zakka life

Let them Eat Star Wars Cake

2009-07-09T19:48:00.001-07:00

The talented Aunt Susan has done it again! She made the perfect cake for Evan's Star Wars themed birthday party. Evan specifically requested the cartoon version of Obi-Wan Kenobi on his cake with blue lightsabers. Most artists will tell you people are the hardest images to draw. So considering she created Obi-Wan with icing, I think it's pretty amazing. And if you're curious, the cake was vanilla with chocolate filling, another request by Evan.

Image from Cartoon Network

This is the image Aunt Susan used to create the cake.

How to Make a Lightsaber

2009-07-07T19:45:00.000-07:00

This had to be my favorite activity at the party, make your own lightsaber. All the boys had fun making and customizing their own lightsabers. It was fun to see what each child made. Some went with traditional handles while others decorated theirs with lots of colors and stickers. My son came up with the idea of making a dual lightsaber (picture above). I thought this was very clever. I think he's inherited my craftyness, what do you think?

Supplies:
toilet paper rolls
twisty balloons - make sure they are new, old balloons are weak and pop easily
markers and stickers - for decoration
balloon pump

Have children decorate toilet paper rolls with markers and stickers. While the kids are doing this, I recommend blowing up the balloons. Leave about an inch of the balloon unfilled. This will prevent the balloons from popping while the kids are playing with them.

Stuff the balloon into the lightsaber handle. Depending on the size of the balloon you may want to add a little glue inside the handle. For these ones I didn't need glue at all. Done.

It's inevitable that a balloon or two will pop so I recommend making a few extra.

Jedi Games

*Have children duel with their lightsabers standing on one leg. The child that can last the longest on one leg wins.

*Make an obstacle course out of whatever you have at your house. We used soccer cones and training ladders (the kind that lay flat on the ground). You could use chairs in replace of cones, get creative. Have children run through the course with the lightsaber in one hand. You could time them for more of a challenge.

*Pop bubbles with lightsabers. I recommend using a bubble machine if possible. This would be a good game for toddlers.

Star Wars Birthday Party

2009-07-06T07:27:00.001-07:00

Over the weekend we had a Star Wars Birthday party for my son. Above is a picture of the game cards I made for the kids. I made them into necklaces so they wouldn't lose them while going from game to game. Each time they completed one of the tasks I stamped the cards. Once the card was completely stamped, they received a special "surprise". I found this helped motivate some of the kids to participate in all the games. I also added some easy tasks, like eat a snow cone and a piece of cake. Needless to say, most of the children were up for the challenge.

Throughout the week I plan on sharing more details from the party such as the cake, how to make lightsabers, and one of my favorite chicken recipes. But for now I'm just recovering from all the party planning and cleaning. Is it just me or do parties wipe you out?

How To Make Firework Balloon Decorations

2009-07-02T12:35:00.000-07:00

Here's an quick a easy decoration you can make for your "Forth of July" party. What's great about this project is it's cheap, covers a large space, makes a big statement and adds a lot of color to any event. Simple directions below.

Supplies:
long twisting balloons in red, white and blue
balloon pump - these are easy to find at party supply stores and even craft stores
paperclips

Blow up at three balloons in each color with the balloon pump. Leave about two inches of a tail at the end of the balloon. This will help prevent the balloon from popping. Thread the tied knot of the balloon onto a paperclip (refer to picture).

Thread all nine balloons onto the paperclip (the more balloons the better). Close paper clip shut. Hang to decorate. Done.

Have a fun and safe Fourth of July everyone!

How to: Tiny Delicate Tissue Flowers

2009-06-29T19:14:00.000-07:00

This is what I've been up to lately, making these delicate tissue flowers. The flowers will be glued onto contorted willow branches as part of a table centerpiece (providing all goes well). I'm really happy with the results, light, delicate & airy. Perfect for summer decorations.

Supplies:
tissue paper
scissors
string - waxed dental floss works well

Layer four pieces of tissue paper together measuring at 2 1/4" by 3 1/2". Fold together using an accordion fold (refer to picture).

When you're finished with the accordion fold, it should look like the picture on the left. Pinch together and place on its side. It will now look like the picture on the right. Cut where yellow lines are shown, through all layers.

Your tissue flower should now look like the image on the left. With string, tie a loop around the center of the tissue where you made the slits. Now unfold tissue.

Pull the first layer up. Begin to peel all four layers apart (picture on right). Now peel all the layers from the other side. Done.

