Black Friday Sale Now In Progress!

BLACK FRIDAY SALE IS ON!

I hope everyone had a wonderful time with friends and family yesterday!  I really did.  It is so good to be in the company of family and friends to share a holiday meal.  I am so thankful!  If you are traveling back home today or sometime this weekend, please be safe on the roads.  Happy Thanksgiving weekend!

AND HAPPY BLACK FRIDAY!

Let the Second Annual Black Friday Sale in my Etsy Store Begin!

Be sure to come by and grab tutorials at half price!  Yeah Baby!  The sale starts this morning and runs through noon on Sunday!!

Please note...The prices in my Etsy store are already marked at 1/2 price...

The link to get to my store is HERE

-or -

Copy and paste the link below into your address bar:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheGentlemanCrafter

Thanks so much!  Have fun today!

Jim
The Gentleman Crafter

Happy Thanksgiving From Our House to Yours!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Warm wishes of a Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends...and best wishes for the day to my amazing European Pals!  I hope your day is filled with family, friends and amazing food.  I am so thankful to each of you for your love and support!

Remember that Friday is the second annual Black Friday Sale in my Etsy store!!  Be sure to come by and grab tutorials at half price!  Yeah Baby!  The sale starts at 12:00 a.m. Friday morning and runs through noon on Sunday!!

Have an Amazing Day!  Happy Thanksgiving!!

Jim

The Gentleman Crafter

Making Lamp Finial Decorations & Black Friday Sale

Good Afternoon Everyone!

Thanks for coming by last night's Ustream show.  It was fun showing how to make the lamp finial decorations.  I received emails asking for some instructions so,  I thought I would give some step by step instructions on my blog today.  They are easy to make and inexpensive to do and make a BIG splash on a lamp top.  With a twist, try them out as decorations for your tree...

Warning:  These do not go anywhere near the light bulb.  They sit on top of the crossbars to the lampshade next to the finial AWAY from the bulb.  Be safe and sensible when using these near something hot such as a light bulb.  That said, mine get warm but not hot...

Here we go...a few pictures of some completed lamp decorations....

Here's how they were made:

You will need some bendable aluminum wire for the base, chenille stems (pipe cleaners),  and some beads and pearls.

Found this 12 gauge aluminum wire at the craft store.  Really easy to bend...

Bend the wire twice around a small container.....

Once you have made a "hoop", bend the chenille stems around it to cover the wire....

Add beads and pearls to the chenille stems....

I made around (20) decorated stems....

Bend the stem around the hoop and cut off excess...

Keep adding the stems about every half-inch....

All the stems have been added....

Twirl the stems around a pen....

Fuss with the stems until you have it the way you like...

...and place it on your lamp...Done!

BLACK FRIDAY SALE!!!

Remember that Friday is the second annual Black Friday Sale in my Etsy store!!  Be sure to come by and grab tutorials at half price!  Yeah Baby!  The sale starts at 12:00 a.m. Friday morning and runs through noon on Sunday!!

By the way, if you make the finial decorations, please send me pictures, I would love to see how yours come out...

Thanks for coming by!

Jim

The Gentleman Crafter

Organized and Decorated...

Good Morning Everyone!

I've had the most amazing week last week.  I wasn't necessarily going to to take a WHOLE week off to clean and organize, but I did and I am so grateful!

I didn't realize I had let so many things go...Cobwebs in the shower, baseboards with so much dust you could grow a corn crop, lamps that you knew any moment might burst into flame from a short in the wires, the lawn looking more like the plains of Africa than a yard, flower pots with dead plants in them that begged to be dumped out, bathroom shelves loaded with year old expired toiletries that needed to be tossed...and of course, it was time to pull out the Christmas decorations and get that done...I have worked my tail feathers off and honestly enjoyed every moment of it.  It's been awesome to finally catch up...

My week of cleaning, organizing and decorating is done and somehow I can see clearer now...Or maybe that's all the Christmas lights that illuminate each corner of my house....

It was back to work yesterday, kitting kitting and more kitting!  Today I hope to have it finished and this will be the first time EVER the kits will be done weeks before the class!  Yahooo!

