Tiny Taco Salads

My mother-in-law is amazing, she is constantly trying new recipes and sharing the hits with the family.  So...while I didn't find this recipe, I did help put these together and have her permission to share this with the blogging world.

For the Fourth of July she broke out and a "Taste of Home" recipe book and we made "Taco Dip Singles" - they were pretty and super tasty!

You'll need:
1 pound ground beef
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 can (8oz) tomato sauce
1 package (8oz) cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup mayo
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
2 cups shredded lettuce
1 small red onion, finely chopped

In a large skillet cook ground beef with taco seasoning and tomato sauce - as directed on the seasoning packet.
In a small bowl mix cream cheese, sour cream and mayo until smooth.
In small cups (about 8oz each) layer:
    - ground beef
    - cream cheese mix
    - chopped peppers
    - shredded cheese
    - chopped tomatoes
    - chopped lettuce
    - chopped onion

Serve with a side of chips - these are easy and really tasty!  This was a huge hit at our family function!!

DIY Coasters

A few weeks ago my sisters and I got together for a craft day - to make our own 'pinspired' coasters!  And you can to - it's super easy!!


What you need:
4 1/2 inch tiles
(My sister got a box of tiles from the "Re-Store" a  local second hand store for home building supplies.  She ended up spending about $0.09 a piece.)
craft paper
Mod Podge
disposable foam brush
felt with adhesive on the back
sealer


Start by cutting the craft paper to the desired size.  We cut ours 4 inches by 4 inches and had a nice boarder from the tile behind.


Spread a thin layer of Mod Podge on the tile using the foam brush - quickly attaching the cut paper.

At this time you will want to add any embellishments you like- you can see my little birds in the picture below.

As soon as the tile is cuter than cute - spread another thin layer of Mod Podge and let dry for about 15 mins.

Attach a 4 inch by 4 inch piece of felt on the back of each tile, this helps to protect your surfaces from scratches.

Spray all tiles with a waterproof sealer and let sit overnight.

These make great quick gifts for any occasion, because you can use whatever paper you like!  I actually made these for myself - gasp!  

Note to all crafters: it's okay to keep something for yourself every once in a while!

Key Lime Cheesecake

Well, it's been a long (very long) time since I've posted anything.  Things have been pretty crazy for my family over the last few months and we've finally settled down and I can get back to blogging and crafting!

To kick off my comeback I thought I'd share this great recipe...

Key Lime Cheesecake

This is a refreshing, light desert - perfect for the upcoming summer.  (and really pretty)

You'll need:

9 sheets graham crackers (crush in a plastic bag with a rolling pin)

3 T butter

1 T sugar

(1) 4 serving size lime jello

3/4 cup boiling water

16 oz cottage cheese (trust me on this)

8 oz cream cheese

8 oz whipped cream

3 limes, 2 juiced and 1 for garnish

What to do:

• In a small bowl combine graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar.  Press crumb mixture in the bottom of 2-quart backing dish.  Refrigerate while preparing filling.
• In a large bowl combine gelatin and water - stir until gelatin is dissolved and set aside.
• In a blender or food processor combine lime juice, cottage cheese and cream cheese, blend until smooth. In half cup increments whisk the cottage cheese mixture into the gelatin mixture until completely combined.
• Whisk whipped cream into the mixture and spoon filling over chilled crumb mixture.
• Cover and refrigerate until filling is firm (I left mine overnight)
• To serve, cut into squares.  Top with lime zest and a few lime wedges.

Makes about 9 servings

ENJOY!

I Sense There's Something In the Wind...

I love "The Nightmare Before Christmas", I watch it every year about this time (usually more than once).  This year Miss Kellie watched it with me, and than several time since.  Her favorite character is the best one in the movie - Sally!  So when I came across this pattern I knew I had to make it!  I let Miss Kellie pick out all her own colors and worked on it for about a month - I finally finished this weekend!!!

 Miss Kellie LOVES IT!!!  It's been in her bed since she go it - warms my heart.

Now I'm on the hunt for a 'Jack' pattern so she won't get lonely....

Baby it's cold outside...

As many of you know we live in Utah - and it's starting to get cold!  One of my sisters (Rachel) pinned some cute little animal ear-flap hats and 'mentioned' me as a not so subtle hint for me to make one for her daughter Abigail. When I checked out the pin there were three patterns for $15!!  I don't like to pay for patterns if I can help it, so I checked out my favorite site (ravelry.com) and found a free pattern for a similar hat - but without the cute ears.  

So I followed the pattern, with a few small modifications and came up with my own 'ears' and had a bear hat!  I used  'super bulky' yarn so it is thick and should be really warm.

