There's a Good Reason Why I'm Late with the Winner...

It was my anniversary yesterday!! 23 wonderful years being married to greatest man on earth. He's loving, kind, caring, funny, patient, always helpful and loves his family to pieces! We had a great day...church in the morning, then we went out for breakfast. We decided not to buy gifts or cards for each other, so we bought flowers and a gift for a friend's mother who is in a nursing home from a knee replacement. Later on we went to Foxwood's Casino to see Legends in Concert. Our daughter Courtney had received complimentary tickets at her work, so she gave them to us! It was unbelievable...all 5 singers looked exactly like the originals. The dancers and costume changes were amazing. The 5 we saw were...Bobby Darin (Mack The Knife and Beyond The Sea were my favorites), then Tim McGraw (he was great too), Shakira, Prince and Elvis. If you get the chance in your part of the country to see this show, it's wonderful. It changes all the time!
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And now I'll stop talking and announce the winner of the Christmas cookie cutters. Random number generator picked #19, so the winner is...

Suzan from...

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The Reluctant Quilter

I am going to resume my Sharing on Sunday again in September. These next few weeks in August are going to be crazy. We're having over 100 people this Saturday for Kelsie's graduation party, family is visiting from out of state, then we need to pack up both girls for college and then the big move in the last weekend in August.

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Have a great day,

~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...2*10 Apron Tutorial

Hi to all my wonderful blogging friends out there! I want to say thank you to all my new friends who clicked the follower button this week. A great big hug to everyone!

Today's "Tool" for this Tuesday is an easy one...

Your sewing machine!!

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Here is a super easy tutorial for a 2*10 apron.

What's a 2*10 Apron you ask? Well, hop over to Stash Manicure  (click the red link to go) and you will find my tutorial full of pictures on how to make an apron for yourself or for gifts.

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I was asked by Rae Ann to do a guest post on her amazing blog. Stash Manicure is a place where you'll find wonderful ideas from other bloggers on how to organize and start using your stash of fabric. Even though we may find ways of using up our stash, it doesn't mean we can't buy more fabric...right?

Sorry to my friends who are also friends on Stash Manicure and you saw this tutorial yesterday, but it's a good one and I wanted to share it with all of you.

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The aprons will make great gifts and they are super fast to make. Head on over and leave a comment there if you'd like and let me know what you think.

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Thanks a million for always being there,

~Karen~

What's a Fat Quarter You Ask?...

I've had a few emails asking what a fat quarter is. Fat quarters are those little folded squares of fabric you see at your local quilt shop or larger chain fabric stores. They are usually in front of the bolts of fabric. They are pre cut pieces of the bolts for a quick purchase (because you know I LOVE to wait in those lines at the cutting table in the big chain stores LOL), small project or scrap quilts. Here's a quick picture explanation.
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Here is a piece of fabric that is one yard long...see the yard stick on the bottom. The fabric is unfolded, so the selvage (finished) edges are on the top and bottom.




Here is a close up of the 36 inch length of fabric.



Now cut that 36 inch length in half at 18 inches.

Here are the 2 strips 18 inches by the width of fabric (WOF).

Now, the usual width of fabric ranges from 42"-45" (that's the vertical ruler on the right)

Minus the white edge of the selvage, this fabric is just about 44 inches.

Now cut that in half at 22 inches.

and here you have it...4 fat quarters from one yard of fabric.

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The usual measurement of a fat quarter is 18" x 22".

Hope this helps.

~Karen~

Sharing on Sunday #9 Christmas in July...

Ok...today is July 25th. Don't hate me for saying this, but Christmas is 5 months away from TODAY! and how appropriate for the last Christmas in July give away.

This week's give away is a brand new bucket of 40 Christmas cookie cutters.




There are 20 designs with 2 of each kind...one standard size and one mini.



Here are the pictures of the cookie cutters.

What's wonderful about cookie cutters is the many uses for them. You know me...never use something for real purpose.

• cookies (that one is obvious, lol )
• cut out rice crispy treats
• make fudge in each one and give as a gift
• Christmas tree ornaments
• tie them together for a wreath or hang them from a wreath
• hang a tag on each one for a dinner place card
• use a napkin ring
• templates for scrap booking
• cut out shapes from card stock and make gift tags
• how can I not mention Quilt Appliques!!
• cut out sandwiches for children
• cut out shapes from pancakes

For me, I use cookie cutters for everything else but cookies. I tend to make drop cookies rather than rolled cookies.

