Decorated Paint Cans

I was shopping in my local scrapbook store the other day and came upon the cutest centerpiece idea. You could also use this for a party favor in place of a gift bag. Just change the scrapbook paper to coordinate with your party theme!

I made this paint can for the Indy 500 race. I just needed to take off the lid and put in a potted plant or flowers to make this centerpiece take off!

Decorated Paint Cans

It’s easy to transform a new, clean paint can from your local hardware or paint store into a centerpiece, gift pail, or coordinating container by following these easy steps:

1. Purchase coordinating 12x12 scrapbook paper. You will need one sheet for the top of the can and two sheets for the for the bottom of the can and lid.
2. Purchase coordinating ribbon. You will need a 12” piece of ribbon to go around the center of the can. Buy several different coordinating ribbons to decorate the handle.
3. Purchase coordinating stickers and embellishments.
4. Measure your paint can. The diameter of mine was 11”. Cut two 5x11” wide strips of paper for the bottom of the can. I used scrapbook adhesive to attach the paper to the can. There will be a slight amount of over lap.
5. Cut two 3x11” strips of paper from your second sheet of paper for the top of the can. Using a circle punch, cut out half circles on the ends of the paper. The half circles will help fit the paper around the ends of the handle. Attach paper to can with glue.
6. Glue ribbon around the middle to hide the strips coming together.
7. Cut a 5” circle to cover the lid from the second sheet of paper. Attach to the lid with glue.
8. Embellish the can with stickers and the handle with the coordinating ribbon.

More ideas for your decorated paint can:

Baby Shower: This would be a great way to package new baby’s soaps, lotions and wash cloth.

Birthday Gift: What birthday girl wouldn’t love to open up the paint can and discover a plush toy or Webkinz inside?

Chocolate Lover: A bunch of chocolates inside a paint can would make anyone’s day.

Father’s Day: Fire up the barbeque and fill this can with spices, oven glove and some barbeque tools.

Movie Night: What better way to spend an evening than watching a movie with friends and family. Get the night started with a can filled with microwave popcorn, a movie, and some candy.

Teacher’s Gift: What teacher wouldn’t love a can filled with a treasure trove of goodies. Top off the can with a packet of Forget Me Not seeds so the teacher can plant the seeds and be reminded of your child.

Girls Spa Party

My 7 year loves dressing up, putting on makeup and getting her nails done! So what better way to celebrate her 8th birthday than to have a spa slumber party! We sent out invitations to 7 of her closest friends in the shape of a mirrored compact asking them to come to the MalGal Day Spa and Inn for a fun evening of pampering. We also asked that they bring a special outfit so after they were "done up" they could put on a fashion show.

As the guests arrived they immediately went up to my daughter's room to hang out, talk and set up their sleeping bags. They had an hour of free time before we began our craft. I had purchased white dish pans to act as their pedicure basin and manicure bowls. I asked the girls to write their names on the basin and bowl and to decorate them with permanent pens. Some of the girls were very creative with their designs!

While the girls were eating pizza and drinking punch in martini glasses, I filled their basins with a robe, facial sponge, a washcloth tied with a pretty ribbon and a pedicure pack that contained slippers, toe separaters, nail file and nail brush. I lined their spa packages up so that I could surprise them with their goodies after their meal.

The girls were absolutely delighted to find their spa packages! As they put on their robes, I broke the girls up into groups. Each group would go to a different station: manicure, pedicure or facial. The girls rotated around to the different stations. Sometimes the girls needed to wait before going on to the next station, so I had them go to the relaxation room. The room was dimly lit with soft music playing.

Before the party, I had purchased peppermint foot scrub and lotion to use for the pedicures and manicures. I also purchasaed face scrub, facial cleaner and lotion for their facials. I had a bucket of nail polish to use for the manicures. I also had a stack of towels on hand to dry off the girls' hands and feet. I was lucky enough to have several moms and a couple of teens work as the spa employees.

After the spa treatments, we created up dos for the girls and put on makeup for them. I purchased disposable makeup applicators to keep things sanitary for the girls. By the time we were finished we had some full fledged DIVAS in our midst!

The fashion show was absolutely priceless as the girls posed for the camera during their catwalk! The girls loved rocking to some music after their show. Then it was time to dress in pajamas and have cake and ice cream! After presents, the girls settled down to watch a movie before going to bed.

The next morning the girls had fruit salad and pancakes for breakfast. Each girl left with their spa package that contained a set of nail jewels that I had snuck in for a surprise! The girls had a blast and it was easy for me because of all the help that the "spa workers" supplied.

Hot Reuben Dip Recipe

I read an article the other day about a Reuben Club. The members of the club eat at different restaurants around the city and review the Reuben sandwiches offered. One of the members said that he had eaten a Reuben Dip. That made me want to try a recipe for myself!

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup Thousand Island dressing
• 16 ounces saurkraut, squeezed dry (maybe rinsed)
• 8 ounces shredded corned beef
• 16 ounces shredded Swiss cheese

Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl combine mayo and dressing. Spread sauerkraut into a 9x13" dish. Layer with corned beef, Swiss cheese and mayo/dressing mix.

