Deliciously Easy Recipes
Elevate any occasion with this irresistible White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake. This creamy strawberry base is topped with white chocolate ganache and fresh strawberries. It will delight your taste buds.
Dive into a dessert that sings with the luxurious melody of melted white chocolate, tangy fresh strawberries, and a silky-smooth cheesecake filling.
This White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake isn’t just a treat; it’s a masterpiece waiting to grace your table.
View postIt’s almost March! Can you believe that?! I’m itching for spring – probably because it’s still below freezing outside. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not getting in the St. Patty’s Day mood around here. I love celebrating the Luck of the Irish with food & drinks & fun. I decided that after years of putting it off – I would make my own homemade Irish Cream liqueur. I have been on a homemade liquor kick this year – so this was the perfect time – only I gave it one tiny twist.
I decided to use Bushmills Irish Honey Whiskey in this recipe instead of regular whiskey.
It changes the flavor from your traditional Irish Cream – but still great.
Oh my – I’m really looking forward to using this in some upcoming recipes. Stay tuned for those.
Want More Homemade Liquor?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
I’ve been painting old scraps of wood again. 🙂 I have told you all about the huge bins of scrap wood in the parking lot down the street. It’s a re-purposer’s dream. This builder is so kind to just leave it all there for people like me to use as needed. This time I decided to use a little paint & then an image transfer technique I found on Pinterest to make this Lucky St. Patrick’s Day Sign. You can go to Meredith’s blog & view how to do it at UnOriginal Mom. The only thing I did differently is that I let the color image set on the wood for a period of time & then I lifted it off- allowing some of the image to come off to give the distressed look. So slightly different. But I love the aged look it has.
Basically I started with a mis-shapen piece of ply wood. I painted it all one color. Then printed out my clover clip art & applied a good amount of Mod Podge matte finish to the colored print. I then laid it on my board & rubbed it pressed firmly all over the image. I allowed it to set for about 5 minutes – maybe a little more. Then I just started lifting my paper off & the image stayed behind – with the exception of some areas – which was what I wanted.
I allowed it to dry while I painted the word “Lucky” freehand. I wanted it to be imperfect & look like it had been worn off in places. Then I took a greyish green paint & dry brushed around the edges & other areas to give it a distressed, aged look. Once that was dry I just went over it with a thick coat of Mod Podge matte finish to just seal it all in.
I think it took me longer to decide on my clip art images than it did to complete the project altogether. I like that I can re-use something that someone else had tossed out & make something decorative for the porch. Now I just need to make a wreath. 🙂
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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Even though we have changed a few things with how we eat during the week- that doesn’t mean that I have given up sweet treats altogether. You all know that I love to indulge & that won’t change too much – especially on the weekends. We are hitting the gym enough times during the week that I can justify a little something yummy when I want it. I definitely believe that if you’re going to be bad- you have to do it right. So when I made this Ultimate Chocolate Milkshake – I went all out. It is truly the best milkshake I have ever had.
Oh my word – I’m telling you – worth every second on the treadmill.
Perfect way to use up some of these bags & bags of M&M’s I have filling my cabinet. 🙂
Want More Milkshakes?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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*Disclosure: Sponsored Post- I have been compensated for this post either monetarily or with product. All opinions are truthful & my own.
You all know I Love to Create fun project with my kids. If I’m making anything crafty my kids are usually right there with me – learning & helping as we go. I received some fun products from Tulip to try & the girls were quick to come up with some fabulous ideas for some accessories they wanted to make for themselves. We decided to start with a Neon Tie-Dye Fringe Scarf to add to their growing closet of accessories. Seems like Neon is so popular these days. We spent the better part of the weekend picking up new clothes & accessories for the gym – almost all of them included neon. I love it! It brightens the mood – especially on these dark winter days.
I love how simple it was to make this scarf & re-purpose some old out-grown shirts in the process.
For this project I used 1 white t-shirt & Tulip One-Step Mini Tie-Dye Kit
I first made sure to lay out an old shower curtain to protect my table. Then I added my cutting mat for added protection.
Step 1 – Lay out your t-shirt flat & fold the hem to the bottom of the sleeves.
This should give you a horizontal crease in the middle of your shirt.
Step 2-Fill your Tulip One-Step Mini Tie-Dye bottle to the fill line with water & give it a good shake to activate the dye.
Step 3 – Start carefully applying your dye on the crease you just created with your fold – allowing to soak in
Step 4 – Take a paint brush & dip it in water. Brush the water from the dyed area in an upward motion to distribute the dye from the saturated part up to the white area. This gives an ombre effect of the color bleeding from the center out to the ends. Continue wetting your brush & distributing the dye until you achieve the desired bleed you are after.
Step 5 – Wrap in plastic wrap & let sit a minimum of 2 hours. The packaging calls for 6-8 hours but I wanted a lighter effect for this particular project.
Step 6 – Remove from plastic wrap & rinse under hot water until water runs almost clear.
Step 7 – Soak in a large bucket of very hot water & a small amount of laundry soap for about 1 hour.
