Craft Blog

Butternut Squash Pasta

Loretta — Sun, 27 May 2012 13:08:06 +0000

Ingredients:

1 butternut squash, peeled and diced
1lb penne pasta
1 pack feta cheese, crumbled
1 jar of ready-made red pesto
Olive oil

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit.

Place the butternut squash chunks on a roasting tin and roast with a splash of olive oil for about 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package instruction. Drain. Add the baked butternut squash, crumbled feta cheese and stir in the pesto.

Craft Ideas for Boys

Loretta — Sat, 26 May 2012 13:45:51 +0000

Many people have the mistaken notion that crafting is for girls only. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Boys enjoy making things with their hands every bit as much as girls do, but craft ideas for boys may not easily come to mind. Have your boys give some of these craft ideas a try and watch their faces light up.

Children begin to learn about crafting when they’re very young. Preschool teachers have them make ‘gifts’ to give to their family members for birthdays or other holidays. They make a small pinch pot out of clay, or a t-shirt using fabric paint and their hand or footprints. The point is that teachers don’t make a distinction between the sexes at this stage, so why is the distinction made later on?

It may be true boys are more rough and tumble than most girls but that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy making things with their hands. You may simply want to consider what it is boys like when trying to find craft ideas for them.

If the boys you are around are like most boys, they probably love to pick up sticks. They may imagine them to be a sword to fight a fire-breathing dragon, but they may be willing to gather sticks for crafts. Have them find long sticks, about two feet long.

They can make a Native American Dance Stick. Here’s what they’ll need:

* Stick, 1/2 inch by 24 inches
* Yarn
* Piece of fur
* 2 small bells
* 12 inches of suede cord
* 4 pony beads
* 2 feathers
* Tacky glue and scissors

Have them place glue on one end of their stick, wrap a 1 inch by 2 inch piece of fur round it, and then use glue and yarn wrapped around the stick to cover about 6 inches of the stick. (They can use all one color or several colors depending on their own imagination).

The next step is to wrap the suede cord around the bottom of the stick once or twice and then tie the cord with a knot. String one bell around each end of the cord and tie a knot. Then add two pony beads onto the end of the cord. Tie a knot at the end of the cord and trim it off. Push one feather through each set of beads and use a little bit of glue to secure them. When the glue has dried, the boys will have a wonderful Native American dancing stick.

Take advantage of their love of being outdoors as well. While they’re gathering sticks for the above craft, suggest they pick up other items from nature. Acorn shells, pine cones, and any other items found outdoors can be used to make nature crafts.

Woodworking is also something most little boys will like, as well as some little girls too. If they’re old enough, you may want to find some soft wood and teach them how to whittle. Maybe the little boys in your life aren’t ready for that craft yet, but you can find some Styrofoam and use plastic knives to teach them the same skills.

It’s not hard to figure out what boys like to do or what craft ideas would be best for boys. Ask them what crafts they’d like to do. They might surprise you with their answers. But, if they say they don’t know, you can always try one of these craft ideas and see how they do.

Kids Knitting: Projects for Kids of all Ages

Loretta — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:50:38 +0000

Kids love learning to knit. Knitting improves children’s concentration, trains their fine motor skills, and teaches them patience, all while doing something enjoyable and fun.

Kids Knitting: Projects for Kids of all Ages is geared for children aged 4 and up. It is divided into 8 chapters:

* Getting started – various knitting tools
* Knitting with two needles
* Shaping
* The purl stitch, stockinette stitch and ribbing
* Knitting in the round
* New stitch patterns
* Your first sweater
* Shopping for yarn

The book contains beautiful color photographs and attracts readers of all ages. The instructions provided are very child-friendly and give in-depth information to turn any beginner into a successful knitter. The various projects described are arranged in degrees of difficulty.

The book teaches children how to do proper blocking, how to make backpacks, hats, puppets, sweaters and scarves. It also shows them how to make wooden needles, sewing knitting bags and much more.

The Kids Knitting: Projects for Kids of all Ages book would make a terrific gift for any child with an interest in knitting.

How to Start and Run a Local Knitting Circle

Loretta — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:31:28 +0000

Knitting is the hot new trend that is not really new. Getting together in a “circle” and creating something is a centuries-old tradition. There’s a new twist to any trend that comes back around, though, because a new generation is discovering it and giving it a unique character.

Knitting in the 21st century is a good example of this old-meets-new cycle. Starting a contemporary knitting circle looks different than it did a century ago, or even a quarter century ago. If you’d like to start one up, here are some hints on how to start and run a knitting circle.