Kid Craft: Design Your own Stickers

2009-06-27T15:57:00.000-07:00

Stickers and kids go hand in hand. So why not have kids design their own stickers, right? My daughter made the one above (it's a smiley face). This is an easy project that's good for all ages. Simple directions below.

Supplies:
White Self Adhesive Liner - normally used to line drawers. I purchased in the closet organizing section of Target for about $5. You might be able to find it a the dollar store as well.

Permanent Markers

Scissors

Cut a piece of the adhesive paper out. Draw on the paper with permanent markers (we found the color shows better with permanent markers).

*other ideas - use rubber stamps

Cut the image out with scissors.

*Another idea would be to use a circle punch, or any other shape hole punch.

Now just peel and stick.

*note: this a basic sticker just like any other sticker, it is not specifically made to stick on shirts. my daughter decided to stick it to her shirt and I let her

Craft Project: Easy Button Stickers

2009-06-24T18:51:00.001-07:00

Here's another simple sticker to make, button stickers. And the best part is they only take about 20 seconds to make, try to beat that! Simple directions below.

Using double stick foam tape, peel off one end of the tape. Add a little glue to it (I like to use E6000 glue). Place it to the back of the button. Let Dry. Done. You'll notice I also applied this technique to some lace flower trim. Experiment and try other items like, googly eyes, little toys, checker pieces, etc.

To package for a gift, use old button cards and place your stickers on them. If you don't have access to any of these vintage cards, you might be interested in these vintage trim tags from doe-c-doe. Enjoy.

How to Make Mini Chopstick Stickers

2009-06-22T18:38:00.001-07:00

As promised, here are the directions for the mini chopstick stickers. Enjoy.

Supplies:
Origami paper - roughly 1" by 3/4"
Light brown card stock or paper
Scissors
Glue
Double sided foam tape

Cut two thin strips out of the brown card stock. Round the top edges slightly.

Place the print side of the paper face down.

From the bottom fold the paper up just a little more than one third.

Fold the top of the paper down just like you were folding a tiny letter.

Unfold. Flip over. Cut a triangle out in the middle section (refer to picture).

Fold back up. Flip over.

Fold the left side in. Glue all back seams shut.

Glue the chopsticks in the envelope. Place a piece of foam tape to the back of the chopsticks. Done.

How to Make 3D Stickers

2009-06-21T16:41:00.001-07:00

Onigiri (rice ball) stickers

Chopstick Sticker

Any time I'm at a craft store I can't help but look at and occasionally buy those 3D stickers. Call me crazy but something about miniature beach balls and flip flops makes me smile. It's an illness I tell you. And I think to myself I could make that (another illness). So after years of thinking about it, I decided to make some stickers.

Below I'm going to share how to make the onigiri (rice ball) stickers and Tuesday I'll share how to make the chopstick stickers. In fact, I'm dedicating this week to my love of stickers. I'll be posting a couple more ideas so stay tuned.

Supplies:
White felt
Black card stock
Double sided foam stickers - can be found at most craft stores in the scrapbooking aisle
White glue

1. Cut the felt into a rounded corner triangle about the size of a penny
2. Cut the black card stock into a long rectangle and fold in half. Glue over the white felt (refer to picture).
3. Stick the foam sticker to the back of the black card stock. Done.

And since we're kind of on the topic, I thought I would share this cute video about onigiri, found via La Fuji Mama.

Kid Craft: Can Stilts

2009-06-19T12:49:00.001-07:00

I have a vivid memory of walking around on can stilts as a child. I must have been about 5 or 6. And if my memory serves me right, I was in a church basement with my best friend Chrissy Pool. I remember the cans were large, most likely Folgers cans. But then again, everything seems larger when you're a child. I can recall the clanking noise they made against the floor. And of course, I remember it being lots of fun.

So, I decided to make a set for my children. They were both eager to try out the can stilts. My youngest who is three needed a little help walking around. My 5 year old son was able to walk around on his own. In fact, even as I type he's walking around on them in his bedroom. Although, I recommend them for outdoor use.

Simple directions below

Supplies:
2 29 oz cans - In the pictures I used smaller cans but I recommend a larger can (like the large cans of pumpkin filling). A wider base makes it easier for kids to walk around. There's also less chance of them getting frustrated. If all you have is small can's they'll work too. It's just a little more challenging.

hammer
nail
strong string

With the nail, hammer two holes on opposite sides of the bottom of the cans. Thread the string trough the holes of the can. Tie knot inside the cans to secure. (Refer to pictures). Make sure the string is at a good length for the child to hold on to.

