October 2009

  • Gingerbreadsnowflakes is One Year Old Today!

    And I am celebrating with a give-away!

    But before I get to that...

    I wish to extend a heart felt THANK YOU to each and every one of you who have joined me in this blogging adventure.  Your comments, your kind words, and  your support have meant more to me than I could ever express.  So many of you have gifted me with your friendship - I am overwhelmed and humbled. 

    And a huge THANK YOU to my daughter Diane - Sister Diane of CraftyPod - who inspired me to reconnect with my "creative center", and then proceeded to not only encourage me to write this blog but also to teach me (very patiently) every single thing I needed to know to do it!  Believe me when I tell you she started with literally "nothing"!  I had just barely learned to manage e-mail and a little internet searching when this journey began.

    Thank you, Diane, for your gifts of all the incredible experiences, creative opportunities and inspirations, and treasured friendships this past year of blogging has brought into my life. 

    Now - about that give-away!

    To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment!  International entries are welcome! Just be sure to leave an e-mail address so I can contact you for mailing information.

    Entry deadline is midnight Monday, November 9th.

    Now that is done - let's get to the goodies in the give-away: "Vintage" Christmas fabrics and Wheat Straw Christmas Star Kits!

    NOT part of the giveaway because they belong to Diane! But you may recognize these - the ornaments Diane and I made for her  Advent Calendar when she was in high school.  I still have bits of the fabrics in my fabric stash!


     
    And these that we made for mine - about 20 years ago!  (Also NOT part of the giveaway because that would leave four pockets on my calendar empty!)

    Since I still have bits and pieces of the fabrics we used,  I thought it would be fun to share part of our advent calendar "stash" with the lucky winner of my anniversary give-away!!

    PICTURED BELOW ARE THE FABRICS AND  STRAW STAR KITS IN THE GIVEAWAY!

    These four scraps range in size from 6"x18"  to 10" x 18". 

    These have always been our favorites, and as a result the small pieces I will send are the very last bits I have on hand.  They are all small, irregular shaped scraps,  the smallest (and most loved) being the sweet little heart and flower fabric third in from the lower left corner -  5"x5". 

    Since some of these are small, I have offered a few links below to crafty tutorials designed for using small scraps of fabrics!  But you could use them to create ornaments for your own Advent Calendar just as we did!

    BUT WAIT!  That's not all!

    I am tucking in this little piece of gingham left over from Diane's college days. We made all our own wrapping out of brown paper stamped with red and green apples (we used real apples). We tied the packages with this gingham "ribbon". 

    Cut into strips, pink the edges, and use it to wrap a few little gifts this year!

    BUT WAIT!  There's more!

    Since most of you can't shop at the Knittn' Kitten in Portland, I picked up these two half yard pieces of Christmasy fabric to include in the give-away.

    BUT WAIT!  Two more!

    One of each of the two wheat straw Christmas Star kits I sell at the Pumpkin Patch gift shop.

    Here is the other one

    I will be posting a tutorial for these pretty little tree ornaments in a few weeks.  But I thought the lucky winner would appreciate having all the material gathered, measured and ready for assembly!

    SO! THERE YOU HAVE IT!  MY FIRST ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY!

    NOW AS PROMISED, LINKS TO GREAT IDEAS FOR USING SMALL SCRAPS OF FABRIC! 

    The list includes some really great ideas for using up all those little fabric  leftovers, so definitely take a peak at the links whether or not you decide to enter the giveaway.

    1.  Of course the first thing I thought of as the perfect use for small pieces of fabric - your guessed it -make Kanzashi! 

    Follow the link to check out Diane's recently publish book "Kanzashi in Bloom"!  I am making a couple Kanzashi ornaments this year using the very last little bits of "advent fabric" I have left.  One for Diane's tree and one for mine.

    The book is not part of the giveaway - but check back on December 26th when we begin the 12 Days of Christmas!  A perfect time for another giveaway don't you think?  And this book will be the prize.

    There is a little video here featured by Woman's Day if you don't have the book yet because it is still on your Christmas wish list!

