Warm Weather Means Halloween Time!!!

As most of you can tell by now I am a Halloween fanatic. I start during the summer each year to build my props and decorations for the season. As I promised, I will start posting tutorials on what I'm making. Hopefully this will get your creative juices flowing and you will concoct props of your own. Feel free to post a comment on what you are doing this year and share your ideas. It's a Halloween free-for-all!!


I will begin my prop posts with my first prop I made for the season. This is a scarecrow constructed much like the one from the film Sleepy Hallow. It was super cheap and adds great character to your haunt. You can find the full tutorial HERE from Halloweenforum.com



-Mr Crafty

Cherry Blossom Lights

I hope that everyone had a safe and wonderful Memorial Day! Mine was great. I spent a week in another state down south with my closest family. Family is really what matters in the end I always say. Anywho, I found this great tutorial for you guys to take a gander at. It is a project for making cherry blossom lights in an elegant vase. You can find the full tutorial HERE. Thanks to ChrysN via Instructables.com







Take Care

-Mr Crafty

Homemade Greek Frozen Yogurt

With Greek yogurt becoming a huge fad now because of it's lower caloric content and higher protein levels I thought it would be relevant to post this awesome recipe for vanilla frozen yogurt made with, you guessed it, Greek yogurt. This is a whole lot healthier than any other ice cream and the perfect dessert for those sweltering dog days of summer.

This recipe from David Lebovitz’s cookbook, The Perfect Scoop, gave me the perfect opportunity to try Greek yogurt out in frozen form. And. It. Is. Awesome! I love how creamy the frozen yogurt is, and it tastes great with just about any ice cream topping

From The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz
Makes about 1 quart (1 liter)

3 cups (720 g) plain Greek yogurt (either whole-milk, lowfat, or nonfat)
1 cup (200 g) sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Mix together the yogurt, sugar, and vanilla. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
2. Freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

-Mr Crafty

Mason Jar Lanterns

I was navigating the net earlier and came across a recent DIY project that I couldn't resist. What I found was a versatile piece of decor you can use in or outdoors. I'm talking lanterns people. These are super easy to make, eco friendly, and used as an accent piece anywhere! You can head on over to Make-it-do.com for the full tutorial. I myself will be using these in my garden and yard as warm accents for low level lighting as well as a potential additive for my Halloween display.

Enjoy
-Mr. Crafty

Mother's Day Projects: Picture Frame Jewelery Holder

Money is tight right now. But money doesn't have to stand in the way of honoring your mom (and Mother Earth). You can make a beautiful and more importantly, meaningful, gift for Mother's Day. And what mom would not be thrilled to receive an item infused with meaning made by hand from someone she loves? I now present to you the most affordable, kid friendly, customizable, super special terrific fantastic (I cant think of any other adjectives) mother's day gift to end them all!




PICTURE FRAME JEWELERY HOLDER

1) Choose an old picture frame and remove any backing. You can decorate the frame with paint, fabric or other appropriate decoration to match mom's bedroom or bathroom decor or leave it plain.

2) Cut a piece of window screen that overlaps the back of the frame 1/2 inch. (Remember when the dog charged through the screen and ripped it to shreds? If it's still lying around, here's the perfect use for it.)

3) Staple or nail the window screen to the back of the frame.

4) Screw in some cuphooks along the bottom of the frame to hold rings and/or in the top corners to hold necklaces and bracelets. Earring backs fit through the screen.

5) If you want the holder to hang, add a picture hangar to the back. Otherwise, it can sit on a small easel or rest against the wall.

Rock on mom!!!!

-Mr. Crafty

Budget Spring Decor Idea: Thrifty Stylized Bulletin Board

Fun, festive, and cheap – just the way I like doing home decor!

This project takes 5-10 minutes, and only cost me $5.25 – $5 for the frame at a thrift store and $0.25 for the bulletin board at a thrift store. Not bad, eh?

YOU WILL NEED:

- An old bulletin board, big enough to fit your frame

- Any picture frame you think is interesting or beautiful (NOTE: make sure it has a front-to-back depth large enough to contain the thickness of the cork board you will be using.)

- A tape measure

- Pencil

- Some kind of cutting device (I ended up using a bread knife.)

Directions

1. Measure the inside of your picture frame. Give yourself more room to work with than the tape measure says: for example, if one length of the inside of the frame is 10″, actually use a measurement of 9 3/4″ or something of the like.

