Picture Perfect Gift Ideas

Say "Cheeeeese!"!! If you're like me, the only time I am actually IN a picture is if we get someone else to take it, otherwise I am behind the camera. This is the time of year that seems perfect for getting a family photo for Christmas cards and just to update your frames. 
I am a huge fan of using photos as gifts! I know to some it may seem corny or cheap or just plain dumb, but what do you give the parents and grandparents who have everything?!?

Shutterfly photo mugs

 I love Shutterfly for photo gifts and prints...they have a ton of ideas from collages to mugs, calendars, and more. I actually gave these photo mugs with personalized photo cards for Father's Day this year and they were a big hit! And, they didn't break the bank, which was a huge plus!

Here are a few other photo gift ideas that you can make online or use already printed photos:

Scrapbook page framed--frames at Hobby Lobby are around $20, so wait til they are on sale!

Canvas prints--My friend  and neighbor, Traci, (check out her blog!) always does our family photos and she orders from a professional photo printing if I ask her to...for super quality, ask your photographer about this, otherwise, sites like Shutterfly, Snapfish, Wal-mart and the like will probably be just fine.

Collage--online or make it yourself

Photo Coasters--online or make them yourself using tiles, cork squares, Modge Podge, and sealer--I made these for Mother's Day a couple years ago...you can even put them on mini plate racks to display!

Calendars--online or make it yourself---way cute to personalize with kids' photos!

Photo Books--These are way cool and easy to put together online! You can even make "story books" where you can type in things you want to say about the photos, etc.

You can start by downloading your favorite photos to your favorite photo service site (which is the longest part of the process usually) and then click and play with them to see what you can come up with!
   If you have a favorite photographer, ask them about photo gifts or if you have the rights to use the pics they've taken of you and your family to make your own gifts. Be sure not to use them without their permission! Also, don't forget that some of your own candid, fun snapshots are just as meaningful as posed or professional photos so don't discount your own, even if you are not a fabulous photographer!

And don't forget the shots that are fun and don't even involve people! I took this one on vacation a couple weeks ago.

Sewing Machine Cover-Up

 

As you can see, I actually have a hard plastic cover over my sewing machine, but  it was rather unsightly, and I wanted to pretty it up a little. I came across a general pattern for one and changed it up a bit to fit over the plastic cover. I made it double sided, with a layer of thin batting so that it lays nicely and I can reverse it. I also made one side a little longer to cover the back, where the cord is out, which is also a good place to "hide" your foot pedal (if you have one). 

You simply need:

About a yard of material, thread to match, twill tape ribbon, batting

Be sure to measure to make it wide enough to fit your machine, especially if you are covering a plastic cover. Also, be sure to make the ribbons on the sides long enough to tie. You could also use material covered elastic if you want or some other fastening system, but the ribbon looks nice and is easy to attach. 

Place your pieces front sides facing and sew edges all but one end, then turn right side out, slide batting (cut to fit) in and smooth out, then hem up your open end. Place ribbon in position with pins and try out on your machine for placing, then simply stitch all the way across...you could do a fancy stitch or several stitches to make it look decorative, or even a contrasting color thread just for fun. This is an easy project that you can personalize and it will brighten up your sewing spot!

Hearty Soup

Well, I'm just a day behind this week....it's one of those kind of weeks. So, for me, this is Monday...or Tuesday and Monday put together...or something like that. Anyway, you get the picture. My meal plan is getting a kink in it with hubby's work schedule and the fact that next week is Thanksgiving and I am in clean ot the pantry mode. So today, I want to share an easy, hearty, somewhat healthy, and way yummy soup with you that even my manly man who doesn't much care for soup, really likes and even requests. Enjoy!!

CHEESEBURGER SOUP

1 cup chopped onion, 1 cup chopped or shredded carrots

4 cups fine chopped potatoes, 1 cup chopped celery

1 lb lean ground beef, 4 cups chicken broth

1 tsp basil, 1 tsp parsley

1/2 cup flour, 1 cup milk, 8 oz. Velveeta

In your soup pot, sautee onions, celery, carrots in olive oil than add beef to cook til done. Than add basil and parsley, broth, and carrots. Cook til potatoes are tender (about 20 minutes). Separately, blend milk and flour, and add slowly to soup, stirring it in. Stir in Velveeta last until melted.

*Tips--I like to cut up my veggies and brown my meat ahead of time (I brown a couple pounds at a time and freeze it) so all I have to do is throw it together at dinner time.
*I most of the time, omit the flour and add more veggies than it says and it makes soup thicker and chunkier.
*I like the 2% Velveeta, but I don't recommend the light...not creamy!
*My husband does not like cooked carrots (unless he can't see them), so I chop them up really fine with my hand chopper (which also relieves stress, by the way) and he devours it! He has no idea there are that many carrots in it...good trick for kiddos too!
*If you do Weight Watchers, this is roughly 5-6 points per cup