    2.   Why not try Diane's  Stiffened Fabric Flower Brooch or Stiffened Fabric Pendant . Both would be perfect in these Christmasy fabrics for wearing during the holidays. Or... make them into ornaments!

    3.  Why not make your own Christmas cards using one of these tutorials:

          "Cheater's Patchwork Quilt" card  - Joanie  shows us how on her blog Nini Makes.

           Fabric Post Cards
    featured on CraftStylish  

           - Fused Fabric Cards which Diane shared on  DIYAlert.

     4.  LollyChops has just posted the coolest tutorial for making fabric Smooshy Stack Christmas Trees and another for these adorable little owls which would make perfect Christmas owl ornaments.

    5.  And Sew, Mama, Sew has just posted a tutorial for patch work napkins that is just a much fun as the tutorial posted earlier this year for patch work kitchen towels.  I am making the napkins with my half of the Knittn' Kitten fabrics!

    6.  And speaking of the "Kitten", Susan Beal's project sheet for these adorable pin cushions will soon be available (as well as all the other projects featured at the Kitten) for you to download. Wouldn't you like to have a couple in Christmasy fabric to keep your crafty holiday mojo going? Keep an eye on Crafty Pod or West Coast Crafty for the announcement.

    7.  I love this Patchwork Star Ornament by Linaloo that I just found on Rachel's  incredible guide to the crafty universe - One Pretty Thing.   I will definitely be making one of these very cute star ornaments - maybe several!  They would be adorable tied on a package.

    8.  I wish Diane and Michael were little again so I could make them a bunch of shirts, skirts and jackets using this technique for frayed applique.  Liz comes up with some pretty cool ideas on her blog The Quilted Turtle, but this one is one of my favorites!  I am thinking the frayed applique idea could translate to Christmas ornaments, Christmas shopping bag embellishments, or Christmas tees or sweatshirts.

    9.  And one more!  A  fabulous new e-book titled Crafty Tree Trimming : Six Festive Ornaments to Make.

    Diane is one of six collaborators.  This e-book is absolutely beautiful! You are definitely going to love it! And the ornament project by Kayte Terry is perfect for small, vintage  Christmasy fabric scraps! 

    How do I get a copy, you ask??  Follow this link to the Crafty Pod Shop - that's how! 

    I hope you find some inspiration for using small bits of Christmasy fabric among these ideas!  If you have others, please feel free to share by including them in your comment.

    GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

     

  • "Sending an Owl..."

    ... to say " HAPPY HALLOWEEN!"

     

    P.S.  November 1st. is my one year blogging anniversary!  To celebrate, there will be a give-away.

  • Using Colorful Leaves and Mod Podge to Make a Fall Wreath

    I love wheat!  I love oats! and I LOVE fall leaves!  Using all three, I just finished this fall wreath for my front door.  I don't pretend to be a wreath artist!  But I am happy with the way this turned out.

    What I really love about it is that since I sealed all the dried leaves in Mod Podge, they will not wither away in a week or so - which is exactly what would happen if I used "fresh" fall leaves.  I just am not willing to put a lot of work into projects that have very short life spans!!

    The wreath is very simple to make - here's how.

    Trays of dried, pressed leaves - some just freshly covered in Mod Podge, some nearly dry. I used about 4 dozen leaves for this project.

    1. Apply two generous coats of Outdoor Mod Podge to each side and the stems of your dried, pressed leaves.  Let dry completely between coats.  A final coat of acrylic spray wouldn't hurt!

    I am reccommending Outdoor Mod Podge for this project to give it protection against humidity.  Even under cover of a porch, humidity can seep in and soften your leaves so that they become limp. However, if you are using you wreath indoors or live in a dry climate, regular Mod Podge with an acrylic over-spray will work fine.

    If you have trouble finding Outdoor Mod Podge, you can order it on-line here and here.  Thank you Amy, (Mod Podge Rocks) for providing these on-line links.

    Hints:  Line your drying trays with wax paper.  When your leaves are dry, pull them gently to release them from the paper. 

    While brushing on the Mod Podge,  I hold the leaves in my open hand.  I keep a damp towel near to wipe my hand between leaves. Refer to this post to see how.

