Its nice when you can stand back and admire a craft youve created. Looking over the project you can take pride in your handiwork. There are several reasons why you might want to make something yourself: you cant afford to purchase it, you dont want something that looks like everyone elses, or you have an adventurous and creative side waiting to be exposed. Whatever your reasoning youll have lots of fun creating a Barbie doll bed that comes with a matching canopy. The simple bed set is actually appropriate for any doll depending upon the sizes of craft supplies you use. Use the same technique to make really huge doll beds or very tiny ones.
A box with a lid is just what you need to make the doll bed. The box should be able to hold the weight of the doll and it should have a separate lid. The lid needs to be one thats the same size as the box but more shallow. A really deep box will make a bed that stands tall off the floor; a shallow box makes a bed that sits close to the floor. With the box and lid together you can easily make a beautiful canopy bed for a Barbie or another doll.
Wrap the box, if desired, in decorative paper. This step is not absolutely necessary since the finished bed will have a quilt to cover the box. However, anyone who is playing with the doll bed can lift the covers and see the box, and if that idea is not attractive to you, wrap the box before starting the project. Tuck the excess paper into the opening of the box while creating a smooth look on the bottom as well as all four sides. Turn the box upside-down so that the bottom becomes the area where the doll will lie. To create the canopy decide on the fabric you want. First, wrap the lid with the fabric then add ruffled material around the perimeter of the lid. Or, just apply glue to the flat area of the lid and lay the fabric over it. This draped look is even easier to create. If youre making a short canopy you can simply glue the fabric around the decorated box lid. If youre making a canopy that will go to the floor, its necessary to cut the fabric on all four corners. Cut it from the edge that will be touching the floor up to the canopy itself. Use straws, dowel rods or other straight, stiff objects to make the poles for the canopy. These pieces can be decorated by using things like colored tape, spray paint or even ribbon. After the objects are covered no one will be able to tell what they once were. Glue one of the poles to each of the four corners of the box lid, on the underside. The flat area of the box lid will become the top of the canopy. After the glue has set simply turn the canopy over and set it above the bed. Position one pole to be at each corner of the bed. If youve made a long canopy use small pieces of ribbon to tie each corner piece to one of the poles. You can make a blanket by simply cutting a piece of felt or fabric. Make a pillow by stuffing a small pouch with cotton balls. Fabric glue can help you create ruffles and ribbon trim for the blankets as well as assisting you in making throw pillows and more. The Barbie doll bedroom is going to look fabulous!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
Doctors Withholding Pain Medications?
I dont claim to know all about the world of street drugs in America. I do know, from what I hear or read, that its become quite an epidemic. People are literally purchasing drugs on the street - have been for many years - and that one fact leads to all sorts of other crimes and tragedy. Thats why, of late, doctors have gotten to where they dont prescribe some medications - like pain meds. First of all, those addicted to drugs often have a habit of making appointments to convince doctors that they need more drugs. But others, they get the medications for the intent purpose of selling them on the streets.Before it affected me, personally, I was just aware of the drug problem in America. But, recently, two different circumstances presented themselves, and when I heard about them, I was very upset - and still am. Thats why Im making this plea to the doctors of our country. It is the duty of any doctor to help those who need it; it isnt their duty to clean up the underworld.Let me present the two cases. Both involved a close friend; Ive known one friend for nearly 40 years and the other for 25 years. Neither one of them do "drugs". The first friend had to have 12 teeth pulled to prepare for dentures. She assumed she would be in a lot of pain later - which she was - and asked if the doctor would be giving her something for the pain. She was promptly told that no narcotics were given out by their office! She was in horrible agony after the numbness wore off. She endured many hours of pain, over three or four days, and was unable to eat, sleep or get relief.The second situation Im aware of was even worse. This friend has had 5 hip surgeries because, as is widely known now, many of these replacement hips were - and are - faulty. Now having trouble with one of them again, he went to the doctor, and was told that the hip is broken in two places. He explained to the doctor that hes been in anguish and asked for something for pain. Yes, he was told that no narcotics are given by their office. Are you kidding? This is ridiculous! Sure, the drug problem in America is out of control, and, yes, doctors should do their part to keep people from obtaining narcotics without a legitimate reason. But, when it comes to conditions and procedures known to cause excruciating pain, and medication is withheld for fear that someone, somewhere on the street, might be selling or using drugs, it becomes a means of torture.My friend who had 12 teeth pulled is now well. My friend with the broken hip - and no insurance - is still in agony. He awaits financial help for yet another hip replacement while he lies in bed, dreading any movement at all.My plea is to the doctors of America: when you know for a fact that someone is suffering from a condition thats extremely painful, please write that prescription! A possible solution to those getting medications under false pretenses is to have drug stores keep track of people who fill many prescriptions for addictive narcotics. Weve gone from one extreme to the other - doctors writing too many prescriptions and, now, none at all - and its time we find a happy medium.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Styrofoam Disk Headboard
Something as simple and ordinary as a headboard can come with many issues. If you somehow ended up with a bed that has no headboard it can be really hard to find one. Well, you can find them all day long but they come with that bed you dont need. And, if you do manage to find just a headboard it can be expensive. There are lots of headboards you can make yourself but most of them can be complicated to build. Theres one type of headboard that you can build, which wont require any tools except a hot glue gun, yet turns out a geometric-theme headboard that can be done in various ways. Youll love it.
Buy Styrofoam disks to make the easy, striking headboard. The white disks are inexpensive and available in different sizes. Disks which are 6" in diameter and 1" thick are perfect but you can actually use most any size disks.
One way to make the headboard is to use dowels to connect them. Purchase dowel rods which are a quarter-inch in diameter and have them cut to 6" in length. Although you can easily cut small-diameter dowels with a sharp kitchen knife most large home improvement stores will cut them free of charge if you purchase them from that store. Or, buy them in small lengths at a craft store. Its quick and easy to paint the Styrofoam disks. Make a metallic headboard, solid black one, or another design, depending upon the paint color you choose. When the paint is dry you can begin assembling the headboard. Push a dowel into the side of one disk, remove it, fill the hole with hot glue, then push the dowel back into the hole. Push the next Styrofoam disk onto the opposite end of that dowel, and steady it with hot glue in the hole. Continue adding as many dowels and disks as you need to equal the width of the bed - or a little wider. Leave 2" gaps between the disks, with only the dowels showing in those areas, until the row is complete. Make another and another row until the headboard is as tall as you want. Connect the rows with additional dowels, leaving the 2" gap between the disks themselves, then between the rows. Rather than use dowels to build the headboard you can also use long, narrow strips of wood. Just glue the disks onto the wooden strips, leaving gaps between the disks, and making as many rows as you want to complete it. Its easy to hang the lightweight disks on the wall with glue dots or even double-sided tape. If youre using wooden strips you can nail or screw them to the wall. Now you can further decorate the disks to make the headboard you want. For example, you can glue a round, frame-less mirror onto each one or attach a round piece of decorative, adhesive paper to each circle - or fabric. Another choice is to glue a thin circle of wood to each circle; these are found at any craft store and are not expensive. The circular designs arent only suitable for making a headboard. You can also make interesting wall art in the same manner. Since you wont need any tools, and the materials are not costly, you can easily make the headboard and a matching wall art piece for less than the cost of a regular headboard. See one disk design here
Buy Styrofoam disks to make the easy, striking headboard. The white disks are inexpensive and available in different sizes. Disks which are 6" in diameter and 1" thick are perfect but you can actually use most any size disks.
