| Little Birdie Secrets

Thursday, March 22, 2012

make a spring moss wreath {tutorial}

I've been wanting to make a mossy wreath for ages, like the ones you see in expensive catalogs like Ballard Design, but I thought would be way too difficult and time-consuming to glue on all those tiny chunks of moss. I didn't realize the moss is actually in a big sheet--I was expecting tiny pieces that would take forever to glue on. So while J was napping, I grabbed some glue and went to town! Here's how to make an Easter moss wreath for just a few bucks.

Spring or Easter Moss Wreath Tutorial

Supplies:

*Wreath form (I used a 12" Styrofoam wreath that I got 50% off at JoAnn)

*1 package floral moss

*Craft glue (like Tacky glue or Martha Stewart's Glitter Glue)

*Decorative Easter eggs (foam works best)

*Floral wire

*Ribbon for hanging

1. Unwrap the moss sheet. It's okay if it breaks up a little--you're going to tear it into smaller sections anyway. You should probably cover your work surface or do this outside--it's a little messy.

2. Cover a small section of your wreath with glue. My Glittering Glue by Martha Stewart has a built-in brush, but you could use a foam brush and Tacky Glue. (I left the very back of the wreath with nothing on it.)

3. Break off a piece of moss about the same size as the area you covered with glue. Press it down and hold for a moment until it sticks.

Continue around the wreath until covered. Fill in any holes if necessary.

4. If you're attaching eggs, cut three-3" pieces of floral wire and push one into the bottom of each egg.

5. Push the ends of the wire into the wreath to secure eggs.

6. Hang with a ribbon tied in a cute bow.

I hung mine as part of my Easter mantel (still a work in progress). You're not getting sick of my picture frame with sheet music background, are you? I can't believe how well it's worked for Christmas, Valentine's, and now Easter! Okay, call me lazy, but it's working for me!

Who knew it would be so easy to make a fancy moss wreath? I'm in love with it. I think after Easter I'll pull out the eggs and leave the wreath up a little longer.

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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

recycling in the garden {guest post}

We are so excited to have Stacy from Stacy Grows guest blogging for us today! She is a super talented gardener and writer! She also wrote a fabulous book, called Project Garden: A Month-by-Month Guide to Planting, Growing and Enjoying ALL Your Backyard Has to Offer. Right now, Stacy is having a giveaway of her new book. Visit her site to enter! Now, here are some great ideas about recycling in the garden from Stacy...

I love recycling in the garden. Rain boots as containers, old baskets as bird feeders—these are all great ways to add life to the garden without spending any money! Kids love it, too. In my new book, Project Garden, I have several ideas for recycling in the garden. Here are a few ideas from my book (and a few new ones, too), all using golf items.

Balls

I like making caterpillars out of old golf balls. For these here, I painted them first, glued them together on a cork mat and then added some eyes, faces and antennas. You can also use golf balls for plant markers (see the tees idea below).

Tees

Golf tees are begging to be plant markers! They’re already made to stick into the ground, so you just have to add something on top to write the name. Here, we glued on miniature flowerpots and golf balls. We can’t wait to put them into the ground in spring.

Clubs

You can pick up old golf clubs at just about any rummage sale or thrift shop in the country. Take one and use it as a flagpole. For this one, we suspended it in a tree using string. Another use for golf clubs is to put 2-3 together to use as a trellis or plant stake.

Bag

Old golf balls are great for storing all your garden tools. Use the pockets to hold seed packets and small items. Then store long-handled items like rakes, hoes and shovels in the main compartment.

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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

spring coffee filter flowers {tutorial}

I think I enjoyed those first couple of months of new baby time--where you don't feel like you have to commit to anything because everyone understands you're still adjusting to having a new little one--way too much. It was so nice. He'll be three months on Saturday. I think I'm officially back in the game, whether I want to be or not! Appointments, social engagements, service projects are slowly creeping back into my schedule (yeah, I had to get back on one). Back to being busy, back to getting up early and staying up late to get it all done. Case in point: the centerpiece assignment.