    Sparkly hint:  Sprinkle diamond dust or crystal glitter on the top of the leaves just after you apply the second coat of Mod Podge to the top surface.  When dry, the leaves will look like they are covered with frost crystals! Quite pretty.

    2.  I used a straw wreath for my base.  Once I removed the plastic wrapping, I twisted the wrap into a "rope", tied the ends together to form a circle, and then looped the "rope" around the wreath and through itself to create a hanger.

    3. Attach groups of wheat stalks first with hot glue.

    4. Then wrap each group once or twice with 6 lb. monofilament fishing line.  (It is invisible!)

    5.  Continue gluing and tying groups of wheat stalks adding wheat to both the inside and outside as shown. The front surface is left open for the leaves and oats!

    6.  Add the oat stalks in the same way.

    7.  Pull three leaves together into a bundle with waxed dental floss. No knot required!

    8.  Attach each group of leaves with a bit of hot glue right near the base of the leaves.  Sometimes I use a tiny bit of glue to hold a leaf in place where I want it.

    Add your own embellishments!  A small scarecrow, or tiny gourds, a stuffed owl, even a little ghost or a bat! 

    The best part is that sealing the leaves with Outdoor Mod Podge allows you to keep your wreath for next year. Your leaves will not dry out or absorb too much moisture.  Thanks to Mod Podge, all your time and effort isn't spent on a project that will dry up and crumble away in a couple weeks.

    AND! ONE MORE REALLY COOL THING!   Amy, at Mod Podge Rocks, has another give-away going on right now!   Check out the details here.  You could win a copy of Rosie O'Donnell's new book "Crafty U" - featuring 100 easy projects for the whole family.

    Hurry over there - the contest ends Saturday, October 17th at mid-night.

    Good luck!

     

  • A Little Fall Leaf Re-use Project

    Ok!  This may look a bit familiar.

    While I sat brushing Mod Podge on dozens of leaves to use on my Fall wreath (next post!), I decided to light the little fall leaf candle I made last spring to keep me company.

     I enjoyed the warm glow of the candlelight dancing through the leaves so much that I just had to make a bigger one!

    But this time I made it with the intention that it could be used the rest of the year for crafty storage!  Or for storing dried peppers or dried mushrooms! 

    I used a large, one quart  jar with a two piece canning lid.  During it's life as a candle, I am using only the ring portion of the lid.  Then later, when I am using it for storage, I will be able to seal the contents inside using both parts of the lid.

    This has worked so well, I am planning to make a full set of four - one for each season to use to store tea bags, Splenda packets etc. on my kitchen shelf -  keeping them in rotation as candles as the seasons go by.

    And since it is so easy to do, I am making some with my two little gingerbread house buddies for their Thanksgiving table!

    How to make a Fall Leaf Candle!

    All you need to make one:  dried, pressed fall leaves, regular Mod Podge, a jar and a brush.

    1. Dry beautiful, colorful fall leaves using this method. Drying should take only about two weeks.

    Added 10/17 to avoid any confusion:  The tutorial linked above includes information for how to dry and press leaves

    But Mod Podge should NOT be applied to your dried leaves if you are intending to use them for this jar candle project.

    Use ONLY dried, pressed leaves that have NOT been coated with Mod Podge when you make this candle jar.

    2. Smear Mod Podge all over the sides of the jar.  Do not apply Mod Podge to the bottom or the grooved lid area.

    3. Place your dry leaf right onto the Mod Podge and press into place.  Brush over the leaf with more Mod Podge.

    4.  Continue adding leaves and Mod Podge until your jar is covered with leaves.  I like to overlap a few, but keep in mind that overlap areas do reduce the light that can pass through.  I find that lighter colored leaves work best.  Use the darker leaves as accents.

    5. Once you have finished placing your leaves around the jar surface,  use the flat end of your brush to create a stippled pattern in the Mod Podge areas NOT covered by leaves. This step will create a more pleasing pattern than will brush strokes when light shines through these "open" areas on the jar.

    6.  Let the candle dry thoroughly and then apply a second coat of Mod Podge, again "stippling" the open areas.

    7. Let the jar dry several hours or overnight.  Overspray with acrylic spray. When dry, pop a tea light in the bottom and you are done!

