Put a Cork in it! (Cork Place Mats)

A while ago, I found this amazing table that I fell in love with almost instantly. It's an antique folding table that has a healthy dose of wear and tear and was buried beneath a protective force field of dirt. Through all that I could see the diamond in the rough. I bought it, forced it to fit into my car, cursed my sedentary life choices while drudging it up the stairs to my apartment, and cleaned it up a bit. Now it's one of my favorite pieces of furniture. I'm having so much coming up with accessories and centerpieces. The most recent incarnation of "table dress-up" has been these very simple cork place mats.



I bought a roll of thin cork a while ago for a project that never happened. I'm pretty excited to let it live out it's crafty destiny in some way finally. The timing just happened to work out around Thanksgiving. This would easily be a fun project to keep kids busy while they are waiting for Turkey time AND teach them some basic sewing.

You Will Need:

4 pieces of thick cardboard, cut to 12"x18" rectangles (I used a furniture box)
1 roll of thin cork, large enough to cut 4-12"x18" rectangles
box cutter
glue
ruler
writing utensil
yarn of your choice
yarn needle
*optional: hole punch, decoupage roller

First cut your cork and cardboard to size. This was easiest to do using a SHARP box cutter. Make sure you cut the cork very carefully or it will tear. Not that it happened to me.*

*That is exactly what happened to me. 

Pour a thin amount of glue on the cardboard, focusing on the edges and corners with a large x through the center. I used a foam brush to smooth it out the first few but found that to be unnecessary. Line up the cork to the edges and press it to the cardboard. If you have a decoupage roller, you can use that to smooth the cork down. If not, just use your hands. They work too. After gluing I trimmed the edges with a box cutter again to make sure everything lined up perfectly.



Use your ruler and writing utensil on the back (the cardboard side) to draw a line an inch away from the edge all the way around. If you have a hole punch (I used my crop-a-dile on the small setting) you can pre-punch holes every quarter to half inch or so. You can just skip this step and get your yarn on if you're impatient but punching holes in advance makes the sewing go much faster. Double thread your yarn needle and start in a corner. You'll stitch all around the edges on the line. When the yarn runs out, just double thread your needle again and tie the ends tightly onto the old piece in the place mat. It makes for a pretty easy transition. 

Once you're done stitching the edges, tie the yarn to itself and flip it over. Admire your handiwork and subtly encourage those around you to compliment it.



Do you already have your Thanksgiving table all planned out? Is there room for a handmade addition or is it full of family pieces? I'd love to know!

Sheila

P.S. A sneak preview of tomorrow's project...

Happy (almost) Father's Day!

Don't read this before Father's Day Dad!

My Dad has kept everything I've ever made him. Everything.

The garage is kind of a time capsule of my creative development. I once gave him a popsicle stick that I tried to decorate to look like him. I used a pom pom to give it a little belly. I also sewed a little pouch so he could hang it on his peg board. I once gave him a paper plate decorated with bits of a plastic cup, cut into a smiley face. He keeps it all. And he likes it. I think.

As I've grown up (somewhat) I've tried to give slightly more useful gifts with a homemade flair. The man can never find any utensils in the kitchen; one year I bought a set of bbq tools and decorated them with bright red foam cuffs so that he would be able to find them. Guess where they are now? Hanging up in the garage.

Recently, Mom and Dad have been making the effort to eat healthier. That's meant a few pretty big changes around the Mettetal house. Among other things, a major effort has gone to reducing sodium. For Father's Day this year, I rounded up a few healthy, lower sodium snacks for Dad to munch on while watching his beloved races in his comfy chair in the garage.

I chose wasabi peas 'cause he loves him some spice, pistachios, and his favorite mixed nuts from the Make Your Own Trail Mix bar at Whole Foods. I used all unsalted nuts accept for almonds, then I tossed them all together to spread out the seasoning.

I can't just send a box of random snacks. That's not exciting at all. But etched father's day snack jars to go with them? Perfect. You know, to keep in the garage.