One way to make the headboard is to use dowels to connect them. Purchase dowel rods which are a quarter-inch in diameter and have them cut to 6" in length. Although you can easily cut small-diameter dowels with a sharp kitchen knife most large home improvement stores will cut them free of charge if you purchase them from that store. Or, buy them in small lengths at a craft store. Its quick and easy to paint the Styrofoam disks. Make a metallic headboard, solid black one, or another design, depending upon the paint color you choose. When the paint is dry you can begin assembling the headboard. Push a dowel into the side of one disk, remove it, fill the hole with hot glue, then push the dowel back into the hole. Push the next Styrofoam disk onto the opposite end of that dowel, and steady it with hot glue in the hole. Continue adding as many dowels and disks as you need to equal the width of the bed - or a little wider. Leave 2" gaps between the disks, with only the dowels showing in those areas, until the row is complete. Make another and another row until the headboard is as tall as you want. Connect the rows with additional dowels, leaving the 2" gap between the disks themselves, then between the rows. Rather than use dowels to build the headboard you can also use long, narrow strips of wood. Just glue the disks onto the wooden strips, leaving gaps between the disks, and making as many rows as you want to complete it. Its easy to hang the lightweight disks on the wall with glue dots or even double-sided tape. If youre using wooden strips you can nail or screw them to the wall. Now you can further decorate the disks to make the headboard you want. For example, you can glue a round, frame-less mirror onto each one or attach a round piece of decorative, adhesive paper to each circle - or fabric. Another choice is to glue a thin circle of wood to each circle; these are found at any craft store and are not expensive. The circular designs arent only suitable for making a headboard. You can also make interesting wall art in the same manner. Since you wont need any tools, and the materials are not costly, you can easily make the headboard and a matching wall art piece for less than the cost of a regular headboard. See one disk design here
Friday, October 26, 2012
Fortune Cookie Fortune Crafts
Its hard to say whats the best part of a delicious Chinese meal but many people would say its the fortune cookies at the end of the meal. After all, they taste delicious and they give you a little glimpse at something pertinent to your life. After breaking open the cookie, and removing that little strip of paper, you can read about meeting a tall, dark stranger, having a long-lost relative return to your life, or about a boost in your finances, coming your way. Some people take the fortunes seriously; others read them and toss them aside. Whether you believe or not, when you save those fortune slips, you can make all sorts of cool things for yourself or your home.Chinese fortune coasters can be a fun element in your home and theyre not at all difficult to make. One type is made from a block of wood. Find the square of wood at a craft store and purchase a piece of cork to go with it. You can paint or stain the wood, or you can use it as-is. Cut a circle of cork to be about the diameter of a drinking glass and glue it to the top of the wood. Glue a Chinese fortune on each of the four sides of the wood.A more simple type of coaster you can make is done by cutting a 4x4" piece of scrapbook paper, printer paper, or even a piece from a brown paper bag. Tape the chosen fortunes to the paper in any manner you want. For example, you could just make a border around the paper piece, using the fortune strips, or you could align them in a horizontal fashion, going from the top of the paper, to the bottom. When youre finished with the arrangement simply cover the front and back with clear shelf liner.Some types of picture frames look really great with the Chinese fortunes attached. Just use some watered-down, white glue to affix the fortunes around the perimeter of the frame. Some of the fortunes have a "learn Chinese" place on the backside. Its up to you if you attach the paper strips so that the fortune shows, or the language lesson shows.A little girl might like a cute bracelet she can make from a Chinese fortune paper. Just cut a piece of peel-n-stick, clear shelf liner to be long enough to wrap around the wrist, with a half-inch to spare. Cut the shelf liner to be twice as wide as you want. Lay the fortune right down the center of the liner piece. Bring each of the long edges of the liner up and stick them to the backside of the fortune, so that the edges meet in the middle on the back of the paper. Use a piece of Velcro as a closure for the bracelet.Turn a tin can into a cute pencil holder, kitchen utensil holder, or another useful accent. As you collect the Chinese fortunes, glue them to the can. Wrap one as far as it will go around the can, and with the next one, place it beside the first. Continue to add another, and another, until the can is covered. Something similar can be done with a cardboard box, too.Using the papers out of Chinese fortune cookies, a person can make a unique lampshade or lamp, candy dish, jewelry box, mirror, or your choice of many other home accents. If you love Chinese food, and you love owning things that no one else has, start saving those fortune papers.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Tips for Making Easy Quilts
It takes many hours to make a quilt but the finished product is just so gorgeous. The eye-pleasing aspect is the way that a quilter takes assorted colors, solids, and patterns, and combines them into an interesting arrangement, like squares, triangles, and more. For most any quilter, theres a lot involved. Measuring, cutting, arranging, pinning - its a whole lot of work, for sure. But the easy part is the quilt pattern; you can make it yourself without any trouble. Its just a matter of geometry; dont worry, you wont have to re-study the subject.
The first order of business is deciding how large you want the quilt to be. Then, you have to cut square blocks of fabric to equal the length and width of the desired quilt size. Its important that every square be perfectly square. There are many cutters and other implements to help a quilter get exact measurements but, if you have none of those things, cut a square of cardboard. Make sure that one square is perfect and use it as a pattern. Lay it down, draw around it, and cut out the square. Always use the square of cardboard; dont use each cut fabric piece to cut the next one. When you buy something called a "charm pack", the squares are already cut for you. Youll find those, in a huge variety of colors and patterns, online or at a nearby craft store.
The design on a quilt is done by starting with quilt squares. Once you have those, there are no limits to what you can do with them, in order to add interest to the quilt. For instance, cut each square in half - so that you end up with two triangles - and then swap one of them for a triangle off of another quilt block. Or, take each triangle, cut it in two, and trade for two different types of fabric, from the other patterns. It isnt hard to cut squares and triangles in half but, when you do, you can create all kind of interest on the quilt. It can be helpful to draw a grid on paper. Draw or color the design you want in each square of the grid. You can later look at the grid to follow patterns for creating images, color combinations, and more. Besides triangles, you can cut quilt squares into slender rectangles, or you could even cut a circle out of the middle of a square, and trade it for a different color of circle. Cut the circle in half, and trade each half for a different pattern or color. Or, cut a doughnut shape, and then cut the doughnut into sections, and swap sections for other designs of those same sections. There are no limits as long as you make each quilt block to be the same shapes as the others. Or, make one mixed-shape quilt block, and sew it to a plain quilt block, for a different look. You can also create various quilt patterns by using a counting technique. For instance, every fourth block will be blue, or every center block - of each row - will match. There are literally millions of different designs you can create simply by starting with squares, and cutting them into triangles or other shapes, and mixing them up to create new looks for the blocks. Try different designs yourself and youll be stunned at your own handiwork!
The first order of business is deciding how large you want the quilt to be. Then, you have to cut square blocks of fabric to equal the length and width of the desired quilt size. Its important that every square be perfectly square. There are many cutters and other implements to help a quilter get exact measurements but, if you have none of those things, cut a square of cardboard. Make sure that one square is perfect and use it as a pattern. Lay it down, draw around it, and cut out the square. Always use the square of cardboard; dont use each cut fabric piece to cut the next one. When you buy something called a "charm pack", the squares are already cut for you. Youll find those, in a huge variety of colors and patterns, online or at a nearby craft store.
The design on a quilt is done by starting with quilt squares. Once you have those, there are no limits to what you can do with them, in order to add interest to the quilt. For instance, cut each square in half - so that you end up with two triangles - and then swap one of them for a triangle off of another quilt block. Or, take each triangle, cut it in two, and trade for two different types of fabric, from the other patterns. It isnt hard to cut squares and triangles in half but, when you do, you can create all kind of interest on the quilt. It can be helpful to draw a grid on paper. Draw or color the design you want in each square of the grid. You can later look at the grid to follow patterns for creating images, color combinations, and more. Besides triangles, you can cut quilt squares into slender rectangles, or you could even cut a circle out of the middle of a square, and trade it for a different color of circle. Cut the circle in half, and trade each half for a different pattern or color. Or, cut a doughnut shape, and then cut the doughnut into sections, and swap sections for other designs of those same sections. There are no limits as long as you make each quilt block to be the same shapes as the others. Or, make one mixed-shape quilt block, and sew it to a plain quilt block, for a different look. You can also create various quilt patterns by using a counting technique. For instance, every fourth block will be blue, or every center block - of each row - will match. There are literally millions of different designs you can create simply by starting with squares, and cutting them into triangles or other shapes, and mixing them up to create new looks for the blocks. Try different designs yourself and youll be stunned at your own handiwork!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Four Valentines Day Gifts a Man Can Make for a Young Girl
Need a present for your daughter for Valentines Day? Your niece? No matter who that special little girl in your life is shell love a Valentines Day gift that you make especially for her. Think you cant do crafts and produce something really nice? Go ahead and take a chance; youll create a gift that will impress that little girl! Make that special someone a solid wood pet or other object for her bedroom when you visit a craft store. There, youll find lots of different wooden shapes which are really thin. If she likes kittens, purchase several of the kitten shapes, then glue them together. Paint. Since the shapes are so cheap - a couple of them for a buck - it wont cost a lot to make her a nice, solid wood kitten to set on a dresser, night stand or shelf. Available shapes include puppies, lighthouses, stars, wild animals, and even hearts.
At the same craft store youll find a variety of paper mache boxes which are nearly gifts in themselves. That is, it will take very little effort to turn the box into a nice Valentines Days gift. Purchase a heart-shaped box and spray paint it a traditional color, like white, pink or red, or paint it her favorite color. Thats it! She can use it to hold cards and letters, photos, jewelry or other belongings. If you want to take the craft a step further you can glue on fake jewels from a craft store, buttons, sequin or similar things. Or, cut a picture of her and you together, in a heart shape, and glue it to the top of the box. With a small paper mache box costing only about a buck youre sure to impress her with little money! Make a gift box that looks nice and holds a cool surprise. Purchase a decorated cardboard box (sold at a craft store). The box should be the type which has a lid that can be completely removed. Take the lid off, cut down the four corner seams, and the box opens up all the way, flat. Glue a piece of elastic across each of the four side panels, on the inside, and use these to hold the gifts. You can make this little box into a sewing kit, a gift card holder, a makeup storage box or something else. Simply place the items underneath the elastic pieces. Fold the four sides of the box back up, place the lid on it, and the gift is finished. If you want, put an additional gift in the box itself. When she removes the lid the box the sides will fall and show her everything inside.
Take a towel and turn it into a bed organizer for your little girl. Fold one short end of the towel up a ways and glue the sides with fabric glue. If you can sew a little, even better. This creates a large pocket. Glue or sew down the pocket, twice or more, to give that pocket separate sections. Slide the end without the pocket between a box springs and mattress and allow the pocket to hang over the side. This makes a nice little storage area for a remote, cell phone, magazine and other things. You dont have to have a lot of money, or know much about crafting, to make a cute gift for a little girl this Valentines Day. All you have to do is purchase a couple of craft items and get started. Youll see just how easy it is!
At the same craft store youll find a variety of paper mache boxes which are nearly gifts in themselves. That is, it will take very little effort to turn the box into a nice Valentines Days gift. Purchase a heart-shaped box and spray paint it a traditional color, like white, pink or red, or paint it her favorite color. Thats it! She can use it to hold cards and letters, photos, jewelry or other belongings. If you want to take the craft a step further you can glue on fake jewels from a craft store, buttons, sequin or similar things. Or, cut a picture of her and you together, in a heart shape, and glue it to the top of the box. With a small paper mache box costing only about a buck youre sure to impress her with little money! Make a gift box that looks nice and holds a cool surprise. Purchase a decorated cardboard box (sold at a craft store). The box should be the type which has a lid that can be completely removed. Take the lid off, cut down the four corner seams, and the box opens up all the way, flat. Glue a piece of elastic across each of the four side panels, on the inside, and use these to hold the gifts. You can make this little box into a sewing kit, a gift card holder, a makeup storage box or something else. Simply place the items underneath the elastic pieces. Fold the four sides of the box back up, place the lid on it, and the gift is finished. If you want, put an additional gift in the box itself. When she removes the lid the box the sides will fall and show her everything inside.
