I Don't Do Winter Glass Mug

Check out this one of a kind mug created for those who despise the cold winter months!

Etsy-"I Don't Do Winter" Mug

Etsy-"I Don't Do Winter" Mug

Fabric Alphabet Letters

Hey yall!!  I know it's been a while, but I can't NOT share this!! With my sweet niece soon to arrive, I have been on a crazy baby craft streak and this has been my favorite of all.  Fabric Alphabet Letters!  They are cute, fun and great for babies and kids of all ages.  As always, if you don’t want to take the time to make them, I have them available in my Etsy Store Fabric Letters!

First gather your supplies.  If you do it the way I did, you will need quite a bit of different fabric or you could just get one fabric and use it for all of your letters!

What you need:

Decorated Fabric

One Plain White Sheet

Quilt Batting

Invisible ink markers

Scissors or a rotary cutter

Basic sewing skills

Sewing machine

White tread

Sewing pins

4 inch Letter Stencils  (You can buy stencils at any craft store)

Pinking Shear Scissors (crinkly scissors)

You will need to choose your fabrics.  Whether you choose one fabric or many different ones, you need to get enough to make 26 -5inch by 5inch squares. 

Then you will need some quilting batting.  I just get the batting that is soft on both sides and I double it up for each letter.  It will be enough to make 26- 5 inch by 10 inch rectangles. 

Then you will need a plain colored back.  I chose white for mine. I went cheap on this, buying a plain white sheet and cutting my squares out of it.  One sheet is more than enough.  You will cut 26- 5 inch by 5 inch squares of the white.

Then look through your fabrics and if they are wrinkled, take a clothes iron and iron them out so you don’t have wrinkled letters.

Then you will take your letters and using the washable markers to trace the letters onto the fabric.

Then you will put all three fabrics together.  The white on the botton, then the quilt batting folded in half, then the fabric on top.  You will use you sewing pins to keep everything in place so you can sew it.

Now its time to SEW! 

 Go slow when doing this.  Simply trace the lines you have made for the letters.  I’m new to sewing so the round parts were tricky for me, but I’m sure if you're an advanced sewer, you’ll have no problem!

Then take your scissors and cut them out! I used pinking shears because I think it makes them look much cuter.  

Now you're done!

(Yes you have to do it 25 more times… but its pretty simple)

They would be a great baby shower gift or present for kids who are learning to spell!  Visit my Etsy Shop to check them out- Fabric Letters.

Thanks yall! Comment with any questions! 

Kentucky Burlap Frame

Hey yall! I know it's been a while but I've been on a crafty kick, so there will be more blogs following this one in the next weeks to come! With the surplus of burlap we had from the wedding I decided instead of letting it collect dust I’d put it to some good use! 

The first time I made this, I found a empty frame I had sitting around, but you can but any kind of frame you want and do any size.  I like the look and size of this 14 x 11 frame, but you can do different sizes, just eye ball measurements for different size frames.

Take the cardboard or paper that came in the frame you are going to use place it on your burlap and simply cut around it.  For this the size doesn’t have to be perfect because its going in a frame. But remember ALWAYS OVERESTIMATE how much burlap you'll need! You can always cut off extra, but you can’t add to it.  If you don’t have enough to fill your frame you have to cut a new piece.

Next, find a outline of the state of Kentucky (or the state of your choice) on the internet.  If you are using a large frame like mine, you will want to print it landscape and depending on what outline of the state you find you may need to adjust the printing size until it looks right.  It took me a few moments of trial and error to find the right size, but go with what looks good to you!

Once you find the right size, Cut it out.

Place tape on the back and place it in the center of your burlap piece you’ve cut out. 

Get a black sharpie and trace around the state onto your burlap.  Be sure to put something under the burlap so it doesn’t leak through onto your table.

Once you are done get your mod podge. Because I didn’t want to go spend money on mod podge I used a recipe I saw on Pinterest to make some and it worked really well.

Simply mix 1 cup of flour + 1 ½ cup of water + 1/3 cup of sugar + 1 tsp vinegar on medium heat.  Stir continually so the flour doesn't clump together.

