Kodak Instant Costume

Need an easy last minute costume? Look no further.

I cheated a little bit, and pilfered this mustache photo from fotosearch (oopsy!). Using card stock, scissors, some glue and a popsicle stick I made an instant man-mustache. It's removable, so you won't have to worry about wearing chip dip on your face all night.

Have fun and Happy Halloween!!!!

The Hills are alive with Cockscomb

We had so many compliments on the flowers that we used for our wedding. The cockscomb centerpieces and bouquets turned out far better than I had ever hoped they would. As soon as we have better photos of them, I promise I will post them.
But, now that the wedding is all said and done (sigh), I have a yard full of drying cockscombs. Cockscombs that are dropping their wee little seeds into the soil for an even bigger crop to grow up next summer.

Mr. Peanutbutter has been in the process of drying out and saving the seeds to give to some neighborhood beautification groups. He's just such a good guy like that (gush). However, I'm more of a capitalist. Yep, I'm drying my own out to make cute little seed packets like those we gave away at our wedding to sell on Etsy, and at next year's farmer's market. Sadly, I haven't gotten them up on Etsy yet. Believe it or not, I procrastinate seriously when it comes to putting photos up on Etsy. I have an inferiority complex about Etsy. Don't ask me why...I just have issues.

Update: Packets are now available on Etsy! Click here.

Here's a little peak at the process....

If you're interested in buying some packets, stay tuned or write to me. They're 2.50 each and they have a load of seeds (load = 1/2 tsp of very small seeds).

'Round the house

Oooh, it's so gloomy here. It's been raining, and raining, and raining.

Scoutah the dog and I tried to find some creative energy, but just couldn't do it.

So, instead we walked around the house and took some snapshots.

Enjoy.

Buy my stuff damnit....

lol...just kidding.

But, really, I do have some crafty things for sale on Ebay. I seem to collect jars and other sorts of bottle glass. I don't know why I love bottles and jars - I just do. And when people find out you collect things, those things mysteriously appear on your porch. My basement is starting to overflow, much to Mr. Peanutbutter's chagrin.

So, in an effort to ease Mr. Peanutbutter's anxiety that we will one day be taking pathways through a glass container jungle I give some away, use others, and then try to make a buck by selling lots on ebay.

These are some that I have recently listed. There are 2 sets of lots & shipping can be combined. I'll probably list some more soon - maybe on Etsy.See these and other jars on My Ebay.

French + Shoes = Happiness

OMG Blogosphere - look what I just bought!
You know how much I love all things French, and now I have my favorite shoes with French on them. I think they were made just for me. I had to have them.

They also make these, but I might wait and see if I can find them on sale during the winter since sandals are kind of out for the season at this point....

Getting started...

Be excited Blogosphere. Be very excited.

I've started cutting out the pattern and working on the overall design of the Penelope Coat. Like I mentioned in my previous post, the coat is a modified version of a classic princess seam coat. So, it will take a little bit of trial and error to get it right - or at least something that I'm happy with.
I will keep you updated with more posts and photos as the work progresses.....

October Psycho Blog-love...so far

I've been busy catching up on all of my blogging and blog-surfing lately. The problem is that I don't think I'll ever really be caught up because there are just too many wonderful and creative blogs out there. But, on the other hand that is a very good thing for a blog addict like me.

This week I've been devouring all of the good things at Craft Nouveau. I think she's a crafting fiend and blogger extraordinaire like your friend Jelly here. I still haven't made it all of the way through her blog because I'm always taking side streets through her awesome blog links with LOTS of How-to and DIY. That's just plain craft crack for a junkie like me. Go check her out, but bring a snack because you may be there for a while.

Photo courtesy of Craft Nouveau, copyright Woman's Day.

Alas, my bloglist today wouldn't be complete without giving props to my peeps at ShowMe Etsy. This is the new blog of my Etsy Street Team, featuring work from our members and upcoming shows. If you see something you like, be sure to tell them Jelly sent ya.

Photo courtesy of ShowMe Etsy.

Felted Sweater Hat with Fabric Yo-yos

Brrrr.....it's unseasonably cold here in the Midwest. Moreover, our house is drafty and I'll often wear a stocking cap around the house during the winter. I couldn't find the standard fleece number I usually sport, so I decided to use some of the wool sweaters I have here in the craft lab (all found at various thrift stores) and make a new one. I had previously felted these sweaters, so they won't unravel when cut and sewn.

If you remember, I've had a new obsession with fabric yo-yos. I'm always trying to think of a cute way to use them with my craft projects.

