Scottie Dog Cookie Cutter Project #3: Easy Felt Coasters

What's on my table today? My Scottie Dog coasters!   (Click any photo to enlarge to see details!)

This is the third of what will be over 30 craft or cooking projects, all using cookie cutters! Every project will use a cookie cutter in one way or another. For most of them I've selected my favorite cookie cutter, the Scottie Dog! I hope you will be able to join in the fun and make some (or all) of the projects. And my desire to inspire you to think like a cookie cutter, making a "cookie" daily in a fast and fun way. Many of the projects are easy enough to do with children, though various precautions should be taken (ie: scissors, pins or hot glue guns).

PROJECT #3: Scottie Dog Felt Coaster

The ease of working with felt makes this project fun for novices and experts. A set can be crafted in just an hour, making it the perfect craft to make for gifts when you are short on time. As always my Scottie Dog cookie cutter jumped front and center to my craft table and offered his services as my pattern.

I first traced the cookie cutter onto a piece of cardboard. This way I could turn the cutter back and forth to fit in the most cuts per piece of felt. If your cookie cutter doesn’t have a “handle” as my Scottie Dog cutter does, you can just use the cutter to trace back and forth, skipping the cardboard pattern cutout.

Select your contrasting colors, I used red and white. I figured these could be used all year long, but especially at Christmas and quickly again for Valentine’s Day. Plan to make sets of four (or six), as coasters usually come in those size sets. I used a thicker white felt for the coaster, and a thinner red felt for the appliqué cutout. To trace on the red felt you could use a pencil, but I used a white Dress Maker Pencil so that it would show up nicely for my cutting. Cut 4 Scottie Dogs (or your chosen pattern) from the red felt.

If you use a pencil for tracing, plan to turn the pattern over to use on the coast so there is no evidence of pencil led. Also, if you mark your best pair of scissors for “Fabric Only” it helps keep them sharper long. Unfortunately I break my own rule and use these for everything. I was good at first….

Next cut 4 squares of the thicker white felt. I cut mine to 4 ½ inch squares. You can adjust your size as desired to fit your chosen pattern. Use a pair of Fiskars’ Scallop scissors for the squares, which makes a fun edge. If you don’t have a pair of these, maybe you have a zig-zag pair? Or, just cut them out with a flat edge. If you cut with a flat edge you could add red embroidery thread as a trim later. But, do put the Fiskar Scallop scissors on your “wish list”, they are load so fun and cut fabric, paper and more.

  

Now place your cut red felt pieces on your cut white felt coasters. Put a small dab of felt glue on the back of the red piece and set on the white coaster, centering and placing the pattern in the direction you want it to be. You can use a fabric glue or even a tacky craft glue as well. Let this set about ten minutes to hold the pattern in place. You can skip this step, but it makes it easier to sew on if attached somewhat.

Next, pull out a contrasting thread color. I used a red and white bakers’ string. Sew on your pattern using a running stitch and then you are finished!

If you feel like doing a little more stitching you could stitch around the perimeter of the white coaster, too.  Now tie up the set in a sweet little bundle and go to the kitchen for some White Hot Chocolate.

Heidi’s White Hot Chocolate Recipe

(Makes 4 cups)
2 cups whipping cream
3 cups milk
6 ounces white chocolate, shaved or chopped for easier melting
½ tsp. vanilla extract

In sauce pan on stove top mix all ingredients on medium high until white chocolate melts. Bring to near boil, but do not boil. Pour into four mugs and top with a dab of whipped cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon.

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Here is another hot white chocolate recipe I found at “about.com”:
White Hot Chocolate Mix by Linda Larsen
Ingredients:
• 2 cups grated white chocolate
• 1 (3-ounce) package white chocolate pudding mix
• 2 teaspoons vanilla powder
• 1-2 teaspoons dried orange peel, finely ground, if desired

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Store in an airtight container in a cool dark place.

To make White Hot Chocolate for Two:
 1-1/2 cups milk 1/4 cup White Hot Chocolate Mix

 In a small saucepan, heat the milk until bubbles form around edges. Add the White Hot Chocolate Mix and whisk until the chocolate is melted and beverage is blended. 2 servings

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 As an additional gift to give along with the coast you could mix up a batch of White Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix, put in pretty bags. Be sure to give a tag with directions, too.

