Necktie Tee

This is one of the easiest Pinterest projects I have made!  

It took me about 20 minutes total.  

And, as a bonus, I got the shirt and tie from Goodwill for less than $5 for both!

The only thing I changed from the tutorial is I chose not to add a button.

Link to Ruffle Necktie Tee Tutorial

Brownie Fluff

The brownie batter dip going around Pinterest looks amazing but of course me being me, I wanted to try to make a "healthier version."  I left in a few "unhealthy" ingredients because, let's face it, if it doesn't taste good its not worth any calories!  I haven't had the original version myself, but I think this one turned out pretty darn good!

Ingredients:

1- 8 oz. tub of fat free whipped topping

1- 8 oz. package of fat free cream cheese

2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup coco powder

chocolate chips for garnish (optional)

Directions:

Using a mixer, cream together the cream cheese and powdered sugar until well blended.  Add the tub of whipped topping and blend until fluffy, be sure to scrape the edges of the bowl to get all of the cream cheese and powdered sugar mixture.  Gradually add the coco powder until well blended.  Put in a serving dish and garnish with some chocolate chips if desired. 

Serve with strawberries, pineapple, apples, marshmallows, graham crackers, and anything else that tastes good chocolate covered!

Flip it!

For a even more chocolaty flavor, use chocolate flavored whipped topping!

Chocolate Banana Milkshake

Great for when you are craving a milkshake 

but want to try to be a little healthier!

 

Ingredients:

1 frozen banana 

1 cup skim milk

1 scoop chocolate protein powder

4 large ice cubes

Blend all ingredients together until smooth, serve and enjoy!

I use Muscle Milk protein powder and I calculate this recipe to have:

345 calories

6 grams of fat

26 grams of protein  

Flip it!

Use any flavor of protein powder!

Add in extra servings of fruit!

Add plain yogurt for more creaminess!

Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie

Great for a post workout recovery drink or an on-the-go breakfast!

 

Ingredients:

1 scoop chocolate protein powder 

1 cup frozen raspberries

1 cup skim milk

1/3 cup fat free vanilla yogurt

4 large ice cubes

Blend together all ingredients until smooth (you may need to mix it around with a spoon once or twice).  Serve and enjoy!

Flip it!

Try it with strawberries!

Add a banana for potassium!

For a creamier smoothie, add more yogurt!

Bottle Cap Magnets

Bottle Cap Magnets

Materials

Bottle Caps

Dictionary Page(s)

Mod Podge (I used homemade; half water, half glue)

Mode Podge Clear Acrylic Sealer Spray

Paintbrush

Permanent Markers

Magnets

Pennies

 Hot Glue Gun

Rip a page out of an old dictionary.  (Or get one cheap at the dollar store.)  Cut 2 1/2" squares, being sure to get as much text in your square as you can.  I spray painted the caps but I will skip this step next time as I don't think it'll make a difference. 

Paint a thin coat of mod podge on the bottle cap, cover the top, sides, and bottom.  Place one square of your dictionary cut out on the bottle cap and begin covering in mod podge.  Gently fold/wrap the bottle cap with the paper, being sure to cover the entire surface with mod podge.

Let the mod podge dry completely, if you flip them over when one side is dry, they will dry more quickly.  When they are completely dry decorate each cap with permanent markers.  I like to doodle on a scrap paper first before I actually start drawing on the cap.

Once you have all the caps designed flip them over and use a hot glue gun to glue a penny inside each cap.  This will raise your magnet up so that it sticks just outside the cap so it can stick directly onto whatever you are putting it on.  You could also use a button, washer, or anything you can think of that would be small enough to fit in the cap and raise it up just slightly.  

 The magnets I used had adhesive already on them so I just peeled off the paper and stuck them to the pennies.  If yours aren't sticky, just use a glue gun.

Finally, take the magnets outside a spray the tops and sides with a light coat of Mod Podge Clear Acrylic Sealer.  This will protect the paper, your drawings, and give the magnets a little shine.

If you are giving the magnets as a gift you can glue dimes or washers onto a note card so the magnets will stick to the card.  I used Canadian pennies and dimes for this project since I have absolutely no use for them!

Flip it!
Make an alphabet set for kids!
Create letters to spell names!
Use any kind of fun paper you like!

