Creating Farmhouse Tea Towels

Spending this Gloomy Day Baking

Decorated Valentine's Day Cookies 

I have a cookie decorating workshop tomorrow morning and have a little over 12 dozen sugar cookies to bake.  Such a gloomy day outside so it is nice to spend it indoors baking.  

Summer Recipes using Essential Oils.

Fairy Garden Fun

How to make a Fairy Garden

 Creating a Fairy Garden at SimplyHomeSweetHome

information adapted from D's Hooked on Fairies

1. Choose A Container
• A container with drainage holes is best when using live plants outdoors. Indoor containers without drainage holes require a proper layering of rocks, charcoal and soil.
• Plastic or terra cotta pots work great, clear glass bowls and jars reveal to much of the many layers
• I love to use vintage items~ tea kettles, cake pans, wagons, wheel barrows...
2. Containers Without Drainage Holes: Layer Your Materials
• First: apply an ample layer of pebbles to the bottom of your container for drainage
• Second: insert a layer of landscaping fabric, coffee filter or porous plastic that will allow the water to penetrate. This will stop the soil from getting into the rock layer.
• Third: cover the landscape fabric, coffee filter or plastic with a layer of charcoal to keep the soil fresh
• Fourth: Fill the rest of the container with potting soil
3. Choose A Theme ~the possibilities are endless
4. Pick Your Plants
• Choose plants with compatible light and watering requirements
• Choose miniature plants or those that you can prune and train easily or plants that grow slowly.
• Any smaller flowering plant or one with tiny leaves will add color and whimsey to the fairy garden scene
• Create an edible miniature garden using herbs, lettuce,etc. Edible gardens are great fun for kids and adults. As you trim your garden you can eat the clippings!
• My Favorite plants to use are succulents, perennial sedums, ferns, violets, polk-a-dot plants, sweet allyssum, wooly thyme, mints, hen and chicks, house plant starts....
5. After You Plant Your Container, Fill-in With Your Accessories
• Cute fairy houses, your very own custom fairy garden sign, chairs, benches, pillows, trellises, garden tools and so much more are all available to purchase at garden centers or you can create or own accessories.  Look to nature for inspiration.. gathered stones, bark, twigs, acorn caps..... 
• Insert a Fairy or a Gnome… 
6. CREATE...
7. Finishing Touch…Cover Open Soil With Bark, Pebbles or Sheet Moss.
   You can use these materials to create grass and paths too! 
8. Remember To Water and Fertilize Carefully… everything is little and too much water too fast can create flooding in a container.  If your container does not have drainage, use a spray bottle to mist the garden to keep it alive...

My Favorite Recipe for Natural Deodorant

 Instructions
1. measure and weigh all ingredients
2. Melt the coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax on low heat in a crock pot, until everything is melted (the beeswax will be the last thing to melt)
3. Turn off the crock pot and remove the crock.  allow to cool for a few minutes and add the almond oil and the vitamin E oil and the essential oils.  
4. Mix together the  arrowroot, diatomaceous Earth and kaolin clay.
 and add this to the oil mix.  whisk vigorously to fully combine...and then pour into your containers. Let this set up..

I  created batches of Lavender, Patchouli, and Purification blend... It is fun to create a variety of scents.  

I used Young Living Essential Oils 

Snowy Day Today ~ Cleaning my Studio and Planning My Workshop Schedule

https://www.facebook.com/Simply-Home-Sweet-Home-306647762682894/events?key=events

New Workshops coming to my SimplyHomeSweetHome Studio ~ Workshop Schedule

Rustic Clothes Pin Christmas Tree Workshop

I love These Trees~ ... Great for Displaying Christmas Cards, a Collection of Vintage Postcards or antique ornaments and of Course as an Advent Tree to count down the Days until Christmas..... I will be hosting A Clothespin Christmas Tree workshop using Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint Products, Pure Earth Mineral Paint and CREATIVITY!!

All Supplies are included to create one-of-a-kind Trees. I will also provide the vintage-looking tags to adorn your tree. Tea and Treats too. Feel free to bring your own beverage.


