Looking for a homemade quicky?

Here's another gift in a bottle that's easy to make and fun to received. I made a bunch; gave most of them away, but not all. I just used the last of my stash, and I'll me making some up, soon.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, in a Jar

Ingredients:
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• 1 1/2 cups quick or old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Directions:
COMBINE flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in small bowl. Place flour mixture in 1-quart jar. Layer remaining ingredients in order listed above, pressing firmly after each layer. Seal with lid and decorate with fabric and ribbon.

RECIPE TO ATTACH:
Beat 1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter or margarine, 1 large egg and 1/2-teaspoon vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until blended. Add cookie mix; mix well, breaking up any clumps. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake in preheated 375° F. oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks. Makes about 2 dozen cookies or 18 large ones.

Looking for a homemade quickie

I gave this mix as part of my home-made Christmas gifts, in the past.  Today, I gave a jar of the mix to one of my co-workers who had told me she loves hot cocoa.  It's super easy, and makes a nice presentation.  

Hot Chocolate Mix

• 5 ½ cups dry non-fat milk powder
• 2 ½ cups pre-sweetened cocoa powder
• ¾ cup powdered non-dairy creamer

Combine all ingredients; mix thoroughly. Store in an airtight
container.

For each serving, combine 1/3 cup of mix with 1 cup boiling
water. Stir to dissolve mixture. ENJOY!

For gifts, pour into pint or quart sized canning jars, attach a tag with the directions, and you're good to go.  After all, who doesn't like hot cocoa? 

Hot Cocoa Mix

Put 1/2 cup cocoa mix in a mug
Stir in 1 cup of boiling water
Top with Cool Whip or whipping
Cream.

Greeting Card Box

I'm giving some gift cards for Christmas this year, and wanted to make the presentation a little more special than the standard foler. I decided to make my own boxes from greeting cards. I found some instructions on line, but they made no, or poor sense, so I just made my own.

Greeting Card Box

Here are my easy directions:

• Determine the size you want the inside of your box to be, minimum for a gift card should be 2 ½ x 3 ¾.

• Add 2 inches to each dimension, minimum = 4 ½ x 5 ¾. Consider the design of the card you’re using and make any adjustment. The card I used worked best if I increased the dimensions to 4 ¾ x 6 ½.

• Cut card along fold.

• Cut top and bottom of card to size; center your design for top, and greeting for bottom, if possible.

• Trim 1/8 inch from one side and one end of box bottom.

• Use a ruler to draw pencil (fold) lines 1 inch from all the edges – for the box top, draw on the back, for the box bottom draw on the greeting side.

• Fold up the sides, along pencil lines.

• Fold up the ends, along pencil lines.

• Cut along both pencil lines, on the ends, just to the fold mark.

• Put sides and ends into position, tucking side flaps behind ends, dap a spot of glue, attach to end side; hold until dry with paper clip.

I hope this made sense to you.

Round Robin Challenge: I Made That

This is our challenge from Jennifer Robin of Robin's Woods. This is what she wants:

"I Made That - Something you made, be it food, craft, child, a mess, anything (besides the picture itself!)"

We've all got something we've made! Show and tell time. What have you made? Let's see it, share it and photograph it!

My most recent passion has been making necklaces. I work two ways. I either get an idea, then find the components to make it happen; or I find a component I like and decide how to incorparate it into something I'll love. I don't sell my necklaces, I wear them or give them as gifts. So here's a peek at a small part of my inventory.

Another item I made, over 44 years ago, was my wedding gown. I've been sewing since I was 8, and it was logical that I make the dress for my wedding. Later when my daughters were teenagers, I made all their prom and formal dresses, but when it came time for their weddings, they didn't want to wear mine, or have me make theirs. I was surprised, but happy. Their weddings were wonderful.

Now visit all the Robins, and see what they've made.

Tricia L Jameson

After reading about The Mother's Day project, I decided this was something I wanted to do. It was simple to get involved thanks to Anne at ThreadingWater - knitting and politics, together at last, blog. The soldier assigned to me is Tricia L. Jameson.

Staff Sgt. Tricia L. Jameson, 34, was killed near Trebil, Iraq, when a roadside bomb exploded near her Hum-Vee ambulance. She is survived by her mother, Patricia Marsh of Omaha.

Tricia was a member of the 313th Medical Company (Ground Ambulance) of Lincoln, Neb. She was a 1989 graduate of Millard South High School and attended Central Community College at Columbus from 1990-91.

She was mobilized to duty approximately a month ago. Prior to her deployment, Tricia was employed full-time by the Nebraska National Guard as a health care specialist at the Nebraska National Guard air base clinic in Lincoln.

According to unit officials, Jameson was the vehicle commander of an M997 Ambulance that was supporting a convoy mission from Camp Korean Village to the Treybul Border Crossing on the Iraqi – Jordan border. During the mission, they encountered a separate convoy of U.S. Marines that had been attacked with an Improvised Explosive Device leaving several wounded.
Jameson and her Ambulance driver were called forward to aid the wounded Marines. As Jameson’s Ambulance approached, a secondary Improvised Explosive Device detonated, killing Jameson, severely wounding the driver, and destroying the ambulance.

"Staff Sgt. Jameson’s mission was to save lives," said Maj. Gen. Roger Lempke . "Unfortunately, we’re up against an enemy that doesn’t distinguish between humanitarian support and combatants."

This is a posting from one of her cousins:

April 28, 2006

- Tricia, I miss you dearly and more every day. I think about you all the time and there is never ever a moment you are not on my mind. I love you, Imiss you and so does all our family. We miss you Trish, Keri

This is what one of her fellow soldiers said about her:

November 15, 2007


- To one hell of a soldier and person. Always caring about others more than herself. She set the example for others to follow and gave 100% in all she did. She was always dependable and there for you when you needed her, just a great person to work with. When our youngest son was born, she was the only person that showed up at the hospital from our section. She brought a stuffed animal along for our oldest boy who was four at the time so he didn't feel left out. Thats the kind of person she was. We miss her dearly! SFC Richard Wortman, USA-RET

I got my swatch in the mail Thursday afternoon, I felt a sense of urgency, and worked on it on Friday and Saturday. I'll get it in the mail to Anne on today. This is a close-up of my embroidery.

Karma

Do you knit or crochet? Are you interested in racking up some karma? Will you make a scarf for a stranger and donate it? That would be great! A really cool kid, Ellen, contacted West Coast Crafty about her project. This is her first charity project. Help if you can.

Mail or bring your finished scarf to:

Imagiknit 3897 18th St (at Sanchez)

Greenwich Yarn 2073 Greenwich St (at Webster)

Atelier Yarns 1945 Divisadero St (between Pine and California)

Mendels/Far-Out Fabrics 1556 Haight St (between Clayton and Ashbury)

The Gables 5636 Geary Blvd (at 21st Ave)(415) 751-8152

Wishbone 601 Irving St (at 7th Ave)