[Nfb-krafters-korner] make-it-yourself gift ideas

Tue Dec 6 00:47:46 UTC 2011

Nin,

Hope your sunshine is brighter for you and better health.
Joyce  Kane
_www.KraftersKorner.org_ (http://www.krafterskorner.org/) 
Blindhands at AOL.com   

In a message dated 12/4/2011 2:38:08 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
the_ninn at tx.rr.com writes:

Hi  Dixie,

Here it is a year later and I wanted to try making the granola  recipie, but
the brown sugar measurement is missing.  Do you still  have the original
message?  Do you know how much brown sugar you are  supposed to use?

Hope all is well with you.  I have been gone out  of town  and in the
hospital, so have been out of the loop on both ACB  and KK.  I try to play
catch-up with all the emails, but it is a  daunting task, to be sure.  I 
hope
to get back with everyone after the  first of the year.

If you have that brown sugar measurement, I would  appreciate it

Have a blessed day,
Linda
The_ninn.  @tx.rr.com

-----Original Message-----
From:  nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org]  On Behalf Of Dixie
Sent: Saturday, December 04, 2010 9:59 PM
To:  Dixie
Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] make-it-yourself gift  ideas

Other make-it-yourself gift ideas

Compiled by  ARLENE MANNLEIN - H&R Staff Writer | Posted: Wednesday, 
December
16,  2009 8:00 pm 
Decatur (IL) Herald-Review
Included from a variety of  sources are some crafts and foods which can be
made and given as  gifts.

Cinnamon Ornaments

3/4 cup applesauce
1 bottle  (4.12 ounces) ground cinnamon
Supplies needed:
Cookie  cutters
Drinking straw
Colorful ribbon

Preheat oven to 200  degrees. Mix applesauce and cinnamon in small bowl 
until
a smooth ball of  dough is formed. (You may need to use your hands to
incorporate all of the  cinnamon.) Using about 1/4 of the dough at a time,
roll dough to 1/4- to  1/3-inch thickness between two sheets of plastic 
wrap.
Peel off top sheet  of plastic wrap. Cut dough into desired shapes with 2- 
to
3-inch cookie  cutters. Make a hole in top of ornament with drinking straw 
or
skewer.  Place ornaments on baking sheet.

Bake 2 1/2 hours. Cool ornaments on  wire rack. Or, to dry ornaments at room
temperature, carefully place them  on wire rack. Let stand 1 to 2 days or
until thoroughly dry, turning  occasionally.

Insert ribbon through holes and tie to hang. Decorate  with opaque paint
markers, found in arts and crafts stores, if  desired.

Recipe notes: DO NOT EAT. Makes 12 to 15 ornaments. If a  different size
bottle of cinnamon is used, measure 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons  cinnamon.
Perfect holiday fun activity for kids; the ornaments are easy to  make and
their aroma lasts long after the holidays.

Source:  mccormick.com

Scented Pine Cones

Pinecones
White  glue
Trim, such as greens or ribbon (optional)

Your choice of:  ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground allspice, ground
cloves, apple pie  spice

Paint edges of pinecones with white glue and sprinkle with spice  (or 
spices)
of your choice. Tap off excess spice. Let stand until glue is  dried.

Trim with greens or ribbon, if desired. Place pinecones in a  festive 
basket.
Or, tie pinecones to gift packages for fragrant  wrappings.

Note: These are not for eating, but they will make a  bountiful basket of
scented pinecones to add holiday fragrance to your  home.

Source: mccormick.com

Bath Salt Recipe

Bottle  or jar
Epsom salts
Food coloring
Perfume or essential  oil

Combine the desired amount of Epsom salts (enough to fit in your  bottle or
jar) with food coloring. Mix well so color is even. Add perfume  or 
essential
oil and mix again. Spread the mixture out on a sheet of wax  paper to dry 
for
a couple of hours and then put it in the bottle or  jar.

