Random Bits Of Goodness

Cross Stitch on Chicken Wire

2014-06-06T16:39:00.000-04:00

First, apologies for not posting for a very long time. I have been diligently working on my 365 Days of Art Challenge. I started watercolors, which I love. I never thought I could draw so I didn't even bother to try. I realize now that you just have to deconstruct the image. Then once you have the basic shell down, the watercolors do all the rest. I will post some of my work at a later time. Now on to my new favorite obsession! Cross stitch on chicken wire.

Last year I found this inspiration piece on Pinterest. I love the look but really felt that I 1) didn't have a large enough wall to hang this large of a peg board; and 2) that it would be a real challenge to work with that medium because it doesn't bend. It seems like it would be a real gross motor activity to produce this work.

So I started looking and thinking of an alternative canvas. I was at Lowes last week when it came to me: chicken wire! It is bendy so it can be rolled up to make it easier to work with. Plus I love the juxtaposition of mediums - the hard, industrial look of the chicken wire and the softness of the yarn.

I found a neat old school rose cross stitch pattern on Pinterest. I had an old picture frame I wanted to repurpose so I cut the chicken wire several inches bigger than the frame. I put duct tape around the cut edges so it didn't tear up my hands/arms/legs while I was working with it. I used garden cutters to cut the wire because I didn't have wire cutters. It worked pretty well. But it did leave a rather jagged edge that you really need to cover up so it doesn't hurt you.

This is the final, framed picture. I really like the openness of the work. I have the picture just sitting in the frame until I can have my son in law frame it tightly for me. I want to hang on my back porch so it will be right at home there.

What do you think? I rather love it! I found two large poster frames at a yard sale last weekend and they will be my next project. I will make sure to post them also.

365 Days of Art Challenge

2014-01-26T17:16:00.000-05:00

Lately I have been feeling out of sorts creatively. I need to have surgery on my left hand (arthritis in my thumb) and I cannot crochet until that is fixed (boo hoo). I haven't been able to crochet much for the past few months and am really feeling creatively stuck.

My antidote for this funk is to give myself a 365 Days of Art Challenge. The rules are simple (because they only relate to me): I need to create something artistically for 365 days. The point is to try different mediums and just create! I'd like to say I will do something every day but I know there will probably be days that it just won't happen. I want to enjoy the creative process way more than being worried about a final product.

The following are my first 6 days creations:

Day 1: Sugar Skull. "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream". Also, "Never Stop Learning" and "Believe you deserve everything you dream about".

Day 2: Just a pencil sketch of a rose. "I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious". (So true)!

Day 3: Mixed media. "What messes you up in life are the ideas in your head of how it should be".

Days 4 and 5. Mixed media. I found these cool "bingo" cards at Michaels and had such fun embellishing them. There was a pack of 20 so I think these will definitely be part of a series. The think I love most about these is that I can use some of the junk jewelry that came from my sister. Just the right for embellishments. I don't know if you can pick out the dream catcher on the "Dream" card or the guardian angel on the "Happy" card. I started on another one for a colleague but haven't completed it yet.

Day 6. Watercolor pencils. Today would have been my parents wedding anniversary. In honor of that, I made this watercolor rose. I've never used watercolor pencils before but I LOVED them! I have a bunch more ideas and will definitely be doing this again!

So this is the start of my art journey and I'm rather proud of the things I've created so far this week. I know I am no Picasso, but I am really enjoying the process. As many of you know, my sister Joyce passed this past year. My mom gave me many of her art supplies. Part of me feels like I am doing this art journey for the both of us. I know she wanted to develop her talent but, for whatever reason, wasn't able to. Now it is up to me to do this for both of us.

I encourage you too to start an art challenge. It really doesn't take long (some longer than others). The point is to just create! I will say it already feels good for my soul. Take a chance, it may be just what you need.

Happy crafting!

Making Sushi at Home

2013-08-02T10:59:00.000-04:00

As you know, I am loving spending time with the grandkids this summer. While I was trying to figure out what to make for dinner one night this week, my wonderful, creative, nine year old Tim came up with a great idea. Let's make sushi! Challenge accepted and (back) to the store we went!

Before I start with the recipe and pictures, let me say that this is really easy to do and great for different age groups. I had a 5, 9, and 11 year old make their own sushi and it was Super Simple!

Here is what you will need. I found everything at Wegman's and I'm sure Whole Foods or Trader Joe's would readily have this stuff too.

Bamboo rolling mat. I found these in the Asian food aisle at Wegmans. They were only $1.49 each.
Two packs of 10 toasted nori sheets. Found in Asian food aisle as well.
One box of sushi rice - be sure it says sushi rice.
Rice vinegar
Sugar
Salt
Fillings of your choice - here is where you can get creative. We used cucumber, carrot, red pepper and imitation crab legs.

Step 1: Make sushi rice

The key to making sushi is to be sure you get the correct rice. You will need sushi rice. Look in the rice section. I found a 3 cup box there for $3.99. (I know, seemed pricey to me too until I realized it makes ALOT of sushi).

I followed Alton Brown's recipe for cooking sushi rice. Here it is:

Ingredients

    3 cups sushi or short grain rice
    3 cups water, plus extra for rinsing rice
    3 tablespoons rice vinegar
    3 tablespoons sugar
    1.5 tablespoon kosher salt

Directions

Place the rice into a mixing bowl and cover with cool water. Swirl the rice in the water, pour off and repeat 2 to 3 times or until the water is clear.

