Local Walmart Football Munchies and QVC Free Shipping...

Walmart is a regular part of my Saturday rounds and I thought I'd share some Football Theme'd snack items that caught my eye yesterday... Easy cute football cookies, the kids will love to help bake them:@)

Not sure, but I think(?) the football shaped gummies may be new this year...

Little Debbie Football Brownies:

And it's free shipping weekend on QVC,

Guys are hard to buy for folks...

How about something cool for his office or desk:

NFL hover helmet-

2 pack NFL branded t-shirts for about $21.50 a piece.

Gotta check for team availability.

🏈Let's start stocking up for parties and holidays...

And Have a Great Sunday:@)

Garden Winding Down, Fall Revving Up, and Getting Ready...

Well folks, another pretty successful gardening year is beginning to come to a close. One of the most amazing plants, my grape tomato in the large planter, was pulled. Oh how I wish I could get a picture that showed just how spectacular this plant was. The vines grew about 12-15 feet long, went up over the trellis, and bent back down. 

And right up to the day I pulled it out, 

it was making beautiful yellow flowers and itty tomatoes.

But it was getting messy, and it was time.

A shocking difference...

But now I have room for a big pumpkin:@)

And speaking of pumpkins,

these little guys are from my son's garden:@)

I'm hoping he shares, because I think I see a couple Barbie size ones😂 We will see...

And since retail waits for no one... I did treat myself to a new Bethlehem Lights Christmas wreath during QVC's Christmas in July finale. Just testing it with cheap batteries to make sure it worked before I put it away for a couple months. Super bright lights, many functions, and I look forward to setting the timer and having it greet me every day after work. Fluffing and shaping will wait until Thanksgiving:@)

🌻Have a Great Weekend,

and Grab it When You See It😊

Barbie's Christmas In July -Arriving at Cocktail Party

Barbie and Ken were invited to a ~very fancy~ Christmas In July cocktail party... Oooh la-la:@) Much like the holidays, the occasion gave folks a chance to get just a little dressed up for an (air conditioned) evening of wine tasting and appetizers. And since nobody likes to show up empty handed... Ken brought a classic summertime favorite, Jersey Shore boardwalk salt water taffy.

And Barbie took a drive to Cousin Rube's farm store for a treat to bring. Rube made sure Peace and Pancakes Farm was ready for Christmas in July fun (and hoped to sell a lot of marked down Christmas trees)... A local bakery provides pastries and candy for the sweets cart. I'm telling you folks, that elf is everywhere...

Barbie came home with...

A gingerbread lighthouse...

Perfect for summertime festivities:@)

Barbie's Cousin Rube is a self proclaimed old hippie, a passionate farmer, and master marketeer who greets every season with childlike enthusiasm. He genuinely hopes ~you~ always look for something to celebrate too:@) And um, stop in if you need a new tree...

Details: I found the $1 lighthouse ornament last year at the thrift store and immediately knew I'd use it for Christmas in July. My door scene is a cardboard foldout from Dollar Tree. There are several room scenes to choose from, they can be fun:@) The barn is from the Sweet Orchard Farm playset. Cousin Rube is a 12" Rubeus Hagrid doll from the Harry Potter series. How to make a Barbie necklace here. Big man doll overalls free pattern here.

Previous Barbie Christmas in July:

2020 -Double Sided Pillow

2021 -Stocking Cap from Sock

2022 -Disco Ball Light from $1 Ornaments

2023 -Resort Vacation-Frozen Hot Chocolate

🌴🦩🎅Happy Christmas in July!

Paper Napkin Hankie Skirt for Barbie, Kids Craft

When I started making Barbie posts back in 2013 my hope was that they'd give folks inspiration for easy, quick projects to do with kids. This hankie skirt from a paper napkin has to be one of the easiest ideas yet:@) What I love about it the most is, you can use any color or seasonal napkin you have or would like. Lunch napkins make long skirts and cocktail napkins make shorter skirts. This is an economical project for a sleepover or birthday party, and a great way to kill a little time waiting for dinner to be ready.

Of course I had to make an Eagles one too😎

This was a cocktail napkin.

What I did:

1. Items required: Paper napkin, scissors, tape.
2. Simply make a dot 3/4" from the corner of the napkin (the corner that would be the center of the napkin when unfolded). Note: Standard Barbie = 3/4", Curvy Barbie = 1"
3. Draw a curve, cut the corner of the napkin off.
4. *For the summer print napkin, I did round the corner off of the bottom too.
5. Slip the doll's legs through the hole, scrunch napkin around her waist and tape around waist to create a waistband. The tape can be washi tape, making tape, duct tape, or anything handy.
6. Done!

