Sew, what's new?

How are your Christmas preparations going? I've been shopping, sewing, and crafting!
Just wanted to share a sneek peek at one of the projects I've got nearly completed, woo-hoo.

I don't know if any of you remember having a "Pajama keeper" of any kind growing up...but I seem to remember something of the sort. Here's an example from one on Ebay...

It's kind of partly stuffed and an inside pouch with a zipper. The idea is that the kiddo can stuff the pajamas inside in the AM and there's no hunting for them at bedtime.

I can't seem to remember the exact ones from growing up, but here's a vintage cutie that might be similar.

Anyhow, we're getting tired of the PJ's being left on the floor in the bathroom, and this sounds like the perfect fix (and goes with my DS's Star Wars bedroom). I snagged some fleece at JoAnn Fabrics when it was on sale on Black Friday and appliqued to the white fleece background.

Just need to stuff it, whip stitch closed, and keep my DS from looking at the blog...or in the closets, etc!  :)

What's up at your house?

We have a winner...

Just a quick update to let you know I have selected a winner for my Countdown to Christmas file from Paperthreads...

Congratulations to LisaInMaryland! Lisa, please get in touch with me when you see this and let me know what format you'd like the file in so I can get it out to you.  Send me an email at MyScrappingRoom (at) gmail (dot) com

And, just in case you still need to get ahold of the file, it's still on sale at Paperthreads. Just click on the picture and it will take you directly there. Even if you don't use it for an Advent calendar it still has 25 separate files perfect for cards and tags.

Happy Cyber Monday!

So, if you're not a Black Friday shopper are you a Cyber Monday surfer? I've got to admit, there's something really nice about shopping at home in your PJs instead of shivering in the cold outside. But, in past years I haven't had as good of luck online. You know, when you're BF shopping at the store you have an idea whether you've got a realistic chance of getting the "deal". How many people are there? How many want the same thing? When you're shopping online there's very little feedback (until you click the link and the site crashes on you). Plus, you don't get the fun of people watching and chatting with others about their "plan of attack". Honestly, the interactions are one of the best parts of BF shopping. (I know, I know, my husband just doesn't get it, maybe I'm just weird!)

But, there was one thing I was looking for this Cyber Monday and it doesn't seem to be a quickly expiring deal! Yippee!

Now, I'm not an affiliate or anything, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my original Kindle fire (and the prime membership we added after using the trial from the kindle purchase), so I had to share this with you. You can get the Kindle 7 inch today only for $129 (with the special offers) or $144 (without special offers). 

Just make sure to use the code they posted - FIREDEAL - in your shopping cart.

BTW, don't forget to checkout the giveaway in my last post!

Oh me, oh my! How the days are flying by!

I cannot believe that every day is speeding by like a freight train. Christmas is 30 days away today! I have so many projects swirling around in my head right now, many involve sewing...

I'd also like to get some projects to get the kids into the Christmas spirit!
This great project idea involves wrapping up 25 books for the family. (tip...reuse them each year or you could really rack up the $$$). Each night pull one package to unwrap and read. I plan to "rig" it so the more involved "chapter books" that would suit my older kiddo will fall on the weekends where there is more time for involved reading. I also like the idea of starting for the 12 days of Christmas (I know...technically they actually start ON Christmas...but as far as the kids are concerned maybe we could do twelve before this once) since I haven't acquired all the books yet. It's either that or wrap a couple "faux books" as placeholders right now until I get to the Scholastic Books Warehouse sale.

elle keeps moving

I know lots of folks have made Advent calendars to "Countdown to Christmas" too. Check out this great one made by Kelly last year...

source: Kelly's Crafty Life

So, what do you hope to accomplish in the little bit of time remaining before the Christmas holidays? What are your family traditions? Do you have any fabulous homemade gift ideas you'd like to share?

Leave a comment below and I'll draw a winner to get a free copy of the Countdown to Christmas cutting file from my store at Paperthreads. Winner will be drawn after 11:59 PM on Weds, Nov 28 and notified by email. Please make sure to either log in with your google profile or leave me a way that I can contact you in the comment so I can reach you if you're the winner. 

BTW, don't want to wait? Check out the cutting file for yourself, it's available in 5 formats to work on most any cutting machine directly and includes detailed assembly instructions! Oh, and I want you to share in some Cyber Monday goodness too, so it will be on sale from Monday the 26th through midnight on Nov 30th!