You will need:

3 extra clean and dry jars with lids
glass etch cream, like Armour Etch
foam spouncer
alphabet stickers
masking tap
duct tape

*Pay no attention to the paint, brush, and sandpaper in this picture. I had an idea for the lids that failed miserably. Duct tape really does fix everything.
*There are stencils and tools made just for glass etching but they tend to be a little expensive. The sticker/tape method is effective and cheap. Contact paper works well too.

 Use masking tap to section a rectangle on your jar. Use the alphabet stickers to spell out your chosen words. I picked "Father," "Dad," and "Pop" in three different fonts. Press down all stickers and tape as firmly as possible to seal the edges.

Use the spouncer to apply a generous coat of etch cream. A paint brush would work as well but the back and forth motion is more likely to accidentally lift the stickers or tape. Use the etch cream according to product instructions. The great thing about etching is it won't wear off or fade like paint. It's on there for keeps! It is essentially an acid that slightly corrodes the glass. It can burn you if you're not careful. Not that I know from experience or anything... 

Leave the cream on for at least 5 minutes, then gently wash off with soap and water. Once the cream is off it's time to remove the stickers and tape. 

Cover your lids with duct tape. It stays the best if wrapped around the edges and taped to the top inside of the lid. Don't worry, the jar still closes securely this way. Add your snacks to the jars and you're set!

 The drastic difference in jar size makes them more fun to look at but a lot harder to get a good picture!

Do you have anything planned for Father's Day? What snacks would you include in your jars? I'd love to know!

Sheila :) 

Kale and Portobello Alfredo

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend, despite all the rain in some parts. Did you do anything exciting?

It's been a while since I posted a recipe but the other day...

I made a terrible choice.

I skipped lunch. I don't know what made me think that was a good choice...

I have emergency snacks on hand just about everywhere. In my purse, my desk, my car, even my nightstand.  But they’re just little snacks like granola bars or almonds. Anyone who has even been around me for more than a few hours knows that if I don’t eat, I become obsessed. And cranky. And whiny. And generally unpleasant. Knowing all of this about myself, it should have been clear that skipping lunch would be a poor choice.

This dish is the lazy/immediately hungry version of this delicious looking feast from Iowa Girl Eats, using my favorite simple alfredo sauce that I've been using so long I can't even remember where I learned it.

You will need:

8 oz pasta of your choosing, I wanted to use up some whole wheat gnocchi
6 cups chopped cooked kale
8 oz portobello mushrooms
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves of garlic
3/4 to 1 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
Up to 1 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper
parsley

Cook your pasta. Do a better job that I did.

Slice up the mushrooms and dice the garlic. If you’re using fresh kale, you’ll want chop it into small pieces after pulling it off from the large center stem.

Side note: Did you know you can freeze kale? One day I cooked too much and decided to see what would happen if I stuck the leftovers into a plastic bag in the freezer. When it was time for kale again, it was so easy to dump it out of the bag and into the skillet to reheat it in no time at all. It makes adding healthy touches so much easier, especially if you usually eat kale cooked rather than raw anyway.

Next it’s time to sauté. Heat your olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. If you’re using fresh kale, add that to the pan first with half of your diced garlic and let cook while stirring frequently for about five minutes. Add the rest of your garlic in with your mushroom slices and continue to stir occasionally. If you’re using frozen kale, you can throw it in after your mushrooms have had a few minutes to cook.

By now your pasta is probably finished and set aside to drain. Now it's time to whip up the sauce. Over low to medium heat, throw a heaping handful of grated parmesan into a sauce pot and let it heat up for a just a second. Slowly add in cream and whisk quickly and continuously until the desired consistency is reached. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top for the easiest, most delicious alfredo sauce ever.

I must confess that although I have used the above recipe multiple times in the past I did not use it for this particular dish. I used cheater alfredo. I was huuuunngrrryyyy. I regret nothing.

