Category: crafts

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Pumpkin Pie Playdough

Yes. You heard me right. I truly did say Pumpkin Pie. Playdough. I really think you’re going to love this…

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If you’ve ever made your own playdough, you’ll recognize the recipe—except that we’ve added some lovely spices that might just make you want to play with this stuff right alongside your kids. I first saw this on Dresses ‘n Messes. Be warned though, this recipe makes a lot–all that you see here–7 portions the size of large oranges. With any luck, you’ll have enough to share with all the neighbors–or to use as Christmas presents. Oh, and by the way–it was so easy–I was stunned.

Fun, yummy smelling stuff.

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Pumpkin Pie Playdough

5 1/2 cups flour

2 cups salt

8 teaspoons cream of tartar

3/4 cup oil

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 small container pumpkin pie spice

orange food coloring–if you want–2 parts yellow, 1 part red

4 cups water

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Directions

Mix all ingredients together. Cook and stir constantly over medium heat until lumps disappear. Knead the dough on floured surface until smooth.

Seal in clean, decorated frosting tubs, labeled “Playdough.” Snap on the lid and there you have it. You could even add some playful cookie cutters to a ribbon tied on top.

Pumpkin Pie Playdough
 
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Ingredients
  • 5½ cups flour
  • 2 cups salt
  • 8 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • ¾ cup oil
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 small container pumpkin pie spice
  • orange food coloring--if you want--2 parts yellow, 1 part red
  • 4 cups water
Instructions
  1. Mix all ingredients together.
  2. Cook and stir constantly over medium heat until lumps disappear.
  3. Knead the dough on floured surface until smooth.
  4. Seal in clean, decorated frosting tubs, labeled "Playdough."

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Everybody’s Slippers

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Here it is—“the” pattern. The reason it is called “everybody’s slippers” is because you really can adjust the size to work for babies, children and grown-ups pretty simply.

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As you can see, I’ve made them for everything that walks on two legs at this place. My friend Lynnette has asked for the pattern since last year and I guess I’m about ready to try my hand at writing it all down. The pattern I’m sharing will be for a woman’s slipper. Be kind–I’m new in these parts.

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If something is unclear–please email me.

Here goes…

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I”m using Peaches and Cream 100% cotton–it isn’t as sturdy as wool, but I like the feel better. Choose the yarn you like most against your skin–that will be the best. I use an “I” or “J” hook.

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Womens’ Slippers

Chain 29.

Row 1: Single crochet (SC) in 4th chain from hook and in each stitch across. Chain 4 at the end of row and turn.

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Row 2-13: SC in back side of each stitch across. Chain 4 and turn (the chain 4 will make a small loop at the end of each of these rows).

Row 14-18: Double Crochet (DC) in each stitch across. Chain 3 and turn.

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Row 19: Decrease–Insert hook into next st and draw up a loop–four times. Yarn over and draw through all loops on hook–for toe.

Row 20: Decrease this row by drawing up a loop through remaining stitches as one…

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Pull stitch through all remaining loops on hook.Fasten off.

With needle and yarn, sew the top part of slipper foot together leaving the ankle area open. Sew up the back of slipper as well. Turn slipper right side out.

Chain two 65 stitch “laces” and thread them through the loops at the top of the ankle area of slipper.

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Tie in a bow.

These slippers make wonderful Christmas presents and can be made to fit any foot just by increasing or decreasing the starting chain and making more or less rows to fit the individual foot.

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Good luck!.

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Oh, and in case you didn’t know–today is National Donut Day.

Take the appropriate precautions.

——————-

Womens’ Slippers

Chain 29.

Row 1: Single crochet (SC) in 4th chain from hook and in each stitch across. Chain 4 at the end of row and turn.

Row 2-13: SC in back side of each stitch across. Chain 4 and turn (the chain 4 will make a small loop at the end of each of these rows).

Row 14-18: Double Crochet (DC) in each stitch across. Chain 3 and turn.

Row 19: Decrease–Insert hook into next st and draw up a loop–four times. Yarn over and draw through all loops on hook–for toe.

Row 20: Decrease this row by drawing up a loop through remaining stitches as one…

Pull stitch through all remaining loops on hook.Fasten off.

With needle and yarn, sew the top part of slipper foot together leaving the ankle area open. Sew up the back of slipper as well. Turn slipper right side out.

Chain two 65 stitch “laces” and thread them through the loops at the top of the ankle area of slipper.

Tie in a bow.

These slippers make wonderful Christmas presents and can be made to fit any foot just by increasing or decreasing the starting chain and making more or less rows to fit the individual foot.

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Halloween Luminaries

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Kinda pretty—

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wouldn’t you say? And you know me–I need it to be fun and easy and if you can repurpose something in the process–well, then…it’s perfect.

All you need is:

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small jars–any size–we used baby food jars, tiny mustard jars and even a spaghetti sauce jar.

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tissue paper or crepe paper–we used orange, peach and purple–cut or torn into small pieces

Mod Podge–my new love in life

small paint brushes

LED candles–you can use real tea lamp candles, but it makes the surface of the jars tacky while they are hot. LED are better.

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Dab a tiny bit of Mod Podge onto the paintbrush…

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and paint it on the jar.

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Collect up a piece of tissue and stick it on the gluey spot.

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Cover the entire piece with the glue–top and bottom.

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Keep collecting and pasting and covering your tissue pieces until you have covered every inch of the bottle.

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Set them somewhere upside down to allow them to dry. You may just be surprised at how really beautiful they look.

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You could even sneak a face on one of them when no one is looking.

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Fancy them up with ribbon or raffia…

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Or leave them plain. Insert the LED lights in the bottom of the jars. Turn down the big lights and try dinner by… luminaries. I think you’ll like it! 

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Counterfeit Foliage

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Ok, ok. I’ll admit. I got tired of waiting for the leaves in the yard to turn and fall. So I made my own. So there.

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I found some basic leaf patterns by googling “basic leaf patterns”…cookie cutters work well too.

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Pin the pattern piece to a doubled piece of felt…

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and cut out two of every fall color you can get your hands on.

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Then sewing two at a time, run a tight zig zag stitch from one end of the leaf to the other. I used dark brown thread on all the colors.

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I liked the effect.

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Now fold the sides of the leaf upward toward the stitching for a 3-D look.

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You can tack them to a ribbon and hang them up somewhere…

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or….you can pretend you’re the wind…

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just waiting to blow and scatter the leaves everywhere.

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Well, you know…until we get the real thing.

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Halloween Candy Garland

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This is one of those fun, fast, easy and REALLY cute little crafty things that you can whip up while the kids are at school.

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Grab up some twisty wrapped Halloween candy—taffy, Tootsie rolls, Jolly Ranchers–whatever. I liked the looks of the Candy Corn and peanut butter taffies…a bit more Halloweenish to me.

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Using black, orange or whatever color string or yarn—chain 10 and join in a circle–this will be the loop you can hang your candy chain with when you are all finished. Now, just continue to chain about 15 more stitches.

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Take your hook out of the last chain and wrap it around one end of the candy.

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Pull the stitch to hold the candy tight.

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Now, wrap the string around the other end of the candy–twice should do it.

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Put your hook under the string across the candy. Grab the yarn and pull it under.

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Continue to chain 15 more stitches. Keep adding candy until you are buried in candy garland. What a way to go!

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It will be a lovely thing—that could wrap clear around the house if you’d like. Just depends on how much candy you have and how long you sit there stitching.

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As I said, fun, fast, easy and sooooo cute. You’ll be crowned “Super Mom” for sure.

There’s only one teeny tiny problem that I can see…

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