Show-Offs! Fourth of July Ideas

Okay so I have been a slacker in the Show-Off department (and all the other departments) since I have been out of town-but there were so many good 4th of July crafts and projects and recipes on the party lists the last couple of weeks that I needed to share...just in case you want to get in some crafting in the next few days before the holiday! There are some great ideas in here...Enjoy!

The Craft in Me shows us how to make a simple reminder of the Freedom we enjoy and how we can use it with a chalkboard craft. Cute!
Love this Captain America tee on that adorable little munchkin of I am Mama Hear me Roar-she shows you how to make one on a guest post over at Love Stitched.
Lovin this July frame from Craft-o-Maniac, she used some star bandanas for the background. She also has a tutorial on how to make a Firecracker Topiary! Super cute and creative!
Jewelry Box made super sweet and simple centerpiece with her cake stand using some fun stuff from around the house, like wood blocks and and small boxes to make some little "presents," cute!
Punkin Seed Productions has a cute set of blocks she made for the holiday-love the distressed look of these.
I don't know if I've ever seen a cuter dessert than these "pie" cupcakes! How American, and how delicious are these? Mommy Topics has the recipe, and they actually look pretty easy too. You will be the hit of the party with these babies!
Crafts Redesigned shows us how to make some cute USA blocks-these are always fun aren't they?
How adorable is this ruffled shirt made by A little of this, a little of that? She has a full tutorial. Too cute!
This fun centerpiece was made by the Fantastic Flores Family-all with stuff from around the house! Cute!
Suzy D Inspired worked with her grandbabies to make some fun and festive shirts and onesies, and has the tutorial on her site, if this sounds like something your kids would like to do...let's see, paint, get messy and get a cute shirt out of it...what kid wouldn't want to do that? :)
Green Bean's Crafterole made a super cute lollipop flower out of a pair of her hubbys old jeans and pinned it too a thick piece of decorated chipboard-fun, frugal and festive!
Want an easy, fun wall hanging that is also cheap and your kids can help? How about these plates that Polwig shows us how to make? Fun!
My husband will be so excited that I have another wood project I want him to do! This gorgeous wall hanging is a Pottery Barn knockoff made by the lovely gal at Kara's Korner. Step by step instructions over there-you know you are going to want to make one too! (original plans by Ana at Knock off Wood)
I am absolutely GAGA over these outdoor pillows by Positively Splendid-the hounds tooth, the colors, the vinyl date and shapes...what is not to love? I would pay good money for these...if I had good money-luckily she shows us how to make them ourselves. I will have to be doing just that. I must have these!
Just Sew Sassy not only made a cute table runner-but also a super fun conversation jar centerpiece to go with it. Great!
Here is a fun and easy idea for the kids to make-coffee filter firework flowers! Crafts by Amanda tells you how to make these cute little things!
I love this idea for a door hanging! Frames, cute paper and wooden cut outs glued strategically in place, all for under $6! Nice work Hand me Down House!
This has got to be the easiest, cheapest and most fun craft for the 4th. My littles are going to LOVE waving these streamers around made by A girl and a glue gun.
How about some festive pillows by Attempting Creative to show some patriotic love to your couch, bed or chairs?
I really like this idea from Make the Best of Things for this patriotic planter. I love the idea of having the flowers on your porch being all festive and matching the theme of your decor.
This little craft by Occasionally Crafty provides lots of fun hints to make a cute project like this for FREE, and double for other patriotic holidays such as Memorial Day.
Marvelously Messy has a whole bunch of fun stuff she did for the 4th, but this was a fun one that I want to do with my kids, she uses crayons and black paint-and has all the instructions over on her blog for these fun Firework prints.
I like this super festive and best of all free centerpiece made by Organize and Decorate Everything. It's always nice to use up some of your stash of randomness and turn it into some major cuteness isn't it?
Yesterday on Tuesday shows us how to do something that is pretty creative if you ask me-a cute little 4th of July picture prop! I don't know about your kids, but my kids love stuff like this!
The sweet Brooke-(who had a really bad week last week) of Babblings from Brooke still managed to make this adorable door hanger with some paint and her trusty Cricut.
If you have some empty toilet paper or other like tubes you can make this simple and festive little firecracker display made by Super QT on the Hill. Too cute!
This super cute Banner made by Crafts & Sutch would be a fun little addition to your front door if it is feeling a little neglected this month..
Sugar Bee-The Craft Edition-made these FUN and easy enough hair clips, and some adorable little skirt/short outfits for her girls-that would be great for all those parades and parties you are sure to be attending this weekend.
These star firecrackers would make a great hostess gift, or just a fun decoration for you. Head on over to Oopsey Daisy to see her super easy tutorial and other great ideas for the holiday like her patriotic denim-burlap flower arrangement!
Hoosier Handmade has some great ideas on how to cuten up that mantle...or anything else that needs a little extra patriotic love. Super cutesie!
Love. Love. LOVE this Burlap and Doily Flag made by At Second Street. I think I could still whip this up on the 3rd when I get home...I would leave it up for much longer than the 4th though-so dang cute!
If you still need a dessert to make for your Independence Day party-look no further than Bird Crafts for this French Cherry Clafoutis. Could that look any tastier?
Simply Designing made this fun tree using mostly dollar store items-super festive and the ornaments could be changed out for different holidays. Clever! Not only does she have this crafty little tree up-she also has a whole weeks worth of fun and easy patriotic crafts! Be sure to go check them all out!Thanks to Annabelle at Just Make It...If you are a crocheter, even a beginner (so she says, it is a foreign language to me! :)) you can whip up some adorable little cup cozies for your drinks for the 4th, or some bangle bracelets! Cute. Holiday Haven made these shirts with a 4/$1 pack of flags and a hot glue gun. Perfect for just a quick project! And you can take the flags off when you are done for the day and put something else on there if you only want the shirts for the 4th. Great idea!

