Friday 30 December 2011

Flower Hats

Here is a new hat that I knit for a 6 year old girl to match her super cute, hot pink coat that she wears to church. 
I made two different flower options for her to choose from, and she and her Mom chose the loopy flower. 


Wednesday 21 December 2011

Pee Wee Hair Clips

I was waiting in line at Winners the other day, and saw a package of this really cute, different patterned ribbon.  I knew that I was going to buy it as soon as I saw it, but wasn't sure what exactly I was going to do with it.  So, I bought it, went home, and checked out Pinterest for some ideas.........Hair clips!!  for babies, little girls, whoever wants to wear them.  So, I am now selling hair clips along with my hats. 

The clips with the single strip of ribbon are $1.50 each and the more detailed ones, with bows and flowers are $3.00 each.  If you buy 5 or more at once, I'll throw in a free one! 

Here are a few of the ones I've made so far.....many more to come!





Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

If you like the peanut butter and chocolate combo, you'll love these.  I make them every year at Christmas, this year I'm a little behind on my Christmas baking, but they only take 6 ingredients so they're easy to whip up.  The only time consuming part is rolling all the balls, but this is the perfect opportunity to get your kids to help out!!:)


Ingredients:
  • 2 cups creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 3/4 cup icing sugar
  • 3 1/2 cups Rice Krispies
  • 300 gram package chocolate chips
  • 6 squares of semi-sweet chocolate
 1. Mix peanut butter, icing sugar, butter, and Rice Krispies together in a large bowl.

2. Roll into bite size balls.  (If you find it too sticky to roll, put the bowl in the freezer until the mixture is frozen, it'll be alot easier) Place on a cookie sheet.

3. Melt the chocolate in a small saucepan; (while the chocolate is melting, I put the cookie sheet of peanut butter balls back in the freezer to keep them firm.)  Roll peanut butter balls in chocolate; place back on cookie sheet.

4. Place cookie sheet back in freezer until chocolate hardens.
            


***You can store them in the fridge until you need to serve them, but I like to keep them in the freezer, they will keep longer and I like to serve them frozen. 

Bacon, Ranch, and Chicken Mac and Cheese

Only two words to describe this dinner......SO GOOD!!!!  John and I love this dish, and Joey even ate it with us last night!  :)

Ingredients:
  • 8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni (about 2 1/2cups)
  • 1 slice of bacon (I do 4 slices)
  • 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups of milk
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 3/4 cup shredded six-cheese Italian blend (like Sargento, I also have just used a three-cheese blend)
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh dill (I have used dried as well, still tastes good)
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.


2. Cook bacon in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat until crisp.
Remove bacon from pan, leaving the drippings in pan.  Finely chop the bacon; set aside.
Increase heat to medium-high.  Add chicken to drippings in pan and cook until no longer pink inside.

3. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, sprinkle flour evenly into pan. 
Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly with a whisk.  Combine milk and soup, stirring with a whisk;  gradually add milk mixture to saucepan, stirring with a whisk.  Bring to a boil; cook 2 minutes or until thick.
Remove from heat.  Add Italian cheese blend, onion powder, garlic salt, and dill, stirring until the cheese melts.  Stir in pasta and chicken.

 
4.  Preheat broiler.

5. Spoon mixture into an 8-inch glass baking dish (I used corningware).  Sprinkle evenly with cheddar cheese and bacon.  Broil for 3 minutes or until cheese melts.  Makes about 4 servings.



***John and I both love ketchup on our mac n' cheese, but I felt like ketchup would ruin it, so we use Bullseye Bold BBQ sauce, and it's really good!!!!  Enjoy!

Thursday 8 December 2011

Boot Socks


I love the layered look for any type of clothing. In alot of fashion ads, you'll see the models wearing boot socks, so I went searching for a pair to buy, but they cost anywhere from $25 to $100!!!!  ridiculous!!!! 
And when you wear a full boot sock, you have to stuff you pants into it, and it gets all bunchy and uncomfortable, so here’s a much easier way to get the look.


Items Needed:
  • old sweater
  • sewing machine
  • embelishments, if wanted (buttons, bows, lace...etc.)
1. Take an old sweater that you don't wear anymore.


2. Cut off the sleeves.


3. Hem the bottoms where you cut.



And you have boot socks for FREE!!!!
If you don't already have bottons on your sweater sleeves, you could easily sew some on, or glue a little bow, or lace to the top. 


Ornament Wreath

Super easy and festive!


Items needed:
  • wire hanger
  • glue gun
  • ornaments
  • ribbon

1. Take your hanger and stretch it out into a circle.



2.  Untwist the top, so that you can slip the ornaments onto the wire.

3.  Take the tops off your ornaments and hot glue them back on.  You may be able to skip this step, if you tops are securely on already, but I used alot of glass ornaments, and thought better safe than sorry.



4.  Slip all your ornaments onto the wire hanger until it's full.



5.  Twist the top of the hanger back together, tie a ribbon on to it for hanging up, and ta-da.......you have an ornament wreath.  


Friday 25 November 2011

Baby Ella Mae

Baby Ella Mae was born on November 4th, 8 weeks premature. Ella only weighed 3lbs. at birth.  She is absolutely adorable!

