My family loves oatmeal.

And therefore, they also love granola.

Here are my favorite recipes for homemade granola and granola bars.

Homemade Granola

I got this recipe from my friend Laurel (Hi, Laurel!). It’s awesome. And the great thing about granola is you can put anything you want in it. Listed below are the ingredients I always use.

5 cup old [...]]]>

My family loves oatmeal.

And therefore, they also love granola.

Here are my favorite recipes for homemade granola and granola bars.

Homemade Granola

I got this recipe from my friend Laurel (Hi, Laurel!). It’s awesome. And the great thing about granola is you can put anything you want in it. Listed below are the ingredients I always use.

5 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup wheat germ
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup craisins
anything else you want: almonds, coconut, craisins, pumpkin seeds, flax seed, etc**
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup honey
2/3 cup melted butter
2 tsp vanilla

**My favorite combo for “anything else you want” is:
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/4 cup coconut

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix honey, brown sugar, vanilla and melted butter together in small bowl. Add butter mixture to dry ingredients. Mix with a wooden spoon. Bake in a greased pan at 325 for 25 minutes. Right after cooking remove from pan and put in a bowl.

I usually line my cookie sheet with parchment instead of greasing the pan. My oven cooks hot, so I only bake the granola for 15-18 minutes.

Homemade Granola Bars

I quit buying granola bars years ago. Then I found this recipe from Smitten Kitchen. We’ve never looked back.

Click HERE to go to Smitten Kitchen so you can print this recipe with ease.

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Thick, Chewy Granola Bars
Adapted from King Arthur Flour

This is probably the most flexible recipe I’ve posted. When it comes to granola, what you’re looking for is a basic proportion of chunky (nuts, dried fruit) to sticky (syrups, sugar, butter or oils) and from there, you can really go to town. The vanilla is optional. The cinnamon is optional. You can use no dried fruit or you can use all dried fruit in your 2 to 3 cup mix. You can toss in things like puffed rice cereal or flax seeds. In the comments, I’d love to hear what mix you came up with and how you liked it. I can only imagine the possibilities.

Of note: The original recipe calls for something called “sticky bun sugar” which can be made at home with sugar, butter and corn syrup. It is for this reason that corn syrup is listed within one ingredient but also separately, and I used all butter rather than two different fats. Whether the corn syrup can be entirely replaced with honey or maple syrup or the butter can be entirely replaced with a healthier oil is worth auditioning, I just didn’t. Yet. I can tell you this: as is, this is the best granola bar I’ve ever eaten.

1 2/3 cups quick rolled oats (if gluten-free, be sure to use gluten-free oats)
1/2 to 3/4 cup granulated sugar (use more for a sweetness akin to most purchased bars; use less for a mildly sweet bar)
1/3 cup oat flour (or 1/3 cup oats, processed till finely ground in a food processor or blender)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 to 3 cups dried fruits and nuts (total of 10 to 15 ounces)**
1/3 cup peanut butter or another nut butter (I used almond butter) (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, namely because I was not convinced that the flavor came through)
6 tablespoons melted butter
1/4 cup honey, maple syrup or corn syrup
2 tablespoons light corn syrup (see Note above)
1 tablespoon water

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8″ x 8″ x 2″ pan in one direction with parchment paper, allowing it to go up the opposing sides. Lightly grease the parchment paper and the exposed pan, or coat with a non-stick spray.

Stir together all the dry ingredients, including the fruit and nuts. In a separate bowl, whisk together the vanilla, melted butter or oil, liquid sweeteners and water. Toss the wet ingredients with the dry (and peanut butter, if you’re using it) until the mixture is evenly crumbly. Spread in the prepared pan, pressing them in firmly to ensure they are molded to the shape of the pan. (A piece of plastic wrap can help with this, as you press down on the back of it.)

Bake the bars for 30 to 40 minutes, until they’re brown around the edges — don’t be afraid to get a little color on the tops too. They’ll still seem soft and almost underbaked when you press into the center of the pan but do not worry, they’ll set completely once completely cool.

Cool the bars in their pan completely on a cooling rack. (Alternately, after about 20 minutes you can use your parchment “sling” to lift and remove the bars, and place them in their paper on the rack to cool the rest of the way. This can speed the process up.)