Have the child hold the string tight when they walk.

Recipe: Drop Cranberry Scones

2009-06-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

My Mother in law introduced me to this recipe, cranberry scones. This is one of those recipes you keep in the regular rotation category. They're quick and easy to make. Perfect for breakfast and keep the family coming back for more. Try it for yourself and tell me what you think.

Drop Cranberry Scones

In a large bowl mix in this order.

3 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tb Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1 1/2 cup plain yogurt ( if dough is too dry I add a little extra yogurt or milk)
1/2 cup butter (cut into dough)
1-2 cups dried cranberries (just depends if you like a little or a lot)

Once all well mixed, drop 1/4 cup portions on a non greased baking sheet (space about 2" apart. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Yields approximately 24 scones.

*These scones do not have the same texture as traditional scones. They're more moist and doughy.

Note, scones usually do not look this round in shape.

Cheap Wall Art

2009-06-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

When books begin to fall apart, get ripped, scribbled on by little hands, don't discard them quite yet. Instead, think of them as craft supplies or in this case art. I salvaged this "fish illustration" from a book where the binding had begun to come apart. Now the set of pictures hang in my dining room.

Illustrations from a child's book would make a wonderful art piece for a nursery. Just think of all the possibilities. One example of a beautifully illustrated book is Masquerade by Kit Williams.

Painting by Kit Williams in Masquerade

On a side note, if you've never heard of this book before, there's a lot more to it than just a story. There's a built in riddle that once lead to treasure. This book was one of my favorites as a child. If you want to read more about it, there's a good history of the book on wikipedia.

Where to get free books
Often libraries will get rid of old worn out books so ask your librarian.

Garage Sales - I find at the end of most garage sales they begin to give most of the stuff away. One item I always find are books.

Where to find cheap frames
Thrift stores often price paintings by the quality of the image and don't even consider the frame. Often you can get a good frame for $1 and up.

Craft Project: Newspaper Yo-Yo Card

2009-06-13T16:26:00.000-07:00

Did you know you can make yo-yo's out of newspaper? While experimenting with different mediums, I discovered newspaper worked well. So, what do you do with a newspaper yo-yo? Make a newspaper yo-yo quilt? So far, I've been using them for card embellishments. Curious to hear what all of you would use them for.

Simple directions below on how to make a newspaper yo-yo card.

First you will need to make a newspaper yo-yo. To make a newspaper yo-yo, follow these fabric yo-yo directions. The only thing you'll want to do different is cut and sew to circles together instead of one. This will keep the thread from ripping the newspaper.

Supplies:
Newspaper yo-yo
white card stock 8 1/2" by 5 1/2"
khaki card stock 4" by 5"
navy ribbon
button
glue
double stick tape
brown ink pad

1. Fold white card stock in half. Color the edges brown with an ink pad.
2. Color the edges of the khaki card stock brown with an ink pad. With double stick tape, adhere the khaki paper to the white card stock.
3. Fold ribbon in half and glue to card (refer to picture).
4. Glue newspaper yo-yo over the ribbon.
5. Glue button to center of yo-yo. Done.

How to Make Felt Yo-Yo Flowers

2009-06-10T11:09:00.001-07:00

You'll be surprised to see how easy these felt yo-yo flowers are to make. It took me maybe five minutes per felt flower, seriously. These little flowers are great to use for adorning handbags, hair clips or broaches. You could even make a pretty garland with them. Simple directions below.

To start you're going to make a basic yo- yo. The only thing you'll do different is not fold the fabric over when sewing around the circle. There's no need since the fabric will not fray. Also the center will end up to bulky if you fold the fabric over.

For these flowers I used a 5" diameter circle pattern. My stitches were about a centimeter. apart.

Felt Flower Yo-Yo #1

With a pair of fabric scissors, cut your yo-yo where you see the yellow lines. Sew a button in the center. Done.

Felt Flower Yo-Yo #2

With a pair of fabric scissors, cut your yo-yo where you see the yellow lines. Be careful not to cut where the stitching is. Sew a button in the center. Done.

By changing the width and depth of the cuts you can get a large variety of flower shapes. If you want to make garland just string them on ribbon, you don't have to do anything extra to them.

How to Make a Fabric Yo-Yo Bracelet

2009-06-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

One of the nice things about making yo-yo's without a yo-yo maker is that you can make them in any size you want. Here I scaled down the fabric yo-yo to make a delicate bracelet. This is a simple project that you can make in one day. Simple directions below.

