The Gingerbread Blog: July 2012

July 31, 2012

5 Things Tuesday >> Washi Tape Crafts

"The number 5 is my favorite, hence my need to pick 5 things that tickle my fancy every Tuesday"

I have been loving the washi tape trend for a while now. What was once a hard to find item is now available at Target! Everyone can grab a roll and craft it up! It makes everything cute and happy. Today's 5 Things Tuesday are all washi tape themed!

These necklace pendants are perfect for summer!

By: Kimono Reincarnate

I love this bunting, what an easy way to decorate a mirror, gift or window.

By: Think Crafts

Is it wrong to be thinking about Christmas in July...

I think I need to stock up on red and green tape ASAP. :)

By: Frog Prince Paperie

I'm in love with this window full of vases. I love the soft pink tape with pieces of doily accents.

By: Glitter and Gold

Swooning over these deer! I think these would be great for a nursery.

By: Clever Thursday

Are you ready to bust out your jar of tape...

We could have fun.

april

xoxo

July 30, 2012

Sweet Saturday Link Party V.49 >> Features

Happy Monday! Thank you to everyone who linked up their crafty goodness, recipes and projects.

Here are the features from last week:

Washi Tape Planner (free printables)

By: This Girls Life

Cherry Limade Recipe

By: Seven Year Cottage

Map Lampshade

By: Creative Passage

Pink Ombre Mini Cakes

By: Baking with Blondie

Bathroom Mirror Transformation

By: The Abundant Abode

AND....

The most viewed link was:

Raspberry Cream Dessert Shooters

By: Meaningful Mama

Congrats to those featured, feel free to grab the button below to post on your blog!

Happy Crafting!
april
xoxo

Oh Happy Day Hoop Giveaway >> Take the Cannoli

I am so excited to bring you a sweet slice of the nicest girl I have met in a long time. I met Natalie at the Elevate conference a few weeks ago and I instantly felt like she was someone I wanted to be friends with. Besides her sweet personality and vintage style she has an amazingly big heart that shows through in everything she does.

Natalie blogs about her family, her ridiculously cute shop full of hoop art and the Lord. I know if you stop by and say "hello" you will be as smitten with her as I am!

Let's show Nat some love:

Hey there Gingerbread fans! I'm Nat from over at Take the Cannoli. I love miss April and was stoked to be part of her happy space today! I will also be giving away a lil somtin' somtin' from my shop but wanted you to get to know me a wee bit first!
Of course everyday is a new day. Some days are fabulous and some require extra mascara to accentuate the only thing I have going for me when I’m still rockin' the leggings I slept in when my hubs returns home from work. Though I have no idea what each day will bring I do know God is faithful and good.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says” Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are New Every Morning; great is Thy faithfulness”

And so I blog. About the everyday. The good, bad and sometimes ugly. You’ll find touches of crafts, fashion, DIY and if I’m feeling really spunky I may even toss in a recipe here and there.

Through blogging I have opened up about life as a stay-at-home mama (the joys and sorrows) and talk about both the struggles and triumphs I have gone through. This new year has already been amazing and I have been blessed by new friendships (like Miss April) and opportunities through this blog. I have gained perspective on who I used to be, discovered who I am now, and glimpsed the woman I am becoming.

I also own a little shop filled with hand-stitched lovelies (a.k.a embroidered hoop art) which has kind of become my therapeutic outlet. The pieces in my collection are inspired by affirmations, scriptures, hymns and any other little thing that bring me joy. My hope is that these hoops will be a blessing to others as they are displayed in homes, craft rooms and workspaces.

And speaking of these lil' ol hoops I'm going to be giving away this little treasure to one lucky Gingerbread reader!

but that's not all! I am offering FREE SHIPPING on all items listed in my shop until August 2nd

just use discount code

SUMMERLOVE

I hope you'll stop by for a visit and Good Luck on the giveaway!!

