Tinkerbell Cake!

This cake was made for a friends daughter. What a better cake for a 4th birthday!
Double layered white cake with vanilla butter cream frosting all made from scratch. Everything but Tinkerbell is piped by hand. :)


Tinkerbell's home accompanied by a pond, shrubs and a little whimsical decor.


Cakes make the party. Look how happy she was...

Baby #3 is on the way!!!

I am excited to share that baby #3 should be joining us the first part of April. We are about 17 weeks now and are ecstatic to share that we are FINALLY getting a GIRL!!!

So many decisions are to be made. Name, themes, sewing and so much more are on the to do list before our little one arrives. Stay tuned for lots of baby crafts and sewing projects. Let me know if you have any suggestions of some great new baby inventions!

Happy Crafting Everyone...

~Keli~

Diced Tomatoes

Lids are popping as I type!

I love that sound. I love knowing that with a little effort the garden can be enjoyed in the months to come. I love thinking that I just saved money by using home preserving. It is TOTALLY worth it!

Yesterday I went out and did some picking...





Tossed the lovely things into a pot and boiled for about 30 seconds until the skins cracked. Dropped them into ice water and slipped the skins.





Next, diced them up!



Filled the jars, sealed the lids and plopped them into the water bath canner for 45 minutes. Pulled them out and ping! Ping! Ping! Three Tupperware bowls filled with diced tomatoes yielded five quarts. I am very impressed.





We still have tons of green tomatoes in the garden. I am hoping we can get a couple more batches in before frost takes over.

Happy Canning Everyone!

Homemade Laundry Soap

As mentioned earlier I am on a "Homemade Adventure". I am looking for new ways to save money, be healthier and be more self-sufficient. Homemade Laundry Detergent has always been something that has intrigued me. I love that one of our most basic necessities can be so frugal and easy if we wanted to take the time. I spent hours and hours online searching for the soap I wanted to try. After reading several reviews I decided to try the "Duggar Family Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap". You know the Duggar Family, right? Sure you do, they are on TLC Twenty and counting. I knew that they would be the ones to look for when considering: cost effectiveness, materials and how much product. Let me just say approx. $2 a batch, 10 gallons of soap and 640 LOADS!!!! Sounds wonderful doesn't it?!

Let's get started, here is what you need:
a 5 gallon bucket
1 Fels-Naptha Soap Bar
1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax



Now, let me say they made finding these products sound a little easier than it actually was. I found the bucket at our local hardware store. Fels-Naptha I ordered online from a hardware store advertising on ebay, everywhere else I looked I found you had to buy it by the case and I wasn't ready to make that leap yet. The washing soda I have heard people can find at Wal-Mart but I couldn't. I ordered this from my local hardware store. Borax I found at every store I went to in the laundry isle. The great news about these products is most have multiple purposes. I use the washing soda and borax in my homemade dishwasher detergent. All together I spent about $20 and still have tons of product left!




Grate your bar of soap and add to a saucepan with 4 cups- hot water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.





This does take some time, I think it took me about twenty mintues or so to get all the soap melted. Be patient and resist the urge to turn the heat up. :)



Fill the 5 gallon bucket half full of hot water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is disolved. This can be hard to tell because the water gets foamy. Fill the bucket to the top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.




This is what it looks like when you open it the next morning. Its a thick gel. It smells wonderful though! You are thinking, "thats only 5 gallons though?" Well, let me finish. This is a very strong concentrate and is doubled by dilluting it with water in your small container. Stir your gell and fill a re-used, clean container half full with soap and then fill the rest of the way with water. Shake before each use. It does form a gel and after you shake it it becomes watery. Remember this is normal and does not effect its power at all.

Top Load Machine- 5/8 cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
Front Load Machine- 1/4 cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

I have used this soap for the last month and found that it removes stains better than my Gain alternative. I had baby clothes with old stains and this was able to remove them. My clothes don't look dull and they smell great. What a wonderful savings I have found. Hope you enjoy!

