Teacher Appreciation Apple Gift Basket

J just had her last day of school so my craft this week was an apple themed teacher appreciation gift. I made these cute apple cupcakes but if you want an alternative you can always buy cupcakes pre-made and decorate them or go to a Chocolate store like Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory where they sell candy and caramel apples!

What You Need

*Cupcake mix

*Frosting

*Red cupcake liners

*Red sprinkles

*Pretzel sticks

*Green candy for the leaves (I used sour apple belts)

*Crystal Light Appletini Mix

*Travel cup w/ lid

*2 Apple scented foam soaps (B&BW)

*Tissue paper

*Basket/ Container (Hobby Lobby)

*Optional: I found the painted, apple cutouts I used for name plates at Hobby Lobby for .99

I made my cupcakes with this recipe and used Duncan Hines Frosting Creations in Caramel for the frosting.  

 In the spirit of recycling (and saving money), I used empty bottle bottoms to pack each apple individually.

 The bottle containers fit perfectly in the plastic gift bags I found at Walmart. I finished them off with some apple themed ribbon I had on hand.

 Here are all of the basket contents:

 All ready to go! Thanks Ms. Rhonda and Ms. Carmen!!!

As you may have noticed, if you actually pay any attention to my blog, I have been a little MIA for a few days. a few weeks. ok, fine, two months! But I have plenty of excuses! The main excuse being that I have finally gotten through my first trimester of pregnancy!!!

That's right baby number two is on it's way, and with a vengeance it seems. I was feeling pretty sick there for a while but as I am heading into my second trimester this week, I am feeling much better and ready to take on some new projects! I already have tons of ideas swimming through my head so keep an eye out for what's to come! Thanks so much to all of my readers for your patience! I promise to get back to crafting, I'm sure with quite a few baby designs to feature!

Week Eleven: Dress to Toddler Skirt

I've been meaning to get into my box of clothes that don't fit me anymore and do some re-purposing. Kids clothes are so expensive so why not use some old clothes, that are in good shape still, into kids clothes? And I had the perfect dress to use for St Patrick's Day!

An old dress that doesn't fit me anymore but was way to cute to just get rid of!

I started by cutting off the top.

I measured my length to 11 inches. Add another two for hemming the bottom and adding the elastic to the top.

Cut to length...

Sew the sides to desired width. I only sewed at the top because I wanted to leave the liner separate but go ahead and sew all the way to the bottom. I used another one of J's skirts as a template.

Create a hem, large enough to fit your elastic, with openings at the end. Put a safety pin on the end of the elastic to help pull it through, then sew your two pieces of elastic together and close the fabric opening.

Hem the bottom of your skirt.

And you have a skirt!

Finally, add a cute little Irish girl!!! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Week Ten: Taffy Rainbow & Pot of Gold St Patrick's Treat

Ok, so I didn't post by the weekend, as promised, but at least I am done with my St. Patrick's Day craft early!!! That means tere is still time for you to get crackin! I mean, what toddler wouldn't love a sweet, taffy rainbow with a chocolately pot of gold? Who am I kidding? What adult wouldn't?

I saw a similar post on Pinterest using rainbow licorice but I prefer Laffy Taffy. It's easier to cut in half and, lucky me, it was on sale for 5 for $1! This will give you enough for two bags and will, in theory, reduce the bouncing-off-the-walls-from-too-much-sugar-toddler-psychosis! I also put a ribbon, hair clip on top instead of a "Happy St. Patrick's Day" label since, well, my two year old can't read! =)

What You Need

*Skinny Laffy Taffy in multiple colors

*Chocolate coins

*Snack sized ziploc bags

*Hair ribbon/ label/ stickers for decorating

I simply opened the Taffy (carefully so it doesn't break) and cut it in half.

Place in snack sized ziploc bag, fold the zipper part under and tape.

I clipped the hair clip on the zipper part behind the candy and DONE!

