Thursday's Treasures: Week 3

Share your crafty ideas!

I didn't get the chance to add this post earlier today - I've been sick!
You'll have until Sunday 12AM to post your links this week.
So don't forget to post anything crafty you've been doing!!


Check out some really cool ideas that were linked last week:

Embellish a Plain White Onesie
via MiaMoo Designs



Grandma's Lucky Charms
via For What It's Worth...Or Not


Thank y'all so much for sharing!!


Guidelines:

1. Click the "CLICK HERE" link below to add a permalink to your crafty project, idea and tutorial post - not your main blog. You can enter as many links as you'd like. However, NO links to Etsy or Ebay stores please!

2. Copy the HTML code for my feature button, and then add it to the post or on your blog to spread the fun.

<center><a href="http://treasuresfortots.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt104/treasuresfortots/BannerButton/Feat_TreasureTotsButton_150x150.jpg" /></a></center>

3. Don't forget to show a little love by leaving a comment too!

What a cool way to share tons of ideas and crafts across the Blogoshere and good way to promote your blog too!


All the links that get posted before the deadline will stay up indefinitely so you can always stop by to find them again!

Fleece Hat and Sock Mittens

I found the cutest free fleece hat (w/flaps) tutorial at Kitschy Coo and finally got around to make one for Serenity.

The tutorial was very easy to follow and Serenity's Strawberry Shortcake hat came together fast. The only thing I did differently was add the braided ties on the ends of the flaps. I measured 6 strips 1"w x 10"l to make the braids and applied the same technique as the pom-poms on top of the hat. Very simple.

Then I made some little sock mittens. I wanted some mittens for Serenity that didn't limit her mobility too much. It doesn't get so cold down here that she really needs thick mittens everyday (although you could put thick mittens over these for extra warmth). So, I made these using a pair of long socks I got on sale at Target last week. You can use old socks, thrift store finds, or even mismatched ones. Since I wanted Serenity to wear these mitts mostly for play, it doesn't really matter if they don't match!

The mittens were quick to put together, but knits can be hard to work with - I still need lots of practice! I made plenty of mistakes sewing these tiny mitts together, but in the end, they are what I had in mind and I like how they turned out.

1. Basically I just traced Serenity's hand to make a pattern. Don't add seam allowances to the pattern.
2. Then I pinned the pattern to the top of a pair of socks - I stretched the sock to get it to fit the pattern, I wanted the mittens to fit snug. It's okay if one side of the pattern is on a fold - you'll have less to sew!
3. Next I sewed it along the edge - you can used a zig-zag stitch or a straight stitch. Use a long stitch since it makes it easier to sew knit, and sew slowly.

I think I got the hang of it - the next pair will be much easier!
Now I wonder what I'm going to do with the rest of the sock?


I love her cute fleece hat too!
Head over to Kitschy Coo to see how I made it!


Happy Holidays!

HUGE Bath & Body Works SALE!

LOTS of thanks to Home Spun Threads for the wonderful heads up about Bath & Body Works BIG SALE they've got going on right now!

I grabbed the $10 off any $40 purchase coupon from Home Spun Threads, and bought $106 worth of lotions, shower gels, sponges, and even a pretty spring tote all online for only $40.13 - that included shipping and handling and sales tax!

Not too shabby!

Use the online code: HELLOTEN for the $10 discount at checkout.
or
Print the coupon and use it for some great in-store specials!

{The coupon expires on January 3, 2010}

So go grab some yummy smelling lotions and soaps for yourself today, and don't forget to give a shout out to Home Spun Threads for finding this awesome deal!


Happy Holidays!!

Serenity's Christmas

Santa sure left a lot!

Okay, my Darling Stinker racked up this year - I guess I can't help spoiling her a little!!



So many fun things to play with!



Serenity has been asking for a Baby Alive for months, so she was thrilled when she saw Santa left one for her!

Santa left the cutest cloth diapers in her stocking too.
Santa is so smart, cloth diapers are so much better than disposable!
Good thing he left those too, since no way I'm buying tiny plastic disposable diapers for a doll that messes 'em up every time she gets fed!
Geez!



We had a good day - lots of fun, family, and food!

Hope y'all had a wonderful Christmas too!

Happy Holidays!

Tiny Hands Christmas Tree Tee

Merry Christmas!!


Here's a quick last minute Christmas Tree Tee I made yesterday:

I just followed the simple instructions to make the classic kid's craft Hand Christmas Tree, but used material and felt instead like the Tiny Hands Turkey and the Felt Gingerbread House applique shirts I made for Serenity.

This time I traced Serenity's BFF, Cobee Lynn's hands.
Then I used some eco-fi felt for the tree trunk, and made the hand and trunk appliques using Heat 'n Bond.
I did hand sew the biggest star button I could find on the top of the tree - but no machine sewing is needed if you use the red package of Heat 'n Bond.
The star is very small - so maybe a felt star will look better?
Oh well!
I plan to make Serenity's tee later - I want her to wear it to see Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.
She's been asking to see it since the first time she saw the commercial with the girl chipmunks!

Here's cutie pie Cobee Lynn wearing her new Christmas Tree tee shirt!

Making tees by tracing your child's little hands is a BIG hit with them!
They LOVE 'em!


Hope y'all have a wonderful day!




Happy Holidays!!

Thursday's Treasures: Week 2

Share your crafty ideas!

I didn't get a chance to add this on Thursday - so I'm keeping it open until Monday!
So don't forget to post anything crafty you've been doing!!

