Easy Photo Valentine Cards

Cute and memorable valentines cards for kids.
I just had them hold their arm out and take a picture.  Then then I ordered one hour prints from our local department store. Using  a craft knife to cut a line above and below their hands and side a sucker stick through.  Its crazy how much it looks like they are holding the sucker.  I had to take a few shots because in some of my pictures the camera had trouble figuring out where to focus.

I had the kids write their names on blank address labels  then placed them on the back.  I was worried they would press to hard if I had them write directly on the photo.  You could add text to the front of the photo or add stickers such as hearts on top.

Comic Book Room Art

When my son requested a Super Hero birthday party this year I knew just what had to be done!

The hardest part of this project was finding just the right comic book.  I found some at the dollar store but they were not very vibrant and did not have many images of Spiderman on them. I then went to a discount comic book store and found real books that had vibrant colors and thick glossy pages. The price was not bad either and my older son enjoyed reading it first.  The best part is that it will make a wonderful addition to my sons superhero room that is in the planning.

You need:

Basic wood letter

Comic Book

Modge Modge

Foam Brush

Paint Pen

 Knife

Painters Tape

First I painted the edges with a paint pen.  You can use any kind of paint or sharpie.  Paint pens are wonderful though you don’t need a brush and it dries very quickly.

Then I started placing the comic pages on the letter.  I moved them around until I had many Spiderman images on the letter.  This can take as long as you want.  If you want you could just place a whole page on and not be worried with where the images fall.  I on the other had took a little more time and tried to make as many Spiderman images as I could on the letter then centering the images so Spiderman’s head was not cut off.  I used the painters tape to attach them in place until I was ready to glue them down.

after I filled the whole letter I flipped it over on my cutting mat and cut the excess paper away.

The next step is to take the modge podge and put a thin layer on the wood.  Placing the image back in place.  After you run your foam brush with more modge podge right over the top.  It dries clear just make sure it does not go on to thick.  You then repeat several layers after each dries.  I did 3 coats on mine.

I think it turned out great and my older son is now requesting a Star Wars letter for his room.  I guess I will be heading back to the comic book store real soon.

Decorative Candy Boxes/Party Favors

decorative

The two boxes on the right are just movie sized candy boxes wrapped in scrapbook paper.  This is one of my favorite things.  Not only are they great favors but they look great and become part of the design. 

These are just juice boxes covered in colored paper.  I then took foam tape and attached circles.  

Below are little boxes of lemon heads wrapped in the same way.   The candy was 5 for $1.00 so you can’t find anything cheaper or easier.

Bowling Birthday Party Treats

I love these large goodie balls. The best part is they are so large that if you wanted you could put a small lunch right inside. We had My sons party at a bowling ally so we could only do take home treats but I can see using them for mini sandwiches with chips and drink right inside.  What a super fun way to feed a group!

Its very cheap and simple to make.

I bought the 99 cent plastic balls at Party City and spray paint for plastic.  I then sprayed 2 light coats.  I had 2 that the paint crackled on where the sicker residue was not fully removed but other than that they looked great.  They were also bumping into each other and being rolled around by the kids and the paint stayed on.

If you stop here you have great cannon balls for a pirate party!

We however were making bowling balls so we needed one more tough.  I had Avery circle stickers left over from a past project so I just placed 3 on each they stayed on wonderful and were the perfect size.

Now you can tell just how large they are each had a Capri Sun, Oreos, Goldfish crackers and 2 Air Heads.

 I saw this wonderful idea on Pinterest here is a link to the original.  I just did the holes different but they turned out great! She also has some other cool ideas you could check out.   http://www.dukesandduchesses.com/2013/03/a-bowling-party-bowling-ball-goody-bags.html .

St Patricks Day Eggs

What better way to start St Patrick’s day than with shamrock eggs.

Its easy to do but have seen a lot of people with mess-ups so thought I would pass along a few tips.

