Thanks so much for having a little fun with me my darling followers:)

Seriously, I love to craft, and I love to share because of all of your support and blog love!!

I’m excited to stuff a personalized doily bag full of goodies for….

Esmeralda!!

Random Integer Generator

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83

Timestamp: 2011-08-31 04:40:47 UTC

Esmeralda said, “LOVE YOUR SITE!! I LIKED ON FB AS WELL!! HOPE I WIN!! FINGERS CROSSED!”

Thanks girl, congratulations!!

Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be selected:)

I’ve got another HUGE fun giveaway coming up next week with 5 winners!!!  So stay tuned:)

I’ve decided to try my chances at Crafting with the Stars and thought this burlap wreath would be a fun entry!

Come check it out, and join in the fun!!  Who knows, the number of times my project is viewed may help me out:)

Thanks guys!!

I know, I know!  It’s not even September and I already have my fall decor out!  What can I say, I’m excited!!

I have to say this is my favorite wreath to date!

I LOVE burlap (you will see most of my projects involve burlap this month:)

And I tried this “printing on fabric” technique I saw on Pinterest that I’ve been wanting to try…

Shall we get started!

Here is what you will need…

(I also forgot to mention a drill, a piece of cardstock paper and E-6000 glue) Whoops!!

Step 1:

Nope Canon, it’s really not THAT soft…

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Follow THIS tutorial to make a rolled fabric rosette.

I ran out of rosettes, and needed to fill in a spot, so I made a gathered ruffle flower with my leftover burlap scraps.  Follow THIS tutorial to make a gathered ruffle flower.

Step 5:  Printing on Fabric

Step 6:

You’re DONE!!  Lot’s of simple work, but totally worth it!!

You totally use a ribbon to hang this wreath, but I cut a slit into the straw wreath with a knife, and stuck the end of the wreath hanger into the hole.  Perfect fit!!

I’ll be linking up this wreath HERE this week!!

Including:

WARNING:  This stuff is the kind of addicting that may add a few pounds:)

But I say its totally worth it!!  Yummy stuff I’m telling you!!

Found this one on Our Best Bites

Cinnamon Bun Popcorn

Ingredients

12 C popped popcorn (about 1/2 C kernels)*
1 C roughly chopped pecans
1 C brown sugar
3/4 t cinnamon
1/4 C Karo syrup (or honey makes a good substitution)
1 stick real butter (1/2 C)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
3 squares almond bark

*You can use air popped or microwave popcorn. If using microwave, anything works, but I prefer a “natural” flavor that’s low in butter and salt.

Directions

Preheat oven to 250 degrees

Place popcorn and chopped pecans in a large bowl and set aside. And by large bowl, I mean like, twice as big as you think you really need. If you don’t believe me, then maybe you will believe the scorching hot caramel goo that’s splattered all over your hands while you’re stirring in your not-so-big bowl. Just a thought.

Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a big, microwave-safe bowl. Like a 2-quart bowl or Pyrex measuring bowl. Again, use a bowl larger than you think you need to avoid scorching hot caramel goo accidents. It’s really important to incorporate the cinnamon into the brown sugar at this point. For some reason, if you don’t it does crazy things. I don’t know why. Try it and then email Alton Brown and ask him if you really want to know.

Chop butter into chunks and place on top of sugar mixture. Pour corn syrup (or honey) over the top of everything.

Microwave on high for 30 seconds (just to soften the butter a bit) and then stir to combine.

Return to microwave and heat for 2 minutes. Remove and stir and then microwave for 2 minutes more.

By this point it should be nice and bubbly.

If it doesn’t quite look like that you can microwave it a little longer, but just beware that if you overcook it, it will reach the hard candy stage and you’ll end up with a giant clump of tasty concrete-like substance with little popcorn pieces stuck to it. Don’t ask me how I know this.

Remove from the microwave and add in vanilla and baking soda.

Okay, back to caramel goodness. See what happens? The vanilla makes it bubble and pop and the baking soda makes it foam up, like this:

Now take that foamy science project and pour it right over the popcorn and pecans. Stir right away, and stir lots. Take too long and the caramel will harden on you. Keep stirring until everything is well coated.

Spread popcorn mixture onto a foil-lined jelly roll pan.

And yeah, go ahead and pop some in your mouth, you know you want to. It will be kinda chewy and stick-to-your-teeth-like. But we’re gonna change that. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

After 30 minutes, take a piece out and let it cool. “Sample.” If it’s not crunchy enough, bake for another 5 minutes. “Sample” again. This will not be the end of “sampling.”

When it’s done, give it a final stir and let it cool off for a bit while you melt your almond bark (just nuke it in the microwave according to the package directions) If you want, you can spread out your caramel corn on a clean piece of parchment, waxed paper, or foil. I always do this because sometimes it sticks to the hot foil if I leave it on the original pan. I’m kind of a clean control freak and I like to have it on a nice, fresh surface.

Now, just use a fork and drizzle the melted almond bark over the popcorn mixture.

When it’s hardened (pop it in the fridge to speed that process along) break into chunks and enjoy!

I LOVE aqua, black, and white together.  I happened to have some scraps in my fabric stash, and wanted to put them together somehow…

This is what I came up with!  The white border fabric is actually from an old sheet!

This was a quilt I made as a gift.  I can’t say for who just yet, (just in case on the off chance they read my blog:)

I love the super soft minky on the back, isn’t this color rich and yummy!!

I decided to personalize it a bit, by adding the year of their wedding date…

Just a simple applique.

I love making quilts!!

***Giveaway now closed***

My kiddos are starting school today!!!  Where in the world did our summer go!!!

Last week we had lots of fun shopping for school clothes, school supplies, meeting our teachers, and doing all things school related…

I’m already sooo impressed with my kids’ teachers, I wanted to make them a little goody bag with some handy dandy items for the school year.