Step 8 – Remove from soapy water & rinse & wring out well. Place in dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
Step 9 – Cut across t-shirt just below the sleeves & then at the hem. You should then have raw edges on both sides of your “tube” of fabric.
Step 10 – Next – cut fringe on both sides of your raw edges
Step 11 – Stretch out your scarf by pulling & stretching as much as you can to achieve a longer scarf that can be looped. I placed my foot in it & then pulled up to about chest high to really stretch it out.
At this point you are done. You can double it up as an infinity scarf or loop through in several different ways to achieve the look you are after.
My girls LOVE this & can’t wait to make more in all the colors that came in our kit.
*Thank you Tulip for sending us these Neon kits to test & try. All opinions are truthful & my own.
I also received Tulip Dimensional Mini 3 Packs & Tulip Fabric Markers in my package.
I’m really looking forward to using them on some future projects.
Pick up these exclusive products at your local Michaels Arts & Crafts store. For those folks without a Michaels store in their area, you can order the products at iLoveToCreate.com. iLoveToCreate.com is currently offering free shipping on any neon Tulip product for the month of February when you use coupon code NeonFEB (ends February 28th).
Connect with Tulip
Facebook: facebook.com/lovetocreate Twitter: twitter.com/ilovetocreate
Pinterest: pinterest.com/ilovetocreate Blog: https://ilovetocreateblog.blogspot.com
Check out all the other Tulip Neon projects other bloggers are making!
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Do you ever just crave a good donut?? I sooooo do – more often that I probably should admit. While I love making baked cake donuts & they are still my favorite – I truly enjoy a fried goodie every once in a while. So I decided to go back to my old book of recipes (some I have not made in what seems like forever) & make some donuts that I know I love.
You see- one night I headed to the couch because the grumble of the grizzly bear was keeping me awake. Then around 5 am the grizzly bear came to wake me & try to bring me back to bed. Well at that point the coffee had already brewed (& I could smell it) & I knew I shouldn’t put off work any longer. So it was not back to bed for me – it was get to work time. But the first thing that ran through my head as he was nudging me awake was that I didn’t have any donuts to start my Saturday morning. I did vocalize this in hopes that he would be ever so sweet & head out to get me some. No go. So I just had to resort to making my own.
I found that if I dip them in Mocha Dulce de Leche – it’s REALLY GOOD. 🙂
Check out how easy it is to make Zeppole!
These would also be great dipped in this Coffee Bean Syrup
It’s made with coffee 🙂
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Do you like caramel? How about chocolate sauce? Have you made Dulce de Leche before? Well- let’s kick that up a notch or two, shall we!! I have a super tasty treat I’m sharing with you all tomorrow – but when I made it, I realized that I really needed a dip to go with it. You know me….more is more when it comes to toppings, dips & drizzles. I already had a few jars of Dulce de Leche cooking in the crock pot & I thought about using some of it for my dipping sauce. But I was really craving chocolate for this – and a little coffee too. Sooooooo I decided to add the two to my dulce de leche to make the perfect new dip.
Yep! Everything you love about dulce de leche – but now with chocolate & COFFEE!! You’re welcome!
You will want to put it on EVERYTHING!
Want a Simple way to make Dulce de Leche?
Simple Crock Pot Dulce de Leche
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
I know it’s been a very cold & harsh winter so far for most. Are you craving the warm weather? How about someplace tropical? I know, I know- I’m sooooo itching for a trip home to the beach. It has been way too long since I have buried my toes in the sand & soaked up the salty air. But with all we have happening at the moment – my plans to get home again in March have petered out. Looks like even with the best of intentions plans sometimes have to be put off. So since I won’t get to the beach any time soon- I decided to create a little hint of paradise in a glass to hold me over a little bit longer.
Ohhhhh- I made this sans the rum. I wanted to be able to share with the kids.
Oh good heavens- I would drink these ALL DAY LONG. So stinkin’ good.
The vanilla ice cream is the perfect addition to my favorite flavor combo of pineapple & coconut.
It’s so simple & quick – but oh sooooooo delish!
This made enough for these 2 glasses shown. If preparing for a party – you may want to quadruple this recipe.
Want More Coconut?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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Do you love the Lomo filter in Instagram? Want to know how to get that look on your camera images in Photoshop? It’s so simple!!! My friend Kristy has created a Lomo Action set that does it all for you. Let me tell you- Photoshop actions are a huge time saver when it comes to processing your images. If you have never used them before- oh my- it’s literally one click & here you go. They do all the steps for you & all you have to do is adjust the opacity of each layer to achieve the look you desire. As part of Kristy’s design team I had the opportunity to try this new action set. I decided to play with an image from a scenic walk in the park here on a chilly & gloomy day before the 18 inches of snow fell here last week. 🙂
Lomo Action Set from Life n’ Reflection
These are all the different looks you can achieve with this set.
Here is my image before running the action.
Here is my image after running the Lomo Action & reducing the opacity to about 78%
You see – it gives that nice vintage look. So simple.
First download the Quick Guide – your “How-to” when it comes to adding actions to Photoshop & how to use them.
