I Have the BEST Husband

...alternatly titled My Husband Built, Primed and Painted the Greatest Craft Workstation Eva (in one day).  But that was just a bit wordy.  On Day 1 of our long Memorial Day weekend hubs went to Lowe's at 7 AM.  By 7 PM I had an amazing craft workstation - built exactly like I'd asked. 

It's simple and has tons of storage space.  I'm going to skirt the base to hide all the unsightly hoarded clutter craft supplies that I can't display prettily.  The workstation is at 31 inches - a comfortable height for me to stand and cut fabric...or paper...or vinyl.  The top shelf is 13 inches high and the bottom one is 18 inches.  The entire station spans a little over 8 feet wide and since it's behind the door, it doesn't even feel like we've lost space in the room (bonus!)


Here's construction phase...

Lots of leveling...please note that they are both wearing a grey T-shirt, black shorts and workboots. 

Munchkin would totally grow a beard if he could :)

This is the work counter skeleton - its solid!

Hubs used MDF for the counter surface - we're going to get a piece of plexiglass cut to put down over it

The shelves were built using the same construction as the counter - they're 12 inches deep

Once the shelves were built, Hubs faced the off with 1x4 to give it more of a 'hutch feel'

And added a little crown moulding

And here it is before paint

We're painting the walls this weekend and then I'll just need to add all the finishing touches (aka the best part)!  I'm hoping to have it finished and ready for a full reveal buy the 4th of July.  Now my little Muchkin and I are off to IKEA to find some accessories and pretty storage :)


I participate in the following link parties: Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Skip to My Lou, The Girl Creative, Making the World Cuter, Miss Crafty Pants, Super Stinky Boys, Mad In Crafts, Embellishing Life Everyday, Keeping It Simple, The DIY Home Sweet Home Project, Chocolate Drool & Kisses, Simply Cadence, Polly Wanna Crafter, Sew Can Do, Tip Junkie, My Frugal Family, Coastal Charm, New Nostagalia, Blessed with Grace, The Creative Itch, Funky Polka Dot Giraffe, Home Stories A to Z, The Lettered Cottage, A Bowl Full of Lemons, At Home with K, All Thingz Related, Today's Creative Blog, Not Just a Housewife, Sew Much Ado, Blue Cricket Design, My Backyard Eden, Gluesticks, Extreme Personal Measures, The Thrifty Home, The Trendy Treehouse, Someday Crafts, All Things Heart and Home, Elements Interiors, My Girlish Whims, DIY by Design, Somewhat Simple, House of Hepworths, Seven Thirty Three, Fireflies and Jellybeans, Beyond the Picket Fence, Black Kat Design, Thrifty 101, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Finding Fabulous, Poppies at Play, The Inspired Room, KoJo Designs, Whipperberry, Inspiring Creations, Romantic Home, The Speckled Dog, At the Picket Fence, Little Brick Ranch, Designer Garden, Simply Sweet Home, Simply Designing, Tatertots & Jello, Funky Junk Interiors, Be Different Act Normal, Saturday Morning Blog, It's a Crafty Life, I Heart Naptime, Under the Table and Dreaming, Creative Jewish Mom, Flamingo Toes, The DIY Showoff, Marvelously Messy, Nifty Thrifty Things, Thrifty Decor Chick, The Cottage Chick,

Gone Cleanin

Wow - is it Tuesday already!?!  I've been busy trying to clear out this disaster

Hubbers is going to be starting on a sweet built-in for my soon-to-be craft room this weekend {squeal}!  Well, on one little condition...that I clear the room for him to work.  So instead of craftin, bakin and bloggin - this week I'm luggin and haulin.  Be back next week :)

Friday Night Funny

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Embroidery Hoop Grandma Gift

A few weeks ago I saw the cutest Handprint Cherry Blossom Trees over at Come Together Kids.  When I was trying to come up with a good Grandma gift for Mother's Day, these immediately came to mind.  What Grandma (or Mama) doesn't love a little handprint!  Since we only have one Little Stinker, I went with an embroidery hoop style (because you know the G-mas want to keep up with the lastest craft trends!)

Pink for Grandma D                    Blue for Grandma M

I love how they turned out!  I used canvas for the background, chocolate felt for the 'tree' handprint and my tiny felt flowers for the blossoms.  I'm making one for our (oh so slowly) developing gallery wall - I just have to decide on a flower color!


