Homemade Wrapping Paper

My daughter was invited to her first birthday party last weekend, she was so excited.  We went to wrap the present right before leaving to the party and I realized that the only wrapping paper that we had was Christmas themed.  I didn't have enough time to run to the store so this is what we did.

I found some tissue paper that I had and pulled out what stamps we had and let my daughter go to town stamping the paper.  She thought that it was so much fun and she was so proud of the fact that she was able to make the wrapping paper for her present.

I thought that it turned out pretty cute for a last minute idea and with just a couple of minutes to do it.

Valentines Door

I did this cute door for my kids, using my Cricut and my Simply Charmed cartridge.  It adds some more festiveness (is that even a word :) ) to the house.

Valentine Hairband

Here is a headband that I made with some more felt roses, I made one for my daughter and one for me.  She loves it when we both wear them on the same day. 

Valentine Wreath Number 2

I made this wreath using felt strips, felt flowers and hot glue.  The wreath form I had laying around from another project that I didn't like how it turned out and the felt I had tons of laying around, this project was next to nothing in cost.

Quick and Easy setup for a fish

I thought that I would share this quick easy idea.  Last year we decided that we needed a fish.  A Beta fish is what we got because they are pretty easy to take care of especially if you give it this setup.   I used a vase, small peace lily plant, distilled water (room temp), rocks and a plastic lid.  I washed the rock and vase first, and cleaned all of the dirt out of the roots of the plant as well as trim the roots so the guy had some room too swim.  

Then using my plastic lid I first cut a circle that was the same size as the mouth of the vase.   I cut a smaller hole in the middle that was a little bit smaller than the plant so that the plant would stay put.  

I put some big rocks in the bottom of the vase for decoration and added water to almost the top.  I then put the fish in and put the plastic ring with the plant in it on top and added small rocks on the top to hide the plastic and secure it in place.  

The best part is when you have the beta fish in a vase with a plant you don't need to feed it, they will eat the roots of the plant.  It doesn't hurt the plant either.  I had one for years growing up with this setup, if you still want to feed it, it's only a couple dollars and it will last you forever.  I replace the water when it starts to turn murky, and how often that is depends on how much sun it gets.  The more sun the murkier the water gets and faster.  I put it in a place where the sun doesn't hit it very directly and I haven't had to change the water in 6 months.  This was tons of fun to put together with my daughter as well, she named the fish "Reddy"

Valentine's Hair Clip

I made this hair clip for my daughter using green ribbon and felt flowers.  She loves wearing it with whatever she can.

Valentine Wreath

I made this wreath this past week using felt cut into circles, heart shaped foam and hot glue.  I have seen these around for a couple of years and finally sat down and made one for myself.

Cream Cheese Chicken

This is one of my comfort foods.  We had this often when I was growing up and now when I want something simple and warm to eat this recipe is at the top of my list. Note: The pictures don't show the same amount at the recipe calls for because when I made it this time it was just for me, my husband is on a diet right now as he is training for a half marathon and my daughter doesn't like this.

In your crockpot add a stick of butter, 4-6 chicken breasts (if frozen allow more time) and a ranch dressing seasoning packet.  Cover and turn on high for 4-6 hours.

About a half hour before you want to eat shred your chicken.

Add a package of cream cheese and a family can size of cream of chicken soup.  Cover and allow to soften for a half hour.

 

 

Then stir together when the cream cheese has soften.

Serve over any kind of noodle, usually it is whatever I have on hand and need to use up.  Enjoy

Cream Cheese Chicken

1 stick butter

4-6 chicken breasts

1 Italian/Ranch seasoning packet

1 can family size cream of chicken soup

1 package of cream cheese

Noodles

 

In a crockpot combine butter, chicken, and seasoning packet.  Cover and turn on high.  Cook 4-6 hours until chicken shreds easily.  Then add cream cheese and soup again cover for about 30 minutes.  Stir everything together and serve over noodles.

Reminder about the Monthly Cleaning Goal

I'm just reminding everyone that they can find January's Monthly Cleaning Goal and the every week goals here!!!   I have two closets and a dresser done so far.  I have still have a couple of closets, a dresser and a couple of under the beds to do.  Keep knocking away at it.

Valentine Pillows

I thought that I would share another Valentines project that I did.  I made these pillows, I have two of them for the couch.   I cut the hearts out of felt and sewed them onto burlap with fabric behind it, then made them into pillows.  It went by relatively fast.

Be Mine Blocks

I thought that I would share these.  I made these a couple of years ago they were very simple to make, all I did was paint the blocks and then drew the letters on and filled them in with glue and glitter.  Enjoy!

Preserving the Harvest: Drying Pineapple

It is that time of year when pineapples are cheaper and really good to eat.  I thought that I would try drying one and see how it turned out.  Here is what I did:

First I cut off the top and bottom, then cut the skin off but very thin so I didn't lose a lot of the "meat" of the pineapple.

Then of cut off each side around the hard middle part of the pineapple, then cut those sides into small equal sized chunks.

 Then I started spreading them out on the trays.

One regular sized pineapple filled three trays. 

Then let them dry until your desired dryness.  I did ours for about 7 hours.  Enjoy, it is yummy.