Tutorial Tuesday: Sugar and String Crystal Easter Eggs

Sugar and string Easter egg ornaments are a fun family craft idea, plus you can include a lot of science in this project. You can make smaller hollow string ornaments to hang or put in baskets or you can make a large crystal egg to use as an Easter basket.

Sugar and String Easter Egg Materials

There are a few different ways to do this project. You can make either small eggs or very large eggs. Large eggs require multiple layers of sugar in order to support their size. Small eggs can be made such that they are open, revealing the abstract-looking string pattern. If you are concerned that the sugar will attract ants, there are two ways to avoid this problem. One is to spray the completed project with clear spray paint. The other is to change the ingredients altogether, using a mixture of spray starch or glue and water instead of sugar with egg whites or water. If you use glue instead of sugar your project will not be as stiff or sparkly, plus you won't get crystals.

• balloons
  Use very small balloons if you want to make small eggs that you can put into Easter baskets or hang as ornaments. Use larger balloons if you want to use the egg as an Easter basket or as a larger decoration.

• string
  You can use any type of string that you want, such as embroidery floss, thread, yarn, or even ribbon.

• sugar
  I find normal white sugar (sucrose) produces the most sparkle and largest crystals. You can use confectioner's or powdered sugar.

• egg whites or water
  Egg whites contain water plus the protein albumin. I feel the albumin helps you get a stiffer, glossier Easter egg, but you can use water instead with comparable results.

• food coloring (optional)

• scissors

Make the Easter Egg

The basic instructions are to blow up the balloon until it is the size you want for your Easter egg. Next, make the balloon sticky by coating it with sugar-water. Wrap string around and around the balloon until you have enough string to support the shape (more is better). Allow the string to dry. Apply more layers of sugar, allowing the balloon to dry between layers. Carefully pop the balloon and remove it. Use the sugar-string Easter egg as it is or else cut a hole in it using scissors.

Monday Moments: Cravings

When I was a little girl my Grandma and Mom used to take me to this fabulous deli in the mall called Mr. Dunderbox. It has since closed, but I still remember a particular pretzel. It is all I crave. {Which is especially bad now that I'm prego!}

I finally perfected it - you'll laugh when you hear how simple it is - but I wanted to pass on the wisdom.

You will need:

• A Soft Pretzel {You can buy these frozen and they're great!}

• Claussen { brand VERY IMPORTANT} Pickle, all diced up

• Port Wine Cheese

Cook the pretzel, smear on some cheese and top with the pickle. Absolute heaven!

What are some of your mama cravings? Anything weird? Please share recipes if you'd like.

Freebee Friday: $10 Gift Certificate or Diaper Cupcake

I have to admit my mind is tiring a little bit trying to come up with fun Freebee Fridays each week, so I'm enlisting your help in order to make sure you are getting what you like to get! Please please make sure you submit your answer -- if you do, you'll get a bonus entry for this week's freebee.
This week, the winner will have their choice of either a $10 credit good for any My Tiny Sweet Cheeks purchase OR a My Tiny Sweet Cheeks Diaper Cupcake in any preferred color.

This is a big Give-Away for me, one that I won't do often, so please make sure you pass the word along and enter as many times as you can!

TO ENTER:

1 Entry: Create a new post about this Freebee Friday on your blog & leave a comment here! {Please leave your email address if it is not on your profile}

1 Entry: Become a follower of My Tiny Sweet Cheeks. Leave a comment if you follow, please!

1 Entry: Add a My Tiny Sweet Cheeks button to your sidebar! Again, please comment!

Bonus Entry: Answer our Freebee Friday question up above!

Give-a-way ends April 2nd,2009 11:59 pm

The lucky winner will be selected by Random.org and will be notified by email. You will have one week to respond and claim your prize or another random winner will be chosen.

Trhifty Thursday: Save that baby-wipe box!

Thank you ladies for being so patient while I was out. I'm back home now and blogging away, so we have lots to catch up on!

On the roll today, how to use those old baby-wipe boxes!

