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Friday, April 22, 2011

Food Storage Jars

I have absolutely loved many of the open kitchen storage ideas in bloggerland, but know that I tend to have a tendancy to clutter things up.  I just don't think that I can keep things really need and orderly if it's out in the open.  Well, I've been trying to figure out where to put all my stock-piled food.  I have filled every nick and cranny I can find, and can't stand the mess it is!  I want organization!


So, I decided to try to use that empty space above the cupboard in my kitchen.  I figure if I keep everything the same, it won't seem so cluttered...at least that's my hypothesis.  Mind you, this will be an ongoing project, as you will soon see. 

My next step was to try to find some reasonably priced jars for storage.  I checked everywhere and found them to be about 2 quarts in size and $5-$8 each in price!  So, I had to think some more - what I had in mind would be too much money for me!  Then - aha!  I found these in Wal-mart:They are a gallon jar and the cost is only $4.98 with the pickles included.  This is where it time comes in - we can only eat so many pickles at a time!  (And they are huge!)  So, I have been buying two jars when we finish one in hopes that I will eventually get enough jars to fill the top of my kitchen cabinets.
To help me keep track of things, I decided to experiment with chalkboard paint.  I tried two different versions with the paint to see which I prefer.  I used these Avery shipping labels for the computer and just put two coats of chalkboard paint on them.
I taped off one of the jars to paint directly on the jar to see how that worked too.  It took two coats of paint to get full coverage.



Here's a look at the jars on the top of my cabinet.Also, a close-up of what they look like.  The left jar is the one painted directly on the jar and the right one is the sticker.  I have to say that I prefer the sticker, because it looks more clean and uniform in shape.  The edges of the paint directly on the jar are a little rough looking.

I still have to paint all the lids white, but I am waiting for it to stop being in the 30's outside!  (Oh, and snowing, too!)   I'm going to watch for one of those chalk pens, too.  Besides that, we just need to eat a ton of pickles!! 

Monday, April 18, 2011

New Hair Pieces 4 Sale

SWhere has time gone?  We have been so busy, replacing all of our floors, homeschooling, activities, you name it.  Amidst all of this, I have been having more requests for more hair pieces!  Since it's Earth Day this week, I thought I'd share my hairpieces that are mostly from recycled material.  There are some new materials, like the barrettes, but for the most part, it is all from older material.

Making hair things is not really what I have set out to do in life, but I really enjoy making them and love to make a little extra money on the side along with it.    Here are a set that I made for a friend that takes them to her shows and sells them for me.I apologize for the pictures, I was in a rush to go, so had my 12 year old take the picture, and I guess I get what I get.

A close up for you.  On the top, a black baby band with pink roses.  Moving down from left to right - a jean ragged barrette, a chocolate brown with button barrette, then a pink button adult head band.  On the bottom -  orange rosette barrettes and pink and white rosette barrettes.

This picture has on the left side, a yellow headband with orange layered flower.  On top, a black, burned satin rose with antique button.  Below that, a pink and grey rosette baby band.  Then black jeweled rosette barrettes, yellow rosette barrettes and another ragged Jean flower with a vintage button on it.  Whew!  I also added 8 more to this set (and she wants some more!), but was so busy with them, I think that I forgot to take pictures at all. 

One of these days, I may get enough time to get these up on my Etsy shop to sell, too!   Let me know what you think!  Be sure to check out the blogs I love to link up to in the bar to the right!

Sparta Money Saving Class

Would you like to learn the tricks of Extreme Couponers? How about saving $20, $50, or even $150 a week on your grocery bills each week?? This class will teach you how to save money and how to find all the great deals locally. It will be held at my house, in Sparta, WI on Tuesday, May 3 at 7pm (will last at least 2 hours - depending on your questions.) The cost is $10. If you use just few of my money saving tips, you will save more than your $10 worth!   Please email me or comment below if you would like to come.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Ruffles

I have joined in the Ruffle Rage - finally!  It's not that I've never made them before, just that I hadn't gotten around to it.  Well, we visited a friend's new house, so I wanted to give a kitchen towel with a couple of homemade jams for a house-warming gift.I used a kitchen towel that I got at Dollar Tree and then some off-white material that I had in my stash.   I just tore off two strips of material that were about 3 inches wide. I even left the top edge of it raw and sewed twice over it to be sure that it doesn't come apart.

This literally took me 20 minutes, but I think it is really cute!  let me know what you think.  Also, check out the other blogs that I love to link up to in the right column.

Friday, April 1, 2011

More April Fool's!

I thought I would do something that the kids might enjoy for April Fool's for lunch.  I got this off the Family Fun Magazine Website
Spaghetti & Meatballs!!  Mine is made out of a small angel food cake, purchased butter cream frosting piped all over it, strawberry syrup poured over, and then meatballs from roughed up Whoppers!  The kids had a regular sugar high from this one!  We did have the regular spaghetti for dinner, too.  I added chopped carrots and shredded zucchini to the sauce, so it was healthier to make up for all the sugar!

April Fool's!

This is no April Fool's prank - I am actually going to post two days in a row after not posting for a week! I don't know why, but I just love pulling April Fool's Day pranks! Usually, I target my hubby with the kids. This year, it's the kids that are my fortunate receivers! I found lots of great ideas on the Family Fun Magazine's Website. I've never seen such great pranks, really.




Here's what the kids are going to see when they get up in the morning! I almost want to be in the corner when they do, but they would be on to me when I was up before them.




Here are two of the back sides of it so that you can see that it is just a stuffed pare of pants and socks in shoes. I then took a piece of tag board, folded in half and taped a newspaper to it. I taped the newspaper to the table and to the jeans on the other side.







I still have one more prank up my sleeve, but it's not quite done. I'll try to get that up in the next few days. I'd love to hear what you've done for April Fool's Day this year.