Ladybug Appetizer

Ladybug Appetizer

Ingredients (what I used to make 36)

Cucumber (1 1/2)
Cherry or Grape Tomatoes (36)
Black Olives (9)
Cream Cheese (6 oz.)
Sour Cream (6 oz.)
Ranch Seasoning Packet (1)
Food Coloring (red, blue, green)
Fresh Rosemary (1 sprig)

Directions

Mix cream cheese, sour cream, and ranch packet together (put a small about to the side; about 1 tablespoon).  Slice cucumbers in about quarter inch pieces.  (I didn't do this, but in the future I would lay them out on paper towel to blot out some of the water to make them less slippery!)  Arrange cucumber slices on a platter and put a generous dollop of dip on each one.  Slice tomatoes in half and arrange on top of the dip to look like the shell of your ladybug.  Slice the olives into quarters and arrange on dip to look like the head of the ladybug.  Take rosemary leaves (needles) and put two between the tomato and olive to look like antennae.  With small amount of dip you set aside, add food coloring until it is a dark brown or blackish color; put in the corner of a sandwich bag and snip a very tiny piece off the corner.  Gently pipe dots onto the tomatoes to look like the spots.  I garnished the plate with extra sprigs of rosemary.   

Flip it!

Use more cream cheese to make your dip thicker or more sour cream to make it softer!
Use crackers, pita chips, etc. instead of cucumber!
Use chives instead of rosemary for the antennae!
Use different color tomatoes to make other bugs!
Add fresh herbs to the dip instead of ranch seasoning!
 

Cesar Pasta Salad

 

Dressing Ingredients                           

1/2 box farfalle pasta (1/2 lb.)         

8 T light mayonnaise

2 T olive oil

1 t worcestershire sauce

1 t garlic powder

1 lemon juiced

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Salt & pepper to taste   

  

Salad Ingredients     

1 can quartered artichoke hearts

1 1/2 cups broccoli florets

1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes

1 cup black olives

1 cup chopped cucumber

1/4 cup diced red onion 

Dressing

Whisk together mayonnaise, olive oil, worchestershire suace, garlic powder, lemon juice, and parmesan cheese.  Add salt and pepper, if desired.

 

Salad

Cook pasta al dente and let cool.  Combine pasta, drained artichoke hearts, broccoli florets, grape tomatoes, black olives, cucumber, and red onion in a large bowl.  Pour prepared dressing over the top and toss until all ingredients are well coated.  Chill for 2 hours and enjoy!

 

Flip it!

Use pasta of your choice!

Add or deleted salad ingredients depending on what you like or have on hand!

To save time, use a store bought salad dressing!

If you like more pasta, add it!

If you like more veggies, add them!

Patriotic Skirt

Patriotic Skirt

Link to Skirt Tutorial

Link to Fabric Flower Tutorials 

I haven't sewn in a LONG time but I was inspired to by Pinterest to attempt this skirt.  It was super easy!  Instead of the sash on the skirt I decided to add a fabric flower instead.  I got sooooo many compliments on this skirt... definitely inspired to attempt future sewing projects!

Birthday Candle Card

 

Birthday Candle Card

Materials

5- 3"x5" pieces of paper

5- 1" pieces of string

Blank white card

Scissors

White school glue

Marker or stamps

 

 

Directions

Along the inside of each piece of paper, glue a piece of string.  Be sure to leave a small piece overhanging for the "wick." Roll each piece of paper, starting at the end with the string, and working until the piece is entirely rolled.  Apply a thin line of glue along the inside of the paper to keep it rolled.  Once you have all of your "candles" ready, apply another thin line of glue along the paper seam and attach to your blank card.  Hand-write or stamp a message on your card.

 

Flip-it!

Make one BIG candle for a 1st birthday!

Make the number of candles equal to the age of the recipiant!

If you're not very crafty or to save time, just use real birthday candles!

