Peppermint Plum

{Mini Tag Album} - Tutorial

2012-03-12T21:11:00.000-06:00

I want to share with you a fun and extremely quick and simple way to make a mini tag album.

And by mini, I mean MINI -- this album is only about 3 inches long -- the perfect size to tote around.

There are lots of instructional photos coming up, because how fun is a tutorial with just words? Not very fun indeed. Even though there are lots of photos, it's very simple. I made my album in under an hour! Let's get started...

* * * * *

The first thing you will need to do is save this tag image to your desktop and print it out:

For the best quality image, I suggest saving it directly from the source at {JUST SOMETHING I MADE}. Cathe Holden's site is amazing and is filled with printable freebies just for you! Be sure to check out the entire site.

Next, tear the back off of a thin cardboard cereal or cracker box. This will act as your free version of chipboard to help make the tags more sturdy. Cut out the tags and glue them to the cardboard. A glue stick works great for this project.

Once all the tags are glued down, it's time to cut them out.

The cardboard is thin enough to cut with a paper cutter or scissors.

After they are trimmed you can round the corners.

I prefer the look of the rounded corners on one end, but you can certainly leave them square and they will be just as cute!

Next, you will want to score the back of the tags to make them bend easier once they are all tied together. If you have a papercrafting score board, perfect. If not, you can do what I do... I use the channel in my paper cutter and an embossing stylus. The lines aren't perfectly straight, but it works!

Then fold the tag forwards on the scored line.

Now it's time to decide how you want to tie your tags together to make a book.

You can do this in SO many different ways -- holes with clip rings, ribbon threaded through, spiral bound or you can do what I did, mini eyelets.

I used my Crop-a-Dile to punch the tiny holes and to set the eyelets in place.

However you decide to hook it together, just be sure your holes are all punched in the same place so all of your tags will line up evenly.

Lookin' cuter by the minute!

At this point, the backs of the tags are plain cardboard. The cardboard is cute on its own, but I wanted to add a little more color to my pages.

I grabbed some coordinating papers from my crafty stash and glued them onto the back of the tags, again with the glue stick. Then cut around the tag to trim off the excess paper.

Now is the time to decorate your pages!

You can distress the edges of the tags with ink or paint or rough them up with a sanding block (or nail file) and just make them as shabby or as clean as you like.

I decorated my tags and the cover with some black + white polka dot washi tape. I stamped some wood grain on white paper and ripped the edges and glued it down. I die-cut some leaves and punched out a sentiment with my Dymo label maker. I then threaded some aqua + white baker's twine through all of the eyelets and tied a tight bow in front.

That's all there is to it! Pretty easy, right?

You can use this as a mini photo album, or a "Favorite Blogs" album (hint hint) or a "Things I Love" book, as I have. It's sort of a mini Smash* book... a small place to list the things that make you happy!

* * * * *

Lately, I've been keeping myself busy coloring and creating cards over at my papercrafting blog

{Annie Rose Makes Things}.
If you, too, are a fan of papercrafting, I'd love it if you stopped by to say hello! :)

- Annie

*Please check out our Linky Parties page or our side column to see the linky parties we participate in*

{Valentine's Wreath}

2012-02-05T14:00:00.002-07:00

I found this grapevine wreath at Goodwill for $1.99! I remembered some sparkly red heart ornaments I bought a few years ago (Christmas clearance at IKEA) and knew just what I wanted to do with them.

I used the ruffler foot on my sewing machine to ruffle some white grosgrain ribbon, and then I sewed that onto some red lacy-edged ribbon (another Christmas clearance bargain) and added it to the bottom.

Happy Valentine's Day!

--Tammy

*Please check our Linky Party tab or our sidebar for the weekly parties we participate in*

{Fudge Brownie Layered Ice Cream Cake}

2012-01-18T03:03:00.002-07:00

A few years ago my niece was in town during someone's birthday and she offered to make the world's best ice cream cake...

UM...YEAH!

Go right ahead.

Turns out she was right. This cake rivals Baskin Robbins or Cold Stone any day.

Now this cake has become our family's tradition for birthdays. There just aren't enough birthdays in the year though. I could eat this every day!

The part that is the most fun is coming up with your favorite combination.

Ours is mint chocolate chip ice cream with oreos. But you could also use Grasshopper cookies...they are good, too. You can also do a chocolate-based ice cream and use Nutter Butters. The possibilities are endless with this cake!

You'll need:

1 box family size brownie mix

1/2 gallon ice cream

1 package oreos

1 bottle hot fudge (premium thick stuff)

Prepare brownie mix according to package directions, and pour batter into a greased springform pan. Bake for about 20 minutes (you'll want to underbake these a bit.. You won't be able to chew frozen, fully-cooked bites of brownie!). Cool completely.

Line the outside of the pan with whole oreos, pushing them down into the brownies a bit so they stay in place.

Spread half of the ice cream on top of the brownies:

Crush up the remaining oreos and sprinkle half of them on top of the ice cream:

Now it's time for the fudge. I like this Smuckers brand or Ms. Richardson's. But make sure it's the thick stuff that comes in the bigger bottle.

It's easiest to dollop it all over evenly and then start spreading it around.

This is the trickiest part...just spread it as evenly as you can.

Next, layer the rest of the ice cream on top of the fudge. This is a little tricky, too...I always have to use my finger to help, but then you can spread it smoothly and evenly with a hot spatula or something when you are done to make it nice and even.

Finally, sprinkle the rest of the oreo crumbles on the top. Wrap it up in foil and freeze for several hours or overnight.

When you are ready to serve, remove the foil and undo the springform pan. You will be left with this beautiful masterpiece:

Slice it, plate it, and ENJOY the heaven that is this cake!

-Tammy

*Please check our Linky Party tab or our sidebar for the weekly parties we participate in*

{Revisiting Christmas Favorites}

2011-12-15T06:40:00.000-07:00

We thought we would share some of our favorite Christmas posts from last year that might be just the idea you are looking for this year.

Simply click on the descriptions below the photos to be taken to the original posts where you can find all of the details, tutorials and recipes.

We hope we can inspire you in some way to make this holiday season one of the best!

{Garnished Gift Box}

{Pinecone Cheeseball}

{we WHISK you a BERRY KISSMAS}

{Butter Toffee}

{Handmade English Crackers}

{Peppermint Pretzel Kisses}

Enjoy!

{Gingerbread Cupcakes}

2011-12-07T15:44:00.000-07:00

My mother-in-law gave me these cute gingerbread man cupcake liners for my birthday last month.

I knew that I couldn't bake just any old cupcakes in them...they were deserving of something special.

