Whoo are you 2

I am linking up and joining the fun with Who are you. 

Here are this week's questions!

1. What are some of your pet peeves?

2. Do you have a favorite or lucky number?

3. What is one of your family traditions?

4. Is there anything you are OC about?

5. What is your favorite kind of food?

Here are my answers...
1. What are some of your pet peeves?
I absolutely hate to hear anyone begin a sentence with, "I don't mean to be rude, but..."  To me this is just your way of warning someone I am about to unload all kinds of ugly all over you!!! 

2. Do you have a favorite or lucky number?
I am not really all that into numbers.  I guess if I were to pick one I would say 3 for my kids.

3. What is one of your family traditions?
My favorite tradition is that every year on Christmas Eve we all attend church together while Santa visits the house.  It means a lot to me because it is the one time a year I get to go to church with my brother and sister's family and my parents.
 

4. Is there anything you are OC about?
I guess I am worst about lining things out for my kids.  I always have clothes together , backpacks ready and anything else they might need the next day ready BEFORE I go to bed on any given night.

5. What is your favorite kind of food?
I love just good ole comfort food.  Pot roast, chicken and dumplings, and mashed potatoes and gravy. You know all the stuff we aren't supposed to have. 

So go ahead click on the little icon and link up with your answers. I would love to know more about who you are too. 

Kissing Up never hurts right?

Tomorrow morning is the first day of school.  I am feeling as stressed actually probably more stressed than my boys.  I have them all packed and ready for their first day.  Their new clothes are laid out for them to jump into in the morning.  I think we are all ready.  I figure it can't hurt to send along a little something for their teachers right?   I mean after all we are trying to start off on the right foot.  I have three wonderful boys, BUT have I mentioned they are BoYs?  Yes, they encompass all that means.  They are silly, crazy kinds of busy, smarter than I ever imagined, and usually three of the sweetest people God dropped on the planet.  So as Mom I decided to give them a little boost for the new year.  I came up with these little babies.

Aren't they fun?  OK, if you're wondering what in the heck these are I'll tell ya.  They are post it note holders.  Clever right?  I think every teacher uses post it notes all the time.  Wouldn't they look much prettier sitting on their desks like this?  Yeah  I thought so too. 

They are really easy too.  First you cover the Top and Bottom of the front.

Then you cover the spine with a coordinating paper.

Then I used the spine paper to line the inside.

Then you add the post it notes inside and I put a monogram sticker on the outside.

It was pretty simple.  I had a blast making them.  The possibilities are endless.  I also added seed beads to some of them just for fun.  :)

It kinda gives them a more dressed up look.  I had tons of teacher to make them for so I took some smaller group pics so you can see them more clearly.

Now that I finished those I think I will make myself one in the morning.  I guess if I am going to be up in time for school in the morning.  Thanks for stopping by.

Helpin a sister out

My BFF Margo is  auditioning for Season 9 of So You Think You’re Crafty this week!  She harassed me into blogging and we are crafting buds on a pretty regular basis.  So I am asking no begging for you to head over to SYTYC and vote for her project.  It is #8.
If you have never heard of SYTYC, here’s an explanation from Missy, the host:

SYTYC is a head-to-head crafting competition. Every 10 weeks a new group of crafters is selected. Each week the crafters are given a theme and YOU vote for your favorite. The winner makes a free tutorial and the loser gets ‘sent home.’
I didn't realized the voting had already started so she only has till tomorrow night for everyone to pop over and vote if you do like her project. I have submitted my Halloween Scrapbook House. If you don't mind heading over to So you think you're Crafty and take a look at everyone and vote I would love it. Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday gifts for some of my favorite girly girls

I had four birthday parties to go to this weekend.  They were for some of my favorite girls on the planet.  I wanted to make something special for them. 

First up is Ava.  She was turning two whole years old.  She is the cutie pie I keep during the day, and her parents recently redecorated her room in Mickey Mouse.  Her latest obsession.  I have had these two canvas ideas for her room and I couldn't decide which one I wanted to do.  So I did both.

