More Thanksgiving Goodies!

These Thanksgiving goodies come from my mother. Aren't they lovely and didn't she take a great picture? Way to go (and thanks) Mom!

Instructions for the cookies and the pumpkin follow.

First the turkey cookie instructions.

This is a variation on the cookies we've assembled over the years around Thanksgiving. (I just about put "cookies we've made" there, but all the ingredients are store bought so "assembled" it is!) We used to make them with chocolate-covered cherries as the turkey body, but then everyone ate around the body because no one liked the chocolate-covered cherries. The chocolate-covered marshmallow cookie isn't quite as proportionate as the chocolate-covered cherry, but it reaches a wider audience. Next time I make them I think I'll try putting a marshmallow on a skewer, dipping it in chocolate, and using it as the body (minus the skewer). I think it might be a better size.

Supplies:
Fudge-striped Shortbread Cookies
Chocolate-covered marshmallow cookie
(OR chocolate-covered cherry (a.k.a. Cherry Cordial) OR chocolate-dipped marshmallow)
Chocolate frosting
Candy corn
Red Hots (Optional)

Instructions:

1. Place one fudge-striped cookie face down to serve as the base.
2. Put a little chocolate frosting on one rounded side of the marshmallow cookie and attach to the base. (The instructions are the same if using a chocolate covered cherry or chocolate-dipped marshmallow. Basically you are putting it on it's side.)
3. Put a little frosting on the bottom of a striped side of a shortbread cookie and stick it to the flat side of the marshmallow cookie. Now your turkey has feathers! BE SURE THE STRIPES ARE RUNNING UP AND DOWN BEFORE ADDING THE FROSTING GLUE! I speak from experience.
   
4. Put a little frosting on a candy corn and stick it to the marshmallow cookie to serve as a beak.
5. Optional Step: Attach a Red Hot beneath the beak to look like the turkey's gobbler or waddle. What is that hanging piece of red skin called? This suburban girl just doesn't know.

Now the pilgrim hat cookie instructions.
This is a new one for me this year!

Supplies:
Fudge-striped Shortbread Cookies
Chocolate chips for melting and dipping
Marshmallows
Chocolate Frosting
1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
1 tbsp margarine melted

Instructions:
Melt chocolate chips.

1. Stick a marshmallow on a toothpick or skewer and dip in melted chocolate. (This can be done ahead of time if working with little ones.)
2. Place one fudge-striped cookie face down to serve as the base. Put a little frosting on the base of the marshmallow and attach to the cookie.
3. Mix the powdered sugar, melted margarine, and a little bit of water to form the icing for the buckle. The consistency should be a little thinner than toothpaste.
4. Put the icing in a plastic sandwich bag and snip off one of the corners. Cut off less than you think needs to be snipped. You can always cut more later. Pipe a little square outline with the icing in the bag at the base of the marshmallow.

Now the pumpkin instructions.
This is a new one for me this year too! This is a great decoration if you are don't have the most storage space because the bulk of it is a roll of toilet paper. It's easy to put together and take apart. So next year, all you need is a new roll.

Supplies:
1 roll of toilet paper
1 square of fabric (about 15" square)
1 square of batting (about 15" square)
Brown paper sack
Silk leaves

Instructions:

1. Place the batting on top of the fabric. Put the TP in the middle of it. Pull the fabric and batting up and tuck into the middle of the TP tube.
2. Twist part of a paper sack and stick it into the tube to serve as the stem.
3. Tuck in a few silk leaves, and you're done.

Autumn Leaves

My niece Maddie who attends year-round school is on break for a few weeks so she has been coming over to play on Thursdays. It's been really fun having her around. She is such a good big sister to Liam, and he ADORES her. They've been best buds ever since Liam was a baby and Maddie would come over every Friday after kindergarten. (I think Maddie thought Liam was her baby then!)

This Thursday Maddie and I tried out a new project we learned about on Epicurean Style. I thought they turned out great!

Basically, they are leaves cut out of white paper and dipped in melted crayon. They glow just like stained glass when hung by a window.

Liam (who is two) even helped dip or should I say drop a few leaves himself.

(Thank you to my neighbor and to my sister who each donated a bag of crayons for the cause. Having only one two-year-old, all I had around was ONE fairly new box of crayons, and it seemed like such a shame to melt them.)

I recommend doing all your leaves in one sitting. I think I reheated my crayons too many times and the wax started to get groady. It was kind of a nice effect (you can see it on the second picture), but the color stopped sticking to the leaf and all that stuck was the grime.

Epicurean Style has more detailed instructions and is a fabulous place for preschool crafts, recipes, humor, and the most adorable aprons! Oh, such a fun place to visit.

{Photo Story Friday} Little Prankster

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

This is my first Photo Story Friday. It's a serious case of monkey see, monkey do. Kacey of Chronicles of a Mommy started posting for Photo Story Friday a month ago and ever since then I think, "I wonder if this picture will work for Friday," every time I take a photo. With such a great idea though, I don't mind being a little monkey-like.