Once your mushrooms have cooked down, your kale is perfectly heated, and your alfredo sauce is ready, toss it all in a bowl and sprinkle some extra grated parmesan and parsley on top. You know, to make it fancy.

Then eat it like you meant it. And don’t forget to save the leftovers for lunch the next day ;)

Do you know of a better way to freeze kale? Have you ever used such an easy homemade alfredo? I’d love to know!

Sheila 

Homemade Business Cards

This weekend, I'm going to my first local crafty event as a craft blogger.

Normally, I would avoid this temptation. "You'll just want to buy everything," I would tell myself, "better to stay far, far away..." I love supporting local artists and I love knowing that the work is truly one of a kind. What I do not love, is trying to accomplish those previously mentioned goals on a poverty level living stipend.   But now I have an excuse! I'm going to meet artists, do a little networking, and see if there is any potential for posts about their work, their process, or anything else an artist might be interested in sharing.

I looked into buying business cards for these purposes. There are tons of free offers online but they are pretty restrictive on design and still charge shipping. Eventually, I'd love to have a personalized stamper for cards like this one but that is not a possibility at the moment. Also, I'm hoping that it won't be long before the blog will have a  big girl design overhaul. Instead, I went for the most costly friendly and cutest alternative I could think of: make 'em!

I went through a few different styles using materials on hand. The first round turned out like this:

Which I hated.

Eventually, I printed out the info and cut the sheets to size instead of trying to stamp or hand write like a crazy person.

Using a sewing machine on a 2" x 3.5" piece of thin cardboard was surprisingly easy, but not forgiving. And I bet you know what the base is made of already...

Sorry for stealing all your food boxes, roomie. 

I didn't make a tutorial for this because, frankly, most people probably would not make the desired professional impact handing someone a business card made out of a waffle box with a ribbon sewn on. But to local artists? I think they'll understand. I'm excited for the opportunity to meet these people and bring the enthusiasm back to BTCC. I just wanted to share that excitement with all of you :)

Would you be able to get away with handmade business cards? What kind of impression would these make on you? I'd love to know.

Sheila

PS. Don't worry, there's no personal information on these cards not available on the blog. I'm private, yo. 

Antiqued Tile Coasters

My supervisor at work recently got married. She is always so great that I really wanted to make her something special. She didn't expect a gift but making and giving surprise gifts is pretty high on the list of things I love. But there were a few challenges: 1. I'm literally in poverty (VISTA life), 2. Although we work together on a daily basis, I don't really know her tastes or style preferences besides from normal office stuff. And office stuff is not wedding-y. With these things in mind, I set out to find something inexpensive, not overly personal, but still special. Maybe you've run into this situation before? Or am I the only one who forces my appreciation/gifts on other people...

You will need:

• 
  
• 4- 4"x4" tile pieces, these were were 16 cents a piece! Inexpensive = check.
• 4 chosen images on regular printer paper  
• flat cork. or felt. or slider dots... I just happened to have a roll of cork on hand
• strong coffee
• cotton balls
• Mod Podge
• foam brush
• hot glue gun, if you're using the cork
• ruler

First and foremost, pick out the images you would like to use. Ideally, they would have a 4"x 4" focal area.  The pictures for this project came from this interesting book my supervisor loaned to me. It seemed like a safe bet that she would like it, since it's her book. I made black and white copies of the 4 chosen pages. *That might be illegal... Hope not...

Next, brew extra strong coffee; I used leftover coffee to brew more coffee but you won't need more 1/2 cup. Use a cotton ball to apply the coffee to the paper, concentrating on the desired area and a few inches around. Even with strong coffee it still took 3 coats to get a nice sepia tone. Try not to move it until it dries or it could tear easily. Each coat will take at least 20 minutes to dry. I stole the roomie's seed babies to use as paper weights while they dried. Because I was too lazy to go back inside. Here's something to entertain you while you wait.

The neat thing about using multiple coats of dark coffee as opposed to just soaking it or some other methods is that it adds a lot of variance in shade. Each coat pools a little differently and adds a certain legitimacy to the antiqued appearance. It's not just one tone of sepia. It's my favorite way to antique paper.