Once cool, a serrated knife (or bench knife) to cut the bars into squares. [Updating to note, as many had crumbling issues:] If bars seem crumbly, chill the pan of them further in the fridge for 30 minutes which will fully set the “glue”, then cut them cold. To store, wrap the bars individually in plastic or stack them in an airtight container. In humid weather, it’s best to store bars in the refrigerator. They also freeze well.

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**For the 2-3 cups dries fruit and nuts, I use:
1 cup mini chocolate chips
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup peanut butter

OR

1 cup craisins
1 cup hopped walnuts
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup wheat germ

Enjoy!

This paper ball ornament is quick and easy. You can make enough of these for your entire tree in about an hour! And it’s a great project for your kiddos to help with. [...]]]> A newly acquired friend, Sara of Craft Snob, asked me to participate in her Ornament Parade. This is the tutorial I shared over there.

This paper ball ornament is quick and easy. You can make enough of these for your entire tree in about an hour! And it’s a great project for your kiddos to help with. Another great thing, is they store flat so they are easy to save for the next year or ship to a loved one as a gift for the holiday.

Enjoy!

How to Make a Paper Ball Ornament

Supplies

Paper
Circle punch (I used a 1.75″)
Double-sided tape (or glue)
Twine
Scissors
Bone folder (optional)

Step 1: Punch out at least 10 circles. For thick paper (cardstock) use fewer circles. For thin paper (computer paper) use more circles.

Step 2: Fold each circle in half and burnish with the bone folder.

Step 3: Tape (or glue) each folded circle on top of one another, making a big stack.

Step 4: Cut your twine (or ribbon) more than double the length of the diameter of your circles. Fold in half and tie a knot at the bottom. Place it in the stack of circles. Glue the first and last circle halves to each other so the ornament wraps around the twine. The knot keeps the twine from sliding through.

I’m going to make a bunch of these and then spray them with glitter. Doesn’t that sound fun?

Hello! Today’s tutorial is from my amazing sister-in-law, Katie. She is the mastermind behind the easy autumn centerpieces, the burlap mat, and the embroidery hoop ornament. She is one of those that every thing she touches, she makes beautiful. Thanks to Katie for sharing this tutorial!

ps – click on any of the images to enlarge

Hello! Today’s tutorial is from my amazing sister-in-law, Katie. She is the mastermind behind the easy autumn centerpieces, the burlap mat, and the embroidery hoop ornament. She is one of those that every thing she touches, she makes beautiful. Thanks to Katie for sharing this tutorial!

ps – click on any of the images to enlarge

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HOW TO MAKE A THANKSGIVING BUNTING

This is a “Give Thanks” bunting that will be perfect on your Thanksgiving mantle. It is a cinch to make and fairly inexpensive. You probably have most of the stuff already.

What you need:
Burlap (1/2 yard is plenty)
Large Brown Ric Rac (I got mine at Hobby Lobby)
3 Decorative Leaves (Mine are paper mache from Hobby Lobby. You could probably make your own)
Letter Stencils or stamps (I made a stencil with my Silhouette Machine)
Brown Acrylic Paint
Foam Brush
Scissors
Hot Glue
Ruler
Rotary Cutter and Mat (optional)
Paper plate and wax paper
Cut ten 5″x 7″ rectangles out of burlap.

Fold each rectangle in half “hotdog style.” Using either your rotary cutter or scissors cut diagonally from the bottom corner (folded side) to the opposite corner. Open it up and you should have a triangle. Do this for the rest of your rectangles.

For this next step, I made a stencil on my Silhouette machine using “Birch” font in 288pt. I cut out “GIVE THANKS” on one cardstock sheet. If you don’t have a Silhouette or Cricut, you can use letter stencils or stamps.

Place your triangles over your wax paper. Squirt some paint on to the paper plate. Gently dip your foam brush in the paint and dab the excess off. Carefully dab your paint brush over your stencil onto each triangle. One letter per triangle. Let dry.

Next, with your hot glue gun, squeeze a bead of glue on the top of one of your leaves. Press your ric rac onto it. Make sure to leave enough ric rac on the ends so you can hang it your bunting. Now continue with each of your lettered triangles. Put a leaf between “GIVE” and “THANKS” and at the end of “THANKS.”