I usually make M&M cookies, Hershey Kiss cookies, Russian Tea Cakes, Coconut Macaroons, chocolate covered peanut butter balls, "Good Cookies", chocolate Chex mix, caramel popcorn and more.

To enter the give away you can just leave a comment, but if you'd like to leave a comment with your favorite Christmas Cookie or dessert that would be great too.

Maybe some time in the fall, closer to Christmas I can put together a blog to share Christmas recipes

I'll pick the winner next Sunday August 1st!!

Take care,

~Karen~

Winner of Sharing on Sunday Christmas in July...

Hello everyone! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. The winner of last week's peppermint paper set is #26...

Elizabeth from Such a Sew and Sew

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just send me an email with your snail mail address.

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You must go visit her blog. The whole blog is great, but scroll down until you see her Snowball quilt she made for her sister's wedding shower. It is FANTASTIC!!! My favorite is the free motion quilting that makes the quilt all crinkly and her snowballs are sooo cute too. Love it!

Be back with another Sharing on Sunday give away in a bit,

~Karen~

Chocolate and Cream Cheese Together...Nothing Better

This is my "go to" recipe for a quick dessert. It's perfect to take to a party, picnic or get together...or make a batch and eat them all yourself!! They don't need frosting, so you can make 'em and take 'em.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Cupcakes

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Makes 24 cupcakes

• one package Devils Food Cake mix and the ingredients to make it
• 1 eight ounce package of cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• pinch of salt
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Prepare chocolate cake mix according to the directions on the box. Line cupcake pan with cupcake papers. Fill each cupcake paper 2/3 full with batter. Set pans aside.

In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and pinch of salt and beat until mixed. Stir in chocolate chips.

Add one heaping teaspoon of cream cheese mixture to each of the unbaked cupcakes .

Bake at 350* F for 25 minutes. Cool in pan for 10 minutes and then transfer to cooling rack. Eat warm or cold. Enjoy!!

These are so yummy. I made a batch for a party and this is the only picture I took...them going into the oven. Of course I was rushing to the party and never took a picture when they were done.

Happy baking,

~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Napkin and Place Setting Ideas

Of course this week's Tool Time would be about napkins...how could it not after you've read this post . Today I will show you how to use things around the house to make a napkin and silver ware kit for your dinner guests or for a casual party or picnic.

I even used something from the hardware/automotive store for the first example. I think you can buy these just about any where actually.

These are hose clamps. They are the rings you put on the end of a rubber hose. When you need to clamp the hose to something, you just tighten the screw and it seals around the hose. Well, we won't be using it that way right?...




We will be taking these little cuties, that come in some many sizes, and using them for...



This!! Is this not the best.

This is a close up of the little screw you can tighten to fit your napkin and flat ware.

Perfect and cheap.

Here's something even cheaper...FREE. Just find the colors to match your decor or party and...

sew them together on three side leaving the top open. You can write the name of each guest on the paint chip for a seating card. You can hot glue the 3 edges too.

How about a page from a magazine, newspaper, comic page, gift wrap paper etc

I just tore the page out,

Fold it in half with the side you want show on the outside.

Now flip it over and fold the 2 end towards the middle on the back side.

Make sure the last flap over laps a little. I used tape to secure the flap.

Open up the top to reveal the pocket that has the folded bottom.

This is just perfect for that summer time picnic outside.

How about recycling a little donut shop bag. My hubby is the donut person. I'm the bagel girl.

Another great picnic set.

Even better with some raffia.

This is a page from an old music book my dad was throwing away. You can also use or buy old books. I folded it the same as the magazine page.

This idea is great for a child's party. First, I had to gulp down this Capri Sun punch and then I just cut the top off.

How about an old vegetable or fruit can.

I just tied a bow around it, but you could also Mod Podge some fabric around it that matched the party colors.

This one is super easy. Just take a decorative envelope...

cut a thin edge off one of the short sides.

Seal the gummed flap shut.

Now pop open the cut edge and...

insert your flat ware and napkin.

Last, but certainly not least is my eye glass case tutorial. You can find the tutorial here and then use them for the napkin and place setting. Then you can give the case as a party favor for the dinner guest.

I'm sure there are many more ideas to use for this. You can also use a photograph of each guest and make the pouch similar to the paint chip holder.

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The list can go on and on. Just remember to think outside the box and always look at something twice before you throw it away. You never know what you could make with it.

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Have a wonderful Tuesday and don't forget this week's Christmas in July give away.

~Karen~