The Mommy Magic Kit (+ Giveaway!)

Some moms have it all together. Seriously. I don't know how they do it--but I think I might be able to cheat to look like one of them now that I've put together a Mommy Magic Kit.

What's a Mommy Magic Kit?

It's like a First-Aid Kit, only instead of (well, in addition to) patching up bumps and bruises, this kit has you covered for most of the chaos that ensues on any given day in the life of a mom. Most importantly, it's small enough to toss in a purse or diaper bag, so you're always "armed."

What's in it?

The MMK is still a WIP (work in progress), but here's what I came up with as the foundation:

Shown here:

• Wipes for messes
• Stain removing pen for food messes
• Hand sanitizer because . . . duh!
• Sewing kit for wardrobe malfunctions
• Nail clippers for hangnails and other grooming problems
• Snacks such as dried fruit for low blood sugar grumpiness (from kids or Mom!)
• Treats such as hard candy for incentives
• Band-Aids for boo boos (okay, not so much shown as sitting right behind me! Agh!)
• Comb or brush & backup hair ties for those rushed mornings
• Carrying case to keep it all together, just like you will ;)

Other ideas not shown here:

• Tissues for dry messes
• Cash for emergency fast food without the guilt (well, at least the credit card kind)
• Extra safety pins because they're awesome
• Spare diapers
• Plastic grocery bag for dirty diapers or clothes

Who doesn't want to be prepared for any situation? Well, guess what--you can be, because in honor of our relaunch, we're giving away a Mommy Magic Kit!

The prize package includes everything you see above (plus 20 Band-Aids), except I've only included the hard candy I could fit in the bag.

How to enter

1. Leave a comment on this post! You can tell us about a situation where an MMK would have saved you, or suggest something to go in your MMK

2. For extra entries, share this post on Twitter, Facebook, your blog, or somewhere else on the Internet, and leave a link in another comment. ONE COMMENT PER ENTRY, and ONE ENTRY PER COMMENT. (So, if you comment, post on Facebook and Tweet about it, leave three separate comments to receive three separate entries. Trust us, it's a lot easier this way!)

3. All qualifying comments must be made by 11:59 PM MDT October 10, 2013.

4. Winner will be chosen at random and announced here on October 11, 2013. If you wish to be contacted via email should you win, please leave your email address in your comment or your Blogger profile.

Rules & Regulations

Winner must be a resident of the US. Void where prohibited. All standard rules and regulations apply. You know the drill. All entries must be received as comments, and as separate comments. One comment per entry and one entry per comment. Winner will be chosen at random using Random Number Generator, with each comment assigned a number. Check back here on October 11, and/or leave your email address in your comment or Blogger profile to see if you've won--and good luck!

Giveaway: Make Change Bracelet

Hello Wayward Readers! Today I have a great idea for you for a holiday gift you can feel great about giving.

A "Make Change" bracelet

Faith is a 12 year old young woman I know who helped design beautiful bracelets with a great message. Each bracelet is only $5 and they help fund the change she wants to make. She recognized a need, for families afflicted with leprosy in Chennai, India and is now trying to make the change and help these families by teaming up with Rising Star.

 

YOU can help today by purchasing one of these bracelets. Visit her website to learn more: http://makechangetoday.org/

Or watch this short video (and look for some Jaime Approved Treats!)

And because I love this mission so much, I purchased one to give away today!

There are a bunch of different ways to win, so see below:

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monster Baby Shower- and a giveaway!!

First of all I want to say a quick and very heart felt Happy Birthday to my sweetie pie PB!! We're so blessed to have such a happy go lucky girl in our lives. We love you!! **Remember when I had her?

So my amazing friend M is due with a baby in just over a month. After having two girls we were all so excited when they announced that their third is going to be a BOY. Along with two of our other friends I threw her a surprise baby shower on Saturday. The theme was Mommy's Lil MONSTER !

Here are the pictures from the day: 

Surprised!!

