2 Clever Blog

Sweet Thing!

Think ::

Can you believe how lucky we are to have such wonderful people read our creative conversation everyday?  It always makes me happy to see our visitors stop by.
We also have been very lucky to have a few websites share our ideas for their readers and they always do such a good job of giving us credit (they know we love that)

One Pretty Thing

,

UCreate,

TipJunkie 

have all be en really good to us by telling the world about us.  Thanks Gals. 

So the other day while searching on their sites I found a new site called Kara's Cupcakes.  I soaked in her tutorial on making these cupcakes out of sculpty clay.  The girls and I made rings and a ton of pendants for her to give to her swim coaches "because they are so sweet!"  I took a photo in front of my beautiful blooming pink hydrangas - are they not lovely.

Anyway you may enjoy making these treasures with your little Think!

and the Jonas Brothers???? What I talked myself out of buying $100 tickets in the nose bleeds for their concert this summer because I LOVE them but also love Mr. Pink's budget even more and you say you didn't even know their songs.  Oh the pain.  Next time you get free tickets to something amazing like that call me - Delta will get me there in a jiffy.

You are great and amazing in case I have not told you in awhile.

Pink ::

5th Grade Here she comes!

 

 

Think ::

Oh my why do I get myself in such things.  Yesterday a girlfriend and I planned a end of the year party for all the 4th graders.  She is a creative wizard and I can not take any credit for all of this coming together.

We had parents all bring in different summer items to put together in $1.00 buckets that she painted with their names and covered in bright ribbon.  (what will I do when I no longer live by the ribbon outlet?)

• sunglasses
• sunscreen
• summer magazine
• water bottles
• cozie's

We then made all teachers candy lei's to put around their neck while we thanked them and let the 4th graders cheer for them.  I forget how great these are! So easy, cheap and fun.

My friends best idea ever was to have the kids sign a big banner that we can hang in the 5th grade hall on the first day of school next year.  We started out with the idea of buying a white sheet and spray painting it, but ha ha you know me too well.  The spray paint went out the window and gingham check applique took it's place on yellow brushed cotton.  I just did large iron ons for the words.

Even though you are out of the school mode this might be fun for next year.

Pink ::

Graduation

Think ::

Home from Seattle and EXHAUSTED.  Our whole plan to get a full night sleep on the "pink" eye flight and then be ready for the day - well that did not work for me so well.  I dropped Mr. Pink off at work at 7:00 am on the way home from the airport and how he has made it through work all day I will never know.  (I think I did marry a man made of steel)

Anyway, since I have not downloaded all my photos from my trip and am now in panic mode for getting end of the year stuff done (you know my pain) I thought I would write about something I did a few weeks ago on the line of graduations.

Me and another church group leader decorated the doors of the girls graduating from High School in our youth group.  We waited until they left for graduation so that when they came home they would come home to their house being all decked out.

So here is what we did.  The top sign was from the $1.00 store.

We had all the girls from church sign the back and stuck in front of their house with a bunch of balloons in their school colors.

Then I bought large packs of dinner plates that said "Congrats Grad" on them and a set of matching red plastic knives from the party store.  I taped the knives on the back with the jagged side down so that it could go into the ground outside their homes.  This is a super cheap way to decorate for a fun event. could you imagine waking up the morning of your birthday with your lawn covered in paper plates!  This clever idea came out of me being cheap and desperate.

Then we made a candy bar poster for the girls to put on the front door.  My partner in crime could seriously write these for a living.  Watching her arrange all the candy bars to come up with this poem was like watching someone on the Price is Right racing to finsish a game.  She is amazing. So I can not take credit for this poem but will share it with you and any eavesdroppers anyway.

We thought it would be {Fun DiP} to drop by while you were in your
{bottle caps} and gown to let you know that you {Pop Rocks}. 

You should be filled with {mounds} of {Almond Joy} that you are no {dumb dumb} but a you are filled with {Extra} good stuff to use {Now and Later}. 
Since you have {Skor} ed a degree you are worth more than {1000 Grand}!!