They needed to GINGERBREAD CUPCAKES, of course!

Topped with these cute little gingerbread man sprinkles I found last year? Definitely.

Here is what the bottom of the liners look like. Cute, huh?

I scoured the internet for a great gingerbread recipe, and decided upon this one for old-fashioned sticky gingerbread, made with boiling water just like our great-great grandmas would have used. Or at least I imagine mine did ;)

And let me tell you...this recipe did not disappoint! It's just the texture and taste I was envisioning. Super yummy! And topped with some extra special cinnamon lemon cream cheese frosting?

Yuh. Uhh. Mmm.

{Old Fashioned Gingerbread}

Preheat oven to 325*.

In a large bowl, mix:

1 cup oil
1 cup sugar
1 cup dark molasses

Add:

2 large eggs

In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients thoroughly:

3 cups flour
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Add to wet mixture.

Boil (in microwave):

1 cup boiling water

Add to water:

1 tablespoon baking soda

Once dissolved, add water (SLOWLY) to batter and mix until just combined.

Bake for about 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

{Cinnamon Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting}

1 cube butter (room temp)

8 oz light cream cheese (room temp)

1 tsp vanilla

2 tsp lemon juice

1/4 tsp cinnamon

Beat together until smooth, then add:

5-7 cups powdered sugar

depending on the consistency you want.

Enjoy!

-Tammy

WINNERS - {Holiday Tags Giveaway}

2011-12-07T01:26:00.000-07:00

It's time to announce our two lucky Blogiversary Giveaway WINNERS!

They are:

Congratulations, ladies!

Please email us at PeppermintPlum{at}Hotmail{dot}com with your full name and address and your tags will get shipped right out to you.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Stay tuned for some more {yummy} holiday goodness...

One Year Blogiversary {HOLIDAY TAG GIVEAWAY}

2011-12-03T14:05:00.000-07:00

In honor of our ONE YEAR BLOGIVERSARY coming up this Tuesday, we wanted to have another GIVEAWAY to say thank you to all of our readers, old and new.

We have two sets of 5 distressed angel holiday tags to give away, which means there will be TWO lucky winners!

Each tag measures 4 in x 2 in.

The perfect addition to any holiday gift!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN?

There won't be any jumping through hoops here.

Just LEAVE A COMMENT letting us know that you would like to win!

Comment entries will be accepted until midnight (MST) on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6th.

Winners will be announced here on the blog on Wednesday, December 7th, so keep a close watch!

This giveaway is open to anyone, anywhere, as long as you can receive mail. Just keep in mind that if you live outside of the United States, you may not receive the tags in time for Christmas this year, but you can always save them for next year!

(Please note: These tags are for personal use only. Please do not sell or copy these tags exactly for your own monitary gain. Thank you.)

Thanks, again, to all of our loyal readers.

We couldn't (and wouldn't) have done it without you!

- Annie + Tammy -

{A Gingerbread Christmas}

2011-11-30T14:38:00.000-07:00

'Tis the season for holiday decorating...and my house is finally--after several days of boxes and messes and chaos--looking like it's Christmas Season. I love it!

I have an obsession with gingerbread. Real, fake, anything gingerbread. I love the taste and the playfulness of the candy decor. I love the colors of the candy and white icing against the dark brown of the gingerbread.

I have dreams of living in the witch's house from Hansel and Gretel.

Wouldn't that be awesome?!

But if I lived there I wouldn't trick children into thinking I was a sweet little old lady and then try to fatten them up to eat them.

Here is a glimpse of my gingerbread collection:

I'm not usually one who likes "cutesy" decor, but when it comes to gingerbread decor, the cuter the better!

I've also collected gingerbread ornaments for years...and I have enough that I think I can title my 9-foot tree a "Gingerbread Tree."

Well, I figured it was high-time that my gingerbread tree had a tree topper that matched it's decor...so I made my own gingerbread star topper!

I bought some brown felt and white rick-rack and whipped this up in about 20 minutes.

I printed out a large star (using the basic shapes in MSword) for a pattern, cut out two layers of felt, sewed them right-sides-together, leaving a couple inches at the bottom open, turned it right-sides-out, stuffed it with batting and a wire coil (stolen from my old tree topper), and then whip-stitched the opening by hand, reinforcing the area around the wire coil to hold it in place.

I think my gingerbread tree is now, officially, properly topped.

Happy Holidays!

--Tammy

{Benefit For Becca}

2011-11-02T00:42:00.000-06:00

Hello, everyone!
We've been swamped lately (again) with life and family and work and vacations and holidays, but we wanted to make a quick post on behalf of our cousin, Becca.

"Becca was recently diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis.

She is a wonderful wife and mother to 6 children, three under the age of 5 and two with autism. Needless to say, her hands were already very full before this debilitating disease hit.

Myasthenia Gravis is a chronic condition that causes muscles to tire and weaken easily. Common muscle groups that are affected may make it difficult to chew, swallow, smile, shrug, lift your arm up, grip, rise to a stand, or walk up stairs.

When the muscles necessary for breathing are affected, a patient is said to be in myasthenic crisis.

This is a life-threatening situation.

Currently she is taking a large dosage of Prednisone to avoid any breathing difficulties.

She is scheduled to get her thymus removed (thymectomy) on Nov 10, 2011. Thymectomy seems to improve symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis patients. Typically this is an "open chest" procedure, however, she has located a doctor in Texas that is able to do it laproscopically (which will have a much faster recovery time).

As you can imagine, this unexpected family crisis will take quite a toll on Becca, emotionally and financially. She also will not have full insurance coverage since the surgery will be out of state and she does not qualify for any programs (such as disability) as of now.

Any funds raised will be used for medical and travel expenses (from Utah to Texas) to assist her during her fight against MG."

* * * * *

Our family has set up a fundraiser site for anyone who can help out. If you, or anyone you know, can spare even small amount of money to help Becca and her family get through this, it will be very much appreciated.

You can access her fundraiser page by clicking the following link:

{BENEFIT for BECCA}

(http://www.giveforward.com/benefitforbecca)

THANK YOU!

If we can answer any questions for you, please don't hesitate to email us at PeppermintPlum[at]Hotmail[dot]com.

{Minnie Mouse Party!}

2011-10-21T23:08:00.000-06:00

My baby turned three this past week, and we decided to celebrate by honoring one of our favorite Disney characters...

M I N N I E M O U S E !

Thanks to pinterest, I found some really cute cupcake ideas. I found these polka-dot wrappers at Michaels. The ears are mini Oreos, and the bows are fashioned with Fruit by the Foot.