A lovely little tutu...

Tutu's are on the rage, you know? The cute little tulle skirts that allow your little princess to feel MORE like a princess? These adorable little must haves are such a sinch to make! This one was made for a cutie pie to use as a prop in her 6 month pictures...

Well, here it is...



What's that??? A matching headband and bow? Oh my!



A headband was the perfect addition to make this complete. This is a crocheted headband made by yours truely and a custom bow to match made by Kaylie over at Kaylies Kreations.

I said she was a cutie pie, right?



Perfect for your little angels big day, photo props or just to show off!

Homemade Lotion and Heal All Salve

Last month a friend came to visit. Meet Dez everyone...



Well, we hadn't seen eachother in over a year so this visit had to be good. And, it was! We are long time friends from our high school days and both have husbands and two kids each now. Needless to say.. we had lots of catching up to do. Well, both of us have been looking into a more natural, safer, domestic ways of living. Part of my mission to be fully self- sufficient started here. Dez showed me how to make a homemade lotion and heal all salve. This was so much fun to make and let me tell you... they work AMAZING!!!

It started like this... a couple of lotion bottles, ointment containers, and a trip to the herb store for all of our supplies. First, we started with the lotion. This lotion was customized for my families EXTREMELY sensitive/dry skin. Great for the treatment of Eczema. Of course looking into different herbal properties you can customize a lotion to meet your personal needs. For my lotion I used oatmeal, lavender, comfrey, calendula, aloe vera, glycerin, vitamin E, olive oil, essential oils and bees wax.





Once you have the necessary ingredients start with placing 1-2 oz. of herbs in a jar, pour boiled water over herbs seal the lid and let sit for approx. 1 to 1 1/2 hours. About 10 to 20 minutes before herbs are ready measure out 3/4 cup oil (olive or jojoba) into a glass measuring cup or glass jar, add the bees wax and set the jar into a pan of water creating a double boiler effect. Stir occasionally. In the meantime, strain the herb water until you have one cup of herb water measured out. Add water to a blender. Once the wax has melted remove from water and allow to cool until it starts to harden. Add wax to blender while running on low speed, stop and scrape sides occasionally. As it sets it will solidify.



Pour into lotion bottles and use as often as you would like. Enjoy!





The homemade heal all salve is made using most of the same ingredients and a few more. For my heal all recipe I used lavender, oatmeal, st. johns wart, comfrey, peppermint, plantain, calendula, 20 drops tea tree oil. I made a small container of this for my mother-in-law whom suffers from fibermialgia and arthritis. She swears by this stuff now! She rubs a little into her knees or sore muscles and says it helps her aches in her joints. Sounds good to me! No promises though. ;)

To make this ointment put one cup oil and 1-2 oz. of herbs into a crockpot and cook on low for 3 to 5 hours. Strain herbs to save infused oil. Make a double boiler effect using a jar and a pot of boiling water. Add infused oil and 1 oz. bees wax to jar. Test with a popsicle stick to test for proper consistency. Once consistency is reached pour into containers, let the oil solidify. Keep in fridge or cool place. Lasts approx 6 months to 1 year in fridge.





Use the ointment in place of neosporin, I have used to clear up cold sores, stings, bites, cuts, rashes and any other irritant. As I stated earlier sometime just massaging it into your aches can be of help from this salve.

Let me know if you try any of your own combinations.

Enjoy!

Homemade Is My Future

I was born in the wrong century. Ya, I said that right. Being alive in the late 1800's or early 1900's would have been hard and steady but in my mind it sounds like a wonderful time. Life was simple. Men and women's roles were clearly defined. I am obsessed with organization and I feel that the day-in day-out chores and routines of the old times sounds perfect. You had a wash day, a baking day, etc.. No electricity, using a hip tub, heating water over a cook stove to fill the tub or to wash dishes. No T.V.s or outside entertainment. Kids found things to do, they were aloud to be innocent. Families pulled together more for the good of the whole family. Cost of living was less expensive and a family could survive off of a mans income alone. Neighbors seemed more generous and stores didn't run our lives and control our needs. Homemade goods were common and safe. Having a kitchen garden and canning foods to survive the winter. It all sounds too good to be true! I know, I am crazy. Right?

