Dollar Tree Fall letter fun

I wanted to post a really quick project I did in record time... ( like 5 minutes) seriously... CUTE!

Dollar Tree had these cute little pumpkin magnets that I thought would be adorable for Hudson to play with on our entry way door.

 I thought I would add his name on them for a little letter recognition fun. I realize he is not quite 2 but I think starting early never hurts :)

I think my local DT just started to put out our fall stuff so check yours soon if you don't see them quite yet.

 

They are about 3 inches tall and maybe 2 inches wide, the picture makes them look really small but they are super cute!

 

Then I just took a black Sharpie and wrote his name on each letter.  I tore one by accident so I pitched it, you might have to purchase more than one package depending on the length of your child's name.  You could have a lot of fun with these and write the alphabet, numbers, etc.  Older kids could even build up sight words!

 

 

*Here is a little tip too- I didn't like the way I wrote my U so I took some Isopropyl Alcohol and a cotton pad and wiped off the Sharpie and it came right off for me to start again!  Pretty sweet!!  All the more reason I "need" a vinyl cutting machine :) LOL

 

Have fun!!

 

 

My very un-wreath door wreath

So I was surfing Pinterest and I liked this post that showed a burlap fabric stretched in a embroidery loom and then a letter painted on the inside and I thought I would like to switch mine up a bit ( that and I can't leave anything alone).

 I like the look of the burlap one too, so I may still try this for my Fall door.  Here is the post for that if you would like to take a look http://lifeasathrifter.blogspot.com/2012/09/favorite-fall-decor-from-past.html?m=1

Here is my version :)

Supplies you will need

*Large Embroidery Loom or Hoop ( I don't know the technical term) haha! I got mine for $8.99 with 50% off at Hancock Fabric

*white or cream neutral canvas fabric or heavy duck cotton cloth (had mine at home in my stash) leftover Ikea curtains!

* any fun colored fabric for your letter , a scrap will do

* Heat and Bond- this is a paper type product for those who have not used it, comes in a package or by the yard
 ( found even at Walmart $2.99 pkg) or even cheaper by the yard at JoAnn or Hancock

* Iron

*Ironing Board

*Scissors

*printer, computer, and paper to print your large letter onto ( I just Googled the letter M and it came up with a ton of free images and I picked my favorite and printed it in an 8x10)

Now that you have your supplies, let's do this thing!!

Take your cream colored fabric and stretch it across your hoop and pull tight, put the other hoop over top and tighten the top of the hoop to stretch the fabric across.
Once it is tight and smooth across the top, go ahead and cut off the extra fabric hanging off the sides.

The finished top will look like this baby!

Go ahead and Google search your letter and print it out in the 8x10.  Since my letter was an M, I didn't need to trace mine in reverse onto the Heat and Bond paper.

 If you have a letter that needs to be reversed just turn your print out over and trace it in the mirror image so that when you go to iron your fabric letter on, your letter won't be backwards.

If you have never used Heat and Bond paper it is an applique paper that you will trace onto the paper side and then on the rough tacky side you will iron onto the WRONG side of your fabric.

Let me repeat... iron onto the WRONG side of your fabric ( the side without the print ) there have been many coffee deprived days where I have gone to iron an applique and I have ironed the right side of the fabric and it will ruin EVERYTHING!!

And you will have to start over :) So... grab your coffee, chug it like a champ, and iron the WRONG side of the fabric:)

Trace your letter to the Heat and Bond

Iron onto the WRONG SIDE of your fabric ( the side without print) I use the cotton setting on my iron (check the Heat and Bond directions)

Cut out your letter, and remove the paper backing and center into the cream hoop and iron onto the fabric

 

 

 

 

 So simple, so pretty, and so EASY!!  From my nest to yours, enjoy!

 

Kadi

 

iPad mini stand ( or any tablet )

I was wanting to find a better way to view my recipes on the iPad mini without getting my cover full of flour and food stuff.

Here is what I came up with

unfinished wooden plaque ( any shape you want ) $2.99 Hobby Lobby
stain ( your choice of color ) already had on hand
wooden dowel (3/4 inch) $.59
small hand saw
wood glue
drill and  3/4 inch bit
sandpaper
antique white spray paint or color of your choice
wood decoration ( if you want ) pkg of 2, $.99 Hobby Lobby

Let's do this thing!

Take your plaque and glue the embelishment onto the top with wood glue
measure across your bottom of the plaque and cut the dowel to fit across for the tablet holder at the bottom and glue
wait for the glue to dry.....la...la...la...

Once the glue is dry, apply the stain to the entire piece with a paper towel and let it dry.

hum...hum... hum.... ( yeah right, like I have nothing better to do then sit and let the stain dry) I have 3 kiddos!

After the stain is dry,  measure the remaining dowel for the back to use as a stand.
I just propped mine up on the table and marked the back of the plaque where I was going to need to drill the hole for the dowel so it stood upright.

Then let's take this baby outside for a couple coats of spay paint. I did two thin coats, letting them dry in between.  I forgot to take my stand part of the dowel out to paint, but I can touch it up later.

Let the entire piece dry and then take your drill and bit at an angle and drill the hole for the dowel stand for the back.  I just went really slow, you don't want to go through the entire piece!  I then put some wood glue into the hole and propped up the stand with something and let it dry overnight. 

