Homemade Marble Coasters

I came across this project a few times and wanted to try my hand at it.  As with most projects, I have no patience to follow tutorials or read directions so I put my thinking cap on and came up with these steps (not brain surgery and ubber-easy!)

I scoured the Internet for vintage and silent movie images!  I always loved the beauty of the male silent film star and was excited to do a web scavenger hunt for my family room coasters! 

You will need tumbled marble times (I purchased a box of 8 for $3.25 at Lowes!), cork shelving (about $9 also at Lowes in the aisle with the shelf/ drawer liners)- this it the bottom to make it no scratch and nonslip, Modge Podge and photos or images that suit your taste! 

Seriously easy project folks!

Step 1 : Cut Image

Step 2 : Modge Podge to tile

Step 3 : Let dry and Modge Podge again

Step 4 : Cut and glue the cork bottom

(I use Aileen's Tacky Glue)

Step 5 : Sit on the couch and enjoy a

tall glass of lemonade as it doesn't drip

on your coffee table!!!! 

Here are a few of my favorites :

Buster Keaton!  I even credited the actor, film

and year on the coaster for my kids benefit!

King Kong, to appeal to the testosterone in my house!

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Thanks for stopping by !

Rachel

Birthday Cake Pops and CUPCAKE GIVEAWAY!!!

Move over Starbucks...

 I can make 3 dozen of my own cake pops for the price of two of yours!  And my kids get to make a sloppy mess helping me make them! 

You start by making any flavor boxed cake mix you enjoy eating.  We made yellow cake from Betty Crocker, my husband actually prefers chocolate cake for his cake pops, but I used what I had in the pantry!

Bake it, let it cool and trim off the browned top, bottom and edges.  

Throw in a bowl in a crumpled mess then add 1 can of either white or cream cheese frosting.  

Mash together (this is where three boys with freshly cleaned hands come in handy!)

Refrigerate for 2 hours. 

Form into balls and place on lined cookie sheet.

Refrigerate again for a couple of hours.

Melt a package of almond bark, once again, flavor of your choice.  You can even tint the white chocolate!

Dip the pop stick (purchased at Michael's in the Wilton section) into chocolate to act as glue then dip each pop in the melted chocolate.  Quickly dip bottoms in sprinkles.  I used Wilton pearls, aqua colored sugar and pastel colored sprinkles.  

Now all you need is a houseful of happy people :) 

And enjoy!

DON'T forget to enter my CUPCAKE GIVEAWAY!!!

http://cookscleansplayswithpaper.blogspot.com/2011/04/cupcake-giveaway.html

Linking up with :

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

http://alli-n-son.com/

http://sunscholars.blogspot.com/

http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/

http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

~Rachel

Homemade Easter Cupcake Picks and Giveaway!

I did a search for free Easter printables

and found all these cute images.

Found here : http://puertabella.blogspot.com/2011/03/free-easter-printables.html

and here :  http://paperglitter.blogspot.com/2010/03/printable-easter.html

This one is my favorite... so precious!

Perfect for the brownie cupcakes I made for my sons preschool Easter party tomorrow! 

Sweet bunnies!  I added a little glitter thanks to Stickles! 

Yum! 

Plain and simple... the magic is in the treat! 

Ok... these are my favorites! 

I added a pearl to the chickies tail and more glitz with Stickles! 

I actually grabbed a handful of wooden coffee stirrers at Starbucks this morning, I know, that is cheap of me... but I figure I spend enough money there they can donate 12 stirrers!  I actually cut them in half, which was pretty easy with a scissor since the wood was very soft and pliable.  Ok.. no judging on the coffee stirrers!  

If you want to win some fun freebies for your own cupcake addiction... enter MY GIVEAWAY HERE ...http://cookscleansplayswithpaper.blogspot.com/2011/04/cupcake-giveaway.html

Thanks for peeking!  Rachel

Linking up with :

http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

Fizzy Fruity Lemonade

My boys came home from school today and asked me to make them one of my special drinks.  So I hunted high and low, in the pantry, in the fridge, on the island, in the laundry room (where I keep the sodas and seltzer) and came up with this tasty creation....
Fizzy Fruity Lemonade!

-Country Time Pink Lemonade powder mix (use the container directions according to your pitcher size)

-1 2 liter bottle of seltzer (or any carbonated water)

-Fresh fruit of your choice (we happen have fresh pineapple, strawberries and kiwi hangin around!)

Mix and serve over ice!
Enjoy!
Rachel

Homemade Ice Cream Cone Holder and Giveaway!!!!

