Monday, July 16, 2012

Project 17

Project 17
Make something inspired by and or that goes over an eye

I originally bought a pair of reading glasses at the dollar store that I was going to decorate, but they forgot to put them in my bag!  At least they were only a dollar.  It would cost me more to go get them.
I then saw a card similar to this on Pintrest with the pattern so I decided to make them.  I think it came out pretty cute!  Now to find someone to mail it to.


Thursday, July 12, 2012

Project 16

Project 16
Make a stamp using a potato or sponge and stamp something with it. 

I didn't have a potato and I have done sponge stamps before and they did not turn out great so I thought I would try an eraser!

The first thing I did was draw a mustache on my eraser.
 Next, I took out my stamp cutter and cut around it.  I ended up using an exacto knife. It worked much better.  It actually cut through my eraser like butter! I even scratched up the mustache with the stamp cutter to look like hair.
 
 I then stamped mustaches on my kraft cardstock.
 

 I cut tags out using my tag punch, added 1/2 inch circles and punched holes through them after they were attached.  Next, I added string!  I think they came out cute!
 


Tuesday, July 10, 2012

PROJECT 15

Project 15 
-What can you do with just  a dollar?  Use a dollar bill as your medium or inspiration today...


 
This was an easy one!  There are a lot of Origami designs out there using dollars, but I liked the idea of money holding money.  I found this video on U Tube and made my basket along with her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_xHnA8MqCY.  I may have to redo this another time.. There is so much you can do with this prompt.




Thursday, July 5, 2012

Project 14

Project 14
Make something Micoscopic..How small can you work?  

Christine told me what she was doing so I did something very similar.  I used shrink plastic for the game pieces.  I had black and for the red I colored the shrink plastic then heated it to shrink it.  I used a 1/4 inch punch to cut out the pieces.  You can see the amount they shrunk!
I then proceeded to make the game board..I cut the paper strips into 1/4 inch strips then proceeded to weave.

 It took me three trys to get the weaving correct!  Really!
I finally gave up on the weaving!  I printed off a checkerboard pattern from Google and then laminated it.  I made a mini pizza box for the board and pieces.
 The bigger checkeboard is 2.25 inches  square and the smaller on is one inch! 

 Here is the bigger one with the shrinky dink games pieces.

Here is the tiny one, for this one I used seed beads for the the game pieces.. This one is really hard to play because it is so small.. I used a needle to move the pieces!

Project 14

So after revealing my original idea for this project, my mom totally copied me and made a checkerboard. I decided to make a miniature chess set (with the help of Taylor and his friend Will).




We used polymer clay in three shades, and a teeny tiny cookie cutter to make the board itself. It came out super duper cool!


And for scale, here's how it compares in size to my hand.


Sunday, July 1, 2012

Project # 13

"Use tea leaves or tea bags to create something today." 

For project thirteen, I made thirteen cupcakes. My father-in-law, KJ, is obsessed with Earl Grey tea. It's his hot beverage of choice, and he drinks a fair amount of it. He recently ran low, so we went to Walmart today to stash up.


Earl Grey is really just black tea with a touch of bergamot, a yellow citrus fruit similar to an orange. I steeped a few tea bags in some hot milk to infuse the batter with yummy Earl Grey essence. 


While these baked, I worked on the frosting. I followed a different recipe than I normally do. The one that I regularly use calls for eight egg whites, whereas this only called for four. Turns out it's worth cracking the extra eggs--- this one didn't set well, and was runnier than usual. 


This one called for boiling sugar and water, pouring it into a mix of egg whites and cream of tartar, and beating until stiff peaks form. Sadly, there were no stiff peaks---- just limp little bumps. 


Either way, they look pretty tasty, and I can't wait to try one!



The recipe:

Ingredients

* 1 cup white sugar
* 1/2 cup butter
* 2 eggs
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
* 3/4 cup whole milk
* 4 Earl Grey tea bags

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a muffin pan with paper liners.
2. Heat milk on high in microwave for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes until hot and steamy. Do not overheat! Put tea bags in milk to steep and set aside.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. 
4. Remove tea bags from milk and measure out 1/2 cup and stir into batter until smooth. Discard remaining milk. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pans to 2/3 full.
3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Cupcakes are done when they spring back to the touch.


And for the frosting, here is my usual recipe (not the one I used in the pictures above):



Ingredients:

  • 8 large egg whites
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extrac

Method:

1. Place egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer. Set over a saucepan with simmering water. Whisk constantly until sugar is dissolved and whites are warm to the touch, 3 to 4 minutes.

2. Transfer bowl to electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and beat, starting on low speed, gradually increasing to high, until stiff, glossy peaks form, 5 to 7 minutes. Add vanilla, and mix until combined. Use immediately. 


Project 13
Use tea leaves or tea bags to create something today...

 I knew exactly what I wanted to do with today's prompt.  
I first opened two tea bags and microwaved it in water in the microwave for about 3 minutes.  I spread the mixture, including the leaves on white card stock and let it dry.

Then I printed my tags and punched them out.
 Here they are attached to the mason jars with twine.  It reminds me of an old country store.
Here are the cubbie tags also.  My pet stuff is really organized now!

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Project 12: Camoflauge

Rather than make something that fades into the background, I decided to make something with some actual military camo. I picked up some fabric and bias tape from Jo-Ann's yesterday, and cranked these babies out in a couple of hours this afternoon. 


I could have done them in a half hour if it weren't for the pockets. Pockets. Pockets. I hate pockets. Well, I hate sewing them--- I love having them though! Hand-sewn clothing with pockets are awesome.


