Wednesday 30 March 2011

Bunny Bites and Egg Delights - Kids No Bake Easter Recipes

By Julie Barros

Kids love Easter and decorating eggs but they also love to get in on the fun of making all the yummy treats. These kids Easter recipes are the perfect way to let them participate in the fun and make some delicious bunny bites and egg delights. The instructions for each of these are no-bake methods. You can bake your own items if you wish or just buy them store bought and then add the decorations to turn them into fun treats for this coming holiday.

Kids Easter Recipe #1
Easter Bonnet Cookies
Easter Bonnet CookiesThese bonnets are made for eating and not for wearing even though they look so pretty.

Ingredients

Sugar Cookies
Vanilla Wafers
Frosting
Decorating Gel
Fruit Roll Ups

Directions
Take a vanilla wafer and spread frosting on the bottom of the wafer.
Place it in the center of a larger sugar cookie frosting side down.
Now frost the entire thing (both cookies).
Wrap some fruit roll-ups around the center (where the wafer is) and gently tie it into a bow.
Finish it off with some fun designs using the decorating gel.
If you want different colors for your bonnets simply add some food coloring to the frosting before you cover the cookies.

Kids Easter Recipes #2
Easter Egg Spinach Dip
This traditional bread and dip recipe is perfect for your party this coming holiday.

Ingredients

Large Oval Shaped Loaf of Bread (Rye or Pumpernickel)
Spinach Dip (store bought or make your own)
Yellow Food Coloring

Directions
Cut the loaf in half lengthwise.
Hollow out the middle of both halves.
Take half the spinach dip and place in a bowl.
Add yellow food coloring and blend in until you have the desired color.
Place the yellow colored spinach dip directly in the middle of the bread bowl.
Place the remaining spinach dip all around the center.
With the bread pieces taken from the middle, tear into small pieces and place all around the bread and serve.
Tip: Add some cheese amongst the bread by using a small scoop and block cheese. These will look like jelly beans placed in with the bread pieces. If you want you can decorate the outside of the bread (egg) using a spray cheese.

Kids Easter Recipe #3
Easter Bunny Cupcakes
Easter Bunny Cupcakes
These adorable bunnies won't last long once the kids see them. With their floppy ears and whisker noses, they look so cute and cuddly.

Ingredients

Cupcakes (store bought or make your own)
White Frosting
Black and Red Licorice strings
Nutter Butter Cookies
Brown and Red M & Ms

Directions
Frost the cupcakes (if not already bought that way) with white frosting.
Place 2 Nutter Butters on each side of the cupcake at the back (these are the ears). You can add some pink frosting to highlight the bunny ears.
Place 2 brown M & Ms in the cupcake for eyes and a red one for the nose.
Add some whiskers using the black licorice.
Finish this yummy bunny of with a smile using the red licorice.

Kids Easter Recipe # 4
Rice Krispie Easter Baskets
Rice Krispie Easter BasketsRice Krispie treats make the perfect ingredient for shaping into fun designs. These Easter baskets are so fun to make and decorate.

Ingredients

Rice Krispies
Marshmallows
White Frosting
Green Food Coloring
Jelly beans or Oval Shaped candies

Directions
Make the Rice Krispie treats as directed on the box.
Use a small bowl and place up side down.
Spray with cooking spray.
Press the Rice Krispies treat onto the bowl to shape it into a basket. Let it cool before removing.
On a sheet of waxed paper press some Rice Krispie treats into the shape of a handle. You may need to measure the bowl to make sure you make this long enough.
Turn it right side up and place on waxed paper.
In a mixing bowl combine the frosting and green food coloring.
Spread the frosting on the inside of the bowl to make it look like Easter grass. You can use other colours if you want.
Press the candies into the frosting to fill the basket with eggs.
Take your Rice Krispie handle and place frosting on both ends. Press on each side of the basket to hold in place.

To brighten up this kids Easter recipe you can use fruit roll-ups and wrap it around the handle for some added decorations.

Here are some fun and adorable kids Easter crafts for even more fun this holiday.

Julie Barros is the author and creator of Cool Kids Craft Ideas where you can find lots of kids crafts, coloring fun, games, activities and more.