If you're not familiar with making fabric yo-yo's, take a look at this tutorial.

For the bracelet, I used yo-yo's that were just about the size of a quarter. To make a fabric yo-yo this size you will want to start off with a circle 2 1/8" in diameter. I used eight yo-yo's for my bracelet but it all depends on the circumference of your wrist.

Sew a button on the top of all the yo-yo's.

Sew the yo-yo's with a whip stitch with right sides facing together. Keep adding on a yo-yo till you get the desired length.

On the last yo-yo, sew a small piece of embroidery thread onto the back of the yo-yo. This will be your clasp. Make sure the loop will fit over the button well.

Here's what the front of it should look like.

The clasp on the right will hook over the pink button on the left to secure. Done.

How to Sew Fabric Yo-Yo's

2009-06-07T15:42:00.000-07:00

This week I plan on sharing a few unique yo-yo craft projects. But first, I thought I would share how to sew a basic yo-yo. This technique was first shown to me by my Grandmother and I've been making them this way ever sense. There's something about making yo-yo's that's very therapeutic or zen like. They also make for great projects to take along with you on the bus, at the park, etc.

Supplies:
fabric pen, chalk or pencil
scissors
strong thread
fabric
cardboard
Geometry compass (optional)

With the geometry compass draw a circle with a 5 inch diameter onto the cardboard. If you don't have a geometry compass, try using a small plate or saucer to trace a circle. It' s okay if the circle isn't 5 inches in diameter. You'll just end up with a larger or smaller yo-yo depending on the size of your plate. Cut out cardboard circle. Trace the circle onto fabric. Cut out circle.

With the wrong side of the fabric facing up, fold the edge over about 1/4". Using a running stitch, sew around the entire circle close to the fold (refer to picture).

This is what your yo-yo should look like once you stitched all the way around the circle.

This is what the back (right side of fabric) will look like.

With the needle still on the thread, pull the thread tightly so the fabric cinches together. This is why you need strong thread, to keep the thread from snapping. Flatten and shape the yo-yo. Run the needle through the center back of the yo-yo and tie off. Done!

You now have made your first yo-yo! You can change the size of the hole and gathers by adjusting the size of your stitches. For example, larger stitches will yield a smaller hole.

You can also buy yo yo makers which help guide your stitches. There are even heart and flower shaped yo-yo makers you can purchase.

Kid Craft: Suncatchers

2009-06-04T15:35:00.000-07:00

Here's an easy craft project for kids to make this summer, suncatchers. This craft project can be tailored for just about any age. Also, most of the supplies can be found around the house. Simple directions below.

Supplies:
Plastic from packaging - kids toys, veg/fruit containers, etc.
Permanent markers
Coloring book (optional)
scissors
suction cup (optional) - can be found at the hardware store
1 paper clip
hole punch

I started with this plastic tray packaging. I cut off the sides so I had a flat piece of plastic. Most plastics for packaging will do.

Place the plastic over a favorite coloring book page and trace the image with a black marker. Depending on the child's ability you can trace or have the child do it. For younger children you can skip this step and just have them draw a picture on the plastic.

You should now have something that looks like this. Now let the child color it in with the permanent markers.

Once it's colored let dry. Cut the shape out. Punch a hole in the top and attach a suction cup to it with a paper clip. You could also adhere it to the window with glue dots. Done

Free Zakka Craft Patterns

2009-06-02T19:10:00.001-07:00

Today I decided to do something different and share some free zakka patterns you can find around the web. Here's some of my favorites. Enjoy.

photo via Fujix
hair scrunchies pattern - the page is in Japanese but you can translate some of it with Google translate.

photo via Fujix
jar cover pattern - the page is in Japanese but you can translate some of it with Google translate.

photo via Fujix

pouch pattern - the page is in Japanese but you can translate some of it with Google translate.

photo via Make Good Books

pot holder pattern - you can find the pattern link on the top right hand side of the page

photo via Make Good Books

lunch bag pattern - you can find the pattern link on the top right hand side of the page

photo via Make Good Books

pocket tissue case pattern - you can find the pattern link on the top right hand side of the page

photo via Craft

Bunny Pencil Case Pattern

photo via Life Style With Love

Japanese Cloth Sandal Pattern - Once you click on the link go to page 47 in the magazine.

Feel free to share links to your favorite zakka patterns in the comments.

