Believe

Another dollar store find! This little wooden believe sign was at the dollar store a while back and I thought it would be great for Christmas.

What you need:

wooden sign

paint

foam brush

mod podge

glitter ( I am a major fan of the Martha Stewart glitter sold at Micheals)

What you do:

1. Paint the sign the same color as the glitter you will be using. Let dry completely.

2. Apply an even layer of mod podge to the sign using a foam brush.

3. Sprinkle generously with glitter and let dry for approximately 2 hours.

4. Touch up any spots that may have gotten missed.

Garlic Chicken Alfredo

Ingredients:

1 envelope of McCormick's Creamy Garlic Alfredo mix

8oz. fettuccine noodles

6 chicken tenders

Johnny's Garlic Spread & Seasoning (can be purchased at Costco)

Directions:

1. Rub garlic seasoning on each chicken tender (both sides), place in a small baking dish, cover with foil, bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

2. While chicken is cooking, boil noodles until al dente. (I think fettuccine noodles take longer to cook, so give yourself a little extra time)

3. Approximately 5 minutes before the chicken is done, begin making alfredo sauce according to package instructions.

4. Slice chicken into bite size pieces, place over noodles. Pour alfredo sauce over top and sprinkle with parsley.

* The Johnny's Garlic Spread & Seasoning is an awesome spice to have around. You can add a couple tablespoons to softened butter and spread over a loaf of french bread, throw it under the broiler for a minute or two and whah-lah...yummy garlic bread!

Another Pumpkin

I just had to share! We made these pumpkins at our Fall Craft Night Enrichment. They are made out of air conditioning duct, a little spray paint, glitter, ribbons, and leaves. I thought it was so cute!

Pumpkin Wreath

please excuse my dirty door

I found these cute little pumkins on clearance at Michaels and had to buy them. I thought they turned out pretty cute on a wreath!

What you need:

12 pumpkins (from Michaels, come in packs of 4)

18" wire wreath

5+ yards of ribbon (I used a moss color, it's really not all that noticeable what color you use)

hot glue gun

What you do:

1. Cover metal wreath with ribbon.

2. Generously apply hot glue top the bottom of each pumkin and place on wreath. Make sure you place them close together, it's a tight squeeze!

Puffy Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

3 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup shortening (I use the butter flavored)

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup sour milk (add 1/2 teaspoon vinegar to sour it)

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:

1. Sift and measure flour; sift with baking soda and salt.

2. Cream butter and shortening. Add sugar gradually, creaming until light and fluffy.

3. Add egg and beat well.

4. Add flour mixture alternately with sour milk. Mix well after each addition.

5. Add extracts.

6. Chill dough for at least 30 minutes.

7. Roll dough out to 1/4 inch thickness on a floured board/counter. Cut out desired shapes using cookie cutters.

8. Bake on a well greased cookie sheet for 8 to 10 minutes at 400 degrees.

9. Cool cookies completely before frosting.

(another one of my MIL's yummy recipes)

Frosting:

4 cups powdered sugar

1 egg

pinch of salt

1/2 cup shortening

1/4 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla

Witch Hat with a little Shimmer

I found this cute sign at the dollar store but knew it needed something more. I was hoping to use purple glitter but I've just been to busy to make the extra trip to the craft store.

What you need:
Witches Inn sign- dollar store!
glitter
glue/mod podge
brush
What you do:
I think this one is pretty self explanitory!

MIA

I know I have been MIA lately. We've had a tough couple of weeks but I promise to post soon. Thanks for stopping by!

Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds cubed beef stew meat
2 cups water
1 small onion, chopped
1 28oz. ounce canned crushed tomatoes
1 16oz. package frozen mixed vegetables
2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
10 cubes beef bouillon, crumbled
2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 Tbl. salt
1 Tbl. dried basil
Directions:
1. Place beef in slow cooker. Pour in water. Sir in remaining ingredients and season with bouillon, salt, pepper, and basil. Cook on low for 8 hours.

*warm cornbread tastes great with this!

Burrito Pie

Ingredients:
4 (8 inch) flour tortillas
8oz. refried beans
1/2 lb. ground beef
taco seasoning
salsa
shredded lettuce
olives
cheddar cheese, grated
diced fresh tomatoes
sour cream
Directions:
1. Fry tortillas, one at a time, in hot vegetable oil until lightly blistered and browned. Drain on paper towels.
2. Saute ground beef. Add refried beans. Add taco seasoning and salsa to taste.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
4. On a cookie sheet, place 1 tortilla and top with 1/4 of bean mixture and 1/4 cheese. Repeat 3 times.
5. Bake for 30 minutes or until heated through.
6. Serve with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, olives, and sour cream.

*this is another one of my M.I.L.'s recipes that my husband loves!

Holy Apples!

Before After
Apple Lollipops

Ingredients:

lollipop sticks (cut in half)

melon baller

granny smith apples (approx. 8 per apple)

chocolate chips/peanut butter chips/butterscotch chips

chopped nuts, caramel, sprinkles, crushed oreos

small paper cups

Directions:

1. Use melon baller to scoop balls out of each apple.

2. Push half of the lollipop stick into the peel side of the ball.

3. Pat the apple balls dry.

4. Melt chips according to package instructions.

5. Dip and swirl each apple in melted chips and coat with topping of choice.

6. Place in paper cup to set.

Bow Holder

What you need:
wooden initial
paint or scrapbook paper
brush
mod podge (if using scrapbook paper)
staple gun
ribbon
What you do:
1. Paint or mod podge scrapbook paper to the wooden initial. *It looks cute if you spray with glitter spray too.
2. Attach ribbon to back of letter using a staple gun. (Length of ribbon depends on how many bows you are trying to store on it. You can even add more than 2 strands if you wanted.)
3. Tie large bow and attach to the back with staple gun as well or you can just use the pre-existing grooves/alligator teeth to hang it with a nail.

Baby Shower Quilt

My sister sent out quilt squares with my baby shower invitations for everyone to decorate. We got most of them....sorry if yours did not make it on here, but here it is! It turned out really cute. Thanks to all who helped make it, especially my mom for putting it all together.

Fall Pumpkins

Okay...so it wasn't long at all before posting my first sewing craft!

What you need:

fabric of choice, 2 pieces equal in size (any size)

coordinating thread

poly-fill (stuffing)

rice

sewing machine

ribbon

embellishment (optional)

What you do:

Tutorial with pictures can be found at: http://thoughtsandcraftsbyholly.blogspot.com/2008/09/passionate-about-pumpkins.html

Sewing Crafts To Come!

So I got this little gem for my birthday! I know absolutely nothing about sewing but I'll give it a try. It's nothing fancy, just the beginner model to get me started. I've seen so many things I want to make lately that I figured it was time. I'm sure my mom will appreciate the break from having to sew everything for me. So it may be a little while before I produce anything blog worthy, but I know lots of people who can help me get going. My mom is coming for a week in November so hopefully I'll get in some major pointers then! So check back occasionally for new sewing crafts. Hope you are enjoying the site!