Kreativ Blogger Award

Jen over at The Thrifty Home gave me this Kreativ Blogger Award. I only recently discovered her blog, and I absolutely LOVE it. I really relate to her thriftyness, and find her tips extremely helpful - I especially love her links to coupons for free stuff! And we've been looking into getting TiVo thanks to her raving review! Thank you Jen, I'm really honored to receive an award from someone whose blog I admire! :)




The Rules:
1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.

7 things about myself...

1. I have 5 kids. Two biological, one step, and two foster. See my profile for a picture. I stay home with them, and love it.

2. I dabble in many arts, but my dearest love is photography. I got my first camera when I was about 7, and I haven't stopped taking pictures. Right now I'm desperately coveting a digital SLR camera because I'm ready to take it to the next level. I also love to do photo editing on the computer. (see my photo blog here)

3. I love to read. I finished the Twilight series (all 4 books) in a month. I didn't get ANYTHING else done at home, other than necessary things like feeding the kids. I know, you read the whole series in a week, but I have 5 kids, for crying out loud.

4. I've tried to learn to knit, but can't quite get the hang of it. I also love to crochet. I recently got my first sewing machine, and I'm working on an outfit for my daughter. I'm loving it.

5. I once got deported from Germany. It's a long story.

6. I grew up in Minnesota, in a suburb of Minneapolis. It's cold there (in the winter).

7. Fawnda and I have been best friends since 6th grade. We've been through thick and thin together. And even though we live cross-country from each other, we're still hanging out together online. She's awesome, and if I could, I would give HER this award, but since we share this blog... I don't think that would count.

7 Nominees for the Kreativ Blogger Award:

1. Anya at Drobtinice
2. Homemaking Honeys
3. It's A Daisy Day
4. Amy at amy a la mode
5. Jaclyn at Made by Jaclyn
6. Bomobob
7. Kim at The Cupcake Cuppy

These are some great creative art and/or craft and/or just regular blogs which I love. Check them out.

How to make an Easy 4th of July Centerpiece

Here is an easy centerpiece that will look great on your picnic spread for the 4th of July!

Materials:
Large can
Mod Podge
Ribbon (I used red and blue)
4th of July color papers
Scissors
Adhesive
Straws
Sand (I got mine from the beach- they wont miss it!)
1.) Mark on you paper how tall your can is to cut off a piece to wrap around the outside.

2.) Cut the paper and attach to can using strong adhesive (You could use Mod Podge for this too)

3.)Fill your can with sand.

4.)Fold the paper that you are using in half. I also used scraps from last weeks project. We are folding them in Half because we need two of the shape we are cutting out and they need to be the same!

5.) On all your papers draw a star shape. I free-handed mine but your could print off some stars from clip art if you want. I made 5 star shapes, each on was a little different.

6.) Cut out all your stars (you should have 2 of each)

7.) Cut short pieces of ribbon and attach them to the back side of the stars using mod podge.

8.) Mod podge the whole star and place a straw in the middle (I left the bendy part out so that I could bend it in the can once it is finished). Mod Podge the other star that matched and place on top (Being careful to line up the edges. )

9. I mod podged the outside of the stars as well to give them more strength. Arrange the stars in the can and tie a bow around and you are done!

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

How to make Felt Strawberries

We have been working on our Felt Fruit Sorter Project and we did the Banana last week and this week we are doing the Strawberries!

Materials:
red felt
Green felt
scrap paper to make a pattern
scissors
Needle and thread
Stuffing (not pictured)
Sewing machine (optional)


1. Make a pattern. I drew the strawberry patterns but folding a piece of paper in half and cutting out a heart shape (but flat on the top). the tops I just drew a burst shape that was bigger that the top of each heart. You can also use my patterns below. (Just click on each picture and it will bring up another screen with the full size)

2. Cut out your patterns. Fold the RED felt in half and pin the Strawberry patterns to it. you DO NOT need to fold the green felt, Pin the top patterns to it.


3. Cut out the shapes.

4. Add the detail of the seeds to the strawberries. I hand stitched using regular thread that I doubled over. You could use embroidery thread too (I just do not have any and did not want to buy some) I just sew a random pattern trying to keep the seed line about the same size. They do not have to be perfect because in nature the seeds are not all the same size. Also you do not have to go all the way to the sides or the top, since we are going to be sewing the pieces together.

Sew on all 4 pieces of the strawberries.

