Paper Gift Bag Tutorial

 First I got a package of 24 scrapbook Christmas papers from Wal-Mart for $4.97 and a glue stick.
Fold and tear in half. You will have pieces measuring  12"X6"

I lined up a 12.5"X12.5" Omnigrid ruler with the 11.5" line even with the bottom edge and folded up 1/2" on both ends.

 I made a template 2" in from the edge and down a bit on a piece of paper, and used it to punch holes with a hole punch through the top and bottom folded edge.

 Lay the ruler at the 5" mark along the folded edge and fold up the middle part. Flip the paper and do the same on the other end. You will have 2 creases through the middle. Next lay the ruler at the 5" mark again along both long edges and fold up 1". I missed taking that picture, but you can see the fold above.

 You will have a little 1" square on the middle outside edge. Cut it just to the 1" fold so you can flip and glue it up. Put your glue on the right side of the 1" piece so it folds under the long edge.

 The 1" piece was glued with a glue stick and the side folded over it to make a nice square bottom. Flip over and do the other side. Glue the remaining 1" long flap over the just glued piece to make a box. Repeat with other side.

 Lay down the bag and glue just inside the top flap between the holes and fold to the inside.

Thread a 16" piece of ribbon through the holes, tie in a knot and pull to the inside. Congratulations, you just made a cute little gift bag. These took me 8 minutes to make including taking the pictures. You'll get 48 bags for about 11 cents each, not including the ribbon, but I had some on hand so didn't factor that in. Have fun.
This is my first tutorial, if you have any problems just ask.

One Flower Wednesdays and Upcoming Craft Sale

Managed to get 2 hexies done last night.

I think I am finally finished making items for the craft sale at the UFA this Saturday.
I am hoping it won't be too cold, it is being held in their greenhouse.
Below are 30 mostly sea glass wire wrapped necklaces.  My sister-in-law picked up the sea glass in Peurto Rico early this year on their holiday. She has made necklaces also. Wish us luck with the sale.

I didn't know it would be so hard to find a good place to photograph this. My house is so filled with stuff I don't have a very large open area, and it is too bright outside with all the snow. I finally took this in my bedroom against the door with the blinds pulled to keep out the sunshine.  Not all that clear, but I already tipped it over once,  had to rearrange the necklaces, and I'm running out of patience.

 I had lots of fun making these bookmarks. I scavenged some of the dangly bits from a computer key board, my husbands parts drawer, the local re-cycle give and take, leftover beads, and a few from a bead store.  

 I am trying to capitalize on the present trend towards using  re-usable grocery bags and sewed 40 tote bags. I've used them for years, and have given them to almost everyone I know.  I even remember trying to use them years ago and the strange looks I got from the grocery baggers. They couldn't figure out why anyone would use their own bag. My son and his wife say everyone comments on the the ones I gave them, so I thought why not try and sell some.

They always say prices go up at Christmas. Now I have proof. The left picture shows the regular price $9.99 on sale for $11.27.
This is the first picture I have taken with my new cell phone, sorry it is not very good. Just after I took it I heard them call for security over the intercom and I got nervous that they were after me.  I still have my phone so I guess it wasn't me they were worried about.

Seems wine is cheaper with GST and deposit also.

I used to work for a newspaper back in the day when ads were done by hand. I had to cut and paste (actually wax) the individual lines. I don't think these kinds of mistakes got past our proofreaders, who were actual people very often.

The first Snowy Owl of the season. Saw her on my way home from town just a bit north. Luckily she was still there when I went back with my camera.
I am pretty sure it is a female or perhaps an immature Snowy.

One Flower Wednesdays

6 flowers I made last night. With our cold weather, I thought these blues were perfect. I did one to remind me of the summer past.These are still fabrics from my thrift sale find.
I got through 4 before I pricked my finger pushing the needle through the fabric. I was wondering if any of you use thimbles? I can't get used to using one or they just don't fit my finger right. I have a leather one with a metal disk but it doesn't seem to be in the right spot. I use a small piece of white medical tape over the end of my middle finger, the one I use to push the needle with. I am using a quilting between size needle, maybe I should be using a longer one.

Another cold day, -32C (-25.6F) this morning at 9:00. Missed the full moon by a couple of days. Yesterday was -34.5C (-30F), Friday is supposed to go all the way to -1C (31F). We do live in a crazy area!
Nikki hasn't ventured outside, but likes to look out and watch the birds.

 This is a great cookbook, I found for a few dollars at a garage sale. It has just about every soup you could want to make. Every recipe I have tried has been good so far.




  Pictured is a beef cabbage soup with dumplings I made for supper last night. The dumplings had cornmeal, corn and cheese; a different take on what I usually make. They were almost too light, but still tasty.

One Flower Wednesdays

One Flower Wednesdays

 I made 3 this week to make up for the ones I missed last week. The fabric was striped with this multicolored design and I managed to cut enough squares to make hexies. I can't imagine what you could have used this strange fabric for besides cutting it up, but I bet no one else will have the same flowers. 
Have you ever seen any One Flower Wednesday's  hexies that are made from the same fabric you have? I have seen a few and it gives me a little lift to think someone else liked it too.

Snow, Snow and More Snow

Well there isn't really that much yet, but it is the first snow fall of the year and it hasn't stopped so it might add up. The roads are really slippery so I think I will just stay home where it is nice and warm. Good time to  do some sewing on tote bags for the sale coming up in December.

Last Nights Biscuits


Cheese and green onions, what could be better?

One Flower Wednesdays

 I didn't know if I wanted to take time out of my current projects to make my flowers this week, but I am glad I did. It felt good having the needle and thread in my hands again. I used a couple of  the fabrics from my recent thrift sale finds.

The Cotoneasters bushes were the only outside plants with any color this morning. Not really color but berries to add interest.

Had to take another sunrise picture, the days are getting shorter, this morning's sunrise was 4 minutes later than Monday's and the moon is still in the sky.

Have you ever gone for a walk and are drawn to something and just had to pick it up?

That happened while I was walking my dog Mac this afternoon in our pasture. Nice sunny but windy day. I saw this rock and just had to pick it up. It fit perfectly in my right hand, I switched it around and tried it in my left, but it seemed to belong in my right, it even felt like there was a small indentation for my middle finger to fit into.

As I walked along holding this rock, I wondered if it had a use long ago by some native person. One side is smooth and the other is rough as if pitted by use.

I'll never know, but it is a cool rock.

Beautiful Monday Morning Sun Rise at 8 A.M. this morning.

Friday was cookie day. Looking at this picture it is hard to believe there are 47 cookies in this jar.
These are my husbands favorite. Very crispy, just the way he likes them.
I only had about 1-1/4 c coconut, so I added 3/4 c oat bran, and they turned out pretty good.


Dad's Cookies

Cream together
1 c butter                           2 c brown sugar
2 eggs                               1 tsp vanilla
Sift and add:
2 c flour                            1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder         1/2 tsp salt
Stir in:
2 c rolled oats                    2 c shredded unsweetened coconut
1 c chocolate chips            1 c chopped nuts
1 c dried fruit if desired, these had chopped dried apricots, cranberries are also good

Roll in balls and flatten slightly.
Bake 12 minutes in 375F oven. Makes about 4 dozen.