How to Make: Mason Jar Frog Lids-TUTORIAL

Today we are throwing a little play date party for Noah, Penelope, and Eloise's little friends.  Hooray for Spring time fun!  We've got quite the spread ready for their little friends (and my sweet momma friends too!)...I love throwing parties!  Since we are throwing a "Yay Spring is Here!" party I wanted to add a bunch of fresh flowers to our buffet table, since what says Spring more than beautiful and colorful fresh flowers?  So I got out my trusty mason jar frog lids I use when I turn my mason jars into flower vases and thought I would share with you how to make them.  They are super easy peeps, for reals.  

'So what's a frog lid?' you might be asking yourself.  Well, if you've ever seen pretty flower arrangements bursting out of mason jars or similar lidded jars at a wedding or other party a frog lid helps keep the flower arrangement full and pretty.  It is just the ring component of the mason jar lid with a wire grid.  The grid allows you to place each stem exactly wear you want it making arranging your bouquet easy peasy!    

To make a frog lid you only need a few simple things, who knew!  

Are ya ready to make a few?

Mason Jar Frog Lids

Mason jar rings

12 or 14 gauge wire

Tin snips

E-6000

You can make your frog lids using regular or wide mouth mason jars rings...and they can fit the standard clear or the pretty vintage blue mason jars too, the possibilities for your mason jar vases are endless!

Just snip your wire into lengths that will fit the diameter of your ring, you will need 4 going in one direction and then an additional 4 in the opposite direction to form the grid.  The wire we had on hand was ridiculously strong which made it hard to straighten out in a nice line...no one will see the imperfections once the flowers are in there though so if you happen to use some pretty tough wire do not worry about not being able to straighten each piece out perfectly :-)

Slowly squeeze the E-6000 around the lip of the inside of the mason jar ring.  Place the cut lengths of wire in place and arrange into a grid.  Let the frog lids dry for a few hours up to one day.  

And there you have it, you are now ready to arrange all those pretty flowers just the way you want them in the mason jar of your choice :-)

I love my frog lids!!

Happy weekend to you and thanks for stopping by!

We'll talk soon!

XOXO,

The Ultimate Monster Cookies {Gluten and Dairy Free Versions!}-RECIPE

Monster Cookies!  Need I say more?  Who doesn't love a good monster cookie.  Peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate chips (or other dairy free chips) and throw a few m&m's or other mix-ins in there if you got 'em.  I thought today I would share my super duper ridiculously delicious monster cookie recipe with y'all.  This one is a winner through and through.  Whenever I make them I get loads of oohs and ahhs and you will too, yahoo!  Bring these babies to your next get-together and don't forget the recipe...you will be asked.  Just sayin' :-)

I mean look at these cookies...the perfect chewy monster cookie.  Filled with lots of goodies to make them nice and thick...or should I say 'hearty'.  Breakfast anyone?  Yup, don't think for a second that I wouldn't snag a few of these for breakfast, when the kids aren't looking of course :-)

If you are dairy-free you will want to omit the m&ms and use carob chips or good quality dark or semi-sweets chocolate chips as well as a butter alternative.  I cannot sing my praises enough for the awesomeness that is Earth Balance butter substitute.   And if you are gluten-free in your eating habits these days you will want to use gluten-free oats.  Other than that, you can make them with regular butter and regular oats and they taste just as dee-lish...we've eaten these every which way so we know!  Yes, we are martyrs in the cookie taste testing realm, you are welcome.

The Ultimate Monster Cookies {Dairy and Gluten Free Options}

3 eggs

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 cups peanut butter

1/2 cup butter (or butter substitute if dairy free)

4 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats (or gluten free oats if gluten free)

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla 

1 cup chocolate chips (or carob chips if dairy free)

1 cup mini m&ms

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the eggs.  Then add in both sugars, butter, oats, baking soda and vanilla and mix well.  Add in any mix-ins you desire last keeping with the ratios above.  Great mix-in options are chocolate chips, m&ms, walnut pieces, reese's pieces, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips or even white chocolate chips.  Drop large spoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet.  Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.  Enjoy!

