CTMH Scrapbooking Giveaways!

I'm celebrating my resigning with Close To My Heart!  All next week I will be giving away current product from the CTMH current idea book.  (Look at the current online idea book here)

Stay tuned for sneak peeks to what I'll be giving away!  I may be posting here, or at my facebook.

KurtzCrafts Facebook Page

CTMH Free Cricut Cartridge

I've re-signed on to be  a Close To My Heart independant consultant!  What made me decide to sign back on?  There are a million reasons, but the biggest one, the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge for FREE!
You can get it too, but only until March 31st!  (If you don't own a cricut, you can receive $100 in free product instead, which is on top of the $400 worth of product you get when you sign up!)

http://melissakurtz.ctmh.com/

Tutorial Tuesday #11: Crochet

It is Tutorial Tuesday again!  For numba 11, I've borrowed a crocheted pattern from favecrafts.com. 
If you'd like to see the original, go here. 

Materials
Bernat® Super Value™ (197 g/7 oz; 389 m/426 yds)
Main Color (MC) (53041 Clay) 1 ball
Contrast A (53515 Deep Straw) 1 ball
Contrast B (53531 Rouge) 1 ball
Sizes 4 mm (U.S. G/6) and 5 mm (U.S. H/8) crochet hooks or size needed to obtain gauge.

Gauge
13 sc and 14 rows equals 4 inches (or 10 cm)

Instructions
BAG (See Diagram I on page 3.)
Note: Ch 3 at beg of rnd counts as dc throughout.
With larger hook and MC, ch 84. Join in ring with sl st to fi rst ch, taking care not to twist chain.
1st rnd: (Base rnd). Ch 3. 1 dc in each ch around. Join with sl st to top of ch 3. 84 dc.
2nd rnd: (Scales rnd). Ch 1. Work 5 dc down post of fi rst dc of previous rnd. Ch 1. Work 5 dc up post of 2nd dc of previous rnd – beg scale st made. Miss next 5 dc. *Work 5 dc down post of next dc of previous rnd. Ch 1. Work 5 dc up post of next dc of previous rnd – scale st made. Miss next 5 dc. Rep from * 11 times more. Join with sl st to ch 1.
3rd rnd: (Base rnd). Sl st to 3rd dc of next missed 5-dc group of previous rnd. Ch 3. 1 dc in same sp as last sl st. *1 dc in each of next 2 dc. 1 dc between 2 dc of scale st. 1 dc in each of next 2 dc.** 2 dc in next dc. Rep from * 11 times more; then rep from * to ** once more. Join with sl st to top of ch 3.
4th rnd: (Scales rnd). Ch 1. Beg scale st. Miss next 5 dc. *Scale st. Miss next 5 dc. Rep from * 11 times more. Join
with sl st to ch 1.
Rep 3rd and 4th rnds for pat until work from beg measures approx 8″ [20.5 cm].
Next rnd: Ch 1. 1 sc in each dc of last base rnd. Join with sl st to fi rst sc. 84 sc. Fasten off .

Bag Edging
With smaller hook, join A with sl st to any sc.
1st rnd: Ch 1. 3 sc in same sp as last sl st. Miss next 2 sc. *3 sc in next sc. Miss next 2 sc. Rep from * around. Join with sl st to fi rst sc.
2nd rnd: Sl st in next sc. Ch 1. *3 sc in next sc. Miss next 2 sc. Rep from * around. Join with sl st to fi rst sc.
Rep last rnd until edging measures 2″ [5 cm]. Fasten off .

Handles (make 2).
With larger hook and 2 strands of A, ch 4.
1st rnd: Draw up a loop in 2nd ch from hook. Draw up a loop in each of next 2 ch (4 loops on hook).
2nd rnd: Drop all loops from hook. Pick up last loop worked (4th loop). Working from right to left, insert hook in 1st loop (this will cause a circle to form). Yoh and draw through loop. Insert hook into 2nd loop. Yoh and draw through loop. Insert hook into 3rd loop. (4 loops on hook).
Rep last rnd until work from beg measures 18″ [45.5 cm] long. Break yarn, leaving a long end. Thread end through rem sts and fasten securely.

