SummerLight How To: July 2013

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Christmas in July with Rudolph

I have been thinking about Christmas ...a lot....lately. I hate having it sneak up on me and not have presents ready for my family and friends. I want to make everyone a cute Christmas decoration or a personalized stocking this year.

While I was waiting for two youngest to fall asleep tonight I searched online for Christmas projects. Look what I found!

Who wouldn't want to cuddle up with this guy on the couch? I am thinking about making one for each of my youngest as a Christmas Eve present for their beds to cuddle up with waiting for St. Nick. The back of the pillow would be easy to personalize with a different fabric for each family member or you could quickly embroider a name to the pillow. I think I may add a pocket for the boys
to store a reindeer snack that could disappear at night when Santa arrives.

The tutorial is easy to follow with lots of pictures and a complete list of items . She uses transfer paper but I wonder if you could print to freezer paper and use that instead? I think I may try both and let you know what happens.

I would like to point out the cute red pillow in the background with the adorable. Looking at it gives me that nice warm Christmas feeling.

Here is the link http://www.cottonandcurls.com/2012/12/rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-pillow-tutorial/

Don't forget to check out the rest of her blog for amazing accessory and clothing ideas too.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Drop Danish using Bisquick!

I have been using this recipe for over 20 years! I am not sure if my Mom and I first found it in a magazine or on the side of the Bisquick box. It is one of my to go to recipes when my sweet tooth is getting the better of me and I want something that is quick and easy.

You will need:

2 cups of Bisquick or any other mix of this kind
1/4 cup of margarine or butter, softened
2 Tbsp of sugar (I use 1/4 cup, don't hate me!)
2/3 cup of milk
1/4 cup of preserves or jam

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet or baking pan.

2. Mix Bisquick, sugar, margarine, and milk together until a dough forms. You do not want to make sure that all of the Bisquick is completely mixed, it is ok to have a few dry round pieces in the dough.

This is what mine looks like after I mix it together.

3. Using a spoon drop the dough onto your pre greased pan about 2 inches apart. I can usually get 6 on a pan. Using the back of a spoon form a well in the back. Make sure that it is not so deep that your Danish will break when you remove it from the pan. Place a spoon of your jam or preserves in the well.

4. Place in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes.
(Sorry about the pictures my hard drive is going out, nothing is working quite including photo editing)

Glaze Ingredients

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 Tbsp warm water

1/4 t vanilla

Mix together in a bowl until the mixture is smooth. Drizzle with a fork over each Danish after they are cool.

As you can tell they are a big hit in our house!

Sunday, July 14, 2013

How to Organize!

http://www.noodle-head.com/2010/05/mail-organizer-tutorial.html

I have been going crazy trying to find ways to organize stuff in my house without paying a ton of money for it. I love this tutorial but I think I might change it up a bit to recycle some stuff I already have. I will try to post pictures as I go to let you know if using layers of cardboard will work for the back instead of a canvas. And I would rather recycle some stuff that I do not wear anymore rather than spend more money on fabric. One of the reasons I love crafting is that I can find new ways to use things instead of purchasing more stuff!