Kitsch love

Thought I would share a couple of projects that I've made recently for Kitschy Digitals. I got to use the Wood Grain cut-out sheets and I think I'm in love with woodgrain! They are so lovely, with soft muted colors and sharp detail. The frames are available Kitschy Digitals.




I made a thankyou gift for a family friend and then found this cute Martha Stewart gift box. It's tiny!! The feather accents are also available as cut-out sheets at Kitschy Digitals.






I'm learning to love velum all over again!!! (remember how popular it was when scrapbooking first started?)


& finally a tiny canvas frame was the perfect size for altering. I love little projects!! I glued alpha. letters to the canvas and then applied thick coats of paint. I used the smallest sized frame on the cut-out sheet for this project.



I want to make a few holiday inspired tags using some of the cutout sheets and maybe some gift adornments.... oh the possibilities!

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie - Recipe

A few weeks back, I made Pumpkin Pie Milkshakes for dessert. They were a huge hit in my home, particularly with the 5 yr. old crowd. One morning though, I had a craving for another one, but the guilty part of me couldn't justify ice cream for breakfast. So, I went to work looking for ingredients already in the fridge that I could use to make something healthier. A pumpkin Pie Smoothie. Here's my version and I actually measured everything too!


Ingredients
3/4 cup canned Pumpkin Pie Filling
1/4 cup Plain Yogurt
1 1/2 cups crushed ice
1/2 cup Soy Milk
1/8 cup Applesauce
1 Tbls. Sugar (I have a sweet tooth, so you may want to try a 1/2 Tbls. to start)
1/2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice

Directions
Put the ice into the blender and crush.
Add all other ingredients and blend together.

makes 2 large servings

Apple Butter, recipe

Now that apples are in season, here is the best Apple Butter recipe, and because it's my mom's! I love having a pot of this cooking on the stove in Fall. I add apple butter to almost everything, it's especially wonderful on toast, pancakes or waffles and pumpkin bread. Hope you enjoy the recipe!!

Apple Butter

2 lbs. Rome Beauty
2 lbs. Golden Delicious
2 lbs. Newton or Granny Smith
1/2 c. apple juice or cider
1-3/4 c. sugar
1 t. lemon juice
1-1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. allspice
a pinch of ground cloves



Directions:
Wash, peel, core & slice apples.
Combine with apple juice & bring to boil on medium.
Reduce heat & cover.
Stir occasionally until apples are tender, 20-30 minutes.
Puree in blender or food processor until smooth. (I used an immersion blender)
Return to heat; add sugar, lemon juice, & spices.
Bring to boil.
Turn down to simmer and partially cover until thick, stirring occasionally.
Can in jars or freeze.

Serve on muffins, toast or our favorite waffles! Enjoy!