Friday, December 21, 2012

Bacon Pop Cans

No this isn’t bacon flavored soda, it’s make your own bacon popcorn in a can!

First you need to follow directions for my Pop Open Gift Can.

bacon pop corn - The Backyard Farmwife

Then you need to make little packets of Bacon Salt. Cut up very large straws (Bubble tea straws work great!) into 1-2” pieces.

bacon pop corn - The Backyard Farmwife

Glue one end shut with a glue gun.

Pour bacon salt into straw sections using a funnel.

Seal the other end with glue.

Place 2 brown paper lunch bags, 2/3 cup popcorn and 2 bacon salt straws in each can.

bacon pop corn - The Backyard FarmwifeMake a label with the directions on how to make the popcorn. You can find the directions HERE.

bacon pop corn - The Backyard Farmwife  Attach the tags and give as a gift. The best part about Bacon Salt is that is completely kosher and vegetarian! So everyone can enjoy the taste of bacon!!!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

A Glittery Menagerie

I wanted this year’s ornament to be something a little bit different, a bit original, something glittery…

glitter animals -  The Backyard Farmwife

I picked up a package of clothespins from the Dollar Tree, a couple of tubes of plastic animals, and grabbed the package of glitter from my stash and set to work.

First glue the animals to the clothespin with a hot glue gun…

glitter animals - The Backyard FarmwifeChoose just the right color glitter for your animals. I just had to make a golden goose…

glitter animals -  The Backyard FarmwifePaint each animal completely with white glue. It’s hard to get everything, so do it carefully…

glitter animals -  The Backyard FarmwifeSprinkle everything with glitter, covering every surface…

glitter animals -  The Backyard FarmwifeLet them dry…

glitter animals -  The Backyard FarmwifeI’m keeping the chicken for myself. :o)

glitter animals - The Backyard Farmwife

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Hawaiian Quilt

While in Hawaii celebrating our 20th anniversary I saw so many gorgeous and elaborate quilts! The appliqué was so intricate and I knew I would NEVER make one… I fell in love with the pineapple design that we saw everywhere!

hawaii day six 31 these quilts were at the Dole plantation

We did all our souvenir shopping at the swap meet at the Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. Talk about bargains! I was able to get a pineapple motif pillow for only $10!

But my greatest and favorite find was a huge stack of pre-cut squares in Hawaiian prints for only $3.50!!! Yes, I said $3.50! There were nearly 300 squares in the stack!!!

I took my favorites that all coordinated with each other and laid them out…

Hawaii quilt - The Backyard FarmwifeThen I did it again…

Hawaii quilt - The Backyard Farmwife 

Then I posted pics on FB and thanks to everyone’s feedback I came up with this…

Hawaii quilt - The Backyard FarmwifeIt took a while for me to finally finish the whole thing up, but I finally did it!!!

I added an orange Hawaiian print back and decided to go with the no-binding method.

hawaii quilt - The Backyard Farmwife

Now it’s ready to snuggle under with my honey while watching movies or reading in front of the fire with a cup of hot tea!

hawaii quilt - The Backyard Farmwife  hawaii quilt - The Backyard Farmwife

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Mini Advent Wreath in a Pot

Sunday was the first day of Advent, the season before Christmas when we get ready for Jesus’ coming again and remember His first coming.

Every night we light a candle and read a portion of scripture. Each candle has it’s own meeting and symbolism: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love and the Christ candle.

At our Family Nite service at church, we made mini advent wreaths in mini flower pots.

advent pot - The Backyard Farmwife Buy purple (or blue), pink and white birthday candles; mini terra cotta flower pots; air dry clay; and fake greens.

First paint and/or decorate your pot however you would like. We used foam stickers and ribbon.

advent pot - The Backyard FarmwifeThen fill the pot with the air dry clay. Top with greenery.

Insert the candles into the clay. If you want to re-insert new candles in later, pull the candles out right away. After the clay dries you can take the candles in and out as you like or need.

advent pot - The Backyard Farmwife  Be sure to use your time as a family to spend time in prayer, the Word and talking about what your family is thankful for this holiday season!

advent pot - The Backyard Farmwife You can look on-line for a Bible reading schedule… I especially like this one HERE.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Pumpkin Snowmen

What do you do with all those leftover pumpkins from your fall decorating? You know, the ones that still look pretty good but just don’t have that Christmas-y look. Don’t worry, you don’t need to toss them! Just add some with paint, a few accessories and you have an adorable winter decoration for your front porch!

I did one coat of primer and then a couple of coats of craft paint…

pumpkin snowman - The Backyard Farmwife Then glue the pumpkins together: largest on bottom and smallest on top…

pumpkin snowman - The Backyard Farmwife Then paint your faces using craft paint…

pumpkin snowman - The Backyard FarmwifeAdd accessories: scarf, hat, buttons…

pumpkin snowman - The Backyard FarmwifeThen your snowmen are ready to live outside…

pumpkin snowman - The Backyard Farmwife pumpkin snowman - The Backyard Farmwife pumpkin snowman - The Backyard Farmwife This might be the most snow we see before Christmas, so we’re gonna enjoy it!