Place the rice and 3 cups of water into a medium saucepan and place over high heat. Bring to a boil, uncovered. Once it begins to boil, reduce the heat to the lowest setting and cover. Cook for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes.

Combine the rice vinegar, sugar and salt in a small bowl and heat in the microwave on high for 30 to 45 seconds. Transfer the rice into a large wooden or glass mixing bowl and add the vinegar mixture. Fold thoroughly to combine and coat each grain of rice with the mixture. Refrigerate for several hours until completely cooled.

Step two: Matchstick cut your veggies and get your stuffing in order

This step was the most labor intensive (because I was doing it by myself). You want these to be matchstick thin so they fit nicely into the roll. I used imitation crab legs for the main component which was great because it was the right shape, albeit a tad bit short for the wrapper. It really made it easy to roll and wrap. If you were doing this with other adults, you could have everyone cut up something specific and that task would be done in 10 minutes.

Step three: Set up your work space

These are the nori sheets.

These are the mats.

You will also need a bowl of water to put your hands in before you handle the rice (so it doesn't stick).

Construct your sushi

Place one sheet of nori and put it smooth side down on the bamboo mat. Wet your hands, pick up some rice and spread it on the lower 1/3 of the nori. With your fingers, press it down gently. Don't overstuff or it will all fall out when you start to roll. You want it to be firm but not heavy. The rice should be about 1/4 of an inch in height.

Add your fillings in the center of the rice and gently press down. Always put down the biggest fillings first. In our case it was the crab leg. put smaller fillings on top or on the sides. It will seem like you don't have enough in there but, trust me, this is plenty.

Now comes the fun part. Rolling! Lift the end of the bamboo mat that is nearest to you and fold it over the ingredients. Make sure not to roll the mat up into your sushi roll! After you have rolled at least one full rotation, dip your fingers in the water and lightly moisten the top end of the nori sheet that is furthest away from you. Gently fold the roll into the end of the nori (the part you just moistened) and seal the roll. Squeeze the roll gently with your hands and with the palms of your hands, roll it back and forth between the fold of the bamboo mat to make sure the roll has sealed and to help shape it. (I found this to be the part the kids had the hardest time with; to make sure they don't press too hard and force everything out).

Ta Da! Here's our sushi! What a sense of accomplishment! We had PLENTY of extra rice and veggies (ran out of crab). While we made 10 sushi rolls, we easily have enough for 20. I put the extra ingredients in the fridge and we will get more crab today to make again.

I put the whole rolls in the fridge for about an hour to set up before I cut them. It really is that simple! For some reason I always thought sushi would be hard to make. Turns out, I was wrong!

Now slice each sushi roll into 8 pieces. Use a sharp knife to get a clear cut. Serve with sauces (soy, wasabi, yum-yum, whatever you want).

While I am not a huge fan of sushi, I will admit this was really good. I had to use quite a bit of sauce to make it palatable for me but it was the best sushi I've had!

This would be a neat project to do with adults too. We all felt we really accomplished something by making sushi. I am sure adults would enjoy this as well.

Hope you enjoy this Super Simple Recipe!

Homemade Taco Seasoning and Taco Cupcakes

2013-07-30T10:32:00.003-04:00

This summer I've lived out my fantasy of being a stay at home (grand) mom. I didn't teach any summer classes this year so I've been technically off work since May. While I have been doing some great consulting work and prepping for fall classes, much of these last several months has been child focused. Most weeks I've had at least one (or three) grandkids staying with me. I've really loved the time with all of them. Here's some of our bunch. Aren't they great?!

One of the most exhausting things about having kids around is the amount (and times) they eat! Seriously, it feels like they just get done with breakfast and are ready to eat lunch! I love to cook but really hate having to think about food constantly. I like to make things that can serve as more than one meal (and with as little serving effort on my part). Fortunately they are all pretty good eaters and are open to trying different things. Hence, taco cupcakes were born! Another Super Simple recipe!

I never seem to have the packaged taco seasoning on hand when I want it so I decided to make my own. It is Super Simple and I had all the ingredients in the cupboard. The following is the recipe for one batch, however, I quadrupled it so I would have some on hand for a later time.

Homemade Taco Seasoning (One batch)

1 Tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp paprika
1.5 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp sea salt (or regular salt works too)
1/2 tsp black pepper

Mix this all together. Brown one pound of ground beef. Add taco seasoning and 1/2 cup water. Simmer for 10 minutes or until water is evaporated. Serve.

See, Super Simple!!! And I like that I either have it on hand or can easily throw it all together if it is a spur of the moment Mexican night. Or want to make Taco Cupcakes!

Taco Cupcakes (Makes 12 in large muffin cups)

Preheat oven to 375

Burrito size tortillas

1 can of refried beans

1/2 can of diced green chilies (I would have used the entire can but thought

it may be too spicy for kids)

1 pound seasoned ground beef

Shredded cheese

Toppings: Diced tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, salsa, avocado

1. Spray 2 large muffin pans with spray oil.

2. Cut burrito in quarters.

3. Fold a quarter of the burrito into one half of the muffin cup. Press gently to fit into the cup. Repeat on the other side.

4. Mix together the beans and green chilies. Put about 1 Tablespoon on top of the tortilla. (Approximately. It filled about 1/3 of the cup).