    I am thinking that several of these, in different sizes, would be gorgeous on a Fall Party table.  And you can continue using them right through Halloween and  Thanksgiving.

    And then... fill them up with buttons, pompoms, fall theme stamps, pumpkin seeds for next year's harvest necklace, orphaned beads....

    I hope you enjoy the warm glow of your fall candles as much as I am!

  • Cuddle-able Scarecrows!



    Your kids will love helping you make these mini scarecrows!
      Don't be surprised once you pop the head on if they want to give it a big hug and carry it around like a doll!

    Watching kid's affectionate reactions to their scarecrows was the highlight of the "Make a Scarecrow" class we taught last fall at the Pumpkin Patch.  Once we placed the head on the "neck", every single child would squeal with delight, throw their arms around their scarecrow and give it a huge hug! Some carried it around the farm the rest of the day!

    Using 3 mo. to 3T  children's clothes (found at Goodwill or in the back of the closet), makes the scarecrows just the right size for kids to love! 

    You can use a squash or a small pumpkin for the heads, but after watching those fresh "gourds" rot after just a few days, I decided to try using dried gourds.  Personally,  I love all the wild options for head shapes dried gourds offer, and they will not only last the entire season, but also make that scarecrow much easier for your kids to lug around!

    By the way, we will be out at the Pumpkin Patch taking pictures the next three weekends - unless it's raining of course!  If you are local, come visit!

    HOW TO MAKE A CUDDLE-ABLE SCARECROW!



    All you need to get started is:

    -A shirt and pants - 1 year to 3T work great.  ( If you have a little hat, gloves or shoes - you can add those too!)

    -Stuffing material which can be hay, dried grasses collected in a field, or even newspaper.  If your supply of hay is limited, stuff with newspaper and "embellish" with hay or dried grass!

    -Two sticks 12" to 24" long.  (Any old sticks will do, but I had these slats left from the class so I used them.) For arms use sticks 12" to 18".  For the body, use sticks 18" to 20" for sitting and  24" for standing

    Twine,  scissors, marking pens, paring knife and a mini saw from a pumpkin carving kit

    Dried gourd or fresh pumpkin
    - 6" to 8" diameter

    1. Tie a piece of twine about 30" long onto the stick that will be the vertical support.  Use a  surgeons knot and tie it about 4" down from the top.

    Thanks to Martha Stewart  for coming up with this brilliant method for putting a shirt on a scarecrow!

    2. Place the vertical stick through the garment you are using as the shirt.

    Place the horizontal stick through the arm holes.  (Most likely, you will not be able to get the sticks through the arm holes if you tie the sticks together at the beginning.)

    Tie the two sticks together right where you tied the first knot. 

    3. Stuff the upper arms and chest part of the shirt

    4. Stuff the pants and then slide the long vertical stick into one leg.

    5.  Pull the pants up over the shirt tails and tie twine tightly around the waist to hold the pants in place.

    6.  Optional.  If your scarecrow will be sitting in one spot undisturbed by loving arms, don't bother with this step.  However, if you suspect lots of love to be heaped on it, I would suggest you punch a tiny holes near the pockets or waistband and thread a piece of twine through one hole, around the "neck" and back through the other hole.  Pull snugly and tie with knots.  The suspenders will keep the pants in place!

    For double insurance, do the same thing at the back of the pants.

    7.  Stuff hay into the ends of the arms and legs and tie tightly with twine to hold in place!

    8.  Let your child, (or the child in YOU) draw a face on a dried gourd or pumpkin using the black sharpie. 

    9.  Cut a small hole in the bottom of your gourd, just big enough for your stick .  It is best if the head fits snugly on the stick.  (You could even glue it if you wish. ) Use the tip of a paring knife to start the cut, then finish with the pumpkin carving saw.

    Shake out as much of the seeds and dried pulp as possible from inside the gourd. There may be a chunck of dried pulp left inside, but it should not be a problem.

    10. Pop the head onto the stick!  I used a sugar pumopkin and a butternut squash for the "squash head" versions! 

    What?  You don't recognize the guy with Missy Pukin head?  Why, that's Johnny Depp playing the roll of Oogie Boogie!