I love that this one is uber girly

I used my cricut to cut out all the characters from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. 

Have I mentioned my cricut ROCKS!?!?

Audrey is a sweet girl in my Sunday school class.  She turned 10 this weekend.

Ashley was turning 13 and I thought she might appreciate something more grown upish.  :)

We also had Esteban who was turning four.  My darling boys insisted he NEEDED a football for his birthday.  So I obliged.  All in all they were all pleased with their gifts, and I had a great time making them.

Linking up at:

Yes I "CAN"

I have the fondest memories of the wonderful jam sandwiches that my grandmother made for us. She always brought us several jars of jam when she would come. She always made rhubarb jam. It was cherry rhubarb or strawberry rhubarb, and it was ALWAYS delish! I have looked all over my little corner of Texas for some rhubarb jelly in vain. Most Texans don't even know what Rhubarb is and sound a little scared when you mention it. LOL So I knew if I wanted some I had to make it myself. Ok women have canned forever. All sorts of women. I know I can do this.

So I googled recipes.  There were all sorts of recipes and lots of friends gave me advice.  Usually in the form of some horror story of how they blew up this kind of jelly or that kind of jam all over the ceiling.  It makes it kinda scary.  I found a simple sounding recipe and decided to give it a try.  Here is the link if you want to give it a try.  http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Raspberry-Rhubarb-Jam

So I gathered all the supplies.

6 cups sliced fresh or frozen rhubarb


4 cups sugar

1 package (6 ounces) raspberry gelatin

1 can (21 ounces) raspberry pie filling

First you combine the sugar and rhubarb to set overnight.
 

Then you put that into a pan to simmer for thirty minutes or until the rhubarb is tender.  I put my rhubarb in  the blender so it wouldn't have large chunks and it worked well.  I stirred pretty regularly.

Then you add in the pie filling and jello powder.  It darkened the mix quite a bit. 
 

Finally I used a canning funnel to pour it into jars.  It came out beautifully.  Just like I knew what I was doing. 
 
 

 
 
 
I got rave reviews.  It was so easy and tasted better than I hoped.  Of course we immediately started dreaming of  things we could substitute.  I tried peach rhubarb the very next day.  It is such a pretty color, and tasted so good my dad said, "It should be illegal."  LOL  Dad is thrilled I am making jam.  I guess I wasn't the only one who missed it.   
 
 

So I think next I may try blueberry rhubarb.  Hmmm.  What flavors can you dream up?

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Etching a frame

One of the kids who used to be in our youth group was getting married a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to make a special personalized gift for them.  I love to make something personal for gifts.  So I decided to etch a frame for them.  I have made several, but wanted to do a tutorial so you can try it too. 

First you gather your supplies.  You need a frame, vinyl, material, Armour Etch, transfer tape, and a paintbrush. 

Then you need to cut out your letters.  I used my cricut.  Any cut vinyl would work, you can use a Silhouette, or even cut it by hand. 

You want to save the negative space.  I used some extra burn orange vinyl, but you can use any color.  It is just going to be thrown away.  Then you use transfer tape to move it on to the glass. 

The transfer tape keeps all the letters in the shape they are intended to be in.  Once you remove the tape you are ready to brush on the etching cream. 

You need a pretty thick coat.  When you get all the blank spots covered you want to let it sit for about 15 minutes. 

Now you are ready to rinse.  I usually try to have a pretty high powered stream of water and then I just rub of any remaining etching cream.  You want to be sure to continually rinse so the cream doesn't accidentally etch a place you didn't intend. 

Now you can remove the vinyl.  As you can tell the letters etched rather nicely.  I usually go ahead and clean the glass with Windex at this point. 

Then I chose the font to cut their names and date with.  I then added the fabric to the back of the frame. 

I just trimmed it to fit and used a very light layer of Mod Podge to keep it in place.   Then you just put it all together.  I used transfer tape once again to put their names on the frame.  I think it turned out great.  I hope they love it too. 

Sorry the picture isnt' better.  It is pretty hard to take a picture of etching. 

I am linking up at: