My New Blog Look

I was forever wanting a new look to my blog and after seeing my friend Debbie's, from Mountain Breaths, she told me who I could contact.  Well, I already knew Linda from Life and Linda as I receive her blog emailed to me.  She is such a talented lady, not only with decorating, tablescaping, cooking but clogging, too!! I wrote to Linda and she said that she would be happy to help me.  Just like that, with her magic computer wand, she created this new look for me overnight.  Linda is such a dream to work with and I admire her savvy computer skills. She even seems to have ESP because she picked my favorite color red.  If you could hear me jumping up and down and squealing all over Blogland, you know how happy I am with this new design.   If you would like an updated look for your blog, please click on My Fairy Blogmother's picture on my sidebar and she will with a few abracadabra's and some fairy dust,  work some magic for you, too!!

Chubby Snowman

After Christmas, I was in the mood to make a snowman and searched the web for some ideas.  I found this tutorial for a chubby snowman and went with it.  I made the first one from a white towel, because I wanted some texture.  I'm keeping him out for awhile for the winter time.

The second one I made from an old white sweater.  I used the bottom of the sweater for the body and one of the arms for the snowman's head.  This is being sent to my sister for her birthday.

For the towel snowman, I cut the banding off one of the ends.  The towel is the perfect width to make the snowman.  All you need to do is then cut up 15-16 inches.  

My tip is when you are gathering, double your thread and make a secure knot.  Also, take a few stitches at the very beginning to secure the thread even more to reduce the chances of breakage when you are pulling the thread while gathering (not that I would know anything at all about this!!).  To add stability, some pebbles are added to the bottom of the snowman, and then stuffing fills in his body.

I used a dinner plate to measure around for the head of the snowman.

When you sew the eyes on, again make a secure knot in the back of the head.  You want indentations for the eyes of the snowman.  I marked where the nose should go with a pen, and then you make a small cut and hot glue is applied and then nose is inserted with a little more hot glue.

I use a Dollar Tree lint roller to clean off my cutting board and also on myself.  Why do I always seem to have on black when I sew???!!!

Mr. Chubby and Mr. Chubbier all finished!  I chose to leave off the arms from the tutorial.   The  hat is made from the toe end of a sock and rolled for the brim and hot glued on the head.  Buttons are hot glued down the front.  The scarf is made from a strip of homespun ( no need to sew, just fray the edges).  Even the head is hot glued on!!  Apply a little powdered blush to the cheeks and there you go! 

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Canning Jar Soap Dispenser

You've probably seen these on the internet and I've wanted to make one for the longest time.  One of my dear DIL's  did make one and it turned out soooo cute!  I mentioned to my hubby that I wanted to make one.  I brought in all the supplies and my Knight in Shining Armor, went out and brought in his drill and a piece of styrofoam.  He loves to help out.  Here's how we  he did it:

1 canning jar
1 lid
1 band
a pump from an old soap dispenser (I happen to love the Bath and Body foam soap)
Spray paint, if you want to paint the lid and band

Mark your lid for slightly smaller than the underneath part of your soap dispenser.

Hubby used a drill and made little holes around the circle and then he used diagoanal pliers to cut the lid.  You want it kind of jagged so that when you push the pump into the hole, it stays tight.

Push the dispenser into the lid. Put on the band and you're ready to go!

 

NOTE:  I wanted mine spray painted a satin chrome color to match my faucet.  Oil rubbed bronze would be pretty, also, if you have a dark pump.

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Baked Eggs in Mini Pie Maker

Perfectly shaped eggs that look like poached!

I wanted one of those cute mini pie makers and finally broke down and bought one at Target.  I am a such a sucker for kitchen toys!!  Mine is a Sunbeam product and it was on sale for $19.99.  How could I pass it up??  It does make great pies, but here's another use for it....baked eggs!  They turn out so perfect, just like little poached eggs.  Plus you don't have to use any bottom crust to make these. 

To make the baked eggs:

Another use besides making pies!

  
1.  Grease the openings, both top and bottom in the pie  maker.

2.  Plug in the pie maker to heat it up.

3.  Crack your eggs and add to the bottom opening.
 
4.  Shut the lid and let the eggs cook.  These will not require the full amount of time.  Check in a few     minutes to see if they're done.  I don't like runny whites, but my hubby does.

5.  Sprinkle with cheese, herbs, and salt and pepper, if you like. 

6.  Enjoy a new way to fix eggs!

To clean the mini pie maker, I put a couple of tablespoons of boiling water in it, shut the lid and let it steam for a few minutes, unplug and let it sit.  I then sponge up the water, wipe clean with a clean cloth and  dry.

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Other Uses For Felt Pads

Felt pads prevent scratched counters.

When we were getting estimates for new counters, one of the people that came out,  mentioned that even granite can scratch and to be careful with dishes that were rough on the bottom. After getting our new counters, I began checking things in my kitchen very carefully.  I noticed that my glass canisters were very rough on the bottom. I immediately stuck some self-stick felt pads on the bottom of them.  Now they glide easily and no scratched counters!!


We also had our front door re-painted and my beloved basket that I change out seasonally, previously scratched our door before. Also, the over-the-door hanger that the basket hangs from, would move and scratch the door. I lined the hanger underneath with some cut- to- fit self-stick pads and now it doesn't move or scratch my freshly painted door!! Yea!!! I placed some self-stick pads on the back of the basket and they act as a buffer for my basket.  No more scratched door.   Another problem solved!!

Cut the felt pads to fit!  Now hanger doesn't move around.

These act as a buffer.

The moral of the story: these self-stick pads work for more than under furniture.

No more scratched door!

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Tips for Using Coffee Filters

My favorite iced tea blend is Apricot Lavender!

We're not big coffee drinkers here, but I do keep a supply of coffee filters for:




1.  Covering my food in the microwave.  I feel   it's safer than using plastic wrap.
2.  Steeping loose-leaf tea to make a big pitcher of iced tea.
3.  On the bottom of popsicles, ice cream bars, etc., to catch drips.
4.  Using one in my strainer to make it extra fine.
5.  Protecting china dishes.
6.  As a buffer between skillets and other cookware.

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Clip the filter shut with a plastic clip.