     ,

     

  • Halloween Tree!



    BEWARE!
    Don't even consider making this God's Eye Halloween Tree unless you are a person who really loves a challenge!

    Your hair will be standing on end, your body twisted into pretzel like knots, and your fingers permanently cramped into unrecognizable raptor-like claws!  Your mind may implode or at the very least you definitely will be "on your very last nerve"!

    By the time you are into your forth God's Eye, you will have asked yourself a least one hundred times "why am I doing this?!%@#!

    And then your husband will walk into the room and say "Wow! That is starting to look really cool!"

    So, if you are truly committed and determined and brave here are a few things to consider!

    Be sure to spend time practicing making God's Eyes the " old fashioned" way! The link will take you to a tutorial for making simple God's Eyes. Practice, practice, practice!  (Make your practice pieces in pretty colors and you can tie them onto Christmas gifts!)

    While weaving your God's Eyes onto your tree, be prepared to "un-weave" and start over, and over, and over.....

    Do not expect perfection! Knots and bark will create cool spaces in your work which resemble spider webs!

    At first, only weave one or two God's Eye's a day onto your tree.

    Every ten minutes, take a break and practice yoga to pull your spine back into alignment, relax and take deep breaths to replenish oxygen in your blood cells, and eat lots of chocolate to restore your mental health!

    Expect this!  And expect your ball of yarn to slip out of your fingers and roll 20 feet away! Repeatedly!

    And most importantly, ALWAYS remember - the tree is boss! You can not move the God's Eye as you weave it.  YOU must do all the moving.  You will get your yarn caught on branches A-LOT!

    Safety goggles would be wise if you don't wear glasses.

    If you are still determined to proceed...

    1. Find a really cool tree branch!  I used three branches which I bound together with floral wire.  Twisted branches, moss and lichen will add "character"!  For reference - my tree is about 36" tall.

    2. Support your Halloween tree in a tall vase or tie it securely in a couple places along the "trunk" to something sturdy.

    3. Select a spot among the branches for your first God's Eye and begin weaving.

    4. Because every species of tree grows differently, there is no way to give you a step by step!  This is more of a "feel as you go" project! However, here are a few tips that should apply most of the time.

    Try to hold onto your yarn at all times to prevent your weaving from becoming loose.  This is the method I worked out for cutting the yarn so that I could maintain the tension on the yarn as I cut it.

    To make a God's Eye, you need at least two sticks that cross each other in an X.  Trees do not grow that way!  You will need to create an X by tying on an extra twig where you want to weave your God's Eye.

    Often you will find that all you need is one more branch to make four. In the example above, the middle and right twigs grew from the main branch at top.  I tied the left twig onto the main branch using several wraps of the yarn and a tight knot to hold it in place for weaving. I placed the end of the twig right on top of the main branch so there would be no extension on the other side of the main branch.

    I could have added the twig in any one of many configurations.  I actually tried this one first, but didn't like it.  THIS IS A TRIAL AND ERROR CRAFT!   You just have to play with your twigs and branches until you like the placement and shape of the God's Eye.

    I made several I didn't like the shape of and ended up "un-weaving" them.

    At points on your tree where three twigs meet, it is possible, by adding another twig to actually create a God's Eye that has five or even six twigs to weave on.  Great for variety! In this case, the almost vertical twig is the one that was added.

    Or, place your God's Eye so that during weaving you will be able to weave around a twig, allowing it to extend out of the God's eye. You could (if you are truly crazy) even weave a little tiny God's Eye on this twig!

    Sometimes you can create a very three dimensional effect.  Nothing added here - just three twigs growing from one main branch.

    There is nothing wrong with squares and rectangles, either! By the way, you can cut the added twig close to the weaving, or allow it to extend beyond it.

    I tried to weave a couple God's Eyes at spots where the branches formed a "Y" thinking a three sided God's Eye would be fun.  I was unable to get it to look right.  If you figure it out, please let me know!

    NOT that I am thinking of doing this AGAIN!  EVER!

     

     

  • Pumpkin! - Easy as Pie!

