Quote Sunday

"A best friend is someone who brings out the best in you". ~ Unknown

Silly Saturday...

After seeing this photo online, I figured out why signs banning Silly String are posted - ha! ha! ha!

Have a fun, safe and Silly Stringless weekend!

Little Girl's Tulle Flower Hair Bow Tutorial

Above is a cute little hair bow that I made for my great-niece, Kayle Ann. It's a really simple project to create...here's how I made it:

Begin by cutting a piece of lavender tulle about 12" to 14" in length:

Fold the tulle in half lengthwise and trim raw edge with pinking shears:

On the folded side, sew a basic running stitch and gather the fabric as you go. Once you've reached the end of the fabric and have gathered it all into a flower shape, secure by stitching together on the underside of the flower:

Attach the prongs of a large, decorative brad through the holes in a button. Secure prongs through the center of the tulle flower:

Set tulle flower aside. Using 1/8" satin ribbon, criss-cross weave the ribbon through the open side of a snap clip:

Secure the ends of the ribbon with a knot, and trim ribbon leaving 6" tails. (If desired, pearl beads can be added to the ribbon tails for a little extra bling.)

Form a loopy bow using 1/4" satin ribbon. Tie loopy bow to snap clip:

Attach tulle flower to snap clip with hot glue. (TIP: place a folded piece of wax paper between the metal snap clip to keep it from becoming glued to itself.) Hold tulle flower in place with a clothespin until glue has dried.

Attach a tiny bow to the center of the flower brad and your tulle flower hair bow is now complete! NOTE: This makes a really cute package decoration, in lieu of a standard bow, on a present for a little girl.

Happy crafting,

Recipe of the Week...Microwave Apple Crisp

Fall is my favorite time of the year for so many reasons...the beautiful colors of the foliage, the cooler temps, and the harvest of one of my favorite fruits - apples. Nothing beats eating an apple straight from the tree, except maybe baking an apple pie or an apple crisp! The recipe that I'm sharing with you this week is my simplified version of an apple crisp that can be made in the microwave in a matter of minutes. It's a wonderful and quick dessert that can be made at a moments notice when friends drop by for a visit!

Ingredients:

• 4 apples; peeled, cored and sliced
• 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/2 Tbsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 cup oatmeal
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/4 margarine, softened
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut
• Vanilla ice cream (optional)

Method:
Spray 8" x 8" square glass baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, toss together apple slices, cinnamon, granulated sugar and nutmeg. Cover dish with plastic wrap and poke holes in the wrap to vent. Microwave on high for 7 minutes, stirring half-way through the cook time.

In a separate bowl combine the remaining ingredients to create the topping. Sprinkle topping over the cooked apples and return dish, uncovered, to the microwave. Microwave an additional 3 minutes, turning dish once half-way through the cook time.

Top with vanilla ice cream, if desired, and serve warm. Yummmmm!!

Have a blessed day!

It's Blogtoberfest Time!

It's that wonderful time of year to join Tresa Black's annual "Blogtoberfest" over at her blog, Fabulously Artsy!! Click on the button below to check out all of the bloggy goodness that she's celebrating this month:





Have a super day!

Cute as a Button Blog Award...

Happy Monday, All! My sweet and talented blog friend, Lisa, bestowed me with this very cute blog award! Thanks, Lisa - you really made my day!! (Click HERE to go to Lisa's blog and check out all of her fabulous craftiness!)

I now have to pass this award on to a blog that I love. That's a TOUGH one for me, because I truly love reading and following so many wonderful crafty blogs! After much thought and deliberation, I am sharing this award with my new blog friend, Karen, over at My Cup Runneth Over. Please take a moment to hop over to Karen's blog, where I know you will be inspired by her beautiful, crafty creations and Biblical wisdom!

Have a wonderful week!

Quote Sunday

"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all".  ~Laura Ingalls Wilder ~

Silly Saturday...

Even though I am blonde, I laughed out loud when I spotted this funny photo, so I just had to share it with you!

Wishing you a very fun and safe weekend!

Frosted Designs Challenge..."Fussy Cutting"

This week's challenge over at Frosted Designs is to create a project using "fussy cutting". I created the above layout, (using a photo from a couple of years ago when when I had short hair!), and hand cut all of the stamped images. I then attached the images to the layout using 3-D dots so that they would "pop" off of the page and add the extra dimension that I so love! (To see an enlarged, close-up view of the layout, please click on the photo).

I'd love to see your "fussy cutting" creations...so why not enter your fantastic projects in the challenge over at Frosted Designs?? You have until noon on October 6th to link up your project(s)...click HERE to check out the challenge and prize details!

Happy Scrappin'!!

Recipe of the Week...Fiesta Chicken and Rice

Last weekend I made Mike one of his favorite meals, Fiesta Chicken and Rice, and realized that I haven't yet shared my recipe for that yummy dish! It's a wonderful meal that is so fast to pull together, and if you're lucky enough to have any leftovers, they are great to take for lunch the next day!

Ingredients:

• 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 can Rotel
• 1 bag Minute Rice
• 3 slices American cheese
• 1 Tbsp. milk

Method:
Spray the inside of a crockpot with non-stick cooking spray. Rinse chicken breasts, pat dry, and layer in crockpot. Add one can of Rotel (undrained) over the top of the chicken. Top crockpot with lid and cook on low for 6 hours.

Prepare Minute Rice according to package directions. While rice is cooking, prepare cheese sauce in a small sauce pan by combining 3 slices of American cheese that have been torn apart, 1 Tbsp. milk, and 3 Tbsp. of Rotel tomatoes that have been skimmed from the top of the chicken in the crockpot. (Do not add any of the liquid from the crockpot to the cheese sauce - just the tomatoes). Melt cheese sauce ingredients together over low heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning or scorching.

Spread cooked rice on a serving platter and add cooked chicken, spooning the cooked Rotel tomatoes over the top of the chicken. (Not the liquid, just the tomatoes). Pour the cheese sauce over the chicken and rice and serve. Delicious!

Have a happy day!