I Love to Create - 4th of July Bomb Pop Shirt

Nothing says 4th of July like a Bomb Pop. Well ok maybe fireworks say it more, but Bomb Pops are cuter. I mean come on. Add glitter to the yummy equation and then pop this top on my kid and the cuteness will be unstoppable. Let me tell you how you can make your own in about 20 minutes.

SUPPLIES

T-Shirt

Tulip Fabric Paint (the shad of a stick)

Paint Brush

Iron

Tulip Fashion Glitter Shimmer Sheets

First I drew a picture of a Bomb Pop on a piece of paper to use as my pattern.

Next I cut my pattern into 3 parts. I then used the pattern parts to cut the shapes out of silver, teal and red Shimmer Sheets.

Once my shapes were cut out I placed them on my shirt where I wanted. Place a thin piece of fabric on top of the image and using a hot iron press.

The last thing to do is to paint on a popsicle stick and let it dry. I can't wait to show Tallulah her new spiffy 4th of July Bomb Pop shirt when she gets up tomorrow.

***This is a sponsored post by I Love to Create - I was compensated & given free supplies. Mama has gotta pay the bills somehow and really who in their right mind would say no to free craft supplies***

7 Ways You Could Be Holding Your Daughter Back

I am part of a panel of mom's contributing to a series of articles on Learn Vest this summer. I really love today's article by Alden Wicker called7 Ways You Could be Holding Your Daughter Back. This is a topic that is near and dear to me. I have to bite my tongue when the dentist only offers my daughter a pink toothbrush and does not even pull the blue one out of the drawer as an option. When we are having a dance party and my son wants to join in with the tutu endowed gathering of girls I don't bat an eye about putting a pageant dress on him. I think all of these subtleties are more important than we realize.

Craft Lab - Make a Secret Steampunk Book with Me Tomorrow

Tomorrow morning bright and early 6:30am CT to be exact, tune in to DIY Network to see Josie Cirincione create a Gasket Material Secret Book with distressed images, gaffer's tape, and beaded elements.

I Love to Create - Stenciled Leather Belt

Recently Chronicle sent me a book called See The Beauty Here: Spread the Love With 16 Uplifting Stencils. I have been waiting for just the right project to bust out one of the stencils on and then today I ran across an old leather belt. With a bottle of Tulip Fabric Paint my belt is still old, but has a brand new look.

SUPPLIES

Belt

Tulip Fabric Paint

Stencil Brush

Stencil

Line your stencil up on the belt and using a brush and as little fabric paint as possible get your design on. Tulip Soft Fabric Paint not only works great on fabric it goes on leather flawlessly.

All that is left to do is let the paint dry and try on your new spiffy belt!

***This is a sponsored post by I Love to Create - I was compensated & given free supplies. Mama has gotta pay the bills somehow and really who in their right mind would say no to free craft supplies***

Corners of my House Instagram Style

I have jumped on the Instagram bandwagon. How can you not? Even the worst of photos suddenly look nostalgic and amazing with the right filter. I thought I would start posting a few for those that don't follow me. This first set is corners of my home.

I Love to Create - Helping Hands Gardening Gloves for Father's Day

What do you get the dad that does not fish, wear a tie or golf for Father's Day? It seems like most traditional gifts and cards for dad's come with this basic theme. Well the first thing to consider is what is it that your dad does. My husband likes to make ice cream, listen to vinyl records, drink beer and garden. Garden - ya that's the ticket! This year the kids and I are whipping up dad a pair of custom gardening gloves.

SUPPLIES

Gardening Gloves

Tulip Soft Fabric Paint

Kids

Paint Brush

I scored a pair of suede gardening gloves in the outdoor section of Target. My husband's current work gloves have duct tape patching holes so I'm thinking these will be a welcome surprise.

He would be happy as a clam with a new pair of gloves, but I thought I would get Tallulah and Baxter to help adorn them. They are always trying to help daddy, especially in the garden. It seemed only fitting I put their little handprints on the gloves.

The first thing I did was paint my kid's hands with non-toxic fabric paint. Baxter was not quite sure what to make of that. Also, you want to be sure and do the prints of your oldest child first so that the larger handprint is on the bottom.

The next part is a little tricky since you only get one shot. Get your child to spread their fingers apart and smash their paws onto the gloves. This is easier said than done with small children. Tallulah's prints came out better than Baxters, but Chris will get the idea.

All that is left to do is wrap these babies up and hope that Chris does not read my blog before Father's Day.

Looking for some other Father's Day gifts you can craft with your kids? Check out the article I wrote for Learn Vest!

***This is a sponsored post by I Love to Create - I was compensated & given free supplies. Mama has gotta pay the bills somehow and really who in their right mind would say no to free craft supplies***

Go See My Mom on the McKinney, TX Garden Tour

Today is the amazing Fredda Perkins birthday, AKA the lady who birthed me. You know what you can do to make her birthday super duper special? If you live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area you can go see her house and garden on the McKinney, TX garden tour this weekend.