5. Layer with 1 Tablespoon (or so) of the seasoned beef. Fill to about 2/3 full.

6. Top with cheese.

7. Bake for 18 minutes. Check at 15 minutes to make sure the tortillas don't get too done.

8. Add toppings of your choice.

9. Serve and eat up, yum!

The kids loved these (as did I). I made two muffin tins thinking I would have enough left over for lunch today but they were such a big hit that there's only two left! Next time I make them I will double the batch. I think these would freeze really well and would be nice to have on hand.

Cucumber Salad

2013-07-18T17:29:00.000-04:00

This year my cucumber plant is producing like crazy. Everyday there are at least 4 new cucumbers emerging. This translates to having at least two large cucumbers to eat for lunch or dinner. One of my family favorites is cucumber salad. It is so super simple to make and tastes fantastic! Here's the recipe:

2 large cucumbers
1 medium onion
(Optional: add sliced tomatoes. I did because I had some that needed to be used).
1 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
salt and pepper to taste

Thinly slice the cucumbers and onion with a mandolin. (If you don't have one, you really need to get one! It makes quick work of slicing anything. Just remember to use the safety piece so you don't slice up your fingers).

Put these in a large bowl.

Mix the vinegar, sugar, celery salt, salt and pepper. Pour this mixture over the cucumbers and onions. Toss to coat.

Refrigerate for several hours or overnight (the longer it soaks, the better).

That's it! Told you it was super simple!

Day of the Dead Sugar Skulls

2013-07-03T13:16:00.000-04:00

I love the look and thought behind Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos). This celebration occurs on November 1 and 2 in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saint's and All Soul's Days. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and honor friends and family members who have passed.

I grew up in Southern California and was influenced by the beauty of Mexican culture. During my visit there last year I was inspired by my trip to Olvera Street by all the beauty and colorfulness of the sugar skulls. Since this is my summer of reusing and repurposing (and cleaning out old stuff), I uncovered some long forgotten masks in my basement. These African masks were left over from previous décor from another house.

Armed with white spray paint and temporary tattoos from Michael's, I transformed those old masks into something new and updated (for me anyway). Sorry, I can't find my before pictures. The original masks were all brown or grey. I didn't do anything to them structurally, just went wild with the spray paint.

These are the tattoos I got from Michael's. They were about $2.50 per pack. I just mixed and matched to create my own designs.

Here they all are hanging on the wall of my craft room. I just love them! Sorry for the quality of the photo. It's not the best but you get the idea. After I put on the tattoos (the same way you would on your skin - with water), I let them dry well. Then I sprayed with several light coats of acrylic to make sure they will stay on.

Another Super Simple craft! And I get to reuse and repurpose something I would have otherwise donated. I'm on a mission to decorate my craft room in a cool and eclectic style of things that bring me joy. I think I am on my way!

And if you don't have any masks hanging around your house, look at thrift shops and yard sales. Once you decide what you are looking for, you'll be surprised how things will jump out at you!

Happy Crafting!

Crock Pot Corn on the Cob

2013-06-23T09:29:00.000-04:00

As anyone who know me knows, I use the crockpot to cook every and anything. We had a family cookout yesterday evening and I had four of the grandkids who were eager to go swimming at the neighbor's pool so I got creative in my food prep. Crock pot corn on the cob! A super simple, make it and forget it recipe. Here's how it is done:

8 ears of corn (shucked and cleaned)
1/2 a stick of butter
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
(You can also add 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder, which I LOVE but thought the grandkids would be less than pleased so I omitted it).

Melt the butter, add in the seasonings. Lay each ear of corn on a piece of tinfoil that will cover the ear completely. Add a few teaspoons of butter mixture to each ear. Wrap and seal the foil tightly.

Lay all the corn into the crockpot. I got all mine in one crockpot because I cut some of them in half for the younger kids. DO NOT ADD WATER!

Cook for 2.5 hours on high or 4 on low. I used my hottest crockpots (I did two batches). After 2.5 hours on high, I turned it on the "Keep Warm" setting for a couple hours before serving.

The corn was fantastic! Tender and yummy! This may be my new favorite way to do corn. Try it, you will love it!

More Barbie Head Planters

2013-06-17T18:27:00.000-04:00

Earlier in the summer I posted the how to for Barbie Head Planters. I so loved the project that I've been on a mission to collect more Barbie Heads and give them new life. I've been really fortunate to find these at yard sales for about .50 apiece. Here's the before picture of "the girls". As you can see, their hair was a little worse for wear!

All I did was get out the handy dandy razor cutter and trimmed very close to the hair line. (Tip: start at the back of the neck. That way you can get a feel for the task and, by the time you get to the forehead, you should feel pretty comfortable with the cutting. Just take your time.

After removing the hair, smooth with fine grade sandpaper, wash off the plastic dust, and spray paint. I am still in love with Rustoleum's Hammered Finish in Rosemary. It gives it such a neat look and the texture hides any imperfections. Here's the finished girls, planted and already growing some new hair!

And here's the group:

Aren't they adorable! As you can see, I have a few extra spaces to fill. Hmmm, I better get out there and find some more Barbies that need a new life!

Succulent Wreath How To

2013-05-06T19:45:00.001-04:00

6/17 UPDATE: I've had the succulent wreath laying flat on the patio table for weeks now. This was done to give the plants a chance to develop roots and latch on to the moss. This week I finally hung it up. I LOVE the way it turned out!