Here's another mix recipe:

Heidi’s White Hot Chocolate Cocoa Mix

2 cups instant nonfat dry powdered milk
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup nondairy powdered cream (one with your favorite flavor is a bonus!)
8 ounces cup shaved or shredded white chocolate

Mix first three ingredients and place in a plastic bag. Put the shaved white chocolate in a smaller bag; place that bag in with the powdered mix, to keep it fresher longer. Seal the bag, attaching the instructions for making the hot white chocolate drink.
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Another even easier way to give out White Hot Chocolate mix with your coasters is to buy the mix premade here. This mix is the Big Train mix (this link is for prepacked individual servings) we use here in the summer for blended iced coffee drinks. It also mixes up great as a hot drink. I buy this in bulk at our local grocery outlet store. Around here we use this all summer long for blended drinks, saving tons of money over going to the coffee shops. Plus, when you live in the country it’s not economical to drive into town for a blended iced coffee at your whim.

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White Hot Chocolate Tags:   Add this to your packaged mix using red rick-rack:
White Hot Chocolate Mix TAGs for Scottie Dog Cookie Cutter Project Number 3

Cut tags out with scalloped scissors and attach to bag of mix. Pre-measure 16 tablespoon per bag, enough for 4 cups of white hot chocolate to go with your Scottie Dog felt coasters.

This felt coast craft can be made with any of your favorite cookie cutters.  For Valentine's Day use a heart:

Here’s a set of coaster I made a few years back for autumn, using a leaf cookie cutter. I doubled up the coaster felt for contrasting colors, and used brown embroidery thread to sew on the leaf appliqué to the first coast layer before attaching the two layers. The coaster layers were attached with felt glue.

So, go sew, create, craft, mix stuff up in the kitchen and enjoy the new year!
   Blessings, Heidi

(Linked with Romantic Home's Show & Tell Friday)

Cookie Cutter Project #2: Scottie Dog Brooch

This is the second of over 30 craft or cooking projects, all using cookie cutters! Every project will use a cookie cutter in one way or another. For most of them I've selected my favorite cookie cutter, the Scottie Dog! I hope you will be able to join in the fun and make some (or all) of the projects. And my desire to inspire you to think like a cookie cutter, making a "cookie" daily in a fast and fun way. Many of the projects are easy enough to do with children, though various precautions should be taken (ie: scissors, pins or hot glue guns).

(Remember, you can click on any photo to enlarge...)

 



PROJECT #2: SCOTTIE DOG BROOCH

As I mentioned before, I selected my favorite cookie cutter, the Scottie Dog, for this project.  (Here's one I found on Amazon you could use, or search for one here. Mine is from my collection of vintage cutters.)Trace your cookie cutter on a piece of thick white felt.  You can turn the cookie cutter felt cut out in the opposite direction once cut out so that any pencil marks won't show up on the front side. Or, if you want your Scottie Dog (or your shape) facing the other direction once pinned on, just trace on the opposite side of the felt.

Sew on a brooch (or bar) pin to the back. I used 1 3/4" pins, but 1" would work fine, too. These are very inexpensive, I've had a package that I've used for years.  I did an Etsy search in case you need to purchase theses, look here. I used extra strong cotton thread to make sure the pin remains secure. One tip for placement is to actually hold it up to your chest to make sure that it hooks into the pin's clasp at the right angle for wearing the brooch.

I've decided to go all white, so I've poured out some white buttons selecting a pile to begin hot-gluing onto my cutout felt piece. 

You could use a thick craft glue for this as well, or if working with children, but for instant gratification use a hot glue gun!  Clean off any hot glue gun strands.

Pin onto your jacket and take your favorite Scottie Dog everywhere you go!

Another variation I made was the Scottie Dog with two red buttons. 

Follow the above directions, but instead of hot gluing the entire front with white buttons, select two red buttons, sewing them on the front, center of the brooch with white thread.  Glue on a little red "bling" for an eye, or even a mini red button.  Then for the sweet collar cut a piece of red and white baker's string, tying in a small bow on front. This brooch is strong enough to stand on it's on once pinned on, however you could cut out a piece of cardboard the same shape.  Glue the cardboard on first, then glue the brooch clasp pin on with strong craft glue instead of sewing it on.

Have fun making these. Remember, use any of your favorite cookie cutter shapes.  For Valentine's Day use a heart, it's so easy!

Have a blessed day!  ~Heidi

(Linked to Between Naps on the Porch 102nd Metamorphis Monday, and

Get Your Craft On Monday, and Hope Studio's "Teach Me Somthing Tuesday" (wonderful tutorials are linked there---check it out!)