Also on the schedule for today is my Ustream show, Take Out Tuesday.  Be sure to grab some chenille stems, beads and some soft bendable wire and join in tonight at 7:00 p.m. Central.

Here is the info:

Follow this link to get to The Gentleman Crafter's Ustream Channel HERE...

or cut and paste the address below into your browsers address bar:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-gentleman-crafter

See you tonight at 7:00 p.m. Central Standard time....

Have an awesome Tuesday!

Jim
The Gentleman Crafter

Mama's Chicken Cheese Soup Revealed!

Good Evening Everyone!

I posted a picture of my very favorite soup on Facebook...like last week maybe.  I promised I would get the recipe to you all.  I think this would be a perfectly suitable post for today...ehhh?

Now this soup isn't for the faint of heart or if you are trying to watch cholesterol or count calories...Just be warned!  However, it is totally yummy anytime, but especially good on a cold night with some jalapeño cornbread.  When you honestly think it can't get any better...heat it up the next day...WOW!



So without delay...

Mama's Chicken Cheese Soup...

Makes a roasting pan full...LOL!  Now this is coming from Cesar who is trying to tell me what he uses.  He just looks at food and knows what to do...So if I forget something...email Cesar...LOL!  By the way I am NOT a recipe writer...Nor am I a cook...so forgive...

Ingredients:
4 Sticks Celery cut into small pieces
1 White Medium Onion chopped
1 Stick Butter  (Gotta love butter!)
3/4 of a 1 pound Bag Large Elbow Macaroni
(4) 32 ounce Cartons of Low Sodium Chicken Broth
32 ounces brick of Velveeta Cheese cubed  (see what I mean about calories and cholesterol!!)
Salt
Pepper
Dried Minced Garlic Flakes
(3) 10 ounce cans of chicken drained or or 3 chicken breasts cut into small pieces.

Saute onions and celery with the butter until translucent...Add salt, pepper and garlic flakes to taste.  Add chicken broth then add in macaroni and boil until done...We like it very well done....not
al dente on this one...Once the noodles are cooked add in the cubed Velveeta until melted.  Stir in chicken.

Mmmmm...mmmmm Good!

That's it...Hope you enjoy!

Jim
The Gentleman Crafter

The LOST Archiver's Turkey Templates Revealed!

Good Morning Everyone!

I wanted to do a  post I promised to more that several people.  This year I had so many emails about folks not being able to find the original line drawings from the Archiver's archive on the turkey project I did using their tutorial and template.  I thought the best thing to do is post it here so that we could have it for future...

My friend Kathleen was nice enough to send her version of the Archivers Turkey to see.  She did an amazing job by the way...  You can visit her blog HERE.  Thanks Kathleen!

Now for the Links...My friend Kay had saved both of the .pdf files of the turkey template and tutorial from last year!  Thank You Kay Kay!  I have uploaded the files to my drive which you can access and download the files....

You can find the templates by following the links below:

Turkey Head and Feet Template-

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Byw1jq858UATb2RQdnE2RnR4ck0/view?usp=sharing

Archiver's Turkey Tutorial-

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Byw1jq858UATd0JlUDNGLU5kazQ/view?usp=sharing

Thanks Everybody!  Hope this helps!

Jim

The Gentleman Crafter

A New Beginning...Setting Sail!

Good Morning!

Change...

“We can't be afraid of change. You may feel very secure in the pond that you are in, but if you never venture out of it, you will never know that there is such a thing as an ocean, a sea. Holding onto something that is good for you now, may be the very reason why you don't have something better.” 
― C. JoyBell C.

This morning I have been thinking about one of my favorite movies....The African Queen with Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn....

I am sailing out from the safe, secure and warm harbor of a real job... My small boat is filled with excitement that is brimming with ideas and wonder...  I can't lie...There is fear of unknown rapids and rough water that will need to be traversed, but I know my boat is well built and my life vest is strapped on.  I'm setting sail in hopes to find the clean fresh breezes and the open expanse of the ocean.  A new world awaits.  Let the journey begin!

