Tie a Perfect Bow

Have you ever had trouble getting your bows to look just so? Well, there is a strategy to tying a perfect bow. Here's how I tie mine...

I always start it out with the right side crossing over the left, so that I end up looping it over and down behind with my right hand.

 Then I make a loop by folding the right strand under itself (with the excess ribbon hanging down from thumb).

Now I lay the top/left ribbon over the other loop and tuck it up through the right side. *TIP- The key is to make sure the ribbon stays as FLAT as possible the whole time.

Then I pull the loops tight to finish the bow.

Don't forget to fluff the loops of the wider ribbons to make them look full and finished!

You can also form a perfect bow without tying it around something. Just cut a piece of ribbon, longer than you need but not too much to waist.

Being conscience of where the middle of the ribbon is, I make a flat loop (with one half of the ribbon)  around the back of my right finger, leaving the long part hanging behind. Then I hold it in place with my thumb and index finger.

With my left hand, I bring the long part up (from behind), up and over my fingers and other loop, to the front. 

Then I tuck it up under the right one (just like I mentioned above) and finish it off.

I'm sure to pull nice and tight, and always have to play with it a little bit to make sure the loops are even. Then I trim off excess ribbon at the ends to give it a uniform, finished look.

*TIP- Depending on the size (width) of the ribbon I'm using, it will determine how big or small to make the bow. (They always look best if the sizes coordinate.)

Pin It

LEGO Table

Our daughter's birthday is today. I'm so excited to surprise her with this LEGO Table I made for her. She is a Lego fanatic. She is always coming up with or asking for ideas to build wonderful Lego creations.


This is her current one-a little small.


This is her new one- a better surface to build. This one measures 40" x 60".


I got this coffee table from the second hand store(goodwill).


I framed out the top board with some molding wood. Secure the top piece to the table with wood glue & brad (finishing)nails -I used my air compressor nail gun. remember to fill the nail holes with wood putty & then sand it.


Its ready to paint.


Painted & sealed(with a spray clear coat).


I used this adhesive( at Home Depot) to put down the Lego boards(found at ToysRus but they are online also). TIP: Don't use this in the heat of the day. I learned the hard way & had to reglue the boards.


I used some Legos to hold the boards together for perfect spacing.


Done. [I would like to add some vinyl lettering with building/Lego words-if I do I'll post the pic] Pin It

Swimming Pool Birthday Cake

For my son's 10th birthday 2 weeks ago, he had chosen to do a pool party. So I looked online for cake ideas, and was inspired by Google Images and Berry Blue Jell-o!!

I found a how-to video HERE...

This cake was so much fun and easy to make! Here is what I used for mine:

-2 White Cake Mixes (each made by adding 1/4 c inst. vanilla pudding, 1 1/4 c milk, 1/2 c veg. oil, 4 eggs, and a tsp of vanilla) and baked in 9x13 pans

-2 Boxes (4 serving size) Berry Blue Jell-O + 2 c boiling water

-Buttercream Frosting

-Food Coloring (opt.)

-Candy, Polly Pocket dolls, Paper umbrellas, wafer cookies, etc.

I did some things differently than the lady on the video...

I baked my cakes ahead of time and froze them overnight. I layered 2 cakes on top of one another. I tried and failed the first time with the "quick set" ice method for the jello. My advice is to let the jello cool to room temp, then poor into cake pool and refrigerate. I tinted the frosting a light gray color for around the pool. Polly Pockets are a perfect fit for this cake!

Pin It

{St. Patrick's Day} Wreath

I found a mini wreath idea in the Family Fun Magazine (2009) & realized that it would be a cute Door Wreath to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.


I had some green sweaters(you could purchase some at the second hand store) to cut up into 3"x3" squares.


Use pliers to pull apart the "neck" of a clothes wire hanger.


Fold the suqares into triangles & thread them onto the hanger. [To fill the whole hanger I only used 3 sweaters.]


Close the hanger by reattaching the "neck". Now its ready to hang.


We are LUCKY to have such cute door "beauties" to welcome in Friends & Family.


Pin It

Cozy Wreath

I was about to give these sweaters a new home to the second hand store & realized the sleeves would work great for this Valentine's Day Wreath.


Start with this foam wreath(12 inches)


1-Cut through the foam wreath


2-Cut all the sleeves (& cuffs) off of the sweaters.


3-Its so cute, now I want to wear this as a sweater vest (I just need to sew the cut edges)


4-Place 1 sleeve with the right side facing inside the other sleeve that is wrong side facing & sew.


5-Keep doing this until it forms a long "tube".


6-After turning the tube inside out, inch the sweater sleeve tube onto the foam wreath. Apply a dab of glue to adhere the ends together. (I used 2 inch painters tape to hold it together while the glue dries).


7-Whip stitch the open ends together.


8-On the back side apply a few dabs of glue & straight pins to hold the sweater tube in place.


Ready to hang!



Pin It

{GIVE THANKS} Banner

I love how banners are so festive. This Thanksgiving Day Banner was last years project so I'm thankful to get it done(even if its a week before the big day).

Our Familys'


Pottery Barns' (sorry for the picture-couldn't find it on their website).


My friend Hilarys'

How to:

1-Cut your fabric & backing (7"x9 1/2"). Sew around edge. Leave a small opening at the top on each side for the ribbon/rope to go thru to hang.


2-Cut freezer paper to 8 1/2"x11" so that it will fit in your printer. Pick one of your fonts & print it on the freezer paper(normal plain paper setting). TIP: I had to roll the freezer paper the other way so it would lay semi flat in the printer tray.


3-Iron the letter onto your fabric. Then cut out. Peal off the freezer paper.


4-Pin the letter to fabric flag & stitch around. [I guess my brain decided to not think correctly- I had to glue it. I would do the stitching of your letter to the top fabric then stitch it to the backing] Attach all banner flags to a ribbon or rope(I only had fabric so I sewed some together to form a long "ribbon"). Hang up.


I love that all month long you can display the words "giving thanks" but on turkey day you could display the word "thanksgiving".
Pin It