If you have a baby in the house, there's an excellent chance you are also tossing out a lot of plastic boxes left from baby wipes; if not, you may be discarding a lot of those boxes from premoistened floor wipes. Quit throwing them out. These sturdy easily stacked plastic boxes can be used for storage in just about every room of the house. Wash and dry each box thoroughly, and it's ready to simplify your life and organize your home.

In the kitchen, one of these boxes can make a dandy recipe-card file, while others can store seldom-used utensils like lobster crackers, cookie cutters, and serving pieces. Keep another box on the kitchen counter to store and organize coupons. Set on aside for cake decorating supplies, or use one to keep small snacks like boxes of raisins or fruit roll-ups handy.

In a child's room, these boxes are terrific for storing small toys such as miniature cars, smaller blocks, and those "pocket" dolls and all their stuff. And be sure to set on aside as a "toy box to go" and fill it with small toys, sticker books, and other distractions for car trips, waiting in the doctors' office, or restaurants, and visits to non-child-friendly places.

In the office, use these boxes to store envelopes, notecards, pens and pencils, old floppy disks, or CDs. In the shop, store rags and paper towels in a plastic box to keep them clean and your workplace orderly. Turn one box into an easy-to-access first-aid kit with cleansing wipes, bandages, scissors, antibiotic cream or spray.

You can also fit about 40-50 plastic shopping bags, folded and the air squeezed out, in one of those boxes. Keep it next to Fido's leash for a ready supply of bags for picking up after him or put it where it's handy to line small trash cans. Pop-up, cylindrical wipe dispensers can also be put to good use - dispense kitchen twine, office string, or crafting yarn by tucking the ball into the cylinder and threading the end up through the opening in the lid.

This Friday

Sorry everyone, I have been called away to help a family member, so I will be out for a little while. Family comes first, ya know. But hopefully I'll be back up and blogging soon.

The winner of our Easter Egg decorations was Jen from Baby Blvd. our ONLY entry. I will be contacting her on how to claim her prize when I return.

Thanks for understanding!

Thrifty Thursday: Improbably uses for Pantyhose

Even those old runny pantyhose can provide unexpected storage solutions.


1. Want to keep your rolls of wrapping paper neatly rolled and tear-free? Tuck them into tubes made from cutting the legs off a pair of pantyhose.

2. When you're bundling up your blankets for storage during the summer months, wrap them securely in the band cute fro the waist of the pantyhose.

3. Get the maximum shelf life from your onions by tucking them in the cut-off leg of a clean pair of pantyhose, tying a knot between each onion. The air can circulate freely, keeping the onions fresh, and you can hang the onion string in a cool, dry area of your kitchen or pantry. When you need an onion, simply cut off the bottom one, leaving the knot above intact.

4. You can use the same technique to store flower bulbs over the winter.

** Don't forget to enter last week's give-away, it ends TONIGHT at 11:59 p.m. **

Workin' Wednesday: Baby Cheapskate

I know I usually focus on another mompreneur business on Workin' Wednesday, but I wanted to pass on this great site I came across. {I'm probably the last to know}

Baby Cheapskate is an awesome place to find great deals, coupons, and reviews! Find everything you ever wanted to know about diapers, formulas, carseats, strollers and so much more. If you want, or need, to save a buck on your baby needs, head over there right now!!

Tutorial Tuesday: Hair Bows

I found this super cute, and EASY tutorial at Savvy N Sassy which is a fun place to find all sorts of things to do with ribbon. Definitely worth a trip over in their direction. So many projects you could do. And if you're like me with a stash of ribbon that's too good to throw away, it puts them to good use.

Supplies Needed:
-Ribbon (grosgrain works best)
-Thread
-Large Needle
-Hot Glue Gun
-Ribbon/Fabric Scissors
-Lighter (or fray check or similar product)
-Barrette Clips
-Aligator Clip (optional)

1. Gather your supplies. If you don’t have thread that matches perfectly, don’t worry about it. Thread your needle and double the thread, tying a knot at the end.

2. Make your first loop–this will determine the size of the bow

3. Continue to make loops, crossing the ribbon back and forth. You can do two loops, three, or more!

4. I use an aligator clip to hold the bow, while I get ready to stitch.

5. Find the center of the bow and work your threaded needle all the way through.

6. Push needle through the bow and then pull on the thread to gather the ribbon. When you get it gathered as much as you want it, wrap the thread around the stitching several times until you know that it won’t move.

