Monday, February 27, 2012

{taste this} lemonades no-bake cheesecakes

Hey there!  If you're like me and couldn't resist the puppy-dog eyes and teensy tiny vested Girl Scouts, (and if you have the will power of a Saint!) you might just have a few boxes lurking in your pantry or chilling in your freezer!  I have been experimenting with some super simple recipes using Girl Scout cookies ... did you see my thin mint pudding trifles and thin mint ice cream sandwiches?  Today, I am using the yummy Lemonades cookies!!

These delicately citrusy delights form the crust for my easy, individual Lemonades no-bake cheesecakes!!  Yep!  It's {taste this} time!





You can't see it, but nestled under that fluffy cheesecake filling, there is one whole Lemonades iced shortbread cookie ... yep, they really are that good!!

Lemonades no-bake cheesecakes

I found the no-bake cheesecake filling here (and you can bet I'm using this again and again!) but I added vanilla and lemon extracts for the perfectly balanced sweet and tangy filling! 

Blend 8 oz. softened cream cheese and 1/2 cup granulated sugar together with a hand mixer.  Blend in 1 teaspoon lemon extract and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (you may want to adjust this to your personal taste - this is what I liked).  Gently fold in 8 oz. thawed Cool Whip.  I used my hand mixer on the lowest speed and it worked fine - just be careful not to over mix it or the Cool Whip breaks down a little.

In small ramekins, cupcake cups, plastic cups or even tea cups (!), add one Lemonade cookie face down to the bottom.  This is your crust ... couldn't be easier, right?!  The iced bottom will stand up to the filling and not get soggy.  Now, spoon some of your filling over the cookie and chill at least two hours before serving.  With a sharp knife, cut one cookie to resemble lemon slices and use them as a garnish.  This recipe made 6 generous individual cheesecakes.  I tied a yellow fork to my cup o' cheesecakes with bakers twine ... they look too good to eat.  ALMOST ;)



And can we take a second to talk about the mini forks?!  $3 for 24, in all the colors of the rainbow and I am smitten!!  These would be perfect for bake sale items (anyone else like to eat their treats in the car?!) or in a short little mason jar for appetizers or small bites ... guess what you'll see at my next party!



Hope you were inspired to {taste this"}!!  Now, I have at least two more easy recipes up my sleeve that use Caramel deLites or Samoas (my fave!) and the Shortbread cookies ... I'm pretty sure you don't want to miss them.

This recipe was linked up at all the fabulous parties on my Link page!

Saturday, February 25, 2012

{love this} fits me to a tea

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My first {love this} post and it's dedicated to one of my favorite things ... tea!!  You might remember I made some fun coffee & tea kitchen art a while back.  There is just something about a warm mug of slighly citrusy Lady Grey, soothing chamomile or even a spicy Chai tea that make a rough day melt away.  I love the feeling of history (don't you feel lady-like and fancy?!), the lazy steam curls, a swirl of milk, a nearly translucent tea cup and a paper tag fluttering on a saucer ...

So, let me show you some new {loves} that fit me to a tea!!

Cupcakes baked in tea cups ... from Sweet Paul



Ring around a tea cup ... a Fanpop picture





Counting down until the next cup of tea ... Vintage Revivals' awesome clock


To wear with the ring ... Misty Aurora Etsy shop


If you pin, please pin responsibly ... head on over to the original source to properly credit your pin :)  However, feel free to pin any of my stuff with abandon!!  Hope you've found a few new things to {love} ... now, one lump or two?


Friday, February 24, 2012

33 1/2 things about me on my 1/2 birthday!

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Happy 1/2 birthday ... to me!!  There are exactly six long months until one of my favorite days of the year ... that's right - my birthday!  I love to celebrate anything but birthdays are so much fun and I am not hung up on getting older (yet, ha ha!) so bring it on!!

I did this very same thing on my 31 1/2 birthday ... you can read these 31 random things about me here.

But back to today ... how about 33 1/2 mostly random things about me to commemorate my 1/2 birthday!

