Easter's On It's Way!

So I've been wanting to do the "Mantel Thing" for awhile and decided what better holiday than Easter! Spring decor is the best!  I also have a console in my entryway that I like to

"dress up" with a theme. Today I finally made my garland for the mantel and have another one almost ready to hang above the console or maybe on the entertainment center. But, lets go with the "bunny" garland first. This one is one that I found today on a blog. Thank you Talia!  (taliaaudenart.blogspot.com)  I decided it was way too cute and easy not to copy it. I don't know that I drew my bunny pattern EGG-zactly like hers but I think it's pretty close.  If you want the pattern I will share it or you can be daring and draw you own.

Here is how mine turned out. Notice there is only on cotton ball on one bunny. That is because I can't decide if I should do the cotton balls or not.  PLEASE VOTE!  Yes or no.

Like I said I will give you the bunny pattern. I will also show you how I made the holes in the ears for the ribbon to go through. Sometimes I amaze myself with the "genius" moments I occasionally have. This one is not going to win me the Nobel Prize or anything, but it's a handy trick. You don't want the ribbon to ever tear through your slit in the paper, so what I do is first put a piece of scotch tape (the thin shiny kind) over the area on the back side where I want to make the slit. 

Then I turn it to the front side and use the sharp point of my paper cutting scissors to make the slit by just pressing in and pulling downward.

Now I have a nice opening for the ribbon but it is also reinforced!

Next I take the ribbon and fold a piece of scotch tape over the end of it.

Then I trim the sides of the scotch tape off. Now my ribbon is more stiff and I can push it through the slit easier.

I went from back to front as you can see here. Make sure your ribbon is not twisted before you insert it into a slit. 

Now I just need to add some doo-dads and thing-a-ma-jigs on the Mantel ledge. I'll post again when it's done!  :)

                              

Here is the bunny garland pattern - If you right click on it and choose "open link in new window then print from there or choose "save to downloads" and then go to your downloads file - choose the bunny garland pattern and then print it. I hope it works. It did for me! (acutal size is 4.5" wide by 7.5" tall)

Sew Much Fun!

I have a friend whose baby shower is coming up (first baby - it's a girl)!  I wanted to make her a swaddle blanket.  Lucky for me ETSY had a free pattern.  Printed it, cut it out and sewed it up all in about 3 hrs.  See what you think.  I did all flannel instead of cotton and plush.  I just need to attach the velcro strips and it's ready to wrap.  The pattern is by Lotta Jansdotter.  Put baby in pouch and then wrap the flaps around her securely. Nice and cozy! Also going to make these two cute bibs I found on ETSY - (www.creationsbykara.com) from fabric that coordinates with the swaddler.  Easy peasy!

It's 4:00 and I haven't started dinner!!!!

I had been crafting and cleaning all day when I realized I hadn't given any thought to dinner! At 4:30 I decided to throw something in the crock-pot, but WHAT?  So I went to the trusty website www.recipematcher.com that lets you list the ingredients you have on hand. I listed frozen hashbrowns, canned chicken breast (Kirkland from Costco - it's awesome), sour cream, corn, cream of mushroom soup and cheese.  I threw it in the pot - dashed out the door to go teach my aerobics class and came home two hours later to a delicious aroma! (lucky me!)  Here is the recipe - my family LOVED it!!
Crockpot Chicken-Potato-Cheese-Corn Chowder
dump into crockpot:
1 large bag frozen hashbrowns (shreds)
1 can chicken breast (don't drain)
1 small bag frozen corn
1 can cr. mushroom soup (healthy request)
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1 T dry minced onion
3/4 C fat free sour cream
1 to 2  T chicken bouillion granules (to taste)
1 C warm water
1/2 to 1 C milk (skim or 1%)
1/2 t pepper
1/4 t onion powder

mix everything well.  thin with milk or water if it is too thick.  (we like ours fairly thick).
cook on low for 2 hrs. turn down to warm if you are going to cook it longer.  I coated the inside of the pot with olive oil before I put the ingredients in.  not sure how this would work if you wanted to start it early in the day and let it go till dinner time.  maybe just leave it on warm all day. it shouldn't matter because there isn't anything in it that is raw. It just needs to get heated through really well so the potatos get soft.   Serve with crusty whole grain bread and some yummy veggies!   enjoy!

Finished Banner

Well - here is the finished product.  I am thinking that I need to antique the edges. I will try that later today.  But for the most part this is it.  Just St. Patrick's Day scrapbook paper, vintage card cutouts and ribbon. I will hang it on my mantle.  The mantle decor will be another post .  .  .    :)

St. Patrick's Day Crafts

Since I've already done my baking for the day - my next project is to work on a St. Patrick's Day decoration I've had in mind. I want to make a banner and include some vintage postcards. I bought some cute St. Patty's scrapbook paper. I downloaded some vintage cards off of an etsy site. So we will see. I probably won't finish it until tomorrow. Check back later! :)

Trivia: Did you know that "Erin Go Bragh" means "Forever In Ireland". No? Well now you do!

Lazy Day Lemon Blueberry Bread

So I have the week off. Today is gloomy outside. I have a recipe I've been dying to try. So today is the day. "Lemon Blueberry Bread". I got the recipe from .

Here is the finished product. It turned out amazing! You will thank me! Here is the link to the recipe.

http://lemondropsfoodie.blogspot.com/2011/08/lemon-blueberry-yogurt-loaf.html