Burlap Canvas Wall Art

I am not much of a crafty person, but from time to time, I find things that inspire me to give it a try.

When I found these little burlap canvases at Wal-Mart, I was inspired!

As a non-crafty person, I thought I would try something I was passionate about, PUZZLES!  Since it is
Autism Awareness Month, I wanted to share this fun and simple wall art.

 To make these, you will need:
Burlap Canvas, mine were 6x6 that I got at Wal-Mart
Craft paint
Foam Brush
Card Stock or Stencil plastic maker stuff(or whatever it is called)
Scissors
Painters Tape

I used the card stock to make a stencil of a puzzle piece, I use my favorite puzzle piece cookie cutter as a
guide, then cut out the puzzle piece, is that called reverse stencil?  Well, whatever, basically, I cut out and removed the area I WANTED to paint, protecting the area I did not want to paint.
I had tried tracing the puzzle piece, but burlap is hard to write on.  I tried using a marker/sharpie, but then it bled, so don't do that.  (See what I mean, home girl is NOT a crafty person)

  I then taped my "stencil" to my canvas using painters tape, my favorite thing ever, so that it could be removed quickly, and not damage the canvas.  I then painted the middle of the stencil, I found it best to kinda paint from outside, on the stencil, inward, to the middle of the puzzle piece, that resulting in the paint NOT bleeding under the stencil.  Clear as mud?  See, I told you I am not a crafty person.

So, then you paint, and then remove the stencil.  Look, perfect puzzle piece!  Woot Woot!  Now, here would be a reason to use plastic, because this a one time only stencil, if you used plastic, instead of paper, like I did, you could wash and reuse it.  This is where I had a "slap on the forehead" moment, when I was cutting out more puzzle pieces.  Live and learn.

Isn't it pretty?  I personally love them!  But, I am pretty crazy about puzzle pieces.  This same process could be used with any shape you want.  I think I might do more of them for my new cookie room at our new house!



Give it a try sometime, they are quick and easy, even if you are not a crafty type of person like me!

This post might be linked up at the link parties found Here

Light it up Blue for Autism Awareness - Simple Blue Landscape Lights

April is Autism Awareness Month!  

Did you know that?  It is sort of a big deal round these parts, at least here at The Cookie Puzzle

Last year, I went all out.  I had a post every day, almost all of them from special guest bloggers.
If you missed it last year, you can read all about it Here

This year, well life is crazy here, time is short, and while I might have a few guest post, I am going to keep it pretty simple here.

Today, I want to kick it off by helping your get ready for World Autism Awareness Day!
All over the world, buildings, homes, towns, and monuments will be Lighting it up BLUE! You too can join in the fun and support!

The first thing you will need is some solar landscape lights and a blue permanent marker.

I got my lights at Walmart for 97 cents....the marker came from the dollar store, they have lights too, but the lights were cheaper at Walmart, because at the Dollar Store, they were a dollar, hey...I saved money, Win!

Take off the top of the light, they twist off, and use the marker to color the clear plastic blue with the marker.  Try to do it in smooth one stroke motions, avoiding going over what you have already colored.

Continue 'coloring' all the lights you have, they dry pretty fast.

 While the top is off, make sure you pull the orange tab out, it activates the solar part of the light.

 And just like that..you are ready to LIGHT IT UP BLUE for 

AUTISM AWARENESS!

These are so simple, you can make them today, and be ready to show your support tomorrow for

World Autism Awareness Day.

I hope to see the whole world Blue tomorrow!  I know I will be wearing blue...show your support, and wear blue too!

I also want to remind you that you still have a few days to purchase a ThirtyOne bag from the Autism Walk Fundraiser, that was featured on my blog last week..great bags....supporting a great cause!
You can make a purchase HERE!


Until next time...


Hugs!

This post might be linked up at the link parties found Here

Pieces of My Puzzle 3-30-14

Happy Sunday Internet Friends!  Time for another Sunday Catch up post.

I am going to keep this pretty short and sweet. 

