Lindsay & Lacey Tackle 101 Awesome Projects

Project: Character Cups

2012-01-17T21:05:00.000-08:00

Our names are Lacey and Lindsay, and we're Mario-holics. If you have a crazy obsession with television or game characters, this project will make you jump for coins....erm, I mean joy. :)

What you need:

Coffee Cups (Dollar Tree Special :D)

Acrylic or Ceramic Paint (depending on the finish of your cup)

Expo or Vis-a-Vis markers

Napkins or newpaper

Paintbrushes

A creative mind or a model picture of the character

Step One: Take your dry erase marker and sketch your character onto the cup. If you're a bad artist, *cough*LACEY*cough*, feel free to give your partner this responsibility.

Step 2: Apply the first coat of paint to your cup. Allow to dry, then use your fingers or a cloth to remove any remaining marker. Add the second coat and allow to dry. We outlined our characters to make them appear bold and finished. You may use your own painting style....or lack thereof. If you so choose, top with a glossy finish to add shine and protection

This project may not help you save Princess Peach, but it's purpose will give you the energy you need to do so! Happy gaming! :D

Note: We recommend that you hand wash your new favorite cup.

Project: Tee Shirt Scarf

2012-01-17T20:23:00.000-08:00

"Excuse me miss, but where did you get that beautiful and flattering scarf?" I'm sure many of you will be thrilled to admit that you made this yourself! Be prepared to surprise your friends and show off your style and creativity. :) This one is super easy, you really can't go wrong.....unless you lack opposable thumbs. :)

What you need:

A few old tee shirts and tanks

Scissors

Needle and Thread

Creativity and Patience

To begin, cut 1 inch strips of fabric from your shirts and tank tops. You can cut side to side or top to bottom, depending on how long you want your scarf to be. If you go from side to side, make sure to cut the sides to make it a strip rather than a tube shape.

Using strips from several different fabrics, braid and assemble pieces of different lengths. We used 1 to 2 braids in our scarves, but feel free to be creative and see what you can do. We also took individual strips and incorporated them into our design.

Once you have your scarf assembled the way you want it, secure it by cutting a shirt sleeve down the seam to wrap around the adjoining ends.

Take both ends of your scarf and tie together (we used an extra fabric scrap for added security).

Then, tightly wrap the sleeve around the ends to create a clean finish. Stitch the sleeve together and also attach it to pieces of the scarf itself in order to secure it in place.

SHAAAAZAMMMMM! You have a unique and jaw-dropping (not really) scarf made with lots of love (or two tablespoons of boredom). :)

PS: We suck at taking pictures together right after the project, so you don't get to see Lacey's face :( Or her scarf, which was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much cooler than Lindsay's. By the way, can you tell who wrote this part? ;)

Project: Wall Pocket

2012-01-08T18:14:00.000-08:00

After countless nights of hearing Lacey complain about losing her phone in the bed sheets at night, we (mostly Lindsay, she's the one with the bright, sometimes not so bright plans ;)) brainstormed a handy cell phone wall pocket! This can be placed beside your bed, or on the headboard itself. Hope it helps all you people who lose your phones in your sheets at night like us!

Things you need:

Plastic bottle that will fit your phone (we used lotion bottles)
Cute fabric (we used 2 different ones, for inside and out)
modge podge (or white glue and water, if you're cheap like us)
medium sized paintbrushes
hard surface that you don't mind getting a bit messy
scissors
exacto knife

First step to creating this handy phone pocket: Pick out your bottles to fit your phone. We just went to the dollar store and browsed through the lotions and soaps until we found these.

Then draw out the shape you want yous to be. It's helpful to leave a higher back so you have something to attach it to the wall, like so.. And make sure it fits your phone the way you want it too. Some may like the front low, so it's easy to pull your phone out.

Now you want to cut out some pieces of fabric to fit your pocket. Then start applying your modge podge (or watered down white glue) very liberally to the fabric on the plastic. We started with the handles since that was the hardest.