Hang on your mantle and enjoy!

All you need is a piece of paper. I’ll wait here while you go grab one (out of your printer). Seriously. It’s that easy.

Let me introduce you to the map fold (aka the [...]]]> Hello, hello! Remember how last week my tutorial photo session did not go as planned? Well, I planned ahead and pulled through this time.

All you need is a piece of paper. I’ll wait here while you go grab one (out of your printer). Seriously. It’s that easy.

Let me introduce you to the map fold (aka the pop-up fold). These make awesome invitations, or cards, or love notes, or lunch box notes, or any other kind of note you write. With a little personalization, it can be just about anything.

HOW TO MAKE A MAP FOLD (or POP-UP FOLD)

Supplies:

1 piece of paper (I used a piece of construction paper that is 9″ by 12″)

NOTE: The end product will be 1/4 the size of the paper you started with. So if you want something to fit in a 4″ by 6″ envelope, start with paper that is 8″ by 12″.

Step 1: Fold in half hot dog style. Unfold.

Step 2: Fold in half hamburger style.

Step 3: Take the top left corner and line it up with center fold. Crease.

Step 4: Do the same thing on the right side.

Step 5: Open it up and invert the center fold. Crease.

Step 6: Turn in the left corner (of the top layer), line it up with the center fold, crease. Do the same thing with the right corner. Flip it over repeat with the other side.

Step 7: Open it up. (This is the tricky part.) Start in the upper left-hand corner. Invert the diagonal fold. Then invert the diagonal fold on the right-hand corner.  Use both hands to guide those folds in while you flatten it. Crease.

Step 8: Flip it over and carefully open. Repeat step 7. As you guide the folds this time, though, fold the entire piece of paper in on itself. You should end up with a house shape.

Yipee yahoo! You did it!

All closed up.

Wide open.

I gave one to the kiddos and they wrote a letter to Nana.

I took a second piece of 9″ by 12″ construction paper and glued in the map fold. You can trim down the green outer sheet to fit the width of the blue one, if you want to.

What are you going to make?

Yeehaw. It’s a round-up.

I went to the park yesterday (thanks, Les!) instead of getting my tutorial put together so then when Chris came home from work and helped me photograph something on the fly, it was just too dark. So. We ate dinner. I will get organized and [...]]]> image from the autumn leaf garland tutorial

Yeehaw. It’s a round-up.

I went to the park yesterday (thanks, Les!) instead of getting my tutorial put together so then when Chris came home from work and helped me photograph something on the fly, it was just too dark. So. We ate dinner. I will get organized and share it another time.

Here are some autumn tutorials from last year:

Autumn leaf garland
Autumn centerpieces
Burlap mat
Paper plate monsters

Here are some tutorials I want to try:

Paper Mache Pumpkins via Made by Joel
Suminagashi for kids via Frugal Family Fun Blog
Fabric flower via Craft Snob
Three-Dimensional Doily Ornament via Martha Stewart
Finnish Star via Maggie Makes

I’d love to know what you are making! Happy Tuesday.

Today’s tutorial is a traditional bookbinding stitch that is used for sewing together single sheets of paper (as opposed to signatures). So before I get started, let me assure you that this is a very handy stitch to know. Think of all the school projects you can now start sewing together instead of [...]]]> Three cheers for Tuesday!

Today’s tutorial is a traditional bookbinding stitch that is used for sewing together single sheets of paper (as opposed to signatures). So before I get started, let me assure you that this is a very handy stitch to know. Think of all the school projects you can now start sewing together instead of stapling! Way better. This is simple enough you can teach your kiddos how to do it with yarn.

Ok. Here we go.

HOW TO SEW A STAB BINDING

SUPPLIES:

stack of paper that needs to be sewn together
front and back covers (a heavier weight paper)
waxed linen thread (or yarn or jute or grass or whatever else you have around)
needle (optional)
ruler
binder clips
drill (or other sharp object)

GETTING STARTED

It’s important to follow the book anatomy outline above. If you get lost, refer back to this photo to get yourself back on track. You will start at the left (station 1) and move to the right.

In this tutorial, I am using 4.4″ by 6″ paper bound with waxed linen thread. You can modify this to fit any size book and you can bind it with just about anything. Make sure you always pull your stitches tight after each step.

