Pincushion Jars- How To (and a jar winner!)

Several people asked for directions so I made a few more jars and took pictures along the way.

To make one jar you will need:

-a jar (any size will do but you probably want a rather short one). I really like these cute new wide-mouth jars)

-a 6 inch x 6 inch piece of fabric

-a piece of cardstock (in a color that matches your fabric)

-batting or cotton balls (I used batting the first time, cotton balls the second- like the batting better)

-a pencil

-a glue gun

-scissors

1. Take the lid off of your jar. Trace it on the cardstock and cut it out.

2. Lay your piece of fabric face down on the table on top of the ring of the lid. Place cotton balls or batting on top of fabric- inside of ring. Try to arrange balls or batting with the most in the center of the ring.

3. Place lid on top of cotton- and press down to push cotton through the lid ring.

4. Holding the bottom, carefully turn lid over to check to make sure the cotton is arranged correctly. You will want to adjust it so that there aren’t too many gathers in one place and so that the cotton isn't bunched up.

5. Carefully holding the lid- flip it back over. Pull one small section back and use glue gun to place a small amount of glue close to the inside edge of the lid. Quickly and carefully (so you don't burn yourself) glue down the piece of fabric- pulling tight. Continue in the same manner to glue down the rest of the fabric- checking often to make sure that the fabric isn't bunching up.

6. Once you are finished gluing you will have some excess fabric remaining. Cut off any fabric that is sticking up. This will help your cardstock to lay flat when you glue it on.

7. Take cardstock circle and cover one side completely with glue. Carefully flip it on to bottom of lid and press down firmly. You need to press as hard as possible because if you don't- your lid will be too fat and will not close. (Trust me.................I learned this the hard way)

And that's all there is to it! Now just fill it and embellish it as you would like!

If you are interested in making a Joy Jar let me know. I'd be happy to share the verses and quotes I included in the one I made.

And the WINNER of the jar is..........................

My sweet friend Shannon!

Shannon, you can choose any of the jars pictured in this post or in the first post I made. Just let me know which one you would like and I'll bring it to you this weekend!

The Stool

I hate to admit this but I'm a girl that likes to be in control.

I like things to go

the way I want them to,

when I want them to,

and how I want them to.

Sadly,

although I

KNOW KNOW KNOW

I should,

I don't always allow God to be in control of my life.

Sometimes I get so caught up

taking care of things

and people

and stuff

that I forget to stop

and remember the One who is truly in control.

Yet thankfully God

is good

and faithful

and merciful

and patient

and He places gentle reminders in my path.

Reminders like this.......................

Too much............

A Few of My Favorite Things

I'm always coming across things online that I would love to have.

99% of the time I don't order these fabulous things I find, but I do file them away in a wish list folder. Every once in awhile I'll go to the folder and order something.

Here are a few of my favorite things right now:

This super cute plaid skirt



This fabulous home book

This yummy cookbook


This adorable apron

This sweet t-shirt with a great message

Baby Quiches

I made these for a breakfast at school this past week and they were a huge hit. They are a neat little bite-sized breakfast treat!

1 can crescent rolls
2-3 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup milk
1/2 t salt
1/4 t Worcestershire sauce
3/4 cup shredded Swiss or cheddar cheese
6-8 strips cooked bacon, crumbled

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Roll out crescent dough and, using a biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass, cut out enough rounds to fill your muffin tin. (I used my mini muffin tins but you could use a large muffin tin if you prefer) Press into muffin tin. In a small bowl, combine eggs, milk, and Worcestershire. Pour into prepared pan, and sprinkle with crumbled bacon and cheese. Bake about 20 minutes, or until the egg has set and a knife inserted into a quiche comes out clean. Let cool, and serve. Using my mini muffin tins I made 36 little muffins.

Multiple Choice

I played a game with one of my sixth grade classes yesterday. It was a quiz that covered the muscular system, the skeletal system, and the circulatory system. The questions were given in a multiple choice format and a short amount of time was given before for us to answer before a point penalty was received.

As soon as I read the question, the students would call out A, B, or C. I would then click on whatever answer the majority had chosen.

We had been playing for a few minutes when a question came up that asked:

What is the largest muscle in the human body?

The answer choices were:

A. Gluteus maximus
B. Tricep
C. Bicep

A few students were not sure what a gluteus maximus was so the answers were varied and a little hesitant at first.

