Scor-Pal

So simple, yet ingenious!  Have you ever set out to make a handmade card, only to discover that folding it straight was the hardest part!!??  Well, I recently came across a tool that helps with just that...plus you can do so many more cool things.  (Stay with me and I'll show you!)  It's called a Scor-Pal and it looks like this...

The designer of Scor-Pal, Diana, was kind enough to send one for us to keep at Maple Memories.  YEAH!!  Now, when you come, you can try it out as well!!  Thanks, Diana!!!  Scor-Pal® creates accurate and precise scores giving you professional looking folds, no more crooked cards. Multiple scores are done in seconds without moving the paper. Perfect for accordion folds, boxes, fancy fold cards and other interesting projects! 

There are so many fun things that you can make with this thing...like these adorable little boxes.  You can find the step-by-step tutorial here.

This coffee cup box is just too cute!  What a great gift to give to a friend.

You can use it to score paper for cards, boxes, mini albums, or wherever you need a straight line! 

This little album was made using several scores with Scor-Pal.  Their blog is full of great projects and tutorials for you, so head on over and check it out!

Scor-Pal has other great products as well.  Including Scor-Tape, a double-sided adhesive that is available in many different widths...perfect for card and box making!  Oh, and did I mention that they also sent us a Scor-Pal!!???  It's a smaller version of the Scor-Pal...great for taking with you to your favorite crop or retreat house when your space is limited!  ;)  There's more, so head on over to the store, blog, and/or Facebook to check it all out.  Be sure to let them know that Maple Memories sent you!!  Happy Scoring!

I've got to get better about blogging!

Hello, my loyal followers.  I have been horrible about keeping up with this blog, but things are going to change.  I am going to find time to get "crafty" again...or at least point you in the direction of others that are!  ;)  Here's your chance to tell me what YOU want to see on this blog.  More recipes, scrapbooking layouts, product information, special deals!!??  YOU tell me and I'll see what I can do for 2012!!!

Now, I also have a favor to ask YOU!  I am looking for companies or individuals that have products that they would like to get noticed or samples they are willing to share.  If this is YOU or someone you know, have them contact me at shannon@maplememories.com.  I have something up my sleeve for the guests that stay at Maple Memories this year (and of course, those of you that read our blog).   So, be sure to email me AND send your friends on over!! 

Oh, and here's a special deal for you today...

Pick Your Plum has these adorable paper straws available TODAY ONLY at 61% off!!!  If you're not familiar with Pick Your Plum, you should check them out.  Each day they have an awesome deal on the latest and greatest of crafty items.  I want one of everything!  :)

Pinterest

Like many of you, I've become slightly addicted to Pinterest!  It has so many GREAT ideas...ALL IN ONE PLACE!  Need turkey treats for school.  Check.  Christmas ornaments for kids to make at church. Check.  Inspirational Words.  Check.  A new dinner recipe.  Check.  It's heavenly. 

Found on pinterest.  Original source: http://www.thehighheeledhostess.com/2011/11/turkey-treats.html. I used store bought "cookie icing" to serve as the "glue" to hold everything together.  Worked really well and dried fast.  Even the kids helped.  The above picture is our final product...pretty cute!

Found on pinterest. Original source:  http://craftysisters-nc.blogspot.com/2010/12/baby-jesus-ornament.html.  We made these for Sunday School, so in order to keep the cost down decided not to add the wooden star. 

 Great question, isn't it!?  LOTS of wonderful, insightful quotes floating around on people's boards.

Found picture on pinterest.  Googled Pineapple Barbecue Bacon Burgers and found the recipe here: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pineapple-bacon-burgers/. 

Happy Pinning!

Sock Curls

My girls have stick straight hair.  They're not fond of sleeping in curlers and when they do it always seems like one or two fall out during the night, which leaves straight patches amongst a full head of curls.  Ugh.  So, when I found this video on using socks to curl your hair, I thought I would give it a try.  It's AMAZING!

I just used 3 trouser socks for our first try at it.  One on the top and 2 on the sides.  She went to bed, giggling because she had socks in her head!  :)

In the morning, I untied the socks and this is what it looked like...

Pretty cool, huh!!??  A couple nights later, we had my nieces over and decided to try our hand at it again.  This time using a little thicker socks, which made for a little bigger curl.

