Recipe of the Week #62- Layered Taco Bake

Layered Taco Bake
3/4- 1 lb ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 tsp chili powder
1 1/4 cups salsa
1 pkg (10 oz.) frozen corn
3 (8 in.) tortillas
1/2 cup sour cream
3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided

Preheat oven to 350. Brown meat with onions and peppers. Stir in chili powder- cook 1 minute. Add salsa and corn. Mix well. Simmer 5 min.

Spread 1 cup of the meat sauce on the bottom of an 8 or 9 inch square baking dish. Top with layers of 1 tortilla, 1/2 cup meat sauce, sour cream, and 1/4 cup cheese. Repeat layers. Top with 1 tortilla and the remaining meat sauce. Cover with foil.

Bake 25 minutes, then top with remaining cheese. Bake uncovered for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

This is such a fun and easy dish because you can add whatever extras you like. I always enjoy a quick and easy recipe. I usually make this for my hubby to take to work for lunch- and he just loves it!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

He is the Rock, His work is perfect;

For all His ways are justice,

a God of truth and without injustice;

righteous and upright is He.

Deut. 32:4

This post is linked to Between Naps on the Porch and My Girlish Whims.

These Were Cabinet Doors?!?

     That's right. These were cabinet doors- the very cabinet doors that I recently rescued from my neighbor's trash.

With my hubby's help, I turned them into a trifold for displaying photos and other mementos.

This will be great to set out during birthday parties for cards

or to show off old photos of the birthday person:)

Here's a close up view of each panel.

Because the background is chalkboard, it can be personalized with a message.

There's quite a bit of room for photos.

We first taped off the frames and spray painted chalkboard paint in the centers.

Once that dried, we connected them with hinges. My hubby wanted the hinges to be on the back, but it would've taken several extra steps to make the trifold stand up. I really like the look of the hinges on the front. Plus, I'm all about keeping it easy!

Next we placed screws alternating down the frames.

For the final step, I attached twine to the screws. This is how the photos will be attached.

This same type of project could be done with old shutters or frames as well.

I just love having a cute place to put photos!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Then He said to them all,

"If anyone desires to come after Me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross daily,

and follow Me."

Luke 9:23

This post is linked to Embracing Change, The Dedicated House, Craft-O-Maniac, Today's Creative Blog, Making the World Cuter, and Skip to My Lou.  

Mini Spool Necklace Tutorial

     Today I have a quick and easy project for you. . . shocker, I know (hee hee). If you have read this blog for any length of time, you've probably noticed that nearly everything I do is quick, easy, or quick and easy!

 

Today's project is a necklace with mini spools.

Are you thinking, "My that's cute- I'd sure like to make one for myself!"?

If you are, you're in luck. Here's a step-by-step.

 

You'll need:

three small wooden spools (can be found at a craft store)

18" necklace (I used a ball chain)

three different colors of embroidery floss

glue that dries invisible (Elmer's should work)

 

Take your first spool and put a tiny dot of glue on it.

 

Then place the end of your embroidery floss on the glue and start wrapping it around the spool.

 

Keep wrapping until the entire spool is covered.

 

Then cut off the excess floss. Place a tiny dot of glue at the end of the floss.

 

You can use the head of the glue bottle to firmly press the end of the floss into the glue.

Give it a little time to dry, then this is what you should end up with.

Now do it with the other two spools.

 

Place the spools on your necklace, and you're through!

How do you like that?

 

I'm thinking that if you'd rather use small scraps of scrapbook paper or fabric instead of the embroidery floss that would look cute, too.

 

If you like this project, you may want to go here

to see how I used these mini spools to make a bracelet!

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Judge not, and you shall not be judged.

Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.

Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Luke 6:37

 

 

This post is linked to  It's Overflowing, Embracing Change, Tater Tots and Jello, I Heart Naptime, and My Girlish Whims. 

 

    

Thrifty Thursday #62

     How do you spell Saturday morning fun for my family? A community garage sale, that's how!
     I'll be honest, though. My boys don't get excited about the sales. Nope. Actually, they get excited about a stop at the donut shop. The town hosting the community sale has a bakery that sells huge donuts. I mean they're huge- like the size of my kids' heads huge. That's why my boys like to come:)

     I found some good things besides fried goodies, though. . .

 

This beautiful glass bowl was only fifty cents!

I washed it up and used it the same day:)

 

One sale had a sign that said all clothes were only a quarter.

This shirt had no wear and my growing son needs church clothes.

I only had a five dollar bill with me, so I asked the lady if I could run to my car to get some coins. She told me to just take the shirt. So I got it for free!

 

We found one sale in an old outdoor building. I was expecting great things from it, but was disappointed.

While digging through a basket of old jewelry and I spotted this flower pin. I love the red rose.

I think somehow I'll incorporate it into a bracelet.

 

I love old silverware and serving utensils. I got these for a quarter apiece.

I'll be looking at Pinterest for uses for ladles- other than serving food.

 

I never pass up these index card dividers.

They come in handy for scrapbooking.

 

Look at these two old books I found.

 

Oh, how I love old books. These were fifty cents each.

