.:Guest Blogger - Crystal @ Crystal's Craft Spot:.

Hi Everyone! I am so excited to be here on Sumo's Sweet Stuff today. I am Crystal from Crystal's Craft Spot. Its my little spot to share my current craft projects, tutorials, recipes, and future project ideas. I try to post something new everyday and I enjoy a variety of crafts. It is my way to relax and take a break from a busy day. I've been married for over 5 1/2 years to the sweetest guy, I have two little girls (ages 4 and almost 2). Stop by anytime!Today I am going to share with you a yummy meal from Brazil. I was hesitant to share this recipe because it is a little different. I really think it might be my favorite meal (and not just because my husband cooks most of it). Also its NOT spicy at all and both of my kids love it-a small miracle.

Well my sweet husband served his LDS Church mission in Brazil. He loved the people, the country, and the food! One thing they eat almost daily is Rice and Beans. It was his favorite and set out to learn how to make it. Well it has been several years and he finally figured it out (this is the only thing he cooks).

Let me just say this is not the rice and beans you would get from a Mexican restaurant-these are Brazilian style. Black beans with any type of meat they had thrown it it (Don't worry we don't use mystery meat) and very mild flavored rice. This is how we make it as a main dish for our small family. We have made it without the meat and it makes a really good side dish.

Brazilian Black Beans
1/2 bag of black beans
1 ham hock (looks weird but it makes it taste better)
1/2 of a large onion (chopped)
3 to 4 cloves of garlic (minced)
1/4 pound of sausage
1/2 pound of Bacon
1/2 tsp. of salt (you may want to add more depending on taste)

(you can use more or less of anything depending on taste also you can change the type of meat-we often use what we have at home)

1. Soak your bean over night

2. Add your beans, ham hock, and water (enough so its about an inch higher then the beans) to the crock pot. Cook on low for about 6 hours (or until the beans are done). It will be closer to 8 if you use more beans.

3. Remove the ham hock (you can cut it up and add it back into the beans but we usually don't)

4. In one pan add your onion and garlic and bacon. cook until finished. Add it to the beans
5. In a separate pan cook your sausage. Add to the beans
6. Add your salt and let it simmer for a few minutes (until the rice is done).

Brazilian Rice-I use this recipe.
2 cups white rice
1/4 of an onion chopped small
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups hot water

1. Saute your onion and garlic in the vegetable oil.
2. Add your rice. Stir it around so it is coated in oil and let it brown for a few minutes.
3. Add hot water and salt.
4. Cover and turn the heat to low. Let it cook for 20 minutes.

To serve: Add rice to your plate first and then cover the rice with the beans. I like to mix mine together. Its really yummy! We also like to serve it with Brazilian soda.

Come by Crystal's Craft Spot anytime for more crafts and tutorial. Thanks again Summer for letting me stop by. Its been a lot of fun!

.:Tutorial Tuesday - Recycled Wreath:.

Today we are going to make a wreath using crafting supplies you may have lying around, and plastic bottles!

I must admit, this idea is not totally mine. I first saw the idea of using plastic bottles here. I love how it looks, but I wanted to put my own spin on it! (Although if you have an old bike laying around, you could definitely use that for your wreath form like she did!)

Here's what you need:

- various sizes of plastic bottles

- scissors

- spray paint

- hot glue/gun

- wreath form (you could use styrofoam, wire wreath, an old wire hanger - anything really!)

- various ribbons, material, etc.

You'll want to start off by cutting off the tops of your plastic bottles. (I'm sure there's something fabulous you could use those bottoms for - dress them up to store some crafting supplies or something?)

Next, cut your petals.

Spray paint your plastic flowers.

While they are drying, take whatever material you want to cover your wreath form. I had some extra burlap so I used that, securing the ends with hot glue.

Then I took some of my ribbon and wrapped that around as well, again securing the ends with hot glue.

Next, I brought in my plastic flowers. I decided I wanted to make some rosettes to put in the middles of them. You'll need a circle of felt and some satin fabric (again, materials I already had lying around!) to make these.

Cut your satin fabric into one inch strips.

Tie a knot at the end and hot glue it to the middle of your felt circle.

Twist the satin, and wrap it around the circle, hot gluing it down as you go.