Morning!!  Okay, so the stand is almost complete, I just wanted to distress it a little since I can't ever leave anything alone :)  Take your sand paper and go at it!  I then wiped it with a clean damp cloth and took some more stain to the areas I sanded. 

Ta...da!! 

Done!!!   Enjoy your new tablet stand, I know I will ( and I won't be getting food all over my cover) :) 

Lovin' Command hooks by 3M

So I was going to bake a cake and I was ferociously digging through our utensil drawer for our measuring spoons and cups.
 After looking through the bottomless drawer I was frustrated and still 1 tbsp short.  I finally scrounged it up and got to measuring away and thought to myself, I am tired of looking for these little spoons!  I want them easily accessible when I want these little dudes. 
A light bulb in my brain went off!  3M hooks!  I had some coupons around Christmas for them and I bought up a ton for little odds and ends and had a lot left.

I went to work in the inside of my cupboard!  What I love about these little babies is that they leave no damage behind. 
 I took a piece of painters tape and a level to make a straight line of tape.
I made sure not to hang the hooks where the shelf was on the opposite side.
  Then I eyeballed the hooks apart from each other and ended up with this!

DIY Fabric Softener

I must say I was a bit skeptical when I saw a blog post on DIY fabric softener. I thought to myself (is this really worth the trouble?)
My answer is YES!!!
This sweet little concoction has produced the softest fluffiest clothes I have ever had!  And the kiddos and superman with sensitive skin are doing great with it.

Here is what you will need to whip this stuff up!

6 cups of HOT water
3 cups white vinegar
2 cups of Suave Conditioner ( I used a green one with a fresh scent)

Mixing

Mix conditioner and hot water well until the conditioner is dissolved completely.  I used a screw on lid container from the Dollar Tree just like my detergent one.  I combined them and shook it up

Add the vinegar and mix well (or shake)

Store in a large container.  I just mixed mine and stored it in the same container it was mixed in.
I eyeball 3 tablespoons into my fabric softener compartment and wash!

The fabic softener (green)  and the detergent (white)

So easy, SO CHEAP, and so worth it!! SOFT clothes RoCk!

Home Made Laundry Detergent {H.E Safe}

I have been a tad bit busy in my day to day Mama duties so I have slacked a little with my blog.  I have been also working on my etsy site!  It is mcvaysnest@etsy.com if you want to check it out!

Here is what you will need for your ingredients { all found in the Wal-mart} detergent isle

Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda- half a box
Borax Detergent Booster- half a box
Bar of Fels-Naptha heavy duty laundry soap or I used pink Zote Soap, I liked the scent and color - half a bar grated or cut up in chunks and added to a food processor
Purex Crystals - entire bottle in your chosen scent
Arm and Hammer Baking Soda- half a box

The initial products to make this cost about $15 but this will far outlast any pre-made Tide, All, Gain etc .

You can do the entire batch instead of 1/2 boxes but the recipe I used made a ton so I just saved my remaining ingredients for a second batch later.

I used my food processor and cubed up the soap before I processed it vs using the grater.  I thought this sped the process up quite a bit ( I have no patience). 

I dumped all of the ingredients into a plastic tote so I could incorporate them well and then poured them into a screw top container I got from the Dollar Tree. 

Isn't it pretty??

Use 2tbsp per regular load or 4 tbsp for a heavy duty.  Don't be alarmed when you see it does not produce suds.  It is supposed to react that way.  That's because it's not filled with chemical junk! 

Enjoy! I know I really like it.  I even gifted some for my sister's and Mom at Easter with the recipe attached in case they feel a little DIY.

Chapstick Cozy

I saw this adorable chapstick cozy on http://www.littlebitfunky.com and I had to make my own version to put my lipgloss in :)  I am a lipgloss girl, forget the chapstick!

Here is what you will need-

home decor fabric (duck fabric some people call it) or a heavy cotton
D ring's ( find at JoAnn's or Hancock in the notions section)
iron
sewing machine
thread
1/4 inch sewing foot ( or use your footplate for measurements)
chapstick or lipgloss

The full instructions are listed on the above website but I changed mine up a little!

You will first need to cut 2, 9 inch long by 2 1/2 inch wide pieces of fabric

put right sides together and sew along with 1/4 inch seam foot along 3 sides of the 4. You will leave a bottom open to turn right sides out.  I used 2 different patterned fabrics but you can just do one if you want. 

Turn fabric right sides out leaving the unfinished seam open.  Go ahead and press flat, tucking in the unfinished seam as you press.  Then you will take the bottom (finished end) and bring it 2 inches from the top of the cozy and press flat.

Then you will sew around the 3 corners with an 1/8 inch seam.  Then pause to listen for your sleeping baby to make sure he's not up to disturb your project.

Now that your 3 seams are done, insert your D ring at the top where the unfinished seam is.

After inserting your D ring press flat and sew 1/8 seam at the very end of the fabric to make sure you finish off the seam and attach the D ring.

And there ya have it folks!  Chap stick cozy! "Lippy Lipgloss holders" as I call them! Enjoy, and make some for friends! They will love um!

Now get them on your car keys for no more purse diggin'!