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6/30/2009

Carnations

I still love these carnation balls from Country Living:


But if you aren't a fan of the sphere or you just don't have the time to sit and poke flowers into floral foam, I like this carnation centerpiece from Martha too:

Which would be very patriotic in red white and blue, but also is gorgeous in this rainbow display! Lots of carnations and a plain square vase. Easy and beautiful.

Hanging Crystals

Martha used chandelier crystals (which I am sure she had just lying around) to make a fringe for a lamp:She made jump rings from 18 guage wire and strung them together. If you don't like the lamp, you can use the same idea to make this crystal garland:


Making Ice Cream without the Machine

I may be the only human being alive that doesn't own their own ice cream maker. I don't know why I haven't broken down and bought one yet. Probably because if I did I would make ice cream everyday and gain a million pounds this summer.

And I know there are ways to make ice cream without the machine. I made it with two ziplock bags in my high school physics class (I had the coolest teacher EVER!) but what if you want to make more than a single serving? Well David Lebovitz has your answer. He made this:


using a custard based recipe and a bowl in the freezer (plastic or stainless steel)
You make the ice cream mixture, then chill it over ice. Poor it into the bowl and stick it in the freezer. You take it out very 40 minutes and stir it like crazy. (to break up the ice crystals, that is what all the churning is for). A hand mixer works good for this. It should take 2-3 hours and you will have ice cream.

Because you are not constantly breaking up the ice crystals as they form, it won't be as smooth as regular ice cream, but it will still be yummy.

You can use his vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry recipes. Or you can check out his book, Perfect Scoop YUM!

Vanilla Ice Cream (about 1 quart)

What you need:

1 cup milk
A pinch of salt
3/4 cups sugar
1 vanilla bean
5 egg yolks
2 cup heavy cream
A few drops of vanilla extract

What you do:

Heat the milk, salt, and sugar in a saucepan. Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the milk with the tip of a paring knife. Add the bean pod to the milk.

Stir together the egg yolks in a bowl and gradually add some of the warmed milk, stirring constantly as you pour. Pour the warmed yolks back into the saucepan. (This is called tempering the eggs. You do it so that the eggs are warmed slowly before they are introduced to a hot mixture and it is done to keep the eggs from curdling. Thank you Alton Brown)

Cook over low heat, stirring constantly and scraping the bottom with a heat-resistant spatula until the custard thickens enough to coat the spatula. Strain the custard into the heavy cream. Rinse the vanilla bean and put it back into the custard and cream to continue steeping. Chill thoroughly, then remove the vanilla bean and freeze (in your machine or using the no machine method!)

6/29/2009

Industrial Kitchen

Remember the Industrial Stools that were cute enough for Martha. You know what would go well with these stools in your kitchen:


One of these storage chests:
You think I am crazy, don't ya? But look at what I found on Remodelista:



See, it is pretty cute! And would look really cute with the stools. The chests come in some fun colors. Like red. Red is my favorite! And I am thinking it would probably be a good way to organize your cooking utensils. And cookie cutters. And cake decorating supplies.

No Wait Ice Cream Sandwiches

I saw these really cute ice cream sandwiches on A Givers Log:

They are too cute. And you can buy the molds to make them here. But honestly I don't have any room for more gadgets in my kitchen. Even really cute cow gadgets. And really you can do the same thing with a cookie cutter. Now it won't be AS cute, but honestly they aren't going to look that cute in 30 seconds anyways. They will be half melted and partially eaten.

So take a soft cookie or brownie (already baked) and use a cookie cutter to cut it into the shape you want. Make two for each sandwich. (I know you are all saying DUH right now!) Then use the ice cream that comes in the rectangle containers. Slice it (cut through the packaging and all) with a serrated knife the way you would slice bread. Then you cut each ice cream slice with the cookie cutter, slap it in between the two cookie slices and eat it before it melts. Of you can stick it on a cookie sheet and put it back in the freezer to harden. Or you could just eat it before it melts.

You can also slice the regular ice cream cartons too, but it is a lot easier to slice through the rectangles because they don't roll around on you. So if you try to slice the cylinder kind and cut yourself, don't come crying to me! ;D

Macaron Cake

Remember the truffle cake:


Well Martha has one made of macarons:


And pink ones no less! Like I need to fall in love with ways to make cake even more fattening then it already is!

6/28/2009

Potting Utensils

Suculents do not need a lot of dirt or water to survive (which is why you find a lot of them in the desert). And Jen from Sanctuary Arts at Home proves this point:


If I had a wood shed (instead of a metal one) I might run to Goodwill and buy up all the metal ladels I could find!

Chalkboard Teapot Sign

I found this at A Day in the Life of Romona:


I had to post it because it has been a while since I posted a chalkboard idea. Because it is cute, and because it goes OUTSIDE! As much as I love chalkboards I fear the amount of chalk dust that would accumulate in my house once the kids found where I hid the chalk.

Even if you don't like teapots, I bet you could think of something cute to paint with chalkboard paint, hang outside, and right your house number of name on!

I love it!

