I have created my first video! This is a tutorial about how to make an effective grout cleaner out of available household products. It is frugal and environmentally friendly. Be kind, it is my first video. I hope to make more to share knowledge in a visual manner. Please suggest topics for future videos!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Trash to Scrapbooking Treasure
Here is a list to inspire you! There are many ideas collected about turning trash into Scrapbooking Treasure. The tips here could be used as well for cardmaking, paper crafting, Artist Trading Card (ATC) embellishing and so much more. Its amazing what objects we cast aside every day could do for us! At Creative Spirit Creations (Ebay ID Narri) we strive to encourage creativity in all aspects of life. Using every day objects in extraodinary ways is one way to let your creativity soar!
* Worn out hotel key cards - for ATC's or small picture backgrounds
* Mesh onion or garlic bags - makes a great background mesh
* Tags from products for templates - Journaling, photo matting and more!
* Ribbon used to tie products - Fiber!!
* Twine that was used to tie products - Fiber!!
* Fringe that fell off a chenille blanket - Fiber!!!
!* Silver stickers that hold new socks together - stick them on pages for accent!
* Cardboard from cereal boxes - background mats or decoration!
* Leftover nails or hinges - accents and hinges can be used for hidden journaling!
* Clear stiff plastic bags - cut out pieces for shaker boxes or overlay
* Leftover seeds - used in shaker boxes
* Small plastic circles from inside screw top soda bottles - accents
* Paper scraps - serendipity squares or accents
* Found Objects
* Beach Sand - Shaker boxes or applied with glue to letters for texture
* Staples - for accent or shaker boxes
* Used Gift Cards or Phone cards - either scrap the memory associated with them or use them as decorative accents
* Small mementos of life - ticket stubs, teeth, matchboxes, hotel stuff,
* Bottle caps - decorate with or use as a base for pictures
* Coasters from restaurants - accents or backings !
* Tiny bits of paper - recycle into your own handmade paper!
* Lids from jars - use as templates for circles to cut out!
* Baby Food Jars - Storage of small scrapbooking embellishments
* Medicine Bottles - Storage of small scrapbooking embellishments
* Punch out holes from a small hole punch or three hole punch - accents to a page
* Scraps from cropping photos - page accents or add texture to serendipity squares
* Old necklace Pendants - use as an embellishment
* Starbucks Coffee Sleeves - Paint over the logo and use the cardboard in your layouts!
* Makeup Brushes - Apply Chalk OR clean rubber stamps
* Tabs from soda cans - embellishment - can be used as is or painted
* Worn out hotel key cards - for ATC's or small picture backgrounds
* Mesh onion or garlic bags - makes a great background mesh
* Tags from products for templates - Journaling, photo matting and more!
* Ribbon used to tie products - Fiber!!
* Twine that was used to tie products - Fiber!!
* Fringe that fell off a chenille blanket - Fiber!!!
!* Silver stickers that hold new socks together - stick them on pages for accent!
* Cardboard from cereal boxes - background mats or decoration!
* Leftover nails or hinges - accents and hinges can be used for hidden journaling!
* Clear stiff plastic bags - cut out pieces for shaker boxes or overlay
* Leftover seeds - used in shaker boxes
* Small plastic circles from inside screw top soda bottles - accents
* Paper scraps - serendipity squares or accents
* Found Objects
* Beach Sand - Shaker boxes or applied with glue to letters for texture
* Staples - for accent or shaker boxes
* Used Gift Cards or Phone cards - either scrap the memory associated with them or use them as decorative accents
* Small mementos of life - ticket stubs, teeth, matchboxes, hotel stuff,
* Bottle caps - decorate with or use as a base for pictures
* Coasters from restaurants - accents or backings !
* Tiny bits of paper - recycle into your own handmade paper!
* Lids from jars - use as templates for circles to cut out!
* Baby Food Jars - Storage of small scrapbooking embellishments
* Medicine Bottles - Storage of small scrapbooking embellishments
* Punch out holes from a small hole punch or three hole punch - accents to a page
* Scraps from cropping photos - page accents or add texture to serendipity squares
* Old necklace Pendants - use as an embellishment
* Starbucks Coffee Sleeves - Paint over the logo and use the cardboard in your layouts!
