Fall Seasonal Photos

I'm trying to clean out, arrange, rename, save, delete and use some of my older photos.  So it's your lucky day, you'll get a hdge-podge of photos for your inspiration! These photos were from fall of 2009! 

(I used a vintage chippy plate, added embellishments, stamped the letters

and hung on my kitchen wall!)

(I made kitchen tea towels out of a bolt of muslin, then added the lace,

then stamped the Fruit of the Spirit on them.  Gave out as gifts.)

(A little vintage gift set!  Tea cup and saucer-though not an exact match!- and a set of

children's spoon and fork tied up with tulle.  Don't forget to add the mini-rose!)

(Our McIntosh apple tree in front of our home.  This year-2009-it was loaded. 

Some years are better than others!  We did have enough this year for

some applesauce, apple pie, apple butter, apple cookies, apple bread, apple bobbler...

so far that's what I've made!)

(Mile High Apple Pie......slice and serve with vanilla ice cream

and everyone will be very happy!)

(Apple Prayer Bread ready to go into the hot oven!)

(I saw this idea a few years back online, and it is about the funnest thing

I've ever done with gingerbread houses!  Miniature ones to

top your mugs!  Do make time to make these!)

(Simple to make, you'll need to experiment with your "door" size to fit on the

coffee cup or mug "rim".)

(These are my full size gingerbread houses. This is just a tip...

when you "glue" them together {with icing} use long stick pins to hold them

together just until dry enough to stand on their own.  I don't have to do this

on all of them, but when I have ones that give me a hard time, this is what I do!)

(The grandchildren love grilled cheese sandwiches cut out with cookie cutters. 

It makes lunchtime so much fun!)

(No crusts!  All fun!  Just use your cookie cutters!)

And one last photo....both our girls make excellent cheesecake!

Here's a photo of one that Jessica made Christmas of 2009...

Have a blessed weekend!

Hugs, Heidi

(Linked to Cindy's My Romantic Home Show and Tell Friday here, Blissful and Domestic Bliss Linky Party here, Friday Flair at Whipperberry here, and Women Living Well Link Up Party here.)

Doggie Chips and Salsa

This is Project Number 5 in my "Scottie Dog Cookie Cutter" series.  I'm using my cute little vintage Scottie Dog cookie cutter because he's just so dog-gone cute.  But you can use your favorite cookie cutter, or a variety of cutters for any of my projects.

Scottie Dog Baked Corn Chips

I love chips and salsa but often run out of chips before salsa.  So I decided to make a batch of my own.  Luckily we usually buy the large quantity of corn tortillas, so I had those on hand.

Just cut out as many chips as you'd like to eat:

Experiment some by cutting a stack at once, trimming around your cookie cutter to cut a large batch at once.

Coat with a little olive oil and sprinkle with a little salt.

Bake in a pre-heated oven at 375 degrees for about 5 minutes.  Turn them over and bake an additional 3 minutes or until crunchy just the way you like them.

Serve on a vintage glass snack {dessert} plate, adding a good heaping of guacamole sauce and your favorite salsa.

A fun and yummy snack, kids and adults both will enjoy!

Happy Spring!

        ~Heidi

(Linked to Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday here, and

Cindy's Friday Show & Tell here, and Niffy Thrifty Things Sunday #28 here.)

Wheat Thins to Chipboard: Stamping Cardboard

How:   Eat a box of Wheat Thins, dipping each one into straight-up-cream-cheese.  Wash down with "Pom" juice, pomegranate juice (counters for all the cream cheese!).  Open up the box and start cutting shapes. (You know I'm kidding, right?)

This is Project Number 4:
           Stamping Card Stock with Metal Alphabet Stamps

When I asked for, and received,  the metal alphabet stamp set for Christmas my intention was to use it on metal, such as vintage silverware.  I was inspired to try this method by Melody Ross in her video for our Brave Girls "Soul Restoration" online class.  Yes, I'm a Brave Girl and I belong to the Brave Girl's Club.  Don't you just love that? We are in week six, the final week, and this was included in one of her final art techniques videos.  By the way, she will have a second online Soul Restoration class beginning soon; you can sign up on her website.  So in her video she used her brand of metal stamps, both artistic designs and alphabet sets.  As much as I'd love to go out and purchase her brand, I decided to try using what I already own.  Oh am I thankful for this metal set I received from Mark.  It works perfect.  I don't have any card stock, so I just used cardboard packaging from kitchen foods.  I've been saving every package now!  I have to be careful no one sees my stash and thinks I'm turning into a hoarder!

I used my precious and favorite cookie cutter, my Scottie Dog.  I traced it on cardboard, cut it out and then lightly wet it down.  Confession about my dampening down process:  I was drinking a mug of Stash Chocolate Hazelnut Decaf Tea (Jessica gave me---it's so good!), and had the wet tea bag nearby.  I just used that to wipe down the cardboard to dampen.