I made Mickey and Minnie ears for our guests. I bought cheap headbands at Dollar Tree and wrapped them with black ribbon (hot glued the ends). The ears are made out of fun foam.

It was so fun to see everyone wearing them...even the big tough men kept their Mickey ears on all night!

:)

I'd share pictures, but I'm pretty sure I'd regret it.

I used some big hurricanes and apothecary jars to decorate the table. One was filled with red Dollar Tree Christmas ornaments, and the others were filled with red licorice and marshmallows.

And....here is the Birthday Girl herself!

It was a fun night!

--Tammy

{Magic PB Cookies}

2011-10-13T13:22:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite freshman-year memories is coming home from a hard day of classes and finding my roomate, Saralyn, donning her apron. That meant cookies were coming our way! These were some of our favorites.

The best part about these cookies is that they only have

..get ready for it...

THREE

ingredients.

For reals.

They are also GLUTEN-FREE for all my GF friends out there.

{Magic PB Cookies}

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

18 Hershey's Kisses for tops

Preheat oven to 350. Combine sugar, peanut butter, and egg. Shape into 1 inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. {I usually use a small cookie dough scoop, which leaves them with a rougher texture but is much quicker!} Bake for 10 minutes.

While baking, unwrap 18 Hershey's Kisses and set aside. When you remove cookies from oven, immediately press a Kiss into the center of each warm cookie.

Wait about 10 minutes for the chocolate to melt, and then pop one of these babies into your mouth whole. I promise you won't regret it.

Enjoy!

-Tammy

*Please check our Linky Party tab or our sidebar for the weekly parties we participate in*

{Skeleton Portraits}

2011-10-05T13:01:00.000-06:00

OoOoOoOoh, spooky!

Want to make your own?

All you need are some basic crafty supplies that you probably already have laying around.

I found two gold frames at Savers thrift store back in March of this year and I grabbed them with this very project in mind! Once October arrived, I knew it was time to put them to use.

I sponge-painted the frames with black craft paint, allowing some of the gold to still show through.

I then printed out this skeleton head:

and cut out the skull, jaw, eyes and nose with an exacto knife.

I then taped it onto some burlap and sponge-painted the areas I wanted to be black.

Once the paint was dry, I cut a large oval around the painted image and hot glued the burlap directly onto the back of the frame.

(Does anyone else hate working with burlap? Yuck, so itchy and messy! Why do projects with burlap have to turn out to be so cute?)

Once the burlap was secured to the back of frame, I tied 2 bows out of orange and white polka-dot grosgrain ribbon.

I then hot glued the bows to the burlap.

A dapper bow-tie for the gentleman:

And a lovely hair bow for the lady:

You should definitely add some Skeleton Portraits to your Halloween decor this year!

-Annie

*Please check our Linky Party tab or our sidebar for the weekly parties we participate in*

{Halloween Mantel}

2011-09-27T13:26:00.000-06:00

Annie and I both LOVE Halloween.

Don't tell Santa, but it might just be our favorite holiday.

{Both of our birthdays are within a week of the 31st...I wonder if that has anything to do with it?}

I usually wait until October 1st to break out the decor, but this year we are leaving town a few days before Halloween, so I need to get my full month of spooky in a little early.

I decided to forego the traditional orange and black for my Halloween mantel this year, and went with black and white with a cute little pop of green:

I won a print of my choice in a contest a few months ago, and I am so happy I chose this one! It makes me smile every time I look at it.

It's called "Family Portrait," by The Dreamy Giraffe.

She still has it available in her etsy shop.

Do you SEE that little monster baby?!

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

It seriously makes me baby hungry.

{Yes, I'm nuts; I know this already.}

This is a cute little felt spider I stuck onto the mirror with a piece of Scotch tape.

I found these glittery black pumpkins on after-Halloween clearance at Target last year for 90% off. They were practically free!

Seriously...who can pass up ANYTHING at 90% off? Not me!

I'm so excited for Halloween!

--Tammy

{BANANA Banana Bread}

2011-09-22T15:41:00.001-06:00

For years I searched for THE perfect banana bread recipe, and this is definitely it for me. It's a little different from most banana breads...it has FIVE bananas in one loaf! This means it has tons of banana flavor and is incredibly moist.

BANANA Banana Bread

(adapted from allrecipes.com)

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 c butter

3/4 c brown sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1-2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/3 c mashed over-ripe bananas (4-6 depending on size)

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease one 9x5 inch loaf pan

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. In separate bowl, cream butter, brown sugar, and vanilla. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten (do not over stir or it will be crumbly). Pour into loaf pan, bake for about 60 minutes, until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes in pan, then turn onto wire rack.

Go bananas!

-Tammy

*Click HERE to see all the linky parties we participate in!*

{Ghostie BOO Garland}

2011-09-18T22:12:00.001-06:00

Here's a quick and easy-to-follow photo tutorial on how you can make your own Ghostie Boo Garland!

Tissues (2 for each ghost, layered)

Cotton balls (4 for each ghost head)

Floss or white thread (to tie around neck)

Black marker (to make eyes)

Embroidery floss (to string ghosties onto)

Long needle (to poke through ghostie neck)

Once all of the ghosties are strung, you can make "BOO" tags to hang inbetween each one, or you can leave it just as it is.

I stamped the word "BOO" in black ink onto bright orange card stock.

I cut a "V" shape at the bottom and used black chalk to distress the edges. I then folded the top of the card stock over the string and stapled the paper together, close to the string, to keep it in place.

That's it!

Hang it somewhere spooky and awesome and you're good to go.

Most importantly... have fun!

-Annie

*Click HERE to see the linky parties we participate in!*

Also.... Momnivore'sDilemma Halloween link party

{Halloween Printing with Fruits + Veggies}

2011-09-14T07:00:00.001-06:00

I was cleaning out the fridge today, about to throw away some carrots and apples that didn't get eaten (shh.. don't tell my mother!) and I thought

"Hey wait a minute, I can be crafty with these!"

And... so can you!

All you and your little punkin's need to make some printed Jack-o-Lantern's is an apple, a couple of carrots and some craft paint.

Cut some shapes into the thick end of the carrot. I cut a triangle and a rectangle. The long carrot stem makes these "stamps" really easy for small hands to hold when stamping.

Slice off one side of the apple. Don't cut too closely to the core or else your stamp will look like an apple instead of the pumpkin shape you are going for.

Then, take the apple slice you just cut off and cut it in half to make a curved mouth. You can keep it just how it is or make a few notch/cuts to make teeth.

Spread some paint out onto paper plates, grab some white paper and get stamping!

Super-easy, super-fun.