Gift Table

Gift Card Holder (eater :) )

I'm bummed this picture didn't turn out better!! The sunlight was making it  really dark :( 

White chocolate covered marshmellows

Monster cupcakes

Peanut butter MnMs cookies, and steak salad, we also had delicious ham and swiss cheese baked sliders

The monsters invading our food table!

Photo booth props

We got together every Thursday for about 6 weeks planning this awesome party! I didn't get a picture of everything like the amazing raspberry lemonade we had as well.

Does this party look awesome? Want to throw one just like it? Well you're in luck because we're having a giveaway for the photo booth props!! In total there are 11 items including a message board.

Here’s  4 different ways to enter:

• One entry for becoming a follower of our blog, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.
• One entry for following us on Twitter, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.
• One entry for tweeting this post, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it (with a link directly to your Tweet).
• One entry for Liking us on Facebook, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.

Just so we're clear: each of these should be in its own SEPARATE comment! So if you like us on FB, follow us on Twitter, tweet about this giveaway and or are a follower of WGC, each of these should be it’s own separate entry. 


EDIT: Sorry I forgot to mention the giveaway ends on WEDNESDAY JUNE 13th at 11 AM!! 

Last Fall Giveaway

For our last weekly giveaway, the winner can take her pick of one of the two fall table runners that were featured earlier on the blog.  You can choose the bright orange and yellow version pictured above, or  the more muted runner pictured below.

There are four different ways to enter:

• One entry for becoming a follower of our blog, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.
• One entry for following us on Twitter, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.
• One entry for tweeting this post, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it (with a link directly to your Tweet).
• One entry for Liking us on Facebook, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.

Just so we're clear: each of these should be in its own SEPARATE comment! So if you like us on FB, follow us on Twitter, tweet about this giveaway and or are a follower of WGC, each of these should be it’s own separate entry.
(Since I don't Tweet or Facebook, I really don't know what this means or how I would ever know if you did those things. I guess my girls will fill me in!.)

Good luck!

Mod Podge Halloween Decorations Giveaway

First and foremost, it is Brooke's birthday! If you want to wish her a happy birthday, feel free to leave her a nice little comment on her post.  
So in case you all didn't know, Brooke, my mom and I had birthdays this month. To celebrate, the Wayward girls have or are going to have a give away each week. This week is my week! 


This week's giveaway is 2 Halloween themed vases!  Last week I posted about mod podge and meant to not tell what I was doing. But I forgot I had put it in the title and totally gave the surprise away. Silly me! 

And I know by next week Halloween will be over :( But there's always next year!
There are four different ways to enter:

• One entry for becoming a follower of our blog, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.
• One entry for following us on Twitter, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.
• One entry for tweeting this post, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it (with a link directly to your Tweet).
• One entry for Liking us on Facebook, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.

Each of these should be in its own SEPARATE comment! So if you like us on FB, follow us on Twitter, tweet about this giveaway and or are a follower of WGC, each of these should be it’s own separate entry.

CONTEST NOW OVER!
PS my birthday was on the 11th and none of you wished me a happy birthday, how rude...I guess I can forgive you all... :)

State Art Canvas Giveaway

One of my most favorite crafts I’ve ever made is my State Canvas Art:

This was such a fun craft to make and I love how it turned out. For my giveaway, I am offering a CUSTOM MADE State Canvas Art for one lucky winner. If you want to make your own, just click the picture =)

Here’s  4 different ways to enter:

• One entry for becoming a follower of our blog, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.
• One entry for following us on Twitter, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.
• One entry for tweeting this post, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it (with a link directly to your Tweet).
• One entry for Liking us on Facebook, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.

Just so we're clear: each of these should be in its own SEPARATE comment! So if you like us on FB, follow us on Twitter, tweet about this giveaway and or are a follower of WGC, each of these should be it’s own separate entry.

I'm excited to see who wins!