Making The World Cuter Monday {June 28}

Hi!
How was everyone's weekend?
Our whole week and weekend has been packed with shopping, eating, hiking, park playing, swimming, zoo trips and more!
Still having fun in Portland and LOVING this heat and beautiful sunshine!
Now if only I could have summer break from school as well! Unfortunately I have to go straight through-and so every second I've had on my computer lately has been working on projects I just don't want to do right now! :(
I can't wait to see what FUN projects you guys have been up to, because for now, I have to live vicariously through you!

Be a friend and post my button!

<a href="http://makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Making" src="http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo119/tiffhewlett/Crafty%20Stuff/MondayCuter.png" /></a>

Disclaimer: Anything posted may be used in an upcoming feature including pictures, (linked back to original owner of course). If you don't want me to use your pictures, please don't link up.
Thanks! :)

Friendly Friday-My Little Gems

Well I feel {cuter} already! I'm Sharla from My Little Gems and I am so excited to be here on Making the World Cuter! I'm all about making things cuter....☻

I have a fun little blog I started about 2 years ago, called My Little Gems. I originally started blogging just to share the things I was grateful for. The more I blogged, the more I realized that the things I enjoyed doing were the things that I was grateful for! :) Thus, I started My Little Gems. My focus can be summed up as Home. Family. Creations. Treasures...and of course DIY... many of those things are focused on boys- because I have 3 of them.
I have a very supportive husband who makes my crafting/sewing addiction, I mean hobby, possible. I used to post almost everyday, {check out the archives}, but currently I post about 2-3 times a week, and try to share things with you that you can do yourself.
Here is a sampling of what you might find at My Little Gems.

Car Cozie Tutorial

from September 2009

Play mat from a Shower Curtain.

January 2009

Play Kitchen from an old Nightstand

March 2010

And because my husband is very supportive of my little creating and crafting habit, he helped me make this play kitchen from a nightstand. The boys loved it, even though it was mommy who really wanted one. Can you blame me? I think these are just too cute! We have refinished several pieces of furniture,-most recently a bunk bed, and a desk... and still have several more to refinish- thanks to my handyman husband!

Burlap ABC magnets.

January 2010

I made a boy-themed quiet book out of place mats. I did a whole week of place mat crafts- all from the Dollar Store. (February 2010)

Sometimes I like to post thoughts about the core of it all...motherhood and being a mom. Because when the day is over, it is always good to remember what is really important. And it doesn't matter how many crafts you have made, but how much time you spend trying to be the best mom you can possibly be on that particular day. {even though there are days I would rather...sew.} ☻

Please stop by My Little Gems, become my new blogger bff. :) Thanks Tiff for asking me to be a guest on Making the World Cuter! I love this blog-Tiff had me with the title-love it!

Woo-Hoo Wednesday-Garlic Chicken Farfalle & Say it On the Wall

First of all I want to say welcome to our newest cute sponsor "Say It On The Wall". Laura makes adorable vinyl creations, lots to choose from, or she will pretty much custom make whatever! Her prices are fantastic as well-especially great for group projects and craft nights! :)

Here are a couple of the things that stood out to me on her site.
These family home evening dice are a super fun way to hand out responsibilities, and if you aren't LDS and don't do FHE-these would be great chore dice as well. Whatever they roll, is what they do! Making jobs fun is key in getting them done with kids!
This saw blade clock is super fun, I don't know a guy out there who wouldn't want a clock in his garage like this! You get to choose a quote or name for the middle.
Nativity wood blocks are super fun for the Holidays, my kids love playing with theirs. These are a little more fancy than the cutesie ones I made for my kids, (here are mine & the tutorial) these ones have beautiful silhouette vinyl. You could still let the kids play with them though without having a heart attack! Go over and check out her site, and she even has a great affiliate program to make you some money on the side!

Now here is my yum yum for the day...
This is one of my most favorite recipes. I got it off of Becky Higgins' blog a long time ago, and now I get requests to make it from my family, friends when they come over for dinner and whenever we get invited to a potluck (maybe this is why we get invited to potlucks).

It is seriously yummy and easy to put together.

• 16 oz. Farfalle (bow-tie) Pasta
• 1 c Heavy whipping cream
• 3-4 chicken breasts halves-boneless, skinless
• Spoonful of crushed garlic (approx 3-4 cloves)
• 1 TBS black pepper
• 1/2 c butter
• 1 lb bacon
• 1/2 c shredded parmesan cheese
• 1 bottle of Lawry's mesquite with lime juice marinade

Crock pot chicken with marinade on low for 6 hours-shred and set aside

Cook bacon and crumble

About 1/2 hour before serving, boil the pasta.

In a small saucepan melt butter, add garlic, whipping cream, pepper, parm cheese and crumbled bacon. Whisk together on low for 3-4 minutes.

In a large bowl pour sauce over cooked, drained pasta, add chicken and stir.

Sprinkle parm cheese on top-we have also done toasted pine nuts or thrown in some cherry or diced tomatoes.

Yield: A lot! Can easily feed a couple families or bring to your next potluck.

Recipe from Becky Higgins