stitched heart mug cozie

Coffee or tea?  How do you choose!? 

No matter what you drink, you should drink it in a cute mug with an adorable mug cozie. Don't you agree? If you're not into sewing, you can check out my tutorial for crocheting a mug cozie. If you're into sewing... let's get started :)
what you'll need

main fabric (2 pieces both 11-1/2" x 3-1/2") muslin or other stabilizer (1 piece 11-1/2" x 3-1/2") accent fabric - 2"x8" for tab accent fabric - scrap for heart small piece of velcro pinking sheers
[1] Start by layering 1 piece of main fabric on top of your piece of muslin (pin together if you wish). Place your accent fabric heart a little off center on your fabric. Top stitch into place.

[2] Next, take your 2"x8" accent piece and fold it in half (wrong sides together). Place your velcro right under the crease, unfold your fabric & stitch it into place. Once secured, fold your fabric again (wrong sides together) and stitch down both sides to form the tab. Using your pinking sheers, trim both edges so they don't fray.

[3] To assemble the cozie, layer your fabric in the following order (see image below):

main fabric with heart facing up

tab with velcro facing up

main fabric (right side down) on top

Stitch both long sides and the short side of the cozie with the tab. Leave the other short side open. Use this open end to turn your cozie right side out. Iron cozie so that it lays flat, fold in the unstitched edge & top stitch around all 4 sides of the cozie to close it up.
[4] Wrap your "almost finished" cozie around your mug and mark where your second piece of velcro needs to go. Stitch in place.

Now that your mug cozie is finished you really only have one thing to decide: coffee or tea?

"look for less" january challenge

It's that time again! We're having our January "look for less" design challenge! (If you missed the last one - you can check it out HERE)

The idea behind this challenge is to find a look you absolutely love but cost more than you're like to spend and then DIY it on a budget for much less than what you could buy it for. Since I am always looking for a bargain (and always DIYing something rather than buying it) this challenge is right up my alley!

Please meet the other girls participating in the challenge: Rachel | Like a Saturday

Kylie | Absolutely Arkansas

Sarah | Life on Virginia Street

Andrea | Life Love Larson

Gracie | Kitchen Table Art

Kayla | Home Coming

my January "look for less" project: diy bathtub caddy

I got my inspiration for this bathtub caddy from none other than Anthroplogie (it's only my favorite store). The shower caddy from Anthropologie cost $168. It's beautiful, rustic, has a little spot for a wine glass - absolutely perfect. The only thing not perfect for me was the price. Living on a budget makes you look at things differently. I looked at that beautiful shower caddy and thought "my husband could make me one of those!"... and so the project began.

Since Adam is the carpenter in our family, he took this project on as his own. I helped along the way with drawings, dimensions, etc. 
Here's how the process went:
1) I measured our new tub and came up with these basic dimensions. I knew I wanted it to be 4 boards wide (which put it around 11"-12") and the width from the wall to the edge of the tub was 29":

Doing the dimensions and drawings prior to any shopping gave us an idea of how much material we'd need to buy.
2) Next, Adam ran to Lowe's to pick up the wood we needed. If you're making your own, here's a list of what you'll need:
shopping list  two 2x4s (or at least 10' of board) one 1x2 for the "legs" (or at least 2' of board) water-based polyurethane foam brush for applying poly wood screws
(We used poplar because it is inexpensive, easy to work with and matches other things in our bathroom. You can use whatever type of wood you'd like - and stain it if you'd like a different look.)
3) After everything was purchased, it was time to cut the pieces down to size. Using his circular saw, Adam cut the 2x4s into 29" pieces (making sure the ends lined up perfectly). The 1x2 was cut into 2 pieces - both were 11" long.

4) Prior to assembly, everything was thoroughly sanded and coated 4-5 times with polyurethane to keep it safe from water. We did the poly before assembly because it would have been too hard to get into all the cracks afterward. Once everything had dried, Adam screwed the 1x2 pieces into the 2x4s to hold everything together.

