How to Make a Love Pallet Sign

I am completely obsessed with Cricut’s font cartridges.  There are so many great things you can do with these cartridges not only for your scrapbooking and card creating, but you can also use these cartridges for many home decorating projects.  Today I am going to share with you one of my latest projects I created using some of these cartridges.

This project was created using some old pallets my neighbors were getting rid of and really didn’t cost very much money to make at all.   I knew after the Holidays were over I would be changing up the decorations in my house and wanted something with Mustard Yellow in it.  I came across a picture of this design while browsing the internet and knew I had to try it.  I love how it turned out and could not wait to share it with you today.  Here is how you can make one of your very own.

What You Will Need:

• Old Pallet(You can usually find this for free at a warehouse or local retail store.)
• Sander
• Nail Gun
• Wood Stain
• Cricut
• Cricut Cartridges
• Vinyl (2 Different Colors)

To Create:

First you will need to get your pallet wood ready to be turned into a sign.  Cut your Pallet to size using some kind of saw.  You can make your sign as big or as small as you would like.  It would be a good idea to measure the area you will be placing your sign before cutting your wood to size.

After you have cut your wood, take your electric sander and sand each piece.  Be sure you don’t leave any rough edges that could cause slivers.

Once your wood is completely sanded, take your pallet pieces for the front of the sign and lay them face down on the ground in the shape of a sign.  Then take to scrap pieces of wood and place them on the back of your face down pallet pieces going the opposite way.  Next, use your electric nail gun to attach the sign together.  You can view a tutorial on how to do this here.

Once your sign is attached together it’s time to add some wood stain.  You can use whatever color or style you would like.  Apply a layer of wood stain and let it dry completely.  Over night is typically best.

Once your stain has dried take your sander and sand over it again to give it a more vintage look and feel.

Then, take your Cricut machine & cut out the word love with your favorite cartridge.  I used the cartridge Lyrical Letters from https://www.craftdirect.com/cricut/cartridges/font.html to create my “Love”.  I then used a different cricut cartridge to create the heart shape which goes on the front of the sign.

After you have created the text and heart for the front, attach it to your sign.  Be sure to rub any bubbles out that formed when you stuck the vinyl to the wood.

Once your vinyl has been attached, attach a hook on the back of your sign and hang it on the wall.

This sign is easy to make and seriously goes great in almost any room in your house.  Enjoy!!

How to Organize Your Home for the New Year

With the New Year coming it’s time to start coming up with New Years Resolutions.  Something on everyone's to do list is getting organized.  This is something I am totally obsessed with.  There is nothing I love more than a clean house.  I love the feeling after a long busy day to come home to a nice and neat house.  It’s seriously one of the best feelings in the world.  Today for my blog post I have come up with some tips to help my readers get their home organized for the New Year.  Here is what you will need to do.

Make a List

This is probably one of the very most important steps.  Each January my husband and I sit down and create a list of all the things which need to be cleaned in our house.  One week at a time we tackle that list until it is completed.  Making a list not only makes it fun to keep track of what needs to be done, but gives you a reason to complete your tasks.  There is nothing more rewarding then checking an item off the list when you have completed it.

Work on One Item at a Time

Many people make the mistake of trying to tackle their entire house in one day.  This couldn’t be any more of a mistake.  When you put your focus on one area at a time it’s much easier and less overwhelming to get the job done.

Buy Cleaning Products Ahead of Time

Nothing is more frustrating than when you are in the middle of a deep clean and you don’t have the right cleaning agents that you need.  Before beginning your deep cleaning process, go out and buy all the cleaners you think you will need.  Not only will you be excited to use all your new cleaners, but you will have everything you need the moment you need it.

Cleaning your house can be an overwhelming task, but by following my simple tips above you can have one in absolutely no time at all.  You will love the feeling you get when you walk into a nice and neat house.

