The LemonDrop Tree

Nutella Cupcake Recipe

2011-07-29T23:15:00.002-05:00

Recently I have made the transition from a point and shoot camera to a dslr camera. I purchased the Canon Eos Rebel T3, a great entry level model for us slr newbies! Even on auto mode it takes great pictures that are worth the investment. I must admit, I now shoot everything....and I do mean everthing!

I recently experimented with Nutella flavored cupcakes....who doesn't love Nutella?! It tastes like a Ferrero Rocher but that should be of no surprise as the Ferrero company produces both Nutella and their famous Ferrero Rocher candies! The cupcakes turned out yuuummy! I made a basic chocolate cupcake and filled the inside middle part with Nutella buttercream frosting. You can also fill it with just Nutella alone but I must warn you this will make the cupcake that much more heavy....you are gonna need ALOT of milk! Try buying the cow, it will be cheaper! I prefer my cupcakes a bit lighter so I filled it with the frosting as I mentioned before. You can do this one of two ways, you can take out a portion of the cupcake with your fingers (don't worry the frosting on top should cover up the mess!) or you can use a Bismarck Tip and pipe in the Nutella frosting until the cupcake plumps up a bit. Once you are done that, swirl on the frosting on top and garnish with an almond milk chocolate Lindt square.

Nutella Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients:
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 13-ounce jar of Nutella
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon clear vanilla extract
2 pounds confectioners’ sugar, sifted
6-8 tablespoons heavy cream or milk

Directions:
1. In bowl, blend butter and Nutella until combined. Slowly add in confectioner’s sugar, and continue creaming until well blended.
2. Add salt, vanilla, and 4 tablespoons of heavy cream or milk. Blend on low speed until moist. Add an additional 3-5 tablespoons of heavy cream or milk until you reach the desired consistency. Beat at high speed until frosting is smooth and fluffy.

Yields enough frosting for 24 cupcakes

Sweet Shoppe Party

2011-07-04T19:05:00.002-05:00

So for awhile I have been fascinated with Amy Atlas' work. If you do not know who she is, she is the Queen of the dessert table! You can see her work almost on any blog that speaks about candy buffets, dessert tables etc. And if you have not heard of her I suggest you do a quick google search and get ready to feast your eyes on the best eye candy you will ever see! Anyhow inspired by her lovely work I wanted to take a stab at creating my own candy buffet table for a Sweet Shoppe Party I hosted for my daughter. My color theme was hot pink, orange, yellow, and hints of blue. I loved how it turned out! The candy buffet table had a lot of vintage inspired items on it from vintage candy buttons, rock candy on a stick and strings, to wax liquid candy filled bottles. Even some of the jars I used had a semi vintage apothecary jar feel to it. I have posted more pictures for your viewing pleasure here. Should you want to host your own party and have questions on where to purchase some of these items then feel free to leave me a comment and I'll do my best to respond!

Diy Paper Lanterns....Move Over Tissue Paper Pom Poms!!!!!

2011-06-07T12:16:00.002-05:00

Tissue paper pom poms are all the rage on the diy party decorating scene thanks to Martha Stewart. They can be seen on just about every blog that showcases those lovely diy style parties. However thanks to Martha once again there is a new decor idea for your parties. These festive tissue paper lanterns seen in June's Good Things are a bit time consuming to make but the end result is worth every moment spent! For a step by step tutorial click here!

Water Party Sponge Ball Tutorial

2011-05-25T02:02:00.002-05:00

Summer is here and along with it comes all the activities one must dream up to keep their kids occupied. Water activities go hand in hand with the season so a simple search of the internet will uncover tons of water related fun things to do. However the craft loving person I am, I simply can not let any opportunity pass where I don't whip out my craft tools! The blog "One Charming Party" fulfills that need by showing us how to make even your dish washing sponges look oh so cute! Just follow these simple instructions found here and enjoy the rest of your summer!

Watermelon and Cantaloupe Fruit Popsicles

2011-05-06T02:11:00.002-05:00

And the world's WORST blogger award goes to (drum roll please)....you guessed it!.....The LemonDrop Tree!!! Yes it really has been over three months since my last post! Don't worry, its not just my blog that has been neglected....just about everything else in my life has been neglected too because of those time/energy/fun/life sucking creatures I call my kids! I DO love them but sometimes I want to... (*note* keep thoughts to self!) Anyhow I'm back...for now! My adventures in late night internet surfing brings me to these little oh so easy fruit popsicle delights courtesy of the Bakers Royale blog! Who doesn't love popsicles?! All you need is a watermelon and cantaloupe. Cut the watermelon in slices and cut out flowers using a metal flower cookie cutter. Cut out the center using a round cookie cutter. Discard round center in mouth! Moving on along....using a melon baller, scoop out balls from the cantaloupe and place them in the middle of the watermelon flowers. You can also reverse this and cut out flowers from the cantaloupe and balls from the watermelon to achieve the look in the picture. Next insert popsicle sticks prior to serving to avoid getting them soggy and enjoy!

Bright Blossoms

2011-01-20T16:35:00.001-06:00

Yes say it ain't so?! TWO postings in a month? Wow that must mean I have some time on my hands? Not really!!!! My hands ARE full with three kids but I still take time out to appreciate life's little things! And I appreciate all things that make me whisper "eye candy!" So this next item didn't whisper it as so much scream it to me! I love these beautiful flowers especially because they are made of (and you'll never guess!)......shopping bags!!!! I know eh? Who would have guessed? I found this shop here on etsy selling them in all types of colors and materials. So even if you don't plan on buying them, take a peak in the shop just to make your day that much brighter!

Diy Barcode Wall Art

2011-01-12T14:54:00.002-06:00

We all have boring open white spaces on our walls that could use a little eye candy sometimes. The problem is how to do and make something fun and interesting but not spend a ton of money. The following tutorial will show you how to recreate a magnified image of barcode wall art. This is as inexpensive as it is bold! All you need is a roll of electrical tape and some vinyl numbers found at an office supply store. The most important point if you choose this project is to make sure that your edges are perfectly straight. If you just wing it your lines will begin to look crooked and you won't get the look you want. Blue painter's tape is used here to maintain straight lines that can be removed when you are finished the barcode.

Free Printable Rainbow Stationary and Accesories

2010-12-09T16:44:00.001-06:00

Its "freebie" time again!!!!! I love love love "free" and I know you all do too! I found this adorable Rainbow Stationary set on Paper Glitter's blog found here. It includes a few things such as the printable notes, envelopes, envelope liners, and circle tags which can double as cupcake toppers! I even found a matching party kit on their site. If you are looking to further coordinate and make your package or notes stand out from the rest you can add my chipboard epoxy button embellishments in the Rainbow Bright collection found here to them. Of course if they are "sold" in my shop feel free to contact me and I'll custom make you a set for you. Paper Glitter's blog is filled with wonderful bright things to look at and she has a shop as well. They specialize in printable items such as stationary, party decor, and paper dolls and I have to say
they sure are stunning!

Whimsical Fun DIY Decorated Water Bottles

2010-11-16T01:12:00.005-06:00

For awhile I've been thinking of throwing my daughter a party. I have to say the most fun part is thinking of a theme and decorating around it. There are websites that provide endless inspiration. However the biggest thrill is when you could put something together that is SUPER CHEAP! Yes that's right, I said cheap!!! So with that being my inspiration my latest craft I give you are these cute little diy decorated water bottles. All you need is a case of the small water bottles and a roll of large size kawaii deco tape. You can find kawaii deco tape on Etsy by doing a simple search under the supplies category.

Instructions:

1) Measure the circumference around your bottle.
2) Cut tape according to length.
3) Peel off backing and adhere to bottle(s).

It's that simple!

Customizable Diy Clock

2010-11-01T21:38:00.003-05:00

Tick tock, tick tock....do you hear that? Thats the sound of time telling you that your boring walls need a little sprucing up! However you won't need much time to make this easy diy clock that can be customized to match your room in millions of ways thanks to the clever scrapbook industry. For as much paper there is on the market, you have that many choices on how you want your clock to look.

What you'll need;

Scrapbook paper
Foam-core board
Spray adhesive
Chipboard numbers, paint, and glue (optional)
Clockworks

Instructions;

Decide on your clock's shape. Adhere paper to foam-core board using spray adhesive. Cut out the desired shape using a crafts knife.
If desired, paint chipboard numbers in a coordinating color; let dry. Attach to the clock face with glue.
Mark the location for the clockworks. Using a 5/16-inch-diameter dowel sharpened to a point (or a round pencil or awl), puncture a 5/16-inch hole. Carefully trim excess paper from the hole with a crafts knife.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions to attach the clockworks

Diy Butterfly Cookies

2010-10-23T04:12:00.003-05:00

I love parties, I love food (especially the kind thats not healthy for you!), and I love decorations! In fact the sites that I frequent the most are diy party decorating ones. So I was so happy to stumble upon this little one in one of my extremely early morning (ok I admit its late night but who's keeping tabs, right?) surfing sessions. This adorable butterfly cookie tutorial was made and shared by the good folks over at Bird Craft blog. Not only do they share the "how to's" but also link you to where you can find the supplies to make these sugary sweet treats! This would be perfect for any garden themed party whether its a ladies brunch, or a little girl's tea party. Think you have what it takes to bring out the Betty Crocker in you? Than click here and bake away!

Diy Instant Nursery Wall Art

2010-10-08T01:04:00.004-05:00

So its been some time since I last posted. I wouldn't blame laziness this time, rather I have a good excuse for you all! You see I have been rather busy with my precious little baby girl that was born on Sept. 19th 2010! Those of you who have followed my blog for some time now, I know what you are all thinking...."didn't she just have another kid like yesterday?!" Yes I did, a little boy who is now 15 months old! So as you all know, my time is spent changing diapers, reading books, wiping up spit up, dealing with temper tantrums and all the fun things that come along with handling two children under the age of two......big sigh! However I could not be happier, life seems "complete" for me! In honor of all things baby, my latest diy craft is just that! One of the most fun things about expecting and having a baby is channeling your inner artist and decorating the nursery. This can be frustrating for those who are no Picasso! But fear not my fellow mommies and mommies to be! Now you can make a cute diy framed wall art by just simply purchasing a few inexpensive items. All you need is a frame with a pre-cut matte, wrapping paper with a baby theme, and double sided tape or glue.

1)Just simple cut your wrapping paper to the size of the opening of the frame.

