It is time to start infusing berries for holiday martinis!
Have you ever wanted to try infusing your own liquor; but you were afraid you might mess it up and spend too much money on an experiment? Well fear not. We have been infusing for years with great success. You will only need a few household items, a base liquor and your infusing ingredients.
Fruits/flavors for Infusing: cantaloupe, peach, strawberry, cherry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, pineapple, mango, vanilla bean, lemon, lime or grapefruit, fresh ginger, lemon-grass, herbs, lavender, nuts, garlic, chili peppers or coffee.
Tips: Don't use canned fruits. Don't crush the fruits - this can cloud the vodka. Use other bases: gins, bourbons and rums.
I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving. I'll be cooking up a storm with a house full of family and friends, and using my new (and first ever) dishwasher to clean up the whole mess! Below I have complied a list of my Thanksgiving blogs and some tips and tricks for a smooth Thanksgiving. Enjoy!
list it: A week before make a check list of what you will be serving. Then create a shopping list of all your needs. Shop in advance.
no mess: I love to use cooking bags for cooking the turkey, they are a "no brainer" way to cook a moist turkey and the clean up is a snap.
Too many cooks in the kitchen: The meal is ready and you need space to dish it out! Keep guests occupied out of the kitchen, make some funny trivia cards or have a camera on hand and designate a guest to take a fe pre-dinner pictures.
tight spaces: Carve the turkey in the kitchen and platter the meat with an additional side dish like stuffing.
small dishes: I like to use individual ramekins for making mini sweet potato casseroles (one for each guest). I make them the day before and just re-heat on Thanksgiving day. The ramekins can be placed right on to a guest's plate and you won't need any additional serving dishes on the table or space on a buffet table.
enlist help: Ask friends or family to bring extra side dishes. no buffet no problem: You can create a buffet out of almost any piece of furniture. Just drape the furniture with festive fabric of a tablecloth and use protective trivets – and you got yourself a buffet.
cook early: Make as many dishes ahead of time as possible – like cranberry relish, sweet potato casserole rolls, salad & pies.
oven safe: Try to use serving dishes that are oven safe. You can prepare meals in advance and reheat in the serving dish.
pies: If you are not going to bake pies… just pick a few up at your local bakery. Just remember – you might need to pre order.
no table?: Don't worry if you don't have a traditional dining table, A low coffee table can be doctored up with a few floor cushions and a table runner. You can pick up folding tables and chairs at any discount store. If you don't want to buy - most cities have rental shops that will rent additional chairs for $3-$5 each.
The premiere issue of Where Women Create is on the news stands now! The magazine is loaded with creative spaces, organizing ideas and inspiring pictures. I was thrilled to be in the first issue along with Karey Bresenhan, Mary Jane Butters, Jenny Doh, Shelli Gardner and Jen O'Connor. Here is a peek into my space.....
We will be live on October 31st - Noon (eastern) on Women's Day Magazine's new radio show. Click Here To Listen Live and learn about our last minute Halloween costume ideas.
Just in time for Halloween! Win a fabulous prize package from Plaid and the hosts of DIY Network's Creative Juice, Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza.
Make-Your-Own Doggie Costume Prize Basket One Grand Prize winner will win a prize package including an autographed copy of the newly-released book, Bow Wow Wow! by Cathie Filian, a selection of Folk Art Fabric paint, a bottle of Fabric Mod Podge and a selection of Plaid fashion iron-ons -- everything you need to make a costume for your favorite pooch. Great for Halloween or any "dress-up" occasion for doggie. Prize package valued at $100.
First Prize 24 lucky winners will receive a copy of book Bow Wow Wow! by Cathie Filian. Retail value $17.95. Click here for rules and details. Ends 5 pm, ET, 11/17/08. Sponsor: Plaid Enterprises.
Pick up the November issue of Real Simple for our tips on creatively cutting costs this holiday season. In November and December - I will be blogging ideas for making a Thanksgiving dinner on a budget and more $ saving ideas for the holidays.
Over at the new website Totallyher.com we contributed to a piece for easy costume making.