I made a whole table full of these cutouts, but these are the only photos I have. 

The quote on the one dog says, "MY LITTLE DOG IS A HEARTBEAT AT MY FEET"  The other dog pictured reads, "I AM A BRAVEGIRL".  The flower reads, "WHERE FLOWERS BLOOM SO DOES HOPE". On the small scrap pieces I just stamped various words, such as BRAVE, LIGHT, COURAGE, JOY, FLY, PEACE, LOVE, SOUL HOUSE, QUEEN, etc.  Stamping just one word was easier.  Next I just inked up the edges.

News flash:  ***it's snowing outside right now***

The pictures don't quite capture these as well as I had hoped, but they do turn out really cool!  You can go on eBay or Stampington to search for Melody Ross's products.  You'll see her sets right away. 

Let me know if you try this technique, or if you have any other fun metal stamping suggestions.

Blessings, Heidi

(Linked to Between Naps on the Porch Metmorphois Monday here...lots more to see, too!)

Scottie Dog Cookie Cutter Project #3: Easy Felt Coasters

What's on my table today? My Scottie Dog coasters!   (Click any photo to enlarge to see details!)

This is the third of what will be over 30 craft or cooking projects, all using cookie cutters! Every project will use a cookie cutter in one way or another. For most of them I've selected my favorite cookie cutter, the Scottie Dog! I hope you will be able to join in the fun and make some (or all) of the projects. And my desire to inspire you to think like a cookie cutter, making a "cookie" daily in a fast and fun way. Many of the projects are easy enough to do with children, though various precautions should be taken (ie: scissors, pins or hot glue guns).

PROJECT #3: Scottie Dog Felt Coaster

The ease of working with felt makes this project fun for novices and experts. A set can be crafted in just an hour, making it the perfect craft to make for gifts when you are short on time. As always my Scottie Dog cookie cutter jumped front and center to my craft table and offered his services as my pattern.

I first traced the cookie cutter onto a piece of cardboard. This way I could turn the cutter back and forth to fit in the most cuts per piece of felt. If your cookie cutter doesn’t have a “handle” as my Scottie Dog cutter does, you can just use the cutter to trace back and forth, skipping the cardboard pattern cutout.

Select your contrasting colors, I used red and white. I figured these could be used all year long, but especially at Christmas and quickly again for Valentine’s Day. Plan to make sets of four (or six), as coasters usually come in those size sets. I used a thicker white felt for the coaster, and a thinner red felt for the appliqué cutout. To trace on the red felt you could use a pencil, but I used a white Dress Maker Pencil so that it would show up nicely for my cutting. Cut 4 Scottie Dogs (or your chosen pattern) from the red felt.

If you use a pencil for tracing, plan to turn the pattern over to use on the coast so there is no evidence of pencil led. Also, if you mark your best pair of scissors for “Fabric Only” it helps keep them sharper long. Unfortunately I break my own rule and use these for everything. I was good at first….

Next cut 4 squares of the thicker white felt. I cut mine to 4 ½ inch squares. You can adjust your size as desired to fit your chosen pattern. Use a pair of Fiskars’ Scallop scissors for the squares, which makes a fun edge. If you don’t have a pair of these, maybe you have a zig-zag pair? Or, just cut them out with a flat edge. If you cut with a flat edge you could add red embroidery thread as a trim later. But, do put the Fiskar Scallop scissors on your “wish list”, they are load so fun and cut fabric, paper and more.

  

Now place your cut red felt pieces on your cut white felt coasters. Put a small dab of felt glue on the back of the red piece and set on the white coaster, centering and placing the pattern in the direction you want it to be. You can use a fabric glue or even a tacky craft glue as well. Let this set about ten minutes to hold the pattern in place. You can skip this step, but it makes it easier to sew on if attached somewhat.

Next, pull out a contrasting thread color. I used a red and white bakers’ string. Sew on your pattern using a running stitch and then you are finished!

If you feel like doing a little more stitching you could stitch around the perimeter of the white coaster, too.  Now tie up the set in a sweet little bundle and go to the kitchen for some White Hot Chocolate.

Heidi’s White Hot Chocolate Recipe

(Makes 4 cups)
2 cups whipping cream
3 cups milk
6 ounces white chocolate, shaved or chopped for easier melting
½ tsp. vanilla extract

In sauce pan on stove top mix all ingredients on medium high until white chocolate melts. Bring to near boil, but do not boil. Pour into four mugs and top with a dab of whipped cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon.

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Here is another hot white chocolate recipe I found at “about.com”:
White Hot Chocolate Mix by Linda Larsen
Ingredients:
• 2 cups grated white chocolate
• 1 (3-ounce) package white chocolate pudding mix
• 2 teaspoons vanilla powder
• 1-2 teaspoons dried orange peel, finely ground, if desired

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Store in an airtight container in a cool dark place.

