A Ruffle is a Ruffle is a Ruffle

This crazy contraption attached to my sewing machine is called a ruffler.

 Just in case you weren't sure from the name, it makes ruffles...and it does it's job really well I might add! After multiple failed attempts at making ruffles following some online tutorials, I asked for this little beauty crazy looking contraption for Christmas. It has taken me almost a whole month to figure it out, but I finally got a few SUPER cute ruffles made.

 As the {really loud} ruffler was working, my head was swirling with all the possibilities. The first project on my list was some pretty Valentine dish towels, then I thought I might move on to a ruffled camera strap or one of the cute ruffled clutches that I have seen on other blogs. But thanks to my ruffler and this broken needle:

...all those ideas will have to stay in my head until I find my replacement needles!

I think my sewing machine hates me!

Miscellany Monday

ONE:

We love Krispy Kreme...

 not only because their hot donuts are addictive and their sprinkle donuts are fun, but also because they are SUPER generous! Did you know that Krispy Kreme gives kids free donuts for making good grades! How cool is that:) For every A on your child's report card, Krispy Kreme lets them pick out any donut of their choice. We came home with 6 free donuts...and sadly this yummy sprinkle donut is the only one left. I think Henry is saving it for an after school snack:)

 We also LOVE Krispy Kreme because of their fun hats that seem to endlessly entertain two year olds. Eli has been wearing his hat nonstop since we got it yesterday after lunch...except when he was sleeping and it was sitting on the table right next to his bed:)

TWO:

Jason spent last weekend and part of this weekend working on a few projects around the house. If I can manage to get a decent picture of the tiny space that is our foyer, I will share the new moldings and 'board and batten' type woodwork that he added. And I also need some advice on the piece of furniture the currently resides in my foyer, so get ready to share your ideas for adding a little pizazz to an old wooden entry table:)

THREE:

Henry and Grant are both escorting girls in our elementary school's pageant in a few weeks. They weren't too keen on the idea at first, but then the promise of a few gifts made them change their minds:) I'm just hoping they don't get stage fright once the lights are shining on them!

FOUR:

It's Monday morning again...which means my house is a wreck! I'm not sure how it always gets this bad over the weekend...there is stuff piled up all over the kitchen, the playroom is a total wreck, the boys need clean uniforms for school tomorrow, and I'm pretty sure there is a layer of dust {some from the construction Jason has been doing} two inches thick in living room! I think I need a Monday morning maid:)

Sweet and Simple Valentine

I'm pretty sure the cashier at Walmart thought I was a little crazy when I loaded more than 50 Tootsie Roll banks onto the conveyor belt the day after Christmas. The thing is, I knew from the moment that I saw these 50% off beauties that they would make awesome Valentine's Day treats for my boys to take to school:)

 All I needed to add was some really cute Valentine themed scrapbook paper from the Dollar Spot at Target and little bit of tulle {left over from Christmas wrapping}. I measured my Tootsie Roll bank {fyi mine was about 3 3/4 inches tall and 8 1/4 in circumference} and then used my paper cutter to cut the paper to the right size.

 I used a little bit of spray adhesive to stick the paper to the Tootsie Roll bank. You could also simply wrap the paper around the bank and tape it in place. Here's another little tip: When I  use spray adhesive, I almost always put down an old sales magazine to catch the overspray. When you spray one page, simple turn the page and you have a fresh surface for the next time. I have literally been using the same sales magazine for almost a year!

 Wrap the Tootsie Roll bank with your paper making sure to cover as much of the original packaging as possible.

 Add some cute ribbon or coordinating tulle and a heart shaped name tag, and your kiddos will be ready to pass out their sweet and simple Valentine's at school!