Maker Faire 2009

2009-05-31T14:18:00.000-07:00

Twelve foot tall steel flower sculpture by Charles Gadeken

This weekend I was able to attend the Maker Faire at the San Mateo County Fairgrounds. For those not familiar with the event, it's a fair that celebrates arts, crafts, engineering, science projects and the Do-It-Yourself attitude. Here's a few pictures from the event.

My mother came with me to the fair. Here we are at the wooly hoodwinks booth.

One of the popular attractions was the life size mousetrap (just like the game). We got a chance to see it in action. Here, they are setting up the ball to put the mousetrap in motion. For more information and pictures you can visit the official site, The Lifesize Mousetrap.

Life Size Mousetrap

Natalie Zee Drieu and me

Natalie is the Senior Editor for Craft. It was exciting to get to meet her in person. I owe a lot of Zakka Life's success to the people at Craft who have featured my projects on the Craft blog. I wanted to introduce myself to everyone but I think I was a little overwhelmed. My nerves got the best of me.

Here I am in one of the famous cupcake vehicles. Yes that's right, I said vehicle, these can actually be driven around! To learn more about the motorized cupcakes and muffins visit the official site, Acme Engineering.

Artist Quincy Pearson

Recognize those little cloud factories? That's right, Pearson-Maron was at the Maker Faire selling their whimsical artwork. The sculptures were so cute, that I couldn't pass up the chance of buying one ( the cloud factory). It makes me smile every time I look at it.

cloud factory

Xylocopa was also a vendor at the fair. One of my favorite items was this mushroom puzzle and yes I purchased this too. They also make the popular "mad scientist blocks".

Here's another item that stood out among the vendors, a spoon hair clip. I thought this was a clever idea and worth sharing. The artist behind this piece is Gabriel Colaluca. He makes one of a kind hand crafted pieces from salvaged materials. You can find more of his work at The Brown Banana.

Last but not least, we got to see Eepy Bird (Fritz Grobe & Stephen Voltz) perform with their famous diet coke/mentos fountains. Here's a video of what the performance was like.

How to Recycle Old Crayons into New Crayons

2009-05-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

Ever since I got a glimpse of the candy molds at Bake it Pretty, I new I wanted to make crayons with them. At first, I wasn't sure how the candy molds would hold up. After a little craft R & D I can tell you they're perfect for crayon making. I originally wanted to make mustache crayons but the mustache molds were all sold out (bummer). Apparently mustache candy is hot in the baking world, who new? So instead of mustache crayons, I present you with car crayon directions.

P.S. This is the kid craft I promised for Friday. It's just a little early.

Supplies
Candy molds - I purchased mine at Bake it Pretty but you can get them anywhere. The main thing is you don't want a mold skinnier than a crayon. Otherwise, the crayons will break easy.

Crayons - I got a bunch of used crayons from the kindergarten teacher at my son's school. This is the perfect time to ask teachers since school is coming to an end. Often the crayon nubs are sorted out and thrown away.

Used cans from fruit, vegetables etc. . .

Large Pot

Instructions
Peel all the paper off crayons. Sort by color into the different cans. Place in a large pot of water. Melt down using the double boiler method.

Other melting techniques - Some sites will tell you to melt down the crayons in paper cups in the microwave. From my experience, the paper cups begin to burn before the crayons melt down. You could also use a microwave safe container to melt down the crayons as well. Note, even though some Tupperware is microwave safe, it will melt if it gets too hot.

Pour the hot crayon wax into the molds. Don't worry if it spills over. You can peel it off when it dries. Let it set for a couple minutes. Then place the mold into the freezer for approximately fifteen minutes. You don't need to spray the molds at all. When the wax cools it pulls away from the mold. All I had to do was turn over the mold and the car crayons popped out. There wasn't even any wax left behind.

top view of car crayon

Other idea

You can mix glitter into the wax to make glitter crayons. I think these rock molds would be perfect for this.

Vintage Handbags

2009-05-27T07:10:00.000-07:00

Lobster Stencilled Tote
Needle craft for Today July/Aug. 1979

You know that expression, "what's old is new again". Well, I'm realizing how true that is when it comes to crafts. A lot of the craft projects in my vintage magazines are very similar to the projects I've been seeing on the craft blogs. Take for example, this handbag above. I know I've seen it in a current Japanese Craft book (just can't remember which one). So, below are a couple of pictures for inspiration along with some links to handbag tutorials. Enjoy

Needle point flower clutch
Needle craft for Today July/Aug. 1979

Necktie carryall
Needlecraft for Today July/Aug 1979

Since I can't share the tutorials for the handbags above, here are some similar tutorials I found online.

