tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56273110499486399142024-03-05T23:52:13.745-05:00Brushstrokes & BottlecapsAn artistic touch to everyday livingBeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-59597152765814612292020-10-11T15:13:00.000-04:002020-10-11T15:13:10.293-04:00Monster Teeth<p>Halloween will be quite different this year due to COVID19. We brought out all our decorations and have put them out in our house, but we still felt a void around Trick-Or-Treating. I've read articles online of suggestions on how to safely give out candy during quarantine, but I think it still poses some risk. There must be something else we could do. Here's our solution; a Halloween Photo Op. We put up a monster in front of our house that everyone in the neighborhood can enjoy and have their photo taken with, if they choose. This guy is up for the next few weeks, so kids have all month to enjoy, not just on Halloween. </p><p>We had most of the items on hand in our stash of Halloween decorations, but I needed a set of teeth to really add a finishing touch. These were easy to make and addictive. I kept making more and more monster teeth for around the house. Hope you will try to make a set for your home. </p><p>Materials needed: ribbon (I used black, but red might look like gums), foam sheets (I used white, but yellow or green could be used too), a stapler and scissors</p><p>First decide how big your want your teeth to be and cut them out of foam sheets. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjow3SsMl5S5wz27zTs2k6rk6cytta15U_tP2XYXNQrUBTyZYd3TNseCA8VmPIl9sAnKOum5MORUXab7362RlfLCwtomqwHYTnjdZZDHV6o6QrVbTrO8mVNYn9gbw_d5hln1lz3g4Uq6G5A/s800/teethmaterials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjow3SsMl5S5wz27zTs2k6rk6cytta15U_tP2XYXNQrUBTyZYd3TNseCA8VmPIl9sAnKOum5MORUXab7362RlfLCwtomqwHYTnjdZZDHV6o6QrVbTrO8mVNYn9gbw_d5hln1lz3g4Uq6G5A/w146-h195/teethmaterials.jpg" width="146" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Then cut an amount of ribbon long enough to attach your teeth, but with a little extra on each end so you can hang it up. </p><p>Staple your teeth to the ribbon and your teeth are complete.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6or3L9uuZEDDrgcfIWxNXao3wdCxNcJJYmeLWIDRjbrW02F5FHHxh-2UoADZNwCkgFG5fIH_ULy6MhF-Dv3AGOoVM0BNztKPvPXGiqQtmROeKfxoNuB0T3_ptk3PebJ6fTtEipXMoQiR/s755/teethStaple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="566" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6or3L9uuZEDDrgcfIWxNXao3wdCxNcJJYmeLWIDRjbrW02F5FHHxh-2UoADZNwCkgFG5fIH_ULy6MhF-Dv3AGOoVM0BNztKPvPXGiqQtmROeKfxoNuB0T3_ptk3PebJ6fTtEipXMoQiR/w133-h177/teethStaple.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_szwvI5KPG5I0hf_ejcVk6ew-nC4zDHXvIZQmHirCsVY9ngfo_A0oe7erO5ddal-uP_FlRkhSZhNCPuwKtLM1bev1gI9EkX-2ilxCJXAfm7Ftzcm9csl3LynB8pwj56jqm2vob9ZuiyM/s1007/teethRotate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1007" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_szwvI5KPG5I0hf_ejcVk6ew-nC4zDHXvIZQmHirCsVY9ngfo_A0oe7erO5ddal-uP_FlRkhSZhNCPuwKtLM1bev1gI9EkX-2ilxCJXAfm7Ftzcm9csl3LynB8pwj56jqm2vob9ZuiyM/w195-h146/teethRotate.jpg" width="195" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p></p><p><br />Here is our monster photo op complete with the new set of teeth</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyZJn7VS17LCz_0EJ2-kZuuTlwOyRcllNcc4Ljev6YEJYgK4AYL7a34yVqDoG0AD4fqNltPF-eafqzuY5WG-xYweuEc7IElPH8PMcEqs2mOV11sSKtpxgPuFiqjvCFrMzLT4PKMkipoNU/s755/PhotoOpMonster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="566" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyZJn7VS17LCz_0EJ2-kZuuTlwOyRcllNcc4Ljev6YEJYgK4AYL7a34yVqDoG0AD4fqNltPF-eafqzuY5WG-xYweuEc7IElPH8PMcEqs2mOV11sSKtpxgPuFiqjvCFrMzLT4PKMkipoNU/w144-h192/PhotoOpMonster.jpg" width="144" /><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="566" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnpUCJrzY_B6RmO9t1nzW9lT1elAB7McAcMtqOgnD2O6kA_Nz9mban4hRrb2wxsaw1IxRHa1t9hfu7QCO7G2GHpxkvcMnfK7mdWHLTu7oTdV3CWyKjaVm_BSE3hCkiMnVdl4uP-p63HRi/w145-h194/MonsterAtNight.jpg" width="145" /></a><br /></div><br /><p>And a few others I made to decorate around the house</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwKXOeM9Zg0xmQmd9q4OKEE1ptn3hGjRYjWDmEhPnULgHz9oHY-TyX9sUaruty-ZgMpKiK61Vd8hgPkdOGV2NhY6KgbOMBswLVoZp3HeNq8nsbt3okfcAjg347eKYsMkfLr_KLXyCk-pr/s755/catTeeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="566" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwKXOeM9Zg0xmQmd9q4OKEE1ptn3hGjRYjWDmEhPnULgHz9oHY-TyX9sUaruty-ZgMpKiK61Vd8hgPkdOGV2NhY6KgbOMBswLVoZp3HeNq8nsbt3okfcAjg347eKYsMkfLr_KLXyCk-pr/w154-h205/catTeeth.jpg" width="154" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfg5RfUko_UUHH0bjPYp3-84TKWOlLYWd5tdh1TIOwYdm_xngqMT_JB12R4F_HQ-iy5H6AK4GDNcpYHgVQQeOjhT4sazfQKy4HNHt4rZ6ZkVxF5PeEIVf7I0VYFJd5qJ8nWQ0-zE51bvOn/s755/teethFireplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="566" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfg5RfUko_UUHH0bjPYp3-84TKWOlLYWd5tdh1TIOwYdm_xngqMT_JB12R4F_HQ-iy5H6AK4GDNcpYHgVQQeOjhT4sazfQKy4HNHt4rZ6ZkVxF5PeEIVf7I0VYFJd5qJ8nWQ0-zE51bvOn/w156-h208/teethFireplace.jpg" width="156" /></a><br /></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-39719270500014352242017-02-12T16:44:00.001-05:002017-02-12T16:44:19.104-05:00Easy Handmade Valentines It's easy to send handmade Valentines. My son and I made a bunch of these this year for his class.<br />
