Screaming Sardine

For a variety of quality handmade and vintage items, please see the gallery!

For some yummy recipes, check out my Yummy Bed and Breakfast Recipes ebook!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dessert

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dessert
1 cup butter
2 cups flour
2 Tblsp sugar
16 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
16 oz whipped topping
2 (4 oz) pkgs vanilla instant pudding mix
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 cups pumpkin

Cut butter into flour and sugar in bowl. Press into greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 mins. Cool to room temperature.

Combine cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar in mixer bowl; beat well. Add 1/2 cup whipped topping; mix well. Spread on cooled crust. Combing pudding mix, milk, and pumpkin pie spice in bowl; mix well. Add pumpkin; beat well. Fold in half the remaining whipped topping. Spread over cream cheese layer; top with remaining whipped cream topping. Chill until serving time.

That’s the original recipe from an old cookbook I have. I made lots of variations since…well…that’s just what I do – lol!

I used a different crust – based on my Pumpkin Pie Bars recipe. In lieu of the first three ingredients, I used 1 cup flour, 1 cup brown sugar, and melted about a 1/2 cup butter. I mixed all those together and pressed them into the bottom of a baking dish. I didn’t bake it.

Next, I used just one brick of cream cheese (8 oz) and beat that with a half cup of confectioners’ sugar. I also glopped in a couple big spoonfuls of whipped topping. (I only used an 8 oz carton). After mixing that together, I put the mixture on top of the crust mixture. It was a little tricky since the crust wanted to adhere to the cream cheese layer.

Additionally, I used a large package of vanilla instant pudding (as opposed to two small packages), and mixed that with the 1/2 cup milk and about 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, 1/2 tsp. cloves, and 1 tsp. cinnamon. (I like lots of spice, so I probably put in even more, but I wasn’t keeping track). I mixed well, and then added a can of pumpkin (which usually yields between 1.5 and 2 cups). I then added the remaining whipped topping and layered it all onto the cream cheese layer. After chilling, it was happily devoured! I also saved some of the crust ingredients and sprinkled on top.

Easy Pumpkin Dessert Recipe

Linking up to the following parties.
Mondays: Craftomaniac, Flour Me with Love, Marvelously Messy, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Tuesdays: Chef in Training, Crazy for Crust, Inside BruCrew Life, Not Just a Housewife, Lil Luna, Sugar Bee Crafts, Wednesdays: Beyond the Picket Fence, Lady Behind the Curtain, Someday Crafts Thursdays: Answer is Chocolate, A Creative Princess, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Fireflies and Jellybeans, The Frugal Girls, Suzy’s Sitcom Fridays: Chic on a Shoestring Budget, Finding Fabulous, Simply Designing Tatertots and Jello; Saturdays: Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Six Sisters Stuff, Sweet as Sugar Cookies, Sundays: Flamingo Toes, Homemaker on a Dime, I Heart Naptime, Under the Table and Dreaming

Please click on the photos for larger and more detailed pictures.

This is such a fun hat to wear. (And it was totally fun to make, so you’ll get a carefree vibe from it)! I actually discovered my crochet rag baskets could be used as hats, so that’s what I did! I say you can never have too many hats, and if you’re a hat person, you’ll love how unique this one is.

It’s made with t-shirts and flannel pajamas that weren’t getting any attention. I cut them into strips and crocheted them into this funky hat, and now they’ll be getting lots of admiring glances. I also used some eyelash yarn to add some interesting texture…since I’m such a texture junkie. Pssst, that’s also why I have most, if not all, of the knots on the outside: it’s gives the hat lots of texture treats!

Price: $30, plus $6 shipping within the U.S. and Canada. If this funky hat is going to be shipped elsewhere, just email me and let me know where. (screamingsardine ~at~ yah00 ~dot~com). I’ll skip on over to the post office and check what the shipping rate will be.

Today’s interview is with Rhonda from Spanky Luvs Vintage 2 Zibbet Shop. I met her through one of the many Craft Star threads on the Etsy forums. She conducted a great experiment about how easy it is to buy Facebook fans, and we’ve been chatting ever since. Her shops are full of a great mix of eclectic vintage and handmade items, and her descriptions are very entertaining. As you’ll soon see, she has a fun personality!