You can make any size napkin work. The lunch size makes a nice full skirt that kind of reminds me of the 1950's poodle style. You could always cut the other corners to make a rounded skirt if desired (as I did in the first picture).

Thinner, cheaper napkins work best (Walmart, Dollar Tree). I wanted to show a Christmas one too but I only had a sturdy, name brand dinner size napkin. The napkin was too big and the paper was just too thick to drape, it didn't work. $1 napkins are better!

My Barbie Pinterest Board HERE.

✂Let's keep the kids busy and 

Have a Happy Day😉

Nora Fleming Minis for Any Occasion (Literally...)

To cap off Baseball Week I wanted to share a collectible that's new to me... Have you heard of Nora Fleming Minis? The idea is, you pick a base, anything from a serving dish, to a paper towel holder, to a charcuterie board, and then add the mini. Mini's are small figural pieces that commemorate any occasion, every holiday, and just about every day... I scrolled through the Amazon page, and counted roughly 22 bases and 136 minis to chose from. You can go to Amazon or find her web page here. Now, I'm not saying this is an inexpensive gift, but it is certainly one that can be added to over time:@) There is even a scalloped edge square that's blank so you can write whatever message you'd like on it.

How it works:

More examples:

And I'll leave you with...

📌All of my Pinterest Boards here.

Just sharing a fun idea,

Have a Happy Day:@)

For the Love of Football Valentine Charcuterie Board

Oh this was fun folks:@) I wanted to play with making some pepperoni roses, and then started thinking about what I could use for a board and one thing led to another... And here we have a For the Love of Football Small Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board. ♥♥♥ My football board is only about 9"x6", so I tried to load it up. As for the roses themselves... I'm glad I tried, but I'll leave that for someone else next time. The slippery sausage does require some ~patience~ to form.

Grazing boards are my absolute favorite way to snack. I would add some celery and carrots normally, but I was aiming for a Valentine's color pallet (should have grabbed the white cheddar Cheezits😏)... I used a mini heart shaped cookie cutter to create some smoked hard salami hearts. Just free hand the XO from cheese... Did you get the double entendre? XO for hugs and kisses, and XO for football formations! Oh yea, I'm clever like that:@)

Short on time or don't want a ton of leftovers? Just about everything came from Dollar Tree... Pepperoni, Haribo Berries, almonds, Cheezits, Hershey Kisses, and heart shaped Junior Mints. There are lots of other options too. 

My wooden football board is from one of those holiday cheese and cracker sets, and the size is perfect for one or two people. I even lucked out and bought the set after holiday for $4, gotta love that:@)

Sending warm wishes your way:@)

Be sure to treat yourself well,

even if simply noshing:@)

I💗🏈Have a Happy Day!

I'm Joining:

Wonderful Wednesday

Creative Muster

Inspirational Friday

I wish you joy and peace

this Christmas:@)

Vintage Santa Ornament-Thrift Store Rescue & 2023 Christmas Tree

I wanted to share this year's favorite thrift store find... This o~l~d Santa ornament! Goodwill had bags of assorted balls on the shelves. He was just tossed into a bag and luckily, still in good shape (for his age) patiently waiting for me:@) I left half the balls there for them to re-sell, and in addition to Santa brought home four more balls for the tree, and...

Eight mini glass ornaments for a 4th of July tree!

This was a fun find indeed:@)

My Christmas tree this year:

The Dollar Tree Spirals are the star:@)

Too much egg nog???

I hope your holiday includes a fun surprise too!

Have a great day:@)

Barbie Says It's Christmas Week! Recycled Grinch Mask for Dolls

Alternate Title: How Ken Stole Christmas:@) How about adding a little Grinch-y Christmas fun to Barbie play! I picked up a Hershey's How the Grinch Stole Kisses stocking stuffer because I immediately saw a fun mask for Ken (and I um, like chocolate...). I love these super easy, cute, recycling projects! And the size of this candy stopper is perfect for 1:6 scale dolls.