Check out some really cool ideas that were linked last week:

Rudolph, What's So Puzzling?
via For What It's Worth...Or Not.


An Apron For Mia
via MiaMoo Designs


Thank y'all so much for sharing!!


Guidelines:

1. Click the "CLICK HERE" link below to add a permalink to your crafty project, idea and tutorial post - not your main blog. You can enter as many links as you'd like. However, NO links to Etsy or Ebay stores please!

2. Copy the HTML code for my feature button, and then add it to the post or on your blog to spread the fun.

<center><a href="http://treasuresfortots.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt104/treasuresfortots/BannerButton/Feat_TreasureTotsButton_150x150.jpg" /></a></center>

3. Don't forget to show a little love by leaving a comment too!

What a cool way to share tons of ideas and crafts across the Blogoshere and good way to promote your blog too!


All the links that get posted before the deadline will stay up indefinitely so you can always stop by to find them again!

Happy Holidays!

Spam Musubi Recipe

Spam Musubi

("pronounced moo-soo-bee, with no accent")


I know, I know - Spam!?
Well, I happen to like it (sliced thin and fried crispy with a little mustard to dip it in - yum!), but I know most people think "yew, yuck!" when Spam is mentioned.

But Spam Musubi is so good!
Really!
Trust me!

Even if you think, "ain't no way am I eating that ___", just give it a try - you might like it!

Spam Musubi is eaten in Hawaii - in fact, do you know Hawaiians eat more Spam than anyone else in the world?!
Neat little fact.
It's like a sandwich in Hawaii too, and it's sold everywhere - even convenient stores.
And it's so easy to make - ya gotta love that!


History of Spam

"Hawaiians have a love affair with Spam - they eat it as a delicacy, adding it to soups and stews, treating it as a side dish for breakfast, and enjoying it as the main event for lunch and dinner. Residents of Hawaii consume more Spam than populations anywhere else in the world: More than four million cans every year, or an average twelve cans of Spam per person per year. In fact, Hawaii is so well associated with Spam that Hormel even introduced a limited edition "Hawaii" can in 2003.

The Hormel Company, in Austin, Minnesota, developed America's first canned ham in 1926. After the ham's were cut, the company was left with thousands of pounds of nearly worthless pork shoulder. Jay C. Hormel, son of Hormel founder George A. Hormel, developed the ideas of using the pork shoulder in a new product called "Hormel Spiced Ham." Since the name was rather uninspiring, a contest was hehld at a new year's Eve party for a new name with a $100 prize to the winner. The winning name was the name it goes by today - Spam. Kenneth Daigneau, an actor and the brother of a Hormel vice president Ralph Daigeau, won the contest.

During World War II, sales of Spam soared. In part because it requires no refrigeration, Spam was perfect for the military and became a standard K-ration for U.S. soldiers. Military personnel introduced it in Hawaii and elsewhere."



Below is my favorite way of cooking Spam Musubi, but people cook it so many different ways.
Just Google "Spam Musubi recipe" and around 12,300 hits will pop up!

Well - 12,301 now!

Ingredients:
Spam (smaller can)
1 cup (dry) Jasmine rice
Nori
Rice wine
Soy sauce
Sugar (I like organic cane sugar) or honey
1 tbsp (or more!) minced Garlic

{Optional: grated ginger, sesame seed oil, onions, Chinese 5 spice, teriyaki sauce, or whatever else you'd like to toss in the brew! For something different, sprinkle furikake on the rice before adding the cooked Spam!}

Start the rice.

Here it is in all it's freaky pinkish glory!
Slice it up - for a small can of Spam, I get five slices. But this really depends on how thick you like it.
Did you notice I didn't give amounts for anything other than the rice and garlic?
It's because I do it all by taste.
Start with about 1/2 cup of the rice wine, soy sauce and sugar.
Mix it together, add the garlic and any extra optional ingredients.
Then taste test and add more of each ingredient as needed.

Put the Spam slices in the mixture and marinate until the rice is cooked (or around 30 minutes).
Before browning the Spam slices, get as much of the mixture to drip off before adding them to the pan.
Then just put the mixture aside for now.
Brown on medium-high heat according to your tastes - I like 'em dark!
Add the mixture to the pan - and immediately turn the heat down to low, 'cause it's going to boil like crazy!
Let it cook for a few minutes before taking the pan off the heat.
Leave the Spam in the pan.


Using a pair of scissors, cut the Nori into strips - the width depends on you, I use the lines on the Nori as my guide.

{Some people don't like the taste of Nori, and in that case you could use soy wraps instead. You can find them at your local Asian Market.}

You'll need to position the mold in the center and near the end of the Nori strip. I do it like this, but do it whatever way works bests for you.

{I have a neat little acrylic Musubi mold for my rice. But if you can't find one at your local Asian Market, try cutting off the ends on both sides of the Spam can and use it as your mold. Or just mold the rice with your hands. Using a Spam can or your hands will be kinda messy - so be prepared!}

Dump a bit of rice in your mold, and press down firmly.
Remove the mold and add a slice of yummy Spam.
Fold over the Nori, put a tiny bit of water on your finger then run it across the Nori to seal it.


All done!

Delicious!!

Wrap your leftovers in plastic wrap and refrigerate. Pop in the microwave for a few seconds to warm up and soften the rice since it'll get a little hard sitting in the ice box.


Happy Holidays!