Trick or Treat

Well, it was cold, wet, and raining for Trick or Treat this year...but they did get to go out! Here's a pic I snagged of the kids prior to heading out for treats. It was already getting dark, so it's a flash exposure.

Note the thermal shirts under both their costumes in comparison to when the wore them  to the Renaissance Festival in Harveysburg.

Quite comically...it was raining that day too (Labor Day), but the temps were about 20 degrees warmer.

TBDBITL

Oh goodness, I missed The Ohio State Game on Saturday...so I didn't see TBDBITL's half-time show. Are you a child of the video game era? It's a bit long (9 minutes) but, WOW!

Brussels Sprouts, a yummy treat!?

I know, it's not what ou'd usually think of, but I just thought I'd add in my super side dish (and actually a "guilty snack", LOL!)

Now, I had never had brussels sprouts until about 2 weeks ago, and I only thought of them as a limp piece of miniature cabbage. I decided to try making them one evening, and, WOW! They seem like such a treat I have made them several times since.

Spicy Brussels Sprouts 
1 pound brussels sprouts
1/4 cup of cider vinegar
1 tsp of sriracha chili sauce
1 tsp crushed or minced garlic
1 tablespoon capers
1/2 tablspoon honey (if your plan will accomodate it) or 1/2 tbsp of splenda

Heat oil in deep fat fryer to 315 degrees F or place 2 inches oil in a skillet an heat to medium high.

Peel off loose or flimsy outer leaves of each sprout, wash and then cut each in half. Set aside to dry while you make the sauce.

Mix the garlic, sriracha, cider vinegar and honey (or splenda) in a small dish.

Toss the brussels sprouts halves into the heated oil and cook for about 3 minutes. You will have the outer leaves being very dark brown (like bark colored). Just before you remove the sprouts, toss the tablespoon of capers into the hot oil as well. (They only need about 30 seconds to warm and bring out the flavor).

Drain and place in a serving bowl.Drizzle with the mixed sauce. If you like, you can drizzle with a bit of balsalmic vinegar as well! The fryer gives the sprouts such a nutty, rich flavor! You don't even need any salt at all.

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As a low-carber for over 4 years now, I snagged a few of the leaves that had fallen loose in the fryer as soom as I drained the fat. They were super crunchy and almost tasted like potato chips...you know, the dark fried kettle chip kind? YUM!

Does anybody know what today is?

It's that time again...that's right, it's officially Star Wars Day! May the Fourth be with you!

If you're an fan you might want to check out this summary video from Lego...

Blogger improvements!

So, I'm not sure when and where I was sleeping, but I missed this before! You can now have replies your comments on your Blogger posts. Woo-hoo! It makes it so much easier to answer specific questions and the readers don't have to scroll all the way through every comment to see if it was ever answered. You can find out more in the step by step tutorial HERE.

Wishy Washy about Washi?

So have you been bit by the Washi bug? Not sure what all the hype is about?
I know until recently the only places I saw Washi tape were in online scrapbooking stores. Then Tim Holtz had a line, but called it "Tissue Tape". Now, it's come more mainstream and you can find the Michael's "Recollections" brand "Craft Tape".

Here's a few of the rolls I picked up this week (they're regularly for $4.99 but 50% off this week so only $2.49 for the package). I photographed the back so you can see the UPC in case you're interested in calling your local store to check stock. The last pic shows the front so you know what the packaging looks like. I found mine on a special display near the front of the store (up by Martha's stuff).

I ((( heart ))) this!

I don't know about you, but I was certainly ready to have spring appear (and if it moves right on into summer...well that'l be okay too, I think)! Nothing reminds me of spring showers and the flowers yet to bloom like rainbows. So, lets celebrate with a few of my "inspirations"!

l

Sources

1. Rainbow fruit skewers

2.Taste the rainbow jello

3. Rainbow cake in a jar

4. Rainbow flower bouquet

5. Inside out Rainbow cake pops

In honor of the beautiful rainbow, and in appreciation for your support as customers of Paperthreads and my cutting files, I've whipped up a set of rainbow inspired journal cards. They're sized to 3 by 4 inches (so perfect to slip into PL page protectors). Just print the JPG or PNG on your printer, cut with your trimmer, round the corners if desired, and you're ready to go!