Tell us about your store. What kind of items do you offer?
I try to offer a variety of things at different price points and would call it an “eclectic mix” of items. I have been collecting for over 40 years and have a wide variety of stuff but have listed mostly vintage costume jewelry and recycled vintage pieces.

Where do you find all your great vintage finds?
I am always looking everywhere because you never know where you might find the next item . Everytime we go to a new town, I am searching for the junque and antique shops because they are my favorite places to browse.

How long have you had an interest in vintage/antique items?
I think that since a very young age I have always felt a “connection” with things from the past. History was always my favorite subject in school. When I was 10, I started a “dog” collection of figurines and used to enter the collection each year at the local Fair. I have the collection stored in my garage and plan on giving it to my Grand babies, Chloe and Lexie, when they get older.

Are there any particular vintage items that are your favorites?
Costume jewelry is the item that I have tubs and tubs full of so I guess that would obviously be my top of the list fave. But I really enjoy things like old paper dolls and imagining all of the little tiny hands that have held them and played with them and the smiles they have created. Also digging through an old can of buttons is my favorite way to “chill-ax.”

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love reading, gardening, cooking, fishing, and mostly hanging out with the Grand kids. I have also become some what of a Pinterest addict. LOL!

What’s a question you wish I would’ve asked? And please answer that question. How did you meet Tracy?
I met her in the Etsy Forums and can’t thank her enough for the time she spends helping promote others. Thanks luv….you are a real treasure and I consider myself lucky that we crossed each others’ path

Please include ten fun facts about yourself. (Example, I like black jelly beans; I love “24;” etc).
#1.Thinks that ” Jolly Ranchers” Rock and loves to pucker up with garlic pickles

#2 My T.V. is often tuned to the “Food Network” and I am okay with “Chopped” re-runs because I can seldom remember who won anyway

#3 I once won a hog calling contest

#4 My mom once had a poodle that she named “Rocket” but I thought he should have been called “Harold” and I used to tease her about it that the poor dog had a complex because he knew he was really a “Harold”……imagine her surprise when she took him to the groomers one day and the lady said “Uhm Maaam…I’m afraid someone has been writing on your dog.” I had taken a black sharpie and written “Hi ! My name is Harold” with a winking smiley face on his little pink belly. Moms was pretty embarrassed about that one

#5 I used to have a mosaic in my kitchen that I made out of pasta, beans, rice, etc. and when we did a re-model and had to knock that wall down…I almost cried. My son used to make fun of me and say that when I ran out of room I would start gluing stuff to the ceiling…but regarding the “food” mosaic, I used to tell him that it was kind of like having our own “food shelter” on the wall in case of a nuclear attack

#6 I used to race go-karts and actually set a track record for fast time, but these days I am usually on time yet never in a hurry to get anywhere and travel at a slow and steady pace.

#7 One of my weiner dogs loves to have me cradle him in my arms and sing “Rock a bye Brownie” sung to the tune of “Rock a bye baby,” and he gloats and always looks around for our other dogs to make sure they know he is getting all of my attention.

#8 Last December I was a “Featured Zibbeter” on Zibbet

#9 Huge “Sons’ Of Anarchy” fan

#10 When I was in my teens my family had a grocery and tackle store, and my favorite pet at the time was “Wally the Waterdog”. At that time the salamanders were great for bass fishing but I thought they made even better pets.

Please list the urls to your website, blog, and/or online shop, social media, etc.
Spanky Luvs Vintage Etsy Shop
The Eclectic Kinetric Etsy Shop
Spanky Luvs Vintage 2 Zibbet Shop
Hanky Spanky on Pinterest
Spanky Luvs Vintage on Facebook
Spanky Luvs Vintage Blog

Sharing with Suzy Sitcom and Homemaker on a Dime

For a variety of quality handmade and vintage items, please see the gallery!

For some yummy recipes, check out my Yummy Bed and Breakfast Recipes ebook!

