Polka Dots & Paisley...From EW to Ahhh!

It's time! Voting is over & now we can reveal which submission was ours into One Artsy Mama's One Crafty Contest! 

There were some crazy- awesome submissions. Seriously, impressive & defnitely inspiring! Honestly, it makes me crazy because lately I've had zero time to be crafty & these projects are ones I'd LOVE to copy-cat & try! Did you see the bookshelf firestation?! My boys would LOVE that! AND, the glass tile tree mosaic?! What a beautiful piece of art...make with MODGE PODGE, of all things!!!

Michelle created this piece & once again did what she does best!! She made-over one ugly piece of furniture & turned it into something very cute!

 

Now, check out the BEFORE:

This thing made us go, "EWww"

It was a leftover from a garage sale & was given to us. It sat in my (Julie's) garage for a year. I never had time nor did I know WHAT to do with it.

Leave it to MICHELLE to save the day :)

Photographing it was A LOT of fun for us to do together....

Can you imagine us, out in the middle of no-where Ohio...on the road & by a field snapping pics of a night stand????  Glad we didnt' have to explain ourselves to anyone or they'd think we were a little weird...there's nothin' wrong with the truth though, right!!

I'm going to throw this one in for fun :) Sorry, Chelle!

And this one for fun too...
Pics like this make me LOVE Ohio country side...

We hope you liked the makeover as much as we did. It was fun being a part of One Artsy Mama's contest! Unfortunately we didn't make it through to the next round, but even though we won't be competing, we're excited to see what the remaining contestants will be coming up with in the rounds ahead! The talent will blow us away, I'm sure! 

Thank you Amy at One Artsy Mama for letting us compete!!!!

We are so grateful!!!
OXOX,

Julie & Michelle

Butterfinger Grape Dessert - Get your YUM on!

 

The warm weather makes we want to be outside ALL THE TIME - I'm loving it.  I'm also looking forward to family and friend gathering this summer (I'm sure you are too!).  Today I'm rewinding to share a INCREDIBLY EASY & YUMMY recipe I love to take to cook-outs and carry-in's!!

The first few times I saw this made I must be honest it did not look or sound appealing (at all!) My co-workers raved about it and continually made it for carry-in's.  Well, they were right.  This salad is definitely worth raving about.  In fact, there are never any leftovers.  Make this... its delicious!  I could honestly eat the entire dessert myself (True Story: I served it this weekend and put back a dish for after the party was over.  Needless to say my family hovered over my bowl begging for a bite!)Butterfingers Grape Dessert[Image]Ingredients:

4 lbs grapes (a mixture of green and red seedless)

1/2 c Brown Sugar sugar

8 oz cream cheese, softened

8 oz Cool Whip

Topping:

4 crushed Butterfingers candy bars (easily crushed if frozen and then put in a Ziploc back and hammered)

Directions: 

1.  Blend the cream cheese, sugar, and cool whip until smooth.  Mix in with the cleaned, whole grapes. 2.  Sprinkle crushed candy bar over the grape mixture right before serving.

I like to make the grape/cream cheese mixture the night before and leave my crushed Butterfingers in the freezer until I'm ready to serve. 

If you have had this you know how incredible every bite is, if you haven't you will want to try this recipe out (but make sure you hide a second helping away for later!)

Hamburgers At Home

I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy a great gourmet burger.  Check out this one that's so simple and delicious you'll want to make it again and again.

Gourmet Burgers at Home

-2lbs Ground Chuck

-2 eggs

-4 T Weber Gourmet Burger Seasoning

(you can also add some shredded cheese if you li,e)

Mix all ingredients with your hands in a bowl.  Form 6 large patties and get ready to grill.  If you don't have an outdoor grill you can always try a Double Burner Grill indoors.

Add some homemade fries to your menu too!  Cut 6 potatoes with an apple slicer drizzle with some EVOO and sprinkle with salt.  Bake on a cookie sheet at 400 for 45min (my kids love to make and eat these!)

~M~

Last Day of School Treat!