 As your Young Women leaders we are
so proud of you we could just {kissables} you!

Cute huh!!

Ok Graduation over, now on to end of school for my littles!  I can't wait till summer officially begins.

Pink ::

Graduation Gifts

    

Think ::

Before I left for Seattle (still having a great time by the way) I made these bags for the girls in my youth group who graduated from High School.

 

Another leader and I had the three girls over for lunch and then gave them these monogrammed bags and monogrammed aprons and hot pads.  Seriously it is true girls love to see their monogram. They made my day by jumping out off the couch they were so excited. 

I bought the bags at KMart of all places.  They were only $12.00 each.  I tied matching ribbon on each of them that I think pulled it all in together.  The lining of each bag was hot pink.  Monogram is done in Empire font from Embroidery Arts. 

Ok off to catch a Ferry and eat some fish and chips.

Pink ::

Having a Ball

Dear Think ::

Last Saturday I had 2 hours to kill in a neighborhood while my little pink was at a awesome birthday party.  I was lucky to find a garage sale with it being Memorial Day weekend.

I found 13 blue glass Ball Mason Jars.  The woman wanted $26.00 for them all but I offered $10.00 and she took it. 

My intention for these were purely practical.  I know I have told you every year how I make these gumball jars for teachers, bus drivers, librarians, cross guards and any other wonderful person who has made an impact in my daughters life at school.  

I buy a box of bubble gum at Sams club fill up glass canning jars and then put tags that say

"Thanks for Chewsing to teach at Hillrise Elementary. 
My little Pink had a Ball this year"

They are fast, easy and cheap.  Ribbon and tags make silly gumballs seem somewhat cool.

So after I brought home the beautiful blue glass jars on Saturday I put them outside until I was going to clean them out.  Well, I woke up this morning to my beautiful blue rain collectors.  (look how much it rained last night)  They looked so beautiful sitting on my deck, I now don't know if I can give them away.  How beautiful would they all be holding my ribbons and doo dads?

I am in a dilemma.  Do I use them for gum ball jars or are they much cooler than I am giving them credit for??
Seriously Think, what would you do?  I still have 2 weeks left of school so I have time to find more bottles.

Pink ::

Chalk it Up...

Pink :: Look how early I am posting today!

It's just because Mr. Think is involved with this one. And it's actually an Accidental Idea.

We had a large expanse of wall above some countertops our kitchen. We were going to do some open shelves but since we are moving soonish we decided to look for a less expensive option that would still look good. I thought a chalkboard was always a nice thing in a kitchen. So I waited until Micheal's had a great sale on their frames and got a simple 30" x 44" black frame. (not just 40% but 55% off — Score!) We had a spray can of black chalkboard paint hanging around from another project we never made. (Another Score!) Mr. Think mentioned that we had some Bead Board we bought when we thought about doing our 1/2 bath. (Perfect!) We were going to use the other side, the flat side without the grooves for our chalkboard.

But wait!

Why not use the groove side?

 

(Super Duper Score!)

Now we have a chalkboard with lines to make it easier to write on! I love how it adds some pattern and texture to my modern kitchen and how easy it is to make lists on my "lined paper". I am using that chalk paint pen I love at Halloween instead of regular chalk since I think the regular stuff would accumulate in all the grooves and look kinda messy pretty quick.

Don't you love it when you are accidentally clever? :: Think

Build and Strike

 

Think ::

guess what I am doing tonight?
Sleeping on a island on the Potomac River!  (with 40 teenagers)

Our youth group has a planned a leadership training camp out.  The youth have been in charge of planning everything.  I am over 8 youth and our group is called build and strike.

We are in charge of setting it all up and taking it all down.  I had thought the term was a scouting term but I have not met one scout who has ever heard of it.  I love the way it sounds - build and strike!

So for my team I made them all hats to wear. 

$1.00 store hats
I printed the little logo on thin cotton fabric that I had ironed onto Freezer paper.
Ran it through my printer.
Then took off the freezer paper and ironed on fuse a web.
Cut around each oval.
Ironed it on the hat.
Easy and Cheap.  and 2clever I might add.

