Posts Tagged ‘easy’

Birthday Banner Tutorial

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In my attempt to decorate for our family parties for Penelope’s birthday, I wanted to make a cute birthday sign. I’ve seen so many parties decorated with bunting and I’ve truly fallen in love. I’ve been on a paper sewing kick and I had a bunch of fun yellow and grey wallpaper that was screaming to be used.

birthday banner

I’m really happy with the final product, I can’t bear to take it down. I think the whole project took me just under an hour to make. It helped that my mom had a cricut so I didn’t have to cut out the letters by hand.

Make your own birthday bunting with IS•LY’s easy tutorial! Click here to download.

Simple Glass Etching Tutorial

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I know there are loads of tutorials around the internets showcasing etching glass, but thought I’d add my own point of view on the matter.

I’ve had this large glass serving platter for 6 months or so, and don’t really have much motivation to use it, mostly because it’s plain and boring. Now it’s a little more exciting, but in an oh-so-subtle way. Glass etching is also very practical for marking your glass serving ware for pot-lucks and parties. You’re less likely to end up sans dishes when they have your name on them.

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Click here for the FREE printable glass etching tutorial! or read below for the step-by-step instructions.

Glass Etching Tutorial

Supplies:

  • Roll of Contact Paper
  • Glassware
  • Junk Brush
  • Bonefolder or credit card
  • X-Acto Knife
  • Pencil
  • Armour Etch Acid
  • RUBBER GLOVES!!!!

Clean your glassware and dry thoroughly. Apply contact paper to the outside of the glass. Smooth out bubbles with a bonefolder or credit card.

With a pencil or sharpie marker, make your marks. *If you don’t want to hand draw the image, print out the desired design on regular paper and tape image onto contact paper.

With an X-acto knife or scalpal, cut and remove contact paper for etching.

In a well ventilated room, generously apply armour etch acid with a junk brush. Wait 10-20 minutes for acid to etch the glass.

If you’ve applied a load of etching acid, you can scoop the excess back into the bottle for later. Rinse and wash glass, brush and your hands thoroughly with soap. Remove contact paper, dry and enjoy.

Many thanks to How About Orange and Apartment Therapy for featuring this tutorial!

To print out a template of the above design, click here.

Crazy Cat

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Nothing spices up oven-fried catfish like a deformed lemon. Chris and I make sure to pick all of the weird ones from our tree first, mostly because they’re the tastier ones.

catfish and deformed lemon

A couple of nights ago I made catfish fish sticks from a recipe I found online titled Fishsticks in a Flash. Of course I’m going to make them. If it’s made of few ingredients and takes less than a half hour, I’m all over it. The fish sticks took 20 minutes. BONUS. They tasted just like the large cat we always order at Jonathan’s Fish & Chips. DOUBLE BONUS. And Chris couldn’t stop talking about it. TRIPLE BONUS.

Penelope even had a taste. She was mad we didn’t give her more.

Fish Sticks in a Flash

1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 pound U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish fillets, cut into 1-in thick strips

1. Preheat the oven to 475°F.
2. Lightly oil or coat a large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
3. Combine the cornmeal, cheese, garlic powder and salt in a medium bowl and mix well.
4. Place the oil in a small bowl. Lightly coat each piece of fish in the oil and then roll in the breading until well coated.
5. Arrange the fish on the prepared baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes.

Creating New Neural Pathways

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I’m definitely a monkey see, monkey do-type person and unfortunately Christmas break wasn’t long enough for me to glean from my mother-in-law’s mad knitting/crocheting skills. Fortunately, the books she gave me teach to the lowest common denominator.

crochet washcloth

Here’s my first attempt at making something functional. A washcloth. Maybe I’ll make a uniform square next time.

I’ve really enjoyed learning something new, and while crocheting is new to me, it somehow reminds me of elementary school where my friend, Michelle, and I would sit at recess making scarves and bags from a square loom. I hope I’m not that awkward anymore. Thanks, Michelle, for staying my friend through all my weirdness. Oh gosh… remember SNEILAs? Oh gosh. Oh gosh. Who knew washcloths could be so embarrassing?!?

Million Formula Cans Pt. II

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It’s a good think that Penelope drinks so much, otherwise I wouldn’t have anything to put Christmas presents in. Now I’m thinking, what am I going to do when she grows out of formula? Maybe I’ll just have to buy formula just for the cans. Or beg neighbors that have little ones for their leftover cans. I love those things.

This year I made marshmallows, caramels, chocolate-dipped meringue cookies. I feel a little guilty that I’m contributing to the annual sugar-induced coma. Oh well. At least they’re tasty.

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