Take a towel and turn it into a bed organizer for your little girl. Fold one short end of the towel up a ways and glue the sides with fabric glue. If you can sew a little, even better. This creates a large pocket. Glue or sew down the pocket, twice or more, to give that pocket separate sections. Slide the end without the pocket between a box springs and mattress and allow the pocket to hang over the side. This makes a nice little storage area for a remote, cell phone, magazine and other things. You dont have to have a lot of money, or know much about crafting, to make a cute gift for a little girl this Valentines Day. All you have to do is purchase a couple of craft items and get started. Youll see just how easy it is!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Three Great Places to Meet Guys of All Ages
Can you, as a single woman, imagine being surrounded by manly-men? Wouldnt that be heaven; all those guys from which to choose? Okay, wake up. That was just a dream. Or was it? Have you been shopping lately? Not at the mall, silly; guys who go there are usually with their wives or girlfriends. I accidentally ran into a place that had guys swarming everywhere and many of them were alone - and possibly single. It was fabulous, and if youre trying to meet new guys, you can go there, too. You dont have to show up in my town; you have manly-men stores in your own hometown.Zip to your nearest home improvement store where guys flock to buy supplies for their businesses or for their homes. Many of the men at a home improvement store are skilled in construction or home repair. Lots of them own their own business or work for a large company. And some of them are guys purchasing supplies to fix up a home they own - thats always a plus when trying to meet guys. And then there are those, bless their hearts, who are there to purchase materials to work on their parents homes. Sounds like a good guy. Some of the guys are really young; others are more mature. Youll be surprised at just how many guys youll see coming and going.Make conversation with a guy in a particular department by talking about things of interest to him. For example, if theres a man in the paint department you can ask his recommendations about which paint will be ideal for a "project" youre doing. Or, if theres a guy in the ladder department ask him about differences between the assorted ladders. There are no limits to the conversations you can begin when talking about home improvement projects.Didnt meet anyone today at the home improvement store? Head on over to the automotive supply store. Places which sell parts for cars also sell things that women might buy, such as floor mats, car potpourri, or oil. Be prepared, though, to see lots of guys who arent exactly dressed up. Many guys who will be at an automotive store are working on cars which have issues, are wearing old clothes because theyll be carrying batteries, and so on. Overlook the grease and grime for now, and later, you might have the man of your dreams! And, not all the guys will be dirty; many of them are in street clothes, and swarm in by the dozens, to purchase parts for their cars and other vehicle-related purchases. That means the guy probably owns a car - always a good thing!Lots of guys plant gardens every year to save money over purchasing vegetables and such from the store. Shop at a local garden supply store and youre sure to meet a guy or two. Okay, most of these guys wont be dressed up either since theyll be shopping for fertilizer and other things for their gardens. But, a guy who plants and tends to his own garden is resourceful and hard-working. Those are positive attributes that can be relevant to a serious relationship.Put on your old blue jeans - you dont want to be all dressed up when he isnt - and go to a garden store, home improvement place or car part retailer. Hes there waiting on you; you just have to go meet him!
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Baby Shower Clothesline Cake
Cutting, gluing, painting; theyre all things even a child can do. If you can, too, youll be able to make a baby shower centerpiece cake thats beautiful yet appropriate for a boys or a girls shower. Although the cake isnt edible it can, if you want, hold gifts for the new mom. If thats not the design you want the cake can simply serve as a decoration for the baby shower food or gift table.
Styrofoam disks, or circles, are just what you need to make the extraordinary cake. Choose them in the sizes and thicknesses you want and select as many as you want. The only requirement is that they all be the same size. The cake can be made in many different ways so you have lots of choices to make as you progress with the easy project.
To make the centerpiece cake youll simply stack and glue Styrofoam disks together. If youre using thin Styrofoam circles youll need more disks than if youre using pieces that are thick. In the end, you want the cake to be at least the size of a two-tier round cake you would bake at home. It can, of course, be much larger than that, if you want. One thing that might help you determine how tall to make the cake is the type of gifts you want to hang on the cake - if any. After assembling the cake youll create a clothesline that goes around it. You can hang small gifts from the clothesline if thats the design youre going to make. If not, you can simply hang decorations. To make the cake, stack and glue as many circles as you want. Cut a piece of small-diameter cord thats long enough to wrap once around the cake. Set this piece aside for the moment. Coat the entire cake with white dimension paint. This type of paint is thick and allows you to make small peaks all over it or smooth it out like the icing on a real cake. As the paint dries set about creating the clothesline that goes around the cake. Lay the cord piece out on a table and use miniature clothes pins to hang the gifts. Clip a miniature clothespin onto the clothesline, move down the line a couple of inches, and clip on another one. Do this until the line is covered with clothes pins which are evenly spaced. If youll be making a cake with no gifts the clothes pins arent necessary. Instead, glue tiny pieces of yarn or cord on to represent clothes pins. With the clothespin version you can clip on letters that spell out "BABY", staggered with small presents like gift cards or booties, then glue the finished clothesline around the cake. If youre not attaching gifts glue letters to spell "BABY", alternated with pictures cut from scrapbook paper. The pictures can be of booties, rattles, baby clothing and similar things. You can top the cake with any number of embellishments. Fake cherries or strawberries, pink or blue ribbons, fake candies and similar things look great. In fact, if you butt small pom-poms together, all the way around the bottom and top of the cake, it can look like heaps of frosting outlining the "dessert". When youre finished creating the cake youll be astounded at your own talent even though it took little effort to create. Its gorgeous!
Styrofoam disks, or circles, are just what you need to make the extraordinary cake. Choose them in the sizes and thicknesses you want and select as many as you want. The only requirement is that they all be the same size. The cake can be made in many different ways so you have lots of choices to make as you progress with the easy project.
To make the centerpiece cake youll simply stack and glue Styrofoam disks together. If youre using thin Styrofoam circles youll need more disks than if youre using pieces that are thick. In the end, you want the cake to be at least the size of a two-tier round cake you would bake at home. It can, of course, be much larger than that, if you want. One thing that might help you determine how tall to make the cake is the type of gifts you want to hang on the cake - if any. After assembling the cake youll create a clothesline that goes around it. You can hang small gifts from the clothesline if thats the design youre going to make. If not, you can simply hang decorations. To make the cake, stack and glue as many circles as you want. Cut a piece of small-diameter cord thats long enough to wrap once around the cake. Set this piece aside for the moment. Coat the entire cake with white dimension paint. This type of paint is thick and allows you to make small peaks all over it or smooth it out like the icing on a real cake. As the paint dries set about creating the clothesline that goes around the cake. Lay the cord piece out on a table and use miniature clothes pins to hang the gifts. Clip a miniature clothespin onto the clothesline, move down the line a couple of inches, and clip on another one. Do this until the line is covered with clothes pins which are evenly spaced. If youll be making a cake with no gifts the clothes pins arent necessary. Instead, glue tiny pieces of yarn or cord on to represent clothes pins. With the clothespin version you can clip on letters that spell out "BABY", staggered with small presents like gift cards or booties, then glue the finished clothesline around the cake. If youre not attaching gifts glue letters to spell "BABY", alternated with pictures cut from scrapbook paper. The pictures can be of booties, rattles, baby clothing and similar things. You can top the cake with any number of embellishments. Fake cherries or strawberries, pink or blue ribbons, fake candies and similar things look great. In fact, if you butt small pom-poms together, all the way around the bottom and top of the cake, it can look like heaps of frosting outlining the "dessert". When youre finished creating the cake youll be astounded at your own talent even though it took little effort to create. Its gorgeous!
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Things You Can Make from Victorian Pictures
If you love Victorian magazines, calendars and similar paper things youll enjoy doing assorted crafts that help you create Victorian-theme d?cor pieces for your home. You wont believe how many different things you can make when you just cut out pictures from any source! Make Victorian coasters by starting with paper doilies from a dollar-theme store or even circles cut from fabric. Cut a circular picture for each coaster. Center the picture on the doily and laminate. These can be used over and over or thrown away after using.
Give your soaps a Victorian theme by gluing selected pictures onto them. The best soaps to use are ones which have a completely flat side. Cut circular pictures for round soaps and square, rectangular or oval-shaped pictures for rectangular soaps. Use decoupage adhesive, found at any craft store, to attach the picture. Coat over the top of the picture with glue and let it dry. Add another and another coat of glue, allowing it to dry completely each time, and apply as many coats as you want. The more coats you apply the longer the picture will last when the soap is being used.