Chicken and Stuffing Casserole

Now that the colder weather is here, it’s the perfect time for recipes like this. Luckily, this is a quick and easy and it’s really yummy. It was a hit when I served it at the cafe back in Inbredville, ND.

Chicken and Stuffing

Cooked chicken (however much you’d like)
Box of stuffing (I use Stove Top Stuffing)
Cream of chicken soup

Cook the chicken in however way you’d like and cut into small, bite size pieces. Prepare the stuffing according to package directions. Once the stuffing is done, mix in your chicken pieces and a can of cream of chicken soup. Stir it all in and serve when everything is heated through.

Yum! It tastes especially good on a chilly night!

Linking up to the following parties.
Mondays: Craftomaniac, Flour Me with Love, Marvelously Messy, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Tuesdays: Chef in Training, Crazy for Crust, Inside BruCrew Life, Not Just a Housewife, Lil Luna, Sugar Bee Crafts, Wednesdays: Beyond the Picket Fence, Lady Behind the Curtain, Someday Crafts Thursdays: Answer is Chocolate, A Creative Princess, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Fireflies and Jellybeans, The Frugal Girls, Suzy’s Sitcom Fridays: Chic on a Shoestring Budget, Finding Fabulous, Simply Designing Tatertots and Jello; Saturdays: Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Six Sisters Stuff Sundays: Cherished Treasures, Flamingo Toes, Homemaker on a Dime, I Heart Naptime, Under the Table and Dreaming

Here are some wonderful handmade (and a vintage) items that make me think of autumn and/or Halloween. I normally do an Etsy treasury, but the treasuries never show all the photos when I put them on my blog. Plus, there are great handmade items on venues besides Etsy, so I thought I’d make my own collection. To learn more and see more pictures, click on the photos.

Today’s interview is with Kim of Vintage Paige Etsy Shop, a shop full of affordable vintage items, including pretty vintage jewelry!

Tell us about your store. What kind of items do you offer?
My store is vintage jewelry and accessories. I offer a wide variety of costume, and vintage pieces. Really anything that catches my eye!

Where do you find all your great vintage finds?
I find them everywhere! I love to hunt at flea markets, garage sales, and antique malls. I have also purchased from friends.

How long have you had an interest in vintage/antique items?
I started collecting in high school. My mother had some fabulous things from her career as a singer, and that made me interested. I started with hats, scarves, and some jewelry. Later I became interested in boxes and compacts.

Are there any particular vintage items that are your favorites?
I will always have an attraction to vintage handbags. I carry one whenever I attend an event. It magically completes an outfit. The other thing that I adore are vintage bracelets. I always have one on.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I practice yoga, and I love the beach! When I am not busy with my family I love to go to yard sales.

What’s a question you wish I would’ve asked? And please answer that question.
Do you do this for full or part time? The answer is part time, but I wish it was my full time employment!

Please include ten fun facts about yourself. (Example, I like black jelly beans; I love “24;” etc).
1. My favorite color is green
2. I’ve lived in 6 states.
3. I have a rescue dog
4. I couldn’t do a handstand until I was in my forties
5. I studied drawing in Italy
6. I love to watch the AMC series Breaking Bad.
7. I have a nine year old daughter
8. My secret love is oil painting
9. I love to travel
10. I could eat Pizza til the cows come home.

Please list the urls to your website, blog, and/or online shop, social media, etc.
Vintage Paige Etsy Shop
Vintage Paige on Twitter
Vintage Paige on Facebook

Sharing with Suzy Sitcom and Homemaker on a Dime.

I had a blast creating these one of a kind handmade t-shirt fringe boa / scarves! It took a long time to knot every single piece of “fringe,” but it was a hoot! I loved how, after every piece knotted, it changed the creation – adding to it and almost deciding what color and length the next t-shirt fringe piece would be.

I’m sure you’ll have as much fun wearing one of these as I had making them! I have them in shades of pinks/oranges, blues, and greens. (Sorry, no shades of grey – lol)! (Although, actually…the blues have a bit of heather grey in them as one of the fabrics I used had a pretty almost sky blue color on one side and heather grey on the other side).

