Art Caddy

A few weeks ago my mom picked up this Longaberger silverware caddy for me from a yard sale for $1.  I couldn't find the exact item on their website, but a different style of silverware caddy is listed on there for $65.  Gotta love yard sales.  

I didn't really see myself using it as a silverware caddy though so I decided to ditch the fabric insert and use it as an art caddy on my little craft desk and I absolutely love it.  It's great for corralling brushes, markers, pens, and scissors - not to mention it looks really nice against the yellow walls.  I have to say, I'm pretty happy with this re-purpose!  

Pampers Rewards

File this one under "things I wish I started sooner..."

So our little one is almost 11 months old, and though I'd seen the Pampers Rewards numbers on her packages of diapers and wipes I never bothered to look into it ("Ain't nobody got time for that!").  

But the other week my sister-in-law was saying how she's been doing Pampers Rewards for awhile now and has been getting rewarded with photobooks and toys for free... that got my attention.  So I checked it out and signed up, it's pretty straightforward - make an account and enter the codes printed on packages of diapers and wipes.  Once you have some points you can redeem them for all sorts of things - everything from contributions to charity, to free credits at Shutterfly, to free toys.  And to make it easier there's even an app where you can enter codes on the fly from your phone (though I wish you could just scan the code instead of entering it.. now that would be easy!).  Consistency pays off too - if you enter codes every month without skipping a beat you get rewarded every three months with little gifts.  

Now if only I had started this when she was first born, then I'd be able to order all our Christmas cards for free!  

Tip:  Make sure to like Pampers on Facebook too - they periodically post free codes to help you boost your points!  

UPDATE (May, 2015):  Pampers updated their app so now you can scan codes with the camera on your phone rather than typing them in (hooray!).  As of right now this feature is a little glitchy, but hopefully they'll work out these bugs soon.  

Want to see what we've gotten from Pampers Rewards?  Check out my other posts:  

• Our First Pampers Rewards:  Free Gifts for Buying Diapers!  (Step2 Little Bakers Cupcake Set)
• Our 2nd Pampers Rewards:  Little Tikes Shopping Cart
• Our 3rd Pampers Rewards:  Potty Training Chart
• Our 4th Pampers Rewards:  Melissa and Doug Tool Kit

Please note items available from Pampers Rewards are subject to change.  

Craft Fair this weekend!

This Saturday we'll be at the LRGH Craft fair with the awesome Treacy Homemade, and we'll also have a few items for sale from The Little Snowflake!  Hope to see you there!  

5 Tips for Perfect Cookies - Every Time!

I always get told I make the best cookies, but making amazing cookies isn't all about the recipe - technique is what makes a good recipe great!  Read on for my 5 tips to make perfect cookies, every time.  | This post contains affiliate links |

5 Tips for Perfect Cookies

Sift

Make sure to sift all your dry ingredients. Doing this breaks up any clumps of flour or baking soda, combines everything evenly, and helps make your cookies light and fluffy.

Parchment Paper

Always line your cookie sheet with parchment paper, this is key to getting the cookie bottoms that perfect light golden brown. If you're planning on doing several batches of cookies make sure to round the corners of the parchment with some scissors first, as the sharp corners of the paper can start to burn after a few times in the oven.

Cookie Scoop

A cookie scoop is probably one of the best little investments you'll make in the kitchen and I don't know how I ever lived without mine. Using a cookie scoop ensures you get uniform-sized cookies every time and makes the whole process of getting your cookies ready for the oven go so much faster.

Time

Always bake your cookies for the lower suggested time.  Cookies that are just cooked all the way through make for the softest, chewiest cookies.  If they aren't cooked in the middle yet you can always put them back in for another minute or two, but it's best to start with the lowest time.  

Your Secret Weapon - the "Bread Trick"

Accidentally over-cook the cookies?  Forget to cover them on the counter?  Believe it or not, the magical solution for over-cooked or stale cookies is just a slice of sandwich bread and a big ziplock.  Put all the cookies in a gallon ziplock bag, throw in a slice of bread, seal, and leave for a few hours - the cookies will get softer as the bread gets staler.  Magic!  

Looking for a yummy new cookie recipe?  Be sure to check out my recipe for Grandma Dot's Apple Cookies!  

Alright, now go make some amazing cookies (and share some with me, please?)

5 Tips to Make the Most Money from Consigning Clothes and Household Items

I love consigning - it's so refreshing to clean out the closets, get rid of some of that stuff that's been weighing you down and get a little money back in return.  Here I share the basics as well as my 5 top tips on making the most from your consigned items.  

What is consigning?

Consigning is bringing your used or new items to a shop that will sell them for you and give you a cut of what it sells for.  Yes, you could have a yard sale and keep all the money yourself but consigning is great because you don't need a yard full of stuff and a free Saturday to make a little extra money - and you also don't have to worry about meeting potentially creepy strangers from Craigslist or Facebook Yard Sale groups.  With consigning, you can sell as little or as much as you want with no work involved - perfect for all those busy folks out there.  

There are lots of different types of consignment shops - some only do clothes or kid items, others do antiques and decor items, and some do a combination.  There are even really specific shops out there for things like bridal and formal wear, so no matter what you're looking to get rid of there's most likely a consignment shop for that.  

