Rook No. 17: recipes, crafts & creative nesting

Carte Postale Stamped Silk Flower Pin Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Erickson) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:00:05 PST

In December, my friend Holly (of 504 Main) and I hosted a small get-together of some of our closest friends for a "Favorite Things" party.

We held the event at a local venue overlooking the bay.

Each guest brought enough of a favorite thing (a lipgloss, split of champagne, gourmet chocolate, etc) to give to each of the other ladies.

These were the "favorite things" that I brought for everyone.

Holly and I provided a linen tote for each guest, and everyone went home with their bags full of incredible new finds. Holly and I each made our own version of fabric flowers as a little something extra for our friends. We attached my flowers, which were on pinbacks, to the tote bags. Holly's flowers, mounted on clips, were worn by each guest. Here are the flowers that I made:

The inspiration for my flowers came from a post that caught my eye on Pinterest, originating at The French Cupboard.

My color palette was inspired by a cream and black silk flower pin that I saw in a local boutique. The pins were fun and easy to make. They make a bold statement on a classic black sweater; can be worn in your hair; or used to dress-up a tote bag or clutch.

Stamped Silk Flower Pins

Assorted Silk Flowers in the palette of your choosing

Fabric Ink Pad

(Look for fast drying and pigment based)

Postcard or other Ephemeral type stamp

(mine was purchased at Michael's)

Hot Glue Gun

Buttons or bits of vintage jewelry

Felt (a single pin requires two 2" circles)

Pinbacks

Small hole punch

scissors

Step 1) Dismantle the flowers, sorting the petals by size, and reserving plastic stamens for later.

Step 2) Use the stamp and fabric ink pad to stamp the vintage-looking images on some of the lighter colored petals.

Step 3) Dry fit (no glue) layers of petals until you've achieved the desired look. I used at least two layers of stamped petals.

Ignore the black pipe cleaner in the center. I originally intended it to hold the petals together during the dry-fit, but later found this step to be unnecessary.

Step 4) Starting with the bottommost petals, begin hot-glueing the layers together. Glue between every layer.

Step 5) Create a decorative center by layering a plastic stamen and vintage button. Hot glue in place.

Step 6) Optional -- softer petals sometimes have a tendency to droop. To give the flowers a fuller, more lush look, you may want to glue some of the bottommost petals to the petals just above them. See the picture below for an example:

Step 7) Cut two felt circles (1.5"-2" in diameter). In one, use a small hole punch to punch two holes, the same distance as the pin bar on the pinback.

Step 8) Open the pin and insert through one of the holes. Bring the pin clasp up through the other hole and close the pin.

This is what the felt and pin piece looks like from the back and the front.

Step 9) Glue the plain felt circle to the back of the flower.

Step 10) Glue the pin and felt piece to the plain felt piece on the flower (so that the pin is sandwiched in-between the felt). The felt "sandwich" gives the pin durability and strength.

You're finished!

Vintage Brownie Bookplate & RecipesA Little Birdie Told Me...No. 60

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Erickson) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:45:47 PST

From my copy of The Brownies Around the World by Palmer Cox, 1893

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Welcome to

"A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday No. 60!

If you're here to share a craft, recipe or project post,

you'll find the linky and the specifics on how to

join the party after the features below.

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Whether it's the playful sprites of folklore, the rich chocolatey confection, or the little girls dressed in brown peddling Thin Mints each spring, it's hard not to be smitten with BROWNIES!

Why, just last Thursday I had the pleasure of making the
Double Chocolate Chunk Brownies
(with Malted Chocolate Frosting)

from the new Joy the Baker cookbook!

And here's a charming little bookplate

featuring Palmer Cox's Brownies

for you to print and enjoy.
(click on the image for download)

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It's no wonder why
these incredible brownie recipes
(of all shapes and sizes)
caught my eye this week...

(Itty Bitty)

Brownie Chex Mix

from Somewhere in the Middle

(Bite Size)

Marshmallow Brownie Bites

from Inside Bru Crew Life

(XL)

Brownie Mousse Torte

from The Kitchen Cookie

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If you've been featured

(here or on Facebook)
feel free to grab a "featured on" button
from the sidebar.

---------------------------------

If you're a fan of the fun finds, foodie tomfoolery

and crafty shenanigans here at Rook No. 17, would

you take a few seconds to show your support with a

over at Babble?

THANK YOU!

----------------------------------------------

Now it's time to link-up and share your creativity!

GUIDELINES FOR GOOD PARTY MOJO:

1) FOLLOW Rook No. 17. Aw shucks, it just makes your host feel appreciated.

2) LINK-UP -- Link-up the URL of a specific post -- craft, recipe, DIY project, or anything else you'd like to show-off. If you have something for sale, please refer to the "Advertising" section.

3) POST THE BUTTON OR A LINK-- Grab the code for the button (below) and paste it into your sidebar or the body of your post.

4) VISIT ONE other link -- Isn't it great, when you're "discovered" by a new fan as a result of linking up to a party? Pay it forward and make someone's day!

5) OPTIONAL - Leave a comment -- I'll comment back -- simple as that.

HOW TO:

1) click your cursor in the code box,

2) right-mouse click and "Select All",

3) right-mouse click and select Copy.

4) Paste the code into your sidebar or post.

REMEMBER TO
Visit ONE other link and leave them a comment.

The links are featured from newest to oldest,

so everyone gets a chance to go "first".

Giveaway ~ $25 Shopping Spree at sneakpeeq!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Erickson) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:35:21 PST

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Before recommending and endorsing any product or service, it's important for me to try it for myself (without compensation or obligation). So today, I gave Sneakpeeq a test drive. I browsed the daily selection of home apparel, gourmet items, and fashion finds. The Designhyppe Black New York City Metro Cuff caught my eye right off the bat. I've never seen anything like it! I decided to "peeq" at the price -- reduced from $24 to $14 (retails for $39) with the $10 off badge I had received at sign-up. For such an unusual and artful piece of jewelry, this price was too good to pass up. I hit "buy" and a pop-up screen appeared offering me free shipping. Check-out was quick and easy.

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GIVEAWAY

When it comes to the Rook No. 17/sneakpeeq giveaway, everybody wins! sneakpeeq is giving away 20% off your next purchase just for entering, plus a chance at the Grand Prize: One winner will receive a $25 gift card to use on your favorite food, style and home products—that goes a long way in sneakpeeq’s amazingly low-priced boutiques!

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To enter - mandatory- (leave a single comment):

1) Click on this link: http://bit.ly/wfLnpx and join sneakpeeq!

2) Follow Rook No. 17 in GFC or LinkyFollow (you can find the widgets on my sidebar)

For bonus entries (leave a separate comment for each entry)

1) "Like" Rook No. 17 on Facebook

2) "Like" sneakpeeq on Facebook

3) Follow Rook No. 17 on Twitter

4) Follow sneakpeeq on Twitter

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Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents.

Giveaway closes Monday, February 27 at midnight.

Winner will be announced on Tuesday, February 28.

*Rook No. 17: recipes, crafts & creative nesting*

Carte Postale Stamped Silk Flower Pin Tutorial

Vintage Brownie Bookplate & RecipesA Little Birdie Told Me...No. 60

Giveaway ~ $25 Shopping Spree at sneakpeeq!

Rook No. 17: recipes, crafts & creative nesting