Clear Craft Marble Notecards

I don't know what these clear rock/pebble/gem/marble things are called - I googled for the actual name and everyone calls them something different. I'm going with marbles, call them what you want haha. They are flat on one side, domed on the other, and come in different sizes. I've had good luck finding them at dollar stores but craft stores should also carry them, they are usually in a bag.  I've done lots of things with them - I found these when cleaning out my craft room and thought I'd share this fun, easy idea (good kid craft too!). 

Cut cardstock into whatever size card you want to make and fold in half. For example: if you want to make a 4x6 card, cut your paper 8" by 6" and fold in the middle to end up with 4" high by 6" wide. 

Find images and/or words and print them onto plain paper - or cut out of magazines, wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, etc. Cut them to fit the size of your marble/gem - the marbles aren't usually perfectly round so you'll want to match each image to each marble. Apply a thin coat of glue to the back of the image and glue in place on your card. 

Thinly brush Mod Podge (make sure it's going to dry clear - do all Mod Podge formulas dry clear? I can't remember) on the surface of the flat side of the marble and put it on top of the image that's already stuck to your card.  Let it dry, and you're done!

Obviously it's not ideal to try to mail these cards, I attach to a gift or hand-deliver. 

1.9.22: 🔥 week 2

1.9.21: pub soup

1.9.20: TBT: pear salad

1.9.19: tuna noodle casserole 
1.9.18: how to make a wedge-shaped paper box
1.9.17: I organized my garage craft room
1.9.16: bloody mary (and a 2019 update)

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 2)

Dear Campers ~

Here's a quick recap of what happened at camp last week in case you missed anything:

Posts ~

1/1: 🔥 week 1

1/2: everything bagel pigs in a blanket

1/3: everything bagel seasoning

1/4: crocheted pocket scarf

1/5: three-cheese chicken or pork chops

1/6: pumpkin bars

1/7: poke brownies

What's Cooking ~

• baked chicken with panko crust, steamed broccoli
• bbq salmon, Parmesan couscous, wilted spinach
• steak, oven steak fries with comeback sauce, sautéed mushrooms, caeser salad
• marinated pork tenderloin, sweet potatoes, chopped salad
• burgers, broccoli salad, potato salad 

That's it for this week - stop back often to see more crafts, recipes, projects, whatever I think of to make at camp next week! Bye!

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor

1.8.22: candy bouquet

1.8.21: creamy tortellini with sausage and veggies

1.8.20: steak gorgonzola alfredo

1.8.19: mini trees

1.8.18: crocheted clutch

1.8.17: chicken enchilada suizas

1.8.16: dog on a diet

Poke Brownies

You might hate me once you make these brownies - and you definitely want to make these brownies - because once you know how easy they are to make, and once everyone eats them and begs you to make them again and again...you're probably going to stop being my friend. 

I'll take the chance tho and share this super secret recipe with you (I found it while on the time-sucking Pinterest the other day) and there are so many people making them this way - why am I just now hearing about it?):

Bake a pan of brownies, homemade or from a mix (I like Ghirardelli, for these I bought the dark chocolate mix). While they are still hot, poke holes all over the top - I used the skinny bottom of a wooden spoon, a skewer or fork would work too; spread 1/2 can sweetened condensed milk over the top and sprinkle with chocolate chips (I had milk chocolate chips on hand, use whatever kind you like). Cool and serve (with or without ice cream). 

That's it! Stop reading and go make these - then let me know if you still like me ;) 

I forgot to take a picture of these before cutting them, I at 
least managed to get a shot of the leftover piece! 

1.7.22: cauliflower pizza

1.7.21: no bake cookie bars by Brooke 

1.7.20: Tip-sy Tuesday: wrapping paper filler

1.7.19: the short-lived segment of Man-day Monday

1.7.18: breakfast egg muffins

1.7.17: grocery store bouquet

1.7.17: fruitcake squares (don't be afraid, they're good!)

Pumpkin Bars

Claudette made these pumpkin bars and I had a moment thinking I'd resist trying one but I'm so glad my willpower was low that day because oh my gosh these are great! Moist and flavorful and yum. I kinda wish I didn't ask for the recipe because now I'm going to want to make them (and probably not share LOL). 

• 4 eggs (or egg beaters)
• 1 cup oil
• 1 (16 oz) can pumpkin
• 2 cups flour
• 1 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 t. cinnamon
• 2 t. baking powder
• 1 t. salt
• 1 t. baking soda

Preheat oven to 350'. 

Combine dry ingredients (flour thru baking soda), set aside. Combine wet ingredients (eggs, oil, pumpkin) until light and fluffy. Stir in dry ingredients until blended. 

Spread in an ungreased 15x10x1" pan, bake 25-30 minutes. Once cool, top with cream cheese frosting. 

click here for a cream cheese frosting recipe

1.6.22: alligator pear salad

1.6.21: povitica (apple cinnamon bread)

1.6.20: crocheted cowl

1.6.19: 🔥week 1

1.6.18: Hawaiian inspired jewelry set

1.6.17: spicy crumb coated broccoli

1.6.16: washi tape lampshade

Three-Cheese Chicken or Pork Chops

Here’s another Home Chef recipe from my sis that I made my own - I modified it a bit (mostly increased the amount of cheese haha! Theirs called for garnishing with crispy fried onions and I forgot to add them).  We loved this dish!

