Fluffernutter, party of two.

If you've never had a fluffernutter than this window painting might make no sense to you but I'll take my chances because here in New England the very mention of Fluff -made right here in Everett, MA- sparks childhood memories that people can't help but share...whether you like it or not. 

Being from the West Coast I had never heard of a Fluff, let alone a Fluffernutter, until I moved to Boston about 10 years ago.  You'd have thought I'd told people I had never heard of shoes the way they would look at me when I didn't know what a "fluffernutter" was.  They were outraged at my Fluff-less childhood.

And now I know why!  Fluff and peanut butter were made to be together.  They're the yin and yang of sandwich components.  And so versatile!  You can have a Fluffernutter for lunch, eat one as a snack or even have one for dessert.  Can balogna and cheese do that?
 

If you've never had a Fluffernutter go make one right now.  They're delicious.  And if you can't buy Fluff (not Kraft Marshmallow Cream, mind you, there's a difference) in your 'hood then use this handy Fluff-Finder feature to hunt down the closest seller.  And if that doesn't work, you can get a case delivered right to your door.  May your children never have to go Fluffernutter-less.

For more Fluff related goodness, go to the Union Square Main Street website and check out pictures from their annual 'What the Fluff?" festival.

Photo credit Jabulani Barber

Pop-Up-Heart Trader Joe's Valentine Card

I made this Valentine for a friend of mine who tragically *dramatic pause* lives in a Trader Joe-less part of the country.  **Cue inspirational music**  A part of our great nation where grocers don't wear Hawaiian shirts and two-buck-chuck is a story heard only in fairy tales.  I hope to, within my lifetime, see a world where everyone can get fat free black bean dip and Orangeboom regardless of their geographical location!  Where Oklahoma and Arkansas can share not just a border, but a love for free samples!  Can I get an amen?!

For this project you will need:

• one piece of red 8.5x11" cardstock
• one Trader Joe's bag
• scissors
• a glue stick
• a sharpie
• a cat butt (optional)

Step 1: Start out by laying your cardstock on your cut proof mat.  For quality control purposes your cat should immediatly come sit on whatever it is you're doing and act like she doesn't see you.  Once you've passed this rigurous inspection process move on to Step 2.

Step 2: Fold paper in half (use handle of scissors to create a nice crease) and cut along fold.

Step 3: Fold both halves in half again to create a card shape.

Step 4: With paper folded in half, draw the outline of 2 hearts on one of the pieces of paper.  The outer heart should leave a space at the farthest edge connected to the paper.  Leave about 1/2" connected. 

Cut outer heart (leaving 1/2" connector!) and fold back.

Then cut the inner heart out entirely.

Leaving you with this cute pop-out-heart card.

Step 5: Cut the side out of a T.J.'s bag (this is technically upcycling) and place your card over it to frame your image. 

(I decided on the wine bottle with a trace of the "traderjoes.com" visable just in case my recipient a. doesn't realize what the background is or b. doesn't check my blog.  In either case, she's kind of a jerk.)

Step 6. Now, glue the background to the back of the card, making sure not to glue down the heart or else it won't pop-up anymore.

Add the other half of the cardstock to the back of the card to make it pretty.

Write your message and you're done!

One of the great things about this card is that it makes you seem sweet, wanting to share a little piece of Trader Joe's with someone less fortunate but in reality you're kinda just rubbing it in their face.  Awww, I love friendship.  Happy crafting!

Make Me: PDQ Veggie Pot Pie

Why Don't You Make Me:

PDQ Veggie Pot Pie

It's a cold, dreary day in Boston today.  A day that makes you want to slip into some sweatpants, get under a blanket and watch 12-13 hours of daytime TV.  A perfect day for comfort food and I have just the thing, this hearty, meat-free pot pie that takes about 15 minutes to prepare and is muy delicioso! 

