Sunday, November 16, 2014

Fall wreath

I really needed some therapy ... I mean craft time.  So I finally made some time for crafts yesterday.  At the beginning of the school year, I bought a package of fall-colored card stock at Michael's (for about $3) with the intention of making this wreath.  So Friday night I started making flowers (like we did for Chelsea's wedding). 

First cut a circle (it doesn't have to be perfect). Then cut a spiral within the circle, again, perfection is not required.  Then start wrapping the paper into a cone from the OUTSIDE working toward the center - this seems odd, but the center will be the base you glue your flower to.  I usually unwind the flower some, add a lot of hot glue, press your flower down, burn your fingers, remind yourself that hot glue is hot. 

   

Admire you work, repeat, repeat, repeat.


Then Saturday, Xman and I ventured out to Michael's again.  This time I needed more hot glue (project took 10-15 glue sticks total - best guess), and something to glue my flowers to ... what I ended up with was more than $50 worth of other projects ... I need supervision.

So I found these wood bases.  I purchased two of this size and one larger one for a snowflake wreath (I will post that one right after Thanksgiving -- I like to let turkeys have their day.)  First hold it up by your face ... then act like it is a hula hoop for your neck ...



 

I glued the biggest flowers on first,  trying to create a random effect. 


Then I glued on the next flowers, then smaller, then smaller, then I had to make some ultra tiny flowers to fill in a couple of spaces.



I am very happy with this project.  I have enough paper to make probably 10 more wreaths this size. I like making all the flowers first and then gluing them on and just filling in as needed.  I will be making another one for my classroom ... but I should probably do my lesson plans and notes first, and maybe clean house.  When I hang this up I will add an update.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Gearing up to craft and cook!!

I am so ready for Thanksgiving Break!!!!  I keep pinning Thanksgiving and Christmas crafts and foods.  This picture makes me a little too happy ....


This is from the Pampered Chef site.  I want to make the melted snowmen (made with the scoop loop) and the brownie houses (uses 2 brownies from brownie pan) ...

I also want to make this Turkey Shirt from artsy-fartsy mama for Xman...


I am hoping to make Cranberry Pepper Jelly Dip from Life With the Crust Cut Off.  It's pepper jelly mixed with half a can of cranberry jelly, poured over cream cheese and served with crackers.  (My link isn't working at the moment - I will update the link as soon as I can get it working)

Cranberry Pepper Jelly Dip - only 3 ingredients and 5 minutes to prepare this delicious simple appetizer, perfect for the holidays!



I also love these ornaments from By Stephanie Lynn


I would love to have this ribbon wreath from Dear Emmeline...


This is only a start to what I want to accomplish .. if only I had more than 3 days off!  I will take what I can get, and try to make the most of it ... maybe I could catch up on sleep also ... dare to dream ...


Saturday, November 8, 2014

I just can't clean this place ...

Have you heard "I'm all about that bass?"   Of course you have, but I will add it so you can watch it again.

Just typing it the song is stuck in my head again ... It have been singing it for a week, or a parody version of it.  Have you seen the moms parody "I just can't clean this place". 


I saw this Monday morning, sang it all day, showed it to my husband and he said "obviously" and gestured to our lovely home ... Immediately my horns are showing and I say "seriously?"  And he said "I didn't mean you, we just can't clean this place."  

It's like shoveling the driveway in a blizzard ...

I need an army of minions ...

Disclaimer: I share this story because it was hilarious to me.  And because I wanted to watch both of the videos again ... I just can't clean this place ...

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Baked Tacos

This is one of my favorite quick dinners.  I found this somewhere on pinterest originally - thanks for the idea BlogChef! (I cheat and use seasoning out of a packet.)

Hard shell Tacos
Ground beef or turkey
Your favorite taco seasoning (I use Old El Paso original taco seasoning)
Cheese
Toppings of your choice

Brown meat. Season to your liking.
Place unbaked shells in casserole pan or ridged baker.
Top with cheese
Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Top as you wish.
Baking tacos like this is tastier, faster, and less messy (the shells don’t break as easily)


*I was lining a glass baking dish in foil to help fold the shells up until I saw that I could use my ridged baker. If I am making too many to fit in the ridged baker I will use my stoneware rectangular baker from now on because of how easily the cheese comes off of the stoneware.



I also use my Mix 'n Chop to make browning ground meat an easier job - one of my favorite tools