More paper mache crafting.......

     I cannot seem to get enough of the cute paper mache items available at JoAnn Fabric and Crafts.  I had a lot of fun designing these boxes.  I had to come up with a new idea for the labels because the first ones I created looked really stupid!  I must be developing some patience however because I just took in really deep breaths and didn't loose it.  Not even once.

     Recently I was browsing through a Better Homes and Garden magazine.  It was the November 2013 issue.  One of their articles was showing cute ways to make containers for the holdidays.  I loved the way they had used washi tape on the rim of the containers.  I went to my nearest JoAnn fabric and craft store to pick up some paper mache containers and see what I could come up with.  I fell in love with the cute black and pink zebra stripe duct tape.  It was my inspiration for this project.

     These are the supplies I used.  Paper mache round container, wooden knobs, Delta paint in black and pop pink, Martha Stewart paint in party streamer pink, tacky glue, decorative duct tape and Krylon crystal clear gloss.
     Step one:    I glued my little knob to the top of the canister lid with tacky glue.
     Step two:    I painted the lid and container black.
     Step three:  I painted the little nob party streamer pink.
     Step four:   I wrapped the duct tape around the lid.
     Step five:    I had some paper labels that were tan.  I painted them pop pink and I outlined the edges with the party streamer pink paint.
     Step six:     I stamped on the words this and that.
     Step seven: I used spray adhesive and sprayed it on my labels and attached them to the container.
     Step eight:  I took them outside and gave them a nice shot of crystal clear krylon to give them the shine they needed.
    Step nine:   Called my cute daughter Kim to give me the reassurance I needed.  She tells the truth (lol)
    Step ten:    Called it a wrap and went to bed.  Sleep dreaming about my next project!

Colonel Jay Hess.........the leaf with a vision

     Originally I was going to make this post to show how beautiful Springtime in Utah is.  One of my favorite homes to drive by in the Spring is in Farmington.  I make several back road trips each Spring to see the tulips in full bloom.  I have often wondered who had the faith and the vision to plant the tulip bulbs that so many people get to enjoy.

     Faith is described in the dictionary as having a strong or unshakeable belief in something, especially without proof or evidence.  I believe that when you plant a tulip bulb six to eight inches in the ground, you have the faith that come Springtime it will grow into a beautiful flower and bloom.
     I also believe that the person who planted these bulbs was a visionary.  A visionary is one who can envision the future.  Being visionary is a gift given by our Heavenly Father to some and a strength given to or developed by others.
     Soon after I posted this picture as my background for my face book page my friend Jamie sent me a link sharing a story about the man who planted the tulips.  I quickly read the story and studied the picture she also sent and I told her that I know who Jay Hess is.  Right then and there I decided it was time to go and thank him for the beautiful tulips he planted.  Here is what happened next:

     I walked up to his door and knocked.  When he answered I said, " I wanted to come and tell you thank you for planting the beautiful tulips.  I know who you are and I know you are an American hero."  I remember when you were held captive and when you were released and when you came home. "  I was wondering if you would share your story with me?"  Isn't that what any sane person would do? (lol)  "I also think it would be nice to have you stand in front of the tulips and if it is o.k. I kind of, sort of, write a blog and I would like to feature you."  Smile!
     I asked him if he planted the tulips to give him solace from his time he spent as a POW in the Viet Nam war.  He answered kindly " on our way home from Viet Nam we had to spend some time in Germany.  While we were there I would notice people coming home from their holidays in Holland.  They had tulips draped over their cars.  I thought to myself I would like to go to Holland and see that for myself some day."  He did go to Holland and decided to bring a little bit of their beauty home with him. 
     Being a kind man he invited me into his home and showed me the pictures in his immaculate office.

  

     The one on the left is the jet he was flying.  It is an F-105.  They don't make them like this anymore.  The one to the right is a drawing of Colonel Hess when he was a pow.  He is wearing the pow issued clothing. In the background of the picture are lots of names of the men who were also held captive with him.  The one below him is when he was reunited with his daughter for the first time in six years.  A photographer captured the picture and it was nominated for the Pulitzer prize.  It has been in the photographers possession until five years ago.  At the time of the photographers death, his daughter contacted Colonel Hess and asked him if he would like to have the picture.  It is priceless!
    

