Roasting Pumpkin Seeds

We took the kiddos to the pumpkin patch this weekend and picked out our pumpkins to carve. I roasted pumpkin seeds a few years back when my aunt was visiting us over Halloween. They were SO GOOD! I couldn't remember how we roasted them then, but I found a recipe online here.

First you need to separate your seeds from the guts:

Seeds:

Next, I washed them out good in a colander and pulled off the remaining stringy guts. Then spread them out in a cookie sheet to dry out overnight.

The next day I boiled them in salt water to get them good and clean. Boil just until they turn a little gray.
Then again, let then dry on a cookie sheet...
Melt 2 tsp butter and pour over (1 1/2 cups) seeds in a bowl. Sprinkle with 1 pinch of salt (or more), and then spread out on a cookie sheet.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Bake for 45 minutes.

Simple and Delicious!
Especially fresh out of the oven!

Sparkles, Glitter & Whimsy

Here are a few additions to my Etsy shop that were listed today!

Kissing Balls

Tradition states that in 18th century England, if an eligible young lady received a kiss on the cheek under the kissing ball, marriage would soon follow. While this tradition is no longer used, it is still a fun and festive symbol of times past.

Hang them in your doorway, in a garland, from the tree, or place in a bowl or vase!

There is a limited supply of these, and usually only one of each... so hurry and get your ONE OF A KIND kissing ball before they are gone! They make fantastic gifts! And are perfect for ornament exchanges!

Cricut Machine & Sure Cuts A Lot 2

I got my Cricut machine last fall. I love it! It has made a huge difference in my cupcake wrapper production!

And in addition to that, I've been able to make some really fun things with the cartridges I bought for it.

However, those got to be quite a costly hobby! So, after doing some research, I found this software; SURE CUTS A LOT. You can buy the download and get it instantly on your computer! It will allow you to create ANY shape or font you can find on the internet, and cut it on your Cricut!

The possibilities are endless!

I haven't bought a single cartridge since! You can upload any image from the internet, and the software will turn it into an SVG file. You can manipulate it any way you want... hook your computer up to your cricut machine, and CUT!

Installation is easy.
Using the software is easy.
And you will never had to buy another cartridge again!

I've put a link on my sidebar ----> if you'd like to learn more about SURE CUTS A LOT! You can purchase just the download, or receive the program on a CD-ROM, or both!

Calling All Etsy and Zibbet Shop Owners...

I thought it would be great to post a page on my blog for shop owners on Etsy and Zibbet to link up their shops!

If you post your shop link, it would be great if you'd take a moment to check out another shop or two!

Please be sure to link up your shop to the appropriate page on the tabs above! I can't wait to check them all out!

CSN Stores Giveaway Winner

The winner of the $45 CSN Stores Gift Certificate...
via RANDOM.ORG

Result: 13

Enjoy Country Living said...

I follow you and would love their stackable end tables

October 17, 2010 2:20 PM

Please contact me at: the5turners [at] gmail [dot] com with your email address and your $45 code will be sent to you so you can go do some online shopping!!! Congratulations!

*If the winner does not respond within 24 hours then a new winner will be chosen!
Thanks to everyone who entered!

Friendship Ball

Have you entered the CSN Stores Giveaway yet?
It ends tonight at midnight!

I've been working on some new items this week to list in my Etsy shop. Something I've been wanting to make for a while are these friendship balls. I think they are the neatest gifts you can give.

A ball is a circle

No beginning, no end
It keeps us together
Like our circle of friends.

The treasure inside
For just you to see
Is the treasure of friendship
You have granted me.

You can fill them with whatever you want. Candy, jewelry, a special note, tea, trinkets, hankies, and all kinds of lovelies.

The best part is, its the gift that keeps on giving! You may choose to give this to a friend for their birthday. You've filled it with a personalized bracelet with some candy and a nice birthday wish!

In a few weeks, you receive it back from your friend for YOUR birthday! It's filled with your favorite kinds of loose tea along with a little tea caddy!
Soon, it's Christmas, and you fill it with a special Christmas gift and send it off to your friend. The exchanging can go on forever! Give the friendship ball back and forth for any holiday, birthday, anniversary, or just because!