While the salts can be used right away, the perfume or essential  oil will
blend better with the salt if it is allowed to set in the jar for  a few
weeks.

Source: familycrafts.about.com

Grandma's  Little Angels Shirt

Plain T-shirt or sweatshirt
Fabric  Paint

Using fabric paint, help your child make an upside-down footprint  on the
shirt for the body. Then add two handprints on each side for the  wings. To
finish the angel, make a golden halo at the heel which will be  the angel's
head. You can also use paint to add a head and a  face.

Above the angel or angels you create, write "Grandma's Little  Angels." You
should also write each child's name below their foot- and  handprint angel
and include their age if you like.

You can also make  a canvas bag using this idea, or make this shirt for
anyone by simply  replacing the word "Grandma" with the appropriate word  or
name.

Source: familycrafts.about.com

No-Sew  Sachets

Fabric scraps
Fabric glue
Potpourri, such as lavender  flowers or balsam fir needles

For each sachet, place two matching  5-inch fabric squares back-to-back and
glue the edges together on 3 sides.  Spread the glue close to the edges to
prevent fraying.

Once the glue  is dry, fill the sachet with about 1/2 cup of potpourri. Then
glue together  the open edges and again let the glue dry.

Arrange the finished sachets  in multicolored stacks and tie them together
with a festive ribbon or  yarn.

Source: familyfun.go.com

Fleece Snuggle  Bag

Tape Measure
Fleece
Scissors
Straight  Pins
Thread

To determine how much fleece is needed, measure height  from top of head to
heel, then add 6 inches. Now multiply that number by 2.  Make sure when you
purchase your fleece, it is in one long  piece.

Fold your piece of fleece in half lengthwise with right sides  together. The
folded piece should now be as long as the measured number. To  even, cut
edges with scissors or rotary cutter and mat. At this time, you  can also 
cut
the sides to make the bag a little narrower if you  like.

Use straight pins to hold the 2 long edges together. Also pin  together one
of the shorter sides, leaving the last side open.

Using  a machine straight stitch, sew along the two longer sides, leaving
about a  1/2-inch seam allowance. Fold down the top, unsewn edge about 1/2
inch, and  then fold it down about 1 inch to make a rolled hem. Pin to
secure, then  stitch along the edge of the fold that is farthest from the 
top
edge of the  bag.

You can now turn your snuggle bag right side out and you are done!  Make 
sure
you take some time to add some personal touches. Add some  rick-rack along
the top stitch line or cut fun shapes out of contrasting  fleece and sew on
your bag. You can also embellish with buttons, ribbon,  fabric paint and
more.

Source:  familycrafts.about.com

Scottish Sharp-Cheddar Shortbread

1/2  cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4  teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch of cayenne pepper
8 ounces  extra-sharp white cheddar cheese, finely shredded
1 cup unbleached  all-purpose flour

Using electric mixer fitted with whisk attachment,  beat together butter,
salt, black pepper and cayenne at low speed just  until blended. Add cheddar
and flour and mix at low speed just until smooth  (do not overmix). Shape
dough into disk, wrap in plastic wrap or waxed  paper, and chill 30 minutes.

Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of  oven and preheat to 350 degrees.
Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment  paper.

On lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4- to  1/8-inch-thick round.
Using 1 1/2- to 2-inch round cutter, cut out rounds  and arrange 1 1/2 
inches
apart on baking sheets. Reroll scraps if desired  (rerolled scraps will be
tougher).

Bake shortbread until lightly  golden and beginning to brown on edges, about
13 to 15 minutes. Cool on  sheets 5 minutes before transferring to racks to
cool  completely.

Note: Look for a sharp, white cheddar that is on the dry  side. It's
important not to whip air into the dough - simply mix until  blended.

