YW Value Necklace {Giveaway}

Yes, it's a giveaway!  What a way to kick off from summer break.  I made these necklaces for my Young Women for Girl's Camp.  As with any jewelry project, there is usually leftover supplies.  So, I made a few extra.  Two I gave to the leaders who came to camp with me.  That was such a huge help.  And then I decided to make one for a giveaway!

 

This necklace has a each color representing the Young Women Values.  All the beads are generally  the same size, but there are a few different styles within them.  It will come in this clear, screw-top container.

To enter this Giveaway, you must:

• be a follower or become a follower
• post this giveaway on Facebook, blog, website, twitter, etc

NOTE - Becoming a follower counts as 1 submission. Posting on Facebook counts as 1 submission.  Posting on your blog counts as 1.  ETC.  You can have a whole lot of submissions :-) just be sure to leave a comment for each submission.

Giveaway closes September 15th!

Friday's Feature {Brag Books from Paper Lunch Sacks} }

There were a couple things that I wanted to select this week, but I chose this one from From Dahlias To Doxies.  I love this because these are all things that I always have on hand.  So simple and so adorable.  These would be great quiet books for church as well.

Rules:

• Any creative idea will do
• No selling or promoting, so no etsy stores
• Giveaways are now permissible ONLY if they are a handmade object
• Grab a button to link back to this blog
• Start sharing!
• And don't forget to check out other link party projects.

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Summer Bucket List

We are in the process of moving back to Utah (YIPEE!) right now, so things are getting a little crazy. All of the fun that I wanted to kick off summer with seems to be taking a back seat. My poor kids seem to already have cabin fever and we aren't even a week into summer! As soon as we are settled in back at home I hope to have the summer fun in full swing! I found a "Summer Bucket List" on pinterest and kind of modified it to make it more applicable to me and my kids. I want to check off this list and hope it gives you some ideas for an awesome summer break!!

Summer Bucket List

*Picnic at the park

*Find all the constellations in the sky

*Have a water fight

*Go on a photo walk

*Feed the ducks

*Try a new food

*Play frisbee

*Scenic drive

*Homemade ice cream

*Art museum

*Sidewalk chalk art

*Nature hike

*Create an obstacle course

*Visit a new park

*24th of July event

*Write a book or short story

*Camping

*Eat watermelon

*Road trip

*Drive-in or backyard movie

*Visit a place with trains

*Fly a kite

*Wade in a river

*Attend an outdoor play

*Homemade popsicles

*Friendship bracelet

*Scavenger hunt

*Ice skating

*Roast marshmallows

*Rodeo

*Water balloons

*Tell a ghost story

*Visit the farmer's market

*Summer scrapbook

*Make a cardboard city

*Concert in the park

*Water ski

*Book club

*Sleep outside

*Plant something

*Lemonade stand

*Take a picture everyday for the entire summer

*Horseshoes

*Wash the car by hand

*Attend a county fair

*Climb a tree

Happy Summer!

Friday's Feature {Bandana Dress/Paper-Bag Popcorn} and Link Party

Okay, I'm sorry for the longest title in Cookie Nut Creation's history, but this week I had a dilemma that turned into a wonderful solution.  I couldn't decide between two submissions.  Luckily they were from the same site, Babblings and More!

Bandana Dress

I am so going to make this for my daughter.  A few bandanas and you're ready to go!

Paper-Bag Popcorn

Great solution to the store bought microwave popcorn.

Rules:

• Any creative idea will do
• No selling or promoting, so no etsy stores
• Giveaways are now permissible ONLY if they are a handmade object
• Grab a button to link back to this blog
• Start sharing!
• And don't forget to check out other link party projects.

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Card Board Creations

Isn't it great when you come to discover that your kids love playing with a card board box more than any store bought toy.  A few weeks ago my girls and I discovered just how fun a plain card board box can be.

When I had originally made this little "house" for my girls I simply taped two boxes together, cut out some windows, then a door, and had two happy little girls on my hands.

When I pulled it out from storage to be played with again, I thought I would be fun to add a few embellishments.  So, I pulled out their kitchen, camping chairs, some books and baskets, and then let their little imaginations run wild.

While I sat watching them play my own imagination took off.  I decided that their little home needed some "homey" touches. So, I cut up an old sheet and used some ribbons and push pins to hang up some curtains.  Then, we hung up some art work thanks to some old Ensigns we had on hand.  Finally we added a bench with a vase full of flowers.

The place was really looking like something you would find on the Parade of Homes.  However, it was the idea of my oldest daughter to open the box up and create a wider space to live in.  After all who really wants to live in a box.

With my help we opened everything up.  Their little home was finished complete with a gourmet kitchen, a sitting room and reading room, and a pleasant little entryway.  Not bad for and afternoon of play which lasted a full two days.  It would have lasted much longer than that, but by the morning of the third day I was ready to have my living room back to normal.
What card board creations have you come up with lately?

