Homemaker's Tutorial: Coupon Orgainzer

I started this month off with a bang and was posting all the time. But life has gotten very busy in the middle of the semester so once again I am posting infrequently. But. Back to

The Homemaker's Month of Helpful How To's

Today I have an awesome tutorial to share with you!!!

It's an adorable coupon organizer.

I got the original idea HERE and then made a few little changes of my own.

This tutorial and organizer would be a perfect companion to your homermaker's handbook!

See my tutorials on how to make a homemaker's Handbook HERE.

{I made my coupon organizer match my handbook}

If you follow her tutorial then you will end up with an adorable and functional coupon organizer!!

I on the other hand wanted to make things more complicated for myself.

Here it my version.

I wanted to make my organizor bigger so that I could add 8 1/2" by 11" baseball card inserts to store all my coupons. I don't know about you but I have WAAY too many coupons to fit in a pocket :)

{Please keep in mind this in only my second sewing project I have ever completed!! And the first one was in a sewing class! lol}

Directions:

Go to 2 Little Hooligans tutorial HERE and follow her amazing step by step directions on how to make this adorable coupon organizer.  

Here are the things I changed. Go to her tutorial and follow along.

For the main color of fabric which is the red and black flowers. I changed the following:

1. Hooligans used: 14" x 8 1/2" *I Used: 241/2" x 13 1/2" (inside of organizer)

2. Hooligans used: 13" x 8 1/2"   *I Used: 23" x 13 1/2" (outside of organizer)

3. Hooligans used: 9" x 8 1/2"  *I Used: 19 x 13 1/2" (inside pocket)

For the Second color which is the black swirls I changed:

1. Four pieces of fabric at 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" (zippered pouch) {I used the same as I had only baught a 7" zipper.

2. Hooligans used: 21" x 2 1/2"   *I Used: About 30" x 2 1/2" (elastic closure)

3. Hooligans used: 6 1/2" x 12"  *I Used: 22" 13 1/2" (pocket for pad and pen)

I then followed her directions the same and just used my larger pieces. When I got to the end where all the pieces are sewn toether I attached my other pieces.

After the two largest pieces are sewn together and an opening was left in the top to pull the pieces right side out I did a couple things.

1. I took a three ring binder and cut it apart so all I was left with was the three ring metal pieces. I covered this in fabric.

Then in the opening left in the top of the organizer I insirted the three ring metal piece into the center and sewed up and down it into place.

2. After these pieces had been sewed in I had every intention of following the tutorial and just sew it up but because it is so large it was too floppy. So I took the two cardboard pieces I had cut out of original normal binder and inserted them into the sides.

Then I sewed it up like normal.

3. With my new snazzy three ring piece in place I can add pieces of paper or baseball card inserts that I plan on putting in to organize all my coupons. For now I have these dividers in place.

It matches my Homermaker's Handbook! Love it!!

Fidn my handbook tutorial HERE

So I totally made this up as I went along and some things could probably have turned out better.

So if you have any sort of version of this please please please let me know! Share a link, picture, or just some tips.

Thanks :)

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Homemaker's Month: Sewing and Crafting Pushed to NEXT Week

This week for the Homemaker's Helpful Month of How To's we are supposed to go over some fun crafts and sewing projects.

However my hubby is in the middle of trying to launch a site and all my extra time has been going in to helping him launch. I've been busy figuring out the web design and all that.

So I'm pushing back Week #3 of the homemaker's month until next week.

So come back on Monday Feb. 21 for some fun tutorials :)

Homemaker's Recipe's: Valentine's Day Cupcake Bites

Welcome back for the last day of the Homemaker's Recipes week of

The Homemaker's Month of Helpful How To's 

Find this recipe now at my new home: Young Wife's Guide
Red Velvet CupCake Bites

Homemaker's Handbook: Favorite Recipe Download

Welcome back Ladies! We are in week #2 of the

Homemaker's Month of Helpful How To's!

This week we have been covering some fun recipes. I have been a little busy and have only had a chance to get two recipes up so far. But more are coming!