You can purchase & download the actions from Kristy’s store – Life n’ Reflection
Give them a try & have fun getting more creative with your images.
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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I have something special to share with you all today. Exciting news for me!! I have the pleasure of being featured in Green Craft Magazine. A long time ago I created my Corn Husk Luminaries which are sitting on my mantle right now. I don’t know how- but they were found by the editor & she contacted me to see if I would be interested in putting together an article on the project & a little about me too. Of course I’m interested. How fun!!! I can’t show you the whole thing- you have to go buy the issue to see it. But I can give you a peek.
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*Disclosure: I was given some of these supplies to facilitate this post. All opinions expressed are my own.
While we have a few more months until the girls don’t have to share a room anymore, we are already making little things to give each one their own special flare once we are able to start decorating them. The girls are super excited. They have always shared a room – so this will be a big deal for them. Getting to decorate their own space is even better. So I was super thrilled to get the opportunity to try out the new stencils from Mod Podge Rocks! I adore Amy & I was so excited to find out that she was going to have her own line of stencils through Plaid. I think I squealed when they arrived. I couldn’t wait to start creating.
I used these Spouncer Applicators & applied Mod Podge Sheer Color in the blue & in pink. I decided to use the Mod Podge Sheer Color instead of paint because I wanted a sheer look. I didn’t want it to be opaque & this worked out well. It dried quickly too- which is always good for me because I’m super impatient when it comes to projects.
I LOVE these. So simple- you just peel off the backing, stick down to your surface & add your Mod Podge or paint. Then it just peels off & you can re-stick to another part or put it back on the backing sheet & rinse off to clean for the next use. I absolutely love the fact that they stick down because I have not learned how to use the vinyl cutting machine that I inherited from my mom. Using regular stencils that don’t stick down is a pain. This was absolutely 100% easy & quick. I hope they make them in all shapes, sizes, patterns & letters too.
I used these Mod Podge Podgeable Glitters once I had my Mod Podge in place.
Want to try them out???
I’m giving away 1 stencil (pattern chosen at random) to one lucky reader!
Just leave me a comment letting me know what you would make with them first.
Check out: Learn How to Use Mod Podge Peel & Stick Stencils for more details & inspiration.
You can learn more about Mod Podge Rocks! Peel & Stick Stencils on the Plaid site.
Want More Projects?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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Blackberry White Chocolate Buckle is the perfect Easter or Mother’s Day dessert. Quick & easy dessert for blackberry lovers that’s like a cobbler & so good!
You know how I love having fruit in the house. I get pretty giddy when my fridge & counters are overflowing with produce. It spurs all sorts of inspiration. I want to get in there & start creating things & letting my imagination run wild. This time I decided to work with the several containers of blackberries we just picked up. They are a family favorite. I remember when the kids were really little- I couldn’t give them enough to satisfy their craving for them. I really don’t blame them- blackberries are a wonderful snack. I whipped them up with some white chocolate chips for this super tasty treat.
I remember the first time I had a wild blackberry. I was expecting my son- over 16 years ago TODAY (wow). The hubs & I were out on one of our walks to give the baby some exercise. We lived in a place where they grew on the side of random trails. He picked one off & told me to try it. I grew up in So Cal. You were taught to never just pick things & eat them- you didn’t know what they would do. So I was cautious. I had never lived like that- just picking things growing wherever. It was life changing. I loved it.
If you make this recipe- please leave a link or tag me on Instagram @KleinworthCo
Want More Blackberries?
Blackberry Whole Wheat Mini Donuts
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
I love making preserves. There is something about looking in the fridge & seeing a multitude of jars filled with things I have made myself. Normally I take my favorite marmalade recipe & just tweak it to whatever fruit I happen to be working with at the time. But that takes the better part of an hour. My days seem to be getting shorter & it seems I have less & less time to be in the kitchen. So spending hours in there making homemade jam just isn’t happening anymore. So I decided to make a NO COOK – SIMPLE – only 3 INGREDIENTS freezer jam that was ready in record time. I may never go back to my other method again. I love how this turned out.
I’m starting to get so excited about spring. I really get depressed when the market & our co-op have few things to choose from for produce during the winter months. Come spring & summer our house will be packed with produce & I literally can’t wait.
Want More Blueberries?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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We are on the countdown to Valentine’s Day!! When I think of Valentine’s Day I definitely think of dark chocolate. I could be because it’s my hubs favorite of all the different types of chocolate available. So I am always trying new recipes for him using his beloved 60% Cacao chocolate. So- are you looking for a simple no bake dessert that will still have your sweetie swooning too?
Always start with PREMIUM chocolate, especially when working with dark chocolate. I have discussed this before but I will say it again. It is critical that you use high quality chocolate for this recipe. Because of the high Cacao content, it is the key to getting a silky consistency with your fudge. This is why I love using Ghirardelli. I love that it’s available at my grocer & I don’t have to go to a specialty store to find premium chocolate for my recipes. The variety of flavors & products is fantastic. Usually I go to the store to pick up one item but often find so much inspiration with everything else on the shelf that I pick up several varieties for future recipes too.
