"Summer Social" Guest Project — Make Handmade Berrylicious Popsicles!!

Hey TT&J readers!!! I’m Cheryl,
aka TidyMom! When I am not baking, crafting or running around with my camera
you can find me over in my little corner of the universe at TidyMom.net

Like all of you I’m a HUGE fan of
Jen’s and SO impressed with how much that girl can do!! I’ve had the pleasure
of meeting Jen a few times, and let me tell you, she’s every bit as sweet, if
not more, in person as she is on her blog.

I share a lot of stuff on my blog,
everything from my favorite recipes to my favorite household tips.
I like to share photography tips and blogging tips, crafting , being thrifty
and makeovers and a little bit of everything in between. I host a weekly
link up party on Fridays where you can share your great ideas, project or
anything you are loving, called I’m Lovin’ It.

I thought since Jen was having a
summer soiree, and I loooove to bring food to a party…….what’s a summer
time party with out popsicles?!

These berrylicous popsicles are so
easy, even the kids can join in on the fun!

What you will need:

Berry
Blue Popsicles

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons berry blue gelatin

• 1 cup sugar, divided

• 2 cups boiling water, divided

• 2 cups cold water, divided

• 6 tablespoons strawberry gelatin

• 18 Popsicle molds or paper cups (3 ounces each) and
  Popsicle sticks

Directions

1. In a small bowl, dissolve berry blue gelatin powder and
   1/2 cup sugar in 1 cup boiling water. Stir in 1 cup cold water.
2. In another bowl, dissolve strawberry gelatin powder and
   remaining (1/2 cup) sugar in remaining (1 cup)boiling water. Stir in
   remaining (1 cup) cold water.
3. In a small bowl, combine half of the berry blue gelatin
   mixture and half of the strawberry gelatin mixture. (so you now have 3
   bowls of gelatin)
4. Place all 3 bowls in freezer for about 2 hours or until
   slushy.
5. In a large bowl, lightly swirl the three colors as
   desired.
6. Fill each mold or cup with 1/4 cup gelatin mixture; top
   with holders or insert sticks into cups. Freeze.

Yields: about 10-18 pops depending
on the size.

Enjoy!!

Big thanks to Jen and all of you for
letting me stop by today!! Enjoy what’s left of your summer! We started school
this week already!

Cheryl – those look delicious!!
Thank you for sharing them with us! I’m going to make those tomorrow with my kids – they’ll think I’m supermom 🙂

Not only are Cheryl’s recipes beautiful, but they are family-friendly and yummy! Like this Italian Grilled Pizza!

Or this Pina Colada Sorbet – delicious!

And not only can Cheryl cook, but she also makes some fabulous DIY projects!! Like this T-Shirt Scarf – one of my favorites!!

And this DIY Burlap Covered Bulletin Board – fabulous!!

I love following along with Cheryl at TidyMom to get great recipes ideas and so will you!!

xoxoxo

PS — will you be attending SNAP? It’s a fabulous conference in Salt Lake April 19-21,2012. I am thrilled to be helping with the conference and we would love to have YOU attend!! Plus, if you would like to speak at the conference, we are accepting applications for speakers.

Tweet

Summer Cooking — The Most Delicious Corn Salad Recipe!!

I don’t post a lot of recipes here at Tatertots and Jello. So if I do post one, you know that it is delicious!! This is my favorite Summer Salad Recipe EVER! 

It’s perfect for this time of year. Be sure to use fresh cilantro and tomatoes. I use frozen corn, just because it’s easy, but fresh corn is even better!! 

This is a dish that people will talk about and want the recipe for.  

And best of all, it’s simple, fast and easy to make!!!

Fresh Summer Corn Salad: 

• 8 ears sweet corn OR 4 cups of frozen corn.
• 1 large red pepper, chopped
• 1 red onion, minced
• 3 large tomatoes, chopped, or 25 mini tomatoes, cut in half
• 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1/3 cup lime juice
• 1/3cup olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Cut the fresh corn off the cob or add the frozen corn to the pot and steam for 3 to 5 minutes in
1/4 cup water.
2. Remove lid and cook, stirring, 2 minutes more or until
water evaporates.
3. Toss the corn with all other ingredients and chill.

**Be sure not to overcook the corn.

Makes about 6 cups.

Seriously, I could eat this every single day and not get tired of it.

