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Hoping to freshen up our flats, we grabbed our baking soda and got right to work!

Please click here to visit Smashed Peas and Carrots and see the instructions that we followed!

Reviewer #1 - Sheri

Mission: Try a fun, inexpensive, and cute way of battling the aroma of my two doggie beasts in my home so I can stop investing in Glade products and diffusers.

 

Details:

The instructions for these little air freshening babies were very easy to follow, and the products to make them were easy to find.

• I was super excited when I found my favorite Pier 1 fragrance, Island Orchard, was available in an oil.
• I purchased some cute little mason jars (make sure the center of the top comes off) and filled them all with a ½ cup of baking soda. I added 8 drops of oil for the small rooms and 12 for the ones I wanted for larger rooms. It’s great that you can play with it, just add more if you want.

One great way to personalize these for each room is picking out different stock paper for the tops. I got the boys camouflage and they were thrilled. Poke some holes and put them on the top of the jar and secure the twist-lid. They’re ready!

Tips & Tricks Learned:

I found that a pin hole was a little small for the amount of aroma I wanted. A wooden skewer worked excellent. Also, I find that poking the holes before cutting the circle out made it much easier.

Pros:

So many! Quick, easy, inexpensive, and they work!

Cons:

Not a single one.

Conclusion:

These really turned out fantastic, but more importantly, they work! Even my husband noticed when he walked through the door. I think they would also make a fabulous party favor. They really don’t take very much time to make and you can customize the top for any sort of party theme. I’ll be making more for friends and family, that’s for sure.

 

 

Reviewer #2 - Maren

Mission: To fight that new home smell!  That’s right, you heard me.  I am ready for our home to smell like home… we’re getting there, but it could use a little push.

 

Details:

I stuck to the rules with this one, but thought I’d share some specifics!  This project was incredibly easy.

• Cute card stock that I had around the house!
• The Martha Simple Circle Cutter that I was praying would cut felt for our Felt Rosette Wreath project… it didn’t.  However, it DID cut a great circle.
• Kerr Wide Mouth Half Pint Jars
• T-Pins left over from beauty school
• Aveda Singular Notes in Tangerine and Bergamont
• Wyndmere Naturals – Stress Relief Blend & Rosemary Pure Essential Oil
• A sample vial of my favorite perfume.

Tips & Tricks Learned:

I found that the easiest way to mix the jars was to close the lid with the paper, shake up the baking soda and oil and then punch the holes with your pin.

Only one of the 4 oils that I tried didn’t want to mix up with the baking soda!  I just used a fork to break it up as much as I could.

I think that I ended up adding more than 8-12 drops.  My guess is that I was in the 20′s somewhere.

The Wyndmere oils were more potent than the Aveda Singular Notes, but I believe this to be due to the aromas that I chose.  I have learned from my employer that top notes evaporate more quickly then middle or base notes, and they are often the first to be smelled, but also the first to fade.  Tangerine and Bergamont are both top notes, so I think this is why the aroma was lighter.  Lavender and Rosemary, which were in the Wyndmere oils are both middle notes and those jars smelled much stronger and have lasted longer.

My perfume sample was the most potent, but I also dumped the entire tiny 1.5 ml vial into my baking soda.  This one is my favorite!  This is my favorite perfume, but I just can’t wear it anymore because I am so sensitive to smells.  I put it in my closet and it gives off just the perfect amount of fragrance; I love it!

The other jars have freshened our utility room, the pantry where I keep the stinky veggies (like onions), and the drawer where our trash can sits.  I placed the jar with the Wyndmere Naturals – Stress Relief Blend on my nightstand so I smell the soothing lavender and other calming aromas while I’m drifting off!

Pros:

I seriously love these.

Now I can take what I have learned (and remembered) about different aromas and make better choices when I make them again!

Cons:

I can’t think of any!  Even if you can’t really smell the essential oil, the baking soda is still working to neutralize odors.

Conclusion:

I am so glad that we tried this project.  Not to mention, I have been just waiting for a reason to pick up some of these cute jars!  I think that I’ll make a plain one for the fridge and maybe even for my car and keep it in the cup holder.

 

 

Reviewer #3 - Alicia

Mission:  Create an easy and inexpensive air refresher for the house/bathroom. Yes indeed!

 

Details:

• I have cupcake liners a tulle coming out of my ears and thought I could incorporate both in this project. I decided to make 2 fresheners and use a cupcake liner for one and pretty scrapbook paper for the other.
• I also work for a company that has afforded me a plethora of aromas options to choose from. I chose an Aveda Key Element in the Brilliant aroma (#5) that was perfect for the bathroom.
• Also, the Mason jar that I used was a bit taller than what was used on the original post.

Tips & Tricks Learned:

I would suggest using a thicker or sturdy piece of cardstock/paper to reinforce the lid. I used a piece of cardstock with the cupcake liner, as the liner is super thin and can tear.

I also used a lot of the aroma.  The recipe called for 6-12 drops, I used about 40.

Pros:

All the options in cardstock/paper and aromas to choose from are endless.

Cons:

None – aside from using a lot of aroma.

Conclusion:

This was an easy project and it turned out great! This would make a great house-warming gift. I plan on making a few more for my Mom and Mother-In-Law. The odor sprays that my parents use have got to go!

 
 

Reviewer #4 - Katie

Mission: Make your own air fresheners with baking soda and your favorite essential oils.

 

 

Details:

Gather supplies: mason type jar with lid, scrapbook/card stock paper of your choice, box of baking soda and your favorite essential oils!

Tips & Tricks Learned:

I purchased warming oils because I wasn’t paying attention but they worked just as well as I would imagine essential oils would.

Pros:

Inexpensive, easy, customizable air fresheners

Cons:

NONE!

Conclusion:

I can’t believe I didn’t think of this sooner! It’s so simple to put together, inexpensive and the fragrance possibilities are seemingly endless!

 

 

Reviewer #5 - Amanda

Mission: Rid my home (or at least the bathroom) of the smell of urine on the cheap!

