Etsy Treasuries

Sometime in 2013 I joined Etsy Kids Team. From their FB page "The EtsyKids Team is a diverse group of talented and dedicated Etsy sellers making items for babies, toddlers, and children. http://etsykids.com/."

One of the ways to give back to the team is to create Treasuries. A treasury is an ever-changing, member-curated shopping gallery showcasing unique items, as part of a theme. It took me a while to fully grasp what these were, but then one of my items was included in a Treasury and that gave me the nudge to do more research. It's really easy and actually quite fun. It just requires a bit of time. Since I love to shop, it came pretty easy because it was like creating a wish list.

So far I've created 3 Treasuries (they can be a bit addicting once you get the hang of it). And if you know me at all, they are are not only collections of some pretty awesome stuff, but definitely a reflection of me as well, which of course adds to my fun.

If you have a minute I encourage you to check them out!

Cancer Awareness This collection has a wide variety of items from jewelry to crochet booties to dog collars and wine charms and everything in between.

Unique Items for Children - This is a collection of some pretty cool toys and gadgets that I think are helpful for parents to have on hand. From keeping their little pants up to keeping them occupied while out and about.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice
If I was a little girl or if I had one of my own, I would all of these items in their closet! Pretty, frilly, girly fun!

I've also created a new board on Pinterest to share all these awesome items! So if you're on there be sure to check it out!

How to tell if your avocado is ripe

I don't know about you but I love avocados. Sometimes I'll eat one with a piece of toast for lunch, kinda like an open face avocado sammich. The problem though, is that I never know when they are just ripe. I usually buy at least 3 at a time and then just wait and hope for the best. Until now. After stumbling across this image on how you can tell the ripeness of an avocado, I decided to give it a shot, and in going along with my 2013 "goal" of actually using this blog, I figured why not use it as an excuse to "document my food."  Now when I grabbed this one off the counter this morning I was skeptical. It was a bit too soft, but when you're already running late there really isn't much time to contemplate lunch options, so I grabbed it along with a piece of bread and off I went. 

Fast forward to lunch time...

First I popped out the "belly button" (that's what I'm calling it) and it looked good. Then I grabbed my super sucky handy dandy potatoware knife and cut into it and sure enough my avocado was perfect! (you can thank the ecofriendly potato knife for the jagged edges). 

So there ya go, first pinterest experiment of the year was a success! Now to try that teeth whitening trick this weekend. I will report back after I've tried it. 

Happy New Year!

It's 2013 and I haven't posted anything in ages! I have however been busy being creative. I plan to start posting again, at least once a week with something from pinterest, although I will be posting other stuff as well.

A quick update on what I have been doing:

• I've learned to knit and taught myself to crochet and made all sorts of things
• I've had a few successful pinterest experiments and a few "pintrocities"
• I've made LOTS of hair accessories for my niece that were all pinterest inspired

I'm sure there's more so in stead of listing them I'm going to just start posting stuff, so stay tuned. 

Guest Pin - Mini Vampire Pumpkins

Hello Pinterest/Craft-aholics!  This is Shirley over at Golden Dreemz guest posting for my great friend, Penelope.  As she mentioned a couple of posts back, we are both addicted to Pinterest and plan to get together for a nerdy pin-aholics meetup one of these days.  She also mentioned that my house is currently in the throws of a serious remodel, but that hasn't stopped me from getting my pin-on!

I just love the holidays and there are so many great ideas on Pinterest for Halloween and X-mas.  So what does someone who can't really support decorating her house in the middle of a remodel decide to do?  Decorate miniature pumpkins instead!  They are much more manageable and I can just give them away after if my toddler would only let me.

This pin was originally the bright idea of Martha Stewart.  I had no idea she had a funny bone.  I mean look at those pumpkin faces!  I combined that idea with this Pin and voila!  Larry, Curly, and Moe were born.  It was super easy.  Let's get started:

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

Mini pumpkins

Plastic vampire fangs ($1 at Party City)

Red/Black map tacks or pins (available at fabric stores)

Pumpkin carver or knife

Regular Spoon (to scoop out the pumpkin guts, the spoons that come in the kits tend to be to big to fit in the mouth opening)

A bag to toss the pumpkin guts

*Optional:  black construction paper and scissors

I probably spent less than $10 to make Larry, Curly, and Moe.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO DO:

1. Clean off your pumpkin, place the fangs at the spot you'd like the mouth and mark each of the four corners where the cut will be made.  *Hint, it's better to start smaller and then make the hole bigger depending if you want the fangs clenched or more open.  Martha Stewart provides a template, but really it's just a rectangular oval.

Clenched Fangs

2.  Cutout the shape of the rectangular oval to your desired size.  You may have to place the fangs in the hole several times to gauge how big you'd like the mouth opening.  If you have a dog, he may enjoy the loose pumpkin bits as a tasty Halloween snack.

Qori gets his snack-on!

3.  Add the map tack eyes.  They seem to look funnier if they align with the width of the mouth.


4.  Take your spoon and scoop out the pumpkin guts and place them in your plastic bag.

Diego the little helper

5.  Insert the fangs and adjust.

6.  Optional:  Free-hand draw a mustache on black construction paper.  Cut out the mustache and tack onto your pumpkin.

7.  Stand back and admire your pumpkins!

So far, everyone who has seen these pumpkins have giggled at the sight.  They are super easy and fun to make, especially if you have a little helper! Don't forget about those pumpkin guts!  You can toast the seeds in the oven for yet another tasty Halloween snack that's more "human" approved.

Your fellow Pin-aholic - Shirley