Elf Tool Kit-Great gift to give yourself or someone else!! ( FROM THE DOLLAR STORE!!)

Do you dream of Christmas morning like I do? All the gifts are slowly and beautifully opened one at a time...OH!!! AND....everyone ooohhs and awhs over the gifts their family members have received. Nothing goes wrong....

like the box to the plastic kitchen is missing a part and there is NO WAY on Gods green earth you will be able to fix it by morning....

or SOME assembly required turns into an all night fiasco OR...

Santa forgets to include batteries 

OR we don't seem to be able to find a tiny little screw driver to open the door to the for mentioned battery door???? 

WELL...Have I got a great idea for you!! It wont fix everything but it is a step in the right direction and you will be so happy this cute little box is under your tree!! 

AND if you were to give this to a mom/family on your shopping list you will help them along with their picture perfect Christmas morning too. 

AND all of these items have come from the dollar store!! WOOT! Even better!! Here's what we are going to make...

AN ELF TOOL KIT

Here is what you will need: 

A good sturdy box to store the tools (I put this baby right under my tree)

Batteries I have a set of AA and AAA
Scissors 
Screwdriver 
Paper and Pen
Trash Bags 
Box opener 
A Folder to put cards, receipts, tags, instructions/owners manuals in all one place. 

NOTE: I would also suggest if you are not concerned with the kit coming from the dollar store, or want to make it a nicer gift, or be even more prepared is to add an empty memory card for your camera and maybe even an extra, all charged up, camera battery but this is totally optional

(I had to take the trash bags out of their box to fit in my tool box)

Here is a poem I wrote you could use to give with...IF  you'd like a free printable tag comment and I can get you one from the amazing Gabby...(and then I'd know you are out there too :))

This is your Elf Kit 

And here is the plan

It will help Christmas morn

I’m positive it can

Put it under your Tree

A great place no doubt

Now you don't have to worry

Not one kiddy will pout

All you need is there, 

its true 

It’s filled with important stuff 

 Especially our love for you!

(this is MY original poem...please only use for personal use and not for ANY material gain. Thanks friends!)

ENJOY!!

Emily

DIY Gift Hand Stamped Kitchen Tools

Here is a great idea I found on the lovely pinterest! I, in fact, had pinned it twice on different days so clearly it was a must do. HAHA! I actually already had stamps so it was a no brainer for me. You can pick up the stamp set at Harbor Freight for fairly inexpensive. 

Here are the things we used.

1 set of 5 new bamboo kitchen tools

1 ultra fine sharpie 

(BTW the one in the picture is not the sharpie we actually used, This one wasn't quite fine enough)

1 small nylon cutting board

1/4 inch steel stamping set

A short handled ball peen hammer

Place the wooden tool on the cutting board. This is to protect your table etc from the hefty blows. :) 

Note: Be sure to wipe the stamp with a paper towel before using it. There is oil in the bottom of the box used to prevent the rusting of the stamps. 

Place the stamp where you want it and give one big blow. If a second blow is needed align the stamp in the  already stamped letter and go for it. 

See the J?

Once the word is a stamped take your ultra fine sharpie and fill in the letter. 

PS these tools will need to be hand washed only but hey! they already were hand wash only because they are bamboo so no biggy!!

Tada!

 All done! 

Notice that we changed the theme after the first spoon? 

Yep I like the kitchen words better but you could do all kinds of word ideas. 

Christmas themed words or thanksgiving words, Names etc. 

I am so excited to make more! 

You could give them as a set or just one. Imagine inside a hot pad mitt with a brownie or cookie mix!? 

YES! 

I am excited and very happy with how these turned out! 

Give it a try!

Free First Day of School Printable!!

Friends!! Where is the summer going?? I had to have that talk with my girly's about getting our sleep schedules back in order. (It takes 30 days to adjust your bodies sleep patterns they say.) Woah! Its flying by...Are you freaking out? Would a free printable help you feel better? :) Here is a darling sign you can have your cute kidlets hold in the "first day of school" photos. Free for the taking from the ever adorable Miss Lily. (Gabby)

You can print it any size you'd like up to 11x14.

Download the Printable!!

Also, somethings to think about...

1.  Now is a great time to buy/stock up on art supplies for Christmas presents for all the artists on your gift lists while prices are lowest. 

2. if you are planning on giving gifts in a jar now is a good time to buy the jars while they are readily available. 