 

 

This life vest was only $1. It's the second brand new life vest I have gotten at a yard sale.

My father-in-law recently gave us a fishing boat, so these two vests will come in handy!

 

We went to several sales in the community. This is about half my loot; come back next Thursday and see what else I found!

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

I delight to do Your will, O my God,

and Your law is within my heart.

Psalm 40:8

 

This post is linked to Junkin' Joe. 

 

Layout of the Week #48- Making a "Couple" Themed Page

     Recently I came across a blog with the cutest journaling idea- a Him/Her theme showcasing the couple's different interests. The blogger's post was celebrating her anniversary, but I thought it would make a great scrapbook page. We'll be using this journaling idea to create a "Couple" themed page.

 

Here's the layout we'll be making.

     The journaling is very simple; it says:

                Him: outgoing
                Her:  shy
        
                Him: unsweetened iced tea
                Her: Diet Coke

                Him: unorganized
                Her: organized

                Him: grills
                Her: cooks and bakes

                Him: never wears a watch
                Her: occasionally wears a watch

                Him: gardening
                Her: crafts

                Him: strawberry
                Her: vanilla

                Him: Reece's Pieces
                Her: Peanut butter M and Ms

                Him: spicy
                Her: mild

                Him: nights
                Her: mornings

     You'll need to personalize this journaling for your layout. It doesn't have to be about you- you could showcase your parents, grandparents, or any other couple.

 

 

To create it, you'll need:

one piece of 12"x12" pattern paper

three strips of pattern paper measuring 3/4"x 12" (can be all one pattern or different)

one strip of pattern paper measuring 1" x 12"

one piece of pattern paper measuring 4 1/2" x 6 1/2"

one piece of pattern paper measuring 7 1/2" x 4"

title sticker (or letter stickers)

strip of paper for journaling measuring 4" x 8 1/2" (I used ledger paper)

three small embellishments

one photo

paper trimmer

adhesive

 

 

Adhere the 1" x 12" strip of pattern paper not quite to the bottom edge of the background paper.

Adhere one strip of 3/4" x 12" pattern paper almost to the top edge.

 

Adhere the remaining 3/4" x 12" strips to the left and right sides leaving a little bit of background paper showing.

 

Now take the pattern paper measuring 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" and adhere it in the bottom left corner about one inch above the bottom strip.

 

Adhere the piece of pattern paper measuring 7 1/2" x 4" like this. 

 

Now place your photo overlapping both the smaller pieces of pattern papers.

 

Place your journaling strip along the right edge of the layout.

I slid mine behind one of the pieces of pattern paper.

 

Place your title at the bottom right corner of your photo slightly overlapping your journaling strip.

Finally, place your three embellishments-

one at the bottom left corner of the photo,

one at the bottom right corner of your journaling, and

one at the top left corner of your journaling.

 

We're done! That was easier than it looked, right?

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Luke 6:36

 

 

This post is linked to Be Different Act Normal and 52 Mantles. 

Recipe of the Week #61- Easy Fudge (Made in the Microwave!)

Easy Fudge
1 8oz pkg Philadelphia Cream Cheese
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 pkg baking chips, any flavor (cherry pictured above)

Melt cream cheese and chips in microwave for 1 minute. Stir, then microwave for another minute. Add the sugar and vanilla. Spread in pan. Cut when cool.

You can use any flavor that you can find- I've made chocolate, butterscotch, and cherry flavored.

This recipe is so easy to make and always turns out good. It's an old family favorite. My mom used to make it, but as soon as I was old enough to know my way around the kitchen, it became my job to make it.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.

Luke 6:27-28

This post is linked to Too Much Time On My Hands, Happy Hour Projects, and Cheerios and Lattes.

Teacup and Saucer Candle Holder

     I have a weakness for cute teacups- especially when I can find one with a matching saucer.

  I never drink out of them as I am not fond of tea. They simply aren't big enough for my Diet Coke. Nevertheless, I have a small collection sitting in a cabinet.

 I think if I had a daughter, we would have regular tea parties. 

But I don't. 

I have two rough and tumble boys who cannot be convinced to do any such thing:)

     So, while browsing an awesome garage sale recently (I've been to this lady's garage sale before and she is the most awesome garage sale-er that I have ever seen! She has great stuff and actually sets it out nicely and sets up vignettes!), I found a beautiful teacup and saucer with little red flowers. I knew just what to do with them. . .

I turned them into a candle holder.

It was so easy!

If you'd like to make one, all you need is:

a teacup

a saucer

E-6000 glue

 short pillar candle or small cloche

Apply E-6000 glue to the bottom rim of the teacup.

With the saucer upside down, place the teacup glue-side down in the center of the saucer bottom.

Let it dry for 24hours.

You may want to place a stack of books on top- just make sure when you don't bump the cup and mess up the alignment.

Ta-da!

Then you can either add a cloche

or a small candle.

This would make a great gift for a friend or would be cute for party decor.

If you like this project, take a look at these other projects using little China plates.

I used them as frames.

You can see this post here.

I made some into a wreath.

You can see the post here.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Do not forsake me, O Lord;

O my God, be not far from me!

Psalm 38:21

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