The Bandana Purse

This cute little purse and instuctions on how to make it was sent by Donna to the Chat Forum. Link can be found HERE If it appers in Italian please go to Google translate and change to english.  Many thanks again to Donna in NC

Fancy Coffee Filter Corsage

 Thanks to AmazingMoms for this idea!

Create them this unique and beautiful Fancy Coffee Filter Corsage that can last years.

All you need are:
•3 Coffee filters
•1 Pipe Cleaner
•Acrylic or Watercolor Paint
•Paint brush
•Scissors
•Ribbon
Hot Glue Gun
•Optional Embellishments: doilies, felt balls, broken jewelry, decorative paper


To create, simply follow these steps:
1.Start with 3 coffee filters.

2.Flatten them out with your hand.

3.Fold the filters like a fan. One fold towards you, one away, until you reach the end.

4.Once you have your folds all done, cinch the center with a pipe cleaner.

5.Then gently, open up each “petal” one by one.

6.The next step involves paint. Choose any color or colors of acrylic or watercolor paint, that you want the edges to be.

7.Water the paint down as much as you can, while still retaining the color.

8.Then slowly drag your brush along the edges, and watch the watery paint bleed onto the filter petals. This is my favorite part…

9.Next, cut off the ends of your pipe cleaner, so that you can hot glue a ribbon on to the back, to serve as your wrist tie.

10.The next part involves any creativity and imagination you want to incorporate into your corsage. Use papers, doilies, ribbons, felt balls, bits of broken jewelry or anything you wish, to embellish your corsage… I used wrapping paper for leaves and I hot glued doily edges here and there for extra frill. I used hot glue for this entire project. Make sure not to let children use a hot glue gun without adult supervision.
Wala ! Flower Corsage

Another coffee filter Flower

The Sock Puppy

Originaly published in 1958 he is a cute toy for an older child .Not recommend for under age 5

Wondering Fish

While strolling through the art section in Sisters Oregon a few weeks ago we came across this marvelous item.
I have done a little work in metal but nothing as fantastic as this metal fish.
Look closely at this marvel of patience and skill.
I would love to own this beauty and display it on the table my hubby made but alas it is 2,500 dollars well worth the time and skill,but way out of my tiny art budget.
One can always dream and there are always pictures.
Enjoy the marvel of the metal fish.

.

Banana Lime Cupcakes

The tart tang of lime adds zest to that great banana flavor. Our banana lime cupcakes are a refreshing flavor combo!

Ingredients:

•2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
•1 teaspoon baking soda
•1/4 teaspoon salt
•3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter softened
•1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
•3 eggs
•1 tablespoon lime juice
•1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
•2 ripe bananas mashed
•1 teaspoon lime zest grated
•3/4 cup sour cream

Makes: About 18 standard cupcakes. Each cupcake serves 1.
instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In large bowl, cream butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, lime juice, vanilla, banana and lime zest; mix well. Add flour mixture alternately with sour cream; blend thoroughly but do not overmix. Pour into prepared pans. Bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan on rack; remove and cool completely before decorating.

FREE Doll E-Pattern

FREE Doll E-Pattern by Shashi Nayagam

Shashi Nayagam of "MoonbeamWorld.com" and "Sewing With Moonbeams" blog offers one of her wonderful dolls "Butternut" as a FREE Doll E-Pattern in .PDF format that you can download yourself.
Just CLICK on the two .pdf links below to view and print the E-Pattern and Instructions for making Butternut.

Pattern - Click here to open [Butternut-pattern.pdf]

Instructions - Click here to open [Butternut.pdf]

Shashi's Bio - “I was born in India and raised in a small hill station. When I was very young I would watch my mother's friend who made beautiful cloth dolls and dreamed of making my own dolls one some day. After growing up, getting married and moving to UK, I was able to make my dream come true. With the help of many Internet doll making friends and on line classes as well as taking classes with some of the wonderful doll artists from and in America, I have been able to develop my doll making skills. Since my childhood pastimes were drawing and painting I have been able to use these skills in creating my dolls.”
Shashi's website is "MoonbeamWorld.com" and Shashi's blog is "Sewing With Moonbeamssewingwithmoonbeams.blogspot.