Use decoupage to give other things a Victorian theme, too. Cut out a large picture and glue it to a headboard, foot board, crib, hamper, trash can, lamp, cabinet door, wooden cornice or other surface. Coat the picture at least once with the decoupage to protect it. Align pictures on a piece of magnetic sheeting. Cut out around them and stick them to the refrigerator or other metal surfaces. If you prefer to frame the magnets, place a picture in a small, craft-store picture frame, then add a magnet piece to the backside. Really small, gold-tone picture frames are available at most any craft store. Theyre not expensive, theyre lightweight, and they can be painted any color you want. Instead of using magnets to make Victorian pictures for your fridge use double-sided tape and hang the tiny pictures on mirrors, lamps, vases, planters, curtain tie-backs, picture frames and other things around the house. You can even make an art piece that has a Victorian theme even if youre no artist! Cut pictures of boots, dresses, purses or other clothing and accessories to make the picture. Use all boots, all dresses, or make a different theme. Place a piece of scrapbook paper in a large picture frame to set the theme. Glue on the pictures of the boots, aligning them in strict rows, or randomly attaching them to the scrapbook paper. These look great on a bedroom wall. Select a piece of scrapbook paper with a Victorian theme and place it in a picture frame. Center a paper or real doily on it then glue on a satin bow. Although this arrangement is simple its also very elegant and looks great in a bedroom or bathroom. There are lots of things you can make from paper pictures of Victorian things. A small list includes place mats, gift card holders, a photo background, bookmarks, a candle wrap, can or box wraps, bottle wraps and even a baby book. Cut and save as many Victorian pictures as you find; you can always use them to make yet another d?cor piece for your home!
Give your soaps a Victorian theme by gluing selected pictures onto them. The best soaps to use are ones which have a completely flat side. Cut circular pictures for round soaps and square, rectangular or oval-shaped pictures for rectangular soaps. Use decoupage adhesive, found at any craft store, to attach the picture. Coat over the top of the picture with glue and let it dry. Add another and another coat of glue, allowing it to dry completely each time, and apply as many coats as you want. The more coats you apply the longer the picture will last when the soap is being used.
Use decoupage to give other things a Victorian theme, too. Cut out a large picture and glue it to a headboard, foot board, crib, hamper, trash can, lamp, cabinet door, wooden cornice or other surface. Coat the picture at least once with the decoupage to protect it. Align pictures on a piece of magnetic sheeting. Cut out around them and stick them to the refrigerator or other metal surfaces. If you prefer to frame the magnets, place a picture in a small, craft-store picture frame, then add a magnet piece to the backside. Really small, gold-tone picture frames are available at most any craft store. Theyre not expensive, theyre lightweight, and they can be painted any color you want. Instead of using magnets to make Victorian pictures for your fridge use double-sided tape and hang the tiny pictures on mirrors, lamps, vases, planters, curtain tie-backs, picture frames and other things around the house. You can even make an art piece that has a Victorian theme even if youre no artist! Cut pictures of boots, dresses, purses or other clothing and accessories to make the picture. Use all boots, all dresses, or make a different theme. Place a piece of scrapbook paper in a large picture frame to set the theme. Glue on the pictures of the boots, aligning them in strict rows, or randomly attaching them to the scrapbook paper. These look great on a bedroom wall. Select a piece of scrapbook paper with a Victorian theme and place it in a picture frame. Center a paper or real doily on it then glue on a satin bow. Although this arrangement is simple its also very elegant and looks great in a bedroom or bathroom. There are lots of things you can make from paper pictures of Victorian things. A small list includes place mats, gift card holders, a photo background, bookmarks, a candle wrap, can or box wraps, bottle wraps and even a baby book. Cut and save as many Victorian pictures as you find; you can always use them to make yet another d?cor piece for your home!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Sewing Pattern Envelope Organizer
Its time to face the facts; youre never going to use those old patterns from the 70s to make yourself new clothes. Thats why you should just get rid of the patterns themselves and use the envelopes to make a new organizer for your sewing room or a crafting area. The envelopes make great pockets for holding scissors, bobbins and thread, tape measure, markers, and more. Whether youve been sewing for years, or youre just learning, youll whip right through this project to end up with a handy sewing room organizer.Decide where you want to hang the pattern envelope pockets. Its up to you if youll hang them on a wall or dangle them from the side of a table. Just measure the area and decide how many pattern envelopes you will need when you use the envelopes, side-by-side.Cut the top flap off of each pattern and cut a tiny sliver off the bottom so that the bottom will be open. Lay one pattern envelope in front of you so that the back of the envelope is facing upwards. Measure, mark and cut right down the center. Lay the envelope out flat.Use clear contact paper to stiffen the pattern envelopes. Lay out a piece of the clear contact paper so that the sticky side is up. Lay your envelope on it, then cover with a second piece, so that you trap the pattern envelope between the two pieces of contact paper. Trim off any excess contact paper. Cover all the pattern envelopes in this manner.Lay one of the envelopes in front of you so that the backside is facing upwards. Fold the sides into the center so that pattern takes on its original shape. Take one of the cut edges and fold it over to the side; do the same to the opposite side.Choose something to be the backing for your new organizer. This can be the instruction sheet from one of the patterns, or a different type of paper - or cloth. For this guide, well use an instruction sheet from the pattern. Lay it out flat.Youll be aligning the envelopes, side-by-side, along the length of the instruction sheet. First, lay one envelope on the sheet, then sew down the sides of the pattern paper. These sides were originally the cut made down the middle of the backside of the pattern envelope. After sewing the sides, lay the next one in place, and sew the sides, and continue to do this until all of the envelopes are in place.Sew straight across the bottoms of the patterns to secure each one and to close them. It can be helpful to tape them in place before sewing. Trim away any excess instruction sheet from the sides and the bottom of the organizer. You might need to trim across the top, too, but that depends on the type of organizer you need. If youll be using the excess paper at the top to hang the arrangement, you can leave the excess in place. But if youll be tacking the organizer to a wall, you can cut off the excess.If you want to label the pockets use the flaps cut from the pattern envelopes. Just tape or glue them to the excess area of the top of the organizer - one flap above each envelope - and write what you want on each flap. this organizer can hold sewing room supplies, craft supplies, and much more.Sewing Pattern Organizer
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Carnival Party Attractions
Having a carnival party this year? Thats going to be a lot of fun. Set up various attractions inside the tents or other areas and guests can participate in some exciting games and more. Here are just a few suggestions of carnival party attractions which are tried and true.
It doesnt take a lot of effort to set up a donut eating contest. Set up some tables and chairs and get ready for the fun. If you need to do this much cheaper than the price of many bags of purchased donuts, make donut holes from canned biscuits. Simply pull off a piece of an uncooked biscuit, roll it into a ball, fry it in hot grease, remove it and roll it in powdered sugar. Instead of a donut eating contest you can substitute hot dogs, watermelon or other foods for the donuts.
Another carnival attraction is the cake walk. Play musical chairs like you did when you were kids but the winner gets a cake, bag of treats or other prize. This game can be played with children and adults alike. Stand up a piece of plywood to make a different carnival game. Blow up small, round balloons and tack them, by their knots, onto the board. Provide a dart to each of the players as they step up to the line. Paint numbers on the board to designate prizes, place the balloons over the numbers, and when a balloon is popped the player receives the designated prize. The bucket game is always fun for kids. Line up six buckets, end to end, then provide a ball or beanbag to the first player. Each child can have three tries to get a ball into a bucket. Have a piece of paper inside each bucket to state what the prize is for that particular bucket. Or, have papers which state different prizes and allow the player to choose one. All kids come out with at least one prize when visiting this attraction. Hang up a hula hoop or similar object and provide a football, beach ball or other object to throw. A beach ball is a bigger challenge for some since it doesnt sail through the air as easily as a football or other type. Provide a photo booth and guests can go home with some silly pictures of themselves and others. Provide clown wigs, too-large clothes, hats and similar things. An old instamatic camera is ideal for producing photos on the spot. Use posters as backdrops and the guests can appear to be standing with a famous person or even standing amongst sea creatures. You dont have to have an elaborate setup to play "pluck a duck". Buy rubber ducks, write a number on the bottom of each with a permanent marker, then set them in a tub or bucket of water. Let a guest pluck one out of the water and check the number on the bottom to decide on the prize. Afterwards, place the duck back in the water, and use a stick to stir them up a little. A bingo game is not expensive but will provide a lot of fun for your carnival party guests. Offer prizes to the winners - they dont have to be elaborate. Youll have a lot of fun with the upcoming carnival party. Your guests cant help but have a fabulous time, with lots of laughs, and prizes to take home. Theyll look forward to next years party - whatever the theme.
It doesnt take a lot of effort to set up a donut eating contest. Set up some tables and chairs and get ready for the fun. If you need to do this much cheaper than the price of many bags of purchased donuts, make donut holes from canned biscuits. Simply pull off a piece of an uncooked biscuit, roll it into a ball, fry it in hot grease, remove it and roll it in powdered sugar. Instead of a donut eating contest you can substitute hot dogs, watermelon or other foods for the donuts.
