Burlap Love

I don't know what it is, but lately, I really love burlap! 

I've seen some really cute wreaths, pillows, chairs and framed products made with burlap...

I've been wanting to put this pillow together for awhile now, but just took the time this morning.

I can't decide if I want to put it in the living room...

on my bed...

or outside...

Which do you think?

I'm linking this burlap project up to Funky Junk's Saturday Night Special, Burlap Edition.

April Visiting Teaching Message

Next month, the Visiting Teaching message is on

The Purpose of the Relief Society. 

The Relief Society was organized to help us increase in faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and provide relief by serving the Lord and others.

To make this fun message to share with your sisters, all you need is

a 9" x 9" sheet of paper {cardstock works best}

A stapler

about 12" of ribbon

Easter grass and a few easter treats

These downloads:

VTApril2011

The Best Lemon Cake Ever

Start by folding the left side of the 9" x 9" sheet half way in from the corner like this:

Then do the other side.

Hold it together while you staple, first the left side, then inside the cone on the right.

Like this:

Next, gather your supplies and fill the cone.

Affix the ribbon on the sides with a stapler and you are done!

Happy April Visiting Teaching!

Quick Project

Whenever I start sewing something, it seems like my kids always want to sew, too.  The other day, I decided to devote an evening to kids' sewing projects.  We ended up with these fun aprons and a few small pillows.

They were pretty easy to make and sewed up really quick.

MMMMonday!

I realize that I'm about 3 years behind on this one, but today, I made my first batch of

Oreo Truffles!

If you have apparently been under a rock like me, here's how easy they are:

One package Oreo Cookies

One 8 oz. cream cheese

16 oz. melted semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mash up the Oreos, then pull out about 1/2 cup of them for later.  Mix mashed up Oreos with cream cheese.  Roll mixture into tiny {about 1 inch} balls, then coat in melted chocolate chips.  Sprinkle reserved Oreo crumbs onto truffles, then refridgerate about 1 hour.  Gain about 5 lbs. eating them. :)

{My kids loved cleaning up the extras...}

Latest Project

So...do you remember this little beauty?

I picked it up at the thrift store a few weeks ago.

I bought it because we have a "media closet" with all of our media machines {dvr, dvd, vhs{!}, surround sound, wii, etc. etc.} and I thought it would be nice to store the movies in there, too.

Previously, our movies were stored in the armoire, stacked three rows deep on two seperate shelves.

I always thought it would be great to put shelves in the media closet for dvds and such so everything would be together {and so my two youngest wouldn't keep emptying them all onto the floor while searching for one movie}, and so that we could see each title.

So when I saw this old doorless cabinet-turned-bookshelf thingy, I knew it would be perfect for that purpose and space.

Only problem was...it was too deep...and a leeeittle bit too long.

So I had to remodel it.

I started by taking off the back, and sawing off the back half of each shelf.  This sounds simple, but the stupid hand saw's battery kept dying, so the process went a little like this:

saw 14 inches

switch batteries

saw 32 inches

give husband dirty look for not keeping batteries charged

wait 10 minutes

saw 2 whole shelves!

swich batteries

saw 18 inches

go inside because it is dark

wait a week and a half because it is raining and cold

...you get the picture.

I finally finished it yesterday!

I decided to paint it turquoise and put a gel stain on it.

I ended up having to cut 3" of one of the corners off so that it would fit in the {slanted} closet.

I love the cracks and nail holes and the overall crappiness of it.

I also love that it fits in that spot so well.

I'm pretty happy with the results...

...and that it is finally finished!

Sweetness.

Last week was our Relief Society Birthday Celebration!

The Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was formed 169 years ago in Nauvoo, Illinois, by the prophet Joseph Smith.

This year, we had a pioneer theme, and had pioneer inspired food, activities, and decorations. 

{we drank home made rootbeer out of mason jars, while learning about past church Relief Society Presidents}

 

{we had homemade soups, jams and butter with our bread)

{we decorated with quilts, burlap and wildflowers, pie plates, dutch ovens, jute, etc...think Little House on the Prarie...}

{after learning to make cornhusk dolls and clothespin dolls, learning to crochet, and playing pioneer games, everyone took home some jam}

It turned out to be a really fun night!