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Using a stiff paper, draw a simple heart, then paint the heart. After the paint is dry, using a dry paintbrush in a contrasting color, splatter the paint on the card by flicking the bristles of the brush. It creates a very finished look. <br />
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These were fun to make. My son enjoyed picking different color combinations.<br />
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Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-23881256786180749792015-11-30T16:33:00.001-05:002015-11-30T16:33:16.832-05:00Christmas Tree Trimmings WreathI started this blog with a very similar post on how to use left over Christmas Tree trimmings. Two years later I'm still trying to find new, creative ways to use them. This year I took the discarded Christmas tree branches and made my own wreath. Here's how I did it.<br />
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First I took an old wire clothes hanger and bent it into a circle with a pair of pliers, securing the ends. <br />
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Then I began placing the branches on the wire circle and tying them to the clothes hanger with green garden wire. I layered one in the front, one in the back, and staggered the branches.<br />
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I continued to add branches until I was satisfied with my wreath. I added a bow and hung with the attached hanger.<br />
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I am so thrilled with this wreath. It was so easy to make, but it looks like I bought it. Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-71180139034761588042015-10-27T09:22:00.000-04:002015-10-27T09:22:11.042-04:00Eek a Mouse!!<span id="goog_109828132"></span><span id="goog_109828133"></span>Help, I have mice!! These guys are really cute and easy to make. I found mice silhouettes I liked online, sized it appropriately and cut them out in black poster board. I attached them to the moulding with double-sided tape. We have ours climbing up a staircase, but they would be fun running over a kitchen back splash too.<br />
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My son loves these. He even added his stuffed kitty at the top of the stairs "watching" them.<br />
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<br />Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-10584458631008352952015-10-23T10:54:00.004-04:002015-10-31T10:37:04.881-04:00LEGO Halloween CostumeAll little boys are crazy for LEGOS. My son, is no exception. So, a LEGO brick was the obvious choice for this years Halloween costume.<br />
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To make this costume I used white cardboard <a href="http://www.staples.com/Elmer-s-White-Corrugated-Display-Board/product_302919">display boards</a> from Staples, a glue gun, x-acto knife, masking tape, ribbon, and yellow outdoor spray paint. I measured my son to decide length and width of the costume, then got to work. <br />
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The costume has 3 main pieces; 2 front/side pieces and a top. I basically built a rectangular box, but left one end open. I utilized the hinges of the display board so I didn't have to make as many cuts.<br />
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On the top piece, I cut out an oval shape for my sons head to fit through. Then I used a ramekin to draw circles on the side pieces for the arm holes, and cut them out with an x-acto knife. For the LEGO studs (the bumps that make LEGOs stick together) I cut out 6 circles. I measured the circumference of the circles with a tailors tape measure and then cut out 6 strips of cardboard, two inches wide. I also added two tabs on one side of each strip. This is to hold the LEGO stud to the LEGO brick.<br />
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Now I assembled the LEGO studs. I bent each cardboard strip so that it forms a circle. Sometimes rolling it around a broomstick is helpful. Then I used masking tape to hold it together. I hot glued the flat end of the cardboard strip to the circle edge with the tabs facing out. I did this step for each stud.<br />
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With all the studs assembled, I could attach them to the front side of the LEGO brick. I positioned the studs where I wanted them to lay and marked these spots. Then with an x-acto knife I cut out slits, just a little bigger than the actual tabs. I carefully pushed the tabs through the slits into the cardboard. I folded the tabs down and hot glued them in place. I did this step with all the studs.<br />
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I assembled the 2 front/side pieces together by taping them first with masking tape, and then hot glued them. I also made small braces on the inside of the corners for added stability and to keep the costume rigid.<br />
