Linky Party Features No.2

Happy Saturday Everyone!  What are your big plans for the weekend? We are on an organization kick this weekend.  I've been slowly going thru closet after closet after pantry after spice rack to get my house back in order.  I thought this process should have ended with January and all those other crazy resolutions we seem to make?!?!?!  Anyways, I digress.

On with this week's linky party features:

Artsy Vava Created this beautiful belt buckle.  I have never even thought of such a project myself and my eyes are bulging just dreaming of this possibilities here.

Maria at Just call me Maria

shows us how to put hearts inside our cupcakes.  These look almost too cute to eat!

Amy at Sisters of the Wild West  gives you step by step instructions as to how to paint a houndstooth table.  This is not as complicated as I thought it would be and am so grateful for it.

Thank you so much to everyone who participated.  I feel honored that you are my followers and are willing to share all of your creativity with me.  Keep 'em coming!  And grab a feature button if you were featured this week!  Looking forward to more amazing links on Monday!  :)

Linky Party Features

Happy Sunday everyone!  I hope all of you have had a fabulous week!  I wanted to share with you some of my favorites from my first linky party.  Please be sure to grab a button if you are featured. 

This process was much more difficult than I thought it would be.  I really do enjoy being inspired by others in so many areas.  Thank you for participating.  Here we go:

Her-Ballistic Garden

Wendy shows us how to take one pillow and transform its looks to fit the season. 

Homespun with Love

I am a sucker for decorated mantles.  This is done beautifully and on a budget.

The Messy Roost

I admit that out of every craft project I have ever done, I have yet to decoarte a glass block.  This one certainly has me motivated to do my own.

Thanks again to everyone who participated.  I'm looking forward to seeing what you have been up to this week!

Make it Yourself: Orange Dreamsicle Bath Salts

I am a sucker for all things that remind me of my childhood years and this recipe reminds me of  those infamous orange push pops.  I have made more things than I can count with this essential oil blend.  This is too good not to share:




2 cups epsom salt
1 cup dead sea salt (I used pink himalayan)
20 drops vanilla essential oil
20 drops orange essential oil
1-2 tablespoons of carrier oil (almond, grapeseed, etc.)

Simply combine the ingredients above  in a container and give it a really good stir and shake to make sure the oils are well dispersed.  Add the mixture to your bath.  Then, just relax and enjoy!

Chamomile and Calendula Gift Set

How do you describe Chamomile and Calendula?  Chamomile has a soft floral, herbal, apple aroma.  Calendula?  Pretty close to the same.  Both essential oils blend extremely well together.  So well that you probably couldn't pick the two apart in this mix.  I chose to use this combination of essential oils in a goats milk/glycerin bar soap and also some bath salts.  I also added dried chamomile flowers to both for appearance, texture, aroma, and color.  Chamomile is known to be anti-inflammatory.  It is wonderful for dry, achy, itchy, flaky skin amongst other things.  Calendula contains many of the same properties and is a wonderful healer.  This combination is also safe for babies in small amounts treating cradle cap, diaper rash, and others.  You can find a million different recipes for bath salts all over the web.  A very simple recipe could contain just a mixture of salts (epsom, sea salt, etc), a carrier oil, and the essential oils.  The soap is simply a melt and pour soap.  You buy the soap in blocks, melt, mix in your additives and pour into molds.  It really couldn't get any easier. 

If you are looking for a good start in finding your herbs and oils, I suggest mountain rose herbs.  I have ordered from them many times and their quality is unbeatable.  I am not compensated in any way for saying that, I just really love the company and the products it provides.

***I am not a doctor or claim to be an expert.  Please see your physician if you have any ailments.  The recipes/ideas represented here are from my own personal experience and in no way meant to diagnose, treat, or cure anything.

Make it yourself Mondays: Card sets

For the first time this year, I participated in the craftaholics anonymous handmade gift swap.  Basically, we are paired up with someone in the states to swap gifts with.  The woman I am swapping with loves the color red, coffee, chunky picture frames, and more.  It's been really fun getting to know someone who I, otherwise, never would have met.  And I really hope she enjoys her gift.  I made her a stationary set incorporating her favorite color and her love of coffee.  The pictures are posted below:

I hope she receives her gift before she reads this.  I think she will but you never know.

Included in this little set is a bookmark, cards, gift tags, and thank you notes. 

I wanted to make a good variety of items for more than one occasion.  I purposely chose NOT to make christmas cards or products by the off chance that my 'partner' already purchased hers elsewhere.

All this really takes is some cardstock, embellishments, and some imagination.

If you have a chance, check out the craftaholics website.  There will be a flikr set up and links to other participating bloggers.  Enjoy!

Make it Yourself Mondays: Appetizers

With the holidays upon us, and football season already here, appetizers are a hot commodity.  I am not a big fan of making them though.  I seem to always turn toward my staple recipes.  With my hubby having a football party at the house, I decided to try something new.  I am so glad I did.  The recipe that follows is adapted from this sausage cheese ball recipe:

2 lbs. ground sausage.  I used mild but I'm also a wuss.
1 1/2 C. all purpose baking mix.  I made my own or you can always use bisquick.
4 C. shredded cheddar cheese.  Calls for sharp but I used a mixture.
1/2C. of each onion and celery, diced
1 tsp. pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Mix all ingredients together with your hands and roll into 1 inch balls.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes. Verdict:  Definately will make again and again.