Thursday, April 30, 2015

Moist delicious meat loaf recipe - Dinner easy



Moist delicious meat  loaf is a comfort food staple.  I’ve been making this recipe for years and although leftover meatloaf makes a yummy sandwich, I’ve rarely been lucky enough to have any leftovers!

When you have a bad day at work what is better for making you leave all your stress at the door than an old-fashioned meat loaf dinner? Pair it with some creamy mashed potatoes or some mac and cheese and you have comfort food at it’s finest.

Bowdabra and Make it easy crafts is happy to share this home-style recipe card free to print on your printer.  Load some cardstock, click on the photo and then set your printer to print 5 x 7 or 4 x 6.



Enjoy and have a great “Dinner easy!”




Monday, April 27, 2015

Easy Mother’s Day birthstone bracelet



What do you get the mom or grandmother who has pretty much everything?  A hand made gift is a keepsake that she will wear for years to come. And if you make her a bracelet that has the birthstone colors of all her children or grandchildren it is even more special.  You can make it with any kind of beads although I prefer glass faceted ones.  This is a wonderful kid’s project as well.

You will need:

·      14-gauge silver-plated wire (available at all craft stores)

·      Needle nosed pliers

·      Wire cutters

·      Beads in the colors using the birthstone color chart for your birthstones

·      Small spacers beads in silver

Colors for Birthstones

January – Garnet (deep red)
February – Amethyst  (dark purple)
March – Aquamarine (Lt. blue)
April – Diamond (Clear glass)
May – Emerald (Green)
June – Pearl (pearl)
July – Ruby (Red)
August – Peridot (Olive green)
September – Sapphire (dark blue)
October – Opal/Pink tourmaline (pearlescent or pink)
November – Topaz (yellow)
December – Tanzanite (violet blue)


1.     Using wire cutters cut a piece of wire so that it fits around your wrist twice.  If your wire comes in a ring (Which many do) it is already the perfect shape for a bracelet.  If not, bend it to a circle shape using a can or any tubular shaped item as a mold to create the round shape.



2.     Using the needle nosed pliers curl one end of the wire.  Start to add the beads on the uncurled end of wire. Thread two small spacer beads on the wire.  The curled end will keep the beads from falling off as you work. 



3.     Next thread on your birthstone bead.  Follow with two spacer beads and continue with as many birthstone colors as you desire with two spacer beads in between each one.











4.     Curl the second end of the wire in the opposite direction as the first one.




Thursday, April 23, 2015

Easy pistachio pancakes - Dinner easy

pistachio pancakes


This week Dinner easy from Bowdabra and Make it easy crafts we are focusing on breakfast for dinner featuring easy pistachio pancakes.

Let me begin by saying that in the south Pancake suppers are a common thing with churches and charitable groups holding these suppers to raise money for their various causes.  So it’s not unusual to have breakfast any time.  Breakfast foods are inexpensive and quick to make. 

I love pistachios and they are not just for snacking.  So it’s only natural for me to try and figure out a way I can have them any time of the day.  These pistachio pancakes are so quick and easy to make and taste just heavenly!

Make extras and save them in a storage bag in fridge or freezer between pieces of waxed paper.  Pop them out and heat them up in the microwave them for a few seconds and you can have Pistachio pancakes even on super busy mornings. 

For the free printable recipe card simply click on the card and set your printer to 5 x 7 or 4 x 6 size. 

Pistachio pancake recipe card





Wednesday, April 22, 2015

4 Earth Day recycled craft tutorials from Make it easy crafts

Four recycled crafts for Earth Day



Earth Day is April 22, 2015 and to celebrate this day of loving the earth why not up cycle something destined for the landfill into something new again?  These five tutorials are quick and easy and use things easily found around the house.  Quick, easy, thrifty and loving the earth, that’s how we celebrate Earth Day!

Do you save those long, clear plastic bags from the paper delivery on rainy days?  Well then you have the makings of an awesome friendship bracelet.  Vary the colors of rat tail ribbon to show a favorite sports team or just a favorite color.  Click on the photo for the full tutorial:



Recycled plastic bag bracelet
Plastic bag friendship bracelets


I bet if your like me you get a lot of those advertising magnets in the mail and from businesses.  After a while they kind of pile up.  Why not take a few of them and recycle them into photo magnets of your pets of family?  Click for the tutorial:

Recycle photo magnet
Recycled advertising magnets

And while we are talking about things that pile up, how about all those used gift cards for online stores.  Do you just throw them away or do you make them into something useful like clip type bookmarks.  This one is kind of an optical illusion.  Some people see a man with a mustache, others see a bald eagle.  You be the judge.  

Recycled gift card bookmark
Recycled gift card bookmark 
Do you have paint chip samples left over from a painting project?  Why not make a frame with them?  they will coordinate perfectly with your room if you use the exact samples.  Dress up an old tired frame and you are recycling in every way!

Recycled paint chip frame
Recycled paint chip sample frame redo