Sheets to Shower Curtains

I love to re-create with sheets!

Think about it.The cost of fabric has skyrocketed in the last few years. All the fabric chain stores have closed in our area except one... creating a monopoly. Cotton blends that used to sell for $2.99 a yard there are now seven and eight dollars!

That's why I use bed sheets. Large pieces of fabric, plenty of patterns to choose from, and you can find them marked down or on sale really inexpensive.

I made this one for spring!

I posted the directions when I made a burgundy and gold one for fall.
Click the link below:
http://justsimplesomethings.blogspot.com/2012/11/800-shower-curtain-and-valance.html

I've made shower curtains, valances, table runners, dust ruffles, window curtains, tablecloths...and the list goes on.

I added a new piece of diy framed art!

Here's where I'll be sharing:

 Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday * You're gonna love it Tuesday * Tasty Tuesday * Delicious Dishes * Inspire me Tuesday * Talk of the Town  * Thrifty and Vintage Finds *Moonlight and Mason Jars * Before and After Wednesday *the Alder Collective * You Link it, We Make it * What's Cookin' Wednesday * Wordless Wednesday * Create it Thursday * Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday * Throwback Thursday * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Anything blue Friday * Friday Finds * Photo Friday * Friday Features * Party Palooza* Floral Friday Fotos  * What To Do Weekends * Peace, love Link up Fridays *  Saturday Sparks * Best of the Weekend *  Happiness is Homemade  * Sundays at Home  * Nifty Thrifty Sunday *

Floral Friday Fotos

I'm joining in over at:
 Floral Friday Fotos 

Beautiful Ironwork

Baltimore, Maryland

Beautiful ironwork against an old stone background...

Here's where I'll be sharing:

Wordless Wednesday

Photo Friday

Mandarin Orange Salad

Here's a recipe for a nice summer salad, sweet and tangy!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sliced almonds
3 tablespoons of sugar
1/2 head lettuce
1/2  head romaine lettuce
5 whole green onions, chopped
1 - 11 ounce can of mandarin oranges, drained
optional: add 1/2 cup celery

dressing:
1/2 teaspoon salt and a dash of pepper
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
 2 tablespoons of sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar
1/4 teaspoon of Tabasco sauce

instructions:
In a small pan over medium heat, cook almonds stirring constantly until almonds are coated and sugar dissolved.
Watch almonds carefully, as they will burn easily. This takes about 15 minutes.
 cool and store in an airtight container.
 Mix all dressing ingredients and chill.
 Mixed lettuce and onions.  Just before serving, add almonds and oranges. Toss with the dressing.
Here's where I'll be sharing:

Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Sundays at Home * Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday * You're gonna love it Tuesday * Tasty Tuesday * Delicious Dishes * Inspire me Tuesday * Talk of the Town  * Thrifty and Vintage Finds *Moonlight and Mason Jars * Before and After Wednesday *the Alder Collective * You Link it, We Make it * What's Cookin' Wednesday * Wordless Wednesday * Create it Thursday * Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday * Throwback Thursday * The Pin Junkie * Anything blue Friday * Friday Finds * Photo Friday * Friday Features *  Foodie Friday * Floral Friday Fotos  * What To Do Weekends * Happiness is Homemade *

Irish Spring Deer Repellent

Because we live five minutes from a county park, I have a real problem with deer getting in my flower bed. They have acres and acres of every bush imaginable to munch on and yet they'll climb down a steep embankment at the back of our yard to get to my flowers. Grrrr...

I tried this at $12 a bottle...

and and it worked okay but you have to reapply after every rain so it was getting to be expensive.

Then I found a homemade recipe which was basically the same thing.
Chopped garlic - $1.00
crushed red pepper - $1.00
 water
I was able to get the items inexpensively at the dollar store which was a bonus.
 I put the mixture in a large glass jug with a lid and sat it out in the sun. The longer it sits the more potent it is! After couple days, I poured the liquid through a fine strainer and put the liquid in a spray bottle. Even though this was a cheaper alternative, I still had to constantly reapply it.

Then a friend told me about Irish Spring soap. You just cut the bars into fourths and skewer each piece onto dowel rods. I had my husband to drill some holes into the soap so that it wouldn't crack, and it worked nicely. ( the dowel rods I got were 3/8 inch diameter and I got three 12 inch pieces out of each rod.)

They look like green lollipops!!

It's been six weeks now and it appears to be working.

Cheap, easy and an extra bonus is even with plenty of rain here, it takes a long time to melt!

Here's a tip:
To keep your gardening tools sharp, store them in a old bucket, filled with sand and some motor oil. I did this last winter and now my tools are rust free and well oiled!

Here's where I'll be sharing:

Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Sundays at Home * Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday * You're gonna love it Tuesday * Tasty Tuesday * Delicious Dishes * Inspire me Tuesday * Talk of the Town  * Thrifty and Vintage Finds *Moonlight and Mason Jars * Before and After Wednesday *the Alder Collective * You Link it, We Make it * What's Cookin' Wednesday * Wordless Wednesday * Create it Thursday * Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday * Throwback Thursday * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Anything blue Friday * Friday Finds * Photo Friday * Friday Features * Floral Friday Fotos  * What To Do Weekends * Happiness is Homemade * Saturday Sparks *

So don't even ask

I just prefer to sit here empty!

Here's where I'll be sharing:
Wordless Wednesday
Photo Friday

Parmesan Cheese Potatoes

I love the recipe books that are sold by schools and churches.The recipes are fast and easy....sometimes handed down from past generations. Most of them you can whip up from items you have on your pantry shelf.

Parmesan Cheese Potatoes

6 or 8 baking potatoes
1 clove garlic or garlic powder
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
pinch of oregano

Make two mixtures:
First mixture: blend together garlic and oil. set aside
Second mixture: combine bread crumbs, cheese and oregano. set aside.

Next:
Peel potatoes and cut into fourths. Roll potatoes in oil mixture, then in bread crumb mix. Place on a greased cookie sheet, be sure to spread them out.
Bake @ 350* for 45 minutes to an hour.

Here's where I'll be sharing:

Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Sundays at Home * Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday * You're gonna love it Tuesday * Tasty Tuesday * Delicious Dishes * Inspire me Tuesday * Talk of the Town  * Thrifty and Vintage Finds *Moonlight and Mason Jars * Before and After Wednesday *the Alder Collective * You Link it, We Make it * What's Cookin' Wednesday * Wordless Wednesday * Create it Thursday *  Full plate Thursday * Throwback Thursday * The Pin Junkie * Anything blue Friday * Friday Finds * Photo Friday * Friday Features *  Foodie Friday * What To Do Weekends