Sign up~ Steph@simplyhomesweethome.com
or on Facebook: SimplyHomeSweetHome

Thankful Sign Giveaway

So Thankful to have so many wonderful Followers!  It is GiveAway Time!!  I am giving away a 7"x17" Thankful wood sign!  Perfect for your Home ** Tag someone you are thankful for**Repeat as much as you want for multiple entries!! Bonus entries if you repost this on your Instagram page!!! Winner will be chosen Sunday November 8th!

https://www.facebook.com/Simply-Home-Sweet-Home-306647762682894/?ref=bookmarks

https://instagram.com/simplyhomesweethome/

Autumn Door Decor

Time to Start Thinking about Fall!

Cookie Decorating Workshops Coming Soon!!

Learn the Basic Art of Cookie Decorating.  We will learn all the basics:   how to prepare a cookie for decorating, how to color and create different icing consistencies, how to find and use cookie decorating tools and special techniques to give your cookies the professional look!
This is a 2 hour class.  Limited to 12 people. Each Class will have a Different Festive Theme showcasing 6 different Designs.  Everyone will leave the class with a dozen beautifully decorated cookies to take home.  Cost is $55.

Are you interested in Hosting a group for a Hands-on class or demonstration using a different theme or technique?  Just Gather your friends, , volunteer groups,  or book club.... and send me a message or give me a call to set up a time just for you!  

Fun With Frames Workshop Coming Soon BYOF

Join Me in My Studio for a Fun With Frames Workshop.  Bring your Own Wooden Frames and Transform them ~ using my Fully Stocked Paint Bar and Supplies!   Paint Away using Miss Mustard Seed's Milk paint and also Mineral Paint! Learn some cool new painting and distressing Techniques!  

Friday August 7th 7pm in my Studio ~ $25

SimplyHomeSweetHome's Christmas In July Craft Party

Here is a Sneak Peak at what we Creating for a Little Christmas in July Craft Party!  Where has the Summer Gone.  Friday July 31st
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Simply-Home-Sweet-Home/306647762682894

Painted Sign GIVEAWAY ~ SimplyHomeSweetHome on Facebook

I have busy making a few new Painted Signs.... Here is  a Chance to Win one of your choice for February's Giveaway... Just like and Share Simply Home Sweet Home for a chance to win!

Simply Home Sweet Home

Grandma Kay's Candy Cane Cookies

1 cup shortening/Butter Mix
1 cup sifted Powdered Sugar
1 Egg
1 1/2 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp red food coloring
1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy
1/2 cup sugar


Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Mix shortening and butter with powdered sugar, egg, and flavorings.
Measure Flour by sifting. Mix Flour and Salt; Stir into shortening mixture.  Divide Dough in half.
Blend Food coloring into one half.  Toll a 4 inch strip  from each color.  For Smooth, even strips, roll them back and forth on a lightly floured board.  Place strips side by side, press lightly together and twist like a rope.  For best results, complete cookies one at a time..Place on ungreased baking sheet. Curve top to form handle of cane.
Bake about 9 minutes, until lightly browned.  While still warm sprinkle with mixture of candy and sugar.  Makes about 4 dozen.

Creating ClothesPin Christmas Trees

I love These Trees~ inspired by Pottery Barn... Great for Displaying Christmas Cards, a Collection of Vintage Postcards or antique ornaments and of Course as an Advent Tree to count down the Days until Christmas.....  I will be hosting my second  Clothespin Christmas Tree workshop this evening using all Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint Products and CREATIVITY!!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Simply-Home-Sweet-Home/306647762682894?ref=br_rs

Fragrant Cinnamon Hearts to use as Sweet Little Scented Gift Tags.

Love the Beautiful Colors of Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint I Created a few Cinnamon dough Hearts ready to string for sweet little Valentine's Day Tags
#simplyhomesweethome
#mmsmilkpaint
#iheartmilkpaint
#valentine'sDayCrafts




Cinnamon Dough Recipe:

Ingredients:
3 Cups Flour
1 Cup Salt
1 Cup Cinnamon
1 Cup Nutmeg
1- 2 1/2 Cups of Warm Water

Directions:
1. Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. 
2. Add in the water a little at a time, keep adding water and mixing well until the dough is formed.
3. Roll the dough to desired thickness and begin cutting out shapes with a cookie cutter. Recommend to Roll out dough between waxed paper until thickness is 1/8 to 1/4 inch 

Create: 
Place ornaments on an ungreased baking sheet and use a straw to make holes for hanging the ornaments. 

