Gift Certificates/Mon. Blog Hop

Don't know what to get that special person this year????

Here is the perfect gift..let them pick it out at our ETSY
online store with our newest thing...........
Our santasgiftshoppe GIFT CERTIFICATE.

Shop early..Store will be closing to finish up Christmas
orders & have Christmas Vacation with the Family.....
Store will be Closed.........Dec. 4th-28th.

Blog Hop Below..Have fun & let's see what's been keeping
you busy!!

Christmas Trees & Blog Hop

I know people who have already put their Christmas trees in the 1st week of Nov...I love Christmas probably more than some kids even but we all have our traditions & ours is putting 2 Christmas trees up the weekend after Thanksgiving..We like to enjoy the beauty of the season as long as possible so I understand the people that put them up asap after Halloween.

I thought I would give you a peek inside our Family room to show you 1 of our trees & how we decorate it. (With Old fashion type ornaments)

Here is a glimpse of our 7 1/2 foot Artificial Tree we have in our Family room. It is called a slim tree (it doesn't take up as much room as a regular size tree) it is our "Old Fashion Christmas Tree" decorated with mostly hand made ornaments..some 35 yrs. old, some our adult children like left on this tree so when they come home for Christmas they can relive memories of childhoods past.

I made dough ornaments many yrs ago. I did

not make this one but love it. We have a

mixture of handmade/old fashion ornaments

on this tree. There are many cross-stitched

ones too. These are some of my favorites I

love to reminisce about each year.

I love our mechanical Santa..He has been

a part of our Christmas for many years..

He hasn't changed a bit in all these yrs..

We always have red bows/Angel on top & red/

white fur tree skirt...I love the old fashion

look..

It reminds me somewhat of the

ornaments when I was growing up..Our

tree however was always a Charlie Brown

type for a few dollars..I always thought it

was beautiful..I guess because of all the

love that it received...It looked like the

Rockefeller Center tree to me...My parents

always made things wonderful even if we

did not have as much as others...we have plenty
of love & that made for a wonderful childhood.

Hope this inspires you to even Make some of your ornaments
this year & treasure them for years to come.

Here is the Blog Hop where you get to show all of us
what you hav been making....Have fun & leave comments..

Teacher gifts..DIY Ornaments/Blog Hop

Here are some of the Newest additions to our
ETSY store.

DIY Projects that are Fun & Easy! An extra plus..
inexpensive..They make Great Gifts for Secret
Santas or Teachers..anybody..

Take a Peek....CLICK HERE

What have you been working on??? BLOG HOP
IS Below the 2 photos..Let's see your great ideas!!!
Please visit each other & .....Leave Comments!

Thanksgiving Ideas & Blog Hop

Well..Now that Halloween is over..It's time to
move on to Thanksgiving...Time with Family,
Friends, Fabulous Recipes to share..& delicious
foods...Blog Hop is below plus a link to a great
Thanksgiving Treasury on Etsy..more ideas for ya!

By the way hope you had a Fun Filled Halloween!

Wouldn't these look beautiful on your table
this Thanksgiving??? They are the newest
items in my ETSY store.

Here is a link to the Thanksgiving Treasury on ETSY. CLICK HERE

If you are interested in purchasing the vinyl decals for
your Thanksgiving Table..CLICK HERE

Here is the Blog Hop...Have fun..Let's see what
you have been working on??

Halloween Party

Here are some craft ideas/recipes to get us
Crafters inspired for this fun holiday.

