Personalize your Disposable BIC pen with Sculpey Clay

On Friday, April 20, I had the opportunity to be a guest blogger on Newlyweds on a Budget.  I showed you how you can keep from losing your pens, when writing checks at stores, by personalizing them with sculpey clay.  If case you missed this, I'm posting the tutorial here today!

Personalizing Your  BIC Pen with Sculpey Clay

 This ONLY works with BIC pens....not the staples/office max/office depot/other house brand disposable ball points.

First, using needle nose pliers, pull the ink and tip out of your pen.

Next, I pinched off a lot of SMALL pieces of scupley clay and rolled them into small balls.

Then, I pressed the clay balls onto the "pen outer shell" flattening them into circles.

Continue adding the clay balls/dots onto the pen casing until it is completely covered (do NOT cover the hole where you pulled the ink/tip out).  Then gently roll the pen on a flat surface just to ensure all your dots are firmly attached.

Place your clay covered pen casing on a cookie sheet and bake in a 275 Degree F oven for 10-15 minutes.  Let it cool and then put your ink/tip back into your pen casing.

There you have it!  A personalized pen that you will know is yours.  Feel free to make other designs using scupley clay!

Kari has a great blog with all sorts of great ideas from crafting to financial planning.  She also hosts "Tutorial Tuesday" each week where bloggers can link up their amazing tutorials.  Kari also has "Feature You Friday" each week.  Check her out here.

4 You

Marilyn

Bloglovin Blog Hop

Four blogs, The NY Melrose Family, Randee's Organized Chaos, Two Sasters, and While Wearing Heels are all co-hosting a bloglovin blog hop.  Bloglovin is another way of following blogs with a dashboard similar to GFC (it posts a picture and a bit about the post on the dashboard).  There are 2 features that I like about bloglovin over GFC.  First, when you read a post it is no longer on your dashboard...keeps things tidy.  Secondly, you can also mark posts as "liked" so you can find all those "must have ideas" when you need them.  Click the button below to join in!




4you

Ohio State Wreath

Have you seen this wreath on Pinterest?

Four of my blogging friends, Kari from Newlyweds on a Budget, Lindsay from Artsy Fartsy Mama, Anna from Directions Not Included, and Laura from Small Good Hearth all found great inspiration from this wreath.  We each decided  to create our own wreath that incorporated some design element of this fun springy wreath (we were supposed to post this yesterday but my camera batteries died...procrastination is not a good thing!).

My kid's high school guidance counselor was a HUGE help with my first two children.  She has decided to retire at the end of this school year (bummer for my youngest).  Ohio State University is her Alma Mater so I decided to create a wreath as a "thank you" gift to her.  Here is what I came up with.

There are many wreath tutorials so I'm just going to give you a synopsis of what I did.  I purchased a foam wreath, a package of various shaped styrofoam balls, an inexpensive plaque, and some wooden letters. (The fabric and paint came from my stash).  I ripped the black/grey fabric into 3/4 inch strips and wrapped the wreath with this.  I used some elmers glue to secure the ends.  I ripped the fabric for the balls in 1/4-1/2 inch strips and wrapped each of them.  The plaque I just painted red and then sponged grey around the edges.  The letters I painted white.  Then, using a hot glue gun, I adhered all the components onto the wrapped wreath.

I hope she like it!  Her assistance over the years has been priceless!  Also, be sure to check out Kari, Lindsay, Laura, and Anna's wreaths!

4you

Cooking and Crafting Fun for May 2012

Here are a couple of cooking and crafting challenges and fun I'm working on for May 2012 and you may want to join in.
If you like to cook, Four Marrs and One Venus and White Lights on Wednesday are hosting a monthly cooking challenge, "Get Your Chef On".  The theme for May 2012 is "lemons" and today is the last day to sign up.  If you're interested, join in the fun.  Recipes will be posted on your blog May 8, 2012.