* Makeup Brushes - Apply Chalk OR clean rubber stamps
* Tabs from soda cans - embellishment - can be used as is or painted
Simple Sacred Cooking..Pizza Dough
Like most things in life, you need a good base to build on. With this dough base, the possibilities are endless. From double cheese pepperoni to veggie pizza and everything in between, it brings us together. Homemade pizza is a delight that brings smiles to all faces. Individual pizzas can be made to perfectly tailor individual tastes.
Pizza Dough
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 package active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Directions
Combine dry ingredients including sugar in a large bowl. Slowly mix in oil and warm water. Kneed together until smooth and elastic dough ball forms. Sit aside for 1 hour in warm environment. Break up into desired size doughballs. Roll out to a thin crust. Dock with a fork or toothpick for best result. Make your favorite pizza on top!
flour, salt, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl. Mix in oil and warm water. Spread out on a large pizza pan. Top as desired.
** Coming Soon... Topping Ideas........
Pizza Dough
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 package active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Directions
Combine dry ingredients including sugar in a large bowl. Slowly mix in oil and warm water. Kneed together until smooth and elastic dough ball forms. Sit aside for 1 hour in warm environment. Break up into desired size doughballs. Roll out to a thin crust. Dock with a fork or toothpick for best result. Make your favorite pizza on top!
flour, salt, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl. Mix in oil and warm water. Spread out on a large pizza pan. Top as desired.
** Coming Soon... Topping Ideas........
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Simple Sacred Cooking - Toad in the Hole
I decided to bless my family today, this fine Christmas eve with a new recipe. This is a recipe I have heard about for a long time, but never quite knew what it was. Toad in the Hole is a traditional English dish that is very budget friendly for the frugal minded! Simple ingredients mixed together to make a delicious flavor. The only thing I might change in the future is to double the amount of battter used to soak up the savory juices. Its tangy goodness is a refreshing change of pace. Even my very picky eater husband loved it (minus the onions!)
Try it for your family. They will enjoy it.
The recipe was featured in All You Magazine, December 2011. and can be found here http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/toad-in-hole-50400000117400/ (or copied below for your convenience)
Ingredients
8 chicken or turkey sausage links (about 1 lb. total)
2 onions, quartered (* Note from Kim - I used powdered due to picky eater)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons grainy mustard (*Note from Kim - I used dijon)
1 1/4 cups low-fat milk
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 475ºF. Place sausages and onions in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and toss with oil. Bake until lightly browned, turning once, about 10 minutes.
2. While sausages are baking, whisk flour and salt in a large bowl. Whisk together eggs, mustard and milk in a large measuring cup, add to flour mixture; whisk until smooth. Carefully pour batter into baking dish with sausages and continue to bake until puffed and golden, about 30 minutes longer. Let stand 5 minutes and serve.
Try it for your family. They will enjoy it.
The recipe was featured in All You Magazine, December 2011. and can be found here http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/toad-in-hole-50400000117400/ (or copied below for your convenience)
Ingredients
8 chicken or turkey sausage links (about 1 lb. total)
2 onions, quartered (* Note from Kim - I used powdered due to picky eater)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons grainy mustard (*Note from Kim - I used dijon)
1 1/4 cups low-fat milk
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 475ºF. Place sausages and onions in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and toss with oil. Bake until lightly browned, turning once, about 10 minutes.
2. While sausages are baking, whisk flour and salt in a large bowl. Whisk together eggs, mustard and milk in a large measuring cup, add to flour mixture; whisk until smooth. Carefully pour batter into baking dish with sausages and continue to bake until puffed and golden, about 30 minutes longer. Let stand 5 minutes and serve.
A Christmas Blessing
May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,
The gladness of Christmas give you hope,
The warmth of Christmas grant you love.
~Author Unknown
The gladness of Christmas give you hope,
The warmth of Christmas grant you love.
~Author Unknown
Friday, December 23, 2011
Batik Fun
Batiking is a fun, intricate artform where you take wax and dyes and create patterns on fabric. The result is a wonderful, distinctive looking design to your fabric. Simple supplies needed for a lot of fun. Especially perfect for crafters who like to sew or quilt to have unique fabrics to suit their perfect needs.
How to Batik
http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/howtobatik.shtml
http://www.craftown.com/batik.htm
http://www.homemadesimple.com/en-US/Crafts/pages/beautiful-backyard-batik.aspx
Batik with Children
http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/dyeblog/C1093657698/E20071005091634/index.html
How to Batik
http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/howtobatik.shtml
http://www.craftown.com/batik.htm
http://www.homemadesimple.com/en-US/Crafts/pages/beautiful-backyard-batik.aspx
Batik with Children
http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/dyeblog/C1093657698/E20071005091634/index.html
Star Wars Snowflakes
These are the neatest snowflakes ever. Not only elegant, but truly embrace creativity at the highest level of geek chic! Hats off to Anthony Herrera Designs for allowing such creativity to soar with this.....
