Can you Help?

This is my mom and her friends training for a 1/2 marathon that they will be doing this weekend. I am so proud of my mom, I can honestly say that I never thought that she would do anything like this in her life. But she is, and she's ready. She's doing it for this. She has had 2 of her step brothers die from cancer in the last couple of years and my dad died from cancer about 5 years ago. This is a very important cause for her and our family.
She had to raise so much money by this weekend, and she is just a couple hundred shy of her goal. Is anyone out there able to help her reach her goal? Anything would help-even a dollar. She would be forever grateful, as would those benefiting from this great cause.

Thanks so much!

Canvas Press-Winner!

Just wanted to let everyone know who the winner is of the Canvas Press Giveaway!!!

WINNER IS COMMENT #140-Amanda @ Looking Glass Jewels-Congrats!!!

Amanda-contact me by Tuesday, so we can get you set up.

If I haven't heard from you by Wednesday May 5th, I will choose a new winner.

Thanks! :)

Friendly Friday-A Little Tipsy

I am super duper happy to be swapping it up today with Michelle-she is fabulous! I won't keep you waiting-take it away cute girl!

Hi There! I am so excited to be here on Making the World Cuter today! Tiff is amazing and I can't wait to try her Oreo Madness Cupcakes I just ran across!

Michelle, from A Little Tipsy here, taking the wheel for the day!

Nope not drunk (what a relief you will not be taking your tour with a drunk driver), I may or may not be a bit clumsy though.

A little about me, I am a SAHM with one crazy two year old boy and a big geek for a husband (don't worry, he calls himself a geek). I love keeping busy and sharing all my projects and adventures whether they be Home decor, holiday projects, or discovering how to get permanent marker off granite counter tops.

Here are a few of my favorite projects as of late. Everything below has a tutorial so you can make it too:

I wanted a cute new accessory and in the honor of things warming up, I made a fun headband.

Interchangeable Butterfly Headband

I did a whole week dedicated to fun baby things I made for my new niece. Here are a couple of highlights.

DIY baby legs with matching Scrappy hair accessories

Ribbon Embellished Burp Cloths

I like trying out new recipes and find that they tend to be dessert most of the time. ;)

Pomegranate Blueberry Shakes, German Chocolate Cookies,

Beary Beachy Cupcakes

I am a big fan of reinventing things with spray paint. Doesn't my kitchen light fixture look pretty in her new black dress?!

Spray Painting an Old Light Fixture



I love to decorate and celebrate and well pretty much have to do a few projects for every holiday. Here are a few of the recent ones. {Click on the pics to link to the projects.} Can't wait for all the patriotic holidays coming up!!

Well, I guess that about wraps things up. Thanks to Tiff for swappin' it up and thanks to you for letting me be your tour guide today. Watch your step on the way out and don't forget to come visit soon!

Scheduling Blog Swaps Now! :)

Just a quick little post to let you all know that I am wanting to fill my calendar up for May and the first couple of Summer months for Friendly Friday Blog Swaps.

Contact me if you are interested and we will set up a Friday!

Hugs-

Tiff

***Edit: I am all full through July, so I will ask for more in July, but for now-Thanks! :)

Three Things Thursday...

#1-My friend had this picture posted on her blog, and I had to laugh out loud. This is my first grade class, and I still know a good portion of these people! :) Can you find me? I'll give you a hint...I have a total "doi" look on my face...Did you find me?
I'm three rows up, far left. I can't believe how much I look like my youngest sister and my daughter all at the same time. Aren't our clothes and hairdo's the best? My teacher on the right, I didn't like because she made my "boyfriend" put gum on his nose when she caught him chewing it. I never forgave her for it. (He was the toe-head on the same row as me, I don't know what happened to him after first grade, he must have moved).
Totally random I know, but brought back some funny memories and gave me a giggle.

