Over the Kitchen Counter: Angie's Place for Cooking and Crafts

Jewelry Cleaner

I've heard about some manicurists offering to clean your rings while you have a manicure.  On the rare occasion I ever had a mani at a spa or salon, I always removed my jewelry before going...and if I hadn't, I don't think I would want to hand over my rings.  However, I do like to have my rings cleaned so I just do it myself at home.

I have an electric sonic jewelry cleaner (made by Salton - it's ancient) and it works very well.  I simply add my rings to the basket and submerge it in the cleaning solution in the unit.  I turn it on for a few minutes and then gently brush in between the prongs and settings to remove any dirt.  I rinse the rings after I put them back on in warm water and just dry my hands.  I've got a terrible fear of losing my jewelry down the drain so I always pull the drain plugs up before I start this cleaning process and I don't go anywhere near the sinks!  It definitely makes diamonds sparkle and gold gleam.  Always follow the directions included with jewelry cleaning solution or sonic cleaners - they are not safe with all jewelry (eg. pearls, opals).  I've re-used the same solution over and over but should probably go get a new bottle.  It's just one of those things I always forget to pick up...and DH has come to learn it's just better if I stay out of jewelry stores all together!

You can find ultrasonic cleaners for at-home use on-line, at jewelry stores, or discount stores.  They are not very expensive (about $30) and, like I said, I've had mine for years (and it was my mother's before that!).  If you have nice jewelry it is worth the small investment to keep it looking clean and shiny.

Kool-Aid Tri-Fold Wallet

 
Hey, once you start making stuff with Kool-Aid pouches it's hard to stop!  Here is the tri-fold wallet I made as my next sewing project.  I got the directions from SoCraftastic HERE.  This girl is very well spoken for her age and explains how to make the wallet in a clear way.  I made my pockets a little differently than she did, only had one per panel, and I added the clear i.d. pocket in the middle rather than side because I wanted the smiley faces on either side.  I think they turned out really cute that way!  I used round velcro tabs to secure the wallet closed.  This was really fun to make, didn't take any time at all, and only used about 6 drink pouches so it was an easy process.  It holds bills, credit cards, and gift cards perfectly.  SoCraftastic also sells her creations on Etsy so if you don't want to make your own you could purchase a bag or change purse from her!  Here are some photos of the wallet closed, showing each pocket, and the backside of it (which forms the bill-fold section.)

 

 
 
 
 

Softening Brown Sugar

There's nothing worse than going to bake and finding your brown sugar in a hard block!  I'm sure many people know it can be softened again by putting a slice of fresh apple in the bag...but that method can take several hours and if you are in the middle of a chocolate-chip cookie craving, that's just not going to do!

Well, here's another way to soften that sugar mountain and it only takes 30 seconds.  Simply put the brown sugar in a bowl (a cup or two at a time) and microwave it for about 30 seconds.  I tell you, it works like a charm and the sugar can immediately be measured out for use.  It stays soft for a while but then begins to dry out again on the surface so once you've taken what you need you can move on to the apple method.  After a couple of hours, remove the apple slice (so it doesn't go mouldy) and tightly seal the bag of sugar or place in an air-tight container.

Brownies Deluxe

These 'Brownies Deluxe' (not to be confused with 'Brownies Galore' on the next page of the 101 Best Brownie Recipes book) were simple to make and yielded a generous 13x9" pan of brownies.  They use cocoa instead of baking chocolate and have oil instead of butter.  Because there is also corn syrup in the ingredients, along with the sugar, they are very chewy and fudgey.  I've lost track of which number of the 101 I'm on, but these did not get a gold star rating from me.  Don't get me wrong - there was nothing wrong with these brownies and everyone ate them up.  They just weren't my favourite and I think I prefer the recipes using butter and chocolate more than oil and cocoa powder.  That being said...if that's all you have available in the pantry, I'm sure no one would complain if offered a plate of Brownies Deluxe!

Brownies Deluxe

2/3 cup oil

2 cups sugar

1/3 cup corn syrup

3 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup cocoa

1-1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix oil, sugar, corn syrup, eggs and vanilla.  Add cocoa, flour, salt and baking powder. Beat well. Stir in chopped pecans. Pour in greased, floured 9x13 pan and bake for 35 minutes. Cool.

Icing:

2 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup cocoa

1/4 cup melted butter

1 Tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla

Mix sugar, cocoa, butter, milk and vanilla until smooth. Spread over cooled brownies.

Razzleberry Twenty Card

 
I love how this card turned out!  There's actually a lot going on in it: punched edges, Cricut cut, brads, heat embossing, felt flowers, stamping...

I started with a Crushed Curry card stock base and added layers of Razzleberry dsp.  I punched the edge of one strip using the Scallop Trim border punch and stamped the Curry dsp with the congratulations from the Congrats stamp set (I used Crushed Curry ink as well).  I used the 2 & 0 from the Clear Design Bird Branch Alphabet stamp set by Hero Arts together on a mini-block to stamp the '20' background all over the card stock strip.  I stamped in VersaMark ink and then heat embossed with white embossing powder.  I haven't used that stamp set much but I think it looks really cute.  I attached the strip with my ATG gun adhesive and then punched two holes and added the brads.  The word 'twenty' was cut using my Expression and the Script and Script Shadow Creative Feature buttons on the Designer's Calendar Cricut Cartridge.  I popped it up on strips of dimensionals.  Finally I added the Michael's Felt Confetti Eyelet flowers.  They were given to me by my blog-pal Steff and I am finding them very versatile!  Inside the card I did my usual addition of more dsp and I repeated the Scallop Border punch. 

