Mod Poge Picture Frame

This has been sitting in my drafts for almost 2 months, because I KNEW that I took the pictures, only I couldn't locate them on my camera or iPhone. I was really starting to think I had lost it, until today when I was taking pictures with the camera I keep in my diaper bag.....and low and behold there they were. ::sigh::

I actually made this picture frame for a good friend of mine. She and her husband adopted an adorable little boy last February and in November the adoption was FINALLY Final! They had a finalization party and all though gifts were not expected I just felt I wanted to make them a little something!

The "B" stands for their last name-Barber

Anyone who knows me knows that I love when gifts have meaning, and I especially love a hand made gift or something that has been handed down. I love to give hand made gifts as well. 

This gift was a fun one because it was F.E.C. ( fun, easy & cheap) And WE ALL love all three of those things! And I also love that cheap doesn't have to look or feel like it. When its made with love and thought the price is neither here nor there.

Let me walk you threw this rather easy process! I assure you many more of these will be made for my friends and loved ones!

Gather up your supplies, Frame, letters, paints, brushes, papers, and Mod Podge.

The frame is a 12x12 with a spot for a 5x7photo from Michael's, they come in many shapes and sizes. The 'B' is from there as well!

I chose paper that I had on hand in my scrap booking supplies that I knew would coordinate well with the Nursery. And pained the entire frame the blue color I mixed out of my paints I had on hand, to coordinate with the paper I chose!

While I was allowing the paint to dry I cut my paper to fit my frame. They were both 12x12 but I wanted to see the edge of the paper on the front of the frame, so I ended up taking off between and 1/8- 1/4 inch on all sides of the paper. Once The frame was dry I lined my paper up how I wanted it to lay on the frame and Flipped it face down on the table while I removed the opening to the frame and removed the plastic. ( I did not get a pic of this part) Once I removed everything I traced the opening of the frame onto the back of the paper. This allowed me to use an exacto knife to cut out the opening in the paper. I also ended up going about 1/4 inch more on this line as well so some of the blue could peak threw.

Once I finished Prepping my paper I began the mod podge process. I Spread a nice thin, even coat of it all over the front of the frame and allowed it to get a little tacky before sticking my paper on.

Once you place your paper on the wet surface make sure to smooth it out with your hands to avoid any bubbles or wrinkles that could appear

Let that set up for a bit to make sure the paper wont move during your next step

Once your sure your paper is set, you can apply your first layer of mod podge over the paper.

 

I always about 2 or 4 coats. I make sure to let each one dry in between. at least for a few hours. In my hose this usually ends up being a day! 

While you are in the process of your mod podge layers, you can paint your letter or what ever it is you are choosing to adhere to your frame. This took me many layers of paint to get the right color variation and texture I was going for, I ended up doing a lot of dry brushing and in the end it came out perfect!

Once you have done all your layers, and painted your letter you are ready to glue. I used Gorilla glue this time, But next time I don't think I will. While the gorilla glue has a great hold, it tends to expand while it drys and ooze out the edges. so if you don't have something very heavy to hold down your piece with, you will get dried glue bubbles.

And there you have it! A finished product!

linking up to:
www.craftomaniac.blogspot.com
www.thediyshowoff.blogspot.com

www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

www.sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com

www.toolsareforwomentoo.blogspot.com

www.makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com

www.madincrafts.blogspot.com
http://beckieandbrad.blogspot.com/

Oh the similarities...

This picture was taken on Savanna's first Christmas at my Auntie Claudias house.

Savanna - Christmas 2008 - 2 months old

We went there on Christmas again this year, and I thought to get a "similar" photo of Adam.

Adam - Christmas 2010 - 4 months old

As I was just looking for the photo of Savanna, I was blown away a how much they look alike! 

Man, Look at those CHEEKS!  I LOVE IT! 

Merry Christmas!

Hope that you are all having a most wonderful holiday surrounded by lots of love and laughter! 

