Thrifty Thursday

I just love to go to the antique/thrift/swap meets and see what fun items I can find!  This Thursday I've got 3 things to show you that I added to my collections!
 

I'm not sure if they'll find their way onto my Etsy shops or not, so keep a look out if your interested.
This big stack of animal trading cards was a fun treasure.  If you look closely, you can see that they are all embossed!  I actually think it's 3 sets of animals cards because I see domestic/farm animals, wild animals and sea life.  They look wavy around the edges, but I think that's how they are supposed to actually look.

Here is another set of flashcards that I found.  I believe they are a part of a matching game because they also came with some little game boards with these pictures on them...so, I suppose for matching up the cards to the board pictures.  Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the game boards.

Lastly, I was able to get these two beautiful lengths of lace!  I can't decide which I like more, the one with the white trim and little pink roses or the creamy trim with the little ivory roses and blue thread!  I have plenty of this, they were really nice lengths, so you'll probably see this listed Ü



Have you found any special items this week? 

Check back again for Thrifty Thursday and see what I add next!

Huge Lot of Scrapbook Papers Destash

  

A small assortment of my papers for sale

I've been going through my scrapbook studio and making some decisions about what I'm going to use and what I'm not.  I have so many papers from all different companies and include an awesome assortment of patterns, textures and prices!

In my ScrappinrenSupplies shop on Etsy, I have a listing up that is for 100 pieces of 12 x 12 paper!  This lot will include a value way over the listed price, you'll LOVE the assortment included!

Click here to view it:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/182801683/12-x-12-scrapbook-paper-lot-destash?ref=shop_home_active_9

 

So many different patterns, colors and themes!  This is a mere fraction of what I am selling!





A New Way

And now that I know this (if it's on the Internet, it has to be true, right? ;), things are going to change!

I'm going to work more on getting things done than on wasting so much time on getting them done perfect. 

You know when you read a blog, and they show their house and you wonder how they ever get everything so perfect?!  I'm not even going to worry about making my house as neat, orderly and pristine.  I would like things to have a place and get rid of some junk and I'll be happier!

I'm thinking of doing the 40 day / 40 bag challenge, but only different.  Like, maybe 30 days and 30 bags.  Maybe not even 30 days, maybe like 60 days.  Afterall, I do have other things to do. You know...like cook, do laundry, work, etc.

My usual mode of cleaning out, is that I have one bag left out that I fill as I go along, and after it's filled, I put it in my vehicle.  Once the back of my vehicle is full, then I go and donate it all.

This works great.

Only, I still haven't gotten everything done that I'd like to get accomplished.  So, my thought is that if I try to get more done in a quicker amount of time, then I'll have a greater sense of just getting done and I can move on.

Not everything I have is necessarily going to be donated, but a lot of it will be sold, also. Because of my stores, both online and b&m,  I have tons of items that are still waiting to be photographed and listed.  This is right now, probably the largest of my items. 

So, here and there I am going to make a greater effort to go through, get rid of, thin out, donate and list.  Ha, I almost said 'make room'....but wouldn't that defeat my purpose?  Because if  say that, it makes it sound like I want to make space for more!  And, I don't want to do that. 

Anyone with me on this? 

Anyone else want to clean out some stuff? 

Let's get going! Ü



Wendy's Copy Cat Chili and Canning

PRESTO

This year, I decided to treat myself to a new canner. I got a Presto 23 qt. canner and love it!

We have a few freezers and I have been wanting to can enough meat in them to downsize by 1 of the freezers.  What I've been doing is canning just some plain meat, and then some meals also!

Do you can?

Don't you love opening a jar and you already have something either made or partially prepared!?

Today I pressure cooked Chili!

We love chili!

Now, usually I have my own recipe that I always have made and it's really delicious.  I also add macaroni noodles to it, and after it's in the bowl, a bit of shredded cheese is sprinkled on the top.  Yum!!

This time, I tried a recipe I found online.  It's a knock-off (copy cat version) of Wendy's Chili!  Their chili is so good, that I knew I had to try this!  There isn't a Wendy's here, so I don't get to go there that often, but when I do, their chili is a definite must have!

If I can have a batch of soup at home that tastes very similar, I want it!

Here is a photo of it made:

 Here is the recipe I used:

5 lb. hamburger
2 C. onion ~ chopped
2 green peppers ~ chopped
4 stalks celery ~ chopped
2 Tbsp. minced garlc
2 Cans Ranch beans (15 oz)
2 Cans red kidney beans (15 oz) ~ drained
2 Cans Rotel (10 oz)
2 Cans stewed tomatoes (15 oz) ~ chopped
4 Cans tomato sauce (15 oz)
2 pkgs McCormick mild chili pkgs (1.25 oz)

Now, first I must say that the original recipe calls for 7 green peppers.  To me, that is just too much.  We like green peppers, but not that much!  So, I simply adjusted this amount to our personal taste.  That's the great thing about recipes...you can do that!

Now, onto cooking.

Fry the hamburger, drain.  I rinse my hamburger with water, getting rid of even more of the fat than simply draining.  When canning, I like to have as little fat as possible. 

Add rest of ingredients.

Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and let it cook until veges are softened.  I let mine simmer for 2 hours on a low simmer.  I put my into 2 large crock pots for this part.

Next, I put into my prepared jars and canned them!  I won't get into the canning part, as there are so many wonderful sites on how to do this.  For my area, I will say that I can them at 10 lbs. for 90 min.

Here's what I ended up with:

 7 quarts of wonderful Chili!! 

These are going to be great either as a bowl of chili, poured over french fries with some cheese on top, or on hotdogs!! 

Custom Listings

If you ever wondered what is involved or included in a Custom Listing, this is for you!

When you look at my shop on Etsy, you will see that I carry many, many kinds of different items.  I make cards, tags, name cards, place cards, buffet signs, envelope seals, garlands, cupcake toppers and more items.  If you haven't checked out my ScrappinrenCreations shop, I have a link to it on the bottom right sidebar of this blog. also, you can see a mini treasury (sample) of what I have in my shop.

Let's say that you are going to have a party (a birthday party) and you need some party supplies.  You go to my shop and find some tags, stickers for the backs of your invitations, and muslin bags for your gifts.

Only.... you need more of each item than are listed in the listings for each.

This is one circumstance where a Custom Listing works!

Next, after deciding how many of each item you need, you send me a 'Convo' through Etsy.

You would tell me how many you need of each different item and when you would need them by.  Also you would add anything special about your listing...this could be things such as a different color of ink, a change in size of tags, etc.

I next would answer your Convo with a response of how much it would cost for your listing, when I can have them mailed by, and ask you any questions I may have.  I will also tell you that I will begin making your special order after payment has cleared.

After you respond back to me if this works for you, I will make up your Custom Listing.  After it's made, I will Convo you back with a link to your own personal listing.

After you have purchased your listing, I will begin making your items.  When they are made, I will send them out to you and marked your item as 'shipped'.

Upon receiving your order, I would hope that you would let me know you got it by leaving me a Feedback. 

Ü

When you have done this, I will leave you Feedback.  Now I know that your packaged got to you, it was all good, and I am happy that YOUR happy!!

Give it a try ;)

Crazy Big

That's what these berries are....crazy BIG!!

This is just ONE berry:

And here are TWO:

And here are THREE!!:

Giant Blackberries.  And they are true to their name!!