#2- Just a heads up that today is the last day to enter the fantastic giveaway for that 16x20" canvas from Canvas Press, valued at over $100. There are several ways to get extra entries, have you done them all?#3- I have a fun new sponsor!
Whimsy Couture makes adorable sewing patterns for a great price. Her sewing tutorials are not only beautiful, but easy to follow and have lots of details. You should head over to her shop and check out all of her beautiful patterns, and she even has some ready made things too.
Also she has a fun blog, that you should go follow, because next week she is going to be doing a giveaway over here!
Here are a couple favorites from her shop...
She is definitely making the world cuter!

Review for CSN stores-Deni Automatic Commercial Ice Crusher

I was super excited to get the request to do a review for CSN stores, and even more excited when I got to choose something from Cookware.com.

CSN stores has over 200 stores online, and they are all fantastic! They have thousands of products to choose from, all at great prices and most have free shipping (over a certain amount)! Gotta love that!

The product I chose to review is the Deni Automatic Commercial Ice Crusher in Stainless Steel.

I was psyched to get it in the mail, and immediately ripped open the box to pull this beauty out.

My kids may have been even more excited than I was.

It couldn't be easier to use.

You put ice in the top, turn it on and then in seconds you have beautifully crushed ice to use for snow cones, slushes or cocktails. Or if you don't drink cocktails like me and are really just in it for the yummy crushed ice-you can add soda or even water and just enjoy the happiness that crushed ice can bring!

I put some Torriani syrup in some for the kids, and they LOVED it. It doesn't shave the ice like actual snow cones, it makes more of a slushie, but that didn't stop them from getting red mustaches and asking for more!

I can't wait for summer to actually get here, this will make me the hit of the party! :)

I will be whipping up delicious drinks, making ice buckets to keep soda cold and making beautiful ice beds to keep food cold on.

Can you tell I'm excited about my new machine?

Oh and did I mention that it's QUIET?!?!?

Well it is. Just the icing on the cake.

Toot Toot Tuesday-Finger Puppets

This isn't really a tutorial, since it's pretty self explanatory.

I have been making finger puppets for my kids lately while I have been watching movies with the hubs.

My kids love them and I have made a bunch of them.

Last night I decided to make them sets that go with popular stories, fairy tales and nursery rhymes. Bekah and Topher love to re-tell stories, and they have a lot memorized.

I think this will be good to put in with their school stuff, they can make sets and props for art, read or tell from memorization the stories for reading, and perform for their siblings and us parents that will help them with their speech, drama and public speaking.
Last night I made the 3 little pigs and a funny looking wolf, but the kids love him so it's all good. They are so easy to make with just some felt and a needle and thread. I hand sew them all, so I can do it while watching movies, but you could easily make up a bunch on your machine and I'm sure it would go faster. The pigs eyes are just some green embroidery floss, but everything else are just tiny scraps of felt.

My kids now want Jack & Jill & the characters from Jack & the Beanstalk.

I want to make them a cute little puppet theater to hang from the school room door for performances or maybe just a little wooden puppet theater like this one, that I adore.

I need to figure out how they would be able to change out backdrops easily though since that is their favorite part-making a bunch of different scenes.

Any ideas?

Show-Offs from last week & winner

Last week we had over 200 awesome projects and recipes linked up and can I tell you that, you gals are so talented! Here are just a couple of my faves-and the winner from yesterdays linky giveaway.

Sarah at Welcome to the Good Life made this dress out of a shirt dress from Target that was pretty blah-she only paid 3.49 for it, but she made it into something that is totally Anthropologie worthy. You need to go see the before and her inspiration. Such vision and talent! I want it! (the vision, the talent and the dress!)
Sweet Little Smoothie, oh how do I love thee? This Quilted (with paper) alphabet wall hanging has to absolutely be one of my favorite things I have ever seen! I want to put my whole life on hold to make one for each of my children in different themes. Love. Love. Love.
Patrice from Lemon Tree Creations has seriously made the world cuter, and I can't wait to jump all over this idea! She made a tray for her coffee table out of a...frame! Anything I can make out of a discarded frame I am ALL over! She made it so dang cute and pretty, thanks Patrice, you made my jaw drop for sure!
Stephanie from Under the Table and Dreaming made these simple little fleece freeze pop holders. I have to be honest, I've made at least 10 of them already not just for my kiddo's hands to stay warm but mine too! This was our biggest paper towel waste, and now we have fun re-usable ones! Thanks for the fab idea!
And lastly our winner from Wishes and Kisses is...

