Pinterest Party!

By Lindsey Riley (The Crafting Challenged Blogger)

Hello everybody! Let's get the crafting ideas flowing so that this weekend, you can start making those holiday presents.
Last weekend, I went to Indianapolis with my friend Ashley to stay at her house and get away from the craziness of college for a few days. Her mom, a very sweet and avid crafter, planned a Pinterest party for this same weekend. She wanted members of her family and their friends to come together, relax, and have fun creating those projects that they never had the time to do.

Everything at this party was inspired by Pinterest. She made dishes that she found through Pinterest and planned a few crafts for everyone to do together that she found on Pinterest. Here are a few photos of what I made and links to instructions and recipes on how to make the crafts and food.

Let's inspire each other: What Pinterest craft do you want to make but don't have time for? Comment below with your answer.

http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/139486/peanut-butter-cheese-ball/detail.aspx

http://www.craftytexasgirls.com/2012/07/christmas-in-july-sharpie-plates.html

http://www.cafemom.com/group/113532/forums/read/15042140/Fall_Crafts_Challenge_Day_6_Show_Us_Something_with_Pumpkins?next=51#replies

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Chicken-Taco-Ring

Playing with Your Food!

(By Lindsey Riley, The Crafting-Challenged Blogger)

Earlier this week, there was a recall on Kelogg's Mini-Wheats cereal for fear of metal fragments being present in boxes. It sounds like there was a faulty mechanism and there was a possibility that metal was packaged with the food.

Personally, I am never awake to eat breakfast food. I also am not a big fan of cereal, but I do love cereal boxes. I love walking down the grocery store aisle for cereal because there are hundreds of colorful boxes lining the shelves. All of them grab your attention one way or another, and I think that it's just cool. I know, I am strange!

As a child, I use to make various crafts with cereal and cereal boxes. Every year in elementary school, my mom and I would make a little mailbox out of the cereal box for my classmates to drop my Valentines cards in. I used to make play jewelry out of Cheerios and yarn and would then leave them outside for the wildlife to enjoy. Those were the days!

There's way more that you can do with cereal and its boxes these days than I ever imagined. You can do little things like make mosaics, postcards, and organizers. It's a great way to be green. Other ideas include:

Bookmarks

• You need: A cereal box, scissors, one sheet of clear plastic contact paper, a hole punch, and a small amount of yarn or ribbon.
• Open the bottom of the box and cut down one side so the box can lie flat. Use a pen or marker to trace the shape and size bookmark you want.
• Then, after the bookmark has been cut out, seal it with contact paper. The plastic coat will making it more durable.
• Decorate with your favorite designs!

 Sandals

• What you need: Empty cereal box, scissors, pencil, duct tape
•  Cut out the shoe shapes and straps. Tape the straps with the duct tape. Decorate as you wish!

 Beads

•  What you need: Cereal box, scissors, varnish
• Cut the flat sides of the boxes into thin and long triangles.
• Roll the cardboard and then dip final product into varnish.

Slasher T-Shirt Scarf Making

By Lindsey Riley (The Crafting-Challenged Blogger)

Hey everyone! First off, welcome to the weekend.

The recent and, in my opinion, sudden fall weather has caused some people to dust off their leather jackets, boots, and pull out their fall fashion accessories. Also, there are tons of stores that have placed their cooler weather clothing items on the sales floor and are using great sales to get you to buy those fall and winter items you already have or can create.

Well, why not save money on an accessory that can be used in the fall AND the winter? Scarfs are perfect for this time of the year and go great with any ensemble. Rather than spending $15 for a new scarf, we are going to make one from a recycled t-shirt. See, we are being green and saving green!

The scarf I am making I found on the blog "A Beautiful Mess." It says to use a t-shirt that has lycra or spandex and to have a pair of fabric scissors. I have neither, so I am going to use a cotton t-shirt and paper scissors.

 You then cut the t-shirt. I cut mine from arm to arm. Once you finished that, cut along one of the sides so you have one long rectangle.

 Now pick an end, any end will be fine, and start folding the rectangle like an accordion. Make sure that each fold is even or else you'll have an uneven looking scarf. When you're done with the folding, grab the scissors and begin cutting slits on each side. Make your cuts a good size but not too large. Also, try to aim the cuts on the second side in between the previous ones.

 Unfold your scarf. If you don't have something that looks like

<- this, you'll have to start over again. If you do have this, then begin stretching out each cut with your fingers. Only do one hole at a time, and don't stretch them too much or else you'll have a hot mess of a scarf.

When you're finished, you are have a scarf that is wearable and fashionable! That's at least $15 you saved by recycling an old t-shirt rather than buying a brand new scarf at the store. What I loved about this craft was it required no sewing. That is the one thing that I cannot do in life, and I made sure to find a way to make a scarf that required none of it. I hope you enjoy making this craft, and please feel free to comment with any opinions or questions.

Happy Friday, and have a great weekend!

Mallory, the Pinterest Freak

By: Mallory Jordan
Your Moderately Crafty Blogger


I like to think of myself as a renaissance woman; I dance, read and write; I enjoy singing, acting, learning in general and I love tea parties. I like to dabble a little bit in everything and do my best to be at least moderately good at it all.

A year ago, when the Pinterest craze was just hitting its peak, my roommate got me hooked. I always saw her making delicious snacks with the cutest presentation. I didn't think that I would have any use for a site like Pinterest because I don't cook that much. Little did I know, there is so much more than just baking recipes on the site. I've made gifts for my boyfriend and family from Pinterest ideas and taken a few decorating tips, such as using ribbon and clothes pins as a pretty picture hanger for your bedroom wall. There have even been some recipes I've successfully taken a shot at, like cheesecake strawberries.

I became so in love with the site that I even wrote a story on it for my school newspaper, The Ball State Daily News, for our Valentine's Day special insert.





I think that anyone can craft. I am dedicated to help anyone who is willing to try to learn how to make easy, affordable items for gifts, treats, or just around the house decorations. I will be posting every Monday, so be sure to check out our blog for my seasonal projects for the moderately crafty person. Things to look forward to from me are how to make your own pumpkin spice latte in honor of the return of Starbucks' fall pumpkin spice flavors and fun Halloween treat ideas.

Be sure to check out my Pinterest if you have one. I will soon be adding a board called, "My creations" with more pictures of things that I have made if you are ever in need of some more ideas.

Lindsey: The Crafting-Challenged Blogger

 (By Lindsey Riley)

Hello everyone! My name is Lindsey Riley and I am not the most craftiest person you will ever meet. I am better at creating with words than I am with textiles, ingredients, and all that jazz. I am, however, open to giving things a chance.

My goal with this blog is to keep you up-to-date with the latest and coolest craft ideas while sharing something new and news-worthy with you. It sounds like a challenge, but it's a challenge that I am willing to face. I don't think it will be that bad because I am fortunate enough to have Britny and Mallory to work with me on this blog.

Some ideas I have right now to share with you include recipes for my grandmother's holiday fudge and my mom's amazing pumpkin bread. As far as crafts go, I know we will be making a t-shirt scarf for sure, and I think we'll be making some cool inexpensive things to give as gifts at Christmas. Let's face it: the holidays are about three-ish months away. No time like the present to get started on presents! :D

Be sure to follow me on Pintrest. I plan on making various pin boards as they relate to what I blog about and what Mallory and Britny blog about, as well.