Best Sugar Cookie Recipe Ever - Basic and Gluten-Free

Secret Ingredient to make the best Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies is: Pancake Flour.

Free Printable
Sugar Cookie Recipe

Free Printable
Frosting and Icing Recipes

Easy Candy Bouquet For Under $10

 I went to my local Dollar Tree and I was amazed at the fabulous options they had for Valentine candy. I decided with such great Chocolates to pick from, all I needed was a candy bouquet. I also noticed a few items I hadn't considered using in a bouquet before, so I took home some supplies that I thought would look nice together and taste delicious and created this fun Valentine bouquet.

The secret to making an easy bouquet was the balloon holders. They are like large strong straws and they are the perfect sticks. 

Top 10 reasons a diy candy bouquet is the perfect low budget gift:

1. It's a thoughtful and personal gift. When you make a candy bouquet yourself, you're putting a lot of thought and effort into it. The recipient will appreciate the time and care you took to make them something special.
2. It's a delicious gift. Who doesn't love candy? A candy bouquet is the perfect way to give someone a sweet treat.
3. It's a versatile gift. You can make a candy bouquet for any occasion, from birthdays to holidays.
4. It's a budget-friendly gift. Candy bouquets are relatively inexpensive to make, especially if you use store-bought candy.
5. It's an easy gift to make. Even if you're not crafty, you can make a candy bouquet. Just follow a few simple instructions and you'll be good to go.
6. It's a gift that everyone will love. Candy bouquets are perfect for people of all ages.
7. It's a gift that can be enjoyed immediately. There's no need to wait for a special occasion to enjoy a candy bouquet. The recipient can start eating it right away.
8. It's a gift that can be displayed. A candy bouquet is a beautiful and eye-catching gift that can be displayed on a coffee table or mantel.
9. It's a gift that can be shared. A candy bouquet is the perfect gift for a party or get-together. Everyone can enjoy a piece of the sweet treat.
10. It's a gift that will be remembered. A candy bouquet is a unique and thoughtful gift that the recipient will cherish for years to come.

If you're looking for a low budget gift that is both thoughtful and delicious, a diy candy bouquet is the perfect choice.

Free Gnome Valentine's Day Printables

Gnome Valentine Cards

With Free Pintable's

Even a 2 year old can join in on the fun

Fun creative way to make your own
 Valentine Card

My family loves doing projects.  I have granddaughters, ages 2 and 4 who automatically know if they are coming to grandma's house, chances are we will be doing some sort of project together. I love referring to whatever we are working on as projects because that could be work, play, cooking, cleaning, or just about anything  I decide. Creating an environment of learning and service, with some fun sprinkled in, helps us all go away feeling happy, uplifted and encouraged and our time together is well spent. 

This weeks "PROJECT" included making Gnome Valentine Cards out of basic simple supplies already on hand. If you don't have these basic items, a stop at your Dollar Tree/Walmart will be the only places you will need to go  to pick up the items needed. 

The fun is in the doing.

Below you will find some free printable Gnome patterns that when colored in, can create many different master pieces. We chose to make 12 cards. Once they were done, it was time to decide who to give them to. Primary teachers, pre-school teachers, friends, family, neighbors, the mailman, or just about anyone who pops into your mind is a great start.  The handmade card is a gift in and of itself. We did make a few sucker bouquets to give to pre-school friends to go along with the cards.

So join in the fun. Make a card, and share this out where you can. Tag a friend who you think would also enjoy making Gnome Valentine Cards.

You’ve Been Gnomed

 

Free Printables

 

Download and print. 

Take the You’ve Been Gnomed Challenge.

Print and and sneak treats to neighbors. Tag 10 friends and challenge them to do the same. Spread the love.

Easy Yarn Heart

 

Yarn Hearts are the perfect addition to any decor

It's time to heart  attach a friend or neighbor. Make a dozen easy hearts and then surprise someone with a note and hearts all over their door. A heart attack is the perfect way to brighten someone's day.

DIY Valentine Gnomes

 

How to Paint Countertops

It's been 3 years since I painted my kitchen countertops and I'm still in love with them. This was the best DIY project I have ever done. Love Love Love.
 

Christmas Stocking Decoration

 

Gnome for Christmas

 

Rice Toss Challenge

 

DIY Christmas Box Lights

I absolutely love Christmas Box Lights. I made some large ones for my front porch and I will give details of those lights in a future post, but todays light box design came from the knowledge I had from making large light boxes, but I miniaturized them into small boxes that can enhance any bookshelf, table, or shelf. The other part that makes these decorations so fantastic is they can be made from items you pick up at your local dollar store.

The supplies you will need are: Popsicle sticks, glue, paperclips, Dollar Store lights, foil tissue paper and some ribbon. I made dozens of these in lots of different colors but the cost breakdown is under $2 dollars each once you have all the supplies.

Magnetic Makeup Station Dollar Tree DIY

Magnetic Makeup Station

I love creating and making my own gifts, but this one came out of a dire need.  One day I looked at my bathroom counter, with all my makeup strung about and thought to myself, there has to be a better way. When I put my makeup in a container of some kind, it is time consuming, jumbled up and not very effective.  In the morning when I am getting ready I find myself searching to  find the perfect brush, or the exact eyeshadow I was looking for. I realized I would prefer to have an entire makeup station where each item had a home. The problem with this logic, is that means my bathroom counter looks like a bomb went off all the time. I finally realized it was time to create a solution to my dilemma. That is when the magnetic makeup station idea came to my mind.  I have used the Dollar Tree makeup stands in the past, but they come in little sections so every time I wanted to clear the counter and move them, it is big chore. Also, they tend to get top heavy and tip over and with the brushes standing up, they don't really fit in a drawer. That is when I figured out the best solution would be to create a magnetic makeup station that can be easily moved to a shelf on the wall when not in use. If I blinged out the station enough, it would then look like a decoration rather than a huge mess. So out of necessity, I created the Magnetic Makeup Station. It turned out so beautiful, I decided to make a few extras and give them away as Christmas gifts.