Graduation Scrapbook Page

 
I made this scrapbook page for my nephew's university graduation...it looks so much better completed with the photos on it.  I used my very last 12x12 sheet of the Jewel Achievements paper pack and had enough scraps to mat my photos and add some strips of paper to the layout.  I added a couple pieces of Christmas paper for a pop of colour.  I used 4 title stickers of achievement quotes around the page and then cut some stars using the Cricut and the Hannah Montanna cartridge and popped them up on dimensionals.  My nephew is very handsome (like a good-looking R-Patz/Edward, lol!) so the layout is greatly improved with the pics!

Mini Blueberry Corn Muffins

 These bite-sized muffins smell so scrumptious while they are baking - you won't be able to resist them.  Mini-muffins are perfect for a mid-morning snack or as a treat with lunch and the smaller portion is ideal for children or those of us trying to lay off the baking!  I used wild blueberries which are smaller than regular ones and the perfect size for these edible minis. 

Mini Blueberry Corn Muffins

 

8 Tbsp softened unsalted butter

6 Tbsp sugar

4-1/2 tsp honey

1 large egg

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

1-3/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

greased 24 cup mini muffin tin, 375 degrees F, 10-12 mins.

 

New Polishes!

Here are my latest nail polish indulgences!  First up...I can never resist the collection packs of mini polishes (whether Essie or O.P.I.) and this one was particularly enticing as a mini-set because the colours are really fun, trendy, and for a special occasion.  I like Katy Perry so I thought it was cute to get her kit of polishes based on her songs.  The set contains (and please click the photos to see them close up), The One T hat Got Away (red), Teenage Dream (pink), Last Friday Night (green, and a fun song with a great video, btw!), and Not Like the Movies (teal blue).  They are all glitter polishes (of course!) and can be layered for even more colour combos.  My DD had to be first to try them and was really happy with Teenage Dream.  It had really good coverage (sometimes a problem with glitters, I find).  I think I will try Not Like the Movies first when I have a chance.  I've been so obsessed with collecting new colours that I'm way behind.  It will take me most of the summer to get through them and the Salon Effects nail strips!  That being said...we couldn't resist the 'buy one, get one half off' on Essie polishes at Trade Secrets and my DD really wanted a mint blue-green so we went for it.  She chose Mint Candy Apple and I selected a red (something I don't have yet), Lacquered Up.  I tell ya, these companies come up with the cutest names for their shades.  It must be fun to work there!  Ok...I must not buy any more nail polish and I will not post any more new ones until the Fall.  Promise!  (But bear with me if I post some photos of the above colours on my nails! ;)

...and here are a few already!

 
 
 
Follow-up: The glitter one took 3 coats and looks really sparkly under the lights - it's pretty but certainly for a night out!  I think glitter polishes wear quite well and it didn't chip before I took it off.  The red looked very bright and classic.  The only thing I hate about reds is taking them off!  It is so messy and always leaves the skin and nail edges looking red-toned.  The robin's egg blue was interesting!  Very opaque and different...but not for me!  I'll let my daughter keep that one!

Kool-Aid Purse

 
My daughter wanted me to make her a Kool-Aid purse with a shoulder strap and since I couldn't find any patterns or directions on-line I had to come up with my own design.  I took her small Vera Bradley mini-hipster for a guide and decided on a 4-pouch size purse.  I sewed the packages together the same way I did with the Kool-Aid Shopping Bag I showed you in April.  Since I didn't want the purse to be too wide I chose to cut the side & bottom panels in half and that seemed to work really well.  This time, instead of using seam binding for the handles, I sewed pouches together to get the length of shoulder strap I wanted, then cut them in half vertically.  I folded the sides in, stitched them lengthwise, and then added the Kool-Aid Jammers pouches as a handle too!  I made a flap to go over the bag front and I trimmed the end packets in a scallop, following the rounded base contour of the "Kool-Aid Jug".  Finally, I sewed on some velcro closures to fasten the flap down.

I was pretty happy with the result of my couple hours of sewing and my daughter was too.  I impressed myself that I figured out how to do the job on my own.  I did encounter a few challenges: since the base of this purse is so narrow (1.5 inches), it was tricky to sew it to the sides and at the corners, where there is more material, my machine was not powerful enough to get through all the layers.  Also, I discovered that after stitching the velcro piece on the flap I couldn't attach the other piece to the front of the bag because I'd already assembled the panels and couldn't reach it with my machine.  I didn't want to hand sew it so I just sewed the top edge and glued the rest of it on with Glossy Accents.  I might have to add some hot glue to hold it better.  As with my shopping bag, I learned along the way and will do better next time.  The problem is I keep doing something different - maybe I'll try a wallet with the next batch of pouches!

How to Line a Cake Pan with Parchment Paper

Last week I talked about parchment paper and how great it is to use when baking.  Today I'm going to show you a quick and easy way to cut the parchment to fit your round cake pan.

Step 1: Fold a large piece of parchment in half top-to-bottom and then in half again left-to-right to make a square.

Step 2: Fold the square in half again, side to side in a 'paper airplane' type fold from the pointed corner.

Step 3: Holding the point in the centre of your inverted cake pan, measure to the edge of the pan.

Step 4: Mark the place where the paper hits the edge.

Step 5: Cut the excess paper off at this mark.

Step 6: Unfold the paper.

Step 7: Line the pan.  The perfect size of parchment paper!