I drafted my own pattern based on a pair of ratty old shorts I got from Goodwill for $4 ages ago, though those didn't have any pockets at all. I made up the pattern to include hipfront pockets (also known as inset pockets), which are about medium difficulty on the sewing-is-a-pain-in-the-butt scale. Also, I really need a new sewing machine. (Oh mom! I used my serger to make sure these shorts won't fray to pieces the first time I wash them. I love my serger, thank you soooo much!)
Project 12
Camouflage.  Create or alter something so that it disappears into the background. 

 I have been wanting to try this since I saw it posted on Pintrest.  I did a really messy job, the middle finger is smudged and in the close up photos the nails are painted horribly.  Basically all you do is paint your nails a base coat with nail polish.  Since the background of my map is white, I painted them white.  I never like how white come out on nails anyway.  Let them dry.  Trim paper that you have printed on with a LASER printer to the size of your nails.  Dip your nail in alcohol, place the paper printed size down on your nail firmily for about thirty seconds.  If any paper remains on the nail but it off under warm water.  I only did one hand because I wanted to get this post up but think I will try again later.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Project 11
Use your opposite hand
This was actually pretty easy for me... Being a lefty I have had to compromise with right handed things my whole life... bowling, scissors, etc...   I also used to spend hours doodling and writing with my right hand. 

I had purchased this stamp at the Scrapbook Expo in May.  It reminded me of my girlfriends.  I did  a pretty good job coloring with my Copics and only went out of the lines a few times.   Don't ya love Brenda's tan!!

Project 11

Use your other hand!

For this project, my mom and I are going to be opposites. I'll be using my left hand, and she'll be using her right one. 


I wound up drawing one of Taylor's favorite things---- cars. I'm seeing a theme with my projects. They all consist of food or sports cars. Oh well, because I really like this Lotus!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Project #10

For this project, I had to use water as my medium or inspiration. I found an awesome project on Pinterest that I decided to copy. May I present: The Water Blob.


I bought a 9'x12' piece of 2 mil plastic from Home Depot for about four dollars. I folded it in half, and taped the three edges together leaving about a three inch gap to insert a hose. After placing it on some cushy blankets to keep random sticks from popping it, we filled it with water and taped the little gap shut.


The girls had an absolute blast splashing around on the Water Blob. It seemed to be a mixture of waterbed/slip&slide. Laying down on the Blog was pretty weird---- cool, soft, and comfy though. Here's a video of the kids splashing around:



They loved their bellyflop competition and enjoyed playing ring-around-the-rosie. I joined in for a couple of rounds, and falling down onto a giant water bed sure beats throwing yourself down on the grass.


We sprayed the top with water and blew bubbles everywhere, which made the surface satisfyingly slippery.


One small word of caution---- if you attempt this project, be sure to do this on a flat surface. I didn't even notice the gradual slope of the yard when I first began assembling The Blob. Big mistake. Once we starting filling it up it slowly began to roll. Down the hill. Thankfully Mrs. Joy held it in place while I scrambled to find some more blankets to level out the ground, effectively solving our problem. It didn't look pretty, but it worked well.


We love The Blob!!!





Day 10
Use water as your median or inspiration today..

I decided to try homemade gummi fish.  I used one box of sugar free lemon jello mixed with  1/4 cup of boiling water.  I mixed it very well.
 Added it to my ice cube mold.  I did add a bit a blue dye hoping to turn them blue.. but what does yellow and blue make...GREEN!!!!  Next off to the freezer for 10 minutes.

They turned out pretty good but not quite like gummy fish.  Next time I will add the extra plain geletan that some of the online recipes call for.  The lemon flavor was great, very tangy!


Monday, June 11, 2012

Day 9
Make something with your breakfast before you eat it

This was a hard one for me!  I was going to make Micky Mouse pancakes at first then got this brilliant idea!
I took a yogurt and filled up my flower ice cube tray, then froze it. 
 After about two hours in the freezer they were done.
They taste great and the best part is that I can't eat my breakfast in a 1 minute.  I have to take my time!  Yummy, it's almost like eating ice cream for breakfast!

Project #9

For this project, I was supposed to make something with my breakfast before I ate it. I kind of took the project in a different direction, and made a cool breakfast in general: home-made pop tarts!


I started with two pieces of pie crust stacked on top of each other, and then sliced them into equal pieces with a pizza cutter. I then filled them with one of two fillings---- a brown sugar and cinnamon mixture, or a teaspoon of Mrs. Joy's home-made strawberry jam. I sealed them with brushed egg, poked a hole in the top, and baked them for a little over ten minutes.


I then finished them off with a drizzle of icing---- cinnamon, and plain. They were absolutely delicious, and disappeared quickly. Way better than the stale, much-too-sweet store-bought variety.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

 Project 8
Transform an old book into something new by cutting, folding, gluing and so on....
I made some similar books at Halloween from an old book and this time made one into a purse.  I love how it came out!  Only I have to wait until Oct to use it!!!  I got the directions for the design from this blog


First I seperated the pages from the outside cover.  I used an old atlas at first but the cover was glossy and I had a hard time getting my spider to stick, even with hot glue.  I then picked out another book with a non glossy cover.
I glued the bookplate and spider down them made the web with my hot glue gun. Net I covered it with watered down glue and a thin napkin.
 I then let it dry, then painted with black acrylic paint.  When it dried I went over the spider with copper paing and the web with an champagne silver. 

To make the inside check out this link.  Instead of using the E600 glue I just used my hot glue gun.  http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-purseclutch-from-a-Book/?ALLSTEPS

 I covered the inside with black lining.  I really like how it came out!


These are the two I made at Halloween.