If you have the winter blahs, I bet wearing one of these fringe scarves will totally perk up your mood (and outerwear). In fact, you might not mind winter wearing this funky cool and…dare I say…eccentric…accessory! Plus, with so much t-shirt fringe, it really keeps your neck warm.

The pink handmade scarf measures approximately 90 inches long, with individual fringe measuring anywhere from approximately one inch to approximately twelve inches.

The blue handmade scarf measures approximately 79 inches long, with individual fringe measuring anywhere from approximately one inch to approximately eleven inches.

The green handmade scarf measures approximately 72 inches long, with individual fringe measuring anywhere from approximately one inch to approximately nine inches. It also has bits of “silky” fringe amongst the t-shirt fringe.

Price: $35 each, which includes shipping within the U.S. For orders outside the U.S., please contact me at screamingsardine ~at~ yah00 ~dot~ c0m and I’ll check to see what the shipping rate is to your destination.

Please click on each photo (above and below) to enlarge.

Green t-shirt fringe boa scarf

Today’s interview is with Jennifer of Crochet by Jennifer Etsy Shop. Her shop is filled with some of the cutest crochet patterns you’ll ever see. I love how the patterns for the hats also include sizes up to adult.

Tell us about your store. What kind of items do you offer?
I offer crochet patterns exclusively. I try to design with a unique style, more modern and not what some people consider to be “grandma’s crochet”.

How long have you had an interest in crochet and offering patterns for sale?
I’ve had an interest in crocheting since I was a little girl but I didn’t start writing patterns until the beginning of 2011. I was working from home and had a lot more free time on my hands.

How did you get started? Did you start by experimenting around, or did you take a class and go from there?
My grandmothers both had a hand in teaching me to crochet when I was a young girl, but with both of them far away, I never attempted anything other than afghans until November of 2010. Then I discovered all the online help and started trying different patterns. At first I was hesitant to buy any patterns so I tried the free patterns that were available online. Then I bought a couple of patterns and almost immediately I found that I was modifying them to my own taste. It was only a few months later that I started writing my own patterns.

Are there any particular mediums you like working with?
I have a strong preference for cotton yarn. I don’t like acrylic yarn generally, I associate it with the cheap scratchy stuff that I used many years ago. I was so excited when I discovered cotton yarn; I’ve stuck with it ever since!

Is there anything you eventually want to get in to and master?
There are some more complicated stitches that I have tried and enjoy…however it’s another story trying to write a pattern using those stitches that other people can understand. I would like to be able to master writing patterns for more difficult patterns.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
To be honest….crochet!

What’s a question you wish I would’ve asked? And please answer that question.
What is your pet peeve when it comes to crochet patterns?
I absolutely despise patterns written in just plain stitches, like a hat made entirely in double crochet. To me it looks amateur and certainly not worth buying as a pattern. I strive to use interesting stitch combinations that create unique textures…something that is worth buying! I also always try to include all sizes in my patterns. I hate when designers sell each size separately; I think that’s a rip-off.

Please include ten fun facts about yourself. (Example, I like black jelly beans; I love “24;” etc).

1. I used to breed and show Siamese cats. I traveled all over the United States to cat shows and sold kittens all over the world. (My kittens were spayed/neutered before they went to their new homes.)

2. Two years ago I fulfilled a lifelong dream of traveling to Italy. I hope to go back someday.

3. I have two daughters that are 18 years apart. My older daughter is like a sister to me, and I love being an “older mom” the second time around.

4. I also design websites as a hobby.

5. I used to manage a pet store and at one time had just about every animal you could think of as a pet…my house was like a zoo! Now I just have one dog and one cat.

6. I love to read. I enjoy authors like Dan Brown, John Grisham, and Steven King.

7. I’m sort of a hermit….I love interacting with people online but I rarely go anywhere.

8. I’m 11 years older than my husband…yes, you can say it, I’m a cougar! (He actually looks older than I do though…)

9. I am an only child. I never minded this, but I love having a sister and brother-in-law now that I’m married.

10. I love New York City. The first time I went, I traveled all over BY MYSELF, even taking the subway. It’s incredible!

Please list the urls to your website, blog, and/or online shop, social media, etc.
Crochet by Jennifer website
Created by Jennifer Blog
Crochet by Jennifer Etsy Shop
Crochet by Jennifer on Ravelry
Crochet by Jennifer on Facebook

Sharing with Suzy Sitcom

For a variety of quality handmade and vintage items, please see the gallery!

