Molding Makes Everything Better..

Even Furniture!

I know that everyone has seen this little beauty (or something very similar) at their local big-box store. I've passed by it many, many times while looking for storage solutions. It looks practical.... but sometimes practical isn't pretty.

So I've left it alone, looking at other places for something a little nicer. But nicer comes with a price tag. A BIG one. And since I'm just looking to store my family's shoes and backpacks on it, I can't think of a single reason why I'd shell out $200+. But that's just me.

So we continued using a basket for our shoes... until one day, the basket just had a meltdown. It couldn't take it anymore, so it just decided to fall apart. Seriously. In one day. So then we had nothing. And no one could find their shoes.

That's when I decided to take another look at this lovely. And it was on sale! $35. Sweet! But what could I do to it to make it look just a little nicer? I took a page out of The Thrifty Decor Chick's book, and went with the motto that Molding Makes Everything Better. So I decided to chunk it up with a little MDF and trim. And guess what? It looks awesome!

What do you think?

Want to make one yourself?

Well then, you're in luck. Cause I'm feeling happy to have a computer to blog from, you get the lowdown on the construction of this $50 beauty.

Here's what you're going to need:

One assembled Closetmaid 6 Unit shelf, One 1/2" MDF board cut into two pieces (my measurements were the exact same as the top for one and the added an inch to the width for the bottom piece to have a lip), Two pieces of trim cut to the length of the shelf (I used quarter round for the bottom and door trim for the top), a Nail Gun (or hammer & nails), Liquid Glue, Wood Filler, sanding block, paint roller and tray, Kilz primer, and quart of interior paint

Now that you've gathered your supplies (or, let's be honest, raided you're hubby's stash like me), you get to put everything together.

First thing is to put the Liquid Nails on the top. This is what will actually keep the top MDF board on for the long haul. The nails just hold it in place to dry.

Then you'll line up your cut MDF board to be flush with all sides. This will be your top piece. Nail on the four corners and on the divider boards to hold in place.

Turn that puppy over, and repeat on the bottom, only making it flush on three sides, leaving the hangover on the front. Double check it's on the front side. Then check again. Because you'd hate to nail it into place only to realize that you did it wrong. Not that I speak from experience or anything...

Now that it has been beefed up a little on the top and bottom, let's make it look pretty. Give it some curves. Something to look at. To do that, you're going to lay it flat on it's back, with the front facing up. To do the top, put down some Liquid Nails and place the door trim on top. The Liquid nails are very forgiving. You'll be able to move it around to get it perfectly flush.

Once it's flush on the top and sides, you'll nail it into place.

Then you are going to place the quarter round between the overlap and shelving unit.

And once you put the trim on and stand it up, you'll have something that looks similar to this:

Doesn't it look soooo much better already!?

Then you'll prime with kilz, and paint with your selected color. I'm going to tell you though... this is the hardest part. The priming takes FOREVER. And because of the laminated boards, the paint doesn't stick very well, so it's really, really important you put on a good layer of primer before you paint. Or you'll end up with paint that will peel right off. Once again, not that I tried to cut corners or anything...

And when you're done with the priming and painting a few coats, it will look like this:

And once it's in it's special place, like this:

So for at $35 base, $5 in molding, $7 for MDF board, and paint and supplies left over from the trim in my bathroom, I got something that I'm not embarrassed to look at every time I come in from the garage.

Hope you like my Doctored Cubby! What do you think?

Applique Ribbon Blanket- A tutorial

Since I seem to be making quite a few of these bad boys lately, I figured that I might as well have a go at making my first sewing tutorial on such a fabulous item! I know this isn't the first taggie blanket tutorial you've seen-nor will it be the last. It's just my spin on a classic, with a few tricks tossed in for good measure.

If you seem to be attending baby shower after baby shower, maybe you should start being known as "The Awesome Gift Giver" by taking one of these and a few burp rags. Trust me. It's what all hormonal women want. It's just an added bonus that they will become the babies favorite blanket.

Want to make one? Then here's what you'll need:

If you're new to sewing, or just terrified at the thought of applique, it's really not that difficult. In fact, it's probably the easiest sewing there is because it's just glue. Here's a quick run down of the way I applique:

(please note that I ALWAYS use Heavy Duty Wonder Under. It washes soooo well. In my many years of using it, I've never had a problem. And you know this is going to be washed. And washed. And washed. And you don't want anything to fall off. So just use the Heavy Duty stuff ok?)

Once you've traced your shape or letter (if you'd like to monogram), cut apart the shapes so you can use them on different material. Don't waste your time cutting them out perfectly. Save that for when you have the material attached.
You're going to iron the Wonder Under to the wrong side of your material. Let it cool down. Then cut out the shape. Please let it cool. It only takes about a minute. And I don't want anyone to have to stop sewing because you've burnt your finger and thumb. Use my wisdom here, k?

Once it's cool and cut out, here's the best trick I've found for peeling off the paper backing: gently slice through the middle of the paper with a pin. Make an X and start peeling. It will peel off like a ripe banana. Promise. And you don't end up with frayed edges from trying to start on the edge.

