Friday Feature at the Gift Closet!

A special thanks to Heather at The Gift Closet! Appleseed Gifts is her Friday's Feature! Click here to head over and check it out!



Thanks for the love!
Ginger
Appleseed Gifts

Blog Swapp'n Fun!

Hey folks! Swapp'n blogs with Punkin Seed today...I'll be doing a fun tutorial for bath salts so head on over there to get the scoop! Check out a great post from the great Kristi Flanagan!! You go girl!

I am very excited to be blog swapping today with Ginger! Thanks Ginger for letting me take over your blog today! Let me start by introducing myself. I'm Kristi with Punkin Seed Productions.
I'm a schizophrenic crafter that can't just focus on one craft - I WANT TO DO THEM ALL!!!! I'm also a homeschool mom of three fun kiddos who keep me busy doing "creative" things like dissecting cow eyes! Yep, I've had to expand my horizons for sure! So feel free to come on over to Punkin Seed Productions and say "hi". I'd love to get to know you all and share some really fun craft ideas!

I wanted to encourage all you "new" crafters. You don't always have to come up with a totally, new, brilliant idea. What about "tweaking" an already super idea? That is one of the fun things about blogging. There are so many creative people out there. I love to see an idea and then expand on it..... and..... that is what I'm doing today!

I know you have all probably seen the popular scrabble tile necklaces out there. You might have even seen the scrabble tile ring that Fonda from Fireflies and Jellybeans did when she was a sweetie and blog swapped with me! Well, let's take that original scrabble tile necklace idea and expand on it! There are already a lot of great tutorials out there on how to cover and glaze the scrabble tile. Here is the link to my site where Fonda did a tutorial on that.

Ok - now let's just take this idea a little further. The original idea was to cover the tile with pretty or fun paper, put a paper glaze on it, glue a bale to the back, add a chain, and poof - you have a stinkin cute necklace! So let's just see how we can change this up a bit:

Take 3 coordinating tiles that you have covered and glazed. Let's connect them together in different ways and see what we come up with:

Add bales (just don't bend the ones you use between the tiles) and connect with E6000 glue:




Or, let's add a rusty ole star and connect with E6000 glue:

Or, let's add a couple of fun scrapbooking paperclips and connect with, you guessed it, E6000 glue:

How about adding them to a barrette?

A little note on this glue:


It's the bomb for keeping things together but be careful with the tube. It's made out of metal and if you squeeze or twist it too much, it breaks and looks like this:

See, wasn't that easy? No rocket science here, just creating, tweaking and little gluing of the fingers!

Thanks again, Ginger, for letting me "steal" your blog today. Head on over to my blog, Punkin Seed Productions, and check out Ginger's tutorial on bath salts!

Valentine Fun from Life in the Pitts

Love that blog name! LOL! We come up with the funnest stuff don't we? Anyhoo, came across Life in the Pitts today and she has a great Valentine's Day project for everyone.

Inexpensive, cute, and fun! What else do you need? Check it out and see what all this blog has to offer!

Blog Swapp'n Fun! Comin' up soon...

Hi all,

Be sure to check back here tomorrow...I will be blog swapping with Kristi Flanagan from Punkin Seed. She'll be here giving us a great tutorial! Happy Crafting!!

Ginger
Appleseed Gifts

Life in the Craft Lane

Attention Ladies!!! Saw this and HAD to blog about it! Check out this cool re-vamp of an old plate...who knew? And we all know I love thrift store purchases to breathe new life into...great job! ~Applause~
Be sure to check out Life in the Craft Lane for more cool stuff!

Turn this...
















...into this!



Thrift store purchase , a clear glass plate for .50 cents.

Only painted the backside with crackle and gold paint. Measured the front center of the plate and made a vinyl decal monogram to fit. I now have it sitting inside a wreath in the window above my kitchen sink. Which is really neat when the sun shines through it ;)

Quick, easy and fun project. Happy Crafting!!

