Before and After: Laundry Room Makeover (just pictures!)

Before 
 

(I know this makeover was long over do)

After

Mint Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches

I know it's been a LONG time since I last posted, but between Christmas, sickness, and appendicitis I haven't had much time. :) On Christmas I had received this book and so far have REALLY liked it. After going through it multiple times, and debating what recipe I should try, I finally settled upon Mint Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches!! I ended up making half mint chocolate and the other half just plain chocolate, my little sister doesn't like peppermint. :) They tasted wonderful!!! :) If you haven't already guessed, I really like making desserts/snacks!!!


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Mint Thins

Yesterday afternoon I was looking through a book I found at our library called: The Cookipedia and found this recipe for Mint Thins. I really like these cookies.  The only time I had them was years ago. They took me about a hour to make but were totally worth it.  I will definitely save the recipe and make them again!! <3

 

 

Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses

Last night my sister and I made gingerbread houses out of graham crackers. They were so easy to build.  It  took me maybe ten minutes to mix up a batch of icing and cut out the house. My mom bought some gumdrops at the store and we used those and chocolate chips to decorate them.



Providence's house that she designed.

My house





Just a Unique Outfit

Yesterday I felt like sewing, (actually, I felt like doing a craft, and then decided to sew). So I looked through all of my sewing patterns, and stumbled upon the pattern for this unique, and adorable outfit. I decided I just had to make it, even though it would be time consuming (I had to redo one of the tiers three times!?!). After I finished it I went downstairs and, unburied my doll (who just happened to be under a huge pile of stuff), and try it on her. It was totally worth the time!!

Standing in the leaves

~10/2/12-10/12/12~

I entitled this post, '10/2/12-10/12/12' because I've decided this is going to be a miscellaneous post about everything that's been going on lately. <3 Thursday the 4th, Dad bought a 1998 Ford Taurus for him and my brothers to fix up.  On Friday the 5th I finished my quilt!!! Yay! Now I just have to find someone to quilt it for me. Hmm, that will be interesting. :) Saturday I went thrift store shopping with my friend Holly it was a blast!! We went to about 9 thrift stores and then to Panera for lunch!! Thanks for such a great time Holly!!! This past Thursday my brother Josiah's RC (remote controlled) helicopter arrived in the mail, it has been the most popular item/toy of the day this week. Then this past Monday thru Friday (today, actually) :) we've gotten our counter tops all cut and ready to be fixed in place. Our front entryway tile has all been torn out, and ready to be replaced. Finally, our backsplash surface has been totally prepared, and is waiting to be replaced. I can't wait our kitchen is almost completed!!!! :D Soon we'll have the sink!! *sigh*

Hanging the Cabinets

The kitchen tile right after we grouted

Our laundry room after we tiled it.

I was going through my pictures on my camera, and found some cute ones of my cat when he was a kitten. I just had to share them.

Sleeping in Providence's carseat on the way home from Colorado.

His first week at home

Providence's Ouilt

Sorry I haven't posted. ;) My laptop wasn't functioning very well. Yesterday I finally finished a project I had been working on for quite a while, a quilt for my little sister. She was thrilled to finally be able to use it!! I know I've been making alot of things for her, but it's so amazing to see her face when I show her what I made! <3 For the quilt, I just used a simple strip pattern where you cut strips of fabric, and sew them together in a crazy made up pattern, and for the back a cute lady bug flannel. Instead of quilting it I decided to tie it (using the Homestead Blessings: The Art of Sewing DVD as a guide) much simpler!!

The quilt

The three different fabrics

Decoupage Notebook

Yesterday I received some notebooks in the mail, and my little sister decided she wanted her own notebook. :) So after doing a quick check of the supplies on hand It was decided to make her, her own.

The front

The back

Here's a tutorial of how to make them:  http://kindthoughts23.blogspot.com/2012/05/dsp-project-2-decoupage-notebook.html

Wall Cabinets!!

All of our wall cabinets are finally up!!!

Fabric for a New Quilt

Our local fabric store had a sale on fat quarters, and I decided to buy some for my next quilt! I'll probably be using the same pattern as my other quilt, because it is very easy and simple.





An Update on my Quilt

I've actually finished three rows of my quilt already, just two more left!!

Cabinets!!

Last night we hung up our first cabinet!!

Quilting Project: Fat Quarter Breeze

Guess what I have decided to make....?? It's for a bed and looks amazing guess yet??It's a quilt!! I saw this pattern in a book I got from the library, and decided it was perfect for a quilt, and would look amazing with the fabric I had. The pattern is called `Fat Quarter Breeze`.



The design

And the fabrics:

The fabrics are all from a collection called: Secret Garden by Lynette Anderson.

~Sewing Project: How to Make a Yo-Yo~

After making the yo-yo necklace I decided to do a post on how to make them. :)


First, cut a circle 4in. in diameter out of paper for your pattern. I used a 4in. for the big yo-yos and a 3in. circle for the smaller yo-yos. Next, cut out a circle from your fabric with your pattern. Sew all around the circle leave the end long enough so that you can pull it.

Next, pull both ends at the SAME time to gather the circle up (as shown in the picture below).

When it is all gathered flatten and pull the edges of the yo-yo.

Then just add a button and you're all finished!!

Sewing Project: Yo-Yo Necklace

Yesterday afternoon I completed my yo-yo necklace!! They are a REALLY easy and fun craft, plus they hardly take any time at all!  You can also make them to decorate clothes, purses, pillows etc.. Right now I'm working on making them into hair accessories. They are looking great!! As soon as I finish they'll be blogged about too. :)



I love the color combination. :)



Canning: Peaches, Jam, Salsa, Barbecue Sauce, and Remodel

For the last three mornings have been all canning! First, we made peach jam, and barbecue sauce. The second day, peaches (which tastes awesome!), jam, and salsa. Today we canned more peaches, and more salsa!! All out of 4 bushels of red ripe peaches! :D It's nice to know we're done, and all the fruit is downstairs canned, for us to enjoy this winter.

This past Sunday, we finished sealing our kitchen floor, it looks great (pictures to come)!!

Crocheted Rag Rug

Last night I finally finished a rag rug I started last time we were in Colorado (October 2011)! It's really easy once you get the hang of it. First, rip up some old sheets, this rug took 4. Second, sew the strips together, and roll them up into a ball. Make sure the strips are lying flat as you roll them into a ball. Then start crocheting a circle in single crochet, I started out with 5 sts.Crochet in a circle until wanted size, or till you run out of sheet strips. This is a great way to use old sheets or clothes. ;)

House Remodel~Grout and Landscaping

These past few days my family and I have been working on our house, fixing it up to sell. Right now we are working on a one foot trench in our front yard to put up a retaining wall. We all take turns using the pick axe and shovel . Last night we stayed up until 12:08 PM grouting and cleaning our laundry room!  Today its raining so I doubt we'll be able to dig anymore. :( Oh well,  today I'll work on cleaning our basement for carpet   tack, and getting ready for a upcoming book sale that we are participating in!! :)

My little sister helping to dig!

Hard at work.

I thought this was a really cool picture. I took it through our front door (thus the reflection).

Basketweaving Class

Last week I went to a basketweaving class at our library, and made this cute little gift bag.;)

I really like the yellow.:D