2. If there is any kind of border around your bulletin board, snip and pull it off.

3. Using a ruler, trace out the (adjusted) dimensions of your picture frame onto the bulletin board.

4. Cut along the lines you drew. You may have to shave off a bit more from one side or the other if it doesn’t quite fit into your picture frame. Once you get it in the frame, fold down the metal flaps (or staples, etc. – whatever would usually hold the glass, photograph and backing into the frame) to hold the cork board in place.

And just like that you're done!!!!!! Here's my finished product.

-Mr. Crafty

Budget Spring Decor Idea: Flowerpot Candles

Spring is predicted to come early this year so why not start decorating early as well? Out with the old and in with the new I always say. I believe that when decorating, candles are a versatile medium. You can recreate and position them anywhere and they always look great!!!! I came across an idea of using using small terra cotta pots as candle holders which really livens up a room and gives it a garden/earthy feel perfect for spring.

Supplies

Terra Cotta Pots

Craft Paint (I used an ivory)

Sand, gravel or floral clay to hold candles

Floral Motifs from contact paper, gift wrap, wallborder or magazines.

(Optional)

Glue

Floral Moss (Optional)

Taper candle

Using a wadded up damp paper towel, dip into your paint and dab the excess off onto another paper towel. Dab the paint over the surface of the pot until you get a sponged, washed antique look. Allow to dry.

Cut out your floral motifs and brush a thin layer of glue on the back. Place onto your pot, smooth and brush another layer over the top. Repeat until you have the design you like. Brush the entire outside of the pot with glue. (You may water it down slightly) Allow to dry. (Obviously the glue won’t be necessary if you use contact paper or stickers.)

Now fill your pot half full with clean sand or gravel, and nestle the candle into the pot, supported by the sand. You may also use floral clay to secure the candle.

Finally, use a small amount of floral moss to cover the top of the pot if desired. Always make sure you are watching these candles as they burn, and do not allow candles to come into contact with any flammable material.

Easy, quick, and in an afternoon you can have creative, pretty candleholders for any occasion, perfect to bring the bloom of the seasons into your home!

Super Savings!!!!!

As an avid coupon clipper, I get many of my coupons from online sources. Be sure to check out my list of recent coupon finds below:

Save up to $15 in A&H coupons click here




Click hereto print your weekly coupons for AC Moore:

- 40% off any one Regular Priced Item
- 55% off Frame Shop

Coupons valid 1/30/11 - 2/5/11.




Click here to print your coupon for - Buy 1 Entree Get the 2nd One 1/2 off. Coupon expires 2/8/11.






Happy clipping
-Mr. Crafty

Banana Split French Toast

Ok, I've been posting alot of healthier foods to slim down your waistline after recovering from the holidays. But everyone needs indulgence, and I mean complete indulgence, once in a while. That's a golden rule of dieting, don't deprive yourself. You need to splurge every once in a while to keep your system in check. So why not splurge on a breakfast item that will burn up many of your daily calories? I recently found a recipe that crosses french toast and a banana split all on one plate! Sounds too good to be true huh? Well it isn't. So grab yourself all the fixins for plain old french toast, and I’ll show you how to transform it into this party of a breakfast in two shakes of a clown’s nose.

Banana Split French Toast

• 1 very ripe banana
• 2 eggs
• 6 slices Texas Toast
• Simply Chocolate Syrup (see below)
• 1 cup whipped cream
• sprinkles
• maraschino cherries

Heat a griddle or skillet pan to medium heat. In a blender, puree the eggs and banana together. Pour into a shallow baking dish. Dip both sides of the Texas Toast into the banana puree and grill until golden brown. Serve drizzled with Simple Chocolate Syrup and a dollop of whipping cream. Top with maraschino cherries & sprinkles.

Simple Chocolate Syrup

• 2 cups sugar
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons butter

In a small pot, stir together all ingredients over medium heat until sugar has dissolved. Serve warm over Banana Split French Toast.

-Mr. Crafty

New Year Food Find #4: Punkin Muffins

Though Thanksgiving is done and over with thank god, I still love the flavors that surface during that time. Apples, cinnamon, spices, and cookies are just to name a few scents filling the air. But who honestly can forget pumpkin. I am a freak over pumpkin anything. It's such a good earthy flavor to work with when baking and cooking. Alot of the dishes that have pumpkin in it may first seem like a healthier choice but in reality it's not. Pumpkin pie, Pumpkin cheesecake, and pumpkin bread pudding are just as bad as their counterparts. It is the pumpkin muffin that really calls my name come holiday season. They are so horrible for you but so good. I wanted to find a way to eat my seasonal pumpkin muffins without turning into one myself!!! So I found this recipe to ease my hunger pangs. Enjoy!!!!

