Sunday, February 5, 2012

Painted shells.

What you need:
             Sea shells
            Nail polish
 How to: Paint them any color/design you want.
              We store them in a decorative glass jar or the ones that have natural pin holes in the top you can make a necklace or earings with them. On two smaller shells I painted them gator colors and made them into earrings.   Later I will add those pictures, so you can see.


Kids elephant watering can.



What you need:
Googley eyes
construction paper
2/ 1 gallon water jugs with the snap on lids(not screw on lids)
spray adhesive
hot glue gun

How to:
Cut out 2/2 inch circles for the eyes and 2/4-5inch circles for the ears. Using the spray adhesive glue on the circles and the googley eyes.
Now, with the secound jug You need to cut the handle off and an extra 2 inches extra on both sides of the handle.
On the cap cut a hole big enough for the handle of the other jug to fit through.
Put the handle through the cap and then on both the inside and outside of the lid hot glue around where the lid and handle meet, so it won't leak.
Now let your little won help you water the flowers.

Fall fabric leaf table mat.


What you need: 
Hot glue 
silk/fabric leaves
How to: 
I arranged them into the design/pattern I wanted them and then I glued them together at the corners.
And as you can see I used it as a decoration for the center of the table.



Bean bag toss game.


What you need:
Cardboard 
crayons 
beans
sharp knife
small kids ankle socks
fabric glue
How to:
Take the cardboard and cut a hole in the middle of the piece of cardboard.
You and you kids can decorate it, as we did.
Then take the socks and fill them up with beans halfway and glue the top of the socks to each other.

Fall door hanger.


What you need:
-Pine cones
-hot glue gun
-wired ribbon
How to:
Cut ribbon in descending lengths tie them all together in a knot at the top
Now, glue the pine cones at the bottom of each ribbon.
Now hang it up.

Fall Wreath.

                                                                               
                                                                                        

What you need:
-fishing line.
-silk flowers
-wire ribbon
-hot glue gun
-wreath form

How to:
Take the silk flower of the stems and hot glue them on the the wreath form an equal distance apart.
Take the wired ribbon and wrap between the flowers and glue the ends to the wreath. 
make a bow out of the ribbon and glue to bottom and then hang with fishing line.








Baked mac and cheese with homemade croutons.




Things you need:
                   Mac and cheese...

                   -1lb of elbow macaroni
                   - 8oz block of pepper jack cheese
                   -8oz bag of Kraft shredded (with a touch of philadelphia creaminess) 4 cheese mexican blend
                   -8oz bag of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
                   -8 Tbs of butter
                   -6 Tbs all purpose flour
                   -3 cups of milk
                   -1 cup of heavy cream
                   -1 Tbs ground pepper

                 Croutons...
                - 3 cups of cubed bread, cut into 1 inch cubes.
                -2 Tbs of olive oil
                -2 Tbs of butter
                -salt and pepper
                -garlic powder

How to:

Croutons:


Melt the butter and olive oil in a heavy skillet on medium heat.
When the butter is melted, add the cubed bread.
Stir and turn the bread frequently until it is golden on all sides - about five minutes.
Season to taste with salt, pepper and garlic powder (but don't burn your mouth on those hot croutons!)





Mac and Cheese:
-Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

-In large pot filled with water add 3 pinches of salt and the macaroni and place over high heat. Bring to a boil and let cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain. Set aside

-In a large saucepan, melt butter. Sprinkle flour over butter and cook 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat, whisking until a roux or paste forms. Add cold milk and whisk vigorously until dissolved. Cook sauce on medium-low heat until thick and bubbly. Add heavy cream, all cheeses, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon pepper. Cook until cheeses are fully melted, stirring occasionally

-Add cooked macaroni to cheese mixture and mix thoroughly. Place macaroni mixture in a 13 by 9 baking dish. Top with croutons.  Place in the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown

-For extra crispy topping, place under broiler after baking until bread crumbs turn golden brown. Recommended.


Light up corn one the cob decoration.






What you need:
                   -Plastic water bottle
                   -bubble wrap
                   -yellow and green tissue paper.
                   -small clear elastic band
                   - elmer's glue/ spray adhesive or you may be able to use a hot glue gun
                   -paint brush
                   -scissors
                   -battery operated tea light.
                   -scotch tape.

How to:
            First you want too cut the bottom portion of the plastic bottle. About 2-3 inches up from the bottom. Once that's done, cut your bubble wrap just enough to fit between the bottom and just below the curved part of the bottle on top. Using your spray adhesive, spray the backside of the bubble wrap and adhere it to the bottle. Now, cut the yellow and green tissue paper the same as you did with the bubble wrap except for that it needs to be about 2 inches higher on the bottle . Use the elmer's glue and paint brush and pant the top of the bubble wrap and adhere the yellow tissue paper to the bubble wrap. And paint some glue on top of the tissue paper too. Be careful  because the paper in very delicate and it could tear if you're not careful. Now with the excess tissue paper on top, gather it together at the mouth of the bottle and secure it with the rubber band and cut it about every 1/4 of an inch apart as far as you can down into little fringe. Now affix the green tissue paper to the bottle with a piece of scotch tape, where it gathers together. Now, at the top of the green tissue paper about 1-2 inches apart cut about 2 inches down all around the bottle. Now on each strand of paper shape it into a leaf like shape.  You're done. Than, put the tea light under it and there's a decoration for fall/Thanksgiving.