Pumpkin Dog Biscuits for Health Conscience Dog Owners

Stop giving your dogs crap from China that is killing our dogs!! Here is a Pumpkin Recipe that is healthy for them  

Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

2 eggs
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons dry milk
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 1/2 cups brown rice flour *
1 teaspoon dried parsley (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.

In large bowl, whisk together eggs and pumpkin to smooth. Stir in dry milk, sea salt, and dried parsley (if using, optional). Add brown rice flour gradually, combining with spatula or hands to form a stiff, dry dough. Turn out onto lightly floured surface (can use the brown rice flour) and if dough is still rough, briefly knead and press to combine.

Roll dough between 1/4 – 1/2″ – depending on your dog’s chew preferences, – and use biscuit or other shape cutter to punch shapes, gathering and re-rolling scraps as you go. Place shapes on cookie sheet, no greasing or paper necessary. If desired, press fork pattern on biscuits before baking, a quick up-and-down movement with fork, lightly pressing down halfway through dough. Bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven and carefully turn biscuits over, then bake additional 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely on rack before feeding to dog.

* Brown rice flour gives the biscuits crunch and promotes better dog digestion. Many dogs have touchy stomachs or allergies, and do not, like many people I know, tolerate wheat.

Makes up to 75 small (1″) biscuits or 50 medium biscuits

Thanksgiving Decorating Ideas

The holidays are here and if your like me, every year I get into the spirit and want to do something different for the holidays. Today I wanted to share with you some holiday decorations that are not just easy to do, but quite the conversation piece as well.

Chrysanthemum Covered Pumpkins 

To Decorate your Home or your Entryway

All that is needed is an awl, make "holes" and fill with mums

Fabric Covered Fruit

With some thrift store fabric and needle and thread you can make this awful fruit basket 

and then hot glue craft leaves to the tops.

Dressed Up Entryway

Nothing says elegance for the fall like beautiful pumpkins and cabbage flowers.

Gourd Wreath

Take a thrift store wreath and upcycle it with your favorite gourds, 

add mossy green and pumpkin-color ribbon to make a beautiful wreath.

Pumpkin Filled Lanterns

Thrift Store Lanterns in any color can be transformed with spray paint,

then add your favorite fall items and dress up any room or front porch.

Snowman Shaped Pumpkins

Be creative and add some flair to pumpkins by sitting them on each other to make a statue.

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Upcycled Birdcage Light- Not Just For The Birds Anymore

One of my favorite finds at the thrift store is birdcages. There are so many different things that you can do with them.  This one initially  had been a wedding envelope holder, but was perfect for what I had planned.

Great Deal at 3.99

Items Needed: 

You will need a light. This one is pieces I had left over from a .99 light I had used the glass pieces from for the Upcycled Silver Plated Spoons Plant Hanger.

A small lamp shade that attaches to your light bulb, as well as any other decor you want to add.

Directions:

1. First dissassemble the light socket if using an old light, unless you are using a store bought candelabra or edison type and unscrew the cord.

On mine I had already cut the cord to reduce the length. 

2. Next feed your cord through your decorative hardware that you may be using if needed, then through the birdcage. You are now ready to reattach your socket.

3. To make sure that my decorative hardware stayed in place, I hot glued it to the top of the birdcage.

4. Then reconnect the top to the bottom of socket. I painted my lamp socket to a hammered brown color also. Make sure that when you reattach your socket to the cord that you put the bottom piece on first before rewiring the socket.

5. Then add your lamp shade. I chose a lampshade that clipped to my light bulb. Although, I think an Edison bulb would look great here.

• Thrift Store Bird Cage                       $3.99
• Thrift Store Light (on hand)               $  .00

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• TOTAL OF TODAY’S PROJECT              $3.99

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A Beautiful Basket Case-Upcycling Thrift Store Baskets

To keep up with more ideas for the holidays, I found this thrift store basket that is uniquely shaped. Perfect for a catch all for yarn, toys or even magazines. So why not spruce it up for that special someone?

It was a great basket, large enough to use for many purposes, although somewhat drab. With the colder weather coming on I wanted to add a little outdoor flavor to bring the outside, inside.

