TUTUS

Well I have never attemped to make tutus before but after going to the womens conference a few weeks ago they did a service project making tutu and my friend and I thought it cant be that hard to make and we were right. 5 yards of tulle 2 feet of 1" elastic and 45 minutes later I had one really happy daughter!!

We need your HELP!!

I am looking for more crafters to post on this blog. If you are in anyway creative I would love to hear from you. Please email me at amwhitfield@gmail.com. The more crafters and ideas everyone shares the better. 

Plus Im not too sure if you have noticed but I have now purchased www.homemakinghoneys.com so if you dont have us saved in your favorites (I really hope you do) then you might find it easier to type that address into your browser rather than the whole blogspot address. Just might make it easier!

Thanks for all your support and views on the page and Happy Crafting!

Candle Creation

I had some people over for dinner the other night and wanted a nice center piece on the table. So I went to the store and bought a package of 3 candles (£1.00 for all three, I know you can get them so cheap back in the states too) a little decorative glass bowl (another £1.00) and a package of rocks (50p) and threw this bad boy together. I then sprinkled potpourri  all around it and it looked so pretty. I thought I would share this idea especially since it was SO Cheap!

 

Easy/Fun Summer Dress

As I was surfing the internet community, I came across a really fun site. It is called Dollar Store Crafts.

They have a variety of fun and easy crafts that are light on the pocket book.

My favorite craft, thusfar, was the "Bandanna Dress". I have made several of these for my toddler. She loves wearing them and the best part was it only took 10 minutes to make each dress.

Total cost for this project was $4.10. I bought the bandanna's and ribbon at a local craft store.

Homemade Rolls

I love to make homemade dinner rolls. We have them at home probably 4 times a week. I have a great recipe. The dough is a little sweet but that is how I love it. I use this same recipe for my Homemade Cinnamon Rolls, Pizza Dough, Bread and Rolls. I thought I would share the recipe. Once I the rolls are baked I then mix melted butter and garlic powder together and butter the top of the rolls with the garlic butter and then sprinkle mixed italian herbs and parmesan cheese. It is so GOOD!! Seriously to die for!! Anyway here is the bread recipe:

Ingredients:

2 pkg. active dry yeast
1 C. warm water (105-115 degree)
2/3 C. plus 1 tsp. granulated sugar, divided
1 C. warmed milk
2/3 C. butter
2 tsp salt
2 eggs, slightly beaten
7-8 C. all-purpose flour, or more if needed

In a small bowl mix together warm water, yeast and sugar and set aside. In a large bowl, mix milk, remaining 2/3 cup sugar, melted butter, salt and eggs; stir well and add yeast mixture. Add half the flour and beat until smooth. Stir in enough of the remaining flour until dough is slightly stiff (dough will be sticky).

Turn out onto a well-floured board; knead 5 -10 minutes. Place in well-buttered glass or plastic bowl, cover and let rise in warm place, free from drafts, until doubled in bulk, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

When doubled, punch down dough and let rest 5 minutes. Then do what you would like with it. You can roll it flat to make Cinnamon or Orange Rolls, balls for Dinner Rolls, Flat for Pizza Bases. Whatever your hearts content. This makes A LOT!! I usually have enough to freeze for a second and third day. Enjoy!

Jean Purse

I was going through my sons drawers and there were loads of his jeans that needed to be taken to a Charity Shop. Then I thought surely I can use these jeans for something and here is what I made:



It was so simple. All I did was cute the legs off the jeans (You could also use shorts. Just make sure there are no legs or crotch left) I then turned them inside out pinned the pockets down and used the sewing machine along the bottom. I then sewed some ribbon on for a strap. I flipped them the right side back again and put the same ribbon through the belt loops for added effect and tied a bow. So that the bow doesnt come out I put a few stitches through the bow. I also put a few stitches around the waist line to keep the ribbon from slipping off the jeans. It was so simple to make and so much fun! My daughter loves hers.

Rag Blankets

While in the states this month I made rag blankets. My sister has already listed on here how to do them. Have a look at this link Anyway I thought I would post mine on here. On thing I will say is that the smaller you cut the fringe the better they look. I LOVED Making these and cant wait to make some more in the next few weeks!

Cheesecake Filled Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

I am always looking for new exciting ideas of things to make. I am sure most people are which is why I am posting this idea. Cheesecake filled Chocolate Dipped Strawberries. I bet most people didnt even know you could stuff strawberries. Well guess what.... you can. Here is what I do!

First I when I am at the store I look through all the strawberries for the biggest ones. I wash them and then dry them very well!! If they are not dried well the chocolate wont stick to the outside. Next i cut the top of them off and using a paring knife I cut a portion of the inside out so it looks like this:



Next I fill the strawberry with my special cheesecake recipe which is as follows:

1 - 8 oz cream cheese
1/2 large white chocolate bar (melted)
1 large pot of double cream
2 Tablespoons of sugar

Cream the cream cheese and sugar together and set aside. In a plastic bowl (glass with make the chocolate just go hard not melt) I melt the white chocolate. Whip up the double cream until soft peaks form. Then add the chocolate to the cream cheese mixture and cream well. Next blend in the Cream. Delicious!!

I am american and I know the above ingredients are sometimes hard to find in the states. I was there last month and couldn't find a Large White Chocolate bar so I used Garrads White Chocolate Chips, they worked great. Also instead of the double cream which I couldnt find (weird!) I used a large tub of extra creamy Cool Whip. It turned out just as good!!

Once you have made the chesecake filling then stuff it into your strawberries I make sure to put a lot in. Like this!



Next I get a Large Bar of MILK Chocolate and melt it in a plastic bowl and dip the strawberries in the chocolate. Then I lay them on Wax paper and let them dry completely.



Once dry they need to be refrigerated. Until you are ready to eat (if there are any left to put in the fridge!)

I hope you enjoy!!

Awesome sites

Hey everyone I found these awesome sites when I was looking at one of my friends sites tonight. I am so excited they have free patterns for baby things like nursing covers, baby booties, slings, hooded towels and car seat canopys. I hope you enjoy these as much as I know I will
http://infarrantlycreative.blogspot.com
http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/free-pattern-to-sew-your-own-nursing-cover/
This site teaches you how to make a shirt out of a button up shirt and it is so cute!! Happy sewing to all!

Easter Pops

I came across this easy and fun receipe to make Easter pops with your kids. Hope you enjoy, we sure did!

Receipe from Bakerella:
1 box cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)
1 can frosting (16 oz.)
Wax paper
Yellow candy melts (1 lb. pkg.)
Lollipop sticks
Edible ink pens


After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.
Mix thoroughly with 1 can frosting. (I use the back of a large spoon, but it may be easier to use fingers to mix together. But, be warned, it will get messy. Also, you may not need the entire can of frosting, so start out by using almost the entire can and add more if you need to.)
Roll mixture into quarter size balls and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet. (Should make 45-50)
Melt chocolate in the microwave per directions on package. (30 sec intervals, stirring in between.)
Dip the tip of your lollipop stick in a little of the melted candy coating and insert into the cake balls. (Insert a little less than halfway.)
Place them in the freezer for a little while to firm up.
Once firm, carefully insert the cake ball into the candy coating by holding the lollipop stick and rotating until covered. Once covered remove and softly tap and rotate until the excess chocolate falls off. Don't tap too hard or the cake ball will fall off, too.
Place in a styrofoam block to dry.
Once dry, draw faces with an edible ink pen and allow ink to dry!