I love the chance I have to serve in my church helping plan meaningful activities for the women in our congregation, and the assignment I have right now is right up my alley. This month our women's group, which is called the Relief Society, held a celebration part for the organization's 170th birthday. One major part I had (in addition to helping with invitations) was the centerpieces. Of course I could've gotten away with doing next-to-nothing, but that's not who I am! I had to go overboard as usual. And I loved every minute of it. But finding the time to make it happen was harder than I thought it would be! Luckily I had help, and luckily these coffee filter flowers were super easy to create. Don't believe me? Read on.

Here's how to make and dye coffee filter flowers that look a lot like beautiful peonies (or carnations depending on how many filters you use)! You can custom dye them to match any theme or decor. These are perfect for wedding centerpieces or just to brighten up a room.

Coffee Filter Flower Tutorial

Supplies:

*Coffee filters (about 8 per flower for peony-like flowers)

*Floral wire

*Green floral tape

*Wooden skewers

*Wire cutters

*Spray bottle and food coloring

*Paper piercer and mouse pad (optional)

1. Count out about 8 coffee filters for each flower and stack together. To make things easier, I poked three holes in the center of the stack with a paper piercer. Use a mouse pad underneath to protect your work surface.

2. Thread a piece of floral wire up through one hole and back down through another, leaving a 3 inch tail on each side.

3. Next insert the wooden skewer through the third hole about half an inch. Wrap the wire tails around the skewer.

4. Wrap the entire stick, including the wire, with green floral tape.

5. Starting with the innermost layer, bring the sides of the filter up to the center, squishing it together. Move to the next layer, scrunching it around the previous layer, until all layers are scrunched up. Don't be afraid to really scrunch them together.

6. Starting in the center again, carefully push the "petals" out until it looks the way you want it to.

Use flowers as-is (white), or continue on for custom colors!

7. To dye your coffee filter flowers, you'll need a spray bottle with water in it and a few drops of food coloring. I just added a little red for these pink flowers. You can make them as dark or light as you want, depending on how much food coloring you use and how much you spray them. Cover your work surface and spray flowers lightly until desired color is achieved. I tried not to spray them all pink--leaving some white makes them look more realistic.

8. If you sprayed your flowers, you will need to dry them so they keep their shape. You could leave them to air dry, or you could speed things up by sticking them in the oven! Lay your flowers on a cookie sheet. Place in a 200-degree oven for 5-20 minutes (until dry). The floral tape may become a little more transparent, but it shouldn't burn. It will be hot and sticky, so be sure to wait for them to cool before removing from cookie sheet.

Now they're ready to be gathered in a vase.

We put three in a small vase and included a couple of picture frames on each table with a dress cut-out in each (more info coming soon!).

You can wrap the vases with a doily, tiying on with some hemp and finishing with a button for more interest. Or not.

Love this spring-y look!

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Monday, March 19, 2012

what is your earliest oreo memory?

I love OREO cookies. I could not believe it when I heard they were celebrating 100 years this month! I mean, I knew they had been around as long as I can remember, but 100 years is a long time!
I can still remember the first time I had an OREO cookie. It was when I first discovered the art of dunking an OREO cookie into a glass of milk.

My family taught me how to dunk one. It was such a novel idea to me. Dunking a cookie in milk. It sounded fun and delicious though. I remember getting a glass of milk and as I held the cookie in the glass, my fingers got so cold! I wasn't about to pull them out though. I wanted to be sure the cookie was well dunked. Apparently I did well because after a little bit, my whole cookie got so soft that it fell into the milk! I had to start all over again. It was worth it though. The taste of an OREO cookie laden with milk is still delicious to me. It is so nostalgic and brings so many childhood memories to my mind.

Now we have taught the art of dunking OREO cookies to my three boys. They love it and it is fun to watch them enjoy the experience as much as I did when I was a kid. Now I want to hear what your earliest OREO memory is!

OREO is celebrating its 100th Birthday by encouraging all of us to take a moment to slow down, and celebrate the kid inside. Celebrate with us for a chance to win $200! Simply follow these two steps to enter:
1. Add your photo or video to the OREO Moments Gallery
2. Come back & reply below describing your photo or video, and tell us about your earliest OREO memory

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of OREO. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules.

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Sunday, March 18, 2012

gadanke travel journal {review}

A couple weeks ago, my husband and I traveled to Hawaii to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. It was the first time we left our kids for an extended period of time and we had so much fun spending time together!