A little monkey just happens to be the star of my photo story.

The other night during dinner my little monkey, Liam, was running around as usual. He tends to eat dinner in shifts: eat a little, play a little. I guess my husband and I just take too long eating so he has to find entertainment elsewhere. This particular night he found entertainment in the laundry room next to the kitchen where he was playing ever so quietly. Suddenly he runs up and says, "Mommy look, Dadda's shoes." "Yes, Liam, Daddy's shoes are in the laundry room," I respond thinking that's what he's referring to, but he keeps insisting that I look at the shoes. Finally, I get up and check them out only to find that he has stuffed "Dadda's shoes" full of packing peanuts obtained from a box near the back door waiting to be taken out to the trash. The amazing thing is that the peanuts were packed in two neat little piles in the shoes. None on the floor.

I'm afraid the reenactment was not so orderly. What a little prankster!

Frolicking Frock

I really have no idea what to call this little jumper so...frolicking frock it is. (Kind of a lame version of all the cute names Grosgrain and Sugar City Journal create.)

This is my first attempt at making my own pattern which explains the plainness. I hope to have the pattern up by Friday night. Maybe by the time the pattern is up, I'll have a picture of this on an actual little girl. I've got to get one of those someday, but until then I'll just have to borrow a friend's.

Although it is simple, I thought it could be fun to jazz up with different accessories like tights or leggings. The cold weather has me thinking about all sorts of cute cardigans too!

Today is the Best Day EVER!

I won a giveaway! I can hardly believe it! Soon you'll see me sporting this darling hat from shanasmusic.blogspot.com. Thank you Shana!

Snowman Mitten

My SIL Aubrey came up with the best Christmas tradition this year. She suggested making Christmas ornaments and exchanging them between the SIL's. What a fun idea! Something handmade, from the heart.

So my quest began, and I decided I wanted to do little mitten snowmen. Many pattern prototypes later I ended up with this cute little guy. Well, actually he's not really that little and that poses a bit of a problem because he would be HUGE on a Christmas tree. Seriously, I can almost stick my hand in him. So...I'm probably going to have to develop a smaller knitting pattern or possibly make one out of felt. I'm still undecided. I'll let you know. Either way, the pattern for this not-so-little guy is below.

Although he's too big for an ornament, I can't wait to add him to my Christmas decor!

Skill Level: Just Beyond Beginner

Supplies:
Size 6 knitting needles
Black Yarn (worsted weight)
White Yarn (worsted weight)
Red Yarn (worsted weight)
Orange Embroidery Floss
Black Embroidery Floss
Various Red Buttons
3 Black Buttons
4" of 3/8" Ribbon
Thread

Instructions:

Mitten:

Using black yarn, cast on 30 sts.

Work in stockinette stitch for 6 rows (Rows 1-6)

Switch to red yarn, work in stockinette stitch for 3 rows (Rows 7-9)

Switch to black yarn, work in stockinette stitch for 3 rows (Rows 10-12)

Switch to white yarn, work in stockinette stitch for 10 rows (Rows 13-22)

Row 23: Switch to red yarn, knit across.

Row 24: P1, purl in front and back of next st, P26, purl in front and back of next st, P1

Row 25: K1, knit in front and back of next st, K28, knit in front and back of next st, K1

Row 26: P1, purl in front and back of next st, P30, purl in front and back of next st, P1

Row 27: Switch to white yarn, K1, knit in front and back of next st, K32, knit in front and back of next st, K1

Row 28: P1, purl in front and back of next st, P34, purl in front and back of next st, P1

Row 29: knit

Row 30: purl

Row 31: K1, K2tog, K34, K2tog, K1

Row 32: P1, P2tog, P32, P2tog, P1

Row 33: Bind off first 3 sts, knit to end

Row 34: Bind off first 3 sts, purl to end

Row 35: Knit

Row 36: Purl

Row 37: Knit

Row 38: P1, P2 tog, P9, P2 tog, P1 leave last 15 sts unworked

Row 39: K1, k2 tog, K7, K2 tog, K1

Row 40: P1, P2 tog, P5, P2 tog, P1

Row 41: K1, k2 tog, K3, K2 tog, K1

Row 43: P1, P2 tog, P1, P2 tog, P1

Bind off remaining five stitches

Join white yarn to remaining 15 sts. Repeat Rows 38-43.

Fold mitten in half (right-sides together) and stitch along the edge. Flip the mitten right-side out.

Scarf:

Using red yarn, cast on 10 sts. Work in stockinette stitch for 1 1/2 inches. Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Draw tail through remaining sts. Fold in half (right-sides together) and stitch along edge opposite fold. Flip right-side out.

Assembly:

Sew red scarf to bottom red stripe on the mitten.

