Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Vintage Kindle Case and Wine Botle Bag

I wanted to share with you two new little projects!  If you are interested in either one, please visit my etsy store for specifics! Thank you for viewing!

 I love this little wine bottle bag!  The bag is in charcoal grey and the front letter can be customized!
 This is a little Kindle case made in burlap and a vintage tablecloth. It is fully lined and cushioned.  Not sized for a Kindle Fire.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Newest Spring Envelope System Wallet!





In 2009, one of my New Year’s resolutions was to move to a more envelope based spending system. Why is it so hard to break that $20 bill in your wallet, but so easy to write a $50 check?? Anyway, I received Dave Ramsey’s book, "The Total Money Makeover" for Christmas. It is a great book and I highly recommend it. Dave Ramsey advocates using the envelope system for many of your daily spending needs as a way to curb excess spending. You allocate your money into the different envelopes at the beginning of the week/month and when the money is gone…it’s gone.

In honor of my New Year’s resolution I made the “Envelope System Wallet”. I am so in love with it and couldn’t wait to share it with you. The wallet features a Velcro closure and one main pocket, in which the envelopes fit. The three envelopes are made in a coordinating fabric and can be removed entirely from the wallet to further enable you to stop unwanted spending. For example, if you are going grocery shopping and know that you have plenty of gas, you can remove the gas envelope to prevent "dipping". I transferred labels to each of the wallets for easy reference. I would be happy to transfer a Bible verse, saying or other labels at your request. Last but not least, there is a zippered pouch for coins, driver’s license and pictures of the kids (plenty large enough for up to 10 cards). I will be selling these on
Etsy. Come over and see!!

By the way, I have had several past customers tell me that they also used the envelopes to help organize their couons too!
Just Us Four Pinworthy Projects

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

New Envelope System Wallet!

I am so excited to introduce my newest shop item!  Please see this post to read the FAQ I receive regarding the Envelope System Wallet.  If you are interested in purchasing, please see my shop at Etsy!  Thanks for taking the time to visit!




Sunday, March 11, 2012

New Uses for a Wine Bottle Bag



 I have been itching to try a new project lately.  I love my wallets, but I need to break out every now and then!  I decided to give some of those outgrown jeans a new job!  I made 2 wine bottle bags, placed some botton holes in them and tied them with a bow. 

While trying to catch a good picture of the bags, I realized that the vase I received on Valentine's Day (with flowers) fit just right into the bags also.  Isn't this great??  I actually think I like it better as a vase concealer!
 Always be aware of lurking children!
If you are interested in purchasing a set of two wine bottle bags you can visit my ESTY store.  They are $12.00 for the set.  Thanks!

New Envelope System Wallet



Here is the latest wallet!  It is perfect for all your Envelope System Budgeting needs.  This wallet includes 3 fabric envelopes (which can be personalized with your budget category of choice) and a zippered pouch large enough for 10-15 cards and coin money.  All of the envelopes and pouch fit inside a velcro wallet.  The wallet itself can also hold your checkbook, receipts, etc.  You can find this wallet in my ETSY STORE! Thanks!

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Cake!

Yes, it is as good as it looks!  Spring is birthday season around here as this one is a favorite!

Vanilla Cake
1 1/2 c. self-rising flour
1 1/4 c. all purpose flour
2 sticks butter, softened
2 c. white sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 c. buttermilk
2 t. pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to  350 degrees.  Grease and flour 2 9-inch round cake pans.  Beat butter on medium with a mixer for about 3 minutes.  Combine flours in a small bowl while butter beats.  Gradually add the sugar to the butter and continue to mix until fluffy, about anouther 3 minutes.  Add each egg one at a time until well mixed.  Add the dry ingredients in 3 parts while alternating with the buttermilk and vanilla.  Beat until mixed together but no more than that. Pour equal amounts of batter into the two pans.  Cook for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Remove from pans and cool on a rack.

Chocolate Butter Cream Icing
3 sticks of butter, softened
2 T. whipping cream
1 T. milk
1 1/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate morsels, melted and cooled to room temperature.
1 t. pure vanilla extract
2 1/4 c. powdered sugar

Place chocolate in a small glass bowl and microwave on high for about 45 seconds.  Remove bowl and stir well.  Place bowl in microwave for another 30 seconds, remove and stir well.  Continue for another 30 seconds until chocolate is melted.  Be very careful that you do not burn the chocolate!  Set aside to cool (I usually do this part while the cake is in the oven.  It give the chocolate pleanty of time to cool off).  Beat butter with mixer for about 3 minutes. Add the milks slowly and continue to mix until the butter and milk are incorporated.  Add the melted chocolate and continue to mix.  We like fluffy icing so now is the time to crank up the mixer speed and really whip in some air!  Turn mixer down and slowly add sugar. Mix until creamy.

Chocolate Ganache
3/4 c. whipping cream
1/4 c. butter
3/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate morsels

Heat cream and butter over medium heat in a saucepan.  Get it hot but remove it before it begins to boil.  Place chocolate in a small bowl and pour hot cream mixture on top.  Let sit for a minute then whisk until smooth.  Let cool until thick but pourable.This can take a while so prepare before buttercream icing.  Whisk every now and then.