Look at what we built! Gingerbread houses!

Working on homes  is one of my skills.  Mark and I have always worked on the homes we've bought and sold.  I'm pretty good at setting windows, putting up cedar siding and so much more.  So it's only natural for me to take this home building skill into the kitchen....for Gingerbread Home Building!  I organized a party for 10 to build away, with sugar and spice, and everything nice! I had to limit it to ten becuase more than ten kids (big &/or small) was all I thought I could handle eating so much candy simultaneously!  I invited family, friends and very special neighbors.  My only instructions were for them to bring candy of any sort and any amount.  That's what really added to the fun.  I had a huge tray of candy and various pretzels, etc.  What the guests brought added to what I had made for a gold mine of building supplies!  (Note:  this is one way to use up saved Halloween candy!  One guests brought a big bowl full and it all worked wonderfully!)  I realize it's now after Christmas, but I wanted to post about it and I just know this post will be read again for Christmas 2011! 

My "Gingerbread House Making Party" was one of my favorite events this 2010 Christmas season.  I'm thinking now that a "Love Shack Making Party" might be fun for Valentine's Day.  What do you think?  For privacy reasons I'm only going to show photos of my family here on my blog, but there were others here as well.  

Remember, you can click on any photo to enlarge....to see every sugar crystal and gingerbread crumb!

Here's where I started packing the pounds, I ate all the trimings....oops....

I ended up making batches of gingerbread dough, each batch making 2 houses.  The houses were cut from cardboard cutouts I had drawn up from my gingerbread house making party last year.  They seem to be the perfect size, not too small and nothing like Martha Stewart's grand masion! If you decide to do this, do not double the recipe, it really does turn out better if you just make one batch at a time.  Immediately after taking the pieces from the oven, re-trim them, using the original cardboard cutout as a guide. My Mark is going to make a set of cookie cutter cutouts for me, which would make it fast than hand-cutting each piece. Oh, did I mention you can eat the trimed pieces as you go?  Yes, I do...yes, I did. 

Can you just smell how good my kitchen smells?

I had to use every inch of counter space for my productions....it sure smelled good in my kitchen!

I loved "building" the houses...

Next step is to "build" the houses.  I make mine simple, no windows or doors cut out, so the framing of the house is easy.  Using royal icing, (made with merangue powder, powdered sugar, and warm water), I "glued" the houses.  This is very fast and easy when the icing is a good consitancy.  If it's too wet, the pieces slip around, but at that point you can use long pins to pin the pieces together until it dies.  But, as I said, easier than that is to get the icing to the correct consistancy!

A clean table....not for long!

I covered pieces of cardboard with aluminum foil to set the houses on, that way the guests could have "grass" or "snow" around their house bases.  Last year I used all white plates, but I think the covered cardboard works best.  And I don't loose any of my white plates!

Gather supplies, candies, dyed coconut (for grass) and anything you can find,

these houses look great with any food items!  Gather up books for guests to get ideas from, too.

I gathered up my gingerbread house books from my collection, and also check a couple out at the library.  The very best book as far as directions is the "Gingerbread House" book by Christa Currie (1992).  She has only included hand drawn illustrations, but the information she presents is great.  The other book that's pretty old (1984) is "The Gingerbread Book", which is packed with ideas for creations even beyond the houses.  There are color photos in the is book, so I also highly recomment if you're doing any gingerbread house making research. 

You can see the tray filled with some of the goodies I was beginning to set out.  Once all the guests arrived it was overflowing like crazy.  The tray is an old metal refrigerator tray that I "picked" off my brother's inherited junk yard  years ago.  I spray painted it white and it works for so many things.  For this party I layed some Christmas napkins on it.  (Oh, and my brother's property is all cleaned up now...I brought home more than my fair share of "treasures", though, to help him out!)

Ellie worked long and hard at decorating her house. She's three and I thought she did very well.

Then she spent the rest of the day pulling her candy off just as meticulously to eat it!

I had the tubes of white royal icing ready for each guest. I made yellow, red and green as well.  For next year I need to find better coloring for red.  When I set the "red" on the table one little boy said, "hey that's pink".  You see why I need better red coloring paste for next year!  At that point I said, "I think I should make "spring" themed gingerbread houses, as I 'm better at making pastel colors!"  Hum, and "Easter Gingerbread House Making Party" sounds like fun!

John Mark also worked long and hard on his house.  He is 4 1/2, and talked non-stop the whole party.  It was funny, he told us all about how he and my son-in-law built their house and barn (he really did help with the barn!).

