Valentine's Day Wreath Give Away

I know what you're thinking: another ribbon wreath?! Well in this case, it's three more ribbon wreaths.  I wasn't kidding when I said I had A LOT of ribbon in the Crafting Oasis and that I would rather use it up than have it sit in a bucket.  

When I first started sorting through ribbon for the Back to school wreath, I earmarked different sets of ribbons for different projects.  This set of blue, white, and brown was perfect for a wintery wreath. 

 All I bought were these three spools so I had a few thicker ribbons to help balance out the thinner ones. Plus, I needed a dark blue as an "anchor"  

Here's the result, hanging on our kitchen door. 

When it comes to Valentine's Day ribbon, I had even more stashed away (all right, I admit, I may have purchased one or two more earlier this month - just to round things out!)

I had enough to make one wreath for me... 

and one for one of you! 

That's right! Since I have two wreaths, I will be giving one away to one my blog readers.  To be eligible, all you have to do is comment on this post, or if you don't have a Google account that will let you, you can also comment on the pin of the Valentine's Day wreath on Pinterest on my "Things from My Blog" board. All comments made by 11 PM on Wednesday January 29th, 2014 will be eligible (I'll have one of my kids pull the name from a hat - literally).  I'll announce the winner on Wednesday night, and then we'll figure out a way to get it to you.

I can't wait to see who the lucky winner will be!

A Scarf for Vince

For the past few weeks I have been dealing with a bad back.  At first, I blamed the dog, because it only hurt at night when I was sleeping, but would be fine once I got up and started moving around.  But a few weeks ago, it was bothering me all the time.  Then the pain went down my right leg and at one point, my calf was hard as a rock.  After ruling out a blood clot, I went to at PT who has me working on exercises to help alleviate the culprit, a pinched nerve.  His first tip helped me with driving, so that I didn't feel like crying.

Needless to say, having a pinched nerve has really cramped my crafting style.  Quilting is too much like driving to be comfortable, so that's out for now.  I am so far behind in scrapbooking it's not funny, but that will have to wait for a bit too.  So in looking at my UFO's I focused on some knitting that was in my bag.

I learned how to knit a few years ago.  The only thing I can make are scarves, so I have quite a few. I like trying different stitches so at least they don't all look  the same.

My stepson, Vince loves the color red, so when I had a skein of red yarn leftover from a different scarf, I knew it was for him. It's a nice thick yarn.  I used 13 needles and knitted it with the rib stitch, (knit two, purl two) which I like because it looks like the garter stitch, but doesn't roll up on the edges.

Here's the finished project: I know it's not at all fancy, but it's going to keep one little boy very warm in our Western NY winters! And it's a UFO that's finished :)

What projects are you working on to stay warm?

Cardinal Stitching

Many of my projects during the fall and holiday season used up supplies that I had stockpiled in the Crafting Oasis, which is great.  Yet one of the reasons I started the 40 by 41 challenge was to finish up those UFOs (UnFinished Objects).  Today, I can cross a UFO off the list!

I have always loved the Cross Stitch and Needlework magazine.  Two years ago, the Christmas issue had many wonderful projects, but I liked the one on the cover, a cardinal sitting on a branch of holly.  My mom liked cardinals, and I had originally planned on giving the stitching to her.  She had some little cardinal knick-knacks that she put out in the winter months after Christmas. I think there is something appealing about the bright red when everything outside is so white, and I think she did too.  I thought is would be a nice addition to the grouping.

Mom passed away shortly after I started the stitching though.  I asked my Dad if I could have those few cardinal knick-knacks, and I have since added a few more.

After two years of picking up the piece, putting it down, starting a new project or two,  and then picking it back up again, I finally put the finishing stitches in it just this week.

I had found a square black frame at the after-Christmas sales, and decided that I would make a mat with red paper from my vast scrapbooking paper collection.










I used the "picture" that came with the frame as the template to cut the square from my new mat. Using the red mat as a guide, I stretched the stitching over a piece of cardboard (from scrapbooking packaging, so I think it should be safe to use) It took a few tries, and little bit more trimming to get the cardinal centered and stretched within the opening.

Then I layered the whole thing inside the frame and viola!











Now it sits with the other cardinals.  I have the beginnings of a flock!

Peppermintys

I hope that you have had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy start to the New Year!

We had a wonderful holiday season, and clearly a very busy one since I have been neglectful of my blog.  Poor blog.  :(

But now that I have time to breathe deeply, and even sit down, I am back to work on my 40 by 41 projects.  You'll see a completed project later this week.

First, though, I meant to share with you one of my favorite recipes that I invented when I found myself in need of a quick cookie. 

Here's the story: Several years ago, I was baking for a Cookie Walk at church.  We were told that we had to bring in four dozen cookies. I ran out of a key ingredient at ten at night and when you are a single mother and you run out of an ingredient at ten at night you are OUT.  Rather than be short on the amount of cookies, I looked around to see what else I had.  I found a roll of sugar cookie dough and a box of candy canes.

Put the two together and you get Peppermintys!


First thing is to smash the candy canes.  For a regular sized roll, I use about eight candy canes.  I put them in a plastic baggie and use a meat tenderizer to smash them (a great stress reliever if the holiday hype is getting to you).  You want to have some small chunks, not just smithereens (like I might if making Peppermint Bark). Put the smashed canes in a bowl.

I always use Pillsbury sugar cookie dough.  Set the oven to 350 as directed.  Slice the cookie dough and then roll into a ball.

 Roll in the smashed canes.

Place on parchment paper on cookie sheets.   I use parchment when baking.  I find it makes clean up a lot easier, and I can slide one sheet off the pan onto the counter to cool, and slide a prepared parchment right back on the pan, so it keeps things moving quickly



Bake for about 10 minutes.

The cookies are done when they are slightly browned around the edges.  They come out puffy but the candy canes melt in the oven and then harden into a thin, crispy cookie.







So the next time you find yourself in a pinch for Christmas cookies, make some Peppermintys.  They're quick, easy, and oooooohhh so good!