Framed Greetings

Hello there!

Blank walls can be blah but there

are many easy and creative ways

to make them TADA!

I bought this greeting card from

Melanie Linder at the Renegade Craft Fair.

I really like the message.

Don't we all hope and work hard

to have a happy home?

It's so special, it's worthy to be framed.

Some experts say art should have meaning to you.

I couldn't agree more!

Affordable Art

Do you have empty walls in your home or apartment?

Let's face it, artwork can be expensive

and not a lot of us are ready to make

the investment.

This week, I have a some suggestions

on dressing up those blah walls.

This is a postcard I picked up at a department store's

carpet section. It advertises British fashion designer

Paul Smith's wall hanging called "Love Too".

If you're a fan of Sex and the City, you'll recognize

the actual wall hanging in Carrie Bradshaw's

renovated apartment {from the first movie}:

via my little boudior

Here's another one called "Love" also

by the same designer.

Here's a coaster I found at the Renegade Craft Fair

from the Sesame Letterpress booth.

Here's how I turned them from blah to TADA!:

I trimmed the postcard to fit a frame.

Same for this one.

I removed the glass from this frame and glued

the coaster on scrapbook paper. There's

a 3-D effect going on.

Arrange the frames on one wall for a "love fest"

or display them in different parts of your home...

because it's always nice to spread the love.

TADA!

Name Plates

Happy Friday!

This week's stars are these alphabet cookie cutters

that I bought for less than US$5.00. If I got a

brand new set, I would have spent at least $10.00.

When I was paying for it, the shopkeeper asked,

"What would you use these for?"

Well, If he visited my blog, he'd have many

answers. And I didn't even use them

for baking cookies.

Today's craft, lovely name plates, again makes use

of salt dough. You can find how to make the dough in

Wednesday's post.

I made these rectangles by cutting the dough with a knife.

I also cut out letters {spell out names or favorite words}

using the cookie cutters. Attach the letters to the

rectangle with water {applied with a fine tip paintbrush}.

With a toothpick, I made holes on the four edges.

Place these on a cookie sheet and bake for two hours

in a preheated 250 degree oven.

After it cools, you're ready to paint:

Make sure to hit the nooks and crannies

and apply several coats of paint.

Here's how I would use it:

Sew it on a plain canvas bag.

This is an easy way to stay organized -- make one for

each member of the family. One that he or she can bring to

daycare, school, the office, the gym, dance class or art lessons.

Instead of names, you can also assign tasks like

"laundry", "toys", "books" or "knit & sew".

I hope you liked my ideas this week.

Have a wonderful weekend, okay?

Golden Pendants

How's it going?

I hope you're having an excellent week.

Today, I've lined up these thrift shop-find cookie cutters

for another task.

Similar to yesterday's TADA!, we're using

salt dough to make some pendants.

After the salt dough has been rolled out, I cut out

some circles using a 3 1/2 cm diameter cookie cutter.

Then I cut out a few letters.

It's important that you dip your cookie cutters in

flour before putting them into the dough to avoid

these from sticking.

I apply a little water {with a fine-tip paint brush}

to the back of the letter and lay it on the circle cutout.

This process makes the letter adhere to the circle.

I make a hole on top of the circle with a toothpick.

The circles sit on a cookie sheet, then baked for

two hours in a preheated 250 degree oven.

This is what they look like after baking.

Once cooled, paint them any color you wish.

I'm using metallic gold again so

they resemble real jewelry.

At least 3 coats of paint is necessary.

Add a ribbon {or chain} through the hole,

make a knot and TADA!, you've

got yourself a pretty necklace!

Use this as a party favor for older children, teens or

your best girlfriends!

Faux Ceramics

Ready for another craft project?

All this week, these alphabet cookie cutters are

showcasing their versatility. I got them at

a bargain price while treasure-hunting at

the Housing Works thrift store in New York.

Remember the holiday cards I made last year?

Enclosed is a heart-shaped ornament that can

be hung on a tree or around a door knob.

I made it out of salt dough and today,

I think it's time to play with salt dough again!

Here's how:

We'll need these ingredients.

Mix ingredients together until a dough is formed.

Add more water if the dough isn't coming together or

add flour little by little if the dough is too sticky.

Knead the dough on a floured board until it's smooth and elastic.

Roll out the dough with a rolling pin dusted with flour.

Roll until the dough is 1/4 inch thick.

Cut desired shapes with a cookie cutter dipped in flour.

Today, I'm using circles, 7 cm in diameter.

Then make indentations in the center with

your favorite letter {dip cutters in flour}.

Slowly take out the cutters.

I'm making small bowls with the letter

used as a monogram.

To achieve the "dome" of the bowl,

carefully transfer the dough circle to the back

of a small tart tin or the back of a muffin tin

{should be smaller than the dough circle}.

Make sure to grease the back of the tins with

vegetable oil so the dough doesn't stick to it

while baking. Also, the monogram should be

facing the back of the tin.

Put these on a cookie sheet.

Bake in a preheated 250 degree oven for 2 hours.

When done, allow to cool.

Here's what the mini monogram bowls look like. TADA!

I painted them in a metallic gold.

They're quite imperfect and lopsided, almost like a

beginner made them on a potter's wheel.

It clearly tells the recipient it's handmade.

This makes a thoughtful anniversary present

where the couple can rest their wedding bands.

It holds the jewelry you wear everyday and you can

take it when travelling because it's light & unbreakable.

Petit Gateau

Thanks for coming over today!

This week is all about these cookie cutters,

the latest treasure I found at the

Housing Works Thrift Store.

When I'm hunting around at thrift stores, I usually look for

books, things for the home and lonely objects waiting

for a blah to TADA! make-over. Cookie cutters like

these are unexpected and even surprising that

they're in good condition & a complete set at that.

Here's what I'll use my cookie cutters for:

I bought some ready-to-use rolled fondant.

It's easy to use with professional looking results!

If you've never worked with fondant, it looks &

feels like clay. Pull out a piece and roll it out with

this special rolling pin that has rings to control

the fondant's thickness.

Take out the cookie cutters & punch away.

Make sure to keep the excess fondant in a zip-top bag

or air-tight container.

Doesn't it lend a special TADA! touch to a home-baked,

home-decorated cake?

It's a personal cake for a lovely birthday girl named Zoe.

"C" is for Cookie Cutters

How was your weekend lovelies?

I hope you had one of the best ones yet.

Last Friday, I told you about my fab find

at the Housing Works Thrift Store.

It's this set of mini alphabet cookie cutters.

I paid only US$3.75 for it! The set was complete, there

were no deformed letters and they looked hardly used.

When you buy kitchen accessories like this, it's best

to give them a thorough cleaning before use.

I washed the cookie cutters in warm, soapy water

and scrubbed them by hand.

Then I let them dry with the help of a dish cloth and

some time under the sun {I'm afraid of rust!}.

This week, I'm figuring out different ways to use them.

Let's start with toast.

It's a tasty breakfast or snack but it can look so blah.

Before putting them in the toaster, spell out some words

like "Yum", "Cool" or your kids' names if they aren't too long.

Press them half way through & gently remove the cutters.

You just want to make indentations, not remove any bread.

Pop the bread into the toaster and...

TADA! Personalized toast!

Depending on your toaster and heat setting, the

results can vary. I would have wanted a darker piece

but I prefer my toast on the less crunchy side.

Have a mighty good Monday ya' all!