Wednesday 23 March 2011

Easter Bunny Cookies

Easter Bunny CookiesAnother wonderful Easter craft idea from Hobbycraft

What You Need:
One batch cookie mix (recipe makes 12)
Lollipop sticks
Bunny cookie pan
Sugarpaste in spring colours
Chocolate beans*
Coloured writing icing tubes
Small quantity of buttercream to act as glue*
White vegetable fat such as Trex*
A selection of patterned ribbons
Bunny Template Click Here

This Project
Allow: 2 Hours
Skill Level: Intermediate

Cookie Mix Recipe*
225g/8oz flour
5ml/1tbsp baking powder
100g/4oz butter
175g/6oz caster sugar
5ml/1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg, beaten

Rub butter into sifted flour and baking powder.

Add sugar then mix to a dough with vanilla and egg.

Roll out fairly thinly on a lightly floured surface.

Transfer to lightly greased cookie pan and fill with cookie mix to 5mm below top line.

Push a lolly stick into each cookie using the guides, and bake at 190C/Gas Mark 5 for 10-12 mins or until risen and golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

Once cool, make an iced face by adding rolled sugarpaste.

Use light coloured writing icing as glue to attach chocolate beans and draw on a mouth with a dark colour.

Add a ribbon bow to each lolly stick.

Sugarpaste method:
Lightly grease work surface with the fat and roll the kneaded coloured sugarpaste to a thickness of approximately 3-4mm.

Using the template, cut a bunny shape from the sugarpaste, lift carefully, moisten the back with buttercream and place on the cookie. Repeat with other cookies in an assortment of colours.

Use a finger moistened with water to smooth and round the edges.

Hints and Tips
Ensure cookie mix is not too moist or cookies will stick to pan.


Thursday 17 March 2011

Easter Chicken Doorstop

Easter Chicken DoorstopCraft Ideas By Hobbycraft

What You Need:
Selection of patterned fabrics
Quilting fabric
Cream and red thread
Black buttons
Polyester filling pack
1kg rice or beans*
The pattern which can be printed off here...

This Project
Allow: 2 Hours
Skill Level: Advanced

  1. Cut the pieces from the fabrics using the template as a guide.
  2. Make the wings by joining the two pieces right sides together. Stitch a seam 1cm from the edge leaving an opening for turning. Turn right side out, press and put aside.
  3. Join the body pieces right sides together, from beneath the neck to the top of the tail. Then insert the gusset (see template) allowing for a 1cm seam allowance. Leave a small opening for turning and for adding the filling.
  4. Turn the chicken right side out. Fill first with the rice or beans, then top up with polyester filling until the chicken is firm. Sew the opening closed.
  5. Pin the wings to the body and stitch the lower part in place leaving the upper part to act as a handle.
  6. Use red thread to attach a button eye to each side.


Easter Sheep Cup Cakes

Easter Sheep Cup Cakes
Craft Ideas from Hobbycraft

What You Need:
Cupcake recipe of your choice*
Buttercream icing*
Piping bag
PME icing tube - No. 16*
75g black regal icing
10g white regal icing
Edible glue
Knife*

This Project
Allow: 2 Hours
Skill Level: Intermediate

Bake a batch of cupcakes and allow to cool.To make the sheep faces split the regal icing into 6 x 10g pieces and roll into balls.

Keep the remaining icing covered to prevent it from drying out.Near the top of each ball, press down firmly with your thumb to create an indent - this is where you will add the eyes. Using a toothpick, create the nostril on the bottom part of the ball (which is still rounded).

Using the remaining black regal icing, split into 12 small balls then roll between your fingers to create a long tear shape for the ears. Attach the ears to the face with edible glue.

Roll 12 small balls of white regal icing for the sheep eyes and attach to the face with edible glue. Add a dot of edible glue to each eye and add a small ball of black icing for the pupil.

Taking a sharp knife, indent and make a mouth on each sheep face.Make a batch of buttercream icing then using your piping bag, start icing each cupcake from the outside in, making small 'swirls' to give a 'wool' effect.

Add each sheep face immediately after you've finished piping the buttercream before it dries out.

Pipe 3 little 'wool' balls onto each sheep forehead and your cupcake is complete!

