Tomato-Basil Simmer Sauce

I tried my first batch of canning!! So I had to share this delicious recipe. I had to research some directions and terms as in non-reactive pot. These are nonmetallic pots used for high acid foods so the natural substances in the foods don't react with the metal. This can contribute to to food becoming black, brown, gray in the jar or giving the sauce a different taste.
The above links will give you the recipe and some great facts. My motivation was when I found an article in the July Better Homes and Gardens along with a few other recipes.

I also wanted to share my excitment in winning the "no pattern paper" contest in my last post. I thought it was a challenge but was happy to hear it was a contest...yay!!

Scrabbook Divas Challenge

I just joined Creative Scrapbooking Divas challenge for July. It's creating a 12x12 lay-out without any pattern paper. This page has ink and UTEE around the edges of the pictures as well as the page. I just joined the fun at this web-site and still getting to know everyone. Check it out for several challenges each month, galleries, ideas and other blogger friends.

This is my other babe. I just love little fingers and toes!

My First Canvas Paintings

I had these wonderful stone leaves that were meant for incense burning but wanted to do something clever with them for my bathroom which is decorated in leaves, stone-like pictures and a hint of dragonflies.
My Brother,Scott has a great technique for getting this tree-like texture on canvas. Check out his blog for his fun designs on a much bigger scale. So I had to try it. I kept layering colors and exposing underlying colors until I was happy with the outcome, which takes me forever!

Here are the 5x7's before attaching the leaves. Thanks for inspiring me Scott! It was fun.

The funny part about the hint of purple...I was touching up colors on the deck table while the kids were painting with their watercolors. My 6yr old splashed her purple over onto my canvas. While trying to wipe it off, I realized it looked great. She was pretty proud to help me out with the final touches.

Glass Tag Embellishment

While I had the epoxy out to attach the leaves, I couldn't let the extra go to waste. I was able to quickly make another glass tag before it started to set. Phew, that was close. If you look closely, you will see some sparkle on the left lower edge and the top portion. For this, I splattered perfect pearls onto the wet epoxy with a small dry brush.
See similiar tags for sale on my ETSY on my sidebar.

More Clay Faux Seals

I love making different textures with objects I just happen to find. Then to see the delightful image and texture in creates within the clay. The small plastic bottle cap pressed into the ball of clay gives the deep impression ready for an object. This bottle cap happened to have a circle of bumps. The impression encircles the brad. The knob makes texture around the outside of the seal.

They are baked without the brad. Makin's Clay is a bit easier to work with in making these seals as it is air dry clay and stays a bit flexible even when cured.

The flowers with the brads were sold on My Etsy

Clay Faux Seals/Embellishments

This seal is for sale on my Etsy. SOLD

This one has a softer touch as I used different paint and finish.

I took an imprint of a rose from the corner of a picture frame to create these seals.
SOLD

And embellished this homemade envelope with coordinating rose paper and colors. The envelope holds 4x6 pictures for my friend's rose-themed scrapbook. We usually have pictures we want to keep but they don't necessarily have to be on a lay-out, that is why I designed this idea a couple years ago. I love to have pretty envelopes or mini-books as part of my lay-outs.

Beautiful Blogger Award

Thank you so much Lynn for this wonderful award. It truely means so much to me!! Lynn creates beautiful scrapbook pages, just amazing details. Check out her charming touch at
http://beautifuldelightsblog.blogspot.com/ .

To pass on this award to your favorite blogs just:

1) Add a link and note of thanks to the person giving the award (which I would have done anyways)

2) Pass the award on to 15 bloggers whose blogs you have recently discovered that you love.

3) Share 7 things about yourself.

These are a handful of my favorite blogs to visit:

A Path To Spirit

Kids Napping? I'm Scrapping!

Charming Designs

Kissed by an Angel

Girls to Grow

Moms the Word

If I Could Set My Soul Free

Healing Expressions

Ilkas Attic

The Vintage Moth (free images)

Art From the Heart


1. I love finding blogger friends to trade how-to's and inspiration. I have never been one to share alot of my personal life but this is an opportunity to open up a bit. It has been a pleasure getting to know many of you!! I enjoy so many blogs, what I have listed are my absolute favorites plus some new friends I just found.

2. I traded: doing my friend's scrapbook for a really nice sewing machine. Not a bad deal. I have also been working on making more embellishments to put on my Etsy, like my clay faux seals and glass-like tags .

3. I am an ex-Harley rider as well as my hubby....best times of our lives!

4. My girls are 8 and 6. My 8yr old was diagnosed Type 1 diabetic at 5 1/2yrs old. That is why my clay wings on my sidebar were such a big deal for me. It is made with an insulin cartridge inside for the Bottle of Hope Challenge.

5. I am an Exercise Specialist and worked with Physical Therapists full-time until we decided it was time to be home with the babes. I am now one of the volunteer coordinators for the school events.

6. I have been involved with MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) and a Christian book group/Bible study for about 6yrs. I grew up Catholic but for now, I claim to be "Christian".

7. Phew, one more...My hubby and I have been married for..what year is this...16yrs this summer!! And he was my one and only blind date. Although we only had the one date, we hooked up again years later. Funny!!

Here is my thought of the day taken from an interesting e-mail I recieved on forgiveness:

"The Greek word for “forgiveness” means “to send away.” I love that analogy. When my ruminations begin to boil over with a never-ending litany of wrongs suffered I purposely, consciously, “send away” the revenge my natural heart craves. And it’s a blessed relief.
Someone said that to bear a grudge is to drink poison hoping to kill someone else."

Timeless

This is a "photo shoot" that was very spontaneous. Out of the cedar chest came the dress I wore as the flower girl to my Aunt's wedding. My 4yr old couldn't wait to play dress up with it. We had the best time together and from it came the most treasured pictures, wrinkled tulle, ribbons and all.

So with this lay-out I created a wonderful envelope to hold the story of this most treasured time and timeless dress.

This lay-out includes ribbon, flowers, white leaves and tulle (behind the matted picture) from the veil and dress. Don't you just love the fuzzy pink slippers with this dress??

It couldn't stop there. I put these precious little gloves with parts of the veil in a shadow box with a picture of me in the wedding and a picture, I won't say how many yrs later, of my 4yr.old in the same dress. The cedar chest preserved everything so beautifully with no hint of yellowing.

Just some wall art in our bedroom with some wonderful old oval buttons and big mother-of-pearl buttons. I covered the canvas with material that matches our quilt and edged it with lace.

The buttons are hot glued on (which I didn't think would hold long but it's been on our wall a couple years now).

Craft Links

Here are a few sites you may find interesting.

I have been making homemade candles with my friend so when I saw this I had to share it:

Sheet Music Candle Wraps
http://www.thecountrychiccottage.net/2010/01/sheet-music-candle-wraps.html

This is a link to Ginger's blog. I have been enjoying her fun facts, quotes, recipes and links to crafts and tutorials. http://lovestodream.blogspot.com/

This is Jenny who has a free lesson on how to make no sew TuTu's for little girls. She is having a contest to win $100 to the mom who sends her the most people over to see her free video.
http://www.misstutu.com/mom-blogger-contest.html

This is the actual link for a 15 minute "how-to video"..have fun seeing your little ones in those cute tutus.
http://howtomakeatutu.blogspot.com/