Make It Monday- Drawstring Bag

This week's project is a Simple Drawstring Bag .

There are different variations on how to make a drawstring bag-

this is the way I like to make them.

It is so easy to make and can be made to whatever size you are wanting.

First off - decide what size you are wanting your bag. To figure out the size of the bag you are wanting- Cut out 2 pieces of equal size fabric adding 1 inch to each side of the fabric. For example- you want a bag that is 15" by 20" . Cut out 17" by 22".


1) Take your two pieces of fabric and put them right sides ( the pretty side of the fabric) together and pin in place.

2) Fold one of the short edges of your fabric up 1/4 inch and press the seam. Then fold up again 1 inch and press again. The fold will create your casing for the drawstring.

3) Repeat Step 2 for the other piece of fabric on short side on the top.

4) Start sewing a 1/8" seam along the open sides starting right below your "casing " fold and working down the side, along the bottom ,and up the other side stopping below the fold "casing" on that side. Remember to backstitch at the beginning and end of your sewing seams.

5) Turn bag right side and and press your seams flat.

6) Now go back to your sewing machine and sew 3/4" seam along your "casing" fold to hold it in place. Continue from one casing side into the other side and back to where you started.




Now to attach the ribbon drawstring!!

7) Get your ribbon or string . To determine how long of pieces you will need- measure the width of your bag. Double that number and then add 12. (For example- the width of your bag is 10 " - You would cut out 2 pieces of ribbon that are 32 inch each. )

8) Cut 2 pieces of ribbon to that size .

9) Put a safety pin through the ribbon end .

10) Using the safety pin to hold on to, thread your drawstring into the casing, scooching it along inch by inch. Go in one side, through to the other side, and come out where you started.

11) Repeat step 10 for the opposite side of the bag.

12) Tie the ribbon together on each side . If your ribbon might fray- use a bit of Fray Stop on the end of the ribbon .

13) Whoola- you are done!!

Fun With Family Friday- Letter J

Letter J time!!

First our J recipe is Jello Poke Cake


You will need the following items:

1 bx. yellow or white cake mix
1 (3 oz.) bx. red jello
1 (8 oz.) carton Cool Whip

Bake cake according to package directions. While cake is cooling in its pan, poke holes all over the cake. (If the little ones help you with this step- make sure the cake is cooled down so no little fingers get burned. )You can also poke the cake with a fork if you prefer.

Mix jello according to package directions. Drizzle jello liquid over cake. Make sure jello penetrates all holes. Chill several hours or overnight. Frost chilled cake with whipped topping.

Serve. So yummy!!!!

The J craft is Jug Watering Cans .



Remember those egg carton gardens we did back on letter G? Well- mine is growing like crazy. It is about time to transport them to the ground - so I figured we would make milk jug watering cans so the kids can help out with the watering.

You will need:

a plastic milk or juice jug
a hole punch
paint and paint brushes
tape
Plant food
water

Directions:

Make sure your jug is cleaned out and remove all stickers on the outside.
Let the kids have fun painting flowers, stars, hearts ,etc (whatever they desire) on the milk jugs.
Take the hole punch and punch 4 holes in the lid top .
Let the paint dry.
Put the plant food and water in the jug according to directions.
Put the lid back on. Use tape around the sides to help secure.

Now your watering can is ready.

Remind the little ones that this special painted jug is not to drink from. It is just for our garden.
Now the kids can be involved in watering the garden and watch as the plants grow!

Make It Monday- Plastic Bag holder

This week's Make It Monday craft
is a Plastic Bag Holder.

Many of us try to take reusable grocery bags to the store to reuse-but sometimes I actually need plastic bags for lining small garbage cans, litter boxes, etc-

so why not have a cute place to store the bags in?

This is really a very easy project to make.

You will need the following materials:

1- fat quarter of fabric ( 18" x 22" )

coordinating thread

2 -8" pieces of elastic

piece of ribbon or lace for strap

Tips-

Make sure to always backstitch at beginning and end of sewing seams.

Also press fabric after sewing seams to give a nice professional look.

Steps:

1)Take the piece of fabric and on the short edge of fabric- fold over 1/2" of right side of fabric in onto wrong side of fabric and press in place.

2)Now fold over the same edge of fabric 1 " and press.

3)Sew a 3/4" seam along pressed edges .

This makes a casing for the elastic on the end of the holder.

4)Repeat steps 1-3 for other short edge of fabric.

5) Take a piece of elastic and attach a small safety pin to end.

6) Pin a large safety pin to other end of elastic.

7) Feed small safety pin with elastic attached thru open end of one of the casings.

8) Push fabric over safety pin until safety pin comes thru the other end.

9) Pull elastic to get fabric gathered how you want.

10) Sew the 2 pieces of elastic together . Cut off excess elastic.

11) Repeat steps 5-10 for other edge of fabric.

12) Turn fabric right sides together and sew a 1/8" seam allowance down unsewn edge of fabric.

13) Take ribbon or lace for strap and fold in half.

14) Take cut edged of strap and pin in place on holder.

15) Sew into place.

16) Turn holder right side out and press.

You are done!!

