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10.29.2013

Tutorial Tuesday!

Pumpkin Pie Truffles:


No Sew Spooky Spider Poncho:





Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog 

address) using the subject of your tutorial to generate  interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!




Hope Studios



10.28.2013

SUPERBOWL BOUND!

I'd like to interrupt regularly scheduled posting today to tell you we are bound for the SUPERBOWL next week!


So, I may be a little MIA this week (I'll be sure to set up Tutorial Tuesday!) while I paint signs, sew pennants, assemble noisemakers, and package spirit gear for our BIG GAME! Our school's two middle teams will be battling each other for the championship, so next weekend will be intense.


But right now, we are basking in the glory of making it to the end...

GO MIDDLE GREEN!

10.25.2013

Invisibility or Flight?






You have an opportunity to acquire a superpower...

You are the only person in the world to have this power...

Would you choose Invisibility or Flight?
(thanks to This American Life for today's inspiration)

10.22.2013

Tutorial Tuesday!

Halloween Eye Book:


No Sew Table Runner:


Elegantly Spooky Decor:


CLICK PICKS:

#1  Flatter Your Figure!

#2  Sew Your Own Leggings

#3  Eye Book (see above)

Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog 

address) using the subject of your tutorial to generate  interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!




Hope Studios



10.18.2013

What is Your Excuse? Feedback Friday


Mother of 3, Maria Kang, changed her Facebook profile to include this photo and it has exploded online!  She has received every reaction from those who are inspired to those who feel bullied by the image and caption.  You can read about Maria and the backlash in this article in the NY Daily News.

It's Feedback Friday...

What is your reaction to Maria's photo and caption?

10.17.2013

Cute Emergency Kit

I've been struggling with what to give for Soul Sister birthdays in the past few months and finally found this idea I liked on Pinteres.  After a little tweeking, I came up with the perfect little

  Girlfriend Emergency Kit!

Supplies:

Cloth cocktail napkins (I found some at Target)
10 Snack sized zip top baggies
Scissors
Scotch tape
Sewing machine
Ribbon

Begin by layering the baggies as shown.  These will become little pouches you can fill with goodies!  Alternate a baggie with the top facing in opposite directions then tape in place.
 

Sew straight down the middle of the napkin and baggies using a zig zag stitch:


See?  Remove the tape, and now you're all attached and ready for the ribbon closures:


Using a coordinating ribbon, cut 4 strips, each about 6 inches long, and zig zag stitch into place on the edges of the napkin.


Fill all your pouches with goodies...



The pouch ties up into this cute little clutch that you can stow in your car, purse, overnight bag...


Here is Marzipan with her new Emergency Kit:


Here is what I chose for my Girlfriend Kits:


Shout wipes
Emery boards
Paper clips
Tums
Advil
Razor cutter
Tissues
Breath mints
Safety pins
Gum
Sewing kit
Super glue
Rubber bands
Bobby pins
Hair bands
Tampons
Cough drops
Tiny zip ties
Quarters
Tooth picks
Matches (strike match on emery board)

Think about how you could customize this.  Using a full sized napkin and quart or gallon sized baggies, the sky is the limit!

Here are some more ideas:

Off to College Kit: Gas card, money, quarters for laundry, Bandaids, pen, little calculator...

Bride Kit: pain reliever, corsage pins, safety pins, clear nail polish, hem tape, dental floss, mints, sewing kit, tiny scissors, hair pins, eye drops, tweezers, straws, snack bar

First Aid Kit: Bandaids, ace bandage, alcohol wipes, pain reliever, ointment, tweezers, gauze pads, cloth tape, latex gloves

Roadside Kit: Glow sticks, leather gloves, Swiss Army Knife, box cutter, duct tape, rain poncho, batteries, flashlight, snacks, pencil, paper, rope, garbage bags

10.15.2013

Tutorial Tuesday!

I Spy Strip Quilt:


Sweet Potato Gratitude Rolls:


20 No Sew Halloween Costumes:


CLICK PICKS (last week's most clicked links):






Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog 

address) using the subject of your tutorial to generate  interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!




Hope Studios



10.14.2013

Soul Sisters Birthday


The Soul Sisters got together for Marzipan's birthday last week!

We all decided to try a newer restaurant in the area called Tamari and we loved it!  We each ordered a Bento box lunch (my photo turned out terrible!).


Next we exchanged gifts....