1.  I am currently obsessed with smoked almonds.  The habanero ones are also pretty delish.  Mmmm. 
2.  I think in song lyrics.  Almost any comment can remind me of a song.  Which will be stuck in my head.  ALL DAY.  Not bad when it's Moves Like Jagger but a Sound of Music song gets old quick, ha ha!
3.  I love Mary Poppins.  One year I will dress up like her for a Halloween party.  After all, she is practically perfect in every way.
4.  I always wanted braces growing up and wore those jelly bracelets folded in my mouth like a retainer in elementary school.
5.  My dining room is decorated with birds and the letter "B" for our last name.  Birds and the B's ... get it?!  ;)
6.  I went to school for Interpersonal Communications and Elementary Education. 
7.  I love change.  You know, quarters, nickels and the like.  The Saint knows that if he leaves change sitting anywhere, it won't be there for long!
8.  I am an animal lover.  We only have two cats now - Awesome aka Boss and Little aka "Bitty" or the Kitten Ninja.  Growing up I had a rabbit, a parakeet, three cats, a duck and a pot belly pig.  All adopted/found critters.  E-I-E-I-O!
9.  My first cat was named Ophelia after reading Hamlet in English class.
10. I met Matchbox 20 and Sugar Ray backstage ... up close and personal.  YUM.
11. I have received flowers from a secret admirer. 
12. I still love to watch The Bugs sleep.  There is just something about the sweet rise and fall of their chest, hair just peeking out from under their blankets, sleepy mutterings ...
13. My mom and I get asked if we are sisters all the time. 
14. I hate.hate.hate. tennis shoes and closed-toe shoes. 
15. Pantyhose/tights are right up there with tennis shoes and closed-toe shoes.  ICK.  However, I do love a good pair of leggings!
16. I can't sew.  Or maybe I really don't want to sew?  Either way, that's probably the reason you don't find many fabric related crafts around here, ha ha!
17.  I have been told I look like Super Nanny when I wear my glasses.  I do rock a pretty mean British accent.
18.  I am not a huge "make-up" girl.  Foundation, powder, mascara, lip stuff.  That's it.  I've been experimenting with the "smoky eye" technique.  And wonder if I look like a chimney sweep. 
19.  I carry a bazillion lip glosses, chap stick, Soft Lips, lip oil and other lip junk in my purse.  It's awesome when my purse tips over.
20. I still know all the words to Ice, Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice.
21. And American Pie by Don McLean.
22. I am ridiculously obsessed with Pinterest.  LOVE it!  My boards here.
23. I want to throw an Alice in Wonderland themed party one day.
24. I can't stop saying 'awesome' or 'fantastic'.  Seriously, I have a pretty expansive vocabulary and those are my go-to adjectives.  Sad.
25. My favorite animal is a donkey. 
26. My mom used to sell Princess House crystal and because she was a single mom and I went with her to every party, I could recite her "spiel" with her.
27. I know the 50 states in alphabetical order.  Thank you 5th grade Music class.
28. I can hardly pass up "clearance" stuff ... even if I would never use it.  "But I got this dog Halloween costume for .68!!"
29. I do not like raw onions.  I think they smell like body odor.  I make The Saint cut all of the onions in our house.
30. I'm not a big fan of meat with bones.  I am definitely a boneless chicken breast and boneless pork chop kind of girl.  I have a hard time with ribs and chicken wings.
31. My first job was a receptionist at the insurance agency where my mom worked.  
32. I had a Trapper Keeper.  And LOVED it!!
33. Mount Vesuvius erupted and destroyed Pompeii on my birthday.  And Hurricane Andrew hit on my birthday.  Natural disaster much?
33 1/2.  OK, I have been dying to share this with you ...

But that's my 1/2 entry ... sorry!  That's a wrap!!  Anybody else ready to share their random lists??  It doesn't even have to be your 1/2 birthday!  Do tell ...
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Thursday, February 23, 2012

{try this} itchy cast relief

The poor Saint ... he broke his right foot back on January 26th.  And like most everything in his life, if he does something, he does it BIG!!  The type of fracture he has (It's a Lisfranc fracture if you'd like to take a Google break.) is a 1 in 50,000 people kind of break.  I'd take those odds for the lottery, but it's not great for a broken foot.  He's out of work until late April or possibly May - EEK!! trying not to panic ... deep breath! - and is the proud owner of a shaved right leg from the knee down and a cool new red cast.  And do you know what that equals?

Itchy!
Scratchy!
Unbearably Annoying!
It itches right there ... that spot that is just out of reach!!

What's a grumpy Saint to do?!?!  No, the correct answer does not involve a chopstick or bent metal hanger ;)

Thanks to Brian, the PA at the surgeon's office ... he is going to put my hair dryer on the COOL setting and blow that itch from here to kingdom come!!  Yep, that's right ... my good ol' Conair to the rescue!!  