To read more tips on organizing check out http://www.hgtv.com/design/topics/organization

How to Make 2x4 Believe Blocks

As Christmas time approaches I find myself wanting to make a bunch of new decorations for my house.  My latest project was these Believe blocks.  Believe is one of my very favorite Christmas words and I wanted to create some kind of design with it for all to see.  I came up with these blocks.  I totally love how they turned out.  They were simple to design, easy to create & completely added to the home decor in my family room.  Here is how you can make some of your very own.

Items Needed:

• 2x4 Wood(Cut to the size you will want your blocks)
• Christmas Colored Paint
• Vinyl
• Silhouette Machine
• Scrapbook Paper
• Embellishments
• Paint Brush
• Sander

To Begin:

Take your 2x4 piece of wood and cut it down to size.  These blocks usually look the best if they are stacked and not all the same size.  You can see in the picture above that the blocks I created were all different sizes.  Some were 3.5 inches tall, some were 4 inches tall, and some were even 6 inches tall.  This step is totally up to you.  Cut your blocks to the size that would look best in your home.

Next, Take each of your cut 2x4 blocks and sand them.  Be sure and sand each side until it is completely smooth.  If you leave any rough edges it will make it extremely difficult to paint your blocks.

Once your blocks are completely sanded it is time to add some paint.  I painted my blocks a Green color, but you can seriously do whatever.  You could paint the blocks Gold, Red, or even Silver.  It’s up to you!

Be sure and do a couple layers of paint on your blocks.  I let my blocks completely dry between coats which made it easier to paint a second layer.

While your paint on your blocks is drying you can pull out your christmas scrapbook paper that you want to attach to the front of your blocks.  I went through all my paper and pulled out the designs that I thought would go together best.  I then layed each paper out in front of me to design the order I wanted my paper to go in.  

Once I had my paper order picked I measured each block and cut the paper to size to match the block which it would be going on.

After you have your paper cut to size apply a thin layer of Mod Podge on the back of it and attach the paper to your blocks.  Be sure to rub out any extra bubbles & make sure that each corner is attached properly.

Next, get out your Silhouette machine and your Vinyl to make the word “Believe”.  I’ve found that for projects like this, Vinyl is usually the best and easiest type of paper to use, that way it’s already sticky for you and all you have to do is apply.  At CraftDirect I found this Vinyl Bundle with every color that I needed, if you need some vinyl for your project you can find some here, https://www.craftdirect.com/silhouette/starter-kits.html

Once you have cut out the word Believe on your Silhouette machine it’s time to attach it to your blocks.  Peel off the back layer on your vinyl so that the sticky side is exposed & place it on your blocks.  Smooth out any bubbles that form when you attach the letters.

Lastly,  add any ribbon or embellishments that you would like to finish off your project.

These blocks are always a hit and are very simple to make.  You will love this simple addition in your home.

How to Make Gold Glitter Mason Jars

I recently put together a huge Christmas party for my Relief Society.  It was a rather large event to put together, but couldn’t have turned out any better.  The centerpieces I made for the tables were also a hit and very easy to make.  Today I’m going to share with you how to make these centerpieces for a party of your very own.  They would be the perfect addition to your holiday party decor, Christmas, New Years, etc.  They can also be used throughout the year for various parties and events.

What You Will Need:

• Gold Glitter
• Gold Paint
• Tape
• Scrap Paper
• Mod Podge
• Sponge Brush
• Mason Jars

To Make the Jars:

To begin, make sure each jar is completely clean.  When working with jars it is so very important to properly clean and dry them before beginning your project.  If you leave this step out, you will find dust flakes and other materials in your paint.

After your jars have been washed and dried it’s time to beginning painting.  For this step I painted each jar with one layer, let each jar completely dry & then painted with a second layer.  I continued this process over and over until my jars were the desired color I wanted them to be.

Next, Once your gold jars are completely dry it’s time to add the glitter on the bottom.  I had a little trial and error with this step.  The first time I did it I just placed painters tape all the way around the bottom of the jar to get a straight edge for my glitter.  However, when I took the painters tape off, it also took the rest of my paint off with it since the paint was stuck to glass.

