The Final Tally

My goal for this year was to can 100 pints of salsa.  Yep, just 100 pints.  :)  I final count for 2012 was 108 pints.  I don't think I have ever made that much in one year, but I am sure glad to have it done.  I love being able to make cute gifts for clubs and workshops. 

 

For this workshop, I gave my hostess a jar.

 

 

 

Then I decided that it would be a good door prize too. 

 

The jars were made by cutting a piece of Stampin Up! designer fabric w/ the scallop circle die and screwing the canning ring down to hold it in place.  Then I stamped and cut out a little mason jar using the Perfectly Perserved stamp set and Cannery framelits from the Holiday Mini Catalog (page 29).  I attached the jar w/ baker's twine and looped it through my bow to secure it to the jar.

 

 

 

Evan has decided he LOVES showers although removing his clothes seems to be optional sometimes.  I spent a lot of time fetching him out of the shower while trying to can salsa.  It is really hard to be upset with him.  He is so sweet---and really really clean!  :)

Truffle Box

My mother-in-law recently hosted a workshop in her home.   I know she LOVES truffles and I knew that I wanted to give her a little something for allowing me to come in and stamp w/ her and her friends. 

I made a little box to house her truffles...  (I will work on writing up a little tutorial and posting it for you on how to make the box). 

I used the Leaves #2 die to cut out some leaves and then picked my woodgrain and argyle embossing folders to emboss the individual leaves.  I loved the texture on them.   

I never would have thought of more mustard, midnight muse, very vanilla, and early espresso, but I really do like the end result.

I used the sentiment from Apothecary Art stamp set in the Idea Book and Catalog.  This is one of my faves!  :)

It's Been Awhile...

I know it's been a long while.  The good news is that after several attempt to access my blog, I finally was able to get back on.  I don't know what the problem was, but it made my stomach knot.  I have missed stamping and blogging.

My focus has been on my 4 year old son, Evan.  He is autistic. He has started intensive ABA therapy in our home--which means that 5-6 days a week we have a handful of therapists in and out of our home. It is a strange feeling, but I am so happy that Evan can receive this therapy.  Between his therapy, social skills class, school, my daughters, husband and house--things seem a little overwhelming some days.  I am grateful for all that I have, but somedays it is a little chaotic. 

I did do a lot of canning this fall.  My sister has 2 beautiful pear trees that despite the drought were loaded w/ some of the biggest pears I had ever seen.  I brought home buckets of pears and canned just over 50 quarts.  Every couple of days, I would have enough pears ripe to can about 13-15 quarts plus  have a few to eat. 

 

I also tried out  new recipe after my sister gave me a bucket of jalapeno and green/red sweet peppers.  I made jalapeno jelly. I had never heard of it until I asked my Facebook friends what to do w/ all these peppers. My uncle suggested jalapeno jelly.  After my first bite, I knew I was hooked.  It is really good on Club crackers spread w/ cream cheese.  Yummm! 

 

 

 

I did a workshop and I thought I would dress up one of the little jelly jars and give it as a door prize.  The lady who won had never had jalapeno jelly either and was a little nervous about trying it. I was so happy when I met up with her again and she wanted to buy a jar from me.  :)  That must mean it is good!  LOL

 

 

I use the Friendship Preserves stamp set from the holiday mini catalog (pg. 30) along w/ the Window Frames Collection framelits on the same page to create the tag. 

Here's a better picture of the jalapeno jelly.  I think it's pretty especially for the holidays.