If you are into crafting and upcycling/recycling, Newlyweds on a Budget and All Things Fee are hosting a craft night on May 2, 2012.  The theme is using your old magazines in a new crafty way.  You may want to check out Pinterest for inspiration.



Finally, if you use Pinterest to give you ideas and inspiration, Two Yellow Birds Decor and The Taylor House are co-hosting a pinterest project challenge.  You just need to search pinterest for that project you just LOVE (can be ANYTING...food, crafts, etc).  Then, you turn this inspiration into a reality by recreating it.



If you need further info on any of these three projects, just click on their buttons.  I'd love to see what each of you come up with if you enter!  
4you

Color Knitting - Afghan

 Knitting, gardening, cooking, crafting, sewing are all some of my favorite ways to decompress.  However, I must admit that I have a particular soft spot for knitting.  Why?  it's because it's portable and can be done anywhere:  watching TV, waiting in the doctor's office, watching a football game, and listening to your child's band concert to name a few. (My kids just roll their eyes when they see me walk in with my knitting).  

Anyway, my local yarn shop, Knitting Temptations has such a wonderful community feel and everyone who works there LOVES yarn and fiber arts!  One of their instructors is Michelle Hunter of Knit Purl Hunter.  Michelle has a wonderful eye for creating beautiful patterns that are wonderfully simple.  I recently took a class learning different color working techniques. The final project is an afghan.  Take a look!

This is going to be a gift for my parents.  I hope they like it!

4you

The Winner of the $15 Hobby Lobby Gift Card is....

The winner of the $15 Hobby Lobby Gift Card is Brenda Callahan from Romance by Brenda.  Congratulations Brenda and thanks everyone for following along on my crazy projects and life!

Guest Posting at Newlyweds on a Budget

Happy Friday, everyone!  I don't know what it is about Friday but it's definitely one of my favorite days of the week!  Do you experience a  kind of "high" when Friday rolls around?

Kari, from Newlyweds on a Budget is away at SNAP and so I am guest posting over at her place today.  Come check it out!  Click here to see how to keep from losing those BIC pens when you are out and about.

4you

Celebrate Earth Day 2012 this weekend!

I was going to post this on Sunday, Earth Day, but then realized how silly that would be...you would be reading about these offers too late to actually benefit from them....duh!   So, I'd like to take a moment  to share what I've found so far.

Target is handing out reusable shopping bags.  Click here to learn more

Whole Foods is offering a "trade up" on supplements and personal care through May 31. Click here for more information

Origins is offering a free FULL sized moisturizer when you complete this form and bring it along with an empty container to your Origins store on April 22.

At Caribou Coffee, just bring in your own reusable mug and you will get a free cup of their coffee of the day.

At Starbucks, just bring in your free reusable cup/mug for a free iced/hot coffee or tea.

So be sure to spend some time this weekend celebrating Earth Day!

Despicable Me, Frankenweenie, and Wallace & Gromit!

Okay, this is just fun!  My daughter loves the minions from "Despicable Me"!  She'd love one for herself.  Anyway, in honor of her, I'd like to share this video with you!

My family also LOVED Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Corpse Bride".  (My youngest LOVED the soundtrack to "Nightmare" and used to listen to it every day when he was little).  Anyway, Tim Burton has a new movie, "Frankenweenie" coming out this fall that reminds me of these two.  Here's a trailer for you!

Also, when my kiddos were young, we discovered Nick Parks and the Wallace and Gromit series.  If you haven't seen them, you should.  Here is a video with some alternate openings from "A Matter of Loaf and Death".

Nick Park's movies, "Chicken Run" and "Wallace and Gromit and the Curse of the
Were Rabbit" were also family favorites.  I wonder if his new movie, "The Pirates-Band of Misfits" will be good.  Hmmmm.  I'm now ready for some popcorn and a movie!

4you

Orange Cleaner Part 1

When I was pregnant with my daughter I discovered an amazing concentrated natural cleaner: Citra Solv.  It worked GREAT but was expensive!