Angelic Chocolate Berry Trifle

 

Angelic Chocolate Berry Trifle

 

Ingredients

1 box angel food cake mix

8 oz. Cool Whip

12 oz. chocolate chips

2- 1 lb. containers of fresh strawberries

2- 1 pint containers of fresh blueberries

Toothpicks

 

 

 

 

Directions

Bake angel food cake in a loaf style pan according the the package directions; let cool completely.  Meanwhile, thinly slice the strawberries and mix together with blueberries and chocolate chips.  Slice the cake into about 1" pieces then use a star shaped cookie cutter to make star shaped pieces of cake. Spoon a layer of the berry mix into the bottom of the bowl.  Lay star shaped pieces of cake along the side of the bowl.  Put a dollop of Cool Whip between each star and then spread a layer of cool whip on top of the berry mixture.  Add another layer of berry mixture and again put cake stars along the side of the bowl, put Cool Whip in between each star and on top of the berries.  Use remaining berry mixture to cover the top.  Put toothpicks into remaining cake stars and decorate the top. 

 

 

Flip it!

Use your favorite kind of cake!

Try it with Chocolate Cool Whip!

Mix in white chocolate chips!

Drizzle with chocolate sauce!

Use prepared cake to save time!

Berry Chocolate Cones

Berry Chocolate Cones displayed in a spice jar rack.

Berry Chocolate Cones

 

Ingredients

Sugar cones

Strawberries

Blueberries

Chocolate chips

Cool Whip

Directions

Thinly slice strawberries then mix together with blueberries and chocolate chips.  Spoon the mixture into each cone until just about full.  Cover with a dollop of Cool Whip, then sprinkle a few more berries and chocolate chips on top.  I also put a bite of angel food cake on top because I had some leftover from another recipe.

Flip it!

Use waffle cones!

Include raspberries and blackberries!

Add marshmallows!

Drizzle with chocolate syrup!

Colonial Cupcake Cones

Colonial Cupcake Cones

Ingredients & Materials

16 cake cones

1 box white cake mix

12 oz. diet 7up (one can)

2- 12 oz. tubs of white frosting

Red & Blue Pop Rocks

Red & Blue food coloring

16 Cupcake liners

Cupcake pan

3 Bowls

3 Spoons

I made 16 cones with these ingredients; you may have more/less depending on how much batter you put in each.

Tip: The cones are best eaten the day you make them.  When the cones are stored with the cake in them for too long, the cones get soft from the moisture in the cake.

 

Directions

Combine diet 7up with a box of white cake mix (don't add ingrediants listed on box).  Mix together until smooth.  Put about 1 1/4 cups of cake batter in three separate bowls (or an even amount of mix in each bowl).  Add red food coloring to one bowl and blue food coloring to another bowl until desired shades are achieved; leave the third bowl white. 

Line your pan with cupcake liners.  Place a dollop of blue cake batter in each liner.  (I used a heaping tablespoon of each color.)  Gently push the blue cake batter with a spoon until it reaches the edges of each liner.   Next, gently put a dollop of white cake batter on top of the blue cake batter.  Again, gently push the white cake batter until is reaches the edges of each liner; don't push down or it will mix with the blue, just lightly push to the sides.  Finally, put a dollop of red cake batter on top of the white and again gently push it until it reaches the liners.  Keep in mind that when all three colors are in the liner you want them to be about 2/3 full; mine that had less mix actually turned out a little better because the cake didn't rise over the sides of the cone.  Also, I wouldn't put the red and blue next to each other because if they do mix a little, you will end up with some purple cake.  Finally, gently put a cone on top of each cupcake.

Bake the cupcake cones at 350 for about 18 minutes (or until done; I stuck a toothpick gently on the side of the cone until it came out clean).  Make sure to periodically check the cupcakes to re-center the cones as they may shift slightly as the cake bakes.

Let the cupcake cones cool completly.  The liners will peel off more cleanly when they are cooled.  The liners actually look pretty cool! 

Frost each cupcake with plenty of frosting and then sprinkle each with blue and red Pop Rocks for an explosion in your mouth!  I cut one open so you could see what they look like inside

Flip It!

Make just the cupcake without the cone!

Make the cake batter different colors for different holidays!

Use sugar cones instead of cake cones!

Top cones with different fun candies!

Double the recipe because these are yummy!

