Simply Rurban

Kids Craft Corner – Stained Glass Ornaments

Posted on December 21, 2012 by simply0637

It is almost Christmas and many are decorating their tree and making their homes festive. This week the kids and our exchange student made “stained” glass ornaments. We are very fortunate that for the next couple of months we have an exchange student staying with us – Masano, from Japan. In our town there is an International High School and College – bringing students from all over the world to our town. This past summer we had a student from Slovakia and now Japan – a great experience for both Stella and me. This was a great project and really fun to do with Masano.

“Stained” Glass Ornaments

Items Needed

Glass ornaments
Tissue paper (an assortment of colors)
Paint brushes
Decoupage glue

1. Cover you work area with newspaper and get all your supplies out.

2. Tear small pieces of tissue paper and taking one piece, paint glue onto the back of the tissue paper – place on the ornament – paint glue over the tissue paper.

3. Continue step 2 until you have covered your entire ornament – overlapping the paper.

4. Allow to dry completely and then hang on your tree, in front of a window or a place where the light will shine through.

This was a very fast and easy project! They make great gifts – I think I bought a half dozen of glass ornament for under $5. And it is very fun – I loved listening to the laughter and conversation between the girls as I was in the kitchen making dinner!

When you have the light shine through the ornament it looks like stained glass.

Posted in Kids Crafts | Tagged christmas, kids crafts, ornaments | 1 Comment

Make A Wine Cork Christmas Tree

Posted on December 20, 2012 by simply0637

I have been collecting wine corks and requesting them from friends and family and now have many bags of them. So what else to make with wine corks. I have made a wine cork wreath, wine cork mirror, wine cork trivet and wine cork name holders. With the holidays coming up and gifts to be made – thought why not a Christmas tree?! Off to the craft store where I found cardboard cones, small lights and star toppers. Now to figure out how to make – I think the original idea came from a picture on Pinterest, but I am not sure. After making the first one – I want to make a whole forest of them and would love to make a 4 foot one with ornaments – maybe next year – I would have to recruit many wine drinkers for that undertaking!

Wine Cork Christmas Tree

Items Needed

Cardboard cone (could use styrofoam – but not as environmentally friendly)
Mini lights (and batteries)
Tree topper (star, angel, etc.)
Glue gun
Glue sticks
Wine Corks (the size of the cone and how full you want to make it will determine quantity)

1. Glue the tree topper on.

2. Glue the lights on. This took some time since I wanted the lights to stick out. Place a glob of glue and then stuck the light in and held until secure.

3. Start gluing on the corks, starting at the bottom. I did the corks on an angle and then switched the directions for the next row and kept going that way. Depending on the placement of the lights – you may have to alter the direction of the corks. I had to cut some corks to fit in places around the lights.

4. Once you have the first layer of corks done – step back and turn the tree around. You will see places where you can still see the cardboard – start placing corks around the tree covering opening, spaces, etc. You can do as little or as much layering as you want.

Turn the lights off and turn your Cork Christmas Tree lights on!! Love it!!!!

Posted in Crafts, Recycled, Repurposed | Tagged christmas tree, crafts, wine corks | 4 Comments

A Quilted Stocking

Posted on December 19, 2012 by simply0637

Over the years I have made many Christmas quilts, trees, place mats, etc. With all those projects I have accumulated many scraps and small pieces of Christmas themed fabric – enough to fill a small plastic storage container (a little bigger than a shoe box). My quest was to make 5 stockings and I had 2 more to go and wanted them different than the felted sweater stocking or the felt stocking – and then I thought about the Christmas fabric scraps in the attic! I was set for the last 2 stockings!! I want the trim on the top of the stocking to be furry and since I was already going to the fabric store to get the backing for the baby quilt, I figured I would look around and I found some fun furry fabric!!

Quilted Stocking

Items Needed

Scraps of Christmas themed fabric, cut into squares
Solid fabric for lining of of quilt
Cotton batting
Fleece or fabric for back of stocking
Template for quilting
Fur trim for top of stocking
Sewing machine
Matching thread
Stocking Pattern (you can find one on the web or I use Butterick pattern 5783)

1. Cut squares of the fabric. I did 2 different sized squares since I was making 2 different stockings.

2. Sew the squares together into a row, press seams. Make several rows and then sew together. You want the piece big enough to cut a stocking out of it.

3. Cut your stocking backing for the quilt piece, the batting and the back of the stocking. So when done you will have 4 stockings: quilt, batting, backing and back.

4. Place the backing stocking on your surface, lay the batting on top and then the quilt stocking – pin together.

5. Quilt – I used a star and a heart as my template and sewed around them.

6. Cut the fur trim for the top of the stocking. I only did them trim on the front of the stocking, but you could do it all the way around.

7. Fold the fur trim over and place at the top of the inside of the front of the stocking – sew on.

8. Fold the trim over the top of the stocking and folding the bottom of the fir trim sew onto the front of the stocking.

9. Cut a strip from the same material you used for the back of the stocking – approximately 4″ x 1/2″.

10. Place the back stocking piece right side up and in the corner you want to hang the stocking from – loop the strip and place edges in the corner.