Even though some of the plants started to root, I reinforced their latching by wrapping the entire thing with floral tape. As this close up shows, the tape isn't noticeable but it really does keep the cuttings in place.

For several months I've seen beautiful succulent wreaths online. It was one of those things that looked pretty easy to do but things are not always as they seem. Thankfully, this was another super simple craft that just took a bit of time to complete.

You will need the following supplies:

Sphagnum moss
Wire wreath (I used 12" but they have all different sizes)
Fishing wire
Floral pins
Roottone
Succulent soil
Variety of succulent pieces

Here is the how to. First, gather up a bunch of various succulents. Unfortunately, I don't live in an area where there are a lot of succulents growing wild right now (it is early spring). This would be really easy and cost efficient if you live in a place that has succulents growing in park and planters. I had some (the long skinny ones) but bought the others.

You need to take snippets of the succulents and let them dry out for a few days before planting. They need to scab over before planting, so make a pile of them and just let them site on a tray to dry out for a few days.

You will need a bag of sphagnum moss. For this 12" wreath I used about half of a bag. Soak the moss in a bucket for at least half an hour. You want it to be completely soaked. You also need a wire wreath frame. I got mine at Joann Fabrics for less than $5.

Below are the scabbed over succulents, floral pins and Rootone to give the plants a little booster to develop their roots. (It is a great product if you haven't ever used it).

You start by laying down the soaked moss on the wreath frame. Lay it down and wrap it in place with fishing line. I recommend fishing line over plastic thread because I think the fishing line is stronger and will hold up better. Don't over stuff this first layer of moss because you will be putting a layer of cactus soil and top again with another layer of moss. It's like a soil sandwich!

Here is the final wrapped wreath. This was pretty easy to do but it was really messy! Sometimes you have to get messy to make beauty!

Now you dip the tips of the succulents into water first and then the Roottone. Use the floral pins to keep the pieces in place on the wreath.

I started by placing the long skinny snippets because that is what I had the most of. I was concerned that I wouldn't have enough of the pretty flowerlike pieces. (Sorry, I'm not up on the names of succulents. I just know what I like and what is pretty). Make sure you don't overstuff the wreath. Succulents will grow once they take root. I chose to use put them close together but left plenty of room for growth.

The instructions I found said to keep the wreath horizontal for about 6 weeks so they clippings can take hold and grow roots. For now, it will sit on my outdoor table as a decoration.

What I also like about this project is that succulents don't require a lot of water so maintenance of this should be relatively easy. It will only need watered once a month (by submerging into water for 10 minutes; I'm thinking this would be easy to do using a kiddie pool).

Also, any of the succulent pieces that fall off, you can just stick in the ground and they will eventually grow. I put mine in the planters on my shed, which seems like a perfect place for them. These planters are rain protected because of the roof overhang. This way I don't have to remember to water them but once a month.

I will post additional pictures later in the summer when the wreath fills in. I think it is pretty and yet another Super Simple craft.

If you have any questions on the how to, please let me know. Happy to share and/or clarify.

Happy Crafting!

Floor Lamp Planter

2013-05-06T09:27:00.000-04:00

The following was created because of an inspiration someone posted on Facebook. (Thanks Debbie)! A super simple and cute idea that incorporates some of my favorite things: Upcycling and planting.

I had this old floor lamp that I wasn't using anymore. I got the black basket at the Dollar Store and used Gorilla Glue to secure it. Once that dried, I placed the coco mat inside (cut to fit). I then put some sphagnum moss and dirt in, followed by plants. I used chenille plant and I'm not sure what else the others are called. I chose these plants because I thought the combination will give both height and will droop over the sides as the plants grow.

To top it off, I put this sweet solar motioned piggy that I got from Chinatown L.A. What a perfect home for him!

Isn't he cute?!

Another super simple project. My recommendation is to not overfill the planter. This will grow all summer so you want to make sure the plants have room to grow. I will update this post later in the summer after it fills out.

Spring Planting

2013-04-28T16:30:00.004-04:00

Hi All!

First, my apologies for not creating any new posts for a very long time. Life (and making a living) got in the way and my craftiness really got put on the back burner. Now that school is over for the summer, I am hoping to spend a summer crafting and repurposing (and posting).

It is finally springtime here in the Mid Atlantic; I am inspired. I stumbled upon this adorable head planter at Rite Aide of all places! Best of all, it was 50% off so it only cost me $10. Isn't he cute?

I went back today for another one but they were sold out (no suprise there). So I decided to get creative and make my own.

I looked around the house to see if I could repurpose something. I found this doll bust that had hair to style. I got this for Jasmine a few years ago and think she played with it once or twice.

While she is sweet, I knew there was a better place for her than being stuck in the cupboard under the bathroom sink. I figured no one would miss her so I got out the exacto knife and went to work.

This was very easy to do. I started at the back of her head and cut the plastic close to her hair line. I wanted to keep as much of the plastic head as possible so it would be big enough to hold a plant. The plastic was soft (plastic doll baby soft) so it didn't splinter or break.

Because she is plastic, I started with a primer to make sure and cover the bright pink of her shirt. I let that dry a bit and the sprayed with Rustolium Rosemary Hammered spray paint. (Now that I'm looking at the can it says it is paint and primer combined so maybe I didn't need the primer afterall.

While the paint didn't adhere like I originally planned (some streaked and ran) I love the way she turned out. It is also about to rain and was pretty windy so that may also have contributed to her mottled look. That said, I think the imperfections make her look weathered and antique. I plan to spray her again when the weather is better and will also spray her with a sealant.