This is an idea that I found on pinterest & I decided to run with it for Caleb's last day of Preschool. 
I made little pockets out of card stock & stuffed them with a packet of Kool-Aid & a silly straw. Isn't it FUN!? I love that it's something the child can go home & DO! And although it will contain sugar, it's not a boatload of it like a bag of candy would have been.

The little pocket was designed on Draw - an Open Office program. Then my smarty-pants husband showed me how to save it as a PDF document so I can share it with all of you! Feel free to use it! (I'll post the PDF later today - it's not cooperating right now...plus I want to add some instructions & it's time for me to get outta here & deliver them!) 

Or if you'd like to see other cute versions, search "kool summer" on pinterest.

The cost of the whole treat was rather inexpensive. Aside from the card stock/hotglue/stickers, I spent $6 on the kool aide & straws for 15 kids. 

 

 I hope everyone else is excited for summer like we are!

I know Caleb LOVES preschool, but I really LOVE having him home with his brothers. I am SO excited for all we have planned this summer!!

Enjoy TODAY!
Love,

Julie

Table Makeover

I love love love a easy makeover project.  This one my Sister delivered to my door (gearing up for a May garage sale).  I snagged it up and gave it some special treatment in the form of a purple coat of paint.

Check out the before - someone had tried to do a makeover but missed a few spots and the color just didn't work for me.  It had definitely potential just needed a little TLC.

Even though this already had a coat of paint I still like to prime just to be sure I get a solid piece that isn't going to peel and chip.  One coat of primer then two coats of paint and one coat of clear coat.  I used Valspar Paint for the purple (on a happy note it smells like grapes - scented spray paint love it!).

I love the way it turned out!!  Would make a great plant stand, side table or hall table.  If I had been thinking ahead I could have really used a small table in the hall...  As much as I love purple it doesn't really fit with our current decor.  If it fits with yours check it out For Sale at ReHab Fab in Van Wert.

One Crafty Contest - In the Top 15!!!

Have you heard the big news??

Sister See Sister Do has made it through the 1st round of

One Artsy Mama's

One Crafty Contest!!!!!!

  If you voted, thank you!!!  We were originally eliminated from the top 20 round but after another contestant dropped out, we were contacted & asked to participate. Chelle & I were PUMPED to be given another chance!  There were some seriously impressive projects submitted for Round 1, the beading round. The top vote was definitely one of my personal favortites...along with the beaded bedskirt & both of the beaded chandeliers - go look! Here's Melanie's wire wrapped bracelet: Awesome, isn't it?! She has a tutorial for the bracelet up now!http://artzycreations.com/diy-wire-wrapped-cuff-bracelet/  This submission was ours:

 Here are some more pics that I found on my computer of the earrings & necklace. 

 My husband took these right after I made them last summer. 

There's no denying that kid is my son! He's such a clown!

Well that's all for now!!

If you want to keep tabs on us during One Artsy Mama's contest, follow us on facebook! We find out at midnight tonight what the theme of the next round is! Michelle & I are already brainstorming our possibilities :) Here we go!!! Wish us luck!!!

Easy BBQ Chicken

We love BBQ.  Until I figured out this easy 3 ingredient recipe I was buying pre-made BBQ chicken at the grocery.  This recipe is so simple you'll never need to buy pre-made BBQ again!

BBQ Chicken

-4lbs Split Chicken Breast

-1 bottle your favorite BBQ sauce

-1 c water

Place chicken in crock pot (you can remove the skin now or it will peel off easily after it's cooked).  Add water and cook 8-10 hours on low.

Once cooked remove from crock pot and let cool until you are able to pull meat off the bone and remove the skin.  At this point it should basically fall of the bone.  Cut chicken into pieces with a knife and mix with BBQ sauce until you achieve the desired consistency.

We love to serve this atop a baked potato - check out Chicken Baker's here!

~M~

A bag full of SUNSHINE!!

What could be better than receiving a bag full of sunshine? 

Especially when you're not expecting it!

