Marshmallow in the Middle Cupcakes

I tried the recipe for Marshmallow in the Middle Chocolate Cupcakes from The Shabby Creek Cottage. They were really easy and yummy. I like to heat them up in the microwave before I eat them so they are melty.  Go here to get the recipe.

Engineering Print

For Mr. Jones' Christmas gift, I made an engineering print of one of our daughter's photos.  I had it done at Staples for about $3.50 and put it in a poster frame from Target.  It's just photocopy quality, but I love it.

Updated Boxwood Wreath

I stuck a dollar ornament on my simple boxwood wreath I blogged about yesterday. I like it.

Easy Wreath and Webbing Christmas Decor

I saw a boxwood wreath on Pinterest and thought I would try to make it. The Home Depot gave me clippings, I wired them to a base I had in the craft room, and I hung it by nailing upholstery webbing to the top of the door. It was a very easy, imperfect but elegant Pinterest project.  If your clippings aren't flexible, try soaking them in water for a bit.

I also used webbing on a closet door to display cards with tiny clothes pins. 

Thanks For Your Help

Thanks to everyone for all the great input on my last

post about what to do with my wall of windows.

Here's what I have decided to try:

I want to hang window panels up high on a rod

and hang blinds on the lower windows only,

similar to the following picture except the rod will go above all 3 windows:

 (Source:  Sheffield Furniture)

I found blinds at Home Depot and Panels at Ikea,
but unfortunately even Ikea panels weren't long enough.
So I bought four cream panels for the top, and
dark gray panels to sew on the ends to make them longer.
I'm just trying to decide whether
to do a simple color block or add another stripe
(like in the following two photos).

(Source: Drapestyle)

  (Source: Martha and Ash Etsy Store)

 (Source: Houzz)

(Source: Unknown) 

 (Source: Google Search)

(Source: Houzz)

 (Source: Houzz)

(Source: Milk and Honey Home)

Now I'm just waiting until Mr. Jones can help me.
I hate things I can't do all by myself!

Help!!

I have a dilemma, dear friends, and I'm hoping you can help me.

We bought our house because it is on a gorgeous lot.

With woods.

And deer.

And little bunnies.

This is my family room that looks out on the woods.

 I thought this wall of windows would give me a nice view.

Not so much.

The blinds were on the windows when we moved in.

The upper blinds are supposed to be remote control to raise them up.

They broke within a year.
Quality.

But I can't take them off because the afternoon sun blasts into the room.

Like it's so strong you would need sunglasses.

To make it worse, see the line that is under the arch?

That's not the window, it's just the ugly blind.

So ...

1. My living room is actually a dungeon despite the potential view.

2. I'm an outside girl and I can't see outside when I want.

3. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT TO REPLACE THEM WITH.

Please help.

(Oh, and it must be a budget solution)

Bookmarks and Journals

A few months ago,  I made some bookmarks and journals for gifts.

I took photos to share with you, and then forgot about them.

But I found them yesterday!

 I upcycled a tailor's tape measure I found at Target.  

I love this color, but they also had pink.

I made bird's nest charms from tutorials I saw at Just Something I Made (she has an amazing collection of tutorials on her blog).

 I made this one based on Andrea Singarella's beautiful inspiration.

It was frustrating, because I'm finding
I need to order good craft supplies online because
stores like Michaels and Jo-Ann Fabric
have a really terrible selection. Terrible.

It turned out ok, but I would love to order some
better supplies in the future and try again.

 I bought these small journals at Target's Dollar Spot,
and just added some stamped charms.

 Target also had these little chevron bags, which I used to wrap the journal.

It turned out to be a pretty cute gift for $2.00 plus supplies I already had.

For more gift inspiration, here is my Pinterest Board for Gift ideas.