And even better was the price, another .09 find!

I first took white latex paint and dry brushed the outside. By dry brushing you only want to put a little paint on your brush and then spread it as far as you can. The purpose is for the paint to not cover your project completely. This gives a weathered look to your piece.

Next I taped off the bamboo pieces and covered the bottom. I spray painted the top and handles with black spray paint and let dry. Then recoated with a second coat.

After everything is dry, remove your tape and then apply a wood conditioner or another secret soy sauce to enhance the old bamboo.

I wanted to bring a little bit of the outdoors, indoors. I found some leaves (which are readily available right not lol) and sprayed adhesive in a can on them and placed them on the outside of the basket. Then took Mod Podge and applied several coats to seal them so they look the same over time.

• Thrift Store Basket                  $.09
• Mod Podge (on hand)               $.00

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• TOTAL OF TODAY’S PROJECT      $.09

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Congratulations to Katy Hancock winner of the Wired Turquoise Ring Giveaway! Remember to bookmark us and follow us on http://www.facebook.com/Junkin4Humanity and our website http://junkin4humanity.com for more giveaways!

Creative Chalkboard For The Holidays

Here is a cute idea for a gift for the person who loves shabby chic, or just likes to stay organized. Instead of buying that expensive chalkboard or the even more, expensive chalkboard that you find at your neighborhood craft store, why not make one? 

I found this cute wood display at the thrift store and loved its "bones", so I decided I would make it into a chalkboard that I have been meaning to make for my kitchen.

What a deal .09!!

Directions

1. I started out by sanding it down first.
2. Then painted it with a black spray paint to give it some aesthetic texture for the final result. 
3. After drying I painted it with a white wash; 2 parts paint with 1 part water.
4. Removed the backboard and painted with chalkboard paint.
5. While chalkboard is drying, I sanded the white frame for a distressed look and then applied liquid black antiquing. (remember a little goes a long way of this stuff.)
6. I then reapplied the chalkboard to the back of the frame.
7. Add any type of hardware, design, or stenciling.
8. Where the gap was, I added a piece of brass that use to be on an old vintage window and cut to fit. Giving it more flair as well as covering the gap.

There you have it!! A Custom Made Chalkboard for a fraction of store prices. Even if you were to give as a gift, no one will ever know that you spent next to nothing. All they will see is all the love that went into a custom gift just for them.

After I made this, the next morning my wonderful guy left me my first note to wake up to. He really is the best!

• Thrift Store Wood Display                       $.09
• Chalkboard and Paint (on hand)               $.00

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• TOTAL OF TODAY’S PROJECT                   $.09

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Holiday Gifts Under $5

Reuse cardboard drink carriers and empty bottles to make a cute gift for sweet and salty treats

Ask The Barista for a clean cup and lid. Stuff with brown and white tissue. Slide Starbucks gift card inside

Wrap frozen homemade cookie dough in parchment, print out recipe on white paper, and wrap

Did you say nothing? When you were asked what you wanted for Birthday, Anniversary, Graduation or Christmas. Don't you remember saying NOTHING Well this time someone heard you, searched high and low and found this perfect gift for you.

Buy a couple really of pretty bars of  soap it's so pretty you won't need  gift wrap

Make Magnets from Bottled Starbucks Frappuccino

Pick up a couple packets of seeds that are suitable for a windowsill garden – chives, cilantro or basil, perhaps – some small pots and soil for an inexpensive gift that will keep giving all year.

Give the gift of snuggly warmth in the form of a nice, thick pair of socks. For the best deal, buy a multi-pack; and divide it among several people on your gift list.

Most grocery stores – and many big-box stores – now sell reusable shopping bags for 99-cents a bag. Pick up five of them for the perfect eco-chic gift. Or put your gift inside for a bag they won't have to throw away.

Put ingredients for a recipe in a Decorative Jar.

Tonight's Blog is a Poll

We want to know what you want!

Please take a moment just to check a box and let us know, we value your feedback.

Junkin4Humanity wants to know what you would like to see in our blog for the upcoming holiday season?