Wednesday 16 March 2011

Anyone Can Make Their Own Sewing Patterns

Anyone Can Make Their Own Sewing Patterns
By Bruce Oleyar

We all long to possess designer clothes that are customized exclusively for one customer. However, there are some constraints that get on our way. They are very expensive and we cannot afford them all the time. There is a great alternative to this. If you learn how to create your own sewing patterns and customize your clothes, you can reap the same advantages as that of designer clothes without paying so much for it.

Sewing your own clothes has several advantages. The fit is unmatched. The patterns look good on you. You can close any colored cloth material and make it into a dress.

Sources Of Pattern Designs:

There are plenty of sources from which you can get ideas for patterns. Some of them are:

• Pattern design books: Catalogues and pattern designing books are available everywhere. These are excellent source of information regarding patterns. These books are filled with varieties of patterns. They even lay out the procedure by which you will be able to copy these on your clothes.

• Pattern design class DVD: there are DVDs of pattern design classes available. You can play this on your computer and learn how to make pattern designs right from home.

• The internet: this is an inevitable source of anything that you are searching for. There are several pattern designs uploaded on the internet. Videos will help you to copy them on your clothes.

You Can Make Sewing Patterns With The Help Of These Tools:

• Lutterloh Pattern Making System: this tool helps you in making sewing pattern designs. This tool is very effective for the purpose of designing and also for the purpose of drafting the designs. You can make any design which you like on your cloth with the help of this tool.

• Designer's curve: this tool aids in measurement of clothes. A set of rulers come with this system. The idea of rulers have been conceived and designed by top class designers from all over world.

• Tailor's curve: this is a very vital tool which you cannot give a slip. This helps in making all the seams. All the seams that you have to make like the upper seam, the seams in the hip region, and the measurements of the front and also the measurements of the back are completed with the help of this tool.

• Vellum pattern paper: vellum pattern paper is the substance where you first draw your design that you are going to replicate on the cloth material. There are several innovative patterns inscribed on the vellum pattern paper. It is important that you make your design first on the vellum pattern paper and then make it on the cloth.

Pattern making is an easy task. There are so many places from which you can learn pattern making. Anyone can create patterns. When you start off, you will find yourself learning very fast. If you carry this on with dedication, you will be able to create patterns like a professional within some months.

If sewing is your passion you will want to learn about the latest tools for pattern making, fitting and designing.We also have a 3 hour live seminar DVD that is available. To learn about these unique pattern design tools visit us at www.tru-fitpatterns.com

Home-made Cards - Great Craft for Easter and Mothers Day

This is a craft idea project card from a Hobbycraft store. Click on the images to make them large enough to read.





Wednesday 9 March 2011

Premature Baby Charity Knitting Patterns

Premature Baby Charity Knitting Patterns
By Jo Carthew

Do you want to knit for a good cause? Wondering where to start? Is there a need?

Yes there is!

Whether you are nutty about knitting or an eager novice with your needles paused there are lots of charities to choose from. Knitting for charity can definitely be fun, but it can also be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding things you'll ever do.

Have you knitted for your children? Your grandchildren? Your friends' children? Your friends' childrens' children? Knitting baby clothes is quick and rewarding but sometimes there are just not enough babies in your social circle to knit for. If you love knitting beautiful little items of baby clothing then why not think about charity knitting for premature babies?

There are lots of ways that you can click your knitting needles for a worthy cause. The information here will help you begin charity knitting for premature babies. There is something sweet about knitting a little item for the tiniest of babies. Not only are you providing an individual gift for someone who urgently needs it, but also baby clothes are quick and simple to make! So it's gratifying in more ways than one. Even if you're a novice this is a venture you can start and see through right to the end. Read on for some great general guidance on charity knitting for premature babies and some details of particular charities you can have a look at before you decide who to knit for. The charities often offer free knitting patterns.

Where can I find Premature Baby Charity Knitting Patterns?

Bliss
One of the many ways that you can support Bliss is by knitting for babies in special care units. Knitted items are most helpful for babies about to go home, but there is also a need for blankets and hats for babies in hospital. Knitted items are often not suitable for intensive care units - stitched cotton is preferable. However for larger babies, and in high dependency and special care units, knitted items are often very welcome.
Bliss asks that to reduce their costs volunteer knitters help by sending items direct to their local unit, and not to Bliss. To find the address of your local unit, and to check which items they have requested to receive, please contact Bliss via their website.

