I recently had my first opportunity to review a new Martha Stewart craft product, the circle edge punch. From the minute I started using this product, it was pure delight. The circle punch is easy to use and creates circles with punched edges from 6 – 12 inches. Additional cartridges can be purchased to change…
I enjoy sending seasonal cards to friends and family members. For Thanksgiving this year I thought it would be fun to craft my own cards using supplies that I had on hand. These cards were easy to make and I hope that the recipients will enjoy receiving them. Supplies Needed: Cards with Envelopes Burlap Pencil…
We love just about any dish prepared with shrimp but many are high in fat and calories. Rachel Ray’s magazine recently featured a healthier version of Shrimp Newburg that looked too delicious not to try. This recipe is easy enough for a weeknight meal but tasty enough to serve for a dinner party. The following…
I was lazy this year and skipped decorating for Halloween. Decorating motivation kicked in once the calendar changed to November giving me an opportunity to pull out one of my favorite collections, my turkeys. Come on in and take a look at my collection! Turkeys greet guests on the porch. I’ve had the three on…
Saturday was a perfect fall day. After a brief debate to decide if we would work around the house or go out and about, we decided to venture to Bedford County for the day. We started at a craft show at Bedford Elementary where a sweet reader stopped Mr. SP and told him that she…
Halloween isn’t a holiday to which I look forward but you can’t help but get into the spirit when your day is spent with a bunch of 7th graders. I won’t fight the candy battle on Thursday and plan to declare it as a candy free-for-all day. Mr. SP is lucky and will get out of…
My cousin had a sweet baby girl in September and I finally got the opportunity to see her over the weekend. I wanted to give a gift that would be useful and also meaningful, so I made the baby a blanket. I’ve made dozens of these over the years for family and friends. Making this gift is…
Last week at school we had a lot of fun activities to celebrate both fall and the last football game of the year. On Thursday morning, each homeroom decorated a pumpkin to be displayed at school and then taken to a nursing home to be enjoyed. My homeroom decorated a pumpkin with thumbtacks. Isn’t it…
Fall is in full swing here in Virginia. The leaves are changing and the last of the fall blooming plants are putting on a show. Late last summer I planted a Beautyberry. This spring I accidentally cut it to the ground thinking it was a weed. Oops! It survived and is covered in beautiful purple…
A drop cloth tea towel is an easy craft project that can be customized for any season. Since it’s fall, I added a fall leaf to my tea towel. Hanging decorative towels to coordinate with the season is one way that I enjoy decorating my kitchen. These pear towels and the monogramed towel have been…
Long ago, when I first set up housekeeping, Virginia Metalcrafters was still in operation in Waynesboro, VA. My mom and I would go by the store to browse their beautiful products and frequently she would give switch plates and outlet covers in a pattern I loved to me as gifts. Sadly, Virginia Metalcrafters is no…
Friends, can I ask a favor of you? Yesterday I received this email: A few weeks ago I submitted a photograph through Fitness Magazine’s Facebook page to be the “Face of Fitness.” I’m a finalist for this week and would really appreciate your vote. Voting is everyday until October 21. Your vote could help me…