Wouldn't you love to win this hand sewn hoop...
I only wish I could enter! :)
april
xoxo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

July 27, 2012

Sweet Saturday Link Party V.49

HELLO! It's that time again to show yourself off and link up the crafty, recipe or DIY goodness you have been up to this week. Look out for features on Monday, that's the new day to see if your project was highlighted!

Here are the details:

Please link up your crafty, yummy or DIY post, not your blog address.

If you could include the button from the sidebar or link back to gingerbread, that would be great.

Comment on other friends' post, comments are sweet!

Every week I will highlight a few projects from the previous week, so you can check back next week to see if you were featured!

Thank you so much for sharing your artsy goodness, I love seeing your creative projects!

Thank you so much!

Ok, let's see what you have to share!

april

xoxo

July 26, 2012

Recipe >> Potato Candy

Potato what...
I know, if you haven't actually eaten potato candy you are probably wondering what in the heck I'm talking about. Growing up I had an extended family member who would always bring potato candy to every holiday function, and although I had no idea how it was made I always looked forward to eating it up. As times changed and I grew up I lost touch with that family member and forgot about my favorite treat. For some strange reason I while I was researching new recipe ideas I remembered potato candy. After searching online I found this recipe and knew I had to make it for myself.
I was amazed at how easy the recipe was and how I was totally transported back in time when I ate it, and by that I mean the entire plate. :) My heart was full when the boys loved it and asked me to make more. Full circle people, full circle. It's sort of like Abba Zabba but more of a fudge consistency. Make it now and thank me later!

You will need:
> 1\2 cup mashed potatoes, mashed really well
> 5 cups powdered sugar
> 1 teaspoon vanilla
> 1\4 teaspoon salt
> 4 tablespoons (about) peanut butter

1. Mix mashed potatoes, vanilla and salt in a large bowl.
2. Add one cup of powdered sugar at a time, kneading into a dough like consistency.
3. Divide you mixture in half and place each dough ball onto a piece of wax paper.
4. Roll out your dough into a semi-thin layer
5. Spread a thin layer of creamy peanut butter onto your dough
6. Very gently roll your dough up into a loaf and wrap in wax paper
7. Let your loaf sit in the refrigerator for about an hour or two
8. Unwrap an cut into 1 inch slices

ENJOY!
This recipe would be great for the holiday season as part of a sweet treat gift, although I think it's a new monthly staple of the Orozco home. :)
april
xoxo

P.S. >> The winner of the SHOPgingerbread giveaway is Jen M. Shoot me an email girl!

July 25, 2012

Tutorial >> T-Shirt Beaded Necklace

A few weeks ago I posted a tutorial for this beaded necklace, and after seeing another great t-shirt tutorial here I wanted to add more neck candy to my collection. This craft is really easy and only takes a few minutes!

You will need:
> Hot Glue Gun
> T-Shirt
> Scissors
> Beads

First things first, cut 3 strips from your t-shirt that are about 1 inch wide.

Pull your t-shirt at each end to stretch the fabric, then cut at one end so you have one long strip of fabric.

1. Arrange your t-shirt strips according to the length you want your necklace to be. Your necklace can have multiple layers of beads.
2. Fasten your beads by tying knots on each side of your beads.
3. Tie the ends of the t-shirt strips into a double knot. Then use a scrap piece of t-shirt material to cover the knots. I just wrapped it around the knot and used my hot glue gun to fasten it tight.

This necklace is super casual and summery.
Enjoy!
april
xoxo

July 24, 2012

5 Things Tuesday >> Awesome Free Printables

"The number 5 is my favorite, hence my need to pick 5 things that tickle my fancy every Tuesday"

Do you love free stuff...

I know right, these lovelies are just waiting to be printed out and used for the perfect craft project! They can be used for birthday gifts or holiday activities. Today's 5 Things Tuesday is comprised of my favorite designs that can be printed out by YOU!

