Star Pinata Tutorial

Materials for paste:

Flour 

water

sauce pan

Materials for pinata:

large colander or bowl for shape

newspaper

wire for hanging

crepe party streamers

scissors

tissue paper for streamers at point of star

To make paste place 1/2 cup of flour in 2 cups of water, Bring to a boil, set to the side to allow to cool. In the mean time cut strips of news paper the size of 2 x 6 strips. Place a whole sheet of newspaper into your structure, smear paste, add another full sheet of paper on top this is the foundation in which the strips are added.

Do 5 layers of strips, repeat process to make 2 bowls. Let dry it will get hard.

Trim close, cut edges of paper.

This is the  time to cut a hole on the side for placing candy, Add the wire on top at this time also. I use tape to help me hold the two bowls together while gluing more strips inside the ball, and around where the two bowls have been put together, Let dry.

To make the points twist several sheets of paper, Tape to hold temporally, Glue more strips around the star point to make stiff.

 After star point drys stuff with bits of crumpled newspaper.

Cut the star point, see photo, start gluing strips around the ball.

Start cutting the color strips of crepe paper, I twist a good amount into a manageable size around the palm of my hand, Cut into 1/8 slits half way up the paper. Curl up with your hands.

Cut tissue paper into long strips, glue around the tips of the star point.

Start pasting the cut crepe paper, changing colors as desired. Enjoy fill with candy and party.

 Elmo birthday pinata.

Also see Dinosaur pinata, and

Flannel Baby Quilt

I made this delightful baby quilt with my new sewing machine. It has attachments for embroidery, and quilting. I have done hand quilting in the past this blanket would have taken me 4 weeks to complete normally, I finished it in a day.

In the process it took me a while to learn how to move the material, my arms were real sore that night. I got advise from the lady's from my quilting group to only work for 15 minutes at a time, taking small breaks.

Glass Beaded Purse

Materials:
Size 0 cable knitting needles
Glass seed beads size 11/0 pink
DMC  size 8 cotton perle thread white (Micheals, Hobby Lobby carry this thread) 1 ball
3 vials glass bugle beads 33 g
Purse enclosure gold
1 fat quarter in blush color for lining
Large eye beading needle (it flexes open in the middle for easier threading)

Add seed beads to thread before knitting. Make sure you have enough beads to make it to the end of a row before cutting thread. The more beads you have on the more you'll have to cut the thread at the end. Notice the sides of the purse.

Cast on 50 stitches
Knit 14 rows

Row 15 knit 7 stitches add 1 bead, knit 2 add 1 bead repeat 10 more times knit last 7 stitches
(should have 12 beads across,  and 7 stitches on each side.) repeat for next 10 rows.

Row 25-  knit 7 stitches add 2 beads every 2 stitches 12 times total finish with  knit 7 stitches repeat 10 times

Row 35 repeat row 25 except using 3 beads do 10 rows

Row 45 repeat row 25 except using 4 beads do 10 rows

Row 55 repeat row 25 except using 5 beads do 10 rows

Row 65 repeat row 25 except using 6 beads do 10 rows

Row 75 repeat row 25 except using 7 beads do 30 rows

Row 105 repeat row 25 except using 6 beads do 10 rows

Row 115 repeat row 25 except using 5 beads do 10 rows

Row 125 repeat row 25 except using 4 beads do 10 rows

Row 135 repeat row 25 except using 3 beads do 10 rows

Row 145 repeat row 25 except using 2 beads do 10 rows

Row 155 repeat row 25 except using 1 bead do 10 rows

Row 165- knit across the next 14 rows.

Bind off. Make sure new tied on threads are secure, I place a drop of white glue before I cut the strings off.

To make side gussets:

Cast on 10 stitches, Knit to end do 5 rows.

Row 6- knit 3 stitches, add 1 bead, knit 2 ,add 1 bead knit 2, add 1 bead, knit last 3 stitches. (Should have 3 beads across ) Repeat next 5 rows.

Row 12 repeat row 6 except add 2 beads. Repeat for next 6 rows

Row 18 repeat row 6 except add 3 bead. Repeat for next 6 rows

Row 24 repeat row 6 except add 4 beads. Repeat for next 6 rows

Row 30 repeat row 6 except add 5 beads. Repeat for next 14 rows

Row 44 repeat row 6 except add 4 beads. Repeat for next 4 rows

Row 48 repeat row 6 except add 3 beads . Repeat for next 4 rows

Row 52 knit next 6 rows, bind off.