Once your papers have reached your desired shade of sepia and dried, it's time to prepare them for the tiles. Center your tile over the image and mark the corners. Make a line about an inch long at a diagonal away from the corner (top left). Use a ruler to draw those inch long diagonal lines together (bottom left). Cut out around your pencil lines (bottom right). Wrap your image around the tile and make creases at the edges. The idea in wrapping the tile is to avoid visible unfinished tile sides so often seen in coaster tile projects. The paper should cover the sides and sit just a little ways onto the back side of the tile (top center). Once the creases are made, lightly coat the top of the tile with Mod Podge (top right) and slowly lay the paper on it, being sure to match up the corners. Carefully smooth the top of your paper watching for bubbles or lines,  then apply a thin coat to each area of the paper hanging over the tile and wrap it as your previously made creases indicate.

I ran into a little trouble with this coaster because I was trying to take pictures and be speedy. It didn't work out so well. But your edges will be cleaner and the tops will be flat I'm sure! The rest turned out much better once I put the camera away.

To prepare the cork, measure out and cut four 4" x 4" squares. Hot glue the edges and an X across the diagonals of the cork and quickly apply it to the back of tile pressing firmly and carefully wiping away any glue webs.

Now Mod Podge it up. Seal in that vintage-toned goodness on the top and sides with a thick coat of Mod Podge to protect it from the future drink elements it will encounter. Even with a foam brush Mod Podge leaves streaks. But you can use those to your advantage to make a linen texture look: for the first coat, keep all brush strokes going up and down, for the next all side to side.

In these pictures the tile looks a little more gray than sepia. But trust me, that's the fault of the photographer and not the method. This stinkin' photographer messes everything up. I should fire me.

Tile coasters are a crazy popular project because they're easy and adorable. Have you ever made any before? How were they different from these? I'd love to know!

Sheila :)

Cereal Box File Folders

Being a grown up is hard. There are bills to be paid, responsibilities to remember, and important documents to keep track of. When you move across the country a few times it becomes even more challenging. I had to take organizing matters into my own hands. 

File folders are expensive y'all. Especially when you don't need a million at a time. And the cute ones are even more expensive. However, reusing boxes you already have is free, eco-friendly, and in my opinion, adorable. 

You can use just about any thin cardboard box. Cereal boxes are usually about the perfect size so they don't require much trimming, but you could also use smaller boxes combined or frozen pizza boxes.

You will need:

•  
• a cereal box or other thin box
• an old file to use as a template (I'm pretty sure judging by previous content, condition, and hand writing on the label, I've probably had this one since 4th grade.)
• scissors
• writing utensil
• masking tape, optional
• label maker, optional

Start by cutting down the long seam of your box and laying it flat. Lay your template file over top and find the best fit. Don't worry if you need to include the tabbed edge to get the right size. We can fix that later. It's also a good idea to find a seam already made in the box to serve as the folder seam. It's a lot easier and looks cleaner than folding a new one.

Don't forget to save your Labels for Education or Boxtops! You're welcome, Mom.

If you care, now is a good time to check which image will be on the front of the folder. I usually like to go with the box cover. 

Once you're happy with the positioning, outline it. 

Cut it out. Said while making the Joey Gladstone gestures. 

Remember when I said we'd take care of the tab part later? The time has come. It's not necessary, but it adds a fun detail and a little stability. Use packing tape to cover the tabbed edge. Mine just happened to be decorative because that's how I roll. Half the tape should hang over the edge so it can be folded over and reinforced.

Now all you have to do is label it. It's easy enough to grab a pen or Sharpie but my favorite is a simple label maker. It looks nice, and it also easier to change if the content of the folder changes.

Voila! Grown up organizing materials. Kinda.

This may also encourage you to vary your cereal choices, which may or may not be a good thing.

What's your favorite organizing trick? I'd love to know.

Sheila  :)