What a difference a year makes

With all the baseball tournaments I have not been able to join in on CR84FN or Mojo Monday like I want to, but I am back baby!!!  Today's cards were made for a couple of people at work that have a birthday coming up.  Of course while I was making them I reflected on my almost year at the high school. It is hard to believe what a difference a year makes.  I am happy, and much healthier. I had always thought people were nuts to say that a job could age you like that.  Especially when it was a job that I loved. I loved working with the staff but most of all the children.  I am not going to bore you with the things I did not love.  Those would be the reasons that I left.  

A year later, I am happy, less stress... A LOT LESS STRESS!  I am doing something I love and something I am good at.  I am working with people that are Godly people that let me pray for them, that encourage me to pray for them and that have prayed for me.  

My cholesterol is down.  WAY DOWN!  God works things out in the neatest ways.  I love when He surprises me and takes care of me when I didn't realize I needed it, but I always do.

Now a year later, there are some people that I miss, and probably will never talk to again.  And to that I just have to say "oh well".  I am happy!  

These cards are made with a lot of leftovers so telling it all might be hard.

The top card:

Scallop oval die cut by Spellbinders

Flower die cut by Tim Holtz

Ribbon bought at CKC

Patterned paper by K&Co

Red paper by Recollections

All inks are Distress inks by Tim Holtz

Birthday stamp by Stampin UP!

Leaves made from the Magnolia line of paper and inked with Distress inks

 

Second card:

Embossing folder by Stampin UP! (thanks Cassie for selling it to me)

Yellow paper by Recollections

Birthday sentiment by Stampin UP!

all other supplies same as above

I will wring you up by your neck

Today I made scarves! I had leftover fabric that needed to be purged from my craft closest and decided that scarves would be the best way to clean out that closet.  I first took two large rectangles of fabric, one in brown chiffon like and one a floral rayon blend.  I stitched them together to make one long rectangle.  Then I fold them in half right sides together and stitched up the long side.  I turned it right side out and stitched closed the bottom and bam an infinity scarf.  FAST and easy!

The next one took some more work.  First I started with 2 7 inch wide rectangles and strips of pink.  I stitched the pink up to make two long ruffles. I pinned those ruffles to the long sides of one of the black rectangles.  I then placed the other rectangle on top of this rectangle and pinned the ruffles in the inside.   I was making a tube full of ruffles.  I stitched closed the tube on the long sides.  Next, I turned it right side out.

And it looked like this. Each end had a selvage so I did not have to hem up the ends, but I did decide to use some black thread and stitch the ends closed.  I am very pleased with this one. 

Lastly, I was running out of fabric and just made two long black rectangles again. I took some leftover striped material and made ruffles from it.  I wanted a sloppy look so I did not serge the edges.  I layered two rolls of ruffles on each end of one rectangle and stitched in place with a zig-zag.  Then I made another tube using the last black rectangle and stitched that baby closed in all but a small area so I could turn it right sides out.  I slip stitched it closed. I like it!!!!

Little Suzi Homemaker????

Really?  I surely can't be talking about ME?  Nope, I am not, what I am talking about is the item that I made today.  Here is the story:

A few months ago I made vests for Trevor's drama club.  I kept the scraps.  They were not really big enough to do anything but I kept them anyway.  The remnants used today were 4 strips of red flowery fabric.  To this I added some white fabric that I got from my mother in law and I have literally had it for about 15 years.  To that I added some pieces cut from a red carpet party that we held for Hannah for a birthday party about 6 years ago.  As you can see from the main photo I made an apron.  I had wanted a nice one to wear when I have folks over for dinner, or when I just wanted to feel like Donna Reed.

This apron was made without a pattern, but I will try my best to walk you through it.  I have no measurements so I have measured the finished items.  I just sewed this up by sight.

All sizes are finished sizes:
Bib-12x13 (I just fashioned this to my size. I actually cut the fabric a couple of times before I started stitching. I cut 2 bibs.

Ruffles, since they were all from remnants, I just had to use what I had.  The bottom red ruffle is about 1.5 inches,  the bib ruffle is about .5 inches. The neck ties are actually made from the bib ruffle.  There was enough to use for the ties, then I took the rest and gathered it to use on the bib.

The skirt is about 24"x 40".  I gathered the top of it by using a very loose running stitch and hand gathering it.

