I'm Weird Wednesday...Are You Weird Too?

Let me take that back...maybe not weird. How about wacky!

A while ago, I did a post on crazy things I do, like skipping the first 2 slices of bread in a loaf when making sandwiches. Click here for the story. Well, according to all the comments on that post, we all do weird things.

Thought I would have Weird Wednesday...I really am a sane person, but this post sure doesn't help my case!!

You know that Ritz crackers or any cracker for that matter, have a front and a back. See picture below for proof. The rounded "front" on the left and the flat "back" on the right...I know what you're thinking...she's nuts and even more nuts for sharing this!



I make peanut butter crackers for my husband's lunch. I only put the peanut butter on the "back" side of the cracker. Why? I have no idea...and I think I've always done this.



This makes a well rounded cracker sandwich. At this point, you are all thinking...Ok, where's the straight jacket!

Thought this post would break up the crafty side of my blog by adding a little crazy side to my blog. Crafty...Crazy or Crazy...Crafty. Maybe they're the same thing.

Do you do weird things too? It's Wednesday, so you can share it here without any one thinking you're nuts...almost like a Weird Wednesday amnesty day.

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Come on! Share it with us...you can do it. We don't judge here. LOL!!

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Happy Wednesday,

~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Easy Casserole Carriers, Gift Ideas

This week's projects are helpful, quick gift ideas for the holidays. Are you familiar with the cooking show Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee on the Food Network? She takes store bought items and adds fresh ingredients to make a great semi homemade dish.

Well, today these 2 tutorials are Semi-Handmade...purchased place mats plus your special touch with ribbons or fabric and they are turned into bread and casserole carriers. Great gifts for neighbors, friends, teachers and hostess gifts.

The carrier can be the gift itself or you can purchase a new casserole dish or bread pan and add your favorite recipe. Bake the bread in the pan, wrap it up in the new carrier and tie the recipe to the ribbon. A fast, easy and homemade gift that everyone will love!

The first tutorial is this carrier made with one place mat and some ribbon.



The second tutorial is a casserole dish carrier made with 2 place mats, ribbon or a strip of fabric.



Tutorial #1...I purchased this place mat new at a consignment shop for 75 cents, but if you look for sales on place mats you can buy them fairly cheap.

Have your place mat on your work surface the long side on the bottom and fold in half.

Measure all three sides and find the center...(don't measure the folded edge)

Mark the half way point on all three sides and both layers...see there are 2 pins on each side.

When you unfold it, there will be 6 points that are marked with pins.

Next, measure 6 pieces of ribbon 12 inches long. I used 1/4 inch wide ribbon, but any size will work.

Here are your 6 cut pieces.

I folded over the end a little so it wouldn't fray and to add some support when I sewed it to the place mat.

Pin all 6 pieces on the WRONG side of the place mat to each of the pre marked spots you had marked with the pins.

All 6 ribbons pinned to the wrong side.

Stitch back and forth a few times for strength.

All stitched on.

I baked this pumpkin bread in one of those aluminum pans to show you how inexpensive the whole gift could be. I bought that pan for 27 cents in a discount store. That bread looks a little dark, but it was delicious. I love anything pumpkin! Just place it in the carrier...

Tie the ribbons together and your little bundle of goodies are ready to give away...now how fast is this gift!

The side ribbons keep the pan from sliding out.

See the bread all safe and warm...

This is a perfect little gift to bring with you when visiting for Thanksgiving. However, Christmas is just around the corner, so find a Christmas place mat, a red or green one and bake a cranberry bread or a batch of cookies.

Here is tutorial #2...Casserole Dish carrier

You will need 2 place mats. You can't see that price tag, but these were $1.29 each. Woo Hoo!

I also used a strip of fabric from a Jelly Roll that I had. Jelly roll fabric is 2 1/2 inches wide by the full width of fabric (about 42 inches long). You could also just use ribbon or strapping.

If you are using a 2 1/2 inch wide fabric strip, just fold it in half, right sides together...

and stitch down the 2 long sides, leaving the end open.

Turn right side out.

Iron flat.

For the main handle you could add webbing or strapping for stability.

Take one place mat, fold in half, find the center and mark with pins.

Place your ribbon or the handle that you've made on the center marks and trim to fit the exact width of the place mat.

With the extra fabric or ribbon, pin pieces to the center of the short sides of both place mats and sew in place. Just as an FYI...I made mine with the left over strip cut in half, but they were too short. Make yours a little longer than mine. These will be the ties that keep the dish from falling out. You could also use Velcro.

Now place both place mats right sides together...make sure both ends with the ties are on the same side.

Sew on all three sides...not the opening end that has the ties.

Turn right side out and you are done...another fast project and so inexpensive.

Just slip in your casserole dish and you are off to the party!!

Tie it closed to keep the yummy food inside.

The thick quilted place mats keep the hot casserole dish warm too if you were bringing it to a dinner.

and off you go...

Remember, you can just give the carriers as a gift in itself. You can also purchase new dishes to add to it and bake something special to add even more.

With times being so hard for most people these days, fast and inexpensive gifts are welcome ideas, but I know most people really appreciate the time spent with a hand made gift...well Semi Handmade in this case.

Have a wonderful Tuesday,

~Karen~

I'm linking to...Under The Table and Dreaming Party

Homecoming Weekend...

This weekend was Homecoming/Alumni/Parent weekend at the girls' university. We had a wonderful day with them. The weather was perfect.... a chilly autumn day with bright sunshine. There was a delicious lunch (sorry forgot to take pictures, busy stuffing my face!). They served butternut squash soup, salad, green beans, cranberry chicken, pumpkin ravioli and apple crisp for dessert. I ate every thing...no surprise there.

This is our oldest daughter Courtney and her boyfriend Courtland...he also attends the same university. So glad he's with her...especially when they are lost driving to the movie theater and they call me at midnight for directions!!



Here is our other daughter Kelsie (on the right) with her 2 room mates Emily (center) and Amber (left). They made the dance team for the school and were doing their routine for every one on the school's quad for the autumn festival.



They were excellent!

That's Kelsie in the center.

The festival had games, crafts, fundraisers and more food...cotton candy

Freshly made kettle corn...it's sweet and salty and soooo good.

Here we are sharing a bag of it.

Fresh pressed apple cider...hot and cold.

and we can't forget the freshly dipped caramel apples.

Here's hubby patiently waiting for us in the blinding sunlight while we were all in line for fried dough or some call them dough boys. Too funny how Kelsie's gym bag matches his outfit, but I'm absolutely positive that thought never crossed his mind.

They had live music too. Dan Mills was wonderful.

They had a bounce house, pumpkin painting...

and tons of carnival games.

It was the best day. We always hate driving away and leaving them behind. They'll be home for Thanksgiving in November, but I think we'll see them before that. Miss them all to pieces.

Take care,

~Karen~