Recycled Leapster or DVD Case

This year, my son needed to complete a recycled project.  I didn't want to just make a piggy bank from an old container or some other thing I would just throw away later.  So thanks to wonderful Pinterest, I found this great solution.  She used a DVD case.  I used a Leapster case because it was a little wider and could fit more colored pencils.

This project wasn't as fast as I thought it would be but part of that is because I probably took some unnecessary steps.  Here is the tutorial of how I did it!

 Take out the cover and save it.

 Remove anything from inside.

 Cut out anything that isn't flat.

 

 Be careful not to cut the outer sleeve. 

Pick out two coordinating fabrics and cut them out.

 Find a piece of something hard and flat.  This was a thick clear sheet.  You could use chip board, cardboard, etc.  Cut it down to fit inside the case.

This is where I could've made this simpler.  I tacked it down with tape.

 I did it with the other fabric as well.

Then I sewed around the edges.

To make the front a little more taught, I sewed a dividing line.  You may not need to do this if you make your fabric tight enough, but I left enough room to do it because it would keep the colored pencils from moving around so much.

 Then I super clued the back down.  BAD IDEA.  It didn't work very well.  Use hot glue!

Then I weighed it down so that it would adhere properly.

Then we took the leftover case and drew on the back of it. 

 

We slip it back in and this was the end result.

Place in the colored pencils and paper on the opposite side.

Let the kids color!

I loved this project because now I have something that is portable and fun for the kids to do.  I want to make one for all my kids now.  It's perfect for church, for the doctors office, road trips, etc.  You could also make one as gifts.  It would be great for Christmas, for Easter baskets, etc.

This one is a lot of fun.  Hope you enjoyed!

Friday's Feature {Paint Chip Matching Game} and Link Party

I love, love, love this idea from Sew Fantastic!!!  It's absolutely brilliant and too cute.  In fact I loved this idea so much I ended up pinning it onto Pinterest.  And, before we headed out of town this weekend (we've been overdue for a family vacation) I decided to make these for my girls to play while we're camping.  Such a simple concept, but something that is sure to keep the kids busy and having fun for hours.  Well, maybe not hours, but long enough for me to start a load of laundry.

Rules:

• Any creative idea will do
• No selling or promoting, so no etsy stores
• Giveaways are now permissible ONLY if they are a handmade object
• Grab a button to link back to this blog
• Start sharing!
• And don't forget to check out other link party projects.

Plan of Salvation Diagram

Well, there's not a whole lot to say about this other than I made this Plan of Salvation Diagram for your printing pleasure.

A while back I made a different diagram.  You can see the original post here.  Camie, before she joined the blog, had made it and sent me the images for me to copy.  I loved it because it was great for my kids and we could use it to play games.

There are a few reasons why I wanted to make this new one.

• My kids are still young, but they are growing fast.  I wanted to have something that they could put in their scriptures
• I'm also serving in Young Women and it was a great way for the girls to pass off one of their Faith value experiences. 
• I think that it's something that could be a great (and more portable) missionary tool.
• (I wish I had thought if it sooner) It would be a great addition to an Easter basket.

Hope you enjoy it.

And just so you know, I will be selling the enlarged images, game pieces, and game questions so that you will be able to play this game with your family or in your ward calling.  Coming to our 'Shop' when I get some time on my hands.

Friday's Feature {Frosted Grapes}

Once again, I found myself torn between two of your fabulous links.  I actually came really close to featuring both of them this week, but because I didn't have a spare dresser in my house in which I could convert into a gardening box, I decided to feature these Frosted Grapes from One Sweet Appetite.
I love this idea (something I never would have thought of) and I know my girls are going to love it too.  I especially love the versatility of this recipe.  Two ingredients that can be changed multiple times.

Strawberries with Strawberry Jell-O
Raspberries with Rasberry Jell-O
Red Grapes with Grape Jell-O
Kiwi with Strawberry Jell-O
or what about trying this with an instant pudding mix...
Bananas with Cheesecake or White Chocolate Instant Pudding
mmm..the possibilities are almost limitless.

Rules:

• Any creative idea will do
• No selling or promoting, so no etsy stores
• Giveaways are now permissible ONLY if they are a handmade object
• Grab a button to link back to this blog
• Start sharing!
• And don't forget to check out other link party projects.

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Easter Skirts

I just wanted to show off the skirts that I made for my three little girls for Easter.  I bought the paisley material last spring when it was on sale and ended up using some leftover fabrics from their quilts to create these three creations.  I didn't want them to be identical, however I did want them to compliment each other.  I love what I ended up with.  Although I will say that I did a ton of unpicking...more than I would like to admit.

I was going to give you a few step by step instructions on these skirts, but it's really self explanatory.  I simply sewed the separate fabrics together, added some ribbon, and put the elastic in the waste.  Easy Peasy!  I also made each of their hair clips (which I am in love with) and will be showing you how I did those next week.