 

 

Details:

• I used the same sized Ball Mason Jars that were used in the original post by Maggie from Smashed Peas and Carrots.
• I had some leftover craft paper from Christmas and since it happened to be Earth Month and all I went with the “Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle” motto.
• I didn’t have an upholstery needle on hand so I used a nut pick (I am certain that is not what it is called but I am going with it) to create holes in my paper.
• For the aroma I used Peppermint because I have a deep love with all things mint (and I have little access to Pure Essences locally so I went with what I had on hand). I purchased mine at a local Health Food store but they can be purchased online as well. Try Amazon as they have so many options and often offer free shipping. Typically you are looking to spend around $10-$15 to get an Organic aroma. Not totally necessary but just happens to be what I used since I also use it in my laundry soap.

Tips & Tricks Learned:

It was much easier to poke holes in the paper when it is already in the lid and the lid is on tightly. Also, when tracing your paper you can use the lid and then cut just slightly inside the line so it fits snuggly into the rim.

Pros:

This could NOT be an easier project plus it is earth friendly and smells fabulous!

Cons:

None. I plan to put these all over my house.

Conclusion:

This would make for a great gift basket item for new moms or even new home owners!

 
 

The super cute Baking Soda Air Freshener and it’s photo by Smashed Peas and Carrots

Here are some quick projects that you can do this weekend to show your momma that you care.  Tried and tested, we promise that the projects listed below are totally doable and sure to be a hit!

 Succulent Tea Cups

 Zinc Inspired Letters

 Stamped Napkins

 Salt Dough Keepsakes

 DIY Tray

 Simple Terrarium

Eager to turn our own ugly finds into chic decor, we grabbed our spray paint and dove right in!

Please click here to visit Miss Tweedle and see the instructions that we followed!

Reviewer #1 – Sarah

Mission: To create a fun piece of art for our home, which is also purposeful!

 

Details:

I really wanted to find a fun frame to repurpose for this project. I searched high and low in my house, while I was out and about at a few stores and finally landed on one at a local antique store that I liked. It was ornate and gold…super cute! And, it had a print in it from San Francisco, which I found inspiring, as I will be traveling there later this spring.

Once I purchased the frame, I went to our local paint store and picked up the chalkboard paint as well as spray paint.

• I chose a bright orange for the spray paint as I wanted something with pop and thought I may use this piece in the kiddos room.

Unfortunately, the frame I landed upon gave me some troubles. I couldn’t get the back of it off to figure out how I was going to paint it and finally figured out that it was set in place with large staples. After getting those removed with my trusty needle-nosed pliers, I taped off the plexy glass front with painters tape and a piece of paper and then set to spray painting the outer frames outside. I laid the frames onto an old beach towel I didn’t mind ruining and set to work.

This is where my second issue arrived – the paint was NOT adhering well to the frame. I am not sure if the frame had any coating on it due to being an antique, but it took me three coats of the spray paint to get to where it is now. I still don’t love how it looks, as the paint isn’t evenly coated on the frame, but I do like the added character it has. Or maybe I have to just succumb to the fact that it is what it is.

After the spray paint step, I then taped around the outer frame edges and set to work painting on the chalkboard paint. I used a disposable paintbrush for this step and later decided that wasn’t the best idea as the streaks are very visible and the painting did not go on smoothly. But, it still works like a chalkboard!

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Really clean and wipe-off your frame before starting to paint – I learned this the hard way.

Pros:

This is a very purposeful project and a fun added piece of décor.

Cons:

A bit labor intensive based on my poor choice of a frame. You will have a lot of chalkboard paint left over, so you may want to do this as a group project or find another piece to create into a chalkboard.

Conclusion:

I want to give this project another shot – but will be even more choosy in my frame choice before I begin to make certain I know what I am getting myself info.

 

 

Reviewer #2 - Sheri

Mission: What a fabulous idea for an old junky picture frame! I love a good before/after project.

 

 

Details:

• I was excited to use some trusty spray paint again! The stuff is just fabulous. Easy to use and comes in all sorts of colors and textures. The boys wanted green, their favorite color.  I did one quick coat on the frame and it came out great and dried really quickly.
• I removed the glass from the frame and was left with some cheap particle board, but it seemed to work just fine. I applied three coats of Martha Stewart’s chalkboard paint in black.
• I let it cure for 24 hours as instructed, put the frame back together, and it was ready for use.

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Sponge brushes work great for this project.

Pros:

Really easy project, especially great for those who like to yard sale hunt.

Cons:

None!

Conclusion:

This was a really great project. I wish I had a more unique looking frame that needed revamping, but this turned out just fine. Better than tossing it in the trash, and the boys loved it! I feel the need to make one for my kitchen.

 

 

Reviewer #3 – Janet

Mission: I was so excited when I saw this project from Miss Tweedle because I have had an old framed mirror that I have been wanting to repaint since college! The only tweak I made to the project is not turning the inside area into a blackboard, I really wanted to keep it as a mirror.

 

Details:

• The faded gold mirror was originally my mother’s, and was in much need of an update!
• I purchased Liquitex Professional Spray Paint in Dioxazine Purple 5 at Michael’s for about $12. Trust me, the price is well worth it (more on that later).
• I also bought a clear gloss spray for about $7.

Tips & Tricks Learned:

LIQUITEX is BOMB.COM! I’m a failure when it comes to spray paint, but this stuff was so easy to use, the spray button was comfortable to press, and the paint came out smooth and even! I will for sure use this again for other projects requiring spray paint. It comes in a wide array of colors, so you can just go wild with it!

If you are painting outside, make sure it isn’t a windy day so the spray doesn’t go all over. Also, be sure to get all of the nooks and crannies.

Feel like the $12 is a little too spendy for spray paint? Get a free sample of Liquitex spray paint before having to buy it! Just go to their website and request one!

Pros:

Like I said earlier, Liquitex is glorious and made painting so easy.

The project gave me such inspiration to finally finish another project I’ve been thinking about for years!

Cons:

No cons here. The only bad thing is that I can’t figure out where to hang my “new” vintage mirror.

