Homemade dried apples are such an easy and inexpensive way to sneak more fruit into your diet. Of course, nothing beats a fresh, juicy apple, but I like dried apples for their portability and versatility. A little bag of apples can be slipped into a small purse for an anytime-snack, and they make a great topping for salads. They’re also a fantastic way to preserve a large bounty of apples through the winter. The idea came from the book How to Sew a Button by Erin Bried, and I modified the directions to fit my needs.

Ingredients

 
- apples
- lemons
- water

Directions

Slice as many apples as you would like into pieces 1/4″ thick or less. They can be as wide or long as you like. You may also peel them, or leave the peel on. I chose to leave the peel on and they came out great.

Soak the apples in a mixture of equal-parts lemon juice and water. The lemon juice not only preserves the color of the apple, but it creates depth to the apple flavor without having to add sugar.

After soaking, place the apples on a cake rack on top of a cookie sheet. If you don’t have a cake rack (I don’t!), then just place the slices directly on the cookie sheet. I did not need to grease the pan – the apples came off fine on their own.

The oven should be preheated to 140 degrees F, and the apples should remain in the oven for five hours. If your apples aren’t on a rack, flip them half-way through. I found that my apples really needed about 6 hours.

The apples should be flexible and bendy. You can eat some immediately, or all of them if you just used a couple of apples. If you’re looking for long term storage, then after they have cooled, place them in a sealed jar for a few days.

Shake the jars every so often. Pasteurize them by freezing them in bags for two days, and keep them for up to 6-12 months in a cool, dry place.

Out to find ways to make life simpler, Ashley is tackling life one DIY project at a time. Learning as she goes, she also spends her days writing Indie Pretty Projects and creating for her Etsy shop.

wrap up: {diy} {dried apples} {food} {fruit} {living} {preserve} {simple} {snack} {winter}

some of you might know, we travel a lot. we’ve moved every year since we’ve been married (that’s 5!) and have made it clear across the country. when i saw this u.s. cork board project over at yellow brick home, i thought it would be such a cute way to log our travels!

it also instantly reminded me of this map on my iphone. as we drove home (yup, from california to north carolina) for Christmas, my iphone took note of where i took pictures- represented here by the pins!

different pins can mean different things, like where you’ve lived, where you’ve travled and maybe where you would like to travel! and, i think these twig thumb tacks would make it especially adorable. :) visit yellow brick house for the diy instructions!

wrap up: {cork board} {diy} {pin} {places} {travel} {united states}

wrap up: {calendar} {craft} {diy} {dry erase} {month} {project} {year}

i’m thinking this idea might mean a run to the thrift store. though these superior servers are available for sale (and appropriate for everyday use), i’m thinking a diy version could make for some unusually beautiful kitchen art. what do you think? framed, strung or even bunched in a canister- i think this would be an easy way to add a classy splash of color to your kitchen!

wrap up: {art} {color} {dipped} {diy} {handle} {ideas} {kitchen}

quick bread in a bottle | book marks | neck scarf | bath bombs

still feeling crafty? here are few quick and easy do it yourself christmas gift ideas!

i have made several gifts this year but can’t post them here in efforts to keep them a surprise to my family! i’ll share with you all the little goodies from this year afterwards. did you make many of your gifts? if so, what did you make? please share!

wrap up: {christmas} {diy} {easy} {gifts} {ideas} {quick}

Whether for your own mother or for a growing family in your life, this pretty keepsake ornament is a thoughtful handmade holiday gift. Inside the glass bulb are the names of each member of the family (pets included!) written or printed on little paper banners. The holiday and year are also included on a banner – a festive way to mark and remember this holiday season.

Materials

1 clear glass bulb ornament with hook

as many paper banners as needed, in complimentary colors

a fine-tipped pen

Directions

Measure the opening of the bulb to make sure paper banners will fit inside without crumpling. Cut out as many paper banners as needed for each name. I also included one banner to mark the year, and another banner I left blank for decoration.

Gently fold the banner in half and lightly pinch the crease – just enough so that that banner stays shut, but not so much that it is permanently creased shut.

Re-open the banner and write the name of a family member. Repeat for each family member. Write the holiday and year on one banner if you desire, and leave another blank. I included one glittering bronze banner to leave blank.

Gently, partially fold the banners again, and drop inside the ornament. Once all paper banners are inside, replace the cap of the ornament.

Shake gently to release banners from each other’s folds if needed, and package in a protective box for gift-giving.

Out to find ways to make life simpler, Ashley is tackling life one DIY project at a time. Learning as she goes, she also spends her days writing Indie Pretty Projects and creating for her Etsy shop.

wrap up: {ashley pahl} {christmas} {diy} {family} {keepsake} {ornament}

got a do it yourselfer in the family? (don’t we all??) consider gifting them a pattern, crafting kit or do it yourself project!

row 1: book binding kit – $22 | feather earrings kit – $28 | crewel embroidery diy kit – $30

row 2: oh deer card kit – $10 | scarf knit pattern – $6 | needle felt fox kit – €15,00

row 3: droplets diy kit – $30 | jellyfish installation – $35 | messenger bag sewing pattern – $12.95

wrap up: {2011} {diy} {do it yourself} {gift} {gift guide} {ideas} {kit} {pattern}

not only is it time to deck the blog with boughs of holly, but also our homes! hanging stockings by the fireplace is always one of my most favorite parts of decorating for Christmas. searching for little things to fill them up with and watching as everyone opens theirs is so much fun. at my home, we always forget about them until after we’ve opened all of the other gifts. someone will always say, “wait! the stockings!” and we get to have one more go at opening a few little things. it’s like i nice sugary dessert to the whole experience of Christmas morning. often times they will sometimes end up on our feet as funny socks and then carefully hung back by the fire for the rest of the holiday season. this year i thought, how special would it be to make our own stockings? below you’ll find a few of my favorite diy ideas, as well as a pattern for one from yours truly. :)

clockwise: the sweater stocking pattern, super easy snowflake stocking, quilted stockings, sweater stocking pattern, diy felt stockings, mary lou’s holiday stocking

wrap up: {christmas} {craft} {diy} {fireplace} {ideas} {stocking}