The Way I see It "My Thoughts and Treasures"

Hi all,

A wonderful young lady came across my blog yesterday and posted some nice comments, so I wandered over to her brand new blog and was swept away! She has some wonderful thoughts to share with the world, so lets all give her a warm round of applause as she embarks into the blogging world!!

I was so honored to be included in one of her first posts...~sniffle~ Thanks for all the love!

Please show your support...visit My Thoughts and Treasures, become a follower and read up on the way she sees it. Happy Blogging!

Ginger
Appleseed Gifts

Home Sweet Home-Fuzzy Buddies

OMGosh, these are so cute!!! Came across Home Sweet Home today and saw this post with these adorable creatures! So cute and appropriate for little fingers! A great craft for kids. Check it out!

The Creative Crate

I came across The Creative Crate today and just had to blog about it! She has got so many great projects! Check this out!

How about turning this...
















...into this!


ADORABLE!!! I will definitely be checking back in for more great creative ideas!
Happy Crafting!

Tips and Tidbits-Wall Decor

Walls aren't just for pictures!!! One thing I love to do to spruce up the house is to change it up a bit with wall hangings. Yes, I love pics of my kiddo's and family around (in fact I have an entire wall dedicated to pics of the kids!) and I do have some great coordinating prints hanging in some rooms of the house. But changing it up really leads to an eclectic and eye-pleasing mix!

A few examples? If your artsy (like me), hang some of your own art work up (even if it doesn't match your furniture)! It's YOUR work and that makes it special and a real conversation piece. Have an awesome old rug? Try it on the wall as a tapestry piece.


Here is a pic of my own art above our couch.
How about something a little out of the ordinary? I have keys, dried flowers, crosses, metal and wood plaques, and more in my house. And company ALWAYS comment on the diversity...give it a try!

Just about anything can be used if hung and supported properly. My grand-mother had a large piece of drift wood she had found hanging in her living room for years.

Happy Decorating!!

Tips and Tidbits-Thrift Store Treasures!

I LOVE thrift store finds...in fact, nearly 80% of my household decor is either a thrift store or yard sale find. An eclectic style has always appealed to me and I love finding fabulous pieces from a variety of sources. To me, each piece in my home tells a story of where it came from and who appreciated it before me? Whether it came from a second hand store, an estate sale or even from my mothers house. It all comes together for a homey look and feel.

Here are some great finds:
A piano bench my mother bought for me as a home-warming gift for my first apartment! She bought it for $10 at our local CCA. It is covered with the cutest 1960's butterfly print wall paper and has stayed with me through the years.

















Antique gate keys my mom and I found on a trip to Canton. I thought they looked nice siding a drawing I did in college.



















I found this clay vase at a thrift store in Arlington. It appears hand made and fired and has the neatest impressions of leaves on it...and I bought it for $2.





















Keep an eye out the next time you see a garage sale or pass a thrift store! You never know what you'll find! Happy Shopping!

Pocket Full of Posies-Meal Planning

Hi all,

I wanted to put the word out for this awesome site earlier but time got away from me!!! ~oops~

Today's Appleseed Tips and Tidbits will be featuring Pocket Full of Posies.

Pocket Full of Posies's Cammie and Emily have attacked today's harsh recession by adjusting a big expenditure....THE GROCERY BUDGET!!! These two innovative ladies created a meal planning system to keep the shopping costs low while keeping the kiddo's fed and happy...and maybe the hubby's too. The best part? Pocket Full of Posies have products starting as low as $5.00. ~smile~

Not only can you find monthly and weekly meal packages, but dietary recipes, all recipes, and even custom packages that include your own recipes. Everything is presented in designer grade pockets for an easy shopping experience. Yum!

What do I like best about this site and products?? – Diversity!!! Finally, no more feeling like we're eating the same thing EVERY week!

Visit their site and grab their button...tell our friends because I believe everyone could use a little help with dinner these days!

