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12.31.2012

GIANT Snowflakes! - Christmas Break Project #4 -

 Grab your supplies for GIANT Snowflakes!

6 pieces of printer paper cut into a square (8 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches)
Scissors
Scotch tape
Stapler
   
My middle son made these at school last year and I have been wanting to make a bunch ever since!

Begin by folding your paper in half, corner to corner, to form a triangle.

Cut 3 slits to the center on each side, being careful not to cut all the way through.
 

Unfold your paper.


Begin by rolling the center diamond, corner to corner, and taping.


Flip the paper over and roll the next diamond corners toward each other and tape. You can see here are the corners rolled into each other.


Repeat with all the strips, flipping the paper over each time until you have taped all the strips to form a "petal" like this:


 Repeat 5 times with remaining paper.


Take 3 of the "petals" and place the free ends together and staple. Repeat with remaining 3 "petals".  Now you have 2 halves which you will staple together in the center:


Now, staple each petal to the next one at the taped corners to join all of them as one and help the snowflake retain it's shape without flopping apart.


Ta Da!  A GIANT Snowflake!


Join me tomorrow for Fizzy Fun! (Gather baking soda, food coloring, vinegar, and an eye dropper so you are ready!)

12.28.2012

Snow Faces! -Christmas Break Project #3-


We did this project at the beach last summer, but it would work just as well on a sunny day in the snow!

Let's Make Snow Faces!

Gather up lots of little tidbits you can use for facial features, such as...

rocks
twigs
pinecones
acorns
buttons
candy
yarn
leaves

Place them in the snow to make a face.

Lean  over so your shadow covers the face in the snow.

Snap a picture!


Come back Monday to learn how to make GIANT SNOWFLAKES! (Gather up some computer paper, scotch tape, scissors, and a stapler to be ready!)

12.27.2012

Block Print T-Shirts - Christmas Break Project #2-


This is a project we worked on this summer that would be perfect for a long winter day during break.

Block Print T-Shirts

Supplies:

Permanent ink
Ink roller
Foam meat trays
Old t-shirt
Newspapers, pens, scissors...
 
We started by drawing a design on paper.  When we had it just right, we placed the paper over the foam meat tray and traced over the lines.

You will get an indentation in the Styrofoam that you can see when you remove the paper.

Draw over the indentation with a pen or dull pencil to deepen the lines.( Remember, everything you draw into your design will come out backwards on the shirt!)

 Now, load the ink onto the roller by rolling the roller back and forth until completely coated.


Roll the ink onto your foam stamp until evenly covered but not too goopy.


Place folded up newspapers inside the shirt to protect the back and place stamp onto the shirt.  Press!  Rub!  Pound!  Make sure the stamp has full contact with the shirt.


 Peel off the stamp and let dry completely then press with a hot iron for 2 minutes to set.


Come back tomorrow to learn how to make Snow Faces using your own shadow!  (Gather up rocks, twigs, leaves, yarn, buttons, and a camera to be ready!)


12.26.2012

3D Handprints - Christmas Break Project #1 -

So, the kiddos are off for the holidays and if you are like me, you are scrambling to come up with stuff to keep them busy for 9 days.   Wait...9 days?!?

Today, I have a simple, yet time consuming project that yields a cool optical illusion.

Begin by tracing your hand on a piece of white paper lightly with a pencil...


Begin at one side of the paper and draw a lines of different colors.  When you get to the edge of the finger,  make the line curve up a bit the width of the finger, then back down and straight across to the other side of the paper.


Repeat a bajillion times, changing colors in a random order.


Remember making these in grade school art class?  The hand appears to lift right off the paper! Frrreeeeekyyyy!

Now, go enjoy a cup of coffee while the kids are occupied.

Come back tomorrow for block print t-shirts (gather up a Styrofoam meat tray, fabric ink, an old t-shirt and an ink roller to be prepared).

12.24.2012

Tutorial Tuesday! (on Monday!)

First of all...MERRY CHRISTMAS!  I put up Tutorial Tuesday a day early so you can share any last minute tidbits before the big day.

I have some activities planned to keep the kiddos busy during Christmas break from school, so if you need some ideas check back every day for fun activities that you can do with things you already have around the house.

Okay, here we go with Tutorial Tuesday ...  on Monday!

DIY Mercury Glass Ornaments:



Double Chocolate Bacon Cookies:


T-Shirt Infinity Scarf:


Click Picks (last week's most clicked links):

#1   T-shirt infinity scarves

#2   Credit card wallets

#3   Elf Poo Printable
Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog 

address) using the subject of your tutorial to generate  interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!




Hope Studios







12.21.2012

Santa Stories



At a cookie exchange this week, one of my friends began to shush anyone discussing presents of any kind because her preschooler was in the next room and, in her home, Santa brings all gifts.  I asked her "You don't get your kids anything from you?!?"  and she said she didn't and then the conversation switched to each of our family's traditions regarding the Big Guy in Red...

I guess I was always too selfish to give Santa all the credit for everything on Christmas, so I limited him to 2 gifts (I blogged about this a few years ago here: Santa's Sack - this title received many many gross inappropriate "sack" comments, I should have known...)

Anyway, it's Feedback Friday and almost Christmas, so....


How does Santa do his thing in your house?

12.18.2012

Tutorial Tuesday!

Christmas Mantle:






Magazine Tree:


Graham Cracker Cottages:


CLICK PICKS (last week's most clicked links):

#1   Foldable Exploding Ornaments

#2   Christmas Breads and Holiday Treats

#3   Wood Floor Polish Glitter Ornaments

Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog 

address) using the subject of your tutorial to generate  interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!