If you cut out each individual pumpkin print (once it's dry of course) you can string them onto a garland, or make them into a magnet or even gift tags to tie onto a loaf of pumpkin chocolate-chip bread for your neighbors (or to send directly to me... mmm).

-Annie

{Plum-Perfect Cupcakes}

2011-09-12T06:00:00.001-06:00

I shared this recipe at Snips & Spice a little while back.
If you haven't made them yet.... do it! They are delicious!
* * * * *

I’ve been toying around with the idea of a plum cupcake for a while now, and decided this was the perfect chance to experiment.

I have to say that I think these turned out really tasty. They have a plumb-perfect blend of sweetness {from the frosting} and tartness {from the filling}.

You’ll need to plan ahead a little for this recipe…the plum sauce takes about 10 minutes to make and at least an hour to chill in the fridge before it is cool enough to use.

{Plum Perfect Cupcakes}

1 white cake mix

3 fresh plums

8 oz cream cheese

1 cube butter, room temp

3 Tbsp prepared plumsauce (see below)

1 tsp vanilla

7-8 cups powdered sugar (approx 2 lbs)

First, you will need to make your plumsauce filling. Cut fruit (with skin) from the pit of 3 fresh plums and process in a blender or food processor until the skins are chopped and blended in. Pour into small saucepan, and simmer for about 10 minutes, until the texture resembles that of applesauce.

Pour into separate bowl and refrigerate for one to two hours, until sauce is cool to the touch. To speed up the process, stir sauce a few times while it is cooling.

Next, preheat your oven and mix cake batter according to directions. Fill cupcake liners 1/2 full, and bake for about 15-17 minutes at 350. My mix made 30 cupcakes.

Allow cupcakes to cool.

Reserve about 3 tablespoons of cooled plum sauce to add to your frosting.

To fill cupcakes, pour remaining plum sauce into a pastry bag with a round tip, stick tip directly into the center of the cupcake, and squeeze a little sauce into each one.

Once filled, your cupcakes are ready for frosting.

This recipe makes a large amount of frosting, because I like to swirl big heaps of it onto my cupcakes. Feel free to halve the recipe if you don’t want as much on yours.

{Frosting}

Mix cream cheese, butter, 3 Tbsp plumsauce, and vanilla with hand mixer until well-blended. Slowly add powdered sugar one cup at a time until thick enough to pipe and hold up.

Frost, Decorate, and Enjoy!

-Tammy

{Lavender Linen Spray}

2011-09-09T06:00:00.008-06:00

Did you know you can make your own linen spray at the cost of pennies? It's really easy, too!

This spray is very versatile. I use it to freshen up carpet, couches, even the air. A few spritzes in a room really liven up the place! A light spray of lavender helps anything smell fresh and relaxing.

I even make an alcohol-free batch and use it to tame my daughter's super-curly hair in the morning. She gets a big smile on her face when she smells the lovely scent :) And the natural oil helps keep her hair hydrated in our dry climate.

What you'll need:

A spray bottle

1 1/2 cups water

1 tbsp rubbing alcohol

100% pure essential lavender oil*
(*found at health food stores)

Boil water in a small pan for about 10 minutes to rid of any impurities. Cool to room temperature, and add alcohol and 20-50 drops of essential oil, depending on how strong you want your spray to be scented. I keep it at 20 drops. Stir to mix; use a funnel to fill spray bottle.

You can be creative with your scents...you can mix 2 different oils to get a unique flavor. One day I'm going to do Sandalwood and Vanilla. Mmmmmm....

I like to make a large batch of this spray each time and fill several bottles at once. The oils are a little pricey...my tiny bottle was $12. But it goes a LONG way. I've made several batches and have hardly made a dent.

Add a cute tag and you have a thoughtful hostess or housewarming gift.

Here's what's typed on the back of my tag (click to view larger and to save/print if you'd like):

{Spooky Party Treats}

2011-09-05T10:03:00.001-06:00

Halloween is coming! Hooray! It is my favorite holiday. I love being spooked.

Both Tammy's and my birthday are right around Halloween so we would always have combined Halloween costume birthday parties when we were young. They were the best! That might be why Halloween holds such a fun place in our hearts (thanks Mom!).

Here's a tutorial on how you can make your own simple Halloween party favors.

Gather your paper crafting supplies and a few plastic party favor boxes and get to work!

I found the cute Halloween creature head stamps at JoAnn's in the dollar section. Score!

Wrap the main paper around your favor box to determine the size you will need.

These boxes are 2" x 2" x 1". They came in a 3-pack and were found in the party section at Dollar Tree. Snip off the ugly, smashed bow that they come wrapped in and fill them with the candy of your choice (individually wrapped candy is best, as the insides of the boxes might not be clean).

I chose butterscotch hard candies because I'm secretly a 90 year old grandma. Just kidding. I love me some butterscotch!

Assemble all of your box wrappers and admire your awesome work... holy Halloween cuteness!

Wrap them around the boxes and secure them in back with a little tape.

Now hand them out at your Halloween party, give them to neighbors or take them to school to share with all of your best Halloween buddies!

Boo!

-Annie

{Oven Taco Fries}

2011-09-02T13:18:00.000-06:00

We've got another delicious recipe to share with you today. Don't worry, some craftiness is just around the corner....

These oven taco fries are super simple to make and they taste great!

(Lot's of step-by-step photos to come... as a visual learner myself, I thought it might be helpful)

* * * * *

Step 1: Preheat oven to 475*

Step 2: Grab some potatoes

These taste best with the skin left on, so be sure to wash and scrub the potatoes well to remove all of the dirt.

Step 3: Cut the potatoes into thin, even slices. Try to keep them all the same thickness so they all cook in the same amount of time.

If you like your fries crispy (who doesn't), cut them fairly thin.

Step 4: Place the cut potato slices into a bowl of hot water and let them soak for 10 minutes or so. This will remove some of the extra starch that prevents them from getting crispy.

Step 5: While the potato slices are soaking, take a few minutes to make some cute paper pouches to serve them in! (Pouch how-to below)

Step 6: Remove the soaked potatoes from the water and pat them dry with paper towels. You want to get all of the water off so that the oil and taco seasoning will stick well.

Step 7: Place the potatoes back into the bowl and mist them with some Pam olive oil spray. Open a packet of taco seasoning and sprinkle half the packet over the potatoes.

Stir all around to ensure that all slices are covered in taco seasoning yumminess.

Step 8: Place the potato slices onto a foil-lined baking sheet in a single layer. They can be touching, but if they are not in a single layer, they won't all get crispy (and that will make you sad).

Step 9: Time to cook! Pop the sheet into the oven and set the timer for 10 minutes.

