New Sewing Books

I was at Hobby Lobby today and saw two sewing books that I just couldn't resist.
This Children's Clothes book has so many cute skirts, shirts, PJ's, and pants.  I love that it had a few boy items too.  Not just girls! 

Look at the bag on the cover of the handmade bag book.  I was drawn to this book and bag.  I can't wait to get started.  Once this week is over I will be organizing all the sewing projects I want to get done.

Google Reader

I finally opened my google reader and to my amazement I had 287 items to look at. I now feel like I have homework :) I could just clear it all but then I think of all the great crafty things that I will miss out on. So tonight I plan to get it all cleared out. Then I will have new ideas. I also only have on more preschool class to teach and then my summer begins. I can;t wait to get my sewing organized and get to work. Then I will have more things to show you. As for now I best get back to being a mom and doing my "Blog Homework"

Granola Bars

These are the most delicious granola bars.  I love making them.  My kids think they are great.  I hope that your family will enjoy these as much as ours does.

Granola Bars

2 1/2 cups corn flakes

2 cups oatmeal

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup honey or light corn syrup

2/3 cup peanut butter

1 teaspoon Vanilla

1/2 cup chocolate chips or raisins

In a large bowl combine corn flakes and oatmeal.  Set aside.  Grease a 9x13 pan with oil or cooking spray.  In a sauce pan combine the brown sugar and honey and heat over medium heat.  Heat just until boiling remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla.  Stir until smooth.  Pour over the cereal and oats and mix well.  Once mixed well add your chocolate chips* or raisins.  Press into greased pan.  Use the back of a spoon or I like to place wax paper over it and press it down.  Let cook then cut into squares and enjoy.

*  If your chocolate chips are frozen they wont melt to much :)

Milk Bath

Last week I was longing to take a nice hot relaxing bath.  I wanted something to put in it that would smell great.  I decided to make some milk bath.  Makes your skin feel so soft.  After a little research online here is what I came up with:

Materials

2 cups dry milk

1 cup cornstarch

1/8 tsp oil (I used lavender)

Mix all these ingredients in your blender or food processor.  Find a great place to store it.  I found some really cute jars at Hobby Lobby and they were 50% off.  Then run you a nice hot bath and add a 1/2 cup of your finished milk bath

Paper Dolls

My oldest daughter had two birthday parties to attend on Saturday.  She really wanted to do something special for her special friends.  We thought and talked about it, then I came across Lily and Thistle's Etsy shop.  She has these amazing personalized paper dolls.  What I loved the most was that I could buy them and print them myself.  This was a great option for me since I didn't have time to wait for the mail.  They were a huge hit with both girls and their moms.  I found these envelopes at Office Max for $1.50 and the dolls fit in perfectly.  I had really wanted to find a cute box but wasn't able to find any long enough.  Lily and Thistle also has a great blog, please check her out and enjoy her wonderful paper dolls.

May

I am amazed that it is May already.  This will be a busy month for me, so my posts might be hit and miss.  It is the last month of the preschool I teach so I will be super busy with that.  I do have a bunch of projects to work on this summer during my free time.  So I will be posting all the time once I get things rolling.  I am looking forward to summer swimming and just hanging out with my kids.

Washer Bookmark

So I am sure that you have seen all the wonderful washer necklaces out in blog land.  Well I had to make a washer bookmark.  So here is my tutorial on how to do it.  I will apologize right now for the pictures.  I have the worlds worst camera and some pictures had to be taken on my cell phone.  Sad I know!

Materials

30 inches of ribbon

large bead

1/2” or 3/8” washers

18” Steel Stamping Set (got mine at Harbor Freight for about $5.00)

Hammer

Black Permanent Marker

Take your washer, stamping set and hammer to a hard surface.  I mine outside on some newspaper.  The newspaper keeps the washer from scratching.  Using your hammer stamp in whatever words you want to use into your washer.  I chose to use the word read.  Then take a permanent marker and fill in when you just stamped.  Quickly wipe away marker with a wipe or wet rag.  This fills in your letters so you can see them better.

Once your washer is stamped take your ribbon and fold in half.  Slide your washer to the middle.

Next.  Slide you bead on the ribbon all the way down to the washer.

At the other end of your bookmark you will tie a knot.  You may want to singe the ends of your ribbon.  You bookmark is complete.  Happy Reading!