Well, because I find myself often fantasizing about this type of life I have set a challenge upon myself. I will try each month to find a new way to become more domesticated and self-reliant. What a better time to start this challenge, than these days where the current state of economy is forcing us all to be a little more frugal and make what little we have stretch. My homemade adventure is trying to encompass making as many homemade household items myself, in my own home.

A century ago making these common household products was common and not thought twice about. Now, with the economy at a low point and this push towards being "green" I feel encouraged to re-establish the norm of making these goods on a constant bases.

I started my adventure with the encouragement of my "cheap", I mean frugal husband. I love to cook and began making almost all my foods from scratch. He RAVED about them. I felt special because he began to brag about and share my foods. (I am not big headed really!) But, after the great reviews I just kept on it and continued to find new ways to make common foods from scratch. I couldn't just stop there. I was curious about making other items such as cleaners, clothes, and foods. Thus, I began this adventure of homemade living.

Here are some benefits of a homemade adventure:

Self-reliance- the more you make the less you depend on outside resources and big name distributors.

Creativity and Handiness- creating your own homemade products and materials will boost your creative thought. You will reach out to try new things and be encouraged by the new things you can make. When getting the supplies needed to make new products buy in bulk. This brings the cost down and allows you to have stock available. This is wonderful at the moment when you realize you just ran out of dish soap, but no worries, all you have to do is whip a batch up and you are set!

Green Living – because you make the products, you choose the building blocks and the method of production; use of chemically laden ingredients can be kept to a minimum if you so choose.

Savings– The more products you make, the more money you will save; I am speaking from personal experience as I save more money with each additional homemade item I tackle.

Health – when you create your own products you will undoubtedly be very choosy as to the health considerations each product will have on you and your family; and because you are in full control of production, you stand to cut out more and more items that can be detrimental to your health.

In the coming posts I plan to show you some of the recipes and ways I have already changed to become more self-reliant. I will also continue to post on new things I plan to try and let you know how they work! Please share any suggestions you may have to become more self-reliant.

Thanks!

Family Rules

So, I saw these cute little Family Rules wall hangings months ago on a couple blogs I follow. This one is my favorite, it was created by Rachelle at Fingerprints on the Fridge. I used most of her rules since they were so perfect, I did add a few parts here and there and also took a few things away. Still this is one of my most favorite projects I have created! Google "family rules" and just see the millions of these wall hangings out there. They are the hottest things, see why?

I started with laying out my paper to cordinate a great mix and pattern. This took lots of time!



Next, I tore the paper into strips about 3-4 inches wide with a decorative edge. I Mod Podged the paper onto a huge piece of plexi-glass I had from home. You can go to Lowes and buy plexi-glass to the size you want. Also, people have used canvas. But, from the sites I have read plexi-glass eliminates the flaw of your paper bubbling. Don't get me wrong it still bubbles just not as bad and is easier to smooth out.



I let my board dry over night. After my pretty little creation had dried I decided for the printing I would use a Cricut Machine. Well, this did not work. To fit everything on it I couldn't get my letters to print small enough. :( Next best thing? I hand painted all my rules. Not my favorite part of this project. This took lots of time and concentration. Let's just say my handwriting is very... plain... and being creative with it was challenging. I did do my best and it does have its flaws...but HEY it is MY FAMILY RULES! So, whatcha think so far?