The photo (above) is of Halloween decorations
for a party @ my wonderful friends Christine's
house. She had graciously invited some women
from Relief Society (from our church) over
for a Special Halloween Party...She is
so creative & really out does herself. (To bad
for me she lives far away...in another state)

Here is the table with decorations & some of
the Goodies. There are my mom's "Hoot-Owl"
Cookies (from when I was a kid) , Witch Finger
Bread sticks, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip
Cookies, Also (not shown are Bony Bread-
sticks) RECIPES ARE SHOWN BELOW:

"Witch Finger Breadsticks" (picture above)
RECIPE
1 pkg. thawed Bridgford "dinner rolls"
1/4 c. melted butter
Parmesan cheese
garlic salt
egg yolks
food coloring
sm. paintbrush

Directions:
Roll each roll into a finger-sized rope. Using
knife, cut one end of rope in "V" shape for
finger nail & cut lines for "knuckles." Lay
flat on cookie sheet & pinch on either side
of knuckle. Brush with melted butter (not
fingernail) Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese
& garlic salt..avoiding nail. Create "nail polish"
by combining egg yolk with food coloring.
Paint "nail." Bake @ 350F. for 10-15 min.


This is a picture of "Bony Bread Sticks." found
at BHG website. Make sure you make these
different size bones.

RECIPE
1 pkg. refrigerated (Pillbury type) bread
sticks
For Sweet: cinnamon/sugar
For Savory: garlic salt/parmesan cheese
Directions:
Unroll bread sticks. Knot each end of
bread stick & bake. Serve warm. You could
also include a "dip" tinted with red for a
dramatic effect. Or, sprinkle with a savory or
sweet seasoning.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies (Above)
RECIPE
1 box of spice cake mix
1 reg. size can of pumpkin (or 1/2 lg. size)
1 bag chocolate chips (6oz.)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F. Combine all
ingredients together. Using cookie scoop
or spoon drop dough on to greased cookie
sheet. Bake 10 min. (depending on oven)
Cool & enjoy!

Halloween Countdown Craft/Blog Hop

Halloween will soon be here & what a FUN way to
have your kids know how many days until the BIG
Day! I have seen these countdown wooden cubes
all over the web...so I added another block to the set
& this is what I came up with...Plus it's reversible..
On the other side it's lime green w/Black vinyl
lettering saying Happy Halloween...I had great fun making
these..Hope they inspire you to have fun making a craft
with your kids.

Blog Hop Below...What Halloween/Holiday crafts have
you been making?????

Halloween Fun Eyeballs Decorations

Mondays Blog Hop is below..Link up & have
some fun!

These are "blood-shot eyeballs" from "Martha".
She does Halloween like no other!! I've heard
her say it's one of her favorite Holidays. I have

Materials needed:
2 plastic softball size balls (for 1 pair)
1 old pair of beige nylons (or knee-hi nylons)
blue tissue paper (or whatever color you want
for the iris)
black construction paper (for pupil)
1 piece white paper (for highlights)
scissors, hole punch, glue, red marker

Directions:
Cut out large iris circle from colored tissue
paper. Glue one on each of the balls. (You
may want to add two layers of tissue so it's
not transparent) Cut smaller circle from
black paper. Glue on top of iris. Punch 2
holes from white paper (for highlights)
Glue in place. Draw wiggly "blood-shot" lines
on white all stemming from iris. Place each
ball in the foot of each nylon. Cut if needed &
tie @ top of nylons together to prevent eyes
from falling out. Drape on porch or wherever.

Have a great Halloween!!!

Halloween Pumpkin Face Decals..Plus Spiders & Spiderwebs

Halloween is so much fun!! I hope you & your family
enjoy all the costumes, smells, & decorating your
homes as much as I do.

With there being so little time to do these things..
Decorating a Pumpkin this year is extra EASY & FAST.

Here are a couple of ideas I made for Pumpkins
from Vinyl (and they take about 2 minutes to put
on your family pumpkin.) That sure saves time!!!

Check them out...they are in my ETSY store...
Click HERE

Halloween Hoot Owl Cookies and Recipe

I Love the Holidays in the Fall..Don't You???
Starting with Halloween..Thanksgiving..
Christmas.. & then the birth of a New Year
2012...WoW!!! Can you believe you'll be living
in the year 2012??? I can't.

