Giveaway!

Fun Giveaway on http://fromcathywithlove.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-200th-post-apron-giveaway-and.html

Craft of the Week - Ideas for a Homemade Christmas

Bread Cloths
Homemade Christmas Cards
Chocolate Spoons
Personalized Stationary
Candle in an antique tea cup
Homemade spice mixes
Homemade vinegars
Homemade Mustards
Theme Basket
Recyled Holiday Can filled with candy
Paint Terra Cotta Pots with holiday theme and include a candle
Clay Ornaments (See recipe below)
Bath Salts (See recipe below)
Plants grown from clippings
Paper-mache Bowls
Creative Picture Frames
Cookie Mix in a jar
Brownie Mix in a jar
Soup in a jar
Cake in a jar (See recipe below)
Spiced Mug Mats
Movie Night Basket
Home Choclate Covered Cherries
Chocolate Dipped Pringles
Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Chip Cookies
Candied Tea Stirrers (See Recipe below)
Teacup Pincushion
Garden Stepping Stone
Felt Paper Dolls
Placemats with matching napkins
Homemade Jammies
Homemade reusable shopping bags
potpourri sachets
soap
candles
photo album with old family photos
skin cream
personalized holiday napkins
recipe book
flavored brandy
homemade beer
tealights made out of walnut shell halves, wicking and beeswax

RECIPES

Cinnamon Spice Craft Dough

* 1 cup apple sauce
* 1 cup cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon nutmeg
* 1 teaspoon cloves

Mix until the dough has the consistency of play dough, adding more apple sauce or cinnamon as needed. (Incidentally, I buy cinnamon at the dollar store for 50 cents a bottle.) Roll flat, dusting counter and rolling pin with cinnamon if dough sticks. Cut out shapes with knife or cookie cutter. Use a toothpick to make a hole for hanging. Dry at room temperature for 5-7 days, turning over at the end of the third day to ensure even drying. They dry even quicker in a food dryer, and give your house a wonderful smell! (Recipe courtesy of Mrs. Survival)



Candy Cane Bath Salts:

* 2 cups Epsom salts
* ½ c. sea salt
* 4-6 drops peppermint oil
* 2-3 drops red food coloring.

Place one cup of Epsom and 1/4 cup sea salt in a bowl or re-sealable plastic bag. Add 2-3 drops peppermint oil.

Place the remaining ingredients in a second bowl. Mix all ingredients well. Layer the red and white salts in a clear bottle or jar. Half liter Naya ™ water bottles work well because they have the stripes. Tie with a ribbon and some small candy canes. This makes a great holiday gift for friends. (Recipe courtesy of Mrs. Survival)

CANDIED TEA STIRRERS
vegetable cooking spray
34 pieces fruit flavored hard candy--crushed--lemon, cinnamon etc
2 TBS light corn syrup
heavy weight plastic spoons

Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper. Spray with cooking spray. In a small heavy saucepan combine crushed candies and corn syrup and melt over low eat stirring frequently.

Spoon candy into bowl of each spoon. Place spoons on prepared cookie sheet with handles on rims and spoons level. Allow to harden. Store in air tight container. (Recipe courtesy of Mrs. Survival)

CAKE IN A JAR with the Chocolate-Almond Variation

For this, you use wide-mouth pint jars. You grease the bottoms and sides of the jars well with butter. Don't use oil or sprays.

When baking, you use one cup of batter in each jar. Don't use more! And be sure to wipe the jar rims carefully or the batter bakes on and they won't seal.
You place the jars on a baking sheet to put in the oven. Jars should not touch. They are baked at 325 for 55 to 60 minutes. Test doneness with a wooden toothpick or skewer.

You put the seals on the jars as soon they are removed from the oven. Screw them on firmly then let cool. They should seal. If not, refrigerate the cake or have it for dessert that evening! And they last two months according to the book.

RECIPE
2 -2/3 cups sugar
1 cup butter
4 eggs
1/2 cup water
2 tsp vanilla
3-1/2 cups flour
1- 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Cream sugar and butter. Add eggs and mix well. Add water and canilla. Add dry ingredients. Pur 1 cup batter in each pint jar. Bake at 325 F for 55 to 60 minutes.

For Chocolate Almond version omit water and vanilla. Add
1/2 cup almond flavored liquuer (amaretto)
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup almonds (slivered or chopped)

Mix and bake according to above directions

For Rum Raisin variation
omit water, add 1/2 cup dark rum and 1 cup raisins, bake as directed

For Banana Nut Cake Variation (don't omit water for this one)

add 2 cups mashed bananas
1 tsp cinnamon
2/3 cup chopped pecans.
Bake according to directions.

Or, you can just add 1 cup mini M&Ms and call it polka dot cake!

For Orange or Lemon Poppy Seed Variation:
Omit water and add

1 cup white chocolate chips or pieces
1/4 cup poppy seeds
1Tablespoon of either grated lemon or orange rind
1/2 cup of either lemon or orange juice

Mix and bake according to directions.

These recipes are from the Book "Jazzy Jars" by Marie Browning....a entire book about decorating canning jars and filling them for home made gifts.

Craft of the Week - Vintage Teapot Holder Pattern

Go to the following link for a fun pattern for a Vintage Teapot Holder Pattern: Cup & Saucer

http://tipnut.com/teapot-holder/

Craft of the Week - Craft Apron Tutorial

Check out this great blog and the tutorial for this cute apron. It looks easy to make and inexpensive too!




To see this super tutorial go to:

http://www.creativelittledaisy.typepad.com/creative_little_daisy/2006/11/craft_apron_tut.html

Craft of the Week - Needle Case Tutorial

Featured this week is a darling Needle Case Tutorial....

The artist has provided good instructions for making this cute case. It comes complete with a cute cupcake on the cover. A simple project with a lot of class.

Check it out at http://messyjessecrafts.blogspot.com/2009/08/welcome-to-messy-jesses-first-make-it.html

Craft of the Week - Lip Balm Cozy

The craft this week is so simple that you could make it for yourself. Why make it when it is only $3.50 on the artists website? You decide.....



CraftLadyLeah is a stay at home Mom of 2 kids. According to her website, she has been crafting for years. She has tried lots of different crafts. Her relationship with the Etsy community has affected her positively. "All of these wonderful, creative people have given such a surge of ideas I can hardly sleep at night for all the new possibilities bouncing around my head." she writes.

Please visit her website at:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11115959

New to Tiny Taylor Ranch Country Store

High Uinta Trails




A Hiking Guide to the trails and lakes in the High Uintas Primitive Area and High Uinta Wilderness in the Uinta Mountains of Utah. Written by Mel Davis.

$7.00 plus $3.00 shipping

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6912413