Conclusion:

I absolutely love how my frame turned out! I have the urge to search for another frame to paint, and I might even try my hand at a framed blackboard. Possibly something to use at the reception for my November wedding….hmmm something to add to the wedding idea list!

Whether you are wanting to redo a frame that you have had on hand forever or you want to create the ever popular framed blackboard, this project is so easy and perfect for the craft beginner.

 

 

Reviewer #4 - Alicia

Mission: I love the idea of turning junk into treasure.  Ugly frame refashioned into a beautiful chalk board creation, I am totally in!  I ran across a hideous frame at Goodwill that was perfect from this project.

Details:

Tools needed: Fugly frame, spray paint, chalk board paint and tools to remove backings of frame (if needed).

Did I mention the frame I used was really hideous??!!! I used the card board that was in the frame for my chalk board material. The cardboard did take a few coats of paint before it was completed ready for chalk. It worked really well.

Tips & Tricks Learned:

I would recommend priming your frame before spray painting and let completely dry between coats.

Pros:

All the amazing color options in spray paint are endless. This project came together very quickly and was fun to make.

Cons:

I am not sure what is wrong with me, but this project almost took the entire can of paint. I did not prime the wood. Oops! The wood of the frame was about 100 years old, which was hard to cover.

Conclusion:

What an awesome project and the possibilities are endless. Very happy with the final look of my frame and it will be a nice addition to Lilly’s bedroom. I am now a crazy woman on the lookout for ugly frames to paint.

 

 

Reviewer #5 - Maren

Mission: In my quest to make our new home more “homey,” I knew that we needed a little something in our game room to encourage a little friendly competition.  We needed a scoreboard!  This project was that perfect “something” I had been looking for.

Details:

One look at the back of my Goodwill frame and I wasn’t even about to try and pry that sucker off.  I decided to see what happened when I just painted right over the whole thing, glass and all.

• I first primed the entire piece with Rust-Oleum Primer Painter’s Ultra Cover Spray Primer.
• Then, I sprayed the frame (and a little bit of the glass) with Krylon, Indoor/Outdoor, Gloss – Blue Ocean Breeze.
• Lastly, I taped off and covered the frame and sprayed 2 coats of Rust-Oleum, Specialty Chalk Board paint over the glass.

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Sometime’s it’s good to be a lazy crafter!  The finish of my chalkboard is rock hard, just like the huge boards from my school days!  The finish is actually so great, that it makes that horrible sound when you write on it… *shutter*.

Um, so be sure to be in a very well ventilated space.  Cracking the garage door won’t cut it; open the whole thing.  More on that later.

Pros:

Love this thing!

The project was easy to do and the spray paint products that I chose were all terrific!

Cons:

I may or may not have gotten a little loopy from the paint fumes.

Conclusion:

So, I wonder how many chalkboards one can have in their home before it gets weird…  I can’t wait to make more!

In our last house, I painted the inside of our most-used cupboard with chalkboard paint for a special place for my honey and I to leave little notes for each other.  After this project, I think that I’ll take it up a notch at our new abode by adding a bright and glossy frame!  Can’t wait!

 

The darling Chalkboard Frame and it’s photo by Miss Tweedle

Nutella, chocolate, we’re not sure that they even needed anything else to convince us to try them out!

Please click here to visit Our Best Bites and see the instructions that we followed!

Reviewer #1 – Maren

Mission: Hop on the Nutella train and give these sweet treats a try!  And, I’ve never turned down a cookie.

 

Details:

I was careful to follow the directions carefully, since I can get a little carried away when I’m baking.  I’m a huge fan of the heaping measurements and the fine craft of winging it!

• I looked everywhere for Hazelnut Extract and couldn’t find it.  Everywhere!  I found every kind of extract you could imagine, except for Hazelnut.  Then I remembered my stash of coffee booze… Frangelico is hazelnut!  I substituted the liquor for the 1/2 tsp of Hazelnut/Vanilla Extract.
• They got “crackly” right at 12 minutes, but my cookies weren’t quite as puffy as Our Best Bites‘.
• This recipe made 45 cookies!

Tips & Tricks Learned:

These cookies are pretty darn easy to make!  The dough was super sticky though, even after refrigerating them.  In order to squish them before putting them in the oven, I dipped the bottom of my glass in flour.

I watched closely and ”little cracks” did begin to form, but it wasn’t as dramatic as I was expecting (like with a chocolate Crinkle Cookie).

I’m still getting used to our new oven, and apparently the bottom rack is pretty hot.  I scorched the bottoms of the my first round of cookies and they were really bad.  I was scared.  Then, I tried a good one and was hooked!

I will also say that I thought that they were even better the next day!  Spending the night in a Ziploc Bag
made the cookies softer.

Pros:

Holy crap.  I love Nutella.

Don’t forget your glass of milk!

Cons:

That round that got burned was like, really bad.

Conclusion:

These cookies were great!  They cookies had a hint of that salty/sweet thing going on.  I am a major sweets fan, but I really liked that little bit of salty.  They were like “grown-up” cookies.

 

 

Reviewer #2 – Amanda

Mission: Bake up a batch of Nutella goodness. That entire sentence makes me drool.

 

 

Details:

• I followed the recipe exactly.
• I baked them about 12 minutes and didn’t smoosh them down with a cup until about halfway through the bake time instead of before putting them in smooshed (I know that is not a word but I am using it anyway – these are Nutella cookies after all who cares about grammar).

Tips & Tricks Learned:

I highly recommend turning these cookies into ice cream sandwiches. Brilliant idea on my children’s part!

Pros:

Um silly easy and insanely rich, chocolate goodness!

Cons:

You will eat the entire batch. Period.

Conclusion:

This is now a recipe in my personal cookbook and I fully intend to make it over and over and over again.

 

 

Reviewer #3 – Alicia

Mission: Nutella +Cookie = YES PLEASE

 

Details:

This recipe came from Our Best Bites and I am a huge fan of their recipes.  Many of the items within the recipe should be in your pantry or on hand.  I was a little shocked that this recipe did not include eggs, but was willing to try it.  Anything for Nutella people!!!!

