Carolina Coleslaw and a couple of crafts

So it’s been over 2 weeks since I’ve posted anything.  Nothing bad going on, just summer time and enjoying time in the great outdoors, by the time I do come in I either watch some tv or I play on Facebook and get lost in the craziness I find there.   I do love being outside though.  I’ve been stocking up at yard sales and flea markets on mason jars (I have a craft addiction to these things) and vases.  I made some Christmas vase centerpieces last year and they sold well so I’d like to do it again.  I might as well start getting supplies early.  Even though I do not want to hear or type Christmas again!

So for a bit of summer fun to add to the picnic table, garden or landscape I made these two mason jar crafts.  Once again, both of them my Pinterest finds.  The first is a watermelon jar. These are super simple, here’s how to make them…

You will need some Crystal Gloss Enamel paint.  Shown is red and green and regular black acrylic paint.  A small paint brush and some cotton balls or a foam brush.  (I used both and like the foam brush the best but, this was the only picture I had).

Paint the top of the jars red, leaving about 3/4″ to an inch of clear at the bottom of the jar.  The picture looks pink but, that is one coat.  I did two coats and you can see the difference in the next picture.

Once that is dry, maybe an hour or so.  Paint the remaining clear part green.  Again, I did two coats.  Let dry 48 hours and then bake as instructed on the back of the gloss enamel paint bottles.  This is paint specifically used on glass to dry colorful and translucent.  I love the stuff!

Once they are out of the oven and cooled, you can add the black dots onto the red portion to mimic watermelon seeds.  I had all different shapes and sizes, just have fun with it!  Let the black dry and you’re ready to use them.  Just add a tea light and enjoy!

The next jars I created were splatter jars.  These turned out cute and bursting with color.  Once again, very easy and you can choose what colors you want.  Two-tone, jewel-toned or go rainbow style like I did 🙂

You’ll need the same gloss enamel paint as stated above in whatever colors you choose.  Next, you’ll need a can of Dusting Air, the stuff you use on your computers, tv’s, etc. it looks like this…

Add a little paint to the side or bottom of the jar.  Then spray the paint with the the dusting air to spread it out and create a “splash” of color.  Do this with your remaining colors to combine the paints and make colors blend.  Let dry and bake as directed on the back of the gloss enamel paints.  Once cooked and cooled, add a tea light and you have a colorful piece for your table setting, yard, etc.

Can you tell I love lights and color?  They scream summer too me.  My (long) driveway and pool path are lit with solar lights but, I like lights here and there and everywhere too 😉

Okay funny side story, I was using the Dusting Air for the splatter jar and it ran out about halfway through!  I thought of using the husband’s air gun but, figured the jar would go flying and shatter into a million pieces.  I was determined to fix it though and finally used a cigarette lighter thingy that I have to blow up air mattresses.  Ha!  It worked fine and I felt like a genius.  For a minute…Ha!

So, now I will shut up and get to the food.  The hubs will not touch a mayo based coleslaw and I was determined to put some slaw on our smoked chicken sandwiches so I found this recipe and tweaked it to my liking.  It’s vinegar based and we both liked it.  Yes, both of us.

Caroline Coleslaw

1 large head of cabbage, finely shredded
1 medium bell pepper, finely chopped
1 medium sweet onion, finely chopped
2 carrots grated

Dressing

2 T. sugar
1 t. salt
1 t. dry mustard
3/4 t. celery seed
1/2 c. vegetable oil
3/4 c. apple cider vinegar

Combine cabbage, bell pepper, onion and carrots in a large bowl.

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine remaining ingredients; bring to a boil.  Simmer, stirring, until sugar in dissolved; pour over vegetables and toss well.  Cover and refrigerate until throughly chilled.

Makes 8-10 servings.  (If my picture looks like less, I did cut the recipe in half for us).  Original recipe found here.

We had this, as I said on our smoked chicken sandwiches and it was really good.  I don’t have any pictures of our sandwiches…guess we were too hungry but, I did get one of the smoked, bbq chicken.

It was so good!  Try this while we still have a little bit of summer left.  Have a great weekend y’all and enjoy the nice weather a bit longer 🙂

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