I love the cool mornings..the crispness in the Fall air.Golden Colors of changing trees, smells of
Thanksgiving turkey..
(it's my Favorite dinner to make)

Here is an idea/recipe for Halloween Cookies
that bring back wonderful memories baking
with my mom..My grown up daughters have
carried on the tradition as we had them this
last week...RECIPE BELOW


HOOT OWL COOKIES(Look at their different Personalities)

FYI: This Classic recipe was a Pillsbury
Bake-Off winner for Natalie R. Riggin
of Olympia, Washington in 1956!!!

I just learned that this year!!

My mom never told me where she got it...
It was just a FUN Cookie tradition
we did each year!!

RECIPE
1 c. packed brown sugar
3/4 butter or margarine, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
2 1/4 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate, melted
80 semisweet choc. chips (1/3 c.), 40 cashews
Directions
1) In a large bowl, beat brown sugar & butter for about
1-2 min. scrapping bowl occasionally, until light & fluffy.
Beat in vanilla & egg. On low speed, beat in flour, baking
powder & salt until dough forms. In a small bowl, place
1 cup of the dough stir in melted chocolate & baking soda
until well blended.

2) On a 12x8-inch sheet of plastic wrap, press half of the
light dough to form a 10x4-inch strip. Shape half the
chocolate dough into a roll 10-inches long; place on strip
of light dough. Mold sides of light dough around chocolate
dough; wrap in plastic wrap. Repeat with remaining dough.
Refrigerate 1 hour for easier handling.

3) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut each roll into 40
(1/4 inch) slices; place 2 slices, touching each other, on
ungreased cookie sheets to resemble owl faces. Pinch
corner of each slice to form ears. Place chocolate chip in
the center of each slice for eyes; press whole cashews
between slices for beak.

Helpful Hint: To buy only the cashews you need
you can buy them at Winco in bulk & save money
not buy a whole can..(but they are soo good!!)

4) Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light
golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie
sheet to cool....ENJOY!!!

Halloween Fun Idea/Blog Hop

Monster Eyes Hot Chocolate

I think I have told you..Halloween isn't just for kids!!
I have alot of fun myself during all these holidays til the
end of the year especially..Making lots of great Family
Memories/Traditions that never end..That's the
Best Part...the family memories..

Well....the above photo is my attempt to make
"Monster Eyes" which I found @ The Farm Girl
website..great blog...check it out!

Supplies to make Monster Eyes:
2 Big Marshmallows
2 Black Jelly Beans
2 Lollipop Sticks

Directions:
Take a lollipop stick end & stick it in the jelly bean
then stick it through the Big Marshmallow & put it
in the hot chocolate...Have a laugh!! The weight of
the lollipop stick helps it to not fall over so much but
it will fall over a little..depending on which way you
put the jelly beans you can give them different
personalities sorta like "Mr. Potato Head"
Has anybody seen his "angry eyes"? I love Toy Story!!!

Best Chocolate/Peanut Butter Dessert?Mon. Blog Hop

Ouuuu these are soooo good!!! If you like Chocolate
& Peanut Butter (& who doesn't?) you'll love these
Mini Chocolate Bundt Cakes w/Peanut Butter
Frosting.

I found these over at Stephanie's Kitchen...but made
several changes because I wanted to take these to a
dinner party tonite & had not planned to do
that until an hr. before I was to be there (plus
getting ready) They turned out great & surprised me
at how easy they were to make...(They look like they
took a lot of time but..they didn't..and isn't that
what we like..

They were a big hit at the party too...so FAST & EASY
Sorry the picture is blurry...