STEP 1: Use the binder clips to secure your stack together. Mark four sewing stations (aka holes) with your ruler. Mine are at .5″, 2″, 4″, and 5.5″ (left to right). I used a little drill to make the holes, but you can do this by hand with a sharp, pointed awl.

STEP 2: Starting at station 1, sew from the back to the front. Make sure to leave a 3″ tail in the back so you can tie it off at the end. Wrap around the spine and come back through from the back to the front. Pull tight.

STEP 3: Wrap around the foot and enter through station 1 again (from the back to the front).

STEP 4: Sew through station 2 from the front to the back. Pull tight. Wrap around the spine and come back through station 2 from the front to the back.

STEP 5: Sew through station 3 from the back to the front. Pull tight. Wrap around the spine and come back through station 3 from the back to the front.

STEP 6: Sew through station 4 from the front to the back.

STEP 7: Wrap around the spine and come back through station 4 from the front to the back. Pull tight. Wrap around the head and come back through station 4 from the front to the back.

STEP 8: Sew through station 3 from the back to the front. Sew through station 2 from the front to the back.

STEP 9: Remove the binder clips and tie a square knot with the loose ends.

Ta-da! You did it! (I’m so proud of you)

In our house, Monday night is Family Night. We don’t schedule any other activities or sports. We spend time together — singing, praying, teaching our children about Jesus, eating yummy treats, and usually playing a game of some sort. Family Night keeps our faith strong. And it’s fun.

We share the responsibilities…  Which means [...]]]> I love my family.

In our house, Monday night is Family Night. We don’t schedule any other activities or sports. We spend time together — singing, praying, teaching our children about Jesus, eating yummy treats, and usually playing a game of some sort. Family Night keeps our faith strong. And it’s fun.

We share the responsibilities…  Which means I need a chart to help me keep track of who’s who and what’s what. I know there are a bunch of charts out there for keeping track of Family Night duties… here’s mine.

First, I hand cut a paper person for each family member and glued it to some matte board.

Then, I glued those skinny, super strong magnets to the back.

Last, I glued a piece of black paper on top of the magnets to keep them from falling off and to make the end product look a little more polished.

Now, it’s on my refrigerator.

Here’s a recent video we showed the kiddos as part of Family Night.

Quick. Fun. Easy… and snake-like.

HOW TO MAKE A SNAKE BOOK

Supplies:

square pieces of paper (I used 6 in this tutorial) tape or glue (I used 2-sided tape) bone folder (optional)

Step 1: Fold the square in half.

Step 2: Fold the square in half the other [...]]]> Happy Tuesday! Today’s tutorial is all about snake books. I’ve also heard these called garland books.

Quick. Fun. Easy… and snake-like.

HOW TO MAKE A SNAKE BOOK

Supplies:

square pieces of paper (I used 6 in this tutorial)
tape or glue (I used 2-sided tape)
bone folder (optional)

Step 1: Fold the square in half.

Step 2: Fold the square in half the other way.

Step 3: Fold the square a third time, making a triangle.

Step 4: Invert the fold from step 3 in on itself…

Step 4 continued: …making a square a fourth of the size of your original square. Repeat steps 1-4 with the rest of your paper squares.

Note: I used a paper with a pattern on one side and a solid color on the other side (to make it easy to follow this tutorial). I folded half of my squares so the pattern is on the outside and half so the solid is on the outside. The variations here are endless. Keep reading to see how it affects the end product.

Step 5: Attach together with tape, making sure to attach the head to the tail each time.

Step 6 (optional): Add front and back covers. Follow the directions on the accordion book tutorial for how to make covers and then glue them on your snake book.

Step 7: Enjoy. Embellish. Share.

I think these make great cards. Or you could make these into invitations for a party. Or a note in your kiddo’s lunchbox.

After you make this, you will feel super cool. Happy book making!

A few of you asked me how I made this paper flower (they were on the garland I posted about earlier this week). It’s just a paper version of my fabric flower tutorial. You can find it here. Instead of sewing the pieces together, I used [...]]]>

A few of you asked me how I made this paper flower (they were on the garland I posted about earlier this week). It’s just a paper version of my fabric flower tutorial. You can find it here. Instead of sewing the pieces together, I used hot glue.