DIY Self Laminating Valentine Card Embellishment

January 28, 2017September 22, 2017 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

Hello! Today I wanted to share my self-laminated Valentine card embellishments with you. They’re fun to make and with a few craft supplies, you can customize these to your liking.

All you need is some scrap craft paper, glitter glue, stickers, etc. and some self-laminating sheets. I happened to score 2 packs of the 5 x 7 size from the Dollar Tree but you can find these at any store that carries laminating products.

The self-laminating sheets are easy to use and will make your embellishments last a long time. You just center your project on the hard side and the back is peel and stick. It comes with instructions and shows you exactly how to seal your craft.

For the love tag, I started with a cream 4 x 7 piece of cardstock for my background. I then cut a piece of pink scrap paper smaller than the background and added a couple of stickers to the center. After, I went around the edges making hearts with my mini heart puncher and affixed it the background piece.

The cupcake card was actually a card so I just cut it in half and decorated it. I added glitter glue and the pink hearts from the previous punched card. You could create a cupcake with a few scraps of paper if you like this one.

For the larger card I used a page out of a dictionary. I love using dictionary pages in my crafts and decor! You can find them just about anywhere. I found mine at my local library. They sell books for like .50 cents so I’m always there getting old books. It’s just something about those old, worn out pages that I love. Just add a little glittered heart cut out or punch and you have a cute little card.

There are so many possibilities on how you can use these. Punch a hole at the top and add some twine and you have a cute little ornament for your Valentine tree! You could also use these in your planner…add some sequins to the front before sealing and you have a shaker dash-board. Also, these would be fun as a gift tag, or a love note for your special someone. Leave one on the night stand for your love to find or even drop one in your kids lunch to find at school.

My cards are hanging right next to my tree. I display extra Valentine cards here too during the holiday and it makes a pretty festive display.

Feel free to use these if you’d like. I’d love to see how yours come out. You can find me on Instagram @thedimestoregypsy for home decor inspiration and more.

Thanks for reading,

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Recipes

My Family Dinner Favorites: Turkey, White Bean, and Spinach Soup (photo: rachelcooks.com)

January 23, 2017July 11, 2018 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

Oh my goodness! I just have to quickly share this turkey, white bean, and spinach soup from rachelcooks.com. It is safe to say this has become a family favorite and one that will be on repeat in our home. I made a big pot Sunday night thinking I would have leftovers and it is completely gone! It’s a 20 min. recipe and healthy too! Perfect for those nights when you need to put together something quickly.

For the soup I used 90% lean turkey and organic broth, tomatoes, beans and spinach. I only had Italian seasoning on hand so I used a sprinkling in place of the 1 tsp. oregano & 1/2 tsp. of basil. I seasoned the meat with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt & pepper while browning, and then again after I added my stock.

This is a great little recipe and I highly recommend you try it out. Head over to her site for more pics and other great recipes!

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Recipes

My Family Dinner Favorites: Double-Cheese Chili (photo: kraft.com)

January 8, 2017March 15, 2017 The Dimestore Gypsy1 Comment

I hope you’re staying warm where you are. Here in Texas it’s probably the coldest it’s been in a long time!

Today I’m sharing this double-cheese chili from kraft.com. It’s perfect for these cold winter nights. I tweaked a few things to our liking and it was really good.

I used 90% lean ground beef and seasoned it to my liking. After adding the remaining ingredients, I added a quarter cup of pace mild picante sauce (for extra flavor and veggies), a dash of garlic powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and hot sauce.

To serve, I added the cheese like so in the bottom and ladled a nice hot spoonful of chili on top. I also added a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of chopped green onion. Add some Jiffy homemade cornbread and this meal is complete!

If you try this recipe let me know what worked for you!

Stay warm friends,

~The Dimestore Gypsy

DIY · Holidays

Winter ONEderland Birthday Party

January 4, 2017September 22, 2017 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

First post of the New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays. We recently celebrated my daughter’s 1st birthday and I’m so excited to share all the details and decor. I love planning and hosting so naturally I had to go all out!

For invitations we used Vistaprint.com. They have a great selection of invitations that can be printed from your home or printed and mailed to you. I chose to have them printed and mailed and they did a really great job! Everyone loved them. I’ve linked them below.

Here’s the style I used. There are 3 different color options and I chose the pink. You are able to edit the wording, pictures, etc. however you like. I took the photo insert off so I could have one large snowflake and we edited the wording under Winter Wonderland to say: Oh what fun! Our little snowflake is turning One! They came with white envelopes for free or the option of matching envelopes for an additional cost. I found a coupon code online and ended up paying around $.60 cents per invite with free shipping.

