Ribbon Flowers

I found this fun creative project on the Drab to Fab web site.  You can find the instructions here: Fabulous Accesories. They were so fun and easy to make.  I did make a change.  Instead of material, I used ribbon.  Not that I don't have material to use, I have a wider selection of ribbon.

SUPPLIES:
Ribbon
Felt
Hot glue gun
Embellishments
Various seed beads to make necklace

You can use these flowers as various accessories.  On a necklace as I did.  Attached to a headband.  Pinned to a T-shirt. Use your imagination!

Cute necklace!

Parmesan Cheese Pizza Dog Biscuits--RIP Dexter

I haven't made any dog biscuits for a while, because we found out one of my dogs (my 13 year-old senior dog) was diabetic.  We had a very difficult time getting his glucose regulated.  While his sugar was registering so high, I didn't want to give him anything his Vet had not authorized or suggested (even though my dog biscuits have no sugar or salt).  Unfortunately, we lost Dexter last week due to the diabetes.  He was a big, lovable part of our family since he was 8 weeks old and he is missed terribly.

Over the weekend, I decided my two little dogs had gone long enough without their homemade treats.  I made some Parmesan Cheese Pizza dog biscuits.  I hope your dogs enjoy them as much as mine do.

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup powdered dry milk
1/2 tsp garlic powder
3/4 cup water
1 egg beaten
tomato paste
Italian seasoning
Parmesan cheese topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or light oil.  Combine flour, dry milk, garlic powder.   Mix in egg.  Add water (a little at time) so that mixture forms a ball.

Roll out dough 1/4" thick. 

Cut out with a cookie cutter.

Mix tomato paste with water.  Add tomato topping and Italian seasoning.

Add Parmesan cheese topping.

Wait patiently while baking 17 to 20 minutes or until golden on bottom.  Remove from cookie sheet and cool on rack.

Store in an airtight container.  You can also freeze them for a longer shelf life.

RIP Poochie!

Mod Podge Halloween Lanterns

Several years ago, my aunt made this cute pumpkin lantern for me.  She filled it with a fun candied popcorn that uses kool-aid in the recipe.  I'l try to remember to dig out that recipe later, make a batch and post it.  Anyway, I love this little lantern.  I put it out every year,it's one of my favorite decorations.  This year I decided he needed some friends, so I attempted to make:

 Frankenstein,

a witch

and a ghost to join him.

Supplies I used: 

Mod Podge
colored tissue paper
empty jar
brush (to apply the Mod Podge)
sponge (for Frankenstein's bolts)
hot glue gun & glue
wire for the handle
tea light candle
black sharpie (to color Frankenstein's bolts and draw stitches)


Cut out a face for your character and decide your placement prior to beginning project.  Mod Podge the top of your jar (green for your pumpkin stem, black for your witch's hat, etc.) and then begin to Mod Podge the characters strips down the jar.  Mod Podge the face in the place and allow to dry.  Twist the wire around the jar and up over the top to fashion a handle.  Drop a tea light candle down inside and voila!  A darling Halloween lantern.

My daughter and I decided to get all the women in our family together once a month (or so) for a craft day. For our first get together, we made these Halloween lanterns.  Here are a few pictures from our day together.

My niece, Sam, and her one-eyed Cyclops.

My D-I-L Amber, making Jack for her Halloween obsessed two-year-old.  :)

The cheesy poser, Courtney.

My big sis forbid me to post her picture.  :)  My mom, her twin sister, and my M-I-L also joined us. 

A collection of the day's lanterns.

Mod Podge Storage Cans

My newest Mod Podge creation.  Storage cans for my paint brushes, pens, scissors, and assorted tools.  These items were already being stored in jars and cans, but they were just plain old jars and cans.  I decided my craft closet need some sprucing up and out came the Mod Podge and tissue paper.  Isn't Mod Podge just the greatest stuff?

My supplies:
Mod Podge
variety of tissue papers & homemade or recycled papers (papers that give the deckle-edge when torn)
variety of ribbons, raffia, embellishments
hot glue gun & glue sticks
scissors

Mod Podge the tissue paper to the can and allow to dry.

Decorate!

Caramel Crunch Bars

I found this recipe on the back of the bag of Kraft Caramel Bits.  They are tiny caramel balls ready for melting in any recipe.  No more unwrapping caramels!  This recipe is super easy and very yummy.  I have made it a few times now and the only thing I changed was the graham cracker layer.  The recipe called for a layer of graham crackers lining the bottom of the pan, but the first time I made it I didn't like the way the crackers cut.  So after that I made a graham cracker crust layer first and then followed the recipe exactly.

Ingredients:
4 1/2 honey graham crackers
1 pkg. (11 oz.) Kraft caramel bits
 2 Tbsp. milk
 1/2 cup Cocktail peanuts
1/2  cup miniature marshmallows
1/2 coarsely crushed pretzels
 4 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate melted


Line 8-inch square pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides.  grease the foil.  Place grahams on bottom of pan cutting to fit if necessary.

(Like I said above, I made a graham cracker crust instead of the graham crackers along the bottom.)

Microwave caramel bits and milk in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2minutes or until caramel bits are completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring every 30 seconds.  Pour over graham layer.

Top with peanuts.

Then add the marshmallows and pretzels.

Drizzle with melted chocolate.  Refrigerate 1 hour.  Use foil handles to remove from pan before cutting into bars to serve.

Necklace and earrings

This is the newest necklace and earrings set I have created.  I'm happy with the necklace.  I really like the way it turned out, but I'm still up in the air about the earrings.  

The supplies I used:

Various beads (your choice)
Fishing line
Clasps/closures in metal to match your project
Earrings hooks
Jewelry tools

Just getting started here.  I decided to use very small seed beads and with the limited time that I had to spend on this project (when I actually turned my attention to it), it took some time to string all of these tiny beads on this necklace.

Total three strands of beads.  Each strand is
different with a variety of other beads.

  The finished piece has the three strands of beads twisted together and
the main focal piece dangling from a circle of bronze seed beads.

Mod Podge gift box

I going to let everyone in on a secret about me.  I love boxes.  I'm addicted to them.  All shapes and sizes.  I save them for all kinds of projects, gifts, whatever strikes my fancy.  And once I have them in my possession I hate to let them go.  Believe me, you can do so much with just an plain, ordinary box.  With just a little Mod Podge, the right tissue paper, some cute embellishments and a little imagination you could turn a plain brown box into a child's secret box.  A box where he/she can hide away all of their most prized treasures.

Granny Square Afghan

Although I really hate making afghans that have to be put together (I dislike weaving in all the ends), I made this one so I could use up some of my scrap yarn.  I'm going to give it to my granddaughter for Christmas.