7. Secure with several stitches through the back of the wrapped thread. When it’s completely secure, cut off the excess thread.

8. Cut off excess ribbon at an angle and make sure both tails are the same length

9. Use lighter flame or fray check to seal the edges of the ribbon tails.

10. Pop the “spring” part out of the clip.

11. Apply a line of hot glue to the back of bow.

12. Immediately press clip into hot glue and set aside (do not play with this or touch anything for a few minutes–otherwise you’ll get those annoying “strings”)

13. In the meantime, tie a single knot in a small piece of ribbon (this can be the excess you cut from the bow, or a contrasting color)

14. When the glue is completely cool, put a small drop of glue in the center of the clip.

15. Stick on one end of knotted ribbon.

16. Apply another dot of glue on top of the glued end wrap the other end of the knotted piece over and adhere.

17. Once glue has totally cooled, pop the “springy” part of the clip back in and you’re done!

Monday Moments: The Public Temper Tantrum

If it happens, it happens only in a public place.

The first time it happened with my kid, I was pregnant with surprise baby #2, in the middle of midterms at school and completely exhausted. These days Bryson still takes naps. Against my better judgement, I took him to church in the middle of the afternoon. I want him there and I want to be there. Just church from one to four o'clock doesn't exactly coincide with our nap schedule.

On this particular occasion, I had yet to make it through even half of sacrament meeting and Bryson was done. I vented a mental, crap!, and quickly took him out into the foyer. Not wanting to let him into the habit of playing all through church, I tried to keep him either on my lap or in my arms. Being pregnant makes this uncomfortable and my patience wears thin at the slightest annoyance. Before long, Bryson was playing in the curtains in the foyer. Great.

Long story short, we made it through the entire sacrament meeting without incident and then it came to hour number two. Attempting to hand him off to dad so I could go participate in my duties is when the whining commenced. Bryson screamed, took off running and literally flung himself on the floor a few aisles down.

So here is my dilemma: What do you do? All the great parenting books say to remove them from the area and give them a time-out in the car. Yeah. Right. Toddlers consistently have tantrums at the most inopportune moments, usually when everyone is tired and has a handful of things to do. I was not about to abandon my responsibilities on account of my screaming kid. You can give in to what the kid wants. Again, yeah right. Bryson may have been tired, but that was one fight from which I was not about to back down. I didn’t want Bryson to learn that to get what he wants, all he needs to do is throw an incredible fit.

So please, share all your mothering wisdom and tell everyone what works for you!

Freebee Friday: Easter Eggs

Thanks to everyone who participated in our last Freebee Friday. The winner selected from Random.org was one of our new bloggers Ruth. I will be contacting you via email and you'll have one week to claim your prize. Congratulations on winning the personalized Address Book!

This week our Give-Away entails a set of 3 handmade String Easter Eggs. These are a great addition to your Easter decor. They can be used a centerpiece on your table, or if you have archway's, they look really cute hung from them. After our Give-Away I will be posting a tutorial on how to make these - it's a really fun project to do with kids.

TO ENTER:

1 Entry: Create a new post about this Freebee Friday on your blog & leave a comment here! {Please leave your email address if it is not on your profile}

1 Entry: Become a follower of My Tiny Sweet Cheeks

1 Entry: Add a My Tiny Sweet Cheeks button to your sidebar!

Give-a-way ends March 19th 11:59 pm

The lucky winner will be selected by Random.org and will be notified by email. You will have one week to respond and claim your prize or another random winner will be chosen.

Thrifty Thursday: Easy Instant Centerpieces

Here are a couple of easy ways you can make a quick centerpiece for your table with the help of some ordinary things that you probably already have around the house.

1. Secure a pillar candle or a few votive andles to an aluminum pie pan by melting some wax from the bottom of the candles onto the pan. Add a thin layer of water or sand, and put in several rose petals or seashells.