Dollar Tree DIY

Paint Cookie Sheet Black

Glue and Glitter Glam it Up

It's an easy 5 minute craft

Lots of glue and glitter on the bottom

Glue and Glitter on the Sides is also Fun

Beautiful

Portable Makeup Station
Can easily be moved to a shelf

Focus on the Good and Bury the Pans

My favorite motto is, "focus on the good and bury the pans." I’m sure you’ve got to be wondering what bury the pans could possibly mean. In order to understand what this is all about, I’m going to tell you a little story about my mother. When she was growing up she didn’t learn a lot of the basic skills she always wanted to know. When she first got married she wanted to make a fabulous dinner for my dad as a surprise. Her first try at cooking consisted of meat, potatoes and gravy. Not exactly a beginners meal, but she didn’t know any better. Well not one thing turned out as she planned. In fact all 3 items were scorched beyond recognition and 3 of her pans were ruined beyond repair.

When you don't know how to cook

And you don't know how to

clean a scorched pan

what do you do?

My mom was so sad and upset. The burned pans stunk up the entire house. She didn’t know what to do, but in her embarrassment, she took the ruined pans and ruined food out to the back yard, dug a hole, and buried them. 

My mom took the ruined pans
and ruined food out to the back yard,
dug a hole, and buried them

Then she just sat down and cried. Oh, how this breaks my heart to think about. We all have times in our lives when metaphorically speaking, we burn the food and the pans. It’s not a matter of if, but when. The question is, what are we going to do about it? My mom decided the only way to learn how to cook, is to humble herself and admit that she didn’t have the skills she so desired. When my dad got home from work, she confessed that the meal she was trying to make didn’t turn out. She asked him if he knew how to cook. Turns out he did. They spent the night bonding and cooking. He taught her how to cook delicious mashed potatoes, and gravy. 

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Later on in life, my mom’s gravy became the most coveted commodity. In fact she learned how to cook up masterful meals out of basic ingredients. But in her pride, I don’t think she ever admitted to my dad, that she had buried the pans in the yard. I feel like that is A OKAY. Everyone doesn’t have to see when things don’t go right, but it is a good idea to not give up. 

My mom’s willingness to try and try again has really rubbed off on me. In fact, I’m sure that is why I am such a DIYer. 

diyismyhappyplace

My mom learned how to do everything that needed to be done around the house. She took my little brother to a barbershop and told the barber, she only had enough money for one haircut, but she had a lot of children. She asked the barber if he would teach her how to cut little boys hair. 

I can still remember sitting out in the car

watching through the window

as my mom learned how to cut hair

I can still remember sitting out in the car watching through the window as my mom learned how to cut hair. From that day on, with one little lesson, my mom cut all of our hair. She eventually had 9 children and we all were blessed that she knew how to cut our hair. 

She also realized in order to cloth 9 children, she would need to learn how to sew. Similarly she took one sewing lesson and then worked and tried and failed but eventually became a master seamstress. It didn’t happen overnight. 

In order to cloth 9 children, my mom learned  how to sew

Some of our haircuts and some of our clothes were not top notch, but eventually, in time, her efforts paid off. In fact, she made all the bridesmaid dresses for her daughter’s weddings, and sewed or reimagined 3 wedding dresses. 

If an appliance quit working, she would go to the library, check out a book, and learn how to fix it. 

Aberdeen Public Library

Checked out a book to learn how to repair the vacuum

She started with a vacuum cleaner and over time, she became mechanically minded and even fixed some of our vehicles over the years. 

One day I asked her how she knew how to paint, do electrical, building projects, plumbing, so many other things. She told me, if she didn’t know how to do something, she would find someone who did, then ask them to show her how. Then she would just try and try until she got it right. I’m sure many attempts at projects got buried along the way, but she kept trying. Her, GIVE IT A TRY spirit really rubbed off on her kids. I guess that is why 3 of my siblings have actually built their own homes. I’m not that ambitious, but I will admit there isn’t a single surface inside or outside of my home that I haven’t updated, remodeled and changed. I guess that’s where I get my DO IT YOURSELF ambition. 

I too will try just about anything. If I want it, or like it, I try to figure out how I can build it, create it, reimagine it, or make it, but on a tight budget, just like my mom used to do, but she didn’t have the luxury of youtube how to videos, or home improvement stores or even the Dollar Store. She lived out on a farm, far from stores. She did almost everything on what she could grow, trade, or muster up on her own. 

There is a movie called Apollo 13. It reminds me of my mom and myself. The rocket malfunctions while on a mission. They have to figure out how to fix it based on what they have on the rocket. 

In order to save the rocket,

mission control had to figure out

how to put a square peg into a round hole

Mission control is given the same supplies that are on the rocket and are tasked to figure out a way to put A SQUARE PEG INTO A ROUND HOLE, based on what they have on hand. Many times when I am starting a new project, I try to make it happen with the items that I already have around the house. Or with what I can buy far below the original price. I frequent the local Habitat Restore, second hand stores and dollar stores to get a lot of my supplies especially for home décor projects. 

So now you know my type of DIY. If you would like to follow me and my progress, please follow my blog and my youtube channel. And remember “Focus on the Good and Bury the Pans”