Watermelon Cooler

A great idea for the watermelon (after you have scooped all the melon goodness out of it:


And very handy if you don't have a cute cooler to chill your drinks in.

Image from Better Recipes via The Party Dress.

6/27/2009

Lawn Rockets

You can make these cute rockets:


All you need is a cardboard tube (from a used roll of paper towels, some scrapbook paper to cover it with, some silver paper (that you cut in a circle to make the top)

The istructions are no longer available online, but they are almost identical to these candy firecrackers.   Just make them larger and stick them in your yard as a fun 4th of July yard decoration.

Patriotic Ice Cream Cone Wrappers

You can print out these fun Patriotic Ice Cream Cone Wrappers from Martha:


An cute way to make an easy 4th of July dessert.

S'moreo

Found this on Cakespy:


I have no words.

6/26/2009

4th of July Banner

I love Country Living and I LOVE THIS BANNER...But the instructions are no longer available online!



Here is what I have saved in my archives:

From blue crepe paper, cut a strip 8 inches wide and 20 inches long.

From a clean newspaper, cut a narrower strip of paper.
Lay it down in the center of the blue strip, gluing in place.
Repeat, cutting an even narrower strip of red crepe paper, then gluing in place.

Fan-fold across the narrow width of the strip. Fold in half lengthwise.
Open out on either side of the center fold you just made to create a circle; glue. Print “Happy Fourth”; cut out around the letters in a circle with pinking shears. Glue onto rosettes.

Cut 8-inch pipe cleaners in half. Use one to form a loop; slip through another to form another
loop, and so on. When chain is complete, glue a pipe cleaner loop to the back of each rosette, first
passing it through a chain loop, then gluing in place.

Color


If I had a front porch (and if it wasn't too hot to sit outside on said front porch) I would love to have a rainbow of curtain panels to block out the sun!

Or you could use these colorful curtains to dress up your bookshelves.

Image from here.

Dressing Up Your Bookshelf

I saw this on Design Dazzle and LOVE IT! (said is my best high pitched sing song voice):


Tambara at Champagne Chic Interiors dressed up the bookcase with a set of curtains. I think I am going to have to do some furniture rearranging. I don't think The Boy wants curtains on his bookcase!

6/25/2009

Grilled Banana S'mores

Okay, there are no graham crackers, but anytime there are marshmallows and chocolate I consider it a S'more. In this recipe the graham cracker is replaced by a banana:

I found the recipe at Everyday Celebrating. You slice a banana lengthwise and stuff it with pieces of chocolate and marshmallows. Then you stick it on the grill to warm it up (and melt the chocolate and marshmallows. I cannot wait to try this the next time we grill!

Stars

Because sometimes all you have to do is cut things with a star cookie cutter to have the perfect holiday meal:



Better Homes and Gardens

If you are signed up for their email newsletter, then you can just skip this post. In less of course you haven't read the email they sent out yesterday. In that case read on. Because EVERYTHING in this post comes from that email. (And I love them, but their sight can be a pain to navigate through!!)

Their flea market finds were full of really great stuff.

Like who needs a big old mirror to use gorgeous shutters!


And although I think the sheet music is odd, I love the idea of using an old frame to...well FRAME your chandelier:


Using vintage clock frames to make...something:


And old porch rail to sort mail:


And although I have seen molding used as a shelf before, when you add white pitchers I can't resist:

6/24/2009

Skirt to Dress Transformation

Do you remember the tutorial that turned a mans button up shirt into a cute dress for a little girl. This one here.

Well in case you don't have any old button up skirts, here is another idea for you. You see this cute dress that Amiee from My *PINK* Life made:


she used this skirt:

She brought in the seems and added straps. And Voila! She had a cute sundress! You can check it out here, or check out ANOTHER dress she made from a skirt here.

Pink Peony Popcorn Balls


Martha added some tissue paper leaves to a pink popcorn ball to make it look like a peony. It is a pretty pink popcorn peony. Sorry. I had to say that! But if you are having a princess party or a tea party or just about any party where you are looking for a pink snack these might come in handy.

Paper Cake Stands

I love cake plates. And I have seen them made from a lot of different thing. But never chipboard. Holly Doodle Designs took this:
and made these:


Ohhh pretty! And although vintage isn't really my style, I am pretty sure I could paint them white and do something really fun with them! Or paint one red and one white and one blue and make a REALLY cute 4th of July decoration!!

She hot glued the lid of the chipboard hat box to the top of a wooden candle stick, and then she cut the box down and used the bottom to make a second one! You can find the tutorial (with a lot of pictures and helpful tips) here.

6/23/2009

Shutters

I love shutters. And I love that Layla from The Lettered Cottage hung shutters on each side of a large mirror in her living room:



Now I just have to find some shutters...and a large mirror!

Some Mower Father's Day Fun

Okay, Father's Day is already over. And the title of this post is corny. Put I had to show you this lawn mower cupcake from Family Fun:

Coconut and green food coloring make the grass. A Hershey's Nugget, M&Ms, and black licorice laces make the lawn mower.

So you can either wait until next year to use it or find another application. Like a little boys birthday party. Or a 'thanks for mowing the yard' cupcake.

