caramel apples

This has got to be the best caramel recipe I have ever tried. I got it from a neighborhood cookbook. I normally just make a harder caramel with this recipe, but we wanted to make caramel apples with it, so I didn't cook it as long. It was at the beginning of hard ball stage. I'm guessing 240 degrees on a candy thermometer.

CARAMELS
1 c. butter or margarine
Dash of salt
1 c. light corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 c. brown sugar
1 (15 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

Butter 9x9 inch pan and set on cooling rack. (Note: If making caramel apples butter a cookie sheet and set aside.) Measure ingredients and have thermometer before starting. Melt butter in heavy saucepan. Blend in sugar and salt. Stir in syrup and milk. Cook, stirring constantly over medium heat until candy reaches firm ball stage (245 degrees), about 20-25 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour into buttered dish. Cool. Cut into squares and wrap in wax paper squares. {Recipe courtesy of Karlette Merrick}

A couple of Notes:
Note 1: If you don't have a candy thermometer, put ice in cold water in a bowl and use this to test your caramel. You will put the caramel in the bowl and try to roll it. If it is a soft ball, it's not quite done. Try to have the caramel roll into a hard ball.

Note 2: If making caramel apples, let cool slightly and then roll the apples in the caramel. Poke a Popsicle stick in the top of the apple to make it easier to handle. Then roll in your favorite candy bar. Or drizzle chocolate over the top.

Enjoy this delicious caramel recipe!



For a fun Halloween treat to neighbors and friends, just wrap in cellophane or plastic bags. Then wrap Raffia Ribbon around the outside. Write on the stick. So easy. So delicious!

Christmas Cards

This is the first of a series of Christmas Cards that will be available in my shop soon. Enjoy this teaser.

Un-Brella

Scott E. Franson was my teacher at BYU-Idaho and wrote this book titled Un-Brella.

Horn Book Magazine called it "instant weather-gratification." It is just delightful.

Go check out his his work . He's so talented.

Scott always told us to never give up on your dreams, and look where it took him. One book published and I'm sure there are many more to come.

another freebie

Thanks go out to Jessica over at How About Orange for putting my card up on her site! Thanks Jessica! Who knew we had so much in common? But I can say one thing, it was the milk and manure that made us so tall. Hee hee!



To celebrate the success of my previous free card download, here's another freebie. It seems that so many of you liked this pattern. So here ya go! Enjoy.

For the free card just click here {right click to download}.

free card download

So, I decided to go ahead and make these patterns into fun printable downloads. Have fun with this card. Feel free to print it as many times as you like. Print on white card stock for best results.

For the free card just click here {right click to download}.

fashion trends {series 1}

This is the first of a series of patterns designed after fashion trends. I might start doing these each week. Probably on Tuesday or Wednesday. Just thought this was fun to do. I will probably make these patterns into free downloadable files, like bookmarks, cards, stationary, etc....

What do you think? Wouldn't that be fun for everyone?!?

TANTALIZING

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Where the Wild Things Are

I'm not going to spoil the movie for anyone, but after just seeing it. All I have to say is..

Excellent.

The music, stunning!

A very emotional movie filled with joy, laughter, imagination and even a tear was shed.

I highly suggest seeing it.

The best part is that the little boy reminds me of another little boy that I know, Dexter. Do you see a resemblance?





Not only is there haircuts similar, but everything about them...just ask his mother...

a little feature

I was so excited when Holly over at decor8 called for submissions for the 2010 Calendar Round-up, because I knew that I wanted to submit one.

I worked so hard to get my Printable Calendar finished in time and emailed her last minute. Thanks Holly for making my day!

Go check it out and make sure you check out all of the other amazing calendars up for grabs this year.

2010 Calendar is here!

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to let you know that my 2010 Printable Postcard Calendar is now available in my etsy store for only $8. Once purchased, I will email you a pdf and you can print it as many times as you want.

These make great Christmas gifts! Enjoy!

wood clock tutorial

My Grandma Hegerhorst gave me a clock this year for Christmas. I know it's a little early, but she's amazing you see! She had these clocks made for all of her children and grandchildren out of a peach tree on her property {For the record: She now has 44 Great Grandchildren!}.