This morning my friend dropped this off to me. It was such a nice surprise! I think this is such a thoughtful & FUN idea! 

It's absolutely perfect for someone who maybe had a bad week, or who doesn't get much sleep, or one with small children

...or especially one with PMS. Just sayin!

 Take a look at what she put inside.

Goody heaven, right?! 

I currently have a toothache from downing the Milk Duds this afternoon! Ha :) Courtesy of Christina!

Thanks for letting me show this off. It's idea that deserves repeating! I am SO going to do this for someone...maybe I'll do this for Caleb's teachers next week! 

Speaking of teacher-gifts...What are you doing for your children's teachers? Tell me & feel free to leave links if you want!

Hugs,

Julie

Antique Mirror from a Picture Frame

Have you ever been to a Flea Market or Antique Store and checked out the beautiful antique mirrors?  They show wear and tear and have that great peeling effect inside the glass?  Well, it's so EASY to get that same look at home!!

Here is what you need:

Picture Frame

Krylon Looking Glass Spray Paint (Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Amazon.com carry this)

Krylon Black Spray Paint

Spray Bottle

Bleach

Paper Towels

I wish I would have taken step by step photo's but I was so excited to try this out I forgot...  I removed the everything from the frame (glass, cardboard, backing).  I decided to paint and distress my frame to a pretty barn red.

CAUTION: make sure your glass is clean and free of any smudge or finger print - it WILL show up!!  

I laid my glass on a tarp and did 5 very thin coats of Looking Glass with 1 min in between each coat for the mirror.  Now if you like the look you achieved already you can stop here before applying the bleach.  Looking Glass does NOT give you a perfect mirror image, but it is perfect for the Antique look.

After the paint dried completely (I waited about an hour because I was impatient...).  I poured a little bleach into my spray bottle and randomly sprayed bleach all over the painted side of the glass.  I let this set for about 5 minutes and then gently blotted with a paper towel.  If you rub it will pull off more paint.  Wait for the bleach to dry completely (for this I left it sit outside overnight).

Finally paint side up I used Krylon Black Gloss Spray Paint to give the already painted side 2 thin coats of black paint (otherwise you could leave as is and just see the cardboard through the glass).

Put the glass back into the frame and enjoy!!!

I also used the Looking Glass Spray paint through lace to achieve this look below:

You can check out this tutorial HERE.

~M~

Easy French Dip Roast Beef Recipe

This month on Monday's it's all about the MEAT so get your crock pot's ready for some slow cooked goodness.

French Dip Roast Beef

-2lb Boneless Roast

-2 Beef Bullion Cubes

-1 Package Onion Soup Mix

-1 c Water

Place Roast in Crock Pot with soup mix and bullion cubes and cover with water.  Cook on low for 8-10 hours.  Roast will shred easily once cooked.  Serve on rolls or crusty bread (check out a easy bread recipe here).  Broth can be drained off into a small dish for dipping.  

If you have any left overs you can refrigerate the broth and shredded beef together (this is even better the second time around!)  Enjoy!


If you have time please VOTE for us #89 in One Artsy Mama's Contest.  Thanks!
HERE

Our Entry #89

While you are there click on the picture to check out our tutorial to make your own!!

~M~

Mothers Day Ideas

Stumped on what to do/make for that special Mom in your life this year?  Check out a few of our old posts for some inspiration!!

If you've got little one's this is a GREAT way for them to do something special and fun for Mom!!

Watermelon Cookies!!

Does Mom love DQ Ice Cream cake?  If so check out this delicious alternative

(kids would love to help out here too!)

Oreo Ice Cream Cake

What Mom doesn't love a handmade gift?  Check out this easy Flower Headband from an old T-shirt!

T-shirt Flower Headband (could also become a pin or hair clip!)

Another Beautiful flower you can DIY at home - it's sew simple!

Tri-Tattered Bloom Fabric Flower 

Looking for more ideas?  Check out some of our Popular Posts on the right side of the blog!


Happy Mothers Day Everyone!