Stitch red buttons to red scarf.

Stitch a column of black buttons down the belly of the snowman mitten.

Using a satin stitch and black embroidery floss, stitch two eyes on the snowman's face.

Using black embroidery floss, stitch a smile on the snowman's face.

Using a satin stitch and orange embroidery floss, stitch a triangular "carrot" nose on the face.

Fold ribbon in half and stitch to inside of left mitten corner.

Blog Award

I've been out sick this week so imagine how excited I was to feel better AND find that I'd gotten this blog award! Thank you so much Kacey of Chronicles of a Mommy! It totally made my day!

I'm going to have to do a little thinking before passing it on.

Picture This.

A couple of days ago Kacey of Chronicles of a Mommy posted this picture from Real Simple magazine. (If you haven't checked out her blog yet, do it now. It's fabulous. She always finds the cutest ideas for decorating and crafts and has the most adorable children. I always feel so inspired to be a better mom (and a more crafty one too) after visiting her blog...which I do everyday. That makes for a lot of inspiration.)

Anyway, the picture got me all excited because I'd done something similar in my front room and learned quite a few useful things doing it that I thought would be great to share. Here's what my arrangement looks like:

It's the only thing "done" in my front room otherwise I'd show you the rest of the room. I realize now that I should have straightened some of the frames before taking the picture.

(I know it's not important to anyone but me, but still I'd just like to note that the medal in the shadow box was my dad's from service in the Air Force. He gave each of us kids a framed one when he retired a few years ago.)

Here are my time- and money-saving tips:

First, I bought all my frames at a thrift store (total cost $10) and spray painted them all black to make them seem like they belonged together.
Then when I got ready to hang them, I traced each frame on butcher paper and cut them out.
Next, I marked each piece of paper with a small dot where the nail would have to go when I hung them up. (e.g. in the middle of the frame 1/2 inch down where the saw-toothed picture mounting thing was. How's that for a description?) Where the dot went varied from frame to frame depending on how far down the frame the mounting thing was.

I then taped each cut-out "frame" to the wall and rearranged them until I found an arrangement I liked. This way I didn't have to put hole after hole in my wall, and I could still get some semblance of an idea of how they would look on the wall.
With the cut-outs still hanging up, I hammered in my nails using the dots I'd drawn a guides. (None of my frames were very heavy.)
Then, I hung my pictures up on top of the cut-outs so that I would remember which on went where. Finally, I pulled the cutouts out from under the frames.


Here's my little secret regarding my framed "prints" like the one above. I didn't buy my prints, I made them...in minutes...and if you have a printer and some nice heavy paper you can too. (Sorry about the awful flash in the pic. I was too impatient to wait for the light to be brighter in the front room to take a picture without it. Just realize that this looks better in person.)

I searched online and found a few etchings by Rembrandt that I liked. Then, I printed them out on cheap, heavy watercolor paper with my inkjet printer. To give them more of that art gallery feel I tore the edges. To do this, I placed my ruler on top of the print about 1/4 of an inch from the edge and then, holding the ruler firmly with one hand, I pulled up on the edge of the paper with the other hand tearing it in a straight line along the ruler. Then I mounted it on black paper to really bring out those torn edges.
I also cut my own matte-board to save money. You can find instructions here at eHow. My one change to their instructions would be to overshoot the edge by 1/8 inch or so on each end of each side. It doesn't show up on the final matte and makes everything clean looking. You can usually find discounted mattes at framing stores already cut to normal frame sizes made from their leftover boards from previous framing jobs. All you have to do is cut the hole in the middle.

If you look at the pictures from Real Simple , they don't even have matte boards. They are just mounted in the middle of a piece of white paper or board. How simple is that?

Halloween Costumes 2008

This year we did a Toy Story theme because that is what my little boy LOVES. He was Buzz Lightyear, Will was Woody, and I was Little Bo Peep.
I'd do a little pattern review but I mixed and matched so many patterns for my dress, it's not even funny. One for the bodice, one for the sleeves, one for the neckline, one for the skirt, my own design for the inlay on the front, plus my own petticoat pattern, a bonnet pattern, and a pajama pant pattern for the bloomers just shortened. In the end, it turned out just the way I wanted. (Thank you Nanna for strategically planning a "Liam Day" play date for a whole day last week so I could work on my dress.) What was I thinking?

Will's vest was just a regular vest pattern. His shirt was from a thrift store. I dyed it a darker yellow and then used freezer paper strips to paint, yes paint on the plaid. Four small bottles of fabric paint and many hours later, Voila! Not too difficult, but it took a lot more time than I expected. Story of my life.

Liam's Buzz outfit was purchased from Disney online a couple of months ago, clearanced for $10! Plus $10 for shipping. That shipping can kill a person! But I was TOTALLY willing to pay it so I didn't have to make a Buzz Outfit. That's a costume I could never do as cool as a storebought one.