To make things easier, I placed a scratch piece of paper all the way around the jar to create a straight line.  I then taped the paper together and didn’t place any tape on the glass.  This I found was the best way to get a straight line without ruining your paint job.

After I had my paper attached to my jar, I then applied Mod Podge all the way around it.  Just do a thin layer of this.  Immediately after your jar has been covered in Mod Podge pour your glitter all the way around it.  Be sure to have a scrap paper underneath where you are pouring so you can reuse your glitter that falls.

Once your jar has been completely covered in glitter on the bottom set your jar aside and wait for it to dry.

After your jar has dried it is ready to be used for the party!! I made 9 of these jar centerpieces for my party and seriously did them in no time at all.  You will not only love how easy they are to make, but will love how beautiful they turn out.

Black Friday Scrapbook Deals

If you know me at all you know that I am OBSESSED with Black Friday!! It is seriously one of my favorite days of the year!!  I save up all year long to get the very best deals out there.  This Black Friday there are a variety of craft supplies that I need to get that are on my list. Black Friday is one of the very best days to stock up on craft supplies for the entire year, so you better believe that is what I will be doing.

Last year I found a website that had a lot of great deals.  They actually had some of the lowest prices I had ever seen.  This year CraftDirect’s, https://www.craftdirect.com/clearance/black-friday.html  Black Friday deals are even better!!  I recently read a post on their blog about their upcoming deals which can be viewed on the link above.  They have many great deals this year on items like Silhouette, Cricut, Embellishments & So much more!

Another great craft deal I noticed on their website was their 12 Days of Black Friday.  Starting on November 16 counting down all the way to Black Friday they will have a different item featured as a deal of the day.  If you are going to be looking for craft items this is definitely the place to shop!  Stock up now so you will be set throughout next year.

How to Get the Best Deals on Your Craft Supplies

When it comes to Black Friday you will need to know the in’s and out’s before you start shopping.  You will probably see a lot of great deals, but unless you know the right way to shop you might discover a great deal after it is too late.  If you are going to be shopping CraftDirect or any other Black Friday Deals there are a few important things to keep in mind.

Shop Early-I read on CraftDirect’s website that they post their 12 Days of Black Friday deals early every morning.  This is the exact same way a variety of stores post their deals.  If you wait until night to order, in many cases you will be too late.  When it comes to Black Friday shopping, “The early bird always catches the worm.”  Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Save Your Money-Nothing is worse than being broke on Black Friday.  It’s a day where in many instances you can get items for over half off.  If you spend all your money beforehand you will find yourself paying a lot more for each item you purchase.

Browse Online-Like in the link above, many companies will post their Black Friday deals ahead of time.  Be sure to make a list & do your homework so you know where the very best deals are.

Shopping on Black Friday is a lot of fun.  I can’t wait to see what CraftDirect has in store this year on their upcoming craft sales.  It’s definitely time to restock my craft supply closet with some amazing deals that can’t be beat.

DIY Thanksgiving Table Decorations

This week I am throwing a Fall themed Relief Society party.  Everything for the party has to do with this time of year.  The desserts are all made with Apple, Pumpkin and other fall flavors.  The decorations for the room are all items that I have hanging around my house except for the table decorations, I made them myself.  Chances are the table decorations I made are created with items you already have around your house.  They are easy to make and a lot of fun.  Here is how to start the project.

Items You Will Need:

Mason Jars(However many you want to make)

Paint(I used Mustard Yellow and a rustic Orange color)

Sanding Block

Paint Brush

Dark Glaze

To Create the Jars:

First, take each jar and clean them so they are sparkling clean.  If you are like me your jars were covered in dust, this will cause your paint to have little chunks in it.  Make sure your jars are washed and dried before painting them.

Next, use your paint to paint your jars.  I did a first coat and then went back and did a second coat after they were all dry.

After your paint is completely dry, take your sanding block and give the jar a vintage look.  You can distress your jar a lot or a little depending on how you like it.