I just stuck in this chenille plant to see what she will look like with "hair". I think I will put some succulents because they grow slow and are super simple to take care of.

There's something about her that reminds me of the Bird girl of Savannah. Something sweet and wistful.

So now I have yet another thing to keep an eye out for while yard saling! Here's hoping I have a cool collection of them by the end of summer. And if I plant succulents in them, they will just lay dormant during the winter and come back to life again in the spring.

I hope you like my first post in months. I've got some other projects that I have in mind to work on. Again, thanks for stopping by to visit.

Happy Crafting!

Craft A Week #33 Upcycled Table

2012-08-12T22:48:00.001-04:00

I was highly motivated today and got my craft on! I had an old table that's been collecting dust in my garage for a few years and decided to repaint and repurpose it. I have my granddaughter Jasmine with me this summer and she loves to play on the computer. I have two laptops but I really wanted her to have a designated computer area. As part of my effort to have my new living room comprised of crafty things, I decided to transform the table.

Here's what it looked like before:

(That's Natalie cleaning the underside of the table)!

Then we spray painted the heck out of it!

It took almost two entire cans of paint.

I liked this color but wanted to try a different technique to finish it. A few weeks ago I found a lace shirt at The Salvation Army for $1.50. I deconstructed the shirt so it could be layed flat on the table.

I had one good size piece (the back) and several smaller (the breast pieces and sleeves). I then layed them out on the table and lightly spray painted a butter yellow over them.

Because of their odd sizes, I had to lay the pieces so try and cover as much as possible in one spray. I only did one light coat of paint because I really wanted it to be subtle.

As you can see, this technique gave a real vintage look to the table. Here's a close-up:

Isn't it pretty? I love this look.

I finished off the table with a few spray coats of shellac to protect it.

This was a Super Simple craft! From start to finish it took me less than 2 hours. If I do this again I will use one solid piece of lace rather than the pieces. It would give it a much cleaner look, sort of like a lace tablecloth effect.

Here is the table in it's new home:

I love this table because it has leaves in it. When Jas is not playing on the computer, the table can just hold the printer and monitor. But the leaf flips up to create an added workspace.

And finally, here's Jasmine and Natalie putting the table to good use!

They were very proud of their accomplishment! (They helped spray paint). I love showing a new generation about repurposing!

Happy Crafting!

Free Amazon Prime Student for 6 Months

2012-07-25T07:31:00.001-04:00

I found this great bargain and had to share. Amazon Prime for Students has an offer of 6 months free (a $39 offer). This is a great deal!

Included in Prime Membership are free Amazon shipping, Prime instant videos and the Kindle library. Definately worth checking out.

The link is here: Amazon Prime for Students. Just remember that if you don't cancel after 6 months, they will automatically sign you up for another 6 months at $39. Still not a bad price for what will be an entire year of service.

Pass it on!

Craft A Week #32 Candy Man

2012-07-23T11:45:00.000-04:00

When I was in Fort Wayne last week I went to the Three Rivers Festival. It was so much fun! They had lots of reasonably priced crafts, food and fountains for the kids to play in. I wanted to get a little something for the grandkids and I found these cute Candy Men. While they were pretty inexpensive ($1.25 each) after I bought them I realized I could make my own. Here's all you need to make this cute favor.

1 Carmel candy (for the head)
1 rectangular candy (for the body)
2 bubble gums (for the arms)
2 Smarties (for the legs)

The one I originally purchased had a cute box of candy cigarette like candy for the body. I couldn't find them so I substituted with chocolate bards. I made them using Twix, Snickers, Butterfingers, and Mars.

All you do is hot glue the pieces all together. I also added a little tie and a string to hang. You can see the result below.

Isnt' he cute?! I made a bunch of these for my grandson A.J.'s birthday party as favors and everyone loved them. I think these would be a super cute Halloween party favor. And they cost pennies to make (though rather time intensive) but very sweet.

Happy Crafting!

Craft A Week #31 Inspirational Cups

2012-07-23T11:33:00.002-04:00

I've got a long term goal of making a book of inspirational quotes for my grandkids. I've been storing lots of phrases and poems on Pinterest for some time now but don't really have the time to put it all together like I want. Rather than have all that wonderful material just sit there, Jasmine and I decided to create some cool cups.

(Awhile back I posted a gift I made for my nephew and his wife for a wedding gift; this is done the same way).

Here are Jasmine and my wonderful work:

Here's a closer look at the one I made for Jasmine:

The quote is:

You are braver than you believe

Stronger than you feel

Smarter than you know

But the most important thing to remember is

Even when we are apart

I will always be with you

Beautiful, right?

Jasmine made one for Jon that says:

You are special and amazing and are here to do wonderful things.

Follow your heart and let your beautiful shine.

Sweet right?

The one she made for Breanna says:

Always chase your dreams

instead of running from your fears

I love that Jasmine picked out the quotes herself. What a meaningful gift and a true reminder of the giver every day.

(In case you don't recall, these were made with Sharpie markers then baked in a 350 degree oven for 1/2 hour). Super simple craft!

Doggie Fro Yo Recipe

2012-07-19T08:38:00.001-04:00

It has been crazy hot here in Central PA this week (104 yesterday) so I thought I'd give the pups a cool, frozen treat. I've seen the frozen dog treats at the grocery and they are pretty pricey. I did a quck search online and found the following frozen yogurt recipe.