Bliss also use Knitted breasts. The knitted breasts allow nurses to easily demonstrate to women important massage techniques that let them stimulate their milk production and express their valuable first drops of milk. They are particularly helpful when there are language barriers. Woollen breasts are a brilliant free alternative to expensive teaching aids that are used by health professionals to educate new mothers to express by hand before going on to use an electric pump.

Bonnie Babies
This charity sends premature baby outfits and blankets to special care baby units around the UK and to parents who need support. A mother who needed a way to deal with the loss of her premature child founded Bonnie Babies six years ago. Bonnie Babies makes premature clothing, blankets, and burial outfits for U.K. Special Baby Care Units and families. Their aim is to show each mother and family that there are people thinking of them and caring for them.
Bonnie Babies mainly makes blankets for premature babies. They provide patterns for toys, hats, and sweaters (including a "5 Hour Baby Sweater!"), but blankets are quick, simple to make, and guaranteed to fit. Families can then continue to treasure them long after the child is grown.

Feed the Children

Feed The Children is a UK charity that has a knitting pattern for a jumper appropriate for children of all ages. They are also look for knitted hats, gloves and scarves.

Early Angels
This is a site based in the U.K set up to help people to knit, crochet or sew clothes, blankets and other keepsakes for premature, low birth weight and sadly stillborn babies. They have a wide range of free knitting, crochet and sewing patterns accessible on their pattern page.
The charities have a lot of information on their websites, below is some general advice to help you get those needles clicking.

Colours

Pastel colours are the most popular. Apart from baby pinks and blues other colours, which may be chosen, are: Lemon, Cream, White, Mint Green, Peach, Lilac and Aqua. It is accepted that bright and dark colours should be avoided as they often make premature babies look frailer. When knitting burial garments the advice suggests its best to use colours such as white or cream and to avoid pinks, blues and lilacs, as they are not appropriate for the colouring of a stillborn baby.

Yarn

Premature babies have very delicate skin and can often be allergic to wool; therefore it is best to steer clear of garments made with a wool mix. Acrylic yarn is more appropriate when knitting for preemies. Ideal yarn to use for preemie knits is baby double knit or 4ply yarn. Most preemie patterns will use these.

Size

Don't put too much importance on trying to perfect the size of a preemie item of clothing. There is a great difference between premature baby sizes and so an item of any size should be suitable for at least one baby. As a general guide premature babies head circumference is roughly the same as their chest circumference. The average premature babies chest measurements are 8"-14". However clothes of all sizes are needed for preemies, so no matter how big or small your item is it will most likely fit at least one baby.

Fastenings

Plain flat half-inch buttons are best to use for fastening. Avoid nylon and metal fastenings, as they get very hot under the incubator heaters. Do not use Velcro as a fastening, it is very scratchy on the hook side and also damages knitted garments when they are laundered. Ease of dressing is vital for preemies and as a general rule it is best not to use ribbon as a fastening as ribbon can often be fussy to tie on a garment so small.

The charities involved usually have free knitting patterns and advice on their websites so do not be worried by all the details as you really will be able to find a garment to suit both your knitting skills and the babies needs

Knitting items for premature babies can be very worthwhile and rewarding. It is definitely appreciated by the charities and the families who receive them. If you are excited by the prospect of getting your knitting needles working for charity and want to explore charity knitting for other organisations here are some other ideas to help your search.

Charity Clowns

Teddies for Tragedies

Algerian Action

Save the Children

Knitting for Operation Christmas Child

The Sailors' Society

Loving Hands

Operation Elderly Charity Stitcher

The Baby Pack Project

I hope you find the right premature baby charity knitting patterns to suit your skills and enjoy the rewards of knitting for charity.

Find out more

I am a mom to one gorgeous little boy who was impatient to be born, arriving early at 34 weeks. I am not a great knitter but know the importance of donated items to mothers of premature babies. Find out more:

http://babycharityknitting.blogspot.com/

Paper Bag Craft Ideas for Kids

Paper Bag Craft Ideas for Kids
By Misha Anatolia

In an age when both the economy and the environment are compromised, learning how to reuse, repurpose, and recycle common objects is important. It can help save time, money, space, and even the world. Here are some fun paper bag craft ideas for kids.