Necktie handbag pattern - Craftbits

Apple print tote bag - Craftstylish

Clutch purse with antique pin closure - BHG

Kid craft coming this Friday.

Upcycle: Wine Cork Rubber Stamps

2009-05-24T16:25:00.001-07:00

When I make smaller stamps, I like to use wine or champagne corks for the handles. After I carve out the stamp, I just glue it to the wine cork with a little E6000 glue. The wine and champagne corks add a little extra charm to the rubber stamps.

If you've never made a rubber stamp before, Geninne's Art Blog has a well detailed tutorial.

How To Make Weepuls

2009-05-21T19:20:00.001-07:00

Weepul on Skateboard

Remember how popular weepuls were in the 80's? People would stick them to just about anything... cars, backpacks, trapper keepers. They came in all kinds of themes including holidays, animals, etc. I always wanted a weepul but like many trendy toys, my parents wouldn't buy me any (never got to have garbage pale kids either).

Well, I decided to fill that childhood void and make one. But first I needed a picture. And that's when my Google quest began "the weepul search". The only problem, I couldn't remember what they were called. The first day I googled just about everything, warm fuzzy stickers, stickers from the 80's, fuzz ball stickers, 80's warm fuzzies, hang ten feet, pom pom stickers, stickers with googly eyes , and the list goes on. I asked friends. I searched eBay. No luck. Then, one day I got a lead. When I clicked the link I got the message, "adult content". But in my desperation and obsession to track down the illusive weepul, I was willing to take that risk. And trust me, it's a risk when you're searching "80's warm fuzzies". And what do you know, it was actually a post about the weepul!

Two Weepuls on a Skateboard

Supplies:
Pom Poms
craft foam
googly eyes
glue
double stick tape
ribbon with printed message - one could also print a message on paper
pearl sprigs - Picture below. One can find these in the wedding section of the craft store.

1.Right click, copy, save and print foot template. Fold on dotted line, cut out, unfold. Trace feet onto the foam and cut out.

2. Cut pearl sprigs in half and glue to the top of your pom pom. Glue on googly eyes. Refer to picture.

3. Add double stick tape to the bottom of the feet (optional). Glue ribbon to the top of feet. Glue the pom pom to the ribbon/feet. Let dry. Done.

Recipe: Chinese Cabbage Salad

2009-05-19T19:12:00.000-07:00

I was first introduced to Chinese cabbage salad at a church potluck. And where there's a church potluck, there's good food and recipes. This salad is no exception. It's a dish that's tasty, easy and inexpensive to make. Try it out and tell me what you think. Directions below.

Ingredients:
1 head of napa cabbage - Green cabbage can be substituted. Half of a green cabbage = 1 napa cabbage
3 green onions

Ramen mix
4Tbs sliced almonds
2Tbs sesame seeds
2 packages of top ramen (chicken)
2Tbs butter
1 tsp oil

Dressing
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup rice vinegar
2tsp soy sauce

1. Thinly slice the napa cabbage. Chop green onions. Mix together and set aside.

2. Crush the top ramen into bite size pieces while it's still in the bag. Remove the seasoning packets.

3. Saute the almonds, sesame seeds and top ramen (uncooked) in the butter and oil til lightly browned . Take off heat and mix in seasoning packets. Set aside.

4. Mix all the dressing ingredients together until well blended. I usually add everything into a jar and shake it up. Often I only use half of the dressing but it all depends on taste.

5. Mix dressing, cabbage mix, and top ramen mix all together. Serve immediately.

Special Instructions

*If you plan on bringing this to a potluck, mix everything except the ramen mixture. Add that last when ready to serve. Otherwise, the ramen noodles will get soggy.

*Add cooked chicken chunks to make a hearty salad for lunch or dinner.

How To Make Wine Cork Magnets

2009-05-17T16:08:00.001-07:00

Have a lot of wine corks lying around? Why not make some kitchen magnets out of them? They're quick, easy and inexpensive to make. Simple directions below.

Supplies:
Wine corks
E6000 glue
Strong Magnets
Exacto knife
Here's what kind of magnets you'll need. I purchased these at the hardware store for about $3.

With an exacto knife, dig out a hole in the back of the cork that is the size of the magnet. Place the magnet inside to make sure it fits well. Take it back out.

Place a good amount of glue into the hole and add the magnet. Wipe away any excess glue that comes out the sides. Because the magnet is so strong it is important to use a strong glue. Make sure to let the magnet dry overnight. Done.