• The recipe called for Hazelnut Extract and Vanilla Extract. I highly recommend using Hazelnut Extract. I made 2 batches and used both. I have to say that the cookies with the Hazelnut Extract tasted that much sweeter.
• I skipped the step to use a small glass to slightly flatten the cookie before baking. My cookies turned out just fine!

Tips & Tricks Learned:

I used a small ice cream scoop/melon baller to form the dough into balls.  This worked out great and was just the right measurement, too!

Pros:

This is a super easy recipe to follow.

Cons:

Hazelnut Extract might be a bit hard to find, but worth it! I found it at Cub Foods, our local grocery store.

Conclusion:

These cookies are AMAZ-ING!! One bite and I died and went straight to heaven! They taste like mini-brownies. Very soft and chewy.

I sent a batch of these cookies over to my parents house and my brother, who hates anything sweet, said that these were the best cookies he has ever tasted. Seriously, you need to make these cookies!!!!

 

 

Reviewer #4 – Sarah

Mission: My kids and I are Nutella lovers…we buy the double pack at Costco almost every time we shop there. So, needless to say, this was a must try!

 

Details:

I tried my darndest to find Hazelnut Extract… well, I searched high and low at my local Super Target anyway. Go figure that they had every type of extract BUT Hazelnut Extract. So, I opted for the Vanilla Extract-only version of this recipe. I was a bit bummed, but with the three kids in tow, I just didn’t have it in me to go on a more in-depth shopping excursion to find it.

Outside of this hurdle, this was such an easy recipe to follow. It had a minimal number of ingredients, which is always a plus in my mind and went together quickly. I whipped up the dough in the morning before we headed out for the days events and then baked the cookies when I got home that afternoon.

I hosted a clothes swap that evening at my house with some girlfriends and put these out with the other munchies and they were a hit! All the gals enjoyed them – as did my kiddos. These cookies are a delicious rich chocolate treat for all ages.

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Thanks to my mom, I have two bowls for my KitchenAid Mixer, which makes this so very easy to do. I mixed my dry ingredients in one and then the wet ingredients in the other. This made for a smooth transition mixing the dough together.

When I pressed the cookies with the bottom of a glass, I also used granulated sugar to give a little punch to the cookies. It gave them an added glisten on the cookie platter for presentation.

Pros:

Using parchment paper keeps the mess to a minimum when it comes to the baking portion of this recipe. So great!

Adding the granulated sugar when I pressed the cookies was a fun way to dress up the cookies.

Cons:

Don’t cook too long or they get crunchy – still tasty of course, but not soft and chewy.

Conclusion:

Two thumbs up! Easy recipe to follow and super easy to bake and of course eat.

 

The drool-worthy Chocolate Nutella Cookies and their photo by Our Best Bites

Eager to tidy up and add beauty to our homes, we wanted in on this DIY Knob Organization action, pronto!

Please click here to visit Eat. Sleep. Decorate. and see the instructions that we followed!

Reviewer #1 - Alicia

Mission: I have always loved the idea of creating a handmade and unique towel rack for the bathroom out of a few materials and there is nothing more empowering than a lady using a power saw, although I did not need to use one. Boohoo!

Details:

• Tools needed: Wooden board at any length, knobs or pulls, spray paint, painters tape if you are creating any type of pattern and power tools for cutting, drilling, hanging, etc.
• My Dad is an amazing wood crafter, although I wanted to tackle this project on my own. I found a scrap board in his workshop about 18” long and 7″ wide. Perfect!
• I also used my Dad’s power drill to make 4 holes. Now we are rolling!
• In the original project she used door knobs that were super long and needed to be cut. I was a little frightened by this. Sawing/cutting any type of metal is not my idea of fun. I found some beautiful (and short) drawer pulls at Menards that did the trick.

Tips & Tricks Learned:

I originally painted my board white and thought it was a little boring for my taste and my spare bathroom with white walls. So then I added blue stripes and that looked terrible. I finally repainted over the white and blue with a soft gray. Still boring!!!

I finally decided on keeping the gray and adding a white chevron pattern.

Pros:

Fun project!!!

Cons:

PAINT! I had a heck of a time spray painting. If you do not use slow smooth strokes, the paint can look thick and goopy.

I used about 8 coats of paint all together, but I am nuts! When using painters tape, make sure you really push it down securely.  With my first go around with the paint I was positive the painters tape was secure. When I peeled the tape back, the paint has bled in spots. Hence it took me 8 coats. LOL!

Conclusion:

This was such a fun project for me! I am super happy with the end result and very pleased with how my chevron pattern turned out. I scoured the web to find “creating chevron for dummies” and then determined THAT was too complicated, so I created my own pattern.  Not bad, if I do say so myself.

 

Reviewer #2 - Maren

Mission: With a new home, I have been anxious to add little things here and there to help give this place a personal touch.  I know that a home’s character grows with time, but I wanted to kick that plan into high gear.  This project had perfect timing, as we had yet to have a place to hang our coats!

Details:

• We picked up a 56″ long 5″ x 1″ board from Home Depot to fit into our “Owner Entry” as our builder calls it!  We lightly sanded the cut end and were ready to go!
• My husband and I painted the board with three light coats of White Dove by Benjamin Moore, which is the same color as our trim in the home.  We have plenty left over!
• I then sprayed a coat of Krylon Satin Finish over the painted board to keep the paint from getting worn down as easily by repetitively hanging up coats over time.
• We had some left over knobs from our build that I got at Lowe’s.  I really love how chunky these knobs are and couldn’t help but think that they would be perfect for hanging our coats on!

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Here’s a secret you may not know, Home Depot will make wood cuts for you!  I learned this in college when I needed to get Masonite to paint on.  That stuff only comes in huge panels, so they would always kindly cut them up for me.

Measure twice, pound the nail in once.  Learned this the hard way hanging the overhead shelf just prior to this coat rack.