The total baking time will be approximately 35-50 minutes, depending on how thick or thin your slices are.

The trick to getting them crispy is to turn the slices after each 10 minutes of cooking.

Once the potatoes are fully cooked, you can also place them under the broiler for a minute or two to finalize the crispiness -- just be sure to watch them constantly so they don't burn.

Once they are finished, take them out of the oven and serve immediately while they are hot and delicious!

* * * * *

Supplies needed:

Parchment paper

Scrap paper

Pencil

Scissors

Make a template with the scrap paper. Cut it into an 8.5 in x 8.5 in square.

Trace this square onto the parchment paper then cut it out. When cutting the parchment, be sure to cut just inside the pencil line so you don't get any pencil lead on your food. Gross.

Then, proceed as follows:

Then make as many as you need. Fill each pouch with the baked, crispy taco fries and eat 'em up!

Yum.

-Annie

*Check the sidebar or top page to see the linky parties we participate in*

{Strawberry Cookie Bars}

2011-08-31T07:00:00.001-06:00

When I see fresh strawberries at the grocery store in the spring, these bars are the first thing I think of. And then I make them all summer long until the prices of berries go up and the quality goes down.

My friend Liz gave me this recipe a few years ago, and it quickly became one of my favorite treats.

These bars are different from anything I’ve ever eaten. The texture is amazing, and the mixture of flavors is divine! Every time I take them somewhere, people ask me for the recipe.

And no one can believe it when they find out how easy and quick they are.

{Strawberry Cookie Bars}

1 large tube refrigerated cookie dough*

8 oz. cream cheese

1/3 cup sugar

1 T cocoa

2 cups Cool Whip

2 cups sliced strawberries

1 cup chocolate chips (mini are best!)

*Now listen up, friends…I’m not usually one to use store-bought dough, for any reason. But I’ve tried this recipe with homemade cookie dough and it wasn’t as good! Trust me on this one and just

fork out the dough for this dough:

Preheat oven to 350. Spread the cookie dough evenly onto a cookie sheet.

{Note: If you use a big cookie sheet, you will end up with bars that are firm enough to hold in your hand. If you use a smaller one, you will have a softer bar that is more messy. Both ways are delicious…it just depends on what you’re going for.}

Bake cookie dough for 15 minutes. Let cool completely.

Mix cream cheese, sugar, and cocoa and beat until smooth.

Stir in Cool Whip.

Spread mixture evenly on top of cooled cookie layer.

Top with sliced strawberries and mini chocolate chips

{I never measure these…I just sprinkle until it looks just right}.

Refrigerate until serving.

Strawberries, cream cheese, and chocolate…

OH, MY!

--Tammy

*Click HERE to see the lovely linky parties we participate in!*

{We're Guests at Snips & Spice!}

2011-08-29T09:00:00.002-06:00

We're guest posting at Snips & Spice today!

Here's a little preview of what we're sharing in celebration of Cupcake Month:

Stop on over to see all the fun cupcakes, and while you're there...
be sure to check out Malory's amazing skillz.
We've been friends for years, and I can say first-hand that she bakes, sews, knits, crafts, and quilts like a professional. She's a perfectionist...big time...and it shows!
Oh, and guess what? She made her own wedding cake. For reals!

--Tammy

{Our Favorite Meatloaf Recipe}

2011-08-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

Ooooh, look at those. Yum!

We have a few of our favorite recipes we will be sharing with you over the next week.

Today, it's the most delicious meatloaf ever.

{MEATLOAF}

1 1/2 lbs Lean Ground Beef

2 Eggs, Beaten

1/4 cup Ketchup (plus more for tops)

3/4 cup Herb-Seasoned Dry Bread Stuffing Mix (Pepperidge Farms)

1/2 Package Dry Ranch Dressing Mix

6 oz can French Fried Onions

1) Preheat oven to 350

2) In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well

3) Shape into a single loaf and fit into a 9x5 inch loaf pan or split evenly into smaller portions and fit into a mini-loaf pan (as pictured)

4) Smother the top with additional ketchup

5) Bake, covered loosely with foil, for 50-60 minutes or until meat is thoroughly cooked.

(If using a mini-loaf pan, check after 45 minutes, as the mini-loaves can cook a bit quicker)

6) OPTIONAL YUMMINESS:

Sprinkle on additional fried onions during the last 5 minutes of baking

*be mindful of over-baking, as this can cause the meatloaf to dry out quickly*

Try it! You wont be disappointed.

Enjoy!

-Annie

Giveaway {WINNER}

2011-08-26T05:43:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everyone who entered our giveaway and let us know you are still around!

Our randomly selected winner is....

Congrats, Arya!

This basket of goods will soon be headed your way:

Please email us at PeppermintPlum[at]Hotmail[dot]com with your name and address.

Hooray!

{Chewy Chocolatey S'MORES Cookies}

2011-08-24T06:00:00.001-06:00

There have been some really great S’Mores-themed goodies all over blogland this summer. I decided to try the idea with my favorite chocolate cookie recipe, and man, they were yummy!

These are a great way to celebrate the last few weeks of summer.

Here is the basic recipe:

{Chocolate Cookies}

1 1/2 sticks butter

2/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 1/2 cups flour

Cream butter and sugars, and then add eggs and vanilla. Gradually add dry ingredients. Roll into small balls and place onto greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

{For S’Mores Variation}

Break up some graham crackers into 1-inch pieces, and stick two into the sides of the top of each cookie, at an angle. Break up a Hershey bar into the pre-scored rectangles, and then break each piece in half. Stick one in the top of each cookie, also at an angle, so you have a little cavity to put a mini-marshmallow right on top without it rolling off:

Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

-Tammy

We're Back + a {GIVEAWAY}

2011-08-22T06:00:00.002-06:00

Hello, lovely readers!

We are officially back to blogging.

We've had a great Summer so far and we are happy to be back to share some of our ideas with you.

We'd like to thank all of you for sticking with us during our break, and what better way is there to do that than with a

GIVEAWAY!

I picked up a few extra items during my last IKEA visit (which I am lucky enough to have within 2 minutes from where I work) so I could put together this sweet giveaway basket... and by sweet, I mean AWESOME!

Check out the goods:

Perfect for a patio picnic during the last, hot days of Summer.

(The basket is included as well.)

This is not a sponsored giveaway. We just love cute IKEA products and wanted you to have some, too!

Would you like to WIN?

(of course!)

Just leave us a comment letting us know you are still around and would like to win.

Simple as that.