When I brought this fantastic creation to our last 'Sister Saturday' Abigail liked it - but I could tell it wasn't exactly what she wanted.   However, my niece Opal loved it and wanted to try it on - she ended up wearing it for the entire day!!

After talking for a while I found out Abigail LOVES Angelina Ballerina - Ms. Kellie does to so I knew who that was.  After talking about it we decided Opal would get the bear hat (since we would most likely have to take it by force anyway) and I would make a new one for Abigail.

We stopped at the local yarn store and walked out with this...

With some larger ears and a pink bow (mandatory for Angelina) - it's the prefect little mouse hat!

Miss Kellie now wants a cat - so this won't be the last!!

Mini-Meatloaf & Pasta Salad

It's been a little while since I posted anything!  So I thought I'd share my two most requested recipes with you...both get rave reviews anytime I make them.
And bonus - they are SUPER easy!

Pepperoni Pasta Salad

You need:

8 oz pasta (I used cute mini bow ties)
1 pkg mini pepperoni
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/3 cup Zesty Italian dressing
1 can sliced olives

Cook pasta as per directions and cool in the fridge for about 20 minutes.

In a large bowl mix pasta, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, olives and dressing.

That's it!!!  This is great right after mixing but can also be refrigerated and served the next day.  If I store this overnight I usually add a little more dressing and stir before serving.

Mini-Meatloaf
(makes 12)
You need:

1 lb ground beef (I used extra lean)
1 pkg stuffing mix (unprepared)
1/2 cup water
Favorite BBQ sauce
Shredded cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp garlic salt
Muffin tin - with liners

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl mix ground beef, stuffing mix, garlic salt and 1/2 cup water.  I find it's easier to just mix with my hands.




Form meat into small balls and place into the lined muffin tin and top each one with a little of your favorite bbq sauce.








Cook for 15 minutes - top each meatloaf with a small amount of cheese and cook for another 5 minutes.


You're done!!!!  Serve with mashed potatoes and your pasta salad!

Sock Monkey Card

Okay, I love sock a cute monkey - like really love them - a lot.

I buy cute sock monkey paper, and patterns and dolls.  My daughter does not share this love (yet) and it's hard to justify buying some of these cute things if they aren't for her.  But who needs justification anyway - right??

So I found this really cute paper and wanted to make it last (have you checked out the price of patterned paper lately - yaowza!)  So I cut out each of the elements on the page, rather then using the whole sheet. It took some time with my little sharp snipers, but it was worth it!

I should get three or four really cute cards out of the one sheet!

Here's the front...

(the 'hi there' and circle are from my trusty cricut)

Here's the guts...

I'm thinking the next few will be cute birthday cards - or even really cute on Christmas tags!!

Happy Halloween!

I know I'm in the minority here, but I don't like holiday's.  I just don't like them. I'm sure this makes me a bad blogger - I should be sharing all sorts of Halloween crafts and posting about how great our Halloween night was.  But I just can't bring myself to do it!  
My husband and I have NEVER celebrated any holiday but Thanksgiving, which is the only holiday we both really look forward to every year.  This is actually one of the reasons I knew we were meant for each other #1 we have the same birthday (5 years apart), and #2 we both think Thanksgiving is the most fabulous and most under-appreciated holiday of all time.  When Miss Kellie joined our anti-holiday family, I knew we were at least going to have to start celebrating Christmas. I mean I'm not anti-holiday enough to deny Miss Kellie of Santa and Christmas morning, that's just plain mean!

So this year I tried to get Miss Kellie excited about Halloween.  We picked out the costume, got excited about the candy and said she was looking forward going to the houses.  And I totally believed her - last year she went with her cousins and really had a lot of fun.  

This year was different.  

We started out on Friday at the Halloween party taking place at my husbands office. 
This did not go well.
There were kids and adults in costume everywhere, strike one.
It was dark with spooky music playing, strike two.
She had to independently approach people to grab a piece of candy, strike three.
We were out - of there! 

Saturday we went to a trunk-or-treat - easy right?  You just walk around to the different cars and grab some candy.  
Not for Miss Kellie.
She hated it, she didn't want people to look at her (even though she looked super cute), she didn't want to talk to anyone, and she didn't want me to take any pictures of her! :(  Not a scrapbook mama's finest hour.

So, when I asked her if she wanted to try one more time and go trick-or-treating tonight and she said 'No!', I must admit I was a little more than happy to agree.  
Maybe the distaste for all the over sensationalized holiday crap is genetic??