Once the mod podge is mixed, apply it with the brush. One good even coat is fine.

Then I let it sit in the sun to dry.

Once completely dry, place in frame and Viola!

If you don't have the time or supplies to make one, here is a link to my Etsy page when you can purchase one!   KY Burlap Frame- Etsy

Want Free Kids Clothes?

 Everyone with kids or grandkids, check this out! There is a website out there called schoola.com.  They sell new and gently used kids clothes and donate half of each sale to a different school around the United States.  
Right now if you sign up from this link ---->  CLICK HERE 

          You will automatically get a free $15 to spend and currently have free shipping avialable! Use the code HURRY if free shpping doesn't automatically show up! Not sure how long they will have free shipping going on! Check it out now before all the good stuff is gone!!

Road Sign Maple Cookies

Everybody loves a good ole maple pancake, right?  How about a maple pancake flavor in a cookie? Yum!  Currently on the signature cookie for 64 to Grayson! We have them available part of the 64 to Grayson Snack pack, which includes an Ale-8, 64 to Grayson koozie, and one of these cookies!  If you want to make your own, here is how.

INGREDIENTS:

¾ Cup of Pure Sugar

1 ½ Sticks of Butter (I use salted because it’s the cheaper)

2 ¼ All Purpose Flour

½ Teaspoon of Baking Soda

2 Teaspoons of Vanilla extract

¼ Teaspoon of Maple Extract

Blue Food Coloring 

Cookie Cutter

Before beginning, let butter sit out for a little bit so it is easy to work with.   

Use your mixer to mix butter and sugar together for about a minute. 

Once mixed together well, add one egg, 2 teaspoons of vanilla, and ¼ teaspoon of maple flavoring.  Mix it up using your blender.

Then in separate bowl whisk the 2 ¼ cups of flour with the ½ teaspoon of baking powder.

  Once whisked together, start to add to the other mixture. Add about half of the mixture to your other bowl.  Mix on the lowest setting so flour doesn’t go everywhere. 

Then as it mixes, add the rest of the flour and start adding the blue food coloring.

 I just estimate the amount of food coloring based on my personal opinion, so you can do the same with yours.

Then get a sheet of parchment paper.  Wrap the dough in the paper and place in the refrigerator at chill for at least an hour. 

   Once chilled, take the dough out of the fridge. 

Use the same parchment paper to cut the dough using the cookie cutters. Grab your flour to use to put on the parchment paper so the dough doesn’t stick to the paper.  Also put flour on your hands so the dough doesn’t stick to your hands.  You can use a roller or just your hands to flatten the dough out use your cookie cutter.

      

Turn your oven to 350 degrees.  Once oven is warmed and your cookies sheet is full, place you cookies in the oven and let cookie for 8-11 minutes.

To Make the Icing you need the following ingredients:

Red Food Coloring

Milk

Powdered Sugar

Vanilla Extract

Simple mix the milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together until you get the consistency desired.  You don't want ti too runny or it will run off the cookie, but you don't want it with chunks of powdered sugar in it either.   For the white food coloring I don't add the vanilla extract because it gives it a brownish tint that I don't want.

And here ya go folks!

Road Sign Cookies!

ENJOY!

He Called, We Went- Jamaica 2014

It had always been a dream of mine to go overseas and serve long-term in some form.  Little did I know, it would come at the most “inconvient” time for me.  Since being in the Social work program my classmates and I had been pushing for an International Senior Practicum Placement.  Many places we pursued had fallen through, until finally my professor and along with a group of students took a week mission trip to Robin’s Nest Children’s Home in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  They all fell in love with the place and began working the logistics toward sending students there for their Senior Practicum.  I was really excited about this opportunity, but in the back of my head I truly felt that it was going to fall through.  Our professor wanted at least two of us to do this type of practicum together, so I kept trying to persuade my classmates to go with me. However, everyone who once wanted this opportunity had already been placed into practicums in the US.  After a specific series of events, my friend Serena decided she wanted to pursue the children's home for her practicum!  She felt God leading her to take a risk and travel out of the country for her placement!  From that moment on, we continued praying and talking to the administration about making this happen.  