RECIPE
1 Devil's Food Cake Mix (I used Betty Crocker)
plus ingredients on back of cake pkg. (3 eggs,
oil, & water)

PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING
1/2 c. butter, at room temperature
1 c. creamy peanut butter
2 c. confectioner's sugar (sifted)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 Tbsp. milk (I used Fat Free & it worked out fine)
18 Small Reese's peanut butter cups (quartered)

Directions:
1) Cream the butter & peanut butter together until
smooth. SEE BELOW:


2) Add confectioner's sugar and vanilla.
SEE BELOW:

3) Slowly add one Tablespoon of milk at a time,
until you get the consistency you want.
SEE BELOW:

4) Then I put the bowl into the microwave for
about 1 min. I wanted it thick, but able to flow
down the sides of each mini cake. Then top with
quartered peanut butter cups and enjoy pure
bliss...SEE BELOW:

Favorite Football Recipes & Links

Are You ready for some FOOTBALL? Here are some of our Fast & Favorite Football Recipes that we have picked out for you to make it easier to have all the recipes on 1 pg.! Have a Great Time!! Below is the 7 Layered Bean Dip which is sure to please a hungry crowd at game time or anytime.

RECIPE
1 32oz. can of refried beans
1 pkg. Taco Seasoning
1 16oz. sour cream
1 16oz. jar of Salsa (we used our homemade)
1/2 head of lettuce (chopped)
4 tomatoes (chopped)
2 c. Mexican blend shredded cheese
1 sm. can sliced olives
1 bunch green onions (a few sliced) Optional
Directions:
Mix taco seasoning with refried beans in bowl.
Spread on large platter or 9"x13" pan. Layer sour
cream, salsa, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, olives, &
green onions as seen in ABOVE PHOTO..Enjoy!
BELOW are the BEST/FAST/EASY Super
Bowl Recipes we have chosen from the blog
especially for you:

Easy Potato Skins
Best Honey BBQ Ribs

Best Homemade Chili Easy Homemade Salsa

Best Chocolate Mint Brownies

Chocolate Brownie Footballs

Fall/Autumn Hand Sanitizers/Mon.Blog Hop

Fall is coming..I love the Fall..Cool Crisp mornings &
beautiful colors..plus all the holidays...FUN..FUN..FUN

Above are the new 12oz. Fall Hand Sanitizers in my
ETSY Shoppe...Check them out. Free Upgrade Priority
Shipping...

Blog Hop Below..Let's see what great things you have
been creating for all of us to get inspired by...

Wall Monogram/Blog Hop

I Love Monograms..Any kind...This one is just
beautiful. I love the white against the Taupe wall.
These are up in the ETSY store if interested up above is
the Link.

What have you been up to lately????? Show & Tell
us below at our Blog Hop...Can't wait to see your
projects..

Mon. Blog Hop

Monday's Blog Hop is here..Have fun..
Show us what you have been making

Teacher Gifts/Mon. Blog Hop

These are what I have been working a lot on
lately..especially with the kids going back to
school. What a great way to start the new
school year off with CLEAN GERM FREE HANDS.

There are always so many virus' & junk going
around after school starts so this is a wonderful
way to fight Germs..with Hand Sanitizer.......
PERSONALIZED especially with your child's
Teacher's name on it. She can keep refilling it
all year.

They are up in my store if interested. Blog Hop Below...
Have fun..Leave kind comments for each other....

Adoption Pet Fundraiser License Plates

These are 2 of the License Plates I have been
working lately for our community's Pet Adoption
Annual Fundraiser Silent auction.

I had so much fun making these & I'm so happy
how they turned out. What a great gift for an
animal lover.

We got our wonderful "Ellie" from a Pet adoption
& she is the best little angel of a cat. These animals
are so special & just need someone to love them &
rescue them. They end up rescuing us & helping us
have lower blood pressure & longer lives.

Please think about adopting a cat or dog & making
your life & theirs happier.
What do you think of my Pet license plates???

See you Monday for the Monday Blog Hop..

Back To School Pencil Boxes/Mon. Blog Hop

Back to school..It's that time again..Here is a great way
to update/Personalize your child's Pencil Box. It's a
great way to organize school stuff as well.

I just took a cute font & cut out vinyl, dots, & stars &
turned these into really cute & fun Pencil Boxes for
the kids. Check them out.. they are up in the Etsy shoppe.

Blog Hop Is below..Can't wait to see your Creativity!!!