Family, food and fun

It was a busy weekend. We had a family dinner and wanted to have a little something special after the meal. So my husband played a few songs for everyone after we all ate and before everyone showed up, he practiced a bit.

And it was so fun to have family here all the way from Denmark.

Homemade Holiday Cards

I always want to celebrate but my bank account doesn't always allow me to party the way I want. So, I have to come up with ways to create, bake and make my own gifts, gear and goodies.

Here's one easy way to make cards if you, like me, aren't always so crafty.

I take some construction paper and a cookie cutter (yes, a cookie cutter) and etch the outline in the paper.

WAH-LAH holiday card created for only a few pennies.

St. Paddy's Day Bouquets - Sweet Enough to Eat

I love holidays and baking and making things to celebrate. This was an easy choice.

First off, I found these "vases" at Joann Fabrics and grabbed them in a hurry. Then I stuck some floral foam in each one.

Then the fun began.

I melted some white chocolate and colored it with food coloring. I made pink and green and yellow.

Then I poured the tinted chocolate into the candy molds.

Then I stuck food quality lollipop sticks (also bought at Joann's) into the chocolate.

I used rubber bands to give them support. Then I dipped some marshmallows into the chocolate and added sprinkles.

And then I started building my bouquet.

This was the first time I made these and now I have a few ideas for next time but I think they turned out sweet ;D

DIY Floor Re-Do

                                           BEFORE                              AFTER

Maybe some of you remember the work that's gone into this.

Like how my hubby had to make his own flooring because there were no floor boards in a couple of places

and he put his hand-made tongue and groove into place

because what was there needed to be sanded or patched

And he has been refinishing this old floor

And it has taken a long time for him to sand this entire floor, after work.

But he finally finished.

And then it was time to varathane it.

And it took four coats of the liquid to seal it. So, even I helped.

And I think it turned out really pretty.

Another Repurposed Craft

If you have any old pillowcase that is ripped or torn and is too pretty to be thrown away, simply make a new pocket pillow re-using that old portion that is too pretty to be thrown away. All you have to do is sew a simple half-pillow case and slip it over a pillow to make a pocket for books, goodies or other surprises to be placed inside for your guests.

Go Green - With a Popcorn Treat

Ingredients:

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup light corn syrup
23 cups of popped corn
2 teaspoons of green food coloring
1/2 cup of green m-n-m's
green candy

Heat the water and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the sugar turns clear and the mixture looks like water, add in the corn syrup and heat until clear. Pour in food coloring. With the popped corn in a heat resistance bowl (like stainless steel) pour the green sugar mixture over the popped corn and stir well. Let cool for ten minutes then add the green candy and serve.

Happy St. Paddy's Day

Pou

A dress made from an old man's shirt

Okay, I'm not a model and I don't do this dress justice but it is so cool to wear something that was destined for the landfills. At Camp Hollyhock they repurpose old clothing and make it "seam" like new again ;D

All it takes is a little embellishing and some tea...or so I'm told. Anyway, if you are in Portland, you have to check out this shop over in Sellwood. It is so "green" and if you want a way to celebrate St. Paddy's day - this is definitely the way to do it by buying green and getting some great clothing at the same time.

I love these clothes so much that I've blogged about Camp Hollyhock before but I just might do it again.

And, okay, maybe I should have belted the dress - but this is it without any help from me.

But it is "sew" comfortable and I love the idea of wearing repurposed clothing.

How 'bout you?