreath. It's a pretty simple and fun project and looks great on our front door. You can make it in any color scheme that you like (and can find eggs in those colors).

Supplies:
Straw or styrofoam wreath in desired size
Hot glue gun (and glue sticks)
Plastic Easter eggs in desired colors
Easter "grass" (I used paper grass but plastic would also work)
Wax-coated string (or really any thicker string) to make hanger

Directions:

1) Hot glue the plastic eggs over the entire front surface of the wreath. Cover all parts of the wreath that can be see when the wreath is lying flat on your work surface (and what will also show when it is hanging on the door or wall). Place the eggs as close together as possible, leaving as little space between them as you can. They do not have to be placed in a certain direction, or all facing the same way. In fact, it seems to work better if they are placed randomly.

2) Place a small amount of hot glue between the cracks in the eggs (where you can see the wreath peeking through) and immediate place a small amount of "grass" in that area and poke down into the space so that the grass will stick to the glue (and still stick out between the eggs). This step is hard to explain, but simple to actually do. You have to do one spot at a time or the glue will dry before you get the grass attached. I trimmed my grass after it was attached so that it was all about the same length.

3) Create a hanger on the back of the wreath. I used wax-coated string, but any thicker string would work. Make a loop out of the string and weave it in between the eggs on the front of the wreath (so that it does not show and is covered by the "grass") and tie in a knot on the back. Tie another knot, leaving a loop on the back of the wreath, where it can hang from a nail or knob.

4) You're done! Hang it up and enjoy!

Easy DIY Party Hat Project

As Hayes is nearing his 1st birthday (still unbelievable to me)...I have started planning for his party. I found a precious party hat for sale online for $25 plus shipping. I really wanted one for him, but did not want to pay this much for something that he will likely wear for a few minutes at most. After searching for some info online, I made one myself. This is a very simple no-sew project. I purchased all of my supplies at Hobby Lobby for $11.

You will need:

• hot glue gun
• card stock paper or cereal box
• 1/4 yard fabric
• stick-on felt sheet
• stick-on felt letters
• ric-rac or other trim of your choice
• pom pom for top
• adhesive tape roller (scrapbooking section of store)

The first step is to download a template for the party hat shape. I found mine here. You can either print the template out on thick card stock or trace the shape onto a cereal box and cut out.

Next, you want to cut a piece of your fabric to wrap the hat. Leave about 1/2 inch or excess fabric on all sides of the template. Also cut slits in the fabric at the interior corners and trim fabric at an angle at exterior corners as shown below (this helps the fabric lay down more smoothly).

I used the adhesive tape roller to attach the fabric to the template so that it wasn't moving around while trying to glue the edges.

The next step is to glue the fabric to the back of the template using the hot glue gun. It is best to start on the curved edge, gluing about 1 inch at a time, and making a pleat after each section so that the fabric lays down smoothly on the front of the hat.

Once the fabric is attached all the way around, you can decorate as you wish. I added ric-rac trim in a coordinating color around the bottom edge (also attached with hot glue gun). I used stick-on felt to cut out and attach a number 1 for his 1st birthday and stick-on felt letters to spell out his name on the top of the number.

The next step is to roll the hat into its cone shape. This can be a little tricky because the thick card stock does not want to bend, especially at the point. Just work with it and you have to fold it at the top a little bit. I used the hot glue gun again to attach the tab on the template to the inside of the template on the other side to create the cone shape.

The final (and easiest) step is to add the pom pom to the top (also with a small drop of hot glue).

Here is the finished project:

Susie Homemakers...Almost

I went to our friend Maggie's house for our ritual "Girls' Night," and we had previously decided (thanks to a very creative idea from Maggie) to make a pie from scratch...crust and all. Seeing as how I have somehow managed to screw up a boxed cake mix in the past, I was sure this task would prove a feat for me. I do not consider myself a good cook; however, I was totally up for this idea since I'm always a fan of sweets and was sure that this project would not fail to entertain. After much deliberation, we decided on an apple pie, and Maggie found an "Award-Winning" recipe online. The most tedious and time-consuming part of the pie-making process was peeling and slicing the apples, but after this was done the rest was surprisingly quite simple. The pies turned out amazingly, and I would definitely recommend this recipe:

Caramel Apple Crumble Pie
- 1 pie crust, uncooked (see recipe below)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 Tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 6 cups thinly-sliced applies (I used 2 golden delicious, 2 granny smith)
- 1 recipe of crumb topping:
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup quick-cooking whole oats
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
- 1/4 cup caramel topping, or to desired amount

Prepare pie crust according to recipe and place it in pie dish. Peel and slice apples thinly. Set aside. In mixing bowl, stir together sugar, flour, cinnamon, & salt. Add apple slices and gently toss until coated. Transfer apple mixture to unbaked pie shell. Stir together brown sugar, flour, & rolled oats in a bowl to create topping. Cut in 1/2 cup butter until topping is coarse like crumbs. *I found a pastry cutter to be helpful with this.* Sprinkle crumb topping over apple mixture. Place pie on cookie sheet. Cover edges of pie, if visible, with aluminum foil. Bake in 375 degree oven for 25 minutes. Then, remove foil and put back in the oven for an additional 25 to 30 minutes. Remove pie from oven and sprinkle with chopped pecans, if desired, then drizzle the top with caramel sauce. Enjoy when it is warm or at room temperature.

"Foolproof Pie Crust"
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 1/3 cup butter or margarine
Mix flour, sugar, and butter. Press into pie pan.

Foolproof Crust:

Apple slices in crust coated with cinnamon/sugar mixture:

The final product:

Pumpkin Project

As I have come to realize and accept, most of the craft and home improvement projects that I take on turn out to be much harder and more stress-inducing than I anticipated. This, however, is one that I can honestly say from first-hand experience is a piece of cake.

You want to start out with a Funkin® which I purchased at Hobby Lobby, but are also available online through the company's website. They range in price from about 15-25 dollars. Funkins® are basically carve-able artificial pumpkins made of a material similar to Styrofoam. The only other tool you will need for this project is a pumpkin carving tool, which you can purchase at any store that sells real pumpkins and carving supplies. It's basically just a very small serrated knife.

Start by carving a small hole, about 4-5 inches in diameter, in the bottom of the Funkin. This will be to insert the light source. You can create any design that you want for the front and free-hand it if you're brave. For mine, I decided to do the "B" monogram, so I chose the font that I wanted and created a template. Just print your template out from the computer and tape it to the front of the pumpkin. Next, use your tool to carve out the design.

Tip: Make sure to look at your design before carving to be sure that it will not "fall out". For example, if you were carving a letter "O", the entire circle would fall out if you carved a complete "O". You would have to be creative with the design so that the ends to not meet. You will see that I had to do this with the "B" as well.

Once you have the design carved just how you like it, all you need is to insert a
light source. The best thing that I have found so far is the small battery-powered LED lights that look like tea lights. They are not quite as bright as I would like, but it's the best I've found. Let me know if you have any ideas for a brighter light source.

Just put the Funkin® on top of the light and enjoy! The best things about this pumpkin are 1) it does not rot, 2) it does not attract ants/bugs, 3) it can be used indoors, and most importantly 4) it can be used year after year.

First Fire

It was finally cold enough to enjoy the first fire in our fireplace! Unfortunately, Chris was not home because he was working, but I was actually able to figure out how to start it. I found that the Duraflame logs are the best for beginners like me. All you have to do is place one log (still inside the paper packaging) in the fireplace rack and light both ends. It burned for about 3 hours, and I LOVED it! A fire just makes it feel like home. Now we just have to figure out how to keep Jack from trying to get in the fire...