Yearly Archives: 2012

DIY Infinity Scarf

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I have a thing for scarfs.

It drives my husband crazy. Like really crazy. He just doesn’t get it.

I do admit that I have a lot.

It has become an issue in our home: My husband doesn’t understand my need to buy scarves; I don’t understand his need to spend 8 hours in a row watching football. We’re even.

Last year I bought myself my first infinity scarf. Love.

I decided that instead of going out and purchasing a thousand new infinity scarfs and truly driving my husband mad I’d just convert my regular old boring scarves into infinity scarves.

So simple.

pinterestscarf DIY Infinity ScarfThis may be the easiest tutorial ever.  Are you ready?

scarf1 DIY Infinity ScarfThis scarf was a Christmas gift last year. I bought it, wrapped it, and put it under the tree with a ‘To: me, Love: me’ tag. See, it’s a problem.

scarf2 DIY Infinity ScarfTo turn it into an infinity scarf I just sewed the 2 ends together. That’s it.

scarf3 DIY Infinity ScarfGood thing this is the world’s easiest sewing project because I have about 100 more scarfs left to do.

 

 

 

Cranberry Pecan Baked Brie

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brie2 Cranberry Pecan Baked BrieThis is one of those holiday recipes we look forward to eating all year-long.

Be prepared everyone will ask you for this recipe.

It’s the perfect holiday party dish and it’s so simple.

brie3 Cranberry Pecan Baked Brie

brie1 Cranberry Pecan Baked BrieSautee the red onion and butter until tender.

brie4 Cranberry Pecan Baked BrieAdd raisins and rum.

brie5 Cranberry Pecan Baked BrieAdd butter, cranberries, & brown sugar.

brie6 Cranberry Pecan Baked BrieAdd vanilla.

 

brie7 Cranberry Pecan Baked BrieUsing a serrated knife, cut off the top of the brie.

brie91 Cranberry Pecan Baked Brie

Print
Cranberry Pecan Baked Brie
Recipe type: Appetizer
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 

 

Ingredients
  • 2 tBsp + ¼ cup butter
  • 1 cup finely diced red onion (about half onion)
  • ½ cup Thompson raisins
  • 1 tBsp dark rum
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • 1 cup finely chopped pecan halves
  • ⅓ cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions
  1. Heat 2 tbsp butter in large skillet.
  2. Sautee onion and raisins in butter for 4 minutes.
  3. Add rum; stir over medium high heat. When rum evaporates, add water. Continue cooking until the liquid is absorbed.
  4. Add ¼ cup butter, pecans, cranberries and brown sugar. Saute 1 minute.
  5. Add vanilla.
  6. Cook 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring frequently.
  7. Set aside to cool.
  8. You can store this in the fridge for up to one week, or freeze it.
  9. Before serving, soften in the microwave at medium power for about 30-45 seconds, or let it sit at room temperature for about an hour.
  10. For the brie:
  11. Preheat the oven to 350F, with the rack in the centre of the oven. Cut the top off the brie (using a serrated knife and cold cheese helps).
  12. Spread the chutney on the brie.
  13. Place on a baking sheet or oven-proof dish.
  14. Bake 10 minutes or so, until soft in the middle.

 

 

Ginger Bread House Kit

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I came across Desiree’s adorable ginger bread house kit over at The 36th Avenue.

DSC 7378 thumb Ginger Bread House KitWho wouldn’t love to get this as a gift?  Everyone loves decorating ginger bread houses. Right?

You can find Desiree’s ginger bread recipe here and her house template here.  The recipe makes 3 houses.

I found the icing recipe at Make It & Love It.

IMG 3618 670x446 Ginger Bread House Kit

gingerbreadcut 768x1024 Ginger Bread House Kitdecoratedgingerbread 768x1024 Ginger Bread House KitThese ginger bread houses are the perfect size for little kids.

Just enough of a sugar high.

After the kids were done we wrapped some up to give as gifts.

I loved Desiree’s berry basket.  But didn’t have one lying around the house.  So the Silhouette Cameo came to the rescue.  Of course they have a berry basket.  They have everything.