And then B, a fun and high spirited, husky young man yelled out:

Well I don't know about y'all but my largest muscle is definitely my A!

After a moment of silence-while they all waited to see how I would react- we all fell out laughing!

Bless his heart- he turned red as a beet and he said:

NO NO NO NO I meant my A. Gluteus maximus, NOT my A-blankety-blank!

Randomness on a Thursday Morning

It's been a crazy busy week so of course my mind is overflowing with all sorts of random.

1. So many of you asked for details on how to make the pincushion jars that I'll make some more this weekend and takes pictures and post them with the directions. I'll also have Madison draw a winner for the giveaway.

2. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that my sweet Maddie left a comment on my blog. What a sweet surprise! She's such a cutie- every morning when we get to school and she logs on one of the computers in my classroom, she opens and reads my blog. How sweet is that? I love that girl to pieces- and don't worry........she will be getting her very own, extra-special Joy Jar!

3. There are only 26 more days of school. TWENTY-SIX!!!!

4. Madison and I are listening to the book "The Penny" by Joyce Meyer on CD and it is FABULOUS! Such a difficult, painful, precious, and touching story. One of my favorite quotes so far is........" What someone says, says a lot more about the person saying it, than about the person it is being said to." So true. So very true.

5. This post.......Our Pile of Stones.......is absolutely beautiful and such a great reminder that God is faithful. Always.

6. There are only 26 more days of school. TWENTY-SIX!!!!

7. Have I mentioned lately that I LOVE my new camera? Well I do. I have so much to learn about it but am already thrilled with what great pictures it takes!

I love these two people- my sweet Daddy and my sweet Maddie!

8. One of my favorite food blogs is Culinary Concoctions by Peabody. I am going to have to make these Marshmallow Crunch Brownie Bars soon. They look so stinkin' YUMMY!


9. Have I mentioned that there are only 26 more days of school? TWENTY-SIX!! Woo stinkin' HOO!

Jars, Jars, and More Jars (and a Giveaway!)

A few weeks ago I saw a tutorial online for making a cute little pincushion jar here.

I thought..........OH how cute and easy....I could do that!

And so after a quick trip to the fabric store for some cute fabric and Wal-mart for some jars- I got to work. I followed the tutorial exactly the first time- and then made a few adjustments for the other jars I made. (If you are interested in making some- let me know and I'll tell you the changes I made)

I decided to make 2 pin cushion jars with tall tops and 2 with shorter tops to use for other things.

I filled one of the pin cushion jars with pins

and the other with some old buttons.

I had several ideas for the other two jars but decided to make one Jar full of Joy and a Blessings Jar.

The Jar full of Joy is a jar full of some of my favorite Bible verses and quotes- things to inspire and encourage.

The Blessing Jar is a jar full of rocks. On each rock you write the name of someone or something that is a blessing to you. This jar would be great for one of those days when you are feeling down - to remind you how blessed you truly are!

These jars were so easy and so cute and so versatile by just changing the fabric that I thought of a few other ideas for them.......

.........they would be cute as a centerpiece on a table at a party- with a cute paper letter on the top of each one- to spell out the persons name or the occasion

..........as jars to hold items in the bathroom or a baby's room (q-tips, cotton balls, etc)

........as candy jars

The ideas are endless!!!

These little jars were so easy and fun to make- I wanted to give one away!

So.........just leave me a comment and tell me which one you like the best and I'll pick a winner to share one with.

Monday Morning Question of the Day

Last Monday it was so interesting to read what everyone has NEVER done.

(I've also never broken a bone but am always scared to say that- for fear I will!)

Most people mentioned something they have never done and never wanted to do.

So I thought this week I would ask.............

What is something you have NEVER done but that you would LOVE to do?

I'll start...........

I've NEVER gone for a ride in a hot air balloon and I would LOVE to!

What about you?

Pretty Please?

I'm working on a little project-

that I promise to share soon-

but first, I need your help.

What are you favorite quotes?

What quotes make you feel inspired, joyful, and hopeful?

What quotes make you laugh?

What quotes make you take stock of your life?

What quotes give you perspective?

Will you please share them with me?

Pretty please?

Things on my Desk

As I was preparing for a sub for today and tidying up around my classroom, I started wondering what people would think if they could see some of the things on and around my desk.

And I wondered.........doesn't everyone have this kind of stuff?