We hiked, and explored and snorkeled, swam with a sea turtle, ate all sorts of yummy food, and visited so many other wonderful sites! We enjoyed a luau as well, of course!

We made so many wonderful memories on our trip. Lucky for me, I was given the opportunity to review a travel journal from a great shop called Gadanke. So I was able to bring this great journal along on our trip!

Handmade journaling products at Gadanke are filled with creative writing prompts and tidbits to make you think (and laugh!). These baby books, prayer journals, travel books, and diaries make your writing process more meaningful and fun! Plus they're totally eco-savvy with 100% recycled papers.

It was so great to be able to record some thought and memories of our anniversary trip so that I can look back and remember them!

You have to visit Gadanke and check out all the wonderful journals they have available. It is such a great and easy way to record memories where much of the work is already done for you! Right now you can get a special discount of 10% off an order for the next 5 days. Just use the code BIRDIE10. Also, be sure to visit the Gadanke Facebook Page. They run a monthly special that you get access to if you are a fan! Enjoy...here's to making and preserving memories!

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crafty book giveaway winner

Thanks for entering our crafty book giveaway! The lucky winner of all 5 books is...

Melynie

Congrats! We know you will just love all these fabulous books and craft ideas. We will be contacting you so we can send you the books.

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Saturday, March 17, 2012

st. patrick's day subway art {printable}

It's one of the best days of the year (for my kids) today--St. Patrick's day! They can't get enough of the leprechaun that visits each March 17th. All his silly tricks never seem to get old! Green milk, green toilet water, chairs on the table, cupboards and drawers open wide. . . And they are so determined to catch him that I wouldn't be surprised if we ended up with our own little ~~prisoner~~ pet leprechaun this year.

I didn't do a lot of decorating this year (this new baby thing has still got me a little out of whack schedule-wise), so I'm so happy that my friend Lori offered us her St. Patrick's day subway art printable for free! Isn't it cute? I love the little kiss mark over the "i". This is such an easy way to decorate for your St. Paddy's party! Throw it in a frame like I did with her Christmas and Valentine's printables and you've got a great centerpiece starter. But it's only free this week--after that you can find it in her shop. Enjoy! And let me know if any of your leprechaun traps work this year! ;)

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Friday, March 16, 2012

sneakpeeq giveaway

Have you heard of sneakpeeq? Sneakpeeq is the largest and fastest growing social shopping company on Facebook. They have distinctive home, food, and fashion products at up to 70% off!

When it comes to the Little Birdie Secrets/sneakpeeq giveaway, everybody wins! sneakpeeq
is giving away 20% off your next purchase just for entering, plus a chance at the Grand Prize:
one winner will receive a $30 gift card to use on your favorite food, style and home products.

One runner-up prize winner will receive a $10 gift card—that goes a long way in sneakpeeq’s
amazingly low-priced boutiques!

Come see all the things you love but haven’t discovered. sneakpeeq only has new products
that you have never seen before!

Enter the giveaway by clicking on THIS link and joining sneakpeeq! Leaving a comment will NOT enter you into the giveaway. You must go to this link to join and be entered to win! All winners will be announced on our blog on March 30th, 2012!

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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

strawberry lemonade shortcake {recipe}

This week I celebrated another birthday (the big 3-5, not sure how I got there). Since I'm officially O-L-D, have to work a little harder to keep my figure. Ugh. So unfair. I recently started working out with a trainer and I've been trying to eat better so all that money doesn't go to waste. Enter the low-fat, low-calorie birthday cake. My mother-in-law and I created this when she came to visit this month, and man is it delish! And so easy you won't believe it.

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This recipe was inspired by the 2-ingredient lemon squares recipe found here that my mother-in-law first found via Pinterest. However, we couldn't find regular lemon pie filling the recipe called for, so we bought lemon creme filling and used that instead. The result wasn't anything like lemon bars, but it was delicious! The creme filling makes a lighter, fluffier cake instead of a dense bar. I little denser and more moist than straight angel food cake, but still pretty light. Add a few strawberries and some fat-free whipping cream and you have a low-fat, low-calorie, lemon-icious spring dessert! If you cut it into 12 servings, it works out to be only 240 calories and less than 1 gram of fat per serving! That's with the strawberries and whipped cream! Next time I think I'll try raspberries for a Raspberry Lemonade Shortcake. . .

