Fancy Walnut Brownies

With Valentine's Day coming soon, I'd like to share one of my favorite recipes for brownies...rich, decadent brownies! ( And no one will ever guess they are made with a brownie mix.) A little extra work but the payoff is worth it...fancy enough to be boxed and given as a gift for that special someone.
 Fancy Walnut Brownies
 Makes 24 
Ingredients:
1 pkg. Duncan Hines brownie mix
1 egg
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup oil

Preheat oven to 350°. Place 24 (2 inch) foil liners on a baking sheet.

For brownies, combine brownie mix, egg, water, and oil in a large bowl.
Stir with a spoon until well blended, about 50 strokes.
Stir in contents of the walnut packet from mix.
Fill foil liners with 2 generous tablespoons of batter.
Bake @ 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until set. Cool completely. Remove liners. Turn upside down on cooling rack.

Glaze:
4½ cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup milk or water
24 walnut halves, for garnish

For glaze, combine sugar and milk in a medium bowl. Blend until smooth.
Spoon glaze over the first brownie to completely cover. Top immediately with a walnut half. Repeat with remaining brownies.Allow glaze to set.

Chocolate drizzle:
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 Tablespoon shortening

For drizzle, Place chocolate chips and shortening in a resealable plastic bag; seal. Place bag in a bowl of hot water for several minutes. Dry bag with a paper towel.
Knead in your hand until blended and chocolate is smooth. Snip a pinpoint in the corner of the bag and drizzle the chocolate over the brownies. Store in a single layer in airtight containers.
Note:
If you are a candy maker, you could just melt some chocolate wafers in the micro, add them to a plastic bag, clip corner, and drizzle.
 Tip: Place wax paper under the cooling rack to catch excess glaze.

This recipe was very easy to make. Try it, your taste buds will thank you.

Here's where I'll be sharing:
Happiness is Homemade  * Sundays at Home  * Sunday's Best Smell good Sunday * What's for Dinner  *  Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Family Joy * That DIY Party Busy Creative You *
 Amaze Me Monday Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J * Show and Share *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday *Show and Tell *  Warm Heart Totally Terrific Tuesday *W.A.Y.D.2018 Blog Hop * Tasty Tuesday * Dagmar's Home * Delicious Dishes * Inspire my Creativity * Talk of the townWaste Not Wednesday *  Thrifty and Vintage Finds  *What's Cookin' Wednesday  *Share Your Style Create it Thursday * No rules Weekend * Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday *  * The Handmade Hangout The Pin Junkie * Friday Frenzy * Anything blue Friday * Foodie Friday  * Friday Features * Best Friday Features * What To Do Weekends * Home Matters Ultimate Pin Party * Dare to share Sat. * Saturday Shuffle * Saturday Sparks *  Best of the Weekend *

Cutting out the middle man...

Recently, I discovered some very inexpensive cutting dies for cardmaking on Amazon. I did some research and found that they are shipped directly from China.
I was hesitant because of the price but decided to order one and check out the quality:

When it arrived, I was very pleased with the quality and it cut beautifully. It was very comparable to the high-priced brand dies I have. Can you believe the price includes shipping!
The only drawback is how long it takes to get here from China (on a sloooow boat) lol. Four or five weeks......but heck, I'm not in any hurry and at these prices, I can buy several.
Next, I ordered this one that I had seen selling name brand on Amazon for $14.36.
Again it cuts well! these are sturdy, metal dies...and the direct cost for this one - $3.54.


 The package is only a vinyl envelope which concerned me at first but I have purchased many, many more and nothing has come damaged.

So if your not in a hurry for great dies and stamps this is the way to go!
Any questions?

Heres where I'll be sharing:
Happiness is Homemade  * Sundays at Home  * Sunday's Best Smell good Sunday * What's for Dinner  *  Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Family Joy * That DIY Party Busy Creative You *
 Amaze Me Monday Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J * Show and Share *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday *Show and Tell *  Warm Heart Totally Terrific Tuesday *W.A.Y.D.2018 Blog Hop * Tasty Tuesday * Dagmar's Home * Delicious Dishes * Inspire my Creativity * Talk of the townWaste Not Wednesday *  Thrifty and Vintage Finds  *What's Cookin' Wednesday  *Share Your Style Create it Thursday * No rules Weekend * Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday *  * The Handmade Hangout The Pin Junkie * Friday Frenzy * Anything blue Friday * Foodie Friday  * Friday Features * Best Friday Features *  What To Do Weekends * Home Matters Ultimate Pin Party * Dare to share Sat. * Saturday Shuffle * Saturday Sparks *  Best of the Weekend *

Instant Bedskirt

I'm all for getting the best buy on fabric when I sew and I have used flat sheets for so many projects. Think about it, plenty of material in one wide piece. Just like a blank canvas waiting for you to create!
I saw this idea on Martha Stewart's blog back in the 1990's and I used it many times. 