2. Add a cozy, country feel to your table setting by creating a natural candleholder. Use an apple corer to carve a hole three-quarters or the way down into a pair of large apples, insert a tall decorative candle into each hole, surround the apples with a few leaves, branches, or flowers, and voila! You have a lovely centerpiece. {You can also core the apple only a fourth down and put in a votive.}

BONUS TIP: Don't let loose candles spoil the romantic mood or cause a fire at your next candlelight dinner. If the candles don't fit snugly into the holder, wrap layers of tape around their bottom edges until they fit just right.

Workin' Wednesday: Baby Bug Creations

One of our faithful readers Melissa introduced me to Baby Bug Creations this week. What a super cute, fun site!

Ashley began Baby Bug Creations when her son was born. Wanting to stay at home with him, but finances not allowing it, she needed to find something to bring in extra income. While debating what to do, a close friend suggested she see what people thought of personalized wooden letters. That's where it all began!

Ashley creates personalized custom items for moms & babies. How many of us can't afford those outrageous boutique prices? That's what Baby Bug Creations is here for! Everything on her site also makes a great gift for new parents or for the mom-to-be.


She's also having a great give-away this week, so head on over to Baby Bug Creations and check her out!

Tutorial Tuesday: Mother's Day

Here's a quick and easy card you can make for Mother's Day. {Grandma's LOVE them!}

All you need to do is roll out a circle of paper clay {sold at Michaels and Roberts}
Push the child's hand in the clay. Then let the hand print dry for a day.
When dry, glue it to your choice of card stock. This would also look cute framed in a shadow box.

*Paper clay is very light so it won't way down the card at all. You can also paint paper clay.

Monday Moments: News

Sorry this is late being posted ladies. I wanted to be able to share my good news with you all, complete with a picture!


I am expecting again - just hit the 12 week mark - and am so excited! I am due September 21, 2009 which seems so far away. Lucky me, being all big during the summer months.

Any advice for a second baby?

Freebee Friday:

First of all, thank you to everyone who entered Baby Blvd. & Accessory Ave.'s Give-Away! It was awesome - make sure to check back with her often!

Second, thank you to those who commented here! Those who participated will be receiving an email from me shortly that you'll need to respond to in order to claim your prize. Our freebee surprise for commenting on My Tiny Sweet Cheeks is super cute Spring Banner!

This week's Freebee is a custom pocket-size address book. Made with love by moi in any of the colors and style you love the most! I've never made two the same, so yours will be one of a kind.

{I've never taken pictures of the ones I have made, but this will give you an example of what they are like}

TO ENTER:

1 Entry: Create a new post about this Freebee Friday on your blog & leave a comment here! {Please leave your email address if it is not on your profile}

1 Entry: Become a follower of My Tiny Sweet Cheeks

1 Entry: Add a My Tiny Sweet Cheeks button to your sidebar!

Give-a-way ends March 12th 11:59 pm

The lucky winner will be selected by Random.org and will be notified by email. You will have one week to respond and claim your prize or another random winner will be chosen.

Oh, and don't forget to SPRING forward this weekend with Daylight's Savings!

Thrifty Thursday: Caring For Your Car

Our cars have become extensions of our homes in these fast-paced days, so keeping them working well and looking good is essential. Though most serious car repairs must be done by a mechanic, here are a few tricks to know:

For a sparkling windshield, clean the glass with club soda. It will remove bird droppings and greasy stains from the surface, and the carbonation speeds the cleaning process.
If you have a small crack or nick in your windshield, stop it from spreading by filling it in with clear nail polish on both sides of the glass. Do the repair in the shade, but move the car into the sun to let the polish dry.
Hiding small scratches on dashboard gauges is easy. Just rub the plastic with a bit of baby oil.
Give worn vinyl upholstery a quick pick-me-up by rubbing it with a small amount of bath oil on a soft cloth. You can also wipe the dashboard, armrests, and other plastic surfaces. Polish with a clean cloth to remove any excess oil.
Small dents getting you down? Grab your plumber's plunger, wet the edges, and just pull those dents out.