2)Adhere the precut matte with double sided tape or glue to the paper.

3) Insert the matted paper into the frame....voila...you have yourself instant wall art!!!!!

It could not be any simpler! As usual...enjoy!

DIY Felt Letter Pillows

2010-09-15T00:45:00.004-05:00

Its been sometime since I have posted. I find myself scouring the internet, bookmarking so many diy crafts with the intention of someday sharing and blogging about it. But when it comes time to actually do it I have a hard time picking or even remembering what I want to showcase! This weeks selection was not a hard one though! Good old Martha shows us how to make these lovely felt alphabet/name pillows using just a couple of items. Not only are these pretty to look at but functional as well. These pillows will get your little one used to how to spell his name. For easy to follow instructions, click here!

Blog GIVEAWAY!!!!!!! Courtesy of Scarlett's Whimsy!

2010-08-30T00:55:00.019-05:00

**This contest is now closed. I have used Random.org's number generator which produced number 17 but unfortunately can't get the screen shot right to display here on my blog. Anyhow congratulations Jenny, please contact us to claim your prize within 72 hours**

**Unfortunately the prize has not been claimed and a second runner up winner has been picked. Congratulations #14...Fashuneesta! Kindly contact me to claim your prize within 72 hours**

The 50's conjures up a lot thoughts both good and bad. I did not exist to see those days but know quite a bit about it via popular media. Who could forget "Leave it to Beaver" right?! Whether you think those days were good or bad one thing is for sure, the fashion was very chic! The 50's saw the birth of the A-line skirt, women switching from shawls to trendy coats and feathers....definitely feathers!!!! My next featured shop owner, Scarlett's Whimsy found here has brought that decadent era back with her throwback to 50's inspired vintage headpieces and more. She creates romantic pieces like the one pictured here with its rolled rosettes, feather pieces in pink and aqua blue on creme netting accented with a vintage crystal pin all adhered to a pink headband. This piece also comes with a matching crochet hat (not pictured here). Her entire shop is filled with romantic pieces befitting of fashion diva's like Carrie Bradshaw, such as t these bright pink shoe clips named in honor of her! Definitely my favorite! I have told you my favorite, now I'd like to hear from you! In return one lucky commenter will win this lovely headpiece courtesy of Scarlett's Whimsy on Etsy. What do you have to do to enter?

1) Take a look around her Etsy shop found here and than come back and leave a comment telling me what your favorite item is from her shop. Her bright and vivid pictures make window shopping by itself fun!!!! God only knows how many times I have clicked on her site just to peak!!!!

*note*...in order to insure everyone actually goes into the shop, please kindly list a favorite item OTHER than the one showcased here.

Here on The LemonDrop Tree we make it easy for you to gain additional entries! Read on....

2) For more entries facebook and/or twitter this post and come back and leave me the link (posting on your facebook will be considered one entry and twittering will be considered an additonal entry...so you could do both!).

3) Join her Facebook fanpage found here and come back here and let me know with your username.

Thats a grand total of FOUR ENTRIES!!!! Ok so now I sound like an infomercial so thats my sign to wind things up!

One random winner will be picked this Sunday Sept. 5th 2010 and announced here on the following Monday. You must contact me within 72 hours to claim your prize.

As usual, good luck!

Diy Tissue Paper Wall Art

2010-08-24T06:33:00.003-05:00

So you think you need to be the next Picaso to decorate your apartment or home walls with something stylish? News flash....you need little to no artistic talent to bring life to your walls with this next diy tutorial courtesy of "In my own Style" blog/site found here. All you need are a few simple items like an artist canvas, modge podge, furniture nail tacks, decorative tissue paper, and ribbon.

This project is so easy that you can even make a few smaller ones and give them away as hostess gifts!

Schools Back!....Freebie Time!

2010-08-19T14:50:00.004-05:00

So as a kid the time I hated MOST was August. Why? Because it was that time of year that all the "back to school" commercials were shown on tv reminding us that our freedom was about to come to an end! It didn't matter how cute the item was that they were selling....cute could not cure that sinking feeling I had in my stomach.

As an adult now, my feelings could not be more different! I LOVE this month! Why? Because it is that time of the year that reminds ME of how I might be getting back some of MY FREEDOM by sending my child off to school....lol!!!!! Don't get me wrong, I love her a lot but every parent enjoys those few silent moments in the day that only school can provide you! In celebration of going back to school I found this most adorable desktop wallpaper background calender available in different sizes for download here, thanks to BerrySprite. Make sure you visit her Flickr stream.....she's got some of the cutest things! So to all my fellow mommies out there....CONGRATULATIONS on surviving yet another summer!

Summer Home Handmade Polymer Clay Button Embellishments-Set of 7

2010-08-06T18:32:00.008-05:00

Summer time reminds me of a lot of things.....fresh cut grass, the smell of flowers, vacations and more! I love summer and wish it was all year round! To celebrate the season I made these sweet little polymer clay buttons called "Summer Home" found in my shop here. I baked and glazed these buttons to give them a very shiny surface. Unfortunately my picture taking skills lack a bit and I was not able to photograph the shine! I love how these turned out....especially the hot pink and pearly pale pink colors in this set! I'm playing around with polymer clay these days and expanding my button line to go above the chipboard epoxy buttons I carry in my shop. I've already made several other type of sets/themes just waiting to be photographed. Hopefully I can do that before the summer ends!!!!

Blog GIVE AWAY!!!!!

2010-08-02T05:03:00.023-05:00

**This giveaway is now closed ** Congratulations to Daffodil Petals...you are our blog giveaway winner!!!!! Please contact us within 48 hours to claim your prize!

"Girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice"....we have all heard this sweet little rhyme praising the merits of little girls. However I'm not sure they can be all sugary let alone nice all the time but one thing is for sure...girls definately do have the nicest things! Whether it is a beautiful bright wardrobe, glittery shoes or sweet hair accesories, nice is not a strong enough word! Girls are like little dolls for grown up people like me to dress up and accesorize! So if most of you are like me and share my sentiments you will appreciate this next blog giveaway courtesy of Brinababe's Shop over on Etsy! One lucky winner will win a yellow or orange satin rose band (your choice) like the one pictured here! Each hair band comes with three beautiful satin roses on it and is sure to compliment any summer outfit! So what do you have to do to enter the contest? Easy peasy!

1) Take a look around her Etsy shop found here and than come back and leave a comment telling me what your favorite item is from her shop. Personally I'm really digging her "damask wipe clutch"...so classy!

Want additional entries?.....no problem!

2) Take a look around this other shop of her's found here and leave an additional comment here on my blog. Her "pettiskirts" are just the cutest things!

But wait....there's more!!!!

3) For more entries facebook and/or twitter this post and come back and leave me the link (posting on your facebook will be considered one entry and twittering will be considered an additonal entry...so you could do both!).

One random winner will be picked this Sunday August 8th 2010 and announced here on the following Monday.

Good luck to all and may you have fun dressing up your little dolls!!!!

Popsicles, Popsicles, and More Popsicles!

2010-07-29T04:46:00.017-05:00

Etsy, crafts, and bright colors are a serious addiction for me! As if the countless hours on that site looking up truly unique things is not enough for me I found a new hobby....creating "treasuries". A treasury is a showcase of items from other people's shops that you admire. You can put it together by theme, colors, etc. My first showcase was inspired by my previous blog entry explaining how to make diy soaps. The popsicle soaps inspired me to look up all things "popsicle" related and voila...this is what I came up with. The colors are so bright, so vibrant that I just HAD to share! To get a closer look at each item featured in my treasury and where to purchase them click here.

DIY Soap Tutorials

2010-07-23T22:38:00.010-05:00

The art of soap making goes back hundreds of years. Over time it has evolved from simple white square bars to something that can function as both a practical cleaning product and a decorative item. There are several great online tutorials to making soap but a really comprehensive sight that lists the different types of soap making process can be found here. Not only will you find the different methods but also everything from lotion formulas, coloring options, to building soap cutters and more. However if you feel like you can't master this fine art or don't have time then I suggest checking out this online shop for their cute popsicle soaps. You will find a wide range of glycerin soaps in Soapy Love's shop from these citrus soaps pictured here to "Peachy Keen", "Confetti Cupcake", "Candy Carousel" and more. I'm in love with the pink grapefruit ones! Be the hit of your next party with these as your centerpieces!

Printable Eye Chart Expression!

2010-07-17T01:00:00.023-05:00

Reading those traditional eye charts at the eye doctor's office can get a little bit difficult sometimes. However your eyes won't have a hard time looking at these easy on the eyes eye chart expressions! The online store www.ink-bloom.com produces a PDF set of 18 different sayings in the form of these eye charts ranging from "I Love You Mom..." to "Your the Best Teacher..." etc. All you have to do after purchasing and downloading is print them on pretty bright blank cards like these.

Easy DIY Colorul Room Project

2010-07-11T10:48:00.005-05:00

Colorful, fun, flirty, girly, feminine, vibrant, whimsical....all words that come to my mind when I see rooms like this! To achieve this look or something close to it is relatively easy. Buy several colorful pillows to decorate your room. If you are good at sewing, even better....make your own and save some of the fabric. Purchase a few plastic frames from a thrift store, dollar store, Walmart etc. (anywhere) along with Krylon Plastic Fusion paint. Lay your frames out on plastic sheeting or any other protective cloth. First prime your surface if needed and than spray away with 30 second intervals. Allow the paint to dry (approx. 30 minutes) and voila....you have yourself a colorful frame! Repeat a few additional times with your other frames using other colors to coordinate with the fabric within your pillows. Also purchase other plastic nic nacs of your choice like the owls in this picture and spray away in the same manner you did with the frames. Now remember that additional fabric I mentioned earlier to you diy sewers? Use that in the frame. For those of you who bought your pillows and don't have the extra matching fabric, no problems! Just use any other fabric that goes well....the print does not have to match the print of the fabric in the pillows for this project. You could even use scrapbook paper instead in the frames.

So "Tweet" Cookies!

2010-07-07T01:48:00.006-05:00

Awww, these look so sweet! But what are they? They are cookies of course! But why do they look so smooth you may ask? That is because over at the blog "The Decorated Cookie" they were playing around with what the baking industry calls "poured icing sugar", a sugar you usually pour opposed to roll out like fondant or pipe. It is usually reserved for little baked goods like petite fours to give it that smooth finish. The Decorated Cookie blog has been gracious enough to share with us the "how to" to be found here if you'd like to take a stab at making these cute cookies. All I can say is, they are just so "tweet"!!!!!