Remember to use a wall anchor that suits the weight of the item that you’re hanging.  We went heavy-duty since this piece will get a lot of use.

Pros:

I absolutely love this!

The project was easy enough to do on my own, but also a great project to do with my honey… that is until we tried to hang it.

Cons:

Hanging it.  Apparently just because your home is new, doesn’t mean that the walls are perfectly flat.

I will also admit that my husband and I don’t always excel at doing home projects together.  For example, we have outlawed assembling any furniture together.  But hey - you’ve gotta know what works for your own relationship!  We eventually got this mother on the wall and it looks terrific!

Conclusion:

I am so happy with this piece!  It instantly added character to our home and gives it a loved and lived-in feel.  I think that I’ll whip up a smaller version for my closet, and even one for my grocery totes right inside the door to the garage!

 

 

Reviewer #3 - Kristy

Mission: Its multi-functional, keeps my jewelry organized and is a fun piece of art!

 

Details:

• I chose a fresh-cut of Poplar wood which cost me about 4 bucks.
• I went to Michaels and bought each variety they had.  I got 4 for 5 bucks.  Perfect!

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Break out the ruler or a smaller measuring tape to mark your screw holes! My handy-dandy husband drilled the holes. Be mindful of this as each one of my knobs had a different screw width.

My poplar board was unfinished so I painted with the black spray paint I had on hand!  I will admit I was lazy I just decided to spray without priming and hope for the best! Well it needed two coats, I may prime next time.  Priming would probably help with a better finish, too.

Screws were too long on a few of the knobs preventing me from hanging the board so my husband had to assist again with bolt cutters.

Pros:

Looks great, definitely multi-functional and can be used to display and view your jewelry, handbags or scarves!

Also inexpensive – even less if you can find scrap wood and knobs from old furniture.

Cons:

Measuring! It seems no matter how much time I spend trying to get the screw holes straight, they end up not being exactly right!

Conclusion:

Very cute, needed help from the hubby on this project! It was easier to have him help hang, drill and cut the screws!

A client once told me, “Everything in your home should be beautiful and functional OR don’t buy it!”  I love this motto and I am trying to live by it. This is a perfect example of one of those beautiful pieces!

 

 

Reviewer #4 – Sarah

Mission: To create a proper place for ourselves and our house guests to hang their coats!

 

Details:

Though this project was specifically purposed for a towel hanger, we just weren’t in need of that in any of our bathrooms. Instead, we needed a coat rack within our mudroom. This project was just the inspiration we needed to get that checked-off our house project to-do list.

I grew up on a farm in Iowa and recently, we had to tear down one of my grandpa’s barns as it was soon to fall over on its own. My dad and my husband gathered as much of the barn wood as they could so we could create a new life with it in new projects. This was the first project we got to use it for!

• My husband helped pick out the best piece we had for this project – we needed it to be as flat and level as possible and we wanted one with some character. The one we ended up with is perfect in my book!
• We didn’t do anything else to the piece of wood – just left it like it was on my grandpa’s barn and we didn’t even have to cut it to size – it was perfect.
• Because the piece of wood we used wasn’t the same width the entire board, we improvised on our hook placements and did our best to eye them centered on the board.
• My husband did all of the hard work of drilling the holes for the hooks and he helped screw them on the board as well. I was the “eye” for placement and of course picked out the awesome rugged hooks. I found those at Anthropologie and got them for a pretty good deal!

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Find hooks/knobs that speak to you – such a fun project to really personalize!

Find a helper and put them to work – my husband was the perfect person to help me with this one! I could not have completed this without him…okay, maybe I could have, but there may have been some swear words in the mix then.

Pros:

Purposeful project!!!

Cons:

A bit labor intensive for the beginner.

Conclusion:

We absolutely love how this turned out and it is one of the best pieces of décor in our house as it has a fantastic purpose and a lovely history. For me, it is a great daily reminder of my grandpa and my family roots back in Iowa.

Next up we’d like to try creating a full-length mirror with some of the barn wood!

The darling and clever Knob Organization for Towels and it’s photo by Eat. Sleep. Decorate.

The Crafty Collaborative!

 

 
Mandy

I’m Mandy, a 33-year old photographer, wannabe professional crafter, marketer, hobby maniac, music lover and vegetarian.

Aside from my full-time, job-to-pay-my-bills as a graphic designer and marketing manager, I spend my days and nights running my small photography business Mandy BePhotography (mandybephotography.com). Being a photographer allows me to constantly challenge myself and is such an amazing creative outlet.

When I’m not taking and editing photos, I’m making little crazy crafts and spending time with my lovely friends and family. I am a traveler that loves to explore and experience all of the fun and beautiful places and things this world has to offer!

Lasagna without an hour of prep work?  Sign us up!

Please click here to visit Six Sisters’ Stuff and see the instructions that we followed!

Reviewer #1 - Kristy

Mission: Love a quick way to put together a dish and come home to a yummy meal!

Details:

• I added fresh chopped basil that I had on hand.
• I used ground sirloin and cooked with chopped onion, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
• All of the products that I used were organic!

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Definitely watch it once it is done cooking. Mine cooked for 3 hours on high and was amazing as I took a couple of bites! Then I went on a shopping spree while it was on warm and I came back to a slightly drier dish.

Pros:

Very easy, just layer and put on high or low then you will come home to a good meal.

Cons:

It needs a little spice! I think I may use spicy Italian sausage next time to get it a kick!

Conclusion:

YUMMO!! Mike loved it!  I thought I wasn’t going to get the crunchy edges that I love so much from pan lasagna, but you definitely get crispy edges.  Ideas to add more vegetables, I love adding shredded carrots to my tomato sauce and using zucchini slices instead of noodles!

 

 

Reviewer #2 - Sheri

Mission: Okay, I have always wanted to try this. The one thing that has been holding me back is that no one in my family will eat lasagna! Weirdos.  I personally love it, so I was excited to finally try it.

 

Details:

Now usually when I use the slow-cooker, I prefer not to have to cook anything beforehand. However, this called for browning the ground beef or sausage.