After you are done sanding, take out an old rag & apply your dark Glaze to the jar.  Rub it all over.  If you have never used Glaze before, it is done by applying a coat & wiping the excess off until you get the color you want.

Once your Glaze is dry your jars are ready to use.  I cut some long grass out of my flower beds to fill my jars.  After placing the grass in the jars I filled the jars up with water.  The long grass in my jars has looked like this for two weeks now, I think it will stay good all the way through Thanksgiving.

I just love how these table decorations turned out and can’t wait to use them for my party.  They were so inexpensive to make and turned out so cute!  Use them for your upcoming Holiday and Thanksgiving parties.

If you don't have any jars you can find a case at http://www.amazon.com/Ball-Jar-Mouth-Bands-Regular/dp/B00B80TJWQ/ref=sr_1_5?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1415113236&sr=1-5&keywords=mason+jars.

How to Make a Christmas Card for the Holidays

With Christmas coming up I thought it would be a good idea to get going on my Christmas cards.  If you know me at all you know that I am totally last minute.  I’m usually quickly throwing some Christmas cards together on Christmas Eve right before I go to bed.  However, this year I will have my cards done before Thanksgiving, and it’s my goal to have them written in long before Christmas Eve.  That way I can just enjoy the Holiday season with my family.

I put this Christmas card tutorial together today so you can get going on your Christmas cards early too.  These cards are easy to make and can be thrown together really quickly.  Here is what you need to do.

Items you will need:

Cardstock for Card(color of choice)

Christmas Scrapbook Paper

Paper Cutter

Christmas Stamp

glue dots

To Make the Card:

Before beginning this card make sure you have all the products you need.  I got all my paper and card stock supplies at http://www.craftdirect.com/cricut/accessories/paper/cardstock.html, they usually have pretty good deals! I had a few stamps on hand that I used for the writing on the cards and used my old paper cutter.

The first thing you will want to do is make a  bunch of blank cards.  I usually just make a stack of them at the very beginning.  That way you only have to do this step once.  To start take an 8.5”x 11” piece of paper and cut it in half horizontally.  each piece should now be 4.25”x 5.5”.  I had to make 12 cards so I cut 6 pieces of cardstock in half.  I used white paper but you could also use red or green for this step.

Once your blank cards have been cut to size, fold them over in half, and then they are ready to go.

The next step is to cut out your Christmas Ornaments for the card.  I picked some of my favorite scrapbooking paper and cut them into circles.  If you have an electronic cutting machine you could use that instead of scissors to cut your circles.

Next, cut out your ornament toppers.  They are similar to the shape of a square.

Once all your ornaments and ornament toppers are cut out it’s time to put the card together.  Take your glue dots and attach each piece securely to the card.

After your pieces are nice and secure, you can either draw or attach a ribbon to the card for your lines like shown in the picture.

Then take your Christmas stamp and stamp it wherever you want.

After you place your stamp on your card you are done and ready to write in them.

These cards are super cute and totally easy.  You should give them a try!!

How to Make Apple Pie Caramel Apples

Every Fall my family takes a trip to Park City.  As tradition, everytime we go there we visit the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and purchase their popular Apple Pie Caramel Apples.  This year I decided that it would be fun to bring our own ingredients to make our own version of their caramel apples.  I purchased the ingredients ahead of time & brought them on vacation with us.  These apples seriously turned out amazing and were almost just as good as the originals.  Here is how you can make them at home.

Ingredients You Will Need:

• 5 Granny Smith Apples
• ½ C. Brown Sugar
• ½ C. Sugar
• 1 TBSP Cinnamon
• Concord Foods Caramel Apple Wrap
• Ghirardelli White Chocolate Chips
• Wax Paper

To Make the Apples:

First, set your oven to 250 degrees & then wash and dry your apples.

Next take out your caramel apple wraps & carefully work each wrap with your hands until it is loose & can fit around your entire apple.  Continue to do this until all of your apples are completely covered in caramel.  This step can take quite a while & should be done with care.