#1: Andes Mint Cake..Yuuum! Find it HERE

#2: Our very favorite Spinach-Artichoke dip! Find it HERE

Later this week  {Hopefully tomorrow} I will have a FUN Valentine's Day Recipe for some special cupcakes, feature some of YOUR favorite VDAY recipes and hopefully have a giveaway for you all :) Stay Tuned!

Today however I have a fun download for you.

Last week we covered the Homemaker's Helpful Handbook!

Go HERE to catch up and read all about it.

So today I will cover my recipe section.

In my recipe section I have either copied or typed out some of my favorite recipes. This makes it so easy when I'm doing my menu planning to pull out my handbook and pick a few of our favorites.

So I decided I needed a handy way to look at our favorite recipe's without flipping through each one.

So here is our Top 20 Favorite Recipe's List

I keep this in the front of our recipe section.

20 Favorite Recipes

This little list works wonders! Do you keep track of all your favorite recipes?

Homemaker's Recipes Day #2: Spinach-Artichoke Dip

Welcome back after a few days break for Week two day two of the

Homemaker's Month of Helpful How To's

Today is one of our favorite recipe's! I make this anytime we have something fun going on!

We love spinach artichoke dips and this recipe has developed from a few recipes.

Day #2

Spinach-Artichoke Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 (14oz) can artichoke hearts, drained, chopped
• 1 (0oz) pkg frozen spinach, thawed & drained
• 3 cups of shredded mozzarella (If you want to be healthier limit this to 1 cup)
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup Mayo
• 1 garlic clove minced {I found one garlic waaaay too much for me so I substitute some garlic powder instead but hubby loved the garlic.}

Directions:

1. Heat overn to 325 F. In an oven safe dish combine all the ingredients and mix thoroughly together.
2. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the top is bubbly and golden brown and the dip is heated through.

It's that simple! Our favorite thing to eat with this is tortilla chips but sliced bread is wonderful as well!

Do you have a favorite spinach-artichoke dip? Or another dip favorite?

Homemaker's Recipes Day #1: Andes Mint Chocolate Cake

Welcome to Week #2 of the
Homemaker's Month of How To's

If you missed last week on the Homemaker's Handbook then go HERE to catch up.

This week will be dedicated to recipes and other fun cooking goodness!

At the end of the week I'll set up a linky so that we can all share our recipes and meet some new friends. I'm giving you fair warning this week unlike last week :)

So first up this week is our favorite cake of all time.

Some may say this is more of a holiday cake but my family loves mint and we will eat it any day!

Andes Mint & Chocolate Cake

 

Ingredients:

1 devils food cake mix
   water
   vegetable oil
   eggs
16 oz. non-dairy whipped topping
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese (softened)
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Andes Crème de Menthe Thin

Directions:

Cake:

Follow mixing instructions on the package of your favorite devils food cake mix. 

I chopped up a bunch of the mints (Maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of cup) and mixed it into the cake mix. 

Bake as directed for two 8 or 9-inch layers. Cool cakes thoroughly before frosting (about 40 minutes).

Meanwhile, with a vegetable peeler shave along side of each mint lengthwise to equal about ½ cup of curls. (It’s common to shave only half the mint before it breaks.) Set aside curls for sprinkling on top of assembled cake. Chop broken pieces and reserve for use in frosting (about 1/3 cup). 

Frosting:

In a large mixing bowl with mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese until smooth then lower the speed and slowly mix in the non-dairy whipped topping with the cream cheese. Fold the Andes Crème de Menthe pieces into the cream. 

Place one cake layer on a serving plate; top with half the frosting and spread evenly.

Place second layer on top and use remaining frosting to top the cake. Sprinkle top with Andes Mint curls. Cover and refrigerate cake if not serving right away. 

 

I made this for my brother in laws 21st birthday! Happy Birthday Jean-Marc :)

 

I got the recipe from HERE and this is what the cake is supposed to look like but I wanted frosting on all of it :)