Love, 

The Jensen's

Photos with Santa!

 On Monday I took the little ones to see Santa. My friend Lucy is an amazing photographer and she also works for Raleys, she was taking the photos again this year. I never miss an opportunity to have her snap a shot of my kids!

Adam did great, he actually sat there for about 10 minutes while my brother and I tried to bribe Savanna to sit on his lap

 

We had no luck, so Lucy did what she did last year and put Savanna in a shopping cart with Santa and Adam in the background!

 

 It of course turned out great!

Here is last years shot! 

 

Grandma Jean's Soda Cracker Toffee

My Grandma Jean was my most favorite person in the world. She was such an amazing woman. She was not perfect, but she was damn close! She was the most patient, loving, caring, understanding, stubborn, honest person Ive ever known. I get my middle name from her, as does my daughter. We also got a STRONG dose of her stubbornness! When ever my husband is losing in an argument he often calls me Jean! 

Growing up she made this toffee a lot. Mostly around the holidays and let me tell you it never lasted long in the Henney household!

Its a pretty simple recipe, hard to mess up and OH so easy to enjoy. 

Gather your ingredients. (Ive learned the hard way to do this before! Nothing worse than getting half way threw making something to realize your missing something crucial!)

And pre-heat your oven to 375*

 In a large saucepan, ( I used a 5qt) completely melt your (3 sticks) butter on low heat,

 While your butter is melting nicely, line your cookie sheet/jelly roll pan with foil and lay out the 35-40 crackers depending on the size of your pan, just fill it!

 once your butter is ready you can add the 1 1/2 cups brown sugar.

 

 Stir the brown sugar and butter mixture until boiling, continue to boil for 4 min. (not sure the temp on this, next time I make this I think I'm going to check it out) but 4 min seems to be what works!

 

 after boiling for 4 min, remove from heat and add a tablespoon of vanilla, then pour mixture SLOWLY over all of your crackers

 Place your cookie sheet into your pre-heated oven and bake for 5 min

 Your sugar mixture will get bubbly and smell delicious

 Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips all over and let sit for a min or so

 Your chips will be nice and melty ( is that a word) well they will be, and you will be able to spread them all over. Should you desire any additional toppings (nuts, coconut etc.) Now would be the time to sprinkle them on top of your melted chocolate

I let it sit for about 20-30 min and then put the tray in the freezer for about an hour. Then you can easily break your toffee apart into perfect pieces!

I often make this a week or 2 before Christmas because it freezes quite well. It also holds up well when shipped to Hawaii, fudge however does not.

Ingredients:

3 sticks of butter

1.5 cups of light brown sugar packed

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips

1 sleeve saltine crackers 

Optional- nuts, coconut etc. for topping

Cousin lovin'

Savanna & Jackson

Im pleased to introduce you too.....

...My Friend Cassie from Timetoplaymom.com

I am about to share with you a great NEW blog, one that i foresee blooming into something even more fantastic than Cassie imagines!

Cassie and her wife are my actual real life friends. We go back quite a ways. Im so very excited that she has joined the blogosphere and is going to share with us all of her exciting ideas! 

I really admire how Cassie has jumped head first into blogging  she started her blog approximately 10 days ago and has already shared family stories, events, traditions, fun 'bento' meal ideas, thrifty crafts, recipes, a product review, created herself a facebook fan page AND already bought her domain name! This girl is on a mission!

I am so excited to watch Cassie grow her blog and for her to share with us all of her talents! Aside from being an amazing mother, she is an incredibly talented artist and very creative. Cassie and her wife Lori make an amazing team and have a real zest for life. I can hardly wait to see whay she has instore for us in the coming weeks!

So please if you have a few moments hop on over to timetoplaymom.com, look around, leave her some comments, become a follower and ENJOY!

 

First info on the giveaway....

I mentioned the other day that I will be doing a giveaway soon!