Another carnival attraction is the cake walk. Play musical chairs like you did when you were kids but the winner gets a cake, bag of treats or other prize. This game can be played with children and adults alike. Stand up a piece of plywood to make a different carnival game. Blow up small, round balloons and tack them, by their knots, onto the board. Provide a dart to each of the players as they step up to the line. Paint numbers on the board to designate prizes, place the balloons over the numbers, and when a balloon is popped the player receives the designated prize. The bucket game is always fun for kids. Line up six buckets, end to end, then provide a ball or beanbag to the first player. Each child can have three tries to get a ball into a bucket. Have a piece of paper inside each bucket to state what the prize is for that particular bucket. Or, have papers which state different prizes and allow the player to choose one. All kids come out with at least one prize when visiting this attraction. Hang up a hula hoop or similar object and provide a football, beach ball or other object to throw. A beach ball is a bigger challenge for some since it doesnt sail through the air as easily as a football or other type. Provide a photo booth and guests can go home with some silly pictures of themselves and others. Provide clown wigs, too-large clothes, hats and similar things. An old instamatic camera is ideal for producing photos on the spot. Use posters as backdrops and the guests can appear to be standing with a famous person or even standing amongst sea creatures. You dont have to have an elaborate setup to play "pluck a duck". Buy rubber ducks, write a number on the bottom of each with a permanent marker, then set them in a tub or bucket of water. Let a guest pluck one out of the water and check the number on the bottom to decide on the prize. Afterwards, place the duck back in the water, and use a stick to stir them up a little. A bingo game is not expensive but will provide a lot of fun for your carnival party guests. Offer prizes to the winners - they dont have to be elaborate. Youll have a lot of fun with the upcoming carnival party. Your guests cant help but have a fabulous time, with lots of laughs, and prizes to take home. Theyll look forward to next years party - whatever the theme.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Wooden Spoon Hula Dancer Magnet
Wooden spoons are handy things to have in the kitchen but you usually dont find them stuck on the refrigerator. Thats where youll find your wooden spoon, though, after you turn it into a cute and whimsical Hawaiian hula dancer magnet that can be made with cheap craft supplies. Many different types and sizes of wooden spoons can be used to make the hula dancer that sticks to any metal surface. From a small, flat, wooden ice cream spoon to a much larger, stirring pot spoon, you have many choices for the spoon. The only thing that is required of the spoon is that the handle of it be flat rather than round.
If you want to give your dancer a nice, dark tan, but the spoon is much lighter in color, you can paint it. After it dries you can then create the features for the hula dancer. On the concave side of the spoon create the Hawaiian girls face. You can paint it on with markers or you can use wiggly eyes from a craft store. Make a mouth from a tiny piece of red pipe cleaner or just draw it on. Another option is a sticker face from a craft store.
Cut strands of black yarn to make the hair for the dancer. Youll decide how long the hair will be by the length you cut the yarn pieces. Cut one piece thats several inches long then lay it straight on a table. Cut many pieces of yarn for the hair and lay them across the main yarn piece. Place them so that the ends are fairly even then tie the main yarn piece around them, right in the middle. Rather than tying it really tight just tie it enough so that it will hold the yarn in place. The main yarn piece is then trimmed and glued to the spoon. The main yarn piece is the part of the girls hair so glue it to the top, center of the rounded end of the spoon. When the hair is in place glue a tiny plastic or silk flower to the dolls hair. On the backside, where the rounded part of the spoon ends and the handle begins, glue a brown pipe cleaner. Turn the spoon back over so that you can see the face of the doll then bend the pipe cleaner on each side to form arms that appear to be doing hula dance movements. Make one small bend on the end of each pipe cleaner to form a hand, then bend again to make the elbow. Use pieces of a green pipe cleaner to make the bra top for the dancer. To do this, curl each piece from one end to the other to make a tight curly-q. Glue two of these to the area of the spoon in front of where the arms are. To make the skirt cut a piece of pipe cleaner to create the waistband. This piece should be large enough to go around the front of the dancer but only partially around back. Wrap the pipe cleaner around the spoon and bend it so that the ends go around to the back. Cut lengths of green yarn and drape them over the green pipe cleaner. The yarn should all the way across the front of the pipe cleaner and partially around back. Arrange the yarn pieces on the waistband as you want then wrap the hula skirt around the dancer and glue or tape the ends to the backside. Glue a button magnet to the back of the hula girl and hang on the refrigerator or another metal surface. Shes adorable!
If you want to give your dancer a nice, dark tan, but the spoon is much lighter in color, you can paint it. After it dries you can then create the features for the hula dancer. On the concave side of the spoon create the Hawaiian girls face. You can paint it on with markers or you can use wiggly eyes from a craft store. Make a mouth from a tiny piece of red pipe cleaner or just draw it on. Another option is a sticker face from a craft store.
Cut strands of black yarn to make the hair for the dancer. Youll decide how long the hair will be by the length you cut the yarn pieces. Cut one piece thats several inches long then lay it straight on a table. Cut many pieces of yarn for the hair and lay them across the main yarn piece. Place them so that the ends are fairly even then tie the main yarn piece around them, right in the middle. Rather than tying it really tight just tie it enough so that it will hold the yarn in place. The main yarn piece is then trimmed and glued to the spoon. The main yarn piece is the part of the girls hair so glue it to the top, center of the rounded end of the spoon. When the hair is in place glue a tiny plastic or silk flower to the dolls hair. On the backside, where the rounded part of the spoon ends and the handle begins, glue a brown pipe cleaner. Turn the spoon back over so that you can see the face of the doll then bend the pipe cleaner on each side to form arms that appear to be doing hula dance movements. Make one small bend on the end of each pipe cleaner to form a hand, then bend again to make the elbow. Use pieces of a green pipe cleaner to make the bra top for the dancer. To do this, curl each piece from one end to the other to make a tight curly-q. Glue two of these to the area of the spoon in front of where the arms are. To make the skirt cut a piece of pipe cleaner to create the waistband. This piece should be large enough to go around the front of the dancer but only partially around back. Wrap the pipe cleaner around the spoon and bend it so that the ends go around to the back. Cut lengths of green yarn and drape them over the green pipe cleaner. The yarn should all the way across the front of the pipe cleaner and partially around back. Arrange the yarn pieces on the waistband as you want then wrap the hula skirt around the dancer and glue or tape the ends to the backside. Glue a button magnet to the back of the hula girl and hang on the refrigerator or another metal surface. Shes adorable!
Monday, October 15, 2012
Kleenex Box Photo Cube, Planter and More
If its not cold and flu season its allergy season. Thank goodness for tissues! You know youll be purchasing box after box of Kleenex but you can take comfort in knowing that, every time you buy a box, youve got a new photo cube! After the Kleenex box is empty itll just take a few minutes to turn it into a nice d?cor piece that features some of your favorite pictures. Make the box into a photo display, a planter, a pencil holder or a combination of those! A square tissue box is the ideal design for making the photo cube. Since Kleenex boxes are already decorative you dont necessarily have to embellish them. You can if you want, though, using paper, fabric, felt or other material. Cut away the plastic on the dispensing side before covering the box. Wrap the box so that the seams are made down the corners of the Kleenex box and cut out around the dispensing hole. However, cut it square rather than the shape it is and cut it much larger than the hole itself. Dont cut off the entire side, though.
Use something rectangular from around your house as a pattern for the windows on the photo cube. It can be a square of cardboard, a playing card - whatever you have. Draw around the object, on all sides except the dispensing side. Use a sharp craft knife to cut out the patterns from the box.
Cut pieces of clear cellophane, plastic or acetate to cover the windows on the photo cube. From the inside, tape these over the openings. Cut these pieces to be somewhat larger than the squares so that theyll well-cover the windows. One difference between a purchased photo cube and a homemade one is that the Kleenex box isnt heavy like the cube is. To weight it down some try taping a few heavy objects inside. Some things you can use include rocks, metal washers, rows of dry beans or thin pieces of wood. Set the open end of the tissue box on a piece of thin cardboard and draw around it. Cut out this square. Now use the pattern to draw the photo square onto this square. Cut it out with a sharp knife. Tape the acetate or plastic over the window and tape the picture in place. Tape photos behind the other picture squares then glue the large square to the bottom of the box. Make a different version by not cutting the picture squares from the sides of the Kleenex box. Instead, glue roping, ribbon or other material around the perimeter of a piece of plastic, cellophane or other see-through material. Now glue one of these onto each side of the box but attach them so that the top is not glued down. Now you can simply side photos into the plastic pockets. For this version, leave the dispensing side open and make it the bottom of the photo cube. To make the picture block into a planter or pencil holder use the dispensing side of the tissue box to add a cup to hold writing implements or a Styrofoam ball to hold flowers. Youll be finding all sorts of new ways to use up those Kleenexes so you can hurry and get the empty box! You can make the picture displays for all your friends, family members and others. Of course, thats after youve made several for yourself!
Use something rectangular from around your house as a pattern for the windows on the photo cube. It can be a square of cardboard, a playing card - whatever you have. Draw around the object, on all sides except the dispensing side. Use a sharp craft knife to cut out the patterns from the box.
Cut pieces of clear cellophane, plastic or acetate to cover the windows on the photo cube. From the inside, tape these over the openings. Cut these pieces to be somewhat larger than the squares so that theyll well-cover the windows. One difference between a purchased photo cube and a homemade one is that the Kleenex box isnt heavy like the cube is. To weight it down some try taping a few heavy objects inside. Some things you can use include rocks, metal washers, rows of dry beans or thin pieces of wood. Set the open end of the tissue box on a piece of thin cardboard and draw around it. Cut out this square. Now use the pattern to draw the photo square onto this square. Cut it out with a sharp knife. Tape the acetate or plastic over the window and tape the picture in place. Tape photos behind the other picture squares then glue the large square to the bottom of the box. Make a different version by not cutting the picture squares from the sides of the Kleenex box. Instead, glue roping, ribbon or other material around the perimeter of a piece of plastic, cellophane or other see-through material. Now glue one of these onto each side of the box but attach them so that the top is not glued down. Now you can simply side photos into the plastic pockets. For this version, leave the dispensing side open and make it the bottom of the photo cube. To make the picture block into a planter or pencil holder use the dispensing side of the tissue box to add a cup to hold writing implements or a Styrofoam ball to hold flowers. Youll be finding all sorts of new ways to use up those Kleenexes so you can hurry and get the empty box! You can make the picture displays for all your friends, family members and others. Of course, thats after youve made several for yourself!
