Easel Card Tutorial and Lemon Muffin Recipe

For the last five weeks, I've been teaching a class at our local homeschool co-op called Paper Crafts.  I must admit I've been hard pressed to come up with creative ideas that are challenging enough to take up the hour-long class period but are also simple enough that they can do the project with little help.  This Friday we'll be making Easel Cards.  I put one together tonight and think it will be just perfect for the kids this week!

Start by cutting a 12x12 piece of cardstock into thirds so you have 3 pieces that are 4x12.  You will only be using one strip for the card so one piece of 12x12 will make 3 cards!  Score the paper at 4", 6" and 8".  I use the track of my cutter as a guide and use this multi-tool from Martha Stewart to score my lines.

Fold the paper at the score lines and adhere one 2" piece to it's nearest 4" piece on the inside.

Stand up the glued piece to look like an easel.

Decorate the face of the card in your own creative way.

You can use anything you'd like to act as a "stopper" for the standing piece.  Buttons and foam-backed embellishments work great.  I used this cute egg embellishment and was reminded of the Cadbury commercial where the bunny lays the Creme Egg!  I loved that commercial as a kid...I wonder if it's still on?  (We haven't had cable our entire marriage so I really have no idea!)

When you've finished your card, why not send it to a friend and invite her over for tea and Lemon Muffins?  (Recipe below)

Lemon Muffins  (makes 12-18)

2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup sour cream or yogurt 

2 large eggs
5 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon extract

Mix the dry ingredients together and then make a well for the remaining ingredients.  Mix until combined and spoon into muffin pans.  Bake at 375°F for 15-20 min. or until the muffins are light brown on top and done inside.  Let cool in pan for 5 minutes or so and then turn out onto a wire rack.  Yum!

Springtime Wreath Tutorial

You may remember my little sob story of last week about how I don't have many spring decorations!  I've committed to trying to make at least one a week this spring!  Last week, I made those adorable little candy jars.  This week, I tried out a springtime wreath.

I started off with a half yard of green taffeta and a half yard of pink.  That was WAY more than I needed.  I suggest just using remnants unless you plan on making 4 or 5 wreaths!  Also, I found that my taffeta burned pretty easily so you'll likely want to use satin instead.  I also used scissors, a foam circle, straight pins, decorative brads, small hole punch, candle, and tongs or tweezers.

I cut my fabric into three sizes of circles.  Circles don't have to be exact.

I held the fabric circle over the lit candle to melt (or, in my case, burn!) the edges to form the petal look. 

Then I stacked the three petal sizes together and punched a small hole for the brad to go through, securing them tightly with the brad.

I used a scrap of the pink taffeta for a hanging ribbon and then began attaching the flowers to the foam circle with the straight pins.  I put the pins behind the medium or smallest petals so they wouldn't show.

Once the circle was full, I hung it from this neat window pane that some dude downtown thought was junk...and added it to my springtime display!!  Whew!  Two down...how many more weeks to go?

Tea Cup Trade: A Meaningful Gift!

 Last month, I participated in a really fun Tea Cup Trade over at Faith, Hope and Cherrytea!  I was paired up with the talented and creative Miss Sue Flay of The Secluded Tea Party.  I thought it would be so fun to trade with someone from the UK...and it was!




As soon as Miss Sue told me she'd put my package in the mail, I was on needles and pins each day to see what surprises were in store for me!  I was not at all disappointed!

One day, a brown, square box came for me---it was my gift!!

I definitely took my time opening it up...removing each bit of tape from the box...  Inside was the cutest little Japanese miniature tea set!  I just love the look on the little guy's face! (click on the picture to enlarge)  She'd also included some delicious White Tea, as well as some recipes for a few of her treats that she makes for her guests during her Secluded Tea Parties.  I think I'll make a couple of those treats, put on a mini-tea party for my girls, and do a follow-up post to show Miss Sue how much I appreciate her! I was extra excited to receive a Japanese set as I had, just the day before, won an auction for a painting of a Japanese geisha.  I've got a great little vignette in mind!

 

Thank you so much Miss Sue for the lovely and thoughtful gift! 

AND... As if her generosity wasn't enough already, she even featured the gifts I sent her at her latest Secluded Tea Party---a book-themed party!  If anyone is interested in reading about Miss Sue Flay's Secluded Tea Party events, or to see what I sent her in our trade, please visit her here.