Custom Printed Jars

This is an amazing craft and would make a wonderful gift. Kristine from The Painted Hive has done an awesome job with her tutorial and even provides a free printable --- make sure this one gets onto your wish list!

Find the direct link to the craft {here}

Fabric Scraps Pot Holders

As I was pulling dinner out of the oven last week I noticed how worn out my pot holders were...after doing some checking I also learn how easy they are to make!!

Supplies:
Fabric Scraps
Heat resistant batting
18" x 9" piece of regular batting

Directions:
1. Sew together 1-2" strips of fabric until you have two pieces that measure 18" x 9".
2. Place the two pieces right side facing out with the two pieces of batting in between.
3. Quilt the pieces together using a random pattern
4. Cut the piece in half to create two 9x9 inch squares (approx)
5. Sew a strip of binding around each piece starting in the center of one of the sides.

Knit Boot Cuffs

How fabulous are these!! And the best part is ---- no heel to worry about! HOOT! Because they only have to be about 6-8 inches long they are fast to make so grab your needles and some yarn and get knitting! :)


{click on photo for link to pattern}

Casserole Carrier - Two Ways

We had a crazy day today, so my original project never got done. (Have you been there?!) Here are the links for two different versions of a casserole carriers - depending on your budget and time for sewing. Both are equally functional and equally adorable.

The first is the faster and cheaper version --- two placemats sewn together with belting used for the handles.

The second takes considerably more time to make but is in my opinion a little more appealing because it is fitted to your dish and fold over on four sides to enclose. (This one is on my to-do list)

Homemade Yogurt (Photo Tutorial)

Today's recipe is one that I am absolutely IN LOVE with and cannot wait to share with you!!! Homemade yogurt tastes delicious, is inexpensive to make, and stays good in the fridge for several weeks. Enjoy!!!

Time: 1 hour active time (not good with kids needing your attention)
Cost: about $1.50/quart or less when milk is on sale ;)

Supplies:
4 glass quart jars with lids
Large heavy bottom stock pot
Candy thermometer
Cooler large enough for jars
Canning funnel (optional)
Mesh strainer or cheese cloth (optional)

Ingredients:
Makes 4 quarts yogurt
1 gallon milk (preferably whole milk)
1 small container PLAIN Greek yogurt
1/2-1 cup sugar (optional)
2-4 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Step 1: Sterilize your jars and lids in boiling water for 10 minutes. Pour hot water into the cooler and put the lid on while you prepare the yogurt.

Step 2: In a large stockpot, bring the milk to 185-190 degrees F over med to med-high heat stirring very frequently. Rinse the milk jug and refill with warm-hot water (reserve for later).

Step 3: Fill your sink halfway with cold water. Place the pot of hot milk into the water bath until the temperature reaches 125 degrees F. Stir in yogurt, sugar and vanilla gently until combined.

Step 4: Prepare your jars and fill each leaving 1/4 headspace. I like to strain the milk through the strainer to remove any large pieces, but this is not necessary. Put the lids on the jars.

Step 5: Add water to the cooler from the milk jug you reserve earlier until the temperature is 130 degrees F. Put the jars into the cooler and place the lid on tightly.

Step 6: Let the yogurt incubate in the cooler in a place where the jars won't be disturbed for 8-10 hours.

Step 7: Remove the jars and chill for 12 hours to stop incubation and to thicken.

TIPS:
- - - Lowfat milk will produce thinner yogurt.
- - - Thicken yogurt by increasing incubation time. You may need to add hot water to your cooler.
- - - I make my yogurt after the kids have gone to bed and allow it to incubate overnight. ;)

Meal Planning Day 4: Shopping Day

Here is where the rubber meets the road and we get to see all of our hard work pay off!! You've completed the {kitchen inventory} and {store comparison worksheet} and made a {menu} for your family based first on what you have at home then by what is on sale that week at the store. The last step before you head to the store is to make a {shipping list} and gather up any coupons you plan to use.