Should be a fun and exhausting weekend!

Pink ::

my bag is packed

Think::

My bag** is packed and I am off to Utah!  I can't wait to see you. 
Let's meet for lunch on Thursday at around 12:30.
BYU Campus - The Wilkinson Center - at the tables in front of the yummy BYU Creamery!

Pink::
any eavesdroppers that want to join us, we would love to have you! (since you don't know what we look like, I will have this bag with me)

** ok are you loving my new bag as much as me.  I have not made a bag in years - it felt good.  I will for sure do a video tutorial this summer!!

White Sheets

Think::


Do you remember my love (obsession) for white sheets.  I love them.  I wash them (bleach the jeebies out of them) every 6 days.  We only ever have one set at a time and they must be over 400 thread count.  I am a complete nut!
One set lasts us about 6 months.  I have found my favorite set to be from Sams Club of all places.  It is like sleeping on butter.  (sleeping on butter sounds gross, but you get my point)
What always happens is that we wash them so much that we will get a worn out hole that starts the size of a vintage button and then over the next few washings turns to a rip the size of Texas.
We lost our last set on Monday and I came up with a way to let it hang around our home a few more days.  I stuck it on the back porch with a box of markers and now I am Mom of the year. 

Last night was our first night on the new set.  The next 6 months of pure hole-less, sheet bliss!!

Pink::

Shaped like a bell

Think::

So want to see my new obsession along with my sculpy clay.  Painting!  I want to try my hand at painting all my little girls on these little wooden pegs.  This was my first try.  I am embarrassed to show it to you because there are so many things I would do differently.  But I thought after I finish each one I will show you so I can watch my own progression of trying something that I have NO IDEA how to do.  It is all about learning right?
If you have any great painting tips let me know.

Speaking of bells  --- today we are taking off for Philadelphia for a few days.  We have not been there  since 2006.  I found this photo that I took the last time we were there and my littlest pink was half her age.  I look forward to getting new photos of the girls looking at the Liberty Bell as well as getting a pretzel off the street and...

going to 4th street deli (click on their website, the intro is hilarious!)  and eating their yummy food and a bowl full of pickles!

More from the road.
Pink::

We love Ewe!

Dear Think Family::

We love Ewe so much! We hope you have a wonderful Easter Weekend. 
Through all of our crazy crafting and ideas, we take a minute to be grateful for meeting you in Nashville, Tennessee, in a library/cafeteria/gym that held our Church meetings every Sunday.  Where we celebrated the resurrection of our Savior until a new building could be built.  So I hope our chocolate bunnies, carrot dishes, and office supply sheep don't get in the way of remembering the joy of what brought our 2 families together.
We love Ewe!

The Pinks::

So now it is out who the artist is between Think and I.  Oh my poor little one eared lamb.  Yes it is a lamb in case you could not tell!

Happy Easter Weekend Eavesdroppers. 
We love you 2!!!

Fat Free :: Sugar Free Chocolate Bunny Recipe

Think::

So have I told you lately I can't get enough of Sculpey clay.  We have made so many things in the past few weeks that I will show you later. But this was this weeks was the Fat Free Chocolate Bunny.   We used the chocolate color brown color (1657) and one of our Wilton Cookie Cutters.

I used a pink clay for the nose and some crystal stickers after I baked it for 20 minutes. 

I have kind of become obsessed lately with making dough ornaments after doing those Shamrocks.  I made my salt dough and added cocoa to try to make the bunnies - but it just did not quite work.

The pink velvet ribbon is so perfect to hang on his ears.  This is a great necklace to wear.  Add a pin back to pin your favorite Easter Sweater (hee hee) or use them as ornaments on little hooks in your house.  

Am I on posting overload today or what??