Firework Cake Toppers

Craft Magazine featured these firework cake toppers from Wisdom of the Moon:


She used melted sugar that you drizzle into designs on a silpat mat or parchment paper and let cool. And although I love the idea, I am going to be honest here. I have a fear of burning myself with melted sugar. It has kept me from trying a lot of things. Like real butter cream frosting.

But there is an alternative. Candy melts. You can do the exact same thing with chocolate or vanilla flavored candy! Melt it, put it in a squeeze bottle (like a ketchup/mustard bottle from a school cafeteria) and draw firework shapes on parchment. Put them in the freezer to set up and you have yourself firework cake toppers.

If you want to put your life on the line and try using melted sugar, you can use this lollipop recipe to make the sugar mixture.

6/22/2009

Spiral Marmalade Pecan Cake

It is like a big old cinnamon roll cake. And I cannot wait to try it! I found it on the Urban Debris Artlog:

What you need:

1/4 cup Butter, softened
1/2 cup packed Light Brown Sugar
1 cup pecan pieces
1 cup marmalade
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 (11-oz.) Pillsbury Refrigerated Crusty French Loaf (when I try it I am going to make my dough from scratch...because I am an over achiever! ;D)

Heat oven to 350˚F. Grease 8-inch round cake pan. In small bowl, combine butter, sugar, pecan pieces, and cinnamon; mix well. Unroll bread dough onto floured surface, forming a 13×12-inch rectangle. Spread marmalade evenly over dough. Sprinkle with nut mixture and press lightly into dough. Cut dough into 8 even 12-inch long strips. Roll up 1 strip into a spiral. Place spiral on next strip, and continue rolling. Add 2 more strips to the spiral in the same way. Place spiral into center of greased pan. Cut remaining 4 strips in half to finish the spiral and loosely wrap remaining strips around the spiral in the pan. Spread completed spiral to fit pan. Bake at 350˚F for 30 minutes, or until coffee cake is golden brown. Invert on serving platter, cool for 10 minutes, and cut into wedges. Serve warm.

I may not follow the directions (except for the cooking time) but I am definitely going to steal the idea.

Balloon Walkway

I have never been a big fan of party decorating with balloons. But I can add this to the list of things that are changing my opinion on the matter:

image via Black Eiffel

Father's Day French Toast

Last week I went to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with Lou La, my sister-in-law and her daughter. On the way we were talking about a church camp out they were planning and the breakfast that her husband would be serving. It included french toast. But not just any french toast.

You take this:


And instead of dipping it in a batter made from egg and milk, you dip it in this:



And then you cook it (with a little butter on the skillet). And then you eat it. And it is fabulous. But please don't put syrup on it. Because I am pretty sure it will kill you if you put syrup on it.

6/21/2009

Dessert Cone

This time of year in AZ ice cream melts REALLY quickly. And that is just INSIDE the house. So I love this idea from Rachel Ray for an outdoor dessert in a cone:

She lined the cones with chocolate and then filled them with berries and a sour cream and sugar mixture. I think I would just used whipped cream.

And the best part, no dishes to wash. Unless you let them use a spoon. But I can handle spoons.


What you need:

1 cup sour cream
4 tablespoons sugar
Grated peel and juice of 1 lemon
1/4 pound fresh cherries, halved, plus 10 whole for garnish
1 pint mixed berries (blackberries, blueberries, raspberries)
6 ounces milk or dark chocolate
20 sugar cones

What you do:

In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and the lemon peel. Mix well and refrigerate.

In a medium bowl, toss the halved cherries and mixed berries with the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 to 2 teaspoons lemon juice. Refrigerate.

Break the chocolate into small pieces and place in a microwaveable bowl. Microwave on high, 20 to 30 seconds at a time, until the chocolate just starts to melt. Stir until smooth. Using a pastry brush, paint the inside of the cones with the melted chocolate. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until the chocolate hardens, about 15 minutes.

To serve, stand the sugar cones in narrow glasses. Place a dollop of the sour cream mixture in each cone, then fill with the mixed berries. Top with another dollop of sour cream and garnish with a whole cherry.

Paint Can Cubbies

Martha used velcro strips to secure paint cans to a shelf to make cubbies:


Although I don't think it is the cutest thing that Martha has ever come up with, I think it has potential. I think I would have to paint the cans though. Hmmmmmm....

Ribbon Lampshades

Easy lampshade makeover with ribbons...


Rufflers Roost:

6/20/2009

Scrap Garlands

A fun garland you can make with scraps of ribbon. And I think it would be fun in Red, White, and Blue:



Or from scraps of paper and a scallop punch:

images from Parents.com

Kids Party Snack Table

I am pretty sure I have posted this before, but when I saw it on The Party Dress I couldn't find it on my blog, so I am posting it again:

A pretty fun party snack table for any kids party.

Foosball Towelbar

One day I would love to have a house with the extra space to have a gameroom. And if I am one day lucky enough to have a gameroom, there will be a place for people to hang up their coats and bags and it will look like this:


This towel bar from Ikea Hacker is made from an Ikea Grundtal rail and foosball men that were purchased online. FUN!