Bake for 1 1/2 hours at 225 degrees. Place on a wire rack and return to the over for another 1 1/2 hours to ensure the ornaments are completely dry on the bottom.

Let sit and cool, then decorate. 

I painted my Cinnamon Hearts with Milk Paint.  It sticks well to the hearts and then Crackles for a nice Rustic look.  The Milk Paint does not smell so it allows the Cinnamon Scent to remain Nice and Fragrant.  

Milk Painting Canning Jars

I Love Painting the Simple But oh So useful Mason Jar... Great for Gift Giving filled with Flowers or Treats.

I painted these jars with Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint... I wanted a Charming Pink Color.
I mixed equal parts Ironstone and Tricycle and added a little bit of Shutter Gray  until the color was Just Right:  I am calling it So Sweet Pink..

I like to paint Jars to use up the left over paint from bigger projects.  I hate to waste the paint so these are perfect for that..

Now, How to get that Milk Paint to Stick to a Glass Mason Jar?

I first Spray paint the outside of the Jar. I use the cheapest white flat spray paint usually the $1 a can white Spray paint. Lightly Spray the outside of the glass jar a fine even coat.  Then let dry.  Sand lightly.

Next, Mix up your milk paint.. Add equal parts bonding agent. now paint your jar.   I Let the paint dry overnight.  The Milk Paint will just completely flake off the glass jar with with out the added bonding agent.

Now the Fun Part- Distress the jar lightly with fine sand paper to remove a little paint here and there .
I then Highlight the jar details with a Walnut Distressed ink pad.

To make the Jar's finish more durable. Spray lightly with a Clear Coat Shellac..

I embellished with bits and Pieces of Vintage Lace, Cute little tags,  and my homemade Cinnamon Hearts that I also painted with Milk Paint..


www.simplyhomesweethome.com
or Facebook: simplyhomesweethome

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Simply-Home-Sweet-Home/306647762682894

Making Sunburst Cards

I have been working on organizing my Craft Room and Found so many Paper Scraps laying around.  I put them in a box and nearly threw them away.  I have been seeing all these fabulous cards out there Called "Sunburst" cards and thought it would be a great way to use up all those papers.
They are a fast  ( if you have all you paper cut up) and Fun way to make a variety of cards.

We will be making PostCard ones today with 4-H kids...  That way they can glue the scrap pieces onto a postcard without having to have had to precut a bunch of card stock.

To start cut up all your paper scraps into 1 1/2 inch x 4 inch pieces:


To make these cards:

Base of Card:  5 inch Card Base- Kraft card stock cut into 5" x 10" and Folded

Scallop Die cut Circle , Trim, flowers, and pearls:  Could use any embellishment


CARD 1:

4 patterned paper rectangle cut into  1 1/2" x 4"

Cut each rectangle in half to make 8 triangles

1 scrap piece of card stock cut to 3 1/2" x 5"

Mark the  Center Point on the  Cardstock and Glue 8 triangles lined up against each other starting at the Center point

I use a glue stick and paste the entire Card stock rectangle.

Now the Fun Part:  Trim all pieced of paper that hang over the Card stock rectangle.

That it now you can create your Card by Adhering it to the 5inch Card Base and Embellish as you wish.



CARD 2:

1 Scrap piece of card stock cut to 2 3/4" x 5"

IF using this size of base:  use 18 rectangles

Follow directions as for Card  1


For a little Texture- I ran a few of the Sunburst pieces in an embossing folder through my sizzix die cut machine.

Bridal Shower Cookies and a Cookie Decorating Class

I had a Wonderful Time Demonstrating a Cookie Decorating Lesson at a Bridal Shower Last Weekend.  I wish I would have taken better photos.  Everything was so Beautiful... From the Home to the Food to the people....

Baby Shower Cookies~ Elephants and onesies