Nice and Clean!

Once they are cut out, attach the circles to the center of the flower by removing the paper and dry ironing for 5-10 sec depending on the thickness of the material. Cottons bond very quickly. Maybe 5 sec. Flannels take about 10. So just watch it. If it's not totally stuck, just go back over it with a very hot iron.

Once you've attached the centers to the flowers, you need to attach the flowers to the material. Lay it out how it looks good to you. Trust your gut here. Or your eyes. Whatever.

Once you've ironed on the flowers, you're going to need to stitch around the applique. This is mostly for visual appeal. The Heavy Duty Wonder Under won't let go. Stitching around the edges just gives it a more finished look. Use a blanket, satin, or close zig-zag. Whatever you feel comfortable with.

Now on to the ribbons!

Select 8-10 matching ribbons. To make sure they fit, lay out the rolls like so:

Sorry the picture won't turn... but you get the idea.

Once you've determined how many different ribbons you're going to use, cut 16" of each ribbon.

Then fold over, cut at fold, fold again, and cut again at fold so you're left with four 4"ish pieces. It doesn't have to be exact.

Once you've got four 4" ribbons, you need to burn/melt the edges to keep it from fraying. This step is not optional. If you don't, the ribbons will fray after multiple washing and will come unraveled from the seam. So please just find a candle and melt the edges.

Divide into 4 equal piles.

Select a pile and layout along the side. Make sure you leave 1" on both ends for seam allowance. This is the best way I've found to keep from repeating a pattern around the sides with the ribbon, unless that's what you're going for. Take a second and make your spacing even and spread out the colors. Once you've found a layout you like, fold each ribbon in half, lay on material with the fold facing inward and edges on the edge. You can stagger the length of the tags, but don't lay them more than a 1/4" in. Or they won't get caught in the seam.

Do this for all four sides and you'll end up with something like this:

Now it's time to sew:

Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew over one ribbon, back stitch the entire ribbon, then sew over again. Do every ribbon this way to ensure they are sewn on well. Because these are going to be chewed on by little babies. And your heart would break if they were to tug one out.

Once you've done all the ribbon, lay flat, making sure all ribbon is laying properly. Take a second and pin the two ribbons closest to the corner together. This will keep them from getting caught in the seam. You can thank me later for saving you from having to un-pick and re-sew. You're welcome.

Take your fuzzy material and place it on top of the flannel, putting right sides together. Make sure all sides are flush.

Then pin around edges, leaving a 3"-4" opening for turning.

Sew around the edge, this time using a 1/2" seam allowance. Clip Corners and turn inside out. Press edges and pin shut the opening. Then sew twice around the edges using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Now step back and admire your work! Isn't it adorable?!

Whew! That was a lot of reading for you. Sorry about that. I tend to ramble. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments and I'll answer as quickly as I can

~Janice

When the Laptop dies....

so does the blog....

I suppose I could have used Don's computer, but I've got to be totally honest, I probably would have killed it too. And that would not have been good. So I decided to just wait. And wait. And WAIT. All spring. And summer. And now that school's started, Best Buy finally decided to run some half decent deals on laptops. So BOO-YA!

So here I am. Writing my excuse letter to the teacher/reader:

Dear Reader:

Please excuse Janice on her excessive absence. Her laptop died and it took her a long time to get over it's demise and find a suitable replacement. Please forgive her for not posting all summer. But please note- great things are expected this fall. Because October is Janice's favorite month and Halloween is the best holiday ever. So please stick around. For her sake.

Thank you

Always in Transition

Doesn't it always seem that life is just one transition after another? I'd have sworn that we just had Halloween because life has just gone by that quickly!

I just had to put this out there to show you that, at least in my world, things get done when they can and never all at once. So, here is the current state of my mantle. Much better than it has been the last week and a half when the "Lucky" was on one side while everything else was still Valentine's Day. It was so mismatched that Don even noticed and commented! At least I took the Valentine's Day decor down (though they have yet to wander into the attic by themselves.... stupid decorations).

I'll be back later this week with my banner and pillows. Until then, I hope you enjoy my transition...

~ Janice

* In real life my walls are a tea brown, not this crazy pink that keeps showing up. Also, sorry the pics are the greatest. We are under a Tornado Warning and the skies look like they are about to fall, leaving my only source of light the flash. ugh.....

Elegant & Easy White Chocolate Fruit Tarts

One of my favorite desserts is the fruit tart~ creamy custard with glazed fruit on a sweet dough... Heavenly! The only problem is they are super expensive at the bakery, not much less at the grocery store, and a pain to make at home (that is, if you can get the custard and/or glaze to set and be pretty, which I have never. ever. done. Mine don't even look edible. UGH!)
So I went on with my life, unable to make pretty pastries and unwilling to shell out some major dough for such a little indulgence until one day....

Enter in a Pampered Chef Party. I won't go into the details, but I left with a killer recipe for quick and easy, not to mention insanely yummy, fruit tarts. The recipe was meant to be for some sort of dessert cups, but I've tweaked it just a little to make fruit tarts instead. Did I mention they are no bake and only take about 20-25 minutes?