After your apples are covered in carmel place them in the oven for 5 minutes.

While your apples are cooking mix both sugars and the TBSP of Cinnamon in a bowl.  Then set it aside until you are ready for that step.

After 5 minutes take your apples out of the oven and let them cool.

While your apples are cooking, place your entire bag of white chocolate chips in a microwave safe container.  Melt your chips completely, taking them out to stir occasionally during the melting process.

Once your chocolate chips are melted & your caramel apples have set up a little, take a rubber spatula and rub white chocolate all the way around your apple.

Then take your cinnamon sugar mixture and make a nice even coat all the way around covering the chocolate.

After your apple is completely covered place it in the fridge to set up.

Once it’s set up you are ready to eat and enjoy!!

I totally love these caramel apples!  They were a big hit on our vacation.  Not only were they good, but they also saved us a lot of money from buying some at the store.  This is definitely a recipe I will use again and again.

How to Make Harvest Word Blocks with Your Cricut Machine

Recently while setting up my fall decor I came across one of my very favorite decorations.  Last year my sisters and I had a craft party and made a bunch of fall and winter decorations.  We made these Harvest word blocks that night and I forgot that I had them.  I love how these blocks tie all my decorations into each other and how easy they were to make.  I thought it would be great to share the tutorial on how to make them with you today so you can make some of your own.

Items You Will Need to Find:

Orange Paint(Or Color of Your Choice)

Sander(Electric Works Best)

Cricut Machine

Brown Vinyl Paper

Embellishments

Paper Cutter

Hot Glue Gun

Mod Podge

2x4 Cut into Block Sizes of Your Choice

Scrapbook Paper

Glaze

To Make the Blocks:

Step 1:  To start out, take your 2x4 and cut your blocks out into various size pieces.  I usually design this step on a piece of paper before cutting out my sizes.  That way I can make certain I have the design I want.

Step 2:  Take each of your pieces that have been cut out and sand them.  I have an electric sander that I use and it makes this step so much quicker.  Sand each piece until they are completely smooth.

Step 3:  After your blocks are totally smooth it’s time to paint them.  Take out your paint and one layer at a time paint each block.  Be sure to paint at least a couple layers so your paint job looks professional.

Step 4:  After your blocks are completely dry use an old rag to rub a dark brown glaze or stain onto your orange blocks.  This step is optional, but will give your blocks a more rustic look.

Step 5:  For best results let your blocks dry overnight, or at least a couple hours after applying glaze.  While your glaze is drying you can cut out your HARVEST letters.  Use your Cricut machine to cut out your Vinyl paper.  If you don’t have a Cricut machine you can find one at http://www.craftdirect.com/cricut/machines/explore.html for a great deal.

Step 6:  While your blocks are drying you can also cut out your scrapbook paper that you want to attach to the front of your blocks.  Be sure to measure each piece of wood so you know what sizes to cut your scrapbook paper.

Step 7:  Once your scrapbook paper is cut out attach it to your blocks with mod podge, let it dry & then attach your HARVEST letters.  After your letters are in place apply a thin layer of mod podge over the front of them to give your block a finished look.

Step 8:  After your Mod Podge has dried attach any embellishments, ribbon, etc, that you want to your blocks.

Step 9:  Display it for all to see!!

These blocks are very fun to make! They really do add to the fall decor in your home and are just the thing you need to put the finishing touch on your decorating design.

How to Turn a Plastic Pumpkin Into Something New

I cannot tell you how excited I am that fall is here.  My husband has a rule that Halloween decorations cannot go up until October 1st.  You better believe the morning October 1 hit I was out setting up all my fall decorations the moment I woke up.  After all my decor was set up I felt like a few things were missing.  After searching online I came across a blog http://www.whitelightsonwednesday.com/2013/10/plastic-pumpkin-bucket-makeover/ where a lady turned a plastic pumpkin into a trendy burlap pumpkin and I couldn't wait to try it.  This decorative pumpkin was cheap to make, fun to create & turned out amazing.  Here is how to create it.