Source: epicurious.com

Cherry-Almond-Coconut  Granola

1 cup shredded or shaved unsweetened coconut
1/4 cup (1/2  stick) butter
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon  salt
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup slivered or sliced almonds,  your choice
1/4 cup sesame seeds
tablespoons brown sugar

About 1  cup dried cherries (a 5- to 6-ounce bag)

Heat the oven to 275 degrees.  Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment
paper. Sprinkle the coconut in a  single layer on the parchment paper and
toast just until some of the edges  of the coconut begin to color but the
coconut is still mostly white, 3 to 7  minutes (timing will vary depending 
on
how finely the coconut is shredded).  Remove and set aside to cool (leave 
the
parchment paper on the baking  sheet).

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large pot over low heat. Stir  in the honey,
vanilla and salt, then stir in the oats, almonds and sesame  seeds. Add the
brown sugar and stir gently until everything is completely  combined.
Transfer the granola to the parchment-lined baking sheet,  breaking up any
clumps so the granola is spread out in a single  layer.

Toast the granola, stirring every 15 to 20 minutes, until the  mixture is
golden brown, about 40 to 60 minutes. Remove the tray and set  aside to 
cool,
then transfer the granola to a large bowl. Add the toasted  coconut and
cherries, stirring well to combine.

Makes about 6  cups.

Note: This granola is not as sweet as usual. It would be nice  sprinkled 
over
vanilla ice cream for dessert or over Greek yogurt for an  afternoon snack.

Source: The Los Angeles Times

Confetti  Pickles

To make easy, all-purpose sweet and colorful pickles, drain the  contents of
the following, reserving the juices, which you can combine in  one 
container:
1 small jar each of mixed sweet pickles, kumquats in syrup,  red maraschino
cherries, sweet gherkins and 1 can of pineapple chunks. Mix  the solids
thoroughly, and spoon into clean decorative jars. Add enough of  the mixed
juices to cover the contents of each jar, and seal. Although they  can 
safely
be left unrefrigerated for several hours or even overnight,  attach a
colorful label advising that these pickles be stored in the  refrigerator.

Source: almanac.com

Raspberry  Vinegar

In a glass container, combine 1/4 cup of crushed raspberries  with 1 quart 
of
white distilled vinegar. Let set overnight at room  temperature. Strain
through a fine sieve into a decorative bottle, and add  several perfect 
whole
raspberries. (Packaged frozen raspberries work fine  and usually have plenty
of whole as well as crushed berries.) Add a  colorful tag recommending it to
be used alone or combined with olive oil as  a salad dressing.

Source: almanac.com

Chocolate Cookie Mix  in a Jar

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1  teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2  cup white sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup semisweet  chocolate chips

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set  aside. In a 1-quart
wide-mouth canning jar, layer brown sugar, white sugar,  cocoa, chopped
pecans and chocolate chips. Pack everything down firmly  before you add 
flour
mixture. It will be a tight fit.

Attach a tag  with the following instructions: Chocolate Cookie Mix in a 
Jar:
Preheat  oven to 350 degrees. Empty cookie mix into large bowl. Thoroughly
blend  mixture with hands. Mix in 3/4 cup softened butter or margarine, 1
egg,  slightly beaten, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Shape into walnut-size balls,
and  place 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 11 to
13  minutes. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet, then move to wire  racks.

Source: allrecipes.com

Master Cookie Mix

9  cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons salt
3  cups packed brown sugar
3 cups white sugar
4 cups shortening
8 cups  semisweet chocolate chips
4 cups butterscotch chips

In your largest  bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, salt, brown
sugar and white  sugar. Add the shortening and stir until mixture is mealy.
Lightly stir in  the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips until they are
distributed  evenly. Place 4 cups of the master mix into each 1-quart jar.

Attach  the following directions to the jar: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In
a  medium bowl, beat 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla until well blended.  
Add
entire contents of the jar to the bowl, stir until combined. Drop  by
teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10 to  12
minutes. This recipe makes about 2 dozen.

Note: This is a really  big recipe for mass "cookie mix in a jar" production
and gift  giving.

Source:  allrecipes.com

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