Mad Skills Monday Link Party #19

Okay...few things.  I'm doing Mad Skills Monday a little early this week...gonna be BIZAY tomorrow...so you all will just have to link up and love it now :)  The party will end same time as always.

Secondly, I am a little disappointed.  Sad, really.  No one...not one person has contacted me to do a giveaway yet...?  What?!  Why?!  

Refresher: I mentioned it to you here.  It could be OFF THE CHAIN!  

But moving on!

Mad Skills Monday numba 19 in da house!

Okie dokie...this looks amazing.  Creme Brulee Cheesecake Bars from Mrs. Bettie Rocker

I've died and gone. to. heaven.

Look at the cute little shoes from Sewn!  Freak'n adorable!

I'm lov'n this bird wall collage from More than a House...very cool.

And last but not least...lov'n these funky curtains by Potholes and Pantyhose.

Way to go everyone!

If you were featured today, I beseech you to please snag my Featured button and hang it on your blog with pride!  You got skills, yo!

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I'm linking up my little baby girl gifts from earlier today.  Love the way they turned out and can't wait to give them to my co-worker!

Now its your turn to share!  Here's what you do:

1. Link up something crafty, creative, or fun that you wanna share! 

2. Please link to the blog post and not your main page.

3. No shopping pages please.  An offer to buy your item at the end of a tut is welcomed!

4. Snag the Mad Skills button and include it on your tut post so others can see where you've linked!  (PS- this button was designed from my sons art work....if you are interested in a custom button, please contact me!)

5. Visit other links, leave them comments (we all love comments) and enjoy their blogs!

This linky party will end on Friday the 6th at midnight.

<center><a href="http://superstinkyboys.blogspot.com/search/label/Mad%20Skills%20Party"><br><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae124/appleseedgifts/madskillsbutton1.jpg" border="0" /></a></center>

Baby Gifts for a Sweet Little Girl

I don't get to make many things for a girl, being the mother of 2 boys...so I really had a lot of fun with these!

I want to get some cute girl print flannel to make a few burp clothes, but that will have to come in a later post.

I love these little taggie blankie's!

I had some fleece I got here and have been waiting for just the right project to use it!  And I made a bunch of my little fabric taggie's for it. 

And check out the little taggie ball!

I used all my new fabric!

So cute!

Hope you enjoyed!  If you have any cool baby projects going on, post a comment!  I'm looking for new ideas and inspirations!

Ginger

SSB

I'm linking:

Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative
Creative Flow at These Creative Juices
Hoo's Got Talent at Night Owl Crafting

We Did It Wednesday at Sew Much Ado
Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design
Strut Your Stuff at Somewhat Simple
Show off Your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans
Plant a Seed Friday at Punkin Seed Productions
Hodge Podge Friday at Its a Hodge Podge Life
Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge
Crafty Friday at Home Sweet Farm

Jack's Fishing Adventure!

So my folks took Jack and his cousins up to Lake Texoma for the weekend...and I was a little nervous.

Remember this lake experience?

Anyhoo, so I was a little concerned about how Jack would handle being there.

Well my folks have been keeping me informed on how its going so far...

and its going GREAT!

He's playing, hiking...

AND FISHING!

"Papi" is right there teaching him how to make the perfect cast with his little Pixar Cars fishing pole and to wait for a little nibble.
So cute.

And the biggest catch of the day?

 Was Jack's!

I am SO proud..cannot even tell you. 
I only wish I could have been there.

Ginger

SSB

Quick Fabric Fix!

So I was wanting to get some cute new fabric, preferably girl fabric, since I have a baby gift in the works for a co-worker.  He is about to be blessed with a beautiful baby girl, due August 11th!

But I just couldn't find the time to get to Hobby Lobby or Joanne's...I was so bummed!

But during a recent trip to Wally World, I discovered something awesome...

I know that they had dome away with the fabric department but discovered little pre-packaged fabric cuts in the craft department for only $1 each!!!  Not a lot for huge projects but for toys, bibs, and more?  Plenty to work with!

Just look at these too cute prints!?

I snagged a bunch for my baby girl gifts I have in mind for my gift, so for under $6...I'll have a homemade, straight-from-the-heart-baby gift!  Look for it coming soon!

So the next time you wanna quick fabric fix, head over to your Walmart and see what they have...and mine had A LOT!

Ginger

SSB

The Craftiest Crafter...I'm feel'n even more generous!

I'm still giddy after receiving the One Lovely Blog Award and wanted to share some more award love...

so I decided to bestow

The Craftiest Crafter Award 

to DecorChick!

Congrats!

She's got great decor and craft tuts for the home!