You can also use compressed air (you know, the stuff you use to blow the crumbs dust out of your keyboard ...) to relieve the itch, too.

Of course, we had to bust out a Sharpie and add our John Hancocks to his cast.  Did you see my cute little signature on his cast?  Looks familiar, huh?  (see post signature below!) 


I even put a dorky joke on it ... "This End Up", ha ha!  Sad, I know!

I hope you never have a grumpy, itchy Saint or have to use this tip, but if you do {try this}, stop by and let me know!  I'd love for you to follow along here, on Facebook, Pinterest or even by email ... check out my side bar for all those options!  And if you haven't already, stop by this week's {lost & found pinterest link party} to show off your favorite Pinterest boards.  This week's party is linked up at the top of my blog.

And I promise I do still craft.  See above as to why those craftastic, DIY ideas and projects are in various stages of completion ... they're still coming, so please stick around, ok?  And another Girl Scout cookie recipe if that helps ;) 

Monday, February 20, 2012

{taste this} thin mint ice cream sandwiches

Welcome to another Girl Scout cookie {taste this} post!!  Soooo, I'm guessing you're here for these little beauties?! 



I know these posts are called {taste this} but if you like Thin Mints (or just the fabulous mint & chocolate combo), you really are going to want to taste these!!  And these are even easier than my Thin Mint Pudding Trifles!

We keep our Thin Mints in our freezer (doesn't everyone?!) so when our local grocery store had ice cream on sale B1G1F and I caved to supported the Girl Scouts outside and came home with 2 more boxes of cookies ... this seemed a natural partnership!


Smoosh a little scoop (maybe around a tablespoon) of mint chocolate chunk ice cream between 2 Thin Mint cookies.  Press the cookies lightly together to even out the ice cream.  Use your finger to smooth around the cookies and remove any extra ice cream.  Pop these little minty bites of perfection back in the freezer to firm up a bit before serving. 

I can tell you that a little birdie told me this probably won't be the last time you see a tasty treat made with Girl Scout cookies ...

This recipe was linked up at all the fabulous parties on my Link page.

Friday, February 17, 2012

{try this} freshen your sheets between washings

I love freshly washed sheets.  Man, to slide into softly scented sheets right before I slip off into dream land is pretty amazing. 

BUT ... I hate the whole "yank everything off the bed, strip the pillows, leave a naked mattress for a few hours" thing!!  You, too?  I mean, of course I wash my bedding weekly as Martha suggests!  Perish the thought of 8 day sheets!! But ...

Occasionally ... I may miss my sheet laundering appointment. 

Thankfully, I have come up with the perfect way to get laundry fresh sheets between washings!  Let me introduce your new best friend ...  Reader, meet the Bounce/Febreeze lint roller!  Bounce/Febreeze, my lovely readers!
What's so great about a lint roller?  Febreeze freshness in those cute polka dots!
Give this guy a roll over your sheets, comforter and pillow for a lightly scented, lint-free invitation to dream!  And yep, those are my freshly rolled IKEA duvet cover and chocolate brown sheets!


This thing is also awesome for removing cat hair (thanks to Awesome and the Kitten Ninja) and giving you that fresh out of the dryer feeling!  Nope, this is not even a sponsored post ... just sharing the lint roller love :)

Hope you were inspired to {try this}!  I'd love for you to follow along here at shaken together and find me on Facebook and Pinterest ... options all found in my side bar!  Hope you have a lint-free, sweetly scented week!

This was shared at the blogs/parties on my Link page.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

{taste this} thin mint pudding trifles

It's the first post under my new "post what floats my boat, when I want to post it" mantra!!  If you missed my post about it, it's still here :)  And now, let 'er rip!!  It's another recipe ... on a Wednesday!!  WOO HOO!!

Can we just open this up with a picture?  Because you are definitely going to want to {taste this} ... thin mint pudding trifles!




Are the Girl Scouts out and about in your neighborhood?  Standing outside of your grocery store with those stinkin' cute vests and bouncy ponytails?!  I caved!  Even though I had four boxes of cookies already at home!  What is a girl to do other than offer to make dessert when friends (Hi, Tim & Holly!) invited us over to dinner!

I made this pretty, layered, super easy dessert!  And you can, too!  Nothing complicated here ... just plain delicious!