• Make sure your peppers are level.  Set them down on your pan and make sure they sit flat.
• Make sure your pan is truly non stick.
• Warm pepper on one side.
• Have your egg in a bowl or measuring cup to for easy poring.
• Flip pepper
• With one hand hold down pepper while you pour just enough egg in to seal the bottom.
• Let go of pepper and fill with egg.
• I salted and placed dill on top.
• Cut little stems and warm.
• Cover with lid to help the top cook.  (You can flip but I wanted the egg to stay nice and white.)
• Enjoy

Crock Pot Sesame Chicken

Ok so I am kind of funny when it comes to food and don’t care for many all-in-one crock pot meals. This one however looked good so I had to try it.  To my surprise and excitement it was a great one!  Rice is a must with this one its great with the sauce and next time I will serve with steamed broccoli.   The recipe came from http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2012/08/crock-pot-honey-sesame-chicken.html found it through pinterest and glad I did it was something different and my 9-year-old requested it again soon.  Oh the best part was I had everything on hand and how often does that happen?

Ingredients

4-5 frozen chicken breasts

1/2 cup diced onion

2 cloves garlic (minced)

1 cup honey

1/4 cup ketchup

1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (could add more it was not spicy at all)

4 teaspoons cornstarch (optional step)

1/3 cup water

rice made the way you like it

1/2-1 tablespoon  sesame seeds

4 green onion ends chopped

Firts combine onion, garlic, honey, ketchup, soy sauce, oil and red pepper flakes. Then pour over chicken. Cook on low for 6-8 hours depending on the size of chicken.  4 hours for fresh

Remove chicken leaving sauce in crock pot and shred

In a small bowl, dissolve 4 teaspoons cornstarch in 1/3 cup water (although not sure this step is needed I might skip next time).  Add to crock pot. Stir to combine with sauce. Cover and cook sauce on high for ten more minutes, or until slightly thickened.

You can either add chicken back to the sauce (as I did) or spoon over the finished plate.

Place chicken on top of prepared rice and top with sesame seeds and chopped scallions.

Enjoy it taste great and smelled wonderful

Heart Cinnamon Rolls

Valentines cinnamon rolls are super easy and are great for a fast easy breakfast.

           

Last year we did strawberry heart pancakes and they were such a hit.  This year is heart cinnamon rolls and fresh berries with yogurt.

All you need to do is buy a refrigerated tube of cinnamon rolls.

1.  Unroll 1/2 of a cinnamon rolls and re-roll it starting with the other.

2.  Pinch in the middle and place in baking pan.

3.  Follow the tube directions for the rolls and your done.

Easy Coconut Cake

A friend found this coconut poke cake on Pinterest and said it was super yummy.  Thankfully she passed on the recipe for this super easy cake.  It turned out wonderful and was loved by everyone (that liked coconut).  It was so light and refreshing.  I will be making this again over the summer for sure.

Ingredients:

1 box white cake mix (any brand)

egg whites, oil & water (what ever your cake mix needs)

1  can Cream of Coconut (not coconut milk)

1  container frozen whipped topping

1  package sweetened flaked coconut

1. bake cake according to box

2. as soon as it comes out of the oven poke holes all over the cake with a fork.

3. pour cream of coconut over the whole cake a spread.

4. let cool (then place in refrigerator)

5. when cold place a layer of whip cream on the top of the cake

6. Sprinkle with coconut (you can toast but i didn’t) as much or little as you like

7.Keep refrigerated

8. ENJOY!

To my fail I forgot to take a photo of the finished cake which looked wonderful.  Next time I make it I will add the photo.

Christmas Cookie Jar gifts

This time of year its great to have some little gifts for when you need to give just a little something. I love all the baked goods I am given each year but this is such a great idea. They can be enjoyed after the holidays or when you are busy and remember you needed to take something to a party or get together…

1 1/3 cup all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup & leveled
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup cooking oats
3/4 cup M&Ms
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar

On the label

1 large egg1 stick of butter melted1 teaspoon vanillaBake @ 350 for 10-15min

The recipe I used is from http://www.bakerella.com/mix-things-up/ I have used this recipe many times and it’s always great and keeps well in the jars.  I used a avery lable on the bottom of the jar with the directions.  I used a holiday sticker on the front and  painted the lid.

Small nail polish gifts

So if you work at my kid’s school close your eyes now!  If not then we made these cute little gifts for the ladies in the office,  the nurse, and all the specials teachers this year.  We will be doing something a little more for their teachers but wanted to send a little something for all the people that make the kids feel so special everyday.