Thanks again Cammie and Emily for your great products!

Ginger
Appleseed Gifts

Feature of the Month at The Gift Cloest!

A special thanks to The Gift Closet for allowing Appleseed Gifts be feature of the month!! ~sniffle~ Thanks for the love!

Ginger
Appleseed Gifts

Earthy Elegance Giveaway at Jamies Precious Peas

Hi all,

Just checked out Jamie's Precious Peas...she got a great giveaway going on! Click here to see some fab jewelry (you know how I love jewelry)! Enter to win as well...you never know. It could me you!

Ginger
Appleseed Gifts

Journaling-Path to Peace?

Hi all,

I met with an amazing person today who brought up a subject that I have struggled with many times but had me consider the possibility of picking it up again. Journaling...is it a good stress reliever? Does it really solve anything? No, but perhaps it can put a few feelings into perspective. Perhaps help you understand your feelings better, if not just get them out of your heart and on paper.

I have made feeble attempts before at a journal and never stuck with it because I was too judgmental...this isn't any good, these thoughts are stupid...but I thought again. I'm not writing a book here or anything.

This nice lady made some real points to me that I never thought of...write down thoughts only, not sentences. Write down my mood, not what had happened to create that mood. Pray on those writings one at a time instead of all at once. Somehow, this process seems easier. Perhaps a journal can be a path to peace.

Thanks again CS...you know who you are!
Ginger

For any who are interested in a journal but not sure where to start (like me), click here to see a resource I found that may help.

News from Appleseed Gifts-PMS

Hi all,

I was watching Rachel Ray this morning and one of the topics discussed really helped me out, so I thought I'd try and share. However, I may not be the best a relaying vital information about a well-known ailment nearly 30% of all women face--PMS! But still, I thought this might be a good way for us to understand what it is and why it happens...because I certainly didn't know! Visit here to take a look at the information shared by Dr. Lisa Sanders. I know this information helped me understand what PMS is--and perhaps my husband can understand better too! ~LOL!~

Charitable Work by Appleseed Gifts

Take Flight Necklace-$10.00
All proceeds from the sale of this product will benefit the Jackie Stanley's Hope For A Cure foundation to raise funds for lung cancer research. Please visit Jackie's Hope For A Cure to find out how your contribution will help find a cure. You can also visit our blog, JackiesHope4aCure and grab our button to spread the word. Thank you for your donation!

Make an Additional Donation

No Thanks $10.00 Donate another $5-- $15.00 Donate another $10-- $20.00

Tips and Tidbits-Cleaning Tip for the Home

Tip of the Week:

Seems everyone enjoyed reading about home-made ways to clean your car...now we're moving on to home-made house cleaners! I found some great recipes for kitchen and bathroom cleaners that I wanted to share. Most ingredients are right in the pantry. Try them out and post a comment!!!

Window Cleaner

Option 1:
Juice from one fresh lemon
2 cups water or club soda
½ teaspoon peppermint essential oil (optional)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
Mix all ingredients and pour into plastic spray bottle. Shake well.

Option 2:
8 parts water
1 part vinegar
Mix ingredients, scrub and wipe with newspaper.

Drain Cleaner/Opener

¼ cup vinegar
¼ cup baking soda

Mix ingredients and pour mixture down drain. Let stand for a few minutes and rinse with boiling water.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Pour full strength white vinegar in the bowl, let sit for several hours. Scrub with sturdy brush.

Bathtub/Sink Stains

Scrub with paste made from cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide.

Tips and Tidbits-Cleaning Tip for the Car

Tip of the Week: original post on 1-15-2010

If you are like me...a busy mom...trying to work or run a business...what is the first thing to take a back seat??? YOUR CAR!!! And like most people, I do not have the time or money to go the cleaners for a complete wash and detail overhaul on my 8 passenger minivan. The last detailing I got cost me over $100 and I waited for nearly 2 hours...won't be doing that again. After some research, I found that a lot of auto cleaning kits or bottled products were expensive! You gotta have a cleaner for tires, leather, wax, glass cleaner...no way!