Grocery bag gift totes:
You'll need:
Grocery bags
primer
oil paint
furniture wax
scissors
hole punch

Start by cutting off the top of the bag to make a new edge and get rid of the handles, if it has any. Prime inside and out in a thin layer and let dry. Mix furniture polish with a little bit of oil paint and, using a rag, paint the entire surface of the bag with this mixture. Let dry. Apply several layers until the bag has a texture and look you like. Decorate with paint. Punch holes in the top of the bag and thread through with yarn, raffia, or ribbon to make a decorative closure. This makes a gift bag suitable for any gift recipient. To make a child's gift bag, use a grocery-sized or lunch bag-sized bag in the same way, but skip primer and furniture polish. Just paint and decorate the outside.

Grocery bag vest:
You'll need:
Grocery bags
Scissors
crayons or paint
glue
construction paper

Cut arm holes and a head hole into a grocery bag so that it can be worn with the head through the bottom of the bag. Cut a line up the center of the bag until it meets the head hole. Trim up the top of the vest until it looks the way you want it to. Remove vest and decorate with crayon, paint, or cut-out shapes. This is a great craft for a rainy day and can result in a costume of any kind for restless kids. It could be a space suit, police vest, fairy princess costume, and anything else your kids can imagine.

Lunch bag puppet:
You'll need:
paper lunch bags
scissors
glue
paint
yarn
felt

Lay the paper bag flat so that the bottom of the bag is facing you, flattened against one side. This should make a little flap. Decorate the bottom of the bag with paint or felt cutouts to make the top of a face. Create the mouth inside the flap so that you can see inside the mouth when the flap is lifted. You'll want to leave a little lip or tongue peeking out from under the flap even when it is not lifted. Add yarn "hair" and dress the body of the bag with felt or painted clothing. When it is dry, place your hand into the bag so that your fingers are over the flap and your thumb is beneath it. Make your puppet talk by moving your hand and opening and closing the flap.

Paper bags can also be decorated or used as: Santa's toy bag, mail carrier bags, pillows, televisions, cat toys (just place open, on its side, and watch the cat attack), and anything else. The only limits lie in your imagination. If you can't think of anything, hand a bag to your child and see what they come up with.

Misha Anatolia writes about many topics including arts and crafts, events, and bridal showers. To see some fun ideas for bridal shower arts and crafts or for more bridal shower information, go to bridal-showers.org.

Note: You have permission to use this article freely in any publication as long as the resource box and byline are included as-is and any links are do follow when published.

Wednesday 2 March 2011

Glass Mosaic Tile Art: Make Mosaics With Stained Glass Patterns

Glass Mosaic Tile Art: Make Mosaics With Stained Glass Patterns
By Bill Enslen

Looking for something new in your mosaic art? Here's a fresh idea. Make mosaics using large stained-glass pieces as if making a stained-glass window, instead of using small pieces cut to the stale, standard shapes of squares, rectangles, and triangles. After following that traditional practice for so long, I grew bored with it and wanted something different. I removed my mosaic-artist hat and donned my stained-glass-artist hat for a nice change of pace. After making a few stained-glass hangings, it dawned on me. Why not combine mosaic art with stained-glass art? My first piece turned out beautifully, better than expected, and I haven't looked back since. Let's discover how you, too, can make these wonderful mosaics.

The first critical thing I learned when making mosaics from stained-glass patterns is to cut the base material to the exact size of a standard ready-made open-back frame. This avoids having to pay five times the price for a custom frame. I wait for my favorite hobby store to put their ready-made open-back frames on sale for half price so I usually pay about $25 for an attractive frame, including the installation, paper backing, and hanging hardware. My favorite size is 18-inches by 24-inches. My preferred choice of base material is plain 1/8-inch hardboard, which you can get at your favorite home improvement store. I usually get the sheets pre-cut to 2-feet by 4-feet for about $5. So, for a measly five bucks, I have enough base material for two mosaics, which is good if you're a starving artist on a tight budget. It's important to know that 1/4-inch is about as thick as you can go in terms of the piece fitting properly into a ready-made open-back frame. The base material is 1/8-inch thick and the stained glass is about 1/8-inch thick, which makes the finished piece about 1/4-inch thick.