I am absolutely in LOVE (with my husband ANNNDDD my new bathtub caddy).  I can't wait for many bubble baths, books & wine (or orange juice) this winter.

If you think my project is cool, make sure you check out the other projects done by the other design challenge ladies. They are so amazing - and they blow mine out of the water!!

build a focal wall headboard   

             designer inspired large-scale art & frame                         faux fur vanity stool

   glass bottle lamp                                           work bench

salon blowout

 

easy boot cuffs

Something that has been on my "to do" list for a while were a pair of boot cuffs. I wear boots ALL winter and love to have cuffs & leg warmers underneath. I knew I could easily make some to add to my collection so I searched through my stash of yarn and got started. Who wants to make a pair??
what you'll need

yarn of your choice coordinating crochet hook needle to stitch in loose ends
Pattern
CH 40 (or how ever many stitches it takes for your chain to wrap around your leg snuggly in multiples of 3 + 1)
row 1: CH 2, DC in first stitch and all stitches across, CH 2 & turn row 2-7: DC in all stitches, CH 2 & turn row 8: DC in all stitches, CH 1, turn row 9: SC in all stitches, CH 1, turn ...start of the lacey top... row 10: Starting with the first stitch *(DC, CH 2, DC) in same stitch, skip next 2, repeat from * around. End with a DC in last stitch. CH1 & turn row 11: Work 4 SC into each of the CH 2 spaces across.  Fold boot cuff in half and line up both short ends. SC the ends together, fasten off and weave in ends. Turn cuff right side out. Repeat all steps for second boot cuff.
TA-DA!

You now have a pair of adorable boot cuffs :) Put on your favorite pair of boots and enjoy showing them off. Easy peasy, right?

mustache stitches

Anyone else getting snowed in today? If you're anything like me, you don't mind being cooped up in your warm cozy home with an afternoon project. My projects all seem to revolve around the TV now... I've become obsessed with watching Dexter. OBSESSED. Any project that allows me to sit on the couch and watch Dexter at the same time is perfect :)

Anyway, this simple, fun DIY mustache cross stitch is a quick little project perfect for any afternoon at home. Grab your materials and get stitching!
materials you'll need: mustache pattern black and/or brown embroidery thread needle small frame cross stitch fabric
SIDE NOTE: After Christmas, my mom was cleaning out some of her decorations and was getting rid of these counted cross stitch window hangers. I wasn't too fond of the designs they had but thought the little frames could be reused (which is what inspired this project in the first place).

This fun little mustache design (that now hangs in my craft room) makes me smile every time I look at it. I think it's because it reminds me of our wedding.

Whatever this mustache cross stitch makes you think of,  I hope it helps add a little bit of fun into a room in your home. Happy stitching :)

mason jar candles

*** this project was originally shared as a guest post on cocktails with mom ***

I am a huge fan of small projects that can add a little fun to ordinary objects. Today I'll be sharing a few quick & easy ways to spruce up a couple of plain mason jars. Mason jars are so versatile that I find myself using them for everything. My newest obsession is candles. These floating candle holders are perfect for indoors or outdoors. You can use floating candles [like I did] or you could go one step further and fill your jars with scented wax & a wick for a true jar candle. Either way, you'll be left with a cute, functional way to brighten any occasion.

... what you'll need ...

mason jars

floating candles

burlap ribbon

yarn or cotton hemp

hot glue gun

other hemp, ribbons, etc.

... what I did ...

For Jar #1, I took an extra long piece of my blue cotton hemp (maybe 3-4 arm lengths) and started wrapping it around my narrow jar. Each time I wrapped it around I tied a basic knot and went back around the jar in the opposite direction. I wrapped & tied until I had a small band of hemp. I ended it at the top with a basic bow.

I removed the metal (flat) lid, filled my jar with water & placed a small floating candle inside.