Ingredients

• 2 frozen pie crusts
• frozen mixed veggies
• Quorn veggie "chick'n" patties
• 1/2 an onion
• mushroom gravy
• salt n peppa
• Goya season salt

I got this recipe from my Quick Fix Vegetarian cookbook which is chock full of healthy vegetarian meals that can be ready in under 30 minutes.  In the book this recipe is made in a casserole dish with a pie crust over the top.  The crust is my favorite part of a pot pie so the crust-to-filler ratio isn't high enough for me that way so I decided to make my pot pie in one pie crust and cover it with a second crust to make a full pie. 

Either way is fine.  (My way just happens to be better is all.)

To begin,  cook your frozen veggies and add them to one of your frozen pie shells.  Leave the 2nd pie crust out to allow it to thaw. 

Cut and saute 1/2 an onion, add to veggies.

Add "meat"- I used 2 frozen "chik'n" patties from Quorn, microwaved, cut into cubes and added to my dish.

Cover with gravy (1 can), salt & pepper to taste, add Goya season salt if you want and gently fold all ingredients together.

Next, gently peel your now unfrozen 2nd pie crust from the pan and place it on top of the pie.  Press sides together with a fork and cut 3 vents in the top to allow steam to escape.

Pop it in your preheated 350 degree oven -on top of a cookie sheet to catch any overflow- and bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. 

I've never used a store-bought pie crust (God's honest truth) but they've made a believer out of me.  They were flaky, baked up to a perfect golden brown and tasted wonderful.

I shared this pot pie with my non-vegetarian husband and meat eating friend Stephen and were given rave reviews by both!  It's so hearty and tasty that unless you tell people it's they probably won't even know it's a vegetarian dish. 

So go on, why don't you make me?

Why Don't You Make Me?: Block Printed Valentine's Card

This Valetine's Day, spread some love (that won't result in a rash) by making this handcarved, handprinted, hand-addressed, snail mailed Valetine for your Sweetie. 

For this project you will need:

• 1 carving block
• carving tool(s)
• pencil/eraser
• a brayer (or a paint roller)
• a scrap piece of cardboard
• a spoon
• cardstock or thin cardboard to print on
• a stamp

To begin, draw your image directly onto the carving block using a pencil with a slightly rounded tip.  *If the tip is too sharp it will puncture the surface and not mark properly.*  If you've chosen to do words, keep in mind that you will need to write the words backwards onto your carving block.  Luckily for me, writing backwards is my secret super power. 

  (I'm the first to admit this is not a terribly useful super power but it's the only one I've got so please try to act impressed.)

When you're satisfied with your design, begin to carve out the area around your letters using your carving tool.

Continue to carve until you're happy with your image. 

Next, prepare your brayer.  I don't have a brayer so I used this small paint roller that I have.  Using some cardboard as your surface add some acrylic paint and roll it until your roller/brayer is evenly covered.

Then roll the paint onto your carved block until it is also evenly covered.

Now, rather than picking up your block and trying to set it down on your printing surface, bring your printing surface to your block.

Lay the paper down on top of the freshly inked surface and using the backside of a spoon, rub the back of the paper to burnish the image onto the paper.

 (Thanks for teaching me that trick (and word) Atara!)

Remove paper and there you have it!

For an added touch, add glue to the heart,

and coat in Glitter, obviously.

When the paint & glue is dried, turn over and address your post card to the lucky recipient of your choice, add a stamp (it may cost slightly more than a regular post-card stamp, check with the post office) and drop it in the mailbox. **

There is nothing more special that recieving something handmade from someone who loves you...except for recieving money maybe but I don't know how to make that.

Happy Valentine's Day!

**If you don't have a Valentine my co-worker Zach said you can just send the card to him, because he's a giver.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

Inspiration for this project came from Jennifer's amazing Christmas card:

Thanks Jennifer!

Birthday Cake Pancakes!

I obviously did something right last year because this morning I woke up to these Birthday Cake Pancakes from Jer. 