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Before I attached the top piece, I put the costume on my son to determine how low, or how high it needed to sit. Then took 2 pieces of ribbon to go from front to back of the costume like suspenders. I cut 4 pieces out of scrap cardboard and hot glued them down over the ribbon to prevent the ribbon from slipping.<br />
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I was now ready to paint my LEGO brick. I choose an outdoor waterproof spray paint in yellow. I sprayed several coats for best coverage. Now my LEGO costume is complete.<br />
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Here is the LEGO costume in action. Happy Halloween everyone!!!<br />
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<br />Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-46907592630341109202015-10-19T14:34:00.000-04:002015-10-19T14:34:38.196-04:00Spooky Owl SilhouetteHalloween is almost here. This owl is an easy do-it-yourself decoration. I found an owl silhouette I liked online, enlarged it to a realistic size, then cut it out in black poster board. I also cut out eyes and replaced them with neon orange construction paper to make them appear to "glow". Then I just used double sided to stick it to the wall.<br />
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I have a two large birch trees stenciled in my living room that is the perfect spot to perch my owl, but you could put one anywhere in your home, like over a door or window frame. No matter where you put your owl, you will always feel it watching over you.<span id="goog_1546022046"></span><span id="goog_1546022047"></span><br />
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<br />Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-57715022884535048702015-07-14T15:04:00.000-04:002015-07-14T15:04:05.227-04:00Summer Art for Your Front DoorI love brightening my front door with art I've made. This piece I created to match a pink flamingo outdoor flag. The
art was easy
to make. I cut out a pink flamingo silhouette and lagoon from paper I marbled myself. Then I painted a canvas navy blue. I adhered the paper cuttings to the
canvas with mod podge for outdoor use. Then, I attached a ribbon on the
back with a staple gun for the hanger. I
love how it gives my front door such a unique look. <br />
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Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-59277412154925500272015-06-24T14:25:00.000-04:002015-07-14T15:04:35.213-04:00Keep Bird Feeders Tidy with Patio StoneI love having a bird feeder. Ours is placed just outside the living room. The entire family enjoys watching the wildlife it attracts. Acrobatic squirrels entertain our cat and dog for hours. However, the downside of having a bird feeder is the mess it makes all over the ground underneath it. It seems I'm constantly pulling up weeds that sprout. To combat this issue, I decided to use patio stone underneath the feeder. The patio stone helps to keep the seeds from sprouting and gives it a decorative look. <br />
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I shopped around at my local Lowe's for patio stone and chose one that would suit the purpose, and add character to my bird feeder. The area under my feeder is small, so I only needed 4 pieces. I paid less than $5 for the stones.<br />
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We cleaned out the area under the feeder, measured where the stone would be placed, and began to dig. We dug a little bit deeper then the depth of the stones and a little wider. Then we positioned the shepherds hook that I hang my feeder on in the hole and put down a layer of sand. I then placed my patio block on top. We filled in the cracks around the stone pieces with more sand and a little bit of pea gravel.<br />
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I put the stone in around 3 months ago and it has helped a lot. Sure, seeds still spout occasionally here and there, but it is a definite improvement. Before I had to dig up all the debris from under the feeder, now I can just sweep it away. Its so much easier to keep the area clean, not to mention how pretty it looks.<br />
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<br />Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-52458148773189216862015-05-28T09:04:00.000-04:002015-06-24T14:26:23.607-04:00Scarf Wall DecorMy husband travels frequently for work and he recently returned from India. He brought me this beautiful silk scarf. But, I don't wear scarves and decided to display it in my home instead. So, I tied it around a simple straw hat, and hung it on my wall. Now it adds a pop of color to my bedroom that I enjoy every day. So if you're looking for wall decor that is not only unique, but bright and cheerful too, give this a try. <br />
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Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-14204854694617548612015-04-14T22:29:00.001-04:002015-06-24T14:26:51.888-04:00Upcycled Patchwork Jeans #2<div style="text-align: center;">
Instead of throwing away your favorite pair of jeans when you get a hole in the knee, try patching them. A patch is not only functional, but can add character too. </div>
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For my patch I used a swatch I took from a darker pair of jeans. I swiped a pair of my sons jeans that had a broken zipper. I love the contrasting blues, however a different color printed fabric would look great as well. </div>