I saw this darling idea on Pinterest… and followed the tutorial found HERE.

This is another super simple gift idea that would work for any occasion!! Would you like to make one??!!  Grab your supplies and let’s get to it:)

I decided to place one of the doilies in the center of the bag, and one of them toward the corner of the bag.

Cover the entire outer edge of the doily.

You should do this while the fabric paint is still wet.

This is how the bag looks with the doily along the corner…

I found this free printable HERE, and decided to frame it, and throw it in with the mix…

My mom just happens to be a totally awesome 2nd grade teacher.  She mentioned a few items that are always nice to have throughout the year:  clorox wipes, kleenex, hand sanitizer, and ziploc bags.

The only thing missing is a personalized tag from my little student:)

Here’s another look at the other bag…

My little rascals on their last “free” summer evening!

Hope you all survive your “back to school” weeks!!

Ok!  Ready for the giveaway!!

I will make the winner their very own personalized doily canvas bag, and fill it up with a few surprise goodies from my Etsy shop.   Sound good!

To enter this giveaway:

1. Become a public follower or subscriber of Just Sew Sassy (1 entry for each)

2. Follow Just Sew Sassy on Facebook (don’t forget to say hi:)

3. Follow Just Sew Sassy on Twitter

4. Blog, Facebook, or Tweet about this giveaway (1 entry for each)

I will draw the winner as soon as we reach 1000 followers!  We’re sooo close so spread the word:)

PS. This giveaway is open worldwide:)

Linking up HERE this week:)

Including:

I have been baking up a storm lately!!  And packing on the pounds as a result:)  Thank you pinterest for all the deliciously gorgeous recipes…

The recipe for today is no joke.  1 lb of butter my friends.  But worth every bite!!  Thank you Cookies and Cups for the recipe:)

Salted Caramel Butter Bars

For the Crust:

1 lb. salted butter room temp
1 cup sugar
1½ cups powdered sugar

2 Tbs vanilla
4 cups AP flour

For the Filling:
1 bag (14 oz.) caramel candies (about 50 individual caramels), unwrapped
1/3 cup milk or cream
½ teaspoon vanilla

1 T. coarse sea salt (optional)

To make the crust:

In a large bowl, combine the butter and sugars. Using mixer on medium speed, beat together until creamy. Add the vanilla and beat until combined. Sift the flour into the butter mixture and beat on low speed until a smooth soft dough forms.

Spray a 9×13 inch baking pan lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Press one-third of the dough evenly into the pan to form a bottom crust.

Preheat to 325F.

Bake until firm and the edges are a pale golden brown approx 20 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool about 15 minutes.

While the bottom crust is baking and the remaining dough is chilling, make the caramel filling. Place the unwrapped caramels in a microwave-safe bowl. Add the cream. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove from the microwave and stir until smooth. If caramels are not completely melted, microwave on high for 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until smooth.

Pour the caramel filling over the crust.  If you are going to salt the caramel sprinkle it on caramel layer now.  (The salt is what makes this delicious BTW)…

Remove the remaining chilled dough from the refrigerator and crumble it evenly over the caramel.

Return the pan to the oven and bake until the filling is bubbly and the crumbled shortbread topping is firm and lightly golden, about 25 – 30 minutes.

Let cool before cutting into squares.

These are sooooo yummy!  I made these for a backyard bash and have had multiple requests for this recipe:)

I know you will love them..that is if you like butter, sugar and delicious caramel filling.  Yeah, that’s what I thought.

 

My darling little sis is off to college…  She’s cheering at Dixie State College.  Go Rebels!!

My whole life I grew up wanting a sister to play with, share clothes with, tell secrets to, like boys with, all the fun things that sisters do…

So after 13 LONG years, my mom had a surprise baby girl and my wish came true…

Even though we’re years apart, we’re super close and I LOVE that girl so much!!

We’re gonna miss you Kel!!

Do you ever keep junk cool stuff, b/c you KNOW it has a purpose, you maybe just don’t know what that exact purpose is yet…

That’s what I thought when I saw my old oven rack hanging out in my garage…

If you have an old oven or grill rack, hang on to it, grab a can of spray paint, and let’s make something fun!!!

Oven Rack to Jewelry Holder

This one is sooooo simple you will die, just a few little ol’ things you probably already have lying around the house…

Let’s get started shall we!

(Make sure you clean off your oven rack before painting:)

You’re done!!  Can you believe how easy that was!!

I just realized I only have a “step 1,” there is no step 2 or 3 or 4.  It was just that easy folks:)

Linking up HERE this week!

Including:

WARNING!!  This recipe is not for the faint at heart!!

We could also call this treat, “death by chocolate”

But you see for me, it’s delish!!

A layer of Chocolate chip cookies, topped with oreos, topped with brownie batter, (nope not finished) served warm with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge sauce!!

I had you at chocolate chip cookies RIGHT!!!

Try this one!  I dare you!!

Triple Threat Bars:

Ingredients:

• Your favorite chocolate chip cookie dough recipe

• package of oreos

• your favorite brownie mix recipe (I added chocolate chips to mine, b/c hello. not enough chocolate in this recipe yet:)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.  Spread foil or parchment paper in the bottom and up the sides of a 9X13 baking pan.  Coat with cooking spray.

Prepare your cookie dough and spread along the bottom of the pan. Smoosh the oreos down into the cookie dough slightly, row by row, making an “oreo layer.” Prepare your brownie batter.  Spread evenly over the oreo layer.

Bake in oven for 45 minutes or until the brownies are set.  Let cool and remove the parchment from the pan.  Slice the bars, and serve warm with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge!!

Heaven.  Pure bliss.  Enjoy!!