And they weren't just pancakes with candles and sprinkles they're actually little pancakes made from cake batter, glazed with powdered sugar, drizzled with love and topped of with rainbow sprinkles.  Wowzers!

And then, as if that wasn't enough, my niece (she really likes Wolverine) made this adorable video for me and I almost threw the computer across the room because it is so g.d. cute. 

Best birthday ever!!  Thanks everybody!!

Adorable 3D Lollipop Valetine Tutorial

I made an executive decision earlier this week- I am going to hold off doing Valentine's related crafts and having Valentine's related freak-outs over crafts until this Saturday (the official 1-month countdown to V-Day).  That was until Karen & Ella (not their first time here) sent me this adorable DIY Valentine that they made to give to Ella's classmates and I realized that everyone else is already elbow-deep in Conversational Hearts and I'm still putting Christmas away.
So now I've veto'd my own executive decision and decided to grab cupid by the horns and get my Valentine's on.  Starting with this:

Karen & Ella's

Adorable 3D Lollipop Valentine's Card

From Karen:
So here is how you make the super cute DIY Valentine's Cay Cards. First find a super cute kid, most parents think thier kid is the cutest, if so, then go with them. If not, I have one you can borrow. Next, get your camera ready. Have your little cutie stand up against a wall and extend their arm toward the camera while making a fist. Snap away. Try to stay focused on the face. You would rather the hand slightly blurred and not the face. Download your pic to your computer and then upload to picnik.com. Here is where the fun takes place. Add borders, hearts, etc. I kept it simple. I wrote "Happy Valentine's Day" toward the top and "your friend," toward the bottom. I left out my daughters name because I let her add it with a sharpie to make it more personal. Send the pics to your local CVS.  I bought a bag of dum dums. Slice a tiny slit over the fist and insert you pop. Place a piece of tape on the back side. You can add the adhesive card stock to the back to firm up the card but I left it as is to save on the cost.  FYI- I also tried blow pops but they were too big. Also worth noting, when adding text to you pic on picnik-don't add to very top or sides. My sisters first round cut off part of the letters, I made some adjustments and lowered the text and they came out perfect.

Here is where I first saw this fun idea.

So cute!  Thanks for sharing Karen!!

The Compliment Shop for Valentine's Day!

I've started loading up the Compliment Shop for Valentine's Day.

Let your Valentine know you love them so much that you want to punch them in their adorable face with a compliment from the Compliment Shop. 

More available soon!  check back often!  

One Last Christmas Post: the Christmas Diorama

In December I helped my friend, photographer Kristen Mallory, make this awesome diorama to use as the backdrop for her annual Christmas card.  I couldn't share it until now because it would have blown the surprise!  (ok, technically I could have posted it anytime after Christmas but I was procrastinating busy.)  It came out so cute.  I was thrilled when I saw the finished product in my mailbox!

Above is a picture of the card in the diorama.  Pretty advanced stuff, I know.

To make it we covered a box (stolen from my cats) with pictures we cut from magazines.  Blues for the sky, some glaciers for the backdrop, greenery in front and one cup of coffee as a mountain in the front. 

Then we filled it with gnomes, forrest creatures, a peppermint disc tree (made by Kristen), mini twinkle lights & some moss and Kristen took pictures of it.  (It's amazing what a good photographer can do.)  

 

Ok, that was my last Christmas post of the season.  Honest.  No more.  Scouts honor.  I'm done.

xoxo, ~mandee rae

Think Snow!!

I know a lot of people are celebrating our snowless Winter here in New England but I'm not one of them.  I'm more of a hot chocolate under a blanket watching it snow outside kind of a girl.  Seriously!  Where's the snow?  It's January 8th and there's NO SNOW!!

Consider this a snow dance.  

And for those of you happy for this season free of glittery white flakes falling slowly to Earth and landing delicately on the eyelash of a kitten (you monsters!), I'll happily take the blame if it actually snows.  (FINGERS CROSSED!!)

Idea for Frosty @ the beach by Kristin Reed.  Thanks Kristin!

