Saturday, June 12, 2010
4th of July Ideas
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Appliqued Onesies
This is perhaps the easiest little project I have ever done. Seriously you could make a whole package of onesies in less than 10 minutes! And you can do this project even if you don't have a sewing machine... isn't that awesome? And the price to make these is under $2/shirt.
What you need:
1. Onesies
2. Fabric (use your scraps, you just need a little!)
3. Fabric Fusion Applique Paper (1 yard will go for ages...)
Note: There is non-sewable applique paper, and sewable... this depends on whether you want to sew a stitch around the edge of your design for a more finished look. The non-sew is a little more stiff and harder to sew through.
4. Scissors
5. Iron
Directions:
1. Follow the instructions on the Fabric Fusion Applique paper. Basically, you lay the applique paper over the back side of your fabric, with the paper side up. Iron it on low for 2 seconds until it sticks.
2. Cut out your design.
3. Peel the paper off the fabric and place the design on your onesie. Iron for 8-10 seconds until it sticks to the onesie. Done!
Here is the pattern I used to do the tie: (Just click to enlarge, and then print.)
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Superhero Towels
Tools and Materials
Bath towel
Washcloth
Superhero Cape Template
Reflective fabric
Adhesive agent, such as Steam-a-Seam
Disappearing-ink marking pen
Straight pins
Applique scissors
Button-covering kit
Superhero Cape How-To
1. Download and print the templates, then choose one of the shield shapes and an additional shape, and enlarge the images 400 percent. Cut a piece of reflective fabric into a 12-by-12-inch square. Trace the shield template on the square, then flip the template over and trace again; the templates are in halves, so you'll wind up with a whole symbol. Lay a piece of adhesive agent on the reverse side of the reflective material, cut out the shield, and using a pressing cloth and iron, affix the shield to the towel.
2. Place the lightning bolt or other symbol over the washcloth, and trace the shape using the disappearing-ink pen. Place the washcloth over the shield, and pin in place with straight pins. Sew along the traced line using a straight stitch, and cut away the excess washcloth with applique scissors. Save the scraps to fashion a button. Finish with a zigzag stitch along the lightning bolt.
3. To make a button, cut a circle of fabric that's twice the diameter of the button. Follow the instructions provided with the button-covering kit. Sew the button onto the cape. Measure your child's neck, and sew a scrap of the reflective-fabric shield in the appropriate spot on the cape to form a button loop.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Easter Chick Cupcakes
Tools & Materials
20 Vanilla Cupcakes
Buttercream Frosting
4 cups sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
1 piece (10 inches) black licorice lace, cut into 40 (1/3-inch) pieces
20 whole almonds
140 red candy-coated licorice pastels (about 1/3 cup), or pieces of snipped red licorice laces
Bake cupcakes and cool completely. When turned upside-down, each cupcake becomes the body of a chick. Spread buttercream frosting on a cupcake to anchor it to the serving plate while you are working. Use a small offset spatula to coat the sides thickly with frosting, and then mound more on top to create a dome shape.
Press toasted shredded coconut into the frosting -- it stands in for fuzzy feathers. Hold the plate at an angle while applying the coconut so the excess falls back into the bowl.
Place eyes (made from snipped black licorice laces) on chicks using tweezers. Use a whole almond for the beak and red licorice for the feet and comb; both can be pushed into the frosting by hand.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Jelly Bean Carrot
Tools and Materials
Plastic pastry bag
Orange jelly beans
Green rickrack or ribbon
Easter basket, optional
Jelly Bean Carrot How-To
1. Fill a plastic pastry bag 3/4 of the way with orange jelly beans.
2. Tie bag closed with a green rickrack or ribbon.
3. Include the carrots in an Easter basket or fill a basket with them and set them out as favors for a party.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Saturday Morning French Toast
French Toast Casserole |
Submitted By: STARFLOWER Photo By: foodaholic
|
5 cups bread cubes 4 eggs 1 1/2 cups milk 1/4 cup white sugar, divided | 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon margarine, softened 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon |
1. | Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly butter an 8x8 inch baking pan. |
2. | Line bottom of pan with bread cubes. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, 2 tablespoons sugar, salt and vanilla. pour egg mixture over bread. Dot with margarine; let stand for 10 minutes. |
3. | Combine remaining 2 tablespoons sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle over the top. Bake in preheated oven about 45 to 50 minutes, until top is golden. |
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Easter Gift Idea
INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:
