Monday, July 30, 2012

Fruit Fly Trap



Ok before you go and think that I've lost my mind...
I have a legit reason for having a wine glass with aluminum foil and a funnel sitting on my counter lol...

Let me start at the beginning...
A few days ago I noticed a bunch of fruit flies in my kitchen.
I couldn't figure it out, my house is super clean, and there wasn't any food left out.
I walked over to my fruit bowl on the dining room table, and all the fruit still looked fresh from when I bought a couple days before.
I picked up one Nectarine and BAM!
A bunch of Fruit Flies came flying out from underneath it!
EWWWWWWW!

So after getting rid of the Nectarine, which wasn't even rotten, it must of had a bruise on the bottom..but I digress...
I cleaned out my fruit bowl.

I can't get rid of these suckers!  I mean, where did they even come from?
So after doing some research online, I found out that Fruit Flies are pretty much dumber than a bag of rocks!
Yay for me!

SO I came up with this contraption to trap the stupid S.O.B.'s and get them out of my house!


This is what happened literally 30 seconds after I set it on the counter!
They came out of no where...


I would have used Saran Wrap but I was fresh out..
What ev, foil works


A minute later...YES...Five, count them FIVE stupid Fruit Flies..
Now if they would just go in the funnel...

Back to them being stupid...If you use a funnel, they will go in, but can't figure out how to get back out.
If you don't have a funnel like mine, you can make one out of a sheet of paper :)


Hook..Line..& Sinker...I got one!
It's flying around inside the glass..YES!

Hopefully I catch all of them, and then I will be a good girl and let them go outside...mayyybbeee..no I will.

I just want them out!

So here's the deal..

You need a Glass or Bowl, a Funnel, and something to entice the little devils...fruit, juice, wine, even Red Wine Vinegar...you get the idea, and some Foil, or Saran Wrap to put over the Glass/Bowl..unless your funnel goes all the way to the edges, then you don't need the Foil/Saran Wrap.

Alright, I'm going to go check my trap...Im such an awesome hunter..
Don't be jealy!

Wish me luck!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Duct Tape Clutch~Beginner Level


Today I am going to show you how to make a very simple yet fun Duct Tape Clutch.

This project is great for all DT Skill Levels, beginners included.

Here's what you will need:


Duct Tape of your choice and a piece of 9x12 Felt
You can find these Pre-Cut Sheets at your local Craft Store for really cheap.  You can usually get a few for a buck.  Also some sticky back Velcro (not shown in pic)


Cut a strip of DT that is 9 inches long
At one end of the Felt, put down your DT so that it is half on the felt and half off.  Try and make this as straight as possible.
If it's not straight, no worries, I'll show you later how to fix that.


Now flip it over and stick down the DT so that you now have DT on both sides (No Sticky)


I flipped mine back over and now start adding addition strips of DT overlapping each piece by about a 1/4"
Take your time doing this because once it touches the felt it's stuck


Once you get one side of the felt completely covered in DT, flip it over and fold that piece of DT onto the felt


Decide where you want the fold to be on your clutch
I folded mine up 4 inches
I cut a piece of tape that is 4" long and put it on the side there overlapping about half way
Then flipped it over and stuck the tape to the back
 Repeat on the other side


Now that both sides of your clutch are secure you are pretty much done!
So easy huh?


Get some Sticky Back Velcro 
Seriously love this stuff!!!


Add your Velcro and now your clutch can stay closed
Now, if your top piece of DT is crooked, add another piece of DT over the crooked tape before adding the Velcro.
Mine is a little crooked but it's not overly noticeable so I just left it.


Here is what it looks like closed
You can see I chose to cut the corners off of the flap
I did that just for a little added decor, but it's not necessary


The inside


Another view of the inside


Because I just couldn't help myself I Hot Glued a fake Flower on the clutch
Isn't it adorable???!!!!

I just love this clutch!
It super cool and padded from the felt.

It's an easy accessory to make yourself for an evening out, or just for fun.
It's so affordable you could make one in every color to match every outfit!!

I also love the fact that this is an easy craft for beginner Duct Tape Crafters.

Just to recap, the supplies you will need are:
Duct Tape
Felt
Sticky Back Velcro
 
Hope you enjoyed my Glam Duct Tape Clutch!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce


I just made this delicious Homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce and it was so simple with few ingredients. 
I must share this recipe with you!

I found it on Pinterest HERE 

So here is the recipe:

4oz of Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese
4oz of Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 12oz Can of Evaporated Milk
1 Tablespoon of Corn Starch
2 Teaspoons of Hot Sauce
Pinch of Salt
 
Directions:
In Sauce Pan combine all the ingredients but only using 1 Cup of the Evaporate Milk, saving the rest for later if needed. 

Stir constantly with a whisk on Medium Low Heat until thick and bubbly.

If you feel it needs to be less thick, then you need to add more Evaporated Milk  now.

Last but not least, pour it in a bowl and get to dip'n!!