For some yummy recipes, check out my Yummy Bed and Breakfast Recipes ebook!

Peanut Butter on Graham Crackers Dipped in Cocoa

Just wondering if anyone else does this. My grandma gave me this as a yummy snack, though I admit now that I’m grown up sometimes I use it as a meal. (Hehe). (Hey, it’s go protein…with the peanut butter). All you do is put peanut butter on graham crackers and dip in hot cocoa. Yum! It’s especially nice on a chilly day.

Linking up to the following parties.
Mondays: Craftomaniac, Flour Me with Love, Marvelously Messy, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Tuesdays: Chef in Training, Crazy for Crust, Inside BruCrew Life, Not Just a Housewife, Sugar Bee Crafts, Wednesdays: Beyond the Picket Fence, Lady Behind the Curtain, Lil Luna, Someday Crafts, SNAP! Thursdays: Answer is Chocolate, A Creative Princess, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Fireflies and Jellybeans, The Frugal Girls, Suzy’s Sitcom Fridays: Chic on a Shoestring Budget, Finding Fabulous, Simply Designing Tatertots and Jello; Saturdays: Be Different Act Normal, Flamingo Toes, Funky Junk Interiors, Six Sisters Stuff, Sweet as Sugar Cookies, Sundays: Cherished Treasures, Homemaker on a Dime, I Heart Naptime, Under the Table and Dreaming

Today’s interview is with Jen of Jenni’s Crochet Etsy Shop, a shop full of beautiful high quality crochet pillow covers, scarves, beautiful blankets, and more!

Tell us about your store. What kind of items do you offer?
I opened my shop in February, 2012, and it is full of items I have crocheted. I have afghans, pillow covers, and some infinity scarves too!! I love to try different stitches, and I LOVE to experiment with color.

How long have you had an interest in crocheting?
I have been crocheting for about 10 years now. But I have always needed to be creative and first started out doing a lot of cross stitch, then kinda moved into paper arts and even a little jewelry making!! But crochet for me is where my heart and soul live.

How did you get started? Did you start by experimenting around, or did you take a class and go from there?
I can remember watching my great grandma and my grandma both crocheting a lot when I was a kid, and I still have the afghans they crocheted for me!! It wasn’t until after my third baby that I asked my grandma to teach me to knit actually, and I couldn’t get the hang of the needles so she said I should crochet and, like they say, THE REST IS HISTORY!

Are there any particular mediums you like working with?
I love working with yarn, of course, there is something magical that happens when I see all those colorful balls, and I know I can turn them into something that I love and hope other people love too!

Is there anything you eventually want to get in to and master?
I know a little about sewing but I would love to learn more so I can incorporate it into my crocheting.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time I love to hang out with my husband, our three kids, our two cats, and our dog!! I love to go for walks and bike rides. I like to read and watch movies and listen to music.

What’s a question you wish I would’ve asked? And please answer that question.

That’s a tough one cause this is my FIRST interview!! But here goes…What new crochet projects would you like to add to your shop? I would love to add more crochet fashion accessories like handbags and jewelry.

Please include ten fun facts about yourself.
1. I love science fiction tv shows and movies.
2. I love to experiment with food
3. My pantry has to be full….all the time!
4. I love to play Assassins Creed!
5. I love to catch snow on my tongue
6. I love thunderstorms..even when they scare me
7. I love spicy food
8. I love to be near water..oceans and lakes..I find it very peaceful and calming
9. I am a coffee-aholic
10. I don’t like to dust

Please list the urls to your website, blog, and/or online shop, social media, etc.
Jenni’s Crochet Etsy Shop
Jenni’s Crochet on Facebook
Jenni’s Crochet on Twitter