Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

OK, so here's the deal. I'm sitting at home bored since the office was closed today. All my Christmas decorations are up, laundry's done so what's left to do? Well, I know everyone is probably so stinking sick of Christmas but this is the perfect time for this project. So when you are taking down your Christmas cards instead of trashing them reuse them. Odds are your coworkers, family & friends spent some good money on these why not recycle them so they can live again next year? For 2011 I am not going to bother making a resolution to lose weight......lol I always fail. Instead I resolve to be more frugal and to try to recycle and re purpose as much as possible.
You will need for this project: A straight edge and mat, rotary cutter, scissors, glue, old Christmas cards or other cards, blank cards and colored paper, ribbon, decorative edge scissors and a hole punch

Another reason that this is the perfect time for this craft is that all the Christmas ribbons and decor is 50% off at most stores. I found this awesome ribbon at the dollar store for .50! You can't beat that. This is so super easy you can make cards or hang tags. For the hang tags I just cut out the image from the card I wanted and glued it onto some colored paper. Then I just hole punched it and added a ribbon. Easy!

The cards are equally simple, cards nowadays are outrageous. A nice one can run you three to five bucks easy. I don't remember where I got these blank cards but I am pretty sure Walmart carries them. They come with a brown paper envelope. Same goes for them, just cut the image you want and glue it on, you can even cut the inside message out and use it. I just had to share this idea with you guys, now maybe you will think twice about throwing those old cards away ;)

Jill

Dog Dayz

I wanted to share so pics of my kids :) Hope you enjoy these......may God Bless,

Jill

December Update

Greetings my blog friends, I hope this post finds you all well. Tucked in somewhere in your homes across the country nice and snug and warm. Time has yet again got away from me. I so miss the days when I could stay home and craft all day till my fingers bleed (lol and I mean this literally). But God had different plans for me and blessed me with a full time job to provide for myself. So alas this limits my time these days, what time I do have is spent working on orders and with the new special someone in my life ;)

For those of my dear customers wishing to place orders for the holidays please do so before December 15th so we can get everything there safely for Christmas. I have been receiving several calls about PET DOLLS, and YES I am still taking orders on them up until the 15th. The above doll I just completed for a customer was a Sphinx Kitty. I will also be updating the website this weekend............not much too do here in eastern Ky besides sew and eat as we are snowed in :) Which is a state of being which I LOVE to be in Lol, but at any rate please stay tuned to my blog this week for new offering and such. May God Bless and keep you All,

Jill

Fall is in the Air

It's still pretty hot here in Kentucky......but every morning and late night we get a little taste of what is to come. A cool breeze and a crisp sweet smell in the air; fall is right around the corner. I surely will not miss the dog days of summer, we have had a very hot summer that's for sure. I have busied myself all weekend stitching up fall goodies for an upcoming show. I will also be listing lots of pumpkins in old containers on the website this week. I have so many ideas buzzing around..........makes me wish I had more time to actually create :/ Wishing you all a blessed week!
Jill

Fall Ebay Listings

Just a head's up to let everyone know I listed some new Fall Items on Ebay :)

http://shop.ebay.com/gigi69/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

Been Busy

I have been super busy..........got the crafting bug this week and have been working away! Just finished this sweet bag holder made using a Sweet Meadows Farm Pattern. Lots of New items are in the works as well. I have listed tons more on Ebay if you guys have an interest :) Hope you are all having a blessed week.

Jill

http://shop.ebay.com/gigi69/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

Summer Happenings

The heat has been almost unbearable the last week here in Ky. As soon as you walk outside the heat overwhelms you and all you are worried about is finding the next place with AC. Lol, but even with this heat there is still lots to be done. I have got a lot of work done to my little homestead, and yet there is still more work to be done. I have also been working on some new items and clearing out some of my patterns and things un-needed. If you have an interest I have listed several pattern lots on ebay as well as two of my old composition dolls from my collection. The one pictured above is one of them listed. I hope you are all staying cool & lots more will be listed on ebay in the upcoming days, here is the link to my auctions.

http://shop.ebay.com/gigi69/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

May God Bless You All,

Jill

Twinkie Cake

We are sure warming up here in Kentucky! Thank you all your your comments on my previous post! I wanted to share this awesome recipe with you guys..........I don't recall where I got the recipe from but I tweaked it and made it extra special. Hope you guys try this one......it's so worth it!

Twinkie Cake

Cake

1 box yellow cake mix

1 box instant vanilla pudding

4 eggs

3/4 c. water

3/4 c. oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees; mix all ingredients with mixer. Grease and flour a 13 x 9 cake pan; bake cake until toothpick comes out clean. Let cake cool completely. When cake is cool cut it in half lengthwise....making it two layers.

Filling

1/2 c. sugar

2/3 c. shortening

1 t. vanilla

1/3 c. milk

1/4 t. salt

1 t. water

1 c. powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients and beat with mixer until smooth and fluffy, approx. 5-7 min depending on mixer speed

Spread filling between cake layers and dust top with powdered sugar; ENJOY!

Finished Kitchen

I have finally completed my kitchen! Wanted to share with you guys the pics.............I am so happy with how it all turned out. For those of you that may not know my life has taken some crazy twist and turns lately. I have went from being a full time stay at home business owner to being divorced and working full time at a law office. Lol, it has been a lot to process, but through the grace of God and good friends and family I am happy and settled. As for my business, I am still debating as to whether or not to continue on with it. I hope to keep my retail site open, as for the wholesale it will most likely be closed in the future. I want to thank all my loyal customers and net friends for their friendship and business throughout the years. It has been a pleasure! May God Bless U all!

Jill

This and That

Basket
Strawberries

Island Front

Island Back

Kitchen Table

The weather here in Kentucky is still cold and wintry. We are expecting a warm up soon :) Things have been busy here as usual. The basket I made at our home makers meeting. It was my first attempt at a basket. Lol, it turned out a little mis-shapen but pretty good for a first try. The strawberries are for a wholesale order..........I love making them. My daddy has been busy making my furniture. He made my kitchen island and made me a harvest table. I loved how they turned out. He is working on my kitchen cabinets now. I am blessed to have a daddy whom is so talented.

Hope you all had a blessed Monday!

Jill

January Greeting

I know, I know, It's been a long time since my last post! So much has been going on I haven't had time to think! For starters my family and I had a wonderful holiday, hope you all did as well. I have been all of January working on orders. My daddy is working on my kitchen cabinets and island, which I am elated about. I torn about the paint color however :( But at any rate on my day off I have been working away, on many different things. One of which are the wax dipped carrots in the photo above. They are real dried carrots dipped in beeswax. I also added a old crow label to this awesome old bottle (which I will be offering on the site).

I have been dreaming on weeds and seeds and so on all day. I can't wait to start landscaping around my new home, as I don't even have much grass yet. Lol, I know from past mishaps that I will not be planting Ivy at the new homestead. Lol, this stuff takes over! From the kitchen there's hot dogs and home made sauce and oatmeal cookies. Hope you all had a productive fun Saturday!

Blessings,

Jill