Free Printable Polka Dot Gift Tags

2010-06-24T19:18:00.005-05:00

I love you my followers and those who pop in to my blog! Thats why I want to give you guys something. I found these diy free printable polka dot gift tags on the blog Hello, Good Gravy's site found here. Who doesn't love free huh? There are more free printables on that site ranging from candy colored gift tags similar to these to seed packet wrap around labelss, and to do lists. I love these in particular because of their vibrant colors and the fact you are not limited to a tag for a specific holiday ie. Christmas gift tags etc. Attach these to any gift or use them as journaling spots in your scrapbook layouts. The possibilites are limitless. Enjoy and thank you for visiting my blog!

DIY Flower Wrapped Favors

2010-06-22T21:09:00.007-05:00

The LemonDrop Tree blog is all about bright, all about colorful, all about pretty and all about creativity. So when I saw this on the Martha Stewart site I knew I just had to share share share! These simple favors/party decorations/center pieces are easy to make and require just a few things. You will need acetate cylinders, tissue paper, and ribbon. Don't forget the candy by the way to fill the insides of the tube! To make just follow these simple easy instructions found here. These would look great with many of them grouped off together in may colors. I can imagine them on a tiered cake stand as a center piece. These would also look nice with tissue paper pom pom decorations that I blogged about awhile ago here. Pair them together for a festive look.

Blythe Dolls....My NEW Love!

2010-06-19T05:14:00.003-05:00

Cupcake and Candy Pink
Originally uploaded by Funny Bunny - Helena

You guys all know how much I love whimsical things. I recently stumbled upon a collector's doll that adults seem to be going crazy over. It is called Blythe and apparently it has been around for AGES! I must admit I fell in love immediately with them....with their big heads and eyes on these little tiny bodies, amazing wardrobe, bright hair and so forth. Apparently the craze extends to customizing them with different color eye chips you can change to give a different look, like for example bright pink or purple eyes! People buy customized hair style wigs in every color under the sun for these things too! This doll has the BEST wardrobe I've ever seen on any doll! Imagine a pink fur coat and punk rock boots?! Just check Ebay to see the selection. So as you can tell with this much research into a doll, I HAD to find out the price so I could purchase one to play with, right? Well I did and they seem to start and go for $150!!!! Sniff sniff! I guess I can stop holding my breath waiting for one now!

Watermelon Popsicles and Ice Cubes

2010-06-17T21:35:00.003-05:00

Now that summer vacation is just around the corner, the kiddies will most likely spend most of their time outside riding bikes, swimming, running around etc. One thing is for sure with the summer heat beating down their backs....they will be hungry and thirsty for something cold and refreshing. Nothing says refreshing like popsicles! However all that sugar with little to no health benefits has some people shying away from giving too much to their kids. So why not try to make your own watermelon fruit popsicles at home? They are simple to make, look great, and taste even better! Here is what you need to get you started;

Ingredients:: Watermelon
Chunks of fresh fruit - try grapes, strawberries, or kiwi fruit

Instructions:: Puree watermelon and pour into Popsicle molds. Drop in chunks of fresh fruit, insert caps and place in freezer. Serve when frozen.

You can also puree your seedless watermelons and pour into ice trays. Drop in a pretty cube into your juice or seltzer for a refreshing summer time drink. Enjoy!

New This Month to the Shop.......

2010-06-16T19:51:00.008-05:00

New to my shop this month are these VERY BIG Chipboard Epoxy Button!. This particular set comes in lovely feminine shades of light blue, pale yellow, light orange, and bright pink....not to mention the glitter buttons! You can't forget the glitter! There are nine buttons to this set in several different sizes just ready to embellish all your crafting needs. If you are a paper crafter such as a scrapbooker, these make beautiful embellishments for your layouts. However they are not limited to just paper crafts. I love how these turned out with the eclectic mix of doodled images in flowers, heart and crossbones, paislies, stitches, and the big fat diamond ring! However this diamond ring won't break your budget. The whole set comes for under $7.00! Now where can you find a diamond for that price?!

Rainbow Cake Necklace

2010-06-09T04:41:00.005-05:00

Ummmm....Rainbow Cake! But its so fattening! Ahhh fear not. Not this little piece of heaven! I LOVE cake but can't stand the idea of all the extra calories, but now I can have cake without having to worry about getting heavier by the forkful! Etsy seller Sea of Creations has found a way for us to have our cake and watch our figures at the same time! In case you could not tell, this isn't really cake, its a charm necklace. And if you could not tell than its time to get your eyes tested! I love how kawaii or shall I say cute this is! The colors are absolutely beautiful! Makes me actually really want to have cake! In case you want some too you might want to check out this previous post of mine here on how to make a cake that looks just like this one!....and you can actually eat mine! But in case you perfer to do without the real thing but would still like a slice of cake you can find this cute necklace here.

Tranparent Overlay Embellishments

2010-06-04T20:08:00.002-05:00

Tranparent Overlay Embellishments
Originally uploaded by The LemonDrop Tree

I've been adding more things to my Etsy shop lately. One of the things I noticed that were hot in the scrapbook industry is transparent overlays. However they usually come in large 12x12 size sheets and for some reason I always feel bad cutting up a whole sheet when I just need a small portion. I always feel like I should be using the "whole" thing for a layout, not just bits and pieces. I ended up designing these "little" transparent overlay embellishments for your scrapbook layout or a greeting card. Now I don't feel guilty using them! I just love the color of these. Aside from the pink and yellow, the blue, green, and red are a transparent color! These are sure to cheer you up and add fun to your next paper project!

DIY Tissue Paper Pom Poms

2010-05-27T23:45:00.004-05:00

So many brides or party hostesses look for inexpensive ways to brighten up the decor for that special day. Paper lanterns now have some competition with these beautiful yet delicate tissue paper pom poms. Martha Stewart makes a diy kit that you can find at your local Michaels craft store if you have one near by but why bother when you just need a few simple items to make these adorable floating eye candies. All you really need to purchase if you already don't have on hand is tissue paper (duh!), floral wire, monofilament, and some scissors. Follow the step by step instructions found here and get ready to ooh and aah everyone at your next soiree!

Almost Sugar Free Rock Candy Recipe

2010-05-06T13:16:00.004-05:00

Old fashioned candy never looked so good! Rock candy or swizzle sticks as some call it have been around since the crack of dawn. Not only is rock candy yummy tp eat and fun to look at with all its beautiful rainbows of color but it can also double as an interesting science project in the art of crystalization. But honestly are we really interested in that right now? No I didn't think so! With its wide pallette of colors you can customize this candy to go with any party decor. Of course you can buy it in bulk but why not have some fun and make it at home intead? There are MANY rock candy recipes online but the one that caught my attention was the "sugar free" recipe...well almost sugar free! Now there is no reason to deprive that diabetic at your party or the one who's watching their weight. You can find the recipe here. To add flavor check out Lorann's Oils for candy. You can find them here. Ummm imagine mango or watermelon flavor rock candies? Oh the fun you can have!

Handmade Sour Cream Container Favors

2010-04-17T17:58:00.004-05:00

I know, I know, its been way toooo long since I last posted. I have been up to my ears in crafts and trying to make enough stuff to fill my etsy shop. I have been making chipboard epoxy buttons, clay buttons, clay embellishments, and more things to fill my shop. The worst part being is that I keep buying supplies that I think are cute in hopes of using it but don't get around to doing so. What does this mean? I spend more money than whats coming in!...lol! Anyhow I found this adorable craft online that I wanted to share with you my faithful readers! They are handmade sour cream containers which you can fill with goodies and hand out as favors at your next party! I love this craft because you can use all those pretty scrapbook papers and embellish at whim! I love what she has done here...the little flowers with crystal accents...too cute. If you want to make one of your own, the instructions are oh so easy! Just click here and enjoy!

Water It or Vase It!...DIY Vase.

2010-03-08T02:12:00.014-06:00

Some things are so simple and nice looking that when you see it you slap yourself in the forehead and say "now why didn't I think of that!?" This is definately one of those moments. These creative yet simple vases are constructed of two materials you can find at any hardware store, pvc pipes and a clamp. The first picture displaying the blue see through pvc pipes I believe are those simple rubber water pipes you might find under your sinks. Now I'm not suggesting you take those out!...its better you go to the hardware store for that. This craft looks simple enough....do I have to explain?!!! Well I guess I should anyways! Just take the rubber pipes and cut to different lengths. Cut the ends on a diagonal for a cooler look. Bunch them up together bringing either ends of all the pipes together. Clamp in the middle and voila...you've got yourself a cool vase!

DIY Butterfly Embellishment Drinking Straws

2010-02-16T06:42:00.003-06:00

I know, its been quite some time since I posted. Seems like I say that a lot sometimes at the beginning of my posts! So its usually guilt that drives me to finding and posting an extra cute craft. So in the spirit of cute I present these dreamy fluttery butterfly straws, a different take on the umbrella in your drink embellishment. I know summer is some time off but these lemonade drinks just make me feel that much more ansy for summer to come. The people at Good Housekeeping bring you this latest craft with a downloadable template here. All you have to do is download, trace, cut, and decorate. YES its really THAT easy! Just trace one butterfly onto regular scrapbook material and the other onto vellum to create a layered look. Coordinate these with your next theme party. While your at it, make extras and attach a few on clear fishing line and hang from a tree or the ceiling. Hang butterflys everywhere to create a summer theme that everyone will be sure to love.

Iron On Pillow Case Transfer Project

2010-01-14T04:02:00.005-06:00

Tired of DIY projects piling up because every time you start one you think "this one shouldn't take too long"? Before you know it you have several, and I do mean SEVERAL projects on the back burner and not even one complete...sigh! Well rest your head on this one! No...I mean literally...rest your head on this one! This project should take you no more than one hour...tops! Make this for your special someone and put a smile on his/her face with these sweet little words. All you need is

Two pillowcases (light colors will work best)
Iron-on Transfer Paper for light colored fabrics. (tee-shirt transfer paper). Be sure that it is the correct type for your color printer. You will need two sheets.
Color printer
Scissors
Iron (no steam)

You can download the iron on transfers along with the instructions here. As usual...have a crafty day!

My Gift to Myself!!!!