Why you should always check your gauge (and Ivy Sweater Giveaway)

October is a big month for the Wayward Girls! We have our "half-blogoversary" this week, and over the course of the month three Wayward Girls and two of their husbands will celebrate birthdays. To celebrate, we're having a giveaway a week throughout October! This week is mine:

Several years ago, I wanted to make a beautiful wrap sweater for myself. I went on a long hunt for the perfect pattern, and came across Ivy from Knitty Magazine, an amazing free online knitting magazine. I knew I had to make it but I wasn't willing to splurge on the recommended yarn. (The intervening five years have taught me the value of good yarn!) I really liked some microfiber yarn from Lion Brand and I went for bright red.

  

True color

Color altered to show detail

The pattern has a faux-cable on bottom of the body and sleeves. I reengineered the sleeves to be a little narrower than original. But in the end, I think my gauge was off. You see, when you knit something, your stitches need to be the same size as the pattern designer's stitches. If you have four stitches per inch where the designer has five, your finished project might have the right number of stitches, but it'll be 20% too small.

Or the opposite happens (though I may have picked the wrong size in the beginning): it's too big for me! (Okay, there's also the issue that I was nursing at the time...) It took me more than a year to make, and it doesn't fit. Sigh.

Color altered to show detail

The yarn is super soft and comfortable and pretty warm for an acrylic. No itch here!

  

Color altered to show detail

Neckline and bottom detail (color slightly altered)

True color

I love the details and the pop of color and the feel of the yarn, but it's time to face facts: it just doesn't fit me :( . So my loss is your gain!

It's made for a 38" chest (if I remember correctly). It's soft, comfortable, hypoallergenic and I've worn it maybe three times, including this photo shoot.

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. WINNER POSTED HERE.

All you have to do to enter to win this beautiful handknit sweater:

• One entry for becoming a follower of our blog, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.
• One entry for following us on Twitter, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.
• One entry for tweeting this post, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it (with a link directly to your Tweet).
• One entry for Liking us on Facebook, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.

Just so we're clear: each of these should be in its own SEPARATE comment! So if you like us on FB, comment, Follow us on Twitter, you should leave 3 separate comments.

Good luck!

Looking for a fast and delicious dessert? In half an hour, you could be eating this:



What do you do when a project you love just isn't right for you?

100 Followers, 100 inches of ribbon, and a GIVEAWAY

We're so excited: a few weeks ago we hit 100 followers! Thank you all!

To celebrate, we're featuring some 100-themed posts, as well as an awesome guest post in Brooke's slot while she's on her "maternity leave"--and a very fun new feature coming up Saturday!

My project was inspired by a square table runner I saw at Roberts, a favorite craft store. Their runner was made with two colors of 4" wide sheer ribbon with 4" spaces between each row of ribbon. I made it on a smaller scale to use only 100" of ribbon, so it's a side table runner or a candle mat.

After agonizing over the math, I realized that (as usual) I was over thinking it. For this project, you need 10 10-inch pieces of ribbon in a couple colors (I used two colors, but you could use one or more; also, it helps if your ribbon is slightly over 10" long):

I did five in each of two colors. The red is sheer ribbon--and let me warn you, sheer ribbon makes this much more difficult! It shifts very easily and can skew your project. That's okay; it's wayward!

Arrange the ribbon strips with all the strips of one color running one direction, and the strips of the other color running perpendicular. You can weave the strips if you like that look:

Or you can simply layer the colors:

Leave the ends overhanging a little. It'll make it easier to sew and trim later. Be sure to pin each square in place because they can shift around a lot. I eyeballed the positioning of the ribbons, but if you want to be more exact, you can use a ruler. 

Now sew it down. I sewed around the outside square first, then along the edge of each strip of the red ribbon. I used red top and bobbin threads, but you could also match the bobbin thread to the bottom ribbon for a fully-reversible runner.

If you love the look of sheer, think about using some water-soluble glue to hold each square in place. Let it dry completely and sew over top of it, then wash out the glue.

And as part of our 100 follower celebration, I'm giving this runner away!

All you have to do to enter:

• One entry for becoming a follower of our blog, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.
• One entry for following us on Twitter, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.
• One entry for tweeting this post, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it (with a link directly to your Tweet).
• One entry for Liking us on Facebook, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.
• One entry for blogging about our new blog, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it (with a link to your post!).
• One entry for telling us your thoughts on our new blog, or asking me a question in a comment on this blog post.