Melissa even had Claira in on the building.  Melissa made a darling house.  Last night she had us over for a turkey dinner and there on her kitchen counter was the house....ALL goodies had been picked off and eaten!  I'm not sure who ate all that candy....maybe all 5 of them did!

She was very serious...

This sweet guest had piped on "PEACE" and "JOY" on her rooftops.

A neighborhood of gingerbread houses.  The one on the far right was Ellie's, she packed so much on her house that a sidewall caved in. At that point she just started loading the house inside with candy!

                             

Melissa inspecting the homes.  The tree in our kitchen was one Mark grew on our property. When one young guest first saw it he said, "Wow! I've never seen a tree like that before!"  It made me realize we've had homegrown trees for so long I had forgotten what the lot/store bought trees even looked like.

Here's the gingerbread recipe:

GINGERBREAD RECIPE FOR HOUSES

1 cube margarine (or butter)

1/2 cup brown sugar (dark or light, but dark will make the dough darker)

1/2 cup molasses

3 1/2 cup sifted flour (it really does help to sift, but don't worry if you don't)

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp baking soda (make sure it's fresh, not old!)

1 1/2 tsp. ginger

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. cloves
1/3 cup warm water


Mix up the margarine, brown sugar and molasses. Add all the remaining dry ingredients, alternating with the water until nicely mixed into a dough that sticks together. You may need to add a little more water, or possibly a little more flour. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for about 20 minutes, if you chill longer the dough gets too stiff.


Lightly flour work surface, rolling one half of dough at a time. Cut out house shapes, re- left over dough pieces. Dust flour off pieces as you place on cookie sheet. The best way to bake is to use Silpat baking mats. If you don't have those, use parchment paper. If you don't have that, lightly spray or grease cookie sheets before placing cut-out pieces on it.


Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Don't under bake, as you need them to be solid enough to hold their own shape. Remove from oven and cool slightly. Then re-cut the shapes, so they are all the original size. (The dough often expands a little as baking.)

Note: A lot of people recommend rolling the dough and cutting it out right on the back of a cookie or baking sheet. I didn't find success that way. My best success was cutting on the work surface and then transferring to a Silpat mat. Those mats are worth their weight in gold!

Here's the royal icing recipe:

ROYAL ICING (Meringue method)
4 cups powdered sugar
3 Tblspn Wilton meringue powder
6 to 8 Tblspn warm water


Mix and beat for 6 to 8 minutes.  Put tips in Wilton disposable decorating bags, screw on sealing cap outside (okay--just follow the directions on decorating tips package!) and away you go!  Set your filled decorating bags in tall cups, with damp napkin on bottom to keep tip moist.


Here's an alternative royal icing, this works just as well if you don't have meringue powder:


ROYAL ICING (Egg white method)
Begin beating 3 egg whites in mixer,
then slowly add (or your kitchen will look like a snow storm) 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar.
Beat 6 to 8 minutes, until thick but not too stiff.  It's an art...you learn it as you go!


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That's it.  Please have fun.  Please make sure you have a couple days to do it all, as this is not a fast kitchen crafting event!  :)   You will be rewarded with BIG smiles and HAPPY hearts!


Here's Melissa's completed gingerbread house:
 

I also made houses for our newly weds and my brother and his wife. 

   

Here's a couple Photoshop coloring pages I made, too...I may use one  for next year's invitations!

                         

Tomorrow is a new day.  A new year.  My personal prayer is that in all I do, I give glory and honor to God.

Blessings, Heidi

This is linked with Cindy's "Show and Tell" Friday event and Designs by Gollum Foodie Friday.)

Vintage Yellow Jeep Christmas "To & From" Tags

I bought a large container filled with little vintage Christmas figures.  Many of them were marked "JAPAN" or "Taiwan'.  None were made in China, which tells me they are not recent.  I paid $3 for the whole box at a thrift store a couple years ago.  Our grandchildren love playing with them, marching the Santas around, or lining up the angels.  This year for our Christmas card Mark took photos of the ones I had displayed on our entryway hutch.  For "To & From" tags I just resized the photo.  Things got very busy around here before Christmas and I didn't get a chance to upload this to my blog to share for 2010.  If you download it now, you'll have some tags ready for 2011.  Anyone with a Jeep will really love these.  Download, print out, cut out and attach ribbons...you're set for next year's Christmas!  I keep all our "To & From" tags in a little box and just keep filling it up year to year, often even cutting up old Christmas cards for tags.  I love to use vintage tags, too, and they are plentiful at garage sales.