Doggie Frozen Yogurt Recipe

36 ounces of plain, low fat yogurt
1 cup low sodium peanut butter
2-4 ounce jars of banana baby food
2 T honey

Mix the ingredients together then pour into 3 ounce dixie cups. Put a dog biscuit in the middle to use as a handle. Freeze for a few hours. When solid, cut off the cup and serve.

You can also cut this recipe in half. I made a big bunch since my granddogs were coming over. The dogs LOVED them!

This is Flea. The picture is misleading. While he started off eating this like a human, he quickly decided to chomp the entire thing.

You can see Flea in the background. I can't believe he didn't get a brain freeze. Georgie, however, chose to savor his treat.

Here's Flea in his pool. He LOVES the water! His nickname is Big - for good reason. His body fills the kiddie pool.

Stay cool!

Craft A Week #30 Dinosaur Planter

2012-05-07T14:44:00.000-04:00

It is yard sale season here in Central PA (YAY!) This is my all time favorite time! My mom Dolly Mama insists our area has the best yard sales. I do agree that we have fantastic sales with high quality materials at super cheap prices. It really is a wonderful treasure hunt every Friday and/or Saturday. I especially love the neighborhood sales so I get a good walk in while bargain hunting.

Every season I make a list of things to look for while I go saleing. One of the things on my list this year is plastic dinosaurs to transform into little planters. (This is also something I found on Pinterest). I found the following dinosaur and it only cost me a quarter!

Sorry I didn't take a before picture but all I did was give the plastic dinosaur to my son-in-law Dan to drill a opening in the top. The opening was about 3"x 1.5". The dinosaur is hollow on the inside so I just dumped some potting soil into the opening. I made sure to tap it down so there were no air pockets.

I then took some succulent clippings from another planter and stuck in the dirt. You can dip the ends of the plants into Root Grow if you have it. I couldn't find mine and it was starting to rain so I just stuck the plantings in the dirt.

Isn't s/he adorable?! I found a stegosaurus this weekend and sent it on to Dan to cut the hole in that one too. I'd really like to find some bigger dinosaurs. I think they will look cute as a display on the patio. I want to find more so I can give as a gift to my dear friend D. I know she will love them!

This really was a super simple craft! (Especially because I didn't even have to cut the hole).

Happy Crafting

Flax Seed Pizza Crust

2012-05-03T09:13:00.000-04:00

Recently I decided to add flax seed to my diet. Sometimes I have digestive issues and flax seed is really good for that. Flax seed is a good source of Omega-3's and super high in fiber. WebMD has a good overview of the benefits of flax seed, located here: WebMD flax seed.

I found a recipe for flax seed pizza crust on Yummly. I know, it probably doesn't sound good but trust me, it was tasty.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups flax seed meal

2 tsps baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp spices (italian)

1 tsp granulated garlic

1/2 tsp onion (granulated)

1 tbsp splenda (sugar substitute)

3 tbsps oil

3 eggs

1/2 cup water

Note: To make flax seed meal, just grind up whole flax seed in a mini grinder. My grinder is small so I had to do this is several small batches. You can get flax seed at most grocery stores, WalMart, or I got this on sale at Big Lots and was the usually expensive Old Mill Brand.

The photo to the right is what the flax seed looks like after being ground. It becomes like a meal. Now you just follow the instructions below.

Preheat oven to 425.

Mix dry ingredients together.
Mix wet ingredients together, add to dry, and mix well.
Let sit for 5 minutes to thicken up.
Spread on pan (I put a greased parchment paper down on the pan first and spread mixture on that.
Bake for 15-18 minutes until cooked through, then add toppings and cook until they are done.

There was no need to get out the roller to put this into the pan. I just dropped the crust on the prepared pan and smoothed with my fingers. Just make sure it is relatively even so it bakes even. At this stage, put the untopped crust in the oven for 15-18 minutes.

Then take out of oven and add your favorite toppings. I topped mine in the following order: spinach pesto (recipe below); home made bruchetta from last summers tomatoes to add some color; cut up artichokes; an array of cheeses: feta, sharp cheddar and regular cheddar.

I served the pizza with grilled zucchini. Here it is plated:

My verdict is that it was pretty tasty. It does have a very different taste from pizza made from a flour dough (this is nuttier and of grainy texture). I thought it was good but my daughter Breanna didn't like it. She didn't like the texture of the crust and wasn't so keen on the spinach pesto either. Clearly, this isn't for everyone.

Given the super good nutrient qualities of flax seed I will keep trying other recipes that incorporate that ingredient. I've seen other recipes (like breads) so I will just keep experimenting.

Spinach Pesto Recipe

2012-05-03T08:37:00.001-04:00

On Sunday I was hungry for pizza and wanted to try out a recipe for pizza crust made from flax meal (see the next post). My favoite pizza is basil pesto, artichokes and feta cheese. sadly, I didn't have any jarred pesto so I had to improvise. I've been on a spinach kick lately; someties for dinner I will saute spinach and roasted garlic and just have that for dinner. Yummy and good for you at the same time. Can't beat that!

I went on a search for an alternative to basil pesto. I found the following recipe for spinach pesto. It is made the same way you would make basil pesto. Another easy recipe.