You can find it here for $0.99.

gingerbreadkit 836x1024 Ginger Bread House Kitkitmaterials 776x1024 Ginger Bread House KitIncluded in the kit are the ginger bread pieces, a bag of icing (which the recipient can just cut the tip of the baggy and use as an icing bag as well), and of course the best part a bag full of candy.

samgingerbread 768x1024 Ginger Bread House KitAnd this is what I woke up to.  Told you they were a big hit.

 

Snowflakes for Sandy Hook

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sandy hook mail 1024x768 Snowflakes for Sandy HookWe have all been coping with the unbearable sadness over what happened last week at Sandy Hook Elementary school.

We were in Florida last week so I missed the endless funerals and news coverage.  Which would have been too unbearable to watch anyways.

But finding small ways to help has made me feel not so sad.

The Sandy Hook PTA has asked for help creating a Winter Wonderland for the students when they return to their new school. Snowflakes must arrive by January 12, 2012.  And can be sent to Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103, Hamden, CT 06514.

Easy, I can do that.

I made both Star Wars Snowflakes and ballerina snowflakes.

The ballerina snowflakes template can be found here.  These snowflakes are so simple even your kids can help you make them.

ballerina1 1024x706 Snowflakes for Sandy Hookballerina2 1024x729 Snowflakes for Sandy Hook

ballerina heart 1024x768 Snowflakes for Sandy HookI added a little heart onto each ballerina. Let’s be sure these kids know there is love out there for them.

Now the Star Wars snowflakes were a bit more complicated.  The site I found the patterns on says that you can cut them by hand.  But that seems a bit crazy.  So I used my Silhouette Cameo instead.  I used the trace function on the Silhouette to make them.  So easy.

I couldn’t figure out how to post the silhouette files on here, but if you’re looking for them just leave a comment and I’ll email them to you.

starwars1 1024x768 Snowflakes for Sandy Hook

snowflakespinterest 428x1024 Snowflakes for Sandy HookI hope these snowflakes can make the kids first day of school a little bit easier.

 

 

May the Christmas Force Be With You: Star Wars Snowflakes

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I never thought I would make a paper snowflake Yoda.

topsnowflake 658x1024 May the Christmas Force Be With You: Star Wars SnowflakesAs the mother of boys I think there will be a lot of things I never thought I would do.

When I showed my oldest these Star Wars snowflakes by Anthony Herrera Designs he thought it was the only Christmas decorations we would EVER need.

As a non-Star Wars fan myself, I actually have to admit these are pretty cool.

I considered cutting these by hand like the instructions say.  But thought that was slightly insane.  Instead I used that trace feature on my Silhouette Cameo.

It was so easy.  I just downloaded the image of the snowflake, hit trace and then cut.  The Silhouette cut it out perfectly.  The hardest part was removing the paper from the sticky cutting mat without tearing the delicate paper snowflake.

But if you want to cut these by hand you can download the patterns here.  May the force be with you.

Despite a few rips I think they still turned out great.

stickhunting 638x1024 May the Christmas Force Be With You: Star Wars SnowflakesWasn’t sure how we would hang them, so we went on a stick hunt.  Which quickly turned into a stick fight.  That should have been expected.

stickcooking 1024x768 May the Christmas Force Be With You: Star Wars SnowflakesI took the bark off the stick and put it in the oven for 30 minutes at 200 C. Just to get all the bugs out. And yes I know my oven needs to be cleaned. But what’s the point when I use it as a bug exterminator.

stickpainting 754x1024 May the Christmas Force Be With You: Star Wars SnowflakesThe boys went to work painting the stick.

I used a scrap piece of fabric as the hanger.  Simple & free.

pintereststarwars 420x1024 May the Christmas Force Be With You: Star Wars Snowflakesr2d2 764x1024 May the Christmas Force Be With You: Star Wars Snowflakesyoda 768x1024 May the Christmas Force Be With You: Star Wars Snowflakesstick 768x1024 May the Christmas Force Be With You: Star Wars SnowflakesIf you’re using your Silhouette to make these and have any questions please feel free to ask. I didn’t do a detailed tutorial because I really didn’t thing it would work.

And if you do these by hand I would love to hear how it went. You crazy crafty people.