Star Wars Snowflakes
http://anthonyherreradesigns.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56:star-wars-snowflakes&catid=34:anthonydesign-blog
Star Wars Snowflakes
http://anthonyherreradesigns.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56:star-wars-snowflakes&catid=34:anthonydesign-blog
Christmas Crepes (for all seaons)
Christmas is nearly here. In my household, Christmas morning means two things: Wrapping paper covering the living room door so my kids cant get in there before me and crepes!!
Every Christmas morning, making a holiday breakfast while we wait for Grandparents to arrive to open presents we cook breakfast as a family. The most important thing on the menu is crepes. Those thin, Delicious french pancakes that just melt in your mouth. They are inexpensive to create, easy to make and truly could make any experience a special one.
Crepes
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Combine eggs, salt and flour. Mix in milk. Mix in butter. Batter should be smooth and runny, but may have a few lumps. That is fine!
In a wide, flat frying pan put approx 1/4 cup of batter in the center. With a twist motion to the pan, allow the batter to swirl out to a large, circular crepe.
Cook for approx. two minutes until browned. Sweep the edges with your spatula and then flip. Cook for one minute on the opposite side. Roll up for stoage.
Now there are filling ideas!
There are sweet fillings...
Every Christmas morning, making a holiday breakfast while we wait for Grandparents to arrive to open presents we cook breakfast as a family. The most important thing on the menu is crepes. Those thin, Delicious french pancakes that just melt in your mouth. They are inexpensive to create, easy to make and truly could make any experience a special one.
Crepes
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Combine eggs, salt and flour. Mix in milk. Mix in butter. Batter should be smooth and runny, but may have a few lumps. That is fine!
In a wide, flat frying pan put approx 1/4 cup of batter in the center. With a twist motion to the pan, allow the batter to swirl out to a large, circular crepe.
Cook for approx. two minutes until browned. Sweep the edges with your spatula and then flip. Cook for one minute on the opposite side. Roll up for stoage.
Now there are filling ideas!
There are sweet fillings...
- Cream cheese whipped with powdered sugar
- Blueberry or Cherry pie filling
- Pineapple and cream cheese whipped together
- Maple Syrup
- Fruit Chuney
- Sliced bananas
Or savory...
- Scrambled eggs
- Scrambled eggs with sausage
- Chicken salad
- Ham salad
- Tuna Salad
- Cheese
Organic Garden
Take the time to stop by The Organic Garden. A wonderful site filled with organic gardening, organic living tips and tricks. There are also product reviews and other great information. The site is beautifully laid out with lovely photographs.
http://www.theorganicgarden.us/
http://www.theorganicgarden.us/
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Clairity Inspiration
“Clarity of painting comes from clarity of vision. A painter has to be emotionally right out there and present, both to perceive and to express.” -Kate Palmer
All About Sock Monkey
My Dad loves Sock Monkeys. They seem to be popping up everywhere nowadays. Here are some cute and creative crafts having to do with sock monkeys!
Kim
Learn How to Sew Your Own Sock Monkey with a Pair of Socks http://www.craftbits.com/project/sock-monkey
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Sock-Monkey
How to Make A Sock Monkey Costume
http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2010/08/diy-sock-monkey-costume/
Knit a Sock Monkey
http://www.favecrafts.com/Knitting/Sock-Monkey-Knitting-Pattern-from-Red-Heart#
Make Sock Monkey Cake Pops
http://sewellphotography.typepad.com/weblog/2011/03/domestic-diva.html
Kim
Learn How to Sew Your Own Sock Monkey with a Pair of Socks http://www.craftbits.com/project/sock-monkey
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Sock-Monkey
How to Make A Sock Monkey Costume
http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2010/08/diy-sock-monkey-costume/
Knit a Sock Monkey
http://www.favecrafts.com/Knitting/Sock-Monkey-Knitting-Pattern-from-Red-Heart#
Make Sock Monkey Cake Pops
http://sewellphotography.typepad.com/weblog/2011/03/domestic-diva.html
Simple Sacred Acts... Cleaning
To be sacred is to hold reverent in your life; a special importance and connection within your life. Why shouldn't you make simple acts special and uplifting? Create spiritual and uplifting experiances instead of just dull, every day must do's. You can incorporate these everyday acts with any faith, religion or set of beliefs. Today we will look at: Cleaning
Oh, a chore most of us hate. Cleaning the house, hearth, home. It is an endless, thankless task that we overlook or take granted most of the time. Every time we turn around there is another task to be completed. Another dirty dish, piece of laundry, cobweb to conquer!