I found a great site that shows you how make your own auto cleaners for a low cost and they are effective...and not full of chemicals you can't pronounce. Below are a few recipes I can't wait to try...

Windshield Cleaner

Club soda

Spray on the windshield and wipe dry. Not recommended for use in the vehicle's windshield-spray reservoir because it could freeze.

Leather Wash

¼ cup vodka
¼ cup distilled vinegar
3-4 drops of jojoba or olive oil

Combine all ingredients in container. Shake to blend. Pour mixture onto a soft rag and rub into leather. Do not rinse.

Click here for more cleaning tips!

Tips and Tidbits-Everything That Is Nice

Tips for the Home and more... 1-12-2010

Hi all,

This is a great site that I came across with brilliant yet easy gift, home, and decor ideas. Give it up for Everything That Is Nice! Pause for applause...~hehe~

This special lady has some new and exciting crafts that are easy for little fingers as well as old favs, like the tied fleece blankets, I have 2 of those for my kiddo's. Very warm and comfy. There were some awesome Christmas ideas; be sure to take a look and get a jump start on next year!! I know I need all the help I can get...:-)

Check it out to find great gift and home ideas. Visit at http://everythingthatisnice.blogspot.com.

Tip of the Week-Decor Tip

Decor Tip of the Week: original post on 1-6-2010

Awesome Twist on an old favorite...the basket of sea shells!

I remember small baskets of sea shells in my grandmothers home since forever. But that old favorite seemed doomed. And I have fond memories of seaside trips! Those good times seemed only to be remembered through old vacation photos that are now all but lost.

On my last trip to the shore (which was my honeymoon in Cozumel, Mexico)I wanted more than just photos and street side knick-knacks to remember my experience with my new husband.

And with a beautiful beach full of treasures, it wasn't hard. I had fun shopping the shore finding unique shells, corals, and stones. But no old baskets for me...a great way to display shells is in a clear, uniquely-shaped glass vase to highlight all the detailed pieces.



Not into shells?? Try a vase of dried fruit, nuts or coffee beans. Or perhaps glass beads, stones, or marbles.

Tips and Tidbits-Ricotta Cheese Cake

Recipe of the Week: original post on 12-29-2009

This one of my favorites! I came across it on one of my favorite recipe sites and it was a BIG hit this holiday season! Super easy and cheap to make...and it feeds an army! Ingredients are no more than $10 in most stores.

Ricotta Cheese Cake

1 (18.25 oz) package classic yellow cake mix
2 pounds ricotta cheese
4 eggs
¾ cups white sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ cup powdered sugar

Preheat to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 9x13 glass baking dish. In large bowl, prepare yellow cake mix according to package directions. Pour batter into greased baking dish. In large bowl, combine cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Drop spoonfuls onto uncooked cake. Bake for 90 minutes. Sprinkle cooled cake with powdered sugar. Keep refrigerated.

It is amazing all the different recipes you can come up with by using every day ingredients and simple cake mixes. Keep checking back for other great and easy recipes!

Tips and Tidbits-Home Life "Holiday" Commentary

Home Life Commentary: original post on 12-29-2009

Holiday Fun

Holiday super rush!!! Glad its over? Well, a small part of me is...but all in all, I love the holidays and it was wonderful to spend Christmas this year with my family and my 6 month old son, Samuel. My husband and I were so excited to see his little face light up with the tree and his eyes following the lights and ornaments. Being his first Christmas, we wanted to make it extra special for him and our oldest, Jack. We read stories from our favorite Christmas books, watched Charlie Brown Christmas (and all the rest of our Christmas favorites). With mugs of hot chocolate by a roaring fire, we had a great time together...and a white Christmas in Texas too! Christmas traditions are something that I have never forgotten and it is very important to me that my children remember the same experiences. Instill new traditions with your family...whether its stringing popcorn on the tree, reading Christmas stories or baking cookies for Santa; these will be memories you'll never forget. Hope you all had a merry one as well. Keep coming back for more Home Life Commentary!!