1. Reduce 1 sleeve graham crackers to crumbs.
2. Layer 2/3 of the crumbs in a 1 quart jar.
3. Place 8 marshmallow bunny peeps standing up, facing out around the inside of the jar.
4. Press them up against the glass, but don't squash them.
5. Carefully spoon remaining crumbs in the center of the jar to support the bunnies, pressing down to keep it snug.
6. On top of this pour 1-1/4 cup Easter M&M's.
7. Spoon 1/3 cup brown sugar into center of M&M's, gently pressing with a spoon.
My changes: I did M&M's first, then Peeps, then put combined brown sugar and graham cracker crumbs in baggie. I didn't like how the crumbs made a mess in the jar. Attach a gift tag giving the following instructions:
1. Empty the jar contents into a bowl. Snip the bunnies into bits with kitchen sheers or cut up with a knife. Return the bunny bits to the mixture. Mix well.
2. Melt 1/2 cup butter; add 1 teaspoon vanilla. Pour this over the dry ingredients, mixing well. Pat into a greased 9" square pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. Cool and cut into bars. (Makes 9 to 12 bars.) *Option - leave bunnies whole; combine remaining ingredients and place the bunnies on top; then bake as directed. *This gift jar may be created to suit any holiday for which marshmallow candies are available.
**Here is a card you can print with your jars... they are 3x3 size. **
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Easter Centerpiece
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
A Mother's Day Gift Idea
More Kids Wall Art
Monday, February 22, 2010
Easter Inspirations
*All images are courtesy of the amazing Martha Stewart team! Love their stuff.*
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Nursery or Kids Room Art
What you need:
- Three 5 x 5 Paper Mache art boards ($2.99 at craft supply stores)
- Ribbon for hanging
- Scissors
- Acrylic paints and paint brushes
- Card stock for printing your design
- Permanent spray adhesive
Steps:
- Remove rope strands from the boards and discard.
- Choose a style of ribbon and cut 3 strands the exact same size.
- Apply your base coat to cover the brown paper mache. Paint everything, including the back side.
- Start painting! It helped me to sketch out my design on the computer before diving into painting. I used acrylic paints and paint brushes. All three boards were given a different pattern in the background.
- I drew the elephant in Adobe Illustrator and chose two colors for the elephants. Then I printed them out on card stock and cut them out, leaving a little white border to help them stand out against the painted backgrounds.
- I tested out the placement before adhering the paper elephants to the boards. Using permanent spray adhesive, I adhered the elephants to the boards. Tie on the ribbon to hang and your done!
gap sale
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
christmas decor ideas
Thursday, November 19, 2009
getting organized
and now i just learn that my next door neighbor sells the next best thing at a price anyone can afford! i think it is a genius product, and i can hardly wait for them to get back in town so i can reorganize my entire pantry. i am getting anxious just thinking about it. and i really can't believe i didn't know about this sooner! i know there are so many people out there that would like this, so i have to share!!!!! visit them at "THE CAN ORGANIZER!"
Option 1- Cupboard Organizer
This smaller option fits conveniently in your cupboards and rotates 9 soup cans, or 8 vegetable cans, or 18 tuna cans. You get 4 of them for only $11.96!!!
Option 2- Pantry Organizer
This is a longer option that fits 16 Vegetable, 18 Soup, or 39 Tuna cans. This is the perfect option for me, and my deep pantry shelves. This would also be what I imagine you'd use in a cold storage room, depending on how deep your shelves are. Again, you get a 4 pack for just $15.96.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Thanksgiving Place Cards
Monday, November 16, 2009
Thanksgiving Craft Project 4 Kids
This wreath makes a very pretty and colorful piece to hang on a door or wall in your home. You will need: Autumn-colored construction paper, scissors, glue, a good-sized piece cardboard, one large paper plate and one small paper plate, and a black marker. The children can make their own, or they can make one together. Basically, you are gluing rolled strips of construction paper onto a circle shaped piece of cardboard. Then at the bottom you add the face of a turkey. The turkey will be the traced foot of a child. Eyes, wobbler, and beak will be cut out using scraps. If you are a teacher, it would be creative to have each student write one thing they are thankful for on a strip of construction paper before you glue it to the cardboard.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Sweet Potato Casserole
INGREDIENTS
- 5 sweet potatoes
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Bake sweet potatoes 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until they begin to soften. Cool slightly, peel, and mash.
- In a large bowl, mix the mashed sweet potatoes, salt, 1/4 cup butter, eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, sugar, and heavy cream. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, combine 1/4 cup butter, flour, brown sugar, and chopped pecans. Mix with a pastry blender or your fingers to the consistency of course meal. Sprinkle over the sweet potato mixture.
- Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until topping is crisp and lightly browned.