2010-01-08T23:07:00.004-06:00

You know how something on first sight can just take your breath away and make you say "Oh I love THAT!"? Then you just keep staring at it for days and tell yourself you NEED that or just can't live without it? Then you try to justify WHY you need that?! Then finally you purchase it telling yourself that its really not that much! Well this was exactly my reaction when I was browsing around on Etsy and accidently came across this acrylic laser cut necklace called "Whatever Lola Wants", and boy was I glad! It really was not a whole lot to spend on something this beautiful and unique. It was rather quite reasonable at $22.00 for a piece of neck art! So I have been anxiously awaiting its arrival and today I opened up my mailbox to see the big old box sitting there screaming at me...."open me, open me!" I rushed my package home, laid it down gently on the table and than just tore it open. There in front of me was my gift to myself for being a good girl! We all need to gift ourselves ever once in awhile don't we? Anyhow I took it out and the first thing I noticed was its craftsmanship. I can't believe someone made this! I would have paid double the price for it! The only problem I do have with it is now I need to go find the right top to wear it with! I think a cute little ruffled top might do the trick....think I need to gift myself AGAIN for not spending too much money the first time around...lol! If you've been a good girl and think you need to reward yourself than make your way over here to Untamed Menagerie's shop on Etsy. I promise you won't be disappointed!

Snowman Cookies

2010-01-05T14:43:00.005-06:00

Winter time brings so many great memories to mind...playing in the snow with my brother and snowball fights followed by a hot cup of cocoa. These little things stick out in my mind now that I'm an adult. I want to create new special memories...new memories that my daughter will cherish as she grows up. She loves to bake (or help with baking) so I promised myself I would spend one day a week doing this special activity with just her. She also has a creative artsy streak (ummm I wonder where that comes from?!) so I thought making these winter snowman cookies would be perfect! Plus I could not resist the lovely colors of the "disco dust" in the little pots used on the scarves of the snowmen! I just love color! If you want to create your own special memories making these cute winter themed cookies than click here....and as usual, have a crafty day!

DIY Envelope Gift Bag Tutorial

2009-12-18T09:19:00.004-06:00

So what am I doing these days you ask? Well you didn't really ask but I like to pretend that I'm important and people want to know about me! The fact that people barely comment on my blog posts should tell me other wise, lol!!! So back to the question that was never asked of me! What am I doing these days? Well it seems that all I do is clean poopy diapers, wipe runny noses, nurse around the clock, and hand my body and soul over to a demon of six months old that some may actually call my child! Sure he's cute...when he's not wearing green peas all over his face! But honestly who does this child think he is? He seems to have me confused with some high class maid or butler apparently. I'm not the only one at his beck and call....there is also his seven soon to be eight year old sister and his daddy, who all at some time or another through out the day are running around serving this little man who thinks HE RUNS the show. Well who we kidding? He DOES run the show! So when I'm not wiping off milk vomit from my clothes I take a little ME TIME (and by little I mean very little..."if you blink you might miss it" kind of of little!). In this "ME TIME" I usually look up crafty projects as you know and was delighted to come across this one. We've all sometime or another been in a situation where we had a gift but no gift bag. If you find yourself in that situation again and have plain envelopes lying around than you can craft your own gift bag. How cool huh? Just follow these simple instructions found here. Be sure to customize it to make it your own. Gotta run...I smell poop!!!!!

Colorful DIY Spoon Mirror

2009-12-08T20:54:00.006-06:00

Some of the simplest things look like you spent a bundle. Case in point is this colorful diy mirror made of bright spoons. It is very cool looking giving it a retro chic feeling to any house. Of all places I found it on the Country Living site...who knew huh?!!! All you need to replicate this piece of functional wall art is a hot glue gun, one 18 inch round mirror and 105 brightly colored spoons. You can purchase the spoons in ANY color from www.zuberts.com or any party store. Personally I LOVE LOVE LOVE this color pictured here but Mimosa Yellow also catches my eye from their site. It would look great in a baby's nursery! To make just simply follow the instructions.

STEP 1: Place a generous dot of glue on the back of the base of the handle of your first spoon. Press the spoon onto the mirror so that its bowl sits just outside the mirror's edge and the handle points toward the center.

STEP 2: Put another dot of glue on the back of the second spoon's handle in the same spot, and lay it on the mirror next to the first spoon, so that the widest part of the second one's bowl nestles into the neck of its neighbor.

STEP 3: Repeat steps 1 and 2 all around the mirror's perimeter — just be sure to keep the handles pointed at the mirror's center. Then sit back and admire your gorgeous handiwork.

DIY Paper Mache Nesting Bowls

2009-12-02T02:23:00.008-06:00

Do you remember as a kid getting your hands all sticky and making paper mache sculptures around a balloon? It was always so fun to get your hands all sticky and dirty but my sculpture always turned out a bit "awkward" to say the least! Besides who wants to keep a bunch of black and white newspaper strips in the form of a balloon as a decoration anyways?!!! Thanks to blogger and now author Patricia Zapata now you can be a kid all over again and make these super cute, super colorful, and super easy nesting paper mache bowls by clicking here. This is still a kid friendly craft but with a grown up sense of appeal! When finished fill them up with candy or what ever else suits your taste and get ready to show them off on the coffee table!

Wedding Cake Pops

2009-11-12T12:26:00.011-06:00

I LOVE to create things with my own hands! Give me scissor, paper and glue and I'll give you all the decor for your home! But sadly my talent does not extend into the kitchen (too bad for my husband!). When it comes to baking, my culinary skills are limited to a box of Betty Crocker cake mix and frosting! However I always dream of tackling a project like making a really cute wedding cake (yes I dream big!) like the topsy turvy cake seen here on my blog. But lets be real, with a 7 year old and 5 month old I am only going to be dreaming for now! So in the mean time whenever I want to look at some cute cake projects that are simple to make I always visit Bakerella's site. As I was looking through one day I found these ohhh so adorable wedding cake pops! The story behind how these came about is even cuter! It involves Bakerella's blog, these wedding cake pops, and a proposal from the fiance of one of the blog's readers! To read more and make these yourself, just click here!

Felted Finger Puppet Tutorial

2009-10-31T01:19:00.004-05:00

When I was a little kid I had a cousin who used to go see some specialist for some problem she was born with. What it was I don't remember but one thing I do remember was at her doctor's visits she used to always get little finger puppets as gifts. Boy I sure was jealous! I remember she would collect them and had all different sorts ranging from animals to people. I wanted one so bad. The day came when I accompanied her to one of her visits and the doctor's office gave one to me too! Was I ever happy! I wish I new then what I know now....how easy it is to make one. The following technique requires NO SEWING!!!!! Yeah for NO SEWING! Can I say that again?! NO SEWING!!!! All you need is the following;

Fleece
Bowl filled with hot, soapy water (4 tablespoons of dye-free liquid dishwashing detergent to 6 cups of water)
Bowl filled with cool water
Felt
Scissors
Hot glue
finger puppet template (click on link)

You can find the simple instructions by clicking here. Enjoy!

Textbook Copy Wall Art Tutorial

2009-10-17T01:22:00.004-05:00

A few years back I had purchased a copy of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. I don't know why considering I don't own a home nor a garden! But that didn't stop me none the less from handing over my husband's hard earned money (yes you read right...my husband's money and not mine....why should I part with my money when I can spend his?!!!!!) to purchase a would be dream for the future...a HOUSE! Well I still don't have that house or garden but I still like to flip through that magazine every once in awhile. Something that caught my eye that one day I hope to try out is this project of the textbook copy wall art that I want to share with you all. Its fairly simple judging from the instructions below and looks great!

For this large canvas, simply return to old college textbooks for words and phrases you like and enlarge them on 11x17-inch paper. After trimming the pages close to the text, glue the papers to a large piece of canvas. Cut colorful tissue paper into irregular shapes. Using glue diluted 3:1 with water and a wide paintbrush, affix the tissue-paper shapes to the canvas. When the tissue gets wet from the glue, the words show through.

DIY Ice-Cream Soda for a Party or Wedding

2009-10-09T07:49:00.010-05:00

Pretty things always catch my eye and attention! It doesn't matter if they are functional or not, I still have to have it! A little while back I spent over $100 buying acrylic paint just because it came in cute little bottles...they looked nice! It didn't matter that I didn't really need them but for some reason I HAD to have them! Just recently I bought MANY buttons, again not because I needed them, but because they looked so nice all separated into their individual colors! So it should come as a bit of a surprise that this next project is both pretty AND functional! Amy from "Eat Drink Chic" came up with these pretty retro inspired soda bottle labels found here. As Amy mentions on her blog you can use these for your party or wedding to create your own Soda Shop or to add a gorgeous beverage stand to your ice cream parlor themed party. Guests can select from a brightly colored array of flavored sodas to make their own delicious Ice-Cream Sodas! It doesn't end there! She has also created labels for the bottle caps! But hold on....what about the soda itself? Well it justs so happens that she's included a link to a recipe on how to create your own soda! Now I can't wait for summer to come back around so I can throw a party with my very own Soda Shop!

DIY Favor Packaging Tutorial

2009-09-30T00:40:00.004-05:00

I LOVE things that are matching and I LOVE candy. So bring the two things together and I won't be able to stop staring. Such is the case with these most adorable HANDMADE favors! Did someone say "handmade?"....now you REALLY have my attention! I really like the colors used and I especially like that big melon berry colored button on the tin. If you don't know by now from reading previous posts, I have a bit of an obsession with buttons...(just a wee bit! sigh!) If you want to recreate this look just follow this step by step tutorial found here. You can even purchase the supplies to make the exact one pictured here by clicking here. A key component to making this look good is the jellybeans were hand picked to have only the coordinating colors in the package and tins. So what do you do with the left over jellybeans? EAT them of course!!!!!

DIY Doll Closet Diorama Tutorial

2009-09-15T17:17:00.007-05:00

It has been awhile since my last post...my little one has been keeping me more busy than I want! On my off time (when he is sound asleep!), a time I cherish so much I surf the net in hopes of finding something else I can create with my hands. So the other day when I accidently came across this tutorial, I was completely amazed! At first glance I thought it was something store bought because of how professional it looked. Upon further examination I came to discover that it took the touch of being "hand made" that made this look this good! It is a doll closet, every little girls dream! Forget the little girl...its MY DREAM!!!! I was completely shocked to discover there is a whole world of people out there who make cute little doll dioramas! Oh the lucky girls of THOSE mothers!!!! I thought it was so cute how in this picture the closet gives you the feel of an upscale boutique somewhere in New York! I especially love the color combinations used for it...pink, lavender and black. Very chic! To give your little Barbie dolls a home and make your own follow this step by step instruction found here. As always....have a crafty day!