Continue gluing the rest of your fabric on until you have it the way you want it!

Let it dry over night and cut off any excess you have hanging off, and add cute accessories to make it 'you'! We just tied some matching ribbon to it.

Now you can hang your pocket beside your bed so you can reach it in the middle of the night ;) We used a command strip so we wouldn't have holes in our walls.. they're quite sturdy too!

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Project: Duct Tape Mannequin

2012-01-06T20:00:00.000-08:00

This is for all of you who hate getting poked and prodded while working on your sewing masterpieces. This is a mannequin that will help you in sizing and creating your own shirts and dresses. To begin, find a friend you're comfortable around (otherwise, it might be a tad.....no, a lot...awkward!). Also, make sure this person is capable of handling scissors. For us, it became a bit of a challenge ;)

What you need:

Competent partner
Duct tape, or Gorilla Tape, which is what we used (about one and a half average sized rolls)
Large t-shirts
Scissors
Filling (we used foam)
Cardboard
Tripod stand

First, after putting on a large T-shirt over a well fitting under shirt, have your partner begin to tape from your neck down your chest using small pieces to get the shape right.

Then continue to tape down the hips. It's okay to just wrap the tape around until you get as far as you want to go.

Now add another layer of tape, making it pretty if you'd like.

Note: A second alternative is to paper mache it after stuffing.

Cut up the back, trying to keep it straight and even, being EXTREMELY careful not to cut skin.

Now just put a hanger in it and tape the neck closed to hold the hanger in place, and tape the back opening closed.

Tape over the arm opening.

Using whatever filling you prefer, stuff your mannequin so it's firm and will hold it's shape (and isn't lumpy!).

Cut cardboard so it is the same shape and size as the bottom of the mannequin, and cut a hole in the middle big enough to run the rod through. Secure the cardboard to the underside of the mannequin, and run the pole through the hole, taping it in place.

After completion, clothe your mannequin and display your beautiful figure!

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Project: Carmelita

2012-01-04T16:42:00.000-08:00

So, I was browsing through Pinterest the other day (of course), and came across this devilishly yummy-looking recipe ;) And last night around midnight, a craving struck me! So I got my happy little butt out of bet to go rummage through the pantry hoping I had everything to make it, and by the grace of God, I did! And it turned out amazing! So, I took some pictures and added the recipe so you can try it as well, I highly recommend it!

The stuff:

32 caramel squares, unwrapped
1/2 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed (I only had about

1/4 C, so I did the rest with regular sugar, and it came out fine)
1 cup flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

1. Combine caramels and cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Making sure to stir every few minutes so it doesn't burn.
Note: The burner wasn't on in the picture on the left, so none of the plastic got melted!

2. In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, and baking soda.

3. Pat half of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of an 8x8" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

4. Remove pan from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Pour caramel mixture over chocolate chips. Crumble remaining oatmeal mixture over caramel. Return to oven and bake an additional 15-20 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned.

5. Now just cool, cut, and serve! Since the caramel takes so long to cool down, if you're in a crunch for time, pop it in the fridge for 45 minutes- an hour.

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Project: Nook Case

2012-01-02T13:38:00.000-08:00

So, my mom got a nook tablet for Christmas, and no one thought to get her a case to go with it (and knowing her, it'll be broken soon). Her birthday is coming up on Thursday, so instead of spending $50 for one at Barnes & Nobles, I decided just to make one myself. So, here it goes!

