Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Fun Stuff

Just a few fun things to share with you ....

First Up..
My husband and children bought me the most delightful present ever for Valentine's Day
... How cute is this necklace ?!?
I wore it today while out and about,
and was surprised at how many smiles and compliments it received.
So I thought I'd share with you.

Did it make you smile?







Next .. I'm not sure this is Fun
But sure is handsome ...

Old Man Winter has been quit the terror this year.
But he (or maybe it's Mother Nature) has delivered
some seriously beautiful snowy mornings around here
... here is one from last week ...


s




Last ... Please Go Away Winter
... More snow and cold in the 10 day forecast
... So I am cheering up the place with these SPRING time fabric flowers





















So cheerful and easy to make.
You can see how to make these New Sew Fabric Flowers
over at Favecrafts.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentine's Day Candy Sundaes / Ice Cream Soda

This is the first year I don't have an elementary school age child celebrating Valentine's Day at their school. I admit I'm kind of sad knowing that part of my children's growing up is over. I will miss participating in the school celebration (Valentine's Day was always my favorite kid party) and buying those boxes of Valentine's Day cards that the children share with their classmates.
In addition to the school parties, we've always done a family Valentine's Day celebration of some sort. This year we'll be celebrating with some Valentine's Day Candy Sundaes. I made Candy Sundae's using green Cocoa Cola glasses,  from the dollar store, for the bottom of the sundae, a variety of candy for the 'ice cream', curling ribbon for the whipped cream and tootsie pops for the cherry. I guess these really look more like an Ice Cream Soda since I used Coke glasses to hold the candy. 
Also, I used free printable Valentine's Day cards from Anders Ruff. There are several tutorials around showing you how to build these adorable treats. I found this tutorial at Between Naps on the Porch to be the best way to make these. Have a try at making these. They were very well received by my kids and hubby (yes, he got one too).
Later tonight, for dessert we will have real ice cream sundae's with all the fixings (ice cream, strawberries, bananas, Nutella, fudge, nuts, whipped cream and of course cherries)!

X0X0x0
Happy Valentine's Day!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Apron Remake

Since last spring things have just been totally crazy for me .. generally just life things but I have not been able to concentrate on my sewing and my Etsy shop as much as I would like. Right now I'm at a point were we are just 'regular crazy' so the stress level has been brought down a few notches and I have had more time to think about what I would like to add to my shop.

First, I have done a 'remake' on my utility and craft/vendor aprons. I have added a zippered pocket and removable key fob to the design. I find having the zipper pocket quite useful for holding money while at craft shows or great for holding small items that you want to keep at hands reach while crafting, stamping, jewelry making, sewing, and more. I've also added a removable key fob option that can be attached to the side loop on the apron. I love having my keys attached while at craft shows but don't necessarily want/need them jingling around while I'm crafting. So I've decided to make the key fob/clasp removable.

I am finishing up my first set of the new-designed aprons and will be adding them to Punkie Pie's Boutique in the next couple of weeks. I have a other items coming too .. I'll post about them later. But for now here is a sneak peek of the apron remake











Leave a comment telling us:
1. When you wear (or would wear) a pocket apron
2. What do (or would you) keep in your apron pockets?

Example Comments:
1. I wear an apron while cleaning/picking up the house.
2. I use the pockets to carry my cell phone, small notepad and pen (to jot down notes of what I need to buy at the store and to write down to-do's). I also use the pockets to carry small toys such as, matchbox cars and polly pockets while I cleanup the family room.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Super Bowl XLV - GO STEELERS!

I'm married to a Steelers fan so that makes me a Steelers Fan! His entire family are HUGE fans so it's fun watching them get all raved up for the game...we all live distance from each other so we have facebook to keep us all up to date with their Super Bowl fun.

Tonight it's just me, hubby and the kids to watch the game. It's a great execuse to eat junk food for dinner. We'll be ordering in Chicken Wings from one our favorite (most convient) take out places, I picked up a small Steelers cake at the grocery store. And I 'll be filling in the gaps with homemade Crab Rangoons, Mississippi Sin Dip, and some cut fresh fruit (pineapple, bananas, berries, etc).

