Pieced Hearts Place Mats and Napkins

Skill Level BEGINNER Number of Blocks and Finished Size (for 4 place mats) 4 Pieced Heart Blocks 12" x 12" (Click here for the Pieced Hearts Block pattern) Download Instructions: Click here to download instructions. (Problems downloading our .pdf? Click here for troubleshooting tips.)

Fabric Requirements (4 placemats and napkins)
Background, Light Pink . 1/2 yard
Red Print .....................1 3/8 yards (includes napkins)
Red ............................1 3/4 yards (includes binding and napkins)
Backing .......................1 yard
Batting ........................4 pieces 14” x 20”
Cutting Instructions:
Fabric 1, Light pink
... 64 squares 1 1/2” x 1 1/2” (Piece 1A)
... 16 squares 2 1/2” x 2 1/2” (Piece 1B)
... 16 rectangles 2 1/2” x 5 1/2” (Piece 1C)
Fabric 2, Red print
... 16 squares 3 1/2” x 3 1/2” (Piece 2D)
... *3 strips 2 1/2” x WOF (width of fabric)
... *4 squares 16 1/2” x 16 1/2” (napkins)
Fabric 3, Red solid
... 4 squares 2 1/2” x 2 1/2” (Piece 3B)
... 32 rectangles 2 1/2” x 3 12” (Piece 3E)
... *6 strips 1” x WOF
... *4 squares 16 1/2” x 16 1/2” (napkins)
... *7 strips 1 1/2” x WOF (set aside for binding strips)
*Cut first
Making the Placemat:
Note: Refer to Pieced Hearts Block assembly instructions to make 4 blocks.
Step 1. Referring to Diagram I, stitch red 1” x WOF strips to sides of red print 2 1/2” x WOF strip to make strip set. Make 3. Press seam allowances towards red print strip. Cut 8 segments 12 1/2” wide.

Step 2. Stitch a strip set to sides of blocks (Diagram II).

Step 3. Using 45 degree angle on rotary cutting ruler, align ruler as shown in Diagram III and trim each corner of place mat. (If you prefer rectangular shaped place mats, omit trimming step.)

Step 4. Layer place mat top, batting, and backing. Machine quilt in the ditch. Bind place mats with red solid fabric.

Making the Napkins:
Step 5. Cut two 16 1/2” squares from red and red print fabric. Sew squares together right side to right side (1/4” seam allowance). Backstitching at beginning and end of seam, leave opening for turning (Diagram IV). Turn right sides out, turn under edges of opening, and press. Top stitch 1/8” from edge. Make 4.

Pieced Hearts Block

Skill Level BEGINNER
Finished Size: 12˝ x 12˝
Download Instructions: Click here for complete instructions for this block.
Bonus Pattern: Click here for a heart-felt Place Mat and Napkin. (Problems downloading our .pdf? Click here for troubleshooting tips.)
Cutting Instructions:
Fabric 1
... 16 squares 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" (Piece 1A)
... 4 squares 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" (Piece 1B)
... 4 rectangles 2 1/2" x 5 1/2" (Piece 1C)
Fabric 2, Red Print
... 4 squares 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" (Piece 2D)
Fabric 3, Red
... 1 square 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" (Piece 3B)
... 8 rectangles 2 1/2" x 3 12" (Piece 3E)

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of Piece 1A squares. Align squares with Piece 3E rectangle, top corners, right sides together (Diagram I). Sew on previously drawn line. Cut away excess fabric leaving 1/4" seam allowance. Make 8 total pieced rectangles.

Diagram I

Step 2. Referring to Diagram II, sew together 2 pieced rectangles, Piece 1B and Piece 2D to form corner unit. Make 4 total pieced squares.

Diagram II

Step 3. Referring to Diagram III for unit/piece placement guide, sew 3 rows using 4 corner units, 4 background strips, and red 2 1/2˝ square. Sew rows together to make Pieced Hearts Block.