Today's Goal: Buy all the major items that we will need for the next two weeks and stick to the budget that we have decided on ahead of time.
Printable Worksheet: Shopping List
Time: 15 minutes preparing, 1 hour at the store

Write down all the things that you plan to buy by category using one list for each store you plan to shop at.

Put any coupons you will use into an envelope and note the discount next to the corresponding item on your list.

Also, plan to bring your other coupons just in case you see something on sale/clearance that fits within your budget. And your {meal plan} if you feel it would be helpful. Stick everything into a clipboard & head out to the store.

Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind while you are shopping:

• Go to the clearance section first to see if anything is there that is on your list.
• Bring cash and decide not to spend a penny more.
• Have a little flexibility to be able to substitute or add items if they are a better price than what you had planned. For example, if you have ground beef is on your list but ground turkey is cheaper watch for that and be ready to swap items.
• Separate items that you need from items that you want in your cart to add at the end of checkout if you have money leftover. (Put a basket on the bottom of your cart for these thing)
• Don't feel obligated to buy something just because you have a coupon for it! I often end up not using at least a few of the ones I put in my envelope because the price was still too high.

When you are done checking out, celebrate what you have saved! Realize that the people on TV are on there because they are outside of the 'norm' and that most people like you and I won't save hundreds every time.

On average I save between 15-30% on my bill and I am okay with that. Knowing that I can feed my family of 5 for $300-350 a month is a realistic goal for us and one that I am proud of.

Don't forget to enter in the giveaway - one lucky reader is going to win 5 sets of coupon inserts from this weeks paper!!



Meal Planning Day 1: Kitchen Inventory - Planning meals based on what is at home
Meal Planning Day 2: Store Ads & Coupons - Planning meals based on what is on sale
Meal Planning Day 3: 14-Day Menu - Planning ahead to save money
Tomorrow: Freezer Meals - Making meals in advance to save time

Embellished Notebook

This is such a cute craft plus it is super quick and super affordable!! Often times at Back-To-School time you can find compositions notebooks for $1 or less and most if not all of the others in your craft stash! ;) How about giving one of these cutom journals as a gift to a grad, new mom, or as teacher gifts!

Supplies:
-2 sheets 12x12 scrapbook paper for outside cover
-2 sheets 12x12 scrapbook paper for inside covers
-1 composition notebook
-Ribbon
-Embellishments
-Mod Podge & hot glue

Instructions:

-Hot glue two strips of ribbon to the inside of both covers

-Cut the paper for the inner covers to fit. Then apply with Mod Podge.

-Cut the paper for the outside of the notebook to fit the height but leave both sheets 12 inches in length. Starting on the back, mod podge the first sheet of cover paper to the notebook trimming it to leave a small lip in the front. Apply the second sheet starting at the outer edge trimming the meet the edge if the first sheet.

-Use ribbon to conceal the seem where the two cover sheets meet and finish with embellishments. :)

GIFT IDEAS: graduation, pregnancy announcement, baby shower gift for mom who already has kids, teacher gift.

Dollar Store Frame Craft

I am the creative activities coordinator for a local Teen MOPS group. Here is a super cute craft we did recently! You can use glue dots or small paper clips to attach picture and/or words if inspirations to each of the tags!!

SUPPLIES:
8x10 frame (glass removed)
1 sheet main color scrapbook paper
2 sheets coordinating scrapbook paper
Twine or ribbon
Mini clothespins
Embellishments (ribbon, paper flowers, bling, stickers)
Hot glue

DIRECTIONS:
Cut two pieces of twine or ribbon that are about 1 inch longer than the frames inside border. Hot glue each side to the back of the frames inside border to create a suspended line to hang your tags from.

Cut the main paper to fit the frame. Place on frame behind the twine and replace the back.

Cut several tags and hang from the line with the mini clothespins. Finish with cute embellishment.

Finally crop photos to fit on the tags and attach with small paper clips.