Natalie from Our Old Southern House who posted an adorable baby bonnet and shows us how to make one for our own little ones! :) Congrats!

If you were featured today-go ahead and grab a button to let everyone know how cute you make the world! :)

Making the World Cuter Monday April 26 + Bonus

Yay for Monday!

Last week had some FUN links, I was super inspired by lots of you. I will post some show offs later today, but I wanted to make sure the linky list was up in plenty of time! Also-be sure to check out what you have a chance to win today at the bottom of the links! :)

BONUS**** We have a fun little giveaway today sponsored by Diana at Wishes & Kisses! She makes adorable bows and flowers of all sizes, not to mention the cute bracelets and pony o's!

Everyone who links up today will be entered to win this bracelet and silk flower pictured in the middle. How fun is that?
If you want a bonus entry go over to Wishes & Kisses (her products are all listed at the top), and let me know your favorite thing she makes. Thanks Diana for this fun giveaway!

Friendly Friday-Every Crafty Endeavor

Yay! It's Friday, and that means a new friend! Today let's meet the super cute Amanda shall we? It's all you cute girl!

I am so excited to be here today at Making the World Cuter!

Tiff does such a great job with her blog and it is so fun to be apart of it.
My name is Amanda and I am the creative mind behind “Every Crafty Endeavor.” I am married to a dashingly handsome, hard-working man named Spencer and we have a little boy named Quinn! I work part time as a writer on a marketing team for an Engineering Company and craft in my “spare time.” I have been a “mommy blogger” for a couple years – and started Every Crafty Endeavor to showcase some crafty ideas that I have made.

Sometimes I come up with ideas on my own and sometimes I see ideas that I love and copy - always giving credit of course! That is what I love about blogging - everyone shares ideas and our homes and babies and lives are much cuter! I love to craft and cook and I have lots of fun ideas and tutorials that I love to share. I am constantly thinking about things to cook, make or sew, accessories that pop, ways to decorate my home and things to photograph.
When visiting my blog - you will find ideas and tutorials for:
Home Decor

Yummy Recipes

Baby Stuff

Accessories

and a whole lot more!

When you have a minute, please stop by and say hello and see what other crafts I have been working on. I am always looking for new ladies to blog swap with and fun crafty ideas for my Friday Favorites.

Thanks again for having me Tiff!

It's been fun and I enjoy meeting your readers!

Canvas Press- BIG Giveaway!

EDIT***GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED, WINNER IS COMMENT #140-Amanda @ Looking Glass Jewels-Congrats!!!

I am so super excited to announce this giveaway today!

Canvas Press gave me my very own BEAUTIFUL canvas to review, and THEN they are letting me give one away to one of my very lucky readers!
The ordering process was so simple.
First you choose the thickness of the canvas (the giveaway is for the gallery wrap that is an inch and 1/2 thick!).
Then you choose the size you want (the giveaway is for a 16x20, over $100 value!).
Then you can choose the border style, whether wrapped in your own photo, a black or white, or a mirror image like I chose, which takes the part of the image closest to the edge and copies it then flips it around to extend around the edge of the canvas, leaving your image cropped the way you want. Perfect option for me! :)
Finally you choose your image, and check out.

It is really easy, and they show you a preview before you check out.

Turn around is really fast! I couldn't believe how fast it came, and then when it did come, I was amazed at how well it was wrapped and cared for while it was shipping. It came to me all snug and safe.After tearing into it, I just sat and admired it for a few minutes. The canvas is thick and the quality is superb. It really is just beautiful. I took no time at all hanging it on the wall. I put it on the wall that you see when you first walk in the door, and I can't think of anything else I'd rather have hanging there. See how nice and thick it is? I am really happy with it, I love it, and am so happy to be able to share the love with you!

