Reading nook!

I am a huge fan of children having a plethora of books. That’s the one thing they can learn the most from and always my favorite gift to give! This is such a wonderful way to not only display them but to store them nearly! This article is actually a DIY on the adorable jelly roll pillow under the books but I just couldn’t resist sharing this idea with you guys, too cute! Plus I love this pillow, I’m adding it to the to make list…

Check out her site at: http://www.livingwithpunks.com/2011/11/made-jelly-roll-floor-pillow.html

Craft table love!

Love this craft table!! Big enough to draft patterns, yet small enough to have room for plus tons and tons of storage! This rocks!!

Check out this one and her other awesome ideas at:

http://georgiapeachez.typepad.com/georgiapeachez/2011/07/new-cutting-table-configuration.html

Organization Calendar…

Ok…. I know, January has already given up ten valuable days. It is a late start, but this day by day process is fairly simple and it covers areas in the house that you may not think of cleaning. I read through some of these things and found it to be very useful. You may want to give it a try if organization is one of your New Year’s resolutions.

Craft room fabulous!

I LOVE THIS! It has got to be the cutest way to be organized. You may have an old dresser that you aren’t sure what to do with it. Here is an awesome way to keep all your sewing, crafting, etc in a tame order. All you need to do is paint as needed and purchase clear cotainers with lids. Simple and very chic.

Check out her amazing transformation!!

http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2011/04/sewingcraft-room-ideas-and-updates.html

Jewelry organization…

Ok, I don’t know about you but I have miles and miles of jewelry that has tangled itself together over the years, necklaces attached to bracelets attached to necklaces, etc! It’s a big frustrating mess!!! So when I saw this I knew I had to share it with you guys! Not only is it burlap (LOVE!) but it’s drawer knobs and pulls which you can get for cheap or go super cute at anthropology and really make some art! This is a cork board wrapped in burlap, with drawer pulls screwed through and secured with washers on the back! Obviously you’d need 1. Thick cork 2. Lighter drawer pulls and not put anything too crazy heavy on there (at least these are the things I’m thinking about). I’m going to make one for myself and I’ll let you guys in on any tricks I learn along the way!

Courtesy of. Onewomenshaven.blogspot.com

Men’s Necktie Wristlet!

I was playing around on Etsy today and came across this great little shop, TearfulTouch.  She makes these incredible wristlets out of men’s neckties!  They are super cute and only $20 each.  I don’t know about you, but I go through spells of not wanting to carry a purse and I walk around with my card case, my phone, and my keys all in hand, and let’s just say I’ve had to search Target for my car keys before because I sat them down to look at something else, NOT fun!  But this looks like a little answer for me.  The perfect size for everything that I carry with me and so adorable, plus I could clip my keys to the wristlet ring.  Hmmm…I think this may just have to be my next purchase!

 

Waffle Iron Cookies…

 

 

Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Waffle Cookies 

These cookies sound amazing!  A use for the waffle iron hiding in the cabinets and a way to keep me from eating more than a cookie or two at a time!  If you make up a batch of batter and store it in the fridge you could make them for a week or so and have hot fresh cookies anytime you want them, plus they look really cool, especially with tea for some reason.  I like it, anyway to control me from eating 24 cookies at a time is a winner to me.  Let us know how they turn out!

Recipe courtesy of finecooking.com

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs. firmly packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1-1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Nonstick cooking spray

Tip: For the best results, measure your flour by weight instead of volume. (1 cup of all-purpose flour equals 4-1/2 oz.) If you don’t have a scale, be sure touse the proper technique when filling your measuring cups.

 

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Heat the waffle iron according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

In a large bowl, whisk the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the oats and chocolate chips.

Coat the grids of the waffle iron with nonstick cooking spray. Use a tablespoon or small ice cream scoop to portion out a cookie onto each waffle square. Close the iron and cook until set and beginning to brown, 1-1/2 to 3 minutes, depending on the heat of your waffle iron. Use a thin metal spatula to transfer the cooked cookies to a wire rack and repeat with the remaining dough, coating the grids with spray as necessary.

 

 

Treat Bag Ornaments…

Such a SUPER cute idea!!  I have a huge Christmas Party every year and I am always looking for a new and inventive way to do the treat bags!  I found these bags at my local paper-source store or paper-source.com (they were only $4 for 25 of them!).  And they are super easy to print on!  They even had the little round labels to use for the top in a plethora of colors, I got a gorgeous teal color called pool.  I am going to print a thank you on the outside and then hang these on the tree with fresh cookies inside for everyone to take as they leave!  I can’t wait!  I’ll post my step by step and finished product soon!  But here are the supplies that I bought to change it up just a bit and make it more festive…

The bags…

 

 

 

 

 

the labels: (I already had a hole punch for the center)

 

 

 

 

 

the twine:

 

 

 

 

 

And I bought this adorable stamp!  (I’m going to put it on the bag above “from us” maybe and then glitter in their little buttons! YAY!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

top photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/candlemomo/4475805995/