Recycled Pasta Kit Gift Bag

 Recently, some dear friends of ours gave us a pasta kit (pasta, seasonings, and lemon oil) in a tall kraft bag with cord handles.  After making and eating the delicious lemon pasta, I just couldn't throw away the sturdy and unique bag.  The bag had acetate windows on both sides and only a band label on one side of the bag.  It was easy to glue on a wide cloth ribbon all around the top of the bag and embellish it with a flower and lady bugs.  The flower was created by layering several blossoms from my stash and the lady bags came from my ladybug collection of embellishments (mostly from HM BFC).  Although, it would be rare to encounter a tall kraft bag like this, acetate windows could be designed for any handled kraft bag making it a really special presentation for some goodies.  I think I may use this 'new' gift bag to give someone a long loaf of bread, cheese, and some wine.  While choosing just the right ladybugs, I came across some ladybug stamps so I think I'll also make a ladybug gift tag or card. Please visit this site again to check out my lucky ladybug creations.

Fluffy Chenille Pipe Cleaner Bear Kit

 Can't believe that I made this cute bear from a kit in less than 30 minutes!  It was so easy and I can't even read the Japanese instructions.  The kit has the one long piece of chenille pipe cleaner, the plastic eyes and nose, plus the illustrated instructions written in Japanese. The ribbon bow shown on the front photo was not included in the kit but I'm sure you have some of your own ribbon.  I had a tiny pink plastic flower hair clip that I used instead of the ribbon.

The numbered illustrated instructions were fairly easy to follow but I do admit that I improvised here and there to make the finished product look more ah-h, 'bear-like'.  HM Ben Franklin Crafts has chenille pipe cleaner kits like this one, plus accessories like hats, sweaters, sun glasses sized for the finished animals, as well as packages of just the chenille pipe cleaners in many colors.  If you want to craft something easy and fun that will result in a warm, fuzzy friend, you have to check out the Japanese craft section of a HM Ben Franklin Crafts.  These sweet, furry animals will make great gift wrapping add-ons, purse attachments, desk decorations, or just a small gift for no reason at all. I really hope that you'll try this new fun craft available now at House Mart BFC.

Note: I glued (Fabri-Tac) the eyes and nose to the bear because they seemed rather loose and I didn't want them to fall out. I don't think this chenille bear is appropriate for very young children because the small pieces might cause a choking hazard.

Graduation Time! Let's Shake It!

I didn't have any graduates to make a card for this spring, but I did want to play with this Lawn Fawn stamp set, Simply Celebrate Graduation.  My son has been working hard to complete his doctorate and says he'll graduate this winter so I thought I'd get a jump start on a card for him.  We are very proud that he stuck with it and managed to hold down a job, get married, and have a child all at the same time!  Since his school colors are Crimson and Black (Can you guess what college?), I of course started with those two colors as the base.  It was easy-peasy to stamp and color the mice and base. I cut out the center of the frame and backed it with acetate.  Next I trimmed some foam adhesive strips to fit along the back of the frame. Then I added three colors of star confetti and sealed them in with another piece of acetate.  Once the shaker element was complete I adhered it to the card and added the mice (with foam adhesive dots) and conversation bubbles.  I stamped the 'Congrats' in clear embossing ink onto black paper and coated it with gold sparkle embossing powder before heat embossing it and fussy cutting it out. To dress up the corners I wanted to add gold sticker stars but I didn't have any gold ones the right size so I opted to glue down some metal star brads.  Unfortunately, the brads had prongs that needed to be removed with clippers and then I had to find a glue that would grab the metal surface of the stars. Some old Fabri-Tac glue was amazingly effective....sometimes being a hoarder is useful...LOL!  I think this card turned out rather well and the shaker element adds a bit of fun. I wonder if he'll notice that the card was done in his school colors? (Probably not, he's a scientist and that data would not compute...hahaha!)