Tips and Tidbits-Turkey Meatball Soup

Recipe of the Week: original post on 12-22-2009

Turkey Meatball Soup

A great, feel-good recipe for a warm, tasty, and HEALTHY soup!

2 cups chicken stock
1 pound ground turkey
1 stalk celery; cleaned and diced (can substitute with small head of broccoli diced well)
8-10 spears fresh asparagus, cleaned and cut into 1 inch pieces
3-4 strips of bacon, diced
1 can white beans
1 small onion; diced
1 clove garlic; smashed and diced
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 egg
couple handfuls of Italian bread crumbs (can substitute with all purpose flour)
2 tsp zesty season salt
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp poultry seasoning
salt/pepper to taste

Heat stock pot over med. heat. Brown the bacon in olive oil until edges are just cooked and set aside to cool. Prepare the rest of the ingredients. In large bowl, combine turkey, bacon, bread crumbs, onion, celery, egg, garlic, poultry seasoning, Italian seasoning, zesty season salt, and salt/pepper. Work with you hands to roll into 1 inch meatballs; add more bread crumbs if needed. Tip: Spray your hands with cooking oil spray to minimize stickiness! Brown meatballs in pot with olive oil until edges are browned and hold their shape. Take out of pot to rest. Add stock and bring to boil. Once stock is at a rolling boil, drop in meatballs to finish out. Add can of beans and asparagus and reduce heat. Simmer for 30-45 minutes. For crisp asparagus, add after 35-40 minutes and cook until spears are bright green. Serve with a crunchy baguette.
Happy Cooking!

Tips and Tidbits-Stock up...

Tip of the Week: original post on 12-22-2009

Stock up on Stock!

When grocery shopping, if you see your favorite brand on sale--grab a few! Always good to have extra cans or cartons on hand for a quick and easy soup, stew or gravy.

Even in Texas, it gets cold (sometimes) and during these southern winter months, I love nothing more than a warm cup of some of my favorite soup. In our house, I'm either making a soup or stew at least twice a week! Because of that, I am constant need of different stocks; vegi, chicken, or beef. Note-I've found that the store brands are just as tasty as the big boys! Happy Cooking!

Tips and Tidbits-Oatmeal Carrot Muffins

Recipe of the week: original post on 11-30-2009

This is one of my favorites. It's a healthy, yet tasty recipe the kiddo's will love! Best of all, it is super easy and cheap to make. Ingredients cost less than $5 at most grocery stores. Great for breakfast and snack time!

Oatmeal Carrot Muffins

1 package Jiffy oatmeal muffin mix
2 cups shredded carrots
½ cup raisins
1 tsp grated nutmeg
3 tbsp brown sugar

Preheat to 400 degrees. In large bowl, prepare muffin mix per box directions. Stir in nutmeg, carrots and raisins. Top uncooked muffins with brown sugar. Bake 15-20 minutes.

An extra tip! Stock up on different flavors of muffin mixes! You can create tons of great recipes for muffins, breads, pancakes, waffles and more! Happy Baking!

Tips and Tidbits-Banana Bread

Recipe of the Week: Banana Bread

One of my all time favorites!!! I've actually been baking it like crazy lately and have been experimenting with some new variations. Here is my recipe...pretty basic.

Banana Bread

½ cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 ripe bananas, mashed
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda

Preheat to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar until smooth; beat in eggs. Fold in bananas. Add four and baking soda stirring until just combined. Bake for 60 minutes.

Variations include adding walnuts (a known fav) or perhaps pecans for a twist. I've also added a cup of raisins to the batter for a sweeter bread. Very yummy. Top it with a few crumbles of brown sugar for a crusty top and drizzle a little white icing for an added treat.