Anyway, here's the download for our Jeep tags.  By the way, we do have a Jeep (2005), which Mark is currently working on---adding a lift kit and new tires (the old ones were very low on rubber, dangerous on our wet roads).

Christmas Gift Tags Vintage Yellow Jeep

Merry end of 2010!
Hugs, Heidi

(Linked to Metamorphis Monday-Before & After.   Before: junk from thrift store; After: Christmas cards and tags, as well as hours of fun for the grandchildren!_

Cookie Cutter Project #1: Scottie Dog Marshmallows

What's on my table today?  Hot chocolate and homemade marshmallows!

This is the first of what will be over 30 craft or cooking projects, all using cookie cutters!  Every project will use a cookie cutter in one way or another.  For most of them I've selected my favorite cookie cutter, the Scottie Dog!   I hope you will be able to join in the fun and make some (or all) of the projects.  And my desire to inspire you to think like a cookie cutter, making a "cookie" daily in a fast and fun way.  Many of the projects are easy enough to do with children, though various precautions should be taken (ie: scissors, pins or hot glue guns).

PROJECT #1:  COOKIE CUTTER HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOWS

Nothing beats a homemade marshmallow.  Nothing beats a Scottie Dog homemade marshmallow!  Here's the recipe, which I adapted from the one found in the "Gooseberry Patch Christmas 2010" magazine. (This is not the Gooseberry Patch "Christmas Book 11", although the recipe may be included in that book.)  I've tried making marshmallows before but never have had any luck until I made this one, which does not use corn syrup as most marshmallow recipes include.  This makes a nice fully and light marshmallow, perfect on top of a mug of hot chocolate or maybe sandwiched between Hershey's chocolate and a couple of graham crackers.  This recipe is easy to follow and does not require any candy making equipment.   

Fluffy Marshmallows
2/3 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoon cornstarch
1 cup cold water, divided
2 packages unflavored gelatin
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Line an ??????? jelly roll cake pan with aluminum foil, extending foil up the sides of the pan; grease the foil with cooking spray, such as "PAM".  In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar and cornstarch; set aside.

In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup water and the gelatin; set aside.  In a heavy medium saucepan, combine remaining 1/2 cup water and sugar over medium-high heat.  Stirring constantly, bring mixture to a boil and boil 2 minutes.  Whisk hot sugar mixture into gelatin mixture, blending well.  Chill in refrigerator 10 to 15 minutes.  Beat at highest speed with an electric mixer about 5 minutes or until mixture turns white an becomes thick like meringue.  Beat in vanilla.  Pour into prepared pan.  Chill about one hour or until set.

Use the ends of the foil to lift marshmallow from pan, setting on a firm surface.  Use your favorite cookie cutter dipped in hot water to cut out your shapes.  I used my Scottie Dog cookie cutter as well as a smaller sized Angel cookie cutter. The vintage Scottie Dog cookie cutter isn't thick enough to go all the way through, so just imprint the top, then use a sharp knife dipped in hot water to finish cutting it out.

Coat with the cut marshmallows in the powdered sugar mixture.  Another easier way to coat the cut marshmallows is to put the powdered sugar mixture in a zip lock bag, then add the cut marshmallows to shake on the coating.  Store in an airtight container.  Makes about a dozen, depending on what size cookie cutter you use.  The tray can also be cut in small squares.

Do not double the recipe, if you want more, make them in batches.  This recipe makes about 20 cut marshmallows depending on the size cookie cutter you use.

Now to answer your question (yes, I read minds):  Yes I drank MOST of this hot chocolate.
Next question:  Yes, I am bouncing off the walls! Time for my daily run, maybe I can burn off some of this sugar.

I should have stuck with just drinking the miniature Santa mug full, I found a set of two, vintage and made in Japan, at the thrift store still new in the original package!

I keep the homemade marshmallows in a tall seal able glass container.  They look so pretty in there.  Can you see the Scottie Dogs?  Also, in the next size done jar I keep the hot chocolate mix.  I use a vintage silver tablespoon to scoop out the mix.  So fun to drink hot chocolate on cold days like today.

May you have a blessed day.  Hugs, Heidi

(Linked to Susan's 121st Tablescape Thursday , and Foodie Friday here, as well as Cindy's My Romantic Home Show and Tell Friday here.)