    It is pumpkin harvest time!  Meet my pumpkin harvest!  My one and only pumpkin! The perfect size for a pumpkin pie!

    Pumpkin pie is the EASIEST pie to make!  Simply whisk together a few ingredients with  pumpkin puree, pour into a pie shell and bake!   ANYONE, armed with a whisk, bowl, and a pie plate (with home made or ready-made pie crust) can make a pumpkin pie! 

    I have even included my recipe for Diane's favorite pie at the bottom of the post so you will have no excuse to avoid making one!  (Unless, of course - GASP!@*#%??!!  - you don't like pumpkin pie!

    But first I want to show you how easy it is to make your own pumpkin puree! 

    You can use canned pumpkin puree, but why not pick up a lovely little sugar pumpkin while you are at the farm this month picking out the perfect candidate for your jack-o-lantern!  Believe it or not, canned pumpkin puree is usually not made from pumpkins but rather other squash family members more suited to commercial canning.

    So, if you are feeling adventurous, try roasting your own pumpkin for pie!  If not - there are millions of cans of puree on the shelves right now!

    To Roast your pumpkin:

    1. Select a SUGAR PUMPKIN about 6 to 8 inches in diameter.  Do NOT try to roast your jack-o-lantern!  The pulp is way too watery for a pie.

    2. Cut pumpkin in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.  (Use the seeds for snacks or for stringing necklaces.)

    3. Line a rimmed cookie sheet with foil and spray the surface with Pam.

    4. Place the pumpkin halves, cut side down, on the cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for approximately one hour.

    5.  Using a couple spatulas, turn the squash over and let cool on the cookie sheet until cool enough to handle.

    6. Scoop the flesh out of the shell into a food processor.

    7. Process until the mixture is totally smooth. 

    Like this!

    8.  If your processor has a large enough capacity, you can finish mixing your filling right in the processor bowl.  If not, transfer the processed pumpkin to the mixing bowl as instructed below in the recipe.

    9.  Pureed pumpkin can be used in muffins, pancakes and soups.  I usually bake several sugar pumpkins at a time and freeze in one cup containers for use throughout the winter.

    Recipe for Diane's Favorite Pumpkin Pie

    This recipe has been adapted from the pumpkin pie recipe which appeared on the back of Libby's pumpkin puree when she was a very little girl!

    I have tried many versions since - with bourbon, with chocolate, with cream cheese -but always return to the delight of a simple, straight forward, old fashioned pumpkin pie!

    Whisk the ingredients together in a large bowl in the order they are listed
    .

    2 eggs, whisked until beaten together but not foamy

    2 cups pumpkin puree. ( Use one 15 oz. can pumpkin puree if you prefer.)

    1/4 cup dark brown sugar*

    1/2 cup granulated sugar*

    1/2 teaspoon salt

    1 teaspoon cinnamon

    1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

    1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

    1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

    1 2/3 cup evaporated milk or half and half **

    Pour into a 9" unbaked pastry shell.  ***

    Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes and reduce temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking for about 45 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

    Let cool to room temperature before diving in!

    Notes:

    *  When I make this pie for Diane, I substitute a generous 3/4 cup Splenda for the two sugars. 

    I find that cooking with Splenda sometimes leaves an aftertaste which can be eliminated by refrigerating the pie overnight. On the other hand, in Diane's and my opinion, using Splenda enhances the flavor of the pumpkin because it is not masked by the sugar!

    ** We have all noticed the smaller quantities of food placed into cans and boxes these days!  Canned milk is no exception.  When I first started making this pie, a can of evaporated milk (called a 303 can) held 1 2/3 cups of milk.  Today, 12 oz. cans are available and they definitely are not 1 2/3 cups of milk.  I add a bit of half and half to make up the difference.

    *** If you are using a commercial pastry shell already in a pie plate, you will have more filling than will fit in the pie plate provided.  (If you wish, set the extra filling aside and when the pie is finished baking, place the filling in 1 cup custard cups and bake like custard in a baking pan with about 1" of water. Bake for about  40 minutes in a 350 degree oven until set and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

    Don't wait for Thanksgiving!  Celebrate fall's arrival with a pumpkin pie right NOW!