Tie a Perfect Bow

Have you ever had trouble getting your bows to look just so? Well, there is a strategy to tying a perfect bow. Here's how I tie mine...

I always start it out with the right side crossing over the left, so that I end up looping it over and down behind with my right hand.

 Then I make a loop by folding the right strand under itself (with the excess ribbon hanging down from thumb).

Now I lay the top/left ribbon over the other loop and tuck it up through the right side. *TIP- The key is to make sure the ribbon stays as FLAT as possible the whole time.

Then I pull the loops tight to finish the bow.

Don't forget to fluff the loops of the wider ribbons to make them look full and finished!

You can also form a perfect bow without tying it around something. Just cut a piece of ribbon, longer than you need but not too much to waist.

Being conscience of where the middle of the ribbon is, I make a flat loop (with one half of the ribbon)  around the back of my right finger, leaving the long part hanging behind. Then I hold it in place with my thumb and index finger.

With my left hand, I bring the long part up (from behind), up and over my fingers and other loop, to the front. 

Then I tuck it up under the right one (just like I mentioned above) and finish it off.

I'm sure to pull nice and tight, and always have to play with it a little bit to make sure the loops are even. Then I trim off excess ribbon at the ends to give it a uniform, finished look.

*TIP- Depending on the size (width) of the ribbon I'm using, it will determine how big or small to make the bow. (They always look best if the sizes coordinate.)

Truffle Turkeys

I'm finally done with these Truffle Turkeys-they took a little longer than I thought but they are soo cute! I'm putting these on the plates as a decoration but it also serves as a party favor.


Base: Cut a piece of cardstock 2 1/2"x4". Fold in half.


Feet: Use the flower punch and cut according to the picture.


Feathers: Fold a coffee filter in 1/2 then in 3rds. Ink the outer edges with the brown ink pad.


Staple the feathers on and glue "dot"(scrapbooking item) the feet.


Body: I used #8 as my stencil. When I cut it out I cut the bottom half a little bigger.


Ink around the body edge. Draw a face[this is all the time I could spare].


Make the truffle balls. I rolled mine in almonds to cut down the super sweet taste. Put the Truffle candy in clear plastic bags.


Glue "dot" it all together. You could add some raffia if so desire.

You can never go wrong with Chocolate!

ICE Container

I LOVE LOVE Sonic Ice. I will go there just to get a large ice water with extra ice when I out & about. I thought Thanksgiving would be a perfect time to bring some in.
Here is my Sonic Ice Container:

Container from Walmart-$2.38(found in the camping area)


I used my stencil & permanent marker to "pretty it up".


Fill up with Sonic Ice(only $1.58 a bag). I got the clear plastic scoops at the Dollar Tree Dollar store in the wedding section.

Tom Turkey Brooch

I love brooches. It seems they are becoming more popular-the flower ones anyways. I made this one to wear on Thanksgiving Day.

My How To:


1-I cut 2 strips of fabric from dark brown fabric to coil into rosettes (this is a great tutorial on that). For the body I cut 1 at 43"x1" & for the head I cut 1 at 23"x1". For the "feathers" I cut 1 at 2"x6", 2 1/4"x6", 2 1/2"x6".


2-Layer the "feather" fabric together and run a gathering stitch along the bottom.


3-Pull tight and tie a knot.


4-Fray the edges by pulling on the strings.


5-Cut slits.


6-Use the fabric rosettes & adhere the "body" to the wooden disc.


7-Attach the head to the body, then add eyes(black rhinestone), beak(scrapbooking paper clips), & the red gobble thing(extra fabric).


8-Glue on a pin attachment to the back.

Here is another one I made with different fabric and I changed the rhinestones eyes to smaller ones-looks better

GIVE THANKS Subway Art

I Love how this turned out. I might just leave this out all year long! What a great item to remember to Give Thanks all the time.

My How To:

I used 5 inch wood letters. I just cut out my letters with some left over bead board wood.


The board measures 11"x20".


After the letters are glued on with some wood glue, spray paint the whole board dark brown.


When the paint is dry, sand the edges and lightly sand the top of the board & letters. I sanded just enough to get it smooth for the vinyl. I like how the 2 different types of wood gave me the look I was going for.


Adhere the "subway" vinyl of "thanks". [If you would like to order this vinyl its $7.00 with $2.00 shipping. Email me with your request: loverde@cableone.net]

Our TOM Turkey

Our daughter created the table centerpiece for Thanksgiving dinner.

Pray with GRATITUDE

I've decided to take Elder Bednar's challenge to have more meaningful Prayers with much Gratitude. The times I have done this, saying thanks for things and not asking for anything, I'm amazed at how many blessings I can see around me.

"To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven." -Gaertner

Double Duty Decor

I realized as I was putting away my Halloween that I had painted the back side of these wood block pumpkins. Now I can use them as my November decoration. . .


This is the other side for October.

Fruity Syrup Topping

My husband always like something sweet after dinner. As I was flipping through my FoodNetwork magazine I came across this Topping.


In this pan I did: 3/4 cup mixed [frozen] berries(their recipe called for fresh blackberries) + 3/4 cup cut up red grapes + 1/3 cup sugar + 2 Tbl. water. Stir as you cook it on medium heat for 11 mins. You might want to let it cool a bit so it doesn't melt your ice cream.


To assemble: I added these crushed up granola bars(since I didn't have any granola) to the bottom then ice cream(but greek yogurt was yummy also) then top it off with the syrup.

YUM!