     All of his medals are displayed in this shadow box.  My friend Debbie said that I am awe inspiring.  No Debbie, the man who earned these medals is awe inspiring!
     The picture to the right of the medals is an F-16.  Colonel Hess had always wanted to go up in one of these.  He kept asking the people at Hill Air Force base if he could take a ride.  Their answer was always no.  Dick Norse who was an anchorman with KSL news was doing a story about the F-16 and as part of the story they were going to let Dick go for a ride.  Colonel Hess was surprised with a call saying they would fly two that day and that he could go up in the second jet.  He told me that it was incredible.  He said the g forces were so strong he thought every rib in his rib cage would break.  I think it is the least the Air Force could do for him.
     The picture to the left of the medals is a picture of Colonel Hess in a replica of the cell he was in for five and a half years.  The cell is on display at Hill Air Force base if you want to see it.  There are four bunks built in that tiny space.  Colonel Hess said they actually made it a little wider than it really was.  He said you had to walk sideways to fit into the little space.  He was in this cell for two years with three other men.  He never saw another person besides his guard in that entire time.
     At this point in the interview I told him he is a hero.  This is when he told me I was crazy.  I said " then let's put it this way, YOU have done something that few of  US will ever experience in our lifetime.
     The definition of a hero is this: a man (or woman) of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.  Colonel Hess excuse me for being so bold, but, you sir are a hero.
     Last year I taught a lesson in Relief Society.  I had completely forgotten that I used a thought from Colonel Hess from when he was a POW.  He went for three years without being able to communicate with his family.  His family did not know if he was alive or dead.  He was without paper and pencil for this entire time.  When he had the opportunity to send his family a message it had to be thirty five words or less.  This is what he sent home:  "Dearest Marjorie, Cameron, Heather, Warren, Holly, Heidi.  Above all I seek for eternal life with all of you.  These are important; temple marriage, mission,college.  Press on....set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year." Little did I know, less than a year later I would personally meet the man who wrote those words to his family all those years ago.
     I would like to end this post by telling you from his story as I read it in a book titled POW From the Shadow of Death what Colonel Hess grasped a hold of from the moment he was captured.  He said his faith in eternal life is what got him through. " I can stand the loss of anything, but it would really be a tragic loss to be without the possibility of eternal life.  That is the greatest gift."  On returning home he gave each one of his family members a pencil with the letters 'EL" engraven on it.  Quoting him again he said " If my children can appreciate being without means of writing things down, then maybe it will help them understand the significance of the loss of eternal life.
     When I told Colonel Hess that our service men and women and the sacrifice they made for their country should never be forgotten he gave me the book.  I strongly believe this.  When you wake up tomorrow and the next day and the next I want you to remember the last thing Colonel Hess shared with me.  It is the title of another book that was written to tell the stories of the POW men who were held for long amounts of time and who suffered tremendously.  It is called Freedom is for Those Willing to Defend It.  I hope when the time comes for me to stand up and defend something I will display the same kind of faith, courage and bravery Colonel Hess and so many others have shown to me through their service in our military.
     Thank you for planting the bulbs that would grow and bloom and would lead me to your doorstep.


 

Paper mache crafting

     Recently I purchased some paper mache bags from JoAnn Crafts.  I wanted to make a cute treat basket for Mother's Day.

     I painted them in Delta paint.  The blue is Tahiti blue and the pink is Lisa pink.  Two of my favorite all time colors.  Before I painted them they looked like this:

     It was a little bit difficult to get full coverage with the delta paint.  I would have thought paper mache wold paint well.  Each bag needed three coats of paint.  I probably used four coats on the Lisa pink bags.  I might try spray painting them in the future.
     I also bought my charms at JoAnn Craft.  They were in the dollar bin section.  I wish I would have bought more.  They are super cute.  I looked on the package and Loew Cornell is the manufacturer so you might be able to order directly from their web-site.  I attached them with twine that I bought from pick your plum.com.
     I think they turned out pretty darn cute.

Our yummy Easter dessert....Philadelphia Double-Lemon Cheesecake Bars

     I saw the recipe for these in my Family Circle magazine for the month of April 2014 and I had to try them.  Sometimes when I have tried recipes in magazines they aren't very tasty, but these were worth every block of cream cheese and sugar.