She did, however, still want to wear her costume tonight while she played with stickers.

Maybe she'll even help me give out a treat or two.

Crafts with my Sisters!

I have four amazing sisters - two of them came by the other day to do some Pin inspired crafting!

First up - a custom frame for my younger sister Jenn's house! She found the pin in the pic below and asked if I would help her!  You don't have to ask me twice!!
I love the way hers turned out - she choose great colors!

Next - Ms. Kellie saw a feather hair clip and wanted it really badly.  My youngest sister, Stephanie, has been making jewelry and hair accessories for months and months (and she's really good at it too).  So we asked if she would help create one for Ms. Kellie.

Lastly - Stephanie will be going to a Halloween party and is dressing up as Ke$ha.  I must admit I only vaguely know who that is.  To do this she needed a custom bleached shirt. We used newspaper to protect the shirt, she then dipped a Q-tip in bleach and 'drew' on the shirt.  It was really easy and reminded me of several other projects I've seen on Pinterest.

Perfect Campfire Kit

Quite a long time ago I found this idea in a magazine of some kind - honestly I can't remember which one.  I wanted to make something cute for a friends birthday, with the fall weather creeping in I remember this.

What's better on a cool fall night than a campfire and smores!!!

I found an old box and covered it with some cute scrapbook paper and added a little label.  I found some sticks in the yard, attached cotton balls rubbed in brown in (toasted marshmallows). 

Inside I wrapped the necessities in corresponding paper and labeled the same way.  What are the necessities - as if you have to ask...

- Graham Crackers

- Chocolate bars

- Marshmallows

 Don't forget a pink cute fat bear is up for auction with all proceeds benefiting the Susan G. Komen Foundation!  So click below and check out the details - along with items from several other crafty bloggers that are up for grabs!

CLICK HERE

Shirt to Pillow

I really loved this shirt, I bought it from a second hand store because the fabric is so cute.  It was put in a box when we moved and I just found it again!  I once saw Martha Stewart (Everyone that knows me knows I LOVE her - I've been watching her since I was a kid, she taught me how to iron a shirt!) turn an old button down shirt into a pillow and ever since then I've wanted to do it!

So when I found the shirt in the box it looked like this...

Cute, cute shirt - I just love the pattern!  I turned it inside out and started by folding the bottom opening to create a straight line and sewed this in place.  I then folded over each side and the top sewing each in place and cutting the excess fabric.  I didn't worry about leaving an opening for the stuffing because the buttons were still functional and I inserted the stuffing there.

Once stuffed I added a few more buttons and sewed the opening closed. To finish the whole thing off I crocheted a large flower as a base, took a strip of scrap fabric and scrunched it up, then crocheted a small circle - sewed all three elements together and attached the the pillow!

What do you think?  I think it turned out super cute!!!

Also - the Un-Giveaway over at OneArtsyMama is underway!  Check out the great crafts and such up for auction HERE...
Remember ALL proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen  Foundation!

Pinterest ~ Times Two

It's no secret that I'm a Pinterest junkie.  I put Miss Kellie to bed and click away until I can no longer keep my eyes open. So today I let go of the mouse and did the dishes ~gasp~ and got to some craftin'!!

First up - I needed Mod Podge.  I saw this tutorial about a month ago and was running low on  my official Mod Podge (which is about $6 a bottle!!) - so I figured I give it a go. 

You need:

     50% glue (I got Elmer's on clearance)

     50% water

     jar with a top (a dollar store find)

I dumped the glue in the jar, filled the glue bottle with water and added that - stirred and done!!  It looks just like Mod Podge and only cost me $2, and made about 14 oz.!!!!  Killer deal - and I used it to attach my label and it works great!!

Now that I had newly mixed Mod Podge I was onto my second Pinterest project of the night.  I have been seeing scrabble tiles all over Pinterest and on this link is a tutorial to show you how to make scrabble tile into a pendant.  I have a scrabble game that was gifted to me about 12 years ago, which was still new in the plastic.  I must say, anyone that knows me knows I couldn't spell my way out of a wet paper bag (without spell check that is) - so not a great gift for me.

This was super easy and I LOVE them - now I just need to figure out what to do with them.  I took a stab at a necklace with the supplies I have on hand, but can't wait to take a tile with me to the craft store and find out exactly what need (want).

More Cards!!

I decided to do some exploring of one of the newer cartridges in my cricut stash, "Straight from the Nest"! 

 Two birthday cards (Hoot Hoot and Happy Birdie Day) and a just because kind of card card (Life is Tweet). I love them all!! 