Just so we're clear: each of these should be in its own comment! So if you like us on FB, comment, Follow us on Twitter, you should leave 3 separate comments.

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. THE WINNER WAS ANNOUNCED HERE.

All comments must be in by midnight Sunday night (if it's still Sunday somewhere in the world, we'll take it), and the winner will be announced one week from today.

Home Made Apple Pie

Happy Cinco de Mayo! I didn't realize it was Cinco de Mayo for a while today. So to celebrate, why not a good old fashion American delight?
I like to do things that require the least amount of ingredients! I found some recipes online and had some fun with them in making apple pie.

What you'll need:

• 2 Mixing Bowls (one for the crust and one for the filling)
• Rolling pin
• Knife
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring Cups
• Dough Blender
• Cutting Board
• 9 inch Pie Pan

Pie Filling:

• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling
• Freshly ground nutmeg, to taste
• 7 medium apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced

Mix together the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl. In another bowl, sprinkle apples with the juice of 1 lemon and toss. Stir in the sugar mixture to evenly coat the apples.
**I found that thinner apple slices are better. They're better in the texture after baking and look more like a classic apple pie. Also, the more tart the apple is, the better. I recommend using Granny Smith apples.

Pie Crust:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• I teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 6 tablespoons shortening
• 6 to 8 tablespoons ice water

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

In a large bowl mix the flour, salt and sugar. Then using a dough blender to mix in the butter, shortening and ice water.

Next, chill the dough.
**Great time to make the pie filling!

After the dough has chilled, cut it into two halves. One will be for the top and the other for the bottom. Set aside one half and roll out the other until it is about 1/8th of an inch thick.

Here’s the tricky part. Once you have rolled out one half of the dough, wrap it around the rolling pin to transfer it to the pie pan. Unwrap it into the pan. Shape and fit the dough into the pans making sure it covers the bottom and sides of the pan well. Take a fork and poke holes in the bottom of the pie crust so it cooks evenly.
**I found out this tip after I made my first pie. Saves in time and mess and it's super easy!

Now put the filling into the pie crust. Roll out the other half of the pie crust. You can do any sort of pattern you want with the crust. My lattice work isn't the best but practice makes perfect. We’re almost ready to bake!
**If you want to do an over under (lattice) crust, use a straight edge when you cut so your strips don't look like mine when you're done :)

Before you bake the pie, take tin foil and cover the edges of the pie. This makes sure the edges don’t burn. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown. Take off the tin foil 10 minutes before the pie is done.

And just like that, you have homemade apple pie!

Sources:
Filling, Crust

**Don't forget about this week's giveaway!

We've got the craft organizer up for grabs,

1. Be a follower of the blog AND
2. Comment on any new post this week (before the end of Sunday).

Every comment is another entry, and every post this week is eligible! The winner, to be drawn at random, will be announced next Monday!

Mother's Day fabric flowers (and a GIVEAWAY!)

A couple years ago, a friend at church had her second grade class make flowers for the women in the congregation for Mother's Day. They weren't too difficult: make wire "petal" shapes, glue some fabric on the wire for the petals, wind four or five together with fabric tape and voila! I can do that, I thought. I don't need to look for directions.

Hoo-boy, was this a fiasco! It was supposed to be a twenty minute craft. Two hours later, I finally gave up in disgust. Clear school glue didn't work. We were out of the right size hot glue sticks.

I'm not sure how my friend did it, but nothing was going my way when I sat down to make these. The two larger flowers are pansies—and I had to get darn creative to make them worth. (There is no glue involved, but the white one is satin ribbon + masking tape and the purple one is fabric + thread. If they look good, thank you, but it's really just blurry photography!)

Ironically, the other flower—the little purple one—is my favorite of the three, and not just because it was the easiest and fastest!

Truth be told, I was so disgusted with my lack of working materials that I finally gave up and Googled . . . with the words "martha stewart" in the query. (A true cry for help! At least I did my own illustrations ;) .) (Okay, so I thought I'd just seen a similar project from her, but I didn't find it.)