Ingredients:

4 cups washed, torn spinach leaves, stems removed, well packed. This was 2 bags of spinach
3 garlic cloves, halved
3 tablespoons pine nuts
1/2 teaspoon dried leaf basil, crumbled
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/8 tsp. salt

Preparation:

Place a few spinach leaves, garlic, pine nuts, basil and a little oil in blender or food processor container. Cover and puree until leaves begin to look crushed. Continue adding spinach leaves a few at a time with small amounts of oil to blender, using a rubber spatula to help to combine pureed mixture. Add Parmesan cheese and 1/8 tsp. salt. Cover and process until spinach pesto mixture is smooth.

I added a little more salt and basil to this recipe. I also found it tasted much better after it sat in the refrigerator for a bit. Granted, it's not basil and doesn't have that taste but it's not bad and serves as a stand in.

The recipe was originally posted on About.com's Southern Food.

Craft A Week #29 Rag Wreath

2012-04-29T11:49:00.002-04:00

I really haven't had much time for crafting since this was the last week of classes for the spring semester. While I am teaching a class this summer, I'm looking forward to having some free time to get back to crafting. It really is my therapy and is just so good for my soul. I have some big projects I am contemplating but, in the meantime, I was looking for a quick and easy project.

In my quest to complete another "pin", I made a rag wreath. Since another one of my goals is to use up the materials I have (rather than buying new supplies) I harvested the fabric I had in my craft room. For some reason I had an overabundance of pink fabric. I picked up the white/brown plaid and blue at a yard sale on Friday to lessen the pinkness of the wreath. I got 1.5 yards of each for .25!

This project is really simple. Just cut your fabric into 1" strips that are about 10-12" long. I wasn't too precise. Some were wider and/or longer than others but it doesn't matter. Here's a tip: fold the material in half and you can cut twice as much in half the time. Or use a rotary cutter: I don't have one but this would have been really handy. I just cut up the material I had and tossed into a big tin. I then had Natalie (my granddaughter) "stir" the fabric so it was all mixed together, making it easier to just pull from when making the wreath.

I bought a wire wreath from Michaels. It was only $2.50 with the loyalty discount. I thought it would be much more than that. I bought a large one because I wanted it big for my front door.

All you do is tie the fabric strips onto the wreath. I chose to tie it across all four wires because of the length of my strips. I thought of doing two rows but didn't really see much of a benefit of doing it that way....except that it would take me twice as long.

I knotted the strips to make sure they would stay in place. And packed them really tight so the wreath would look full. This was a really quick project; I completed the tieing in abut 2 hours. I only used a fraction of the fabric strips. I definately have enough materials for another wreath. Though the pinks are not really my color, I think it came out very cute and homey.

This is such a simple and affordable project but it makes a big impact. You could easily (and cheaply) make a wreath for each season. Now I've got one more thing to keep an eye out for when yard saleing! I'd like to make an Americana wreath with red, white and blues. That would be a good fit for my style and the door.

I highly recommend this project. I've got several weddings this summer and think I may make these as shower gifts. They will be perfect gifts for those who have a country theme. Another super simple project!

Happy Crafting!

Penn State Teddy Bears

2012-04-25T08:12:00.001-04:00

It is the end of the semester so I haven't had much time to devote to my blogging. Between grading papers, prepping for upcoming presentations and summer school, and making sure all graduating students have their internships complete, I haven't had much time to be uber crafty.

With the help of my mom, Dolly-mama, we did manage to make a sweet graduating gift for this year's seniors. I found this cute pattern on Ravelry and we modified it to make them Penn State representations. Here's the original pattern:

The pattern for this can be found on "All About Ami" located here: Graduation Teddy Bear Pattern

This is our We Are Penn State Proud Bear:

I had the PSU pins (picked up at a yard sale a few years ago for $5/100! Can't beat that price. I think it adds a nice touch, don't you?

Here's the teddy bear army in process. I put together 15 of them for students who are graduating this spring, summer, and fall.

I wrapped each on in a treat bag that I got from the Dollar Tree.

I'm really pleased with the way they turned out. I will say though they took a long time to complete. Dolly-Mama crocheted them and sent them to me in pieces. I am so glad she did that! It took me at least an hour to just put each one together and add the decorations. I think I will come up with another gift for future classes!

Here's my students posing with their bears. They really appreciated the keepsake. I'm so proud of them all! They represent Penn State well.

Happy Crafting!

Craft A Week #28: A Week of Love for Easter

2012-04-06T13:15:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago our family welcomed it's newest addition: Marcus Robert. I know I am biased but I think he's just adorable!

This brings the total of grandkids in our family to 8; four boys and four girls, ranging from 2 weeks to 10 years of age. I love them all and, as you can imagine, it can get quite pricey to buy gifts for each of them for every holiday. In addition, most of the kids have other family who also buy for them so the kids just get an overabundance of stuff.

This year I decided to make my grandkid gifts. Based upon a pin I found that someone made to send to a family member who is serving in the military overseas, I modified the idea to fit my family.

I made each child (aside from newbie Marcus) A Week of Love From Gam gift. All I did was take 7 regular envelops and attached them all together in a line like this:

I labled each envelop with a day of the week, added stickers for decoration, and wrote "A Week of Love From Me To You" down the left side of the envelopes.

I then gathered a bunch of little things from the Dollar Store (and other random places). I didn't really have any plan; I just picked up things I thought would fit into the envelopes.

I used things like fruit snacks, candy bracelets and necklaces, animal crackers, pretzels, erasers, and microwave popcorn (that pops blue). I also had some cute little cards, chalk (for the younger kids) and packages of gum.

