Conversation Hearts Tea Towels

I have always loved Valentine's Day. I don't know if its because my birthday is only 5 short days away or because of the love that's always in the air. Me being crafty I decided that for every holiday this year I'm going to make my decorations and even some of the gifts. Yeap that's right that means no more going to the store and spend way to much money on things that proably wont last to the next year. So I'm starting off with Love Day in my kitchen. These tea-cloths are easy-peasy and even a pearson with little experience can handle this project.

You'll Need

piece of paper

(2 pieces) fabric 18 1/2 x 22 inch

fabric paint (I used yellow & white)

fabric puffy paint (I used blue & white)

sheet of paper

straight pins

scissors

pencial

1) Fold sheet of paper in half. Using your pencil draw half of a heart. Use scissors to cut heart shape out.

2) Fold fabric in thirds

3) Measure 2 1/2 inches from bottom of fabric and place the heart.

4) Pin heart cutout with straight pins and trace.

(sorry the penciled heart outline is very hard to see photograped)

5) After removing heart cutout and straight pins fill in the heart outline with fabric paint.

6) Let sit for 45 mintues or until dry.

7) Write your Valentiney-like phrase with contrasting fabric puffy paint.

8) Let dry

9) Hem all four sides with a straight stitch.

Wilton Decorating Icing Giveaway

Just in time for Valentines Day here is my very first giveaway (yay!) and I am super stoked. I'm offering 5 free Wilton Decorating Icing sets. The set includes their standard red and a red Sparkle Gel. These are really great for decorating cookies and cupcakes. I love that all you need to do to make a great design is simply attach one of the tips (sold separately). If you want to be included in this great giveaway all you need to do is click on the "join this site" button to the right and your in drawing! Don't forget to tell your friends about the giveaway and look around my spot.

(here's the small print)

Giveaway entry deadline: February 7, 2012

5 winners will be chosen by random drawing. Winners will be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond with mailing address

Unique Uses For Dental Floss

Here's my big confession.............................I'm a couponer.

Now before you start shaking your head and submitting my name to the producers of  Hoarders let me add that I'm not like the people that you have probably seen on TLC's Extreme Couponers. While I do have a very substantial stock pile I don't buy 50 bottles of mustard at a time. Though I prefer the dental floss picks one item that I often get for free is plan old dental floss. So I set out on a mission to find alternative use for this easily  obtained  oral health item. Enjoy and don't forget to floss!

Hang Things

Dental floss is super strong use it to hang artwork and pictures.

Slice Food

Simply wrap floss around your hand and use to slice through foods. Works great on leveling cakes before layering them just use a sawing motion. Use to slice rolled cookie dough, breakfast meat rolls, or cinnamon buns.

Lift food from a baking tray

 Cookies sticking? Try sliding dental floss between cookies and baking sheet to produce treats that Mrs. Fields would be jealous of.

Truss

Did you know you can use unwaxed floss to truss meat and poultry?

Remove Tight Ring From Finger

Wrap waxed dental floss from the tip of your finger until you reach the ring. You want to make the floss tight enough to reduce the size of the finger but not tight enough that it stops the blood circulation in the finger or causes great discomfort. Than slide the ring over the waxed floss.

As a Hair Accessory

 In a hurry and cant find a rubber band? Use dental floss as a quick substitute.

Vacation Clothing Line

Use to dry clothing while away on vacation. Simply tie both ends of a long string of floss to something anchored in your hotel room. The window area is a great option.

Garland and Wreath Tiebacks

Use minty green floss for a invisible tiebacks for holiday garlands and wreaths.

Silence a Dripping Faucet

Quiet a dripping faucet by tying a piece of floss around the opening and letting it hang down into the sink. The drips will slide noiselessly down the floss.