Want to win your own?
I thought so!
Here are all the different ways you can enter...

• Leave me a comment with what photo you would use if you won.
• Follow Canvas Press on Twitter and leave me a comment letting me know.
  
• Become a fan of Canvas Press on Facebook, leave a comment there letting them know I sent you, and leave me a comment letting me know.
• Blog, Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway with a link back and leave me a comment with the link to your post.

This giveaway again is for a 16x20, 1.5 inch gallery wrapped canvas with the photo of your choice. It is valued at $113.99 (including shipping).

Also with any purchase they are giving a 15% discount with the code: mamasays15

I hope you win, because you are going to love it!

Disclaimer: I was not paid to say these nice things, these are my own opinions. Canvas Press gave me my own canvas to review. Giveaway ends Thursday 4.29.10 @ midnight.

Winner! Fancy Pants Prints Custom Design

Just a quick announcement that the winner of the awesome Custom Design from Fancy Pants Prints is...

Mrs. Claus who said...

Baby Boy 11 and Baby Girl 04! So cute!
Now I know a cool place to get announcements! Thanks for the great giveaway too!

And remember when you need any invitations, announcements or any other design work done to look no further than Fancy Pants Prints!

Toot Toot Tuesday-Tiled Mirror

My mom has a friend who makes these beautiful mirrors, and she had one made for me and my sisters for Christmas.
I really love mine, and wanted to make some for my friends....not as easy as it looks!
Still I made one for a really good friend of mine for her birthday, I really love how it turned out and she adores it-so it was worth all the work!
Chad did a huge portion of this since I am a little apprehensive about using his saw.

First he cut a bunch of 3 1/2 by 3 1/2 inch tiles from a 1x4.
Then he cut a WHOLE bunch of 3 inch rectangle tools from a couple 1x2's. No need to sand these, in fact it will make it harder at the end if you do, unless you have some edges you want to smooth down, but do not sand the faces of the tiles.
Then we glued a 12x12 mirror tile to a piece of ply wood, and played with the tiles until we had a pattern we liked.
Just for future reference, if we ever make another one with a 12x12 mirror, we will probably just cut a 2x2 into thin tiles and only use those-that way we wouldn't have to be making a bunch of tiny cuts to fill in our pattern that we decided on....Chad was very patient with me and what I wanted this to look like though and did all sorts of fancy cuts for me until I was happy with how it all looked.
This was a long process, next time we will sketch it out, know exactly what we want before we start cutting, but it was fun to do a project together and learn as we went. Next I glued all the tiles to the wood with wood glue and let it dry overnight, because Chad said that would be best, also it was very late at this point. The next day he took some painters tape and a piece of cardboard and masked off the mirror. Then he gave it several coats of a dark chocolate brown on the front and the back.Oh, before he did that, he took the whole thing and sanded all around the edges to give it a smooth edge and make the tiles more flush with the side of the ply wood. I didn't get a picture of any of this, since he did it while I was pre-occupied with something else. Next came the fun part. Deciding what papers to use, and then deciding where to put them. I chose 4 different pieces of scrapbook paper and then cut them all to size one at a time, and arranged them like a puzzle. I did this while I was watching Friends, and so it was actually fun and relaxing, although by the time I was done, my back was aching.Next came the mod podge. I glued all the paper down, and then went over it all with mod podge in one direction (left to right). Let it dry. Then I did it again. I let it dry again, and then did it one more time, pretty thick this time and this time I did it top to bottom. It wrinkled a bit, and I smoothed it out where it was really bubbly, but I really liked the texture it gave it.
The last thing I did was put a strong picture hanger on the back so that she can hang it if she chooses.And here it is all finished sitting on my mantle. Wow, my mantle really needs to be dusted. Try to look past that and see the pretty mirror. It looks a million times better in real life I think, and it's BIG. It was a time consuming project, but most of that time was just figuring out the logistics of it all. It was worth it though, it came out better than I hoped, and my friend loves it.
Success.

(PS-Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY for a Fancy Pants Prints Custom Design-giveaway ends tomorrow!)