Felt Monster Tutorial

2009-08-31T12:32:00.003-05:00

"ROOOOAAAAR!!!!"....says the little felt monster! So this is not your traditional doll. He doesn't have pretty long blond hair for you to comb or come with a wardrobe most women would kill for. In fact this doll has fangs to scare you with!!!! The problem is, he's not very scary, rather he is cute! But don't tell him that! His feelings might get hurt! Made of felt and embroidery floss he is also squeezable. You can find simple step by step instructions here if you'd like to make one yourself and perhaps hide under the bed giving some real meaning to "Mommy, there is a monster under my bed!"

Sock It To Me!!!

2009-08-25T11:49:00.005-05:00

Ever wonder what to do with those orphaned socks? You know the one who's mate got lost in the Bermuda Triangle, other wise known as the dryer!!! Well fashion and home designer Orla Kiely has the perfect solution as seen in Rachael Ray's magazine. Turn those single socks into centerpieces! Its easy...mix and match socks of different colors and patterns, and slip them over jars, glasses or small plant pots. Snip off the sock bottoms so the pots stand flat on the table, and than fill with flowers or whatever else you fancy. Want an even smaller coffee table version? No problem...use little baby socks and slip them over miniature clay pots or juice tumblers!

Orange Kitty iPhone Cozy

2009-08-20T03:27:00.006-05:00

"Meeeeow" says this cute little orange kitty iphone cozy! Made of felt, fleece, buttons, snaps and embroidery floss, this feline friend is sure to keep your iphone scratch free! But wait....if your not into cats, she has friends from the animal kingdom who all want to protect your precious investment. You can find the king of the jungle, a blond or chocolate teddy bear, a grey kitty, or this cute orange number here. If you check out the sold section you will also find her friends who have already found a home such as a bunny, lamb, and owl amongst other styles. The pocket of these cozies found in the front houses your iphone earbuds. The cozy has snaps so you can slide your iphone in and out with ease. Although this is designed for the iphone it will also fit the the ipod touch and ipod classic as well.

Customizable Drinking Glass Instructions

2009-08-12T03:55:00.007-05:00

These beautiful....correction....stunning glasses caught my eye!!! I especially love the delicate yet intricate design on the first glass. It reminds me of a henna pattern that south asian brides adorn their bodies with just before the big day. Just as a bride's henna design is temporary so is the design on these glasses! Now you can customize your drinking glasses or just about anything else that has a smooth shiny surface with these lovely Mini-marks rub on transfers by American Crafts. The rub on transfers used in this design in particular is called "Catwalk Accents" but you can use any rub on transfers you can find. Its simple to do....

1) wash and dry your glass(es)
2) place rub on transfer design over glass and using the popsicle like stick that comes with most rub on transfer packages, begin rubbing over the design sheet until you see it coming of the sheet and adhering to the glass.

You can use these to personalize your guest's drinking glasses and take something from looking shabby to looking chic! Since these are temporary and will come off with washing you can do this over and over again! Of course this idea is not limited to just glasses. Imagine customizing a mirror to give as a gift?! The possibilities are as endless as your imagination!

Tiny Pin Cushion Tutorial

2009-08-08T04:37:00.006-05:00

I may craft a lot and do diffferent kinds of crafts but one thing I do not do is sew! So this means I do not have sewing needles lying around but I do have other types of pins that need a little home. I came across this SUPER easy tutorial on making little tiny pin cushions. All it involves is ribbon, fabric, a needle and thread (I promise this is not REAL sewing...lol!), cotton batting, and a soda bottle cap!!! You can find the tutorial here. For some reason these remind me of little chef's hats! I love how they look and that you can make several in different types. If you are an ACTUAL sewer than this project will use up some of your scrap fabric pieces that you did not know what to do with. Its a win/win situation!

New In My Shop....Wobbly Chipboard Epoxy Button MAGNETS!

2009-07-23T18:27:00.006-05:00

So its been a bit of time since I've crafted anything because my little baby takes up all my time...you moms out there know how that is! Anyhow I wanted to do something to unwind at the end of a hard day and started to think "what can I do to my wobbly chipboard button embellishments to make them even better?" An idea hit me!.....make them into MAGNETS!!! I liked the idea because now those who don't use them for paper craft projects can use them for a practical purpose...to hold stuff up onto the fridge. No more ugly boring pizza store advertisement magnets displaying your child's precious work!!!! As with my wobbly chipboard epoxy button embellishments, these are covered with a thick HIGH GLOSS epoxy to give it that extra shine! Each button measures 1 inch x 1.25 inch approx. (larger than the chipboard button embellishments in my shop) and comes in a set of four for $6.99. I absolutely love the set in the second picture. Each button is a different shade of green which has such a calming effect....Lord knows I need that these days!!!! So far I've listed only one set (the above mentioned one) in my shop found here but in the next few days I should be listing the rest. These make fantastic hostess gifts. They are also a great way to gift your child's teacher or just a simple way to say thank you to your child's coach. As usual, have a happy crafty day!

Rainbow Cake Tutorial

2009-07-13T00:08:00.008-05:00

I'm no baker because the last time I baked people chipped their teeth on my rock hard brownies! However I saw this cake and was inspired to renew my dreams of becoming Betty Crocker all over again! The cake looks so vibrant and reminds me of a child's art project! The second picture actually reminds me of a Crayola Crayon box! This makes me want to go color...oops, I meant bake...he he he!!!! What really surprised me about this cake is the ingredients calls for using two cans of SODA (sprite zero into two boxes of cake mix)!!! For the full tutorial on how to make this yourself go here. Hope this brings out your inner child!

Polymer Clay Creations from JooJoo

2009-06-27T02:43:00.006-05:00

Sometimes somethings are just too cute not to post about. Take for example this adorable little shop I found on Etsy called JooJoo found here. I had a hard time picking which product to write about because there are just so many cute things in the shop! I ended up going with the birdie magnet in the first picture. The colors are so beautiful and vibrant that it makes me want to reach out and touch it on the screen. As you can see in the picture it is a little birdie perched happily on a branch trying to get to those delicious grapes! (I too would eat grapes if they looked like that)! It is made of polymer clay and painted with acrylic paints...and YES, you do get the branch with it!

The second picture is itty bitty polymer clay mushrooms hand painted with acrylic paint. Whats so cool about these is they have little pins attached on the under side so you can push them into soil, sand, moss, or even your garden! These are water resistant so they will stand up to the rain and humidity.

These unique little works of art would make an excellent hostess gift, after all who wouldn't love getting these as gifts right?

DIY Baby Kimono Template/Instructions

2009-06-22T19:34:00.004-05:00

I recognize it has been awhile since my last post for which I apologize. I recently had a baby (a little boy) and have been kept away from writing on my blog. So in honor of my little munchkin I scoured the internet looking for all things baby craft related. Again and again I end up on the queen of all "good things" site (Martha Stewart) and this time I found a lovely diy baby kimono intructions. Although kimonos are only worn on special occasions in Japan now, these lovely pieces can add a wonderful touch to your baby's wardrobe. The template/instructions on how to make one can be found here. These are great for baby's who don't like there "onesies" to be pulled over their heads. The template is for size 0-3 months but instructions show you which size to enlarge the template to for bigger sizes. As usual, have a happy and crafty day!

Centerpieces for Everyday Parties

2009-06-07T17:29:00.007-05:00

Pretty things really catch my eye! Take for example these simple yet elegant centerpieces. Both of them remind me of spring ladies luncheons. The first one is just a pile of ribbon spools in assorted styles and sizes piled one on top of another. After stacking a few you can put a pretty plate on top with a few appetizers on it to set the table. How much simpler can it get right? Want to make your ribbon go the extra mile? Use some of it on your invitations or to decorate your favors if you have any to give. You can pull it all together with with this inexpensive embellishment.

The second one is made of six boxes of Jell-O powder mixed with half the water specified. When the gelatin is semi-firm in their glass vases you just push your choice of decorations into it. It just could not get any easier! These beautiful centerpieces for everyday parties and many others can be found here on Rachael Ray's website. As usual have a happy crafty day!

Blog Giveaway! Ends Sat. June 6th/2009

2009-05-30T17:46:00.011-05:00

I love paper crafts. In fact I have a confession....I'm a "junkie"! One thing I love is how simple it can be to make some of your own at home and dress up a simple package to give as a gift. Imagine packaging up and giving your child's teacher a thank you gift with this little apple tag hanging from it? In fact I'd string it on pretty ribbon and put a big black "A+" on it. This lovely embellishment comes 12 to a set. They are made of vintage children's books and high quality cardstock. For $2 a set, that is a steal! Carole from Reduxredux has graciously offered a set, up for grabs for this blog giveaway! What do you have to do to win? Just visit her shop here and come back to my blog and list one item you like here in the comments section. The lucky winner will be randomly picked on Sat. June 6th/2009. While you are there please check out her 3D Animal Treat Bag Toppers....too cute!

*UPDATE* I was trying to install Random.org's number generator on here without any success since I am far from being tech savvy! Anyhow prior to doing so I tested it out and it picked a winner from the comments list.

Congratulations Deedles! Please contact us within 48 hours to claim your prize, otherwise another winner will have to be picked. Once again congratulations and we look foreward to hearing from you to get your shipping address.

Large Chipboard Magnets....Coming Soon!

2009-05-24T03:34:00.007-05:00

So I'm always dreaming up new ways to craft and stock my Etsy shop. I would say its an obsession right now. I have so many ideas but not nearly enough time in the day or days itself to make everything I think of. But one of my ideas I did tackle was making these cute chipboard magnets! I absolutely loved the way they turned out and wanted to share them with you! The first one I made was the "Oh So Sweet" cupcake. Oh man, did I stare at it for hours when I finished my yummy little project. Than I decided to move on to my "Home Sweet Home" magnet followed by my last but my favorite chipboard magnet..."Toxic Love" magnet. That one was the most fun for me to create. I just hand sketched a design I wanted to do, painted my chipboard, cut out scrapbook paper for the heart and cross bones, doodled on the entire image and than covered it with thick glaze not to mention attached a magnet to the back. Each chipboard magnet is fairly big, it measures approx 2.5 inches or larger. I'm going to start listing these in my Etsy shop found here starting on Monday or Tuesday. As usual custom designs are available if you have something in mind so just contact me. I would love to hear some ideas from all of you out there on what I should design. Please post your ideas in the comments section. One of these days I might even host another give away with one of these (or a chipboard magnet made using one of the ideas from the comments section) as the prize. As usual, have a happy crafty day!

