Improvised Initial Canvases

Don't you hate it when you get to a Baby/Bridal Shower and, after having paid careful attention to the Registry procedure, find that you and three other people have gotten the Mom/Bride the same item? I sure do.  That's why when my mom and I found out my aunt was going to have a baby, we searched Pinterest for inspiration for a homemade Baby Shower present.

Here was our inspiration: These cute button canvas monograms on Etsy.

I couldn't figure out how they wrapped the canvas in print, so that meant it was time to improvise.
Here's the finished product for baby Jacob's Adirondack-Themed Nursery canvases, with the tutorial to follow:

Supplies List:

-Square Canvases (As many as you want for however many initials you want) [Hobby Lobby]
-Buttons- (Whatever colors you want- I ended up buying multi-color packs and spray painting them green) [WalMart]
-Spray Paint (For the edges and sides of the canvases)
-Square Scrapbook Paper Sheets (One sheet for each canvas you're using) [Hobby Lobby]
-Craft Glue/Elmers Glue
-Mod Podge (I used Matte Mod Podge) Substition: If you don't have Mod Podge on hand, save yourself the heartache over the price tag and make some using this tutorial.
-Printing Capabilities
-Lighter/Candle/Paper-Burning Apparatus (If you desire to have burned edges like I did!)
Scissors

Step 1: Take the pretty white canvases outside and spray paint the sides and top edges. Dry according to manufacturer's instructions.
Step 2: Cut Scrapbooking paper down to the correct size: You can either make the paper line up flush with the sides of the canvas or cut it smaller to reveal the spray paint underneath. (Personally, I couldn't take the pressure of not cutting the lines straight, so I went with the smaller dimensions and burned edges.)
Step 3: If you desire the paper to have burned/torn edges, do so now. See the end of this post for edge-burning tips.
Step 4: Attach the scrapbooking paper to the top of the canvas using a liberal amount of tacky glue, especially on the edges of the paper. Allow to dry completely.
Step 5: Apply two coats of Mod Podge over the entire canvas- top, edges, sides, etc. Allow to dry completely. Tip: Is your scrapbooking paper bubbling up? Don't panic! Let it get semi-dry and begin to press the paper down with one hand on top of the canvas and the other hand behind the canvas.
Step 6: Go to your computer and find a font that you like for your monogram.  Make it as large as is appropriate for your canvas and hit print.  Cut out the letter and trace the outline onto your canvas.
Step 7: Cover the outline and middle with buttons. Here's two different techniques you could try:



Layered........................................................ or  Not.

Glue them down and allow to dry completely.
Step 8: Cover with another layer of Mod Podge if you wish!

There you have it!

Once again, here's an okay-picture of the finished project. Just imagine the possibilities! We used natural backgrounds, black spray paint and green buttons to go with the baby's Adirondack-themed room, but any of the elements can be customized to allow for endless possibilities! The canvases allow for easy hanging (with a thumb tack if you're in a dorm room!) and a different font could give you a different' "feel" altogether!

Enjoy, friends!

Triple Chocolate Raspberry Brownies

As an "I'm-Sorry-You-Will-Have-To-Hear-My-Footsteps-Above-You-All-Year" good will present, our apartment decided to bake the lovely girls downstairs some brownies.  But who wants to give someone "just" plain brownies?!

Here's what you'll need for these kicked-up brownies:

Triple Chocolate Raspberry Brownies

-1 Box of Brownies (We used Double Chocolate Chunk Brownie Mix, whatever you have on hand is fine.)
-Monin Raspberry Syrup (To taste) Side Note: Okay. I know not everyone has a bottle of flavoring syrup lying around your house. I also know that they're expensive! I acquired several various flavors from my aunt. Substitution: Raspberry Extract (To taste-I haven't tried it so I don't know if it will work the same!)
-Chocolate Syrup or Hot Fudge
-Optional: Chocolate Chips

Mix Brownie batter according to package instructions and pour into a 9x9 pan. In a separate bowl, mix together the hot fudge and the raspberry syrup. (I did it this way to be safer- I wasn't crazy about the idea of pouring the strong syrup directly into the batter!) It doesn't really matter how much of this mixture you use... However, don't go overboard or the added liquid will mess with the cooking time! Swirl the raspberry/hot fudge mixture in to your already poured brownie batter.  Bake at manufacturer's recommendations.  Top with any combination of the following:

-More of the raspberry/hot fudge mixture
-Plain hot fudge/chocolate syrup
-Chocolate sprinkles/chocolate chips

Sorry I don't have a picture... Once again, they were gone before I could take a pic!
Enjoy!

Sweet 'N Salty Peanut Butter Brownies

This past Sunday I was hosting my church's Leadership Team at my house for dinner.  All of the food was being brought to my house, so there wasn't really anything for me to "bring" to the table! I decided that I should make dessert... But all I had in my arsenal was an ordinary box of brownies! Surely there was something I could do to turn these ordinary brownies into something that would wow my guests!

After scouring the internet, I found confirmation here of what I wanted to do. I'll give you the short-and-sweet version below.

What you will need (for my version of this recipe):

Sweet 'n Salty Peanut Butter Brownies

-1 Box of Brownie Mix 

- 1/2 of an 18 oz. Jar of Peanut Butter: Crunchy/Creamy/Reduced Fat/Whatever you have on hand (probably not natural though...Too oily for this recipe!)

-Pretzels (I used the square ones in the plastic bin, but anything will work) Substitution: Whatever else you want to top these guys with. I think Heath pieces would make a great partner to the crushed up pretzels.

Mix brownies according to package instructions and bake in a 9x9 pan. While they're still hot, melt 1/2 a can of peanut butter in the microwave and pour over the brownies. Top brownies with crushed pretzel pieces and allow to cool. The peanut butter sets up and creates a lovely fudgey topping!! My guests absolutely RAVED about these brownies!!! 

They were eaten SO fast that I did not have time to take a picture... But you can go here to see something similar. 

 Total cost? 

$1.25 brownie mix + 

$1.50 1/2 can of peanut butter + 

a couple cents for the preztels= 

~$2.75 for something that is sure to please a crowd! :)

Enjoy!

I Finally Just Realized This:

I'm a crafter.  For years I've done crafts of all shapes and sizes. With the recent addition of Pinterest into my life, I felt it was necessary to start this little blog so I could post instructions to my crafts for Pinners to read... Because there's nothing I hate more than viewing an awesome Pin that turns out to be a Dead End.