• I opted for sausage and I made my own sauce.
• I also only used ricotta cheese on half of the lasagna just so I could get my husband to eat it…again, weird.

You basically layer the lasagna just as you would if you were cooking it in the oven, but you don’t cook the lasagna noodles first (regular noodles, not no-bake). I was curious to see if this would actually work!

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Careful breaking up the noodles to fit in the slow-cooker. I recommend wrapping them in a towel or putting them in a storage bag before you start cracking.

Pros:

I’m a big fan of the set it and forget it.

Cons:

The noodles were a bit soft for my taste, I prefer them a bit more al dente.

Conclusion:

Overall I was surprised that it actually came out well. I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I think I want to try adding veggies next time. My husband ate it but requested that next time I add prosciutto.

 

 

Reviewer #3 - Maren

Mission: I’m not generally a big fan of “American” Italian food, but I am loving learning more about this magical contraption they call the “Slow Cooker”.  I was really excited to give this recipe a try, especially since I love Six Sisters’ Stuff!

Details:

I stuck with the plan, but here are some specifics.

• Prego Chunky Garden Combination Pasta Sauce
• 93% Lean Ground Beef
• Dried Parsley (as opposed to fresh)
• I also added a little extra cheese… of course!

Also worth noting, my crock pot cooks food at warp speed.  I learned this after crying out for help to my Facebook friends when my last crock pot experience was done and bubbling out of the pot in 1/4 of the recommended cooking time!  It’s the Rival Smart-Pot 5 Quart Crock-Pot.

In my turbo crock pot, this dish was lookin’ pretty done after about 2 hours (on low), however we didn’t eat it until it had been almost 4 hours.  At the 2 hour mark, I used my “toothpick trick” (trick details forthcoming) which probably helped cool it down in there and keep the dish from overcooking.

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Spray the inside of your crock pot with cooking spray before adding any of the ingredients.  This trick not only helps get the food out, but makes clean-up pretty easy, too.

If your slow cooker starts to pop the lid with steam and make a “clink clink” sound, prop it open just a bit with a toothpick.  Works like a charm!

I picked up zuccini and mushrooms to add, but I forgot about them!  Next time, I won’t forget and I might also add just a little more sauce or water to compensate for the added ingredients and prevent the dish from getting dry.

Pros:

Where do I begin?  Although not a big pasta girl, I loved this lasagna recipe and was giddy about the two good-sized containers of leftovers that we had.  More for me!

Cons:

None!  With a little maneuvering, I was even able to get each piece out without turning it into slop!

Conclusion:

LOVED IT!  So easy, so yummy, frickin’ awesome.  I feel excited to have this recipe in my book; since most of the items are in the cupboard, this is a great meal to make when you have a busy day at hand.

Reviewer #4 - Amanda

Mission: To take lasagna where it has never gone before – the crock pot!

 

 

Details:

• I went with an Italian pork sausage and think I would change that for next time. I found the meat a little chewy. I think I would actually mix it with ground turkey for the flavor.
• I also used my own homemade sauce. I used 24 oz like the recipe called for. I ended up adding a little at the end however because I like it to be a little more saucy.
• Also, I added 3 or 4 more noodles than what was called for. 6 just didn’t seem like enough.
• After 3 hours it was pretty much done and I should have set the crock pot to “warm” at that point because after 4 hours it was really done – almost too done (mushy noodles don’t appeal to me!).

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Use a slow cooker liner! They will literally change your life. I used Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners. They are amazing and made clean up seriously quick. Much quicker than a large pan of lasagna that is for sure! I would also suggest cutting the cook time way down. I don’t know if my crock pot runs really hot but it cooked almost completely at about 3 hours. Next time I make it I plan to switch it to “warm” at the 3 hour mark.

Pros:

EASY! Delicious and basic ingredients for the most part.

Cons:

My kids didn’t like the ricotta cheese so I may need to omit that next time. Or maybe I will just force them to try it again! My hubby also prefers how the oven makes the top crispy so I may need to put a little section in the oven on broil to appease him too.

Conclusion:

I will be making this again for sure! It would be ideal for a large group to have a few crock pots going.

 

 

Reviewer #5 - Janet

Mission: It seemed like an interesting recipe to try in the crock pot. I’m always game for trying new recipes and making a meal that is good left over for lunch at work.

 

Details:

I got all the ingredients at the grocery store!

• I swapped out the ricotta for a container of cottage cheese.
• I used dried parsley and added some shredded mozzarella cheese to the recipe as well.
• I also had a half-full open jar of sauce that I added in addition to the full jar the recipe calls for.

Tips & Tricks Learned:

The recipe only called for two layers of noodles, but I put in three. After making, I could have even put in another two layers. It all depends on the size of your crock pot.

I had put it on high for about 1 hour and then turned it to low for 2-3 hours. Once you notice that all the cheese is melted and the edges start to crust and brown, it is done.

Put extra cheese in on top, you know you want to! It is lasagna after all!

Pros:

Easy to throw together, but most lasagna recipes are that way. It made a lot and I ended up putting it all into small containers for lunch. I put half in the freezer and the other half in the fridge.

Cons:

It tasted good, but just wasn’t the same as cooking it in the oven. It fell apart and was a little too liquid-y. I wished I had put in more noodles when layering it.

Conclusion:

After getting it all started, I began to question why one would ever have the need to make lasagna in their crock pot? It might be a good way to make lasagna in the summer if you didn’t want to turn your oven on, but it just didn’t have the same flavor as it would if you were to cook in the oven. It was interesting to try, however I am not too sure that I will make it again.

The best part about this project for me though was not the food, but learning about the Six Sisters’ blog!  They have some awesome recipes and ideas; I urge you to check out their site!

 

The tasty Slow Cooker Lasagna and it’s photo by Six Sisters’ Stuff

Well guess what, your dreams have come true!

The absolutely darling Jessica of Jeff Loves Jessica and Amanda of My Little Dear have teamed up to create Be Crafty, a fun series of workshops that you can attend with your favorite girls and craft the day away.  Be Crafty workshops are held in both the Twin Cities and in Fargo.

