Hello kiddos!  Just passing a note from my pals at Plaid about a fun craft challenge.  It's called "Trick Your Pumpkin" and you can check out the details here.  There are cash and crafty goody prizes galore!  I hope you'll give it a go… Happy Crafting!

I have been creating a blog for Simply Screen the past month.  Simply Screen is an easy screen printing stencil system that has cute, reusable, designs. 

These are silk screened wood scrap blocks from my grandpa's garage.  Isn't it a beautiful thing to make something from nothing?  There is a tutorial if you want to see how they were done. You could decoupage and glue little buttons on them as well.  Fun. Simple. Good.  I hope you like them!
 

 
of sweetness!  Spoon pendants.  I make and sell these like crazy!  I've even had people give me some vintage family silverware to make special pendants for them.  A version of this project was first published back in 2005 in Simply Beads magazine by me.  Ah!  I found a picture!  Here it is…

 
It's always fun to visit my "old self", traveling back in time through my creations.  Strange and happy to see how I've grown and changed—I find this can happen with art, recipes, fashion (oh Lord, does it happen with fashion!). Our tastes change… I've always loved nostalgia, but now I want the antiqued chain, with delicate brass parts and wrapped wire loops, contrasting textures and layers to make it interesting.  I'm still the same…but not.

These are simple to make.  I've shown my metalworking students and told a few (smarty) husbands who help their bead lover wives how to dismantle a spoon in seconds!  Here's how:

Cut the spoon handle off with a jewelers saw (or hack-saw even!).  File the end so it kind of arches.
 Use a center punch and #55 drill bit and drill front to back.  De-burr around the hole with sand paper and touch up the curved top of the pendant too.  Now you have an instant pendant that you can leave alone or bead up one side and down the other…

*On a side note, I use Beadalon's silver plated chain dipped in Liver of Sulphur to hang my spoon necklaces on.  
 

The scene: Scarlett and Strapless.  The goal:  To double as everyday jewelry.

Easy!!  I used all BEADALON findings…  I love their Quick Links (TM) (like especially the hammered ring here).  I used a finer chain for them to hang on and then connected a 1.5" piece of larger chain to the end.  Snap! Makes them adjustable.  Here's a closer look at the pendant…

Love those crystals!
 

Adorn the Bride! 

Last summer I got to try my hand at designing wedding jewelry.  You know I love being an elf for special projects like this!  The bride was all about simple and beautiful.  What's more simple and beautiful than Swarovski crystals and glass pearls with a vintage clasp that I picked up in Venice?!?!

Beadalon findings for everything….  Shiny silver beading wire by Beadalon really lit up the transparent crystals vs. a dull gray.  I love the delicate nature of the earrings with the ball/star head pins.  Classic.  And my one wish is that this set gets handed down one or two times….like in the movies. ;-)  I think it will.
 
 

This is a wonderful recipe from Better Homes and Garden.  So colorful and fun to put in whatever you like…like my decoupaged stamp stool it's sitting on. 😉

• 1 8oz pkg saffron-flavored yellow rice mix
• 2-3 C chopped cooked turkey
• 1 C chopped tomato
• 1 C broccoli florets
• 1 med red or yellow sweet pepper chopped
• 1/3 C dried cranberries or golden raisins
• 1/4 C sliced green onions
• 2 oz. prosciutto, crisp cooked or cooked ham cut into strips
• 3/4 C bottled vinaigrette salad dressing (although I use balsamic and olive oil)
• 1/3 C sliced almonds, toasted
• 2 Tbsp. snipped fresh basil

Prepare rice according to the pkg directions.  Spread on baking sheet, cover, and refrigerate for 20 mins.  In a large bowl, combine turkey, tomato, broccoli, sweet pepper, cranberries, onions and prosciutto.  Add rice and dressing.  Toss.  Refrigerate 2-24 hours before serving.  Sprinkle with almonds and basil.  Makes 6, 1 1/2 C servings.

How to crisp cook prosciutto—arrange slices in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake in a 450 degree oven for 6-8 mins or until browned.  Cool and slice.
 

I love to have my windows open this time of year, listening to the rain and feeling the breeze.  But open windows equals crazy flapping, recently purchased, hemmed myself, scarlet curtains.  The answer my friend is not to let them blow in the wind, but some cheap ol' spoons.  Here's how:

Beat the round part of the spoon flat with a utility hammer–it's really loud, but empowering.  Then, punch or drill two holes in each flat spot—doesn't matter where, you just need two so they don't spin around while hanging on the wall (Harbor Freight has a great (and really huge), cheap hand punch tool, that works wonderfully fast).  Bend the handle around so the decorative side is facing outward–but not so far around that you can't squeeze the hammer in to nail them to the wall (speaking from experience there).

Decorate with paint, papers, tin, whatever!  I used trusty MOD PODGE and put the flowers directly over the holes–you'll see why in minute.  I also glued a cute little button at the base to cover where my paper started (any chance to use one of the 2.2 million buttons in my stash).  Open up the holes again with an awl while the paper is wet.

Nail to the wall with copper tacks (hardware store).  This is a normal size spoon.

And this small sugar spoon.  Both work.  You could make these for hanging coats, tea-towels, purses, necklaces, jump ropes, dog leashes…I'll stop now. LOL.   This pair took me about 40 minutes to stir up and hang.  Now that's dessert!