July 4th 2010

Happy 4th Of July


From my family to yours, I hope you all have a happy and safe day. Good food and family what could be better. As we are all gathering with family and friends, lets remember all that are fighting for our freedom ,and their families. Without them this country would not be what it is today. We all have our thoughts about what is going on in this world, but lets stop and be grateful for what we have.

Have a great day!!!

Make Crafts with Paper,Paint and Fabric

Pretty Handmade Recipe Book -- Need the perfect gift idea that's easy to make in multiples, try this beautiful handmade recipe book

Cut a 5x7 inch piece of decorative paper Use adhesive to attach the decorative paper to the chipboard cover.
Use a corner rounder to round the corners of the pages, including the cover

Place an adhesive label on the front of your cover

Trim the flaps off 4x6 inch envelopes. You will need one envelope per page. The envelopes will keep different size recipe cards together neatly.

Use adhesive to attach one envelope to the front of each chipboard page .

Punch a hole in the upper left hand corner of each page, including the cover,using a paper punch .

Punch the hole in the same place on each page

Stack the pages together with the cover on top,and insert the screw post through the hole and screw on the backing


Clever Clothespin Magnets- Left with lots of scraps of your favorite patterned paper? Top clothespins with the pieces, seal the paper with decoupage medium,and adhere magnets to the backs. Make a coordinated set to give as a gift.

Best Ever Cowboy Cookies

Chocolate chips and walnuts give these giant oatmeal cookies a taste kids love.

You need

2 cups rolled oats
2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup unsalted butter softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs room temp
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts

How to In a large bowl, stir together the oats,flour,soda,baking powder, salt and cinnamon

In a separate bowl,blend the butter and sugars with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the eggs and continue to beat until fluffy Blend in vanilla

Using a wooden spoon, stir the dry mixture into the butter mixture one half at a time. Mix in chips and walnuts Refrigerate the dough for 1-2 hours.

Heat oven to 350 Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, then grease the foil

Using a scant 1/4 cup per cookie, shape the dough into balls and place on sheet

Use your fingertips to flatten each ball to 1/3 inch thick. Bake cookies on center rack for 13-14 minutes Turning the pan halfway into the baking process

Fast and Fab Ideas to Decorate your Garden

Don't Fence Me In -- This old wire garden fence moves up in life. By fastening it to the porch soffit, the fence serves both as a trellis for climbers and as architectural interest on an older home

Tucked Away in a Drawer- Inside the house things often get lost in drawers, but in the garden they jump out. This old drawer attached to a bed footboard becomes an adorable "window box" planter with very little work or money

Outdoor Party Helpers

Cork Lined Tray --Cold drinks, slippery with condensation, can slide around on a plastic or metal tray, so line it with a sheet of cork to hold glasses steady. Rolls of cork sheeting about 1/8 inch thick are available at office supply stores. Trace the bottom of a tray onto a piece of cork, and cut it out with scissors. Affix cork inside tray with double sided tape

Shower Curtain Key Ring

Losing a set of keys in the jumble of a beach bag-or worse in the sand-can put a damper on your day. But it is easy to keep them close at hand with a steel shower curtain ring. Simply clip the ring onto the handle of your bag and slip on your key ring,you'll always have your keys in sight

Good Things for Outdoor Entertaining

Pocket Utensils-- Keep silverware and napkins in one place for picnics and other meals on the go. Oilcloth is the ideal material for this pocket project; it won't fray, plus it can be wiped clean easily. Start with a 9x10 inch rectangle in your favorite pattern. Fold in half vertically. Make a slightly diagonal slit,about 3 inches long,just above the midway point. Stitch the long side and bottom closed,about 1/8 inch from the edge. Leave the top open for napkins,and use the front pocket for utensils

Berry Bread Spread- Take advantage of berry season with a colorful,flavorful spread fresh fruit butter, delicious on bread,scones, and bagels. To make it, put 1/4 cup berries, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/3 cup softened unsalted butter in the bowl of a food processor.Process until well combined. Refrigerate the mixture in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for 1 month