Add lining, and closure.

Shrimp Appetizers

This one is a quick tasty recipe.

Ingredients:
French begets
1 cup mayo
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup of chopped green onions
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 bag of frozen  peeled cooked shrimps chopped into small pieces

Slice bread into 1/2 inch slices.

Cut shrimp into small pieces.

In a bowl combine all the ingredients and mix well.

Put about a tablespoon on each slice, place under the broiler in the oven with door open.  Stay there because it will cook quickly. Take out of oven after bubbly and brown.

 Enjoy!

Easy Oil Pie Crust

This is the easiest pie crust I have found.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1/2 cup oil minus a tablespoon
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoon icy cold water.
 Wax paper
Rolling pin

Place 2 cups of flour, salt and sugar in bowl. Mix well.

Measure 1/2 cup of oil minus 1 tablespoon.
Add water in a small bowl, with some ice cubes to get it icy cold.

Measure out 5 tablespoons of icy cold water into the oil. Do not blend allow the oil to rise to the top.

Pour into flour mixture all at once.

Using butter knife to mix, it will come together quickly.

Do not over mix, it should look like this.

Place between 2 pieces of wax paper, roll out.

Finish the decorative touches. This crust needs to bake at 375 degrees. It will seem tough when it first comes out of the oven. Once it cools it will tenderize and be very flaky. 

Electric Pressure Cooker Chicken and Dumpling Recipe

Ingredients:

Soup

2 chicken breasts chopped  into bite size pieces 

2 large carrots chopped

1 medium onion chopped

1 bunch green onions chopped

2 celery stalks chopped

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon butter

8 cups water

Dumpling recipe makes 8 to 10

3 tablespoons butter

1 1/2 cup flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup milk

Place butter in pressure cooker with setting on brown.  Saute green onions, onion, celery, and carrots. Remove from cooker, add chicken pieces, and brown. Return all ingredients back to the pressure cooker, plus 8 cups of water. Cook for 30 minutes in pressure cooker. 

For dumplings place flour, and salt in a different bowl mix well. Add butter with wire blender mix thoroughly until  flour mixture is small pea size. Add milk. The mixture will be sticky drop into cooked soup, by letting pressure cooker valve release pressure before opening. Set pressure cooker back to brown. Drop the dumpling in soup with lid off.  Cook with lid off for 10 minutes. 

Curly Knitted Scarf

My beautiful daughter-in-law is modeling the curly knitted scarf.  It's  a very decorative accessory, very easy to knit for beginners.

Supplies
Knitting needle size 4
Yarn your choice I used chenille 1 skein

Cast on 14 stitches.

Row 1    knit first row all the way across

Row 2    knit the first 6 stitches

Row 3    turn back and knit to the end

Row 4    knit to the 5th stitch.

Row 5    turn back, and knit back to the end

Row 6    knit to the 4th stitch

Row 7    turn back, and knit back to the end

Row 8    knit to the 3rd stitch

Row 9    turn back, and knit back to the end

Row 10  knit to the 2nd stitch

Row 11  turn back and knit back to the end

Row 12  knit 14 stitches all the way across

Row 13  Repeat rows 2 to 12 continue to desired length. Bind off.

Gingerbread Cookies

,

This is a very good recipe, I also use it for making my gingerbread house.

Ingredients:
2 sticks of butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
4 teaspoons cinnamon
4 teaspoons ginger
1 1/2 teaspoon grounded cloves
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 salt
2 eggs
1 cup molasses
6 cups flour
1 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Cream butter, brown sugar together, add eggs, and molasses beat until fluffy.

In a separate  bowl sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, black pepper, cloves, ginger,  and cinnamon. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the creamed ingredients stirring by hand. Do not use your mixer for it will toughen the cookies. Divide the dough in half, cover in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a well floured board, roll out each portion of dough to 3/8 inch thickness, keeping the other dough refrigerated until use. Cut with cookie cutters and place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake about 8 minutes. Let cool one minute before removing to wire rack to cool completely. Decorate as desire have fun with it.