Cyndi from the Santa Clarita Craft Lab gives me a shout out in the Los Angeles Daily News! Many Thanks!
We did a piece for the Knox News on how to preserve your pumpkins after carving.
Here are a few ideas for creating costumes with items you probably have around the house!
Got Boxes? Large cardboard boxes can be turn into so many different costumes. Just cut the tops and bottoms of the boxes and add straps across the shoulder area. You can decorate the boxes with paint, felt, glitter, ribbons, etc.
POPCORN BOX – use cut of foam for popcorn LEGO – make a matching hat with real legos RECYCLE BIN – add empty juice bottles sticking out of the box GUMBALL MACHINE – use rubber balls for gumballs ROBOT – Spray the box silver and use dryer tubes for arms and legs GIFTBOX – add a giant bow to the front PAIR OF DICE – use sticky back felt to create dots for the dice
Bag This! BAG OF JELLY BEANS – Cut leg openings in the bottom of a clear yard bag, have your child step into the bag and fill the bag with small "blown up" balloons, gather the top of the bag around the chest area with a ribbon or twine.
COWGIRL or POCAHONTAS – Crinkle paper grocery store bags so they look like leather. Cut the apart bags and sew/cut them to create a skirt, vest, dress, etc. You can sew through the paper bags with a sewing machine or the costumes can be secured with duct tape on the inside. Cut smaller pieces to create fringe.
ATTACK OF THE SPIDERS – Cut black garbage bags into 10" circles. Crinkle up the leftover bag into small balls, place the ball in the center of the 10" circle, gather the bag around the ball and tie with a black piece of yarn, cut 8 legs from remaining bag surrounding the tied area. Glue odd sized google eyes to the spiders. Make as many as you wish. Attach to a "normal outfit" with safety pins.
Get Clean! DIRTY CLOTHES - Use an old plastic laundry basket and cut out the bottom to fit your child, add straps with rope for shoulder supports and fill with laundry. You can fashion a hat out of an old detergent bottle to match.
CHICKEN – Wear a yellow outfit and use yellow kitchen gloves for chicken hands and feet. Add feather trim around the costume for extra pop.
Wings Household coat hangers can be transformed into many different styles of wings. They are easy to make and kids will really love decorating them.
ANGEL – add gold glitter to the wings and wear with a white dress BAT – paint the wings black and wear with a black jumpsuit FAIRY – add feathers and rhinestones to the wings wear with a frilly dress LADYBUG – add polka dots to the wings and wear with a red jumpsuit BEE – paint stripes and add fuzzy trim around the outer edge BUTTERFLY – paint the wings to resemble a monarch and wear a black jumpsuit
Step by Step "Fairy Style" Wing Instructions:
Materials: 3 wire coat hangers 2 pairs 3x pantyhose in colors duct tape 2 yd. elastic needle and thread scissors 2 large silk flowers optional decorations: fabric dye, ribbon, glitter, fabric paint, and feathers
1. Bend one of the coat hangers into a loose oval shape to form one of the upper sections of the wings. Work with the curves already in the hanger, reshaping the wire so it does not look like a hanger (think graceful butterfly wings). Secure the hook by bending it back. When you are satisfied with the shape of the hanger, shape a second hanger to match the first one, making a matching set of frames for the top wings.
2. Shape the third hanger into the bottom of the wings by bending the hanger in the center and bringing it towards the hook to create two little wing shapes. Secure the hook by bending it back.
3. Lay the hangers together with all hooks in the center. You should have two larger oval wings on the sides, and the small bottom piece should slightly overlap both wings. At this stage, the wire frame should resemble a butterfly. Using duct tape, secure the hooks of the hangers together. Be careful to cover the hooks completely, and use as much tape as needed to secure the frame.
4. Using colored pantyhose (or you can use fabric dye to tint white pantyhose), lay out one pair se and cut 20" from each toe end of the pantyhose. Starting at the bottom section of the wings, stretch one leg of the hose over the lower wire section of the frame. Pull the fabric tight and gather in the center. Loop, pull and twist the excess pantyhose around the taped center section and secure with a whipstitch.
