Thoughts on Thursday...

Crazy question...

If you buy something that comes in a box, how long do you keep the box?

My thought is, if the item doesn't work in a week or a month, I'll need the box to return it. Seriously though...I've think I've only needed the box one time.

Help me out and say..."just throw them away" so I can clear out the basement.

I don't have that many...few cell phone boxes, computer gadget box, ipad, toaster, etc.

Do you keep them at all? or How long?

Feeling "boxed" in,
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Recycle and Organize With Crisco

Welcome to another Tool Time...it started out over 2 1/2 years ago using items from the hardware turned into cute useful items for you and your home. However, TTT has branched out to recycled item, things from the automotive store, office supplies, etc. The basis of Tool Time now is pretty much...look at anything and think outside the box!!

Well, here is a recycled box to think outside the box with. The box is from a package of Crisco which is a solid vegetable shortening used in baking. I don't use Crisco very often, but I do use the butter flavored for a pound cake recipe that is a family favorite. When I do use it though, I spend the little extra for the pre-measured sticks. Just cut off the amount you need....like the way sticks of butter are pre-measure.

The bonus for the pre-measured sticks is that they come in little plastic boxes!

3 sticks each come in a plastic box sealed in foil. The box are about 6 inches by 2 1/2 inches. You also get 1 cover to protect the one stick that you've opened.

Great to store so many things with the cover.

 All sealed in and spill prove.

After you've collected them for a while, they're great for just about anything...

Perfect for office supplies in your desk...

Sewing items that would normally be lost in the drawer...

Or how about items in your bathroom drawer...(and yes, I did search the house for red items so the pictures would match and look pretty. I think I need to seek help LOL!!!)



Other uses for these little boxes would be...

• organize your button collection by color
• crafting beads
• nails and screws for the work bench area
• use the covered box for games pieces in a board game
• mini jello molds for kids
• snack container for kids
• start your seedling plants

I know there must be so many more ideas...maybe you can add a few of your own in the comment section!

Happy Tuesday,

~Karen~

The Nester Club...Raisin Bran Muffin Recipe

Hi to all who joined the Nester's Club last week. What's a Nester's Club you ask? You can read the whole post by clicking HERE or in short, it's a club for any one and everyone who has a change in their home...kids growing older and moving out, kids sharing house between mom and dad, kids going off to college, older parents moving in, finding yourself in a quiet home etc...

Nesters...kids or family about to make their way at some point
Semi Nesters...kids share homes or you may be an empty nest but, your elderly parents live with you
Empty Nester...a quiet home all to your own or with your significant other

What ever the case, the Nester's Club shares thoughts, ideas, tips and tricks. Read through the comments of the Nester posts too, you may find someone in your same circumstance and make a connection.

Want to join? All are welcome. Grab the button on the right side bar. If you don't know how to grab a button...click here for a tutorial.

Well, I thought I would share a recipe that is perfect for any Nester...

Refrigerator Raisin Bran Muffins. It's a big batch of muffin mix that stays in your refrigerator for 6 weeks. Just scoop out the amount you need and make muffins for 1 or muffins for 40!! There are so many different versions of this, but this was my mom's.

The recipe calls for 15 ounce box, but they seem to be only 20 ounces or larger.

Here's a quick tip...

According to the box, 1 cup is about 2 ounces. So if you need 15 ounces that would be about 7 1/2 cups give or take.

Refrigerator Raisin Bran Muffins

4 eggs
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 quart buttermilk
5 cups flour
5 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
15 ounce box Raisin Bran Cereal...I've seen about 6-7 cups in other recipes

Mix all ingredients together and store in an air tight container in the refrigerator. Store for at least 6 hours before making the first batch of muffins. Batter keeps for 6 weeks in the refrigerator

Grease muffin tin or use paper liners. Pre heat oven to 375*. Bake muffins 15-20 minutes.

source

Hope you enjoy this recipe. If you have any other great Nester type recipes, let us know in the comments or maybe link to one you've posted on your blog.

Happy Nesting,

Karen

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 31

I just love Sundays, and the rest of the week for that matter, when all of you link up your wonderful projects. There are so many great bloggers out there willing to share their talents with everyone, so I wanted to say...I can't Thank You enough!!