Comment entries will be accepted until midnight (MST) on Thursday, August 25th and a winner will be chosen Friday morning. Please be sure to leave a way for us to contact you if you are the lucky winner!

THANKS, EVERYONE!

And..... good luck!

- Annie + Tammy -

{A Bloggy Break....}

2011-05-22T15:29:00.000-06:00

Please excuse our lack of posting lately.
LIFE

has completely gotten in the way!

Kids. The end of school. Work and then more work.

You know..... the fun LIFE stuff.
Until things become a little more clear and well rounded for the both of us, PEPPERMINT PLUM

will be on a slight break!

Thank you to our always-loyal readers...we know you understand the reasons for this small interruption in crafty goodness!

We will return as soon as possible.

THANK YOU

~ Tammy + Annie ~

{Front Room Improvements}

2011-05-17T15:23:00.001-06:00

I thought I'd show you a few changes I've been making to my front room.

First of all, I replaced the curtains.

I was more than tired of the red regal tassled beauties (circa 2002), and searched patiently for something a little less attention-grabbing at a great price.

After a couple months, I found these new panels on clearance at curtainworks.com for a really great price...$20 for both with free shipping. I then found the rod on clearance at Jo-Ann for $10.

So for just $30 I transformed the room!

The height of the new panels really makes the room feel bigger and more to scale with the vaulted ceilings. I also love the slight lustrous finish and the dark green color.

Here is the rest of the room:

I moved the ironwork art from above the window to above the candle table/temple picture to give the display some much-needed height.

I've collected various candlestick holders from thrift stores and department store clearance aisles, in a variety of shapes and sizes, and I spray painted them all black.
I had to really use my imagination a few times to see the "potential" of them...

Case in point:

I know my decorating style includes a few quirky objects scattered around the house that people might think are ugly, but they just make me happy, so they stay...

Case in point:

This little teapot called out to me from a thrift-store shelf a couple years ago, and I've displayed it in a few different places. But it finally found its home when I "planted" a dollar store fern in it.
I don't know why I love it, I just do!

:)

I also moved the trunks to that wall on the left (see this post).
See the cedar chest under the window?
It was my mom's "hope chest" and she brought it to me last time she visited.

I have big plans for it. But I'm not sure what they are yet!
I can't decide what color to paint it.
I've gone from black to white to grey to red.
Any suggestions?

I still see this room as a work in progress, but little by little it is turning into a room that I love.

--Tammy

{Garage Sale Finds}

2011-05-10T06:00:00.002-06:00

It's Garage Sale Season!

Here are my finds from this past weekend:

This red coral pillow was $1.

It still had the original price tag on it for $19.

It smelled fresh and clean and came from what I could tell was an immaculate home, so I snatched it up.

It looks great on my wooden rocker.

I'm a bookworm.

I love decorating with books. Especially beautiful old books.

So when I found these delightful

1952 children's U.S. history books

at 3 for a quarter, I didn't even think twice.

Bonus:

My 9-year-old son thinks they look great and can't wait to read them!

I spotted this cute teapot from the road and knew it was going to be mine...that is, if it was less than 5 dollars.

Lucky for me it was only $2!

I love it.

I'm always on the lookout for these memo boards to use for hair bow storage.

We have a lot of bows at our house.

You'd think I had a dozen daughters, but I have only two.

My girls have never gone a day in their lives without a bow in their hair (you think I'm kidding, but no).

This is only about 1/3 of our collection.

So when I found this one still in its original packaging, I tried to strike a bargain with the seller. I offered $1.50, and she accepted!

It never hurts to try.

All in all, I'd say it was a very successful start to Garage Sale Season for me.

Here are some tips for you mommies out there:

You can go garage saling (I'm declaring that a real word) with your kids.

Pack a lot of different kinds of snacks and some toys you wouldn't usually have in the car. I like giving them new stickers or notebooks with fun pencils that will keep them happy. And don't forget the sippy cups.

I wait for a parking space that is right by where I'll be browsing, and I leave my kids in the car with the windows down so I can hear them and they can hear me. If I can't get a parking space right next to the driveway, then I wait for one. It's SO worth it to not have to get your kids out of the car and battle with them while you're looking for treasures. Also...if the sale goes deep into the garage and I'm forced to go inside where I can't be near or see my kids, I don't go in. No treasures are worth risking my family's safety.

I also involve my kids when I'm looking for sales. They have competitions to see who can find the signs, and they love helping me look for the arrows to tell me where to go (hopefully they won't take you to an octopus). The first one to actually spot the sale is the big winner! Sounds lame, but it works for us.

The more fun you can make the whole adventure, the longer you can be out treasure hunting on Friday and Saturday mornings!

If you have any more tips, please let me know in the comments.

Have fun out there!

--Tammy

{Happy Mother's Day}

2011-05-08T06:00:00.001-06:00

{Make Your Own TWIX}

2011-05-04T06:00:00.003-06:00

I have always loved me a TWIX bar.

I may or may not have eaten one every day for lunch in 7th grade.

So...when I came upon a few different recipes for homemade TWIX bars I knew I had to try them out! I have since made these many times and have tweaked the recipe to my liking.

They really do taste like the real thing...maybe possibly even a little better!

{TWIX BARS}

48 Club Crackers (a few more than one sleeve)

1 c. graham cracker crumbs (one sleeve)

1/3 c. sugar

3/4 c. brown sugar

1/3 c. milk

1/2 c. butter

Topping*:

1 1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 1/2 c. vanilla baking chips

* Most recipes call for milk chocolate chips. I have tried milk and semi and I thought both were good....but one day all I had was 1/2 a bag of semi, so I decided to add vanilla chips to them, and it turned out to be the perfect combination for my taste buds! I do it this way every time now.

Place one layer of Club Crackers in a lightly greased 13×9 casserole dish.

Use your food processor or blender to make graham cracker crumbs, and pour into a heavy sauce pan. Combine remaining ingredients into pan and heat over medium heat until it comes to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 5 minutes (continue to stir). It should look (and smell) like caramel.

Carefully pour mixture over crackers.

Immediately place another layer of Club Crackers on top, pushing them down into the caramel mixture gently.

Melt chocolate chips in microwave (on high in 30 ~~minute~~ second increments [thanks to a reader for pointing out that mistake!], stirring between each), and pour on top of crackers.

Refrigerate until cool, and then cut and serve.

Enjoy!

--Tammy

(BLOSSOMS FRAME + printable for Mother's Day}

2011-05-02T15:18:00.001-06:00

Looking for a quick and easy Mother's Day gift?

Well, look no further...

I found this unfinished frame at Michael's for $1.00.

