Holiday Boutique Best Seller Hostess Gift

Hello my friend!

 Today I want to share with you some of the projects I started

working on for the Holiday season.

For me, my first craft show is in October

 so I make some things for Thanksgiving sales.

The potholders and cooking mitts always sell out.

These Pot Holders came from the Dollar Tree.

The front has a pocket for your hand and the back has silicone.

It folds in half and the silicone side picks up the hot item.

It can also be used silicone side up as a place to sit a hot object.

I had this large stencil. 

I put a stiff piece of cardboard inside the pocket

so the cloth will lay flat to stencil.

I used just a small part of the stencil and blocked of the rest with

 

painters tape.

I leave the tags attached.

It's easy to find these bags of cookie or muffin mixes.

I have purchased Sugar cookie mix and tucked a

small jar of sprinkles in the pocket.

Easy instructions on bag.

Just tuck inside the pocket

I found these short silicone tipped wooden spoons

at the Dollar Tree.

They came in many colors.

This is a good start.

I will be making more of these cookie bags for a 

Holiday Boutique in November.

Can easily slip into a cellophane bag to make a

lovely simple gift.

I love sharing with you!

I hope you are having a great week and please visit again.

xo Lisa S

Original 1954 Old Fashioned Coffee Cake - Los Angeles Unified School District

 Hi Friends,

If you went to school back in the 1960's or 1970's, you may remember

this delicious Coffee Cake.

It was the reason to get to school early.

The school cafeteria had kids

 lining up for a warm slice.... and the slices were big.

Here is the original recipe-

Old Fashioned Coffee Cake

2  1/2 cups  Flour

1 cup  Brown Sugar, packed

1 cup + 1 Tbsp. Granulated Sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground Nutmeg

3/4 cup  Oil

1 tsp. Cinnamon

1tsp. Baking Soda

1 tsp. Baking Powder

1  large Egg, beaten

1 cup Buttermilk       OR whole milk +1Tbsp. White Vinegar 

                                   OR 3/4 cup Sour Cream + 1/4 cup water

 Combine the first six ingredients. Mixture will be crumbly. Set aside 1/2 cup of this mixture for topping, add cinnamon to the topping portion.

Combine next ingredients to the first, do not over mix.

Pour into a greased 9'' x 13'' baking pan.

Sprinkle reserved topping mixture over batter.

Bake 350 degrees for 25 min.

In a large bowl combine first 6 ingredients. 

    Mix until crumbly.

in another bowl, set aside 1/2 cup topping.

Mix oil, milk and egg.

Reserved topping with cinnamon added.

Top with crumb topping.

Bake 350 degrees 25-30 min.

Serve warm.

Enjoy-

Aways handwash Pyrex to keep the colors vibrant.

A little cooking oil will bring back color to a dull surface.

I love my primary colored Pyrex Bowls!

I found this ad don't you love the price ?

I have an extra red bowl for my set-

We use it for Christmas and Valentines !

I hope you enjoyed a little nostalgia today.

Tell me if you remember this recipe or had a similar

school cafeteria favorite.

xo Lisa S

Back to School- Sharing my Collection of Vintage Readers and Textbooks

 

Hello friends!

School is starting soon-

I'm putting away the summer decor now and I thought I would

bring together some of my collection of vintage readers.

I found an old school chair at the thrift store last week.

It was in good shape, I gave it a good cleaning.

Then a little sanding and some dark stain.

I have a thing for small chairs too!

I thought a chair with a few books would make a nice vignette.

A little reading corner-

I pick up the readers here and there, usually for a dollar or less.

I love the covers.

Oh my goodness!

I had no idea that I had SO MANY!

Some are very old... early 1900's

The illustrations are just beautiful.

Most are 1940's through 1970's

I have a scanner connected to my printer and I can either

copy the pictures on the printer

 to use for art projects or scan and save for later.

I love the end pages, they remind me of vintage wall paper.

I don't like to use original pages. 

I  always try to use a copy.

Good advice!

Here are a couple of oversized books.

Most are California textbooks, that's were I live.

I started with elementary readers, but I realize I have some

books for Jr. High now called middle school.

Some are dedicated to a single subject like science, math

or music.

These books are fun and still easy to find

if you are interested in starting a collection.

I added one of the oversized books to the bottom rung

and made another shelf!

Do you collect Readers?

I'd love to hear about your collection.

xo Lisa S

Using HOT GLUE to Altered Art Journal Covers / PART 2

Hi friends-

 My last post shared this journal below-

It was a store bought blank journal

that I enhanced and altered with a 

magazine print, paint, Mod Podge 

and Hot Glue for 3D effect.

I found 2 more blank

 Art Journals without lines 

and I just had to make more!

These are good for drawing and watercolor painting.

I glued a magazine picture to the cover.

Then went around the edge with Hot Glue.

No need for fancy molds!

After the glue hardened, I painted the border with

Gold paint.

I added glue to a few leaves and grass.

I added a piece of gold ribbon tucked and glued to the top spine.

I tied a glass bead to the end to make an attached book mark.

The other magazine print I used below surprised me-

with a closer look, the poor lady was drowning.

A few of Paul Steck paintings have women under water .

 I added more flowers, seaweed and a border

of seaweed with Hot Glue.

I repainted her flowers pink and

 painted the seaweed green and gold.

With a few light touches of white.

I used a pencil to re-draw her legs-

I changed her legs into a Mermaid fin-

can you see it ?

Then I repainted her dress purple as it originally was,

and

the paint also gives an extra element of dimension.

A much better outcome for her!

I glued a piece of netting along the side.

I had some scraps of  green and blue tulle,

 glued to the top and pulled through for a bookmark.

Came back over the cover with a light coat of Matte Mod Podge.

Here are all three journals.

Each one shows a different way 

to use the Hot Glue for  these covers.

Now the 'series' includes the Princess, the Maiden and the Mermaid.

I hope this gives you some inspiration!

Have a great week!

xo Lisa S