Strawberry Applesauce

Strawberry Applesauce

Makes about 10 cups

Ingrediants

4 lbs. of apples (I used Gala)

1 lb. frozen strawberries

1 cup white sugar (more/less for desired sweetness)

4 1/2 cups water (less for thicker sauce)

Materials

Peeler

Apple slicer/corer

Pot with lid

Blender

Storage container

Directions

Peel all apples and slice/decore.  Put apples in a large pot with 1 cup sugar and 4 1/2 cups water.  Cook (covered) on medium heat for 15-20 minutes or until apples are tender.  Remove the lid and let cool; add the frozen strawberries to cool faster and defrost the strawberries.  In batches, blend apples, strawberries, and water for about 8-10 seconds (or until desired consistency).  Try to have about equal amounts of apples, strawberries, and water in each batch. Store in a covered container. 

Flip it!

You can play with the amount of apples/strawberries to get your ideal flavor!

Add more or less sugar depending on how sweet (or healthy) you want your sauce to be!

If you like a thicker sauce, use less water!

Woven Headband

Woven Headband

Materials

Old T-shirt(s)

Hair Tie

Rotary Cutter or Scissors

Sewing Machine or Needle/Thread

Hot Glue Gun

Masking Tape

Start by cutting 5 strips from the bottom of an old t-shirt; cut through both the front and back layer.  You can do all the same color or mix and match.  For a thicker headband (shown above, about 1 1/4") I cut each strip 1" wide.  For a thinner headband (about 3/4") I cut each strip 1/2" wide.  

 After you have all five strips, cut one side open on each.

Stack the 5 five strips on top of one another.  (The color on top will be the color that you weave through the other 5 strips.  If you are using multiple colors, the second color will be one side and the bottom color will be the other side, with the others in the middle.)  Using about a 1/4" seam, sew the stack of strips together using a sewing machine or by hand sewing.

Take a hair tie and bring it up to the seam by weaving it between the 5 strips, then secure the strips to a hard surface with masking tape.

Slightly curl the raw edges under and start weaving the top layer through the other four layers.  Start by going under the second strip, over the third, under the fourth, and over the fifth (bottom).  Then wrap your top strip (pictured in teal) around the bottom strip and weave back in the other direction.  It is a little tricky to get started, but once you get it going it is pretty easy.  I also taped down the hair tie to keep it out of the way.

 

I kept weaving down until my band was about 16" long.  (For reference, my head where I would wear a headband of this type is about 21" around.)  You don't have to make the weave super tight, so pull in downward a few times to loosen the weave.  When your band is long enough, put the other side of the hair tie between the strips and sew the strips together.  (Don't sew the hair tie itself.) Cut off the excess fabric.

Apply a small amount of hot glue near the seam of the band and use a small strip cut off from the excess to wrap around the seam.  Flip it over and glue the strip to the other side, and flip one more time and glue so the strip covers the seam all the way around.  Cut off any remaining fabric.

Repeat the process of covering the seam on the other side of the head band and you're done!

4th of July Tray

4th of July Tray

 Materials

Tray 

White Spray Paint

Mod Podge (I used homemade; half glue, half water)

Mod Podge Clear Acrylic Sealer Spray

Paint Brush

Brayer (optional) 

Ruler

Rotary Cutter or Scissors

Festive Cloth or Paper

Decorative Foam Stickers

     I got an ugly (in my opinion) tray from Goodwill for $0.99!  So I decided to jazz it up for the 4th of July so that I would have something patriotic to display my desserts on for the upcoming holiday. 

     I started by wiping it down with a wet paper towel to get any dirt and dust off.  I took it out to my yard and used white spray paint to cover it.  I needed a few coats since I was going from a darker to lighter color.  I didn't worry about covering the bottom too well since I would be covering it with cloth anyway.  

     I measured the bottom of the tray, length and width.  I used some leftover cloth that I had from another project, but depending on the size of your tray you could use paper as well.

  I cut my cloth to match the length and width of my tray. I used a rotary cutter to get a nice straight edge but you could use scissors as well.

     I then applied a thin layer of homemade mod podge (equal parts water and white school glue) to the bottom of the tray.  I carefully laid the cloth to cover the bottom of the tray and then covered the top of the cloth with mod podge as well.  I used a brayer to make sure it was smooth and there were no air bubbles.

    Once the mod podge was completely dry, I used a ruler to help guide me in applying some decorative foam stickers.  I put them along both sides, inside the tray.  You could also decorate the outside of the tray if you wanted.

    Finally, I took the tray outside and applied a coat of Mod Podge Clear Acrylic Sealer.  Let it dry completely...

   And voila! My tray is ready for the 4th of July!