So fun!!!

Note:  Please ignore my streaky mirror.  Little hands were hard at work "helping" me clean!  :)

BARN SALE!

I am so excited about the Hesston Barn Sale this year!! I didn't make it last year, but heard it was tons of fun and there were some great finds! Mark your calendar and head on out!

Please print the flyer, pass it out to friends and strangers, blog about it, tell your facebook friends, invite your neighbors and help spread the word about the Fall 2011 Barn Sale. Help to make this the biggest and best Barn Sale yet!

Homemade Dog Biscuits

The kids and I have been enjoying our Summer Fun List again this year. (You can see our 2009 list here.)  Recently, we crossed off "make a gift" by making Homemade Dog Biscuits and delivering them to the neighborhood dogs.  Rumor has it they were a hit! 

Basic Dog Biscuit Recipe

 Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups unbleached flour

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup cornmeal

1/2 cup skim milk powder

1 Tablespoon (or 1 pkg) dry yeast

3 1/2 cups lukewarm chicken or meat broth

Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm chicken or meat broth. The richer this broth is, the better your dog will like the biscuits.  Let yeast broth mixture set 10 minutes.  Then stir in flour mixture (which is everything else).  Roll resulting dough out 1/4" thick.  Cut dog biscuit shapes from dough.  Brush biscuits with egg wash.  Bake on greased cookie sheets at 300 degrees for 45 minutes.  Then turn off oven and leave in overnight to finish hardening (we made our in the morning and then let them set all day).  Makes 60 medium-sized biscuits.

Tie Dye Cupcakes

I made these tie dye cupcakes for my daughter to take to school to celebrate her 10th birthday.  It's times like these that I'm thankful to live in a small town that lets you take in homemade goodies.  They were fun to make and she was so excited to take them to school. You can find the recipe here.

Oh, and for the frosting, I just bought the Duncan Hines Whipped Frosting.  It was easy...and sometimes, like when you are making cupcakes at 10pm the night before they are needed, mom's need easy!

More Snow

When life gives you snow...

make snowcones!

Snow Day Entertainment

 

I LOVE SNOW DAYS...when you can go outside!!!  Recently we had one that dumped ice instead of snow, so we stayed inside.  The problem was that this Snow Day was unexpected, meaning this Mom didn't have anything planned to "entertain" them.  So, I raided the pantry and kept them busy doing this...

Simple and Fun!!

Say It On The Wall

I am so excited!! I won a $20 Gift Certificate for Say It On The Wall over at The Idea Room. As soon as I heard, I started shopping! There are so many adorable things but I finally decided on this...

and this...

I can't wait to get my glass blocks and set up the Nativity Scene in my home. There were so many great ideas for Christmas Gifts! Head on over to Say It On The Wall and see what you can find! Oh, and they have been running a "Product of the Week" Special, which gives you 40% off the featured item during that week.

A walk down Memory Lane

Traditions. I love them. We started one with our kids involving Christmas ornaments. They get one each year that represents something they did during the year or a specific quality we have noticed. We make sure to write their name, the year, and what it represents on the back/bottom of each ornament.

For instance, my oldest has a LOVE of animals like I have never seen before...especially for our own yellow Lab. Both of these ornaments have been given to her to represent the pet she has grown up with and the absolute love she has for him.

This was given to my son the first year that he played soccer.

My youngest played Tball for the first time...yes, she's wearing a skirt and you have to admit she TOTALLY rocked it!! :) The back of this ornament says "Representing your first year of Tball", along with her name and year given.

My oldest daughter took a trip to Colorado for a family reunion. She got to ride in the RV with her Grandparents and Great Grandama to visit the original family homestead...back in the day when wagons ruled the road!

This just proves there is an ornament for everything. I mean REALLY...would YOU have bought this one!!!??

It was PERFECT to help us remember the year my son rode this float in the All School Days Parade.

What type of ornaments do you have on your tree? Any unique traditions revolving around them?

PUMPKINS

Pumpkin Carving...

Pumpkin Painting...

Pumpkin Pancakes...

Pumpkin Pizza...

Pumpkin Bracelets... I found the tutorial here.

I love FALL!!!