some cake plates

This poppy design cake or dessert plate is truly a beauty! Below is a close up of the beautiful green center.

Click on the pictures to get a good look at the intricate design on this cake or dessert plate, it is one of my favorites! Below is a close up of the center design.

Dessert anyone?

the intent to {someday} be awesome!

Okay, so until I get a replacement camera I will be sharing with you links to things I've found, tried and LOVED! Oh the Internet is a wonderful wealth of ideas for the a crafter, homemaker and someone just trying to live a bit more frugally like so many of us are these days.

Amy at Crazy Craft Bugs introduced me to making my own HOMEMADE dish detergent! It all started the other day when I realized we were out of dish detergent AND out of the dough to buy some more (we're on a cash system that I LOVE...more about that later!). I had pinned her idea on my pinterest pinboard with the intent to {someday} be as awesome as her....well that time was staring me in the face. I actually had everything but the citric acid on hand and that made it almost free! Instead of using citric acid I bought the 15 packets of lemon kool-aid instead (a whopping $4 spent).

Homemade dish detergent:

1 cup Borax (found on the laundry isle of any Target or Walmart)

1 cup Washing Soda (also found on the laundry isle)

1 cup Kosher Salt

1/2 cup citric acid, I've seen this in my local health food store in the bulk section, or 15 packets of lemon Kool-aid, make sure it's the unsweetened kind (or you can use 'Fresh Fruit' found on the canning isle.)

Mix all ingredients in a container and there you have it your very own homemade dish detergent!...yay I did it but I'm unsure that my status has changed from average Jen to awesome Amy.

p.s. over at Being Creative they have a similar recipe AND a fun find for storing you dish detergent. I saw these containers at both Target and Walmart.

Woohoo for saving some BUCK$ and WOW was it simple! Amy has some great ways for us to save some $$ along with fun craft ideas as well!

Kids picnic table

So about a month ago my son and I were shopping when he came across a kids picnic table that he REALLY wanted, the only problem was the price tag. $80.00!!!! Sorry kid, I love ya but it isn't going to happen right now. I knew that it wouldn't be a hard build so I promised that I would make one.

I am so bad about getting 'in progress' pictures, by the time I remembered I was practically done with the build.

The original plan I started with only had a 31" long tabletop. My four year old wouldn't be able to sit more than one more friend at the table with him. I realized that I would be altering these plans for sure!

Another view, here you can see the under support which wasn't in the original plans. I felt it necessary to add this with the length added to the top. I also wanted to add an umbrella and felt that the lower support would be helpful with the umbrella as well.

 My four year old enjoying the table before the umbrella addition.

 Finished product!! I'm so happy with how it turned out, I even like it more than the table we found at Cost Plus World Market.

table dimensions

Tabletop: 41" wide by 18 1/4" deep

Overall depth: 34"

Height (without umbrella): 18 3/4"

 Happy Crafting!