Friday, November 30, 2007

Salt Dough Ornaments


I've always wanted to make salt dough ornaments, but never have, which is lame because a) it is really easy and b) it really only takes salt, water, flour, string, and then whatever you want to use to decorate them.

The other night I decided to whip some up (let's remember that handy term "mock-up") (this means, don't expect anything skilled or fabulous from this experiment). I looked up some online instructions first.


Here are your main ingredients:
















Because this was just an experiment, I only used a cup of flour and about a half a cup of salt (I was a tad bit short because I need to buy salt). I added a little hot water, and stirred.

EASY.
















It's supposed to look like cookie dough. I recommend you don't taste it.

I saw a lot of stuff about rolling out the dough and cutting out shapes, which would have been tidy and cute. However, I don't have a rolling pin or cookie cutters, because I am domestically deficient. I tried to smoosh the dough flat to see if I could cut out shapes with a knife:
















But I think your results would be tidier if you used a rolling pin and cutters. At least, mine would have been. So I decided to just form the dough into little shapes instead. I made a couple of birds (here is a bird, mid-formation):

















And, because I am weird and nothing says "Christmas" like "pet obsession," I made a couple of fat little cat-type shapes:




















Then you take a toothpick or something else thin and pointy:
















Make a hole (this is a circular shape, fancy). Later you will regret it if a) you do not make the hole wide enough or b) you do not put the hole at least 1/8 of an inch down. So make the hole wide enough to easily thread ribbon or string through.



















And then pop them in the oven for a few hours at 100-200 degrees. Until they are hard. I think you can also just microwave them for a few minutes.

Someone needs to clean her oven:
















So, the next night, I gathered up my random craft paint and a crappy craft brush. And the little hard dough creatures.















And painted away.



















I'm dorky and tried to paint the cats similarly to their real-life, cranky and fat counterparts.

I think if I had spent more time, or played more with getting the texture of the dough just right, I could have made these look less lumpy and cruddy. I also read using a bit of oil on your hands will help keep the dough workable and smooth. However, this was just an experiment, so let's pretend these little guys don't look all...bumpy:
















Then take your string or ribbon, and loop it, line up the two ends, and string them through the hole:































I didn't really wait until the paint was dry, so my string is all painty. Also, I didn't make the bottom part of the holes big enough, so I had to dig the string out with a needle.















That's okay. So I knotted the thread at the bottom, and trimmed off the excess:















And that was it! Home-made ornaments.












































Like I said, if I spent more time, or used the cookie cutter method, my results would have been "better" and "less weird." But it was fun, and I can imagine decorating these with someone would be super fun.

Meta stuff:

If anyone else is interested in helping with this blog, let me know.

ALSO: EMAIL ME GIFT IDEAS OF ALL KINDS, because a big gift idea extravaganza should be blogged.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Tons of Cookies

Notthemoty sent me an email she received to share. It contains a ridiculously awesome amount of links to cookie recipes. I haven't tried any of them yet, but look at how many there are! All clumped together!