Assembly
Ice cake once the cake is room temperature.  I place the cake into the refridgerator for about 15 minutes to cool and set the icing.  Starting in the middle, slowly pour ganache on top of cake. 

Monday, February 20, 2012

Tutorial for Fabric Envelopes for the Envelope System Wallet

I have received so many questions involving a pattern for the Envelope System Wallet, especially concerning the fabric envelopes.  I thought for a long while that I would make a pdf pattern and sell it in my Etsy Shop.  But as time went on, I realized that the main point of the Envelope Budgeting System was saving money.  So here is my 100% free fabric envelope tutorial!

Step 1: Cut out 2 rectangles of fabric that measure 7 3/4 inches by 8 inches.
 Step 2: Fold one of the rectangles in half length-wise (it should measure 3 7/8 inches by 8 inches). Pin the sides. If you are using two different fabrics, this will be your outer fabric.
 Step 3:  Sew a half inch seam along each side (top remains open).
 Step 4: Trim the edges to 1/4 inch and cut off the corners.  This will reduce bulk and make your envelope look much more professional and neat.
 Step 5:  Repeat steps 2 through 4 EXCEPT on one side seam, leave about 2 to 1 1/2 inches open at the folded edge.  It is difficult to see in the picture below, but my fingers are marking my open area.  This fabric will be your lining if you are using two different fabrics.
 Step 6:  Turn the out fabric right side out. Push out the corners and iron well.  Place the outer fabric inside the lining so that right sides are facing each other.
 Step 7: Line up the side seams and pin.  Match up the raw edges along the top and pin also.

 Step 8: Sew a 1/2 inch seam all around the top edge.  Be sure to back stitch where you start and stop sewing.
 Step 9: Trim top edge to 1/4 inch from seam.
 Step 10: Reach through the opening in the lining and pull the envelope all the way through.

 Step 11:  Fold the raw edges of your opening inward and pin.

 Step 12:  You can opt to do two things here.  The most professionally thing to do is to slip stitch the opening closed.  If small stitches are used, someone could almost never find your opening.  If you are making this for your self, you can simply use your machine to stitch very close to the edge of the fabric.
 Step 13: Push the lining into the outer fabric and iron.
 Many people has asked how well the money fits into the envelope.  Well, here it is.  There is a good 1/2 inch on either side of the money and almost an inch at the top.  I have never had a problem with my money slipping out so I do not put a closure on my envelopes unless a customer requests one.  You can always add a small square of velcro to the top if you choose.
My hope is that this tutorial is easy to understand and useful to a great many! May you always have money in your envelope!

Friday, February 17, 2012

A Little Spring

Felt Fortune Cookies for Valentine's Day!

I wanted to show you a little project my daughter and I made for Valentines's Day.  We got the idea from Martha Stewart's Website (found the idea on Pintrest).   We made 30 felt fortune cookies and handed them out at school.  My daughter looked around on the web and found a few catchy sayings to place in each one.  They were a big hit and really easy!!
Fortune Cookies

Sunday, February 5, 2012

A new Envelope System Wallet!



Finally!  Spring is so busy around that catching a few minutes to sew is a difficult chase!  But here we are!  I have so many ideas swirling in my head, it is nice to see something through to completion!

I can't wait for another money saving diva to purchase this!  Who says that saving money can't look cute??

Please see my Etsy shop for more information!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Boiled Cabbage - A critique

Loving Mother who insists that something green be served with every meal: "Well.  What did you think of the boiled cabbage tonight?"

9 year old boy who puts up with his mom's neurotic notions: "It was good.  Ya know, just kinda tasteless...like water."

Who knows what happens to our tastebuds as we get older.  All of the sudden, collards and field peas begin to sound like a delicious combination.  On the other side of the coin, I tried some Chef Boyardee the other day and almost had to spit it out!  Yuck!  And to think I grew up on that stuff!

Somethings things don't change though.  I found this recipe on Bakerella today.  My mouth began to water and I am quickly scanning through the ingredients to see what was used.  My son walked up and with an awed looked on his face asked, "Can you cook that for supper tomorrow night?"

http://www.bakerella.com/just-a-cake/

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Sweet Little Kindle Case AND A New Wallet

Ahhhh, now that Christmas is over, life is slowly returning back to the routine I so dearly love!  Over the holidays I had a chance to skip out of shopping for others and take a look at some FABRIC!  Am I the only one who gets excited about that?? 

I found some adoreable yellow, green, and grey fabric.  I was very spring-like but that didn't stop me from making several people a cosmetic bag for Christmas.  See post below.

My daughter received a kindle for Christmas and since I was almost out of the fabric I added a little burlap (and we all know how I feel about burlap).

I liked it so much, another Envelope System Wallet was born a couple of days later.  Cute, huh??



If you are interested in purchasing the wallet, visit my Etsy Shop for more information!