Flower (See Diagram II on page 3.)
With larger hook and B, ch 2.
1st rnd: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Join with sl st in fi rst sc.
2nd rnd: Ch 1. Working in front loops only, 1 sc in fi rst sc. (1 hdc. 2 dc. 1 hdc) in next sc. *1 sc in next sc. (1 hdc. 2 dc. 1 hdc) in next sc. Rep from * once more. Do not join with sl st. 3 petals.
3rd rnd: Do not ch 1. Working in rem back loops of 1st rnd, 2 sc in each sc around. Join with sl st to fi rst sc. 12 sc.
4th rnd: Ch 1. Working in front loops only, 1 sc in first sc. (1 hdc. 2 dc. 1 hdc) in next sc. *1 sc in next sc. (1 hdc. 2 dc. 1 hdc) in next sc. Rep from * 4 times more. Do not join with sl st. 6 petals.
5th rnd: Do not ch 1. Working in rem back loops of 3rd rnd, 2 sc in fi rst sc. 1 sc in next sc. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in next sc) 5 times. Join with sl st to fi rst sc. 18 sc.
6th rnd: Ch 1. Working in front loops only, 1 sc in fi rst sc. (1 hdc. 2 dc. 1 hdc) in next sc. *1 sc in next sc. (1 hdc. 2 dc. 1 hdc) in next sc. Rep from * 7 times more. Do not join with sl st. 9 petals.
7th rnd: Do not ch 1. Working in rem back loops of 5th rnd, 2 sc fi rst sc. 1 sc in each of next 2 sc. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 2 sc) 5 times. Join with sl st to fi rst sc. 24 sc.
8th rnd: Ch 1. Working in front loops only, 1 sc in fi rst sc. (1 hdc. 2 dc. 1 hdc) in next sc. *1 sc in next sc. (1 hdc. 2 dc. 1 hdc) in next sc. Rep from * 10 times more. Do not join with sl st. 12 petals.
9th rnd: Do not ch 1. Working in rem back loops of 7th rnd, 2 sc fi rst sc. 1 sc in each of next 3 sc. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 3 sc) 5 times. Join with sl st to fi rst sc. 30 sc.
10th rnd: Ch 1. Working in front loops only, 1 sc in fi rst sc. (1 hdc. 2 dc. 1 hdc) in next sc. *1 sc in next sc. (1 hdc. 2 dc. 1 hdc) in next sc. Rep from * 13 times more. Join with sl st to fi rst sc. Fasten off . 15 petals.

Finishing
Join bottom edge: With larger hook, join MC with sl st at bottom edge. Working through both thicknesses, work 1 row of sl st across bottom edge to join. Fasten off .
Sew Handles and Flower to top of Bag as shown in picture.

Visit the Bernat Video Library for a video tutorial to help you out if you get stuck!

or
Here is the PDF's url (with diagram)

April Fool's Day, Fooooooood!

So April Fool's Day is almost upon us.  The worst/best year was in middle school, I faked a letter from Leonardo Dicaprio to my friend who was in love with him, and a member of his fan club.  I had her going for quite some time, and finally decided after she was bouncing around telling EVERYONE about the letter, than I would let her know she'd been had.  She was FURIOUS.  lol Later in the day, I ended up opening my locker to worms and dirt falling out of it.  My science book was ruined and I had to pay for it.  (I think it was worth it!)

So anyway, this year, try fooling your family or co-workers for lunch or dinner.  To view the original recipe, click here.  (Thank you tasteofhome.com)

Ingredients

• 1 jar (14 ounces) pizza sauce
• 1/2 pound bulk Johnsonville® Ground Sausage, cooked and crumbled
• 1 package (8 ounces) sliced pepperoni
• 3 cups biscuit/baking mix
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 5 to 6 slices mozzarella cheese

Directions

• In a bowl, combine the pizza sauce, sausage and pepperoni; set aside. In another bowl, combine the biscuit mix, milk, eggs, butter and garlic salt. Spread half of the batter on the bottom and up the sides of a greased 10-in. fluted tube pan. Spoon meat mixture over batter; cover with remaining batter.
• Bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes or until browned and a toothpick comes out clean. Invert onto a baking sheet. Arrange cheese over cake. Return to the oven for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Using two large metal spatulas, transfer cake to a serving platter; serve immediately. Yield: 8 servings.

Share your best and worse April Fool's jokes (or other pranks you've pulled or had pulled on you)

Fabric Envy Giveaway!

Wander on over to Fabric Envy for a chance to win some fabric from the Curio Collection (Basic Grey by Moda)

http://fabricenvy.blogspot.com/2012/03/curio-by-basic-grey-giveaway-at-fabric.html?showComment=1331676131197#c239431949652370037

Tutorial Tuesday #10 A Special Kind of Amazing

Oh man, this is a special kind of amazing!  Home-made Butterfinger bars!

Candy Corn + Peanut Butter + Chocolate = Fan-freakin-tastic!

Here is the original post:
http://ruflove.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/butterfinger-clone/

Cathy Zielske Giveaway!

Happy 100th Template Release Cathy!

Go tell Cathy what you love.  She's giving away Photoshop!

http://snurl.com/22lqvnhtypepad.com

Life is Crazy

I am so sorry.  I have been neglecting my internet friends hardcore.  I started a new job two weeks ago, and I love it.  I'm working an IT helpdesk position for a large plastics company.  It is supposed to be temporary, but I'm trying hard to make it clear they can't get rid of me. =)
A dear friend of mine pointed out to me that I wasn't talking much about the "Christian" portion of my blogging experience.  Why haven't I been focusing on that?  I couldn't tell you, but I'm going to try and work on that.  Right now I am in a small group that is doing 40 Days in the Word by Pastor Rick Warren.  It is really great, and I will delve more into that soon.  (It is almost time to leave for said small group!)

I also have some clothing projects I need to get working on, I bought some pretty yellow fabric with a small pattern on it. 

I have a brand new tutorial tuesday, ready to post tomorrow.  Sorry, it will be another recipe, but not one that will disappoint! 

Well, if I ever make it home and the Hub doesn't feel neglected, I will post again tonight.