Hope Studios



12.17.2012

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party!


I have two kids home sick from school today (didn't want to send them anyway!) but I had to share some bad cell phone pictures from the Ugly Sweater Party I attended this weekend!


The rules were simple, show up in an Ugly Christmas Sweater. You could buy it (I got mine at Walmart) or make it like my friend above.  She cut up a Christmas pillow and attached it to a sweater with lots of assorted ornaments and ugly ribbon & lace.  She won the "Craftiest" award.


 If you DON'T show up in a sweater....BEWARE!  Each guest who came dressed normally, had to wear this sign "I am too cool for an ugly sweater so they made me wear this". An antler headband completes the look.


I found battery operated lights and poked them through my sweater to light up Santa.  Just tuck the battery pack in your waistband and you're good to go.

Lot's of people embellished with ugly Christmas garland.


We're the lighted up couple and we won the "Most Mechanical" award for the night.


Here is a trio of guys all wearing women's sweaters because they just don't make stuff like this for men!

This was a pretty fun theme for a party - have you gone to an ugly sweater party this year?

12.14.2012

Medical MJ for Kiddos?


Medical marijuana has been approved in many states to help chemotherapy patients cope with nausea and appetite loss.  Meet Mykayla, a 7 year old Oregon resident, receiving treatment to combat an particularly aggressive form of leukemia...and also a medical marijuana user. (source)

Mykayla's father was horrified when he learned of his daughter's marijuana use, while her mother and mother's boyfriend see the drug as a harmless way for Mykayla to treat pain, nausea, sleeplessness, and depression.

Mykayla described the effects of the drug this way "First you get hungry," she said. "Then you get really funny, and then you get tired."(source)

Mykayla is authorized to use medical marijuana by the state of Oregon. 

It's Feedback Friday...

Do you think children should be given the option of using medical marijuana to combat the symptoms of illnesses?

Would you ever consider giving medical marijuana to your child?

Should both parents have a say in this sort of medical decision regarding their child?

12.13.2012

Easy Chicken Pot Pie


It's crazy this time of year, and sometimes you just want a delicious meal that goes together quickly!

I made Chicken Pot Pie last week and it was hot, home cooked, and got us out the door in time for wrestling practice.

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients:

1 rotisserie chicken
1 cup frozen veggies (I used peas and carrots)
1 small potato, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 can of milk (just refill the soup can after you empty the soup)
 Pre-made pie crust

Saute the onions and potatoes in a pan until soft, add frozen veggies at the end until thawed.

Meanwhile, cut chicken in to chunks.  I used about 2 cups of chicken.

Place crust in the bottom of your pie pan.

Once the veggies are all soft, remove from heat and  pour your soup and milk into the pan and stir.  Add the chicken and then pour into pie crust already in pan.

Add top crust, brush with an egg glaze (an egg and 2 Tbsp. of water), and bake 375 for 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown.



12.11.2012

Tutorial Tuesday!

 Easy Knit Cowl:



10 Airplane Travel Games for Kids:


Owl Cookies:


Click Picks (last week's most clicked links):

#1   How to Clean up a Crime Scene

#2   DIY Canvas Art

#3   Tomato Cage Christmas Tree

Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog 

address) using the subject of your tutorial to generate  interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!




Hope Studios



12.09.2012

Glorious Pineapple Infused Vodka...


I made Lemoncello a few years ago for the holidays, and planned to do so again this year.  Alas, I waited too long and missed my six week mark to put it together.  If it doesn't sit long enough, it's just not as good.


I needed to make something I could pull out at Christmas time that was special and yummy...enter Pineapple Vodka (just like Capital Grille!)

The ingredients are simple:  Fresh Pineapple and Vodka

The timing was perfect:  10 days

So, let's do this thing!

I cut my pineapple in quarters then sliced each quarter into thin-ish slices.  I had a whole surface area theory going on, so I wanted the slices about 1/4 inch thick for maximum vodka / pineapple contact. I have no idea if this theory has an validity in the vodka-infusion scheme of things, but I'm going with it.


Layer your slices into some sort of glass container (this one with the spout could sit right on the bar during a party!)

Pour your vodka of choice over the fruit, making sure to cover fruit completely.


Close her up and wait...10 days...


I set the container in a quiet corner of my counter with no direct sunlight. 

Because I was making it a bit ahead, I strained the vodka (through a coffee filter) into a glass bottle with a stopper (from IKEA) and placed in the freezer for later! 


Now, to make a martini, place vodka in a shaker with ice and shake until frothy.

Pour into martini glass and garnish with fresh pineapple.  Easy Peasy!

Oh!  By the way!  I couldn't part with all that vodka-infused fruit, so I stowed it away in the freezer with a plan for a pineapple daiquiri-ish  kind of drink, too! Or maybe I could puree it in the blender and drizzle into the martinis for an extra punch of flavor?

Do you have any infused vodka recipes?

12.07.2012

Morning Sickness Debate


So, all the world is abuzz with the news of Kate and Will's baby news.  The only reason we learned the news so early is because of Kate's hospitalization due to severe morning sickness.

On the radio this week I heard a lot of callers complaining that Kate "should just suck it up", "we've all been there" etc...

Now it seems that Holly Madison is also hospitalized for morning sickness!

It's Feedback Friday...

Have you ever experienced extreme morning sickness?

Do you think hospitalization is legitimate or a cry for attention?

 

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