Measure and then carefully and safely cut the hardboard to the exact size of the open-back frame you plan to use. Let's assume you like the 18-inch by 24-inch size. A table saw enables you to make more accurate cuts than trying to guide a circular saw by hand. If a circular saw is all you have, then it can be done, just take your time and don't rush the cut. Here's a tip. I found a "refurbished" Skil table saw online that cost only $80 including shipping. When it arrived, it looked and functioned like brand new. I got a fantastic $250 saw for only $80. The key is to search online for a "refurbished" unit instead of brand new. After measuring and marking the hardboard (measure twice and be accurate), ensure you align the saw blade to cut on your cut-line so the resulting piece is exactly 18-inches by 24-inches. In other words, don't cut directly on the line because the resulting piece will be something like 17.8-inches by 23.8 inches, which may be too small to fit properly in the frame. Every ready-made frame labeled as 18-inches by 24-inches that I've bought has been within a hair of 18-inches by 24-inches. There's not much room for error when cutting the base material, so measure twice and align the blade properly on the cut line. If the resulting base material is within a hair of 18-inches by 24-inches, it'll fit nicely into the ready-made open-back frame.

When your base material is cut to the perfect size, paint it white. I use bright white ceiling paint primarily because it's a lot cheaper than standard wall paint. I usually use two coats so the dark-brown hardboard is bright white. The whiter the base material, the brighter the glass will look when you adhere it to the board. If you don't paint the base material white, the glass will look dull and dreary against the dark-brown board.

Now that your base material is ready, simply transfer your stained-glass design to the board. If you have no drawing skills, find a lovely stained-glass pattern online or at your favorite hobby store and transfer the pattern to the base material. You can find transfer paper at your favorite hobby store for less than $2 a sheet that's big enough to cover the 18-inch by 24-inch base material. The good thing about transfer paper is that you can use it several times before it's no good. I've eked out as many as nine transfers (i.e., nine mosaics and stained-glass works) before the paper no longer transferred the tracing well enough for me to see the lines clearly.

Measure and cut (and grind the edges if you have a grinder) the stained-glass pieces as if you were creating a stained-glass window. I always use highly translucent or opaque glass colors to ensure you can't see through it to see the glue when adhered to the base material. For your mosaic, instead of joining the pieces using lead came or copper foil and solder as you would with a stained-glass work, you simply glue the pieces in place over the pattern on your base material using plain white PVA glue (e.g., Elmer's Glue All or Weldbond), leaving about 1/16-inch spacing between pieces. The spacing can vary up to 1/8-inch, but I wouldn't go any wider than 1/8-inch spacing because I believe the wider spacing looks amateurish compared to narrow spacing.

When all the pieces are glued in-place and the glue has dried for at least 48 hours, fill the spaces with your favorite grout color, just as you would if the mosaic were done with the standard small pieces of square or triangular shapes. I mostly use medium-gray grout, but my latest preference is charcoal (black) grout. The more mosaics I do with black grout, the more I like it. Grout color can make or break the final look of your mosaic, so if you're in doubt about what grout color to use, your best bet is to use medium-gray.

When the grout has dried overnight, take the mosaic to your favorite hobby store when they're having a sale on ready-made open-back frames. My favorite store has a 50% sale every other week, so if it's an off week, I simply wait a week. Pick several frame styles and colors, and place them over your mosaic, one at a time. Don't settle for the first frame you find. Ask the clerk which frame he thinks looks best with your mosaic. See which frame helps highlight the colors in your mosaic. I often ask other customers in the immediate area what they think, and they're always eager to give their opinion. Once you have the perfect frame, the clerk will install your mosaic, apply the paper backing, and install the hanging hardware and wire.

Now you have a beautiful mosaic to hang on your wall or give as a present. The neat thing about it is that it's usual, not the same boring mosaic style we've seen for centuries. It's basically a stained-glass window installed in a frame with grout in the spaces instead of solder. You won't see that too often. Well, not until all the mosaic artists in the world read this article and switch to this technique!

Bill Enslen has created lovely mosaic art for 30 years. His new mosaic how-to ebook gives you easy step-by-step details so you can make mosaic masterpieces of your own. Visit his website and read the free sample chapters. Let him show you just how easy it is. With Bill's help, you can do it. Yes, you can!