I participate in the following link parties: Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Skip to My Lou, The Girl Creative, Making the World Cuter, Miss Crafty Pants, Super Stinky Boys, Mad In Crafts, Embellishing Life Everyday, Keeping It Simple, The DIY Home Sweet Home Project, Chocolate Drool & Kisses, Simply Cadence, Polly Wanna Crafter, Sew Can Do, Tip Junkie, My Frugal Family, Coastal Charm, New Nostagalia, Blessed with Grace, The Creative Itch, Funky Polka Dot Giraffe, Home Stories A to Z, The Lettered Cottage, A Bowl Full of Lemons, At Home with K, All Thingz Related, Today's Creative Blog, Not Just a Housewife, Sew Much Ado, Blue Cricket Design, My Backyard Eden, Gluesticks, Extreme Personal Measures, The Thrifty Home, The Trendy Treehouse, Someday Crafts, All Things Heart and Home, Elements Interiors, My Girlish Whims, DIY by Design, Somewhat Simple, House of Hepworths, Seven Thirty Three, Fireflies and Jellybeans, Beyond the Picket Fence, Black Kat Design, Thrifty 101, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Finding Fabulous, Poppies at Play, The Inspired Room, KoJo Designs, Whipperberry, Inspiring Creations, Romantic Home, The Speckled Dog, At the Picket Fence, Little Brick Ranch, Designer Garden, Simply Sweet Home, Simply Designing, Tatertots & Jello, Funky Junk Interiors, Be Different Act Normal, Saturday Morning Blog, It's a Crafty Life, I Heart Naptime, Under the Table and Dreaming, Creative Jewish Mom, Flamingo Toes, The DIY Showoff, Marvelously Messy, Nifty Thrifty Things, Thrifty Decor Chick, The Cottage Chick,

Truffle Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce

My life has been heavy on the sweets lately.  Like this rich, decadent truffle cheesecake with raspberry sauce.  I made a whole one to take into the office and a few mini ones to keep for myself whaaahaahaaa at home.  This cheesecake gets better after chillin in the fridge for day. 

Truffle Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce

Cheesecake Ingredients
1 1/2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla



Raspberry Sauce Ingredients
1 cup frozen raspberries
1/4 cup frozen blackberries
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch


Cheesecake
1 - Preheat oven to 300 degrees F

2 - In a large mixing bowl, mix together crushed vanilla wafers, confectioners' sugar, cocoa, and butter by hand until fully combined
3 - Press wafer mixture into a 9 inch springform pan to form cheesecake crust
Note: You could also press tablespoons of mixture into a lined cupcake pan to make individual cheesecakes
4 - Melt the chocolate chips, in the microwave or double boiler
5 - In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy
6 - Gradually beat in condensed milk, eggs and vanilla until smooth
7 - Add melted chocolate slowly and beat on low speed until completely blended
8 - Pour filling into prepared crust
9 - Bake in preheated oven for 55 minutes if using springform pan, or 18 minutes if using cupcake pan.  The cake make seem underbaked in the center but will continue to set while cooling
Raspberry Sauce
1 - Combine berries, sugar and cornstarch over medium heat
2 - Cook until thick, about 10 minutes
3 - Remove from heat to cool

The Raspberry Sauce is also amazing on ice cream (coffee java chip is my favorite pairing) or with poundcake and whipped cream :)

To serve, spread the Raspberry Sauce on top of the cooled cheesecake.  I like to garnish whole cheesecakes with chocolate curls.

{sigh} I really wish I would've made more little cheesecakes to keep for myself for home ;)



I participate in the following link parties: Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Skip to My Lou, The Girl Creative, Making the World Cuter, Miss Crafty Pants, Super Stinky Boys, Mad In Crafts, Embellishing Life Everyday, Keeping It Simple, The DIY Home Sweet Home Project, Chocolate Drool & Kisses, Simply Cadence, Polly Wanna Crafter, Sew Can Do, Tip Junkie, My Frugal Family, Coastal Charm, New Nostagalia, Blessed with Grace, The Creative Itch, Funky Polka Dot Giraffe, Home Stories A to Z, The Lettered Cottage, A Bowl Full of Lemons, At Home with K, All Thingz Related, Today's Creative Blog, Not Just a Housewife, Sew Much Ado, Blue Cricket Design, My Backyard Eden, Gluesticks, Extreme Personal Measures, The Thrifty Home, The Trendy Treehouse, Someday Crafts, All Things Heart and Home, Elements Interiors, My Girlish Whims, DIY by Design, Somewhat Simple, House of Hepworths, Seven Thirty Three, Fireflies and Jellybeans, Beyond the Picket Fence, Black Kat Design, Thrifty 101, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Finding Fabulous, Poppies at Play, The Inspired Room, KoJo Designs, Whipperberry, Inspiring Creations, Romantic Home, The Speckled Dog, At the Picket Fence, Little Brick Ranch, Designer Garden, Simply Sweet Home, Simply Designing, Tatertots & Jello, Funky Junk Interiors, Be Different Act Normal, Saturday Morning Blog, It's a Crafty Life, I Heart Naptime, Under the Table and Dreaming, Creative Jewish Mom, Flamingo Toes, The DIY Showoff, Marvelously Messy, Nifty Thrifty Things, Thrifty Decor Chick, The Cottage Chick,

More Planting

I spent the entire weekend planting - annuals in the front beds, hanging baskets, containers, tomatoes and herbs.  I don't think I'm going to be able to stand up tomorrow!  Here's a picture intense look at all our hard work (it's a good thing I had helpers!)