Strawberry Lemonade Shortcake

Ingredients:
*1 can Wilderness or Comstock brand Lemon Creme pie filling
*1 box Angel Food Cake mix (Betty Crocker and Pillsbury both make one)
*Fresh strawberries (or frozen berries thawed would work in a pinch)
*Fat-free whipped cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cake mix and pie filling together until well blended. Poor into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely. Cut cake into 12 squares. Top each piece with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Only 240 calories and less than 1 gram of fat per serving! Happy birthday to me!

Doesn't it looks scrumptious? Thanks to my mother-in-law Jody for the amazing food "styling!"

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crafty book giveaway

Is anyone out there looking for some fun new crafts to try? Well, we have a great giveaway for you today. We are giving away 5 crafty books. Yep. 5. Pretty awesome, right? So listen up if you want to be the winner of all 5 of these fabulous books!

The first book we are giving away is Zodiac Felties. This is a craft book for creating felties representing each of the twelve zodiac signs plus four planetary figures: Mars, Venus, the sun and the moon. These would be so fun to make!

The second book is Noah's Knits. This is the story of Noah's Ark with patterns for 16 knitted projects. This would be great to use with your kids for a fun activity and learning.

The third book is Knits for Nerds. This book has 30 projects inspired by popular shows and books in science fiction, comic books, and fantasy. Wouldn't some husbands love to see you make these crafts?

The fourth book is Puppet Play. It has 20 puppet projects made with recycled mittens, towels, socks and more! This is so fun for the kids and is also a great way to use up those old items that are hanging out around the house.

The last book we are giving away is Beasties: How to Make 22 Mischievous Monsters That Go Bump in the Night. I know my boys would love this book! It features instructions on how to make 22 monsters using simple materials, such as scrap fabric and thread.

We know you will have so much fun with these books and your kids would love to join in on the crafting! To enter to win these 5 crafty books, leave a comment telling us which book you would be most excited about winning.

For a second entry, you can go vote for us on the list of Top 25 Creative Moms-2012. You'll have to scroll down to find us in the list. It's the last day to vote, so you better hurry on over there! Especially since we can only count this entry today because then voting will be over.

For a third entry, post about this giveaway on Facebook. Good Luck! This giveaway will end Saturday, March 17th at 11:59pm PT.

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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

feeling lucky?

Do you believe in luck? I know some people don't like the term, they would prefer to call it fate, the power of the Universe, or God. Everyone has a different view. I do feel lucky when I have those near misses or barely wins in my life. Running down the stairs and catching myself before I fall. Lucky me. Catching someone you need on the phone right before they leave. Lucky. Winning a giveaway. Lucky!

There are not too many times in my life that I actually feel very lucky. It usually seems like I am on the opposite end of luck. I always ask my mom, who are those lucky people who get their mail delivered earlier than everyone else? Mine comes at 4:00 or later on most days. When you have a delivery guy coming to your home and he says you need to be home between 12 and 5, who is the lucky person who actually gets the guy to show up at noon? It seems I am always waiting til 5:05 before he arrives. Who are those lucky people who win the Publisher's Clearinghouse? Not me. Ok, well I admit...I have never entered. Usually I am not on the lucky side of things.

Last year, however I did get to feel that lucky feeling when I was with a group of friends and won a large giveaway at an event we attended. It felt great! I couldn't believe I had actually won something and that luck had been on my side for once.

So, if you are feeling you might have some luck on your side (you know, St. Patrick's day is almost here!) then head on over to the International Delight Facebook page and enter the International Delight Luck of the Irish Contest, for a chance to win a trip for two to Ireland! And while you're at it, check out International Delight on Pinterest too!

Now, tell me about the last time good luck was on your side?
For your chance to win a Keurig coffee maker and a one year's supply of International Delight creamer, complete these two steps:

1.Share the International Delight's Luck of the Irish Facebook Contest with your friends below

2.Tell us that you’ve invited your friends to enter the Luck of the Irish Facebook Contest AND tell about a time when good luck was on your side

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of the International Delight Brand. Official Contest Rules. Official International Delight Facebook Contest Rules.