25 Cent Word!: Anthropomorphic

I learned a new word- anthropomorphic - suggesting human characteristics for animals or inanimate things, please be prepared for me to throw it around all the time now.  I feel like I just found out about jeans or something.  Like the entire world new there was a word for creepy smilinging vegetalbes, little girls with apple heads and hot dogs with faces happily grilling themselves except me.  It wasn't until I was using every single adjective in my vocabulary AND both hands trying to describe "those creepy teapots with faces...from the 50's...shaped like apples...you know?" that my sister-in-law said, "you mean like an anthropomorphic teapot?" 

Gah!  There's a word for that???  Amazing.

Now would be a great time to check out my brand new Anthropomorphic Label!

Happy Apocolypse!

Here's hoping that 2012 brings you and yours all the happiness in the world!

Happy New Year!

Make this quick tin can centerpiece by drilling holes in cans and dropping in a candle.  

1.  Draw number on can

2. Drill holes, make sure to lubricate drill bit with oil!!

3. Light it up!

Gold Leafing A Vintage Frame

I tried my hand at gold leafing last night for the first time ever and I loved it.  It took this already beautiful- but dull- vintage ornate frame bought at Brimfield this past August and gave it a drag queen makeover. 

It's so shiney!  And now so is my floor and my coffee table and my Mama Cat because she was "helping" me.  Seriously, this stuff gets EVERYWHERE.  It's probably best to do it in a work room (don't have one) or a garage (don't have one of those either) or to go outside (brrrrrrr, no way!)  Livingroom it is!

It's worth it though 'cause look how pretty:

I gave the original mat that came with the frame a mini makeover too. 

It's pretty simple:

1. Cover entire surface of mat with gluestick
2. Lay decorative paper face down on flat surface
3. Lay mat, glue side down, on top of decorative paper
4. Smooth out any ridges/bubbles
5. Trim along edges with X-acto knife
6. Bob's your uncle.

 I can't show you the finished product because it's part of a birthday present.  Pictures to follow.

Have you ever gold leafed?  Got any tips for me?  I'd love to hear them!

Green Eyed Inspiration

Recently my friend Mike (who doesn't get a last name because he's internet shy) came over to my house (wearing his tinfoil hat) and was all drooly and "holy crap I want that!" over my awesome card catalog that I told you about earlier this year.  And I don't blame him, the thing is radical.  

He later told me that he was "so inspired" (read: wicked jealous) that he when he got home he immediatly went on Ebay to find one for himself.  And then, when he couldn't find one (in your face Mike!) he settled on this  beautiful set of vintage Post Office Boxes instead (oh wait, in my face!)  

(like this one is available here)

Then, because he doesn't waste all of his freetime re-pinning and tweeting, he built a case and a stand for it making his officially better than mine.  (I hope you're happy Mike.)

Now he just has to figure out what could possibly be worthy of being stored in these little boxes.  Mail is too obvious and besides, he would never have enough.  I guess he could put his weed in there but that would sure be a lot of reefer. 

Oh, I know!  He can use it to keep his anti-internet, conspiracy theory zines in order (first alphabetically and then numerically) and away from the prying eyes of the gum'ment.  Perfect!


(<3 you Mike!)

Fireplace From a Box: Instructables Box Challenge

My cardboard fireplace for the Weekly Make It Challenge on Instructables.com.  This week's challenge was to make something from a leftover Christmas box. 

Here's my entry and how I did it:

Step 1.

Get a box.



Step 2.

Draw an upside-down "U" on the front. 

Cut it out using an X-acto knife or scissors (careful dummy!)

Step 3.
Paint faux bricks on box using non-toxic acrylic craft paint. 

Fill in remainder with grey paint (optional).

Step 4.

Draw the outline of a flame on another piece of cardboard and cut it out. 

Step 5. 

Arrange fireplace and flames and decorate inside with red christmas lights for the fire.

Step 6. Enjoy!