Find Other Knitters to Join The Knitting Circle

With the trend growing, finding others who are interested in knitting should be fairly easy. Ask around at your workplace, church, or favorite social networking site. The internet is a great place to connect with other knitters and finding others who share your interest. Here are some other ideas for finding fellow knitters:

At your local sewing store, where knitters are likely to go to buy yarn, post a notice that you are starting a knitting circle and would like to know who’s interested. Leave minimal contact information, such as a phone number or email address. You can also leave the contact information of the venue where you plan to meet.
Send out a group email to others you know to see if there is interest. If you’re a parent, you can check with other parents at your child’s school or homeschool group. If you’re single, this could be a great way to connect with other singles who might be interested in a social activity.
Post your interest in knitting on your favorite social networking site and see how many responses you get.

Knitting Time and Place

Deciding where and when to hold your circle is important; it will affect the dynamics of the group. There will probably not be a time and day when everyone in the group can all attend, but you should be able to agree on a time and date where at least some of the group will be able to attend each time. Here are some ideas for finding a venue:

Members of the circle can rotate host/hostess duties. Each circle will meet at a different member’s house each time.
Your local library would be a good place to meet. It’s free, and the library is generally accessible to everyone. Libraries are generally very open to community events.
A house of worship is another good place that costs nothing but can accommodate a group. Most houses of worship are also very supportive of fellowship and community activities.
A conference room at your workplace could be ideal, especially if it’s a lunch-hour group of your co-workers.

Knitting Circle Expectations

Make sure the expectations of the group are clear.

Decisions need to be made about the following questions:

Are drinks, snacks and refreshments to be provided? if so, by whom?
Should everyone bring his or her own supplies?
Can beginners join, and will there be instruction given?
Whom should members call if they can’t attend a circle?
Are children welcome, or do members need to find childcare when they attend meetings? Will childcare be provided?

Most importantly ~ remember to have fun!

Surebonder Ultra Glue Gun

Loretta — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:29:49 +0000

If you are a “crafty” family, then a glue gun is an essential tool to have. Hand held glue guns are not very expensive and can be used for creating lots of fantastic craft projects. Glue guns are great for sticking wood, metal, ceramics, heavy card, paper, plastics and cloth.

There are three different types of Surebonder Ultra Glue Guns available, depending on your needs:

The Ultra Gun, Low Temperature (230°F) for projects that won’t need high gluing temperatures.

Ultra Gun, High Temperature (380°F).

Ultra Gun, Dual Temperature with high and low settings.

Each of the glue guns runs on 60W power and benefits from a glue stand.

Overall, the Surebonder Ultra Glue Guns are good value for money (less than $15 for full size and under $10 for mini glue guns) and will certainly help you with your craft activities. A word of caution: glue guns get very hot, so please work carefully to prevent injuries and burns, especially around children.

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Lattice Apple Pie

Loretta — Sun, 20 May 2012 11:59:50 +0000

Ingredients:

8 cups peeled and sliced granny smith apples (or other tart apples)
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
Dash of salt
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons butter
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon water

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375F.

In a large bowl combine apple slices, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and lemon juice. Place mixture into pie crust.

On a lightly floured surface roll remaining pastry dough and cut into strips. Place strips on top of apple pie making a crisscross pattern.

Mix the egg yolk and water in a small bowl and lightly brush the top of the pie. Bake for approximately 45 minutes.

Serve warm topped with custard or whipped cream and/or vanilla ice cream.

How to Make a Fun Picture Frame with Popsicle Sticks

Loretta — Sat, 19 May 2012 13:38:40 +0000

Children and Popsicles seem to go together in the summer time. If your children are like most, they throw the sticks away when they’re done. Here’s how to make a cool-looking picture frame with Popsicle sticks, whether you buy them by themselves or you allow your child the fun of cleaning the sticks of their goodness.

You’ll need:
* A bunch of Popsicle sticks (used or from a store)
* Tacky glue or school glue
* Laminate paper or piece of thin plastic large enough to protect the picture
* Poster board
* Paint
* Foam shapes or letters
* Stickers

Start by deciding what size picture frame is needed. Popsicle sticks can make a frame small enough to fit a wallet-sized photo or big enough to place an 8” by 10” picture. Place a piece of cardboard or paper down on the table which is the same size as the picture.

Lay the sticks out, end to end, along the edge of the paper so that they barely cover the edges. Lay another stick to cover every two sticks, with the center of the top stick covering where the two sticks met. Glue the top stick down. Repeat the procedure all the way around the frame. For the corners, you may need to cut the sticks in half or use smaller sized sticks to join the corners together. You will have two layers of sticks. Let the glue dry a little before going on.

Cut a piece of laminate paper a little larger than the frame size. Glue this in place, being careful not to use too much glue. Glue another layer of sticks over the edges of the laminate, being sure to leave an opening to place your picture at the top.

On a piece of poster board the same size as the outside of the frame, lay out Popsicle sticks to fit the entire board and glue them down. Place a hanger on the back and then place glue on the second layer of sticks for the front, creating a sandwich of the front of the frame, laminate, and back of the frame.

