Wedding Song Art

Oops! I almost forgot about an AWESOME project I am working on for our bedroom.

We painted our bedroom about 3 years ago--it was the last room in the house to get painted, mind you. Why...well, I am fickle. I wasn't sure where I was going with our master bedroom. I finally decided I wanted it to feel spa-like. Serene. Three of the walls are a light aqua ocean blue, and the wall my headboard is on is like a bowl of chocolate pudding. Since it's been painted, I have been afraid of committing to hanging anything up on the walls. Um, because, when I hang things, I don't make one hole in the wall, I make about 11. Hey, I believe in eyeballing things, I don't need no stinkin' level!

Anyhow, I digress. My point is, I finally committed to hanging something on my walls! Yay, me! And I get to MAKE it. Well, sorta.

On etsy.com, there is a shop that will take your wedding song lyrics and create them into art for $17. While I would've loved to do this myself, it was worth paying someone else to do it for me. You specify the size you want, and she will design/cut/print them. I chose six 8x8 canvases to use. When I get my lyric papers, I'll Modge-Podge them onto the 6 canvases, and hang them 1" apart in a straight line in 2 rows, 3 across, (guess I have to use a level, rats!).

What I love about this project is that, 1) It's hand-made 2) It's unique and means something to my hubs and I (it's not some random print we framed), and 3) It was fairly inexpensive. Total project including etsy.com purchase, canvases and Modge-Podge $55.

Below is the example of the finished product. This is the link to the etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThisHumbleHome?ref=seller_info

For those of you following my journey into creative-land, I feel as if I've neglected you!

I have been spending countless minutes, even HOURS on pinterest.com getting inspired, and I think I've decided on the first few projects I'm going to attempt! Some are simple, others require money and my husband's braun and hammer (we'll see how those go over with him).

At the moment, we're tearing up carpet in the largest room in our home and installing wood floors. So, that could be considered a creative project in itself. Here's why; I've got to move my built in bookshelves! I'm thinking of taking them to a different wall, and doing shelving BETWEEN them to create more space for more pictures. Then I may have to get new furniture. And window treatments. And paint an accent wall. Muhahah! (my sinsister laugh)

Are you bored?

Ok, fine. Here is what I hope to do in the next TWO months. That's all I can commit to at the moment. I want to have a 12 month plan and do something creative at LEAST once a month...but that requires a to-do list (which I have too many of).

January:
-Try to make a new design on a cake for a friend's birthday.
-Take a photo of my daughter in my wedding dress.
-Be a party planner! I am helping a friend with a baby shower....soooo exciting!
-Install an organization shelf/chalkboard/hook system near my kids' bedroom doors on an empty wall.

February:

-Take some old windows I've been collecting and do SOMETHING with them. Anything is better them then sitting my garage.
 -Convert my entry closet (which is a crap collector closet, anyhow) into a  "mudroom in a closet". Wow, do we ever need this! Shoes, coats, hats and gloves...there is no "home" for any of it. I am really excited about this! This will require some money and my husband to get on board with me. Buuuut...usually when I draw up a plan, tell him what I need, and pretend to help, he's pretty sweet about it and does it. He is good like that.

Knowing me, some of my January projects will end up in February. Then some of those will migrate into March, April...even May.

The point is, my creativity keg is tapped, and I'm loving the taste of this brew!

Not that this is creative, but dang it tastes good! My 10 year old niece asked me back in July to make this for her birthday in December. Yup, it's THAT good!

Death by Butterfinger Ice Cream Dessert

This dessert started with a simple recipe I found in a recipe book, but I turned into something more sinful with the addition of hot fudge, butterscotch pudding and Butterfinger ice-cream! A perfect dessert for get-togethers or birthday parties!

• 2 sleeves of Club House crackers
• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 5-6 regular sized Butterfinger candy bars 
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 2 jars of hot fudge topping, slightly warmed
• 1-1/2 cups cold milk
• 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant butterscotch pudding mix
• 1 container of Edy's Fun Flavors Butterfinger ice cream , softened
• 1 container of chocolate ice cream, softened
• 1 carton (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 2 gallon sized Ziploc bags
• 9x13 pan
• Hammer/bottom of glass

Unwrap the candy bars and crackers, place each inside separate Ziploc bag. Smash with a hammer/bottom of a glass until they are reduced to crumbs.

In a large bowl, combine Butterfinger and cracker crumbs with graham cracker crumbs and melted butter mixing until fully integrated; set aside 3/4 cup for topping. Press remaining crumb mixture into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. dish. Chill for 5 minutes.

Remove from freezer and top with hot fudge. Spread evenly over crust, return to freezer.

In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mixes for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until set (mixture will be thick). Stir in Butterfinger ice cream. Spread over chilled hot fudge topping.

Remove approximately 1/4 of the chocolate ice cream and spread that over the Butterfinger ice cream mixture. Return to the freezer to set solid.

Once set solid, top with remaining whipped topping and sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. 

Freeze overnight, or at least 8 hours.

Serve by warming bottom of pan in hot water for a couple minutes. Use a heavy knife to cut into squares and serve.

Yield: 12-15 servings.