How cute is this snowman that my best friend made me for Christmas!!
A Painted log with a wood nose and a sock hat.
I will enjoy this on my window sill all winter..
Thanks Bonny!!

My sweet boys. How I have enjoyed this Christmas Break. As the time comes to an end and school starts tomorrow I look back over the last few weeks and smile. How great it is to see the big boys playing with their little brother with such love and affection. It was so nice to have this time and a break to do family things together. I love these 3 little men so much.. I can't wait for the joy of all the snow and the playing outside that will come very soon...

Twine Bottle 

Step by step on making your own 

This will take about an hour to make.
It is very simple and cheep decoration or gift.
I have made two of these already and they are going on my gift giving list for Christmas or Birthdays this year!


















Here is what you need

1. An empty glass bottle. I used them from a peach juice and from some sweet chili heat sauce. Any glass jar will work I am going to try a salsa jar next.

2. Twine I get mine from my dollar store.

3. Hot glue and glue gun.

4. Why not add a cup of tea or coffee so you can take a break half way!


Lets get started 

I start at the bottom of my jars. So take the twine and glue a dot at the bottom to secure the twine in place.

I glue around the whole base to keep it secure. Just a small line will do. The key to this craft is less glue is better. If you put to much going up the sides it will goo out and you will see it on the finished product.








When you are on your way up the side of the bottle make sure that you are wrapping tightly and pushing the twine up to the other twine you have already glued. This ensures that there will be less gaps to see through.

Half!! You could keep it like this and add a ribbon to it and a tag. Or keep going like I did.

I used one glue stick so far...

















I had to change glue sticks again. Now on Glue stick number 2!

See the gap I am pointing to? Make sure to push up on the twine into the twine already glued and this will eliminate that whole.

See how I pushed it up and now there is no gap!












Here you can see I am getting to the curve of the bottle. I found I needed to glue more to make sure there wasn't as much Slippage.

Just keep gluing and wrapping!

The end is in sight!

   So you have gone around the curve of the bottle and now keep going so close to finished!!


I am on Glue stick number 3 now.......

Keep wrapping it tight and gluing 

Push it down!! to keep the gaps minimal.

This part is the trickiest I find of the whole thing. With the part where the bottle cover screwed on it isn't smooth. So just do your best to keep the twine close together and it will come out just fine.

When you get to the end just rim off the end of the twine and it will look rough like this.

                                                                        Then just put a dab of glue and secure that end piece inside the jar.

You are finished!!! Looks great doesn't it? I know you will love the outcome.


















This jar I added some chevron ribbon around the center and just glued the back of it to secure it in place.

I added a twig from one of my trees outside.
Voila your done!!

My BFF mentioned if I pained the twigs white and added glitter to them they would look really good. So I am thinking next week that would be a fun project to try!



Have fun Crafting and I hope you enjoy making your own twine bottle!!

    I love to keep busy while watching a movie. Some nights my husband and I play video games. This week I started a new hat so I have been looking for any excuse to work on it. So instead of video games I suggested a movie. A few weeks back he said that there was a movie he wanted to watch. I tucked that thought away so that when I was itching to craft I could say lets watch it and I could get some of my crafting done. Lets just say my suggestion was a success!! haha
    The hat is currently half way done. I will post pictures soon :)

Christmas Balls!!
So my mother came to my house for a few days to do some Christmas shopping and spend some time together. So every time we get together we MUST make something. So we decided to make these. She made one with sheep which was super cute and I chose the snowflake. The yarn I used had sparkle yarn which makes it so nice on the tree.
We used 16 inch circular needles and oh MY WORD it was really rough going. I would never do it with them again it is worth the money and buying DPN. It took us all night to make this but the outcome was wonderful. We both used a Styrofoam  ball and it holds it shape so nicely.

I may or may not try another haha. But it would be super cute to put on gifts for Christmas next year. If I were to make more the first thing on my list would be DPN.

Here is the link to the pattern we made http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/balls-up-

Christmas with the Kranks 

I know that this movie is a few years old now but I must say this is a really funny Christmas movie that is great to watch alone or with your kids. It has humor for all ages and enjoyable to watch.
All of us most likely have one or two movies that you HAVE to watch every Christmas and this is now on my list.
At a loss as to what to watch tonight? Why not cuddle under your favorite blanket with some popcorn and enjoy this festive movie.

Merry Christmas!

Homemade Oatmeal Bread.

This bread is a big hit in our house. I have 3 boys and they always choose this bread over the white any day. I must say this is my favorite bread and has been from a teen. It is mouth watering right out of the oven and is great toasted with your favorite topping for a quick breakfast.
My husbands favorite way to eat it is when I make rolls with it. No matter which way you decide to make it you will not be disappointed.
Below is the recipe I hope you enjoy making some great tasting bread today.





Oatmeal Bread

4 Cups of Boiling water
2 Cups of oatmeal (rolled oats or quick oats work the same)
1/4 cup of Shortening
2/3 cups Molasses
1/2 cup White or Brown sugar (both work great)
1 Package of yeast
2 tsp Salt
8 + cups of flour

In a Large bowl mix the Water, Oatmeal, Shortening, Molasses, Sugar, and mix well.
After it has cooled down a little about 15 min check the temperature with your finger it should be warm but not HOT. about 105 to 115F.
Now you add the yeast and salt Mix with a fork well.
Then add 3 cups of flour and mix well with a fork or a hand mixer. Blend well about 1-2 minutes.
Add flour 3 more cups of flour and mix.  Keep adding one cup of flour at a time until you have put 8 cups mixed in. Keep adding 1/2 cup of flour at a time until you have reached a stiff dough. Mine usually is still a bit sticky but I can still kneed it without getting gobs of dough on my hands ;)

Now put the ball of dough in the Large bowl drizzle some oil on top, cover it with saran wrap, and cover it with a towel. Place in a draft free place (I tend to put mine in the oven (no heat on of course :) and set the timer for 1 hour)  The dough should be doubled in size.
Grease 4 bread pans or 3 pans and a 8x8 round pan for rolls. Place dough in the pans and cover with just the clean towel place in a draft free place again and let rise about 40 min. They should be doubled in size and ready for baking.

 Bake at 350 for 30-45 min.

You will know when the bread is done when the top is Dark brown and when you take it out of the oven and tap on the top it will sound hollow.

When the bread is done take them out and pop them right out of the pans.. *careful they are hot*
Put them on a cookie rack and spread butter or margarine over the top. You are done!! Wait about 20 min if you can hold off and cut your first slice and enjoy!

Happy cooking from my Kitchen to yours