Free Chick Chic Bookmark Printable

2009-05-21T04:08:00.006-05:00

"Tweet, tweet".....do i hear little baby chic's tweeting? Sure do! I don't go scouring the internet for free printables but for some reason I always find them. So when I stumbled across this one found here I just knew I had to blog about it and share my find with the world of crafters! If you click on the link you will find a picture tutorial on how to print out the page and how to properly cut it these fabulous bookmarks. Another thing I like is you have the option of printing and cutting ALL the chic's in every color at once or you can print and cut the color(s) you chose one at a time. Say you only want the orange ones....no problem! No need to waste in a time when many of us are trying to go green! A cute idea I thought of is that you can print out a set, put them in a small square jewelry box, wrap it in some nice paper and coordinating ribbon and give them out as small inexpensive gifts to your co-workers, child's teacher, soccer coach, neighbors etc. I would print them out on glossy heavy duty cardstock and perhaps even laminate them if I were to give them out. But than again they're so cute I might just hoard them for myself! If you have a unique creative idea on how to package and gift these, I would love to hear your comments.

DIY Daisy Pops Tutorial

2009-05-19T03:41:00.006-05:00

What woman in your life would not like getting a bouquet of these? I found a tutorial to make these edible daisy bouquets here. These little breaths of sunshine are so easy to make which is always a bonus right?! They use Wilton candy melts which are readily available in most bake shop supply stores and Michaels craft stores. You can make them and than decorate them any which way you like. I like the picture at the bottom left showing the pops in a green canister with a bow! Or how about wrapping each pop individually with cellophane baggies like the one pictured at the bottom right and grouping off a dozen or so and wrapping one big bow on them. You can give it as an entire bouquet. Just add a little card to it and voila....you have an instant gift! My only problem with these is I don't know if I could help eating the whole bunch before they get to their destination!

Felt Passport Pocket

2009-05-18T02:41:00.009-05:00

I am forever at a loss of finding things in my big overloaded purse. If I have to find my lipstick I have to take out everything (and I do mean EVERYTHING ie. feminine products) for the world to see before I can retrieve what it was I was looking for in the first place! So I absolutely LOVED this when I saw it! It is a felt passport pocket. It is bright and vibrant enough that I can see it in my avalanche of a bag and I won't have to take everything else out! What is also cool about this is you can customize the passport pocket to have your name on it (up to six letters)! The seller also has other pockets for other things in the shop. If you need one for a pocket mirror (and what girl doesn't?), they have that! Also another really cute one is the atm/debit card pockets. There are many different styles to chose from. I particularly love the one's with buttons on them. If you have been following my blog and peeking into my Etsy shop here you all know how much I love buttons! I couldn't help but imagine my wobbly chipboard epoxy buttons on these adorable little pockets. Anyhow if you plan on traveling soon and want to purchase one of these, why not head over to Jeynreyn's shop on Etsy found here and pick up one. They also make really cute gifts.

Topsy Turvy Cake Tutorial

2009-05-16T03:44:00.011-05:00

One of the things I'm so in awe of are these topsy turvy cakes, also known as Mad Hatter cakes. Something about them reminds me of Willy Wonka, Dr. Suess, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory all rolled up into one. I guess its their whimsical fun design. I found this one on Flickr and could not help but blog about it. You can find a few more cakes of other types here if you want to look at this member's Flickr pool. If you would like to see more of just the topsy turvy style of cakes than click here. One thing I have always wondered about is how do they get the cake to remain stable? It honestly looks like something that can fall apart. Little did I realize it truly is an illusion and only gives the appearance that one of the tiers will/can slide off. Believe it or not, the trick is real simple. It just involves carving a circle into the cake below the tier you plan to add on. So the second and each additional tier sits flat yet gives the illusion of sliding off. Don't understand? No problem....just click here for an awesome step by step tutorial with pictures on how to make one of these types of cakes. If you have ever made one of these cakes or plan to from the tutorial please comment here with a link to a picture. I would love to see what you come up with. Happy baking!

Just Listed in my Shop....Tropical Flower Chipboard Button Embellishments

2009-05-13T20:37:00.016-05:00

Its been awhile since I worked on my wobbly chipboard/epoxy button embellishments. So I finally got around to making a number of sets including these Tropical Flower style. I just love the colors....the vibrant red, bright sea blue, and lemony lime greens. As you can see, my button embellishments are layered with a thick shiny gloss that gives it a glass like look to them. I made sure to layer the glaze on thick as you can see better in the second picture. You can find these buttons here amongst other styles. I will be listing more sets in the following days. Now you may be asking how you can use them. I must mention that these are not made for clothing items that need to be washed since it is a paper crafting product. Clothing items not needing washing ie. hats, hair bands etc. are fine. These can be used in multiple ways. I put these on my scrapbook page layouts but people who make handmade cards can also put them on as embellishments. Awhile ago I made one of those coffee cup sleeves out of bright felt and used a Prima flower as an accent piece on it with one of these as the center to give it a little pop! They can also be used for packaging design. One of my customers said she plans on wrapping items in her Etsy shop in colorful tissue paper and than attaching one of these to the package for presentation.

You can also use them for:

other paper crafts
altered art
hair band/clip accents
hand made journal accents
anything that you can sew it onto
etc.

I should mention that these have a slightly tacky adhesive backing so you can stick them onto things but if you prefer them without the sticky backing, just let me know. As always my items can be customized. I can make a set in any color and you can suggest what type of doodling you would like to have on it. You can convo me through my Etsy shop here or you can contact me via this blog. Have a happy crafty day!

*UPDATE* these lovely chipboard buttons have sold out in my shop. Should you wish to custom order a set like this please convo me through my shop (link provided above).

DIY Key Holder Tutorial

2009-05-11T17:07:00.008-05:00

My keys are forever being misplaced! When I come home since we don't have small hallway table at the door I usually put them down anywhere I see a spot. The problem is when I go looking for them....it seems they ususally sprout a pair of legs and simply walk off! I swear that happens! So I have to find a way to stop this problem. So when I was browsing one of my favorite blogs...."How About Orange", my prayers were answered! Jessica posted this practical yet cute step by step tutorial on how to make a key holder here. Whats awesome is this can also double as a coat hanger. Make two in coordinating colors or prints and hang by the door....one for the coats and one for the keys. You can also make a few for your child's room. There are so many ways you can use these! I can't wait to go make my own now!

Free Printable Grocery List

2009-05-11T16:39:00.006-05:00

Ever go to the grocery store and kick yourself in the chops for forgetting something that was important? Of course you have! So when I found this simple yet cute solution on this site I couldn't help but share! Abby from "A Feathered Nest" has been kind enough to post this up on her blog. What I like about this printable (other than the fact that it is free!) is that it has a "Menu" list. You can figure out ahead of time what you want to serve your family for dinner everyday and shop accordingly. Just print these off and stick to your fridge with a magnet. If you're in the market for a set of whimsical magnets than you'll want to take a look at these cute "Wobbly Chipboard/Epoxy Button Magnets" sold in sets of four here. There are many different styles to chose from in the shop. You can even get a set custom made if you don't see what you like.

DIY Spring Bouquet of Flowers

2009-05-07T04:18:00.010-05:00

I love any craft that uses up my scrapbooking supplies and has another use for it other than scrapbooking. Every scrapbooker usually has the staples like some type of flowers (felt or Prima brands!), buttons, and ribbons. And if you are not an avid scrapbooker like me with these things lying around, no big deal, they are cheap and inexpensive to purchase at any craft store (do I hear you saying Michaels out loud to yourself right now?!). Find the instructions here to make this lovely spring bouquet of flowers. Love this tutorial? Please let me know by commenting!

Free Seed and Tea Packet Printable

2009-04-26T15:17:00.008-05:00

So whenever I come across something cute and FREE I like to share it with all those who come to read my blog. I especially like free printables. I came across a blog by the talented Tricia-Rennea who is an illustrator and graphic designer. She designed these adorable seed and tea packets! Just print and assemble. Slip in a tea bag in one and seed or seed packet in the other and give this to your guests that come to your ladies luncheon! This would also make great favors for any other event. I love the little blue birdie illustration on these. They just "chirp" SPRING to me! I hope you enjoy these as much as I do. To print your own just click here.

Free Printable Cake Box and Gift Box Template

2009-04-23T01:48:00.016-05:00

Who doesn't like getting a piece of cake? Problem is when you give someone like a neighbor a piece of cake you might never see the plate or tupperware you gave it in again because they decided to hold it hostage! Fear no more....now you can dress up your cake and actually keep what belongs to you! These are little Kawaii (Japanese for "cute") cake boxes you can just print, cut and fold from the comfort of your home. Print them out on heavy duty card stock so they are sturdy. Pack up that delicious piece of chocolate ganache cake into the cake box and than put it into the gift box. Voila...you have a gift within a gift! If you would like to print out one of these just click here. Special thanks to Gaby from www.dailycute.net who originally posted this template. You can find her blog here or by clicking on her button in my Shop and Blog links section.

Zooples ABC Flash Cards

2009-04-21T05:49:00.016-05:00

ABCDEFG (singing voice)....ok now that, that is in your head and you can't get the song out let me show you a cute shop I stumbled upon.

There are many different ways to teach your child the ABC's but most of them are typical. "I Design My World" on Etsy has come up with a bold, creative, whimsical way of doing just that with their "Zooples" series of cards. Their illustrations are captivating to say the least. Each card has a different animal featured on it with the name of the animal printed in the front. In the back you will find the letter you want to teach your little wee one.

The animals featured in the set are:

Alligator+Bear+Cat+
Dolphin+Elephant+
FrogGoldfish+Hippo+
Iguana+Jaguar+
Kangeroo+Lion+
Monkey+Narwhale+Octopus+
Penguin+Queen Bee+Shark+Tiger+
Unicorn+Vampire Bat+
Wolf+Fox+Yak+ Zebra

You can even feature your choice of animal as the first card and pick your coordinationg ribbon for the packaging. Whats so great about this shop is they recognize that over time cards wear and tear so they even offer "individual" replacement cards. How great is that? Each replacement card is $1.oo if you have previously purchased a full set and $2.00 if you want to purchase just one card as a sample.