Chocolate pudding + crushed Thin Mints + mint Cool Whip (1/2 tsp. mint extract stirred in a small tub of Cool Whip) + Thin Mint cookie garnish = AWESOME!!!
I layered my trifles in plastic cups since we were taking them on the road, but these would be adorable in little glass shot glasses, champagne flutes or dessert cups!  Add green food coloring to the Cool Whip for the perfect dessert on St. Patricks Day!  You could make these up ahead of time for a bake sale and I bet they would fly off the table!!  Or just make them because it is Wednesday and they look good :)

What's more exciting than a recipe made with Girl Scout cookies?  How about a bunch?!  I've got a few more recipes up my sleeves for you cookie junkies, so stock up!! 

shakin' things up a little around here ...

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So, you know I gave myself a little blog makeover a few weeks ago and I totally love the fun and funky colors, the little people family and the new name (shortened just a bit from pressed down, shaken together)!  And I'm feeling like I want to steer this sweet little ship in a slightly new direction! 

What does this mean for you, my wonderfully fabulous readers and followers?!  You'll be getting all that you love about shaken together ... crafty tutorials, recipes and SO MUCH MORE!!  (I feel a little like an informercial pitch man, ha ha!)

You might be asking, "Well, what do you have in mind?"

As much as I love the structure of {taste this tuesday} and {create this friday}, sometimes, I am just not inspired to throw a craft together just because it's Friday.  Case in point, my recent ombre thread-wrapped paper clip hearts.  Cute.  Done.  Tutorial.  Pictures.  But certainly not my most inspiring post or proud project.  Just being a little honest here, folks.

Maybe I want to share TWO recipes a week, or show you something awesome that I stumbled across in my blog surfing or just introduce you to some of my favorite things ... would that be okay? 

So you're on board?!  SWEET.  Moving forward, I'll be sharing all sorts of wonderful things ... fun, unscheduled, uncomplicated, sometimes random but always full of incredible awesomeness that'll go a little something like this:
  • {create this} a crafty tutorial
  • {taste this} a delightful recipe
  • {love this} one of my favorite things
  • {try this} a tip or trick or something that you just.can't.live.without.
  • {saw this} an awesome find on the web
  • {win this} super duper giveaway ... hey!  want to give something away?  Let me know!
  • you know, stuff like that!
I really want this to be a place to showcase all sorts of things I love, stuff that I am passionate about, something I just can't wait to share with you ... whenever I want to share them.  What do you think? 

Look for some fun new posts coming soon... (like tomorrow!!)

Monday, February 13, 2012

{taste this} hearty chickpea & chorizo soup

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Though it doesn't feel much like winter yet in Florida (I mean really ... don't I EVER get a break from shaving my legs?!), I am ready for some one pot wonders, soups and stews!!  So you know what, Mother Nature?!  It may be 80 degrees outside in February, but I am cranking down the A/C and we're making SOUP!! 

Edited on 2/13/12 to add ... of course, Mother Nature throws us for a loop and the last two days our highs have only been in the 50's - brrrr!   But, we're right back up to 81 on Wednesday.  SIGH.  This is why my laundry room and our master bedroom are piled high with shorts AND pants, t-shirts AND long-sleeved shirts, tank tops AND hoodies!!  Laundry overload!  Anyway ... 

Welcome to {taste this}!  And feast your eyes on this bowl of savory wonderful ... hearty chickpea and chorizo soup!!  And guess what?!  There is some some serious soup hoopla going on ... Come join SoupaPalooza at TidyMom and Dine and Dish sponsored by KitchenAid, Red Star Yeast and Le Creuset!!



Hearty Chickpea & Chorizo Soup
Adapted from Publix's Spanish Bean Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 links chorizo sausage (I used Goya), diced
1 clove garlic, finely diced or put through a garlic press
1/4 cup onion, diced
1 rib celery, diced
2 (15.5 oz.) cans chick peas (also called garbanzo beans) with liquid
3 medium/large potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 (32 oz.) carton low/reduced sodium chicken broth
1 packet Goya Sazon seasoning
1 1/2 cups water

In a large pot, saute garlic, onion, celery and chorizo in olive oil until vegetables are tender.  Add remaining ingredients and simmer until potatoes are tender. 