I created all the decorations using the Recollections Strawberry Cream cardstock value pack from Michaels craft store. It has 5 different shades, comes with 50 sheets total, and It’s priced at an everyday value at $2.00! I’ve linked it here for you.

10386856 — Recollections Strawberry Crème-Michaels.com

*I found a 25 pack of snowflake cutouts also from Michaels but these were seasonal and are no longer available.

Check back a few posts to see how you can make these magical snow globes I used in my table centerpiece!

I always decorate my kitchen with gingerbread during Christmas and this was just so cute with all the other decorations.

For this backdrop I used the cardstock to create some paper fans and glued them to a white back drop from Dollar Tree.

In keeping with the theme I chose a white cake with white butter cream icing and some edible snowflake accents. I ordered from our Wal-Mart bakery and it was so moist! The cake topper was a clear ornament filled with faux snow and a dye cut snowflake from some of the leftovers I had. You can wipe the bottom off and it becomes a keepsake ornament. Just add the birth details with a sharpie and hang it on your tree with some pretty ribbon!

I saved the tutu from our cake smash photo session and used it as the high chair skirt.

I put together these dainty little sitting table centerpieces with the Recollections silver glittered die cut snowflakes and clear rhinestones I found at Michaels. They were 12 in a pack, with a mix of large and small. I’ve linked the exact ones below.

I wanted a deli style lunch so we had a mixture of catered and homemade goodies. From the Kroger deli I ordered mini chicken salad croissants, assorted ham and turkey tea sandwiches, a fruit tray, a veggie tray, and a spinach and artichoke dip bread bowl.

I ordered a couple of gallons of the Zuppa Tuscono soup from Olive Garden for something warm and I have to give many thanks to my stepmother for bringing one of her friends awesome cheese balls (this is so good everyone is literally asking for it at every party I’ve had), cranberry chili meatballs, and these delicious salads!

We had cake for dessert along with strawberry wafer cookies and donut holes.

For the drink station I used my cute little mason jar drink dispensers that I found this summer at a discount shop. They really came in handy for the sweet tea and cucumber lemon water I served.

I used an old chippy tray to hold all the napkins and serving ware right next to the food.

For our party guests I put together these goodie bags with Grab n Go Play Packs, a few pieces of chocolate candy, and a snowflake bubble wand. The play packs are really handy and they come with an activity book, a sticker sheet, and a small set of crayons. You can find these at Wal-Mart, Target, etc. in a variety of characters. They’re relatively inexpensive at $1.00 each. I just lined a basket with some tissue and arranged the goody bags here for the kids to grab.

20161211_235901 — Iced gingerbread men all wrapped up as a party favor for everyone!

I used the Little Debbie gingerbread snacks as party favors. All you need is some loot bags and decorative ribbon and you have a cute, in-expensive favor. Arrange them in a basket and put them near the door so when your guest leave they can take one with them.

20161210_141749 — Christmas tree with birthday gifts by the fireplace.

For the fireplace I used the Wal-Mart Creative Cuts 2 yd. piece of burlap as an overlay. I then added baby photos, pinecones, DIY poster board tree cones, and a name banner pinned with flower ribbon brooches.

A few fun game ideas we used that you can play too!

24391 — Pin the nose on the Snowman-partycity.com

christmas-party-games-for-kids-4 — Draw a snowman on your head from housingaforest.com

We are so thankful for this little blessing and couldn’t be happier! Thanks for reading along and I hope this gives you some inspiration for your next party.

~The Dimestore Gypsy

DIY

DIY Beer Crate Gift

December 27, 2016March 15, 2017 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

On my last post I shared one of my gift baskets I made for our “White Elephant” gift exchange. Today I’m sharing the other. I loved them both but I really had fun putting this one together!

All you need is a little rustic crate, beer of your choice, and then fill it with goodies to snack on. I’ve had this crate for a while now so I wanted to find some fun things to fill it with to give as a gift. You can get a plain crate from any craft store and decorate it to your liking. Also check your discount stores for crates. (Ross, Marshalls, etc.) You could use stain or paint or even use a stencil to create a design/picture on the outside. Here’s a few I’ve linked:

I put two 6 packs in the bottom of the crate and then added some paper fill all around. Next I added some snacks/nuts I found at Marshalls.

Cheddar Cheese Straws $3.49, Dark Chocolate Cashews $2.99, Cinnamon Roasted Pecans $3.99

While I was there to get snacks I spotted these fun scrabble tile beer coasters at $9.99/set. I also found this matching bottle opener at $4.99 so I got them both!

I just added another layer of paper fill over the tops of the bottles and laid these two items on top. I used a shrink-wrap bag and bow I found at Dollar Tree to finish it off and a fun tag that said, “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry”.