Small Craft Making Ideas DIY Decorating Cooking Ideas Craft Ideas For Kids Handmade Gift Ideas

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Salt Dough Ornaments For The Holidays

Spending Quality Time With Family

Whether money is tight during the holidays or you just want a new craft to do with your kids? Salt Dough Ornaments are the best thing to do either. Made from things you already have in your cabinet, you can make special keepsakes with this recipe from Halloween pumpkins, to thanksgiving decorations and even Christmas ornaments.  Nothing is more special than making a homemade memories, spending time with your family and keeping your keepsakes for years to come.

 Directions for Salt Dough Recipe

Ingredients 3/4 Cup of Shortening 3/4 Cup of Sugar 1/4 Cup of Brown Sugar 1/2 Cup of Molasses 3 Cups of Flour 1 TBSP Cinnamon 1/2 TSP Salt 1/2 Cup to 1 Cup of Water (more or less) Directions Cream together the Shortening and the Sugars in a large mixing bowl until mixed well. Stir in the Molasses, again until mixed well. In separate bowl, combine the Flour, Cinnamon, and Salt and stir to combine. Begin to alternately add your dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Add the flour mixture and 1/4 cup of the water at a time until ingredients are mixed and you have formed a good dough. At some point, it's best to just get your hands in there and start mixing, as it will quickly become a challenge to stir with a spoon! You may need to add a little more water or flour to get your dough to the correct consistency. You want to be able to touch the dough with your finger and have it not stick to it. So when that happens, it's ready. Shape your dough into a large ball. Cover it with plastic wrap and set in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes. If you plan to be using your dough for cut-out ornies (using cookie cutters, etc), what I like to do is sprinkle my counter with cinnamon. This helps the dough to not stick, but it also adds extra cinnamon to the outer layer of the dough, which I like. But this is totally optional. I also suggest you buy your cinnamon in large bulk containers; it's much cheaper that way...and get the cheapest cinnamon you can find. No sense spending a lot of money on something you aren't going to eat! For cut-outs and small ornies (like the cinnamon bun ornies), bake these at 350° for for 15-20 minutes. It may be more or less, depending on your own oven. They will harden quite a bit while cooling. Just be sure they're cooked through and let them cool completely. For larger items like pantry cakes or very large cinnamon buns (I've done full size ones on occasion), I usually bake them at 325° for 20-30 minutes, again, oven times will vary, and the thickness of your item will be a big factor too. And if you're going to dip your ornies or other baked dough items in wax, just make sure they are cooled completely before doing so.

Related articles

• Braided Apple Sweet Bread with Cider Glaze (therapybread.com)
• Feeling Crafty? Homemade Salt Dough Baby Hand/Foot Print Ornaments! (confessionsofacrockermom.wordpress.com)
• Salt Dough Ornaments (roseg1394.wordpress.com)
• Salt Dough Ornaments (liefdeliebelove.wordpress.com)

Primitive Wreath Made from old Maps

The primitive look is quite the rage for many crafters as well as home decorators. It is not just a fad, its a way of life. It is a decorating style that is simplistic, giving a feeling of warmth to a home. I love it because, it is a way to come in from the world into your own private space that quietly whispers a "welcome home" and tranquility to it.

One of my favorite things is old maps, atlases and globes. I always snatch them up when I'm thrift shopping. Since I had so many on hand, I thought I would make a wreath from them.

I got this wreath for .69

Removed the flowers

I then took an old book filled with maps I got for .25 and cut the maps into leaf shapes.

Then measured them out by laying them around the wreath. These leaves I wanted to fit the contour of the wreath itself. I then took the map leaves and soaked them in coffee to give more of a vintage look. Then laid them on the wreath to dry and fit to the contour of the wreath.

For the map leaves that would be stemming from the wreath, I also soaked them in the 

coffee mixture. Then laid them out in an egg carton to allow them to dry to a wrinkled look.

After they were dry, I alternated them with the ones I allowed to dry on the wreath and hot glued them.

I then added ribbon to the wreath. This one I made a rose out of the 

ribbon and hot glued it to the wreath to stay in place. If you need 

help on making a ribbon rose Factory Direct Craft has a good illustration.

• wreath                    $  .49

• ribbon                     $1.97

• Old Atlas Book         $ .25

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Total Of Today's Project   $2. 71

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