Well...I put my need for a new beanie and my fabric-yo-yo-love together and made a new craft baby that will keep me warm while I blog away in our chilly home.



xo
Jelly

A little sneaky-peek

As always, Mr. Peanutbutter came to my rescue and worked very hard last night to give me a few empty beer bottles.
I'm so excited to give you a little preview of my latest project! They're not complete, but you'll get the idea.

Before....

After....

I (heart) post-consumer art...

but, I wish I could say others were open to the idea.

Today I'm doing a little venting. I love to use upcycled materials in my art projects as much as I possibly can. I'm all about decreasing land-fill product, and we recycle religiously in our household. One of my favorite post-consumer items is bottle glass. I'm fascinated by it. I save almost all of ours, and have been known to go through neighborhood recycling bins for more.

Sadly, I have a new project that I'm working on and we don't have any bottles here. Worse still is that Belleville is a little behind the green times and there aren't any neighborhood recycle bins for glass. I don't even know if there's one at the grocery store. Yes, it's very sad.

I thought I would just stop by some of the local bars in our downtown area and see if I could take a few of their empties. No big deal, right?

Apparently asking for empty beer bottles out of the trash is akin to exposing yourself to small children. I have never been treated so poorly. One bartender walked away from me, and when I asked her again she refused to let me see if there were any bottles in the trash. The other bar sold mostly canned beer, but told me that 'the trash already went out'.

Fear not dear Blogosphere, I'm still hunting for those bottles. I know people who know people who drink a lot of beer. One of whom is Mr. Peanutbutter. He'll be very happy to know that I will need him to drink more beer - especially if it's the good stuff.

Still, I'm irked beyond measure over this experience. I'm thinking I will give my project a special name in honor of those-who-can't-think-outside-of-the-box. Something like:

Jelly's Post-Consumer Puppet Candles

Yummy Baked Brie with Fig

I love cheese. Even better is melted cheese.

There's something about baked brie that conjures up feelings of autumn coziness. And with the fall-like weather we've been having here in the midwest, I've been feeling very nostalgic. So, off I went to the grocery and picked up some brie to bake.

There are so many wonderful ways to bake brie, but I was in the mood for fig and we had a lot of left over maple bacon. I added both of these things to an old tried and true recipe and voila:
Baked Brie with Fig.
Just for you!

Recipe:

What you'll need:

1 Can of croissant roll dough (i.e. pillsbury)
2 Tablespoons Fig preserves or similar
1 Wedge or small round of brie
2 Cooked slices of maple bacon
*optional: 2-3 drops of almond extract for an extra pop

Put the brie in the freezer for an hour or so. You'll want the cheese to be hard so that you can cut it horizontally (like 2 slices of bread). With your two slices of brie, slather each side with the fig preserves and then put it back together like a brie sandwich. (If you use the almond extract, just drizzle the drops on top of the preserves. A little goes a long way.)

Unroll your dough and line everything up into a big rectangle. Pinch together the seams so there are no openings. Place your brie in the center and wrap like a present. Flip over and place the 'seam' side down on a greased baking dish. Sprinkle crumbled bacon on top. Bake per the directions on the croissant dough. Serve with crackers or french bread.

Faux recycled glass earrings

I was recently visiting with a good friend of mine, and admired her very cool recycled glass earrings. Sadly, she bought them in Portland, Oregon and I had no way to get a pair. Moreover, I'm still lacking the kiln that I desire.

So, being the crafty gal that I am, I made a pair of faux earrings to match hers. Going from memory, I crafted 2 tiles out of translucent polymer clay in the same color - using a mold that I already had.

I think they turned out pretty cool.

Apple butter blues

Ah....Autumn.

Leaves falling from the trees, scarves, bonfires and apple butter....these are a few of my favorite things.

Let's toast the best season of them all with my own personal apple butter recipe!

Even if you're not a domestic goddess, this is the easiest recipe ever. Plus, it will have all of your friends calling you Martha. It's oh-so-good on toast and as stocking stuffers, too.

click on recipe to enlarge

Ode to Mr. Peanutbutter

Giveaway time.

In honor of our recent wedding and as we say a sad goodbye to our french friends who have been staying with us all week, I'm hosting my very first giveaway!

The winner will receive one of my Eiffel Tower Bottle Cap pendants, in the color of their choice (any one of the three shown below). The randomized winner will be announced one week from today (October 16th).

Just a couple of little 'rules' to enter....

1. Add yourself as a follower to my blog if you aren't already.
2. Make comment on this post so that you have a random number.

Yay!

It's official....

I'm Mrs. Peanutbutter!
Ah, Blogosphere the wedding is over and I'm finally catching up on some sleep. We still have several house guests, so things remain busy. I'll be back very soon with more crafty projects and the Penelope Coat as promised.