And, it’s even better the next day 🙂

Have a Wonderful Day!!

xoxo

PS — Are you thinking about going to The Creative Connection?? It’s an amazing creative conference with dozens of handmade classes. Well, right now TCC is giving away TWO conference passes AND hotel — so you AND a girlfriend can go!! 

So fun!

Tweet

"Summer Social" Guest Project — Make Pinwheel Placemats!!

Hello, everyone! 

My name is Amy, and my blogging home is Positively Splendid, a little creative haven where you’ll find everything from simple craft ideas to sewing projects, and just about everything in between. I would love for you to stop in for a visit!

I am so excited to be taking part in Jen’s Summer Social! Today I’m going to share a quick project with you to punch up your table decor during your next outdoor gathering.

These fun  pinwheel placemats are a terrific project to complete with fabric scraps you might have lying around!

All set to see how these are made? Let’s get started!
For this project, you will need…
Fusible web, such as Wonder UnderIronFabric scraps in various printsPaper and paper trimmerDisappearing ink markerClear rulerScissorsHot glue gun and glue sticksButtonsRibbon and/or rick-rackBamboo placemats (I found mine in the Dollar Spot at Target)
step 1 / Use your paper trimmer to make square templates of various sizes. I found that squares of 4″, 3″ and 2.5″ work well. Fuse contrasting pieces of your scrap fabric together, wrong sides facing, following the instructions for your fusible web. Use your disappearing ink marker to trace your square templates onto your fused fabric pieces, and cut your squares out. (You will need three squares of descending sizes for each placemat.) Using your ruler, draw lines diagonally through the center of your squares with your disappearing ink marker, as shown.

step 2 / Use your scissors to snip about 2/3 of length of the lines you just drew, as shown.

step 3 / Add a dab of hot glue to the center of each of your trimmed pieces. Fold every alternating corner of your snipped sections up to this center point, as shown, pressing them firmly into the hot glue to secure them.

step 4 / Add a button or other embellishment to the center of each pinwheel to conceal the glued corners. Cut strips of ribbon or rick-rack that are the width of your placemats and adhere these to the left side of your mat with hot glue. Hot glue three pinwheels of descending size, from largest to smallest, along this ribbon, as shown.

All finished!

Aren’t these little guys so festive and fun? 

Thanks, Jen, for having me over today! I hope y’all will stop by Positively Splendid sometime soon. You can also find me hanging out on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Amy!! 

That is absolutely adorable!!!

I want to make some RIGHT NOW!! 

Amy is one of my favorite blogging friends. We met for the first time at Blissdom and then we were able to hang out again at Creative Estates in April. 

{Here we are, along with another of my favorite people, Lara from Less Cake {More Frosting}.

There are so many reasons that I love reading Positively Splendid. One of the main reasons is Amy’s love of color!!

I love her Boy/Girl Room.

And her pillows are amazing. So so cute!

Dry Erase Menu Board

I could spotlight every single project that Amy has made on Positively Splendid, because I love them all so much and you will too!! 

Be sure to head over and give her a big TT&J hello!!

xoxo

PS — We finished shooting Day 1 of the Get a Little Creative Show yesterday. Check out the fun set. Chevron!

{thanks Shelley @ House of Smiths for the great pic}

Tweet

"Summer Social" Guest Project — Make Pinwheel Placemats!!

Hello, everyone! 

My name is Amy, and my blogging home is Positively Splendid, a little creative haven where you’ll find everything from simple craft ideas to sewing projects, and just about everything in between. I would love for you to stop in for a visit!

I am so excited to be taking part in Jen’s Summer Social! Today I’m going to share a quick project with you to punch up your table decor during your next outdoor gathering.

These fun  pinwheel placemats are a terrific project to complete with fabric scraps you might have lying around!

All set to see how these are made? Let’s get started!
For this project, you will need…
Fusible web, such as Wonder UnderIronFabric scraps in various printsPaper and paper trimmerDisappearing ink markerClear rulerScissorsHot glue gun and glue sticksButtonsRibbon and/or rick-rackBamboo placemats (I found mine in the Dollar Spot at Target)
step 1 / Use your paper trimmer to make square templates of various sizes. I found that squares of 4″, 3″ and 2.5″ work well. Fuse contrasting pieces of your scrap fabric together, wrong sides facing, following the instructions for your fusible web. Use your disappearing ink marker to trace your square templates onto your fused fabric pieces, and cut your squares out. (You will need three squares of descending sizes for each placemat.) Using your ruler, draw lines diagonally through the center of your squares with your disappearing ink marker, as shown.

step 2 / Use your scissors to snip about 2/3 of length of the lines you just drew, as shown.

step 3 / Add a dab of hot glue to the center of each of your trimmed pieces. Fold every alternating corner of your snipped sections up to this center point, as shown, pressing them firmly into the hot glue to secure them.

step 4 / Add a button or other embellishment to the center of each pinwheel to conceal the glued corners. Cut strips of ribbon or rick-rack that are the width of your placemats and adhere these to the left side of your mat with hot glue. Hot glue three pinwheels of descending size, from largest to smallest, along this ribbon, as shown.