Her ribbon flowers instructions inspired me to try one (well, two) last time(s). (The very last one didn't work out.) I cut a strip of fabric about 1" x 6" and folded it in half, then basted the halves together along the fold:

 Once I sewed along that edge, I pulled the thread tight. The fabric gathers and naturally wants to curl around into a flower.

I sewed the ends together, stuck a piece of wire through at the seam and called it cute!

In other news, I think I'm going to be going for cut flowers from my yard instead ;) .

Are you craftier than a second grader? Have you ever made wire and fabric flowers? What did you do differently?

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This week we have a giveaway!

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED

It's this lovely crafty organizer:

It's great for all the little loose odds and ends that get lost so easily—buttons, beads, stickers, etc. It has eight compartments, and a flip-top spout for easy access. (I doubt you can tell from the picture, so it's six inches tall and four and a half inches wide.)

To win, you must:

1. Be a follower of the blog AND
2. Comment on any new post this week (before the end of Sunday).

Every comment is another entry, and every post this week is eligible! The winner, to be drawn at random, will be announced next Monday!

Winner of Cupcakes!

The winner of the Cookies and Creme Cupcake package (cupcake recipe, dry ingredients and whipped cream frosting recipe) is Waymom!

Congratulations! Waymom, send your mailing address to waywardgirlscrafts at gmail dot com so I can send you your prize!

There's still time to win the rest of our launch week giveaways:

• A set of 10 charm squares from vintage fabric,

Remember, each entry should be in a separate comment.So if you're following us (thank you!), you still need to leave a comment on the entry so we can enter you in the drawing!

_____________________________________________________________________________

Cookies and Creme Cupcake Recipe
1 box chocolate cake mix
1 cup sour cream
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
18-24 whole chocolate sandwich cookies
12 crunched chocolate sandwich cookies

Mix together cake mix, sour cream, eggs and vanilla. Place a spoonful of batter on the bottom of each paper liner. Place a whole cookie on the bottom lying flat. Cover with remaining batter until 3/4 full.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes. Allow cupcakes to cool on a rack completely.
Add crumbled cookies to frosting.

Recipe from 101 Gourmet Cupcakes in 10 Minutes by Wendy Paul

Faux Shadowbox Scrapbooking Tutorial and Kit Winner!

The winner (determined by random.org) of the Faux Shadowbox Scrapbooking Kit is:

Kim!!!

Congratulations! Kim, send your mailing address to waywardgirlscrafts at gmail dot com so I can send you your prize!

There's still time to win the last two of our launch week giveaways:

• A cookies 'n' creme cupcakes kit, or
• A set of 10 charm squares from vintage fabric,

Remember, each entry should be in a separate comment. So if you're following us (thank you!), you still need to leave a comment on the entry so we can enter you in the drawing!

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This is a two page layout (LO) for it you will need:

• 2 pages of the same patterned paper (PP) and 1 in a contrasting color
• 1 accent color of card stock
• Exacto knife
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Embellishments ( I used 6 eyelets, stickers, and words I cut out)
• 6 foam squares
• Pictures (duh!)

 Step 1: Trace around the pictures on one of the sheets of PP that are going to be the background for your two pages. With the ruler and pencil draw a line on the inside of each edge you will be cutting on to the pictures can be mounted from the back of the pages. Cut out the sections.

 

Step 2: Cut the contrasting PP a quarter or half inch larger on all sides than the picture ( 4.5-5 X 6.5-7 inches). Use the cut out from the background paper to trace on the contrasting PP. Cut on the lines.

Step 3: Mount the contrasting PP on the background around the holes. I put eyelets on the edges of the frames at this point. Turn the background paper over and put foam squares around the edges of the picture and place the pictures carefully on the holes.

Step 4: Add embellishments!

Here's my finished product:

Here's a few things I learned while doing this:

*If you stack the background PP and the contrasting PP you only have to cut once.

*Make sure the edge that the picture will be sitting on is wide enough for your foam squares or you will see them from the front.

Have a great Wednesday!