I've a confession to make using scrapbooking...

My confession? Well, I am a John Tesh fan!!!!

Yes, I am...

This guy in the background may have won the basketball, 

but I got the kiss and the autograph!!!

This was a piece of chipboard die cut

that I used a marker to change the color.

Then I glimmer misted it to make it pop...

I added one of my beet juice dyed

tags to the page as a journaling spot...

Added this cute embossed leaf we

made in a class...

I used recycled elements on this page

by bringing the coffee sleeves into the 

background. Then I added the newness

of the bling...

I also added one of my dried baby wipes from my

projects which was the perfect color match combo plus

it had some stickles and glitter on them!!! Sweet...

Again, I used the coffee sleeve to the background of

both pages...loving it...

Here is a ticket die cut BUT I added a note at the bottom

of the ticket as to where we sat...

Then there is the atuograph!!! Yes...

Loving it...I took the photograph back to another

concert I went to and asked him to sign it...

he did...=)

I used CD covers for this page...

It worked perfectly!!! Loved the outcome...

Thank you for sharing such a special night with me...

I didn't know we had front row/center seats but it

was so amazingly worth it....

Hugs, Rita

Crochet T-shirt Rug and pattern...

Oh I so love love love this color! It is one of the colors in our bedroom that I will be using. I am also in-cooperating burnt orange to the mix with white as the accent color. Although I have made many crochet rugs, even won first place at the county fair a good number of years ago, I have enjoyed working with the t-shirt fabric. I will be recycling more of these as the boys wears them out, however, this was 2 yards of t-shirt material that I purchased and cut into 1" strips. This isn't a color my guys would typically wear lol, no disrespect to all the guys or gals out there that do love this color, my guys are dark earth tone or red/white kinda t-shirt guys. Hay, they all wash nicely together!! So here is the pattern for this sweet rug...

Rita's Crochet T-Shirt Rug

Crochet Q Hook
4 yards of 60" width t-shirt fabric, cut into 1" strips
** I don't sew my ends together with the fabric but you can if you wish...
***In this pattern you are going to continuously crochet in the round, there won't be any rows. Mark the beginning and move the marker up each time you go around.

Chain 5.
Slip stitch into the top of the beginning chain.
Single Crochet in the top of the next chain. Do 2 sc in the next sc. Repeat 5 times.
Single Crochet in the top of the next 2 chains. Then sc in the next sc 2 times. Repeat around 2 times.
Single Crochet in the top of the next chain. Then sc in the next 5 sc. In the next sc, do 2 sc in the same stitch. Do this for the remainder of the project until you reach the desired size you want.
If the rug doesn't lay flat. You can increase the sc in any stitch by doing 2 sc in one stitch.

I enjoy recycling t-shirts, jeans, fabric and other items, even towels, into these projects. They are functional and great to use anywhere in the house. The nursing homes love them as well. So think about your gift giving this year and what you can make for those you plan to gift...

Hugs, Rita

Crochet Poncho with Pattern...

OMGosh, this is a super easy pattern to follow and

I will include the link at the end of this note!!

Yes, I had to show off wearing it =O!

Chocolate had to have his picture made too...

sweet doggy...

I followed the pattern (yeah me! well, almost)

by

Lion Brand and used Hobby Lobby's 

"I love this yarn" brand fiber, Elements" #904.

Pattern: Coming Home Poncho...

This is a size medium but the pattern

comes in children's to plus size...

I would make the larger size next time

so that is flowing more...

 

Here is where I changed the pattern so

that I could use a simple scallop edging...

The pattern had several chained links on 

their scallop and I was afraid of getting caught...

 

I loved this pattern because I used 3 different crochet

stitches in it...single crochet, the granny square, and

the scallop...basic stitches anyone can do..

Here is this patterns link....

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/70370AD.html?noImages=

The pattern for the child's size...

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/70368AD.html?noImages=

The pattern for the plus size which is also called the Martha Stewart Coming Home Poncho...

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/chsscallopEdgePoncho.html?noImages=

I will make another one, but first, I have other projects to work on lol!