All finished!

Aren’t these little guys so festive and fun? 

Thanks, Jen, for having me over today! I hope y’all will stop by Positively Splendid sometime soon. You can also find me hanging out on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Amy!! 

That is absolutely adorable!!!

I want to make some RIGHT NOW!! 

Amy is one of my favorite blogging friends. We met for the first time at Blissdom and then we were able to hang out again at Creative Estates in April. 

{Here we are, along with another of my favorite people, Lara from Less Cake {More Frosting}.

There are so many reasons that I love reading Positively Splendid. One of the main reasons is Amy’s love of color!!

I love her Boy/Girl Room.

And her pillows are amazing. So so cute!

Dry Erase Menu Board

I could spotlight every single project that Amy has made on Positively Splendid, because I love them all so much and you will too!! 

Be sure to head over and give her a big TT&J hello!!

xoxo

PS — We finished shooting Day 1 of the Get a Little Creative Show yesterday. Check out the fun set. Chevron!

{thanks Shelley @ House of Smiths for the great pic}

Tweet

"Summer Social" Guest Project — Make Otter Pop Summer Gifts with free printable!!

Hi everyone! 

I’m Stephanie from Somewhat Simple and I am here today to show you a simple idea that will spread some smiles to the recipients!
Give them to neighbors, friends, the girls you visit teach etc.

Otter Pop Gift Idea with Printable

Items Needed: 

• OtterPops 
• Pen or Marker 
• Ribbon
  Embellishments (buttons, rhinestones, silk flowers etc.) 
• Hole Punch
  Lighter or Match 
• Glue Stick 
• Hot Glue Gun 
• Card Stock 
• ..and this printable: 

 

Directions:

1. Print out the printable to your desired size and then cut them out. Also, cut out some card stock.
2.Glue the printable to the card stock.

3. Tie a small bundle of Otter Pops together with a ribbon. Burn the edges of the ribbon to avoid fraying.
4.Punch a small hole in the corner of each card and slide a small ribbon inside. Burn the edges of the ribbon to avoid fraying.

5. Tie the card onto the bundles of Otter Pops.
6. Hot Glue an embellishment to the center of the ribbons on each bundle.

7. Sign your name to the card.
8. Hand them out!

Simple and cute, just the way I like it!
Have a great day everyone!!!

What a fun Summertime idea Steph!! 

My girls are going to love that!!! 

If you don’t know Somewhat Simple, you need to check out Steph’s ideas!!

Mom I’m Bored Jar and Ideas!!

And check out her Summer of Service series — I love this!!

Plus, she has a fun link party — Strut Your Stuff on Thursdays!!

And look at the sweet addition Steph just added to her family. Mason is a little bit early, and isn’t he the sweetest??

Congratulations Steph!!!! 

Head over to Somewhat Simple and give Steph a big TT&J hello!!! 

xoxo

PS — Come over and join me in the International Coffee talk community. We’re discussing all sorts of topics that relate to women. It’s a great place to connect with people!!

Tweet

Great Ideas — Outdoor Projects!!

 How fabulous are these Outdoor Crate Shelves?? @ Not Just a Housewife

 I love this Red Wagon Transformation @ Star Graf Design

 Turn your shed into a masterpiece with landscaping and DIY shutters @ Love of Family and Home

 Throw a Backyard Pie Party @ Moore Minutes

 Makeover your outdoor space with paint and fabric @ Random Thoughts of a SUPERMOM

 I’m loving this Potting Bench to Outdoor Buffet @ Hanging with the Hubers

 Add some shade with a Pergola @ BluBabes Create

 Add some pizazz to your outdoor set by Painting the Cushions @ Copy Craft

Have some fun at the beach or on a picnic with a Tic Tac Toe Quilt @ Polka Dots on Parade

Create Hanging Votives for your porch out of old Jars @ Simple Home Life

And another awesome Wagon Redo {I love the washable cushions} @ Seven Sisters

Make your Front Porch more welcoming with flowers and a pretty wreath @ Clean & Scentsible

Hang your clothes up outside and make a Colorful Bag for the clothespins @ Let’s Go Fly a Kite

I love the weekend and looking through YOUR ideas. 