Tasty, cute and it only cost $3 for two bags full! And for the adults in the house, I am going to give these Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes a go! Happy St. Patrick's Day! Oh, and if anyone pinches you... feel free to slap them with your Laffy Taffy! =)

Week Nine: Fabric Cupcake Keychain

So, last week I made a key chain from another tutorial and, well, I kinda botched it. My fault for not following directions at some points and being lazy at other. Anyway, I decided I just couldn't go out like that so this week I am not only making another key chain but coming up with my own tutorial as well! Haha!!! Take that key chain! Ahem.

After last weeks key chain mishap I decided I needed something with a little more personality. I saw this really cute stuffed fabric strawberry and thought... hey, I can do that. I just so happen to be a lover of all things sweet and that is when the cupcake key chain was born. I also had perfect fabric for it already from another project so yay for no trip to the store! Hope you like it!

What You Need

*3 fabrics (I used felt for the tan cake and the rest is cotton)

*Red pom, button, another fabric for cherry

*Filler (just so happens my daughter broke into one of her pillows and pulled all the filler out the other day. Guess she knew I would need some.)

*Key ring

*Double sided iron on interface

*Typical sewing hoohah (scissors, thread, needle)

And we're off to make some calorie free cupcakes...

Base fabric dimensions: 4 1/2 in x 2 1/2 in for the side and the circle was 1 1/2 in around.

Place the base side with the right sides together and sew like so...

Now, attaching the circle is tricky so hang in there! I found the tutorial at Sew Mama Sew, so if I lose you feel free to check out her more detailed description.

Cut little slits around the edge that will attach to the round base.

I filled my base temporarily to make it easier to pin the circular bottom on.

Pin your circle on with 4 pins.

Remove filling and sew around the edges ABOVE the slits. You don't want holes in your cupcake!

Should look like this...

And this...

Turn inside to check and... hey, there! Looks round to me!

Phew! Moving on... cut your cake top approximately the size of a Guiness glass. For those of you who don't have a Guiness glass... shame on you. Just kidding. Cut a circle about 3 1/4 inches around.

Put a row of basting stiches around the edges of your cake top, pull and gather.

Place your icing on a double sided fusible web. Cut to size.

Iron on the frosting and sew on the pom cherry

Sew or fuse together your keychain strap... does this look like bacon to anyone else? I must be hungry.

Place the felt top inside the base so the right sides are together

Hand sew three quarters of the cupcake leaving enough space to turn it right side out

Hand sew the remainder adding the bacon... I mean key chain loop.

There. Now you have a sugary treat look-a-like to taunt you everywhere you go.

Week Seven: Faux Pinch Pleat Curtains

About a year and a half ago I made these curtains for our living room. I used a super simple design since it was my first attempt at curtains but after looking at them I wish I had done a little something decorative at the top. Then I came across a tutorial showing how to make simple slide on drapes look like they are pleated with easy clip on rings! The tutorial also shows you how to make the curtains themselves if you're feeling ambitious!

My curtains before all bunched up...

These clip rings were about $5 for a pack of 10 at Ikea. They are plastic but you won't see them!

Space and place them evenly across your drapes

And enjoy a whole new look without having to buy or make all new curtains!!!

Week Six: Clothespin Chip Clips

I went back and forth about my would-be craft of the week and just could not make up my mind! But, while scouring Pinterest for inspiration, I kept running across crafts with clothespins. I have about 40 clothes pins left from last weeks Valentine, since HEB only sells them in bulk, so why not use what I have?

Here is a super simple DIY to make decorative chip clips! Somehow chips make me think of football and I just so happened to have some left over football scrap paper. Nice! So, all you need is some modge podge, scrap paper, a brush and clothespins and you can say goodbye to those stale chips... if you can get your husband to use them too. =)

Simply traced a rough outline and cut it out...

Apply a layer of modge podge to the clothes pin and affix paper

Trim any rough edges and then cover with another layer of modge podge. If the paper bubbles, you didn't put enough modge podge on the clothespin to start with so peel back and apply more.

I love fishes cuz their so delicious... when they're not stale.

Now, what to do with the other 36 pins I have left? Lol!