5. Lay out the second pair of pantyhose and cut 30" from each toe end. Working on the two upper sections of the wings, stretch each leg over each of the two wire sections. Pull the fabric tight and gather in the center. Loop, pull and twist the excess pantyhose around the center-taped section and secure with a whipstitch.
6. To attach straps, cut the elastic in half to make two 1-yard pieces. Fold each piece in half and wrap it underneath one upper-side panel of the wings; tie a knot to secure in place (figure F). Repeat for the second wing. Place the wings on your back and bring one elastic piece over your shoulder and the other piece up under your arm. Tie a knot to secure. Repeat for the other side.
7. Glue large flowers in the center of the wings to cover the duct tape and stitching. Embellish the wings with glitter, marabou trim, ribbons, pearls, fabric paint, sequins or rhinestones.
Got Old Clothes?
PIRATE– make a pirate with an old vest, sweatpants and a school shirt FAIRY PRINCESS - use an old party dress to create a princess in no time PUNKY MUMMY - old bed sheets can be transformed into a funky mummy
Step-by-Step Pirate Instructions:
Materials: old white long-sleeve button-down shirt (a couple of sizes too big) pen scissors set of 6 5/8" eyelets or grommets eyelet setter hammer leather cording black sweat pants GLOW AWAY Paint by Plaid old vest two scarves hand sewing needle and thread (optional) pirate themed buttons (optional)
1. At the top of the shirt, just inside the button placket for the top three buttons, mark the placement for three sets of eyelets or grommets (three running vertically down the left side of the button placket and three directly opposite those on the right side of the button placket).
2. Snip a very small hole where the marks were made. Insert the male (larger shaft) end of an eyelet through the front of the shirt. Click the female portion of the eyelet where the male portion extends on the backside of the shirt. Insert an eyelet setter into the back portion of the eyelet and pound with a hammer on a hard surface. The teeth of the male portion should clasp the female portion. Continue for all six eyelets.
3. Carefully cut the button placket just outside of the stitch lines so that the stitching remains intact. Cut from the collar to the second button, across the placket and up to the collar. The edge of the collar can also be snipped just outside the stitching line to create a frayed look.
4. Lace leather cording through the eyelets to create the pirate's open-throat shirt. Cut the bottom of the shirt to the appropriate length for your pirate. To make the sleeves, cut off the cuffs and re-stitch them to the sleeve a few inches above the bottom of the sleeve to form a channel. Thread leather cording through the channel and tie around the pirate's wrist.
5. Swap the buttons on the vest for pirate-themed buttons.
6. To make the pirate pants: Cut the sweatpants to be approximately 6" shorter. Cut a frayed edge into each leg. Apply stripes of the glow-in-the-dark paint for added effect and for safety.
Step-by-Step Fairy Princess Instructions:
Materials: old party dress stems of artificial flowers safety pins scarf in a coordinating color head band hot glue and hot glue gun 1-yd. each of two colors of tulle satin ribbon large artificial flower stem glitter glue, rhinestones, glow-in-the-dark paint
1. Remove the individual blooms from the stems of artificial flowers. Remove any plastic parts from the flowers and safety pin flowers to the hem, skirt, and neckline of the dress. Pin the flowers such that the safety pin remains on the outside of the garment so that it is more comfortable to wear and helps prevent any pinpricks.
2. Use hot glue to attach additional flowers to the center portion of the scarf. This will be the waist sash. Use hot glue to attach flowers to the center portion of the headband.
3. To make the wings: Cut the tulle into pieces that are 36" x 18" (smaller fairies may need smaller wings and this size can be adjusted). Lay alternating colors of tulle in a stack. Cinch in the center and tie with a satin ribbon. Pin the wings to the back of the dress.
4. Wrap the end of the large artificial flower stem with leftover satin ribbon to make a flower fairy wand.
5. Embellish any elements of the costume with glitter paint, rhinestones, and/or dimensional glow-in-the-dark paint (optional).
Complete your Halloween décor with a visit from some creepy, crawly guests. Super easy to make, perfect for outdoor or indoor decorating. This project is from our Emmy Nominated Halloween mini series Witch Crafts.
