Rustic Pine Tree Mobile

 I have a friend who went with the rustic/camping-ish theme for her little guy's nursery and she saw a mobile made out of pine trees and asked me if I could copy the design.

I'll try most crafts once.  I bought an embroidery hoop (I only used the inside hoop), plastic rings...I have no idea what their purpose is, but the craft store had them near the yarn.  I got some string from the jewelry dept (I figured if it was sturdy enough to wear, it could hang this mobile up).  I found some unfinished wood trees online by searching.  They only cost about 5 dollars for 10, BUT....the shipping was also five dollars.  Oh well. I also got three colors of stain (which I had around my house):  Cherry, Walnut, and Oak.  

 I drilled a hole into  the top of each tree.

 ..and painted them with the different stains.  I actually used a paper towel to rub two coats of stain onto each tree (letting them dry in between each staining).

 I tied strings at different lengths into each tree.

 Then I tied the strings onto the hoop at different lengths, evenly around the hoop.  I tied several knots, snipped the edge, and then super glued it so it would stay.

I drilled four holes and then doubled up more string and tied those through and up towards the ring at the top.  

The hardest part of the project was trying to get a shot as the mobile swung in the wind....it's really not crooked, but...you take what you can get.  I put it all together for 16 dollars, and that's including the 5 for shipping I could have skipped if I had time to hunt down those trees at a nearby store.  

Build a Fort Kit

 A few years ago I made a play tent for my cousin's little girl, Blythe.  She has since welcomed a little brother into this world, so....it was his turn.  Granted, it'll be a few years before he can really use this fully, but I'm nothing if not prepared....and I've now got one more Christmas gift checked off the list!    I've seen this idea floating around the net.  I'm not sure where it originated, but it's not from me.  I just took the pieces I liked.

 You can use an old sheet, or I found some for less than 5 bucks for (one twin size flat sheet) at the super center nearby.  They have all sorts of patterns and colors.  I also grabbed some ribbon, though you could use extra fabric/old shirts, or even the cloth bag the sheets come in...

 I cut my ribbon to about 16 inches-6 total pieces, and I ran the edges along a flame to keep it from fraying.

 I used my machine and I sewed the ribbon, folded in half on all four corners and in the middle of both sides of the length of the sheet.  I went back and forth.  The ribbon isn't even necessary, just give them a bunch of clamps and string and they'd probably be fine, but I figure this gives him lots of options for finding things to tie the sheet to-trees, chairs, tables, older sisters....whatever is handy.

 I found a flashlight and added some stickers to personalize it.  These would be cute party favors as well for a camping themed party.
I grabbed duct tape, this clamps, and some string for a buck each from the 99 cent store.

 I added a tag...

 Everything fits inside.  

 ...this little tote bag....and he's ready to build....8 bucks later....3 if you already have the sheet or old fabric you can use.  9 if you buy a cheap bag.  I can only imagine the forts this busy guy will build!

Salad in a Jar

I've been obsessed with anything in a jar for awhile now.  I've seen this idea popping up throughout the net....what a great idea for a picnic/camp out.  You don't have to pack all your ingredients in separate containers, but can jar it all up either in a large jar, or smaller jars.
The key is....put your dressing at the bottom of your jar, then put something like carrots, or celery (something 'sturdier' that won't wilt over night/in the cooler swimming in dressing.  I put a layer of dressing/carrots/celery, cherry tomatoes, then the lettuce.  You can leave a little room at the top if you want to shake it in the jar and eat it as is, or dump it on a plate and the pouring will do the work for ya.  You can toss these right into the cooler...that's my kind of no stress, no mess meal.

Picnic Plates To Go

 I'm putting together a few ideas I'll share shortly on picnic ideas.  I know one annoying little thing is when you have to bring all the utensils/plates/napkins blah blah blah.  At some point-I'll be chasing that stack of napkins across other people's blankets....
I saw the idea for attaching all the utensils to plates and thought....duh!  I adapted the original idea just a tad, but how easy...grab your utensils and some napkins and a hole punch...

 I found some cute straws, but a glow stick, or a little patriotic flag would be cute for each person as well. I rolled them all in the napkins and then punched a hole on the side of a plate.

I strung some ribbon through the hole and tied the utensil 'pack' to the side, and now I just have to pack a plate for each person and pass them out before we dig into the food.  My napkin will be the only thing I have to chase this go round.  

Father's Day BBQ Gift Set

 I'm headed to GMT today to share an idea for Father's Day.  These were all really affordable gifts to put together, and hopefully very useful.
I'll be demoing fire starters for the grill and this little container for matches with a 'striker' for a lid.  I blogged about this on Tuesday. *Make sure you use the strike anywhere matches.  You still can light any match on sand paper with enough heat, but it can take a few tries-matches are made differently these days and are harder to light for 'safety' reasons-so....save yourself trouble and get strike anywhere matches.  

 We will be making a rub for meat.

