Jumbo Clothespin/Recipe Card Holder (Chicken)

Grandparents Day was yesterday and because I was sick all week, I wasn't able to get done what I needed to get done and sent to the Mess Maker's and Noise Maker's grandparents...if I'm being totally honest, I didn't have the energy to even make them, but I had the idea!  So, they have something coming a little late this year. 

I have been wanting to make one of the altered jumbo clothespins (for the purpose of holding recipe cards), and since I just bought the "From My Kitchen" cartridge this week (on sale at Michael's...woo hoo!...don't tell the CFO!), I decided this was a perfect gift for grandma (grandpa's getting his own gift).

My mom's kitchen is decorated in chickens...LOTS and LOTS of chickens.  So I decided in keeping with that theme and her color scheme (mainly sage green with a little yellow and red thrown in), this chicken die cut from the FMK cartridge was perfect!

To make the recipe card holder, I covered the front and back of the clothespin with patterned paper (inked on edges and top to mute it a little).  I cut out the chicken with different colored layers and inked those as well.  After piecing the chicken together, I rubbed chalk ink over the whole thing to make it look a little "worn" (can I tell you how much I LOVE chalk ink???).  Then I Modge-Podged both the clip (front and back) and the front of the chicken, so that if something were to splash on it, it wouldn't soak into the paper and ruin it.  Then I tied a ribbon around the chicken's tail b/c I just can't hardly make ANYTHING without ribbon!  Finally, I attached the chicken with glue dots.  TFL!!!

P.S.  Mom, if you see this sometime in the next few days (before it arrives in the mail)...SURPRISE!  Hope you like it...the Mess Maker and the Noise Maker made it all by themselves!!!

Weight "Loss" Update #8

Not feeling as guilty as I probably should about this, I guess b/c I'm telling myself that since I had the flu I'm excused....BUT, I didn't lose any this week.  In fact, I GAINED 1 pound!  AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH...

In my defense, the CFO's idea of cooking is asking whether I want Chinese Take-Out or McDonalds, so you can imagine my weight loss efforts were somewhat sabotaged this week.  :)

Oh well, I'm back on the bandwagon and I'm resuming my good eating habits this week...oh, after that piece of pumpkin loaf from Starbucks this morning...

Toilet Paper Roll Mini Album

I'm done rolling in the mud and oinking...the flu has all but passed.  FINALLY.  I can honestly say that this is the first time in thirty-something years that I have ever had the flu and it sucks!  :)

Anyway, this is my first project since getting sick and it was soooooo fun.  I'd seen these "Toilet Paper Roll Mini Albums" before but hadn't tried one...until today!  LOVE IT!  I think the best thing about it is the cost...almost nothing! 

I was assigned with coming up with a craft project for my mother's group at church and I think these will be a big hit and very cost-friendly.  So, the theme of this TP book is "Pray".  We are going to use it to keep our weekly scripture cards all in one place.  I'm calling it my "Toilet Paper Scripture Card Album"....  :)

I used some paper I've had forever by Cosmo Cricket (I almost donated this paper a while back...glad I didn't!).  I flattened five TP tubes, adhered paper and inked the edges.  Then I added paper embellishments, also inked:  photo corners (punch), words, flowers (Cricut: Home Decor and George), "PRAY" (Cricut: Opposites Attract) and scallop borders on the tags (punch).  I also stamped two journaling blocks onto coordinating cardstock, inked the edges and adhered those inside two pages: 

I used the Cricut to cut scallop tags (Tags, Bags, Boxes & More) at 4 1/2 inches out of cardstock, which slide inside the flattened TP tubes.  I tied ribbons to the ends for easy handling. 

Lastly,  I finally got to use my new Bind It All by Zutter for the edge binding...sooooo easy and soooo fun!  I tied ribbons on the binding to finish it off.  That's it...thanks for looking!  :)

Remembering A Hero: Lt. Peter Freund

REMEMBRING

&

HONORING

LT. PETER L. FREUND

FATHER

HUSBAND

FIREFIGHTER

HERO
.

Gave his life for our country on Sept. 11, 2001
.

Please visit these tributes, memorials and other recognition:
.

