How to Make an Oyster Shell Christmas Tree

One thing I enjoy about fall and cooler weather is the oyster season. It runs roughly from November to April and is the lawful time of year to harvest oysters. Oyster roasts are common here and we try to have one or two every winter with a least a bushel of just harvested oysters.

Corner to Corner Crochet Shawl with Scalloped Edge

I made this shawl for my 91-year-old mother and I love the way it turned out. I admit the pattern was a little hard to understand at first, but once I caught on it went pretty easy. Here are the links to the instructions I used.

Instructions here
YouTube video here
Written pattern here

I used almost all of four skeins of Caron Simply Soft Yarn in Victorian Rose, a 6 mm crochet hook, and a darning needle for loose ends.

3-Ingredient Peanut Butter & Pumpkin Homemade Dog Treats

If you read my blog posts about dog treats then you know how I feel about most commercial ones. I hate them. I think they are unhealthy, expensive, and sometimes dangerous. That said, I know how much most of us love to give our dogs occasional treats and also how much we don't want to make them from scratch.

Why You Should Wrap Your Paint Brush in Plastic (Problem Solved Mini-Post)

A Problem Solved Mini-Post

I do a lot of home painting projects, some large and some small. I'm talking walls, ceilings, baseboards, furniture, and touchups. I don't mind painting so much, but I do hate cleaning paint brushes and rollers. So it is a real pain when I need to stop painting for short periods and have to wash the brush each time. I invest in good paint brushes so I don't want to ruin them by letting them dry out.

Cinnamon Pecan Monkey Bread

Photo property of McCormick.com

Who can resist ooey gooey cinnamon, butter, and sugar anything? Just don't start counting calories on this one please. My husband loves my homemade cinnamon buns but lets face it, that takes all day. While I won't say anything else comes even close to the taste of homemade cinnamon buns, this recipe is really good and you can make the whole thing in less than an hour including the baking time. In fact, this pull-apart bread is so irresistible, everyone will be clamoring for seconds.

How To Make An Outdated Fireplace Insert Look Great With High Heat Paint

Do you remember when these things were in front of almost every fireplace? I had been wanting to replace mine for years but every time I find something I liked it was just too expensive. Finally, I decided I just had to do something. I mean it couldn't turn out any worse, right?

Organize & Store Markers Using Repurposed Tin Cans

I am loving my new craft room. It's not quite finished but it's getting there. Finding new and creative ways to organize it has been a lot of fun. One example is this cute way to store my markers.