Taking care of a home is a dynamic task. Shift your perspective on cleaning your home.
Change each act cleansing personal space into one of honoring your own self and family.
Sweep away negativity.
Wash the residue of life off your dishes and let it flow down the drain.
Clean windows to have them shine positive energy in.
Make your home a clean sanctuary away from chaos of life.
Feel peace through your actions.
Make every action a sacred act that honors yourself, your family and your spirit. Before long you will not only have a clean house, but a peaceful spirit.
Oh, a chore most of us hate. Cleaning the house, hearth, home. It is an endless, thankless task that we overlook or take granted most of the time. Every time we turn around there is another task to be completed. Another dirty dish, piece of laundry, cobweb to conquer!
Taking care of a home is a dynamic task. Shift your perspective on cleaning your home.
Change each act cleansing personal space into one of honoring your own self and family.
Sweep away negativity.
Wash the residue of life off your dishes and let it flow down the drain.
Clean windows to have them shine positive energy in.
Make your home a clean sanctuary away from chaos of life.
Feel peace through your actions.
Make every action a sacred act that honors yourself, your family and your spirit. Before long you will not only have a clean house, but a peaceful spirit.
Sweet Potato Bread
This year sweet potatoes were inexpensive, so I found some new and exciting ways that we could serve them to strech our holiday budget. This bread flew off the plate. Everyone was not only asking for seconds, but for the recipe!
Be the hit at your next party.
Special Sweet Potato Bread
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cardamom (optional)
1 cup cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan or muffin tin.
Mix together the sugar, oil and eggs. Combine thoroughly. Stir in the mashed sweet potatoes. In another bowl the combine dry ingredients, flour, baking soda, salt and spices, thoroughly. Slowly add dry mixture to the wet mixture.
Bake until starting to brown and bread has firmed.
Be the hit at your next party.
Special Sweet Potato Bread
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cardamom (optional)
1 cup cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan or muffin tin.
Mix together the sugar, oil and eggs. Combine thoroughly. Stir in the mashed sweet potatoes. In another bowl the combine dry ingredients, flour, baking soda, salt and spices, thoroughly. Slowly add dry mixture to the wet mixture.
Bake until starting to brown and bread has firmed.
How to Remove Latex Paint from Carpet
I just was repainting my bathroom for the holidays. My 7 and 8 year old boys graciously offered to help. Of course that turned into a bit of a fiasco which included paint getting on the hall carpet!
So here are some simple tips I have learned about getting latex paint off of carpet:
* Act quickly, place a paper towel or rag over as soon as possible to pull up the wet paint.
* Soak a rag in warm water and lay on the paint for about 90 seconds before gently rubbing with a circular motion. Replace the rag or paper towel every time you are starting to smear rather than pull up paint.
For very stubborn paint - Try a small bowl with warm water and 1/2 tsp of dish detergent. Rub in a circular motion until the last of the paint disappears.
So here are some simple tips I have learned about getting latex paint off of carpet:
* Act quickly, place a paper towel or rag over as soon as possible to pull up the wet paint.
* Soak a rag in warm water and lay on the paint for about 90 seconds before gently rubbing with a circular motion. Replace the rag or paper towel every time you are starting to smear rather than pull up paint.
For very stubborn paint - Try a small bowl with warm water and 1/2 tsp of dish detergent. Rub in a circular motion until the last of the paint disappears.
Quick Home Deodorizer
Guests are coming and you scortch something on the stove. You can clean up the mess quickly, but that smell! Yuck. Complete giveaway that can dampen your party.
To have a fresh home just throw together two cups of water, and sprinkle in some lemon juice, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon. Allow it to come to a boil, then turn down the heat to a simmer. In less than 10 minutes, your house will be smelling festive and fresh, ready for guests.
To have a fresh home just throw together two cups of water, and sprinkle in some lemon juice, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon. Allow it to come to a boil, then turn down the heat to a simmer. In less than 10 minutes, your house will be smelling festive and fresh, ready for guests.
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