Blog tribute to Peter by family friend:  http://blondemomblog.com/2007/09/11/in-honor-of-lt-peter-l-freund/

Online guest book honoring Peter:  http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.aspx?bookid=136297

NYCFD Memorial:  http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/memorial/wtc/freund_peter_lt_eng055.shtml

SI Live story on Peter:  http://www.silive.com/september11/lr/index.ssf?/september11/lr/freund.html

CNN Webiste Memorial:  http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/2203.html

Messy (but sweet) & Noisy (but cute)

Snapped these photos of the Mess Maker and the Noise Maker this week.  The Mess Maker hasn't been wanting to smile for the camera lately, so this is a rare shot!  :)  I realize the Noise Maker isn't smiling, but his expression reminds me of a face my grandpa used to make when he was joking around...it used to make me smile!  :)

OC Challenge #3: Linen Closet

I will admit that my towels and sheets (aka Linen Closet) is chronically unorganized.  I just don't know why I can't keep it nice and neat.  So I decided that since I couldn't close the door anymore due to the large heap on the floor of the closet, that it was time to tackle the mess.  So this is the challenge for the week:  clean out that linen closet and get it organized!  Here is my before picture:

You can obviously see that there is shelf space available here...so why the heap on the floor???  No idea!  Anyway, this took less than 10 minutes to fix and I couldn't be more pleased.  Well, maybe more pleased if the closet was BIGGER!  :)  Anway, here's the after photo:

It was as simple as folding the sheets and towels, putting them on the SHELF instead of the FLOOR, and adding a couple of dryer sheets for that "just washed laundry" smell.  Ta-da!

P.S.  The green bucket on the floor is my stash of cleaning supplies for the upstairs (I've got one of these downstairs, too).  This was a fantastic suggestion from a household organization class I attended a few years ago...no need for cleaning supplies stashed all over the house for little ones to get into.  I just keep one bucket upstairs and one downstairs, both with tightly snapping lids and now my house is safe!  I'll be highlighting this at a later date...
.
Please link your newly organized closet photos using Mr. Linky below...show off your hard work! :)






UPDATE:

Due to the overwhelmingly (i.e. completely) absent response to my weekly organizational challenges, I have decided to focus my time and energy on posting my crafts and family updates.  You won't find any future organizational challenges, but I'd still love to hear from you if you have some fantastic organizational tips that will help make my life a little easier...I'm still on a constant organizational mission!!!  :)

Weight Loss Update #7

You might (or might not!) have noticed that I didn't post a weight-loss update last week.  Was this because I was still sick and didn't have the energy?  No.  Was it because I was so busy with life that I forgot or didn't have time?  No (especially since you'll notice there are several craft projects posted since then!!!).  I was because it was my first week not to lose any weight.  I plateaued.  Is that a word?  I chickened out and didn't post it.  But now I'm over it.

I'm especially over it because I lost a pound this past week.  Woo hoo!  I will admit that I still have not begun a regular exercise program, but I DID walk one evening with my neighbor.  It's a start!  I would say that the exercise program would start this week except that once again, we're sick.  The Mess Maker had to have picked up a germ from preschool because it started showing up Saturday.  And, of course, I got it too.  This time it REALLY feels like the flu...not sure.  We're going to the doctor tomorrow to get the Mess Maker checked out.  Hope it isn't that super-fun H1N1 monster that's been going around.  Wish us luck...

Weight Lost This Week:  1 pound
Total Weight Loss:  74 pounds

ICSketches 2009 Design Team Call: Two Card Examples

ICSketches (Inspirational Card Sketches) is having a Design Team Call.  They are looking for three new designers and I decided to give it a shot!  I've been wanting to be on a design team both for the challenge and for the inspiration, and I love this site (I have it linked to my blog so I can check it often...see sidebar on right, scroll down).  I'm not getting my hopes up, but I just think it would be so fun to join this team!  Here is the sketch provided:

I made two cards using this sketch and this is the first one...  I had some tan and brown flourish paper by Paperie I recently purchased and I have been wanting to use it on a card.  So I decided this project was perfect for it!

I used the accent stripe (on back of flourish paper) for the rectangle on the right and inked it.  I used brown cs with a flourish printed transparency by Creative Imaginations for the bottom rectangle, inked on the edges and held together by brads painted in brown.  I added tan and brown ribbon (the tan is actually the back side of some leopard print ribbon, but it was the perfect color) in place of the red rectangle in the sketch.  I cut an accent photo corner and flourish (Cricut Storybook Cartridge) in tan and inked the edges.  I stamped "Thanks" (CTMH) using a second generation stamp to mute it a little and then used adhesive foam dots to pop the brown rectangle and flourish.  I finished it off with a brown paper flower and another brad.

My second card using this sketch is a more feminine card using paper by SEI (I just love this butterfly paper!) and mirrored butterfly accents by Heidi Swapp that I've had forever! 

I inked the edges of all pieces.  The white/pink print is the reverse of the brown butterfly print.  I used brown and light pink cs for the small mats.  I stamped "Thinking of You" (CTMH) on the pink and popped it with foam adhesive dots.  I added brown flourish rub-ons to the butterfuly mirror to give it some detail.  Then I tied a pink flourish print ribbon (with glitter accents...to match the glitter accents on the paper) around the card and glued a paper flower and the butterfly on top. 

