Soda Lights Up My Life

My well-meaning mother was anti-soda when I was growing up. My teeth were predisposed to cavities and I was predisposed to being able to live entirely on corn syrup if given the chance. So soda wasn't readily available. Consequently, while I sipped alcohol once or twice as a teen, I was much more interested in sucking down as much Coke as I possibly could when I got the chance. Rum wasn't even an option. And so it goes today. I struggle with sugar cravings and feel guilty when I (often) cave. Sometimes I can take the evidence of a mini-binge and make something relatively functional and crafty, though. That helps make me feel a little better...

Cookie recovery (cookie box idea)

Every since the summer of 2010, I have been baking my little oven into the ground. All I needed was my pistachio colored KitchenAid Mixer and I felt like I could conquer the baking world... unless... Unless my husband says to me, for example, "Would you make those chocolate cookies everyone loves for my work party tomorrow?" At that moment, all my baking prowess evaporates and I am powerless to bake a single unflat, too crispy, not pretty cookie. Really. Yesterday I threw away 2 batch attempts. Then I shuffled off to watch Real Housewives of Beverly Hills to fantasize about a life filled with caterers and friends who would never admit they ate anything, let alone request specific homemade goodies.

This morning, I had a little renewed hope, though. I decided to give the cookies one last go before my husband headed off to his work party. I ditched the chocolate cookies in favor of a more simple recipe and was able to just barely finish up 18 cookies. Just 18. So sad. To make up for the quantity, I resorted to one of my classic tricks: fool people with pretty. So, I quickly jazzed up an egg carton (emptied by many failed cookie attempts, of course) and sent my husband on his way with a warning that he was not to eat ONE SINGLE cookie on his way to work. They are too precious.

Holiday Crafting Gift Ideas (on the cheap)

I have been in a whirlwind of holiday baking. My kiddos and I made our very first hard candy (cinnamon and lemon) and I am still patting myself on the back for that (even though we made it with under 5 ingredients and in the microwave- still it was amazing). AND I baked my very first, from-scratch gingerbread houses for my kiddos and 2 of their friends yesterday. I was 75% successful and that's a passing grade as far as cooking and I are concerned. Can you spot which one lowered my grade? 

In the middle of all this fun, I have posted 2 new "Guilty Crafter" videos but don't forget to look through ALL of them (that upcycled animal hoodie would be a darling gift) and I still have my pre-guilty crafter YouTube channel filled with lots of kid craft ideas (just click on the links below my blog header). I'm up to 73 thousand views on that crazy duct tape dress form I made this summer! Anyway here's what you may have missed this month:

 Happy guilt-free holidays, everyone!

Tinker Lab

Oh my. I have neglected my blog a bit lately. Traveling and crafting and pre-holiday baking is taking it's toll (and yes, I am STILL cooking- yay me!). I did want to check in today and share an interview I did with a really great site. If you have kiddos and you like to do fun activities with them, you'll love www.tinkerlab.com. If you want to learn more about me (as if I don't already put enough out there), you can read the interview I did with Tinker Lab here:

http://tinkerlab.com/2011/11/what-the-guilty-crafter-can-teach-you-about-crafting-without-guilt/

Hurry... there's a prize! =)

Bottle Cap Bracelet - Upcycled DIY

I'm working with Kent to continue to fine-tune how the videos work for The Guilty Crafter and one piece of feedback we've consistently gotten is that we should show close-ups of my finished projects. I totally agree and you'll be seeing that change reflected in upcoming videos as early as next week (?). In the meantime, here's is a close up of the project (above) along with Episode #5. If you've "liked" The Guilty Crafter on Facebook, you're seeing more  project photos as I upload them. Please keep that feedback coming!

DIY: Plastic Upcycled Bags - Ghost Pops

The latest episode of The Guilty Crafter is up (and if you'd "Like" The Guilty Crafter on Facebook, you'd see all the bonus photos, etc. and my life would be more fabulous and organized in general). I was trying to think of a use for all those plastic bags that I accumulate by forgetting to bring my own bags to the grocery store. I realized they'd make excellent "ghostie pops" for Halloween treats. After filming, I had quite a few pops left un-ghosted so my little girl got to work with her best friend and made the rest. The expressions they drew on their pops are hilarious and now I can really and truly let people assume my kids made ALL of them =)

DIY Tights as seen in Altered Couture Magazine

 

I just got my copy of Stampington's Altered Couture magazine for Winter Nov/Dec/Jan and hot diggity dog- I have a 4 page spread! Woot! Stampington was even nice enough to let me keep my video tutorial up so, in case you missed it, here's a little more "how to" on these cute, fast and inexpensive DIY tights:

P.S. This video was pre "The Guilty Crafter" so if you are following me on YouTube, make sure to subscribe to my Guilty Crafter channel.

Funny Kid Lunch Ideas

Before you report me to Child Protective Services, let me give you some background on this. It was my adult friend's birthday this weekend and this blinged-out flask was a jokey gift to her. However, my little girl thought it was pretty much one of the most beautiful things she's ever seen. Which got me to thinking about how funny it would be if I packed one of these flasks in place of the Sigg water bottle I send in my daughter's lunch every day. How long do you think it would be before I got a call from the school?  I am giggling just thinking about it.

The Guilty Crafter Episode 2: Upcycled Halloween Costume

Kent was hard at work last week editing episode #2 of The Guilty Crafter. He put many of your suggestions into action so keep those comments coming. Also, if you haven't already "liked" the show on Facebook at www.facebook.com/guiltycrafter, I am posting follow-ups to many of the episodes as we go. Last week I posted a printable "Boo" poem for your boo bags and photos of my kids on their way to "boo." This week, I'll post a photo of Tabby all decked out in the following projects (turns out it's WAY cuter on an 8 year-old than on me!).

Thrift Store 2fer

I got a lot of nice responses about my thrift store finds lately (especially the nice email from my new friend Angela Daniels from NYC- hi Angela!) so I thought I'd share my latest one. Technically I found it at a community garage sale kind of thing but still. Under $10 and not new. I bought it for my little girl because she loves crazy fake fur like I do. Once I got it home, I had this realization that it could really be 2 jackets in one. All I had to do was remove the inside tags. Now my little girl and I can't decide which way is more cute- today she flipped it mid-outing.  So I encourage you to think of an old jacket hanging in your closet. Is it lined? You might just be able to turn it inside out for a new look! I am going to take a look at my big second-hand jacket collection tomorrow to see if I have a fun look like this that I hadn't realized was a 2fer before.