Decorate the frame using paint, stickers, foam letters or shapes, or whatever you choose. Try to find foam shapes or stickers which will match the subject of the photo. Using letters, you can also put the name of the subject on the frame.

You may be able to find different and better ways of how to make a cool-looking picture frame with Popsicle sticks. Let whoever is making the picture frames use their imagination to create a unique frame. Be prepared – after one picture frame is made from Popsicle sticks, don’t be surprised if there are many pictures that end up with this type of frame.

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Knitting Has Become a Fun Hobby for All Ages

Loretta — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:21:26 +0000

Knitting is making a comeback these days, and for good reason. It’s a practical, enjoyable, and timeless activity that many different ages can enjoy. It’s a great excuse for a group get-together, too!

What makes knitting so enjoyable? Why has it lasted down through the ages?

Stress Relief

Knitting is said to be a great stress reliever, which explains in part why people keep doing it through the years! It may have a significant calming effect, especially if you are not a hurry-up-and-get-to-the-end kind of person. Knitting is about enjoying the process, which really fits some people’s personalities.

Prevents Snacking

People who knit say it keeps them from eating, because both hands are occupied. If you like to snack while watching TV, taking up knitting may help you break the habit! Knitting may help with just about any habit that involves the hands, from nail-biting to overeating.

Variety

Knitting encompasses such a wide range of items to choose from. You can knit entire coats, or just knit a hot pad or oven mit. Shawls, sweaters, hats, baby clothes, socks, gloves, blankets, and even dish cloths can all be knitted. So knitting incorporates a lot of interests, which may account for its broad appeal.

Gifts

People love to receive hand-knitted items for gifts. Knitting is attractive to people who like to give homemade, meaningful gifts – and then the “giftee” may be inspired to take up knitting as well after receiving such a nice gift!

Another note on giving hand-knitted items – they can be customized to fit the recipient. You can knit in his or her favorite colors, whether it’s a blanket or sweater. You can choose wool, acrylic, cotton, or a blend – all depending on what the person likes. It’s hard to find that level of customization in the store!

Economical

Hand-knitted items can last a lifetime and beyond. Families may pass down a knitted piece from generation to generation. And for the frugal among us, it’s wonderful to know that you can produce something of such great quality for little money.

Back to Basics

This is a technological, electronic age. For many people, knitting is a basic, functional, old-fashioned activity that brings a certain amount of peace, focus, and quiet to our busy lives. You’re producing something, too, which can be very satisfying.

Warm and Toasty Cinnamon Buns

Loretta — Sun, 13 May 2012 12:55:55 +0000

Ingredients:

3 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 package quick rising active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water 120-130 degrees
6 tablespoons softened butter, divided
1 egg at room temperature
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar, divided
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
2-3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 13×9 inch baking pan.

Place 2 cups of flour, granulated sugar, yeast and salt in a large mixing bowl. Slowly stir in warm water. Add 2 tablespoons butter and the egg beating until very smooth.

Add the rest of the flour slowly and stir until soft dough forms. Place saran wrap over the top of the bowl and let dough rise for about 30 minutes or until doubled.

Flour a smooth surface and roll dough into a 15×12 inch rectangle. Spread the rest of the butter on the dough.

In another bowl mix cinnamon and brown sugar together. Sprinkle the mixture over the dough. Roll dough up in tight roll starting on the 12 inch side.

Once dough is rolled tight cut into 12 slices. Place each slice cut side down into the baking dish. Cover and place on a wire rack over a large pan of hot water. Let rise 30 minutes or until buns double in size.

Uncover and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until brown. Cool 1 minute then loosen the edges and place on a serving plate.

To make the glaze mix confectioners sugar, vanilla and 2 tablespoons of milk in a bowl until smooth. If there is not enough liquid you can add 1 more tablespoon of milk. Glaze cinnamon bunns and serve warm.

Etsy Fab Finds: Patriotic Wreaths

Loretta — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:34:35 +0000

The school year is coming to an end, and my thoughts are starting to turn towards Summer. Memorial Day is only a couple of weeks away and that is sort of the unofficial start of summer. This week I browsed the Patriotic Holiday section at Etsy, and the patriotic wreaths caught my eye. I then searched for wreaths within that category and found more than 250 items. There are so many, different sizes, shapes and price points. Hang one on the front door, or on a wall inside. Nice for those who have nowhere to display a flag for Summer’s patriotic holidays.

Patriotic 12 inch Wreath by Door Deco on Etsy. $25 USD

Image and crafting credit to Door Deco

Stars and Stripes Paper Rose Wreath by Paper Florists on Etsy. $35 USD

Image and crafting credit to Paper Florists

Patriotic Mesh Wreath by Custom Created on Etsy. Mother’s Day sale item for $72.25

Image & crafting credit to Custom Created

If you have a moment or two (or four hours) take a browse around Etsy this week and find a small business crafter to support!