DIY Pottery Barn Heart Pillowcases

I recently have been drooling over this sheet set from Pottery Barn . . . ok more just the pillowcases. But who am I kidding, it's Pottery Barn and it's pricey, there is no way I am gunna pay $80.00 for a set of twin sheets. Looking at these I thought to myself that I could easily replicate them.

So here ya go . . .

What you need:
Black paint (non-washable/permanent)
Sponge brush
Heart stencil
White pillow case
Cardboard

Slip cardboard under before you start so you don't get bleeding!

Start a paintin'. 

TIP: apply a liberal amount of paint to get the full sharp heart shape

I left the folded creases in the pillow to help create a guide to aline the pattern. Be sure to line the hearts up horizontal, vertically, and diagonally with equal spacing between them all. (Lots of lining up, I know) 

And there ya have it!! Repeat on the backside. 

TIP: be sure to let the whole thing dry COMPLETELY before you take out the cardboard

Pottery Barn Version ^^^

Happy crafting. 

XO, Megs

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DIY Snowflake Christmas Ornaments

I'd never thought of baking cookies to decorate my Christmas tree with but once I finished up my tree trimming and noticed that it was pretty bare looking I scoured the Intraweb for recipes of gingerbread ornaments. They turned out beautifully and have held up for 3 years. The best part of making these little gems is the time you get to spend with family (sounds like a cheesy Hallmark movie, but the more helping hands the quicker these puppies will be done). After 3 years of using these ornaments I need to coat them with a thin layer of Modge Podge so the icing will not crack off. Get creative with your design, I loved the more simple and clean design, maybe that's was because I didn't want to mess up the cookie.

Here a few tips on making the cookies:

1. Don't forget to cut out a small hole in each ornament before baking the cookies so you have somewhere to tie them to your tree!
2. Make 2 batches of icing: one looser than the other. Use the firmer icing to trace out the contours of the ornaments, and the more fluid one to fill them.
3. If you want to correct a line made with icing, do it fast because the icing dries quite quickly.

Nick Malgieri's Gingerbread Recipe 

Makes about 24 large cookies, depending on the size cutter used (Source)

5 cups all-purpose flour (spoon flour into dry-measure cup and level off)
4 teaspoons ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
2/3 cup molasses
2 cookie sheets or jelly roll pans lined with parchment or foil

In a large bowl, combine the flour, spices, salt and baking soda. Stir well to mix.

Place the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until well mixed, about 1 minute. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating smooth after each addition. Scrape down bowl and beater.

Lower speed and beat in about half the flour mixture. Beat in all the molasses then scrape bowl and beater. Add the remaining flour mixture, about 1 cup at a time, and beat after each addition until it has all been absorbed.

Remove the bowl from the mixer and give the dough a final mixing with a large rubber spatula. Scrape half the dough onto a large piece of plastic wrap and press it to about a 1/2-inch thickness. Wrap the dough securely and repeat with the remaining dough. Chill the dough for at least 2 hours or for up to 3 days.

When you are ready to bake the cookies, set racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.

Unwrap one of the pieces of dough and cut it in half. Rewrap one of the halves and return it to the refrigerator.

On a floured surface, roll the dough until it is about 1/4-inch thick. Use a floured cookie cutter to cut the cookies. As they are cut, place the cut cookies on the prepared pans with about 1 inch between them on all sides. Repeat with remaining dough. Save, press together, and reroll scraps (they don't need to be chilled before rerolling).

Bake the cookies until they become dull and dry looking and feel slightly firm when pressed with a fingertip, about 12 to 15 minutes. Be careful not to over-bake the cookies or they will be very dry. Slide papers from pans onto racks to cool.

Store the cooled cookies between sheets of parchment or wax paper in a tin or plastic container with a tight-fitting cover.

Martha Stewart's Royal Icing
(Source)

1 pound of confectioners' sugar
2 large egg whites

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the sugar and egg whites.

Mixing on low speed, add up to 1/2 cup water depending on the desired consistency. Mix until icing holds a ribbon-like trail on the surface of the mixture for 5 seconds when you raise the paddle.

Place the icing in different piping bags with a small tip for tracing the contours and a larger one for filling each shape.

Good Luck!!! And Happy Baking! 