This soup comes together quickly and can just simmer happily while you slice a crusty loaf of Cuban bread and toss a quick salad.  The potatoes and chick peas are soft but not mushy and infused with the rich chorizo broth ... this is definitely a must-make-again soup in our house!  Even the 9 year old Little Bug was disappointed when the last bowl of this soup was gone.  You know it's gotta be good!!


Hope you were inspired to {taste this}!!


 
This was shared at all the blogs/parties on my Link page!

Friday, February 10, 2012

{create this friday} ombre thread-wrapped hearts & last minute Valentine's gift

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Okay, I am sharing a down-to-the-wire, decorate-or-bust!, just have to make something for Valentine's Day idea that has two, count them two, supplies:
  • Jumbo paperclips (I used the ones with the tiny ridges- they help the thread stay put just a bit better)
  • variegated embroidery thread
Welcome to {create this friday} and check out my ombre thread-wrapped hearts!!


I could make 100 of these ... and I just might!  But to get you started on at least one, here are the steps:

  1. Unbend a paper clip until it looks like a funky curvy little heart.
  2. Tie a knot around the paper clip at some point on the heart.  It doesn't really matter when you start because you can just slide everything around to the end of one side of the heart as you go.
  3. Begin wrapping the thread around the paper clip, keeping it fairly taut and sliding the loops of thread down right next to each other.
  4. Just keep wrapping and wrapping.  I found if I needed to stop and stretch my hands, I just used another little piece of tape to hold the thread in place until I was ready to go again.
  5. Once you reach the place where the ends of the paper clip halves meet, wrap your thread around both of the metal ends a few times to secure them together and the thread into place.
  6. Tie a knot and snip the end of your thread.
It's a little tedious and my thread slipped a few times right at the end, but I think these are just so pretty!  I can just see these tied onto little gifts!  You know, something like this:


For this last minute gift:  take the label off of a pasta sauce jar, use a strip of decorative paper to cover up any of the writing (best by date, etc.), use a scallop circle punch to make a pretty cover for the lid, fill with inexpensive conversation hearts, tie on one of your ombre thread-wrapped hearts and you have an adorable gift that will make anyone's heart skip a beat!

If the thread-wrapped hearts are not your thing, you can also use the little paper clip hearts to add some simple Valentine's day atmosphere all over!  At home, tie them to your kitchen cabinet knobs, surprise the hubby and tie one around the handle of his coffee mug and send a little lunch time love to the kiddos and tie one around a sandwich!  At work, tie a paper clip heart around a candy bar or homemade goodie for a sweet little treat on your co-workers' desks!

Crafting, just like love, doesn't necessarily need to be complicated :) 

Hope you were inspired to {create this}!!


This project or recipe was shared at the blogs on my Link page!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

the things i never thought i'd hear my husband say...

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I'll get to that in a second, but in case you're fairly new around here, my hubba hubby - The Saint - broke his right foot January 26th.  And broke it pretty darn good!  Like two nights in the hospital, surgery, cast up to his knee, no work for 6-8 weeks (EEK!!) kinda good.  That was sarcasm right there, ha ha. 

Anyway, he was been laid up at our house, living on the couch for most of his day.  Watching an unbelievable amount of TV.  See, he's really not a "hobby" kind of guy.  No cross word puzzles (though he got some in a get well basket from our Best Couple Friends that he's attempted with great success..."honey, what's a six letter word for permits?"), no model cars or ships in a bottle; he's no great lover of books.  So TV it is.

And The Bigger Bug doesn't leave to catch his bus until about 8:40am, so The Saint has adjusted his TV watching to include a lot of the "older" Disney shows ... stuff like Pair of Kings and The Suite Life on Deck.  Once the Bigger Bug hits the road, he switches over to the DIY Network.  Kinda ironic, huh?  A network for all DIY home improvement projects and a guy who can't put any weight on his right foot. 

SO, back to the things I never thought I'd hear my husband say ...
  • So excited, remote in hand when The Bugs walked into the living room one morning, "Hey Guys, I recorded the Zack & Cody movie!!"  At my raised eyebrow and smirk:  "What?!  They're pretty funny!!"  Classic.
  • And finally, one day when I finally sat down for a few minutes after work, "So, when I'm better, we need to find one of those salvage yards for some salvaged lumber and then see if we can find one of those contractor thrift stores.  See, I have a cool idea ..."
I might be a little scared.  But in other news, I will be selling tickets for the Wizards of Waverly place marathon in our new reclaimed lumber home theater room in a few months ;)

Pretty much blogging to keep my sanity around here, ha ha!  Hope you have a great Wednesday!!
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Monday, February 6, 2012

{taste this} chocolate peanut butter overload bars

Allow me to set the stage:  I was sitting in my quiet house in the wee hours of the morning, sipping coffee, browsing Pinterest, contemplating what to wear and ... HOLY COW WE HAVE A POT LUCK TODAY AND I AM SUPPOSED TO BRING A DESSERT AND I LEAVE FOR WORK IN ONE HOUR!!!

