Death By Chocolate Recipe...

Here is an old favorite in our family. My mom made this Death by Chocolate recipe for as long as I can remember...I've definitely carried on her tradition. It is the perfect treat to bring to any function...party, picnic or just for dessert.

Death by Chocolate Recipe 

• favorite boxed chocolate cake (eggs, oil and water according to the box)
• large box chocolate pudding (plus milk according to box...I used instant)
• large Cool Whip (this really stands up better in the layering process. I have used real whipped cream that I've made myself, but serve that on the side, don't layer with it...it just disappears)
• one bag of Heath bits. (You can find these in the baking section near the chocolate chips. You can also crush your favorite candy bar)

The four main ingredients can be in your pantry and freezer and always be on hand for that quick "put together" dessert.

You can also make the cake ahead of time and keep that in your freezer...it will be even faster!!

I make 4 layers, so divide the cake according to how many layers you'll have.

( I don't usually assemble this on the floor of my sewing room, but that was the only bright light yesterday, when I made this!! Lol)

Break up the cake on the bottom of the serving dish.

Divide pudding into 4 sections too.

Spoon over crumbled cake.

Spread evenly...you don't even have to be neat with is recipe!!

Next is Cool Whip.

Spread over pudding.

This gives it the trifle look...

Now your favorite crushed candy.

Yum!!

Now start the layering process again with the crumbled cake, pudding, Cool Whip and candy.

End with Cool Whip and decorate with the candy.

Where's the spoon?

The longer it sits, the better it gets!

Enjoy,
~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Linking Party...Week 77

Hi everyone...hope you had a great week and were able to sneak in some blogging/crafting time. We all love to see what you've been up to, so I hope you'll share some of what you blogged about this week.

If you're NEW to Sew Darn Crafty, then grab a cup of something tasty, sit back and join in on the fun (starts Sunday and lasts all week long here at Sew Many Ways).

If you want to add the button to your blog's side bar or your list of parties that you're in each week...Click HERE for a tutorial for adding a button

WHAT IS A LINKING PARTY...

I subscribe to a linking service, which provides the ability to link thumbnail pictures on my blog. The picture is a link that other bloggers provide to share their projects.

Two things can happen at a linking party...looking and/or linking

• you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
• you can share what you've been up to (linking)

If you want to be inspired by all the great ideas...just click on a picture and it will take you to that post from a wonderful blogger who was willing to share her thoughts and ideas.

HOW AND WHAT TO LINK TO THE PARTY...

Sew Darn Crafty is all about YOU!! Show off your projects, share a tutorial, show us your vacation pictures, share a family favorite recipe...share anything. Not only does linking inspire us all, it also brings lots of new people to your blog for a visit. Click here for past parties and lots of inspiration

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

• link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not  search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post. Copy and paste the address that's at the top of your computer into the linky steps.
• link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
• anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
• visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
• linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
• just click the blue "click here to enter" button below all the other links and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week

~Karen~

Sew, Sew, Saturday...Dryer Sheet Sachet

Welcome to another addition of Sew, Sew Saturday. Saturdays are the day I try to squeeze in some sewing during a crazy, hectic work week.

A busy week at home includes laundry and lots of it! I use dryer sheets once in a while and save the old used ones, knowing I will make something with them some day! Well, today is the day! I was laying in bed this morning, in the wee hours before getting up and my brain was ticking what to do with them.

Dryer sheets are like fabric and they are see through and airy...soooo

A Dryer Sheet Sachet...

This is an easy sewing project that's great to make for gifts and it's recycling too!!

Here's a new dryer sheet. We're not using this.

This a used dryer sheet. We're using this...

This is a used dryer sheet that I attempted to iron to flatten. DON'T IRON IT!!  It melts. Lol

Use a scrap piece of fabric to cover the dryer sheet and then iron it.

It will cling to the fabric a little, so make sure it's something you don't want to keep.

Take ironed sheet and place it long way, left to right.

Fold over left to right.

Sew down one side, across the bottom and then up the other side. I sewed on the folded edge just to give it a sewn look.

Trim and neaten up the edges.

Now your bag is ready to fill with any dried, sweet smelling flower.

The most popular is dried lavender. I didn't have any, but wanted to show you what it would look like anyway. These are just silk flowers I had.

Fill sachet bag...

Now I wanted to make it look like a jumbo tea bag!!

Fold over the 2 corners and then flap down the top. I pinned to hold in place.

Sew straight across.

Now for the tag!

Print a bunch of cute little sayings on card stock and have them on hand to make a bag quickly.

Use a paper punch or use a cute cookie cutter to trace a shape.

Stapling and assembly.

First staple string to top of bag.

Now wrap the string down the front of bag,  around the back and over the top to the front.

Leave about 2 inches or so and cut. Staple the end of the string to the back of the tag.

Bring the tag over to the front.

At the very bottom of the tag, cut a small snip in the card stock.

Like this.

Now secure the front string in the snip.

Isn't it just the cutest?

A lavender, big sister version of the real tea bag.

Save all those dryer sheets and these will be a quick and easy project you can make in an assembly line style. Just sew, fill, staple and tag!!!

Great for...

• teacher gifts
• grandparent gifts from the kids
• quilting bee friends
• to add to the top of a gift
• add to a gift basket of real tea things
• add to bridal shower gift if you are buying sheets or bathroom towels
• party favors
• party favors for a tea party

The list is endless. Have fun with it!

Have a Sew, Sew Saturday,

~Karen~

Give Away Thursday...Home a la Mode

Hi Everyone. Before I talk about a fabulous give away I have for you, my husband and I want to say a great big thank you to everyone who wished us a Happy 25th Anniversary yesterday!! My husband and I loved all the comments...he read each and every one too. You made our day!!

Now onto a cute, cute, cute give away for you. Remember last week I did a post for one of my great sponsors...Home a la Mode? Well, they are celebrating an anniversary too...their 5th! Happy Anniversary to you!

In that post, I showed you a cute coaster set that looks like vintage milk bottle caps? Well, that's today's give away!!! Aren't they just the best?

I have a set too...and I love them!

Thick quilted muslin...

Perfect for that cup of tea while blogging...

and you can still have 5 friends over too!

Now for the give away part. I'll make this very easy for you...

• just leave a comment on this post and tell me what favorite drink of yours would be on this coaster!

I know you all visited their site last week and saw all the great things they have, but click HERE if you want to browse through the catalog again. I just love it.

I also want to share with you their blog. Kristin is having an anniversary celebration give away each day, so pop over there and enter their give aways too!! Click here to visit.

Thanks again and good luck,

~Karen~

25th Anniversary...

August 1, 1987...

Where does the time go?

Two beautiful daughters...

Happy Anniversary to my husband and best friend!