Craft Tutorials

Who doesn’t love graham crackers?

Well, I do. I use them all the time for pie crusts, quick breading on chicken cutlets - goes great with a peanut sauce :), and for quick snacks (grahams and cream cheese - like a mini cheesecake). They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - so here is my imitation of the unsung hero in my kitchen:

The Graham Cracker.

You will need:

felt in 2 colors - cracker brown and a pink of your choice for cheeks (I prefer all wool felt not the poly-acrylic craft felt. The wool holds together better, the p-a pulls apart very easily, but use what you have. )

cotton embroidery floss in 3 colors - cracker brown, pink to match the cheeks and black for details

sharp scissors, pins, sharp embroidery needle and  a bit of patience

Cut out four rectangles from the brown felt, I used an actual graham cracker as a template and it measured 5″ by 2.5″. Cut eight circles for the cheeks from the pink felt at about .25″ in diameter. I used the cap of a pen for a template for the circles.

Fold one of the rectangles in half width-wise and mark this with pins. Place two cheeks in each square and pin in place. Use your pink embroidery floss and stitch each cheek in place using blanket stitch. Each strand of embroidery floss is made up of six individual threads, I only used three for the cheeks.

Now using only two strands of the black floss add some facial features, eyes,  mouth, noses if you please.

I used a comics “how to draw” book for inspiration on the eyes and mouths, but use your imagination Repeat this process on a second rectangle.

Once these two pieces are finished set them aside. On the third and fourth rectangles mark your middle with pins, just the same as with the first two, and beginning in the very center place a running stitch up the lengthwise center to the edge. This divides the half into the familiar quarters. Now we’ll work french knots to simulate the impressions in a real graham cracker. I use a three wrap french knot, but do what you are comfortable with.

Work four evenly space knots about .25″ away from the running stitch. Work three more knots .25″ over and staggered from the first four and then repeat the first four along the outside edge.

Repeat on the other side of that square, turn the piece, add another running stitch and repeat the french knots. Work the same steps on the fourth rectangle.

Pin one french knotted rectangle to one with faces, wrong sides together, and place a running stitch along the width-wise center. Now work a blanket stitch around all four sides and your goofy graham is done!

You could easly make some sassy saltines, cheesy cheez-itzs or any of your favorite crackers. 

Toots

Vinyl lettering is the newest craze in home décor. It’s easy to apply and can be completely customized to fit your home. Vinyl lettering can be applied to a number of surfaces such as wood, glass, walls, windows, tile, and metal. The options for vinyl lettering are endless. You can choose any quote, font, and color. Vinyl lettering works great for Super Saturday projects, craft nights, Girls Camp, and Young Women’s activities.

Vinyl lettering is similar to a rub on sticker. Before you apply the vinyl, be sure that the area you will be applying it to is clean and dry. If you have just painted a surface make sure the paint is dry before applying the vinyl. To make application easier, you can mark the application area with a pencil. One of the most common mistakes is not applying the lettering in a straight line. Marking the area will help you to avoid this mistake.

The lettering arrives on a piece of vinyl paper with application tape on top. Firmly rub the application tape with a hard surface such as a Popsicle stick, credit card or squeegee. To apply the lettering, slowly pull the application tape away from the paper. The vinyl will stick to the application tape. If your vinyl is not sticking to the application tape simply rub that area again. Once you have the all the lettering on the application tape you can then position it. Be careful not to let the vinyl touch the application surface before you have it exactly where you want it. The best way to do this is to hold the application tape be the edges and position it where you want it. Once you have it where you want it gently rub over the tape with your hand to secure it in place, then use your hard surface (Popsicle stick, credit card or squeegee) and press firmly. Be sure to rub over the surface several times to insure the vinyl is secure. Then remove the application tape by slowly pull it off at an angle. If you have a letter that is staying on the tape then you once again rub the area that you are having a problem with. This should secure the vinyl to your surface.

To remove the vinyl from a surface, hold a hair dryer to the vinyl for about 20 seconds. The vinyl will then peel away from the surface without damaging anything. Because vinyl can be removed without any damage, you can put up vinyl for special occasions without worry.

Great ideas using vinyl lettering are generated every day, let us help you create something wonderful!

http://www.momsbestcreations.com

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I often like to put out a dish of candy, after dinner mints, etc. when I am having guests over. Trouble is, I don’t have a candy dish. Seems they are always getting broken (can’t seem to keep anything made of glass around here).

So, here’s a little something for when you just need a little bowl to put some candy in.

Here’s what you need:

Card Stock
scissors
mini brads (or glue will due)

Here’s what you do:

	Cut your cardstock to any size square that can be divided by 3. Score fold lines so that your paper has 9 squares.
	Cut center folds on opposite sides, only to center box edge. (See pic)
	Round the corners (if you choose)
	Fold up the rounded sides to meet in front of the middle squares.
	Finish with a mini brad, or just glue.

There you go…easy as taking candy…well, you know the rest.