fancy clips

If you read yesterdays post you may have noticed my fancied up paper clips.  I thought you might want to know how to make them.
Here's what you need;
Large paper clips
Card stock
Vintage buttons
Hot glue or E6000
Cut out circles of card stock about 1/2", glue to the top of the paper clips
Add buttons on top of the circles
That's it, you're done.  Who says office supplies have to be boring and all look the same?

book organizer

When I repurpose something I want it to look great but also be useful, I think this organizer fits the bill.  Here's what you need:
1 hard bound bookwith at least 300 pages.  Fold each of the pages in half toward the center, this something mindless you can do while watching TV  When you are finished folding the pages bend the spine of the book until it lays flat and the pages form a half circle..
I then lined the inside front and back cover with scrapbook paper.  If your book has beautiful  end papers you won't need to do this.
Embelish however you like.  I added buttom paper clips and couple of mini clothes pins to hold notes and a few of my favorite quotes.  I'll use it on my desk to hold tickets, notes, important papers, business cards and important numbers. 
Happy folding!

kitchen sink pasta

I always freeze leftover cooked pasta.  When I need a quick meal I can grab whatever vegies and leftovers Ihave and a easy fast meal.  Feel free to adapt this to whatever you have hanging around in your kitchen
2-3C cooked pasta
1 onion chopped
1 red pepper chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
olive oil
Fresh tomaotes chopped
Grated parmesan
Salt and pepper to taste
Heat a pan of water to boiling
While the water is heating throw peppers, garlic and onions in a skilet and saute
Throw the pasta into water and bring back to a boil for 2 minutes, drain.  Add the tomatoes into the onion mixture at the same time.  Throw in pasta and grated cheese and mix

peanut clusters

I could have called these the nectar of the gods and once you tasted them you would believe.  Thanks to my sis Paula for the recipe.
Make your favorite butter cream recipe or follow the one below
Put quarter size blobs of the butter cream on wax paper
Melt 1# milk chocolate, 1# semi sweet chocolate together Do Not Skip on the quality of chocolate, you will regret it
Mix 2# of cocktail peanuts( pecans or cashews would be good too) into the melted chocolate, form into mounds over the butter cream blobs.
Let cool until firm  These freeze great if there are any left, I wouldn't know this personally.

Basic butter cream
1 stick butter do not substitute at room temperature
1# powder sugar
1tsp vanilla or for maple creams substitute maple flavoring
dash of salt
3T milk
Cream the butter and sugar until blended and the rest of the ingredients, adding the milk a little at a time until it is spreadable.
Beat it until it is light a fluffy about 10 minutes
These nut clusters make a great gift if you can bear to share them.

party favors

I wanted to take my family samples of some of our products so I came up with these little sample packs.  Each bag contained a delux sample of scrub, lip balm, solid lotion and soap.  Retail cost per package $10.  They were quick and simple.  We can do many type of party favors for your next get together.  We can match colors, themes and work with your ideas.

family time

All the kids and grandkids came to spend time with Great Grandma and Granpa this week.  We ate, went for a walk, ate, drank gallons of tea and juice, ate, swam, played games, ate, and took pictures.  A good time was had by all.  Much as I love having them here, they really wear me out.  I think a nap is in order.

salted carmel cup cakes

This recipe came from the site http://www.joyshope.com/
1 box German chocolate cake mix
Coarse salt
4-4 Heath bars crushed or bits in package
Carmel ice cream topping
Butter cream frosting recipe below
Make the cup cakes according to package directions
Just before the cakes come out of the oven melt the carmel topping with 1/2tsp of salt Pour into a squirt bottle or use a turkey baster
When the cakes come out  of the oven poke a hole in the center of each cup cake and squirt in some of the carmel  I found it helpful to put the cakes on a cooling rack and put the rack over paper towels, before doing this step  Let the cakes cool completly
In the meatime make your favorite butter cream recipe or use this one:
1 stick butter at room temp
1# powder sugar
11/2tsp vanilla
3T milk
pinch of salt
Cream the butter and sugar, add milk, vanilla and salt.  Beat until thick and creamy
Frost cakes and top with Heath bits  Don't use can frosting, YUCK
Warning:  This is  a messy cake, serve on a plate with a fork if your in polite company or just stuff it into your mouth over the sink if not.