Most recently, Jessica and Amanda have added the option of arranging your own private Be Crafty soiree; whether it be a Girl’s Night, a children’s Birthday party or even gearing up for the Big Day with special wedding crafts and planning!  They’ve got you covered!

A few of us Crafty Collaborative gals have had the pleasure of joining Jessica and Amanda at a handful of Be Crafty events and have loved them each time.  The girls have everything you could ever need to complete the projects and both happen to be excellent teachers with plenty of patience (an excellent quality when teaching a room full of spunky gals a new trick)!

Be Crafty workshops are a suitable for crafters of all skill levels and will send you home with some truly lovely finished pieces.  Jessica and Amanda are passionate about creating together and inspiring one another.  The Be Crafty workshops are specially designed to motivate, inspire and empower; we think that they have hit a home run!

As a matter of fact, it was at my first Be Crafty workshop about one year ago that I first shared my idea about The Crafty Collaborative with my pal Sarah (in the car on the way there).  We then met Mandy and asked her to join us!

I went home feeling so inspired and excited that I officially kicked The Crafty Collaborative up off the ground by purchasing our domain name and here we are today!

See what fun things happen when you get creative and inspired by attending a Be Crafty workshop yourself!

There are Be Crafty events coming up right around the corner:

April 6 : Spruce up your kitchen for spring! Learn to sew a fabric ruffle apron & paint a chalkboard frame

May 10 : Mother’s Day with A Day in Provence! Arrange a fabulous live floral arrangement in a vase and craft paper flowers and a sweet paper cone basket.  Keep one bunch and give the other to your mother.

July 23 : Create a chicken wire wall hanging and a set of glitter clothespins to clip on your favorite photos or inspiration

You can check for more upcoming workshops anytime by visiting BeCraftyWorkshop.com

Visit Be Crafty at BeCraftyWorkshop.com

You can keep up with the girls on Facebook too!

Thank you Jessica and Amanda for sharing Be Crafty with us and keeping us on our toes!

You do truly inspire us and we just love to have such creative and cool gal pals.

All my very best to you and yours,
Maren

Stories aside, we love marshmallows and bread.  Period.  Let’s do this!

Please click here to visit Eat at Allie’s and see the instructions that we followed!

Reviewer #1 - Alicia

Mission: To create yummy pastries while teaching the kiddos the resurrection of Jesus. My Sons says “Jesus is a nice guy you know”- I couldn’t agree more

 

Details:

This recipe is very easy to follow and the items are all usually on hand in my kitchen!

• I used both crescent rolls and biscuits. I found that the biscuits were easier to stretch and fit a large marshmallow with breaking or tearing the dough.

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Make sure you seal or crimp your ends tightly. Some of my seals broke open and created a huge sticky mess on the bottom of my oven.

Pros:

Very easy recipe to follow and super tasty. Cinnamon and sugar is a plus in my book.

Cons:

The mess in the bottom of my oven!

Conclusion:

Jesus has risen indeed! What a fun recipe and a great way to incorporate a Bible lesson at home with the kids – and did I mention it was a delicious treat!

 

 

Reviewer #2 - Amanda

Mission: Bake up some gooey, doughy goodness while entertaining the kiddos.

 

 

Details:

• I used all the same ingredients and methods suggested in the original post minus the parchment paper. Clearly I was not paying attention there.

Tips & Tricks Learned:

The parchment paper would have made a huge difference in serving and how well the little balls stayed intact since they would not have been baked onto the sheet so firmly…. which would have improved cleanup time as well.

Pros:

We all had fun making these. The kids were excited and so was I! Such a simple idea and very kid friendly.

Cons:

They didn’t turn out as lovely as Allie’s. In fact my kids kind of picked at the gooey center (mine did not turn into magical syrup like hers’ either) and then asked if they HAD to eat them.

Conclusion:

Not a winner in the taste category but they really were fun to bake. I don’t know that I would make these again in this method but might consider adding a bit of chocolate and mini marshmallows for a s’mores-like knock off. Pretty sure I could get everyone on board with that idea!

 

 

Reviewer #3 – Sarah

Mission: To make a yummy treat for the kids…oh and me!

 

Details:

I had all of these ingredients on-hand, which made this recipe even easier from the get-go – I love when that happens!

• I melted the butter in a glass dish, got the cinnamon sugar mix ready, put the marshmallows in a bowl and started prepping these. I have a silly phobia of things that “pop”, such as balloons, fireworks, guns AND crescent roll tubes…so I secretly hate using these. My husband has a good time making fun of me for this fear of mine. But, I power through opening the tube and forge ahead.
• Anyway, once I was all set up, the process of making the resurrection rolls was very quick and easy. Outside of getting my hands coated in butter and sugar, it was a smooth process.

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Make sure to tightly secure the crescent roll around the marshmallow to avoid having it spilling out the sides as mine did. It ended up being messy and not as cute as they should have been once baked.

Pros:

Minimal ingredients and delicious!

Cons:

A bit messy to create, and if you didn’t secure them tightly enough, messy to get them off the cookie sheet.

Conclusion:

A yummy treat to nosh on for this Easter!

 

 

Reviewer #4 - Janet

Mission:  I was hesitant with this project at first. It was definitely something I personally wouldn’t have picked out to try.

 

Details:

• I got the marshmallows and crescent rolls at the grocery store and had everything else on had.
• It was really easy to put together!

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Definitely put some effort into pinching the dough closed, I didn’t do this very well and as you can see, melted marshmallow all over the pan!

These are tastiest right out of the oven, don’t let them cool before eating because they get hard and very sticky.

Pros:

These tasted really good!

Cons:

Sticky melted marshmallows all over the cooking pan. Made it difficult to get the rolls off the pan without pulling them apart!

Conclusion:

These turned out okay, but I don’t know if it is something that I would make again. The story on the blog is really sweet and would be fun to tell to kids while making the rolls.

