A Few of My Favorite Tutorials

I'm always looking for different ideas, so I search tutorials. So many times I've often looked at a tutorial and find an easier way of doing something.

Being on several email list, I receive lots of new ideas weekly. I thought I would share some of my favorite, very easy tutorials, in hopes it will spring you into creating. These tutorials are not my creations but from other website. I just wanted to share ones I've made and how I've changed them for my personal taste. Just click on the name to visit the website with the tutorial. Happy creating!

Log Cabin Block

These block can be made to hang on walls or lay on a small table. Add heat resistant batting and make a beautiful hot pad to protect your counters. The ideas are endless.

Boo-Boo Bags

These bags make great gifts for adults and children like. Change the shape a little and make it to stretch across the shoulders. I have to say I don't like using rice because being so small it doesn't hold heat a long time. I have used corn, but it has a smell when heated up. It's not a bad smell to me, but some people don't like it. I prefer cherry pits. I don't recommend these for pets as they can be poisonous if the pet tears a whole in the bags and eats the pits.

Painted Jars

These are so easy and fun to make. I love these pumpkins, but the ideas can be endless here too.

Gift Card Cozies

What a great way to personalize a gift card. Add the persons name and they can keep it to keep a credit or debt card in. Make them in holiday fabric is too cute.

Dog/Puppy Gift Basket Giveaway!

This is my first giveaway and I'm extremely excited and nervous. I hope you like it.

If you know anything about me, it's I love giving. I love finding that perfect item, wrapping it real cute, and seeing the face of person (or pet) receiving the gift. I say pet because my dogs love receiving new toys and treats (of course). So for this giveaway, since it's my first, has to be real special. Of course, I wanted to include items from my store but I also wanted to include some of my favorite things.

This gift basket will be perfect for your own precious pooch, a gift to a friends pooch, or to donate to you favorite dog charity for their use or fundraising. Whatever you choose, so think about it.

To register for the awesome basket you have to post a comment and tell me about who you are giving this gift to. If it's to a specific pet, tell me in detail about the pet and what he/she means to you. If your giving it to a charity, tell me about the charity. I will post the winner on June 1st and then contact you for shipping info. Participants must live in the United States. Please leave an email address to be contacted if you win.

This is what is included in the Dog/Puppy Gift Basket (see picture below). You will receive the items wrapped in cut cellophane with a bow:
1. BowWow Blanket - 17" x 20" quilted blanket/matt
2. Pooch Purse - for carrying your doggie stuff to the park
3. Nail Clipper- makes it easy to snip your dogs nails.
4. Combo brush- for short and long hair dogs
5. Grooming Shammies (2pk)- great for washing dogs face and ears
6. Bella Bowl - you get 2 bowls (1 pink, 1 brown); stainless steal, nonskid bottom ring
7. Squeaky dotz
8. Pooch Pretzels- 6pack 9. Fresh-n-Clean Shampoo- 18oz long lasting scent (I get more compliments about my dogs and this shampoo)

Adventures in Baking

I love giving gifts, especially handmade gifts. My idea here is to make something special to give to my special friends on Mother's Day. Most of my friends attend my church and there are several that I'm really close to.
I came across my book on making cake pops, and the "!", and idea was born. I didn't have a lot of time, so I was just going to make simple round cake pops. Now off to the store for ingredients...
What flavor? Oh, I have to make my signature color (pink), so strawberry it is. I had a hard time trying to make of my mind on the chocolate melts color too, so I just stuck with pink. Got the cake, frosting, chocolate melts, sticks, and back home I go.
I made the cake last night after my son's ball game, mixed in the frosting, and began to make the balls. Oh no! I've added too much frosting. They are really soft and will not stay on the sticks. "Uggh!" I place them in the refrigerator, maybe if they get real cool, they'll firm us some.
Overnight in the refrigerator did firm them, but not enough to add the sticks. So I won't make cake pops, but I can make cake balls. After melting my chocolate melts, I start dipping. It's going pretty good, but I'm not sure how they get the chocolate so smooth like in the book. I try dipping the with a toothpick, one spoon, two spoons, and they still have a obvious place that they were touched. Plus the excess chocolate pools at the bottom, making a flat bottom. I'm must be missing something somewhere. Here's a picture at my halfway point.

So I finish dipping the rest, some were more difficult than others. Then I took the rest of the chocolate melt and drizzled it on top to cover up some of the flaws...again I say "uggh." I put them in the refrigerator to harden up.

Here's the finished product... They don't look so good, but they sure do taste yummy. I love to cook and especially bake, and usually do not have this kind of problem, but this was difficult. My hat goes off to those who make beautiful cake pop/balls.