Last Christmas in July Linky Party

This is the last Christmas in July linky party. I have had so much fun seeing all of your great projects AND finding so many new blogs to stalk. THANK YOU, THANK YOU for everyone who participated. 

I hope that you are also enjoying all the projects, that you have picked a couple to do for gifts, and that you have gone and told that person how awesome they are. I know I say this a lot, but everyone loves comments on what they have put in so much time and hard work to create.

Now make this last party the biggest and the best link up, spread the word, then link up some more.

Now as for my favorites from last week...

This week I had a hard time picking my favorites, because I really LOVED them all. So I cheated and I secretly let all of you decide. Did you know that they linky tool will tell me how many times each project got clicked on? So here were the front runners...let me say though, all of them and been viewed a lot.

Baby Headband

by Craftiness in Not Optional

Seriously how cute is that little girl????

Anthropologie Inspired Headband

by Sew Chatty

She has some great stuff in her esty shop...really they would make great presents.

PS she is hosting a giveaway for a sunglasses case right now...you definitely want one.

Luggage Taglets

by Project Naptime

I think this would make a great stocking stuffer for an avid traveler

Knit Dress and Leggings

by The Train to Crazy

This knit dress just reminds me why I need a little girl. LOVE, love, love that green one.

Minky Baby Blanket

by The Crafting Chicks

I love minky blankies...I kind of wish I had one in adult size. These are GREAT presents for someone with a new baby.

Thanks you ladies! Grab a I was featured button to rock on your blog.

<a href="http://zitzmanfam.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg174/rooandgoo/ChristmasFeaturedbutton-1.jpg" />

OKAY, so now it is your turn to link up your homemade Christmas/anytime gift ideas. Seriously lets make this the biggest linky party yet!

Peppermint Bark by Whatever Dee Dee Wants

Today I am happy to have Dee Dee from Whatever Dee Dee Wants blogging here today.

Sometimes, food gifts are the best and the easiest things to give.

Doesn't this little concoction by Dee Dee look great....

Peppermint Bark
by Dianna

1 bag of milk chocolate
1 bag of white chocolate
1 teaspoon of peppermint extract
1 box of peppermint candy canes

Line the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan with parchment paper and set aside.
Crush candy canes and set aside.

Melt milk chocolate in a double boiler.
Guiitard is my favorite brand of chocolate chips.

Stir in peppermint extract.

Poor into 9 x 13 pan and smooth with a spatula.
pour 1 /2 the candy canes on top.
Set in refrigerator to cool.

Once the milk chocolate has cooled, melt white chocolate in a double boiler.

poor white chocolate over the milk chocolate and smooth into an even layer with a spatula.
poor the remaining candy canes over the white chocolate.
Set in refrigerator to cool.

Once the peppermint bark is cool and hard, break into small chunks.
Let the bark sit for 10-20 minutes or until it has reached room temperature and serve.


Makes a great present for neighbors, co workers or friends.

Thanks Dee Dee! I already want some.

Go say hi to Dee Dee at Whatever Dee Dee Wants and

 see what else she creates!

Today I can also be found two other places. Whew...a busy day! FIRST go on over to 30days

I am guest posting a great summer beverage recipe....if it is anywhere near as hot where you live as it is here, you will need this.

SECOND go on over to Seven Thirty Three

 

I am so happy she let me be a part of her creativity week with my High Chair Drop Cloth Tutorial. 

Go over and give love to both of these great blogs and great ladies!

Lace Bracelet from Love Stitched

Today we are lucky enough to be joined by Brittany.
She is super cute and creative. I am excited to try this tutorial.

Easy Peasy Lace Bracelet
by :  LOVE STITCHED

I made this a while back for myself and just thought I would share the HOW TO with ya'll :)

- Lace decal

- chain

- metal cutters or pliers

- needle and thread

- scissors

- button

- small piece of elastic

1.) Start by picking a button and sewing it onto one end of your lace

WATCH OUT FOR THE NEEDLE AS IT COMES THROUGH....

TRUST ME...IT HURTS!!! :-/

2.) using a piece of string or elastic measure your wrist

use this as your guide for how long to cut your chain....

3.) Sew the chain onto the other end of your lace decal

*secure with a knot and trim thread*

4.) Sew your small piece of elastic (in half) onto the end of your chain 

And that's it.....DONE!

Super EASY PEASY darling lace bracelet!

Have fun creating TONS of these in minutes to give to your girlfriends, mom, sister, ANYONE!

I would love for you to come by and visit me. I have weekly tutorials, giveaways, recipes, photo tips and more!! 

 Thanks so much for having me be apart of this event Larissa! I hope you all enjoyed my tutorial! 

I know there are tons of girlies in your life that would LOVE to get this bracelet as a gift...
gifting one to yourself is also not a bad idea.


Thanks Brittany!

Bookmarks with I am Momma

I am SO SO excited to have Cheri here today.

You might have heard of her little blog...

I'm Cheri from I Am Momma - Hear Me Roar.  I'm going to show you how to make the world's best bookmark.  It's a great gift for any reader and it's not your average bookmark.  First, let me tell you that this idea belongs to the kindest lady who I sat next to on a plane almost a year ago.  She noticed I was reading a book and offered to give me a bookmark she had made.  The idea she had was genius.  Let me show you.