Workin' Wednesday: Cooper Jax

I'm in love with accessorizing my little man. Unfortunately, this is not always easy. Many products are geared towards little ladies, and it seems that anything boy is either sports or animal related. There's very little fabric variation and so I spend a lot of my time looking for things that stand out. Cooper Jax is a fabulous blog/shop I have come across. Pretty sure I want everything offered. While there are fabulous and cute girl accessories too, today I'm focusing on the boy items.

There are trucker style hats, as well as those Beanie/Skater hats with the little visor brims. Too cute!!
I also love these cuffs. How adorable - can't you just see your little man sporting one of these. They come in numerous styles and can have either velcro or snaps depending on your preference.
Definitely check out Cooper Jax and see all the darling products. I promise you won't be let down!

Tutorial Tuesday: Tile Coasters

I love coasters. In fact, I'm a tad anal about using them around the house. I found this tutorial HERE and thought I would bring it to you. I have another really cute coaster idea I am working on and will bring to you shortly, but here is a fun, DIY, cheap idea for any one who needs gifting.


Supplies
4 x 4 tiles {You can get these at Lowe's or Home Depot from 35 cents a piece and up}
StazOn Stamping Ink {Permanent stamping ink}
Self Adhesive Felt {Find at Wal-Mart or any hardware store - I used the ones that go on chair legs}
Stamps
Sealer {I used a matte finish poly spray}

Directions
1. Rinse and dry tiles.

2. Place dry tile in center of your work area.

3. Select your stamp color.

4. Select your stamp.



5. Ink entire image, taking care to wipe off any excess that may have gotten on the edges of the stamp.

6. Line up stamp and press stamp with steady pressure onto tile.

7. Fill in any spaces in the image on the tile with permanent marker of the same color.

8. Let ink dry for 5 to 10 minutes, then place tile onto a cookie sheet and place in oven preheated to 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes. You can also let these stand over night for the same effect.

9. Let cool completely.

10. Spray with sealer and let dry completely.

11. Place pieces of self adhesive felt to the bottom of the tile.

12. Tie coasters together with ribbon for gift giving.

Monday Moments: Giving Back in March

This month, allow me to introduce our Giving Back project: Shriner's Hospital for Children. Shriners Hospitals for Children is a one-of-a-kind international health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing specialty pediatric care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs.

Children up to the age of 18 with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate are eligible for admission and receive all care in a family-centered environment at no charge – regardless of financial need.

Shriners Hospitals has been helping kids defy the odds since 1922.

My Tiny Sweet Cheeks will donate 100% of its proceeds from this month's feature item, Easter Eggs, one of our new spring bibs. Available with pink or yellow ribbing, it's the perfect addition to a boy or girls mealtime attire. Super cute! Please help make a difference in a little one's life.

Click HERE to purchase one now, or HERE to donate without making a purchase.

Thank you for all your help and support!

**NEW** Spring Terry Cloth Bibs

These are the greatest bibs ever! Made of terry cloth, they are super soft and super absorbent. Measuring 14" x 9" the ribbing stretches large enough to accommodate babies and toddlers alike. The best thing about them? You child can't pull them off since there are no snaps, ties or velcro!

Spring Flowers
{with white or yellow neck ribbing}

Hippy Swirls
{with blue or pink neck ribbing}

Flutterby
{with pink or yellow neck ribbing}

Flower Power
{with pink neck ribbing}

*MARCH FEATURED ITEM*
Easter Eggs
{with pink of yellow neck ribbing}

Peter Cottontail
{with white neck ribbing}

Chicklet
{with yellow neck ribbing}

Butterfly
{with purple neck ribbing}
*NOTE* The picture didn't turn out swell, but the bib is pink with a purple embroidered butterfly

Winter Bibs

Spring Flowers - White Ribbing $4.00 Spring Flowers - Yellow Ribbing $4.00 Hippy Swirls - Blue Ribbing $4.00 Hippy Swirls - Pink Ribbing $4.00 Flutterby - Pink Ribbing $4.00 Flutterby - Yellow Ribbing $4.00 Easter Egg - Pink Ribbing $4.00 Easter Egg - Yellow Ribbing $4.00

Winter Bibs

Flower Power $4.00 Peter Cottontail $4.00 Chicklet $4.00 Butterfly $4.00