This crate was a hit and everyone loved it. I hope this inspires you to create a gift basket of your own for your next occasion!

If you have any questions or comment just drop me a line and I’ll get back to ya!

Thanks for reading,

~The Dimestore Gypsy

DIY

DIY Stationary Gift Basket

December 26, 2016March 15, 2017 The Dimestore Gypsy2 Comments

Hello! Hope you enjoyed your holiday! I wanted to share my gift “baskets” I made for our family Christmas party. We always do the White Elephant gift exchange each year for the adults so I thought I’d share these fun gift ideas. Not only are they fun for the gift exchange, but these gifts can be made and used for any occasion; Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Birthdays, etc.

I went to Marshalls with a plan to find gourmet nuts and such to put in the beer crate I was putting together. I went down the other aisles 1st to get an idea for a ladies gift and came across this gorgeous white leather planner and it was only $4.99! I dropped it in the basket because it was definitely going home with me.

As I moved further down the aisle, I spotted the cute wooden mail sorter at $9.99 and the gold polka dot clipboard with notepad at $3.99. This gave me the idea for the stationary gift basket.

I ended up stopping at Michael’s and Dollar Tree and was able to find a sassy 2 pack of blank cards, a pocket notebook, a cut writing pen, some paper fill, and a shrink-wrap bag with a bow.

Went I got home I checked my stash and found some glass magnets I had made for a craft fair a while back. I had a few clear and gold glass buttons in my sewing supplies so I used those to make a few fancy paper clips. I bagged these up nicely with some pink cardstock from my scrapbook paper supply.

*(The paper clips, glass pebbles, and magnets can be found at Dollar Tree. For the magnets, just find some small cute images from a magazine, cut them out, and adhere them with some Modge Podge to the pebble. Glue your magnets with some E6000 the back and voila!)

I arranged all the items together in the mail sorter and put a little paper fill in each slot. I bagged it up with the shrink-wrap and added the bow and a fun little Christmas tag.

My sis n law ended up stealing the gift and is super excited to use it on her desk at work!

I hope this gives you an idea on how you can make your own fabulous gift basket that won’t break the bank. Check back soon for my DIY Beer Crate!

Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays,

~The Dimestore Gypsy

DIY · Holidays

Whimsical Mason Jar Snow Globe DIY

December 14, 2016September 22, 2017 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

Happy Holidays! I’m sharing this whimsical mason jar snow globe DIY. They are so beautiful in the light! I made quit a few and grouped them together around my home. Read on for details on how to make your own.

Supplies:

If you don’t happen to have any jars saved, you can find them at Michael’s craft store. The smaller ones are everyday value at $1.00 and the larger are $2.99 regular price. I found my smaller ones at Dollar Tree and I saved a few Atlas pasta sauce jars for the larger size.

Next you’ll need the mini trees. You can find a variety of these at the craft store in all kinds of colors and sizes. I picked a few shades of green for myself. Here are a few options from Michael’s. (mini 6 pack on the left/$2.99 and medium 3 pack on the right/$3.19)

Here are a few different options for the base. I always grab these when I find them on sale because I know I’ll be using them for different projects. (I don’t pay over a dollar or two for each.) I was lucky to find a few of the middle ones at Dollar Tree. I like to group the finished jars together so it looks great when you have different sizes and shapes. You can find these at most craft/home stores.

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And of course, you’ll need snow and craft glue. All of these products can be found at your local craft store. I found my snow spray and filler at Dollar Tree and the craft glue at Michael’s. Be sure to grab the clear craft glue. I have seen it come in white and black. (Make sure to use industrial strength adhesive for your base, you don’t want your jar coming off the base.)

Instructions:

Hold your mason jar in one hand and with the other take your snow can and hold it about 4 to 5 inches above the opening. Spray a small short burst into the bottom of the jar to add some snow and texture to your jars. (This is a little messy and may get on your hand. Use gloves and wash if you get any on your skin.) Let sit for about and hour to dry.

Once dry, add about 1/4 jar of snow fill.

Next, glue your tree down to the inside piece of the lid. (I used hot glue here to speed up the process.) Once it’s dry, place it in the jar and screw the lid on.

All you have to do now is put a little bit of craft glue around the rim of your base, center it on the lid, and let dry. Once it’s dry you can flip it right side up and start decorating!

These are on my kitchen hutch with my gingerbread tree. Don’t they look great!

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy this project!

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Recipes

My Family Dinner Favorites: Chicken Caldo (Mexican Style Chicken Soup)

November 21, 2016March 17, 2017 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

My littles and I have all been under the weather this weekend due to this cold front that came in. The only thing we want to eat when we’re sick is chicken soup! It’s like magic..It just makes us feel better!

