7/12/11

Stumped

Maybe it started with "The Giving Tree"...


"I don't need very much now, " said the boy, 
"just a quiet place to site and rest.
I am very tired."
"Well," said the tree, 
straightening herself up
as much as she could, 
"well, an old stump is good
for sitting and resting."
Come, Boy, sit down. 
Sit down and rest."
And the boy did.


Or maybe it is our desire to bring a bit of nature into our homes...







But either way, I am loving tree stumps. You can use them as furniture, decor, even in the kitchen!


Tree Stump Coffee Tables



Tree Stump Side Tables

Tree Stump Chairs

Tree Stump Platters/Pedestals
Source: etsy.com via Samantha on Pinterest


Tree Stump Dining Tables


So how does one get a stump? Well 'rev' up your chainsaw and head to the forest! Or according to "The Art of Doing Stuff" seek out someone who sells firewood. And then, request a stump. 


Photo by The Art of Doing Stuff- Here

Next, allow your stump to dry out for at least one month. 


Photo by the Art of Doing Stuff Here

Now it's time to remove the bark. Seems oak bark is easier to remove than walnut, but either way, be prepared to use a prybar and a hammer. 


Photo by the Art of Doing Stuff- Here


Then sand down your stump so it is smooth to the touch. 


Photo by The Art of Doing Stuff-Here

 Finally apply the stain. 


Photo by The Art of Doing Stuff- Here

You can also add these cool legs- from Ikea. 


Photo by The Art of Doing Stuff_-Here

And there you have it- a tree stump table. Beautiful. Straight from the outdoors into your home. 




For more details check out these great tutorials:





Do you have any stumps in your home?

7/8/11

Winner of the Coffee Bag...



I was thrilled to hear from so many coffee bag fans! 
But there can only be one winner... 

and Random.org chose comment number 3
So, congratulations to 



She is a pretty crafty girl herself, so I can't wait to see what she makes with it. 
Laurie- Please send us a photo of your coffee bag creation!
And be on the lookout for an email from me about your coffee bag :)




In the meantime, I am now on the look-out for grain sacks and potato sacks. Who would have thought farm supplies would ever be so chic? 



Have a great weekend! 


7/7/11

Coffee Bag Inspiration

I am so excited about this coffee bag.



I love the turquoise ink

 the design and stripe

and the text on the back.

I'm kind of sad that I am giving it away :) Have you entered my "Coffee Bag Giveaway" yet?
If not, click here. Contest ends today at 8pm.

See my tutorial on how to make your own pillow here.

 Here are some great projects made with upcycled coffee bags.

Coffee Bag Headboard


Coffee Bag Bench

Source: etsy.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Coffee Bag Art


Coffee Bag Ottoman

Source: etsy.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Coffee Bag Pillows- notice the stripe?

Source: etsy.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Coffee Bag Tote

Source: etsy.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Coffee Bag Stockings


Coffee Bag Chair



What would you do with a coffee bag?


Linking up here: Home Stories A 2 Z

7/5/11

Last 4th of July post--- for this year :)

Did you have a great weekend? We did! The celebration lasted three days. So today while we are getting back in 'the swing of things' here is a peek at our 4th of July.


We baked....

USA cuppies

Red, White and Blue Bunt Cake

Patriotic Crunch- recipe here

My lil's sis made this--yummy!
Made a few crafts...
Paper Lanterns- idea from here

A-line dress using my favorite pattern- New Look 6578
Ruffle skirt- no pattern used :)

And had lots of fun with friends and family!




What did you do to celebrate the 4th of July?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a fabulous coffee bag! Contest ends Thursday at 8pm.



** Linking up today with "Home Stories A 2 Z"- stop by for more great projects.

7/3/11

Happy 4th of July

I hope you are taking time to enjoy family and friends this weekend.

I am writing over at Southlake Moms today. Come visit me! I am writing about balancing kids, creativity and nap time. Read my article here:  "More Ideas than Time".


"More Ideas than Time"

Happy Fourth of July!

Oh and don't forget to enter my coffee bag giveaway. Click here.

7/1/11

Red, White and Blueberry Cheesecake-- Plus a Giveaway!

Looking for delicious dessert to bake for the Fourth of July? How about this?



The recipe is super easy and it is actually low-fat :)

Red, White and Blueberry Cheesecake Bars


Yield: 16 servings
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 35 min
Nice lower fat option for weight watchers...

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 stick (4 Tablespoons) butter, melted
1 1/2 packages (12 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup 1% milk
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
zest of one lemon
3 large eggs
1 cup fresh raspberries (more or less, as desired)
3/4 cup fresh blueberries (more or less, as desired)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch pan with aluminum foil. Spray lightly with cooking spray.
2. In a small bowl, mix crumbs and melted butter. Press mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
3. In a food processor (or with an electric mixer) blend cream cheese, eggs, milk, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and lemon zest just until smooth. Do not over-beat.
4. Pour the cream cheese mixture on top of the crumb crust. Scatter raspberries and blueberries on top.
5. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until touch to center feels slightly firm and set.
6. Cool completely before cutting. Use foil to lift cheesecake out of pan and onto a cutting board. Use a thin, sharp knife to cut into clean-looking bars (wiping blade clean with a paper towel between cuts). Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Nutritional Information per serving:
Serving size: 1 square
Calories per serving: 197
Fat per serving: 11.33g
Saturated Fat per serving: 6.44g
Fiber per serving: .91g
Protein per serving: 4.32g
Cholesterol per serving: 66.97mg
Carbohydrates per serving: 19.26g

WW POINTS per serving:
Points Plus Program:
5 Old Points Program: 5
Source: RecipeGirl.com




 Afton loved helping with this recipe.  And it tasted really good too!


Interested in winning a coffee bag to create your own coffee bag pillow?











Here is what you need to know to win: 

This bag could be yours :)

Check out the stripe and the text on the back-- love!

PRIZE: A gorgeous coffee bag from my favorite coffee shop! (Pictured above)

TO ENTER: Be a follower of this blog-Crafty Texas Girls and leave me a comment on this post telling me what you would do with the coffee bag.

**For an extra entry in this contest, mention Crafty Texas Girls on your blog, twitter, or facebook page. Then leave me the link in an additional comment on this post. 

GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Thursday, July 7th at 8pm CST

NUMBER OF WINNERS: one

PRIZE DETAILS: The coffee bag will be shipped to the winner. Winner must live in US due to shipping restrictions.

OTHER INFO: The winner will be selected using random.org and announced on Friday morning in a new post on this blog. So come back on Friday and see if you are the lucky winner!

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