Follow Us On IG: @MegynJordyn

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Tot Tip Tuesday: December DIY Advent Calendar

We love Advent Calendars. Who doesn't? Other than the amount of work they take to put together, they are a great way to bring little pieces of the season into the everyday, and show your creative side all at the same time. Whether you have littles (or bigs) at home, are putting one together for someone, or if you are a child at heart, here is one we put together and a few ideas besides. 

• Small canvas bags can be purchased online for under $10. Use a sharpie and a stench to draw the numbers.
• The numbered tags below where from 1 piece of scrapbook paper. We cut them out and wrote messages to the recipient on the back that corresponded to the little gift that went inside the canvas bag.
• We love to bring the outside in, so we used branches and string to display this advent calendar and it looked quite festive next to the tree. 
• Different gifts for each day can be placed inside and be as simple as small candy treats or more elaborate based on what you want to do. For this set we used a small gift for each day with a memory, christmas quote, and on some days a piece of the nativity set with a corresponding scripture.
• Remember you can simplify it by doing simply a piece of candy for each day. Or add events in such as light seeing, christmas cookie decorating, gingerbread houses, Christmas movie night, etc. 
• If December 1 has already past don't worry you can still start one up. Either put together a quick one or get something ready for December 13 and do the 12 Days of Christmas instead, which is a little easier to do as you only have half the days.

Happy Tuesday! 

Follow us on IG: @megynjordyn

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Tot Tip Tuesday- Trail Totes and Turkey Hunt How To's

While snow is currently falling outside the window, there is still time to take the kids outside to enjoy the fall weather and explore before Turkey Day. Our 3 Turkey Day Tot Tips today will take you outside and help bring outside in to your holiday festivities. 

Tip 1: Make A Trail Tote

To keep their minds off the cold, bundle them up and bring along a "Trail Tote" for them to collect treasures along the trail. We used the hanging flower baskets from our gardens. Simply tossed the dead flowers and rinsed them out. However, anything little hands can carry will work. Halloween buckets, Easter Baskets, any type of basket or bag will do the trick.  

Hit the trail and let little ones pick up what they would like and add it to their bucket. If you area allows for it try to find a few pinecones. We'll tell you why in a minute. Once home, or while on the trail let your little or not so little one show you what they found and find a way to make arrange it with them to show off their special treasures.

Tip 2: Make a Turkey 

If possible use something from your trail tote to make a Turkey of some kind. We cut out feathers from foam pieces and glued them to a pinecone and added eyes. Turkey done. You can also use fall leaves; real ones from the trail or your yard, or fake ones to glue to the turkey for a more natural look.

Tip 3: Go on a Turkey Hunt

Whether it is Thanksgiving Day to keep the kiddos out of the Kitchen or any other November Day, have the kids take their newly made Turkeys outside for a Turkey Hunt.  This will work in the yard, at a park or on the trail. Have one child hide their Turkey and let the other children try to find it. Taking turns, they can each hide and seek for as long as they are interested. Adults are more than welcome as the added walking will burn off all those pesky calories from Holiday treats.

Bonus Tip: Use those extra pinecones and trail finds for your Thanksgiving Day Centerpiece. Toss them in a glass container with pumpkins, leaves, or whatever else you have laying around and presto chango your table looks amazingo! Also if those cute little turkeys don't get used on a hunt they make excellent place card holders or decor for your Thanksgiving Table as well.

Happy Tuesday! 

Follow us on IG: @MegynJordyn

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Easy DIY Spring Decor-Bunnies, Blooms, and Best of Easter Eggs

Winter has finally moved on and hints of spring are everywhere. Time for pretty pastels, flowers, and adorable bunnies to come on the scene and brighten up your home. Little touches here and there go a long way so our tips are sweet and simple. We have included a few of our favorite areas in our homes to give you some ideas as well.

• Flowers- you can find long stems of flowers at IKEA, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and even Target and Walmart. Place them in your favorite container or add as an accent where you wish.
• Eggs add a fun touch for the season and are available almost everywhere. Our plain white ones are available at Walmart for $1.98 for 12. Leave them white or dress them up.
•  Baskets, bowls, nests, small trees, flower branches, and/or the egg cartons are fun ways to display your eggs.
• Bunny Up! Keep your eye out for a favorite bunny or other Spring/Easter item. We like to add small things to our collection every year or every other year just to have something a little different to add to the mix.
• Be creative and use what you have. You would be surprised what you can put together with items you already have. You don't need to spend mega bucks to have your house look great!

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