I spray painted it glossy black, hot glued a few simple rosette blossoms made from fabric scraps (see a great tutorial here) and some loose pearls, and inserted a quote that will have meaning to our mom.

One of her favorite songs is "I Often Go Walking," a song we often sang as children at church around Mother's Day. Annie used her mad skillz to turn the last line of the song into art, so I printed it out and framed it. I then used some fabric scraps to hang the frame from.

I think our mom is gonna love it!

(I told her not to read our blog this week, so shhhhh....)

--Tammy

* * * * * * * * *

Here's the quote image if you'd like to print/use it for yourself:

{Annie's ETSY Shop SALE!}

2011-04-28T18:50:00.000-06:00

Or better known as:

"My Husband Lost His Job Over The Easter Holiday Weekend And We Would Really Like To Be Able To Pay Our Bills (and not eat Ramen Noodles everyday) This Month - SALE!"

*sigh*

Sad, but true. It's happened to too many people lately and it's horrible each time, and now it has hit us as well.

But.... there's GOOD NEWS FOR YOU, my friends!

I'm having a FREE SHIPPING SALE in my personal Etsy shop!

And none of the prices were raised to fool you, either. It's a genuine, honest-to-goodness free shipping SALE.

Some prices have even been reduced!
(free shipping is on all U.S. orders, but there is reduced International shipping as well!)

(SugarPlum mini hoop art)

Have you been wondering what to give your mom for Mother's Day? Check out my shop! You may just find an embroidery piece that would be perfect.

(Olive You felt+floss hoop art)

And, if you purchase this week, there's time to ship it to you before Mother's Day! (which is Sunday, May 8th)

(Weed Walker hoop art)

I would also be more than happy to gift wrap your item(s) and ship it wherever you would like it to go! Just let me know in the "notes to seller" section when making your purchase.

Thank you for your support!

-Annie

(Unfortunately, this free shipping sale does not include items in our PeppermintPlum Etsy shop at this time. Only my personal crafty shop JammerSage)

{White Pitchers with Flowers}

2011-04-26T14:31:00.001-06:00

I've been noticing a trend with myself lately...

whenever I see flowers, or branches, or berries, or grasses in white pitchers I swoon.

There's something so classic, alive, so country-fresh about them that I can't help but love.

I've been stockpiling pictures (thanks Pinterest!) that I've come across lately, so I thought I'd share a few of my favorites:

Little Big Nest

madiganmade

my home ideas

(photo credit unknown)

Sherri's Jubilee

...and the one that probably started my obsession:

Centsational Girl

Aren't those all fabulous?!

I have always loved white pitchers and creamers, and I already have a small collection of them.

...but, unfortunately, I also have severe allergies to pollen,

so I must settle for fake stuff in mine.

Okay, so maybe that last one isn't a pitcher.....or a creamer.

Yes, folks...it's a gravy boat.

So I guess I {heart} gravy boats with flowers in them, too.

-Tammy

{Happy Easter}

2011-04-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

{Spring Fever}

2011-04-22T10:27:00.000-06:00

Hey, everyone!

Tammy is sharing a few "Shop Your Own House" ideas over at Creation Corner today...

Be sure to check it out!

Tasha's got a great blog with some really cool guests and giveaways this week. You wont want to miss it!

{the GRASS grows GREENER still}

2011-04-20T07:00:00.001-06:00

Last week we got to share this tutorial and free printable with the lovely readers at Mine For The Making (thanks Kara!) and now we would like to share it with you!

This free printable was created for you using part of a song called

"Give, Said The Little Stream"

which we learned when we were children in our church Primary class.

It's a reminder to us all that no matter how small we may think we are as individuals, we can still make a big impact and have a positive influence on everything and everyone around us.

"I'm small, I know, but wherever I go... the grass grows greener still."

You may have learned it as the "fields grow greener" instead of grass, but this is how we learned it and how it will always be in our minds.

Here is how we decided to turn this fabulous quote into a piece of framed art!

You can print your quote as large or as small as you would like.

Ours is printed on a regular-sized piece of cardstock and will fit perfectly in this 11x14 frame with an 8x10 opening.

Now it's time to add the grass!

We used a strip of moss from a "moss roll" that we found at JoAnn's last year.

The moss is a pretty, green color and makes for great grass. Any type of green moss you find will work perfectly.

Using your hot-glue gun, glue the moss to the bottom of the frame.

We removed the glass from the frame so the moss is hot-glued right onto the mat.

Be sure to use smaller pieces of moss to fill in any thin spots so the white doesn't show through too much. We want a nice, thick strip of grass!

Now it's time to embellish!

We made some fabric rosettes out of color-coordinating fabric strips.

There are so many awesome fabric rosette tutorials on the web right now and they are super-simple to make!

Just glue on your added bits of cuteness and it's ready to hang!

A perfect spot of SPRING to be admired all year long.

**********

We made this version in pink, aqua, greens and purple:

As well as this version in yellow, blue, greens and orange:

If you want to print your quote the same size as ours, here's a few tips on how to get it centered and printed from your Paint program:

First, right-click on the quote image above that you want and save it to your desktop.

Then, right-click on your saved image and open it in the Paint program.

Next, you will need to setup the page so it prints just right.

Go up to the top and select FILE, then down to Page Setup and you will see this screen:

Change the Orientation to Portrait.

Remove any check-marks in the Centering section.

Change the margins to show

Left: 1 Right: 1

Top: 0.5 Bottom 0.5

Then change the Scaling to Fit To: 1 by 1 page

The gray box on the left will show you how your image will print.

This way, you will have enough space around the quote to place it directly behind the picture frame mat and have enough open space at the bottom to add the grass and embellishments.

Then hit OK to save the changes and print it out!

We hope you enjoy this free printable and have a great time making your own!

-Annie + Tammy

{sewn BUNNY candy pouch}

2011-04-18T11:53:00.001-06:00

I decided to use my original sewn paper candy pouch tutorial to make something just as cute (if not cuter) for Easter!

This really is such a simple way to make a BIG statement.

Who wouldn't love to tear right into this {chocolate} bunny to get to the treats hidden inside?

I used brown craft paper here and inked it up with distressing ink to make it look more chocolatey. The googly eyes definitely add an element of cuteness, don't you think?

I just drew this bunny free-hand, but I'm sure you could find any shape you want to use to copy or trace for your candy pouch. An egg-shaped pouch would be cute, too!

This little guy is about 9 inches tall and is filled with jelly beans.

Perhaps the Easter Bunny reads this blog and will decide to leave a few sewn candy pouches in YOUR Easter baskets this year!