5. With right sides together sew the two sides of the strawberries together, leaving the top open to stuff.

6. Flip right side out


7. Stuff with stuffing! (I use stuffing from an old pillow.)

8. I hand sew on the top piece. I make big stitches around the top.


When I get around the whole strawberry...

I pull on the thread to gather the top a bit.

I sew around again and pull again... and than I tie it off under the green top to hide the knot.

Now you have some cute strawberries even Strawberries Shortcake would be jealous of!

I am going to make two more (One of each size to add to my four bananas).

Next week are Orange slices... these are a bit tricky- But I think we can do it together!

Have you made any of the felt fruit? I would love to link to your project! Let me know in the comments and leave your blog URL and I will link inside this post!

Featured Friday- Trash to Treasure

Today we are featuring Trash to Treasure. Lorie makes cute purses, jewelry and toys out of recycled items. What a great idea to reuse juice bags... we have those all the time! Check our her cute purses here, here, and here


She also sells them so, look on her side bar!

Check out Trash to Treasure. Make sure the tell Lorie "Hi" from F&J!

Lorie, be sure to take our Featured Button for your blog!


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Do you have blog that you would like to see featured? E-mail us your submissions. Just e-mail us at firefliesandjellybeans@gmail.com!

Jeannine's Homemade Garden Fresh Salsa Recipe

You CAN grow most of the ingredients yourself if you're a gardener. I grow the tomatoes, peppers, and cilantro myself. I've tried onions and garlic with no luck, so those come from the store. I try to buy from farmers markets in the summer before my own garden is ready. This is MY version. The great thing about salsa is, it can be tweaked to your liking.

Ingredients:
8 roma tomatoes, gutted
1/2 medium onion (or one small)
2 green chili peppers, gutted and slightly sauteed (this brings out the flavor)
2 cloves garlic
1/2 c. cilantro
1-2T lime juice (or juice of one half a fresh lime)



makes about 3 cups of salsa










gutting tomatoes: take out the watery seedy "guts"








gut and sautee peppers if desired






Directions:
1. Put everything (except the lime juice) into food processor (you might have to process 2 or 3 seperate batches if everything doesn't fit. I try to put the smaller things with some of the bigger things so they blend well - for example, put garlic and cilantro in with the tomatoes or onion). Blend until desired consistency. I like my salsa pretty well liquefied. Some people like it more chunky. If you like it REALLY chunky, don't use the food processor, just chop everything and mix together.













2. Add juice, mix well.

Tips:
- This is pretty mild. If you want it spicier, try sarano, habanero, or jalapeno peppers.

- You can really use any tomatoes, I just prefer Roma's because they're easy to gut, and they have more flesh and less seeds and water than bigger tomatoes.

- Every ingredient can be increased or decreased to taste.

- For richer flavor, let salsa sit in the fridge for several hours or overnight.

- Avocado chunks are a really good addition, but they turn brown quickly, so I only use them when I know it's going to get eaten very fast. (I don't puree the avocado, I just add it at the end.)

The Premio Dardos Award!

I want to thank Homemade Beginnings for the “Premio Dardos” award! It is given to "bloggers who distinguish themselves for showing cultural values, ethics, great and fun writing skills, as well as individual values, through their creative writing." It is such an honor and we are truly grateful! If you have not checked out Homemade Beginnings you really should! She has wonderful ideas of crafting with kids.

I am now, going to pass this along to five of my favorite bloggers:
A Soft Place to land
Bits Of Sunshine
Motley Moms
Tip Junkie
Joy's Hope


These are all blogs that I marvel at their creative writing and I am always inspired by reading them Be sure to check these out and leave some comments for them!

How to make an Easy 4th of July Paper Bunting

No sewing for this one! Woo Hoo! Here is a quick and easy way to decorate for the 4th!

Here is what you will need:

Card stock in red, white and blue (and decorative red,white and blue paper)

Ribbon

scissors

hole punch

scratch paper to make star template (I got one from clip art and I also free hand-ed one on a piece of extra paper below)

1.) Cut out your star template and trace on to card stock.

2. Cut out all your stars and arrange them on a table to see what order you want to put them in.

3. Punch holes in your stars. I punched 2 holes on the ones on the top and one hole on the ones that I am dangling down.

4. thread your ribbon through the holes of the top stars.

5. tie on ribbon to the bottom stars

6. Tie the bottom stars on to the top ribbon

7. I also punch a hole in the middle star and hung a star from that.

8.) All done! Sit back and admire and sing The Star Spangled Banner!

Keep your scraps from this project for our project next week! It is going to be an easy center piece for the 4th!