Check out some ideas from Tidy Mom here...

Gift in a jar

AND

3. If any of you want to make homemade vanilla extract to give for Christmas, you should start that soon. It takes a few months to brew.

 Here's a link for the how to/recipe... 

Homemade Vanilla Extract

(I haven't made any before but I sure want to!!) 
PS be sure to read the reviews!! 
There's some great advice and tips! 

Salted Marshmallow Fudge cookies-An easy semi-homemade idea!!

Looking for a quick easy party food? Need something fast to take to a friend in need? Bridal or baby shower coming up? Bake sale? Why not Salted Marshmallow Fudge Cookies? 

 This is a super quick way to fancify your fudge marshmallow cookies and it super duper easy!!  You will need a package of the marshmallow fudge cookies (ya know....like the ones that rhyme with twinwheels?? OR Great Value makes a great (haha get it?? GREAT) version too and they are less than half the price and neither is free from the cracks on the surface of the fudge so go for the cheap I say) You will also need a torch and a sprinkle of kosher salt

BTW this little torch was found at Harbor Freight for $9 full of fuel AND he is refillable.

 Pretty great deal!! (if you are in the market for a torch) :) 

All you do is wave the torch over the top of the cookie until the chocolate gets shiny and sprinkle a little bit of kosher salt over it. Let it set (re-harden) and serve. YUMMY!!

 NOTE-keep in mind that the end of the torch stays hot for a while after the flame is off so be careful with it until you know it is cool.

 ENJOY MY FRIENDS!!

A Proud Mama and Free Fathers Day Printables!!

This is my 13 year old Gabrielle (or Gabby for short) She is My Fourth child and third daughter and I love her so much! She is one of those kids that simply excels in everything she does! Gabby is multi talented and just recently played Annie in Annie the Musical! 

(my little orphan Annie/Gabby)

AND 

she has started her own printables company!! Have I mentioned shes only 13?!? These are just a few of her many many talents and abilities!!

She offered to make some fathers day printables for all of us out of the goodness of her heart. (What I doll I tell ya!) We thought something that could go on anything would be appreciated.  Here's our take on how we used the printables...but of course you could use them anyway you see fit. (please for personal use only) 

Click the links below to download.

Download the Bag Topper

Download the #1 Dad

Download the Pop tag

ENJOY!!
Emily

A Quick Easy Inexpensive Last Minute Mothers Day Gift The Kids Can Make!

Hello! If you are still looking for a mothers day gift your kidlets can make for your mom/their grandma we are going to be best of friends! This is just like me too! Don't you worry I have a great idea! I found this idea on pinterest and ran with it. We made shrinky dink key chains for Grandma and Nana. (mom if you are reading this look away NOW!) HAHA!!

Please note this project requires adult supervision 

What you need:

1. a package of Shrinky Dink material (I got mine from Hobby Lobby)

2. Permanent Markers (be careful with the little ones)

3. scissors

4. a hole punch (we discovered you need to make a hole bigger than a standard hole punch but cutting 2 overlapping works well)

5. key chain hardware

6 parchment paper or a brown bag cut to fit on a cookie sheet

7. white paper to put under the shrinky dink material so that it is A)easier to draw on and B) protects your table from the accidental marker swipe.

Instructions:

1. Let kids design and color to their hearts content (you will want to leave a boarder) BTW I only gave each child half a sheet of shrinky dink material and it was enough)

2 Preheat oven to 325

3. Prepare a cookie sheet with either a cut to fit brown bag or parchment paper.

4. Cut around the art work (I would suggest rounding as much as possible. The straight edge can sometimes be a little pokey)

5. Punch a hole or two for the key ring or your choice of findings to fit through. (this must be done before baking)

6. Place the SD material onto the pan and place in the oven

7. wait for 1-3 minutes or until the design curls and straightens back out flat. Once it is flat wait for about 30 seconds to allow the process to complete before removing from the oven.

8. Remove the pieces for the pan and press with a folded piece of paper and leave flat until it is completely cooled. 

( a helpful hint if you have a piece that you are unhappy with the shape it shrank into you can pop it back into the oven for 2-5 minutes and reshape it. 

Like this one. (lol!)

Although my best advice when making shrinky dinks is not to cut so close and to leave a border.

9. Add your key chain hardware and you are all done! 

YAY! 

Enjoy!

Questions? We love nice people and their comments!