Pink::

The Clever Carrot

Think::

Here is a sew simple sewing project to do with the littles.  We folded a piece of fabric in half (right sides together) and then cut a triangle.  Sewed the raw edge. Stuffed with batting.  Gathered the top.  Sewed shut and tied with green ribbon.  We love getting our carrots out each Easter - the girls love knowing they made them.  We may make some more this year so if I do I will take photos of the process unless this totally makes sense to you.

If you don't have this book this is a great one to read after making the carrots and teaching our children to dream and have faith!

Happy Monday.  Only one more week until Spring Break, can't wait!
Pink::

The Best Nest!

 

Dear Think::

Another Easter tradition that the little pinks and I do is to make this cake every year for Easter Sunday.  I have no idea what made me think of it other than I had this bird and wanted to do something with it.

• We make two round cakes, obviously any kind you want. 
• Frost with white icing and add colored coconut.
• To get that lime green color, it is easiest if you buy the food dye in the neon colors.
• I use my favorite Cadbury eggs that come in the purple bag. 
• Use  branches that are green enough to bend

and I bet you will never guess where I got my awesome glass cake plate?  yep Goodwill.  $2.99

hope this gives you enough time to pick up the necessities to make it too!
Pink::

Easter Tree Tradition!

  

Dear Think::

I am starting to dye my eggs for my Easter tree.  The girls and I make this every year.

Here is what we do::

• blow out a slew of eggs.  This is always so fun and we have serious headaches after wards.  We have learned that there is no need to make super tiny holes.  Make it easy on yourself and make them larger than a pin hole.
• I blow the eggs first and then dye them.  It is probably easier to do it the other way first but after years of making this tree it is just my system.  You will want to wash and dry out those eggs really well or you will have one stinky house after a few days. 
• dye the eggs with regular dye kit but use a tea bag for each cup to give them more of a washed, natural feel.  I boil the tea bags with each dye tablet and then put the blown eggs in warm water.
• if possible find branches that have buds on them and fill your vase with water and watch them bloom.  I also think the greener adds to the natural look of the tree.
• The vase I use is a old pitcher and bowl I found at Goodwill in Nashville for $7.00.  I often think I don't have room for it in my house and think I will get rid of it, but then think "What will I put my Easter tree in if I get rid of it!"  You will note on the bottom photo that the handle was cracked and glued.  This did not detour me from buying it and I think adds to character of my container.
•  
• don't use cutesy ribbon. (not that you have any of that in your house)  Go to the yarn section of a craft store and find some really interesting and wonderful fibers.  This is also much cheaper than ribbon and easy because it is so small.  If you can find wool embroidery thread that is wonderful too.  On this egg above I used a wool brown thread and then tied a bow on top to cover my large hole for blowing with the yarn
• 
• tie some yarn in bows and add them to the tree as well as on top to hide the large holes that make blowing them so much easier. One year I even added some funky flower beads to the top and the bottom.
•  We add small bird nests and have even added a few natural looking birds over the years.  
• I fill the bowl up with some ceramic eggs, so that is why those look extra shiny!

Let me know if you make one this year.  These photos are from a few years ago so I will let you know what changes and new things we come up with this year.

Spring is almost here! (at least for us that is)
Pink::

craft 4 2day!

Think::

Today I was showing my little pink the joys of my embroidery machine which I am determined will come out of hiding this spring.
We made a simple scalloped circle with a letter from her name and then ironed it on the green shirt I had plans to make a St. Patrick's day shirt with.  (darling t-shirts at Target right now for $4.99, but only up to a 5T) We then cut the felt into a circle and ironed it on.  She was so excited with her new creation and you know how I feel about pink and green together -oh la la!!!

Sorry your spring break is over, can you believe ours does not start for another 2 weeks!

Pink::

Teacher Gift

 

Dear Think::
I am sure you and anyone else reading this is already out of school and has no need for a teacher gift for this year. (can you believe that our kids are still in school today! and I just found out Jeff is working all day on Christmas Eve - rats!)
This is the class gift I made (yep, still the room mom) from the parents.  Our teacher does not celebrate Christmas so I had to keep it off the red and green side of things, gave me a good excuse to use some of my bright colored ribbon.