You can download the high resolution images by clicking on the link below...of course, if you wish to download it, you need to agree to my terms of use...which is simple, don't claim it's yours, don't sell it as if you own or made it, and send your friends to my site to download it rather than hotlinking or sending them the file directly! If you agree to these, just click the link below to download the zip which includes both PNG and JPG sets.

Click HERE to download! 

(The link will be active until midnight, Mar 26th)

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I've also got a huge sale on all my files in the Paperthreads store, that's right...50% off everything in my section on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday!

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But Spring doesn't just mean rainbows to me...it also means it's time for the Paperthreads Customer Appreciation Day Blog Hop!

Make sure you visit all the blog participants, they may be offering more
prizes and fun on each blog!

Also, comment on each blog, and you get an entry into the GRAND PRIZE drawing, which will include:

Xyron Mega Runner
2 Greeting Farm Stamps
Quickie Glue Pen
Platinum Pllus Flex Pod Gripper Tripod
9" roll of Silhouette Vinyl (can be used on most die cut machines)
2 - Metallic Rub n Buff
10 Color Souffle Gel Pens
10 Color Glaze Gel Pens
12 Color Crushed Velvet Flock by Doodlebug Design
1 Activation code to Make The Cut software

Check out the blogs today,

Nothing like warm Bread Pudding on a cold Winter's day!

And the best part? It's hot and ready when you wake up in the morning!

Crockpot Bread Pudding

1/4 cup butter
10 slices cubed day-old bread or 8 cups of torn old cinnamon rolls
2   1/2 cups milk or half-half
5 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg or cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup diced apricots (or cherries, raisins, apples, or other fruit)
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Break of a tablespoon or two of the butter to generously grease the inside of your crockpot. I used a 5 quart round and it is about the perfect size for this recipe volume. Mix the remaining butter with the eggs, milk (or half-half), sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.
Tear the bread or rolls up into "bite-sized" pieces. Layer the bread, chocolate chips, and dried fruit in the crockpot. Once all of your dry ingredients have been added, pour the milk/egg/etc mixture over the top of the dried bread. You may need to use a rubber spatula to gently push down on the mixture in your crock. Let sit for at least 30 minutes prior to cooking. I prep mine in the evening, then place my removable crock in the fridge until right before I go to bed.
Cook on low for approximately 6 hours (that means I put mine in at midnight and then at 6am turn off the crock!). At this point I wrap the entire crock in a old towel and leave it on the counter for the rest of the family to have at 8am. It's just cooled to the perfect warm temperature for serving at that point.

It really doesn't need any sauce, but if you like, you could drizzle with maple syrup or top with a dallop of Cool Whip. BTW, have you tried the Season's Delight French Vanilla Cool Whip? It makes the perfect dip for fresh fruit when you mix it up with plain yogurt!

Leftovers keep in the fridge an can be rewarmed for breakfast later on in the week, which makes it a perfect "fast prep" for those busy mornings.

Looking good!

Just a quick pic before heading out the door yesterday AM. He thought the applique was pretty cool too!

If I were a centenarian...

Okay, so it's not been one-hundred years, but I finally really sewed on my new machine and I had to share with you!

My son has his "Hundredth Day Party" tomorrow at school and was instructed to dress like he was 100 years old. Now, truth be told, he told me that meant he should dress like a skeleton...because "people don't live that long". We talked a bit and decided on a little crafting project.

I'm not sure if you know how hard it is to find long sleeve, plain white t-shirts this time of year...I mean geesh, you'd think it was winter or something, but there were very few to be found anywhere; I snagged one hiding behind some swim trunks.

I ironed Heat n Bond lite onto the back of some woven cotton I pickled up from Hobby Lobby and cut out a tie shape. You'll just have to trust me here...I forgot to take pics along the way, last minute crafting you know!  :) The tie got ironed on the t-shirt, and I zig-zagged around it to finish the edges. "Old man" shirt and tie, done!

He needed something to hold up his drawers, so I made a pair of suspenders from some left over "tie" fabric, a yard of elastic, and a pair of mitten clips from the clearance bin (hiding under the flip flop display, lol!).

FREE- today only!

www.yourfonts.com is celebrating National Handwriting Day TODAY Jan 23 only by allowing you to make a font out of your handwriting for FREE!

It is super easy. I made mine using my Zig marker (on the smaller nib, because the bigger nib was to fat for writing in the small boxes.

To get your font for free, just follow along with the instructions to make your own font and then use coupon code..

CPN4NHD2012