Be sure to head on over to check her out!

Ginger

SSB

You are too too kind...

So Christina over at Christina's Creative Side bestowed the One Lovely Blog Award to me...eeek!  I'm so honored!

 So head on over there and leave her some comment love.

There are a few rules that come with receiving this award:

1. Thank and link back to the person that gave you the award.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass the award to at least 4 fellow bloggers who inspire you.

4. Let them know about the award.

Let's see...7 things about yourself.

1.  I am a Gemini

2.  My husband and I met at a bar.

3.  My husband "tucks me in" every night at bedtime

4.  I collect Disney movies...and still watch them regularly

5.  My son is a bottomless pit...eats everything!

6.  I painted every room in my house a different color.

7.  I never make my bed in the mornings!

And these are fellow bloggers that I'm passing this award to:
A Crafty Escape

Bare Socks Crafts
Project Naptime 
Inside BruCrewLife

I cannot tell you how much it warms my heart and tickles my soul that so many of you have come to love and enjoy SSB the way I do.

The love and inspirations from each of you are so rewarding and all the fun I have reaching out to you all thru SSB makes all the hard work I put in so worth it!

Ginger
SSB

Mad Skills Monday Link Party #18

Hi all!  Mad Skills Monday is going to be hitting its 20th partaay in just 2 weeks!  In honor of that, I'm wanting to host a giveaway for some of you lovely crafters!  

I beseech you to contact me with all of your fab giveaway items!  I'd like to have at least two lucky winners!  A few stats if you are interested...my linky parties get about 30-40 links (so far...I plan on gett'n bigger).  Each party I host brings on average over 1000 visitors and an average of over 2500 link clicks!  A giveaway at SSB is a great way to boost traffic to your blog!  Food for thought...

On to this weeks Mad Skills Monday party...eeek!  So excited...

I'm totally digg'n this faux mantle piece from Little Apartment on the Prairie.  Genius!

I am seeing these everywhere and need to make one for Jack.

This cute car roll up from Bare Sock Crafts!

I'm in love with this beautiful modge podged lantern from The Hand Me Down House...gorgeous!

And using drawers for shelving like My Blue Sofa?  Very creative...

And lastly, I am loving this sofa re-do from In His Grip!

Love this fabric!!!

Great work everyone, I have truly enjoyed looking at every single one of your projects!

If you were featured today, please grab the button below for your blog to show that you got Mad Skills!

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Today I am linking up my Dino Play Mat!  I am so proud of it and Jackie really loves playing with it!  Makes all the hard work so worth it!

Now its your turn to share!  Here's what you do:

1. Link up something crafty, creative, or fun that you wanna share! 

2. Please link to the blog post and not your main page.

3. No shopping pages please.  An offer to buy your item at the end of a tut is welcomed!

4. Snag the Mad Skills button and include it on your tut post so others can see where you've linked!  (PS- this button was designed from my sons art work....if you are interested in a custom button, please contact me!)

5. Visit other links, leave them comments (we all love comments) and enjoy their blogs!

This linky party will end on Friday the 30th at midnight.

<center><a href="http://superstinkyboys.blogspot.com/search/label/Mad%20Skills%20Party"><br><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae124/appleseedgifts/madskillsbutton1.jpg" border="0" /></a></center>

Easy Drawstring Bag

So, I've been wanting to try making a few bags (see my first here) and I've been having a lot of fun with it!  

I saw this tut linked up to Mad Skills Monday once and thought I try it with hopes of making a make up bag...here is how it turned out!

I followed the same tut but made a few changes.

I used 2 coordinating fabrics (one for the outside and one for the liner) to make the bag a little sturdier.

I also changed the dimensions to 8x12...makes the opening a little wider and easier to get into.

These would make a great quick gift for a lucky lady!  Hope you like it!

Ginger

SSB

I'm linking:

Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints in the Fridge
Hodge Podge Friday at Its a Hodge Podge Life
Show Off Your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans

Strut Your Stuff at Somewhat Simple
Get Your Craft On at Life as Lori
Plant a Seed Friday at Punkin Seed Productions

Panzenella Salad...yum!

Hi folks!  So I made a favorite of mine tonight to go with steak tonight and it came out so beautifully...I just had to share it!

Panzenella Salad

Very yummy and a great way to use up tomato's and day old bread.  

In fact, this a traditional Italian peasant dish...or so I'm told.  I had the real deal in Italy years back and I'm taken back every time I make it...even though I "American" it up a little.  You'll see what I mean...