Here's what you need:

4-5 different fabrics (about a square foot in size)

sewing machine

Ruler

Keep the Nook handy to measure

First you want to measure your Nook, and add about 1 1/2" around each side
Take the fabric that you want to be on the cover, and place it right sides together with the one you want for the inside.
Now, you want to double your pattern that you make with the Nook, so it will fold over it like a book.
Then pin your pattern to the 2 pieces you have for the cover and cut it out.
You may want to apply some iron-on adhesive to make it a bit sturdier.
Turn the inside of your cover so the right side is facing up.
Now, take 2 of your other fabrics to made the inner pockets out of. You want to hem one edge on each of them.
Lay them down on the left side of the cover, about where you will want them, making sure they're straight, then pin them only the piece of fabric that will be the inside.
To make to corner pieces that will hold the Nook, fold your last fabric into quarters until you have a square, and cut it to about the size you want the holders to be, plus 1 1/2".
Hem the edge that will out, and pin one in each corner of the inner fabric on the right side.
Turn the fabric with everything pinned to it back so that it's right sides together with the front cover, and pin them together.
When you sew it together, sew 5/8" away from the edge to make it sturdy, leaving about 2 inches un-sewn so you can turn your cover right side out.
After it's sewn together, you want to flip it back out though the opening, then fold the raw edges of it in and sew it together so it looks like a finished edge.

So there you have it, a super easy, and cheap, Nook cover. Hope you enjoy :)

Project: Picture Perfect

2011-12-29T14:44:00.000-08:00

What you need:

Large picture frame

Woodstain

Sandpaper

Hanging wire

Clothespins

Hot glue gun

Coffee

Let's start by staining the clothespins; all you do for this is brew a pot of coffee and let your clothespins soak in it overnight.

Now you'll need your picture frame.

And your sandpaper.. Now you can start sanding down spots of the frame. Don't worry about it being perfect, it's supposed to look old and dingy.

Grab your wood stain and a paper towel. Start blotting it on over some of the sanded areas (again, doesn't have to be perfect).

Now let it dry a little and wipe the whole frame down with a damp rag.

After the frame has dried, turn it over and begin hot gluing hanging wire at random angles across the frame.

Using clothespins, attatch your favorite pictures to the wires wherever you want them.

Hang your completed masterpiece in a place where everyone can see your amazing handiwork!

Project: Nutella-filled, cream cheese-iced, chocolate cupcakes

2011-12-29T06:58:00.000-08:00

Let's make cupcakes!

For our next project, we decided to make cupcakes filled with Nutella spread and topped with delicious homemade cream cheese icing. Is your tummy growling yet?

We will begin by following the directions to make a Swiss Chocolate Cake using a mix. (We were being lazy). We were excited to use Lindsay's brand new mixer she got for Christmas!

Unfortunately, one-half of our team is mentally incompetent/clumsy. *Cough* Lindsay *cough*. We lost 11 cupcakes in this battle. The process of cleaning this up would require a whole new blog post....

See how sad it is? :(

After our little mishap, we continued baking successfully.

We allowed the cupcakes to cool as we prepared to fill them with Nutella goodness.

We filled a cookie press with Nutella spread and injected the middle of each cupcake. This was slightly difficult with the mini cupcakes, so be careful!

To create the cream cheese icing, we combined powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter, and vanilla. The recipe can be found here.

Again, using the cookie press, we topped each cupcake with our delicious homemade icing.

Voila! Our masterpiece is complete!

Cream Cheese Icing Recipe

2011-12-29T06:56:00.000-08:00

Cream Cheese Icing:

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

In a large bowl, beat together the butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer. With the mixer on low speed, add the powdered sugar a cup at a time until smooth and creamy. Beat in the vanilla extract.

Project: Gingerbread House

2011-12-25T19:44:00.000-08:00

As our first awesome project, Lacey and I have decided to attempt to make a gingerbread house..from scratch (Gasp!) We figured this would be pretty easy, I mean, why wouldn't it? It's only a gingerbread house! Or so we thought..

First, we made the dough. Simple enough. Then came rolling and cutting the pieces out (we got really into hand cutting-out cool people/ trees/ reindeer). And let them bake..they smelled amazing!

Now to let them cool (and not eat them all!)

Note: it doesn't taste as good as it smells..really..

And let the icing and decorating begin!

This is what they were supposed to look like..

And well..here's our's.. :(

Well hey, at least we had fun!

So, if you'd like yo try our project, we've included the recipe here.