Brown sugar, white sugar, and eggs...I'm looking at the beginnings of a great cookie!

Then, in no particular order, add in baking soda, peanut butter, vanilla and your oats...I always have old-fashioned oats on hand to use in my baking as I find they work much better than quick or steel cut, but that is just my opinion.  

If you are gluten-free, these are the oats I like to use...you will never taste the difference!

You will need 1/2 cup of butter...or butter substitute.  

And lastly, add in 2 cups of your choice of mix-ins!  My favorite dairy-free alternative is the Enjoy Life brand...they are seriously soooo good plus they are mini!  If we are making them with dairy I'll always add in m&ms of the mini variety as I find I can use less and get the same chocolatey outcome and it makes more room for other fun mix-in options, holla!

Mix it all up and drop LARGE, I mean like ice cream scoop large, balls of cookie dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.

Ooh.......Ahhh!  Don't they look devine!

Gotta love a good Monster Cookie!

Enjoy!

XOXO,

Messenger Style Library Book Bag-TUTORIAL

Did you know that March is National Craft Month?  Yup, it's true!  Did you also know that Dinosaur Train (Yes that fun animated dinosaur cartoon on PBS) and Quilting Treasures have teamed up to offer a whole bunch of fun and easy craft projects as well as Quilting Treasures' Dinosaur train fabric prints?  You can find a bunch of great projects here that are easy to do!

I was lucky enough to be asked to participate in Dinosaur Train and Quilting Treasures' National Craft Month promotion...I mean how could I say no, my kids absolutely adore Dinosaur Train!  We love the theme song, all the great dinosaur facts, and Tiny and all his cute friends.  I was sent some of Quilting Treasures' adorable Dinosaur Train prints and was so happy with them.  I thought they were perfect boy prints, not too baby and not too blue-blue, they have just the right mix of colors!  Noah loves orange and green so these were definitely up his alley and he couldn't wait for me to finish! 

For my project, I made Noah a Messenger Style Library Bag to help him carry his every-growing stash of library books he chooses weekly at our local library.  Would you like to make your little ones a library bag too?  Well, then let's do it!

Messenger Style Library Bag

1/2 yard each of two different fabrics (one for the lining and one for the outer fabric)

1 yard of 1-inch belting

Rotary Cutter and mat

Small bowl or CD

Pinking shears

Iron and ironing board

This is a great weekend project to do, from start to finish the whole bag will take you less than one hour to make!

First cut one piece of each fabric measuring 7 x 13 inches long (picture 1), this is going to be your messenger bag's flap.  Place right sides together (picture 2) and then fold the two piece in half (picture 3).  Grab a bowl or another round object and cut off one corner from the raw or unfolded end (picture 4).

Then sew around the curve of the flap (not across the straight edge!) using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.  Take pinking shears and trim the excess seam allowance.  Turn right side out, press with your iron and topstitch along the curved edge using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  Flap done!

To make the lining and the outer fabric of the messenger bag, cut 2 pieces from each fabric measuring 14 x14 inches each.  Place two like prints right sides facing each other (one set will be your outer fabric the other will be your lining fabric) and sew 3 of the 4 sides together (two sides and one bottom of the bag) using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.  You may use pinking shears to trim off the excess seam allowance if you'd like. 

With the lining and outer fabric still wrong sides out, pinch each corner of the bottom of the bag and lining until you make a pointed triangle.  Measure 1 1/2 inches down from the tip and sew across (middle picture).  Cut the excess fabric off using pinking shears. This will help your bag have some width to it for a few fun library books!  You will do this two times each for the lining and the outer bag.  

Your bag should now look like this.  Wrong side out and a bit puffy at the base for the lining and the outer fabric.  

Now to assemble the bag place the lining inside the outer fabric with right sides facing each other. 

Then on one side of the bag, place the flap of the messenger bag so that the outer fabrics face each other and the lining fabric face each other.  

Then measure the belting so it is the right length for your little one and place the belting at the side seam of the bag in-between the outer fabric and the lining, like the picture shows above.  You may pin this in place if it helps.  

PS. My belting was about 30 inches in length!