Each card is printed on sturdy cardstock and measures 4.25 x 5.5 inches. These would make great new baby gifts or just to have on hand to give as a gift for any other occasion. If you would like to purchase a set you can find them here.

DIY Matchbox Birth Announcements

2009-04-18T02:18:00.006-05:00

Having a baby is an exciting time in every couple's life. I should know....I'm in my eighth month of pregnancy and can't help but gawk at anything baby related! So you can imagine I was really excited when I came across this cute posting about birth announcements! How adorable are they?! I especially love the one in the front with the little chics on them! Thanks to the good folks at Little Window Shoppe for posting this cute tutorial. It looks so simple to do, yet appears so elegant. You can customize these any which way you can think of since the market is filled with beautiful scrapbook paper. You can add anything inside from the diaper pins pictured to candy. If you would like to see the instructions just click on the title above to be taken over to the tutorial. As usual, enjoy!

Hand Loomed Straw Flower Tutorial

2009-04-16T03:16:00.008-05:00

Vintage inspired crafts of the 60's can be so hip and colorful sometimes. Take a look at these straw (synthetic raffia) flowers for example. Not only is the display bright and beautiful to look at but the flowers themselves are cheerful looking! These flowers were made on a loom. A what???!!! Remember those plastic circle thinga-ma-bobs with pegs that we would wind yarn on in figure eight patterns in art class when we were kids? Ya, those!!!! To purchase them you can head over to Ebay or you can purchase them in a pack from an Etsy seller named cathyofcalifornia. Cathy Callahan from Cathy of California's shop herself demonstrates how to make these bright flowers on the Martha Stewart show. Just click on the title above for instructions. You can also see a video tutorial by following the link to the Martha Stewart site and clicking on the "watch video" tab at the bottom of the picture there. Whats so wonderful about these flowers is the endless possibilities in crafting. You can make these and attach it to a hair clip. These would also be lovely as brooches to dress up a shirt. Attach them around a wrist cuff and you have an instant cute accessory! The only limit is your imagination! Enjoy!

Blog Give Away! (Ends May 8/09)

2009-04-10T17:53:00.011-05:00

Welcome to my first ever blog give away! I will try to hold one on a monthly basis if life permits!!!!!!! I am giving away a set of my "Itty Bitty Flower Bites" along with some square chipboard/epoxy buttons that I have created. Both have a slightly tacky adhesive back so they are perfect for your paper craft needs. If you prefer it without just simply let me know. The Itty Bitty Flower Bites come in shades of pink and aquas. Each flower is embellished with a glittery center and attached with a pop dot to give it height and dimension. They measure 1 inch each in total. My chipboard/epoxy button embellishments come in three different types of patterns and colors as well as size. The largest being 1 inch, medium is 3/4 inch, and small is 1/2 inch. *note* These are not the same chipboard buttons from my shop. Both items will come nicely packaged (for example see shop listing for wobbly chipboard epoxy buttons...last picture) in a cello bag with bag topper. So what do you have to do to enter? Its simple....

1) visit my shop and in the comment field please post which product you like
2) link my Etsy shop AND my blog to your blog

Want to earn extra entries? Than simply
3) add yourself as a follower under "My Blog Followers
4) blog about this give-away in your blog

You will earn one extra entry for EACH action you do from #3 and #4

Winner will be announced May 9 2009....Good luck!

www.thelemondroptree.etsy.com

*UPDATE* To those who participated thank you for all of your lovely comments. The winner of this giveaway is Pixeltrash! Congratulations Pixeltrash, please contact me with your mailing information within 48 hours to claim your prize.

Forest Friends Gift Card Envelope

2009-04-09T20:32:00.030-05:00

Awhile back I came across a paper craft magazine that showed how to make these cute little gift card envelopes. Now one doesn't have to just hand over a plain gift card but can "fancy" it up by putting it in one of these. I thought they were so cute so I HAD to try it out for myself! I have made a few and have decided to list them in my Etsy shop soon in the next few days starting with this whimsical "Forest Friends" one. The envelopes have glittery detailing on them, along with a belly band that slips over the envelope to hold it shut which has a cute deer embellishment on a glittered scalloped circle. On the inside there is more glitter detail and a mushroom accent. The whole card is inked at the edges to give it a "distressed" look and the card is finished off with embossed detailing at the edge of the card (top flap) along with the edges having a fancy punched out lace type of detailing. As usual custom requests are always welcome! Please convo me through my Etsy shop if you are interested.

*UPDATE* this item has sold out within a day of listing it in my Etsy shop. I am working on a few more in different colors so please check back regularly in my Etsy shop for future listings.

Shooby Boo Loves Spring

2009-04-07T01:47:00.006-05:00

Who is this little guy hiding behind his floral tree you might ask? Well its none other than Shooby Boo! He's a colorful sock monster who belongs to the "Kapooshie Monster Family." Shooby Boo is sewn from one sock, embellished with Fimo-Soft clay buttons and he holds a stem of felt flowers. He comes with personal id as well. But thats not the best part! He wears a little necklace around his neck that can double as a bracelet for you!!!! He likes to share....how cool is that?!!!! If you want to adopt this lovable monster (oh he doesn't bite....did I mention that?!) than just click on the title to be taken to where he currently resides along with many others of his kind. I hope he finds a good home. Will you be the one to take him in? Let us know!

Felt Cupcake/Pencil Topper Tutorial

2009-04-03T17:14:00.015-05:00

I love things that you can get multiple use out of. Take for example these cute little felt pencil toppers which were originally used as felt cupcake toppers! These would make such a good present for the other kids in your child's class. You can make these in just about any design your imagination can think of. There is a step by step tutorial you can find by clicking on the title above. I especially like the little pink felt cupcakes that were made as toppers! In the tutorials she uses a sewing machine to stitch things together for some of the toppers. Since I don't have a sewing machine and am too lazy to sew in the first place I thought of making these without the machine. All it requires is a little bit of good ol' glue and embroidery floss and you're good to go! I would love to hear your feedback on this tutorial if any of you make this. Feel free to post pictures on flickr and link to it here in the comment section.

Make Your Own Shadowbox Art with Doll Clothes

2009-03-31T02:18:00.002-05:00

Did you collect dolls as a little girl? How about all those clothes, shoes, hats etc?! Remember all the hours spent just changing their clothes? Childhood was so much fun and being a little girl was even better. Now you can go down memory lane by decorating your little girl's room with these sweet shadowbox frames with doll clothes in it. Its very simple. First purchase any number of shadowboxes. Once you have those buy coordinating decorative paper....scrapbooking paper works well since there is a LARGE variety! Cut to size and glue to the inner back of the shadowbox frame, the part that comes out. Next attach double sided tape to the little outfits and stick those to the paper. Fit the back into the frame and voila....you've made yourself a pretty darn cute decoration piece! If any of you try this take pictures and please do show and tell us here!

How to Make Cupcakes in Ice Cream Cones with a Hidden Surprise! (Video Tutorial)

2009-03-29T02:24:00.006-05:00

Making ice cream cone cupcakes is nothing new or difficult to figure out...HOWEVER, I found this variation on the traditional ice cream cone cupcake that is a site for your eyes as much as your mouth! You'll need a standard size cupcake and a mini one for this project. You can bake your own or the store bought kind will do just fine as well. The best part is she fills the cone up with candies before sealing it. Imagine the possibilities....M&M's, gumballs, mints etc. I love these cute edible treats that I just had to share my find with all you . Enjoy!

Free Sticker Sheet Download

2009-03-26T01:26:00.006-05:00

Aren't these so cute? The talented Lotta Bruhn offers them on her blog. You can find it by clicking on the above title. You can print these on self adhesive A4 sheets, then cut them out and decorate your journals, gift tags, decoupage them and so much more. Enjoy!

Cupcake Applique Felt Zippered Pouch Tutorial

2009-03-24T03:35:00.008-05:00

Felt is another one of the MANY mediums I love love love! What I really like about felt is anything that uses it INSTANTLY has that "girly" feel to it that I love so much! I've seen people make brooches out of felt, handbags, embellishments for scrapbooks, wrist cuffs and more. Another reason I enjoy this material so much is because of the variety of colors. I feel like a kid in a candy shop! The pinks and light blues remind me of cotton candy! Sarah from www.paper-and-string.blogspot.com has done a tutorial on how to make these little felt zippered pouches with a cupcake applique. She even has her own Flickr group for people who have used her template and made their own pouches to display. You can find the tutorial by clicking the above title. Enjoy!

Chocolate Raspberry Ganache BUTTONS!

2009-03-19T08:06:00.004-05:00

There are a few pictures out there in cyberspace that really make your mouth water and thats exactly how I feel about these buttons from Tessa Ann's shop on Etsy. For heavens sake even the name (Chocolate Raspberry Ganache) makes me drool!!!!! I have never seen anything as beautiful as this! Tessa Ann hand paints each polymer clay button, adding small touches like Swarovski crystals to some buttons giving that little sparkle, and finishes it off with glaze. Whenever I think polymer clay buttons, I think of my old grandma but Tessa Ann has changed that for me, adding fun and whimsy to her collection fit for a girl of any age! I can think of so many things to do with these babies, the possibilities are endless. She has other adorable collections in her shop as well www.tessaann.etsy.com. Along with her buttons she has felt birdies, felt hearts, felt cupcakes etc. Overall her shop is so much fun to look at, I would recommend it to anyone.

Hello Kitty Cake Pops

2009-03-13T03:10:00.003-05:00

Kawaii means "cute" in Japanese. When I think of the word kawaii I think of, you guessed it!....HELLO KITTY!!!! I'm a big Hello Kitty fan, so I was delighted when I saw these adorable little cakes on a stick a.k.a. Cake Pops in her honor! I have never made one of these or let alone any cake pop in my life so I thought it would be difficult. I was shockingly surprised when I read the tutorial on how to assemble these cute little kitty treats. Our good friends at www.bakerella.blogspot.com posted the "how to" on their site. Click on the title above to be taken there. What surprised me the most was how they were able to make the cute pointy little Hello Kitty ears. It turns out all it is, is little two white chocolate chips that kind of look like mini Hershey Kisses dipped in melted chocolate and attached to the cake head!