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I turned my jeans inside out and traced the heart shape onto the fabric, then cut it out. </div>
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I pinned the patch onto the wrong side of my jeans and started sewing. I used dark blue thread matching the color of the patch. </div>
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After I finished sewing in the patch, I scratched at the rough edges to create a distressed look. </div>
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I love the way these turned out. It looks like I bought them this way. </div>
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Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-3491359824649633472015-03-14T16:14:00.001-04:002015-03-14T16:14:34.212-04:00St. Patty's Day PieIn the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, here's an easy dessert to whip up for your family. My 3 year old had fun helping. We even made a lighter version with low fat milk and lite cool whip. <br />
<br />
<b>Cool, Creamy St. Patty's Pie</b><br />
1 1/2 cups cold milk<br />
1 pkg Jell-o pistachio pudding mix<br />
2 cups cool whip, thawed and divided<br />
6 double stuff oreo cookies, chopped<br />
1 oreo pie crust<br />
1 square semi-sweet baking chocolate<br />
<br />
Pour milk into a large bowl and add the dry pudding mix. Beat with a wisk for 2 minutes. Gently stir in 1 1/2 cups cool whip and chopped oreos then spoon into crust. Spread the remaining 1/2 cup cool whip on top. Melt chocolate as directed and drizzle over pie. Refrigerate 2 hours.<br />
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<br />Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-33150319489675610352015-02-18T11:48:00.000-05:002015-07-14T15:05:07.183-04:00Ice bubblesNeed something fun to do when it's cold outside? Try freezing bubbles. The temperature needs to be at least 16 degrees or colder for this to work. Blow a bubble, then try and catch it on the wand. Once it has frozen, place it gently on a hard surface. They will pop, but since they are frozen will not disappear. Instead they become beautiful, delicate structures that resemble glass.<br />
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Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-3487569310606314512015-01-21T16:57:00.002-05:002015-02-18T11:48:30.661-05:00Hopeful for snowWith temperatures in the mid 60's all week, it doesn't look promising for any white stuff. At least my latest chalk board art I did puts me in the mood. <br />
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<br />Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-11432169483124660492014-12-14T16:18:00.000-05:002015-02-18T11:49:04.628-05:00Pepperint Swirl CookiesI bake several kinds of Christmas cookies each year to share with friends and family. This is a "twist" I made on one of our favorites. After baking the cookies you top each one with a peppermint Hershey kiss. Instead of refrigerating them to keep their "kiss" shape, I allowed them to melt and swirled them with a toothpick. I think they are much prettier this way and your children will have fun helping. <br />
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Recipe for Peppermint Swirl Cookies:<br />
Yield - 70 cookies <br />
<br />
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar<br />
1 1/4 cups butter, softened<br />
1 tsp vanilla<br />
1 egg<br />
3 cups flour<br />
1 tsp baking powder<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
1/2 cup finely chopped candy cane Hershey's kisses<br />
sugar<br />
2 bags candy cane Hershey's kisses<br />
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1- Preheat oven to 350.<br />
2- In mixing bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.<br />
3- In large mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar, butter, vanilla and egg. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Add the flour mixture until blended. Stir in chopped kisses.<br />
4- Shape into 3/4 inch balls and roll in sugar. Bake 10-12 minutes.<br />
5- Press a candy cane Hershey kiss into the center of each cookie right after removing from the oven. Let them melt. Use a toothpick to swirl the melted Hershey kiss. <br />
6- Allow to cool, then put them into the freezer for about 10 minutes to harden.<br />
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<br />Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-2273668501930016842014-12-08T18:29:00.003-05:002014-12-14T16:18:25.563-05:00Christmas Decor for Your Front DoorI tried something a little different this year and decorated my front door with a piece of seasonal art instead of a traditional wreath. The art was easy
to make. I painted a canvas red and affixed the Christmas tree to the canvas with mod podge for outdoor use. Then, I attached a ribbon on the back with a staple gun for the hanger. The Christmas tree was cut out of
paper that I marbled, but you could use just about anything; sheet
music from your favorite Christmas song or sparkly gift wrapping paper. I love how it gave my front door such a unique look. <br />