 

G.O.A.T. Dad Card

 When I first heard the term GOAT in reference to an athlete (Tom Brady, I think), I was appalled that people were so harsh until I realized that it was a compliment.  It is an abbreviation for 'Greatest Of All Time' . LOL!  When I saw the Lawn Fawn stamp and die sets (You Goat This), I knew that they would make a good Father's Day card for my husband who truly is the Greatest of All Time DAD! While looking for the large white letters in my stash, I discovered a pad of retro print papers and decided that the blue and green dot one would be perfect because he is a retro-kind-of father. It was simple to stamp the goat, color, and die cut it. After adhering the letters, I positioned the goat with foam adhesive dots.

For the inside of the card, I hand cut out the letters from the leftover dotted retro paper.  Using the stamp set again, I stamped the small goat and the words. All the words were adhered with Fabri-Tac glue and the little goat was positioned with foam adhesive dots.  This card was super simple to create and I think that it turned out exactly as I planned.  I hope that it conveys to the father of my boys what a fabulous father I think he is.....really, the G.O. A. T. DAD!  We are so lucky to have him!

Lemon Curd Is Delicious

 I know I said I wasn't going to make lemon curd this year because of the high cost of eggs, but I had just too many lemons from my tree to resist.  Also, I LOVE the taste of lemon curd!  I think the name sounds revolting....maybe it should be renamed 'lemon custard'.  Anyway, other than juicing the lemons (about six needed), the curd is super simple to make.  I believe I first found this recipe in a Martha Stewart magazine but I have altered it a bit.  I hope you'll try making lemon curd and I'm sure you'll be a fan too! Enjoy!

Lemon Curd (makes 2 jars)

6 egg yolks (strained through a sieve)

1/2 c. lemon juice

12 T. sugar

Zest from 1 lemon

8 T. butter

Mix the yolks, juice, sugar and zest in a medium saucepan over medium low heat.  Keep stirring until the mixture starts to thicken.  Turn off the heat and start adding the butter in small pieces.  Once the butter is incorporated, pour the lemon curd into two clean jars. Cool curd and then refrigerate the jars.

Hang In There Get Well Card

 Recently, my sister broke her arm so I thought I'd make her a card and send her some 'get better soon' goodies.  This card came together quickly because of a cute monkey stamp from a Hero Arts clear stamp set.  It was super simple to stamp out the image, color it with Copic pens, fussy cut it out and attach it to the card with foam adhesive dots.  The printed background is simply a piece of vellum I found in my stash of Hawaiian style papers.  It was a little difficult to adhere the vellum to the card without the adhesive showing.  I applied very tiny dots of Fabri-Tac glue to the back of the vellum and they are barely visible.  I thought that the green ribbon from my scrap pile looked like a vine so the monkey decided to hang out on it. Hahaha!  Please note that the monkey also has a broken arm in a cast (made from a tiny roll of paper).  I hope my sister will be cheered by this card or at least will smile as she eats the Japanese treats I mail to her!

Toji Shrine Fair in Kyoto Japan

One of my favorite things to do when we travel to Japan is to attend the Toji Shrine Fair (held every 21st of every month).  The weather was perfect during the fair in the month of April.  We saw many booths with handmade crafts and delicious edible treats.  We purchased bags of dried persimmons and were tempted by gorgeous handmade ceramic ware.

I am always on the hunt for items to use in my craft work.  This time I discovered and purchased some lovely pieces of silk cut from kimonos.  There were also whole kimonos for sale which could be artfully  hung for stunning displays.  Perhaps the kimono fabric I bought  will be used to make another pin cushion, a small evening bag, or maybe as a decorative element on a one-of-a-kind outfit.

A favorite booth that I always look for at the fair is one that sells handmade wooden utensils.  I think that the pieces are gorgeous and very affordable so I usually select a few for gifts and for my own collection.  If you are a wood crafter perhaps you should consider making wood utensils .  I believe that the wood crafters at the fair do a brisk business during the entire fair.  I purchased other fabulous one-of-a-kind items at the Toji Shrine fair and they encourage me to make every effort to attend another fair in the future.  Hope you will one day make an effort to travel to Japan and see a Toji Shrine fair for yourself.  I'm positive that you will be enthralled by the excitement and cultural beauty of the event.