This is so tasty, easy, inexpensive and much healthier than Canned Nacho Cheese Sauce.

My kids even loved it!

So here is the changes that I made to the recipe:
I used Pepper Jack and Colby Cheese cause that's what I had on hand.
I also added 4 tsp of Frank's Red Hot Sauce instead of 2...and if my kids weren't eating it I probably would've added more.

Enjoy!!!

Friday, July 13, 2012

Eraser Earrings

Yesterday I was walking around Target and had to stop by their Dollar section..
Quite possibly my favorite part of Target, other than the end caps with all the clearance :)

I found a pack of 60 small Erasers and thought to myself..
"These would make some cute earrings!"

So I splurged and bought them..they cost me a whole Dollar!
Geesh, how could I pass them up?

So here's what I did with them:


Here are the Erasers...Cute huh!?!


I used some Headpins and cut them down about half of the size you see pictured
You don't want them to poke out of the other end

 
I poked a Headpin in the middle of the top of the star, took it out, then added a tiny drop of Jewelry Glue
(Which in my opinion is just more expensive glorified Super Glue)
 I then put the Headpin back in 


I added some earring findings and I was done!

Aren't they cute?!!  
They are super light weight, bright, inexpensive and fun!!
You can even mix and match

I just love these
Cute for kids, but fun for big kids like us too
They would make a fun Teacher gift as well

Have a great day
and
Happy Crafting!

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Salsa Chicken



I found this recipe on Pinterest HERE
If you follow me on Pinterest then you will see the recipe on my board

Why this recipe caught  my attention:
  • It just sounds fabulous
  • It's a Crock Pot Meal
  • Simple and Few Ingredients

BAM!  I'm love'n it

I thru it in the Crock Pot this morning and it turned out FABULOUS

Here is the Ingredients/Directions:

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (uncooked)
1 can cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup (I used the cream of mushroom)
1 cup salsa
1 package taco seasoning (I used 1 Tbsp of Taco Seasoning)
1 cup sour cream
Shredded Cheese and/or Diced Green Onion/Chive (Optional)
I also added a pinch of Garlic Salt to my Chicken

DIRECTIONS:

Put chicken, soup, and salsa in slow cooker. Sprinkle taco seasoning over everything. Cook on low for 6 hours. If shredding the chicken, pull the breasts out and shred, return back to slow cooker, or just shred the chicken in the Crock Pot (that's what I did, one less dish to wash). Stir in sour cream and heat just until everything is combined.

SO EASY!
I then made some instant White Rice and put the Salsa Chicken over the top, so delish.

As a side dish I decided to make Mint Black Beans
This is such a simple tasty dish, great for summer nights.

Here's the instructions for the beans:

  • 2 15 ounce cans  black beans, rinsed
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup chopped mint
Rinse and drain Black Beans and add them to a Saucepan along with the Mint, and Lime Juice.
Heat until they simmer and your done.  
So quick!  And they are so refreshing!

For this meal, I split the Mint Bean Recipe in half, two cans of beans would be too much for my family.
 

I recommend this recipe, it was very good, very easy and inexpensive.

The beans would probably be great mixed in the Chicken and Rice but I'm not one to mix my food..Yes I'm weird like that :)

Those Green Onions came from my garden!
I just love adding fresh veggies from the garden into my meals.
The Mint was fresh from my Sisters garden...Thanks Sis!
 
Have a great day!!

Monday, July 9, 2012

Pop Can Flower


I love making these Pop Can Flowers!
They are so shiny and cute, and it's fun to make Upcycled Crafts!!

Here's how you can make one too:


Rinse out a Can (Beer, Soda, Energy Drink, what ev)
Then cut the top off by poking your scissors into the can and then cutting around


Cut 1/2 inch to 1 inch strips all the way down to the bottom ledge there
Do this all the way around the can


You should end up with this
Now bend the "petals" down one at a time


This is super easy, but make sure to bend them down at the base


When you're done you should have this
You can leave it silver like this or do what I did and color it with a Sharpie
You can also spray paint which would be much quicker but with the Sharpie you still get the shiny look


I hot glued a wooden skewer to the back of one of the "petals" that I colored Green and stuck in a planter


Here's a close up 
It's way cute but I felt it needed a finishing touch so....


I curled the edges of the petals with my Sharpie Pen

I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!


Every time I look out my back door it just makes me smile!
It's so bright, shiny and colorful!!

Added Tip:
If you want your flower to spin, then poke a hole thru the middle and put a thumb tack or nail thru the hole into a piece of wood/stick/dowel.  
Then it will spin when the wind blows!  
Be sure to make the hole a little bigger than the Tack/Nail

Have a great day!!!

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Outdoor Duct Tape Pillow



Summer has finally arrived in the state of Oregon!

During the Summer, my husband and I like to hang out in the backyard after the kids go to bed.

We light our Tiki Torches, start a fire in the fire pit, listen to music, and just relax and enjoy each others company.