I then stuffed one goodie into each day, folded the package up, and tied a ribbon around it.

I love that each child will have little gift every day for a week from Gam.

It didn't cost much to make a bunch of these so it was really cost effective. So, to recap, here's the supply list:

7 envelopes
Stickers and markers to decorate
Small goodies to fit inside each envelop. (Lesson learned: the flatter, the better! I got a little carried away and couldn't fit some of the treats into the envelopes. Things like gum, gift cards, flat candy, etc. would be good).
Ribbon to tie the package up

I love this idea, especially for the grandkids who live far away. I think of this as a little emotional hug for them. If I do this again though I would either use bigger, sturdier envelopes or make my own. I can see some of the kids opening this up on Sunday and having all the little things inside scatter across the room immediately. I also want to look at Target or Staples to see if I can find a 7 day file system that would work. That way the parents could easily refill the file and the gift can be extended.

I hope you all have a wonderfully Happy Easter. I wish blessings to you and your family.

Happy Crafting!

Andes Mint Cookies Recipe

2012-03-31T18:11:00.002-04:00

I found this recipe on Pinterest (where else?!) on the Six Sisters Stuff website. This is a great site; it is six sisters who created this blog to share recipes, crafts, and how to's with each other. I recently gave them the Most Versatile Blogger Award. Check them out; I think you will like them.

My son Zack has always loved Andes Mints so this recipe was perfect for a treat for him. This morning, my granddaughter Kylie and I made them as a belated birthday gift for him (with help from brother A.J.). The recipe is so easy: It only has 4 ingredients. Here's what you need:

1 box of Devil's Food or chocolate cake mix
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
1 box of Andes Mints

1. Heat oven to 350.
2. Mix together cake mix, oil and eggs.
3. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 8 minutes (the original recipe said 6-10 but 8 worked best for us).

While the cookies are baking, unwrap all the candies. Make sure you do this or you will be scrambling to do the next step.

5. As soon as you take the cookies out of the oven, place an Andes Mint in the center of the cookie. Let them sit for a few minutes so the chocolate will melt.
6. Once the candy has melted, spread chocolate over the top of the cookie.
7. Eat them up YUM!

Based on the size of our spoonfuls, this recipe made 36 cookies. We were fortunate that we had another box of Andes Mints because there are only 28 mints per box. We had a second box so we were able to make all the cookies. I suppose you could substitute another chocolate candy, like miniature Snickers or Milky Way. I would cut those in half though because they would be too much candy for the size of the cookie.

Here's my sweet granddaughter Kylie who made these cookies with me. They were really simple to make and we had alot of fun. And these cookies are so good!

Broccoli Slaw Salad Recipe

2012-03-31T17:39:00.000-04:00

I really like broccoli salad but it always seems like alot of work for me. I know it's really not but it does take some time to clean and cut up the broccoli. In my quest to work smarter and faster, I created this recipe for broccoli salad. It is really yummy and quick to throw together.

1 bag of broccoli slaw
1/2 cup Sweet Vidala Onion Dressing
1/3 cup raisens/cranberries and nut mix
1/4 cup bacon bits
2 dashes of ground mustard
salt and pepper

I love this slaw mix. This is shredded broccoli, carronts and cabbage. There are other versions of this (just broccoli and/or broccoli and carrots mix). It doesn't matter what kind you get. It's a matter of preference.

Put about half of the dressing in a large bowl and add the bag of broccoli slaw. I do this because you want to make sure the veggies on the bottom of the bowl will be covered. Toss in the rest of the dressing and mix well. I used tongs to flip it around to mix. Because the veggie mix is shredded, this worked better and was more manageable than using spoon.

Toss in the nuts and bacon. I used this cranberry nut mix that I got on sale at Big Lots but you could use any mix. And if you don't like nuts, you can just use cranberries or raisens. I finished it off with just a few dashes of dried mustard. I like the bite that dried mustard brings to this recipe. NOTE: If you don't have dried mustard, DO NOT use regular mustard. It just isn't the same! Add salt and pepper to taste.

I like to let the finished mix sit in the refrigerator for a few hours to let the flavors blend together.

You can add more or less of any of these ingredients to suit your taste. The salad throws together in a few minutes and I love it! It's become my latest food obsession and I make a new batch of it every few days. Try it, I think you will like it.

Day of the Dead Sugar Skulls Craft A Week #27

2012-03-26T20:49:00.000-04:00

I think religious iconography is fascinating. I love how different cultures interpret and convey their religious beliefs. I grew up in Southern California and, while I was not raised Catholic, I have a strong appreciation for Catholic artistic interpretation of religious symbols. I've always thought that Sugar Skulls for the Day of the Dead are particularly cool.

If you aren't familar with the Day of the Dead, it is a National Mexican holiday that takes place on November 1-2. The holiday focuses on praying for and remembering friends and family members who have died. For more information on Day of the Dead, please go to Mexican Sugar Skull.

One of the traditions that occurs during Day of the Dead is honoring lost loved ones with Sugar Skulls. These are supposed to represent those who have passed. While they are traditionally made from sugar (hence the name Sugar Skulls), I made some out of painted rocks. I think they will make nice worry stones. What do you think?

This is a picture of my Sugar Skull and crocheted rocks. It's getting a little crowded on here; think it's time to do some gifting. (Cydnee, which is your favorite?)

Happy Crafting!