• Large funky basket from The Salvation Army- $3.99
• Cracker Jacks 2 for $1.99
• bag of unpopped popcorn - $2.49
• Carbonated Water (the teachers favorite) 3 for $5.00
• Gift cards $125.00
• The magic of cellophane and gobs of ribbon to make anything look cute - priceless!

Then a little play on words, get it great teacher, but it is in poor English.  ha ha ha.  (i hope she thinks it is just as funny)

I got this great idea from Emily W. in Tennessee and have used it many times and it is always a great hit.  It makes a great neighbor gift with a 2 liter bottle of 7up (being green) a bag of microwave popcorn on top and wrapped in cellophane and bright red ribbon.  I am telling you cellophane and ribbon make anything look great.

Hope your holiday is starting earlier than mine.
Pink::

Ice, Ice Baby!

Dear Think::

Ok if we were to ever rate our most clever ideas that we have documented on here, this will have to be in the top three!
A gal in my neighborhood has come up with the most incredible Christmas neighbor gift ever.  She gives her friends a bag of holiday ice.  Yes gives them a bag of ice in these holiday shapes.  She starts months in advance as she only has 2 or three trays.  She and her son do it together.
The beauty of receiving a bag of this great ice is you know that this has taken time to make and essentially it is FREE!  She brought one to another friend on the night of her Christmas office party to use that night. Is that so thoughtful and clever.
My friend, who wishes to remain nameless, wins my most clever gal of the week.  Seriously we should come up with a clever prize to send people. (I am kind of serious about that)
I will never look at a themed ice tray the same again.  Can you imagine the possibilities for holidays and events. 

So what do you think?

Pink::

P.s. I am off to Arizona to thaw out.  Hold down the fort while I am gone.

Sewing lesson

Dear Think::

The other day when one of my Pink Littles was sick I gave her a little sewing lesson (can you believe she is now 10).
I taught her how to make one of the infamous bags from my Pockets & Posies days.  She designed the felt pocket on front - impressive don't you think.
The lesson included fun button covering skills - kids love making those. 
I was proud of myself for letting her pick all the fabric and ribbon and not saying "are you kidding me? Monkeys and orange polka dots!"
I had forgotten how fun these bags are to make and how cheap they are to make.  I was thinking of making a few more and was wondering if you would be interested in a photo pictorial and instructions to make some.  You think Little Think is too young, trust me she could do this!
Let me know.

Pink::

Get it done!

Dear Think::

What is our best quality?  We are creative.
What is our worst quality? We are creative.

What do our husbands love about us?  We are resourceful
What drives our husbands crazy?  We are resourceful

What makes you so happy?  A incredible idea that gets done
What keeps you under the covers?  A incredible idea that sits in our heads

So, as much as we both love the cheap, handmade, creative wonderful idea - I think the both of us have learned, over the years, to appreciate the power of getting things done.
Who are we kidding?  We both envy the gal that can think of something, do it, buy it and send it out, wipe her hands and be done for the season just as much as the gal who can eat junk and not gain a pound. (maybe the first more than the second)

So while this season we both will be sending each other creative time consuming ideas that take lots of glue, I am also sending you  a "Get it done" project. 

This idea falls into many categories.  Cheap, Well Packaged, Easy & Clever Holiday.

Bath and Body Works right now has their Concentrated Evergreen Room Sprays on sale for $1.00.  (all the rest are $3.00 still a great deal).  They also have these wonderful clear bags printed in gold with Holiday Happiness and ribbon to match for FREE!

I bought one for each of the preschool teachers (I have 6 - yikes that is a lot huh) and am going to stick them in their mailbox's tomorrow to start off the holiday season.

Remember that year Jen in Tennessee had a basket full of gifts at her door during the holiday to pass out to guests who stopped by - this would be perfect for that. 

With my little gift tags letting the the teachers know how much we appreciate all they do for the girls, this is a perfect, fast holiday happy*! (I also learned that in Tennessee - those southern women are so awesome)

Have fun in San Diego while I am freezing in the East!

burr.
Pink::

*Happy - a little something that you give to a friend or neighbor or someone you love to just make them happy.  It is usually something small that can fit in the palm of your hand but is always packaged dang cute!