With the wonder of the internet, blogging friends, and Pinterest, I've discovered some cleaners people have made.  Terri of These Peas Taste Funny posted a tutorial/recipe for Orange Enzyme Cleaner.  I've seen other recipes with citrus peels and vinegar.  Well, the other day I made fresh squeezed orange juice for my guys and had a lot of orange peels left over.  No time like the present.  Using my kitchen shears I cut the peels into small pieces, packed them tightly into a quart canning jar and then added distilled white vinegar to cover the peels.  See.

Now I just need to wait about 6 weeks to see if I have a orange cleaner.  I'll keep you posted!

4you

Alcohol Painted (Inked) Tiles -- AMAZING!

Have you ever gone to a store looking for one thing and left with something totally different?  This happens to me more than I'd like to admit and it happened the other day.  I had been hearing so much about washi tape and it thoroughly intrigued me.  There is a project I have in mind and so I went in search of some.  I was not having much success and the last store I went to was Hobby Lobby.  I didn't leave with washi tape but I left with some alcohol ink.  I just tried it out on some ceramic tiles and look.....

Aren't these cool?  It is so super easy.  I don't know if I am going to use these for coasters or perhaps another project.  If you look at the tiles you will see 4 have fun blobs of color and 4  have a sponged look.  Well, each set was done differently.  Here's what I did.

For Sponged Looking Tiles (with alcohol ink)

I purchased a special stamp for this but next time I would take an old stamp and glue on a piece of velcro (the sticky/toothy side).  Then cut a piece of felt the same size as your velcro and "stick" it to your stamp.  Add drops of your alcohol ink (whatever colors you are using) onto the felt.

Now just stamp away...covering the entire tile (this picture is after just a few stamps)

Here's the 4 finished stamped tiles

For Swirly Blobby Colored Tiles with Alcohol Paint (Ink)

With these tiles I first put a few drops of blending medium on the tiles and spead it over the entire tile with a foam brush.

Now all you do is drop the paint (ink) onto the tile and see what happens!

And here are 2 finished tile using the "drop" method

This is really cool.  I'll be trying to use these inks on some upcoming projects....be on the lookout!

4you

Ultimate Blog Party 2012

It's here...yes the 2012 Ultimate Blog Party hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom.  It's a great way to introduce yourself to other blogs and meet a lot of other bloggers!

I have been blogging since September 23, 2011.  My blog, 4 You With Love is based on things I love to do and love to do for others. As a mom, wife, daughter, woman, I feel that one of my main goals is to make life wonderful.  I recently reached 200 GFC followers and am currently having a raffle for a $15 Hobby Lobby gift card.  You can enter here.

Now a bit about what you will find on 4 You With Love.

A host of projects that lead to the creation of my Woman Cave

A "Making Your Own Dairy Products" series that includes Homemade Yogurt

Ideas to have a more environmentally friendly home like Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent

Some knitting patterns like 4 Hour Hat

Recipes like Cheesy Garlic Rolls

And More!

Come and visit and let me know so I can visit you as well (please leave your blog address in your comment).

Have a great week!

4you

200 GFC Followers Giveaway!

Okay everyone, it's time to celebrate!  I know everyone crafts and everyone loves a great deal.  So, to celebrate 200 GFC followers, I'm having a raffle for a $15 Hobby Lobby gift card.  Also, because you are all awesome in my book, here is the link to the 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby.

Adding a Facebook "Like" Button (Timeline) on a Blogger Blog

I got my "Like" Facebook link up and running on my blogger blog yesterday (this was no small feat since I'm so technologically challenged).  Anyway, I have received a few e-mails on how to do this.  So, I'm going to try to walk you through this.  (These instructions assume you have already created a Facebook Page.)