To make White Hot Chocolate for Two:
 1-1/2 cups milk 1/4 cup White Hot Chocolate Mix

 In a small saucepan, heat the milk until bubbles form around edges. Add the White Hot Chocolate Mix and whisk until the chocolate is melted and beverage is blended. 2 servings

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 As an additional gift to give along with the coast you could mix up a batch of White Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix, put in pretty bags. Be sure to give a tag with directions, too.

Here's another mix recipe:

Heidi’s White Hot Chocolate Cocoa Mix

2 cups instant nonfat dry powdered milk
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup nondairy powdered cream (one with your favorite flavor is a bonus!)
8 ounces cup shaved or shredded white chocolate

Mix first three ingredients and place in a plastic bag. Put the shaved white chocolate in a smaller bag; place that bag in with the powdered mix, to keep it fresher longer. Seal the bag, attaching the instructions for making the hot white chocolate drink.
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Another even easier way to give out White Hot Chocolate mix with your coasters is to buy the mix premade here. This mix is the Big Train mix (this link is for prepacked individual servings) we use here in the summer for blended iced coffee drinks. It also mixes up great as a hot drink. I buy this in bulk at our local grocery outlet store. Around here we use this all summer long for blended drinks, saving tons of money over going to the coffee shops. Plus, when you live in the country it’s not economical to drive into town for a blended iced coffee at your whim.

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White Hot Chocolate Tags:   Add this to your packaged mix using red rick-rack:
White Hot Chocolate Mix TAGs for Scottie Dog Cookie Cutter Project Number 3

Cut tags out with scalloped scissors and attach to bag of mix. Pre-measure 16 tablespoon per bag, enough for 4 cups of white hot chocolate to go with your Scottie Dog felt coasters.

This felt coast craft can be made with any of your favorite cookie cutters.  For Valentine's Day use a heart:

Here’s a set of coaster I made a few years back for autumn, using a leaf cookie cutter. I doubled up the coaster felt for contrasting colors, and used brown embroidery thread to sew on the leaf appliqué to the first coast layer before attaching the two layers. The coaster layers were attached with felt glue.

So, go sew, create, craft, mix stuff up in the kitchen and enjoy the new year!
   Blessings, Heidi

(Linked with Romantic Home's Show & Tell Friday)

Cookie Cutter Project #2: Scottie Dog Brooch

This is the second of over 30 craft or cooking projects, all using cookie cutters! Every project will use a cookie cutter in one way or another. For most of them I've selected my favorite cookie cutter, the Scottie Dog! I hope you will be able to join in the fun and make some (or all) of the projects. And my desire to inspire you to think like a cookie cutter, making a "cookie" daily in a fast and fun way. Many of the projects are easy enough to do with children, though various precautions should be taken (ie: scissors, pins or hot glue guns).

(Remember, you can click on any photo to enlarge...)

 



PROJECT #2: SCOTTIE DOG BROOCH

As I mentioned before, I selected my favorite cookie cutter, the Scottie Dog, for this project.  (Here's one I found on Amazon you could use, or search for one here. Mine is from my collection of vintage cutters.)Trace your cookie cutter on a piece of thick white felt.  You can turn the cookie cutter felt cut out in the opposite direction once cut out so that any pencil marks won't show up on the front side. Or, if you want your Scottie Dog (or your shape) facing the other direction once pinned on, just trace on the opposite side of the felt.

Sew on a brooch (or bar) pin to the back. I used 1 3/4" pins, but 1" would work fine, too. These are very inexpensive, I've had a package that I've used for years.  I did an Etsy search in case you need to purchase theses, look here. I used extra strong cotton thread to make sure the pin remains secure. One tip for placement is to actually hold it up to your chest to make sure that it hooks into the pin's clasp at the right angle for wearing the brooch.

I've decided to go all white, so I've poured out some white buttons selecting a pile to begin hot-gluing onto my cutout felt piece. 

You could use a thick craft glue for this as well, or if working with children, but for instant gratification use a hot glue gun!  Clean off any hot glue gun strands.

Pin onto your jacket and take your favorite Scottie Dog everywhere you go!

Another variation I made was the Scottie Dog with two red buttons. 

Follow the above directions, but instead of hot gluing the entire front with white buttons, select two red buttons, sewing them on the front, center of the brooch with white thread.  Glue on a little red "bling" for an eye, or even a mini red button.  Then for the sweet collar cut a piece of red and white baker's string, tying in a small bow on front. This brooch is strong enough to stand on it's on once pinned on, however you could cut out a piece of cardboard the same shape.  Glue the cardboard on first, then glue the brooch clasp pin on with strong craft glue instead of sewing it on.

Have fun making these. Remember, use any of your favorite cookie cutter shapes.  For Valentine's Day use a heart, it's so easy!

Have a blessed day!  ~Heidi

(Linked to Between Naps on the Porch 102nd Metamorphis Monday, and

Get Your Craft On Monday, and Hope Studio's "Teach Me Somthing Tuesday" (wonderful tutorials are linked there---check it out!)