Supplies: China ball paper lantern Black paper or cardstock Small black brads Scissors or craft knife Small hole punch (optional) Red tissue paper and tape (optional) Hanging bulb style lamp fixture Fabric (optional) Sewing machine (optional)
Steps:
1. Cut out several spooky shapes from black paper or cardstock with scissors or a craft knife. Our cutouts were of things like rats and mice, spiders, and other creepy-crawlies. For the red accent on the black widow, cut an hourglass shape out of the spider's abdomen area and tape a piece of red tissue paper over the cutout on the back side.
2. Punch a small hole in each shape with a hole punch or cut a hole with scissors or a craft knife. Slip the legs of a brad through the hole and attach the cutout to the outside of the lantern by poking the brad through the paper lantern and separating the legs of the brad.
3. Insert a hanging bulb style fixture. To disguise the cord, sew a tube of fabric at least two times as long as the lamps cord. Insert the cord and bunch the fabric together.
Start a new Halloween tradition with this spooky tree perfect for hanging frightening photos and scary souvenirs. This project is from Witch Crafts, our Halloween Mini Series.
Spooky Tree Supplies: Medium to large urn or container Plaster of Paris Water Disposable mixing bowl & spoon Dead tree branch Low tack painter's tape Glossy black spray paint Black & silver glitter glue Faux spider webs Dried flowers 1/4 yard silver or grey tulle Battery operated light strand
Steps: 1. Find a dead tree branch, clean it of dead foliage and spray paint it with glossy black paint. Allow the paint to dry.
2. Fill the urn with water to determine the volume of liquid needed to fill it ¾ full, then empty it.
3. Mix the appropriate amount of Plaster of Paris needed with water according to package directions. Be sure to blend until the mixture is smooth with hardly any lumps. It will be the consistency of cake batter.
4. Fill the urn with the Plaster of Paris mixture and immediately place the tree branch in the center of the urn. Use low-tack painters' tape to secure the tree in place and leave it to dry. The plaster will have a firm set within 30 minutes to 1 hour, but it will take 24 hours to completely dry.
5. Add eerie detail to the tree by outlining the branches with black and silver glitter glue and twisting faux spider webs across a few branches.
6. Hot glue some dried flowers that have been painted with glitter. Insert battery-powered twinkle lights and hide the plaster with silver or grey tulle.
Make Some Spooky Tree Ornaments from Found Objects
1. Transform an old cake topper by painting the face and hands a ghoulish green and string a noose around the neck.
2. Add bits of black or silver lace wrapped around a miniature Popsicle stick and decorated with rhinestones and painted feathers.
3. Use Scrapbooking typewriter letters to spell out "B-O-O" on a black paint-washed filigree jewelry finding.
4. Make a banshee made from a doll head and a cheesecloth ghost body, sprayed grey and black.
5. Make a haunted house silhouette: Cut two house shapes from black scrapbook paper. Cut out windows and a door with craft knife. Cut one house shape from silver paper and sandwich between black pieces. Highlight windows and doors with a silver marker.
Take your haunted house to the next dimension with custom candles and specimen jars bubbling with eerie fun. This project is from our Halloween mini series Witch Crafts on DIY Network. Tune in October 24th for the Marathon - begins at 2:00 eastern.
Supplies: Old glass jars Black spray paint Wax metallic finishes Rubber or plastic toys, stuffed animals, knick knacks, etc. Water Food coloring Measuring cup Stir stick Tags Pen Ink pad Twine or string Scissors
Steps:
1. Wash the jars and lids thoroughly. Spray paint the lids and, once dry, apply wax metallic finishes to them for an aged look.
2. Fill a measuring cup with water. Add a drop of food coloring and stir. Add more food coloring or more water to get the intensity of color that you want. Place a toy or knick-knack into the jar and fill the jar with water. Screw the lid on tightly.
3. Using the tags, write out a label for each jar. To antique the tags, gently pat or rub them on an ink pad. Tie the labels onto the jars with twine.