And now it's time for a long soak in the tub!  How did you spend your weekend?

Friday Night Funny

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Tiny Felt Flowers

A few weeks ago I started playing around with felt, trying to make tiny felt flowers.  I had a project in mind that needed small flowers and felt is my favorite, go-to, non-raveling, every-color-of-the-rainbow choice for embellishments.  A little snipping and hot-glue later...I had these little cuties:

These may have been done before but I didn't look for tutorials because...well, apparently I like to do things the hard way.  The only thing you need to make these teensy four-petal flowers are felt, glue (hot glue is my preference) and seed beeds (or glitter...or confetti...or whatever you embellishment you like for the center).

Start with cutting out four small petals - mine were about a 1/2 inch long and a 1/4 inch wide and one small felt circle (this is for the back - my circles ended up being a little bigger than a 1/4 across)  The petals should be flat on one end and rounded (petal shaped) on the other - yep, totally technical terms

To form the petals, put a tiny dot of glue at the end of the flat side of the petal

And immediately pinch the edges toghether to form a pleat

Let the glue dry.  If your using hot glue, this only takes a few seconds

Next, use your scissors to cut any excess off of the glued/pinched side of the petal.  We want the petal to begin as close to the pleat as possible.  So cut ALMOST to the edge of the glue - if you cut the glue completely off, you lose the pleat. 

Once you have your four little petals pinched and trimmed, you're ready to assemble

To assemble, put a dot of glue on your felt circle...

and push the pinched edges of each petal into the glue

Because hot glue dries so quickly, I did 2 petals at a time. I found it helpful to really squish the petals down into the glue

Now all that's left is to seed beed (or glitter, or confetti) the center.  Just squirt a dollop of glue at the center...

And sprinkle on the seed beeds.  I gently pressed the beeds down into the glue to ensure that they would stay on

(this one is a double layered flower - similar process just two sizes of petals)

Aaaaand your done.  I whipped out 20 of these little flowers assembly-style while watching a movie.  They're quick and so cute.  I'm making some more just to have a little stash for cards and quick embellishments.  Without doing a real calculation, I'm guessing these cost around 5 cents each - way cheaper than buying ready made ones!


I participate in the following link parties: Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Skip to My Lou, The Girl Creative, Making the World Cuter, Miss Crafty Pants, Super Stinky Boys, Mad In Crafts, Embellishing Life Everyday, Keeping It Simple, The DIY Home Sweet Home Project, Chocolate Drool & Kisses, Simply Cadence, Polly Wanna Crafter, Sew Can Do, Tip Junkie, My Frugal Family, Coastal Charm, New Nostagalia, Blessed with Grace, The Creative Itch, Funky Polka Dot Giraffe, Home Stories A to Z, The Lettered Cottage, A Bowl Full of Lemons, At Home with K, All Thingz Related, Today's Creative Blog, Not Just a Housewife, Sew Much Ado, Blue Cricket Design, My Backyard Eden, Gluesticks, Extreme Personal Measures, The Thrifty Home, The Trendy Treehouse, Someday Crafts, All Things Heart and Home, Elements Interiors, My Girlish Whims, DIY by Design, Somewhat Simple, House of Hepworths, Seven Thirty Three, Fireflies and Jellybeans, Beyond the Picket Fence, Black Kat Design, Thrifty 101, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Finding Fabulous, Poppies at Play, The Inspired Room, KoJo Designs, Whipperberry, Inspiring Creations, Romantic Home, The Speckled Dog, At the Picket Fence, Little Brick Ranch, Designer Garden, Simply Sweet Home, Simply Designing, Tatertots & Jello, Funky Junk Interiors, Be Different Act Normal, Saturday Morning Blog, It's a Crafty Life, I Heart Naptime, Under the Table and Dreaming, Creative Jewish Mom, Flamingo Toes, The DIY Showoff, Marvelously Messy, Nifty Thrifty Things, Thrifty Decor Chick, The Cottage Chick,

I've Been Washing and Ironing and Cutting Oh My!

I'm working on a new quilt for my Little Turkey - hopefully I'll have it finished before next winter ;)

Happy Mother's Day

Here are a few of my Pinterest favorites for Mother's Day

1  Beautiful Mother's Day Card {source}
2  A lovely bit of wrapping for Mom's gift {source}
3  I LOVE this Manifesto for Mums {source}
4  Bright & gorgeous bouquet for Mom {source}
5  Absolutely delightful Happy Mother's Day pennant banner {source}
6  Breathtaking button heart {source}
7  My favorite gift to receive ;) {source}
8  Another beautiful Mother's Day Card {source}

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mama's!