What I started with,

I saw them at Walmart and Target:

The stopper:

I cut it with a razor cutter ~adults only please~, kitchen snips would work too. Cut the bottom off, then straight down the back of the head. Open back up and slip over the doll's head, will fit Barbie, Ken and action figure dolls:

Now, this is ~your~ mask... You could paint the eyes, or cut them out of the mask. I'm gonna leave mine as is, I think it's great:@)

And Barbie says all of the holiday festivities (and antics) can be a little... stressful... She suggests making sure you take a little time for yourself, and practice a little self care...

Coffee helps:@)

I'm telling ya folks,

That elf is ~everywhere~...

Grande size coffee is a stocking stuffer lip balm.

Thought it was cute for doll play.

How to make turtleneck from sock here.

♻Let's recycle creatively this Christmas,

and Have a Happy Day🎅

Barbie Felt Ugly Christmas Sweater Dress DIY & Ken Vest Too

I saw some, um, ugly Christmas sweater dresses at Walmart and thought it might be fun to whip one up for Barbie:@) This is a super simple project that only requires a piece of felt and anything you have in the craft stash to decorate the tree. This can be quickly sewn, or a no-sew project by using some hot glue. Felt also makes this a no-hem project-gotta love that! The pattern fits both standard dolls, and our model today is Curvy Barbie. My suggestion: If you're planning this as a party or sleepover project, you might want to have the dresses made ahead of time, and just let the kids decorate them. 

This will fit Elf on the Shelf too.

You can shorten it a bit if desired.

Oh and, don't forget Ken...

He likes to get dressed up too! 

His felt ugly sweater vest pattern can be found here.

Antler headband here.

Again, great Elf couture...

Possible decorations: Pom-poms, glitter, garland, ribbon, sewing trims, buttons, mini Christmas decorations, beads, yarn, bows, sequins, rhinestones, diamond mesh ribbon, faux fur, stickers or cut shapes/ornaments from more felt. ~Anything goes folks!

The Pattern:

What I did:

1. Tip: Honestly, the best glue for felt seems to be hot glue.
2. Cut two from pattern.
3. Place right sides together, sew or glue up sides to arm hole (line on pattern).
4. Turn right side out.
5. Optional: I did cut the front neckline into a bit of a scoop.
6. There are options for securing the dress... I added a little velcro to the garland and back of one shoulder so it can be opened and closed for dressing. You could also glue a long piece of ribbon around each arm hole, leaving two long ends to tie into bows on top of the shoulders.
7. At this point the dress is done, glue on decorations as desired😎

My inspiration:

Rather make a Santa type outfit? I think you could easily create this look with the same idea/pattern:

Looks like Barbie and Ken are ready for the party😎

🎄Make something just for fun and have a happy day🎅

Toilet Paper Roll Hats -DIY Craft Tutorial (Christmas Ornaments or Doll Play)

Looking for a little craft the kids can make as gifts for grandparents, neighbors, teachers and yes, even their dolls? These Yarn and Toilet Paper Roll Hats have been around forever, and I usually see them presented as DIY Christmas tree ornaments. They can be made in any color, and may I even suggest team colors:@) Eagles Kelly green anyone???

I thought they might fit Barbie (Ken, the kid dolls, GI Joe and action figure dolls too). So on a ~very~ snowy day I decided to try to make one:@) It took me about an hour from start to finish and I used standard worsted weight yarn. This would be a cute project for kids to make for their dolls, and a perfect sleep-over or birthday party craft. 

Choose any color or color scheme... And I only used about a 1/2" circle from the tube, you can get several from one toilet paper roll.

This was a massive storm, it lasted a couple days and we ended up with about 18" of snow... I'll take all the help I can get shoveling😉

What I did:

Cut 1/2" circle from the toilet paper roll.

Cut 10" long pieces of yarn, plan on ~maybe~ 30-33 pieces... 

It will vary by how tightly you push it together around the rim.

Each piece of yarn will get folded in half and go through the rim to the center:

Then draw the two loose ends through the loop:

Tighten the knot along the edge of the rim. Keep pushing the yarn next to each other, and adding more until all of the cardboard is covered.

Push all of the loose ends of the yarn through the hole of the cardboard. Give it a shake, gather all of the strands of yarn to create the hat. Knots will now be on the bottom inside. Tie another piece of yarn around all of the strands about 1" above the rim. (I tied two pieces around it.) Then trim the loose ends to create the pom-pom on top.

You might find this tutorial helpful too here.

Wa-la, a cozy winter hat😎

☃Make something just for fun and have a happy day⛄