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<br />Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-77676211340681648162014-11-14T10:23:00.000-05:002014-12-08T18:40:03.116-05:00Beautiful Birch TreesDo you have a wall in your home that begs for something unique? Try a wall stencil. This is what I decided to do in our living room. Wall stencils are easy, fun, and since its your own creation, something you'll be proud of for years.<br />
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I purchased my stencil from <a href="http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/">Cutting Edge Stencils</a>. I chose the 'Beautiful Birches' large tree stencil. It was pricy at $90, but it came with several customizable options, like adding leaves and birds, and is reusable. I have already used mine twice since I changed the color of my living room a few months ago and had to re-do the mural.<br />
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I used acrylic paints, as I have found they work best. I have used regular wall paint in the past, but I don't recommend it. Wall paint is runnier and tends to bleed under your stencil. I also bought a stencil brush from Hobby Lobby that had <a href="http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/crafter-s-choice-stencil-brushes-461830/">gel holders</a> so you won't get a callus from stenciling several hours. These were very comfortable when doing a large stencil project like mine.<br />
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Now, I was ready to begin stenciling. I placed the stencil on the wall and secured it with <a href="http://frogtape.com/">Frog Tape</a>. If you've never stenciled before, just know the less paint on your brush, the better. I would dip my brush in paint, then wipe most of it off on a paper towel until the brush was dry before applying it. The drier the brush, the less likely the paint will bleed under the stencil. Always paint using a dabbing motion with stencils. After I finished, I carefully removed the stencil to reveal my new mural.<br />
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The birch trees were the perfect addition to my living room. I have received numerous compliments on them.<br />
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Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-58767946263889473612014-10-31T21:51:00.000-04:002014-11-14T10:40:04.184-05:00Disney "Cars" Family Halloween<div style="text-align: center;">
The "Car" family took a drive down town for a little trick or treating this evening. The weather was perfect. We had a great time. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Cars" Family<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lightning McQueen</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tow 'Mater</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sally</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-65448756355236954652014-10-29T14:41:00.000-04:002014-10-29T14:41:13.034-04:00Jack-O-Lanterns<span id="goog_1644779754"></span><span id="goog_1644779755"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We always enjoy carving pumpkins together as a family. Check out this years creations. </div>
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<br />Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-81377830576050246172014-10-24T13:28:00.000-04:002014-10-24T13:28:19.267-04:00Easy breezy batsLooking for that last minute Halloween decoration? These bats are so easy. I cut them out of construction paper, strung them with black string and hung them on my mantle. You could also hang them from a door frame. They swirl and spin with the slightest breeze. <span id="goog_658962745"></span><span id="goog_658962746"></span><br />
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<br />Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-4899138087055684142014-10-17T10:28:00.000-04:002014-10-17T10:28:13.120-04:00House-O-LanternWant to make the biggest Jack O Lantern ever this Halloween? House O Lanterns are an easy, low-cost decoration that makes a big impact. You only need black poster board, tissue paper and packing tape.<br />
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I started by measuring the window I wanted to put my house o lantern. My windows are double hung, so I needed two pieces. I had to elongate the standard size poster board to fit the window.<br />
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Once I had the top and bottom pieces, I drew the face of the Jack O Lantern. Then I cut it out with an X-acto knife. I took a few sheets of tissue paper and taped it to the back of the poster board. I used 3 sheets. You want to use enough pieces of tissue paper so that you can't see inside the house, but not too many that it doesn't allow light to pass though. Place it in the window and tape it to hold it secure.<br />
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Now turn on a light in the room and your House O Lantern will glow.<br />
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Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-92215282793613441942014-10-10T08:10:00.001-04:002014-10-10T08:10:44.034-04:00A Monsterous Entry<div style="text-align: center;">