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Dessert Buffet Stands
The traditional wedding features a huge, gorgeous cake that is expensive and delicious. Some people dont like cake, though, and some brides want something a little more casual. Have that giant cake, if you want it, but set up a dessert buffet for those who dont care for cake. You dont have to shop catalogs or online sites that sell dessert buffet stands for big bucks. You can easily make impressive stands for cookies, candies and more by using Styrofoam! Styrofoam disks come in a variety of sizes that are ideal for making tiered dessert stands. Start with one large disk, then add another and another, with each disk being slightly smaller than the previous one. However, all of the disks should be the same thickness.
You dont have to paint the Styrofoam so that makes the tiered dessert stand a very easy project. In addition to the disks youll need a large Styrofoam cone and a wooden dowel. The dowel should be long enough to accommodate all the tiers, with several inches left at the top as well as the bottom. Dont forget to allow for a nice space between each disk.
To assemble the tiered stand simply start by poking a hole in the middle of each of the disks. Cut two-thirds of the cone off the top and use the remaining bottom portion. Youll find it easy to cut the Styrofoam if you use a serrated knife. Cut a piece from an old candle to transfer the wax to the knife, before cutting the Styrofoam, and the job will go smoothly. Push the dowel rod into the Styrofoam base, remove it, fill the hole with glue, then position the dowel once again. Slide the largest disk onto the dowel and let it rest atop the base. Slide the next disk on, and the next, until all disks are stacked. Dispense a circle of hot glue around the dowel, just under each disk, to keep them in place. Cut a circle of parchment paper or something similar and lay one on each disk. Its easiest to lay the paper on one disk, slide the next disk on the dowel, lay the paper on it, and so on. Or, you can cut each circle, then cut a slit from the outer edge to the inner circle, and wrap the paper around the dowel. Choose scrapbook paper, poster board or something similar to wrap around each Styrofoam disk. This will prevent the foods from falling off, will cover the sides of the Styrofoam, and will create a theme or color scheme. Cut the paper to be a couple inches wider than the Styrofoam is thick. For instance, if the disks are each three inches thick, cut the paper to be five inches wide, then glue one paper piece around each disk. Glue them so that the bottom edge of the paper aligns with the bottom edge of the Styrofoam and so that the excess paper rises above each Styrofoam "plate". Place candies, brownies, cookies, cakes, donuts or other foods on the disks to serve. If you want, make one tier set larger than the others, and use it as a centerpiece. It can be topped with a traditional wedding cake topper - if the dessert stands are for a wedding - or no topper at all. Its a lovely way to serve assorted desserts to your guests without spending a fortune on fancy stands!
You dont have to paint the Styrofoam so that makes the tiered dessert stand a very easy project. In addition to the disks youll need a large Styrofoam cone and a wooden dowel. The dowel should be long enough to accommodate all the tiers, with several inches left at the top as well as the bottom. Dont forget to allow for a nice space between each disk.
To assemble the tiered stand simply start by poking a hole in the middle of each of the disks. Cut two-thirds of the cone off the top and use the remaining bottom portion. Youll find it easy to cut the Styrofoam if you use a serrated knife. Cut a piece from an old candle to transfer the wax to the knife, before cutting the Styrofoam, and the job will go smoothly. Push the dowel rod into the Styrofoam base, remove it, fill the hole with glue, then position the dowel once again. Slide the largest disk onto the dowel and let it rest atop the base. Slide the next disk on, and the next, until all disks are stacked. Dispense a circle of hot glue around the dowel, just under each disk, to keep them in place. Cut a circle of parchment paper or something similar and lay one on each disk. Its easiest to lay the paper on one disk, slide the next disk on the dowel, lay the paper on it, and so on. Or, you can cut each circle, then cut a slit from the outer edge to the inner circle, and wrap the paper around the dowel. Choose scrapbook paper, poster board or something similar to wrap around each Styrofoam disk. This will prevent the foods from falling off, will cover the sides of the Styrofoam, and will create a theme or color scheme. Cut the paper to be a couple inches wider than the Styrofoam is thick. For instance, if the disks are each three inches thick, cut the paper to be five inches wide, then glue one paper piece around each disk. Glue them so that the bottom edge of the paper aligns with the bottom edge of the Styrofoam and so that the excess paper rises above each Styrofoam "plate". Place candies, brownies, cookies, cakes, donuts or other foods on the disks to serve. If you want, make one tier set larger than the others, and use it as a centerpiece. It can be topped with a traditional wedding cake topper - if the dessert stands are for a wedding - or no topper at all. Its a lovely way to serve assorted desserts to your guests without spending a fortune on fancy stands!
Friday, October 12, 2012
Flowerpot Marshmallow Wedding Cupcakes
What you need:Cupcakes (1 per expected guest)White frostingMiniature marshmallows ( a handful per cupcake)Colored sugar (1 or more colors)Chocolate chips, jelly beans or other embellishments To me, a spring wedding is one of the loveliest ones you can have. If the wedding is held indoors you arrive in sunlight with a cool breeze. If the wedding is held outdoors you have flowers in bloom and a beautiful sky as your backdrop. Even the most simplistic wedding is fabulous when its springtime. If youre having a spring wedding there are lots of easy ways to tie a floral or other spring theme together. Its not hard to put some flowers in vases, flowers in the bridal partys hair, and additional floral or spring accents around the room or yard. Whether you decorate with real or silk flowers it all just seems to shine when its a spring wedding.
In keeping with a floral or spring wedding youll find it ultra-easy to create luscious cupcakes which look as though a pro has made them. With simple and ordinary things like marshmallows and colored sugar, youll create quite a gorgeous display at your wedding reception.
You can make the cupcakes any flavor/color you want. Use a plain boxed mix or choose a favorite recipe. Mix and bake, according to the recipe or package, and allow them to cool completely. Frost all the cupcakes with white frosting. Use miniature marshmallows to make the flowers for the cupcakes. First, place a bunch of marshmallows on a piece of waxed paper. Arrange them so that they are all standing on one flat end. Fold the waxed paper over the marshmallows then smash them all flat. This is easier than smashing each marshmallow as you need it because youll need quite a few, even if youre not making a huge batch of cupcakes. Place a cluster of something colorful or contrasting to the white frosting, right in the center of each cupcake. These can be chocolate chips, jelly beans, candy sprinkles or another even a dab of jelly. Begin arranging the smashed marshmallows around the cluster. Stand each marshmallow up and push it into the frosting at an angle. Make a circle of these around the cluster, then another circle around that one, and so on, until the top of the cupcake is covered with rows of marshmallow petals. Sprinkle colored sugar - various colors or all the same color - on just the marshmallows. When the cupcakes are all finished you can arrange them in clay pots or another type. Glue a half-ball of Styrofoam to the inside of each pot, push a wooden skewer into a cupcake bottom, then push the skewer into the middle of the Styrofoam. Now arrange more cupcakes around that one using the wooden skewers to hold them. The initial cupcake should stand straight up and down but the ones that go around that one should slant at an angle so that others can see the "flowers". Your pots of flowers, er, cupcakes will look fabulous on the dessert table at your wedding reception. Theyre perfect for an indoor or outdoor reception and ideal for a bride who wants to create a floral touch, here and there, around the reception tables.
In keeping with a floral or spring wedding youll find it ultra-easy to create luscious cupcakes which look as though a pro has made them. With simple and ordinary things like marshmallows and colored sugar, youll create quite a gorgeous display at your wedding reception.
You can make the cupcakes any flavor/color you want. Use a plain boxed mix or choose a favorite recipe. Mix and bake, according to the recipe or package, and allow them to cool completely. Frost all the cupcakes with white frosting. Use miniature marshmallows to make the flowers for the cupcakes. First, place a bunch of marshmallows on a piece of waxed paper. Arrange them so that they are all standing on one flat end. Fold the waxed paper over the marshmallows then smash them all flat. This is easier than smashing each marshmallow as you need it because youll need quite a few, even if youre not making a huge batch of cupcakes. Place a cluster of something colorful or contrasting to the white frosting, right in the center of each cupcake. These can be chocolate chips, jelly beans, candy sprinkles or another even a dab of jelly. Begin arranging the smashed marshmallows around the cluster. Stand each marshmallow up and push it into the frosting at an angle. Make a circle of these around the cluster, then another circle around that one, and so on, until the top of the cupcake is covered with rows of marshmallow petals. Sprinkle colored sugar - various colors or all the same color - on just the marshmallows. When the cupcakes are all finished you can arrange them in clay pots or another type. Glue a half-ball of Styrofoam to the inside of each pot, push a wooden skewer into a cupcake bottom, then push the skewer into the middle of the Styrofoam. Now arrange more cupcakes around that one using the wooden skewers to hold them. The initial cupcake should stand straight up and down but the ones that go around that one should slant at an angle so that others can see the "flowers". Your pots of flowers, er, cupcakes will look fabulous on the dessert table at your wedding reception. Theyre perfect for an indoor or outdoor reception and ideal for a bride who wants to create a floral touch, here and there, around the reception tables.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Easy Ways to Decorate Your Jelly Shoes
Oh, the comfort of jelly shoes. Sure, theyre casual wear, but do they really have to look like it? If youre wearing jellies chances are others have the same exact shoes as you - many others! That doesnt have to be the case, though. You can do some simple things to totally change the look of the shoes and the great thing is, you can change the look any time you want.
There are many different, yet temporary changes you can make when it comes to jellies. Have you ever seen those press-on, sticker earrings for kids? They come in all sorts of styles and colors that are perfect for decorating your jelly shoes. They go on easily, stay on well, yet can be easily removed. This makes it fun and simple to have a new look each time you wear them.