Add a little bling and hot glue it to your flower.

I also had some old, smaller wreath forms that I found hiding in our hall closet. As you can see in the picture above, I decided to spray paint those and add them to my wreath. I wrapped ribbon around them, too.

Glue down your flowers where you want them placed on your wreath, and give them time to set.

I used some old fabric I had from making skirts for my girls that matched perfectly, so I used some of that, and the matching ribbon, to loop around my wreath for hanging it.

Put it on your front door and admire your work!

I have to say, I think it looks pretty fantastic! And it really didn't cost me much extra. We drink soda and water often, so we always have a nice supply of plastic bottles. I was able to raid my crafting stash for all the ribbon and fabric that I used for the wreath. I could have used a wire hanger for my wreath form, but we don't have any of those lying around, so that is the one thing I did need to purchase for this project - $3 for my wreath form, but less with my 40% off coupon at Joann's. If you have a wire hanger, this project could potentially be free!

.:Market Yourself Monday - Car Caddy:.

I posted last week about the car roll ups I wanted to try. Well, I made a couple! Two of my nephews have birthdays in the next couple of months (they are both turning four!) and I thought they would like these. They definitely aren't perfect, but I still think they turned out pretty well!

I also made this girly one for Reece's Easter basket. I think she's going to love it! (Again, don't look too closely! I find it really difficult to stitch around shapes!)

You know the drill! Time to link up your latest projects, recipes, crafts, tutorials, etc. Please link up to your specific post and not just to your general blog. Grab my button, and go visit a few of the links!

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.:Guest Blogger - Bobbie @ A Vision to Remember:.

Hello, Sumos Sweet Stuff Readers. I am Bobbie with A Vision to Remember. I have 2 little girls that keep me really busy. But when I have a minute I sew, cut, and glue my way through whatever I can think of, one craft at a time.



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Here are a couple of things that I have made over at my blog:

A simple formula Can makeover


This really fun Beaded flower tutorial

I even have an Etsy shop where I sell car seat tents, rag quilts, and patterns





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I also host a link party each Saturday on my blog. There are always a ton of really fun things shared there. I hope to see you there.

The apron I made was for my 3 year old. At the widest point it is 20 inches and at the top it is 6 inches wide. It is going to be big on her but I did that on purpose so that she could grow into it. It is about 2 ft tall.

Materials Needed:

Newspaper

Fabric (I used 3 different colors, 1/3 yard of the blue, 2/3 yd each of pink and yellow)

Sewing Machine

Sewing Supplies

1. With the newspaper cut out the shape of the apron that you are wanting. I wanted the bottom to be scalloped so it was a little more difficult. I also made the slides slope a bit, but to make it easier you could just cut it at a straight line. Also the top part is a little bowed so that it will fit better around the neck.

2. Place the newspaper pattern over the fabric. Pin in place and cut.

3. Place the right side of the cutout apron on the right side of the other fabric that you will be using. The wrong side (that would be the side that you don't want to see when you have a finished product). Pin them in place and cut.

4. Cut out of the blue (or accent fabric) two 4 inch x the short length of your fabric (it will either be 45, 54, 60)

5. Fold in half and sew together.

6. Turn the tubes inside out (this is time consuming because the tubes are pretty skinny) .

7. Next cut the desired length for the neck piece (my fabric was 45 inches and I cut it in half so 22.5), and the lengths for the ties (mine were the same length as the neck piece).

8. To make the ends of the ties and neck piece look better fold inside of the tube about a 1/4-1/2 inch of fabric and sew in place (see the pic).

9. Cut out desired size of pockets (mine are 6 inch by 5 inch). Turn about 1/4 inch of fabric over to finish the sides and sew.

10. Sew the pockets onto the first apron cutout onto the desired spot on the right spot.

11. Sew the two apron pieces together, inside out, or the right sides facing each other. Make sure to leave a hole about 2 inches long so that you could turn the apron right side out. Sew the hole together when it is turned.

12. Attatch the apron strings (neck piece and side ties). On mine I placed the neck piece as close to the edge of the top as possible, and the side pieces I placed them at the top of the widest part of the apron.

I hope to see you at my link party Check ME Out Saturdays on my blog each saturday!