Stuff like.....................

Silly glasses with a big red nose?

A skeleton wearing Mickey Mouse ears that light up?


A pink pig flashlight that oinks?
(Isn't he cute?)

A mummy that I have been asked countless times by both children and adults if it is real?
(Like I would really have a dead person on my wall?)


A hamburger from McDonald's purchased in Oct. of 2007?
(one of 5 hamburgers)

A pair of BIG girl panties?

(because you never know when you are going to need to put them on!)

So what's the most random thing you have laying around your desk or office?

The Home Run

This is a precious story about character and sportsmanship.

Be warned- you will want to have a Kleenex before you watch it!

You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. ~James D. Miles~

Monday Morning Question of the Day

What's one thing that most people do that you have NEVER EVER done?

I'll start......

I have NEVER used a snooze button. EVER.

What about you?

He Has Risen!

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.

Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
~Matthew 28:6~

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me,though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believethin me shall never die.

Believest thou this?

~John 11:25-26~

Happy Resurrection Day!

Easter Deal or NO Deal?

Since she is an only child, Easter egg hunts at our house have not been much fun for Madison. Hunting for eggs by yourself is just not super exciting.

So several years ago I came up with a new fun way for her to giver her the chance to play on Easter afternoon- and it's one the whole family enjoys. Plus it's easy and fun!

Instead of hunting for eggs, we play an Easter version of the Deal or No Deal game

Here's how it works:

I took 30 eggs and with a black sharpie, labeled them 1-30.

On slips of paper I wrote money amounts- from 25 cents to $20.00 and placed one in each egg.

I set the plastic eggs out on the floor in numerical order and we play the game much like they do on TV.

Madison chooses an egg and holds it- but does NOT open it.

She then chooses 4 more eggs which are opened one at a time.

We keep a running total of the amount and after 4 eggs are opened- the banker (aka Tony on his cell phone in our bedroom) calls and makes her an offer.

She can either take the offer, or continue playing (which she always does).

We continue playing- decreasing the number of eggs she must open each time and continuing to get offers from the banker.

This year I'm adding a few extra things to the eggs- instead of just money she will also find some treats listed on slips in some of the eggs- like a new magazine, a trip to Coldstone, and a few other fun things.

Lead Me to the Cross

And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

Matthew 27:31

What Kind of Nuggets?

After school last Friday Madison and I went shopping for an Easter dress and shoes for her. We were thrilled to shop at a new store, and we walked through the store picking up 6 or 7 super cute dresses for her to try on and then made our way to the dressing room.



As she was trying the dresses on, we noticed a small problem.



She's at that in between stage- a little too big for children's sizes and a little too small for teens.



Well..........a little to small for teens in one specific area- the top.




So many of the cute dresses, like this one:







fit her- but not at the top.

Unless she was to wear a tank underneath them- they simply were too big. (Bless her heart- she has inherited her small chest from her mother).




She was disappointed because the dress she really loved was one of the dresses that was truly too big at the top. As I explained that we simply couldn't buy it when it didn't truly fit she pulled out the dress, looked down and said:



Oh man..............boob nuggets.



I said:



Boob nuggets? Are you saying you have boob nuggets instead of real boobs? Kinda like a chicken nuggets instead of a chicken sandwhich?



and started laughing uncontrollably.




She said:



NO Mom.........I said POOP NUGGETS (which is one of her silly little sayings).............NOT boob nuggets.



I seriously laughed so hard I started to cry and almost fell off the stool I was sitting on.



I think boob nuggets is an accurate and hysterical description.






Bless her sweet little boob nugget heart.

Chicken Nacho Bake

I tried this recipe tonight and it was 3 of my favorite things- YUMMY, HEALTHY, and EASY!

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast tenderloins (or chicken breasts)
1/2 cup salsa
1/4 to 1/2 cup fat free sour cream
1/2 cup crushed baked (or multi grain) tortilla chips
1/2 cup 2% Kraft shredded cheddar cheese

1 can fat free refried beans
1/2 cup salsa

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place chicken on foil-covered baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. In small bowl, mix together sour cream and salsa. Spread each piece of chicken evenly with sour cream and salsa mixture and sprinkle evenly with tortilla chips. Bake for 20 min. Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheese. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. In small saucepan heat beans with 1/2 cup salsa till warm. Serve chicken over beans and with a salad for a great meal!