Refrigerator Clipboard

This post is a little of an continuance from my Meal Planner/Recipe Binder post.

I needed something to help me be a little more organized when I go grocery shopping for the meals I plan.

I wanted something sturdy, cute, and easy to handle for when I go grocery shopping.

I kept seeing these cute embellished clipboards everywhere and it finally dawned on me that that's what I needed!

It's cute on it's own sitting there, but I want to push it's function a little further.

I put a magnet on the back and now it can

hold my grocery list!

I created this list for my meal/shopping needs. The left column has a spot for two weeks worth to put your meals you plan (I like to go grocery shopping only

every other week if I can help it, unless there's an awesome sale going on).

So then where I'm at the store I wont forget what I planned on my cute matching Menu Board I keep in my kitchen.

Here's a free printout if you'd like.

And my Meal Planner Ingredient List.

Same copy from in my Recipe Binder.

Now, if you don't already know, I'm a counponer. I've spend lots of time clipping and organizing coupons in my coupon binder.

This is also nice when I have any loose coupons I plan on using. And for when I print out shopping lists from Pinching Your Pennies.

Then when I'm ready to go to the store I can just take it off the fridge and

I have what I need!

Pen and everything!

If you want to make one it's so easy. And there are so many cute ways to make one too.

I'll show you how I made mine.

Supplies: Clipboard, Mod Podge, paint, scrapbook paper, magnet, ribbon.

Steps:

1) Clean surface of clipboard and paint the edges. I just used black acrylic.

2) Next Mod Podge the clipboard where the scrapbook paper will cover.

3) Select paper, trim to the size you want it then place on clipboard and Mod Podge over the paper.

Be sure to get the edges real good so the paper wont come loose. It's okay to do this all over the paper because the glue will dry clear.

4) Add a magnet on the back if you like.

5) Add any ribbon for a pen, or any other embellishments.

Then it's finished!

Linking to...

A Bowl Full of Lemons
Lil Luna
A Little Tipsy
Not Just A Housewife
Someday Crafts
At The Picket Fence



DIY Cell Phone Case

It was time to jazz up my cell phone.

But didn't realize that the cute cell phone cases were so expensive for my phone.

So by luck I found some clear cases at the dollar store that went to my phone.

Who knows what fun stuff you'll find there!

This craft was so fun and easy I made a few!

I thought these turned out even cuter than the expensive ones you buy at the stores!

You can use up some of your favorite scrap fabrics too!

Here's how to make it.

Supplies: Clear phone case, Mod Podge, sponge brush, scrap fabric, small sharp scissors.

Steps:

1) Find a clear cell phone case that goes to your phone.

 Hopefully you can find one for cheap!

2) Depending on the case I only decorated the back on mine.

Mod Podge it on the inside of the back.

3) Place fabric directly on inside of the back and Mod Podge on fabric.

4) Let it dry a few minutes. The fabric will start to harden a little.

5) Trim the edges as close as you can.

It's easiest to use small sharp scissors.

6) Mod Podge the edges down and trim as needed.

7) Trim any parts that are needed for the phone.

8) Let it dry completely.

9) You're Done!

Finished!

CAUTION: My cases, once put together, were hard to separate without breaking. However, I've used these cases on my IPhone for some time and it holds together real well. I just have to use a case for a while then when I want to change it out I may not be able to use it again. But that's okay cause remember it was only a $1!

Linking to...

A Bowl Full of Lemons
Lil Luna
A Little Tipsy
Not Just A Housewife
Someday Crafts
At The Picket Fence

Meal Planning/Recipe Binder

One of my biggest challenges about life is dinner time.

Cooking is really not one of my passions. I wish it was (husband does too lol), but really I struggle sometimes to get a decent meal on the table.

It's not unusual for me at 5 pm scrambling to figure out what to make for the family. Most of the time I don't have ALL the ingredients I need anyway.

I know I'm not the only one who does this.

Luckily there are many blogs that share their ideas and experiences on this matter that has helped me. (You can check out A Bowl Full of Lemons Linky Party on this for tons of ideas here).

When I don't cook dinner, husband will resort to grilling a steak most of the time, which he likes, and I'll just eat a bowl of cereal or something.