Someday I'll have a real life fireplace until then it's cardboard and christmas lights for me.

Microwave Toe Warmer Upper Tutorial

Here we are, a full week into Winter and not a single flake of snow has fallen in Boston.  So lame.  But, just because it is unseasonably warm, at least by New England standards, that doesn't mean your sheets aren't still freezing cold when you put your little footsies in them at night.  (Poor little footsies.)  Remedy that problem by making these quick rice filled, microwavable heat packs to slide under your covers while you brush your teeth to get your sheets all warm and snug-buggly (that's what my Dad calls it) for your arrival. 

For this project you will need

• 1/4 yard of muslin, canvas or flannel material
• 1/4 yard of scrap fabric
• 4C. white, long grain rice (NOT INSTANT)
• sewing machine
• thread
• scissors

To begin cut 2 equal pieces of your canvas material into 10"x16" rectangles.

Sew together on 3 sides and fill with 4 cups of uncooked rice.

Sew the 4th side together and you should have something that looks like this.

(No need to make the inside pillow look pretty, this is not a beauty contest.)

Now seperate 1/3 of the rice to one end of the bag and create a fold.

 Sew along this fold to seperate rice and add another seam (and another 1/3 of the rice) another 1/3 way down the bag.  These seams are to keep the rice evenly distributed through the bag.  (Omit if you're not feelin' it.)

**Tip: Sewing a bag full of rice is...interesting to say the least.  Elevating the surface next to the sewing machine for the remainder of the bag to rest on helps tremendously.  Also, sewing slooooowly helps too.**

Now trace around the bag onto some scrap material, with about an inch seam allowance, to create the pieces for your removable/washable case.  With the pieces right-side-in, hem the edges that will be your opening and sew the remaining 3 sides together.  Turn right-side-out. 

Microwave bag- with some water to prevent forest fires- for about a minute and a half and slip into case.

Flop onto sleeping husband's feet and watch the cuddles wash over his face. 

I made a seperate one for sweet little outdoor kitty toes too.

Toasty warm toes on the day after Tuesday.  Terrific!

Why Don't You Make Me?: Santa Hat Strawberry Brownie Bites

  

For Christmas I made these adorable santa hat brownie bites that I found over on Erica's Sweet Tooth.  They're pretty simple to make, here's how:

Bake your brownies according to directions, let cool.

 Select a round biscuit cutter

  about the size of your strawberries.  

(Or use a mini-cupcake pan)

 Cut out your brownies.

 Rinse strawberries.

 Cut the tops and a teeny tiny bit of the 

bottom off for the chocolate to settle onto.

Melt your white chocolate and 

scoop into pastry bag with tip.

 FOLLOW THESE DIRECTIONS TO MELT YOUR WHITE CHOCOLATE.  

It's not the same as melting milk chocolate, I found out the hard way.  Now, pipe some white chocolate on the tip of the waiting strawberry and onto the bottom between the brownie and the fruit and you'll have little chocolate santa hats!

 

Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!

Make Me: Holly Berry Gift Tag

It's Christmas Eve!!  The present-wrappin'-est day of the year!  Make this quick & easy gift tag to spruce up your presents.  Here's how:

Supplies-

• red & green felt
• scissors
• black sharpie
• glue gun

Step 1: Cut leaves out of green felt.

 Step 2: Cut berries out of red felt.

 Step 3: Glue it all together.

Step 4: Hot glue directly on to present.

Step 5: "Awwwwwwwwww, I love it!"

The Name Frame Game

It's not really a game, it just rhymed so I went with it.  Sorry I mislead you but as long as I have you here, look!

These frames- for cheerleading sisters Faith & Lylah- have been shipped off and by now should be wrapped and waiting patiently under the tree for Christmas morning. Which is more than I can say for myself because I can't wait for the girls to see them.  Their Nonnie (aka Gramma) assured me that Faith & Layla are going to LOVE their frames and now, though I've never even met them, I am so excited for them to open their gifts!

