Can ANYTHING go right??

Hey Hey All!! I know I haven't been on in a while.  I have THREE projects ongoing that I can't finish for this reason or that.  I didn't know what to blog about.   On top of that I don't have my camera, so I can't even show you the yummy goodies I cooked up this week!  :(    It's soooo frustrating!!  

{{ARRRG!!}}

How about I just tell you about what I baked?  I happen to looove savoury treats, personally I would much rather a salty chip than a sweet cupcake, so on the menu this week was Red Lobster biscuits and Cast Iron cornbread.  DOUBLE YUM. I can't even tell you how much I love cornbread.  The first time I ever tried it was at  Kenny Rogers Roasters.  Does anyone remember that restaurant??  They closed down in Canada a loooong time ago, not sure when they closed in the U.S, but apparently they're still opened and flourishing in Asia.  Weird.  Anywho, I am going to post the recipes when I make them again (and have a decent camera with which to take pictures), but they were delicious so stay tuned.  I found the recipes online but made amendments, I can't wait to show you!!  I'm sorry for being a tease.  :(

Onto another problem, so I've been working on the big dining table, remember this one?  I got the inspiration from Korrie @ Red Hen Home, but I decided to not use the vintage french signs.  Instead I used this...

Since I'm putting it on a dining table, I thought it was most appropriate and super cute.  I found it on the blog Vintage Ephemera.  I love visiting antique shops and seeing crates and tables with stamps like this on it.  I love everything old.  It just takes me back to a time where I think everything was simpler and better.  Where people worked hard, where things were appreciated more, and when life and family were of the utmost importance.  I could be wrong, but I like to imagine that.  :)  I don't think I'm wrong.  Am I wrong????

Okay, I think I've digressed ENOUGH for one day, back to the table.  SO, I started painting the sign on, I used a projector which I grabbed off someone from kijiji.  Problem is, I used it for 5 hours AND THE LIGHT BLEW OUT.  Can you believe it??  I was in the ZONE too.  I finally got the hang of which brushes would be best for which letters and my hand was finally less shaky and I was more confident.  Then...darkness.  So here is what I have so far...

I know, it looks weird.  Apparently I like NOT painting in order.  Thus, the three commas and random E and T's.  :)  hee.  Anyway, I am already ON getting a new bulb, but I'm so sad because it's probably going to take at least a week and a half to come.   =*(    You know what though, the other project I am working on (top secret!) is proving to be indispensable to my learning how to paint furniture properly!  I've hit a few bumps, i.e, there are BUMPS and LINT particles in the paint!!!!!!  The horror.  So it's not super smooth.

THEREFORE, I have learned (i'm sure all of this is obvious to you pros): 

1. Make sure you sand properly before you paint

2. Make sure you get rid of all the dust on the surface before AND try to protect the surface WHILE the paint is drying

3. A PROPER brush is VERY important

4. Don't be lazy and be patient.  Paint nice and slowly, with long strokes.

Since I will be painting the legs of the above table, this is SUPER important for me to know how to do properly.  Anyone have any other tips for me??  :)   I will show you my top secret project in my next post!  I can't waiiiit.

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Soap in a Vase

Hello hello! I haven't posted in a while.. (THREE days!).. sorry!  I must admit it has been a BIT discouraging that I have only three followers.  But I am forging on because I LOVE my three followers and I <3 doing this blog.

I've been working on this ongoing Soap project that I first saw @ Green Bean's Crafterole where she dips fabric leaves in Melt & Pour soap in order to make one time use hand soap for the bathroom.  It looks beautiful and it's functional! 

{Brilliant!}

I decided to make mine using fabric flower petals that are used to sprinkle on tables at weddings.  Then I grabbed a super CUTE vase from the dollar store and sprayed the word "suds" on it using Rustoleum's frosted glass spray.  Here's how it turned out.

it says SUDS!

Now, the reason this project has been ONGOING for me, is because I've struggled so much to get my melt & pour soap to work like hers.
You can see here, my petals are not so smooth, they're a bit bubbly.  I think it's because of the soap I used, it dried really fast and made it difficult to create a nice smooth finish.  It still worked, but not super successfully.  Hopefully your soap works better!