The format for all these types of shops usually goes something like this:  Items are generally consigned for 90 days.  If the item sells you get a percentage of what it sells for, usually 40-60%, and some stores offer you a higher percentage if you take the amount in store credit rather than cash.  Some consignment shops cut checks to you once a month, others keep tally using a computer system and you can even check in online to see how your items are doing.  If the item doesn't sell within it's allotted time you often get the choice to donate it to charity or come and pick it up.  We always do the charity option, that way we get the chance to make a little money back but if something doesn't sell it goes on to help someone else - it's just win-win.  

My 5 top tips on making the most from your consigned items:  

1. Keep with the seasons.
   Most consignment shops will only take what's in-season - if they don't, make sure to bring in only what's current or will be soon. Bringing in a snowsuit in May will get you no where - it likely won't sell in the allotted time and you will lose the sale and therefore the extra cash you were hoping to make.
   

2. Make sure your items look their best.
   This means making sure your clothes are clean, have no stains or heavy wear-and-tear, loose threads are cut off, and it's wrinkle-free. If you're consigning decor items, make sure they have no damage and are dust-free.
   Consignment shops won't take anything that doesn't look clean and ready to sell.
   

3. Know your market (consignment shop + audience).
   Some consignment shops are more "high-end" than others so it's important to know what kinds of items and brands they take and what they're looking for (there will be places that only take premium clothing brands like GAP, J-Crew, etc). Some shops will even post a list online of what they are looking for or no longer taking at this time.
   Once you get to know your local consignment shops, you'll soon learn where your items do best and you can decide where to bring what and when.
   

4. Always be ready to consign.
   Always have a designated space (a plastic tote, box, or even a paper bag) to put items you'd like to consign. How many times have you passed over that sweater in your closet? (a million) Put it in the box. A well-meaning relative sent you an outfit for your little one that's already two sizes too small? Put it in the box. You don't have to do a big purge to consign (though that's always a good thing), you can consign as you go.
   

5. Shop where you consign.
   If your consignment shop offers you a higher percentage back if you take your cut as store credit, definitely consider doing that - your money will go further for you.
   One of my favorite consignment shops is one of those "higher-end" boutique places where they sell a mix of consigned and new items. I love consigning and shopping there because they give me a higher percentage back as store credit and I can put it towards gently used premium-brand clothing or new clothes and gifts.

Where to start?

Ask around, Google around.  See what's near you, then give those consignment shops a call or send them an e-mail to get more information.  Make sure to find out what their policies are and if you need an appointment to drop off items.  

Happy consigning!  

A glimpse at our glamorous "To Be Consigned" system.
I have three consignment shops I use regularly: one for premium brand clothing, one that will take any brand of clothing, and one for decor items. I write the initials of the consignment shop on each bag/box and leave them tucked away but still easily accessible. Then whenever I have an item I want to consign I drop it into the box for the correct consignment shop. The next time I know I'll be going by a particular place, I make sure to bring those items with me and drop them off - it couldn't be easier!

Pinch me, I must be dreaming.

Okay, so I'm really afraid to go into detail because I don't want to jinx anything but I have some VERY exciting news about this little Instagram photo!  

...all will be revealed in November :)  

Finding my niche...

My Etsy shop and this blog are still very much a work in progress - I have all kinds of ideas on products I want to make, things I want to write about.  I often wonder if this blog is trying to be too many things at once... 

Just about all of the most popular blogs out there (including some of my personal favorites) share so much about the author's daily life, their families, their homes, the whole nine yards.  Their reader gets to know them personally, gets invested in what's going on, and it keeps them engaged.  But that's just not me - I don't feel comfortable posting detailed photos of our home and life publicly.  I try to walk that line, but I know staying on my side of this fence will alienate much of my audience. 

I know if I want a shot at a successful following on the blog and Etsy storefront I need to find my niche and stick with it, but I'm not there yet.  I'm still testing the waters on what kinds of things I truly enjoy making and writing about, and until I find my focus you all get to enjoy a little bit of everything ;)  

Thanks again for reading and please feel free to leave some feedback - I'd love to hear your thoughts!  

Simple Whitewash Tutorial

Okay, we're taking it back to the very basics here this week - a simple, easy whitewash tutorial.  I actually used the whitewash boards pictured here to make the backdrop for all my Etsy photos (and in the next week or two I'm planning on whitewashing more boards to use for a gallery wall in our kitchen - stay tuned for that project!).  

Materials: 

• whatever you're planning to whitewash - unfinished furniture, wooden board to use for a sign, etc.
• white paint (can be just about any kind of non-glossy paint)
• plastic cup with water
• brush (bristled brush if you want a dry, streaky affect; sponge brush for a more uniform look)

Leftover ceiling paint works great to make your whitewash mixture.  

How to: 

Dilute your paint with water - about one part paint to two parts water then simply brush the paint/water mixture on, letting it dry between coats.  
It will be pretty translucent at first, but keep building layers until you get the look you're going for.  I did quite a few coats to get it nice and white, but still translucent enough that the wood grain shone through.  

That's it!  Like I said, we're taking it back to the basics this week.  

A closeup of the whitewash boards as my Etsy backdrop - I love the subtle texture it has!