For this recipe I used Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Baking Chips & the 4 oz Bars.
Ghirardelli baking chips and bars are the ultimate dessert indulgence. Headlined by their famous 60% cacao chips, Ghirardelli baking ingredients provide bakers with premium options for all of their baking needs. Available in 10-12 oz chips bags and 4 oz bars, Ghirardelli baking products deliver lingering pleasure in every dessert, for impressive results worth sharing.
60% cacao and milk chips come in a larger size for more flavor impact
Availability: Grocery, mass, and club stores nationwide
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
*Disclosure: Sponsored Post- I have been compensated for this post either monetarily or with product. All opinions are truthful & my own.
Oh do I have a treat for you?? Do you love Iced Coffee?? I soooo do & so does my hubs. One thing we love to do is make a couple glasses of iced coffee in the afternoons & just sit in our retreat & chat a little. We close the door & tune out the noise of the day. We talk about things that are happening- major life events, plans for the day, plans for the things coming up in the week & the all important dreams for the future. These often include things like “hey- we will be going to the Ortho this week” & bigger topics like “What color shades were you thinking of for the walls in the new house?” But the key here is- our discussions always involve us enjoying these moments together while sharing something tasty. My standard iced coffee recipe was kicked up to a whole new level of YUM when I had the chance to try TruMoo Chocolate Marshmallow. SO I created the ultimate beverage.
Perfect to share with your sweetie for Valentine’s Day!!
This drink is so simple to make- BECAUSE I used TruMoo Chocolate Marshmallow Milk. Using chocolate milk for this beverage would have already made a traditional iced coffee really tasty. But to use the TruMoo Chocolate Marshmallow flavor- OMG!!! So Good! I have a deep love & affection for marshmallow flavored anything so this really truly makes me happy. TruMoo Chocolate Marshmallow will be available through February & Chocolate and Vanilla milks are available year-round. I sure hope they decide to make the Chocolate Marshmallow year round too – I may be really sad when I can’t get it anymore.
Those that TRULY LOVE Chocolate Milk!
Some facts about TruMoo
TruMoo Chocolate Marshmallow milk is made with fresh white milk sourced from regional dairies around the country – pure cocoa and just enough natural sugar to make it taste great.
Nutritious and Delicious!
TruMoo Milk contains no artificial growth hormones and no high fructose corn syrup. This is a HUGE thing for me. This means that I don’t have to purchase unpasteurized milk from the local farmer if I want to get away from additives in the milk I serve my family. Incredibly important to me & I am so happy to have this option.
Enjoy TruMoo Chocolate Marshmallow hot or cold!
Try it as an ingredient in your favorite mocktail. Enjoy it hot and you have yourself a s’more!
It’s available in the dairy section at grocery stores nationwide through the month of February.
I picked mine up at Target.
Connect with TruMoo
Facebook — Website — Twitter — Store Locator
So are you ready for a fun little printable?? I created this sheet for my kiddos to give to their friends here in the neighborhood. They helped me in deciding how they wanted them & they designed them with me. Those kids- they are so creative. Suppose I should let them start their own blogs. They would probably pass me by 🙂 So anyhow- here they are. Print away!!
Don’t you just love the colors of Valentines Day?? The pinks & reds – oh so cute together. They make me smile. I wish it were acceptable to pair the two all year long 🙂 But it’s not so I have to really embrace it while we are in this season.
Want More Valentine Printables?
Red Velvet Cake Mix Recipe Instructions
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Ooohhhhh – I can’t even begin to tell you just how excited I am about this recipe. If you are a COFFEE LOVER like I am – you try to add a little java to just about anything you can. I start my day off with a 28 ounce mug of some really strong coffee. Sometimes that isn’t quite enough. Soooo….I decided to see if I could give a jolt to my breakfast too. Because really- I wanted to see if I COULD. The result was over the top- so much better than I ever imagined.
I grew up with whip cream on my waffles & pancakes. Then in high school one of my best friends was from Australia. When she told me that they serve waffles with a scoop of ice cream on it for breakfast – that was it for me. GENIUS! Why didn’t I ever think of that before??!! A reason to have ice cream for breakfast- I’m all over that. So the perfect combination here is waffles & vanilla ice cream topped with this Coffee Bean Syrup. HEAVEN on a breakfast plate – I’m tellin’ ya.
One little taste- my eyes rolled to the back of my head. TO DIE FOR!
Want More Syrup?
Blueberry Syrup
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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Is it cold where you are?? Yeah- it’s pretty chilly here in North Idaho too. Makes me want to cook up something yummy & hot & curl up in my chair with my favorite blanket & get cozy. One of my all time favorite Easy Family Dinner Ideas to make when it’s cold & blustery outside is clam chowder. But the hubs doesn’t make just your typical New England Clam Chowder – he puts some serious flavor love into it & comes out with this amazing bowl of YUM.
Pour it in your bread bowl- you can’t beat it on a cold winter day.
I’m sharing this recipe as part of January’s Recipe Round-Up.
I have teamed up with a wonderful group of talented gals to bring you some of the best COMFORT FOOD recipes you’ll ever find.
