Happy Halloween!

                                                                     2008

May the force be with you this Halloween.

                                                                       2009

May you stay safe from goblins

                                                                                            2010

and ghouls.

                                                            2011

From our family to yours, we hope you have a happy and safe Halloween!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:18

Recipe of the Week #41- Broccoli and Cheese Soup

     I recently decided that throughout fall and winter, Mondays will be soup days at our house even though the part of Texas we live in doesn't always provide us with good cold soup weather.
     This soup is a favorite at our house.

 

Broccoli and Cheese Soup

1 1/2 qts water

10 oz package frozen chopped broccoli

1/2 cup grated carrots

1/4 cup chopped onions

2 tsp salt

1 tsp white pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

8 oz Velveeta cheese

1 cup whole milk

1 cup cream

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup flour

1/2 cup cold water

 

Bring water to a boil. Add broccoli, carrots and onion and boil for 10-12 minutes. Add seasonings and cheese and stir until cheese melts. Add milk, cream, and butter. Stir and heat until boiling.

 

Slowly add cold water to flour, stirring constantly until smooth. Add to hot mixture stirring rapidly. Cook until soup's consistency is creamy.

 

Serve with crunchy garlic bread.

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,

 and I shall keep it to the end.

Psalm 119:33

 

 This post is linked to Todays Creative Blog, DIY Crafty Projects, and Tip Junkie.

 

 



 

Check Out This Cauldron. . . My Pretties!

     With Halloween just two days away, I thought I'd feature something cute and Halloween-y.

 It's a cauldron!

 

If you'd like to make one like this, all you need to do is tear up pieces of Halloween themed scrapbook paper. Then use Mod Podge to attach the torn paper- in every which way- or should I say every witch way- to the outside of the cauldron.

Then you can leave it as it or use letter stickers to add the words "Trick or Treat."

 

 

To finish mine off, I tied ribbons on each side of the handle and hung a couple of tags on one side. To make the tags, I just placed two Halloween stickers back to back.

 

     A wee bit cuter than the average cauldron, huh?

 

     Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

 Psalm 119:105

This post is linked to Brassy Apple, Skip to My Lou, Craft-O-Maniac, Between Naps on the Porch, and Making the World Cuter.

My Fall Wreath

     Recently, I made this jute wreath with interchangeable rosettes so I could change the rosettes with the seasons. This way I always have a pretty wreath to hang on my door.

     I wanted to share my fall version with you.

 

I dug through my material looking for fabric with natural colors to use on the rosettes.

 

The green one is fabric from an old McCoy's handkerchief, the next one is made from burlap (who doesn't love burlap?), the third one is made from tulle, and the last one is brown fabric with off white dots (who doesn't love polka dots?).

I attached these to alligator clips so they will come off easily when I replace them with Christmas themed rosettes. . .

 

If you'd like to make a simple wreath like this for yourself, you can go here for a tutorial.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.

1 Thel.4:9

 

 

This post is linked to I Heart Naptime, Be Different Act Normal, and Too Much Time On My Hands.

 

 

Thrifty Thursday #40

     It's Thursday, and you know what that means around here. . . there's been some thrifting going on. Here's my loot. . .

 

First, I have to show you this metal rolling pin. I actually got this a few weeks ago when I bought some wooden rolling pins, I just forgot to take a picture of it. Kind of unusual, huh?

 

This metal platter was only $1. I have some thoughts about what to do with it- it won't be a platter when I finish with it:)

 

Although this looks like a full size pitchfork, it's actually only about 12" long. I think I will modify it to become a necklace rack. This only cost a dime!

 

I found this box of eight never been used quart size jars for $1 each.

I've got quite a few jars now- hopefully my hubby's fall garden will be productive!

 

I got this glass lid which fits pretty well on the wooden base that I found several weeks ago. I'm excited to have a cloche. . . don't know yet what I'll put in it.

     Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

This is the day the Lord has made;

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

This post is linked to 52 Mantles, Cap Creations, and Apron Thrift Girl.

Layout of the Week #32- Using a Square Punch

     I don't know about you guys, but I have quite a few punches that I've bought over the years that don't get too much use. Well, dust off those punches because today we're going to use a square punch to add a little something extra to our layouts. 

Here's the layout we're going to create. Yours will have different paper, but will end up with this same look.

For this layout you'll need:

one piece of 12"x 12" pattern paper (a muted pattern as this will be the background)

three coordinating pieces of pattern paper (these can be any size as we'll be cutting them for pieces)

letter stickers for the title

square punch at least 1" in size (mine is 1 1/4")

tag for journaling

trimmer

adhesive

 

First trim four strips of paper that measure 12" x 1/4". Adhere them about 1/4" from the edges of the paper. They will look like a frame on the paper.