I'll reveal what is in this cute little bundle on Thursday!

10.11.2013

Travel Snacks





I have a friend who keeps a giant bag of M & M's in the car to munch on while she drives,  I keep a box of Cliff bars in my trunk for emergency snack situations, and my sister-in-law always has nuts in her center consol.

It's Feedback Friday...

What is your favorite thing to snack on in the car?

10.10.2013

Playoff Rally Towels


Regular football practice ends this week and then we gear up for the playoffs!   The boys are practicing under the lights every night to get ready for the tough games in the coming weeks.

At this point in the season, it feels like we have been practicing for a year.  It starts to drag, the light is fading, and it is getting pretty cold outside.  As "team mom" I like to plan some special things to keep the boys motivated: hot chocolate after practice, bon fire parties, a sweet treat here and there...

Living in Steeler Country, I also like to make Rally Towels for the fans to wave during the playoff games!

I actually made this stencil a few years ago and I keep it in a special spot so I can pull it out every season to make our team's towels.  I have made the towels a few different ways, but this year I feel like the method is refined and it's easy enough to whip up a few towels each night during practice.  Before long, I'll have 30 towels ready for waving!

DIY Rally Towels:

Supplies:

Hand towels (I buy the cheap white ones from Dollar Tree and dye them the color I need with Rit Fabric Dye, but you could keep them white and stencil on your team color instead)
Stencil plastic
Exacto knife
Acrylic paint
Sponge stencil "dobber" (I don't know the real name - it's the round, flat bottomed sponge brush at the craft store)  


If you are dying your towels, wash them first so the dye will stick. Instead of placing the wet towels in the dryer, mix up your dye according to the package directions and place damp towels in dye. (I dye mine out in the back yard using one of those giant keg buckets and pots of boiling water from the stove.)

Rinse towels and place in dryer according to directions on package.

Print out the design you would like and print out on your computer.  Place the paper under the stencil and cut out the plastic using the Exacto knife. (I lay an old magazine down to protect my table during the cutting process)

Now, just lay the stencil on top of the towel and stencil your design using a dabbing motion with the brush.  Repeat 29 more times...

Good luck, Rams!

10.08.2013

Tutorial Tuesday!

Skillet Potholder:


 Fig and Honeyed Goat Cheese Tarts:


Halloween Costume Ideas:


Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog 

address) using the subject of your tutorial to generate  interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!




Hope Studios



10.07.2013

Carmelized Brussels Sprouts (with bacon and balsamic)


Hey, stop that! Brussels sprouts are good, and good for you!  Will you just try them my way...please?

Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Balsamic
(recipe modified from Simply Scratch)

Ingredients:

1-1/2 pounds Fresh Brussels Sprouts, trimmed and halved
4 strips Bacon, diced
1 medium Yellow Onion, diced
1 tablespoon Butter
Salt and pepper to taste
Balsamic Glaze:

1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp. honey

Directions:

In a large 12 inch skillet, heat a tablespoon of butter over medium/medium-high heat.
Add in the chopped bacon and cook for about 5 minutes.

Add the chopped onion, stir and cook until the bacon starts to crisp and the onions are golden. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate, leaving the bacon fat in the skillet.

Lay the halved brussels sprouts, cut side down, in the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium and place the lid over the pan. The steam will cook the sprouts. Cook 5-8 minutes before stirring to get a nice carmelization on sprouts.

Add the bacon and onions back into the skillet, stir and continue to cook the sprouts until fork tender. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Drizzle two tablespoons of the balsamic glaze over sprouts, stir, and serve.

10.04.2013

What Do You Want To Talk About?




It's Feedback Friday and you have a free platform to air whatever you want to talk about today!

So....

What do you want to talk about?
(Miley? Government shutdown? What to name your dog?)

10.03.2013

On To The Playoffs, Baby!

Both my boy's football teams have officially made it to the playoffs!


It took a lot of work to get here.  Brave interceptions against much bigger players:


Outrunning their opponents:


Looking for holes:



And Making some tackles:


Good luck Green!

10.01.2013

Tutorial Tuesday!

Wow, some great ideas last week.  There were several posts I was dying to feature, but they had images disabled.  Here are some great ideas from bloggers who did want to be featured!

Build a Catapult:


3D Paper Box:



DIY Instant Hot Chocolate: 



Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog 

address) using the subject of your tutorial to generate  interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!




Hope Studios



How to Avoid Stress At Work