Here's a close-up of the bookmark.

It's made of jewelry elastic cord and a few beads.  The best part is that it is impossible to lose your page.  Little hands can pick up the book, shake it, through it around, and your marker isn't going anywhere.

You'll need the elastic, a few beads, and an eyepin.  An eyepin looks like this:

Just string on your beads, bend the flat end so that it hooks like the other end.  Then tie on the elastic cord to both ends.  Ta-dah!  You have a one of a kind lovely bookmark.  Here's what it looks like when it's not on the book.  The circumference of the loop should be about one foot long.  Then it will fit smaller books, but also stretch enough to accommodate larger books.

I just wish I knew the name of the lady who gave me the great idea.  I'd tell her I haven't lost my page since.  Thanks for letting me join the Christmas festivities here Larissa.  Have a great day and you're all welcome at at my place anytime.

THANK you Cheri.

Yeah it is true, she is pretty amazing. I pretty much love all of her projects.

Blues & Branches Giveaway

FIRST off let's announce the Lemon Squeezy Shop giveaway winner.

The winner is....

lucky entry #37

Brittany said...

I would love the vintage glass tile, the vase o flowers, and the red flower...I know that's three but I had such a hard time narrowing it down to just those! They are so cute.

 Email me Brittany and I will get your info to Christie. Congrats!

 On to today's Giveaway...

Today's giveaway is hosted by the sweet etsy shop Blues and Branches.

This is the creative store of Lemon Tree Creations' Erin. She is SO very talented.

Check out some of her goodies for sale--

You're in love now aren't you??? 

So did you see that great blue wooden bead necklace? Do you want it? 

You do? I don't blame you.

Well guest what? Okay so you totally know where I am going with this...

Erin is giving away one of these necklaces to one of you. YEAH!!!

to enter:

Go and check out Erin's Etsy shop and come back and let me know what would be a gift you would like to get or give.

additional entries(remember separate comments for each entry):

become a follower of Just Another Day in Paradise/let me know you are

spread the love about this giveaway by blog/tweet/fb

Giveaway will end Friday, July 23 at 11:59 pm est

Good LUCK!

Modern Family Tree

As I was typing the title, I was reminded of my favorite TV show right now, Modern Family. Boy do I HEART that show. Seriously, thank heavens for DVR so that I can have whatever episode I want to watch on hand when I need a good gut busting, tear-inducing laugh.

Sorry I digress. This post is supposed to be about my homemade gift idea...although not homemade, I am pretty sure a season of Modern Family would be a good gift...again I digress!

Okay so one of my FAVORITE gifts to give is a family tree. ANY kind of family tree. It is one of those gifts that can be sentimental and stylish at the same time. Here is my latest family tree project. 

Modern Family Tree

It is pretty easy to make this, just takes a little patience with the drawing and then cutting out of the tree shape.

You will need:

art canvas, your desired size

spray paint

freezer paper

tree image

I found an image online for a tree shape I liked. I searched google images to find one. There are so many places to find an image you like.

Draw your image on a sheet of freezer paper that will cover your canvas. I free handed the stencil for my image, based off of the image I printed off. You could totally take your image and blow up the image at a photo copy shop...I was too lazy to actually go to one.

Once I was done, I outlined it with a black marker, to see it better.

Then I used an exacto knife and started cutting the whole thing out. This is the part that takes some patience intermixed with candy breaks.

I also printed off the year that the "tree" started...aka the year we got married. Traced it onto freezer paper and then cut out the individual numbers.

Using a dry, low heat iron, iron on your tree stencil and your numbers. Once they are in place, you can start spray painting.

Start with a light coat. Then follow up with additional coats until coverage is complete.

Now, make sure your stencil is good and attached OR this might happen...

But don't panic, with a paint brush, some more patience, some more candy, and a little bit of this...

You get this...

Lovely. The perfect stylish and sentimental gift.

Linking up with:

Tatertots and Jello
The Girl Creative
Sew Can Do
Someday Crafts
Blue Crickets Design
Somewhat Simple

Christmas in July Linky Party Friday

Its Friday again, which means...at least in July...Linky Party time.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU too all the people who came and linked up. 

I had to increase my "Favs" list this week...AND I still wanted to put you all on there. 

I hope that these linky parties are giving you guys a fresh and marvelous list of gift ideas. I know I have tons.

Here are just a few of my favs from this week...

Hand-painted bangles

by Issa Sarza

Felt Play Mat for a Girl

by A Girl and A Glue Gun

Easy Peasy Headband

by Whatever Dee Dee Wants

Bird Pillow

by Less-Than-Perfect

Pirate Hat

by From the Hive

A Family Name Quilt

by Tara Being Tara

Thanks girlies. Grab a I was featured button...

<a href="http://zitzmanfam.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg174/rooandgoo/ChristmasFeaturedbutton-1.jpg" />

Let's keep the good ideas coming...

A refresher on the rules--

Link up any of your posts, current or past, with a great gift idea, using the actual post link.

Let people know you are linking up here, remember the more awesome ideas the better for our project lists.

PLEASE, PLEASE, go tell another blogger how great their idea was. Make someone's day. It will only take a minute!

Alright....Get your linky on!