It's not weird if I invite myself over Christmas morning to watch them unwrap them, is it?  I'll only stay for a little bit.  Just until my french toast is gone.  Maybe they'll do a cheer with my name in it!!  Oh man, this is going to be the best Christmas EVER!!

Why Don't You Make Me: Frosty the SHATTERPROOF Snowglobe

Last week I was home in 'Rado for First Christmas (because you should always have at least 2 Christmases) and got to have a craft day with my 4-year-old niece, who by coincidence just happens to be the coolest 4-year-old ever, Tabitha.  One of the projects we made was this Frosty the Snowman snowglobe. 

Since this was going to be Tabitha's very own special ("it's just my perfect size!" in her words) snowglobe I thought it should be a little more kid friendly than the original snowglobes so instead of an old glass jar we used a plastic peanut butter jar.  (Sister didn't have an empty peanut butter jar lying around so we emptied the peanut butter that was in this jar into a Rubbermaid container and now it looks like she makes her own peanut butter.  "Oh this?  Ya, I make my own, so much healthier."  So, we both win!)

For this project you will need:

• a pre-schooler
• an empty peanut butter jar (plastic)
• a non-metal character of your choosing (ours is glass)
• Glitter
• distilled water
• glycerin
• modeling clay
• glue gun (do I really need to list that every time?)

Begin by adding a generous dollop of hot glue (about the size of a silver dollar) to the inside of your washed and dryed lid to adhere the modeling clay to. 

Then squish modeling clay into the entire surface of the inside of the lid.  Little fingers come in very handy for this.  The clay should be about 1/2" thick.

Now, press your character into the modeling clay.  Make sure to secure it in there pretty good, cover the feet up with some extra clay and then pose for a picture with it.

Oh what the heck, pose for 2 pictures with it- it's Christmas after all!

Now it's time to prepare your globe.  Fill your jar almost to the top with distilled water (it has to be distilled or it'll be cloudy) and 1tsp of Glycerin.  (More detailed instructions here.) 

Then put the jar in a big bowl and let your pre-schooler add enough Glitter to choke a reindeer. 

**The bowl is just to catch all of the extra Glitter that is sure to go everywhere if you hand a jar of Glitter to a 4-year-old.**  Case in point.

 

(For the record, this is how much Glitter it takes to choke a reindeer.)

Now, screw on your lid.  This should be a little tough because some of the modeling clay will get into the threads of the jar.  That is a good thing because it helps to seal the lid onto the jar.  That is a bad thing because I have weak little noodle arms and almost had to ask for help to get my lid on.

**TIP: if you're using an ornament like we did, be sure to remove the metal top because it will rust.  We also filled Frosty with water before submerging him so that there wouldn't be extra air bubbles in our snowglobe.**

Next add a line of hot glue around the base of the lid and stick some garland to it. 

And you're done! 

Now run up to your room and find the perfect place for it.  Tabitha did.  Then she immediately took it down, shook it up and Tim Tebow'd it across her room somehow.  I'm happy to report that Frosty passed this little quality control test with flying colors.  Toddler proof and proud!!

These snowglobes make wonderful last-minute gifts.  They're super quick, inexpensive and made by hand so they're extra special too.  Merry Christmas and happy crafting!

~mandee rae

My Outdoor Cat: the Heating Pad

I just got this small animal heating pad for my adopted outside cat Gritsy's outdoor kitty house.  Grits won't sit still for a picture so here's a picture of a bunny from the Cozy Winters website instead.

The heating pad is made specifically for small animals and never gets over 102 degrees.  It has a chew resistant cord and is actually activated by the weight of your pet.  So, when Grits is running around chasing squirrels and getting pet by neighbors, the heating pad remains just a couple of degrees hotter than the air outside.

And it says right on the box that it's 'Great for cat houses'.  Grits spent her first night with it last night and she seemed very happy this morning.  Hope this helps you with your own outside cat.