We have been growing this archway for years and its finally big enough to have a little fun with. Trick or treaters may be nervous approaching our front door this Halloween. We decorated the bushes to our entryway into a scary green monster.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Chomp Chomp" during the day</td></tr>
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I started by hanging a set of glowing eyes in the bushes that form the archway. We purchased the eyes from a local Halloween shop for about $20.<br />
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I cut the teeth out of white foam sheets and hot glued them to a dowel rod. </div>
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I made them a little shorter than the dowel rod. This allowed it to easily hang from a branch under the archway.</div>
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I used the left over foam as a second row of teeth.</div>
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To bring the monster alive at night, we positioned a red flood light in front of him. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Chomp Chop" at night</td></tr>
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I've gotten lots of compliments from the neighbors and several cars have slowed down as they drive by. My son loves running through him and has named him "Chomp Chomp", but is hesitant to go under by himself. </div>
<br />Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-89368558753167640822014-10-03T08:10:00.000-04:002014-10-05T15:43:57.411-04:00Disney "Cars" Halloween CostumesIf you have a 2 year old son, you know the obsession with the movie 'Cars'. So of course that's what we're dressing up as for Halloween this year. My son is Lighting McQueen, I am Sally and my husband is Tow-mater.<br />
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The general design for the costumes is a car made out of cardboard, without a roof, and held up with suspenders. I used <a href="http://elmers.com/product/detail/730300">Elmers tri-fold display boards</a> I bought from Staples. You could use old card board boxes, but I didn't want to fuss with creases that I could never get out, or painting over dirt and grime from shipping. Each costume varied in size, but I think for all three Halloween costumes I ended up buying 7 backer boards. The ones I choose had a traditional brown cardboard side, but the other side was white. The white side was perfect for the outside of the costume because it took paint well. I used 3 different spray paints, but outdoor rated spray paint worked the best. To hold these things together, I used masking tape and hot glue. After they were assembled, I spray painted them. That's a brief overview, there was more to it than that, so let me explain what I did for each one.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disney Cars Halloween Costumes</td></tr>
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<b>Lighting McQueen Halloween Costume:</b><br />
The Lighting McQueen car is 5 basic pieces: 2 sides, a hood, back window/trunk piece, and back bumper/spoiler piece. I first measured my son and decided the costume would be 32" long x 10" wide. Then I found the best profile image of Lighting McQueen<b> </b>online. I blew it up to the size I wanted and printed it out. It was way too big for a standard size page, so I printed it out in segments and pieced it together, then cut out the shape.<br />
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I traced the shape onto the cardboard with the white side out. Then I cut out the shapes out of the cardboard with an x-acto knife.<br />
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Now I began to make the inside pieces. I measured the car shape from the bumper to the top of the windshield. It ended up being about 22". I cut a piece of cardboard 22" x 10" (the original width of the costume). I did this step for the back window/trunk piece and the back bumper/spoiler piece too. After cutting the cardboard pieces, I started bending them so they would easily match up to the car sides. Rolling them around a broomstick helped. Then I started to assemble the car. I used masking tape to hold the pieces stable, then went back with hot glue and glued all the inside seams.<br />
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For extra stability, I made simple joists; one under the hood and the other under the trunk. I cut an old box a little longer than the width of the car and folded it into three 3" sides. I cut 3 tabs at each end to secure them to the inside of the car, and glued them in.<br />
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Then I continued assembling the car by attaching the second side. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZX-ZB73TaZvAp9LcZlRUWqjTBC8HWeDJ2hqkatdAEsyCE2Z3fMK_Osu72c-hPEbuY7tkz_MhxBDoWrPkS8YEiZKyht0x5_xz3TgoGmoczMQBCyXZtBWouAh-IhPGqXseCTx7mxw9qI2n_/s1600/IMG_7635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZX-ZB73TaZvAp9LcZlRUWqjTBC8HWeDJ2hqkatdAEsyCE2Z3fMK_Osu72c-hPEbuY7tkz_MhxBDoWrPkS8YEiZKyht0x5_xz3TgoGmoczMQBCyXZtBWouAh-IhPGqXseCTx7mxw9qI2n_/s1600/IMG_7635.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for the paint shop!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I spray painted the car metallic red. Then used white acrylic craft paint to make the windows, windshield and mouth. Then used yellow paint for the lightning strike on the side. I cut circles out of black foam sheets to make tires and "eyes" and hot glued them on. Lastly, I used a black paint pen to paint detail around the lightning strike. I attached child suspenders to the windshield and the back window so my son could wear it.<br />
