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!

Goodie Packaging by Brown Paper Packages...plus a RECIPE

Todays "Recipe Thursday" guest blogger is Kierste from Brown Paper Packages. YAY!
She is going to share a cute packaging idea...followed up by a little recipe by me to use for a goodie to put in these delightful containers.

Take it away Kierste...

Hi! I'm Kierste, from brown paper packages, and I'm delighted to be here with you today!

I absolutely love Christmas, and it is so fun to be thinking and talking about it in July!

I'm really excited to share this project with you today. Giving food gifts to friends, neighbors, and family is a wonderful part of the Christmas holiday, and this will make them even cuter! Using Gladware, a little scrapbook paper, ribbon, and mod podge, you can transform everyday plastic containers into darling personalized gifts.

Personalized Treat Containers:



ITEMS YOU NEED:

• Gladware container, any size (holiday ones with the red lids are best)

• scrapbook paper, desired embellishments

• mod podge & foam brush

• ribbon
• 
  

DIRECTIONS:

1. Trace the inside of the lid onto a piece of white paper, to make a template. You want it to fit in the center of the lid, not over the raised edges. It may need a little adjusting to get it just right, but I kept placing it in the center of the lid to figure out where I needed to make any changes.

2. Trace the template onto scrapbook paper.

3. Embellish your scrapbook paper as desired with monograms, etc. These embellishments should be flat to the surface, so you can mod podge over the top of them. If you would like something that's raised, you will need to add it after you've mod podged and let it dry. I did tie the ribbon onto my monogrammed cardstock beforehand, I just lifted it up and mod podged around it, and it worked really well.

4. Using the foam brush, apply the mod podge to the top center of the lid (not the raised edges), then place your paper on top and gently press. Add a top coat of mod podge, making sure to get all the edges really well. Let dry completely.

Ta-da! Seriously adorable treat containers--perfect for all your holiday food gifts!




Merry Christmas...in July!



Thanks Kierste! Most of you have probably already seen her blog 'cause she is pretty much famous...seriously doesn't she have the best stuff.

NOW...
How 'bout a little goodie recipe for the treat to go inside these packages...

Buckeye Candy
or if you live outside the state of Ohio
 Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

DISCLAIMER: This is one of those treats that there are thousands of variations on. The recipes are dripping with tradition and are passed down from granny for generations. I am not originally from here, so my recipe is NOT based in tradition and did not come from my or hubby's granny...although I am sure someone's granny is responsible. So know this...this may not be your granny's recipe...it's okay it is different. I am not saying your granny's recipe stinks. This is just the one that works for me.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 cups sifted powdered sugar

6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 tablespoons shortening

Mix PB, butter, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl, preferably by hand, to make a stiff, smooth dough. 

Shape dough into aprox. 2 teaspoons sized balls. Arrange on waxed paper lined tray, or plastic cutting board.  Refrigerate dough balls in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

In the meantime...

Melt chocolate and shortening in a metal bowl over a small pan of simmering water...double broiler like. Stir occasionally until smooth, like this. Remove from heat.

Remove the balls from the fridge. Insert a toothpick in the top and then dip into the chocolate, leaving a small circle of PB showing (this is the part that makes it look like a Buckeye Seed/Nut...I know I should probably know what it really is but alas I don't).  

I did not use a toothpick when I dipped, I carefully used a spoon to dip and cover with chocolate and then I took it out of the chocolate with a fork. This way I avoided the toothpick hole when I was done.

Let them dry on waxed paper. Try to avoid the amount of extra chocolate I have happening at the bottom of each buckeye...I was feeling a little messy that day.

Put them back into the fridge to set up.

Let the little ones take care of the left over chocolate.

Shhh....I won't tell if you help lick the bowl.

Quilted Coasters from A Pretty Cool Life

YEAH, today we have Cheryl to show us one of her great projects. I am pretty sure I am love with anything she does...her fabric choices are the best!

Hi everyone!  I'm Cheryl from A Pretty Cool Life.  My blog is a place where I share the joy I get from the ordinary days I spend with my two little boys. Of course, I like to share the projects I make along the way, and my favorites are the ones that are vintagey, bright, colorful, and happy.

The project I'm sharing today is one of my favorites, and makes a lovely (and easy to make!) gift.

Quilted Coaster Tutorial

 
I recently made very similar quilted pot holders, which made me think about something quilted in miniature.  Coasters!

 
These are something you can whip up in less than an hour, make a thoughtful (but super easy!) gift, and only require the most basic of sewing skills (Straight lines only, I promise!).
 
To make a set of 6 coasters, you'll need 12 squares of fabric, 4.5 inches each.  Keep in mind that 6 of your fabric squares will be the tops of the coasters and the other 6 will be the bottoms.  I chose bold prints for the tops and a charcoal gray for the bottoms.  Make them match, don't match, pick only one fabric, pick lots of pattern--whatever's your style, go for it!
 

You'll also need 6 squares of 4.5 inch batting.  Pick something super thin.  I used a fusible batting, which I love for small craft projects. 
 
Iron the batting to the wrong side of the back fabric.  If you don't use fusible batting, skip this step.
 

 
Pin, right sides together, the top fabric to the bottoms with batting.  If you didn't use fusible batting pin your layers like this:  right sides of top and bottom fabric together, with batting on top.

 

Sew around each side, leaving a pretty wide gap for turning.  Make sure to back stitch.

 
After sewing the squares, clip each corner, being careful not to snip the line of stitches.

 
Turn the squares right side out.

 

Poke out the corners.  I use a knitting needle, but chopsticks work great, too.  Don't use a pen or pencil or anything sharp because you'll poke right through the corner of the coaster.

 

Iron the squares.  Be sure to press in the opening.

 
After everything's ironed, topstitch along the edges of the coaster.  (Again, be sure the opening is stitched shut.)  No need to backstitch, just continue sewing over a few of your first stitches.

 
You could stop after topstitching along the edges, but to get the quilted look, line up your presser foot with your first line of stitching, and sew around, forming another square.

 
Continue doing this towards the center. 
 
Be careful when you come to the corners, so as to not ruin the graduated squares of stitching.  Go slowly when you are approaching the corner, and with your needle in the down position, turn the coaster.  After a few lines of stitching, your estimating skills will be good enough to gauge when it's time to stop stitching and turn.

 
After you've finished stitching, trim your loose threads and you're done. 
 

 
Sit back, relax, and enjoy a nice cup of tea resting atop one of your new coasters!

 
I hope everyone enjoys the project and a thanks for inviting me over!  Stop by and visit my blog or my shop any time!

Cheryl
xoxo

Thanks Cheryl...I LOVE these. Seriously so cute. Who wouldn't want those gracing their coffee or end table?