This project will probably take less than an hour

and is a cute gift to give also.

Winners in the Foxy Roxy Recipe Contest!!!

It is finally time to announce the winners in the Foxy Roxy Recipe contest!!

All the recipes are wonderful

but the winner of the Foxy Roxy apron is

the Bacon and Crab Mushrooms from Gretchen !!!

I have decided to give the second place prize- the reversible apron ebook

to all the remaining contestants.

Also the winner of the apron ebook for submitting a vote is

Tumbleweed Trails .

Thank you everyone for your participation !!

Grocery Saving Tips!!

Everyone is watching money these days-

so here are 10 of the best money savings tips

while shopping at the grocery store!

1) Shop with a grocery list of exactly what you need. Try your best to stick to it also

2) Do not go shopping while you are hungry!

3) Watch out for those last minute impulse at the registers

4) Look for sale items even if it is not the brand you normally buy.

5) Do price comparison - sometimes that big value sizes are not actually the best buys.

6) Look for your items on your list and get out of the store. The longer you stay- you more you will spend!

7) When an ad says 4 for $10- most of the times- you can buy just 1 for $2.50. Decide if you really need to buy 4 of one product.

8) Use your coupons!!! Especially when double and triple coupon offers

9) Check the ads of the drug stores- they offer great deals too

10) Check out your grocery store ads before leaving and compare with the lists of items you need and coupons you have. This is the premise behind many of the grocery saving websites.

Perhaps an item you need is on sale at a store right by where you are going!!

Utilize your time and money properly!

Fun With Family Friday ( Early )

We are leaving this afternoon for a 3 day trip to Turner Falls, Oklahoma

so I am posting the Fun With Family Friday early!

This week we are focusing on the letter- I !!

First the I craft- Instruments

We are making 2 different instruments:

Rhythm sticks

and

Rhythm Eggs

Both are very easy and so fun- I find myself playing with these also.

To make the Rhythm Eggs:

Take plastic Easter eggs and fill them partially with dry beans.

(I bought a big bag of pinto beans at Walmart for a few $$s .)

Close the eggs.

Seal the eggs with electrical tape.

You can get electrical tape in different colors to make designs on the egg.

Next: this step is optional

you can decorate the egg with sharpie and write names , designs, or faces on them.

Shake your eggs now- they are done

To make Rhythm Sticks:

Take PVC Pipe of different lengths and widths.

Tape over one end of the stick to seal the end.

Fill the stick partially with beans.

Tape the other end closed.

Use different colors of electrical tape to decorate sticks.

Make eggs and sticks in different sizes and with

varying amount of beans to make different sounds.

Now you can have a musical concert!!

Now for the I recipe- Ice Cream Bar

An ice cream bar is so easy to put together and so fun

because everyone can customize their sundaes to how they want.

There are many ways to do this and different ingredients you can use.

This is just a listing of some ideas

Ice cream :

You can get organic, low fat, sugar free, ice cream cartons, individual ice cream cups, etc.

I decided to get the little individual cups of ice cream .The kids just opened them up and then dropped the ice cream into a bigger bowl to decorate!

Then your toppings:

Fresh fruit or frozen fruit

( Tip- with frozen fruit- microwave slightly so that it is a little warm and will melt the ice cream some when you pour on- yummy!!)

M&Ms , chocolate chips, small candies

marshmallows

Syrups ( caramel, strawberry, hot fudge)

Nuts

or Whatever you want

Put out the ice cream, ingredients , bowls. and spoons. Let everyone make their own ice cream sundaes and have fun!!

Make it Monday - Votive Candleholders

Today's Make It Monday Project is so easy ;can be made to match any room, holiday, event, etc; and is very inexpensive to make!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I purchased 2 votive holders at the store.

To start- take scrapbook paper in the colors you are wanting and cut out with pinking shears

2 pieces that are 8" long and 1 " wide.

Take your scrapbook paper and glue it down on the glass with an all adhesive quick dry glue.

Wrap around votive holder and put more glue to overlap end piece with part already glued on.

Next take coordinating ribbon and cut out 2 pieces that are 8 " long also.

Glue 1 piece of ribbon onto votive but add little drops of glue to the ribbon as you are attaching to make sure it is connected properly and will not droop.

Repeat steps to decorate second votive holder.

To end- take a decorative gemstone, button, crystal and glue onto the center of the ribbon ( make sure to use cover up where the ribbon overlapped.)

You can use scrapbook paper and ribbon to match any occasion!

St Patty's Day Hat and Beard

It is almost St Patty's Day so time for a quick cute craft for the family!

Click on the hat and beard templates to enlarge and print off.

Cut out each picture and then trace onto construction paper.

Draw the pattern of the shamrock onto green paper.

It is basically 3 heart drawn together with a stem. Very easy!

The hat goes onto black paper, beard on orange, and clover on green.

Cut out along lines .

Tape the beard to the hat along the back.

Make small cuts into the beard along the bottom outside.

Tape the clover to the hat in the center .

You are done- have fun!

Also - please don't forget to vote in the recipe contest-all votes are eliglible to also win a prize!!