2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs                                                      

3 Tbsp. butter, melted                                                            

4 pkg. (8 oz. each )  Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1 3/4 cups sugar, divided
3 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. lemon zest
1/3 cup lemon juice, divided
1/2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs, 1 separated
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 cup water
HEAT oven to 325 degrees and line a 13x9-inch pan with foil  Mix wafer crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of pan.  Bake 10 minutes.
BEAT cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, flour. lemon zest, 2 Tbsp. lemon juice and vanilla with mixer until blended.
ADD 1 egg white and remaining 3 whole eggs, beating after each just until blended.  ( Reserve yolk for later use. )
POUR batter over crust.  Bake 40 minutes or until center is almost set.  Cool 1 hour.  Refrigerate 4 hours.
MIX cornstarch and remaining sugar in saucepan; gradually stir in water and remaining lemon juice.  Bring just to boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir until clear and thickened.  Lightly beat reserved egg yolk until blended;  stir in 2 Tbsp. hot cornstarch mixture.  Return to remaining cornstarch mixture in saucepan: cook and stir 1 min. or until thickened.  Cool.
SPOON glaze over cheesecake.  Refrigerate 1 hour.  Use foil handles to remove cheesecake from pan before cutting to serve.
*  Make sure you read through the recipe because you don't use all of the sugar or the eggs at one time.

More then one use for Easter egg dye.........

     Recently I watched a program called Studio 5.  It is an hour long program produced in Salt Lake City, Utah.  I don't watch it on a daily basis but every time I have watched it I have learned something new.  The guests are always very creative, knowledgeable, or entertaining.  I especially like the crafting and the cooking segments that are featured on the program.
     Last week I learned some new and fun uses for Easter egg dye.  Although Easter is over the dye can be used for a lot of different crafting projects.  Now would be the perfect time to stock up on dye because in most stores it is discounted by 50 per cent or more the day after Easter.
     The first project I made was this cute Easter candy container.  I had saved my egg cartons the last few months for this specific project, however, it would not have been as cute before I watched Studio 5.
    

     I made my egg dye following the package directions.

     When the dye was completely dissolved in the water and the vinegar I poured it into a spray bottle.

     For the above project I spritzed it on using my spray bottle.  I tried brushing it on at first with a sponge brush but I wasn't happy with the results.  It was taking longer then I wanted it to and it didn't seem to have the coverage I wanted.  Using the spray bottle worked a lot better.

     Following the techniques I saw on Studio 5 I brushed some teal blue dye on a piece of wood.  I loved the way the dye absorbed into the wood right away.  It works the same way wood stain does.  It soaks the color right into the wood.  The only difference is I didn't have to wipe any excess dye off the wood.  I brushed it on several times to give it the desired color I wanted.  This picture doesn't quite do it justice.
     The other technique I used was on paper.  I also spritzed it on.  It turned out really well.  I just need to decorate the card now.  The other thing you can do is use the dye on fabric.  I haven't tried this out yet.  As soon as I do, I, will post the projects.
     The best thing about using the Easter egg dye is that it is non-toxic so you can use it on containers that will hold food or candy.
     So, my advice to you would be to run to your nearest store before all the dye is snatched up.  You don't want to wait til next Spring to get a little more creative!

Frosting used for bunny booboo

1 box (1 lb.)  confectioners' sugar

3 tbsp. meringue powder

6 tbsp. water

     Combine confectioners' sugar, meringue powder and the water in a large bowl.  Beat with mixer on low for 30 seconds, then on high for 4 minutes.  Divide into as many smaller bowls as you need.  This will be determined by how many different colors you are using.

     This is a stiffer frosting than you would use for frosting a cake, cookies or cupcakes.  It is used for decorating purposes.  It will dry out so cover up the bowls when you are done decorating for later use.

     Smile, you are on candid camera!

Bunny booboo is almost ready to make his Easter Debut......Are you ready?

     Several years ago, when I was out in the work force, a woman used to make these cute little Easter bunnies.  She would take orders for them and sold a lot of them.  I decided to try my hand and see if I could recreate these little bunny booboos.  The best thing about them.  There is no baking involved!

     The following are the supplies needed:

     Chenille pipe cleaners ( pink and white )  I bought mine at JoAnn Crafts
     Little Debbie cocoa cremes
     Mini chocolate chips or something similar for the eyes
     Powdered sugar
     Red food color
     Wilton decorating bags
      Round decorating tip  ( extra small and small )

     The first thing you want to do after making your frosting is to pipe on a little heart shaped nose.  Just make two little dots with the frosting and then drag your tip down to make the nose.  Next, you will want to use a bag with plain white frosting and pipe on a nose, whiskers and eyes.  I cut off the pointy end of the chocolate chip and stuck the flat side into the frosting.  The last thing to do is to take your chenille stems and cut them in half.  Lay a pink chenille stem inside the white chenille stem and fold them together.  You will also want to fluff out the pink chenille stem a little so it fills in the white area.  Next twist the two chenille stems together and stick them into the top of the cocoa creme to make bunny booboos ears.  Easy peasy!