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<b>Sally Halloween Costume:</b><br />
The Sally car is very similar to Lighting McQueen. In fact, the Sally costume was actually easier since it has less to assemble; it has 4 pieces and the Lighting McQueen costume has 5. I used the same template for Sally as I did for Lightning McQueen, only instead of a spoiler in the back, I rounded the tail off like a Porsche. I made the costume a little bigger as well to fit me. The length is 33" and width 15". I traced the shape onto the cardboard with the white side out. Then, I cut the shapes out of the
cardboard.<br />
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Next I made the inside pieces. I measured the car shape from the bumper to the top of the
windshield. It was about 22". So, I cut a piece of cardboard 22" x 15" (the
original width of the costume). I did this step for the back window/bumper piece too. After cutting the cardboard pieces, I started bending them. Then I started to assemble the car. I used masking tape to hold the pieces
stable, then went back with hot glue for the inside seams.<br />
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I also made simple joists for the front and back to stabilize it; one is under the hood and the other is under the trunk. Then I continued assembling the car by attaching the second side. I spray painted the car a baby blue color I found at Lowes. Then used white acrylic craft paint to make the windows, windshield and mouth. I used black foam sheets to make tires and "eyes". Lastly, I used a
black paint pen to paint long eyelashes on Sally's eyes. Then I used blue suspenders to hold the costume up.<br />
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<b>Tow Mater Halloween Costume:</b><br />
This costume is very different from the other two. Instead of trying to create a streamline look of a sports car with cardboard, I tried to make the Tow-Mater Halloween costume as boxy-looking as I could. This car has 17 pieces. I first measured my husband and decided that his tow truck would be 48" long x 18" wide. Then I drew the profile shape onto newsprint and cut it out.<br />
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The costume was way too
big for a standard cardboard backer board, so I had to make it into 2 sections; a truck cab and a truck bed. I traced the shape
onto the cardboard with the white side out. Then I cut the shapes out of the cardboard.<br />
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Now I began making the inside sections. For this step, I basically just built a box. I cut one piece for the grill, another for the hood/windshield, and one for the back window. Standing the pieces in place prior to attaching them together helped to visualize the final costume. <br />
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If you notice on Tow-Mater, his hood is missing, so I made the hood piece sit <i>lower</i> than the sides. I have plans for a fan belt and can lights, but we're not quite there yet. Then, I attached the grill, hood/windshield and back window. I taped them it to hold them stable, then hot glued the seams. <br />
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We wanted the truck bed to have a wench in it, so we needed the base to be very sturdy. We doubled up on the cardboard for the truck bed. One piece had a crease in it already, so we used that one as a working floppy tailgate. Before I could put those pieces together, I put the wench in between them. I drew the shape of a wench, and traced the shape onto cardboard and cut them out. I cut two pieces and hot glued them together, but only at the top. I adjusted the bottom of the wench in the truck bed so they form a triangle shape. I made two slits in the cardboard truck bed where I wanted it to go and slid it into the slots. I folded them over once they were in place and hot glued them down.<br />
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For extra stability, I made simple joists for the front and back. I put one under the hood and the other in the truck bed. The one in the truck bed will show, but we just used this as a holder for the tow rope. I connected the cab and the truck bed with a long strip of cardboard on the inside of the two pieces, taped it down and hot glued it secure.<br />
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Now that the body is complete I began to construct a few detail pieces. For the fan belt, I cut an 8" circle out of cardboard and another strip of cardboard to go around it 26" long by 1 1/2" high. However, I made this strip have 2 wider sections, as these will be tabs that attach it to the truck. I rolled the strip to make it flexible, then taped it to the circle piece and hot glued it. Then I made 2 slits in the truck hood to match the tabs of the fan belt, slid the tabs through, bended them over and hot glued them secure.<br />