Now very carefully sew all around the top edge of the bag using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.  Making sure to catch the flap and the belting!  Also, make sure to leave an opening about 4 inches long so that you can turn your bag right side out (see picture above!)  

Turn your bag right side out using the opening!

Fold the opening in and press with your iron.  Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, topstitch around the entire top of the bag.  In doing so you will be closing the opening we left for turning!

And there you go!  One very stylish Messenger Style Library Bag!

If you'd like you can add a piece of velcro or a snaps to keep the flap closed too.

Just perfect for any number and any size library books!

If you would like, your children can also participate in Dinosaur Train's Nature Trackers Club here which is a free community of young children, their families, and educators who enjoy exploring, having adventures, and respect their environment.  There is a Nature Trackers guide book you can print off the site and new challenges posted each month!  It really is cute and fun for kids especially now that the weather is getting nicer and nicer!

Take care and we'll talk soon!

Thanks for stopping by :-)

XOXO,

Chalkboard Flower Baskets-TUTORIAL

Spring is officially here as of this week, who's excited?  Although here in Chicagoland it feels like summer has arrived as we've been enjoying temperatures well into the 80's...such un-midwestern weather for this time of year but I will take it over snow any day!  The kids have been playing outside with their friends every day, which I love!  We have a stock of popsicles in the freezer, we've been playing in the sandbox, and we even got the pool out and have been splashing around with our neighbors, truly unbelievable.  What's even more unbelievable is the number of mosquito bites I already have, I am one itchy pregnant lady but at least I  can still bend over enough to scratch my feet, holla!

Wait didn't I have a craft to share with you today?  Oh hey, I did!  So I was over at Michael's not too long ago and found the cutest little wooden flower baskets in their dollar section.  I thought they just shouted "Spring" (and double whammy) "Easter" so I picked up three for my kids...hmmm, maybe I should go back and get a fourth?  They are the perfect size for the kids to put crayons and little markers in to carry out to our porch or to fill with little treats if their momma is feeling generous (and ready for a sugar high!)  I painted them with chalkboard paint so that I could write their names or cute little messages on them...perfect for hiding on Easter so they know who's is who's don't ya think or even for a cute place setting for an Easter celebration!

Chalkboard Flower Baskets

Little wooden flower baskets 

ScotchBlue Painter's Tape

Chalkboard paint

Sponge brush

Chalk

Here are the cute little flower baskets I bought at Michael's...they are tiny and just perfect for little ones, Ellie wears hers on her wrist like a purse!

Just enough space in there for a few little treats or some crayons :-)

I love Martha Stewart's new line of craft paints, especially loving her chalkboard paint as it comes in a few pretty pastel colors not just plain 'ol black!  I also used ScotchBlue Advanced Painter's Tape with Edge-Lock.  Love this stuff!  It let's you achieve super sharp lines and comes off cleanly from your project with no icky residue left behind...a crafter's dream come true!  And I'm also lovin' those cheapy sponge brushes you can buy for like 50 cents!  That's all you really need for this project :-)

Tape off the handle of your flower baskets like so and then apply one coat of chalkboard paint all over.  I also painted inside too just cause I like the uniform look of it all.  Wait an hour and then give it a good second coat.  I waited another hour before taking off the Painter's tape and then applied a coat of green paint to the handle.  The directions on the chalkboard paint bottle say to let it cure for a day so that is what I did....you just have to wait a bit before having at the chalk!

After 24 hours you need to condition the chalkboard paint which means you grab a piece of chalk and rub it all over the surface and then wipe it clean.  Now it's ready to write or draw on!  So simple and easy!

You could write fun little messages on them like, "Spring is Here!"

And fill them with crayons!  My kids felt like they were in a restaurant where they get their own little cup of crayons to color their kids menu with, lol!

Since I painted the insides of the flower baskets, I place little mini muffin liners inside them before filling them with treats.  Just to be safe ya know!

Oooh, jelly beans!  Easter is coming upon us quickly isn't it...these are all over the stores now!

Fun little flower baskets full of tiny treats...my kids are in heaven!

Have a great weekend, we'll talk soon!

**I was sent samples of ScotchBlue Painter's Tape for review purposes but all opinions are 100% my own!

XOXO,