The recipe is really simple, source.
To make a DRY RUB just blend: 8 T of brown sugar, 3 T of kosher salt, 1 T chili powder, 1/2 t. pepper, 1/2 t. cayenne pepper, 1/2 t. thyme, 1/2 t. onion powder
I'll be making some bbq sauce (attaching a little brush to paint the meat...I don't know the grilling term, but in my world-that looks like a paint brush).

 BBQ Sauce Recipe:  (Makes one cup) 1/2 c. ketchup, 2 T brown sugar, 2 T Worcestershire sauce, 1 T. cider vinegar, 1 t. garlic powder, 1/4 t. mustard powder, 1/4 t. salt.   Mix it together, you can simmer all the ingredients together for about 5 minutes to really help the ingredients marry.
I put all the supplies into a disposable foil pan, I thought it was more useful and practical for 'dad'....I found some hickory wood, skewers, serving trays, and dish towels to round out the gift. All the 'accessories' were available at the dollar store (even the wood).  I'll post a link to the show later here.

Fire Starters...or....We Didn't Start the Fire....

 I'm working on a little somethin' somethin' that includes fire. And so....here are a few ideas for fire starters adapted from 7,456 things I've seen over the years.
#1-little fire starters.  You know when you light wood or charcoal and you run in a circle sparking little areas in hop that one will catch? Enter...these doo hickeys.  You can add them to the bottom of your pile o' stuff and light them to burn and help catch the other 'stuff' easier.
Just take toilet paper or towel tubes and fill them with dryer lint and shredded newspaper if you are low on the lint...

 Stuff....

 Roll some recycled store bags around and twist or them shut, then toss them on the bonfire while it's just a bon and you are hoping for the 'fire' part to happen....

 Next up....a place to store my matches.  I always run out of striking area before I run out of matches, so I'm actually storing these in my house for my candles, but it would also be great to take out to the bbq or on a campout.  There is just something that makes me a little nervous about those little paper boxes filled with matches....a little glass jar makes me feel less nervous.
Grab a mason jar and some sandpaper (found 12 sheets for a buck at the 99 cent store...you do the math)...

 I cut out a circle the shape of the lid and put it on top and then filled 'er up with matches (make sure they are the strike anywhere matches-they still will light on sandpaper, but most matches are made to just strike on the box, you can still light them on sandpaper with enough heat, but the avg person may take a few tries).
Do you "noes'tice anything in the picture I was trying to take below?  Welcome to my life....I have the greatest inspection team this side of the Mississippi.

Camping: Baked Apples

 One of my old favorites from girl scout camp....approximately 4 million years ago were baked apples....so easy, and it really does taste like the innards of an apple pie with a lot fewer calories, and a lot less work. 
Basically, you hollow out the center of an apple (the seeds).  I use a knife, but you can use an apple corer.  I added a little promise butter, brown sugar, cinnamon.  You can add whatever-raisins or any other seasonings.

 Wrap foil around the apple and you can either place it on a campfire, charcoal, or even in an oven set at 350...assuming you are camping suburban style.  They take about 40 minutes.  The longer they sit, the softer they will be.

Camping: Indoor S'More Bar

 The only time this tray 'o smores was outside was for a photo.  The thing about Texas summers....They.  Are.  Hot.  And this summer, because of a warm winter the bugs are out and about, and I don't want any of it!  We did this for dessert when my family was visiting a little over a month ago.  I included all sorts of chocolates, peanut butter, sticks, marshmallows, crackers etc.  You could certainly take this to the 10th degree with a selection of fruits, flavored marshmallows etc, but we mostly just ate candy bars with a side of marshmallows.  We sat in the air conditioned house and roasted our marshmallows with kabob sticks.  I lit up one of these warming cans-set in a bucket of salt (I didn't have any sand), and....

 I taught Blythe how to do this as well.  It turned into a marshmallow 'wand.'  Works for me. 

 I made her a marshmallow sandwich.....obviously, I'm in charge of teaching her the important life lessons. 

Camping: Smore Popcorn Balls

 Take away a campfire, add a microwave and the same basic cast of characters and you can throw together Smore Popcorn Balls.  These are fun little party favors for the end of a summer get together.  I saw this recipe on campfirechic.  There are a lot out there, but this was basic, and delicious, and easy to throw together. 

Smore Popcorn Balls Recipe

Ingredients:  Jar of marshmallow fluff, 1 sleeve of graham crackers, two bags of lightly buttered popped popcorn, 8 oz milk chocolate chips

Instructions:  Crush up the graham crackers.  Put the popcorn and chocolate chips in a large container.  Melt the marshmallow cream in the microwave for about 45 seconds (until it's easy to spread).  Line up a station with the cream, ice water, and graham crackers. 

 Pour the fluff over the popcorn and chocolate mix.  Stir.  Dip your hands in the ice water and start creating balls.  Roll them in the graham crackers.  Place on wax paper to dry.  Place in the fridge for 30 minutes to harden.  Store at room temperature.

This makes about 12 balls a little smaller than a baseball.