Actually I like to tease him that if all we ever ate for dinner was steak he'd never complain (and I've been tempted to do it too). But eating unplanned meals (and steak) can be real expensive!

However, lately I've been trying to work on this. We all hear the benefits of families actually sitting down and eating dinner together. 

I think it even somehow miraculously makes my cooking taste better when you eat it together as a family.

So to help my planning meals go smoother I felt it was time to create a Recipe Binder.

It's really close to what I read on The Nanny Goat and their AMAZING Favorite 30 Meals Binder. With a little touch

of Clean Mama's as well.

Here's my binder. Isn't it cute? It goes with my country sunflower kitchen.

My creative sister-in-law gave me this for Christmas last year with some of her own recipes typed up. I just added my own recipes to it and made it cutsie inside with scrapbook paper dividers.

 Oh it matches my kitchen oh so nicely.

But the coolest part is how it

helps plan my meals.

So here's how my binder works...

1) Compile the recipes your family will actually eat.

In my binder I have about 40 of our favorite entrees along with favorite sides, desserts, dips etc.

2) Type it up, make a copy, print from a website, tear out of a magazine. Whatever to get it into the binder in sheet protectors.

3) Next for my dinner entrees have a list so you can see it quickly when trying to plan your meals.

It's nice to have it as a quick reference. Then I'll write it on my cute matching Menu Board.

Here's mine. I have all our favorite dinner entrees listed in alphabetical order on an Excel spreadsheet.

In the next columns I listed some healthier options for the meal, summer cooking, and freezer/prep work I need to do.

4) This step is the best part. A chart of ALL the dinner entrees ingredients.

So you can take it to the store and know exactly what you need to get.

I made a few copies, one I keep in my binder and one to take shopping with me. I might make an extra one for the car so when you have those unexpected stops.

Mine is about two pages. I may have it laminated when I get a chance.

This is just how I do my binder. It's a good idea to search other's ideas and see what would work best for your family.

Hopefully this will continue to work for me and my family! It has so far.

Plus I'd love to hear what other tips you great ladies have for planning/making meals!

Linking to...

A Bowl Full of Lemons
Lil Luna
A Little Tipsy
Not Just A Housewife
Someday Crafts
At The Picket Fence



Subway Prayer Art

I try to make prayer a regular part of my daily life. It's a very solemn and personal time for me.

To help me stay focus I even organize my thoughts so to make my prayers a little more meaningful.

So to help organize my thoughts, I thought up of a cute way to display it, or "decor-ganize it", in a Subway Art Fashion.

Then I displayed next to my bed where I'll see it often. It also serves as a little reminder to pray when life gets busy or distracted.

This is more of an outline of how I pray. I fill in the gaps with more of the specific things I need.

Praying is a very personal and sacred act. This outline may differ from how another person would pray.

Respectfully I felt it appropriate to do this craft, and then share with you.

To make a Subway Art Board:

1) Pick a topic of your choice. Then with different fonts and sizes display the words on a board.

2) Since I wanted to stencil mine I used my Cricut to cut out the words and phrases.

The possibilities are limitless on this part, not just a stencil and paint.

3) I got this board from the DI and painted it with acrylic paint.

4) Since stenciling letters can be tricky here's a tip. Use a spray adhesive evenly on the back and let it dry for 5 minutes before applying it to the surface.

It will remain slightly tacky and will help the stencil stay in place. It should still come off easily when done.

5) Place stencil on surface.

 6) I also had to individually glue on the holes in the letters. I didn't do it on all of them, just the ones that were larger or looked real funny if I didn't.

I used a scrapbook glue to do this part.

7) Next take a different acrylic paint color and a sponge brush and start painting.

Get your brush just barley wet with the paint and dab lightly. Too much paint and/or pressure will cause it to smear under parts you don't it want to.

Do light dabs over one part and let dry a little while you move to another part. Then go back till you're satisfied with the look.

8) When finished let dry and remove stencil.

It's a good idea to practice a few times...

1st attempt

2nd attempt

You can see that it's smudgy in lots of parts. I just used some cardboard to practice these ones on.

Good thing the 3rd time was a charm!

Thank you.

Linking to...

A Bowl Full of Lemons
Lil Luna
A Little Tipsy
Not Just A Housewife
Someday Crafts
At The Picket Fence