Yellow Felt Wreath on Etsy

2009-03-06T18:40:00.009-06:00

Nothing makes me feel more happier than seeing the work of one of my customers! Mairi from BabooBabeau on Etsy made this lovely creation using my buttons. I can't even imagine the amount of time and attention to detail and craftsmenship that goes into making something like this. To take a closer look just click on the title above. The shop also carries other styles of felt wreaths such as the "Winter Wonderland" one done in white which has a little cute blue bird in the centre like the one pictured here. Baboo Babeau also carries other cool vintage type things in their shop. Be sure to check her other creations.

"What a Girl Wants" Wobbly Epoxy Chipboard Button Embellishments

2009-03-02T15:41:00.006-06:00

I just added a few more sets of these wobbly epoxy covered chipboard button embellishments to my Etsy shop today. I am going to add a couple more maybe tomorrow. I love making these. I love to look (ok stare at for hours) at these when they are done! I am really surprised at the varsitility of how these are used. I originally made them for scrapbookers and cardmakers but people who have purchased these from me have used them on fabric brooches, felt wreathes, paper flower embellishments, hat accents, hairclip and hair bow/band accents and more. I have more styles in my shop. Just click on the title above to take you there or the "My Etsy Shop" tool bar at the right side of the blog page. I would love your feedback and ideas on what other types of buttons I can add to my line in my shop. I always have a hard time thinking of what type of doodling to do so any ideas would be great!

Scrabble Tile Pendant Tutorial

2009-03-01T11:36:00.005-06:00

If you go on Etsy you see these adorable scrabble tile pendants by the hundreds (ok maybe even more.....no exaggeration!) To me they look like itty bitty pieces of art work on canvas. I can't get enough of these. I searched the internet to find a tutorial to learn how to make these myself and they are just so darn easy!.....YEAH! Thanks to Mark and Stefani over at HomeStudio on Etsy for these easy to follow along instructions. Click on the title above to take you there....enjoy!

Nanibirds

2009-02-25T17:37:00.002-06:00

There is a really cool site where you can download, print, and assemble these cute colorful birds designed by all kinds of different artists. You can find these and other styles at www.nanibird.com. Aside from its adorable decorative purposes think of assembling a few and giving them away as gifts to that special someone in your life that enjoys quirky little things like this!

Shrinky Dinks Keychains

2009-02-14T15:53:00.002-06:00

Remember when you were a kid and the endless hours of fun you would have with that Shrinky Dinks stuff? I sure do! I would make all sorts of stuff by first coloring on the little pieces of plastic and than making jewelry or clips out of it. Sure we've grown up but that does not mean we have to give our love of Shrinky Dinks up. Jessica Jones from one of my favorite blogs
www.howaboutorange.blogspot.com posted some short instructions on how to make these cute little keychains out of Shrinky Dinks. If you are familiar with her work you will recognize that she used her own designs on these keychains by printing them out on the sheets, cutting them, and lastly baking them.

How to make:

1. Inkjet, draw, or paint on the sheets.
2. Cut them out.
3. Hole-punch them if you want.
4. Bake at 325º for 2 or 3 minutes on a piece of cardboard.They'll curl up and then flatten out in the oven. After you take them out, you can mash them flat with a spatula while still hot if they didn't flatten. Jessica Jones' printouts were about initially 230% larger than the finished product turned out. If you want the circles to end up 1.5 inches in diameter, print them at 3.5 inches.

Lastly have fun!

Button Bouquets

2009-02-13T02:43:00.003-06:00

I am continuelly impressed at people's levels of creativity with simple things! If you mosey on over to butterflymosaics shop at www.butterflymosaics.etsy.com you will find several of these lovely creations! I saw some wonderful pastel ones that would look lovely in any nursery. Imagine putting these ones pictured here next to or on your bookshelf. Its sure to bring sunshine to any room in the house!

Paper Cut Out Tree

2009-02-11T23:53:00.009-06:00

How simple and how creative is this? Our friends at www.foldingtree.com have put up a tutorial to make this awesome paper cut out. You can can find it by clicking on the title above. Click on the picture itself to enlarge and get a better view.

Set a tealight in front of the paper tree to cast a shadow or a small LED tealight so there are no worries in case you fall asleep while the candle is on! This would make really nice art piece if you line a few of these up side by side on top of a mantle or fireplace. The best thing is you can custom make any shape you desire!

Felt Favor Bags

2009-02-11T04:11:00.002-06:00

Oh how BEAUTIFUL are these?!!!! These gorgeous felt bags can be found on the site www.beau-coup.com. As they describe on their site the colorful flowers and bag are constructed with colorful felt in three fun colors. Each bag can be pulled closed with a thin fabric strap, woven into the front and back sides of the bag. Fun size for wedding favors, bridal shower favors or party favors. Perfect for baby showers and birthday parties. Each bag measures 3.75" H x 2.5" W x 1.5" D.

There is so much you can do with these adorable little pouches. Fill them with cookies or candies to give out as wedding favors, or fill them with pampering beauty items such as nailpolishes, moisterizers, and a spa coupon for your bride's maids etc. The bags come in three eye catching shades of hot pink, orange, and bright green.

The Zutter Tutorial....Make Your Own Journal

2009-02-03T01:48:00.003-06:00

So I have seen many projects around in the scrapbooking world of this machine called the "Zutter". Its a binding machine...a machine that attaches those coil bindings on books in print shops. I have seen scrapbookers make their own albums out of these and they are sooooo cute! In the following tutorial they show you how to make your own journal/book. I have seen many of these on Etsy and man am I ever tempted to by some.

Coffee Anyone?

2009-01-31T14:26:00.003-06:00

Coffee anyone? I LOVE this latest set of chipboard epoxy buttons in the "Mochacchino" collection I made! I painted them in nice rich browns and cremes and finished it off with doodling in gold ink in the shapes of flowers, swirls, florishes and dots. I just added these to my Etsy shop today by request of a customer who wanted to see them. www.thelemondroptree.etsy.com. Ok folks I'm off....I feel like a cup of coffee now!

Packaging

2009-01-30T17:21:00.006-06:00

I love packaging! I think anything (ok well almost anything) can be sold if packaged properly. My cousin once said you can sell ice to an Eskimo if its packaged properly! Anyhow I designed this packaging for my product in my Etsy shop and wanted to share it with you guys. So now when any of you out there in cyberspace order from my shop (http://www.thelemondroptree.etsy.com/) my chipboard epoxy buttons will come packaged up like these in the picture. Please click on the picture to enlarge and let me know what you guys think.

Mini Favor Purses for Candy Tutorial

2008-11-13T01:33:00.004-06:00

Oh how cute are these lil' wee mini purses?! These can be made and given out as favors at a wedding or customize them to give out at any type of party. Imagine little pink or light blue ones for a baby shower?! Make them and stick a little chocolate nugget bar in them. If you want to skip the step of inking (ie. save yourself the money from buying ink pads!) go ahead and use printed scrapbook paper. In the video she has you punch a hole and stick a little flowered brad into it. Only problem is one would not be able to actually open the purse which is no big deal since you can get out the candy from the side. But as an alternative if you don't want to do this, instead of punching the hole and adding the brad why not buy a long roll of velcro strip and cut itty bitty pieces? Once you do that you can just attach it with the sticky tape side of the velcro to the under side of the purse flap and VOILA!.... you have a little purse for chocolates!

Kokeshi Spool Doll - Midori

2008-11-11T00:35:00.002-06:00

I have fallen in love with "kawaii". Kawaii means cute in Japanese. I love anything that is packaged in that kawaii Japanese theme....think Hello Kitty! Anyhow on my hunt for all things kawaii I found this on Etsy. It is a cute spool doll named Midori which simply means "green" in Japanese. She is named Midori for her lovely granny smith apple hair. The lovely people over at www.wunderkind.etsy.com sell these adorable little spool dolls. The cool thing about this is they even include the fabric ribbon you see in this picture! Wouldn't Midori look cute on your table next to your sewing machine?

Fimo Flower Embellishments Tutorial

2008-11-06T05:11:00.005-06:00

I came across this tutorial from the same ladies in my previous tutorial I uploaded. This time they are making Fimo flower petals. You may ask what that is. It is the art of designing and baking clay to make anything from jewelry to embellishments for your crafting needs. If you go on sites like Etsy you will see alot of folks making lovely jewelry from clay. In this tutorial she makes a flower embellishment for a card.

Cupcakes or Tubcakes?!!!

2008-11-02T22:30:00.003-06:00

I love these adorable little cupcakes! But before you think of taking a bite, I must warn you they are not edible. I know!....they look so darn real!!!! Who would have known?! Whats so beautiful about these are the colors and attention to detail. Even the name alone (Sweet Treats Lollipop and Mango Sorbet Mini Cupcake Bathbomb set) sounds mouth watering! They probably smell as wonderful as they look and sound! If you want to buy this little treat for either yourself or that special someone in your life visit Anita at her shop at www.anitascraftycreations.etsy.com. While you are there take a look at the Ice Cream Cone soap!

Needle Felt Flowers Tutorial

2008-11-01T22:22:00.004-05:00

So as soon as I saw this video my mind started racing with thoughts of what I can make and sell on Etsy!!!! Of course I'll probably never get around to doing so, so I thought I would share with you guys out in cyberspace! They use a heart shaped cookie cutter in this video I believe to make felt hearts but you can use anything I suppose. Imagine all the shapes one could make? And all the colors? My mouth is salivating!

Pin Toppers

2008-11-01T06:13:00.005-05:00

Hey Folks

Ok I admit I have been gone for awhile now to say the least! But I'm BACK NOW! Anyhow I LOVE LOVE LOVE Etsy, can you all tell? While one of my shopping excursions I accidently came across this cute little pin topper for all you sewers out there. I found it in an Etsy shop named www.GigiMinor.Etsy.com. She has SO MANY styles from cupcakes to snails! Check it out. Ok I'm off to find some more Etsy treasures!

BOO!

2008-09-22T09:57:00.015-05:00

This could either scare you or inspire a little giggle! I found this little adorable creature on flickr. There are literally hundreds of different styles! Each one comes with its own booklet detailing its life! They are sold on Etsy in Leslie Levings' shop....www.beastlies.etsy.com. You can also see them on her flickr
stream....http://www.flickr.com/
photos/leslielevings. These are so cute that one can start a collector's item!