 

The lovely Resurrection Rolls and their photo by Eat at Allie’s

Oh Joy! has given the Easter egg-dying tradition a makeover with her {EVERYDAY PARTY} NEON DIP-DYED EGGS…

Please click here to visit Oh Joy! and see the instructions that we followed!

Reviewer #1 - Sheri

Mission:  Make some fun, vibrant neon eggs…with going to the drugstore to get a PAAS kit.

 

 

Details:

I have to admit, I didn’t include my kids in making these. I didn’t have the patience.
I ended up using gel food coloring, instead of regular food coloring. 1 tsp of gel food coloring did the job. Just make sure you whisk it well.

• ½ cup of hot tap water
• 1 tsp of white vinegar
• 1 tsp of gel food coloring

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Don’t rush; make sure the eggs are dry and cool.

Definitely wear rubber gloves!

Clear Plastic 9-Ounce Party Cupswould be perfect for this project.

Pros:

Very, very easy to do and inexpensive.

Cons:

Feeling guilty for not including my kids.

In order to get a vibrant half-colored egg, you have to stand there and hold the egg straight up for quite a while.

Conclusion:

I will definitely be doing this again with my kids…when I don’t want my eggs looking picture perfect.

It was easy and inexpensive. Yes, it can be messy, but any kind of dyeing of Easter eggs is!

 

 

Reviewer #2 - Kristy

Mission: Have some fun on an activity I haven’t done since I was a kid!

 

Details:

• Bought a package of liquid Neon Food Color and the old school egg dying kit
• Used a cake rack for drying
• I didn’t have regular vinegar on hand so I used Apple Cider Vinegar

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Have patience…I failed at this!

Wear gloves, my hands looked a mess after! Be careful on anything you touched…the dye may stain (although then you could try out the Homemade Shout Stain Remover)!

Pros:

Fun and easy project! Can’t wait to do this once I have kids.

Loved the vibrant, neon colors and the vinegar is supposed to make it even brighter!

Cons:

If you are looking for perfection you must have patience!  I didn’t have patience to wait for a deep color or to let the eggs dry 15 minutes between dipping.

Conclusion:

Definitely had fun with this project!  Mike joined me and was getting into the different colors!

Great project for kids…just be careful with the dyes!

 

 

Reviewer #3 – Sarah

Mission: To create some adorable Easter eggs with the kids.

 

Details:

First off, my son was beyond excited to try this – he had been asking to open the dye for days! So, once my youngest went down for her nap, we set up shop and got going.

• I was able to find the PAAS Color Cupsand the neon food coloring easier than I expected and of course found them both at my second home, good ol’ Super Target. Seriously, I live at this place and sometimes more than I am at home. It is one of the few places I can take all three children and keep them contained as I shop.
• After placing a paper bag on the table and taping it down with masking tape, I prepped the colors as specified. The neon food coloring I found was a four pack of purple, pink, teal and orange. The kids dunked their eggs all the way under for an all over color result while I tried unsuccessfully at making mine more mod with white space and such.
• I hadn’t expected the neon dyes to stain – but should have read the label on the food coloring a bit further. My son put almost his entire hand into the teal dye and will have Smurf fingers for a few days.
• When we were pleased with our dying job, we then set the eggs on a cookie rack over a muffin pan to dry.

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Follow her directions and use rubber gloves if you want to avoid any staining of your hands. If I haven’t mentioned before, I am sometimes horrible at following directions to a “T”, and I grazed over this mention somehow! Oops!

Pros:

Beautiful and intense colors when finished – just gorgeous!

These bright colors make me so excited for spring and the Easter holiday.

Cons:

The food coloring will stain your fingers and clothes, so be prepared for that if you are working with wee ones.

I tried using the egg dipper at first, but it just wasn’t working well for me so I resorted to my hands…hence more staining.

Conclusion:

These don’t look like my momma’s Easter eggs! This project was such a fun spin on a tried and true tradition for this holiday. You must give this one a try! Plus, having fun colored hard-boiled eggs helps to get your kiddos to eat them up!

 

 

Reviewer #4 - Alicia

Mission: To create beautiful vibrant Easter Eggs with a few household ingredients.

 

Details:

This was very easy to follow!

• Hard boiled eggs, Neon Food Coloring, vinegar, hot water, cups for dying, wax paper and a drying rack!
• I found Neon Food Coloring at my local Target. Gotta love Target!

Tips & Tricks Learned:

I happened to run into Easter egg dipping cups for $.99 at Menards. These cups were great for holding the vinegar, water and dyes and can be reused!

The original directions called for t-pins, foam and brown paper bags. I do not use any of these items. I covered my work surface with wax paper and used my cake drying rack. This worked perfectly!

Also, the longer you leave the egg in the dye mixture, the more vibrant your color will be. I left my eggs in the mixture for about 10 minutes max.

Pros:

Very east to follow the directions. The eggs turned out vibrant and colorful.

Cons:

The dye mixture stains! Be sure to wear gloves and cover your work area. The tips of my fingers were purple for days.

Conclusion:

I couldn’t be more pleased with how my eggs turned out. I love bright colors. It reminds me that Spring is on its way!

Although, my kids were desperate to get involved and help, I decided that this project was best left to the adults because of the staining factor.

Happy Easter!

 

 

Reviewer #5 - Katie

Mission: Create Easter eggs in Spring’s hottest hues: NEON!!

 

 

Details:

• Gather supplies, most of which I had at home: white vinegar, eggs, Neon Food Coloring, containers to place eggs in for dying, a drying rack, newspaper, and gloves to protect your fingers from becoming neon, too!
• Boil the eggs, let cool and then get to dipping!

Tips & Tricks Learned:

Follow suggested amount of dye…I used probably half as many drops as suggested and my neon colors were muted…but still pretty!

Martini glasses used to hold each dye color worked really well for this project!

Pros:

Who doesn’t love dying eggs for Easter?

Cons:

NONE!

Conclusion:

This childhood favorite is still fun! The possibilities are endless…let your creative juices flow!

 

The lovely NEON DIP-DYED EGGS and their photo by Oh Joy!