Check out all the other recipes by these AMAZING bloggers that have joined in this month.
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Want More Soup?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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I think it’s pretty safe to say that America has a love affair with 2 very special cookies. The Thin Mint (lovingly brought to us by the Girl Scouts) and the Oreo. Both in my opinion are nothing short of AMAZING!! I have seen several bloggers- some of which are also my friends, use the cookie part of an Oreo to make their own Thin Mint cookies. While I think it’s absolutely GENIUS – I was also quite saddened by the thought of scraping out what I view as the essence of the Oreo & dare I say….discarding (GASP) it!!!! Really?? So I thought- why on earth do I have to choose between the genius of making my own Thin Mints & the essence of the Oreo? So I came up with my own solution.
This post was originally shared by me on “Or So She Says…” several weeks ago but I love this one so much I just had to share it here in my own space too.
Mint & Oreo – Yep, every bit as good as you imagine.
I’m not really sure I can ever go back to eating either of them the “normal” way again.
It really is the perfect marriage of 2 iconic cookies.
Mmmmmm- make these for your next gathering. They will be gone in a flash.
Want More Goodies?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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Each month I put a new wreath on the front door. It usually fits the holiday of the month or the feel of the season. But that is usually as far as I take it. But this past fall I decorated the whole front porch with corn husks & a painted board. I then painted a board for Christmas- only I didn’t get to use it because we were in So Cal. SO I decided that after the porch bring absolutely bare – besides my January wreath, I needed to start thinking about what I would decorate with for February. I mean – I am doing all sorts of things for Valentine’s Day here in the house- I should be doing something for the porch too. So I decided to make another sign.
It was fun to work on & the kids were able to jump in & help too.
This was super simple to create.
1 – I painted the board with a light lavender paint.
2 – Printed & cut out my paper letters to apply.
3 – Arranged the letters on the board to get an idea of placement.
4 – Brushed on a thick layer of Mod Podge Gloss under each letter & pressed the letters down to stick
5 – Once the letters were somewhat dried onto the board & gave another full thick coat of Mod Podge Gloss over the entire board to seal in the paper & give a shiny finish over the whole thing.
I told you it was simple. Now I can have the porch decorated for Valentines Day.
I’ll be working on a wreath this weekend I hope. It’s almost February.
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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*Disclosure: Sponsored Post- I have been compensated for this post either monetarily or with product. All opinions are truthful & my own.
It seems that January is the time to get organized. Everyone is focusing on “out with the old & in with the new” & I am no exception. There is something about starting the new year fresh & getting rid of the clutter- both mentally & around the house. One thing I decided to tackle is how we contain our treats for our dog. The kids wanted something cute for him & so we pulled out some fabulous new products from Mod Podge & got a little creative. I let the kids take the reigns with this one & decide what we would do. I have many other projects on my list but this was the first one we tackled with the Mod Podge.
I love how adorable it is. Let me show you how simple it was to make.
Here are the products I started out with – I didn’t end up using them all but I like to have them all out in front of me so that if I change my mind mid-way through (like I did with this project) I have everything at the ready for a game change.
Shown here in the picture: Mod Podge Dishwasher Safe Gloss (to be used in some upcoming projects), Mod Podge Sheer Colors in Yellow, Purple, Pink & Blue (also to be used in some great new projects coming up – I can’t wait to use these to tint some jars too), Mod Podge Facet Shapes, Mod Podge Stampers, Mod Podge Brush, Mod Podge Matte Finish, Mod Podge Gloss Finish, scissors, scrapbook paper & my protective mat since I was working on our antique table that day.
Don’t miss these great tutorial videos from Plaid:
How to Tint Glass with Mod Podge Sheer Colors
Learn How to Use Mod Podge Sheer Colors
Mod Podge Sheer Colors are a NEW product that just launched this month (Jan 2014). They come in 9 transparent colors. They work great on glass, wood, metal & more. The Mod Podge Dishwasher Safe is also a NEW project launching this month. It’s Top-Rack dishwasher safe & good for indoor or outdoor use. I can’t wait to play with both of these more in the coming weeks.
I knew we wanted to cover the top of the box with the scrapbook paper – so we started with tracing the size of the lid.
The munchkin wanted to add one of the Facet Shapes with the fire hydrant on it –
so she added a little Mod Podge Gloss to the back & then we adhered the hydrant cutout on it.
I gave the lid a nice thick coat of Mod Podge Matte finish – placed my piece of scrapbook paper on top & used a gift card to really smooth it out.
Then I added another top coat of Mod Podge to seal it down.
Note: we started with a different box- the kids insisted on using the Mod Podge Sheer color in blue- which worked great except the blue on top of the brown didn’t look so great. If it had been a white box- maybe better. So I had to step in & change things up a little. Sooooo- this is what I meant by having to shift things on the fly sometimes. Because I love the beautiful glossy blue finish of the other box – I am super anxious to give it a try again on the right surface. So stay tuned for another post on that. I am really looking forward to playing with it more soon.
We placed the Facet Shape with the hydrant on it in the middle using the Mod Podge as adhesive.