Throughout the craziness of seeking approval from all of the necessary people our school, there was a battle going on within me.  When things started falling into place, I wasn’t sure if this was what I really wanted to do.  I had just started dating the love of my life that previous May, and now it being September I would have to decide if I wanted to be gone for 3 months.  I thought it would just be easier if I stayed here and did my practicum close to home so that I could get a job there after graduation.  Zack and I had a big trip planned the first week of January and I had a pretty good idea he was going to propose to me, so the thought of planning a wedding overseas, didn’t seem very practical.  With this big of a decision ahead, there arose so many excuses and fears that doing their best to control me.  Our professor told us to spend time in prayer and seriously talk with each other to make sure this was the adventure and commitment we wanted to pursue together.  We knew we both wanted to go but fear was getting the best of us.

Then, late one night, when we had been going back and forth on whether we should go tell them our final “yes” that we really wanted to do it.  (I kept telling Serena, “let’s just wait a couple days”.)  That night I opened one of my Bibles that I rarely used and I saw some writing on one of the pages, so I flipped to that page to see what it said.  As I read it I was instantly speechless.  In a big way God said, “GO”, and I had to listen. God showed up in that moment and spoke clearer than He had ever spoken through this scripture.  As I shared this scripture with Serena, through tears of what was happening, we both sat crying, in awe of God. 

 

As we began that journey there was a truth that, the lyrics of Hillsong’s song, “Oceans”, resonated deep within us.  We had no idea what was ahead of us or what the next 3 months would look like, but we knew had we to trust in our King.

“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior.”

He called and we went.   A year ago today, I was sitting on an airplane with one of my dearest friends about to embark on one of the greatest adventures of my life.  We were plunging into 3 months that would forever change our hearts.  

We arrived late that afternoon in Montego Bay, Jamaica where we were taken up a long and bumpy mountain to Robin’s Nest Children’s Home.  A home where 30 children resided with numerous people working together to give these kids the best home possible.

Overwhelmed, nervous, excited, and unsure of what we were getting ourselves into, Serena and I dove face-first into loving the people of Jamaica.  

Every morning, we were awoken at the crack of dawn by laughing and playing toddlers outside our window.  Some days we had running water, some days we didn't.  Some days we spent the whole day at the preschool, some days we played with the babies all day.  Some days we worked on our research project for school, and some days we helped the older kids with their own homework.  Every single day was a unique adventure, you never knew what your days would hold.  It was a life changing experience that has my heart captivated by the people of Jamaica.  As our one year mark come and goes, I think back on where I was at this time last year and I'm continuously reminded of these children's faces.  I can see them giggling, crying, playing, loving life, and all of it is engrained in mind.  

Please join me in supporting Robin's Nest.  They are currently raising money to drill a well for a permanent solution for their water shortage problem. Read here for more information and please consider donating to help Robin's Nest provide the best home for the children living there.  Help Robin's Nest Drill a Well


                                 
                                     

I'd also like to give a special "Thank you" to everyone who supported me through my time at Robin's Nest.  Please keep the children, staff, and volunteers in your prayers as the work continues the long process of finding forever family for these children.  Because everyone needs family.

Saying, "Thank You"

Giving back to your parents is always a hard thing.  If you think about everything they have given to you over your life its pretty much impossible to truly show your appreciation.  Think about it, long nights of no sleep, early mornings trying to get you up for school, all the broken lamps, the important things you lost of theirs, the numerous Christmas’s they stayed up all hours of the night wrapping gifts from Santa, the gray hair they blame you for, the thousands of dollars spent on your education, then more money for your wedding, girls.  The list goes on!  My parents have given me so much and I know I wouldn't be where I am today without their sacrificial way of living.

Along life's road, their are moments when we can step up to the plate for them and try to say "thank you" in a little way.  Now is one of those times for me.  My dad is one of the finalists to win my momma a $5,000 ring! The winner will be decided by the story with the most Facebook "likes".  Please click on the link below to read my dad's story.  There is no one who deserves this more.  My parents are some of the most selfless people out there.  They gave up so much for us kids through the years, and still do to this day. Help me say thank you!

Click here---->  Post by Jeff and MJ.