Handmade Gift Exchange- Summer 2012

Twice a year, Craftaholics Anonymous hosts a handmade gift exchange. I participated in the Winter exchange last November and once again this month for the Summer exchange. I have already received my handmade gift and I sent my gift out today!

I made my gift recipient a pedestal tray with a cloche.

I know I have shown these before but I wanted to share this one as well. I started out with a cheese dome and a wooden candle stick.

I used Gorilla glue to glue the cheese dome to the candle stick. Once the glue dried, I painted the entire thing green(my recipient's favorite color).

Once the paint dried, I used my Silhouette to cut out the letter "L" to place on the top of the stand.

Here it is before I shipped it!

I received an awesome handmade change purse from Sugar Bee Crafts! It is extremely well made and fits perfectly in my clutch!

This exchange is always a lot of fun! Can't wait til the Winter exchange!

Photo Transfer to Canvas- June Craft Night

Last night we had our June craft night and I am so impressed with the craft Erin led us in!! She is one of the talented photogs in our group and had been toying around with the idea of transferring photos to canvas at a low cost! She tried it out before bringing it to the group and she was so successful, we all wanted to try it!!!

What you need:

• Canvas (we used 8x10)
• Computer/printer/printer paper
• Regular Gel Medium- we used some by Golden (see picture above)
• Modge Podge
• Foam brush
• Spray bottle filled with water
• Paint (we used black for the edges of the canvas)
• Patience :)

Here's how we did it
:
1. Print off a photo from you computer- You may want to flip the photo first because it will be placed face down the the canvas, flipping the picture (using regular computer paper- Erin printed on a laser jet printer- not sure if that makes a difference or not!)

2. Using a foam brush, spread an even layer of the gel medium on the canvas
 3. Place the printed picture face down on the canvas, rubbing it all over so it connects with the gel medium

  

4. You should now wait 4 hours to let the gel  medium completely dry. We cheated and used a hair drier...but I am sure you will be more successful if you wait. Erin waited originally and her photos transferred better.

5. Once the gel medium is dry, spray water from your spray bottle onto the paper and start to peel it off. You will keep wetting and rubbing off paper for a while, this is where the patience comes in....you will  be taking off the paper but the INK will remain on the canvas, leaving your picture!

6. Once you are content with the picture and all white paper is gone, you may want to paint the edges of the canvas black...and then seal it all with a layer of modge podge.

Our final products:

I can't wait to make more of these! I think they will make great gifts!

Also, I must brag about our awesome Shirley Temples with Lime....made by Allie!

Like Mother, Like Daughter

This past weekend I helped host a bridal shower for my cousin, Amy, who is getting married later this summer. It was at my mom and dad's home. My parents recently had some rooms repainted in their house. I think this is a good opportunity to show you where I get my decorating tastes from :) I LOVE the way my mom decorates!!

Check out these pictures from before the shower started...

I am OBSESSED with this living room...isn't is gorgeous?! 

Check out the dining room and dessert spread :)

Bar cart...

I strive daily to be like my mom in so many ways! Her classy style in her home is just one of the many things I am in awe of in regards to her :) Love you mom!

Oven Baked Salmon and Okra

We tried another new recipe last night....actually 2- Baked Salmon and Crunchy Okra...

Both were SO GOOD! The hubs immediately announced that he would like to have it again, which is always good to hear :)

The salmon was so super easy to make....

How to:

1. Lay out one piece of aluminum foil per salmon piece
2. Slice one lemon per salmon piece and lay lemon slices on aluminum foil
3. Lay salmon pieces on each set of lemons
4. Cut two slices of butter and place on top of each salmon piece
5. Sprinkle with salt and pepper
6. Wrap up in aluminum foil and bake in oven at 300 degrees for 30-35 minutes (may need to be longer depending on how pink you want it and how thick your salmon is)
7. Add sides and enjoy! The lemon adds an amazing flavor!

We are huge fans of friend okra...and I when I came across a recipe on Pinterest for baked crunchy okra, I knew I had to try it!

I followed this tutorial from The Spotted Fox...and it turned out so well! I baked these first while I prepped the salmon and then switched them out with the salmon when it was ready to go in. In the last few minutes of the salmon cooking, I put the okra back in on another rack to heat the okra back up!

Such a yummy meal! Can you tell I'm in a cooking mood?! I am trying another new recipe tonight! :)

Black Bean and Corn Pizza

I am finally back at home after many trips away! I love traveling but the back to back trips can get exhausting! To jump back into the groove of things, I prepared a menu for this week with 3 new recipes.

Last night, I tried the first of the three....Black Bean and Corn Pizza....a recipe I found on Pinterest. I want to share it with you today....I made a few adjustments to the original to make it an easier and faster recipe.

Ingredients:

• Pre-made Whole Wheat Pizza Crust
• Can of Black Beans
• 1 Roma Tomato
• Can of Corn
• Barbeque Sauce of your choice
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 425
2. Dice the tomato 
3. Drain and rinse beans and corn
4. Mix tomato,  beans, and corn together in a bowl
5. Bake crust alone for 6 minutes
6. Once crust is cooked, spread bbq sauce on crust
7. Spread corn/bean mix on top of bbq
8. Top with shredded cheese 
9. Bake for 5 minutes, then broil for 2 minutes to really melt the cheese (keep an eye on it so that the broiler doesn't burn it!)
10. Slice it up and enjoy!

We really enjoyed it and will be making it again! Next time I will probably add cooked chicken to it just to give it a little more substance! The mix actually makes enough to cover 2 pizzas, so I saved the extras to make another for lunch this week. Let me know if you try it out!

Stenciled Pitchers and Plates- May Craft Night

We were barely able to squeeze in a craft night this month but we pulled it off last night! We followed this tutorial on how to paint glass pitchers!

Supplies Needed:

• Stencils or Sihouette and vinyl
• Glass pitcher or plate to decorate
• Martha Stewart Multi-Surface Acrylic Paint
• Rubbing alcohol and cotton balls (to pre-treat the glass)
• Foam brushes

We each brought in a pitcher or plate to paint and got started by choosing a design on the Silhouette to cut out in vinyl...

We used rubbing alcohol to pretreat the glass before applying the vinyl stencil or painting. Then, we put the vinyl on the pitcher/plate to use as a stencil...

Then, we started painting. We used Martha Stewart Multi-Surface Acrylic Paints and applied with foam brushes.

We found that 2-3 coats worked well and found that peeling off the vinyl while the last coat is drying was best.....for those of us that waited for all coats to dry before peeling, some paint came off with the vinyl.

After removing the vinyl stencils, we touched up with additional paint and used toothpicks to make the edges crisper where paint bled.

In the end, we were all happy with our summer pitchers and plates! 

Happy Friday!!!