I had a little sewing box.  It was cute.  It held everything I needed, except for a lot of things, because although it was cute, it was tiny.  Most of my crafts are not tiny.  I decided I needed a new sewing box, this time not quite so little.  I found my new sewing box at a local thrift store for $2.50.  It is a small , old suitcase. In the past it was probably used for toiletries and therefore should be very excited for a change of view that will now include things like embroidery thread and sewing needles.

Just a few days after finding my new sewing box, I also found a book at my library filled with fun craft projects including a fun easy pin cushion craft using mason jars.  I took on the challenge of making my own pin cushion and want to share it with you!

You will need:
-scissors
-a piece of fabric
-thin cardboard (such as a cereal box)
-pencil or pen
-cotton fill
-hot glue gun and glue
-Mason jar
-Mason jar lid
-Mason jar ring

1) Trace a circle the diameter of your mason jar lid onto a thin piece of cardboard and cut it out.

2)  Next, trace 2 separate circles onto your fabric.  The first is the same diameter of your cardboard cut out and the second is about 1 inch wider than the first.

3)  Cut out your two fabric circles.

3)  Place your larger fabric circle face down on your work space.  Top with some cotton fill and then the circle cardboard (use enough cotton fill to be fluffy but still allow you room to glue the extra fabric to the bottom side of the cardboard).

4)  Using your glue gun, adhere the extra fabric edges to the bottom of the cardboard.

5)  Glue your smaller fabric circle on top of the exposed cardboard creating a finished look for the underside of your pin cushion.

6)  On the underside of your Mason jar ring, apply hot glue to the inside edge of the rim and quickly press the assembled cushion into the lid, until the cloth side is fully visible above the ring’s rim and the underside of the cardboard is flush against the rim.

7)  Fill your jar with sewing or craft supplies and top with your new pin cushion lid!

I got so excited by how cute my first pin cushion turned out that I made a second (one for my straight pins and one for my embroidery needles).

I then decorated two lids in exactly the same manner only without the cotton fill just because I thought they looked so cute.

I am totally thrilled with the end result and am ready to conquer new crafts with my re-purposed handy dandy sewing box!

by Kristina Bjornbak

While looking for some new skirt tutorials to try out, I came across the Polka Dot Cottage.  I was in love with the place, which is full of crafts, tutorials, and life.  It had a perfect skirt tutorial that I tried and it worked out great.

While perusing through her site, I came across a recipe for deodorant powder.  Now, I’ve never found a deodorant/antiperspirant that I can say I really like.  It was just something that I had and used.  Nothing too great about that.

But, having found this recipe, I have to say I really do love it.  It couldn’t be easier to make or use.  Just put the ingredients in a jar, shake it up, and apply with cotton ball or powder puff.  And so far, no problems with it whatsoever.

A quick note, though, for the sake of clarity: deodorant and antiperspirant are two different things.  Deodorant keeps you from smelling, and antiperspirant keeps you from sweating.  This is a deodorant.

Go ahead, click here and give this deodorant recipe a try.  I bet it works for you!

Congratulations to Misty, who won the Baby Sleeps Safe Sleep Panel and Sleep Pouch in the color of her choice!  All Baby Sleeps Safe Sleep Panel and Sleep Pouch will be 10% off this week (until Thursday night)!

All “Just 4 Dad”items are 10% off until Wednesday, June 30th!

The Soothing Blanket by Luna Lullaby

Retail Value: $46.00 (for a 3 pack)

Available in eight adorable combinations!

• 3 pack of blankets
• 100% softest quality cotton muslin
• Fabric weave specially designed to breathe easily
• Lightweight fabric allows baby’s temperature to regulate
• Sized to 44″ x 44″ square, ideal for swaddling newborns to larger babies
• Stretchable fabric provides a snug swaddle
• DVD includes two swaddle techniques demonstrated step-by-step

How do you win?

Take a look at the listing for The Soothing Blanket by Luna Lullaby and leave a comment here telling us your favorite style combination.

You have until Tuesday, June29th, to enter!

When Mom 4 Life, Trisha saw my French Fry Cupcakes she emailed me some of the fun creations she has made for her kids (she has six with one more on the way:)!!  I thought they were so fun and way too cute not to share with you too:

Heather,
I loved your blog post about your son’s unbirthday and thought you might like to see a cake I made for one of my kids a couple years back.  It’s a hot dog with fries cake.  It was super easy.  A pound cake for the bun.  The cut out portion was turned into fries.  Frosted Twinkies were the hot dogs and chopped up gum drops were used for relish and onions.

You sound a lot like me in the birthday cake department.  I have 6 (going on 7) kids and try not to have any duplicate birthday cakes… at least in their early years.  I’ll attach a couple other easy cakes we’ve done in the past in case you too are on the look-out for future ideas.  This Lady bug cake uses Junior Mints for spots:

This Pizza cake uses a cookie for the crust and assorted candies for toppings:

Carousel cake (my hubby took over that one, but it was pretty simple too):

I am by no means an artist, baker, or cake/pastry chef… I just try to look for simple looking ideas that look cute or fancy when they are finished.

For this one I used two round cakes, mini-oreos for the infield, green sprinkles, a couple of Hot Wheels and some frosting.  My son loved it and it didn’t take hardly any time to make.

I also came across the hamburger cake and sugar cookie fry cake my husband and I collaborated on.  My son was too young to appreciate it, but his older brothers and sisters loved it.

Lastly, a purse cake!

God Bless,
Trisha

Also, Mom 4 Life, Rene shared on our facebook fan page that she just made these butternut squash muffins and substituted whole wheat flour and reported a yummy result.  The reviews online are really positive, I can’t wait to try them!