1-2-3 Cookies 7 Layer Cookies Allie Nelson's Famous Snickerdoodle Cookies Almond Crescent Shortbread Amish Sugar Cookies Andies Candies Cookies Angel Crisps Angenets Applesauce Cookies Apricot Fold-Overs Aunt Edy's Molasses Crinkles Auntie Linda's Ginger Gems Bakeless Dream Cookies Banana Drop Cookies Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World Biscotti Biscotti Blueberry Cookies Boiled Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies Bronwnies Brown Sugar Shortbread Brownie Cookies Brownie Delight Brownies Buccaneer Snowballs Buried Cherry Cookies Butter Cookies Butter Nut Balls Butterballs Butterscotch Haystacks C.O.P. Cookies Candy Cane Cookies Candy Cookies Caramel Shortbread Cheesecake Brownies Cherry Buns Cherry Crowns Cherry Winks Chewies Chewy Noels Chinese Chews/Haystacks Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Chip Meltaways Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies Chocolate Christmas Trees Chocolate Cream Cheese Squares Chocolate Crinkles Chocolate Mint Snow-Top Cookies Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (no bake) Chocolate Snowball Cookies Chocolate Streusel Bars Chocolate Sundae Cookies Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bars Choco-Scotch Crunchies Choose A Cookie Dough Recipe Christmas Crackers Christmas Crunch Bars Christmas Ginger Snaps Christmas Macaroons Christmas Mice Cookies Christmas Shaped Cookies Church Window Cookies Coconut Cookies Congo Squares Cookie in a Jar Corn Flakes Cookies Cornflake Christmas Wreaths Cowboy Cookies (oatmeal) Cream Cheese Cookies with Apricot Filling Crème De Menthe Chocolate Squares Crème Wafers Crescent Cookies Crispy Crunchies Date Nut Balls Date-nut Pinwheel Cookies Diabetic Peanut Butter Cookies Disgustingly Rich Brownies Doodles Double chocolate chip cookies Double-Chocolate Crinkles Eatmore Cookies Eggnog Cookies Elizabeth's Sugar Cookies Elves Quick Fudge Brownies Emily Dickinson's Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Emily's Best Brownies Famous Oatmeal Cookies Firemen Cookies Fluffy Shortbread Cookies Forgotten Cookies Frosted Peanut Butter Brownies Fruit Cake Cookies Fruitcake Squares Fry Pan Cookies Gems Ginger Cookies Ginger Crinkles Gingerbread Baby Gingerbread Cookies with Butter Cream Icing Gingerbread Men Gingerbread Men Ginny's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Glory's Golden Graham Squares Glory's Sugar Cookies Gramma Chapman's chocolate coconut drops Grandma Elsie's Zimt (cinnamon) Cookies Grandma J's Butter Cookies Grandma Olson's Parkay Cookies Great Grandmothers Sugar Cookies Gum Drop Cookies Gumdrop Gems Haystack Cookies Ho-Ho Bars Holiday Cereal Snaps Holiday Chocolate Butter Cookies Holiday Raisin Walnut Bars Holly Cookies Hungarian Cookies (Little Nut Rolls) Ice Box Cookies Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies Italian Cookies Jacob's Peppermint Snowballs Jam Bars Jessica's Famous Brownies Jessie's Chocolate Chip Cookies Jubilee Jumbles Juliet's Peanut Butter Blossoms Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies Kentucky Colonels Kiefle (cream cheese cookies with jam filling) Kifflings Kiss Cookies Lacy Swedish Almond Wafers Lemon Angel Bar Cookies Lemon Bars Lemon Cake Cookies Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies Lemon Squares Linzer Tarts Log Cabin Cookies Luscious Lemon Squares M&M Cookies Magic Cookie Bars Melt in Your Mouth Cutout Sugar Cookies Melting Shortbread Meme's Cream Cheese Cookies Milk Chocolate Florentine Cookies Mincemeat Cookies Mincemeat Goodies Molasses Cookies Molasses Forest Cookies Molasses Sugar Cookies Mom Mom's Crescent Cookies Mom-Mom's Ginger Cookies Mom's Nutmeg Sugar Cookies Mom's Old Fashion 'Puffy' Sugar Cookies Monster Cookies Moravian Christmas Cookies Nana's Famous Soft Southern Cookies Nitey Nite Cookies No Bake Chocolate Cookies No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No-Bake Cookies Norwegian Sugar Cookies Nut Balls Oatmeal Bars Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Nut Cookies Oatmeal Coconut Crisps Oatmeal Cookies Oatmeal Scotchies Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies Ooey Gooey Caramel Chocolate Dunk Ooey Gooey Squares Orange Slice Cookies Parking Lot Cookies Peanut Blossoms Peanut Butter Bars Peanut Butter Blossoms Peanut Butter Cereal Cookies Peanut Butter Chewies Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut butter fingers Peanut Butter Reindeer Peanut Butter Surprises Peanut Marshmallow Cookies Pecan Puff Cookies Peppermint Snowballs Peppernuts Persimmon Cookies Persimmon Cookies Petey's Yummy Spicy Almond Thins Pfeffernuesse Pffefferneuse Cookies Pineapple Filled Cookies Pizzelles Potato Chip Cookies Potato Flake Cookies Praline Cookies Praline Strips Pterodactyl Nests Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Chip Cookies Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Pumpkin Cookies Queen Biscuits Quick Cookies Raised Sugar Cookies Raisin Filled Oatmeal Bars Raspberry Meringue Bars Really Peanutty Butter Cookies Reese`s Brownies Reese's Peanut Butter Bars Rich Flavor Christmas Cookies Rich Lemon Bars Ricotta Cheese Cookies Royal Almond Christmas Bars Rudolph Cinnamon Cookies Russian Tea Cookies Russian Teacakes Samantha & Kelsey's Chocolate Chip Cookies Sand Art Brownies Santa Claus Cookie Pops Santa Claus Cookies Santa's Butterscotch Melts Santa's Shorts Santa's Special Squares Scotch Cakes Scotch Shortbread Scotcharoos Scotcheroos Seven Layer Cookies Short Bread Cookies Shortbread Skor Squares Snicker Doodle Cookies Snickerdoodles Snickerdoodles Snow Balls Sour Cream Apple Squares Sour Cream Christmas Cookies Special K Cookies Spice Cookies Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Spritz Cookies Stained Glass Window Cookies Stir & Drop Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Swedish Pepparkakor (Pepper Cake) Cookies Swedish Sugar Cookies Sweet Marie's Swiss Treats Taralle (Italian Cookies) Tea Time Tassies Texas Brownies The Best Shortbread in The World Thumbprint Cookies Thumbprint Cookies Toffee Squares Traditional Christmas Sugar Cook