As soon as I reach 25 followers  ---->---->---->----->----->---->----> ------>  ------>


So like I was saying ;) As soon As I reach 25 followers I will post the info on how YOU can enter and win something very pretty!

So all of my facebook fans, please take a moment to become a "follower" its quick, easy and free! You will be glad you did!

Happy Birthday MOM!!!

Heres to a WONDERFUL year, filled with Beautiful grand-babies to spoil and love!
I hope that you have a wonderful day. Thank you for being born. Cause you know, just so happens you are a KEY reason Im here, and well, thats AWESOME! :)

I love you!
xoxo
Monica

Decorating the tree 2010!

Christmas is BIG in our house. Steven and I are both very into it! Our tradition since we have been together it to decorate our tree the day after Thanksgiving, but this year Brynn wasnt with us that day so we just got it all set up and waited to decorate it till She came home on Sat! I think traditions should revolve around the people involved more than the "date". I'm so glad that we waited because Savanna and Brynn had so much fun! Even though it is technically her 3rd Christmas it was the first one she could really be part of the decorating process!

She was very sure that the ornaments belonged INSIDE the tree, So she would reach in as far as she could and set them in there!

Maybe they BOTH have a thing for the ornaments being inside the tree! Or maybe Brynn is just changing the trees oil! :)

Starting to get the idea that its cool if you can actually see the ornaments!

Our girls, very proud of their masterpiece!

Such cute sisters!

Little man woke up at the end to see what all the commotion was about!

And then Daddy put the final touch on the tree!

Heads up on a great giveaway!

Looking for a GREAT giveaway? I ALWAYS am, my friend is having a GREAT one over here....


She is teaming up with CSN to giveaway a $75 giftcard!

Right now I'm thinking about all the cool stuff I could get from there array of awesome sites with $75!!!

head on over to her blog and enter. While you are there check out the rest of her awesome blog and become a follower! I promise you will enjoy her tremendously!!

Sourdough French Bread French Toast!

Living in Northern California sure does have its advantages! We have sourdough here that you just can't get ANYWHERE else.

One of my husbands accounts at work happens to be an AMAZING bakery, that specializes in bread! Every so often they bring Steven bread. They brought him several amazing loaves, the bad part is since it has no preservatives you have to eat it or do something with it right away!

So, I decided to make some french toast!

Sliced it perfectly thick

made a nice egg mixture to dredge it in, used about 12 eggs

 

Several tablespoons of Cinnamon, a little pumpkin pie spice, and for good measure I used Pumpkin creamer instead of milk!

Made sure to really let the bread soak up the mixture, I happen to like my french toast a little "eggy"! Is that a word?

then cook it up till its golden and done!

 I was purposely making this all to freeze for my girls for easy breakfasts! Its important to me that they eat a decent breakfast, and I'm all about easy these days! And learning to use my freezer for my convenience

So I lined the plastic container with foil, and started layering it with french toast

Till it was full and then put a lid on and stuck it in the freezer. useing the foil eliminated the need to flash freeze!

Now on mornings when I'm not feeling like 'super mom' my kids will never know! ;)

30 seconds in the microwave, a little syrup and some fruit! Viola!

Meeting his GREAT,GREAT, Grandma Mary

We took this handsome little man to meet his Great, Great Grandma the week of thanksgiving.

Steven had Thanksgiving week off, which was perfect to get in a lot of family time! First thing on our agenda that week was taking Mr.Man to meet Great,Great Grandma Mary. (who had just celebrated her 90th birhtday the week before)

This Photo to me is priceless. Im so happy to have this photo for my children but it also makes me very sad that I do not have one with my grandma and my kids :(

This is Steven and (2) of our children, with His grandmother and HIS great grandmother.

This is Adam with his Great Grandma Vicki, she is very fond of Little AdamRichard. (he has one name according to her)

These women just LOVE this little guy, you can just see it! 

We had a wonderful visit with great grandma, she was having an amazing day!

and I had to throw in a picture of savanna eating a snack, well because this is something that she is ALWAYS doing!