Last week was bittersweet.  Leaving what has been my work home for over 12 years and the friends and family I have made there..It was tough.  I have so enjoyed working for Seton and being apart of an amazing team. However, I knew that time ticks on... I am not getting any younger and I MUST give being out on my own, once again, a try.  Thanks to Seton and my Seton family!  It's been such an amazing journey!  I have been so blessed.

Now it's time to...well, HAVE TIME... to become more focused, be more organized, create new things, teach what I can, and meet new friends along the way...

I'm totally thrilled to start a new adventure and set sail for the new lands that are just beyond...

See y' all real soon...

Jim
The Gentleman Crafter

Mini Fall Leaf Basket

Good Afternoon Everybody!

This morning I awoke to an email that my pals Johnna and Darcie aka the Scrappy Camper Sister's were streaming live from Florida!  They are on a little camping adventure down in St. Pete shopping, camping and visiting the wonderful wonderful Whimsodoodle Arts and Crafts Supply Store.  (LOVE THIS STORE!!!)

When I tuned in they were at the campground making awesome Thanksgiving cards designed by JJ.  Beautiful leaves, cool backgrounds and I even learned how to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig that I have owned for what?...Three years now!  So cool!  I so appreciate JJ demoing that on her cards!  Now to find it and use it!

Anyway, long story longer...LOL!  I pulled out Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves Die and tossed around ideas!  Then I pulled out Tim's Petal die and thought....Hmmmm...basket or cornucopia thing!  LOL!  Fill the basket with the leaves....

Next came Dina Wakley and Golden paint mixed in with a little Ranger Texture paste to cover the outside of the basket.  I added some painted leaves cut from the die and a few springs of some dried "plant matter" I found in the yard.  Last, a little tag and some burlap ribbon for the handle.

Looks like Fall to me!  Thanks tons JJ and the Scrappy Camper Sister's for the inspiration to pull out the crafts!  Think these would be cool at each Thanksgiving place setting...maybe as place cards.

Have an awesome weekend!

Jim
The Gentleman Crafter

Halloween Fun!

Good Morning Everyone!

It is starting to really feel like Fall in Central Texas! This morning  when I got up, I actually turned on the heater!  I walked outside and it was cool enough for a jacket...So Fall is in the air and I think Halloween was a kick start...

We usually sit around on Halloween night watching scary movies and just veg!  The days of dressing up and going out have long gone.  I think sometimes it's just safer to stay put.  Sadly, living out in the country we have no little ones trick or treating, yet we keep the porch light on just in case....

Last night, I had an absolutely fun laid back evening with Barb and Cesar.  We started off with pumpkin carving...We downloaded a few templates from the Internet and were off.  We were done in perfect time...Night had just fallen and the pumpkins were lit....

Here's a few pictures...

We started with these guys....One for each of us!

Put down some brown paper, printed out templates and pulled out all the knives that didn't really help!  LOL!

 

We found a new way to use the Fiskars Hand Drill on Barb's pumpkin....

 

And here they are done and spookily glowing....

 

Barb's amazing pumpkin!  Thought this came out really awesome!

 

 

Loved Cesar's evil looking skeleton pumpkin!  He did a great job!

 

And mine...Hade to make him a bit happier than my template...LOL! 

The Trio of Pumpkin Goodness!

 

 

Next, it was Cesar's Amazing and OH SO DELICIOUS chicken enchiladas...Jim made homemade salsa...Which came out fabulous I might add...LOL!  To top off the Halloween extravaganza... Key lime pie for dessert.  Yes, I had a small piece!  AND Oh Yeah!...I can't forget about the scrumptious roasted pumpkin seeds!  I don't know if it was just the type pumpkins we carved but for three pumpkins all I could roast was about a cup full...But they were GREAT!

 

All this amazing food while watching one of my all time Halloween favorite flicks... without all the blood and gore I hate... I might add...Don Knotts in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken...It's 1960's music and actors always puts a smile on my face....

 

A fun old fashioned laid back Halloween! The only thing we missed was bobbing for apples!  Maybe next year!  Hope you all had a fun night as well!

 

Have an awesome weekend!

 

Jim

The Gentleman Crafter