For Jar #2, I wrapped my burlap ribbon around the jar twice & cut the length I needed. I marked a spot on the burlap at the "front" of the jar, slipped my burlap off and stamped a "B" with a rubber stamp. Using hot glue, I attached the burlap to the jar and finished it off with a hemp bow at the top.

I also removed the metal (flat) lid on this jar, filled it with water & placed a small floating candle inside.

These simple updates took me less than 15 minutes to complete, but they give my boring mason jars some fun flair. They'll be perfect for Summer cook outs - yes (despite the snow) I am already dreaming of Summer!

What low budget items have you spruced up lately? I'd love to know!

christmas chow

This is probably my FAVORITE treat that I've shared so far for Treat Week... Christmas Chow! Yes, It is your standard and beloved Puppy Chow recipe (AKA Muddy Buddies) with a cute name spin for the holidays. This stuff is like crack. Seriously. Once you start eating it it's hard to stop. Chocolate...peanut butter...powdered sugar...yum!

Chex "Christmas Chow" Ingredients

9 cups rice chex cereal

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions

Measure out Chex cereal and put into large bowl. Set aside.

In microwave, melt together the chocolate chips, peanut butter & margarine until smooth and well combined (30 second increments). Stir in vanilla.

Pour chocolately peanut buttery mixture over cereal and coat well. Move Chex into a large ziplock bag. Add powdered sugar and shake until well coated and dispersed.  Spread on waxed paper to cool.

Now that your Christmas Chow is made, what are you going to put it in? I was giving this chow as a gift so I wrapped some left over Slim Fast containers I had saved with some Faux Bois wrapping paper that I've been hoarding. I also created this fun little printable! The printable is for the Avery 2.5" round labels.

Check out the original "Chex Muddy Buddies" recipe here.

Download my personalized printable here.

[p.s. this post may be linked to any number of these blogs]

white chocolate pistachio & dried cranberry bark

So far for Treat week, I've shared my Marshmallow pops & Homemade Chai Tea Mix. Treat week continues today with another fun & festive goodie... White Chocolate Pistachio & Dried Cranberry Bark! 

This delicious recipe was one that was recommended to me by my cousin Erin. She saw it last year around the holidays and thought it was so pretty. Neither one of us got around to make it last year so it was on my list of treats to make this year. The concept & ingredients are super simple.
Ingredients: 1 lb. of white chocolate 1/2 cup shelled pistachios 1/2 cup dried cranberries How to make: Over a double boiler, melt your chocolate until it is nice and smooth. Set a side for a few minutes to cool. Once slightly cooled, mix in the pistachios & cranberries. Spread chocolate mixture onto a pan prepared with parchment paper. Smooth chocolate mixture into a thin, even layer. The recipe I saw didn't call for this but I sprinkled a few extra pistachios & cranberries onto the top of my chocolate to add more color. Allow the bark to cool for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator before breaking into pieces.

Another easy & pretty holiday treat completed! Are you getting into the Christmas spirit? [p.s. this post may be linked to any number of these blogs]

homemade chai mix

Treat Week continues with this sweet & spicy holiday "how to"... (if you missed yesterday's post, you can check it out here).

When the temperature drops and it begins to snow, I immediately turn to my hot tea. Chai tea to be exact. It makes me feel so warm and fuzzy on the inside. I love how it smells. When I stumbled across this recipe for homemade chai tea mix, I knew I had to try it!

To package the chai tea mix for gifts I simply bought a few ball jars at Target & printed out my own homemade labels using the 2.5" round Avery kraft paper labels. They are the best. 

As the label states, you add 3 tsp of mix into a mug of water. You can also add milk (to taste). These little jars of chai mix make the perfect gift for family, friends or coworkers. Enjoy!
If you'd like to make your own chai, you can find the recipe here. If you'd like to print out some of my labels, you can download the file here.

[p.s. this post may be linked to any number of these blogs]