Homemade Pop-Tarts

After finding this recipe on the blog of Such Pretty Things, I had to repost!  I LOVE this and can't wait to give it a try!!
http://suchprettythings.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/08/homemade-pop-tarts.html

Homemade Pop-tarts

School starts up again next week, so we are enjoying these last days of summer vacation.  Mini-me is off on a little trip with her grandparents, so Mini-mini-me is home with me and we are enjoying some special mommy-daughter time together. I found a recipe from King Arthur Flour for home-made Pop-tarts a while back and thought today seemed like the perfect day to try it out.

We followed the recipe pretty closely, but we just rolled out the dough and cut out a bunch of 3" x 5" rectangles.  We also substituted three different fillings (raspberry jam, chocolate chips, and Nutella), as you can really use almost anything. These were Mini-mini's favorites - the chocolate chip version...

I prefer the raspberry jam...

Oh, and if you use jam, make sure to really seal your edges tightly or it might leak out during baking and make a big, gooey mess in your oven. We also chose to ice ours with a little pastel frosting (confectioner's sugar mixed with a little milk and food coloring).

....and some pretty sprinkles!

Mini-mini and I are very proud of how our "pop-tarts" turned out. They were really delicious and quite easy to make (you could even use store-bought pie dough in a pinch). I think they would make the perfect "back-to-school" treat, don't you?

INEXPENSIVE EASY HAND SANITIZER & SOAP GIFT

Easy Frugal Hand Sanitizer & Soap Gift

How cute are these?  Need a teacher gift or last minute gift on a budget?  I got this idea from a fellow blogger's post & LOVE it!!!

I had fun making these because they are really meaningful and only cost me $1.00!!!!  Here is what you'll need:

**Dollar store hand sanitizer or soap.

**Tansparency Film

**LASER printer.

This project is SO simple!!

Simply print your own personalized message or quote onto some transparency film using a laser printer. If you don't have a laser printer, print it out with your ink jet printer and then copy it onto the transparency film. You can also take your paper and have the copy center copy it onto transparencies which is usually around $1. The reason it needs to be copied or printed from a laser printer is so the ink will no run and fall apart in the soap. 

**For the “hand in hand” download, click here :

You may need to re size it according to the size of your bottles. Then personalize it by adding a name (etc.) to the top and underline it in a font of your choice and size. Crop to fit if needed. It should be 3 inches wide by 3.5 inches high for the hand soaps and 3 inches wide by 4 inches high for the sanitizer bottles I used.

Below is the tutorial to help you get the finished product.

Remove all of the labels from your bottles. Mine came off easily but you can use a product like Goof Off to help the process.

 

Cut around your printed label as straight and as close as you can get to the writing so that it fits properly into your bottle. Check before you cut the bottom of the label to be sure that it will sit as high in the bottle as you would like it to.

Roll up the label so that the writing is in front. I roll mine backwards. Stuff it into the bottle carefully.

Use the soap dispenser to push the label to the front wall of the bottle and to straighten it in the right position.

 

**Download the free monogram label here.

Ribbon Flip Flops

Supplies Needed

Various Colored 3/8" Grosgrain Ribbons 

Flip Flops

Scissors

(This is such an easy craft that it works great for birthday parties)

1. Cut several equal length ribbons to cover tops of both flip flops, length of ribbon depends on the size of the flip flop you're using. Make sure the ends are at an angle to help prevent (or slow down) fraying. You can also put a little clear glue on the ends if your ribbon frays, use Fray Check, or very carefully burn the edges with a lighter.

2. Start tying the ribbons in the middle and continue towards the edge of the shoe, making sure to alternate colors for variety. Make sure you tie ribbon in a double knot to keep it from coming loose.
3. That's it!!  Easy, easy...

Water Balloon Flip Flops

These take about an hour to make, but the colors and possibilities are endless!!

*You'll need two bags of multi-colored small water balloons, make sure you choose water balloons for the bold, beautiful colors.
*A pair of flip flops - often available at craft stores, Old Navy, Target, or Walmart for a few dollars.

 Begin by stretching and wrapping a single balloon around the rubber foot straps. Pulling the balloon tightly, tie it into a simple square knot.

 Continue the process until the entire straps are completely covered with knotted balloons. Push the balloons close to each other for a fully covered appearance.