On the lighter side of things...........

Diesel:  the boy who loves lip gloss 

     I do not know what I would do without this little guy in my life.

     Whenever he is around joy abounds.  He is the only grandson among four granddaughters.  Maybe this explains his love of lip gloss and of getting grandma ready for the day.

     He is always so proud of the way he does my hair and make-up.  What's a girl to do but to roll with it.   

     I have spent more money on lip gloss and lip color for this little guy of mine then I want to admit.  How can I resist that adorable smile and those gorgeous blue eyes.  

     Recently my son-in-law and daughter decided it was time to break Diesel of his bad habits so they took him on a jeeping adventure to Moab.  After three days of going cold turkey they were certain his days of rolling on the gloss and smacking his lips together were over.  The only set-back was they forgot to tell me he was over his addiction.  The first thing Diesel asked me when they came home from the trip was "grammie you have any gloss for me?"  

     Needless to say, from the evidence on my super-hyped up shiny lips, I had gloss for Diesel.  Sorry Kim and Chance there's always tomorrow!

My Testimonial

     At times I will post about leaves on my tree who have passed away.  Their physical body has expired, however, it is my true belief that their spirit continues to live.
     Our Father in Heaven had a plan for each one of us.  We lived with him in the pre-mortal existence.  We are seperated from Him for a short period of time while we live here on Earth.  When we die we will once again live with Him.  We will also be among our friends and families who have preceded us in death.
     As I write about some of my loved ones who have all ready passed from their mortal existence I will express my sadness at the time of their departure.  I have a true belief that I will see them again.  This life is only a mere part of our existence.
     The belief I have is what gets me through day to day.  It gives me hope.  Without hope life would be meaningless.  It is something we can never give up on.  So with that said, I HOPE who ever may be reading these words, will have a great day today and will know without a doubt, that YOU ARE LOVED!

LeeLee's Likes.........Chippy Peanut Butter Cookies

     Today we had a fun activity in our neighborhood.  We have a cookie social during the warm weather months whenever a month has a fifth Sunday.  We were supposed to get together two weeks ago because March had a fifth Sunday this year.  Being that March in Utah came in like a lion it would make sense that it would go out like a lamb.  However, in Utah you cannot determine the weather by cliches.  March went out like a lion also.  It snowed and snowed and snowed the last Sunday in March so the only thing that went out was the cookie social.
     Today I made Chippy Peanut Butter Cookies for the social.  They are tasty!

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
2 tsps. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup peanut butter chips and 1 cup milk chocolate chips
     In a large bowl, cream butter, peanut butter and sugars.
     Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beat in vanilla.  Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture.  Stir in chips.
     Drop by rounded tablespoons full onto ungreased baking sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until barely browned around edges.  Makes 4 dozen
     I started making these cookies several years ago.  The recipe came from The Taste of Home magazine.  The original recipe called for a package of swirled milk chocolate and peanut butter chips.  I believe Nestles quit making these a couple of years ago.  I haven't been able to find them anymore but mixing the two different chips works dandy.

We are all leafs on one big family tree....

