I've been making ornaments!
I joined the
Blu Penny ornament exchange this year and I've been getting crafty. Sometimes, you need an excuse to get messy. Well, I gave myself one this year by joining in the fun, and I'm so glad I did.
Happy Holidays!
I am a huge fan of craft projects for kids, but I especially like the ones that are simpler but provide a great measure of individual artistic license. I've been very into Pinterest these days which has definitely helped stoke the craft fires. It sure is pretty to cruise through, too. But I was looking for a resource that was more than just a pretty face, and a one-stop-shopping for cool, easy-but-fun kids craft projects for the holidays. I happened upon
Enchanted Learning and knew I had found what I was looking for. Though it's not all "Pinterest"-y pretty, it DOES provide a variety of projects along with some REAL step-by-step (...dare I say foolproof?) craft "recipes". I did some of these when I was a kid, and I loved them! So, tried and true is one of the keys here. Then, some of them are new to me but look just as enticing to try. In fact, the kid inside me wants to give them a spin.... and again, they're so painless to put together, hey I just might! Want to join me?
Scrapbooking
Polymer Clay
These are two of the crafty hobbies I enjoy working on!
Nowadays, I don't really spend that much time on them, as I'm busy illustrating. But from time to time I take out all my clay and tools, and make little characters with the kids. They love making them.. I have yet to find good quality, long lasting. child play proof polymer clay because they usually end up loosing the little tail or breaking the tiny foot of the wonderful little creations they make.
Fortunately, there is the always ever so handy... crazy glue :o)
I enjoy making crafts but have noticed that it has gone by the wayside now that I use crafty materials for my illustration work. I do try to participate in the
"pincushion challenge" whenever I can, though.
If you're interested in creating the sunny wrist pincushion, there is a tutorial on my blog
here. It's quick, simple and a lot of fun!
ACEO's are pretty darn crafty...
I've been doing a few of them lately (ACEO's, that is -- it stands for Artists Cards - Editions and Originals) and they are fun to create, and a nice outlet. Perfect for me because crafty-wise because it's a sort of crafty thing to do, but it is still drawing and painting, and I don't knit. :)
This one is not painted in yet, but I call it "Wild West Doggies". Or maybe I should call it "Get Along, Little Doggies". Well, either way, it's doggie - focused and it's wild-west fun. Enjoy!
I went postless yesterday, but I promise, I was blogging. Just not publishing. I think I have my blog poetry gift for you wrapped and ready to go for Poetry Friday. Then it's a Blog Break for me, while I enjoy the holidays with my family.
Today, though, I want to share a recipe for Green Chile Chicken Stew. It's easy, delicious, and gets better the next day. Perfect for the crazy business that this time of year brings. Best of all, you can read a book while the pot does all the work. :)
Green Chile Chicken Stew
(Serves 4, but can be easily doubled if you have a large pot)
1 pound of chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 T. oil
1/4 cup flour
1 quart good quality chicken broth
3 cups red potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 16-oz jar green tomatillo salsa (Frontera is the best and can be mail-ordered or found at Whole Foods and Bloom. If you can't find it, try to get a green salsa in which the tomatillos are roasted. SuperTarget sometimes has a good one.)
1 can creamed corn
1/2 can chopped green chiles (can use whole can or omit, depending on how hot you like it!)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Toppings: chopped avocado and fresh cilantro
Saute chicken in oil until cooked through. Stir in flour and coat all the pieces. Gradually add the chicken broth, stirring as you go so the sauce thickens without lumps. Bring to a low boil and add the potatoes. Cook, uncovered, until the potatoes are tender. Add salsa, corn, garlic, and canned chiles. Simmer for 30 minutes, or longer if you have time.
Serve topped with chopped avocado and fresh cilantro. Good with corn muffins.
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By: Kathy Weller,
on 12/14/2012
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By: Sara Lewis Holmes,
on 12/20/2007
SUPER ADORABLE! :D
Thank you Mai!!