* * * * *

You can find my original tutorial on how to make the candy pouches here:

-Annie

*click HERE to see the awesome linky parties we participate in!*

{A Day of Giveaways!}

2011-04-16T11:11:00.003-06:00

We're excited to be participating in
Mine for the Making's

Spring Fling Giveaway!

Hop on over to check it out!

Be sure to enter all the fun giveaways…

You could even win one of these
Sweet Strawberry Garlands

-Annie and Tammy

{SPRING FLING - Feature}

2011-04-14T16:29:00.000-06:00

Today, we have the honor of being a guest host at
Mine For The Making!

A big thank you to Kara for allowing us to play at her "house" today! :)

Here's a sneaky-peeky of what we made:

Oooh, exciting!

Click HERE to find the full tutorial and to get the free printable.

-Enjoy

{PINWHEEL garland - Tutorial}

2011-04-11T16:24:00.005-06:00

What do you think of when you see pinwheels?

I think of Spring and Summer.

Warm, windy days.

Backyard BBQ's....Lounging and laughing.

Basically.... FUN!

I wanted to share with you this simple tutorial on how to make your own

PINWHEEL GARLAND!

It would be such a cute addition to your outdoor garden party, baby shower, bridal shower, even as wedding decorations in matching wedding colors... perfect!
Here's what you need to get started:

The next steps are pretty much explained in the following photos:

I punched small holes in 2 of the corner points on each pinwheel and strung them onto a length of jute rope:

That's all there is to it!

My home decorations don't exactly mesh with Springy colors, but I'm loving the pinwheel garland just the same.

I hope you enjoy making your own

PINWHEEL GARLAND!

Feel free to link up a photo in the comments if you make one.

I definitely want to see it!

-Annie

Click HERE to see all of the lovely linky parties we participate in!

{Paper Easter Basket - by Martha}

2011-04-09T15:14:00.000-06:00

How sweet and simple is this little paper Easter basket?

It would make the cutest table decoration or place setting at your Easter table, or for a Spring brunch!

The best part... it's 2 steps:

- Grab a bag

- Cut the bag

Seriously.

You can get the full instructions here.

{My Mantel is Having an Identity Crisis}

2011-04-06T07:00:00.002-06:00

Do you remember a few weeks ago when I created these inexpensive arrangements for my mantel?

And remember how I loved the simplicity of my mantel's new look?

Well, that was true...I did love it...
...until I saw
this post from Centsational Girl!

Can you believe how beautiful her mantel display is?

I spent about 5 minutes staring at it and becoming green with envy (that mirror!) until I realized that I can re-create my own version with a few things I already had...and a can of trusty white spray paint.

I "shopped my house" and came up with a few items that I thought would work, patiently waited for a non-windy day to spray paint, and then tried to set it all up in a similar way.

Of course it's not nearly as perfect as CG's (that mirror!), but I am so happy with how it ended up, and the best part is....

I didn't spend any money!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Oh, and why, YES! I do plan on doing something about that dirty brick fireplace and ugly shiny brass on the wood stove. Stay tuned...

Don't worry, my Dollar Tree Mantel Vases are happy in their new home...the front room.

Projects like this are a great reminder to me that I can have beautiful spaces that I love without spending a lot of money!

--Tammy

*Please click HERE to see the lovely linky parties we participate in!*

and this fun event is going on this week, too:

{SWEET BERRIES - For Sale!}

2011-04-02T07:00:00.002-06:00

Remember the STRAWBERRY GARLAND I vaguely mentioned in my wooden HOME decor post?

Well, here it is!

All finished and gussied up and ready to come live with you!

There are actually 3 STRAWBERRY GARLANDS available for purchase in the

PEPPERMINT PLUM etsy shop

right now!

Perfectly SWEET.

Perfectly SUMMER.

Perfectly YOURS.

Each STRAWBERRY GARLAND includes 7 individually sewn and stuffed fabric strawberries strung on cotton rope and is presented in its own

Kerr {MASON} Jar

with a fabric pincushion top!

I currently have my garland hanging below my wooden HOME blocks:

You can display yours in any way you like!

All of the STRAWBERRIES can be removed from the rope to be used individually as play food or for any decor need you see fit.

I had such a fun time making these and I am super excited that they are now available in THE SHOP!

Enjoy!

-Annie

{Molasses Gingersnaps}

2011-04-01T07:00:00.001-06:00

Today I'm going to share my sister-in-law's recipe for Molasses Gingersnap Cookies. They are soft and chewy and stay that way for a couple days, and they freeze well.

If you've never had a homemade gingersnap, you are in for a real treat! ...and even if you have, you are still in for a treat, believe me...because these things are GOOD.

{Soft Molasses Gingersnaps}

3/4 cup margarine or butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1 egg

2 1/4 cup flour

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and molasses. Add spices then flour. Roll into balls and roll into sugar. Bake at 350 for about 9 minutes.

When they start to crackle on top, they're done!

--Tammy

*Click HERE to see the lovely linky parties we participate in!*

{5 Dollar Berry Wreath}

2011-03-30T07:00:00.001-06:00

I made this wreath last SPRING and just pulled it out to hang up again this year.

It was originally made for a $5 dollar blog challenge so I decided to get all of my supplies at Dollar Tree.

Since Dollar Tree is currently selling these little berry bundles again, I thought I'd show you the tutorial so you can make one for yourself!

These tutorial pictures are fairly self-explanatory:

Buy and gather your supplies.

You will also need scissors and your trusty hot-glue gun.

then

Take caution, as the hot-glue can and will easily seep through the open berry spaces and will burn you. I promise.

Also, I do NOT recommend making this wreath anywhere around small children!

The foam berry balls come off quite easily and roll right onto the ground.

They look like delicious candies.

I had to stop myself from eating them.....

just kidding

But, please... be super-duper careful!

To finish it off, tie a ribbon around the top and hang it up!

There are other colors of berries as well: blue, pink, purple... you could make any color combo you like, or keep it all one color.

It would also be cute as a table centerpiece with candles or a mossy nest and eggs placed in the center, perfect for Easter!

-Annie

*Click HERE to see the lovely linky parties we participate in!*

{Kitchen Art}

2011-03-29T07:00:00.000-06:00

When I posted pictures of my newly painted kitchen, one of our lovely readers made a comment about hanging some framed prints on the beadboard that hangs behind the cabinets.

I loved the idea (thanks Tanya!) and immediately started brainstorming about what kind of prints I would want there.

Etsy to the rescue!

I found these really great prints from a seller named Oodles Of Color. Check out her shop...she's got some cute stuff.

I matted the prints in white and framed them in black (also suggested by Tanya).

I really love the way they look in my "new" kitchen!

--Tammy