HG's Punkin' Muffins


Ingredients:
Muffins
1 cup Fiber One Original bran cereal
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated)
1/4 cup brown sugar (not packed)
1 tbsp. baking powder
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp. salt
One 15-oz. can pure pumpkin
1 cup club soda
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)
1/4 cup sugar-free pancake syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup raisins, chopped

Icing
1/4 cup Cool Whip Free, thawed
3 tbsp. fat-free cream cheese, room temperature
1 tbsp. Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 10 cups of a 12-cup muffin pan with baking cups and/or spray with nonstick spray. Set aside.

Using a blender or food processor, grind cereal to a breadcrumb-like consistency. Transfer crumbs to a large bowl.
 Add flour, Splenda, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Mix well and set aside.

In another bowl, combine pumpkin, soda, egg substitute, syrup, and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly. Add mixture to the large bowl and stir until blended to form the batter.

Slowly sprinkle and stir chopped raisins into the batter. Evenly distribute batter among the 10 prepared cups of your muffin pan. (Batter may be piled high... This is OK!)

Bake in the oven until muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of one comes out mostly clean, about 30 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, combine all icing ingredients in a small microwave-safe bowl. Mix until smooth and blended. (Refrigerate icing if you don't plan to serve muffins right away.)

Remove cooled muffins from the pan. Just before serving, warm icing in the microwave for a few seconds and drizzle it onto the muffins (or simply spread it on evenly). Enjoy!

MAKES 10 SERVINGS

These baby's save over 300 calories a serving!!! The ones I make are usually without the icing (as the photo shows). Also, you can try different variations for the club soda using other types of soda. To save the calories make it diet. I once used vanilla cream diet soda in the mix and it turned out wonderful!!!!



-Mr Crafty

DIY Coupon Organizers

If you are an avid coupon clipper like I am then you can understand the frustration of having coupons in one giant pile that you'll later have to dig through as you enter checkout. When I first started clipping, I did this and soon after regretted it. I actually lost money by doing this because coupons will frequently expire if not organized properly. So, I finally had enough and created my own organizer that makes things easier. Here's a tip for those of you who are organizing coupons for the first time: You want to make sure they are sorted according to your needs/and or grocery store. So if you can, chunk them into categories that are concurrent with the aisles in your grocery store. I did mine like this:

Household Msc.
Frozen
Cereal/Juice/Breakfast
Canned Goods/Pasta/Ethnic
Meat/Dairy
Baking/Dressing/Spices
Snacks/Chips/Crackers
Tea/Coffee/Bread

Once sorted, you need a place to keep the coupons neat and orderly. There are a few different methods to creating coupon organizers. It all depends on the portability and cost that you prefer.

• Binder - Many people use and swear by the binder system. How it works is you take a regular three ring binder and add clear sectioned sheets to hold your coupons. People like this because it allows flexibility of how many categories they can break their coupons down into. Tip: to save money and frustration, make sure you sort the coupons by expiration date so that none get thrown away.

• Recipe box/tupperware - Many people like this method as well because it's a little less costly than the binder system. Basically you use the box as a holder and organize the coupons inside through use of index cards.

• Envelope - This is my personal favorite and what I use for my coupons because it's effective and cheaper to build. You're basically connecting multiple envelopes to make an accordion style holder for your coupons. The project below is to build your own accordion style envelope coupon holder.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN ACCORDION STYLE COUPON ORGANIZER




THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Hot Glue Gun
Cardstock
Ribbon
Envelopes (All the same size)
Glue



DIRECTIONS:

Lay two envelopes face down, with flaps open

Apply glue to the flap of the second envelope. Paste the flap on the front of the first envelope, creating a chain of envelopes with their flaps glued to the previous envelope. Be careful to keep them perfectly straight.

After you have added all the envelopes you need, it is time to make the cover. Using an open envelope as a pattern, cut a slightly larger shape, including the flap, out of cardstock. Glue this to the front of your first envelope

Starting at the beginning, fold up the first envelope so that you see the front of that second envelope. Now fold the next envelope the opposite way so you see the back. Continue to do this until you reach the end. It tends to work best if you see the front of the last envelope so that no coupons fall out. If you need to add one more envelope to finish yours this way then do so.

Cut a length of ribbon long enough to wrap around your entire organizer. Hot glue a section of the ribbon to the back of the organizer. Leave the rest loose for easy tying. Then write your categories on each envelope, and you're finished. My homemade organizer has lasted over a year




Happy couponing!

-Mr.Crafty