Here’s what I did:

• 2 oz. Boursin garlic and herb cheese spread 
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 small zucchini, sliced
• 1 small summer squash, sliced
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 oz grated parmesan
• 2 T. Italian panko crumbs
• 1/2 t. garlic salt
• 1/2 oz. crispy fried onions
• 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts or boneless pork chops
• olive oil 
• salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 425’. Combine tomatoes, zucchini, garlic salt and 2 t. olive oil in one side of a 13x9" baking dish, top with panko. 

Pat the chicken dry and place on the other side of the baking dish, top evenly with a pinch of salt and pepper, Boursin cheese spread, and cheddar. Sprinkle the Parmesan overtop the veggies and chicken. 

Bake uncovered until vegetables are tender and chicken reaches a minimum internal temp of 165, 20-25 minutes. If using pork chops bake for 23-27 minutes. Garnish with the crispy onions. 

1.5.22: gym equipment (funny)

1.5.21: TT proofing dough 

1.5.20: 🔥week 1

1.5.19: unstuffed chicken cordon bleu

1.5.18: Brooke made a hanging ribbon hoop thing

1.5.17: t.p. holder

1.5.16: freezing meals tip

Crocheted Scarf with Pockets

I made this scarf for Tesha's birthday - I used to make these pocket scarves all the time but I think I stopped when I made one for everyone I knew. Hahaha, just kidding, I guess I just forgot about them - so when thinking of something to make for Teesh I remembered this idea and wanted to make it for her. 

I used variegated yarn and didn't know how the pattern was going to be, it looks like I color-blocked the scarf but it's just how the yarn worked out. I did a simple half double crochet stitch which is one of my favorite go-to stitches. Crocheted in rows until it was long enough to flip up both ends and sew them into pockets. That's it! 

1.4.22: TT past tips

1.4.21: marinated pork steak 

1.4.20: recycled Christmas card garland

1.4.19: paper mâché reindeer

1.4.18: cookie sheet hack

1.4.17: grilled turkey ruebens 

1.4.16: scrabble tile keychain

Everything Bagel Seasoning

• Yesterday I posted about adding everything bagel seasoning to pigs in a blanket (yum), I found this recipe to make your own seasoning in case you want it - I haven't tried it yet but seems fairly accurate to me! Note: I actually thought I'd posted a recipe for this blend in the past but can't find any so if this is a repeat then...um...sorry... then now you have 2 recipes!
• 
  
• Mix together:

• 4 teaspoons white sesame seeds
• 2 teaspoons black sesame seeds, or additional white sesame seeds
• 2 teaspoons poppy seeds
• 2 teaspoons dried minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
• 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt, such as Maldon

recipe found here

note: change up the ratios to your taste - really there's no right or wrong, well I suppose something could go wrong if you added too much salt hahahah, but otherwise go for it! Oh, and I'll probably use coarse salt instead of flaky but we'll see...

1.3.22: hemp dog necklace re-run

1.3.21: black-eyed pea jambalaya re-run

1.3.20: ornament storage

1.3.19: removing wax from candleholders

1.3.18: chocolate birthday cake for Noah

1.3.17: monthly bill log

1.3.16: black-eyed pea jambalaya

• 
  
• 
  

Everything Bagel Pigs in a Blanket

I saw an idea for this online somewhere, didn't save it for later...but the other day when cleaning out the fridge and finding a tube of crescent rolls I forgot about I remembered this little twist to pigs in a blanket - top with everything bagel seasoning mix before baking. And they turned out SO good! This is a keeper modification for sure - I used full-sized turkey cheddar smoked sausages, I'm sure it'd be great with hot dogs too (and don't forget about little smokies! my favorite hahah). Here's what I did:

• 1 tube crescent roll dough
• 6 turkey cheddar turkey sausages (I buy the lower-fat version)
• 1 egg, beaten
• everything bagel seasoning

Preheat oven to 375'. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Roll out the crescent dough, separate into triangles. Roll around the sausage links and place on the baking sheet. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle liberally with the seasoning. 

Bake approx. 15 minutes until heated thru and the dough is golden brown. 

note: there are 8 crescent rolls in a tube, and 6 smoked sausages in a package. I just bake 2 rolls plain without wrapping them, they won't take as long to bake. Occasionally, like twice, I've put chocolate chips in the middle of a roll before rolling up and yep, that's pretty taste too! 

1.2.22: 🔥 week 1

1.2.21: hot buttered rum (re-run)

1.2.20: dear resolution...

1.2.19: diaper fold gift holder

1.2.18: resolutions

1.2.17: storing gift wrap

1.2.16: hot buttered rum

January 1st ~ Happy New Year! (🔥 week 1)

Dear Campers ~

Here's the first 🔥 Around the Campfire recap for 2023 of what happened at camp last week in case you missed anything - and yes, all those 'thru the years' posts are also known as 'I'm super busy and don't have time to make anything but need a post for every day possible so let's do some recaps' hahahah:

12/26: boxing day '22

12/27: thru the years

12/28: thru the years

12/29: thru the years

12/30: thru the years

12/31: thru the years 

Join me next week to see if I get around to actually creating/cooking/baking/whatever or if I'll punt for another few days instead...:) 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  Cheers to 2023!

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor 

My sis sent both of these funnies to me and I thought I'd share!

1.1.22

1.1.21

1.1.20

1.1.19

1.1.18

1.1.17

1.1.16

12.31 Thru the Years

photo found here

12.31.21: reverse sear standing rib roast

12.31.20: new years eve (rerun)

12.31.19: new years eve

12.31.18: antipasto wreath and wrapped pears

12.31.17: January no-sugar challenge

12.31.16: new years eve "write a good one"

12.31.15: opening champagne