I am so super happy all these birds and owls are popular now, they are so very cute! It's no surprise I'm totally in love with my cricut - and I'm still amazed how many new things on find on the cartridges every time I get them out and play.

Homemade Thank You Cards...

 About 14 years ago (ekk) I started scrap-booking like crazy.  About 8 years ago (double ekk) I started making cards like crazy.  And lately, as you can tell by the state of my blog, I've been doing a lot of crochet.

I wanted to do something for my sister-in-law, she loves 'thank you' cards.  I saw this idea in Paper Crafts magazine and thought, "Hey, I can do that!".

These are super simple and super cute!!

The flower card is pretty self explanatory.  The trees are just two different sized circles and an embellishment!

Go, make a few of your own!  I'd love to see what you come up with!

No Calorie Candy Corn

So I was pursing Pinterest the other day (who am I kidding, everyday) and found this tutorial on making old glass bottles or jars into cute Halloween decorations!

So I was all stoked to do this went to the dollar store and picked out my vases and then headed over to the craft store to pick up the paint. Then I just kept thinking about how pretty my brand new vases were, and how I would have to store them somewhere, and how I was about to pay for three cans of spray paint and not use that much of it, and then I just kept thinking and thinking and thinking about how I don't really need candy corn bottles.

I just LOVE candy corn - a lot.

So I started thinking - in a more linear fashion this time - and thought if I could use scrapbook paper I could change the paper out every season.

So with my vases, a few sheets of colored paper and my paper shredder - this is what I came up with!

Home Dec Project

Okay, so we have recently moved into a much smaller space. I've been checking out Ikea for something to help organize my cooking supplies. But to no avail.

So, just to get these bigger pieces out of the way I put up some command hooks and up they went. Once they were up, you know what, I actually liked the way it looked! Add a little vinyl from my (dusty) cricut and it was a cute it accessory to my small kitchen.

Falling for Crafts - Project #2

Well you know I'm loving all the great ideas over at One Artsy Mama - and this is week two of the Falling for Crafts Challenge!

This week it's a Fall snack or recipe. I have to say when I think of Fall I think of warm Artichoke and Spinach Dip - think restaurant dip times 10. This always gets rave reviews and now I'm sharing with you!!

What you need:
8 oz frozen chopped spinach - thawed
1 jar Alfredo sauce - I just get whatever is the cheapest ;)
1 (14 oz) can of Artichoke hearts - make it doesn't have oil in it
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
4 oz cream cheese - softened and cut into small cubes
Garlic Powder
9 by 9 baking dish

Step one - sprinkle bottom of pan with garlic powder
Add the remaining ingredients and stir.
Bake at 350 until bubbly - about 30 minutes. I usually stir about 1/2 way through.

Enjoy with tortilla chips and try not to each the whole pan yourself!! Delish!!

Check out the other yummy snacks and the 9 giveaways going on right now!

Glitter Shoe Repair!

About a month ago I took Kellie shoe shopping. I blame this on my youth - I was NEVER allowed to get the cute shoes, just the shoes that would last the longest (and in a size to big so they would last longer) I have to say the hubs was none too pleased when we returned with these glitter shoes. She REALLY wanted them, and she is an ONLY child!!

The fact that I also purchased her some practical sneakers (stans glitter) as well was no excuse.

"They won't last a month!" He said.

Unfortunately, this is one of those times hubs was 100% correct.
After a few weeks the super cute shoes looked more like this...

So I found a tutorial (on Pinterest of course) on how to make your own glitter shoes. I took this concept and, as much as it pained me to use the most dreaded craft item of all time (glitter), decided I could 'fix' Kellie's poor shoes.

You would need:
Glitter - she was wearing her shoes (as she has everyday for the last month) and we matched the color as best we could.
Mod Podge
Spray Adhesive
Disposable foam brush

I used about 1/4 cup mod podge and dumped glitter into it until it was a thicker glitter paste.
The glitter paste was spread on the glitter-free portions of the shoes - I then waited about an hour and added another coat.
Once there was enough glitter I took the shoes outside and sprayed them with a light coat of the spray adhesive. I was going to skip this step, but learned that mod podge is NOT water-resistant! So you MUST use the spray adhesive as well if you want these to last!

They ended up like this! Not to shabby!!
*I'll continue to do this until they just can't be salvaged any further!!*

Fall Centerpiece Challenge

I wanted to do something for the Fall Inspired Challenge on OneArtsyMama's blog, she will be posting a new challenge each week - this weeks challenge is "Fall Centerpieces"

This is what I came up with!
Simple - just a bowl of candy corn and eucalyptus from the craft store.