Fabric paints are a great way to change the look of your jellies, too. Most fabric paints, dispensed from tubes or bottles, will peel right off the shoes when youre ready. Dispense the paint directly from the tube to create the design you want. Use stencils to make the pattern or draw freehand. After the paints dry, you can wear the shoes, and when youre ready to change the look, simply peel the paints off. If you have any trouble removing the paint just use nail polish remover to wipe away any remains. A lot of jelly shoes have holes made into the shoes. Although its a more permanent look you can glue fake jewels over the holes. The holes are already made into a particular pattern so covering them with jewels will still give you that pattern. Some adhesives will let go when wet, so if you prefer the jewels not stay on forever, use these types adhesive which will wash away when youre ready to change the look. Its really easy to cover the jelly shoes with glitter paint. A simple paintbrush will allow you to place a coat of glitter paint on the shoes, or will allow you to glitter portions of the shoes. Again, use stencils if you wish, or draw freehand with the glitter paints. If the jelly shoes you have do have the holes in them you can sometimes use post earrings to decorate. Its important which holes you select for the earrings. Youll need to use the earrings in places on the shoes where the post will not scrape your foot. Try an earring in one hole, try on the shoe, then see if the earring will pester. If not, you can definitely change the look of the shoes using post earrings. Scrapbook stickers and borders are another fabulous way to decorate the jelly shoes. These borders are often long strips of a certain color or design. The strips can be used along the side of the sole, across the top of the foot, or other places on the shoe. As a matter of fact, many different stickers can be used on the shoes. Stickers which have a clear plastic backing, rather than a white paper backing, are ideal. Its fun and easy to change the look of jelly shoes and youll love the fact that your shoes look different than anyone elses. Have a look around a craft store and youll find dozens of more ways to decorate the jellies. With little money youll have jellies to match every summer outfit you own!
There are many different, yet temporary changes you can make when it comes to jellies. Have you ever seen those press-on, sticker earrings for kids? They come in all sorts of styles and colors that are perfect for decorating your jelly shoes. They go on easily, stay on well, yet can be easily removed. This makes it fun and simple to have a new look each time you wear them.
Fabric paints are a great way to change the look of your jellies, too. Most fabric paints, dispensed from tubes or bottles, will peel right off the shoes when youre ready. Dispense the paint directly from the tube to create the design you want. Use stencils to make the pattern or draw freehand. After the paints dry, you can wear the shoes, and when youre ready to change the look, simply peel the paints off. If you have any trouble removing the paint just use nail polish remover to wipe away any remains. A lot of jelly shoes have holes made into the shoes. Although its a more permanent look you can glue fake jewels over the holes. The holes are already made into a particular pattern so covering them with jewels will still give you that pattern. Some adhesives will let go when wet, so if you prefer the jewels not stay on forever, use these types adhesive which will wash away when youre ready to change the look. Its really easy to cover the jelly shoes with glitter paint. A simple paintbrush will allow you to place a coat of glitter paint on the shoes, or will allow you to glitter portions of the shoes. Again, use stencils if you wish, or draw freehand with the glitter paints. If the jelly shoes you have do have the holes in them you can sometimes use post earrings to decorate. Its important which holes you select for the earrings. Youll need to use the earrings in places on the shoes where the post will not scrape your foot. Try an earring in one hole, try on the shoe, then see if the earring will pester. If not, you can definitely change the look of the shoes using post earrings. Scrapbook stickers and borders are another fabulous way to decorate the jelly shoes. These borders are often long strips of a certain color or design. The strips can be used along the side of the sole, across the top of the foot, or other places on the shoe. As a matter of fact, many different stickers can be used on the shoes. Stickers which have a clear plastic backing, rather than a white paper backing, are ideal. Its fun and easy to change the look of jelly shoes and youll love the fact that your shoes look different than anyone elses. Have a look around a craft store and youll find dozens of more ways to decorate the jellies. With little money youll have jellies to match every summer outfit you own!
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Quick, Large-Block Quilts
What takes so long about making a quilt is, first, the measuring. Then theres the cutting, and sewing all of those small blocks and other shapes together. Yes, going through that whole procedure makes a stunning quilt, worth a lot of money to some people. But dont you ever just want a quilt thats easy to make? Whether youre still a beginner, or youve been making quilts for years, theres one that is so fast that it can be made in a matter of hours. The quilt will be eye-popping, have a beautiful design, and make you look like a professional quilt maker. When you use a large-block technique, you can make a fabulous quilt in a fraction of the time it normally takes.
One easy way to make a large-block quilt is to start out with a "fat quarter". A fat quarter is a yard of quilting fabric, cut into four equal-size squares. When you buy different colors and patterns, and sew the large pieces together, you have a gorgeous quilt, and lots of time left on your hands. After sewing the fat quarters together, lay them face-up on a table, cover with an equal-size piece of batting, and an equal-size piece of thin lining. Stitch around certain designs, or just make a stitch here and there, so that you attach the backing and batting to the quilt, at various places. If the fat quarters you buy already have the batting attached you can skip that step. Lay the actual quilt backing on the quilt squares, so that their right sides are facing each other. Sew almost all the way around but leave an opening for turning. After turning, sew the opening shut.
An even easier way to make a pretty design on a quilt is to start with a large piece of fabric - like a sheet. If youre using yardage, and you cant find it in a wide enough width, sew additional pieces on like this: lay the whole fabric piece on the bed and center it. Cut two additional pieces to be the same length as the first piece, and as wide as you need. Use the bed edge as a guide to pin the additions on. Pin them so that the seam will go right along the side edge of the bed. Sew the seam on each side of the large piece. When you start out with a large piece of pretty fabric its not hard to turn it into a nice quilt. Just cut huge blocks of another color of fabric - or more than one color or design. Pin the big blocks on the large quilt piece. Make two rows, three rows, or more, aligning the large blocks evenly on the main quilt piece. Leave large spaces around the squares and it will require even fewer squares to cover it. Sew the large blocks onto the quilt. To add even more interest, cut circles, triangles, or other shapes, and sew one onto each of the large blocks. Go even further by cutting yet another shape - not the same shape as you just did - and sew one onto each of the other shapes. When you stack different shapes on each quilt block you create a layered look with many visual elements. The sheet or other fabric, which is behind the large quilt blocks, serves as a frame around each quilt block design. Follow the steps above to add the batting, lining, and quilt back.
One easy way to make a large-block quilt is to start out with a "fat quarter". A fat quarter is a yard of quilting fabric, cut into four equal-size squares. When you buy different colors and patterns, and sew the large pieces together, you have a gorgeous quilt, and lots of time left on your hands. After sewing the fat quarters together, lay them face-up on a table, cover with an equal-size piece of batting, and an equal-size piece of thin lining. Stitch around certain designs, or just make a stitch here and there, so that you attach the backing and batting to the quilt, at various places. If the fat quarters you buy already have the batting attached you can skip that step. Lay the actual quilt backing on the quilt squares, so that their right sides are facing each other. Sew almost all the way around but leave an opening for turning. After turning, sew the opening shut.
An even easier way to make a pretty design on a quilt is to start with a large piece of fabric - like a sheet. If youre using yardage, and you cant find it in a wide enough width, sew additional pieces on like this: lay the whole fabric piece on the bed and center it. Cut two additional pieces to be the same length as the first piece, and as wide as you need. Use the bed edge as a guide to pin the additions on. Pin them so that the seam will go right along the side edge of the bed. Sew the seam on each side of the large piece. When you start out with a large piece of pretty fabric its not hard to turn it into a nice quilt. Just cut huge blocks of another color of fabric - or more than one color or design. Pin the big blocks on the large quilt piece. Make two rows, three rows, or more, aligning the large blocks evenly on the main quilt piece. Leave large spaces around the squares and it will require even fewer squares to cover it. Sew the large blocks onto the quilt. To add even more interest, cut circles, triangles, or other shapes, and sew one onto each of the large blocks. Go even further by cutting yet another shape - not the same shape as you just did - and sew one onto each of the other shapes. When you stack different shapes on each quilt block you create a layered look with many visual elements. The sheet or other fabric, which is behind the large quilt blocks, serves as a frame around each quilt block design. Follow the steps above to add the batting, lining, and quilt back.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
3-D Paper or Felt Earrings
One guy buys an expensive new car and another guy has to settle for a used one from the same lot. Some woman can choose any jewelry piece she wants, but you have to settle for costume jewelry. Thats okay; at least your costume jewelry wont look cheap. You can make gorgeous earrings that, even though they cost very little, youll be thrilled to wear. Using inexpensive things like paper and felt can help you become a fabulous earring designer.Often, when we think of paper, we think of it being flat. But when you make earrings from flat things, like paper, felt, or foil, the finished jewelry item doesnt have to be flat. Make 3-D designs by the way you assemble flat items, and with the embellishments you use.Draw any shape you want, from a heart, to a puppy, to a lighthouse, by using a stencil. Draw the tiny design onto one material, like paper, then draw a smaller one on felt, and an even smaller one on foil. When you stack the three different shapes you create a lovely design that can be embellished even further. On the top shape you can glue on a rhinestone, a button, or another tiny choice. Make your own combinations of things cut from paper, foil, wallpaper, shelf liner, cardboard, felt, doilies, lace, and similar materials.Add more interest to the earrings just by the way you cut them. Start with a large design that was cut with pinking shears, add a shape that was cut with regular scissors, then another shape cut from scissors that leave a scalloped edge. Or, create your own combination.Even without stencils you can make lots of 3-D earrings. Purchase cardstock shapes - like squares, circles, triangles, and similar types, and stack them. Card stock comes in a variety of colors and shapes so its easy to create interesting designs just by the way you pair them. For example, glue a circle onto a triangle, and the triangle onto a square, and youll have a cool geometrical design thats fun and colorful.A piece of thin cardboard can help you make an elegant version of paper earrings. Cut a small square or circle as the earring design. Then, cover the front, back, and sides, with metallic paint. Cut a piece of scrapbook paper to be a bit smaller, all the way around, than the square or circle, and stick it to the wet paint, on the front. Since scrapbook paper comes in thousands of designs these earrings can show off your love for pets, your interest in nautical things, or even a funky, tie-dye design.No matter what type of earrings you make, when youre finished cutting all the pieces, poke a hole in the largest shape, near the top. Open a jump ring, slide it through the hole, then clamp it shut on the hole of the wire earring hardware. Make a slightly different version by hanging one shape from the wire hardware, then using jump rings to hang on another, and another. A long design like that is very elegant yet easy to make.Make lots of different types and wear them with everything. They can be made in a jiffy using even things you might already have, like a folded foil piece, printer paper images, envelopes, or even shapes cut from greeting cards.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Giant Christmas Lollipops for Your Yard
Around Christmas we start seeing really large decorations in peoples yards. Giant blown-up snowmen and Santas are amongst the yard decorations on display at many homes. Those huge decorations arent all that cheap, but if you want one, you have to purchase it. Very few people are capable of making such a Christmas decoration. Large d?cor pieces are desirable outside so that others can plainly see them. Many of them cant be made by the average Joe but some of them can. One such decoration is a giant sucker. Youll often see the fake lollipops lining a sidewalk or driveway of a home nearby. The big lollipops are very easy to make; anyone can do it! Craft stores sell a huge variety of Styrofoam shapes that can be used to make assorted lollipops for your yard. However, some stores feature only the smaller versions of the Styrofoam disk. If your local craft store doesnt sell huge Styrofoam disks you can easily cut them yourself. Purchase a slab of Styrofoam and cut large circles to make the lollipops.
