• 5 Minute Projects,  Crafts,  Home Decor

    Apple Candle Holders

    My home decor is mainly of the colors black, white, and gray, but Fall always inspires me to add a little warmth into my color pallet. I LOVE Fall. Apples, pumpkin spice lattes, colorful leaves, and slightly cooler weather; what’s not to love? With this simple centerpiece, I can bring a little bit of that love right to my table.

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    If you need a quick table centerpiece or an easy decoration for a fall gathering you are hosting, then this project is for you. (It may take me longer to write how I made this, than it actually did to make it.)

    Supplies

    Level apples

    Tea light candles

    Sharp paring knife

    Plate for displaying apples

    Lighter or matches

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    First, cut a circle about 1 inch deep out of top, center of the apples.

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    Next, place the tea lights in the holes, display on the plate, light each candle, and keep away from children.

    apples 1

    I was originally going to use tapered candles but as I was cutting the holes, I made them a little too big. Thankfully, I had some tea lights that worked in a pinch. What do you like to use for your  fall decor?

     

  • 5 Minute Projects,  Home Decor,  Life & Family,  Painting Projects,  Tips & Tricks

    Personalized Utensil Crock

    Recently, while sitting at my kitchen table, staring at everything in sight and waiting for inspiration to hit, I saw my boring black utensil crock and asked myself “Self, how can I make that more interesting?” Then, answering myself, I said “I should write something on it. Oh, I know. My mom’s delicious chocolate chip cookie recipe.” After realizing I need more human interaction, I got to work.

    crock 3

    I dragged my entire family with me to Jo Ann Fabrics to pick up one of these handy dandy oil based paint pens. Let me tell you, my husband Adam, is a trooper. My 3 year old was directing us though the store with his pretend Buzz Lightyear laser beam, while our youngest was kicking and screaming and absolutely refusing to ride in the shopping cart. Adam didn’t complain once.

    Crock 1

    Once we were home, and the kids were tucked in bed, I starting writing. I completely free handed the text. To make the letters appear more bold, I went over them twice and let the paint dry in between. There are a lot of mixed reviews about paint pens and I was not sure what type of experience I was in for. This pen is AWESOME! It wrote so smoothly and there was absolutely no mess to clean up.

    This project took no time at all, except for the shopping portion, but for that, I only have myself to blame. I love the handwritten look and every time I am in the kitchen, it brings a smile to my face to see my mom’s recipe.

    crock2

    What does your utensil holder look like?
     

  • 5 Minute Projects,  Sew,  Tips & Tricks

    Magnetic Oven Mitt

    Do you have a drawer of oven mitts  in your kitchen that is so full it is hard to close? I have a simple solution for you. Throw some out. If that doesn’t work for you, try this easy project.

    We had an ancient oven mitt we receive five years ago as a wedding gift. It had a magnet in it that made it so convenient just to hang it on the fridge. But that old mitt was so dirty and nasty, it looked like my husband used it to change the oil.

    During a quick trip to Ikea, and by quick trip I mean traveling across the Canadian boarder, we decided to bite the bullet and buy a new one. My husband suggested adding a magnet to our new one to have the same convenience of our old gross one.

    Oven Mitt 1
     
    Using a seam ripper, I tore open the seam.

    Oven Mitt 2
     
    Then I inserted two magnets, because one was just not strong enough.
     
    Oven Mitt 5

    A vertical stitch was made to keep the magnets in place and the seam was sewn back up.

    Oven Mitt 3
    Finally, I slapped that puppy on the Refrigerator and was done. (There were no animals hurt in the making of this magnetic oven mitt.)

    Oven Mitt 6

     
    Thanks hubby for the great idea.