Get Your Posts Ready For Themed Sundays on Sew Darn Crafty...

Sew Darn Crafty is a great linking party that I have here at Sew Many Ways every Sunday. Click HERE to see this week's party and add a link of your own. Wonderful bloggers from all over the world share their ideas, crafts, projects and posts every week.

I was thinking about having themed linking parties the next few months, so here is the list of themes for a few Sundays each month...the list will also be up permanently at the top of my side bar

October 2nd...Anything Autumn
October 16th...Halloween
October 30th...Apple Recipes
November 6th...Anything Autumn
November 13th...Pie Recipes
December 4th...Christmas/Holiday Decor
December 11th...Cookie Recipes
December 18th...Last Minute gift ideas

I think this will be fun, so start getting your posts ready to go, because we can wait to see them!!

Have a great day,
~Karen~

The Nester's Club...Make A Wish List

If you haven't joined The Nester's Club yet...come on in and let's hear from you. To read the other posts for The Nester's click HERE. Lots of comments too on each post

To add The Nester's button to your blog, the code is on the right side bar. Click HERE for a tutorial on how to add any button to your blog

No matter what kind of nest you live in...

• almost empty (older kids at home, but don't need so much of your time)
• semi empty (kids sharing homes between parents or your elderly parents live with you and need just a little bit of your time)
• or a nice quiet empty

...there are ways to make your "different life" a little easier when it's so empty.

One thing you can do is make a wish list of things you'd like to do, now that you may have a little more free time. It can be something as easy as learn to sew or knit...or maybe take a class or start an herb garden

My wish list...

• work on my hand sewn hexagons more
• paint a set of chairs stored in the basement (I don't know if this is a "wish" or a "to do" list...I do "wish" I had painted chairs though
• organize old photos

How about you? If you're a Nester, what might be on your wish list now that you have a little more time.

Take care,
~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 32

Hi All...I'm thinking of something fun for the next few months of Sew Darn Crafty Linking Party. How about a few themes...Halloween, Fall, pie recipes, Christmas, cookie recipes etc. I will list the dates and themes on the side bar so all can join in, so get those posts ready

In the mean time...let's see what you've been up to this week!!

If you want to add the button to your blog...Click HERE for a tutorial for adding a button


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 MVPs

Hi All...so sorry, this post was to be on Saturday, but one thing leads to another and I'm late!

This is last week's Sew Darn Crafty Link Party MVPs...Most Viewed Posts!!!

If the top three would like to steal this button for your blog, the code is on the right side bar and a tutorial on how to add a button to your blog is HERE.

This adorable quilt is from Our Busy Little Bunch. Click here to visit Rebecca's post. So cute...love the fabric and what a wonderful baby gift. Thanks for sharing!!

These are on my recipe "to do" list. What's better than chocolate chips and No Bake!! Go for a visit at Fly The Coop Crafts for the recipe. Click here to go to Sher's blog. Thanks for sharing.

And last but not the least are these super cute mason solar lamps. Oh my gosh...I love these!! You must visit Craftacular World to see the full post. Click here to visit her blog. Thanks for sharing too!



Thanks to every one who links up all week...to me you are all MVPs!!

Thanks so much,

~Karen~

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