Monday, November 26, 2007

Christmas Card Recycling, Meta Stuff

I've done some research on ways to display/reuse your old Christmas cards, unless you have a holiday tradition of losing them/feeling guilty about losing them/finding them and putting them in a box you'll never, ever be able to locate again. (Or maybe that's just me.)

First up: Wreath Made of Cards!

I didn't have twenty cards lying around (see above tradition), so I cut up some construction paper and folded it and we'll all have to pretend these are cute holiday cards with snow and trees and kittens. Also, I did this in my studio, and my work bench is old and beat up, so forgive the surroundings.

The "cards":















Use the power of imagination! Can't you just see the sparkly reindeer?

For this you'll need roughly twenty cards, and it might be fun to use contrasting colors, or use all cards of a similar color, or use a theme such as all snowman cards, etc. You're only limited by the cards you've been hoarding (or losing).

First you'll need to draw a two inch by four inch rectangle on the back of a card and cut it out (my fake cards are small so my rectangle is also small).















Also, you may notice my work in these photos is a bit "relaxed" or "sloppy." Don't judge me; I'm still recovering from an obscene amount of mashed potato consumption. In the art world, this is what we call a mock-up, which is handy little term to say "this one is just a quick practice, please ignore all the crappy mistakes."

Anyway, cut out the rectangle with scissors or an Exacto knife, whatever you have that lets you cut out rectangles.



















Then trace the rectangle on the fronts of the rest of the cards and cut them out. Use that first rectangle as a template so you don't have to remeasure.















Now arrange them into a round shape, by putting the corner of each card into the rectangle of the previous card. Like so (bonus--awkward hand!):















Take this time to check out the circle, and rearrange the cards how you want them. If you want to move the reindeer card away from the snowman card because they don't look as if they are getting along, do it now.

















Then, glue the edges of the cards together. I used my disgusting old hot glue gun because it was closest, but I recommend other (safer) methods as well. Any old glue should work.















Keep on gluing:















When you're done, and the glue is dry, flip over your wreath and glue down any parts that seem flimsy or floppy.















Finally, take a piece of ribbon or yarn or string and use it to make a hanger. You could punch a hole, or just glue it on, depending on the glue you use.














And there it is! A Christmas card wreath! Or, in my case, a sort of messy construction paper wreath! This is why I love the term "mock-up." To fancy it up, you could add a bow to the front, but it's not necessary. Just imagine these are cute Christmas cards, okay?




















Okay, the next one I found was how to make neat little gift boxes out of cards. Good for jewelry, gift cards, etc.

I dug around and found a little note card, so the mock-up wouldn't be quite as lame as construction paper. First you cut the card's front off:















The back half of the card you will use for the bottom of the box. So take it and cut 1/8 of an inch off one short and one long side. (So it will fit easily when you close the box.) Just use a ruler and draw two little marks at the 1/8 inch mark on each side, draw a line between them, and cut.


















See? Connect the dots, then slice away.















After that, put aside the back half. Take the front half of the card, flip it over to the blank side, and mark off 1 inch and 1/2 inch from each side.















Connect the dots!













Okay, now take the BACK of the blade of your exacto, or a pizza cutter, or something else thin and sort of sharp/sort of dull. Trace the lines (against a ruler) with it, so that you sort of score the lines to make folding more easy. You could also use a ball point pen and press down hard.

I didn't take a picture of that step, because I am one of those people who can just look at a butter knife and get a cut, so I tried to be careful and not multitask. You understand.

After you score, cut to the one inch mark, from the short side, on each edge, so you have little flaps.















Then fold the long sides on each of the lines.






























Press the sides down:















Push in the flaps:
















Fold in the flaps toward each other, then fold the short sides down over them. I had to use a bit of glue to keep it in place properly, but I hadn't been super careful with my measuring/drawing/folding. It might be easier if you are more precise--otherwise, the glue helps hold it all in place.

And then, you have a lid!
















Just repeat on your slightly smaller piece to make the bottom. And you have a cute little gift box! This was just the right size for a gift card or jewelry or maybe a tidy little wad of cash.

If you're ambitious, or have even more cards stashed away, you can try one of these. I didn't try one today, but they look really neat and it says you can also use wrapping paper. I think several hanging in a window or doorway would be really, really pretty, and the site has handy print-out templates.

