How-To: Burlap table runner (no sewing necessary!)

So one day while I was scouring pinterest for craft ideas (I seem to do that a lot), I came across this gem of a craft: A no-sew, super easy, adorable table runner! I was dying to give it a try because, well, no-sew is just awesome for me. I know my dear mother so desperately wants me to learn so we can have that in common and then she can trick me into buying one of her $8,000 sewing/embroidery machines, but it just has not happened yet. maybe someday...
Anyways, this table runner was sooooo easy to make; it took me maybe an hour, and it looks so good on our little coffee table! I'm pretty impressed that I pulled it off :). So, ready to learn how to make it? OK, great! (Sidenote- this isn't my craft idea, I found it on pinterest. Just thought I should say that for copyrights or any junk like that, haha:)). you'll need:

• burlap fabric
• fused webbing
• scissors
• iron
• damp cloth

1. So first, you'll need to decide how much burlap you will need. I only needed a yard, because it was for a coffee table and I don't like my table runners to hang off the ends much. Measure your desired table with a measuring tape and then go from there. I picked my fabric up at Joann's (they almost always have good coupons so it shouldn't cost you very much).
2. Once you have your fabric, lay it face down. Start at the shorter end and fold it over about 1 inch. This will be your crease.
3. After you have folded and creased the fabric, take your iron and press your crease down.
4. Once it is pressed, cut a strip of fused webbing and place it just underneath the end of the creased fabric.
5. With your damp cloth, dab the burlap on top of the fabric, making the burlap and fused webbing under it wet. this will help bond them.
6. Take your iron and press the creased fabric. this will cause the fused webbing and burlap to bond together.
7. Turn to the longer side, fold the fabric over 1 inch and repeat the process.

Voila! cutest table runner for fall/Christmas ;). They do have a wide range of burlap fabric at Joann's so you don't have to do the fabric with the gold polka-dots, I just liked this one best :). All together, this project cost me $15, so not bad on price either! and with the extra fabric I had left, I was able to make cute little couch pillows :).

Well there you have it, my latest project! I'll probably be posting a couple of recipes soon, along with blogs posts all about our adventures with our families that we will be having for the next three weeks, and of course, princess's birthday :). I'm so excited! Thanks for reading, and I hope you give this project a try! :)
Amanda

crafts and recipes!

Hey all! So last night I decided to pull out one of my craft kits that I had and put it together, since yesterday was a pretty slow and relaxing day for us. I recruited Scott, and Sophia just sat and looked cute, like she always does :). I had been saving this kit to put together once it got closer to Christmas (since it is winter-themed), but my crafting excitement got the better of me :). I love these wood kits! They are easy yet so fun to put together, and they have a little bit of everything as far as crafting elements- paint, glitter, modge podge, paper, ribbon and drawing. I have done two of these (we have a grinch one that is in our decorations storage), and I got them both at craft fairs but they came from a vendor called Wood Creations, located in Utah. But good news- They have a website! So even if you don't live in utah, like me, you can still buy from them online! And the best part is that they aren't super expensive at all, their price range is from $13-30. So if you want to give wood crafting a try, check their website out- woodcreationsutah.com. So fun!

A couple of weeks ago I tried out a new recipe I found for a Chicken Tortilla Bake, and it was delicious! So of course I'm going to share it :)
You need:
1 lb of cooked shredded chicken
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
1 can of tomatoes and green chilies
1 can black beans
1 tsp onion powder
1 can of corn (optional)
4 regular sized tortillas

Cut the tortillas into small, square pieces (I used a pizza cutter for this, so much easier than a knife).
Place tortilla sqaures in bottom of a 9x13 pan until the bottom is covered.
place half of chicken on top of tortillas.
Mix soup, tomatoes, chilies, beans, onion powder and corn together, then spread half of that mix over the chicken.
Repeat the layers once.
Cover with foil, and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. top with shredded cheese and bake for another 5 minutes. Can be served alone or with tortilla chips.

It is seriously so good, writing about it has made me decide that this is what I'll be making for dinner tonight!

And here are the next 6 journal prompts:
19.Write about something you now know that you wish you would have known earlier in life.
20.Write about your greatest fear.
21.Name one thing that you think brings out the good in people.
22.Describe a time in your life when everything turned out fine, despite the odds.
23.If you invented a device that could fix one problem that you are facing right now, what would it be?
24.Write about the last time you spoke to your best friend. What did you talk about?

I have really enjoyed these journal prompts. They have made me write about things I normally wouldn't think of, and it's fun to go back and read some of the things I wrote about, and they are fun conversation topics with Scott :).

And, last but not least, a picture of the cutest Sophia :).

                                             


                                                            Thanks for reading! XOXO
                                                                           Amanda