VAMPIRE COOKIES

This recipe will be awesome to make at Halloween and is from
http://bakingbites.com/2008/10/vampire-cookies/#


" Vampire Cookies

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 large egg1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp almond extract
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp saltapprox
• 1/2 cup red jam (raspberry/strawberry)
  

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light. Beat in egg and extracts.Add flour and salt to the bowl and mix them into the butter-sugar mixture at low speed until dough is just combined. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 325F.Divide dough in half and keep the portion you are not using in the refrigerator.Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface until it is about 1/8-inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut out 2-inch rounds.Place rounds on a baking sheet, put a teaspoon of jam on each of them and cover with another round of dough. Press edges down lightly, pinching the edges onto the cookie sheet. Use a toothpick and poke two small holes (like a vampire bite) in the top of each cookie.Bake for 10-12 minutes, until cookies are set.Cool for about 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Dip a toothpick in some extra red jam and re-insert in the “bite” holes you made before baking to emphasize them, if not already red. Draw a blood trick down from one of the bites with the jam, if desired. Cookies are best the day they are made.

Makes 2 dozen."

COCONUT MACAROON BIRDS NESTS

This receipe is also from "No Fuss Fabulous" and although I have everything in my cupboard to make these, except the Jelly beans or Robin Eggs, I am the only one in my family that like coconut and I really don't need to be wearing 4 dozen coconut macaroons on my hips (I have already saved space for the Easter Peeps nest project this year). This may be something for next year.

Items needed:

• 16 ounces shredded coconut


• 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk


• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract


• Jelly beans or candy Robin Eggs

"Mix first three ingredients together. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto generously greased baking sheets.

Bake at 350° for 8 minutes.

Cool coconut macaroons slightly; remove to rack.

Once cooled, place candy Robin Eggs or jelly beans on top of coconut “nests.”

Makes about 4 dozen coconut macaroons."

Bunny "Carrot" for Easter Basket***ACCOMPLISHED***

I saw this cute ideat at "No Fuss Fabulous" and I love the idea of having something besides something sugar infested for Easter and my son loves Goldfish crackers.

They use a Wilton disposible frosting bag and ric-rac, which are too pricy for me. I think I will see about sewing little wedges (something that is small enough to fit into a Easter Egg)in plastic bags and round up some green scraps of fabric to tie around for the carrot toppers.

http://www.nofussfabulous.com/?p=4587

***ACCOMPLISHED***

Mine turned out different than I had planned - I ended up using a quart size Ziplock bag, as that is what I had on hand, and Cheez-Its Twisters because they were on sale and a better deal than the Goldfish crackers. Instead of fabric or ribbon, I used green crepe paper as I spotted it in the bathroom closet (what it was doing in there, I have no idea).

http://craftsandcreationswithkathy.blogspot.com/2009/04/easter-carrots.html

BOOTS

An amazing user over at Craftster that makes cool boots sent me a disc on how to make them that I am dying to check out and start on once things get back to normal around here.

Vintage Lace Flowers

http://missiekrissie.blogspot.com/2009/04/tutorial-how-to-make-vintage-lace.html

There is an easy to follow tutorial over at the above blog on how to make Vintage Lace Flowers. These would look great on a headband or hair clip or even to embellish a T-Shirt.

Alien Abduction Lamp ***ACCOMPLISHED***

Heather at Dollar Store Crafts made this for Life With Lindsey's $5 Dollar Store Challenge - it is awesome! I have got to make of these!

http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2009/03/alien-lamp/comment-page-1/#comment-1241

Even with all the running we had to do today, I did make a stop at Dollar Store Plus to scout out potential parts for this project. They had a $1 bowl that would work for the bottom, but didn't find any acrylic glasses that would work or touch lights. There was a set of plastic farm animals for $1 but I just was not loving the cow in the set - too generic and expressionless. It then hit me that for mine, I am going to make a version of Shaun The Sheep for my lamp when I make it.

There were some syrofoam bowls at Marv that we got at an auction before Kyle was born, but they are pretty flimsy and don't hold paint well, so going to scrap that idea. I do have Christmas bowl on got on clearance for a quarter, but as we use it all the time not really wanting to sacrifice it for craft purposes.

I did have a touch light but not sure where it disappered to. I think the little mini ones that come in a pack of 2 for $1 at Dollar tree might work better.

Really don't have the money to invest in this right now, so this is going to go on the back burner for now, but I will be on the lookout for parts - might get lucky at a garage sale and pick up things for cheaper.

***ACCOMPLISHED***

Moveable Greeting Card Turntable from Old Floppy Disc

Would be a great way to upcycle an old floppy disc into something fashionable.

http://buildmakecraftbake.com/2009/03/make-moving-turntable-greeting-card.html