Project 72

Use all of the shoes in your household to make something, or work on a single pair of shoes that were destined for the thrift store.

Ok, these weren't really destined for the thrift store but I had tons of them I had purchased to make scrapbook albums.  This is the first pair I made, the directions came from a post on Pinrest.

I don't like how they came out and may do another pair with just the straps done and not all the center stuff.. Way to much stuff for my liking. 

Here is another pair I put together also.  This using twine and ribbon flowers.  Still this is a work in progress for me.. Not sure I like these eighter but Christine does.

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.

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!

 

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.

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.

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.