...but who doesn't...

Hugs, Rita

Black Bean Portabella Mushroom Reuben Sandwich Recipe and Grilling with our NEW George Foreman Grill...

Wow!! The Black Bean Portabella Mushroom Reuben Sandwich with Sauce is lip smacking rockin' awesome! We used fresh bread, cut thick, and it was wonderful! The flavors melt in your mouth. Even with all the grilled foods you are about to see...everyone in our family ate this rather than the chicken and most of the veggies! Even Garrett!! However, there were plenty to use in various ways for other meals. So let's get started on the photographs and then this great recipe and the inspiration behind it... 

The NEW George Foreman Grill is the perfect size!!

Thank you again, Rebecca!! I was able to cook our complete

meal in shorter time and it "roasted" with flavor...

Chicken with lemon pepper and cilantro.

Veggies in salt, pepper, olive oil, parsley and garlic.

The portabella mushrooms sizzling on the left...

Zucchini, yellow squash, Roma tomatoes, asparagus...

The black bean burgers cooking up along with egg plant...

Awesome goodness...added some onions to the grill too...

Let me share the recipe first for the black bean burgers

and then for this amazing sauce... 

Jerry's original sauce for this amazing sandwich...

The burgers were inspired by a recipe that we saw in a column called CookSmart USA weekend (Jan13-15, 2012 page 12). Some of the ingredients the recipe called for we didn't have or didn't care for so we changed it to what we had on hand as well as the flavors our family loves. It turned out perfect. They didn't add the onions nor the mushrooms, well nor the sauce, which was such a shame since they were so fantastic!! Then again, that is what inspired us to create this...

Black Bean Portabella Mushroom Reuben Sandwich

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained well

1 can refried beans, fat free

1 cup dry Italian bread crumbs

2 large eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic

1 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

6 slices of thick homemade bread or large hamburger buns

¼ cup real butter, melted

6 slices of cheddar cheese

2 cups sauerkraut, shredded, drained well

Onion slices, grilled or sauteed 

6 large portabella mushrooms

1.  Mix beans, bread crumbs, eggs, pepper, and garlic in a bowl.

2.  Divide into 6 equal parts; using plastic wrap, flatten each into patties.

3.  Place the burgers and portabella mushrooms on a gas or indoor grill and cook for 5-6 minutes, until done and portabellas are tender. Sprinkle some Worcestershire on the mushrooms if you want, it is delicious.

4.  Brush bread with butter, sprinkle some minced garlic on the bread for added flavor and toast them in the oven on 350 degrees. 

5.  Layer the sandwich: 1 slice of bread or bun, sauce (see below), burger, mushroom, kraut, onion and cheese then the bread or bun.

Yummy!!

All-Purpose Good Tasting Super Sauce

½ cup mayo

¼ cup horseradish sauce

¼ cup ketchup

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp paprika

Whisk together until blended.  Serve with anything from French fries to ice cream.

Enjoy and I so need new shelving for my cooking toys lol...

Hugs, Rita

MOPs Minestrone Soup in a Jar Prepared & Yummy...

Thank you, MOPs Mothers!!

They gave all the volunteers a jar of soup mix to take home.

I got an extra jar thanks to extra being delivered to our room...

Plus I think everyone is like "OMGOSH, she feeds 9!"

(9=6 for supper plus 3 lunches for the next day)

All the ingredients I used for this wonderful soup...

shredded cabbage (had the bagged slaw on hand),

diced  onion, Roma tomatoes, fresh yellow squash,

2 cans of diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning...

Also, 6 cups of water...all in the crockpot... 

Aren't the jars beautiful!!! 

There is the original directions...

I didn't go to far off from them lol! =P

Fresh veggies to any soup is not only healthy but delicious...

Normally, I would shred my own cabbage but this was

something I had on hand...it is very good added to salads too.

I keep these beauties in my staples...love using them...

