Talk Crafty To Me Dedicated to all things handmade

With the end of summer quickly approaching, and the start of a new school year almost almost upon us, thoughts turn to new pencils, recess bells, and empty chalkboards just begging to be written on. But chalkboards aren’t just for classrooms anymore. Blame it on the inner 8 year old in me but I love anything you can doodle on….

1. Wall Calendar by Martha Stewart
2. Dinning Room from House & Home
3. Chalkboard Fridge by Danny Seo
4. Animal Wall Stickers from Cocobohème
5. Children’s Room on OhDeeOh
6. Beach Side Retreat from Coastal Living
7. Chalkals by Modern Dose

Posted by: kelly

 Comments (0)

Step 1: Gather materials

• 2 wooden dowels (one about 1/4 smaller)
• large piece of paper or fabric
• tape
• thread
• lightweight string, twine, or fishing line
• craft knife
• ruler
• pencil, pen, or marker
• scissors
• ribbon

Step 2: With the craft knife, carve a notch into both ends of each wooden dowel.

Step 3: Place the shorter stick crosswise over the longer stick, 1/4 of the way down. When the sticks are laying down, all the notches should run parallel to the ground. Take the string and wrap it tightly around the center of your sticks, making an “X” shape, binding them together. Double check that the notches remain parallel to the ground.

Step 4: Thread the string through the notches, creating a diamond shape. Wrap it around a couple times, making sure the string is taut. This is will be the frame of your kite. Tie the string back towards the center of your kite and tie it off with a knot.

Step 5: Cut your paper or fabric so that it is slightly larger than the kite frame.

Step 6: Fold the paper or fabric over the string frame, and either tape it down if using paper or sew it if using fabric.

Step 7: Reinforce the top and bottom ends of your kite with strong tape. Then, punch a hole through these reinforced ends.

Step 8: Cut a of string, and knot one end of the through the top hole and the other end through bottom hole. This will form the bridle of your kite. Take the remainder of your string, and tie one end of it to the bridle, about 1/3 of the way down. This will be your flying string.

Step 9: Using string and ribbon create a tail for your kite, about 2 meters long. This will help stabilize your kite when flying.

Step 10: Fly and have fun!

Posted by: kelly

 Comments (0)

Who says art has to be expensive? If you’ve got a blank wall in your house calling out for a large scale piece of art why not make it yourself. Jessica from happy together, shows you how to create inexpensive textured wall art with just a few supplies.

- Check out the full tutorial here.

Posted by: kelly

 Comments (2)

I know, I know… it’s August…. it’s hot… and no one wants to be inside anymore than they have to. But, here’s a fun summer project, for you and your kids, that’ll get you back outside enjoying the weather before you know it.

- Check out the full tutorial here

Posted by: kelly

 Comments (1)

With summer now in full swing, thoughts of backyard barbecues and outdoor parties spring to mind. There’s no better way to enjoy those warm summer days, than lounging in the backyard with good friends and good food, making the most of those long days. But just because the sun eventually has to set, doesn’t mean the party has to end. Check out some of these great ideas for lamps and lanterns… a perfect way to help make those long summer nights, even longer.

Remember Safety First
If you’re using any flammable materials like paper bags, or are hanging lanterns in trees, be sure to stay away from real flames. You can purchase inexpensive battery operated tea lights, and candles online or at many craft stores and hardware stores.
 
 
 
 

Posted by: kelly

 Comments (2)

Just a quick note to remind you that Talk Crafty To Me is on Facebook! Head on over and check us out. Click the “Like” button and you’ll be kept up-to-date on new posts and all things crafty. We’d love to connect with you so feel free to leave us a comment, start a discussion or add your own crafty photos.

Posted by: kelly

 Comments (0)

If you’re kids enjoy spending all day riding around on bikes then this is the project for you. A cute little fabric bicycle bucket for their handle bars. They can use it to store all their favorite treats and treasures as they spend their summer days exploring the neighborhood.

And while you’re at it… why not make a few cute things to help fill the bucket?

You could pack them a picnic lunch with a reusable sandwich wrap, snack bag and water bottle holder. Or how about some fun things to play with? Make your own sidewalk chalk, or some fun travel games like checkers or memory. If you’ve got a budding artist on your hands, try this drawing case, or crayon roll. And last but not least… try a picnic without the mess. This felt food is fun to play with and can be used over and over again for endless picnic fun.

