garden update 2

Here are a couple of photos of some of my container garden goodies...

oregano

thyme

 basil

cherry tomatoes

My latest favorite recipe...

A SIMPLE SALAD
1 oz. fresh mozzerella, cut into bite sizes
about 5 oz. tomatoes, cut into bite sizes
fresh basil, torn
1 Tbsp. balsamic vinaigrette
toss-n-serve
makes one serving

GREEN CHILE

"Green chile" is a very unique flavored pepper, mild or hot, they have a taste all their own. If you are not familiar, these peppers are of the capsicum species. They are from New Mexico, can range from mild to hotter than a jalapeno, and they come in grades of spiciness that caters to chile aficionados. The bulk of green chile are grown in and around Hatch, in southern New Mexico (allegedly considered the best green chile.) Green chilie's are those that are picked unripe; they are generally fire roasted, then peeled before further use. So, even if you do not like spicy food or peppers in general, try the mild and decide if you like the different type if flavor they have.

Go for it! What to eat them in?
*Any traditional type food you may use other peppers or chili powder in, like enchiladas, tacos, or burritos.
*Nachos
*Add to soups, guacamole, hummus, bean dip, corn bread, or peanut brittle. 
*Make jelly or syrup, this is awesome with a bagel and cream cheese.
*Stuff with cream cheese with cumin and garlic powder.
*Make a con queso with it.
*Mix with your eggs and cheddar cheese.

garden update

Here are some pictures of my sunflowers! 
Yay~for sun and rain!

more recycled maps

More projects with recycled maps.

envelops

notebooks

cover to my day planner
 map projects part 1

calendar/day planner

First of all, go online and type in "free calendar templates", to determine what style of planner you would like. I then used decorative paper to print each month. On the back of each month I printed a blank page, so I can add whatever things I would like, for example lists of books, movies, songs or just photos, quotes, etc. To put together I used a binder that allows me to open the pages flat, so I can write easily in it.

the cover, collage using a recycled map and other scraps of paper, stickers, eyelets, etc.

examples of the month look I like along with the different papers

 an example of a "blank" page, so I can add stuff as time passes in the month.

What is so nice about this is the free style of it. You can include what is important or inspiring to you on a daily basis.

flowers!

Sunflowers and Echinaceas, just some photos.........

address book

So, I'm still making notebooks from metal tape (see metal notebook), this time I have altered the process. Still using recycled cardboard, paper, and hemp ties, I changed the inside pages for a new address book, by making pages to my liking in microsoft word, then printing to fit my specific size book. I replaced the traditional address book page by including information that is pertinent to me (because I forget things like kids names and with the world changing, by all of us having emails and/or websites): 

NAME:
ADDRESS:
PHONE:
EMAIL:
WEBSITE:
BIRTHDAY:
SPOUSE/KIDS:
INTERESTS:

The cover I sanded to a uniform finished look, then added my title. The inside cover page is just a visual page I like with a mail theme and old typewriter letters.

The Wizard of Oz

Today is the 71st anniversary if the movie, "The Wizard of Oz", which I absolutely love. I think it is one of those movies that many of have memories of from childhood, whether good or scary or weird. The original 14 books by Frank L. Baum were written from 1900 to 1920. In celebration, I am posting some of my crafts with the theme. Enjoy.

collage

 artist trading card

 book marker, front and back for my books

My favorite quotes from the movie:

"Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking."--Scarecrow

"And remember, my sentimental friend, that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others."--Wizard to Tin Man

stationery part 2

As many of you may know, I love to write letters and send mail art to my fellow snail mail lovers. Here is another round of homemade stationery and a couple of cards. The stationery and cards are made from recycled paper I bought. I also used recycled and old stamps, magazine clippings and free clip art that I "colored".

"THE GOOD THING ABOUT NOT SEEING YOU IS THAT I CAN WRITE YOU LETTERS."--Svetlana Alliluyeva

stationery part 1

SUNFLOWERS

Sunflowers are annual plants native to the Americas, they possess a large flowering head. There are many varieties and various colors of them as well. These are my absolute favorite flower, the wild ones and in gardens are beginning to bloom. Every year, I take tons of photos as they emerge. This is one book I made that includes photos, quotes, stickers and rub-on sunflowers. I got the book as a kit at the craft store, you tie it together, some page are long to give a folded look and dimension. Really cool. The cover is a postcard I found while traveling and I painted the background the bright yellow color. There will be more books coming, as I have started a second one, so check back.

cover

river rocks

I love rocks and nature stuff that I can create things with. This is a fun craft to do with kids, my niece and I painted some rocks with various images. Simple and relaxing while watching a movie on a rainy afternoon. You can use these for paperweights, put magnets on the back, if small enough, for the frig, or just decorative in an office. We used acrylic paint, to coat the top you can use any sealer you like, from modge podge to varnish spray.

before

 after