Girly Necklace Onsies

I love my two boys (ages 6 months and 4 years) and all the things that come along with them. One of my favorite parts of the day is when my 4 year old and I continually chant that we are robots and speak in our jagged robot-like voices. Although I love buying new toy trucks and seeing my new baby boy blow spit bubbles I have always dreamed of and am still hoping for a daughter. Until that day I will have to live vicariously through all the new baby girls that were recently born to friends and family members. I thought this would be a lovely gift for my baby niece and another little girl at my church. The best part about this gift is that it is super easy to make and by using items that I had on hand the each project only cost me $1 (for the onsie)!

You Will Need

-onsie or t-shirt

-fabric paint

-piece of cardboard or other hard, flat item

-pre made or handmade flower

-coordinating thread

-Items with circular tips (I used a pencil eraser and the end of a paintbrush)

-embellishments (I forgot to take a photo of this item but I used grey pearls that I sewed on and flat-backed rhinestones that i glued with gem glue)



STEP# 1

Place cardboard or other hard item between shirt

STEP# 2

Fold back flap on shoulders of onsie. You want to make sure to paint under the shoulder flaps as shirt will stretch when its put on.

STEP# 3

Try different methods of stamping on strap piece of paper. You don't want to skip this step. Use different amounts of pressure, vary amount of paint, and try different circle tips and different spacing to achieve the perfect dots.

SORRY I FORGOT THE PICTURE ;)

STEP #4

Starting directly under where the flaps will be began making dots. Make as many or as few faux necklace strings as you would like. If you want you can mix up the dot sizes and even make them "twist" around each other.

STEP# 5

Sew on handmade or store bought flower. Mine actually came for my Mother they are super cute and shabby chic and came from one of the American Eagle brand stores.

STEP# 6

Add embellishments... This was a last mintue addtion to the project. It hit me like a mac truck...."ADD GLITZ" so ufortuntly I did not have it the in list of item that you'll need photo. I used grey glass pearls on the pink onsie and clear flatbacked faux crytals on the blue onsie.

VOILA

Smothered Chicken w/ Cabbage, Corn and Cornbread

As this blog blossoms one thing that you'll learn about me is that I'm all about quick cooking. I don't dig standing over the stove for 1 hour stirring random pots. So here's another quick chicken dinner recipe with some easy sides.

Smothered Chicken

ingredients
-approximately 4lbs of chicken leg quarters ( I used 5 legs and 5 thighs)
-2 Tbsp poultry Seasoning
-1 1/2  Tbsp salt (adjust according to dietary needs)
-1 Tbsp red pepper OR black pepper
-1 tsp sage
-1 Tbsp garlic powder
-1 Tbsp onion powder
-3/4 cup water
1) preheat oven to 450 degrees
2) place chicken quarters in a large baking dish and mix in seasonings. *TIP: Place chicken breast skin side down to make them extra juicy.
3) pour 3/4 cup of water around chicken
4) cover with aluminum foil and poke approximately 15 holes with a fork
5) place on lower rack in oven and bake 45-55 minutes
6) remove chicken from oven and place on plates
7) (for gravy) add flour 1Tbsp at a time until reaching desired consistency
8) pour gravy over chicken and SERVE

Cabbage

ingredients
-1 head of cabbage
-1 medium green pepper
-1/2 medium red onion
-1/3 cup minced garlic
-1 Tbsp salt
-1/2 Tbsp paprika
-1/2 black pepper
1) Chop cabbage into bite size pieces and place in large pot
2) Rinse cabbage well and drain fluids
3) Chop green pepper and red onion into chunks and place into pot with cabbage
4) Fill pot 1/4 the way with water
5) Mix in seasonings
6) Cover with lid and cook on high heat bringing to boil
7) Reduce heat to medium and let simmer for 30 mins
8) ENJOY

Corn

ingredients
-1 bag frozen kernels of corn
-2 stalks green onion
-2 cups of water
-1 1/2 Tbsp butter or margarine
-1 Tbsp Cajun seasoning

1) Place all ingredients in pot
2) Cover and heat on medium for 10 mins
3) EAT

Cornbread

Box of Jiffy mix w/ 1 Tbsp of Splenda (or sugar if you prefer) stirred in. I've always hated cornbread but alas my DHW (Dear Hubby, Warren) finally found a way to get me eat it.