Get your gun!

 

Dear Think::

My fingers are burned and have strings of glue all over them.  Me and the girls (or should that be the girls and I) made cranberry wreaths this weekend.  Our friend Paige taught me how to make these in Tennessee and I will be forever grateful.   I love making them every Thanksgiving weekend.

I bought the foam wreaths this year at the Dollar $tore (score).  They can be kind of pricey, but since you are so good at keeping track of your 40% off coupon at Michaels you will get one cheap too.

You cover the wreath or even foam ball (makes a great kissing ball) with black trash bag strips.  Just glue the edges down.

Then just start gluing on the fresh cranberries, one at a time.  I like to put the glue on the cranberry and then put it on the wreath.  You can also put the glue on the wreath first.  The beauty of this project is that there is no fast way to do it.  No short cuts.  Just glue and stick, glue and stick, glue and stick.  It makes me slow down and just sit with the girls and chat.

I also discovered the glue sticks that are not as hot, so blisters are fewer now.
Here is my door wreath in 2005 when I was in Tennessee.
 Too bad now I can't hang it outside because of the squirrel situation.
 (they eat all my holiday outside decor)

Let me know if you have any great ideas of things that you can glue on a wreath over and over and over again.  (Wreath takes at least 2 bags of cranberries)

Happy Gluing!

Pink::

Clever Clips

 

Dear Think::

As I was putting away the chips today I was reminded of one of the most clever ideas from my friend Jill.  She uses clothes pins to close food bags.  It is such a inexpensive way to always have that clip for something that you are always looking for.

 

so today I took some of my clothes pins (i only plastic but wood would have been so much better) and some of my velvet paper (purchased at Costco last year, if you ever see it - buy it!)

Then I covered them with hot glue.   It is  a perfect way to close little packages for the holidays.
The cool thing about the plastic clothes pins is that they have a hole at the top, I should have put some ribbon on them.  Hey I think I will go do that right now.

Happy Saturday.
Pink::

This is what I get!

Dear Think::

Is this what I get or what?  Today while putting up my Christmas plates on my awesome Goodwill Plate Rack, one of the only 4 that I have broke.  My sister gave them to me one year, that is kind of a big deal. They don't make them any more and I am sad.
Maybe I should have been spending my time getting ready for the Holiday that is in 2 days instead of the one that is in 30 days.

Do you know anyone who makes cool Jewelry out of broken dishes??  I am serious.

Feeling Sad
Pink::

Time stood still

 

Dear Think::

Yesterday was just one of those days.  The kind you dream about when you become a mom but never seem to happen.  Here is the recap.

• It was Veterans day so having a Military Husband -  I had the whole day with him.
• School got out early so we had time together as a family when the sun was shining
• My cute freckle faced 9 year old earned a day painting at Color Me Mine in the neighborhood
• She and I  just sat there together for 2 hours painting, laughing and drinking yummy white hot chocolate from Starbucks.

It  felt like time stood still.  I had lots of laundry to do, groceries waiting to be bought, dinner needed to be made, but for some reason it didn't matter yesterday.  We just painted. 
I painted a 2cleverblog mug - I will show you what it looks like in a week when I get it back!

Hope you get a day this week where time stands still - it feels so good!

Take Care
Pink::

Ribbon Scraps

Dear Think::

I am sure between you and I if we took all of our ribbon scraps and pasted them together it would wrap around the world.  My grandma saved her bread sacks I save Ribbon scraps.

Here is a cute way to package them up for a gift.
 
Use a paper towel roll and tape each end and wrap around.

Wrap with clear cellophane around it like a large piece of candy.

Tie with ribbon on each end. 

wa-la!  A wonderful ribbon stick!

it is clever, saves money, encourages gift giving and fast.  Fits as a 2clever idea don't you think?

I am off for a 2 day road trip be back on Wednesday. 

Start finding those scraps.

Pink::