Diagram III

Pumpkin Spice Macarons

Have you ever wanted to make homemade macarons but were too intimidated to try? Don’t let all that here say about how difficult they are to make scare you. Honestly, sometimes I think people try to make things more complicated than they really are. In this case, making macarons definitely falls under that category. If you do enough research about them like I did (because I was afraid I would screw them up… see “10 Signs of a Bad Macaron” and “Parisian Macaron Crimes and Misdemeanors“), you’ll find several variations as to how to tackle them and the many things that can go wrong.
Some recommend you separate your egg whites at least 24-72 hours prior, sitting in your fridge and then setting out a few hours before incorporating them in your meringue. Some swear that you have to weigh all of your ingredients–almond flour, egg whites, and sugars (I went out and bought a kitchen scale just for that, I’ll admit). Some swear that the secret to the perfect shell is to sift the ground almond flour and powdered sugar to “weed out” all of the big nut and sugar chunks. Some emphasize the folding of the food coloring into the egg whites, to handle them gently so as to not ruin the structure of the egg protein. Some recommend you tap the cookie sheets after they’ve sat for a few minutes to remove some of the air bubbles.
Well let me tell you something. Don’t worry about any of that.
When I picked up BHG’s special magazine edition of Fall Baking, the first spread I opened to was one of these pumpkin spice macarons. It was the selling point. I hadn’t made macarons since January of this year, and I’m in a new (very small) kitchen, but I knew I’d find a way to make them happen. Reading over the recipe, they made it seem too easy. No mention about being gentle with the meringue or separating the egg whites days beforehand. Nope. None of that. I thought it was too good to be true. But I trusted them anyway and went for it.

I seriously will not ever deviate from this basic recipe again. They turned out absolutely perfect. At least to me. Maybe it’s my oven now, but the first two macaron attempts I tried came out too gooey in the center and didn’t puff up as much as I hoped. These didn’t do me wrong. And they shouldn’t do you wrong, either.

The perfect shell and “foot”.

Plus, hello! Pumpkin spice! You’ll impress all your friends and they’ll be the perfect autumn treat to “spice up” your dining room table. You will love them, and you’ll love making macarons. I’m telling you, you’ll get addicted.

Pumpkin Spice Macarons

Makes about 28-30 macarons (14-15 total when you sandwich them together)
Recipe from BHG’s Fall Baking

• 1 1/2 cups finely ground almonds
• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 3 egg whites
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• dash of salt
• 1/4 cup granulated or caster sugar
• 8 drops yellow food coloring
• 2 drops red food coloring (I used a mix of gels: red, orange, and yellow until I got the color I wanted)
• 1/2 cup pumpkin butter

1. Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper; set aside. In a medium bowl stir together almonds, powdered sugar and spice; set aside.
2. In a large bowl combine egg whites, vanilla, and salt. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until frothy. Gradually add granulated sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high speed just until soft peaks form (tips curl). Stir in nut mixture and food coloring (I added the food coloring first, but I’m not sure it really matters which one you add first).
3. Spoon mixture into a large decorating bag fitted with a large (about 1/2-inch) round tip. Pipe 1 1/2-inch circles, 1 inch apart, onto the prepared cookie sheets. Let stand for 30 minutes before baking.
4. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Bake in the preheated oven for 9-10 minutes or until set. Cool on cookie sheets on wire racks. Carefully peel cookies off parchment paper.
5. Spread about 1/2 teaspoon of the pumpkin butter onto bottoms of half of the cookies. Top with the remaining cookies, bottom sides down. You did it!

No fry Mozz Sticks

Homemade Mozz Sticks

Short Description	So great - Two ingredients!
Cooking Time:	20 minutes
Recipe Makes:	10
Calories:	179
Grams of Carbs:	19.6
Grams of Fat:	6.2
Grams of Protein:	10.5
Ingredients	Egg Roll Wrappers String Cheese
Instructions	Use egg roll wrappers and string cheese. Baked not fried :) Bake at 350 for 15-20min.

Bling Storage for the Bathroom

Bling Storage for the Bathroom

Reposted

Dear Chicago House,

Chicago teenager does like her make up but her bathroom usually looks like a bomb has exploded in it, with makeup brushes everywhere and clothes on the floor...sigh.

In an effort to make her a little more organized I made this dandy little make-up storage pot. Bling, bling!

it was very easy to make

You will need
1 clean tin can (this one was home to fire roasted tomatoes)
Scrap book paper
Modge podge
Hot glue gun
Decorative fillers (my local Michaels is relocating and had fantastic clearance items, I got three big bags of these for a $1)

Cover the inside and outside of the can with scrap book paper and modge podge. I used a simple dotted paper but you could get some interesting effects using a more detailed paper.Then glue your decorative filler beads with hot glue. I started at the top and worked in lines.

I hope it will become a permanent home for all those makeup brushes!

Love from

Creative in Chicago

eGG cARTON fLOWERS

Needed: Empty egg cartons, scissors and wire

-

Cut four strips out of a tip of the egg carton. Round the edges of the egg carton strips to imagine the Red leaves. Three such layers of egg cartons fingertips and inside each other. The inner need not be cut into four strips. Plug the wire into the hole in the middle and fasten them to jam steel thread together. Make sure it hangs a long steel wire end based on hullets nedside so that you can attach to a branch. Cut four strips out of a tip of the egg carton. Round the edges of the egg carton strips to imagine the Red leaves. Three such layers of egg cartons fingertips and inside each other. The inner need not be cut into four strips. Plug the wire into the hole in the middle and fasten them to jam steel thread together. Make sure it hangs a long steel wire end based on hullets nedside so that you can attach to a branch.