These happy invitations could be used for a birthday party, play date or girls day out.

"Let's Picnic" Invitation

By: Eat Drink Chic

These bags would be perfect for giving sweets to neighbors or during the holidays.

Candy Bags

By: The Pretty Blog

My 11 year old would love this map that can be made and played with.

Jigsaw Puzzle Map

By: Mr. Printables

These mason jar labels and tags are on my list for Christmas when I always bake goodies as gifts for the family.

"Yummy From My Pantry" Labels

By: The Pretty Blog

Are you looking to organize your pantry...

These mason jar labels are perfect to pretty up your kitchen while making your life easier!

Pantry Labels

By: Lime Shot

Are you ready to turn on your printer...

I know, me to!

Happy Tuesday.

april

July 23, 2012

Sweet Saturday Link Party V.48 >> Features

Happy Monday! Thank you to everyone who linked up their crafty goodness, recipes and projects.

Here are the features from last week:

Beach Cottage Corner

By: Alderberry Hill

Hot Crab Dip

By: Will Cook For Smiles

Bathroom Makeover

By: Creatively Living

Bell Pepper Dip Scoops

By: Make The Best Of Everything

AND the most viewed link was....

Pom Pom Clothespins

By: Crafting and Creativity

Congrats to those featured, feel free to crab the button below to post on your blog!

Happy crafting friends!

april

xoxo

July 20, 2012

Sweet Saturday Link Party V.48

Here are the details:

Please link up your crafty, yummy or DIY post, not your blog address.

If you could include the button from the sidebar or link back to gingerbread, that would be great.

Comment on other friends' post, comments are sweet!

Every week I will highlight a few projects from the previous week, so you can check back next week to see if you were featured!

Thank you so much for sharing your artsy goodness, I love seeing your creative projects!

Thank you so much!

Ok, let's see what you have to share!

april

xoxo

July 19, 2012

Recipe >> Make & Freeze Breakfast Sandwiches

I am sooooo not a morning person. I could easily put the kids to bed and stay up until midnight blogging, crafting, reading or just watching T.V.. This routine makes it like impossible to wake up and be a good little wifey and make breakfast for the hubs. I would love to, but it's just so not gonna happen!
I thought a happy compromise would be these freezable breakfast sandwiches that can made in bulk, frozen and baked or microwaved when eaten. You can make them to your liking....with sausage, ham, bacon or tofu instead of eggs or meat. They are delish and super easy.

You will need:
> Eggs
> English Muffins
> Sliced Cheese
> Pre-sliced round ham or sausage
> Butter spray
> Cupcake tin

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spray your muffin tin with butter spray and drop one egg in each well. Bake at 300 degrees for about 25-30 minutes or until completely cooked.
2. While your eggs are baking toast your English muffins.
3. Your eggs should slide very easily from the muffin tin. Let cool and assemble your breakfast sandwiches. Wrap them in freezer paper and store in an air tight container.

I can't wait to steal one of these in the morning and enjoy with a cup of coffee! Next time I'm going to double the recipe for sure.
april
xoxo

Giveaway >> SHOPgingerbread Accessory Galore

Happy Thursday! I thought it would be fun to share a giveaway with y'all! You may or may not know that I love to make hair clips and headbands. It's a hobby that I don't share much on the bloggy blog, but I spend a few nights a week creating hair lovelies and listing them on my ETSY shop.
Today I giving away a few of my favorites. One winner will receive two hair clips, one bobby pin set and one set of earrings. Swoon, I know!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway will run until Wednesday and the winner will be chosen at random. The weekend is almost here friends, get excited!aprilxoxo

July 18, 2012

Faqs & Notions

Some people wonder:

"why blog"

"How did you become a blogger"

"How do you come up with ideas"

"What inspires you"

"When do you find time to blog"

"Have you always been a crafter"

I thought answering these types of questions would let you become better acquainted with the "person behind the blog". Here goes.