White Icing

1 ziploc bag
1 tbsp milk
1/2 cup to 1 cup powdered sugar (vary to your taste; I like it thick)

Mix milk and sugar in ziploc bag until well smoothed, snip the corner of the bag with scissors and you've got a pastry bag!!! Drizzle over cooled bread for a tasty snack!

Support for Haiti continued...

Hi all,

I wanted to offer another great resource for those who wish to give back hope and love to the people of Haiti. Fellowship Church (where my family and I attend service) has put together an awesome program to help Haiti. Please visit Hope 4 Haiti and make a contribution in any way you can. Your donations can save lives! Spread the word and lets offer some helping hands! Thank you all and I hope that you'll continue your prayers towards the broken hearts of Haiti.

Thank you,
Appleseed Gifts

Lora Elizabeth Stamped Jewelry...very nice!

Hi all,

Just wanted to put in another plug about Lora Elizabeth Stamped Jewelry. A great site by a great women and some very beautiful jewelry. Thanks Lora for all the great work and support! ~Applause!~

Support Haiti in their greatest time of need!!!

Hi all,

A dear friend of mine sent me a very valuable tool for helping Haiti in this crisis. I have been praying for some relief for the people of Haiti, not only for the existing harsh condition, but the insurmountable damage by the earthquake as well. Below is a portion of an email from Heather McCarty. Be sure to visit the link provided so we can do our part in helping a torn land become whole again. Below is a portion of her email with the link.

"...almost all of the relief groups in Haiti have to
give a large percentage of the donations they receive to the Haitian
government, and as a result very little money people send to these
organizations actually reaches the people in need. To avoid this
problem, the Haiti Fund has put itself under a local Presbyterian
church so that their funds and supplies aren't absconded. The Fund is
a permanent fixture in Haiti, but they are now putting most of their
money towards earthquake relief. Just thought I would pass along
their site to you in case you are interested in long-term aid and also
in helping with the current crisis.

I know it's sometimes difficult to find organizations that are both
honest and effective with their donations:
http://haitifundinc.org/..."

A special thanks to Heather and Michael McCarty for handing us a great donation tool!

Thank you,

Ginger Cochran
Appleseed Gifts

How we've grown!

Hi all,

Just wanted to put up a plug about where Appleseed Gifts has gone in the few short weeks I've been open! I am super proud to learn that we've reached places as far as Indiana, Georgia, Florida and even Yokohama, Japan! This is all because of the tremendous support received from friends, family, and other mom & women-based business like mine! My success is their success! Thanks for all the love! ~sniffle~
Happy Blogging!

Ginger
Appleseed Gifts

Gifts N' Such-Bath and Body

I have re-vamped my Bath N' Body section so as to cut down on shipping costs! Now in new, more efficient packaging, Appleseed Bath N' Body are the perfect gift for mom, friends, and more!

Appleseed Body Lotion-$8.00
Choose from five tantalizing scents to sooth the senses.

Choose a Scent

Baby Fresh $8.00 Berry Sweet $8.00 Citrus Kiss $8.00 Lovely Lavender $8.00 Pure Vanilla $8.00

Appleseed Bath Salt-$6.00
Sooth away aches with a warm bath... add Appleseed Bath Salts and drift off to dream land.

Choose a Scent

Baby Fresh $6.00 Berry Sweet $6.00 Citrus Kiss $6.00 Lovely Lavender $6.00 Pure Vanilla $6.00

Appleseed Bath Set-$12.00
The perfect gift!

Choose a Scent

Baby Fresh $12.00 Berry Sweet $12.00 Citrus Kiss $12.00 Lovely Lavender $12.00 Pure Vanilla $12.00

Appleseed Gifts now hosting Give Aways!!!

Want to promote your business? Appleseed Gifts sponsors product giveaways so you can get your products out there for the world to see! Contact today for details!

Reviews for Awesome Products!!!

Want a review of your blog, business or products? Contact today for details!