St. Patrick's Day Canvas Art

I am so happy to have Kalyn from I Thought I Loved You Then with us today!  Take it away Kalyn!

Happy St Patrick's Day everyone!

Here is a quick little tutorial to dress up any room!

Supplies:

Canvas(square)
Paint
Scrapbook paper
Ribbon
Hot Glue
Mod Podge

Start out with a canvas, I used one that I messed up a project on before.

It was supposed to be Eliza's feet as a reindeer

Take your canvas and paint it, spray paint works great for these. I used green for obvious reasons

Now take your scrapbook paper and cut it into equal squares. I used two different papers for this, I can't believe how difficult it is to find St Pattys paper! Make sure you cut them smaller then your canvas so there is room at the top and in between the pieces.

Lay them out along with your top piece. The top piece should be bigger then the smaller pieces so it overlaps nicely, but still leaves the edges to be seen.

Once you are happy with it, glue down your paper. I really wish I had used my spray adhesive(I forgot I had it), mod podge can make paper pretty wrinkly.

Allow it to try, you can mod podge over it if you would like to really seal it, but again it gets wrinkled so I just let it be.

Once it is dry, make your bow and glue it on.

This project takes about 10 minutes to make(once the paint is dry) and is great to display in a dish holder!

Today's Guest: Live. Teach. Create!

First let me say a big thank you for joining me today on Pocket Full of Pink and a HUGE THANK YOU to Karen for having me here! My name is Jennifer Smith-Sloane and I have been an avid crafter my entire life and avid scrapbooker/paper crafter since 1997. I am a married, 30-something who loves her fur-babies. When I am not at home crafting, I work as a middle school Pre-Algebra teacher and an adjunct professor in Adult Education.

Today I want to share with you a cute project that I put together as a gift for a friend for Valentine's. While searching around some many great blogs and forums, I found a template for a K Cup Carrier that I fell in love with! It looked so easy to create and was just up my alley as I have dearly LOVED my Keurig for two years. We just got one at the school I teach at and I though this would be perfect for me to give a friend at work.



Using the template from The Cat's Pajama's, I carefully traced the template onto a piece of red cardstock. I could have printed it onto the cardstock and make it easier but meh, I was kicking it old school. Once I had traced the entire template and cut it out, I knew I needed to make the circles for the cups and I didn't have the right size punch. Next best thing was to get a K Cup and just trace the top! Tip: Make sure if you do it this way, you space them closest to the edge as possible.



I used several scraps as I was decorating this project and then used the Melonheadz Robe and Slippers image to decorate the outside. I colored her in with various Copics to match the papers in the project. Before I adhered her with foam tape, I added the black velvet lace trim around the carrier which I then accented with some bling!



The sentiment is one that I have had for awhile and I honestly don't know where it is from anymore but it fit along perfect with this project.



If you like {or even love} my project, I would love to have you come on over to my blog and sit a spell. I am an avid crafter and strive to post new projects every day although we know life happens to the best of us. You can also find me on Twitter or Facebook as well.

Once again, thank you Karen for having me as a guest post on your blog today! Hope to hear from some of you and would love to see your projects if you create them as well. Have a happy Tuesday!

How cute is that!? What a fabulous idea for a co-worker or friend:)  Thanks so much Jennifer for hanging out here today.

Soft Molasses Cookies

Hi Everyone.  I'm so excited to be guest posting here at Pocket Full of Pink today.  My name is Lee and I blog over at Creative2xmom.  I found a couple of years ago that I just love creating, growing as a mom, and learning new things.  So Creative2xmom naturally grew out of my desire to share with, create with, and encourage other women.

I've been married for over 10 years.  Wow!  That makes me feel old.  Ten years of being married to an awesome man who puts up with, and actually encourages, my craziness.  We have two wonderful little children.  Noah just turned six years old in Oct, and Lydia will be four on Dec 21st.  These two little ones keep my busy, but I find myself growing so much more with them in my life.  The days are long, but the years fly by.

And of course, my fur baby, Annie:

And although I'm an only child, I come from a big involved family which got me thinking about How to Build Strong Extended Family Relationships.  This has really been a tough year and I don't know where I'd be without them.

Some of my other favorite features on the site have been:

52 First Dates--an exercise in strengthening your marriage

Rhythms of Grace--women sharing their real life stories of triumph

Stewarding your Story--Why and how to tell your testimony

and all the fun craft, food, and party ideas coming along each day.

But enough about me.  Let's talk COOKIES!

These soft molasses cookies are very dear to my heart.  Growing up, my grandma was known for her handiwork in the kitchen.  Being in Grandma's kitchen was like finding that warm place in your heart to call home.  Soft, gentle, and smelling of vanilla, my grandma always had a big hug for you and a rolling pin to keep your hands busy.  Every Christmas she'd whip up a hot batch of these molasses cookies and my mouth would water, waiting for them to come out of the oven.

As my kids grow now, I make these cookies once a year, .... every Christmas, .... just like Grandma.  And every Christmas I find myself back in the memory of my Grandma's kitchen waiting for a warm cookie and a soft hug.

Soft Molasses Cookies

You'll need:

1/2 c butter, softened

1/2 c shortening

1 1/2 c sugar

1/2 c molasses

2 eggs

4 c flour

1/2 tsp salt

2 1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cloves

2 1/4 tsp ginger

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

*Cream together butter, shortening and sugar until fluffy.

*Beat in molasses and eggs, set mixture aside.

*In another large bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon.  Blend thoroughly with wire whisk.

*Gradually add flour mixture into creamed mixture until blended and smooth.

*Form 1 in balls: dip tops into sugar.  Place 2 in apart on greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 min.  Do not over bake.

*Allow to cool slightly on cookie sheet then transfer to a wire rack.

I hope you enjoy these as much as we do.  And have a wonderful Christmas!

Those look so yummy!  Thanks for sharing them Robin:)  Stop by and check out her blog!

Guest Blogger: Baby Jayne's

Hi! I'm so excited to be on Pocket Full of Pink today!! My name is Trina and I blog at Baby Jayne's. I started getting to craft and create more when I quit my full-time job to stay home with our first baby- baby Jayne. I'm now a stay at home mommy to 3 bundles of energy, ages 6, 3, and 3 months!
I love to sew, cook, craft and then blog about my adventures at Babyjaynes.com. I hope you'll come over and say hi. I just might be doing a little giveaway (so make sure you click on my header to see today's post)! Here's a couple of my favorite things:

I haven't bought bread in almost 2 years! I started making this easy Honey Whole Wheat bread and it's so good and so easy I just can't go back to store bought bread! I have a step by step tutorial. Once you try it, you'll be hooked! I also have a step by step tutorial on how to make real Jam (not freezer Jam). These make great gifts since they don't have to stay in the fridge and can be stored on a shelf for up to a year.

I also have a full tutorial, including pattern, for handmade baby shoes! If you don't have a baby in your life, these also make wonderful shower gifts. Pair it with a matching embellished onsie, a burp cloth, and you're set!
I also post some fun seasonal items, like these hand-blown easter eggs tutorial, 4th of July pinwheel centerpieces tutorial, and Valentines Day table topper.
I've got some great tutorials, lots of great sewing projects and tips, and some links to some of the best free online pattern projects.
(pictured: reversible tote bag tutorial, smocked summer dress pattern, clothespin magnet tutorial, lots of sewing projects)

Thanks for having me today!! Come stop by Baby Jayne's and say hi! I just might be doing a little giveaway :-)