Now are you ready to whip up some tarts?

Here's what you'll need:

Small box Instant Jello Pudding- White Chocolate Flavor

1 Cup Milk

1 cup chocolate chips (I like minis because they melt better)

1 cup White Chocolate Chips

8 oz Cool Whip

2 boxes Mini Fillo Cups

Fresh Fruit (my family like blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries or pineapple)

Sliced Almonds

First, you are going to melt the chocolate chips. To do that, you take about a cup of chocolate chips and dump them into a Ziploc bag and place them in the microwave unsealed for 1 min on 50% power. After they are warm, pick up the bag and mash them around to mix up the chocolate. If they are not smooth and melted, continue melting in increments of 20 seconds on 50% power until the chocolate in the baggie is smooth.

Next, take the Fillo Cups out of the box but leaving them in the tray, making sure none are broken or have little pieces inside them. Now you are going to pipe the chocolate into the Fillo Cups. It's not as hard as it sounds. Just seal the bag, making sure there is no air in it, then snip off the tiny corner of the baggie and hold tightly. When you squeeze, the chocolate will go out the hole and into the pastry. Easy-peasy. Do all 30 tarts.

Now for the filling. In a small mixing bowl, pour in a cup of white chocolate chips. You are going to melt these the same way as the other chips, but instead of squishing them around, your are going to stir them (probably because you can't squish glass). Get them all smooth and yummy. Put aside for just a second.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 1 cup cold milk and the package of instant jello pudding for about a minute until the pudding sets. Then mix in the melted white chocolate chips and try not to eat it (because at this stage, it's really concentrated white chocolate... sooooo yummy). Once they are well mixed, you are going to add the 8 oz tub of Cool Whip. Fold in until well mixed.

Now we have to pipe the filling into the cups. This is where I like to pretend I'm a pastry chef at a 5 star restaurant, making decadent desserts for fancy people. Hey- we all have our dreams! Anyway, to pipe the filling, you need to transfer the mixture into a large Ziploc bag, pressing all of the air out and sealing closed. Snip off one corner to make a medium sized hole (I usually start small and test the size of the piping on a plate. If it's too small, cut off a little more until it seems right). Now it's time to pipe! I like the look of swirls, so I make circle around the bottom of the cup and continue in a circular direction until it forms a peak. To make the cute mountain tops, you stop squeezing, and gently push down into the mountain and pull up quickly. It will form the stiffened peak this way. If you're not comfortable doing this, just practice in a mini-muffin cup until you feel comfortable. And remember, if it doesn't look right, just scoop it up with a spoon and put it back in the piping bag and reuse!

Now that all of the tarts are filled, lets decorate! Using strawberries or pineapples, place them the back. Then place the other berries lower in the front so you can see all the prettiness there is. Doesn't it look delicious?!?

But we're not done yet. Just one more step and you'll have the most desired dessert at the party. All that's left is to toast the sliced almonds. To do this, just heat up a frying pan, dump in about 1/3 cup sliced almonds and continually stir until they start to turn a golden brown, between 2-4 minutes. Once the majority get the golden color, transfer to a small bowl and crush them.

Then sprinkle on top of the tarts and bask in their glory because you are DONE!

Now go make some!

Hope you enjoy them, because I LOVE them!

~ Janice

* Just an FYI: It took longer to type this tutorial up then it did to make the tarts, darn it!!

Just a Little Love for Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!I don't know about you, but I have just a little obsession with the day of love.... I think it goes back to when I was in Kindergarten and received my first Valentine from Zack. He was my first crush, and it made me feel like the most special girl in the class because HE gave ME a box of lifesavers that said "Be Mine". ~Swoon~ Yes, I realized he gave every other kid in my class the exact same thing, but it started my obsession with letting people know exactly how I feel about them.

Now that I have kids of my own, I try to make Valentine's Day about the love that their father and I have for them. They are my little Valentines (and much, much cuter than Zack might I add). So when it comes time to put away the Christmas decorations, I go right for the mushy-lovey decorations. It about kills Don. every. time. (He's kind of a sporty man- and he doesn't think that Ranger's Hockey and pink hearts mix). Soooo, I really try to make it cozy, but not go overboard on the romantic look.

So, without further ramblings, here's what my living room currently looks like:

A little specimen art (every one's doing it) and an embroidered love note (great tutorial from Smashed Peas & Carrots)

Just a little LOVE- made with paper mache letters and left over Christmas wrapping paper

My entire mantle: The Be Mine Banner is inspired my so many I've seen linked to nearly every Valentine's Post (mine is a little incomplete. I've still got the stitching to do around the letters but I needed it up for a party and just haven't gotten around to fixing it yet).

Lastly, my favorite: I LOVE Pillows! All of the pillows were super simple to make, and since they are made with an opening in the back, they are even easier to change out for the next holiday. Watch for a tutorial coming soon!
May your day be filled with the love of family and friends!

~ Janice