11. Place the front stocking piece on top of the back piece and loop – right sides together Sew the seams – leaving the top open. Trim the seams and turn right side out.

Hang and admire your craftiness!!

Posted in Crafts, Quilting, Sewing | Tagged christmas, quilting, sewing, stockings | 4 Comments

The Stockings Were Hung By The Chimney With Care

Posted on December 18, 2012 by simply0637

The best part of Christmas morning for me is the stocking. Stella and I are very fortunate to have stockings knit by my grandma – they really stretch!!! I have not tackled knitting a stocking and not sure I ever will, but this year I made a couple different stockings. I have already shared one with you – the felted sweater stocking – and here is another one – with one more to come!

The Felt Stocking

Items Needed

2 pieces of 11 x 17 felt (I could not find, so I purchased a packet of one color felt – not sure of the size but enough to make 4 or 5 stockings)
Stocking template (either from the web or Butterick pattern 5783)
Scrap felt in assorted colors
Glue
Stencils (optional)
Shearing scissors
Swing machine
Matching thread
Decorations – bells, buttons, etc (optional)

1. Cut 2 stockings from your large felt piece.

2. Cut out your felting decoration pieces. I chose to do a heel, toe, stars, Christmas tree and stocking topper.

3. Glue on your felt decorations. I glued the starts and the Christmas tree on with regular Elmer’s glue – allow to dry completely.

4. Sew on the other felt pieces – toe, heel, topper.

5. Cut a strip from the felt – approximately 4″ x 1/2″

6. Place to stocking wrong sides together – you want the decorated stocking on top. Fold the strip in half and place between the stockings in the top corner – this is the hanger.Sew a seam around the stocking leaving the top open.

7. With your shearing scissors, trim the seam all around the stocking.

8. Hang by the fireplace or wherever you hang your stockings and who knows what will be in it come Christmas morning.

Posted in Crafts, Sewing | Tagged christmas, sewing, stocking | 3 Comments

Coconut Macaroon Cookies – Yummy

Posted on December 17, 2012 by simply0637

I love coconut and I love macaroons – so this year I decided that they would be part of the holiday baking gifts. They are so easy, which, really for me is not a good thing!!! The holiday tins this year will be filled with pumpkin bread (recipe in a future blog), peanut butter bon bons, divine balls, fudge, molasses cookies (future blog – January 7, 2013) and coconut macaroons.

Happy Holiday Baking

Coconut Macaroons (thank you to Elana’s Pantry)

Ingredients

2 large egg whites
1/4 cup honey
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 1/2 cups coconut flakes

1. In a medium glass bowl, whisk together the egg whites and honey with a fork. Save the egg yolks and add to your scrambles eggs tomorrow morning!

2. Whisk in the salt.

3. Stir in the coconut flakes.

4. Place bowl in the refrigerator to chill for at least 12 hour.

5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

6. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

7. I used a soup spoon and then firmly squeezed the dough into a ball and placed on the cookie sheet.

8. Bake for 10 – 12 minutes, until macaroons are golden brown.

9. Cool for 1 hour and serve.

Different from traditional coconut macaroons, but Delicious!!!

Posted in Cookies, Recipes | Tagged coconut, cookies, macaroons, recipe | 2 Comments

Kids Craft Corner – Holiday Message Frames

Posted on December 14, 2012 by simply0637

Some projects are so simple and so much fun – this is one of those projects. Whenever I am at the craft store they always have a bin of wooden picture frames – a couple of trips ago I picked some up. They are hard to walk by – because there is no end to what you can do with a picture frame – unlimited decoration opportunities. So what to do with them with a holiday twist?

Holiday Message Frames

Items Needed

Wooden picture frames
Paint (we used red)
Sparkle paint (again, we use red)
Paint brushes
Sparkle Letters ( or other frame center decoration)
Jingle bells, mardi gras beads (optional)

1. Lay out some newspaper and get your paint and paint brushes ready. Take the paper photo out of the frame and set aside.

2. Paint your frames with the basic paint – one good coat is probably all that you need. Allow to dry – does not take long.

3. Paint a coat with the sparkle paint -allow to dry.

4. We had 4 frames and in the clearance section of the craft store they had some sparkle letter – so now to decide what message to put into the frames – we debated between Xmas and Love, with winning out. Using the paper photo inserts, turn over to the white side and adhere you letters and then place in the frames.

5. If you want you can decorate your frames a little more with gluing some jingle bells or mardi gras beads or whatever you have on hand that is festive and fun.

6. Now find the “perfect” spot for your message – hang on a wall, the front door or place on a shelf.

Posted in Kids Crafts | Tagged holiday craft, kids, picture frames | 2 Comments

American Girl Doll Knitted Purse

Posted on December 13, 2012 by simply0637

Now what girl does not need a purse? And of course an American Girl doll needs her purse to make any of her outfits complete! This is the final winter accessory for the American Girl doll gift bag. Knitting is a great hobby and great for idle hands and to promote concentration. When I knit it is almost like meditation and I think knitting is a great skill to teach our young children. All the American Girl doll knitted patterns are great beginner projects and small enough and easy enough to get a child excited about knitting!

