Monday

Spray Painted Faux Stones on Concrete Patio

I decided to spruce up my concrete patio by spray painting a stone design on it.  It was very easy and it only took about 2 hours, not including the time it took to dry.

 
This is the BEFORE picture.
 
 
And AFTER
(The decorations on my patio can be seen here and here).
 
 
I used a push broom to clean the patio with the waterhose and bleach.
 
 
I used a stepping stone mold as a template and flipped it upside down.  I then spray painted each section.  (I used Rust-Oleum Hammered spray paint)  I had 6 different colors of spray paint.  Sometimes I mixed the spray paint colors to make the stones look real.  After the spray paint dried I applied concrete sealer.
 
 
 
Below is a close up picture of the "stones".
 
 
It only took 2 hours and about $60 to do this project.  And I plan on using the concrete stepping stone mold for another project.
 
 
 




Friday

Measuring Cup Holders and Conversion Chart on Cabinet Door

Love this new feature in my kitchen.  I remodeled my kitchen earlier this year (click here to see that post) and this new measurement conversion chart and holder for my measuring cups works great.



The two cabinets on both sides of the microwave are where I put the measuring cups.

 
The cabinets are only 12 inches apiece so I had to put the smaller cups and chart on one cabinet and the other cups on the other cabinet.

 
After looking at three different stores for a measuring cup set that had each size I wanted, I finally found a set on Amazon that worked.


I used 3M Command hooks to hang them so that I didn't have to use screws or nails on my new cabinets.

Oh the places you will go Keepsake Book and Tag

I have seen this pin on Pinterest a thousand times and decided I had to make it.  So simple.

Have each of your child's teachers sign the book and give it to them on graduation day.


 
The pic above it the tag that I include with the book so the teacher knows what to do with it.

The Smart Momma App

My absolute best friend created an iPhone app for this blog.  Check out her design.  She does great work so make sure you look at her other stuff and comment on her page.  If you ever need any graphics for anything she is the person to hire!!

Click Here to Check It Out

 
 

Decorated Pumpkins

I decided not to carve pumpkins this year but still wanted pretty pumpkins that would last a bit longer on my patio.  These are the three I decorated.
 
I got the two black velvet stickers from Hobby Lobby for $1.99 each


 
The pumpkin above was first painted black.  Then I used a paint brush to put elmers glue around the stem and covered the glue with glitter.  I also used elmers glue to draw a spiders web and covered that in glitter as well.  After it dried I added ribbon.

 
The pumpkin above was painted white first.  Then I used 3D paint to make dots near the stem.  After that I put on a black velvet sticker that says "Happy Halloween" and ribbon.


The pumpkin above was decorated to look like a piece of candy corn.  I just pained the top 1/3 white and the bottom 1/3 yellow.  Then I added a black velvet sticker and ribbon.

Fall Themed Hershey Kisses Preztel Treats




I'm sure everyone has either seen or made the pretzels with hersheys kisses and m&ms.  I wanted to make a version of that that had a bit more of a fall theme to send to my daughter's school for her classmates.  This is what I came up with.

 
Preheat oven to 225 degrees.  Cover baking sheets with aluminum foil and coat with cooking spray.  Put pretzels on baking sheet.  You can use the square ones like I did or the pretzel rings.
 
 
Put a Hershey Kiss on each pretzel.  The ones above are the striped kind.  (See the ones later in this post that I think taste better but don't look as nice.)  Place the trays in the oven and bake for 3-4 minutes.  As soon as you take the trays out push a candy corn in the middle of each Hershey Kiss.

 
Put trays in fridge until the Hershey Kisses harden.  Then EAT!!
 
 
Below are the pics for the ones I think taste better but don't look as nice.  I made the batch above for my daughter's class and I made the ones below for us to eat. 
 
I used Cookies and Cream Hershey Kisses and assorted fall candy.
 
I made them using the same directions as above
 
 
 

 

 
Not as "pretty" but much more YUMMY!!  The cookies and cream hersheys make all the difference.  My daughter particularly likes the pumpkin ones.








Sunday

Lap Desk

I decided to make this lap desk for my daughter because we were taking a road trip and I wanted her to have something to do in the car.  It was easy to make.  I had all the supplies around the house except the plastic box I picked up from Walmart for $5.


 
This is the plastic tub I bought that will become the actual "desk".  The pic below shows the specifics of it.
 
 
 
 
Above  are the supplies you will need to make the top of the desk.  You will also need a piece of cardboard that is cut to size.  The particular plastic box I got had a smaller bottom on it than the lid was so I traced the bottom of the plastic box onto cardboard and cut it out.  Then I used 2 pieces of 12x12 scrapbook paper to cover the cardboard.
 
 
 
I used the above 3M command strips and put them on the top of the plastic lid.
 
 
Then I stuck the scrapbook paper covered cardboard to the lid.
 
 
Put the lid back on and you are done! 
 
 
I filled the plastic box with a coloring book, notebook, markers, crayons, and stickers.



Mason Jar Candy Holders

Anyone who knows my crafty side knows I absolutely love mason jars. I also love making treats and snacks that have candy in the recipe. I always have candy left over and instead of just folding the candy bag, I store the leftovers in mason jars. Makes it easy to find and keeps it fresh.

Thursday

Homemade Flavored Water

I decided to start making my own flavored water about a month ago. I drink it everyday. I love it. Just mix sliced fruit in water in a mason jar and leave it for a day. It's so yummy! My favorite is strawberry and mint leaves mixed in water for about two days. I make large pitchers of that.

Fall Porch Decoration

Bought two rectangular shaped bundles of straw. Stacked them on top of each other. Went to the dollar store and bought fall themed flowers and picks. So cute and simple.

Candy Bowl Holders

I decided to make candy bowl holders. I was inspired by a gumball machine. I love that I can switch out the candy and ribbon for each holiday. For Xmas I will probably put small ornaments in them.

Tuesday

Tooth Fairy Coupon

I had no cash in my wallet and the tooth fairy was supposed to come to my house and get a tooth from under my daughter's pillow. I improvised.

New Logos

I have an AMAZING friend who is a graphic designer.  She made a ton of logos for me.  These are just a couple.  THANK YOU NICOLE!!!