Embriodered Rain Cloud Gift Box

This is the newest item in my shop and I was just so pleased with it I had to share it here!!
It's an embroidered raincloud gift box.   It measures 3" by 3" by 2" inches so you could fit jewlery, candy or a sweet note inside it! I love it!

Buy it Here

DIY - Upcycle Tissue Paper - How To Make a Decorative Pom!!!

Whenever you go to a shop or specialty boutique the cashier always piles alot of tissue paper in your bag. It's so pretty that it always makes me feel guilty throwing it away.... so I decided to make something with all the pretty pink tissue paper I got the other day from Victoria's Secret. I turned it into a decorative pom!  They are so easy and fun! I can't remember where I learned how to make them; I think maybe in elementary school art class. . . I remember being in a classroom type setting. 
  They are great for adding that extra special touch to a birthday party, when you have leftover tissue paper from bagging presents and you end up with extras.  The poms will match the gifts!  How cute!

Here's what you need:
*At least 8 sheets of tissue paper ( any size will do, as long as the 8 sheets are all the same size)
*A piece of jewlery wire ( if you don't have that, a paperclip will do or a bread bag twist tie)
*Scissors
*String, thread or yarn to use for hanging.

First stack and line up the edges of the tissue paper.
Begin to fold the stack like a fan.

Once totally folded, bend the fan in half to make a crease in the middle.
Wrap your wire along the crease, twist it and curve the end so it can hold the hanging string.
Cut the string to desired length then loop the string through the curved end of wire ( or twist tie) and fashion a not at the end.
Cut the ends of your tissue paper either into a curve or a point. ( I think curved edges look better)

Unfold the accordian so it looks like you have a flower, then begin to pull up each individual sheet gently.... and voila! You have a pom!!

Etsy Finds - Rainy Days

It hasn't rained here in Plano, TX in forever, but this morning while it was still pitch black outside I was awoken by a thunderous clash followed by a roaring wave of rain.  It made me jump out of bed, I was so startled! It is now early morning and everything outside looks so full of life.  It makes me happy!

Here are some beautiful rain related gems I found on etsy!! Have a look and a great day!! :)

Springtime Limited Edtion Print by Jaimers

Whimsical Rain Cloud Mobile by Leptitpapillon

B&W Raindrops on Bleeding Heart Leaves by AFortunateEvent

.....And The Winner is....

The winner of the Mini Bird Notebooks is....
.....sillycyclops!

Congrats!! And thankyou to everybody that entered! There will be another giveaway at the end of the month for another item from my shop ElisabethNicole.

...or should it be another set of bird notebooks?  What do you guys think?

The Whale!!



***Click here to see it in my shop***

I really love this new piece in my shop and I thought I would share it here.  It's called the whale and it was drawn using prisma color pencils on acid free "upcycled" davey-board.
*** Don't forget to enter my giveaway here Mini Bird Notebooks Giveaway!!
Have a great day!! :)

Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies!

I found the best cookie recipe the other day.  They came out really chewy and stayed that way even after they became room temperature. The recipe was for chocolate chip cookies but I mixed it up a bit ( because I didn't have enough choco-chips) and tried to make snickerdoodle cookies with the leftover dough.  I also made m&m ones . . . Mmmmmm&mmmmmmm! . .  While the cookies were still piping hot from the oven I sprinkled them with sugar and cinnamon.  They were so good!!... So good in fact that I ate 4 of them right then and there and decided my husband should get the last one. If you try it, don't put the cinnamon on before baking because it gets burned :(
Also, don't refrigerate the dough; bake it right after making it for the best cookies.  It should be really sticky and goo-ey.  So goo-ey it's hard to get off the spoon, or fingers!! If you do put it in the fridge, the cookies will turn out kinda hard... like store bought cookies.

Alexander loved them lots.  Here's some pics of the fabulous cookies ( minus the Snickerdoodle!) and my little cookie monster!

Baby Cookie Monster!!!

                Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

              Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
2. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon. Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
4. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Here's where I found the recipe Link  Thank you ELIZABETHBH for your fantastic recipe!!
Oh', and 15 minutes was just the right amount of time in the oven :)

What's some of your favorite treats or recipes?  Please share them with me!! :)

***********Don't forget to enter my giveaway here ----> Link **************