Look what my kid discovered!  Talk about your Earth Day recycling project!  He happen to be playing with the toilet paper tubes and Dixie cups and left a few on the island when I was making the kiddos ice cream cones.  I happen to look over after I filled my first cone and needed to make the other two cones but was running out of hands (contrary to popular belief, us Moms are not actually octopuses!).  So threw the cone in his little creation!  And let me tell you, not only did it come in handy, it gave me and the boys several minutes of good old fashioned jokes and laughs!  Perfect afternoon of ice cream made better with laughter and craftiness! 
Linking up with :




See the link below for my CUPCAKE GIVEAWAY!!!!
http://cookscleansplayswithpaper.blogspot.com/2011/04/cupcake-giveaway.html
Happy Monday!
Rachel

**CUPCAKE GIVEAWAY**

I am so excited to be rewarding one of my fabulous blog followers with this fabulous little cupcake package!  I was recently in a cupcake swap and OVER SHOPPED!  Honestly, I went cupcake crazy and want to send *YOU* a fun package of goodies in the mail just for being a blog follower and posting my giveaway on your blog!!! 

Rubbermaid aqua melamie spatula, Wilton sugar spring cupcake decorations,  butterfly cupcake wrappers and cupcake picks,  pink flourish cupcake designs and Fun Stuff Cupcake cookbook!

Rules :
#1    You must be a blog follower of I Love My Three Sons  Please, please, pretty please... comment that you have done so!
#2    Post my logo (on the right side of the blog) to your blog.  Once again, please, pretty please... comment that you have done so!
#3    Leave a comment and make sure your blog address is accessible so I can notify you if you won!

My boys LOVE picking the winner whenever I have done this, so I am going to let them have some fun in helping me out!   Contest ends 11:59 EST, May 1st! 

This giveaway IS NOT AFFILIATED with any sponsors as I am sponsor-free and it IS JUST FOR FUN! 
Have fun!  And now I have to run off to the postoffice and mail my partner HER special package (I will post photos of her package after I know whe got it in a few days!)
Rachel
Linking up with :  http://www.jollymom.com/2011/04/promote-your-giveaways-giveaways-galore_21.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JollyMom+%28Jolly+Mom%29

Rooster Centerpiece

I had a ball making this fun and easy centerpiece from Goodwill goodies!  I bought the tin bucket, wooden rooster and moss rooster all for $2 each!  And three plant sprigs, one fern and two ivy... a dollar each from Dollar Tree!  I am more than pleased with the outcome for $9 total and it looks like I paid at least three times that price! 

I am debating on stenciling something on the tin.  But the jury is still out on that one!
Linking up with ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Rachel

Easter Table

I love pastels and enjoy decorating for Spring and Easter so I can show off some of my favorite pastel pieces!

Any excuse to have an appealing array of candies and chocolates!

My beloved Melamie coffee cup and saucers that I purchased for a dime a piece last Spring from a junk sale out of someones barn not to far from my house!

My Mother-In-Laws silver with basic everyday dishes and enamel Easter egg dishes.

All that's missing is the ham and scalloped potatoes!

But I do have plenty of eggs!

(They are actually faux eggs from Michaels... I bought them to put in a jar in my far/ rooster kitchen!  But for now, I like them on my Easter table!)

My pretty "cheat" cookies that I bought from Super Walmart.  I say "cheat" because I plan on adding them to my homemade Easter treats on Easter Sunday.  I will fess up if anyone asks if I made them, but only if I am asked! 

Simply gorgeous!

Tablescape Thursday @

http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Open House Party @

http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/

Tabletop Tuesday @

http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

Don't forget to check out my CUPCAKE GIVEAWAY!!!  Here is the quick link :

http://cookscleansplayswithpaper.blogspot.com/2011/04/cupcake-giveaway.html

Thanks for visiting!!!

Miscellaneous China =

Chic Spring Tiered Dessert Tray

I can not tell you how thrilled I am to have made this vintage style dessert tray!  I am over the moon!  I bought the Noriaki tea cups (a little chipped and well loved) from a yard sale for a dime a piece last Spring.  The plates also came from a few different yard sales, I doubt I paid more than fifty cents for each one.   

The bottom mug was brown that I spray painted white to lift it a little higher than the rest of the cups, this way it can house cuppy cakes or Napoleans! 

I adhered everything with Gorilla Glue.  Man, I love that stuff!!! 

Not to sure, but I may add something whimsical on the top tier but I have to go thrift hunting first.  Oh, no, did I ust find the perfect excuse to go junk hunting!?!?  Silly me! 

I do have to give credit to Super Walmart for my prop cookies!  The white chocolate covered shortbread cookes were irrestiable with the lime green polka dots!!!  And my boys favorite sugar cookies were a hit with the pastel sprinkles on top!

Liking up with Wow Us Wednesday#10 @ http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

and http://www.houseofhepworths.com/

~Rachel

Pink Vintage Typewriter Cards

I was overjoyed when I found the pink vintage typewriter image on the web last week!  I was inspired to make a few new cards for my collection! 

I used one of my layered crepe paper medallions, cream gross grain ribbon, tickets, a journaling die cut, pearl beads, vintage buttons and the millinery rose.  I think it's perfect! 

And then I used the same typewriter for a more basic card!

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and

Thanks for stopping by!

~Rachel