American Girl Knitted Purse

Items Needed

Size 3 knitting needles
Worsted weight yarn
Darning needle

1. You will need to make 2 pieces for the body, for each cast on 10 stitches.

2. Knit 3 rows in garter stitch (knit every row).

3. Knit in stockinette stitch (knit 1 row, purl 1 row) for 4 inches.

4. Knit 3 rows in garter stitch.

5. Bind off.

6. To make the purse strap, cast on 20 stitches and then bind off.

7. To put the purse together, take the 2 body pieces and with right sides facing each other, sew up the sides.

8. Sew one end of the strap on each side of the purse, make sure not to twist the strap.

9. Turn inside out and give to your doll to fill it with what she wants to put in!

Posted in Crafts, Knitting | Tagged American Girl Doll, knitting, pattern, purse | 2 Comments

American Girl Knitted Scarf

Posted on December 12, 2012 by simply0637

The hat has been knitted and of course a scarf needs go with it! I know that if I have a hat and scarf on I am so much warmer than without – so wouldn’t that be the same for an American Girl doll? This is so easy and great for a beginner knitter – for all those girls that have an American Girl doll – they can make this themselves.

Tomorrow – one more item to make the winter accessories complete.

American Girl Knitted Scarf

Items Needed

Size 3 knitting needles
Worsted weight yarn
Darning needle

1. Cast on 80 stitches

2. Knit 4 rows

3. Bind off and weave in ends.

4. This step is optional: Cut 6 , six inch pieces of yarn – fold in half, thread to the two ends into the darning needle and thread into the end of the scarf. Take the needle off and thread the ends through the loop and pull – so three on each side. Trim ends and now you have fringe.

Now the American Girl doll’s head and neck are warm for those winter outings!

Posted in Crafts, Knitting | Tagged American Girl Doll, knitting, pattern, scarf | 2 Comments

American Girl Doll Knitted Hat

Posted on December 11, 2012 by simply0637

If someone you know has an American Girl doll, then you aware of all the cloth choices they have and the cost of those outfits. With winter here, even a doll needs to stay warm on those chilly outings! Several years ago, when Stella had gotten her first American Girl doll – I knitted many winter pieces. A winter hat is essential for keeping the heat it and of course it needs to be stylish!

American Girl Knitted Hat

Items Needed

Size 10 knitting needles
Worsted weight yarn
Darning needle

1. Cast on 48 stitches.

2. Work 5 rows in a Knit 1, Purl 1 ribbing.

3. On RS (right side) work K2, P1 across row.

4. Purl the row.

5. Repeat 3 & 4 until piece measures 3 1/3″.

6. Begin decreasing: K2tog (knit 2 together), P1 – continue to end of row.

7. Purl row

8. Repeat 6 & 7 until there are 8 stitches left on the needle.

9. Cut the yarn, leaving a 12″ tail and using your darning needle, bring the needle thru the 8 stitches as you take them off the needle and then pull tightly.

10. Secure the top of the hat and then sew up the back seam. Weave in all ends.

Posted in Crafts, Knitting | Tagged American Girl Doll, crafts, hat, knitting, pattern | 2 Comments

Roasted Butternut Squash And Crispy Almond Soup

Posted on December 10, 2012 by simply0637

This past week we received our first winter share from the our CSA (community supported agriculture). Our share was 30 pounds of a combination of butternut squash, sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots, onions, beets and cabbage. So where to store (don’t have a root cellar) and what to make with them! Of course there had to be a soup made and probably more than one. I really wanted to use one of the butternut squash – so that would be the main ingredient for the soup. I wanted this soup a little more than the basic pureed squash soup and remembering how much I loved the crispy almonds – I wanted to incorporate that! Here is what I came up with.

Roasted Butternut Squash and Crispy Almond Soup

Items Needed

Butternut squash
3/4 cup Crispy Almonds
1 Onion, diced
2 – 3 cloves Garlic, minced
1 Cinnamon stick
2 cups Chicken or vegetable broth
2 cups or 1 can coconut milk
Butter, olive oil and/or coconut oil

1. You will need to make some crispy almonds if you do not have any on hand, which I did not. I made more than I would need for this recipe – because they are wonderful to have on hand. In a large glass bowl pour 3 – 4 cups of organic almonds ( could not find any skinless), sprinkle about 1 Tbl sea salt over the nuts and cover with filtered water – stir, cover and soak for about 7 hours or overnight. In the morning drain the almonds and dehydrate them – I used a dehydrator set at 145 degrees, but you could also use an oven – keep the temperature under 150 degrees. You want to make sure the nuts are dry all the way through – which could take between 12 – 24 hours.

2. Peel, de-seed and cube the butternut squash. Place is a glass roasting pan and toss with some olive or coconut oil and roast at 375 degrees until tender, anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour. I stir and check every 20 minutes.

3. While the squash is roasting in a food processor place 3/4 cup of the crispy nuts and pulse until a flour/meal is formed – you want 1 cup of crispy almond flour/meal for the soup and extra for garnish – set aside.