 

Then using two different pattern papers, punch out some squares. You want enough to make a border around the edge. I used 20 squares. You'll need to lay these out to see how they fit before you adhere them.There's quite a bit of space in between my squares. You may want yours closer together.

 

Then either you need to trim four strips 8"x 1/2" using either the first paper we used for the framing strips or another pattern paper.

Adhere them to make a frame on the inside of the squares.

 

Place your photos in the center square. I trimmed three photos to fit. When I adhered the top photo, I only used Glue Dots on the corners so I could place a tag behind it for journaling.

 

For my journaling tag, I used a plain shipping tag and a small strip of paper left over from my scraps.

 

Then I folded it in half over the top of the tag covering up the hole. Now it looks custom made for my page!

 

Place the journaling tag behind the top photo and add your title at the bottom of the page.

We're done! See how the squares add a little something to the layout?

 

 

Here is another layout where I used a tiny square punch (1/2") and punched out different kinds of Halloween papers. Then I glued them around the edge of the paper. (This paper came with the jagged black edge.) It adds some color to an otherwise muted paper.

 

 

Now that we got out our square punches, maybe we should try another shaped punch? Hmm . . . .

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you

great and mighty things, which you do not know.

Jer. 33:3

This post is linked to 52 Mantles and Shabby Creek Cottage.

Recipe of the Week #40- Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

     When I saw this recipe on Skip to My Lou, I knew I had to try it. We love Snickerdoodle anything. . . bread, cookies, bars.

And these did not disappoint! My younger son has deemed these his new favorite dessert. It is indeed a repeat recipe around here!

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes
1 pkg white or yellow cake mix
3 large eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp cinnamon

Mix all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl for three minutes. Pour into muffin tins. Bake 15-20 minutes. Don't overbake. Cool completely.

Snickerdoodle Frosting
1/2 cup softened butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp milk- add until desired consistency

Mix butter until fluffy. Add other ingredients. Blend one minute until fluffy. Place in pastry bag and pipe frosting onto cupcakes.

Note: As you can see, I just frosted my cupcakes as I don't have a pastry bag.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Your word I have hidden in my heart,

that I might not sin against You.

Psalm 119:11

This post is linked to Between Naps on the Porch.

Boo-tiful Memories

     I want to show you a book that I started years ago. It's a chronicle of my boys in their Halloween costumes. It starts with my older son's first Halloween and goes up to last year. I used an 8"x8" scrapbook.

Every year at this time, we get this book out: Halloween through the years with the Sextons.

 

 

Here's the title page,

and here are a few of the yearly layouts.

 

It only requires a little bit of work one time a year.

 

I usually add three or four photos, a little bit of Halloween themed paper, journaling, and a few embellishments.

 

This is a very simple album idea whether you have a toddler or an older child. You can dig out a couple of old pictures from years past and stick them in a themed album.

 

     I think scrapbooking is such a wonderful way to document memories. I can't tell you how many times my family and I have brought out scrapbooks and laughed and reminisced.

     My children were delightful as toddlers. I never knew what they were going to say. When they would say or do something funny or amazing, I wrote it down- sometimes on a scrap of paper, sometimes on the back of a piece of mail, and sometimes in a notebook. Later on when I made a scrapbook page or mini album, I went to my notes to get the journaling.

     When you're a busy mom, you think you'll remember the cute things your child does, his favorite things, the tv shows he watches, but you don't always. That's why I feel it is so important to write these things down.

     Even if you keep your photos in a photo album, make sure you write down the stories. Get a notebook. Start today. You'll cherish these stories down the road.

     For instance, in this Halloween album, I included silly stories that I wouldn't have remembered without reading them. Like how one Halloween my older son's breath was condensing on the inside of his mask and he kept licking it off and he told me, "Mom, there's something wet on the inside of my mask and it tastes good!" Or the year my boys were Storm Troopers complete with the appropriate weapons, but my younger son had already broken his gun before we even got outside to take pictures. So he just held a pretend gun. Or when my younger son was so little to pose for Halloween photos that we had to put a towel under his rump so he wouldn't slide off the slick chair.

     Sometimes I sit down and read in my notebook of boy stories, and I get to laughing so hard, I almost cry.

     When documenting your memories, you don't have to go overboard, you don't have to be fancy. I'm not. Just get those memories in print. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.


     Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

I will delight myself in Your statutes;

I will not forget Your word.

Psalm 119:16

 

 

This post is linked to Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Making the World Cuter, Brassy Apple, Tip Junkie, and Craft-O-Maniac.