Blog business alert: if anyone out there is interested in helping with this site, shoot me an email. I'm trying to figure out how to keep up two blogs, work full time, be an artist, keep up an online store, take care of four pets, be a newly wed, and not suffocate under mountains of laundry and dog hair. If anyone would like to help with the recipes category, or the craft category, or has lots of ideas, or gets some sort of enjoyment out of editing/proofreading posts, or has tons of fun decoration knowledge, or knows how to find good deals on stuff, or is a Googling master, ANYTHING, let me know if you'd like to be a part of Maybe Painted Pink. I want this blog to be as fun and helpful as possible, and the reader emails/posts are AWESOME. I'd love to have some regular helpers. karamarie at gmail dot com.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Penned Tree

Erin sent in a genius-yet-simple idea to keep your Christmas tree safe. She says:

"This brilliant idea comes from my own parents, who had 6 kids in the house, all within 7 years of each other. No wonder they’re completely insane now. When we were young, instead of trying to keep us away from the Christmas tree, since someone (children, cats, dogs) was always trying to climb it, they put the tree inside a playpen. Genius! The tree was safe. The presents remained wrapped. The kids were not climbing the branches."

I've waged the tree battle against mountain goat-esque cats, and my brother was a notorious gift snooper. I can't believe I've never thought of something as simple as penning off the tree! Thanks, Erin!

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Thanksgiving Eve

Thanksgiving Eve!

Healthy side dish ideas!

Last minute centerpieces!

Thawing turkeys!

Leave a comment and share what you are thankful for this year. I'm feeling particularly thankful for my wonderful husband, our four terrible pets, cinnamon tea, all the lovely people in my life (online and off), a challenging job, and a busy life where every day interesting.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Thanksgiving Pop Culture

Hey, remember when Snoopy made ice cream sundaes and Woodstock helped make buttered toast for Charlie Brown and the gang? For no reason that actually makes any sense? New cartoon specials, along with other Thanksgiving goodies, are up here. They might get you in the Thanksgiving mood.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Thanksgiving Veggie-Style

Because we don't all partake in the turkey part of turkey day, I've found some tips on vegetarian Thanksgivings. If you're hosting dinner with some vegetarian guests, these might be helpful--it doesn't have to be tricky. Especially if you follow the first tip:

1) ASK ABOUT DIETARY RESTRICTIONS FIRST. This is crucial, especially if you're expecting guests you don't know well. Vegetarians might eat cheese or eggs, while vegans will eat nothing animal at all. (No dairy, no eggs, no cheese.) There are pescetarians, lactovegetarians, ovovegetarians, and so on. Ask lots of questions before you cook. This is also helpful even when all your guests are carnivorous--it's nice to find out ahead of time if guests have allergies, intolerances, etc. Open communication ahead of time is key.

2) If you like to cook your stuffing inside the turkey, consider cooking a small amount outside the turkey. Vegetarians may or may not eat something that has touched meat. (The same goes for utensils, plates, etc.) Setting aside portions of foods so they don't get mixed in with meat product is usually easily done.

3) Watch your prepackaged foods--some vegetarians don't eat gelatin, whey, or sodium caseinate because they are derived from animals. (Yes, gelatin is made from animals. Yet another weird reason for me to justify my hatred of all food jiggly. You know, other than my real reason for hating it, which is that it's too jiggly.)

4) Make sure you have plenty of vegetarian-friendly side items (this shouldn't be hard, since most cranberry sauces, sweet potato dishes, breads, green beans, and potato dishes are veggie-friendly--just be aware that if there are marshmallows on your yams, a vegetarian might not eat it because of the gelatin, or if there is chicken broth instead of vegetable broth in your stuffing, it will be declined) (same goes for bacon in your green beans, etc). This might be a good opportunity to try something new and seasonal, like a pumpkin soup or squash dish. Maybe something with portobello mushrooms or eggplant. You can easily find a yummy vegetarian entree that non-vegetarians will love as a side dish--just make sure the vegetarians get enough!

5) Some vegetarians like things like tofurkey, others don't. Don't feel obligated to make a ton of a special meat substitute if you aren't sure they will eat (or even like) it.

6) Invite all your dinner guests to bring a dish. This will help cut back on your stress (and theirs) if they bring something that will definitely meet their dietary needs. And you won't have to cook as much, which means you can spend more time taste-testing things and getting in on all the family holiday gossip.

These tips and more can be found here, along with instructions on making tofurkey.

Any vegetarians out there with more insight? What am I leaving out? Any favorite Thanksgiving dishes you like?