CHRISTMAS CRAFT TIME

This is the first year in a long time that I’ve had some time to do a couple of crafts, decorate the house and do some Christmas baking.  The last couple of years have involved me trying to bake a few Christmas favourites the day before people came over and Christmas shopping with all the other harried people a few days before the big day.

I like to put some consideration into shopping and preparing meals and to actually enjoy the season.

So, here are a couple of simple things I did this year. Neither require any expertise but I still think they turned out cute.

The first is just some fallen branches that I collected on my daily walk through the forest.

Spray painted them flat white and let them dry and decorated them with some vintage and vintage looking ornaments. It helps to fill up the empty corner haha.

The next one is equally as easy. I think it would make a great craft for kids as long as an adult operated the glue gun.  Have a bowl of ice water handy to plunge a finger when you accidently get hot glue on it. 😦

I used a 12×12 paint canvas (that’s what I had handy) You could use a piece of board or even sturdy cardboard.

I then covered it with a piece of white fleecy fabric. Again hot glued it as I didn’t have a staple gun handy.

From the same walk I gathered a few fairly straight branches approximately the same diameter, but not necessary. I just needed to cut through them with my little garden shears. I cut them approx. 2 1/2 inches long.

After gluing all the pieces of branches in a circle, I cut a few branches of cedar and tied them together with a piece of twine.  Over that I tied a bow and hot glued to the top of the frame.

Voila!  You could add more branches on top of the first layer.  I liked this look, simple and unconstructed looking.

Hope I inspired someone to try this.  Just have fun.

LIVE LIFE FULLY ❤

PIZZA PIZZA!!! RUSTIC PIZZA!!!

Our family loves homemade pizza!!  I make this recipe for everyone else in spite of the fact that I can’t eat it.  I make the same toppings but on a pre made gluten free crust.  I’ve actually come across a new gluten free crust sold at Thriftys but haven’t tried it yet. It’s fresh not frozen and apparently has been tried by some friends and got rave reviews.

This is not a yeast dough but more like a baking powder biscuit dough.   Sounds weird but its such a good recipe and even my daughter in law makes it now.  In this busy life who has time to let dough rise when you get home from work and are starved!!!  One of my kids got the recipe when they took a cooking class in high school and it is a go to now.

INGREDIENTS for DOUGH:

250 ml/ 1 cup All purpose flour

10 ml/ 2 tsp baking powder

1.25/1/4 tsp  ml salt

65 ml margarine (I use half a pre wrapped square)

90 ml milk (approximately)

Into a large bowl, add flour, baking powder and salt, mix well.  Add cold margarine and use a pastry cutter and mix in to flour mixture until margarine size of peas or smaller.

Add 90ml of cold milk into center of dry mixture and mix with a wooden spoon until all dry ingredients are incorporated.  It should be a rough ball now.

Dump onto a floured counter and knead several times.  You might have to add a bit more flour if too sticky.

I roll it out with a floured rolling pin and at this point its to what ever shape it turns out to be. It should be consistently the same thickness, approximately 1/8″ or so.  It’s supposed to be a little rustic 🙂

Dust the cookie sheet with a bit of cornmeal as this keeps it from sticking and crisps the bottom a little better. Put down the dough and crimp the edges so you can keep the toppings and sauce in.

Now for the TOPPINGS:

1 jar of Catelli pizza sauce, tomato/basil flavour

1 bag of shredded mozzarella or pizza cheese blend

fresh spinach

fresh tomatoes, sliced thin and if too wet drain on a paper towel

cooked and crumbled Italian sausage (about 3 sausages total)

crumbled feta

These are the ingredients I use for the most requested flavour of pizza.  After I sprinkle the feta on top of the other ingredients I add a layer of mozzarella cheese as well.

Not talking low cal but incredibly tasty!! Yum

Then for the other pizzas I will use

peppers

mushrooms

canned, drained, diced pineapple

pepperoni

ham

tomatoes

The toppings are endless and up to you as to how much you put on.

Bake in a 450 F oven for 20 min. I have a convection gas oven so I put 1 in the lower 1/3 and then one on the middle rack and rotate half way through.

Take out and slice with a pizza cutter and enjoy!!  My family does and I hope yours does too!

LIVE LIFE FULLY ❤

PAINTING for fun CLASSES

I thought I would mix it up a bit cause I’ve been mostly posting recipes lately.  I really have been trying to carve out me time in this busy life.  I started taking some classes via Uptown painting in Washington State. Just a quick trip over the border and you’re there.  They’ve been holding the classes at the golf club and so it’s a big group but very fun and lots of laughs!!

The thing with painting is you can’t take yourself too seriously. The teacher demonstrates and then everyone else interprets.  This is where the laughs come in. The time flies by and before you know it 3 hours have gone by and you have a painting. (frames optional)

I’m not perfect but I do have fun 🙂

Enjoy!!

The picture to the right is the one I used of our dog Sage.

Take some time to relax and express yourself because the rewards are priceless.

Live life fully ❤

THREE FOR THE PRICE OF ONE, OR WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

I’ve been sewing since I was probably 10 years old. I remember watching my mom sewing our clothes and dance costumes and begging for scraps and then making doll clothes out of them. Nothing fancy but it was the dreaming and the creating that was so much fun.

When my kids were little I made their bumper pads, quilts and clothes and Halloween costumes. Once they got a bit older I turned my sewing towards more crafty type of things like quilting and making things for around the home.

If I think I can make it for cheaper than buying it well…I make it! 🙂  Even if I don’t have a pattern. Nothing is rocket science except rocket science.

So I needed to replace the drapery panels in the family room. I bought 2 56″ x 96″ panels but only needed 84″ for the length.  So I cut off the bottoms and made a pair of tie backs for the curtains. (in retrospect I should have added stiffening)  and then while I was on a roll I made 2 cushion covers. I had to do some piecing and the backs of the pillows are different fabrics but it works. I’m so pleased when my vision finally is complete. Of course I have to show everyone when they come over ha ha.

Well that’s all for now.

Live life fully ❤