Bake for 20-25 minutes. Serve with rye crackers or bread.

I tweaked the above recipe by using a 1/2 pound of thickly cut deli corned beef that I sliced thinly and using Havarti cheese. I think the next time I make the dish I will mix all the ingredients together and then bake it in a 8x8" pan. When made in the 9x13" pan, there weren't enough ingredients to be spread evenly over the sauerkraut. Mixing all the ingredients together and baking in a smaller pan should take care of this!

Chicken Wings Recipes

With the Championship playoff games a few days away, I thought I would find a few chicken wing recipes to serve. The first recipe is for spicy Buffalo wings and the second is for a sweet, sticky wings recipe.

Buffalo Wings

• oil for deep frying
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup hot sauce
• dash of black pepper
• dash of garlic powder
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 12 chicken wings

Heat butter, hot sauce, black pepper and garlic powder in a saucepan until the butter melts. Mix well and remove from heat.

In a small bowl mix the flour and spices together. Dredge wings in flour and place in a large bowl or dish. Cover bowl and refridgerate for 1 hour.

Heat oil in deep fryer to 375°. Oil must be deep enough to cover wings by 1 inch. Fry coated chicken in oil for 10-15 minutes or until the wings start to brown. Place cooked wings in a bowl and toss to coat with the sauce.

Mahogany Wings

• 3 pounds wings, split and tips discarded
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced

In a medium bowl mix all ingredients. Add wings and toss to coat chicken. Cover and refridgerate 1 hour, turning chicken a few times.

Heat oven to 375°. Arrange chicken in a single layer in a shallow baking dish. Bake for 50 minutes, brushing chicken with remainging sauce often. Turn chicken over midway through bake time. Cook until meat is no longer pink and juices run clear.

White Elephant Party

You know that you get one every year. A gift that makes you go hmm??? It doesn't match your taste, style or personality! What do you do with it? Host a white elephant gift exchange with your best galpals. Everyone can bring an appetizer to share and their gift.

You will get loads of fun and laughter out of seeing the other gifts that were received, plus you just might come home with a piece of treasure that matches you and your personality. Remember, another woman's junk is someone else's treasure!

This will give every present you receive a whole new perspective!

Ringing in the New Year

Although I've never been to Times Square to see the ball drop I've heard that it is a wild party. We've spent our share of New Year's in different bars, restaurants and jazz joints to ring in the New Year. A memorable evening was seeing one of the band members that was rocking the house at the Slippery Noodle exchanging wedding vows with his bride.

Now that I've got kids, most of our New Year's Eves are spent with our best buds and their kids. It's a massive slumber party for everyone with lots of food, kids and laughter! The highlight of the kids' year since they get to stay up until midnight to see the ball drop and let off some poppers.

We typically play board games and card games. Our favorite is Balderdash. My husband and his best friend are the best bluffers that I know. During one particular round, my husband came up with a great definition that I swore had to be true! It was so outlandish no one could make it up. Needless to say, we laughed so hard I thought some of the guys might have a heart attack!

Start your New Year off with a bang by hosting a poker theme party. With Texas Hold Em and Celebrity Poker still the rage, jump on the bandwagon and throw a Casino theme party for New Year's Eve.

A happy New Year!
Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.
By Edgar Guest

Wishing all a New Year sparkling with joy, love and success!

Christmas Surprise

Nostalgia is a wonderful thing! I remember those moments of anticipation when I first awakened on Christmas morning. The delight of running downstairs to see the tree all lit up, the presents glowing underneath and the cookies eaten by Santa!

Being on the receiving end of an early Christmas morning is hard! One year my son woke us up at 4 am! Needless to say, I had to find a way to keep the kids in bed a little longer (my Christmas wish is to sleep in to 7 am)! I finally stumbled onto this idea: wrap a book up as a present for each child! Works like a charm.

My son will normally wake first and run downstairs to see if Santa visited us, then he will run and tell his sisters. Then, they all pile onto my son's bed for story time! The oldest will help the youngest to read her story. These few extra minutes of anticipation are wonderful for them and a blessing for my husband and I!

Another tradition from my childhood is to have a cup of hot chocolate before opening the gifts and to eat sweet rolls or monkey bread afterward! I have continued this tradition with my children, baking home-made cinnamon rolls. The absolute best scratch hot chocolate is from Hershey. I just take it one step further by adding a handful of chocolate chips to the pot at the end. My favorite brand of chocolate is Guittard. Simply the best chocolate ever.

Letter from Santa

My family has spent a few summer holidays at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana. I knew from reading their promotional materials that the kids could get a letter from Santa Claus. All I have to do is include a self-adressed stamped envelope when I mail their letter to Santa. The elves of Santa's Elves, Inc will respond with a letter from Santa!

Send your letter to:

Santa Claus
c/o Postmaster General
PO BOX 1
Santa Claus, IN 47579


You can also send an envelope of your stamped Christmas Cards c/o of the Postmaster General to have your Christmas cards bear the Santa Claus, IN stamp.