Then we added a couple more shapes we cut out – also using the Mod Podge as adhesive & then a coat on top to seal.
I love how adorable it turned out & the kids smile every time they get to open the box to give the dog a treat.
I love the little Facet Shapes-
the girls are really looking forward to using them with more decorative papers & creating some jewelry projects.
Sign up for Plaid’s weekly newsletter for tutorials and inspiration HERE
Get more inspiration and more Mod Podge ideas on Plaid’s Pinterest Board
Find Mod Podge Sheer Colors, Facet Shapes and Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge in Michaels or on Plaid’s website HERE
Check out all these other Mod Podge Projects
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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Would you agree with me that when you think of Red Velvet flavored anything- your mind sort of automatically thinks of Valentines Day? I know mine does. Which is why I can’t seem to stop wit the red velvet recipes. It’s so incredibly good & there is just something about it that screams special. So I couldn’t help myself from making this tasty little coffee time snack to make my weekend a little more exciting.
I had so much fun in Michaels picking up all the little Valentine sprinkles & decorations. I really have to hold myself back in there. The hubs thought I had lost my mind. When I left CA I shipped home 4 LARGE boxes of my mom’s cake decorating/baking supplies. He didn’t think I would need to be buying any sort of baking item for a very long time. Buuuut – I wandered in to Michaels & walked out with several bags full of more baking supplies. Go figure.
Look at how fun these little hearts are mixed with the white chocolate chips.
Want More Red Velvet?
You can make this Homemade Red Velvet Cake Mix & print the instructions tag for a great gift.
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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You know how I love my football. That is no secret. If you are a regular reader here then you also know that I love to make a HUGE spread of snacks for every game. Not just the BIG game – but all games. REALLY – football season is 6 months long. That can really add up to a whole lot of eating things that I probably shouldn’t. So we have been trying to add in healthier choices in not just what we eat but how we prepare it too. Who says football snacks have to be bad for you? Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas? I set out to create a fresh, tasty & healthier snack for the family to munch on & came up with something they are begging me to put on the permanent menu.
You are not going to believe how quick & simple these are.
I basically started with 2 bags Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken Breast Strips. Poured them both into a large skillet. Then I cut up 4 bell peppers into squares – one in each color for a little visual fun.
I drizzled a little olive oil over everything- about 2 tbsp. Then I added a healthy dose of granulated garlic because I add garlic to nearly everything I make.
Then I just sauteed & stirred until the chicken was hot & the peppers were soft & all the flavors had a chance to blend.
I then washed a large bowl of cherry tomatoes & cut about 8 ounces of mozzarella cheese into cubes.
By this time the contents of the skillet had cooled enough to handle with our fingers. I brought my son in for an extra set of hands to help assemble.
Just grab, stick & done.
For me presentation is everything when it comes to making our meals fun & exciting. So I picked up this perfect platter just for these kabobs.
The medley of colors just makes them so appealing – we had a hard time making sure everyone had enough & no one person missed out.
I absolutely LOVE the fact that these packs of Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken Breast Strips have no preservatives. You know that I have REALLY been working hard at eliminating as many foods containing preservatives as I possibly can. So I was absolutely THRILLED to see that these not only were convenient & affordable for our large family, but that I didn’t have to compromise on some of our new healthier habits just to have a quick dinner option.
I picked up my Tyson Grilled & Ready products at Walmart. Right now Walmart has all Grilled & Ready products on Rollback for just $5.87 – which makes an easy dinner so affordable.
This is really COOL – a super fridge for these products will be in 1,067 Walmart stores. See store list HERE and see if these stores are in your area so you can check it out!
Be sure to visit Tyson on Facebook & join them for “Just Add This” where you can get daily healthier for you recipes & some great fitness ideas.
You can also win GREAT PRIZES too. All through January – March!
Connect with Tyson: Website, Twitter @ TysonTweets , Facebook
You can also check out other Tyson Grilled & Ready recipes on Pinterest.
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
You know- sometimes putting together a simple little craft can make one so happy. I love having votives sitting around in various places in the house & I love making each one unique & interesting. I brought this one home from my moms- it was actually a small vase from her services. But when I cleaned it out & looked at it- I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. We packed it ever so carefully in the car for the long drive home. I was shocked it made the 1300 mile journey without breaking. I have ever so patiently been waiting to jump into Valentine’s Day mode since I had this idea in my head since early December. I was so thrilled to actually be able to put it together.
This took literally all of about 30 seconds to put together & yet it looks so cute. I can tell you – it took about 1000 times longer to photograph. Ever single place I set it – there was this lovely catchlight glare spot on it. Grrr. I used my filter, moved from room to room – it was a bear. This time of year usually isn’t an issue. Usually we don’t see the sun for 4 months – this year is quite different. You know we don’t have any snow on the ground??!! Usually we have about 28-30 inches at this point all stacked up. Strange- I know. But anyhow- so sunny day + glass = frustration with reflections. This is why you are only getting one image today 🙂 Normally I wouldn’t have shared all of that- but I’m trying to keep it real here. There are plenty of things I have to work on with my photography- this is one of them.