  Soap Petals

You ONLY need:

 A few cubes of Melt & Pour Soap

  Pyrex Measuring Cup

Waxed paper

Tweezers

Fragrance Oil

Some fabric (polyester) in whatever shape you like (leaf, flower petal, rose petal, etc)

1.  Melt cubes of soap in Pyrex in the microwave.  Put in for 1 minute at half the power, or however much it takes until your amount of soap is just melted.  Don't overheat.

2.  Once out of microwave, take your tweezers, grab a petal and dip into soap.  Make sure it's fully covered, then pull out, let drip, then place on waxed paper.

3.  Continue with all your petals until the soap is done. 

4.  Let dry!  Done!

Frosted "S U D S" Vase

You need:

Shallow dollar store Vase

Frosted Glass Spray

Painter's tape

Alphabet Stickers

on sale @ michaels.  woot!

alphabet stickers

1.  Take your vase, place painter's tape making a rectangular space that is 3 5/16" long by 7/8" high .  Cut tape into three 1/4 inch strips and place strips along the space leaving four square spaces that are 11/16" by  7/8" each.

2.  Take your alphabet stickers (s, u, d, & s), and place one letter in each space spelling "s u d s".  Rub over all the tape and stickers very hard with the back of your nail to make sure it's stuck on well.  Once you start to spray you don't want any of the liquid going under the tape.

  3.  Spray according to manufacturer's instructions.  Do very light sprays side to side, don't hold down on the trigger.

4.  Let dry.  Carefully remove stickers and tape.  Your letters will be revealed!

Now take your dry soap petals, place them in the vase, and Wa-LA (reference to my dad).

{beauty} in the bathroom

Soap Up!

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Yummyness.... courtesy of Martha!

When I woke up on Saturday morning I was absolutely starving.  My stomach felt like it wanted to eat itself.  I have no clue why I was so hungry, but when I went downstairs I saw there was nothing to eat.  I know, I sound like a child, I am, a 29 yr old child that is!  :)  Even though there were eggs, and bagels, and yogurt. . . there was nothing I felt for.  Plus, I'm so sick of eating e g g s, b a g e l s and y o g u r t!!   I need something healthy!  Well, okay, what I mean by healthy is something non-dairy and non-white bread!!! 

So I just got the new issue of Martha, and there was this yummy looking pasta salad thing on the cover.  I knew we had tomatoes, so I decided to make it!  Let me tell you, it was SO REFRESHING and SO TASTY.  Perfect for a summer afternoon.  You've absolutely got to try it!!  I adapted it slightly, but it's basically true to the recipe in the mag..

Pasta w/ Heirloom Tomatoes 

Serves 2

4 cloves garlic, mashed in garlic crusher

1/4 to 1/3 cup olive oil

3 heirloom (or any type) tomatoes, slice into 1/2 inch wedges

 1/3 cup torn fresh basil

1 tablespoon capers (chopped quickly)

1 teaspoon lemon zest (don't skip out on this)

crushed red pepper flakes (as desired)

farfalle pasta (bow-tie pasta)

1. Heat garlic in oil, in saucepan, over low heat for 10 minutes.  Take off when garlic is pale gold coloured.  Let cool for a little bit.

2.  Combine tomatoes, 3/4 of the basil, capers, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, and 1/2 tsp salt in large bowl.  Pour the garlic oil mixture on top to marinade.  Put in fridge for 1/2 hour.

3.  Grab about 3 handfuls of the dry pasta.  Make the pasta according to manufacturer's instructions.  Preferably cook until al dente.  Drain pasta, pour cold water over it and drain again, pasta should be just warm not hot.  

4.  Pour pasta over tomato mixture and combine.  Season top with salt, pepper, remaining basil and some more lemon zest.  Serve!

fresh basil in the kitchen

 

the tomato mixture! (my final picture wasn't graphically pleasing, so i've omitted.)

Final product, according to Martha.  Yours will have farfalle pasta, however.

  

BUON PRANZO!