Why I blog:

I love sharing ideas and learning from other people. Blogging is just a larger venue for meeting new people and getting a glimpse as to what others are creating.

How did you become a blogger:

I started following a few craft blogs a few years ago after my husband and I bought our town home. I had a home to decorate, furnish and fix up on a limited budget. I found that blogs were a wealth of ideas, advice and inspiration. After following blogs I thought I would start one myself, and the rest is history.

How do you come up with ideas\what inspires you:

I find inspiration in the most random places! Sometimes I will be eating with my boys at McDonald's and I will get an idea. Weird I know! I keep a running list on my Ipod Touch of potential projects so I don't forget. Which I'm kind of know for. I also find inspiration at thrift stores, the library and magazines. I was shocked by how many craft magazines their are at Barnes and Noble! Those puppies are expensive, so just buy a coffee, sit down and thumb through them for a bit. No harm no foul.

When do you find time to blog:

My first job is as a stay at home mom. So any crafts, DIY projects or posts have to be worked on around the kids schedule. Sometimes that means after they go to bed or while they are playing outside with the hubs. I make it work.

Have you always been a crafter:

Yes, I have always been a lover of crafts. I can remember my mom making my gifts for Christmas. She would cross stitch, sew and make fabric covered tin can desk sets. If they had blogs back then hers would have been VERY successful. She definitely exposed me to a handmade lifestyle!

People question why I blog all the time, and I totally get it. I spend a lot of time on Gingerbread, it's like my third child, but I love all of the wonderful women I have "met". I wouldn't have it any other way.

How do you find inspiration...

april

xoxo

July 17, 2012

Tutorial >> Watercolor Greeting Cards

I love the whimsical feeling of watercolor paintings. They make any picture look fresh and happy! I had an idea to make greeting\note cards using white crayon writing and watercolor paints. As a former Kindergarten teacher I can remember seeing my students be amazed at how their "secret" messages written in white crayon could be shown by painting over them with watercolor. The crayon blocks the paint from being absorbed into the paper thus giving you your written message. These sweet notes can be written on blank white cards, full sheets of paper or even gift tags. No matter the size the only thing they need to be is on white paper.

My boys loved this project and I thought it would be perfect for the upcoming holiday season. Perhaps painted in holiday colors for gift giving.

Enjoy!
april
xoxo

5 Things Tuesday >> Ways To Display Your Instagram Photos

"The number 5 is my favorite, hence my need to pick 5 things that tickle my fancy every Tuesday"

It's no secret that I love Instagram. Like a lot, but after clicking away for a few weeks you very quickly realize you have hundreds of pictures, and finding a place for those little pieces of heaven can be tricky. I use PostalPix to print my Instagram photos and I have been very happy with their service. I would totally call that "happy mail"!
Today's 5 Things Tuesday are all ideas you can use to display your Instagram pictures.

Here are two ways I show off my photos in my home:

I looove clipboards, so I thought hanging one on my collage wall in my living room would be great. I just used washi tape and voila, a happy photo display!

My mom found this chippy wood window at a garage sale and I had the hubs hang it in the dining room. Then I taped, again with washi tape, my favorite Instagram pictures up in each glass square. Swoon!

Here are a few more ideas I found from my favorite blogs:

Picture Frame Display

By: Steamy Kitchen

Photo Collage

By: A Beautiful Mess

Heart Shaped Collage

By: Where My Heart Resides

Any creative way you choose to display your pictures will make good use of your snapshots. Some of my favorite pictures are captured from my regular daily routine with the kids. I love snapping them playing, acting goofy or just taking a nap.

Keep it simple and have fun!

april

xoxo

July 16, 2012

Sweet Saturday Link Party V.47 >> Features

Happy Monday! Thank you to everyone who linked up their crafty goodness, recipes and projects. I was blown away by having over 100 links! Rad.

Here are the features from last week: