Bling Push Pin Art

Ok! This was an awesomely EASY project to tackle. I have so many projects on my To Do list that I decided this was a good one to start with. Yeah!

I saw this idea on Pinterest. It was just basically a picture... no tutorial or website to go to. So, I decided to come up with my own tutorial. This is a really cheap project. You basically just need 1- 12x12 white canvas, 2 packages of push pins (Walmart), letters, and a pencil and scissors. Thats it!

To make the letters, you just need a program... microsoft word, photoshop... I don't know, whatever you have that you can print a font of your choice. I used my photoshop. I opened a plain white file using the size 8 in x 8 in. The font I chose was Times New Romans in Bold using the size of 380px. I just tried to fill up the whole white space with my font. Here is my screen shot (click on image to see it larger):

I printed out LOVE on card stock. I needed something thicker than printer paper for tracing the font onto my canvas. After you cut out the letters, place it onto your canvas how you would like it, then trace it on your canvas with a pencil. Then you are ready to start layering your push pins to create your blingy (yes I made up that word) art!

You may get intimidated about how to put your push pins in your canvas, but trust me, the more you do it the faster you will get. Sometimes you need to put the pins in at an angle. You'll get the hang of it. Hopefully my pictures below will help you... :)

(side note: The push pins stay very well in the canvas. You don't have to worry about them falling out. It also helps that the push pins overlap each other. I have yet to have one fall out.)

Look at that!!! How fun is that?!!! I LOVE IT! You can use this tutorial to make a number of things like this... put together your own words or just someones initials or a silhouette, chevron, anything really. So cool! So BLINGY!

I plan to use this in a collage with more 12x12 canvases of pictures of my little family but for now, I'm displaying it on my fireplace with my wedding photo until I can get the other ones done.

Enjoy!

Best Ever Sugar Cookies

We are very sorry we have been a bit MIA this past month. One of us has been dealing with some big health issues and the other one of us is in the process of selling their home and moving very soon. I'm hoping you will accept these next two posts as a bit of an apology and we promise to get back into the swing of things on the blog and bring you more great ideas and yummy recipes!

I know Valentines Day was 2 days ago and I should have posted this ahead of time, but this is a recipe you can make anytime, for any holiday (Easter is coming up). All you have to do is just switch out the cookie cutters and decorations. I happen to like making this recipe with my kids on Valentines Day and let them decorate cookies and have fun.

You will be so glad I shared this recipe. They are soft and fluffy and melt in your mouth sooooooo good! The fact that they are topped off with Cream Cheese Frosting makes these cookies the best!


I've known this recipe from my childhood. The recipe comes from my Grandma Carmen, my dads mom, whom my mom's cooking never seemed to live up to (men). My Grandma Carmen is no longer with us so I'd like to share her recipe in memory of her.


Best Ever Sugar Cookies
by: Carmen Nielson

1/2 cup butter flavored crisco
1 cup sugar
2 beaten eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
3 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup milk

Directions:
Cream shortening with sugar add eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients alternating with the milk to the shortening and sugar. Once all ingredients are well mixed, put cookie dough in a bowl, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.  Once the cookie dough is nice and chill, flour your surface and roll cookie dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters and bake @ 375 degrees for 9 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8oz package of cream cheese
1/4 cup softened butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar

Directions:
In a bowl, beat together cream cheese, butter and vanilla until light and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar half a cup at a time, beating well until combined. Separate the frosting and add food color to desired colors.

** This recipe makes about 3-4 dozen cookies depending on your cookie cutter size. I was able to get about 4 dozen with this batch because my heart cookie cutter wasn't that big.

The best part is watching your kiddos decorate and enjoy their tasty treat!

Enjoy!