So anyhow- it’s literally just the 3 things you see here – vase, red hots & the candle. Nothing hidden underneath to prop it up- but you could do that as long as it’s flame retardant. It’s just a fun little way to bring a little more Valentine into your home & get you feeling the LOVE.
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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Remember back in September when I originally shared with you my recipe for making Homemade Liquors? Well I had originally planned on finishing up those liquors & bottling them for holiday gifts. I didn’t really get around to doing that but I still needed to do something with what I had already started. So I searched out for some really great little swing top bottles & the got to work getting them all filled with our Homemade Brandy.
These turned out EXACTLY like my mother-in-law used to make. I was so pleased when the hubs told me that I was able to re-create what she would make as it brought back so many great memories for him.
I just love the colors when the light shines through them.
Here is what we started with & what it looks like at the beginning of the process.
Visit my How to Make Homemade Liquors post to print the directions.
Want more homemade liquors? Try this
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
I don’t know about you- but I get sort of frustrated when I go to print off a recipe & it calls for cake mix. Especially when it’s a flavor I don’t keep on hand – like Red Velvet Cake. I do like the ease of using cake mix so I have a few flavors I keep in the pantry for when I need something quick. But more & more I am making things from scratch & keeping less & less of these pre-packaged boxes in the kitchen. So after finding several recipes that called for red velvet cake mix & not having any on hand – I decided to make my own so I could make red velvet cake for Valentine’s Day.
Don’t get me wrong- if I kept a large variety of cake mix flavors on hand I wouldn’t be frustrated at all. But I do like being able to print off a recipe & go in my kitchen & create what I have been craving while using things I keep continually stocked in my kitchen- usually in bulk. Things like flour & sugar I buy in the bulk 50lb bags & I try to always make sure I have plenty of cocoa powder & other things that I use several cups at a time on a daily basis. It just makes being in the kitchen so much easier when I can pull from what I have & satisfy that craving. So this jar mix is perfect for that.
To create the mix – follow these instructions & then print the tag with the remaining ingredients & instructions to make the cake at a later date. This makes quite a bit- I had to really pack the mix down in the jar & it filled it to the very top.
Here are the instructions.
Want More Red Velvet?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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Hi All! How are you today? I have the pleasure of having another one of my fellow SNAP! contributors here today to share with you this great motivational printable. I just love the message & the design is perfect. My favorite is the color version- but Jessica has created both color & black & white for you here today. Give a warm Kleinworth & Co. welcome to Jessica & click on over to download your printable.
Hello Kleinworth and Co. friends. I’m Jessica, Founder and Creative Director at Pen N’ Paper Flowers and I am excited to be here today sharing a FREE Art Print I created.
The inspiration behind this simple art print came from the start of a new year. We typically view this time of year with hope and promise for good things to come, fresh starts and the inspiration to reach our dreams and make big things happen.
The words of the quote were actually inspired by one of my youngest daughter’s favorite songs called “The Glow”. It’s an uplifting song all about finding your strength, believing in yourself, letting your light shine and ultimately being the princess (woman) you were created to be.
My hope is that you’ll be inspired to print and frame this for yourself, or someone you know, as a daily reminder to dream…and be all you can be.
I’ve included the black and white version of the 5×7 Art Print as well as a color version for you to enjoy!
Download the Black and White Art Print HERE
Download the COLOR Art Print HERE
Thank you so much Jessica for creating this to share today!!!
Be sure to head on over & visit Jessica @ Pen N’ Paper Flowers & check out her fabulous space.
Want More Printables?
Cursive Handwriting Practice Sheets
No Sew Sleep Mask Pattern & Instructions
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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Don’t you just love the smell of bread baking in the oven? I love it!!! I don’t always have time to make bread from scratch though. So I often pull out my beer bread recipe & play with it to fit the dish we are having. I always love the ease of this particular recipe because it’s ready to go in the oven so quickly that it often takes longer for the oven to heat than it does to prepare it for baking. You really can’t beat that when it comes to fresh homemade bread. It’s the best side with dinner because you don’t have to plan hours ahead to have it with your meal. So much flavor too. I love having it fresh & hot out of the oven.
This went so well with our soup the other night- OH MY!
I decided to use this great little IPA – Pipeline Porter from the Kona Brewing Company. The flavor it gives to the bread is great.
Want More bread ?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
I want you to met someone special today. Kendra is the owner & creator of Key Lime Digital Designs. She is a fellow contributor for SNAP! & all around creative genius. Her blog designs are gorgeous & her creativity is incredibly inspiring. Today I have the honor of having her here today sharing this recipe that is sure to kick off my 2014 in the right direction.
Hi! My name is Kendra from Key Lime Digital Designs. I am very excited to be here today sharing with you! Typically on my blog I only post about blog design, blogging tips, and fonts (I’m sort of a font-aholic) but today I am excited to take this chance to share something totally different and non computer-ish! Enter the Green Machine.
This juice is so refreshing and delicious. If you have any New Years health resolutions you are going to love this juice!