What you need:

1 pound Roma tomato's

fresh sweet basil

fresh Mozzarella cheese (or shredded cheese)

day old baguette (or croutons)

extra virgin olive oil (or any dressing you like)

Step 1:  Quarter your tomato's (de-seed if you want)

Step 2:  Chop up a few sprigs of sweet basil and add to the bowl

Step 3:  Grate some fresh mozzarella (or use shredded bagged mozzarella)

Step 4:  Cut the bread into chunks and throw it in right before your serve (or use croutons)

Step 5:  Drizzle with a little olive oil (or your fav dressing)

I love this stuff!

Delicious!

Quick and easy!  A yummy favorite that everyone will love!

Ginger

SSB

I'm linking:

Show Off Your Recipe at Fireflies and Jellybeans
Hook'n Up with HoH at House of Hepworths

Dollar Tree Games!

So I planted this garden right?  Check out all the fun I had last night... 

But today I wanted to share some tips for cheap games and activities I've found for Jack.

All are either from the Dollar Tree (holla for the dolla!) or FREE!

I love the Dollar Tree (see this post).

I picked up these foam dice from there and we have a great time learning about numbers and counting with them!  Plus, their foam so Sam can join in the fun!

I also got these wooden shapes/shoelace sets from there!  Perfect for learning shapes, colors and exercising those fine motor skills.

I

But one of our favorite car games (FREE!!!) is I Spy Shapes...when in the car, we spy all the shapes around us.  Octagon from the stop sign, rectangle from a tall building, square from the street signs, etc.

Jack LOVES it!  Try it out the next time your out and about with the kiddo's!

Post a comment with your dollar activities and car games!

Ginger

SSB

Dino Felt Play Mat

So, I am really excited to share this with you all today!  EEK! 

Without further ado...the Dino Felt Play Mat!

I got the idea here but wanted to make some changes.

First off, I wanted it bigger for more play fun!

I sewed everything down to compensate for wear and tear.

And lastly, I wanted to be able to roll it up and throw it in the bag when on the go!

So I made it a little bigger than a place mat.  

I cut everything out and sewed it down, piece by piece.  

I started with the background pieces first and then layering into the foreground.  

 (Sorry I don't have pics; I didn't have my camera).

I also did extra detailing with the sewing machine...here you see some grass.

 And lava!

I took a large piece of plain green fabric and cut it to give about an inch and a half around each edge of the play mat for my backing.  I folded over the edges and stitched it down with a zigzag to cover the raw edges of the felt.

Almost done...I stuck a piece of ribbon about 24 inches long halfway down one of the short sides under one of the folds and sewed it down to make my ties!

Now its ready for playtime!

Need to run out?

Tri-fold the mat...

Then roll up and tie!

I bought a $3 pack of dino's from Walmart and $8 worth of felt from Hobby Lobby.

For under $13, I have a great toy that Jack loves!

Ginger

SSB

I'm linking:

Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do
Tot Tuesdays at Delicious Ambiguity
Hoo's Got Talent at Night Owl Crafting
We Did It Wednesday at Sew Much Ado
Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design
Creative Therapy at Life in The Pitts
What You're Work'n With at Me and My Bucket

Strut your Stuff at Somewhat Simple
Show Off Your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans
Hook'n Up at HoH at House of Hepworths
Crafty Friday at Home Sweet Farm
Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints in the Fridge
Hodge Podge Friday at Its a Hodge Podge Life
Plant a Seed Friday at Punkin Seed Productions 

My Very First Bag!

Alrighty...time to show all the goodies I've been making!!!

Tada!

Isn't this fabric cute!  Perfect for Sammy...

I'll have a fun tut coming soon! 

But this bag is the perfect size for trips to the store or overnight trips to the grandparents!

Don't forget about Mad Skills Monday!  Still going on now!

Ginger

SSB

I'm linking:

Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative
Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do
Tot Tuesdays at Delicious Ambiguity

Hoo's Got Talent at Night Owl Crafting
We Did It Wednesday at Sew Much Ado
Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design
Creative Therapy at Life in The Pitts
What You're Work'n With at Me and My Bucket
Strut your Stuff at Somewhat Simple
Show Off Your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans
Hook'n Up at HoH at House of Hepworths
Plant a Seed Friday at Punkin Seed Productions

Crazy Cow

So here is the post I promised about Crazy Cow!  I mentioned it here for Mad Skills Monday...

a lot of fun!  Loving the colors and the style.  

 I've been doing this fun, abstract style since highschool and its really my signature look.

Check out my close ups.

 

Watch out for this cow...its CrAzY!!!

Ginger

SSB

I'm linking:

Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative
Motivate Me Monday at Keeping It Simple
Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do
Tot Tuesdays at Delicious Ambiguity
Anything Related Tuesdays at All Thingz Related