     One of the reasons I am writing a blog is so I can leaf (haha) behind a written history of my every day adventures to my posterity. Aka my children and their children etc.....  Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints history is important to me. Especially family history.
     A lot of people would consider me shy.  Anyway, I have had people describe me as being shy.  Little do people know I had an experience for three years that kind of brought me out of my shell.  I was the Relief Society President in my ward.  The Relief Society is a woman's organization within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  It was established to do exactly what it says in it's name to give Relief.  There are many ways to do this, but, in order to do it correctly you need to know what kind of relief a person needs.  In order to know what kind of relief a person needs you need to know the person.  In order to know the person you need to knock on doors.  Lots of doors.  That's what I did for three years and after knocking on lots of doors and meeting lots of people I discovered I wasn't as shy as people think I am.
     I also found out that I love people and I love peoples families.  I found out that we are all kind of intertwined together.  We were all put on this Earth at the same time to learn from one another and to help each other get through good times and difficult times.
     The other day I wrote a post about smiling at people.  Today I am going to post what happens when you do more than smile at people.  Three experiences I have had this week:
     The first experience I had was Sunday night.  I was out on a walk when I noticed a man on the opposite side of the road.  For some unknown reason instead of just waving to him I waved and blurted out good day mate!  I think it took him by surprise as much as it did me because he looked at me and than looked at me again and than just kept on walking.
     The second experience was on a walk tonight.  I walked by a house where two children were sitting at a piano.  I don't always look in peoples windows but I just rounded the corner and there they were.  They were looking at me too so I did what any normal person would do and gave them my biggest wave.  They waved right on back.
     The third and best experience was with the three thirteen year old boys and their boy scout leader.  I was walking on the south side of the street and the boys were on the north side of the street.  They had a stack of plastic glasses and were pouring each other drinks right there in the street.  Mind you I had never seen these boys but I said " do you have enough for me to have a drink "  They said " sure, come and get one."  I went right over and my choices were apple juice or pepsi.  I told them I would have apple juice since I was out trying to be healthy.  They poured me a cupful and then their boy scout leader asked me if I would care for a doughnut or a cookie.  On second thought he acknowledged that I was out trying to be healthy so I would probably pass.
     I did pass on the cookies but not before I asked them what they were doing.  They told me they had stopped by to do some yard work for a lady who lived in the house.  I jokingly said " do you know the lady or did you randomly pick out the house? "  I thought it was so nice of the boy scouts to be out helping someone in need.
     Here is my empty cup.  If you look closely you can see the remains of apple juice.  I normally have a strict code of moral conduct and would never drink after eight, but, hey this was for the boy scouts.  Cheers!
    

Frosting I used for Becky's Cocoa Drops in case anyone wants to know

Mint layer:
Two and a half cups powdered sugar
Three tablespoons butter, softened, ( yes the real thing )
Three tablespoons whipping cream
Two ounces cream cheese, softened
One fourth teaspoon mint extract
Two drops green food color
     In a large bowl, beat filling ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. 

Chocolate icing:
One third cup whipping cream
One and a third cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
One third cup butter ( yes the real thing )
     In a microwave safe bowl, heat topping ingredients, for one minute.  Stir well.  Heat another one or two minutes, stirring every thirty seconds until butter and chocolate chips are melted. Cool for about ten minutes.
To frost cookies:  First frost the cookie with the mint layer.  Cover to edges of cookie.
                             Second:  spread the chocolate icing over mint layer.  Do not cover entirely so you can still see the mint layer for contrast.

I made chocolate mint brownies from a recipe I saw on the-girl-who-ate-everything.blogspot .com.  I had left over frosting and so I used the frosting for Becky's cocoa drops. I believe I am supposed to give credit to her for the frosting recipe.

LeeLee's Likes.............Becky's Cocoa Drops

     Growing up I had a very special friend.  Her name is Becky.  We had so many fun times together through our elementary, junior high and high school years.
     One of my fondest memories of being at Becky's house is the food I used to eat there.  I was a frequent dinner guest.  Her home was my home away from home.  I think her mom just expected to set an extra dinner plate for me.
     Through the technology of social media I have been able to reconnect with Becky, Debi and their amazing mom Sherry.  You will be reading more stories about them over the course of my blog, however, I want to share this cookie recipe today.  It is one of my favorites.  I can't believe I have had it in my possession for forty years.  Where has the time gone?

In a large bowl combine one cup shortening
                                        two cups sugar
                                        two eggs
Mix these thoroughly.

Stir in one and a half cups sour milk  ( to make sour milk you add one tablespoon vinegar to milk )
                            two teaspoons of vanilla
Next you will sift the following ingredients. ( For those of you who aren't familiar with a sifter it looks like this) :

I don't remember a time when my grandmother didn't use one when she baked.  However, I don't think they are used much these days.  It does make your dry ingredients finer and lighter.
Sift these together:  three and a half cups flour
                                 one teaspoon baking soda
                                 one teaspoon salt
                                 one cup cocoa
Add to wet ingredients and blend well.

Chill dough for one hour.  Bake at 400 degrees for eight to ten minutes.  They will look like this when they are done.

They are a really soft, cake like cookie and oh so yummy!  I had some left over icing from some brownies I made earlier in the week so I made them into mint chocolate cocoa drops.  You can add one cup nuts to the dough.  You could even frost them with chocolate frosting.  However you like your cookies ( plain or frosted ) these are a winner!