 TFL!!!  :)

Yoplait (Only-Tastes-Sinful) Delights...can you say, "Yum"???????

I saw a commercial for these and knew I had to try them....OMG can you say, "YUM"?????  Yoplait has recently introduced these Delights Parfaits...they are low-cal but taste sooooooo yummy!  I've tried both of the above varieties (chocolate raspberry and lemon tort) and they are both TO DIE FOR!!!

.

Seriously, if you are on a diet, or just want a low-cal satisfying snack, take my word for it and go get some when you head to the grocery store.  I'm licking the inside of one of the cups as I type...and contemplating having a second...   :)

Turtle Shaped Thank You Cards

I needed to make some thank you notes which are long overdue...so what better theme than a "slow turtle"???  I found this super-cute example by Kimberly Watson on the Cricut Message Board, and decided I wanted to make turtles like hers, but I decided to make the actual card in the shape of a turtle.  Here is what I came up with:

The turtle comes from the Walk In My Garden Cricut cartridge, cut at 4".  I used the shadow feature for the black cardstock turtle-shaped card base (with a white square mat on the inside for writing) and the regular 4" for the green patterned paper by Imginisce (LOVE IT!).  I accented with green glitter glue.  I added a green rhinestone brad for the eye, silk flowers and adhesive rhinestones for the turtle's back and finished off with a bow and sentiment (printed on the computer).  Ta-da!  TFL!!!  :)

The Mess Maker's New Hideout...

I've had this giraffe tent for probably a year and a half, but forgot about it.  It was on clearance at Target for less than $15 at that time and I couldn't resist.  And I obviously new my daughter pretty well, because she LOVES it!!!!  (and I guess I should admit that we also have a zebra one...I couldn't help myself!!!)  :)

Altered Journal and Pen Gift Set

I made these gift sets for the Mess Maker's preschool teachers as a way to say "Thanks" for helping her transition into school go so smoothly.  The teachers are great and I wanted to show them a little appreciation. 

I originally planned to cover chipboard with patterned paper and use the Zutter (which I just got...woo hoo!) to bind them, and then add a notepad on the inside.  But then I found these beautiful printed journals at Hobby Lobby for $2.99 and was able to use my 40% off coupons on them.  I deicded they were just as pretty as any patterned paper I have, and it saved me the work of starting from scratch.  :)

I used my Cricut to add some detail to the cover:  I used the Storybook cartridge for the letters and Accent Essentials for the scallop frame and border.  I tied coordinating ribbons to the spiral spine and included a little note "from" the Mess Maker inside.

Then I taped a silk flower to the end of a ballpoint pen and wrapped floral tape around the pen to secure the flower.  The pen will be placed in the spiral spine of the journal when I put them in gift bags.

Thanks for looking!  :)

The Mess Maker's First Day Of Preschool!!!

My "little" girl started preschool yesterday!!!  Okay, so it was only the 'Come and Go' WITH parents, and tomorrow is just a half morning, and she really doesn't have her first full day until next Wednesday....  BUT, she still started.  :(  I am sooooo excited for her, though...it's such a wonderful school, a wonderful program and she has GREAT teachers!  She even made a little friend yesterday!

Here are some photos from her first day! 

Our Successful Appeal Letter to UHC (Insurance Co) for DOC Band Coverage

Due to a high number of requests from individuals that have come across my blog while searching for insurance help, I've decided to post our appeal letter to United Healthcare requesting coverage of the Mess Maker's DOC Band. 

For anyone interested in reading and/or using our appeal letter to UHC, please feel free to do so!  It is my hope that everyone that uses it will hopefully gain the coverage or reimbursement that they deserve!!!  :)

 Don't give up...it's a long uphill battle, but well worth the effort!!!

P.S.  If anyone out there is in need of support research articles, I would be happy to send a copy of my articles (on CD)...just send me an email:  TheHouseholdCEO@live.com  :)

Ins. Appeal - Web Version

Baby Mini Acrylic Brag Book

Here is a mini acrylic "brag book" I made for a friend that just had a baby girl...I covered each page with patterned paper, leaving a small border on the edges. I punched holes in the sides and used rings to bind it. I tied coordinating ribbons on the rings. I used the Zooballoo cartridge for the title and the New Arrival cartridge for the accents (safety pins, hearts). The scallop accent on cover is made with the Accent Essentials cartridge. I inked the edges of each page and embellishment. Small flower and animal embellisments on the inside were punched from the patterned paper. Thanks for looking!!! ;)