This is the picture of the clock before. It said on the front "Families Forever" and on the back it states, "May every tick bring you closer to your forever family." How sweet is that!


before... See what I'm talking about...

I just love my Grandma H. She is not only thoughtful, she is full of good advice and tons of love. But, I just couldn't stand the ugly vinyl lettering...so...I scratched it off. And, I'm not a big fan of glossy. I'm more of a matte finish type of girl.

So, I sanded down the wood, wiped it off with water and sprayed it with a clear matte finish.

You will need:
•Wood Disk
•xact-o blade or scalpel
•Clock kit and AA battery
•Heavy Paper
•Printer
•Sandpaper

Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Lightly sand down the wood disk until desired finish. Can spray with Matte or Glossy finish if you like.

Step 2:Download this pdf {right click to download} and print it out. At home will do just fine.

Step 3: The next part was a little time consuming, but so worth it. Using an xact-o knife or scalpel, simply cut out the numbers and hands from the paper. Make sure the scalpel is new and sharp.

You will have to cut out the centers of the hands according to how big the hole is for your clock kit (or just use the hands that your clock kit came with). Remember the minute hand has a smaller hole than the hour hand.

Step 4: Put both the clock hands straight up on 12 noon. Place the number "12" down about a 1/2 inch up from the hour hand. Now, move the hands using the dial in the back 1 hour, and place your "1" down on the wood. Continue to move the hands one hour until every number is down.

Step 5: Glue down the numbers using PVA or any glue that dries clear.

Ta dah! You have a new, modern clock! Enjoy!




Here are a few wood clocks that I thought were beautiful!


Design Sponge

I found this tutorial helpful too. I didn't find it until after I had finished my clock, but still a fun idea!


West Elm


Decoylab


Uncommon


Wood Pill Clock


Nature Clock

More cool Wood things:

Wood Bowls from Loyal Loot


Wood Slice from West Elm
Wouldn't this make a great place to put keys when you walk in the door?


While I'm talking about wood, I can't help but think of IdahoStew . IdahoStew is a design firm in Denver, Colorado. They are incredible and even designed the Official Poster for the 2008 Democratic National Convention {see below}.

IdahoStew are the ones that stated "Wood Grain is the new black!" I totally agree. Don't you?


Too bad this one sold out!





If you like there are still a few of these poster left. They can be purchased here .

Check out more of their work at ink lounge . They also offer screen printing classes, if you're ever in the area. Isn't there work great!

fall colors

The sun was setting. The rain was sprinkling. The leaves are changing.





Need I say more.

2010 Calendar

Hey Everyone!

I finally finished my 2010 Calendar! It was so much fun to make and I had a blast hand drawing all of the different elements and then putting them together. I will have them in my etsy shop soon. But until then, here are a few teaser photos!

The great thing about this calendar is that it's a Postcard, ready to be mailed at the end of each month to a friend so that they can enjoy it too.





I'm pretty sure that the calendar will be sent in pdf form via e-mail to whomever purchases the calendar through my etsy shop. That way, you can print it as many times as you like and give them away to friends and family for Christmas.

I will also have them available for purchase in my etsy shop already printed. That way, I can do all of the work and you receive the benefits. I will print them on high quality Mohawk cover-weight paper, cut them out and send them to you. How does that sound?

Let me know if you would like to purchase one and I can get right on it! Thanks!



{Click on the image above to get a better view}

Holiday Cards

Get an early start on your Holiday Cards. We all know that we wait until the last minute to order and send out our Holiday Cards, so why not get an early start? BHG finally has their Christmas Cards up. Visit their site and check out all of the cute options. Here are a few that I designed. As you can see some times what you submit to the client doesn't always make it to the site exactly like you have sent it. Here are a few that have been changed to see what it's like. I'm happy though with the outcome. It's so fun to think that people all of America will be sending out cards I designed to friends and family.

Which one if your favorite? Click on the images to make them larger, or visit BHG to get a better view.

Share the joy of this Holiday with those you love by sending out one of these Holiday Cards. Have fun shopping!

Yellow Boots