 I am always amazed at the creativity. It’s so inspiring!!!

Thank you for linking up each week. 

Come check out all of the ideas this week — they are awesome!! And come

link up YOUR ideas and you can win SIX clothing patterns from

 
Lily Bird Studios — specializing in adorable children’s sewing patterns {sizes 0-8T}!!

xoxo

 

Have a Happy Saturday!!

PS — Another Great Ideas feature post is coming up tonight!!

Tweet

Great Ideas — Outdoor Projects!!

 How fabulous are these Outdoor Crate Shelves?? @ Not Just a Housewife

 I love this Red Wagon Transformation @ Star Graf Design

 Turn your shed into a masterpiece with landscaping and DIY shutters @ Love of Family and Home

 Throw a Backyard Pie Party @ Moore Minutes

 Makeover your outdoor space with paint and fabric @ Random Thoughts of a SUPERMOM

 I’m loving this Potting Bench to Outdoor Buffet @ Hanging with the Hubers

 Add some shade with a Pergola @ BluBabes Create

 Add some pizazz to your outdoor set by Painting the Cushions @ Copy Craft

Have some fun at the beach or on a picnic with a Tic Tac Toe Quilt @ Polka Dots on Parade

Create Hanging Votives for your porch out of old Jars @ Simple Home Life

And another awesome Wagon Redo {I love the washable cushions} @ Seven Sisters

Make your Front Porch more welcoming with flowers and a pretty wreath @ Clean & Scentsible

Hang your clothes up outside and make a Colorful Bag for the clothespins @ Let’s Go Fly a Kite

I love the weekend and looking through YOUR ideas. 

 I am always amazed at the creativity. It’s so inspiring!!!

Thank you for linking up each week. 

Come check out all of the ideas this week — they are awesome!! And come

link up YOUR ideas and you can win SIX clothing patterns from

 
Lily Bird Studios — specializing in adorable children’s sewing patterns {sizes 0-8T}!!

xoxo

 

Have a Happy Saturday!!

PS — Another Great Ideas feature post is coming up tonight!!

Tweet

Summer Wreath and Mantel {tutorial}

Do you go through periods where you are super inspired to do projects and then other periods where you feel burned out and don’t want to do anything?? I do. Yesterday I felt super inspired. And I am an impatient crafter. When the feeling strikes, I dig around and find whatever is in my cupboards to make a project.

I was looking at my mantel and I really wanted to make it look 

“Beachy” and “Summery”.

So I went out in my garage “stash” and found some grapevine wreaths from the Dollar Store. I decided to use the small size. Then I found some black and white pinstripe material. And I crafted up a quick summer wreath with things I had laying around.

This is a 15-minute project. 

Here’s what I did: 

• I cut a long piece of the pinstripe fabric 2 inches wide. 

 

• Then I wrapped it around the grapevine wreath. I wrapped it pretty tightly and overlapped it so that it was pretty cushy with material. 

• I secured the end with my trusty glue gun. 

 

•  Then I took the material and cut a long strip that was 4 inches wide. And I folded it in half and ironed it so it was flat. So now the material is 2 inches wide with a closed end. 

•  I folded the material in pleats, into a flower shape and hot glued in between the pleats. Then I hot glued the flower onto my wreath. 

• I did the same thing to make two smaller flowers, except instead of a folded 2 inch width, I cut a 2 inch section of fabric and then folded and ironed it so that the folded width was 1 inch. 

• Then I glued those two fabric flowers on each side of the bigger flower. 

 

• I covered two big buttons with fabric and attached them to the smaller flowers. 

 

• Then I hot glued a star fish to the bigger flower. 

 

That’s it!! SUPER simple and fast AND inexpensive. 

Then I set about making my mantel more “Summery” and “Beachy”. I got out my glass covered vases and put vintage doorknobs inside of them. 

And I talked my son and neice into spray painted an old frame beachy blue for me. I also took a rope bag that I had kept from Target and “framed” it in between an embroidery hoop. I also did this with some doilies. 

I made a canvas pennant banner that I thought looked kind of beachy. 