Deep breath.  I can whip something up, right?!  Quick scan of our pantry.  And these unbelievably decadent, supremely awesome chocolate peanut butter overload bars were born ... welcome to {taste this}!!


You don't have to wait any longer ... here is what you need!
  • 3 cups peanut butter crunch Cap'n crunch cereal
  • 3 cups chocolate crunch Cap'n crunch cereal
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 40 jumbo marshmallows or 4 cups mini marshmallows
  • Sprinkling of mini chocolate chips (or PB chips or milk chocolate chips ...)
  • 1/4 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter M&Ms
In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter and then stir in marshmallows.  Once marshmallows are melted, remove from heat and stir in cereal until evenly coated with the marshmallow.  Spread cereal mixture in an even layer in a 9x13 pan.  I actually spread mine in a large, parchment paper lined sheet pan to get them a little thinner.  Sprinkle mini chocolate chips over the top of the cereal mixture. 

In a microwavable bowl, melt 1/4 cup peanut butter and drizzle over the cereal bars.  Sprinkle peanut M&Ms over the bars and press in lightly.  Refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour to allow bars to set.  Cut into 2inch squares.  Yields about delectable 24 squares. 

These are stickily delicious, quick to put together, versatile (use whatever you have in your pantry) and pretty addicting ... I didn't bring any home from our pot luck ;)




Hope you were inspired to {taste this}!



These were shared at all the blogs/parties on my Link page!

Thursday, February 2, 2012

{create this} conversation heart paper plate baskets

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Yes!  I am still hooked on Valentines' Day!  And yes!  I am still on a paper craft kick!  And yes!  This might be the cutest most inexpensive giftable EVER!  (Okay, and yes!  That might have been an excessive use of exclamation points!)

I am so excited to show you this cute and quick craft tutorial for this week's {create this}!!  conversation heart paper plate baskets!! 


... and just in time to put some together for a playdate, treat your co-workers, fill with goodies for class room parties,  or show a certain someone that you want them to "be mine"!

These were inspired by the tutorial found here (pinned on my "giftable stuff" Pinterest board) and I simplified it just a little.   **Updated:  the idea I pinned was originally inspired by a Martha Stewart idea ... of course!  Long live the queen of all things crafty!**

I'll try to detail the steps I followed in words and pictures!

Cut a piece of cardstock or heavy paper into a 3 in x 3 in square.  This will be the size of the bottom of your baskets.  Adjust if necessary depending on the size of your plates. 

Now, flip your plate over and center your template.  Trace your template lightly with a pencil. 

Using a ruler, extend one of the corners of the square by lightly drawing a line to the edge of the plate.  Rotate your plate and extend the next corner, the next and the next until you have drawn four lines.

Cut on the lines you extended - careful not to cut into the square you traced from your template. (Forgot to take a picture of this - oops!)

Fold each flap toward the center of the plate and make a nice sharp crease.


Next, fold the small triangle-ish corner of each flap as well.  You should see the sides of the basket formed and a small flap to tuck in.

Put adhesive on the small flaps and begin to fold them up, tucking them in and adhering them to the inside of the basket as you go.

Ta-da ... a paper plate basket!!  So stinkin' simple and oh-so-adorable!!


And since it is the time of all things lovey dovey and the perfect time to give everyone around you a sweet little something ... let's decorate these for Valentine's Day!!


I inked all of the edges of the basket and then added a paper conversation heart tied on with ribbon, twine or thread.  LOVE the little messages ... "be mine", "luv u" and "xoxo". 


These are quick and inexpensive to make, so you could easily make enough for a classroom of deserving kiddos, an office full of co-workers or for your next ladies' get together.  Fill these with trinkets, treats or treasures!!
Hope you were inspired to {create this}!!


These were shared at all the blogs/parties on my Link page!