Girl Power: Paper Butterfly Wall Decor (PB Inspired)

I fell in love with these cute little butterflies from Pottery Barn Kids. My lil sweet pea has a Pottery Barn Kids quilt in her room and she loves butterflies so I thought it would be perfect!

(photo credit: Pottery Barn Kids Catalog)

So I decided to give it a try:

I printed out a butterfly pattern on my two sided paper (Amy Butler K&Co).

I cut out the pattern inside the lines so they would now show on the final product. Using a boning tool, I folded up the wings to give it a 3-D look.

Then I flipped my butterfly over and applied double sided tape.

I found the perfect spot on the wall in my sweet pea's room and applied my beautiful swallowtail butterfly!

Here is what I did:

Supplies

2-sided scrap bookpaper (good quality thick paper)

scissors

pattern

boning tool

double sided tape

1) Choose coordinating scrapbook papers to match your room decor.

2) Print out the pattern. ***This pattern is set to print on 12x12 scrapbook paper so make sure to check the box "scale to fit" to your paper size if you are using 8.5x11 letter sized paper.

3) Cut out your butterflies right inside the lines so they do not show in final product.

4) Using a boning tool, gently fold up the two sides of the wings where they meet the body of the butterfly. This gives the 3-D appearance you are going for. It looks like the butterfly just landed on your wall.

5) Remove one side of double stick tape and apply to back of body of your butterfly.

6) Determine spot on your wall and peel and stick your butterfly right on.

They look really cute in a little cluster. You can reduce the print size of your image in print set-up area to make 3 different sizes like PB if you wish.

~ Enjoy :)

Gardening 101: It's Spring...Let's Plant Some Seeds!

Finally the weather has warmed up and it's time to sow/plant some seeds. The twins love gardening! I have some great memories of gardening with my dad while I was growing up.

We use this as a learning experience as well! Throw a little home school in while we are at it.

We read How a Seed Grows. And learned about the process in which a seed grows!

 

This year we are planting carrots, spinach, lettuce, basil, rosemary, cilantro, thai chili peppers and strawberries.

You must consult a zone map to see what zone your in. 

What are Zone Maps...you ask?

Gardeners need a way to compare their garden climates with the climate where a plant is known to grow well. That's why climate zone maps were created. Zone maps are tools that show where various permanent landscape plants can adapt. If you want a shrub, perennial, or tree to survive and grow year after year, the plant must tolerate year-round conditions in your area, such as the lowest and highest temperatures and the amount and distribution of rainfall. (from http://www.garden.org/)

This is a helpful website to determine your zone based on your zip code. It also has very useful information on many gardening subjects.

Sowing Seeds:

egg carton(s) and/or plastic strawberry carton(s)

skewer

scissors

vegetable friendly soil such as organic potting mix

seeds for planting in your zone
permanent marker

water

plastic wrap

1) Take your egg carton and cut it into to two parts: top and bottom.

2) Using the skewer, poke 2-3 small holes in the bottom of each egg cup (or whatever they're called LOL).

3) Using a small scoop/shovel, put soil in each egg cup. Then place inside the top of carton. This will hold/catch your water.

4) Poke a small hole in soil with finger and place a seed in each cup. Cover with ~1/4" soil. Remember to use your permanent marker to label your cartons.

5) To gently water your seeds, filling the top portion of the carton with a little water. The place the bottom portion (with the soil in it) of the carton on top of the water. Use room temperature water.  Plants do not like cold water. Cover your carton with plastic wrap to keep moisture level constant like a little greenhouse. Place in a sunny location where you will remember to water them like by the front door. ***Do not water them with a watering can. This will disturb your seeds. Check on them and continue to water them as mentioned above. If you notice just the top of the soil is dry, you can spray it with a spray bottle. REMOVE plastic wrap when seeds germinate or sprouts appear. Over watering is just as bad as under watering :)

6) This process can also be done with plastic strawberry cartons; however, do not cut the lid off. You can close the lid after watering to make your own little greenhouse. And the best part is it already comes with drainage holes. To water, place strawberry containers in a dish of room temperature water or better yet use styrofoam trays meat and vegetables come in at the supermarket.

Most seeds will germinate within 14 days!

Stayed tuned for Gardening 102 and more!

~Determining a location for your garden, preparing your soil, how to make easy raised beds

and container gardening. (I'm putting my degree to some use finally LOL)

Cinnamon Apple Crisp

Fireman had an airforce buddy stay here for one night until his flight home the next morning. Kinda last minute so I had to whip together dinner super fast. We had indoor grilled salmon (recipe coming soon), asparagus with hot pepper oil and balsamic glaze, roasted dutch potatoes with thyme, iron skillet rosemary dinner rolls and last but not least APPLE CRISP with natural vanilla bean ice cream!

Apple Crisp

2-3 large jonagold apples, peeled, cored, diced
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
juice of 1/2 lemon

1 1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1 stick butter melted

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2) Toss diced apples with lemon juice in 8.5 x 11 rectangular baking dish.
3) With clean hands, combine diced apples, 2/3 cup sugar, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp cinnamon.
4) In medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans. Drizzle with melted butter. Stir with a fork to combine.
5) Top apples with crumb topping.
6) Bake for 30 minutes in middle of oven.
7) Check and bake for an additional 10 minutes in top of oven until lightly brown and apples are bubbly.

Adapted from Pioneer Woman's Pear-Cinnamon Crisp.

***To make it extra yummy, allow your ice cream to soften slightly and stir in some cinnamon.

@BlessedWithGrace

Girl Power: 30 minute purse for your little rockstar

Just some things I made last night....30 minute purse, twirly skirt, and applique tank for my lil sweet pea! My sewing machine has been upstairs collecting dust. Sweet Pea has been begging me to make her another purse for the longest!

I got some inspiration from a purse I made her awhile ago and also some very useful information

 from Skip To My Lou which I used in my tutorial as well.

I posted a short tutorial on how I did this here!

Here are the other pieces:

I have plans to add some gemstones to the guitar after I peel it off and put it on the right way LOL! Guess it was a little late and I didn't flip it before I traced it on the fusible webbing. Oh well!

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Eggs, Eggs...Egg Salad!

I'm trying to use up all these eggs! I just made an egg salad sandwich on a potato roll that was soooo yummy!

Egg Salad (Serves 2)

4 hard cooked-eggs, chopped in big chunks, chilled
2-3 tbsp mayonnaise (I prefer Hellman's)
1 tsp dijion mustard
1 1/2 tsp onion, chopped (yellow or red for color)
1 tbsp celery, chopped
1/4 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/8 tsp salt and pepper, each or use 1/4 tsp seasoned salt
1/2 tsp fresh dill or parsley (Optional)

Combine all ingredients and serve on a nice soft roll or bread!

Family Feud!

Wish me luck...today my family and I are trying out for Family Feud! I'm nervous but really excited too!! My mom called two weeks ago to tell us she entered us to be on the show. Who would have thought we would be called for an interview!!

Fireman downloaded the Family Feud app for our iphones so we could practice!

If you are in Florida and want to be on the show click here!

Hope you have a Happy Friday and a Fun Weekend!

RRF: Berry Banana Extreme Smoothie and GP Converse Makeover

Robin Robin is 1 year old! I'm participating today for the first time! It is a link party and a giveway. Go check it out!

Here are my two posts for RRF:

Berry Banana Extreme Smoothie

Girl Power: Converse Makeover Part 1