Stocking stuffers for Men

love stockings; they are one of my favorite parts of Christmas. When I was younger, my mom would spend lots of time stuffing our stockings with goodies for me and my brother (actually, she still does stockings for us). They aren’t full of expensive gifts, usually just cheap little games or treats. I’ve been trying to teach the art of stocking gifts to my husband. The first year he put most of my gifts in the stocking (because make-up and perfume and jewelry fit in the sock), he then realized that stockings are for fun, little things.
I’ve compiled a list of small gift ideas for the husband, brother, son, or boyfriend in your life.
My husband is one of those men who really has no hobbies and doesn’t really spend his money on anything, so I know how hard gift shopping can be!

And if you could help me – please click HERE and tell me your favorite handmade gift!

Stocking Stuffers for Men:

1. Cologne – samples work best because they are smaller and cheaper
2. Soap – handmade beer or manly soap is nice
3. Undies
4. Socks
5. chocolate or other candy
6. chocolate covered bacon, pretzels, or other food items
7. Bottle opener, bottle opener ring
8. Beanie/knit hat
9. Gloves
10. Holiday ornament
11. Key Chain
12. Phone case
13. Money clip
14. Wallet
15. A cheesy movie from the clearance bin (hello Chuck Norris)
16. Mini lego kits (like race cars, lego men, key chains, etc.)
17. Silly putty or other slimy substance
18. Deck of cards or other card games (like Uno)
19. Silly toys – parachute men, poppers, wind up animals, sticky hands, mini etch-a-sketch, etc.
20. Shot glass
21. Key covers (I bought tiki men key covers for my brother one year)
22. Ear buds
23. Mini bottles of booze
24. Ties
25. Cufflinks – if your guy wears them, there are some awesome ones on Etsy
26. Manly bath products or bath favorites- my brother really loves a certain brand of mint tea tree shampoo
27. Pocket knife
28. Mini tools or weapons – what male doesn’t love a Nerf gun?
29. Batteries
30. A book, graphic novel, or magazine
31. $5 giftcards – one of my favorites, fast food or coffee works great
32. Gum or mints
33. Chapstick – my husband always steals mine or complains about chapped lips
34. Hand or boot warmers – found some at Target, 2 for $1
35. Hand or cuticle cream
36. Computer decals
37. Car air fresheners
38. For the love of your life: Massage oil
39. For the love of your life: sexy undies for you
40. For the love of your life: Other bedroom goodies
41. Special cigar
42. Matches or lighter
43. Coffee samples
44. Patches, stickers, or pins of a sports team, band, or company, etc.
45. Coffee cup or mug
46. Nail clippers and tweezers
47. Razors and other shaving accessories
48. Boot or hat cleaning or weathering spray
49. Pens or pencils
50. Bandanas
51. Mini specialty food items – mustard, hot sauce, nutella, etc.
52. Belt buckles

Have a guy in your life with a hobby or interest? Is he a student? There are other trinkets your can fill his stocking with as well:

• Memory cards
• USB Stick/flash drive – some awesome ones on Etsy as well
• Ear guages/plugs
• Film
• Camera filters or accessories
• Craft/hobby supplies
• Kitchen utensils/trinkets – a special knife, measuring spoons, something the cook might enjoy
• Quarters for laundry

Also check out the notes below for even more ideas!
Good luck, and make it even more fun/annoying for your guy – wrap every item individually!

Seed Bead Ombre Plaited Bracelets

 

Tool list:

Tigertail (nylon coated wire) / Seed beads in graduating colours / Crimps / Jump rings / Chain / Clasp

Instructions:
Cut 6 lengths of tigertail that are all 12cm long / Put a crimp onto the end of one piece of tigertail, then thread that end through a jump ring and back on itself into the crimp / Push the crimp tight against the jump ring and squash between pliers / Thread on equal amounts of each colour seed bead to required length / Thread another crimp on after the the last seed bead / Thread the tigertail through a second jump ring and back through the crimp / Pull tight and squash the crimp / Trim any excess tigertail / Repeat these steps twice for each jump ring so you end up with three lots of two strands / Attach all three sections with a jump ring at one end / Plait the three sections together and secure with another jump ring / Measure the extra chain needed to fit around the rest of your wrist and secure each end to the outer jump rings of the plaited section / Part your chain in the middle and attach your clasp to one end (and a jump ring to the other if needed) / Put it on your wrist and rock some ombre styling!