MariLynn & Family {Idaho Falls Photographer}

It was time for an updated family session for my Aunt MariLynn, but there was a catch: we only had about 15 minutes to shoot and had the three young grandkids. . . and to my surprise they did awesome! This was the fastest photog session I have ever done, and their new family photo is going to look amazing up on the wall!

Baby S is Growing UP! {Idaho Falls Photographer}

It didn't take Baby S long to figure out there was a camera lens in her face, but lucky for me she thought I was funny enough to pay attention to. I love the 6 month age-they are so alert and curious-and she was no exception! This may be the last time to capture the all-gums smile! :)

There are more to edit, but here is a sneek peek of what's to come. . .

{DIY Wall Art}

I have had this project done for about a month now, but we have been traveling so much that I never made time for posting it. Can you guess what it is?

WALL ART! The best part about this is that it didn't cost very much! I was looking for something that would be bright and colorful, but that I could take down if, I mean, when, we move. :) Anything this size in vinyl costs at least $100. Wanna know how much it cost me? I'll tell you at the end of the post!

Here is the entire view:

I made all the flower blossoms out of tissue paper. There are lots of tutorials out there-you actually make these the exact same as the puff balls you can hang from ceilings {fan fold sheets of tissue paper together, tie in the center, cut the edges to the shape you want, and start spreading the sheets apart.}

I also needed a cheap frugal way to make the tree trunk and the leaves, and I was L.O.V.I.N.G. all the craft projects done with book pages, so I grabbed some posterboard, traced out my tree trunk and leaves, and started Modge-podging book pages from the dollar store onto it. {I LUV that stuff!}

After the trunk was done I dry brushed some chocolate brown craft paint over it and let that dry. For my leaves I just cut out scrapbook paper and crinkled it up before glueing to the posterboard. Then I inked all the edges of everything with my favorite: Walnut Stain Ink {you can find it in the scrapbook section of your craft store}

The best thing is that it is 3-D and gives Little Miss M's bedroom some depth. Not to mention how cheery it makes everything. Now I just need to make a bird to perch on the lower branch.

What do you think?

Cost break down:

• Posterboard: 2 pieces $1.00
• Tissue paper: I had plenty at home but needed a few other colors so I bought a huge multi-pack for $5.00 {I won't need to buy any more for YEARS!!}
• Walnut Ink Stain Stamp Pad: $3.00

• These things I already had from my stash of craft stuff so FREE for me!

1. Scrapbook Paper-3 coordinating colors
2. Modge Podge
3. Foam brush
4. Brown Craft Paint

TOTAL: $9.00

Can't beat that for an easy and inexpensive way to decorate a bedroom wall!

{Personalized Baptism Invitation}

So my sweet little cousin isn't so little anymore. In fact, she just turned 8. Which means her mom needed some invitations for her upcoming baptism.

I remember when I was lucky enough to babysit her and her older brother when they were babies. I went to the bathroom and when I came out they were hiding in the pantry closet. Upon closer investigation I found them covered from head to toe. . .

in P.E.A.N.U.T B.U.T.T.E.R.

{Image Courtesy of Google}

Along with the smeared closet doors, shelves, ands walls. What a disaster. I remember thinking there was no way it could be cleaned up. But we somehow survived that adventure plus many more, and now have a lot of fun memories and stories to LAUGH about!

I run into a lot of people who ask what I do with my home business. This is just a glimpse. I don't like cookie cutter graphics and images, so I decided that I was going to provide affordable custom graphics for both business and personal use. If you have a project you need me to create for you, get a hold of me!

Here is the personalized 5x7 Special Occasion Announcement for Miss A and her mommy! :)

Check out more designs from I.D. Grafix here

{Churning Butter the 2011 Way}

Last night I was thinking. Usually my husband says that is scary. I know. I think a lot. And sometimes too much. However, I was thinking about how life is so complicated, and it's because we have made it that way. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for technology, and I would not want to live without it. Modern day electronics and appliances are my friend. However, with all the disasters happening around the world, I got to thinking about going back to the basics. I was thinking about what I would do with all my food in the freezers if the power went out for days. Or weeks. Or months. {That's another story.} Anyway, I had some fresh, whole cream from the local dairy in my refrigerator, and I decided that I was going to make some homemade butter so the cream didn't go bad.

Even though I used my Kitchen-Aid Mixer, at least I know what the different stages look like. So if I had to go back to the old fashioned way, I wouldn't feel hopeless with some of the everyday basics we take for granted. And if there really was no power, how many of us own a butter churn? I don't! But you could use a glass mason jar and it would work perfectly.

On with the tutorial! It only takes MINUTES!

STEP 1

Pour measured amount of whole cream into mixer. You will want the wisk attachment for this project!

{Obviously this will be the very best from fresh cream from a dairy farm, but if you wanted to try it and didn't have access to that, you could use whole whipping cream from the grocery store.}

STEP 2

Begin mixing on low speed. When we make butter we are agitating the fat in cream so much that we force the fat globules to separate from liquid and clump together to form butter.

STEP 3

As the cream thickens, turn the mixer up to medium speed. You will probably start to recognize this stage of the cream: Fluffy and smooth whipped cream! But don't get distracted-we want butter, so keep mixing!

STEP 4

This is some pretty crazy looking whipped cream. You can start to see the fat globules clump together and looks like curdled cream. Not much longer!

STEP 5

Here you can real see things changing. The liquid almost instantly separates from the solid, creating buttermilk! You might have to slow your mixer down to keep it from splashing out.

STEP 6

At this point you can either drain your buttermilk off of your clumps, or keep mixing for another minute until the clumps start forming what we recognize as butter. I didn't drain mine until the next step-but that was only because it was a small amount and it was literally seconds between these steps.

STEP 7

I drained my buttermilk here and got 3/4 cup! If your butter isn't silky smooth after draining the buttermilk, return it to the mixer until it is!

STEP 8

Your butter will stick to the wisk and you will have to scrape it out with a spatula. The next step is important if you want to keep your butter fresh. You will want to rinse your glob of butter in cold water until it runs clear. So squeeze it and pat it around in your hands under the kitchen sink. It sounds crazy, but the fat in the butter actually repels the water, so it doesn't absorb it. This step actually keeps your butter from getting a sour milk smell. If you wrap it up it will last at least a week in the fridge.

It didn't last that long in our house-only a day! {Don't judge!}

Enjoy your sweet cream butter! You can add a hint of salt if you prefer the salted taste, but if you use fresh cream, it tastes wonderful on a piece of bread all by it's N.A.T.U.R.A.L. self!

Stay tuned for my favorite corn bread recipe I'm going to share with you-it's a great way to use your freshly made buttermilk, and also the butter!

{Jo Totes Giveaway from Tatertots and Jello!}

Okay, so the awesome Tatertots and Jello is giving away an AMAZING camera bag/purse from Jo Totes. If you haven't seen these, they are so.darn.cute! Obviously, I am wanting to be the winner, but I couldn't resist sharing with everyone else so they get a chance as well! Head on over to Tatertots and Jello to see the full scoop on this AWESOME giveaway!

Check out these colors! You can tell the bags are very well made and will last a long time!!

There are a lot of different colors and a few different styles-go check out the photos of the interior as well!

{HELP! Wood Glaze, Anyone?}

So, I have been busy on another wood project. This is just your teaser. It's built, painted, sanded, and sitting in the garage waiting for some glaze. I'd have that on it too if I had the glaze. I am trying to decide what to even use. It needs to be a medium dark glaze. Not as dark as chocolate, but not much lighter. Anyone out there have a favorite glaze that they use?