Posted by: kelly

 Comments (0)

Last up in our series on how to host a patriotic party is the post on cocktails! Because no party is complete without a couple of refreshing beverages, we’ve put together a list of festive cocktails, to help you celebrate in style.

Fourth of July Cocktail | Strawberry Sucker | Red, White & Blue Martinis | Classic Canadian Caesar | Patriotic Margarita | Raspberry Collins | Papa Doble | Cocktail for Canada Day | Mason Jar Drink Dispenser | Strawberry-Basil Iced Tea | Lemonade Favors

Posted by: kelly

 Comments (0)

Nature is full of vibrant reds and blues perfect for making your dessert table bright and festive. In addition to your standard cupcake and cookie fare try using fresh fruits combined with whipped cream, yogurt, or white chocolate, to bring a patriotic look to your desserts.

Fabric Trimmed Cake | Red, White and Blue Parfaits | Eager beaver cupcakes | Red Velvet Canada Cupcakes | Vanilla-Raspberry Sundaes | Berry Lemon Napoleons | Cinnamon Candied Apples | Red & White Candy Buffet | All-American Strawberries (For Canadian Strawberries dip them in red sugar instead).

Posted by: kelly

 Comments (0)

Lets face it your patriotic party just isn’t complete without the good stuff…. Food!

And nothing says summer like a good old barbeque. This holiday, fire up your grill and check out these ideas and tips to keep your grillin’ good and your guests happy.

Burger Bar

Setting up a burger bar is a great way to make something for everyone with limited effort. Pick a couple of meat options and set out a buffet of different toppings and let your guest build their own.

Try these twists on a good old classic:
- Bacon Swiss Burgers with Tomato and Avocado
- Moroccan-Spiced Lamb Burgers with Beet, Red Onion, and Orange Salsa
- Grilled Turkey Burgers with Cheddar and Smoky Aioli

And don’t forget your vegetarian friends:
- Portobello Burgers with Pesto, Provolone, and Roasted Peppers

Homemade BBQ Sauce

Homemade barbecue sauces are a great way to add a delicious kick to your grilling favorites. Fruit based sauces like this Peachy Barbecue Sauce, work great on meats like pork and chicken. Try a this Sweet Mustard Barbecue Sauce for a nice change from your traditional sauce. And for those of you who think grilling just wouldn’t be grilling without adding beer to at least one dish, try this Guinness® BBQ Sauce.

Other Grillin’ Favs

• Looking for something a little more traditional for your Canada Day celebration? Try this Cedar Plank Salmon with Citrus & Dill, using some fresh BC Salmon.
• Feeding a crowd… Double this recipe for Grilled Chicken & Ribs and you’ll have enough for a cookout of 20.
• When you think of grilling veggies, lettuce probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, but these grilled romaine salads have a delicious smoky grilled taste that’s subtle but yummy. Grilled Romaine and Asparagus Salad with Pine Nut Dressing | Grilled Romaine Salad with Spicy Caesar Dressing.

Grillin’ Tips

1. Keep It Hot.
You should preheat your grill before your start, otherwise food will stick. To gage the temperature, hold your hand five inches above the grate if you can leave it for for two seconds if the fire is “hot” and three to four seconds if the fire is “medium-hot.” Another way to prevent food from sticking is to grease your grates before cooking. This will also make it easier to clean up later.

2. Get good Meat.
You can’t hide bad meet with good sauce! Quality meat doesn’t have to be expensive, and you’ll be thanking yourself later if you get the best you can afford.

3. Cook with Duel Heat.
If possible on your grill it’s a good idea to have two heat zones. One side hot for searing meat first and the other side set to low to finish off the cooking.

4. Sauce Later.
Many BBQ sauces have a high sugar content so it’s best to apply these later in the cooking process. If you sauce too soon, there’s a good chance they’ll just burn.

5. Grill Veggies Without the Lid.
Grilling with the lid down traps in moister and can make your veggies go soft. With the exception of larger veg like potatoes, which benefit from the steam, when grilling veggies keep the lid up.

Posted by: kelly

 Comments (1)