Her yard alone is worth the price of admission and drive to north Texas. I was just there visiting a few weekends ago and everything looks amazing. I still stand by my theory that her yard is much like a mullet and I still prefer the back. You will have to decide for yourself.

It's not like my mother hired a gardener, she did majority of this work herself. Laying stone paths around the entire house, building arbors out of mattress springs and hand sprinkling what my daughter calls 'magic rocks' all over the place. One of my favorite touches around the yard are all of the amazing water features she built and installed. So many I lost count. From traditional Victorian like the house to kitschy and whimsical like her.

If it will sit still long enough my mother will eventually adorn it. There was a time in the 80's when nothing in our house was safe from a stiffy bow or decoupage. Take a look around the garden at all the intricate mosaic work she has done. There are giant orbs with water floating inside, totem polls, fence post finials and more covered in bits of broken plate.

Remember when her craft cottage was featured on Craft? Well it is still there in all it's glory. Take a stroll around the cottage and sit in the shaded side seating area, try to ride the parked bike or walk along the back bowling ball trail.

Did I mention that you will also get to go through my parent's house? Well at least the downstairs. If you stop by this weekend be sure to find my mom and tell her Happy Birthday and that I sent ya. There are 5 other amazing houses on the tour.

Austin's known for its weirdness, its music and now its craft scene

Did you catch the fabulous article Austin's known for its weirdness, its music and now its craft scene by Nancy Flores in The Austin American Statesmen a few weeks back? There was a picture and interview with lil ole me.

Losing the Baby Weight - Mexican Style Stuffed Patty Pan Squash Recipe

I have not posted about my weight loss journey in awhile and with swimsuit weather here I thought I would give you a quick update. I've now lost almost 40lbs and reached my goal. These last 5 pounds are always the trickiest. I think all those "diet" desserts and snacks I keep buying are doing me in. On a recent trip to my parents without my Fat Free Cool Whip and Skinny Cow ice cream I magically lost 3lbs. My guess is that it was my lack of diet desserts. Calories are calories after all.

Since we last chatted I have added bike riding to my exercise routine. I aired up the tires on my vintage Schwinn that I have had since childhood and started taking this baby out for a few spins. Oddly, riding my bike feels harder than jogging some days. Man it kills the tops of my thighs, but I guess that is a good thing. It seems unfair that a 4.69 mile ride only burns 133 calories.
I am still doing my pod cast from Running Mate. Currently I am on week 6. This week I do a 5 minute warm up walk, jog for 12 minutes, walk for 3 minutes, jog for 12 minutes and then a cool down 5 minute walk. This ends up coming to 3.2 miles in 40 minutes and roughly burns 312 calories. The heat is starting to get to me so I have switched from running at 8pm to 8am.
Next on the agenda is a summer full of swim lessons with the kids, cashing in some rock climbing passes with my mom's group and a 5 pack of Bikram Yoga classes, because you know it is not hot enough in Texas as it is.

We are still having a box of veggies delivered weekly, but I must admit the novelty is wearing off. A box of squash, cabbage and potatoes does not seem as appealing to me as the fresh asparagus and artichokes I am seeing at the grocery store. Either way it is forcing me to find creative uses for things like patty pan squash. I made up a yummy and low cal recipe I thought I would share.
Mexican Style Stuffed Patty Pan Squash
Ingredients
6 Patty Pan Squash
1 link Soyrizo
1 cup cooked quinoa (I used red)
1/2 small can chopped green chiles
1 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup sauteed onions
juice of 2 limes
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1 T fresh oregano
1/2 cup shredded 2% cheddar cheese
Cut the pattypan squash in half along the equator. Scoop out the seeds in the middle and discard. Scoop out the flesh without busting through the sides. Chop up the insides and set aside.
Put your squash in a glass pan with about an inch of water. Bake the squash at 350 for about 45 minutes
While your empty squash vessels are baking cook your quinoa according to package directions and set aside.
So now squash is baking and quinoa is cooking - time to saute! Using a cooking spray or a non stick skillet saute your onions and squash guts. You want the onions to be clear and the squash to be soft.
In a large bowl combine everything but the squash shells. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Remove your squash from the oven when they are done and fill with mixture. You will have a lot of stuffing left. We froze ours and I intend to top a future salad with it. Replace the squash lids and put back into 350 oven for 15 minutes or so. If your filling is still hot from just making it this should not take long.
Remove from oven, serve with a giant salad covered with beans and avocado and enjoy!

This Week on Craft Lab - Waterslide Decals With My Mom!

Tune in tomorrow morning to DIY Network and catch my a-doorbell mom Fredda Perkins gettin' crafty with me in the Craft Lab. We will be making some nifty little faux Art Deco picture frames using waterslide decals.