You might be a little skeptic about the kale. I promise the bitterness of the Kale is covered up by the oranges. The oranges are the sneaky, not so green, ingredient. They add sweetness to the juice that make it so yummy!
Let’s talk about juicing in general for a min. There are a lot of opinion on juicing. Here’s mine … Can juicing be expensive? Yes. Should you juice all the time for your sole nutrients? Hmm, probably not. Does juicing actually taste good? Yes, it can! And this green juice recipe is my favorite. All time favorite. Can juicing be refreshing and a good way to reset your system? Absolutely!
I have used this green juice after I had both of my babies to help get rid of that extra baby weight. When I decide to “juice” I typically juice for 3-4 days – drinking this green machine for breakfast and lunch and then eating a sensible dinner.
You are gonna love this because you will feel so refreshed and energetic after you drink this! Get your juicers out pronto!
Notes: The amount of juice this produces can vary based on your produce but typically I find it makes about 36-40oz. You can refrigerate the juice for 2-3 days in an airtight container. Shake well before drinking.[br][br]If you feel like your juice is still a little bitter, just add another orange.
-Kendra
I am a wife and mom of 2 energetic kids!
My family keeps me busy but I also love to blog, create in photoshop, collect fonts, oh and eat cookie dough 🙂
Thank you so much Kendra – I’m thrilled to have you here today!!!
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
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Hi Everyone!!! Have I got a treat for you today. The lovely & amazingly talented Ariean from OneKriegerChick is here today to share with you a tasty little treat to help you kick off your family movie night on the right foot. You see Ariean is a fellow SNAP! contributor & so you know what that means…. everything she does is FABULOUS!!!!!!! I’m telling you- if you have not had the pleasure of visiting her space before- then head on over to OneKriegerChick & sign up for her email updates. You will be so happy you did. But first – be sure to grab her recipe here today.
Hello New Friends! I’m Ariean from OneKriegerChick and I am thrilled to be here today sharing one of my favorite sweet treats…
It is unbelieveably easy, but oh so delicious…I should mention Highly Addictive too.
Once you taste it, you’ll have to come back a few more times. Best to make it for a crowd!
Why not whip up a batch with sprinkles in the colors of your favorite team…Perfect for Super Bowl coming up in a few weeks!
If you liked this recipe, I would love to have you stop by OneKriegerChick where I share other fun ideas like this Snow Ice Cream Kit…
Thank you so very much for having me Gina!
~Ariean
Isn’t this AWESOME??!!!! I love the salty & sweet mix of chocolate popcorn AND – this Snow Ice Cream kit – HELLO!! That is just perfect for just about every neighbor I have. Thank you so much Ariean. I can’t tell you just how much I love having you here today.
Want More Popcorn Recipes?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Happy New Year!!!
Hope you all had lots of fun during your New Years Celebrations. I also hope you had a chance to recover yesterday & you are excited to be kicking off 2014. I know I am. I thought I would get started by getting inspired with my my favorite thing to make the kids for breakfast & round up all my top recipes.
I’m hungry already just looking at the set as a whole.
Here we go – get your donut maker ready!
Raspberry Chocolate Chip Donuts
Chocolate Cake Donuts & Peanut Butter Glaze
Blackberry Whole Wheat Mini-Donuts
So there you have it- my favorite mini donut recipes.
I can’t wait to start whipping up even more new donut recipes this year!
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Are you ready for a special treat?? Are you planning your New Years Eve celebrations?? Today my friend Jessica from One Martini at a Time (who is my “go-to” gal for beverages) is sharing a FABULOUS recipe that will take care of your party beverage planning. I have known Jessica for a long time. We bonded through both being residents of Nevada at the time & that we both homeschool. We worked together in my Photography Workshop. We also share a love for creating beverages & sharing them in our own little spaces – which is so much fun. If you are looking for any type of drink recipe- Jessica has you covered. Please give her a nice warm welcome & check out this YUMMY New Year’s Eve Recipe.
On holidays and special occasions my kids like to have something fancy to drink. Normally I serve them regular sparkling cider but they insist that’s no longer fun. So, this year I came up with these Sparkling Cider New Year’s Eve Mocktails for them. They are a kid-friendly version of a cava cocktail with vodka that I created for adults who are toasting the New Year.
I went with Martinelli’s Sparkling Apple-Pomegranate Cider for the bubbles because it’s one of my kids’ favorite flavors. However, the Sparking Apple-Peach or the regular Sparkling Apple Cider will also work in these mocktails. I found that my kids didn’t like as much fresh squeezed lime as I do in my cocktails. I bumped that back a little, but you can adjust according to what your kids like the best.
Enjoy your New Year’s Eve celebration with the family and cheers to a good year!
Jessica Torres is the chief cocktail creator at One Martini. When not taste testing new spirits or shaking up cocktails, she can be found working on her food and drink photography, reading books about booze or attempting to nap. She can also be found at allParenting, Savvy Sassy Moms and on Facebook where she overshares cocktails recipes.
Want More Cider Recipes?
Thank you SO MUCH Jessica for being here today. It was such a pleasure to share this.
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