Potato Masher. . . or Photo Holder?

     Yesterday I showed you an old potato masher that I found at a thrift store. When I saw it, I knew right away that I was going to turn it into a photo holder.

What do you think? It could also be used in the kitchen to hold a recipe.

Here it is before.

Here it is after: I took a 2" clothespin, tied a strip of fabric to it, and glued a button to the center. Then I glued the clothespin to the handle of the masher. Easy-peasy.

     If you like this, you might like this vegetable/cheese grater that I turned into a photo holder.

     Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

and whose hope is the Lord.

Jer. 17:7

This post is linked to Funky Junk, Knick of Time, Do Small Things With Love, At the Picket Fence, Be Different Act Normal, Too Much Time on My Hands, Five Days Five Ways, My Girlish Whims, and I Heart Naptime.

Thrifty Thursday #39

     This past weekend, I was blessed to get to go to a Women of Faith conference in San Antonio (which was fantastic!) with some very good friends. We got there early so we could do a little shopping and, believe it or not, one of our stops was at a Goodwill (I promise you that it was not my idea!).

     Here's what I found. . .

 

an old potato masher in great condition for $1,

 

and this wire. . . thing. I don't know what it came off of, but I can think of a couple of uses for it! Couldn't pass it up for only a buck.

 

My final purchase was this cute shirt dress. I don't usually buy clothes secondhand, but this didn't even look like it had been worn, and it was only $5.95. Several of my friends found cute dresses, too. One of them still had the original price tag on it!

     Whether home or away, I sure do love a quick trip through a thrift store:)

     Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

And whatever you do, do it heartily,

as to the Lord and not to men.

Col. 3:23

     This post is linked to Apron Thrift Girl, Cap Creations,  and Happy Hour Projects.

Layout of the Week #31- Using Photos in Strips

     When I scrapbook, there are times that I like to have lots of photos on one layout. Today's technique, using photos in strips, allows for lots of photos.

 

Here's the layout we'll be making.

 

 

You'll need:

one piece of 12"x12" pattern paper (with muted colors; this will be our background)

3-4 pieces of pattern paper (these do not need to be whole pieces; we'll just be using small portions)

a pre-printed title (or letters to make your own title)

four small buttons

other random embellishments that match your theme (optional)

trimmer

adhesive

 

First, cut a  strip of pattern paper that is 12" x 3/4"  and adhere it to the top of the 12"x12" background pattern paper.

 

Then trim several of your photos so that they are only 2 1/2" tall. Place enough of them along the strip of pattern paper so that they go across the page. I was able to trim four photos to fit.

 

 

The next pattern paper that we're using we will use in two places on our layout- we'll call this pattern paper #2. The first place it goes is along the bottom of this row of photos. Trim a strip to 12"x 1/4" and adhere it at the bottom of the photos.

 

 

Now you need another piece of pattern paper trimmed to 9"x 2 1/4". Adhere this at the bottom left side of the paper about 1/4" from the bottom of the background paper.

Trim photos to 3" tall. Adhere them 1/2" above the bottom of the strip. They do not have to stretch all the way across this paper. I have about an inch showing on the right side. I trimmed three photos to fit.

Go back to pattern paper #2 and trim another strip measuring 8"x 1/2". Adhere this to the bottom of your photos.

For this next step, we need a piece of pattern paper measuring 7 1/4" x 3/4". You can either use a fourth type of pattern paper or use a piece of the first paper that we cut. Adhere this along the right edge of the paper about 1/4" above the bottom row of photos.

Trim the last of your photos to 2 1/2" high. Place these along the middle strip of paper. I was able to fit two photos here.

Now place your title centered at the bottom of the top row of photos. You can either use a pre-printed title like I did or use letter stickers to create your own.

Add journaling directly to the background in the space to the left of the middle row of photos.

You can add buttons along the top row of photos near the left side and one centered on the right edge of the bottom photo.

 

Optional: Feel free to add any further embellishments. I added another strip of paper in between the top two rows of photos and placed a large brad over it. I also added another strip above the bottom row of photos.

     Trimming photos and laying them side by side in strips is an easy way to use lots of photos on a layout. I was able to fit nine photos of my son's football season on one page!

     This layout would work for the wallet size school photos your kids bring home of their friends. It would also be fun to see wallet size photos of your child from grades K-12- such change right before your eyes!

Here is another example where I used tiny photos in strips. The next time you have photos printed, keep the page with the tiny contact prints.  They can be trimmed and used on a layout like this.

     Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Psalm 139:14

     This post is linked to Embracing Change, 52 Mantles, and Shabby Creek Cottage.