Enjoy the party and come back often...people link up all week long!

If you're new to Sew Darn Crafty, then grab a cup of something tasty, sit back and join in on the fun (starts Sunday and lasts all week long at Sew Many Ways).

WHAT IS SEW DARN CRAFTY...

• "Sew" for anything to do with sewing,
• "Darn" for anything to do with knitting. I always think of darning to do with knitting, but in my case "darn" usually is similar to the word I say when I mess up crafting!!
• Let's not forget the word "crafty"...that can mean just about anything we do to create.

WHAT IS A LINKING PARTY...

So now we all know what Sew Darn Crafty means, let's explain a linking party again. I subscribe to a linking service, which provides the ability to link thumbnail pictures on my blog. The picture is a link that other bloggers provide to share their projects.

Two things can happen at a linking party...looking and/or linking

• you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
• you can share what you've been up to (linking)

If you want to be inspired by all the great ideas...just click on a picture and it will take you to that post from a wonderful blogger willing to share her thoughts and ideas.


HOW AND WHAT TO LINK TO THE PARTY...

Sew Darn Crafty is all about YOU!! Show off your projects, share a tutorial, show us your vacation pictures, share a family favorite recipe...share anything. Not only does linking inspire us all, it also brings lots of new people to your blog for a visit. Click here for past parties and lots of inspiration

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

• link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not  search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
• link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
• anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
• visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
• grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
• the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
• linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
• just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week,

~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty...Top 3 Most Viewed Post

The linking service I use for the party shows how many views each project has, so here are Sew Darn Crafty's Top 3 for this past week. Everyone who adds their projects are my favorites, but these posts below are the most viewed this week.

The first post is from Jan at Bessie Mary blog. These hanging fabric bags are just too cute. I can think of a million places I want to use these. Thanks so much for sharing this great project with us Jan.

Next is from Kirie from the blog Shape Moth. This beautiful rainbow brick wall quilt is made from a jelly roll. Such inspiration...the colors are amazing. I really need to start quilting again. Thanks so much for linking up to the party.

Last, but certainly not the least is this awesome bag from Suzan from the blog The Reluctant Quilter. Suzan "sewed up a storm" and made these beautiful bags. Pop over and take a look at more. Thanks Suzan for linking up...love them!

Thanks to everyone for linking up. See you on Sunday for another edition of Sew Darn Crafty.

Take care,
~Karen~

Blog Buddy...How to Add Static Phrase Under Your Blog Header

Welcome to another edition of Blog Buddy...a place for blogging tips and tricks. For more help, just click the Blog Buddy Button on the right side bar or the page link under my blog title.

Today is a quick tutorial on how to add a static phrase or sentence just below your blog header. Static means when anyone clicks on your blog, that sentence is always there like your blog title or pages are. It's not going to change from page to page like a dated post will do. For example, if someone clicks on a link to an old post you did last year, even though they are on an older post that static sentence is still at the top of your blog

For my sentence, I wrote a short blurb to let friends know I have picture links of projects in my pages section. You can use this for anything though...

• inspiration phrase
• a give away that your having that week and you want it to show up every time someone clicks on your blog
• an Etsy shop you want to advertise
• a holiday greeting
• what ever your heart desires

Here's a picture of my sentence just below the red pages...(click any picture to enlarge to see it better)

To add your own...go to the design section of your dashboard and click "Add Gadget" (circled below)

When the pop up window appears, scroll down and click "Text".

When that window appears, write what ever you'd like in the larger box. Probably no need for a title. A title is good if your keeping it on your side bar.

Make sure you click SAVE when you are done.

When you add a gadget, it always ends up under the words "add gadget". Now you have to move it up under your header.

Click on your sentence box and "drag" it up to the Gadget section under your header.

Always click SAVE after every move you make to a gadget.

The picture below shows how to drag it up to where you want it.

Hope this is helpful...have a great day!
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

Last day of summer is September 22nd.

However, this past Monday was Labor Day and that pretty much marks the end of summer for me...and you know what that means!

No more shaving above the knee!

You're laughing because you know what I'm talking about or you're laughing because you never shave above the knee any way. Lol !!

Let's hear for less shaving !

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~