I’m not going to show you the whole mantel today though, because I just decided that it needs one more element. 

I have a project in mind that I think will be perfect. I’ll work on it today. You know when you finish a project and it just doesn’t feel complete. That’s how I feel about the mantel. I need to work on that last element.

So until then, here’s my partially finished Summer Mantel 🙂

 Ooooh, I almost forgot… I found some cute little lamps at Home Goods a few weeks ago for my buffet table in there. Aren’t they cute?? 

I think I am going to paint that buffet table — what color do you think I should try??

 I hope you are having a great week!!!  

xoxoxoxo

Tweet

Summer Wreath and Mantel {tutorial}

Do you go through periods where you are super inspired to do projects and then other periods where you feel burned out and don’t want to do anything?? I do. Yesterday I felt super inspired. And I am an impatient crafter. When the feeling strikes, I dig around and find whatever is in my cupboards to make a project.

I was looking at my mantel and I really wanted to make it look 

“Beachy” and “Summery”.

So I went out in my garage “stash” and found some grapevine wreaths from the Dollar Store. I decided to use the small size. Then I found some black and white pinstripe material. And I crafted up a quick summer wreath with things I had laying around.

This is a 15-minute project. 

Here’s what I did: 

• I cut a long piece of the pinstripe fabric 2 inches wide. 

 

• Then I wrapped it around the grapevine wreath. I wrapped it pretty tightly and overlapped it so that it was pretty cushy with material. 

• I secured the end with my trusty glue gun. 

 

•  Then I took the material and cut a long strip that was 4 inches wide. And I folded it in half and ironed it so it was flat. So now the material is 2 inches wide with a closed end. 

•  I folded the material in pleats, into a flower shape and hot glued in between the pleats. Then I hot glued the flower onto my wreath. 

• I did the same thing to make two smaller flowers, except instead of a folded 2 inch width, I cut a 2 inch section of fabric and then folded and ironed it so that the folded width was 1 inch. 

• Then I glued those two fabric flowers on each side of the bigger flower. 

 

• I covered two big buttons with fabric and attached them to the smaller flowers. 

 

• Then I hot glued a star fish to the bigger flower. 

 

That’s it!! SUPER simple and fast AND inexpensive. 

Then I set about making my mantel more “Summery” and “Beachy”. I got out my glass covered vases and put vintage doorknobs inside of them. 

And I talked my son and neice into spray painted an old frame beachy blue for me. I also took a rope bag that I had kept from Target and “framed” it in between an embroidery hoop. I also did this with some doilies. 

I made a canvas pennant banner that I thought looked kind of beachy. 

I’m not going to show you the whole mantel today though, because I just decided that it needs one more element. 

I have a project in mind that I think will be perfect. I’ll work on it today. You know when you finish a project and it just doesn’t feel complete. That’s how I feel about the mantel. I need to work on that last element.

So until then, here’s my partially finished Summer Mantel 🙂

 Ooooh, I almost forgot… I found some cute little lamps at Home Goods a few weeks ago for my buffet table in there. Aren’t they cute?? 

I think I am going to paint that buffet table — what color do you think I should try??

 I hope you are having a great week!!!  

xoxoxoxo

Tweet

Great Ideas — Summer Projects {1}

 Make a Beachy Mantel @ A Diamond in the Stuff

 Sew up a Summertime Skirt @ Simple Simon & Co.

 Mod Podge some Sassy Summer Shoes @ The Diary of Daves Wife

Print off Summer Subway Art @ Todays Fabulous Finds

Create a Summertime Bulletin Board @ Crafting Up My World

 Your kids will love a cute Outdoor Toy Organizer @ Random Thoughts of a SUPERMOM

 Make a Summertime Centerpiece @ Something Created Everyday

Create a Colorful Rosette Pennant Frame @ A Glimpse Inside

 Cute Boot Planter @ {Primp}

 Lemonade Sign @ The Layered House

 Play a game of Ring Toss @ Two Shades of Pink

 Throw a Summertime Hot Dog Party @ The Roseland Family

Find out how to make Paper Pins @ Always Springtime Flowers

Print off this Summer Keep Calm Sign @ Scene of the Grime

There are so many fun Summer ideas AND tons of other great ideas too!! 

Come check them out and link up YOUR great ideas and enter to win a Keep Calm pillow and ANY ring from Little Miss Momma!!

 xoxo

PS — Another Great Ideas post is coming up tonight!! 

Tweet