Hope you have a warm and wonderful winter. If you know someone that has a young child, birth to 4, recommend they look into MOPs in their area. Mothers of Preschoolers is a wonderful program that I volunteer for and have for several years. Thanks again, beautiful mothers, for this wonderful gift!!

Hugs, Rita

Kris Kross Crochet Scarf and Pattern

The Kris Kross Crochet Scarf Design...

This was totally fun to create...

I wanted to make something for a special for a new friend and what better than a camouflage scarf! Yes! I nailed this one and yes, it is for a guy! This cross stitch pattern came to me pretty easily and I am sure you will find it so as well. I hope the photos below will help and the directions will also. I look forward to seeing photos of your work! So let's begin first with the stitch photographs...

This is how the stitching will look once you get started...

Your chain as begun and you have turned to do your single crochet...

You have completed your single crochet and now have

chained four and ready to turn and begin the cross stitching...

Skipping 2 chains from the chain 4, do a tr in the next ch...

Showing the drop offs for the tr...

Again the final drop offs for the tr...

Now, ready for the next tr in the cross stitch...

YO and go back to the ch previous to the one you just 

did the tr in and in the front loop insert the hook through the

top of the chain...

Continue the tr...

After completing the Cross Stitch...skip 1 ch...

do a tr in the next ch...you will come back to that

empty ch for the cross stitch creating a pattern

throughout the row...

Now for the written instructions...

Kris Kross Crochet Scarf Pattern

by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs

Size I/9 Crochet Hook

Chain 256

Row 1. Turn, 1 sc in the second ch from hook and each chain across.

Row 2. Turn. Ch 4, skip 2 ch, * tr in next ch. Then tr in the front loop of previous ch. You have just created a cross stitch. Skip a ch. * Repeat the process from * to * until you reach the end of the row.

Rows 3-5. Follow the instructions for Row 2. 

Row 6. Turn. Ch 1, sc in the top of each tr across to end of the row. Fasten off.

Happy Hooking =),

Hugs, Rita

Paris Envelope Mini Scrapbook Album...

 I had to start with this photograph...isn't it rockin' awesome!! All those pockets and tags! Lots of real estate for photos, tickets, memorabilia and so forth. I loved designing and making this mini album so get a cup of coffee or hot tea, sit back and enjoy...

I started with a box I purchased a local bookstore that had the Paris theme. I was going to make one from scratch but WHY? when I found this lovely...I had to make a mini-album using this box. It was totally fun...

I cut the album to fit inside the box of course...duh lol...

The colors of my papers just so happened, matched...

Adorable...

The band can be untied or simply slide off...

I left the back blank but she could add something, or not...

There is room everywhere for

photos and stuff...

It is like opening a surprise box!!

Out pops a mini album! Hooray!!

I cut the envelopes so they cascade

down the pile...All the tags are cut

to fit inside the envelopes...

I made tags for each of the outside

pockets, which were made with 

cardstock and a Martha Stewart punch...

tags and more tags...

I loved this quote from a Tim Hotlz stamp which

represented her "journey"...

I used die cut stickers that I found...love the vintage feel of these...

Oh the calendar die cut sticker rocked...

I turned some of the die cut stickers into tags...

I loved the cut of that tag on the top...

thinking outside the box...

My friend, Carolyn McCravy, gave me many Paris 

stickers and papers that I used in this album...

I so loved this paper piece...

I used it in 2 other projects this holiday season...

These pocket tags on the right are from Close to My Heart

and are great for adding more space to a project...

I love things that are vintage way too much...=)

This album is put together quite easily...nothing fancy...

I did "sleep" on it one night to think about how I to

put the binding at the left together so that when you have it 

flat open that it lay flat...it worked...

I just can't say enough how much I love the number of tags in this album! I always double side my tags with heavier papers or I line them with cardstock first so that they sturdy. The tab is, of course, my favorite punch of all time...they should just name it after me and give me the new design, don't you think LOL...just kidding...Love that punch though...

There is so much fun in making things...right? right! I love it...it is respite to my soul and balm to my being and sweetness to my spirit. Creativity is just me. 

Hugs, Rita