Also- come sign up for the cutest Kidz photo contest at Sassy - mamas! Click on the button on my side wall for more details.
Wonderful prizes being given away!

Fun with Family Friday

It is Fun with Family Friday and Today's letter is H - so let's begin.

The H craft is Horsing-Around Clothes Pin Horses

Very easy craft to do!

To start with- click on the horse template to enlarge and then print off.
Allow kids to color their horses however they like.
Next cut out the horse.
Attach the tail using yarn, fabric, chenille sticks ,or whatever you think off.
Glue or tape the tail onto the back of the horse.
Take 2 clothes pin and attach to the body as legs and
now you are ready for your horse races!


Our H recipe is Happy St Patty's Day Ham and Cheese Roll-ups

For this you will need:

Large tortillas ( today we used Green for St Patty's Day recipe)
Goldy's Cheese Spread ( comes in a variety of flavors)
Thin Sliced Deli Ham
Thin Sliced Cheese ( we used baby Swiss)
Red or Green Leaf Lettuce
Sliced up Marinated Red Peppers (optional)

Take your tortillas and spread the Goldy's cheese Spread on evenly.
Than layer on your lettuce, cheese, ham ,and peppers.
Roll up tightly.
Cut roll up into appro 1 inch wide pieces.


Put on a plate and watch them disappear- so yummy!!

Foxy Roxy Recipe Voting

Here we go- time for judging the recipes to decide on the winner of the

Foxy Roxy recipe contest!!

Please try to make as many of the recipes as you can and cast your vote in the comment section.

The winner will be announced on Monday March 23rd.

Also- your name will be entered in a drawing for a prize for voting on a recipe.

Please only vote one time.

1st recipe-Pesto Sauce

One packet of pesto mix

One handful of fresh basil

Three handfuls of fresh spinach

1 tsp minced garlic

Make pesto mix according to directions.

While it is simmering, bled up basil and spinach (food processor, blender, whatever works for you). Add to pesto mix, along with the garlic.When it is finished simmering (again, according to the directions), put in container and put in freezer.This makes a concentrated pesto mix, that I like to add to my other foods. I will pull it out and add a scoop to tomato soup, to make it appear/taste more fancy (YUM). It is good when making a dressing for pasta salad (with some pasta and a host of fresh veggies, some almond slices and a bit of garlic) mixed with a bit of olive oil. It is also good on a chicken mushroom sandwich with a slice of provolone.

Anything you can think of adding a bit of pesto too, this is a yummy easy way to make and always have on hand.

2nd recipe- BBQ chicken pizza

1 14 oz roll of pillsbury thick pizza crust ( you can make your own doe from scratch if you want)
1/2 cup of your man's favorite BBQ sauce (more or less depending on preference)
1-2 pre-cooked chicken breasts
1/2 chopped green bell pepper, or 1/2 small can mushrooms
1/2 chopped or thinly sliced onion
grated cheese

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Preheat oven to 425*. Roll out doe over flour. Place in greased cookie sheet. Press to desired thickness, folding the edges in for extra thick crust. Place in the oven for 3-4 min. or until golden on top. Pull out of oven and spread BBQ sauce over top. Top with chicken and other veggies. Sprinkle on desired amt. of cheese. Bake until cheese is melted and crust is more brown.

Cut into 12 squares.

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3rd recipe- Bacon Crab Mushrooms

8 oz can of drained and flaked crabmeat

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 1/2 Tbsp of parsley

1/2 cup Mayonaisse

1/3 cup bacon pieces

36 mushroom caps

Mix 1 st 5 ingredianants together and scoop into mushroom caps

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4th recipe- Sweet and Sour Tuna

2 Tlbs raisins

3 Tlbs red wine vinegar

1 medium finely sliced onion

2 Tlbs olive oil

1 Tlbs peanuts, taken out of shell

1 can tuna, drained

Mix raisins and vinegar, set aside so raisins will plump.In skillet over medium hear saute onion in oil for 3 minutes, until onion is wilted.Add nuts, saute another 3-5 minutes.Add raisins and all of the vinegar. Toss only for a few seconds.Add tuna and toss again.

Serve immediately or at room temperature with saltine crackers.

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5th recipe- Best Pasta Salad

1 package tri colored pasta

1 bottle of Bernsteins's cheese fantastico dressing (the dressing makes it!)

1 package pepperoni

1 pound package of cheddar cheese

1 yellow pepper

1 red onion

Cook the pasta. Cut pepperoni's in half, place in large bowl.Cube cheddar cheese, place about 4/5 in the bowl --because the other fifth gets eaten by husbands and babies while your chopping. :)Cut up pepper and place in bowl (I don't chop it, but make it into slices, then cut those in thirds so you have skinny pieces that are about an inch to an inch and a half long.Use 1/4 to 1/3 of the red onion cut in similar size to the pepper -- depending on how much your family likes onion, I usually use about 1/2 of the onion, but I could eat a whole onion raw, I love them! Most people will probably use 1/3.Drain pasta and place in the large bowl.

Top with the bottle of dressing (the whole thing!) mix, and enjoy.

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Yummy recipes- this is going to be hard to decide on a winner!!