This recipe is filled with chicken and plenty of hearty veggies. The great thing is you just throw everything in the pot and let it cook!

Ingredients:

6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

2 small zucchini

2 small yellow squash

3-4 small red potatoes

10-15 baby carrots

1 cup frozen corn

1 half head green cabbage

1 small bunch of cilantro

1 can low sodium chicken broth

1 chicken bouillon cube (I used Knorr brand)

cumin, garlic powder, salt & pepper

steamed white rice

*optional (lime wedges and hot sauce)

Directions:

First prep your chicken and veggies.

Wash, then trim the tops and ends off of your zucchini and squash. Cut them into 3-4 pieces depending on the length. You want nice uniform chunks.
Wash and cut your potatoes into halves.
Next, cut your cabbage in half and then cut that half into quarters. (I keep a little of the stem on to keep the large chunks intact.)
With the cilantro, I just rip off a handful and run it under some water to get any dirt off.
Trim any excess fat off of the chicken thighs.

To cook:

Take a 6 qt. stock pot and fill it up about halfway. Add your chicken thighs, seasonings, and the bullion cube, then place it on high heat. (I used a sprinkle of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and ground cumin.)
Next, add all your veggies with the cabbage and cilantro on top.
Now add the can of chicken stock. You want enough liquid to cover most of the cabbage without overflowing when it’s boiling. Add more water if you need to.
Bring to a boil stirring occasionally.
Once it starts to boil, cook for about 10 min. or until the cabbage is soft.

To serve, I make sure to get a couple of pieces of chicken,and a mix of all the veggies in each bowl. Add a spoonful of rice to the top and your soup is good to go! For added flavor, try a dash of hot sauce and a squirt of a lime wedge. That’s our favorite way to eat ours!

I hope you enjoy this recipe and it makes you feel better when you’re not feeling well. What are some of your family faves when your feeling under? I’d love to hear about them! Leave me a message if you try this recipe or have any questions.

Thanks for reading,

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Recipes

My Family Dinner Favorites: Chicken and Rice Stuffed Bell Peppers

November 13, 2016March 15, 2017 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

It’s finally starting to feel like Fall here in Texas! We have been having some cooler weather the last couple of days and I’m loving it. I made these stuffed bell peppers for dinner last night and they were a big hit so I thought I’d share with you.

While out at the grocery store, these huge, bright green bell peppers caught my eye and I just had to get some. They looked so fresh and I have been wanting to try stuffed bell peppers. I’ve never tried them before so I thought these would be perfect. All together, I believe this meal was under $10 for a family of 3-4.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground chicken (I used Purdue from Kroger)

1 cup of any rice you’d like (I used Knorr rice sides in cheddar broccoli)

1 10.5 oz. can cream of chicken condensed soup

1/4 cup chicken broth

1-1.5 cup shredded mozzarella cheese for topping

3-4 bell peppers ( I used 3 for my family)

*optional (frozen steamed veggies)

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Cut the tops off of your bell peppers and remove the seeds/ribs carefully as to not damage the pepper. Rinse inside and out. Set aside. (Test to see if they stand straight up to act as a cup for your filling. If not, you can cut just a small slice off the bottom to help it stand flat.)
Take a 3 qt. sauce pan and fill with water. Bring it to a boil and add your peppers for 2-3min to soften. Set aside when done.
Next, cook your ground chicken. Be sure to season to taste. (I used a sprinkling of each: salt, pepper, garlic pepper, chili powder, and oregano) While browning the chicken, I used the microwave directions to cook my rice so it would be done at the same time as the chicken.
Now add 1 cup of the cooked rice to your cooked chicken and mix.
Add about 3/4 of the can of soup, add the chicken broth, and mix.
Place your bell peppers standing up in an ungreased baking dish. (I used a small glass rectangular baking dish, but you can use whatever dish you prefer.) Add the filling to each bell pepper and really pack it in!
Next I added a small spoonful of the leftover cream of chicken soup to each bell pepper.
Top each with the shredded mozzarella and bake uncovered for 30 min.

I added a bag off Birds Eye Select steamed Brussel sprouts and our meal was complete!

These peppers were so good and so filling! I hope you enjoy. Let me know how they turn out if you decide to make these.

Thanks for reading,

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Uncategorized

Happy Halloween

November 1, 2016September 22, 2017 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

Just a quick note to wish everyone a Happy Halloween 2016! I had a great night and I hope you guys did as well. My family is knocked out and I’m just here enjoying some chocolate and watching Hocus Pocus before the night is over.

Good night,

~The Dimestore Gypsy