Here are my rules, I love these because they are something the whole family can benefit from their reminder. My boys have already asked me to read them a few hundred times and they are now reciting them. :)

My Family Rules:

Always tell the truth
Family comes first, always be there
Use your manners. Yes, please. No, Thank you.
Toys don't belong on the floor, put them away...
Sing silly, dance crazy, hug often
Use nice words, ignore dirty words
Have fun, be kind, No fussing, No whining
Hands are for hugging not hitting
Don't go to bed angry~Always kiss goodnight
Keep your promises
Treat eachother with respect
Share EVERYTHING except bad ideas
Husband, adore her~ Wife, love him forever
Say your prayers, Thank GOD for this family!

I tied a cute ribbon through some holes I punched and voila! My Family Rules! Just added it to the perfect wall in my house, added a few accenting pictures and there you have it! Its ADORABLE!!! I can't stop staring at it!

May= Cakes!!!

This mickey mouse cake is my favorite of the six. I made this for my nephews 1st birthday.

Hello Kitty


Graduation Cupcake Cake
(my very first so don't laugh at the wholes)

Teacher Appreciation Day for the school I work at.

A Luau cake for a birthday pool party!

Five cakes in one month! Need I say more? Here is the showcase of my latest creations. Feel free to leave comments.

Army Tank Cake

Here is my newest cake I have made. This was made for a friends, son's eleventh birthday.





Everything on this cake is edible, except the army men.

I carved this cake out of two 9x13 cakes. All chocolate.

Love how detailed it turned out, with the sand and tracks. It was a huge hit!

Stay tuned for May. I have 4 cakes on the list to make!

Spring Cupcakes

Every holiday we bake tons of sugar cookie cutouts and spend hours of fun decorating them. Well, this Easter we decided to look through some old recipes I had saved and never tried. We came across these adorable, little spring cupcakes and couldn't resist.

My little helpers- still in jammies and patiently watching the cupcakes bake. :p

We couldn't help making one tray covered in sprinkles. Thats the best part right?

These cupcakes are easy to make. You whip up the batter then divide it in half, one half you make chocolate and the other half remains vanilla.


I love the colors!

Recipe:

Makes 24-36 cupcakes

Prep 15 minutes

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tablespoons canola oil (use vegetable if that what you have)

3 1/2 cups flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 1/2 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla

Frosting:

3 sticks unsalted butter, softened

6 cups powdered sugar (I had to use more, my frosting was a little too soft)

1/2 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Assorted pastel food colorings

1. In a small bowl, blend cocoa powder and oil until smooth. Set aside. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place liners into cupcake pans. In a medium bowl whisk flour, baking powder and salt.

2. With electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until light-colored and smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. On low speed, add flour mixture, alternating with milk. Stir in vanilla. Divide batter in half. Stir cocoa mixture into one half. Spoon both batters into prepared liners.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until firm to the touch. Remove and let cool on wire rack.

4. Frosting: Beat butter, sugar, milk and vanilla on low speed to blend, then on high speed for 2 minutes, until good consistency. Divide frosting into bowls and tint to desired colors. Transfer frosting to plastic bags and snip off one corner. Pipe in swirled pattern onto cooled cupcakes.

Easter Topiary

This is a cute little spring topiary I made. This took a total of about 10 minutes and cost... are you ready? Only $7.00!!! I bought everything at the dollar tree. I have a sofa table centered on a big wall of ours that gets a lot of attention this fits in perfect. I think it looks adorable!

My inspiration came from all my friends that have been making these lately. They seem to be very popular so I jumped on the ban wagon.

To make: I bought a planter, floral Styrofoam block, moss, eggs that were already attached to skewers, I broke a stick off one of the trees in my backyard, tied a ribbon on, then covered a Styrofoam ball with fake flowers. Yes, it was that easy!

My next step is to make one that is universal and then package little pieces that can be added for each holiday/season. For example, shamrocks for St. Patty's day, red/white/blue for the forth of July... you get the picture.

I will definitely be making another one of these as a gift for our Easter dinner guests.

Thanks for lookin'!