This is my first time making the Crab Rangoons and the Mississippi Sin Dip. I found it quite fun 'crafting' the little rangoons. Here some pictures before I fried them:












Crab Rangoons
:







1 16 oz. can crab meat (or use fresh or imitation)
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 scallions, minced
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. soy sauce
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
water
peanut oil (or Crisco - watch your temp if using, it can start smoking if too hot)
Purchased Wonton skins or sheets

Combine crab, cream cheese, scallions, soy sauce, Worcestershire and garlic powder. Place 1 teaspoon of crab mixture on skin. Wet edges of wonton skin with water. Fold skins from corner to corner and crimp to seal. Fry in 375°F oil until lightly browned.

A while back I stumbled up Deep South Dish website .. I frequently visit this blog with the most delicious looking dip recipes (amongst a bunch of other tempting mouth watering recipe I need to try). The Mississipi Sin Dip just seemed appropriate for the super bowl since it's a classic tailgate recipe (for Mississippi State Bulldog's - hope they don't mind us devouring this during a Pittsburg Steeler's game).

I took Deep South Dish's suggestion to make this dip in a pie dish ...

Mississippi Sin Dip:








1 (approx. 1 pound) round loaf of crusty bread, optional
1 (8 ounce) block of cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1-1/2 cups of sour cream
2 cups of shredded cheddar
1/3 cup of chopped ham
1/3 cup of sliced green onion
1 can of green chilies, undrained
2 tablespoons of pickled jalapenos, chopped (I used a bit more)
Couple dashes of Worcestershire sauce (I added a few dashes of Cholula hot sauce)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. To serve in a bread bowl, cut the very top off of the bread and hollow out, leaving about a 1-inch shell and reserving the bread from both the top and the inside. Set the top aside and cut the inside bread into cubes or tear into chunks if desired, to use for dipping.

Cream the cream cheese and sour cream together until well blended. Add all of the remaining ingredients and mix in well. Place enough aluminum foil to wrap around the bread on a baking sheet and pour the cheese mixture into the bread bowl, or into a baking dish. Return to top the bread on top and wrap the loaf completely in the foil. Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour. Can also bake in a baking dish if desired.

Serve with the reserved bread, an assortment of vegetables, crackers, tortilla or corn chips. One of our Facebook readers took the leftover bread, tore it into big pieces, and then tossed it with olive oil, garlic powder, dried parsley, red pepper flakes and sea salt, and baked that into croutons while dip was baking. Fantastic idea Jaclyn, thanks!

Tailgate version: Triple and prepare in a disposable aluminum pan. Cover with aluminum foil. Place the pan on a hot grill and heat until bubbly.

Variations: Instead of ham, substitute 1 can of deviled ham, 1/3 cup of chopped, dried beef, or 1 small, well drained can of shrimp or crab, cooked crawfish or cooked sausage.

Be sure to check out Deep South Dish website for more goodness! And Thank You Deep South Dish for sharing!

Steelers Cake (store bought):






I haven't finished cooking everything so f you read this post before game time then you'll need to check back for the final goods.

GO STEELERS!

Friday, February 4, 2011

You Can Never Have Too Many Hearts ...

I love this time of year with all the pinks & reds and hearts! I don't know why but I've always been fond of cutting out heart shapes from paper. I remember as a kid being totally intrigued by being able to fold a piece of paper in half and cutting this odd shape and then unfolding it and it would be heart!

I found this tutorial over at How About Orange and totally went crazy with it making these fun folded fabric hearts and hung them from my dining room hutch..my dining room is our 'event' room whether it be a birthday, homework, or a special holiday like Valentine's Day. Her tutorial shows you how fun, easy and quick these '3D' hearts are to make. There's so many things you can do with them..hang them, make them into a banner or bunting, decorate a gift bag or box, etc. You could even use this tutorial to make paper hearts... you know you can sew paper too :)





















Now I've grown up and know I can make hearts, hugs & kisses using paper, fabric as well as my keyboard (hee hee)

Hearts: ♥♥♥♥ Big Hugs: :D< >:D< >:D<>:D Kisses: < :-x< :-x< :-x



Happy Valentines Day!!

♥♥♥♥
>:D< :-x