Oops!

So, it has been FOR-E-VER (think Smalls in The Sandlot for the correct pronunciation)...and I have been a little out of the crafting mode for a while.  Not totally, but enough that I didn't find time to post anything I made because if I made it, it was so quick and easy, it wouldn't have been much of a post anyways.

We have been busy.  Two boys and two baseball teams, post season play that led up to a 4 day break before starting football, and now we are about half way through football season for both teams.  Already signed E up for basketball, and A's wrestling season starts days after football ends.  And in between all that, I am trying to continue to run, work full time, and, oh yeah, run a household, all while being a good wife too. And the thing is, I LOVE IT!!  Totally love it.  Even if there are days I wonder why in H-E-double hockey sticks I would ever sign up to be a dreaded stepmom with all that stigma and instantaneous "you have got to be a good parent NOW because you don't get a learning curve" responsibility. And there are days that I look at my friends, and their little families that don't have a "mom" issue because they are the mom.  And there is not a "whose day/time" it is issue, because it is their child with their husband, and so there is no shared time, at least not officially or legally.  And I am tad bit jealous.  Jealous that they get all the moments with the child or children they love so much; jealous that they get all those moments to learn what being a good parent is while their child is too young to remember all the little oops moments when you figure out a different way would be a better way;  jealous that they get the hateful discontent and can know that their children are not leaving and going somewhere else where they get undermined and trash talked; and mostly jealous that they get all the love and hugs without fear of it hurting someone else's feelings or a sense of obligation because you are the stepmom and they have to...

And despite all this, I get up each day, and make it to the games, the practices, the after school pick ups, the last minute homework, and all the other "mom" things, not because I get some recognition from it, but because I love those boys, and I love their dad, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I know this isn't a craft post, but I figure every once and a while, we all just need to take a moment to feel grateful, and today is my day.  I am grateful for this life despite all the little things I wish were different.  And I am grateful for all the people in it, because none of it would be the same without each of them here!  And my oops isn't from forgetting to write, it is because lately, I had forgotten how lucky I was.

Crafty Table

Long time, no chat, My Chickadees!  Happy 2012!!

I know I have been MIA lately, but the holidays were busy and I just didn’t have time to get on the blog!!

But I do have a super cute and easy craft that we can all use- a personalize craft table!!

So, I had been using my countertops and sometimes even my dining room table (shame on me, since it was so nice and pretty and new!), but there were times I wanted to set up somewhere else or I didn’t want to have to pack everything up to make dinner.  And then it hit me one night while I was wrapping Christmas presents on my floor- hoping the dogs didn’t step on the gift wrap or presents- that I needed a craft table.

So, off I went to my favorite $100 store, Target, to see what they had (it is my $100 store because I never feel like I can leave unless I have spent at least $100, all on stuff I didn't know I HAD to have!).  I found a table for $30, and I really liked it, but I felt like I was going to mess it up almost immediately with my glue, and glitter and all things “Christmasy”. 

And then it hit me- COVER THE TABLE.  And not in a table cloth, but something with some stick to it.  So, I got me some contact paper.  I picked the black & white printed pattern, but they had a bunch of different options, so it would be totally customizable! 

I decided to give it a white border around it, to give it a polished look. ;o)  So first, I covered it with white contact paper.

Then, I gave it a “cutout” of the black and white pattern.  The contact paper was pretty easy to use- just peel and stick, and if you mess up, you can just peel and re-stick!

Here is my finished table!

Happy Crafting Chickadees!

 

Mmmm, Pumpkin Pancakes!

I haven't tried this recipe yet, but I am going to soon!  It looks like a good fall tastefest!  Maybe this weekend...

Pumpkin Pancakes
Ingredients:
1½ Cups milk
1 Cup pumpkin puree
1 Egg
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 Tbsp Vinegar
2 Cups flour
3 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tsp baking powder
1 Tsp baking soda
1 Tsp allspice
1 Tsp cinnamon
½ Tsp ground ginger
½ Tsp salt
Directions:
Mix milk, pumpkin, egg, oil, and vinegar in one bowl. In another bowl combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger, and salt. Stir flour combination into pumpkin mix. Heat griddle and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Poor ¼ cup of pancake mix onto griddle for each pancake and brown them on both sides. Serve them up and enjoy!

I wonder if the mix would work for waffles as well....

A No-Sew Craft Apron

Hello Little Chickadees!!

I thought I would start off with a pretty quick & easy craft- a no-sew apron that you can create and use when doing your Chickadee Crafts.  I started out by going to my local craft store, but you can also find all the supplies at your local Walmart, etc.  I found a pre-made apron that I could decorate.  It ran about $10 for a fancier one, and about $5 for a plain one.  I opted for the zebra print one- I just couldn't help myself.  Then, I went and got some ribbon/trim, and also some iron-on decals.  Lastly, you will need some stitch witchery iron on tape, or something similar.  Here is a picture of the items I found to decorate my apron, and also a shot of my apron before I started to spice it up a little.

As you can see, the items are largely items I would normally have in my craft box/cabinet.

I started to layout my design and plan out how I wanted it decorated.  Here is my planned design, about halfway through laying it out.

I then pinned down my stitch witchery tape to and pinned down my ribbon trim.  I also started to heat my iron so it would be ready.  I then pressed my iron on ribbon across the top to give it a more finished look.

Next, I ironed on my pocket decorations,and lastly I added my pink lace trim pieces. The lace trim pieces took the longest by far. I chose a little more delicate ribbon trim for my pockets and ruffles because I like the girlie look, but any trim would work to spice it up!

I also added the trim to the top & bottom of the apron, to give it a finished look.  I found that the apron skirt was easiest to do if you did it in small pieces of the stitchery tape and then did a single continuous piece of trim, much like you would do if sewing on a sewing machine.  Overall, it took my about 10 minutes to do the apron skirt, and about 3 minutes to finish the top of the apron.

Here is a shot of the finished apron.

 I later added a couple of buttons that I did have to sew on, but it was by no means a half to add item.  I just had some awesome buttons that matched my design, and so I added to the edge of the pocket.  So, I guess if you had to add buttons then this would be a low-sew apron!

Happy crafting & I hope you enjoy your apron!

-Chickadee Me



Welcome!

Welcome My Little Chickadees!!  I am starting a blog as a creative outlet.  My house is a testosterone fueled place, and this is my little safe haven of all things pretty, crafty, and girly good!!  Welcome & happy designing, crafting, and DIY-ing!