I am struggling trying to juggle work, family, blogging and building our new house.  For the last two Saturdays, I have been at the new house, laying tile and grouting tile.  While I am sure I will love the final product, dudes, it is HARD WORK.  I hurt in places of my body that I did not even know I had.  Last Monday, I could hardly walk, by tush hurt so much, not my thighs, not my leg, my tush! What is up with that?  I am sure I was moving in ways my body is not used to, but I did not like it.  By the end of the week, I was feeling better, but I am sure I will be hurting again tomorrow.  Not looking forward to that at all, but my husband and I decided to build this house together, so build it we must.  We have 1,500 square feet of tile to lay, so I guess I better get used to it.  He promised I could have next weekend off, and I am soooo looking forward to it.

I did get a little TV time in this week.  Scandal was well SCANDALOUS!  OMG....so much went on, I watched it is total shock.  I have to say, it is my favorite show on TV right now.  I have not seen the first season, but I am in love.  Grey's Anatomy was odd this week, not sure if I liked this episode, it was just, well, odd.  That was about all I watched this week, that I can think of that is worth talking about.

I am now on the six book of the Cedar Cove series by Debbie Macomber.   To say I am totally hooked is an understatement,  I have no idea how many books are in the series, but I could read about this small town in Washington forever.  Why did I not know about these books before.  They are well written, captivating, and clean, no sex, no foul language, I love that.

So...what happened on the blog this week?

 I made this yummy Orange Creamsicle Fudge!  

Easy, quick and easy adaptable.  Must try for sure.

I had a special guest poster this week too, Melissa from My Recent Favorite Books.

She talked about a Autism Walk she does every year, and is doing a Thirty One Fundraiser

to raise money for the Walk.

You can read her post Here.

You can read about the Walk Here

If you would like to place an order for a great cause, please click Here

Saturday, I had the great honor of being a guest co-host at

Show Stopper Saturday!

This was my first time ever hosting a link party, even if I was just a guest, and I 

LOVED it.  Thank you so my ladies for having me.

Please hop over and look and all of the wonderful links, I am still in shock at 

all of the amazing post people do!

So....there you go, what I have been up to!

What did you do this week?

What are you doing next week?

Is it finally Spring where you are at?

One day it is Spring, the next day it is Fall, Missouri weather is so weird!

Until next time

Hugs

Show Stopper Saturday Link Party

Happy Saturday Internet Friends!  Today I have a special something to share with you.

 

I am happy and honored  to be co-hosting the 

Show Stopper Saturday Link Party 

withWill Cook for Smiles , Joyful Healthy Eats and Simply Gloria.

Here are your hosts!

Gloria from Simply Gloria!

Krista from Joyful Healthy Eats!

Lyuba from Will Cook For Smiles!

Here is what the host have been up to this week.

Skinny Strawberry Topped NY Cheesecake from Will Cook For Smiles

Fried Dulce de Leche Cookie Dough from Simply Gloria

Mediterranean Chicken Flatbread with Avocado Tzatziki Sauce from Joyful Healthy Eats

Autism: One Step at a Time from The Cookie Puzzle

Most viewed link from last weeks party.

Lemon Raspberry Muffins from Lemons For Lulu

My favorite link from last weeks party was these yummy
 Spring Surprise Cookie Cups from
 Shaken Together .

Spring Surprise Cookies from Shaken Together 

Now....lets get this weeks party started.  Have fun....and remember to visit other blogs, it

is not a party unless we all mingle.

An InLinkz Link-up

Thursday Thoughts 3-27-14

Happy Thursday.....Here is what has been on my mind lately.....

American Horror Story: Freak Show    This kinda weirds  me out a little...but in a good way.

If you are driving in heavy traffic, and someone lets you in...do the the little hand wave thing....it is the polite thing to do, especially if they are in a bigger vehicle then you.

Carrot Cake M&Ms....that is just 18 times of wrong.....trust me...DO NOT DO IT!  EWWWWW

Thirty-One products....I can not stop looking at the website...so many decisions...I want to place an order, but not sure what to get....anyone have any suggestions.  If love their products, and want/need to place an order, please consider placing an order with my friend Melissa, she is hosting a party, and part of the sales go to support and Autism Walk.  You can read all about it Here

I have been busy gearing up for April...it is Autism Awareness Month...be prepared to see lots of puzzle pieces next month.

There you go...what has been filling my mind this week.  What about you...what has been keeping your mind occupied.?