Products Needed:

• Plastic Pumpkin
• White Spray Paint
• Newspapers or Plastic Bags for Stuffing
• Duct Tape
• Scissors
• Hot Glue Gun
• Burlap

How to Make the Pumpkin:

Step1:  Take your pumpkin and stuff it with newspapers, plastic bags, etc.  Stuff it until it is completely full, then take your duct tape, tape the hole on top of the pumpkin completely so that it is covered and no stuffing can come out.

Step 2:  Use your White spray paint and spray your entire pumpkin so that it is completely white.  Let your pumpkin dry at least 12-24 hours before moving onto the next step.  You don’t want to place your burlap on wetpaint.

Step 3.  Attach some kind of stick to the top of your pumpkin.  I used hot glue to attach mine to the top.

Step 4:  Now it’s time to wrap your pumpkin with burlap.  I used 2” burlap ribbon but you can also cut a burlap fabric bolt into ribbon.  Measure your pumpkin from the very top to the very bottom and cut your ribbon into a handful of pieces that size.  Then take each strand of burlap and glue it onto your pumpkin starting at the top and working your way down just like the picture above.

Continue that step all the way around your pumpkin until it is completely covered in burlap.

Step 5.  The top of your pumpkin where all the burlap comes together will be a little rugged.  You can use some twine or jute cord to wrap around the very top of your stem until all your rugged ends of burlap are covered.

Step 6:  Add embellishments.

Step 7:  Enjoy!

This pumpkin really is so simple to make and can be a lot of fun.  I created 3 of these pumpkins to add to the decor in my home.

Creating with Simple Stories Scrapbook Supplies

Simple Stories scrapbooking accessories are seriously the best!  There are so many great things you can do with them.  I’ve recently been putting together a scrapbook for Steele and love how easy their products from http://www.craftdirect.com/simple-stories.html are to use.  It’s like they created their products with me, Amy Mower the novice scrapbooker in mind.  Since I’ve started using their products I’ve found myself finding more time to scrapbook & love what they have helped me create.  

Today I thought it would be fun to share with you some tips on how to get started making a scrapbook with Simple Stories products.  I’m hoping that these tips will help you to start documenting your lifes most important events.

Simple Story Journaling Cards

I cannot say enough about the Simple Story Journaling Cards.  They seriously make it so easy to write down important events the moment they happen.  From the day Steele was born until now I have kept a pile of these cards on my nightstand.  Each night as I go to bed I write down important events that happened that day, cute things Steele did & learned or my experience so far as being a mom.  

Steele just recently turned one and it was so fun to go back through all the Journaling Cards I had created and read them.  There were so many things I had forgotten.  The Journaling Cards made it easy to keep record of these events.

Simple Story Insta Pockets

The Simple Story Insta Pockets are seriously designed to make scrapbooking easier.  Their line of Journaling Cards are made to easily slip into their Pocket Pages without any fuss.  This takes time out of cutting, gluing & even slicing.  All you have to do is slip your Journaling Cards right in.

Since I had previously wrote on my journaling cards throughout the year when the time came to put my scrapbook together all I had to do was slide my corresponding pictures in with the Journaling Cards I had created.  It was seriously just that easy.  Something you could definitely do while watching TV relaxing at night.

Simple Story Binders

The Simple Story Binders are made to make your life easier.  Each of their Pocket Pages fit perfectly into their binders without any problems.  Not only are they easy to use, but totally trendy.  Their Chevron Print pocket pages are seriously so cute.  When they came out with that line I went and bought a handful of them.  You will love all the options there are to choose from with Simple Story Binders.

Using Simple Stories to help you with your scrapbooking is one of the best ideas ever!  I’m totally not a scrapbooker at all and feel like I can finally do it thanks to them.

Documenting your history is so very important to pass on to your loved ones after you have gone.  A scrapbook is a great way to do this.  Follow my simple tips above to help you create a great scrapbook with the help of Simple Stories.