We have these two plastic Adirondack chairs, and I love the look of them but they are uncomfortable for me.
I'm only 5'1, but my husband is tall, so they fit him perfectly.

I decided last night that I needed a pillow for behind my neck and/or for my lower back while lounging in the chairs.

So of course I made one with Duct Tape!
Why?  Because Duct Tape is Waterproof, and Durable.  
It's perfect for an outdoor pillow!

All I did was make one big sheet of DT Fabric, fold it in half, and tape the sides shut, leaving one side open so I could fill it with Fiber Fill.  Then I took a strip of DT and closed it up.

Seriously it took me only a few minutes to make, and I love it!



It's smaller because like I said I only wanted it for behind my back and neck, but I plan on making bigger ones for the chairs for added decor.


I had my guinea pig husband try it out 


He said it was awesome on his lower back
I didn't take a pic of that cause you couldn't see the pillow :)

I'm super happy with it and it looks great out there.
It felt AH-mazing on my lower back...like crazy good.
It's the perfect size.

So what are you waiting for?
Go make some cute Duct Tape Outdoor Pillows and spice up your outdoor decor!

Enjoy your day :)

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Blog Jokes

Good Morning!

While trying to cheer up a friend who is going thru some rough times, I came across a bunch of funny Blog Jokes and I thought I'd share them with you guys.

They are sure to make you giggle :)

Here goes it:
Drum roll please............

 
 Why did the mommy blogger cross the road?

She was told their was a $10 dollar gift card if she did a product review on the other side.

************************************************
 

How many mommy bloggers does it take to change a light bulb?

Well, just one actually, but it takes her at least a week to review the product, organize a Twitter party and then do contest giveaway before she actually replaces it.

*************************************************
 A Rabbi, a blonde, and a mom blogger walk into a bar. The bartender goes over to the Rabbi and asks, "Whaddya have, Rabbi?"

Looking over the drink menu, the Rabbi exclaims, "I'd have some wine, but Oy vey! These prices are too much!"

The bartender, being a religious man, pours the Rabbi a glass of wine and hands it to the Rabbi. "It's on the house." Then the bartender turns to the blonde and asks, "Whaddya have, sweetheart?"

The blonde, who's very attractive, licks her lips suggestively and responds, "I'd love an apple martini. They make me so tipsy."

The bartender can't help but to fall for her beauty, and he whips up an apple martini lickity split. "Here ya go, sugar. It's on the house."

Finally the bartender walks over to the mommy blogger. "Whaddya have, ma'am?"

The mommy blogger, having watched what had happened with the Rabbi and the blonde says, "I'll have a vodka tonic." Then she adds, "And it better be on the house, or I'm gonna tear this place a new one in my next blog post."

*************************************************




 

I'm betting those little funnies put a huge smile on your face!
Enjoy your Saturday everyone!

Contents found @
http://www.clarkkentslunchbox.com/2011/04/mommy-and-daddy-blogger-jokes.html
http://www.dumblittleblogger.com/2009/09/21/30-hilarious-blogging-jokes/

Friday, July 6, 2012

Duct Tape Luggage Tag



This morning my brother-in-law sent me a text.
It said "I have a Duct Tape idea for you..Luggage Tags"

I love that my family thinks of new and creative ideas for me when it comes to DT.

This time however I had already beat him to the punch.
I made these a couple of years ago, but realized I had never posted them on my blog.

So here it goes.

Supplies you will need:
Duct Tape (2 Colors)
Ribbon, String or a Zip Tie
Hole Punch
Sharpie
Scissors/Exacto Knife


Cut two strips of Duct Tape to 4 inches in lenghth


Put one on top of the other...
Sticky side to Sticky Side


Trim off any sticky if needed all the way around
then...
Cut off the corners of one end for added detail..
or don't and leave it a rectangle shape


I prefer this shape, I think it looks nice
You could however round the edges as well


Cut out a piece of DT in a corresponding color to
3 inches x 1.25 inches
One that is light enough to see writing on it


Place it on the tag in the middle
Write your name, phone number and/or addy on the DT with a Sharpie


Punch a hole in the top with a hole punch


If you are using Ribbon or String cut a piece that is long enough to be folded in half, yet still able to go around a luggage handle


Tie a knot at one end


Put the loop end thru the hole

 
Wrap around luggage handle
Then put the knotted end thru the loop and pull

 
This is what the knot looks like
you can just tie it around the luggage handle too if you prefer

Or 
You can put a Zip Tie thru the hole and use that to wrap around the luggage


Done!

So easy, inexpensive, waterproof, and fun

This is also how I make my DT Bookmarks

These luggage tags are easy to spot when looking for your luggage after a flight

If you have kids traveling with you, use the kid DT's that are out
Such as Spiderman, Spongebob, Mario Bros, Hello Kitty

You could also add a Grommet to the hole that you punched out for added strength and durability.

Have a great weekend everyone!