To optimized cooking time prepare dishes in this order

Chicken (place in oven)

Cabbage

Cornbread

Corn

In this order your meal will be finished in under an hour from start to finish with time to spare!

Oven Fried Chicken

Every year our church goes on our January month-long fast. Among other things that we omit from our diet we refrain from eating any fried food and pork or beef. This is my go to " I want some fried chicken but I can't have it any " Oven Fried Chicken Recipe.

Oven Fried Chicken

-approximately 2 lbs of chicken wings
-1 Tbsp of salt
-1/2 Tbsp Poultry seasoning
-1/8 tsp sage
-1/4 tsp paprika
-1/2 Tbsp black pepper
-1/3 cup of flour
-1/2 Tbsp garlic powder (optional)
-aluminum foil (optional)

(This recipe is based on approximately 2 lbs of chicken wings. Feel free to adjust seasonings and chicken type depending on your family dietary needs and what you have on hand.)

1) Preheat oven to 450 degrees

2) Mix wings and seasonings together in a large bowl a

3) Add flour to bowl and toss chicken

4) Place now seasoned and floured chicken in large baking pan

5) Bake for 15-17 minutes

6) ENJOY!

(optional step: line pan with aluminum foil before baking, clean up will be super quick!)

Want a quick dinner for the family? Well follow my lead for a fast 30 minute meal.

Simply add a steamable pasta dish (less than a dollar with coupons!) and a tossed salad. My salad has:

-1 bag of Dole Field of Greens salad (will feed up to 4 people)
-1/2 cup shredded mix cheese
-1 medium tomato
-2 green onion stalks
-1/3 cup California style french dressing (IE the red one not the orange)
-a dash of black pepper

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and toss

Full Family = Happy Family

Faux Pop Tarts/ Toaster Pastries

I've always had an un-natural obsession with play food. While my love of miniature chow seemed to bother my DH I have openly dreamed of the day when I would start a collection for our kids. Several years ago when I stumbled upon the world of felt food I was instantly hooked. When my son finally came of age (to respect the artistry that goes into these little masterpieces) I decided it was time to go to work on his collection. Well Poptart's (strawberry w/sprinkle please) were always a fav of me and my sis so of course I was immediately inspired. Here's my ode to the this sugary-sweet, gooey filled breakfast treat.

INGREDIENTS


tan felt
pink or brown felt
small colorful beads
coordinating thread
batting

Step 1) Cut tan felt into two 4 1/2 inches x 3 inches rectangles

(you don't have to measure you could just freehand two rectangles)
Cut colored felt into blob shape to resemble Poptart icing

  Step 2) Layer one tan rectangle and colored blob, attach beads by sewing through both layers                    (excuse my dirty crafting table and the baby pain medicine.)    

                                 

Step 3) Layer both tan rectangles and sew around edges with a simple stitch of your choice ,

 Leave about a 1 inch opening to stuff the batting through.

Step 4) Stuff batting, use a pencil or pen to get into tight spaces if necessary.

Step 5) Sew the 1 inch opening closed.

BON APPETIT

            

Welcome to Abigail Temple

So, I'm finally starting my blog! I have dreamed of this day for several years now. Cooking, crafting and party planning are my passion. My goal for this blog is to help everyday people live an extraordinary life.

My love affair with all things crafty started at a young age. I remember opening a brand new box of 144 Crayola crayons (I've always been a crayon snob...RoseArt no way!) and being in awe of all the choices! Metallic, Neon, Glow in the Dark, Smellies, Glitter I was in coloring Heaven! In school I always lead the pack in art class with the fliest projects. No one in the class clay ashtrays or paper mache rockets compare to mine.

Growing up I never knew that a love of crafty things could become a life goal or a career but that's where I'm at now, trying to find a way turn this passion that I have into a full fledged career, ENJOY! XOXO