How fun to send this gift back and forth to your friends who love far away? To remind them you miss them!

I hope to have other colors and designs available soon!

What would you fill your friendship ball with?

Welcome

I've been wanting to do this since the day we moved in... almost a whole year ago...
And today, I finally just went and got it done! It took me just a few minutes! I found a font I liked on my SCAL2 software, and then ran down to my craft room, hooked up my computer to my cricut machine, cut out the letters, transferred them onto transfer paper, measured the door, (deep breath), rubbed the letters on, removed transfer paper, and.... Welcome!

Sharing made easy...

I've added a little extra SHARE button to the bottom of each post to make it easy for you to share each and every post with your friends!!! Okay, so maybe just whichever ones you chose. (You don't have to share them all... unless you really want to!!!)

This is what you will see at the end of the posts:

These little buttons will make it easy for you to share certain posts that you love and want to share with friends in lots of different way by:


Emailing the post




Sharing the post on your own blog




Sharing the link on your twitter account, or "Tweeting" the post!




Sharing the post on your facebook



and even Google Buzz!


What a fun and SUPER EASY way to share the love! Give it a try!

CSN Stores Giveaway

Have you been searching high and low for a set of beautiful, unique barstools? Or perhaps a lovely chandelier? Or maybe you've had your eye on these Cowboy Koi Rain Boots?

Whatever it is you've been looking for, look no more. You are sure to find whatever your heart desires at CSN Stores. As for me, I just received this little lovely the other day:

We had an ice cream maker similar to this one growing up, and you just can't beat the taste of homemade ice cream! Want to know the best part? This certain model has an electric motor OR you can switch it out with an old fashion hand crank!!! I can't wait to use this over the weekend! It is a little chilly here, but I think it will be so fun to have the kids all help crank the ice cream for a while... then maybe we'll let the motor take over!

So, lucky for you, I have been contacted by CSN Stores to offer one of my readers a $45 gift certificate to use at any of ther 200+ online stores!

Here are the rules:
1) You MUST be a follower of Cupcake Cuppy Blog
2) Go to CSN Stores website and tell me what you might pick if you win!

For additional entries (after the above is completed):
3)Tell your friends on facebook about the giveaway
4)Tweet about the giveaway with a link back to this post
5)Blog about the giveaway with a link back to this post

Just be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry!

Giveaway will close on Thursday October 21st at midnight! The winner will be picked via Random.org and will be posted here on FRIDAY 22! So be sure to check back then to see if you've won!

If you win, please contact me and let me know what email you would like CSN to contact you with. I will contact CSN Stores and they will send you your one time gift certificate code!

If the winner does not contact me within 24 hours then a new winner will be chosen.

GOOD LUCK!

Family Rules Subway Art

I haven't been too productive these last few days. But I did manage to throw this together this morning. I made some Family Rules and framed them in an old frame I had...

I used Power Point to create it by typing in words, changing their font, color and sizes, and then also rotating some of the words.

It was fun to rearrange them all and I am very happy with the end result!

I had to make it on 2 pages as my frame holds 8x20 inches. And, now that the frame is hanging, I am thinking about painting it black.... (it was originally gold.)

Trying something new...

Well, lately I've been trying to really focus on increasing my sales in my Etsy shop. In addition to some remodels and other improvements over there, I've decided to open up a new online shop over at Zibbet! "Your place to buy unique handmade products, direct from the maker!"

I'd love for you to stop by and check it out!


And if you create handmade items, and think you'd like to try Zibbet out just clink below:


Let me know what you think?

Pillows & Pumpkins & Pears... OH MY!

I've been trying to stock my etsy shop this week. I have cleaned up my craft room and have a pile of crafts I need to list. Here is what I've got listed.... stay tuned for many more!

Twine Pears

Raggedy Ann Dolls (more to come)

Decorative Pillows

Pumpkin Cupcake Wrappers (more to come)

Beaded Napkin Rings

Wooden Pumpkins