• To make things easier, open facebook in one tab and open blogger in another tab. (This way you are ready to toggle between both sites later on)
• Go to the facebook page you created  (there should be an Admin Panel at the top of your page).
• Look to the lower right corner and there should be a block that says "Page Tips".
• "Page Tips" has two main options that you can toggle between them by hitting the next button.  You want "Discover Resources & Tips" and click on it.
• The next screen has 3 main categories:  
• Develop Your Page
• Connect With People
• Additional Resources
• Under "Connect With People" you want "use social plugins".  Click on this
• The first option at the top of this page is "Like Button".  Click on this
• Now here is the first place where I got so confused.  The first box asks "URL to like".  What they are asking for is the internet address for your facebook page.  So just go to your facebook page and cut and paste the address that appears at the top of your computer screen.
• Next you will go down and decide the rest of button options (pictures, etc).  Once you have made your selections, click on "Get Code".
• Here is the second place where I got so confused.  There will be 2 boxes of code.  You do need both of them.  Here's what I did.
• On blogger you want to go to "design" blog.  Then on the layout where you can add gadgets, you want to add "HTML/Java script" gadget.  
• Then, I added the title "Follow On Facebook".
• The big empty box that looks like you would write text you want to copy and paste the two pieces of code facebook gave you.  I copied and pasted the contents of the first box (much more code) and then spaced down a couple of lines and copied and pasted the second piece of code  (This way if there was a problem I knew which code came from which box on Facebook).
• Then when I saved my design and viewed my blog it worked!  I was the first one to LIKE my page just to verify it worked.

Let me know if this helps!

4you

Facebook Page

I am so much more a paper and pencil girl than I am a technology girl.  That being said, I just set up my 4 You-With Love facebook page!

I'm still learning how all the social networks connect with each other.  It took me probably 3 hours to figure out how to put my facebook "like" button on the blog.  Pretty sad, I know.  However, I am slowly getting more and more internet/computer savvy.

Now, my next quest is to learn how everyone has all their "follow" options in one area of their blog with a icon for each.  Baby steps, I know!

4you

Blog World Iron Chef and an Ultimate Blog Party

I'd like to share a couple of activities you may be interested in.  First off, there's a new iron chef type challenge that is being hosted by Four Marrs One Venus and White Lights on Wednesday.  This month's theme is "lemons".  Check it out!

Another way to meet bloggers and introduce yourself is the Ultimate Blog Party being hosted by 5 Minutes For Mom.  This starts Friday so plan to join the fun!

4 you

Blogging Tips #6

I am always so amazed that for everything I learn, I realize there is so much more I didn't know.  I find this truly amazing.  Then, when I do discover something new, I just have to share it!  I can't keep my mouth shut!  (I still have problems with surprises...I just get so darn excited!)

Anyway, I'm in my 7th month of blogging and I have learned a lot about blogger and the blogging world.  I do have to admit that there is so much more tools/resources in blogland than I had even imagined when I first started:   Pinterest, Link Parties, Rafflecopter, and Picmonkey just to name a few.  So, in my blabber mouth way, I've found some more blogging tip posts I'd like to share with you!

Janel from Hating Martha has some great blogging dos and don'ts

The Nester from Nesting Place has some great info on Pinterest and your blog.

Marianne of Songbird has a great post about a great option to GFC - Readers

Amy of One Artsy Mama has a great post about Hosting Giveaways

Holly of 504 Main has lists 10 Tips for Bloggers

Sandra of The Sensible Mom has 8 Useful Plugins for Wordpress

Gigi of The Kudgy Mom has a whole page of Blogging Tips

Geri of My Heart Art has 4 posts on building a store on blogger

Blogelina has tips from pros on investing wisely in your blog

Mindie of Bacon Time With the Hungry Hungry Hypo shares her tips for bloggers

Margo of Joyful Homemaking shares 10 things she's learned her first year of blogging

Anna of Ask Anna explains how to attached a document to a blog post

See, I just can't keep a secret.....especially when it shouldn't be a secret!  Happy blogging!
4you