This is a newborn hat that I knit, and it's soo tiny, but it's still too big for little Ella. 

Wednesday 23 November 2011

3-D Snowflakes


Here is a fun and easy craft to do with your kids. You may need to do it along with them, depending on the age of your children, but the best part is that you won't have all the little cut-outs all over your house that you get when you make the typical snowflakes!!!  Enjoy!

Materials needed to make 1 snowflake:
  • 6 pieces of paper (I used computer paper, but if you want them more decorative, use scrapbook paper)
  • tape
  • scissors
  • stapler
1.  Fold the sheet into a triangle (only if your using a rectangular shaped paper, you need to make it square).


Cut the extra section off the bottom, to make a square.




2. Fold your square back into a triangle, and then fold it once more into a smaller traingle.  Begin to cut slits into the traingle, making sure that your cut starts on the folded edge, and going the length of the triangle, but stop a little bit before the edge.  I did five slits, you can do more if you want a more detailed snowflake.



3. Open up the triangle, and now you have a square.



4. Fold the two centre cuts, and tape them together.



5. Flip the square over, and fold the next two cuts together and tape them. 



6. Continue flipping the square over everytime you tape new pieces together, until they are all taped.



7.  Repeat these steps 5 times, until you have 6 sections.

8. Now line all 6 sections up, matching the tips of each section together and staple them at the tip.



9. Now open the snowflake up, and tape each section together with a small piece of tape.  And there you have it, a funky, more modern looking snowflake.


Friday 18 November 2011

DIY Ruffled Christmas Tree Skirt

For a couple of years I have been looking for a "unique" looking tree skirt...not your typical "red, green and gold"  tree skirt.  So I  thought I'd give it a try, making me own.  I didn't really have a pattern, I just knew I wanted it to have ruffles.  This ended up being quick and easy, and what I have had in mind in terms or style, and the best part I got the colour I wanted....PINK!!  You will need to use a more stiff material, I got mine in the tapestry section of the fabric store. 

Items needed:
  • 4 yards of material
  • a sheet
  • sewing machine
  • tape measure
  • glue gun
1.  Using a tape measure, mark and cut a square out of the sheet that is approximately 4-1/2 feet x 4-1/2 feet. Fold the square into quarters, then over itself to form a triangle with the folded center at point. Cut base in a quarter circle (Image 1). Cut a small quarter circle out of the point (Image 3). Open the skirt until it's folded in half and cut along the radius on one side of the center hole only (Image 4). This will provide a hole for the tree trunk and a slit in the fabric so the skirt can be placed under the tree. 


                                         
                                                      Image 1


Image 2



Image 3



2. Using sharp scissors, cut three 10 inch strips of material. (or how many you need, depending on the amount of layers you want) To create ruffles, run these strips through the sewing machine using the longest stitch length your machine has.  When done sewing, pull the boobin thread until you have the amount of ruffles you like, being careful not to break the thread. 


3. Using the glue gun, begin gluing the ruffle to the sheet all the way around, beginning at the bottom and working your way up.



4.  When your circle is filled with all the ruffle layers, measure around the circle at the top of the skirt and cut a piece of material double that size in length and about 4 inches in height. This piece will be used to cover up the thread showing at the top layer of ruffles.



5.  Begin glueing this strip of material to the top of the skirt to give a more finished looking edge.  Make sure that you leave an inch hanging over on the top to glue down onto the back of the skirt.  You will need to pinch the material, onced glued down, to give a little of a ruffled look.  Once you have worked your way around, flip it over and glue the top done onto the back of the tree skirt.




6.  Place the finished skirt under your tree and fluff up the ruffles to give a fuller look.





Friday 11 November 2011

Sweet Potato Fries

John has been asking me to make sweet potato fries for dinner for a while now, but I've always been turned off of making them because I've heard so often from other people that they never crisp up in the oven.  "The fries always just steam in the oven and get soggy."  Well not anymore!!!!!  I've found the secret to making crispy sweet potato fries.....and it's just one simple ingredient..........corn starch!

Ingredients:
  • sweet potatoes (amount depends on how many people your feeding)
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp olive oil

Chipotle Mayo
  • mayonaise
  • chipotle chili spice (Epicure)

1.  Slice the sweet potato in french fry slices, not too thick, but not shoe-string thin. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.


2.  Put about a tablespoon of cornstarch in a plastic bag, and place the sweet potato fries in.  Balloon the bag and shake the fries around, until they are coated.   (do a little less of a cornstarch coating then I did.)


3.  Place on a non-stick cookie sheet, and drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the fries, and use your hands to toss them, until well coated.   Arrange on the cookie sheet so that no fries are touching each other, the more space between the fries, the better they'll crisp up.

4.  Place in the oven and cook for 15 minutes.  Flip the fries over, and put back in the oven for 5 more minutes.

5.  While they are cooking, start making the chipotle mayonaise.  I don't measure when making this, just put as much mayo as you think you'll need for your fries, and then add as much chipotle chili spice (I got mine from Epicure) as you and your family like...depending on how much "heat" you like in your food.

I served the sweet potato fries with ribs and a mixed veggie medley....delish!!!

Monday 7 November 2011

Boys Hats & Mitts

Here are a few of the new styles for boys hats that I promised....I'm still working on more, so keep checking for updates!!!