"How to create a bed skirt from a flat sheet"...no cutting, no sewing involved, and every side has a hemmed edge!
When choosing the sheet, buy the same size as the bed, single for a single bed, queen for a queen, etc. Remove the mattress and lay the sheet on the boxsprings... that's it!  Voila, you have a bed skirt. 
This project works best on a bed with no footboard but it will work with a footboard with a little draping. 
See below:
This is an easy, low-cost solution to covering the boxsprings and being able to use that space under the bed for storage if needed.
Any questions?

Here's where I'll be sharing:
Happiness is Homemade  * Sundays at Home  * Sunday's Best Smell good Sunday * What's for Dinner  *  Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Family Joy * That DIY Party Busy Creative You *
 Amaze Me Monday Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J * Show and Share *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday *Show and Tell *  Warm Heart Totally Terrific Tuesday Tasty Tuesday * Dagmar's Home * Delicious Dishes * Inspire my Creativity * Talk of the townWaste Not Wednesday *  Thrifty and Vintage Finds  *What's Cookin' Wednesday  *Share Your Style * No Rules WeekendCreate it Thursday *  Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday *  * The Handmade Hangout The Pin Junkie * Friday Frenzy * Anything blue Friday * Foodie Friday * Foodie Friday and everything Else * Friday Features * Best Friday Features *  What To Do Weekends * Home Matters Ultimate Pin Party * Dare to share Sat. * Saturday Shuffle * Saturday Sparks *  Best of the Weekend *

SNOWY BARNS

I love taking photos of old barns, abandoned houses and buildings. In fact, I think I like winter photos the best...with bold colors that pop against the stark white snow ...and deep blue skies.


Where I'll be sharing:
Weekend Snapshots * Wordless Wednesday * Image-in-ing * 




One Equals Four!

 The fact that I love papercrafts is an understatement.
 I  always have new ideas popping into my head quicker than I can make them and Pinterest is like an addiction for me! My friends and family even save the cards they receive for holidays and birthdays for me because I like to challenge myself to see how creative I can be. (And I hate to see those beautiful cards thrown away).
Recently, in one of these goody bags, I found a pretty card in shades of purple. I wanted to see how many cards I could make using parts of this one.
Inside of the card:



card1. I used the top part of the front of the card.
card 2. I used the upper right corner of the inside. I cut the corner using a curved die and added a small flower from the back of the card.
card 3. I used the bottom front of the card and added the "Thanks "sentiment from a scrap of pale green cardstock.
card 4. I used the small piece that was left as an edge panel.( I know, that was really stretching it!) lol


 One card equals four!!...let me know what you think.....
Here's where I'll be sharing:
Happiness is Homemade  * Sundays at Home  * Sunday's Best Smell good Sunday * What's for Dinner  *  Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Family Joy * That DIY Party Busy Creative You *
 Amaze Me Monday Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J * Show and Share *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday *Show and Tell *  Warm Heart Totally Terrific Tuesday Tasty Tuesday * Dagmar's Home * Delicious Dishes * Inspire my Creativity * Talk of the townWaste Not Wednesday *  Thrifty and Vintage Finds  *What's Cookin' Wednesday  *Share Your Style Create it Thursday *  Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday *  * The Handmade Hangout The Pin Junkie * Friday Frenzy * Anything blue Friday * Foodie Friday * Foodie Friday and everything Else * Friday Features * Best Friday Features *  What To Do Weekends * Home Matters Ultimate Pin Party * Dare to share Sat. * Saturday Shuffle * Saturday Sparks *  Best of the Weekend *

" Human Polar Bear "

With the frigid temperatures that we've been having across the country the last week, I can even imagine why someone would want to attempt this. It amazes me that a human heart can take the shock.

On January 23, 1963, the "Human Polar Bear", Gustave Brickner from Charleroi, Pennsylvania,  broke the World's Record for time & low-temperature submersion in icy waters: 6 minutes and 22 seconds at a recorded temperature of -18 degrees Fahrenheit.

The ice water submersion record was officially pulled from the Guinness World Records & attempts are no longer allowed, as multiple people have died while attempting to beat his record.
Before retiring, Brickner's official logged swimming distance was 38,500 miles total (noting that the circumference of the entire Earth at the equator is 24,901.55 miles). This record has yet to be beaten.

Check out this facebook page:

The Odd, Mysterious, and Fascinating History of Pittsburgh

Here's where I'll be sharing:
Happiness is Homemade  * Sundays at Home  * Sunday's Best Smell good Sunday * What's for Dinner  *  Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Family Joy * That DIY Party Busy Creative You *
 Amaze Me Monday Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J * Show and Share *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday *Show and Tell *  Warm Heart Totally Terrific Tuesday Tasty Tuesday * Dagmar's Home * Delicious Dishes * Inspire my Creativity * Talk of the Town  * Waste Not Wednesday *  Thrifty and Vintage Finds  *What's Cookin' Wednesday  *Share Your Style Create it Thursday *  Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday *  * The Handmade Hangout The Pin Junkie * Friday Frenzy * Anything blue Friday * Foodie Friday * Foodie Friday and everything Else * Friday Features * Best Friday Features *  What To Do Weekends * Home Matters Ultimate Pin Party * Dare to share Sat. * Saturday Shuffle * Saturday Sparks *  Best of the Weekend *