Creative in the Kitchen

Hi crafters! 
This month I'm putting down the pliers and the glue gun to feature something creative from my kitchen. 

We love pasta in our family, and this recipe has become our summer staple.  It features fresh tomatoes and basil from the garden, garlic (lots of garlic!), olives and a couple of jars of marinated artichoke hearts.  It's super simple and delicious.  You can vary it by adding some chicken, sprinkling on your favorite cheese or tossing in some grilled veggies.  The only cooking is boiling the spaghetti, all the rest is just chopping.  If you don't like the strong taste of raw garlic and herbs, saute' them for a few minutes in olive oil.  So, here it is -our fresh Summer Spaghetti- Pasta Estate'!  Enjoy!

For those of you who want more of a recipe:
1 pound of thin spaghetti, boiled al dente'
Olive oil
Can of olives, drained and sliced
Chopped fresh tomatoes, 2-3
Fresh basil, chopped
Garlic, chopped, as much as you like!
2 small jars of marinated artichoke hearts

Chop all fresh ingredients and place in a large bowl.  Add olives and artichoke hearts.  Add olive oil for extra sauce.  You can also add some of the pasta water for more sauce.  Add the drained pasta and mix the ingredients.

Happy summer!
Terry

Fascinator Headband

Hi Crafters! 
Welcome to another round in the Designer Crafts Connection blog hop!  Today some of us are showcasing designs using a new product:  Tulip's Beads in a Bottle.  This product was easy to use and I'm sure you'll find a lot of great ideas as you travel from blog to blog.  (Just click on that blue button!)

Here is what I created using this new paint.  It's a Fascinator Headband.  You might create it to wear for a wedding, a prom or any other dressy occasion.

Here's the top view.

And, here's the view from the side so that you can see the headband.

I used the Gemstone Pearl paint for this project.  I applied the paint to tulle, the flower petals and lengths of ribbons.  I wrapped a canvas-covered headband in green tulle, then hot-glued the pearl-painted tulle, ribbons, the leaf and the large fabric peony to the headband.  Inside the peony, I glued another pearl-painted piece of green tulle. 

You can find more information about this new product and sign up for a chance to win this great giveaway here.

Happy Summer Crafting!
Terry