Youll find it really easy to cut the slab into circles if you use a serrated knife. Cut an old candle with it, to transfer the wax to the knife, and youre ready to go! The knife will slide right through the Styrofoam to give you the perfect circle. Use things like bowls or pans to make patterns for the Styrofoam. If needed, use a little sandpaper around the edges to smooth.
Decorate the Styrofoam by painting it in colors you would see on candies. Make sure you use tempera paints since they dont melt Styrofoam. Red and white stripes, butterscotch shades, red cinnamons - go online and youll find pictures of round candies that will help you decide how to paint the fake ones. Or, cut pieces of decorative paper - like gift wrap - or fabric to decorate the Styrofoam. After the Styrofoam is painted or covered with material you can then finish the lollipop. Push the end of a small-diameter dowel rod into the side of the lollipop to make a stand for it. Remove the dowel, fill the hole with glue, then reposition the dowel in the hole. Now cut a large piece of cellophane for each sucker. The cellophane is sold by the roll at most any craft store or retailer that sells gift wrap. Its available in a clear shade as well as many popular colors. Wrap the cellophane around the lollipop and use a piece of tape to secure it to the dowel rod. Tie several ribbons around the tape and curl them to hide the tape and create more interest. This step is optional. When purchasing the cellophane keep in mind the manner in which you decorated the lollipop. If you choose a shade of cellophane thats dark you might not be able to see the design through it. But, if you want to make a piece of candy with little effort, just wrap a red cellophane around an undecorated Styrofoam disk. When youre finished creating all the suckers you want simply push the ends of the dowel rods into the ground. These look great along a sidewalk or driveway but can also stand in a plant pot. The cellophane protects the design youve created so dont worry about damaging it.
Youll find it really easy to cut the slab into circles if you use a serrated knife. Cut an old candle with it, to transfer the wax to the knife, and youre ready to go! The knife will slide right through the Styrofoam to give you the perfect circle. Use things like bowls or pans to make patterns for the Styrofoam. If needed, use a little sandpaper around the edges to smooth.
Decorate the Styrofoam by painting it in colors you would see on candies. Make sure you use tempera paints since they dont melt Styrofoam. Red and white stripes, butterscotch shades, red cinnamons - go online and youll find pictures of round candies that will help you decide how to paint the fake ones. Or, cut pieces of decorative paper - like gift wrap - or fabric to decorate the Styrofoam. After the Styrofoam is painted or covered with material you can then finish the lollipop. Push the end of a small-diameter dowel rod into the side of the lollipop to make a stand for it. Remove the dowel, fill the hole with glue, then reposition the dowel in the hole. Now cut a large piece of cellophane for each sucker. The cellophane is sold by the roll at most any craft store or retailer that sells gift wrap. Its available in a clear shade as well as many popular colors. Wrap the cellophane around the lollipop and use a piece of tape to secure it to the dowel rod. Tie several ribbons around the tape and curl them to hide the tape and create more interest. This step is optional. When purchasing the cellophane keep in mind the manner in which you decorated the lollipop. If you choose a shade of cellophane thats dark you might not be able to see the design through it. But, if you want to make a piece of candy with little effort, just wrap a red cellophane around an undecorated Styrofoam disk. When youre finished creating all the suckers you want simply push the ends of the dowel rods into the ground. These look great along a sidewalk or driveway but can also stand in a plant pot. The cellophane protects the design youve created so dont worry about damaging it.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Individualized Hamburgers Without the Hassle
Forget the traditional fried hamburger on a bun. That might be a family favorite but you know each person likes theirs different. Some like ketchup and onions. Others, the works. No matter what each person likes, though, you can have a fun family night while each person makes their own. No, that doesnt mean that the kitchen will be crammed with people of all ages tearing apart the fridge. Instead, patty out the meat, place on a piece of foil, then let them all get busy.
Its fun when the family cooks together but it can be utter chaos if young kids and hard-to-please members are involved. Have a cooking night with the family without the hassle or mess by letting everyone add their own additional ingredients.
Slice tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and similar items to make a baked hamburger package that will please everyone at the table. Each person can add what they want to their own foil packet. Other choices include garlic and other spices, assorted cheeses, tomato soup or tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and more. Choose from assorted sauces, veggies and other things you have in the kitchen. After each person has added everything they want tightly wrap the foil and place in oven. You can now even purchase foil pouches which are already folded into the pouch shape and ready to stuff and seal. These foil packets ensure there will be no leakage. Bake the hamburger packets for the amount of time needed. If one person has only hamburger and cheese, obviously, it wont have to cook as long as someone who has packed their foil packet with tomatoes, potatoes, onions and other vegetables. Serve the foil packets by opening them and sliding them out onto a plate. Add side dishes of rice or noodles, or just serve the contents of the foil pack. You can add side dishes of bread or other finger foods. If hamburger meat isnt your thing dont worry. You can make a foil packet with other meats, fish or chicken. Simply set out compatible foods and allow each person to make his or her own meal. Place a piece of chicken on each foil packet then let others add broccoli, cheese, tomato sauce, potatoes or other choices. The packet cooking method works for pork chops, sandwiches, steaks, hot dogs, assorted fishes, beef tips, roast beef, baked and chunked potatoes, and vegetarian packs. Just about any meat or vegetable combination will work. The technique works especially well for leftovers. Freeze leftover meats and vegetables then use them at a future date to make a foil packet for each eater. One could have a hamburger, one could have a pork chop, and so on. Just pull the leftovers out one day and let everyone choose their cut. Add additional foods to the packet until you have the meal of your dreams! After you see what each person likes you can save money by purchasing only those add-ons. Kids will love making their own hamburger or hot dog meal in a foil packet. Its easy, its fun, and its good, solid family time. Its not messy so go ahead and let kids get very creative. This could become a regular weekly supper event in your home!
Its fun when the family cooks together but it can be utter chaos if young kids and hard-to-please members are involved. Have a cooking night with the family without the hassle or mess by letting everyone add their own additional ingredients.
Slice tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and similar items to make a baked hamburger package that will please everyone at the table. Each person can add what they want to their own foil packet. Other choices include garlic and other spices, assorted cheeses, tomato soup or tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and more. Choose from assorted sauces, veggies and other things you have in the kitchen. After each person has added everything they want tightly wrap the foil and place in oven. You can now even purchase foil pouches which are already folded into the pouch shape and ready to stuff and seal. These foil packets ensure there will be no leakage. Bake the hamburger packets for the amount of time needed. If one person has only hamburger and cheese, obviously, it wont have to cook as long as someone who has packed their foil packet with tomatoes, potatoes, onions and other vegetables. Serve the foil packets by opening them and sliding them out onto a plate. Add side dishes of rice or noodles, or just serve the contents of the foil pack. You can add side dishes of bread or other finger foods. If hamburger meat isnt your thing dont worry. You can make a foil packet with other meats, fish or chicken. Simply set out compatible foods and allow each person to make his or her own meal. Place a piece of chicken on each foil packet then let others add broccoli, cheese, tomato sauce, potatoes or other choices. The packet cooking method works for pork chops, sandwiches, steaks, hot dogs, assorted fishes, beef tips, roast beef, baked and chunked potatoes, and vegetarian packs. Just about any meat or vegetable combination will work. The technique works especially well for leftovers. Freeze leftover meats and vegetables then use them at a future date to make a foil packet for each eater. One could have a hamburger, one could have a pork chop, and so on. Just pull the leftovers out one day and let everyone choose their cut. Add additional foods to the packet until you have the meal of your dreams! After you see what each person likes you can save money by purchasing only those add-ons. Kids will love making their own hamburger or hot dog meal in a foil packet. Its easy, its fun, and its good, solid family time. Its not messy so go ahead and let kids get very creative. This could become a regular weekly supper event in your home!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)