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For the head lights, I used two old oatmeal canisters and hot glued them down. One canister I left open to place a small flashlight in that stays in place with the lid on.<br />
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I painted it with a brown spray paint I bought from Lowes. Then used white acrylic craft paint to make the windows and windshield. I cut two pieces of white cardboard for the "buck" teeth, hot glued it to the grill, and painted the rest of the mouth with white paint.<br />
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I used black foam sheets to make tires and "eyes". For the tow rope, I drew the shape of a hook, cut it out of cardboard, and covered it with silver HVAC tape. I strung rope from the hook, to the wench, and around the stability joist in the truck bed. The hook is strategically placed to that it holds the tailgate up. Then I used brown suspenders to hold the costume up.<br />
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These turned out great. We can't wait to wear them. I'll post pictures of us in the coming weeks, so keep checking back. <br />
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<br />Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-72283414451022589602014-09-09T18:39:00.000-04:002014-10-05T15:16:28.405-04:00Signs of fallSchool is in session, nights are getting cooler and days are getting shorter. Signs that fall is on its way are everywhere. With the cooler weather, we've been busy in the yard cleaning it up and getting it ready for winter. One project we did recently was creating a miniature dry river bed. This one was hubby's idea to correct an erosion issue we have in one our our flower beds. This was very simple to do. We bought pond pebbles from Lowe's ($6), and dug out a shallow crevice from the splash block to where we wanted to water to flow. Then we added the stones. I am thrilled at the results. The light colored stones highlight the flower bed and adds character. I can't wait to see it with a dusting of snow this winter. <br />
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One of my favorite signs that fall is on its way is the garden spider. This little lady
showed up in our yard a few weeks ago. We've had fun watching her spin
her web and catch bugs. Her markings are so beautiful, I had to share this photo.<br />
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Spiders gets me in the mood for Halloween!!!! We love to celebrate Halloween around here by decorating our house and dressing up in crazy costumes. I have lots of ideas for Halloween to share, so please stay tuned......Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-63173938571190044922014-08-05T21:53:00.000-04:002014-10-05T15:15:58.665-04:00Made for shadeIn the heat of the summer, I'm always trying to find ways to stay cool. I love spending time on my patio, but in the summertime the patio just got too hot. My patio gets full afternoon sun and was like an oven. So, we decided to install shade sails. We got the idea a few years back when visiting family in Arizona. Shade sails were everywhere. They even use them over cars in parking lots. The contrasting color of the sails against the blazing scenery of Arizona was breathtaking. <br />
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Our shade sails were made by Tenshon <a href="http://www.tenshon.com/">www.tenshon.com</a> and are very high quality. The sails are several years old and have not shown any signs of wear, fading or tearing. The fabric is very durable and well stitched. I chose triangles, but they come in a variety of shapes and colors.<br />
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The shade sails have been a great addition to our outdoor decor. Not only is my patio a more comfortable sitting area, but for my fair-skinned family, it was a savior from sunscreen. I sometimes set up the kiddie pool on the patio and I don't have to worry about my little guy getting fried.<br />
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Not only do we enjoy our shaded patio, but my plants do too. Shade sails provide that filtered sun that plants love. My herb garden is booming.<br />
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If you have an area you'd like shaded, consider these. Not only are they functional, but add a nice pop of color to your outdoor landscape. I get lots of compliments on mine. <br />
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<br />Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5627311049948639914.post-80697131113590089072014-07-02T18:02:00.000-04:002014-07-02T18:02:14.205-04:00Seeing starsAre you taking a pie to your 4th of July get together this year? Here's an easy way to make it festive. Before putting on the top crust, use a cookie cutter to cut out star<span id="goog_794085061"></span><span id="goog_794085062"></span> shapes in the dough, then place it on your pie. Be careful though, once the dough has the shapes cut out, it can easily stretch and tear. Then, use the cut out dough stars to layer over the holes and bake. So pretty. I hope my pie tastes as good as it looks. <br />
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<br />Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04037454264418884512noreply@blogger.com0