First thing I did was take the gathered small ruffle (I gathered it first) and the ties and  sandwich them between the two bibs.  I stitched right sides together on 3 sides (the open side was the side that touches the waist).

Then I put the ruffle on the bottom of the skirt (it was gathered in the first steps.  I finished the edges by using a zig zag stitch.  I also stitched a small piece of the skirt material on top the (inside) to make the white thread not show up as much.

  The sides of the skirt were cut on the selvage so no need to hem that. 





The next step was to take the last piece of remnant and I fashioned a waistband from this.  There were 2 pieces and I stitched them together on the short side making a very long strip that was approx 2 inches wide and 59" long.  I folded it in half longways creating a 1"x59" strip.  Then I went in and folded 1/4 over on each edge just to finish the waistband.  Then I made a sandwich, waistband, skirt, bib, waistband.  I stitched it all together and bam I have an apron!

Recycled "ART"

I am all about leaving a smaller footprint on this world.  The mark I leave on Earth is not one that trashed the place.  I want to leave a mark that says "wow she made a difference".  Today my difference is in TRASH!

I have started collecting what some would call TRASH.  I am making things from this garbage.  Some things are going to be serviceable and some just a dust collector (so essentially I am leaving a dust bunny trail).

Today I challenged myself with a box of junk and a sundrop can.


Let's start with the can....

I first decided to clean the can and cut it apart.  The aluminum is much thinner than I thought it would be no wonder I have punctured many a sundrop can. Next I decided to use punches and punch out shapes.  I wasn't sure what I could do with that.

Then a vision came to me. The punched pieces would make a great base. I decided to color the pieces with alcohol inks using an inking tip that I got from Tim Holtz. I still needed something else. I needed to make flowers!

I cut a spiral from the can. Let me tell you this was not that easy, you have to be very careful not to slice your finger. Once cut, I inked it with alcohol ink I began to roll it. I started from the wide part of the spiral. This can he tricky as the edges are very sharp. It seems to be worth the trouble. Finish it by adding a dan of hot glue to hold it together. I will probably add these to some canvas art.

Peanut Butter Pie

Please note I am NOT a good sharer of recipes.  The only reason I share this is because well.....I did not invent it, I just changed it to suit ME!   This started as the recipe from Cracker Barrel's own lady that made the pies, but I have changed it to suit me. Also, keep in mind I measure NOTHING!!!  So this is just a guess.

Peanut Butter Pie

Crust:

1 ¼ chocolate cookie crumbs (20 cookies)

¼ c sugar

¼ c butter, melted

Filling:

1 package 8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 c creamy peanut butter

1 c sugar

1 T butter softened

1 t vanilla

1 c heavy cream, whipped

Chocolate chips

Combine crust ingredients; press into a 9 in pie plate.  Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.  Cool.

Beat cream cheese, sugar, peanut butter, butter, and vanilla until smooth.  Add choc chips into the mixture.  Fold in whipped cream.  Gently spoon into crust.  Refrigerate. Top with whipped cream and chocolate chips...yummy.

Love of my life

19 years ago today, I was blessed to marry Mr. John Champion.  A quiet dude, that takes care of us, takes us places and mows our yard.  Oh, he does lots more too, but we don't want to give him a big head.  I love him more today than 19 years ago.  I am blessed.

Coke it is

I have been a coke user all my life...haha got your attention didn't I?

I am talking about coca cola. I have loved to drink coke since I was a small child. I think it started with those lovely Gibson girls in the ads and then came about the taste. I don't really drink anything else.  Actually, I can't remember the last time I did.

My husband shares this love and we were just talking about how cokes taste different.  Like in Mexico, the syrup is thicker and has a sweeter taste.  In the USA the plastic bottles taste terrible, the can tastes "normal", but the glass bottles are SUPER!!!!!  We have decided we are going to stock up on the bottles you can get at Dollar General, the syrup to water ratio is pretty perfect and we need to buy it before they change it.

That lead the conversation to places NOT putting enough syrup in their fountain drinks.  We have a list of worst and best places to get a coke (or a cherry coke). These are Paducah locations by the way.

Best
1. Steak and Shake
2.  Sonic
3. Hardees
4. Dairy Queen




Worst
1. Pizza by the Pound
2.  Cracker Barrel
3. McDonald's


I would love to know what you think....speak your mind below.