Sarchix Finds

We’ve all been to a holiday event like Christmas or Thanksgiving and there is so much left over pie that the host has to give some away or else they will be eating pie for the next month.

Instead of putting it on a paper plate and putting plastic wrap all over it (and it getting smooshed on the way home or having pie crumbs in your car), Martha Stewart has a template for carrying pie.  Print it out on heavy weight paper, fold and glue (or tape) and voila, instant pie carrier.  Martha suggests lining it with parchment paper before adding the slice of pie.

The edge is really cute with the scallops but this could also be a straight edge if you prefer.

Want a lid?  Make a second one and put in on like you would a shirt box.

This is easy enough that the older kids could help with assembly and any age kids could certainly help with the decorations.

Martha Stewart – A Slice to Go

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I’m not sure if you have ever wanted to make your own knitting needles but the end result is really cool.

ammasmama over on Craftser.org posts a great tutorial on how to create your own resin knitting needles and some of her tricks she uses with lots of pictures to help.

The actual tutorial is on page 6 of the thread but it is lots of bits of inspiration in the other pages.

I personally love how ammasmama uses everyday items to as molds.  Who would have thought that a pair of McDonald straws could make a set of 10.5 needles?

ammasmama at Craftser.org – Resin Knitting Needles

Ammasmama also has an Esty site.

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My mom saw this site featured on this morning’s Today Show.

Basically, its a site that is all videos of cute things falling asleep.  My three year old thought it was histeryical and tried to wake up the puppies and kitties that he saw.

Some of the videos are very basic and taken on cell phones but others have some graphics and music.

If you need a quick smile and a warm fuzzy this is the site to go to.

Cute Things Falling Asleep

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My daughter (age is already such a “magpie”.  She anything that is shiny.  When I found this post over at Poopscape Projects, I thought of her.  If she found a simple way to make everything in her world shiny, she would.

Clair, the author of Poopscape Projects, has an amazing tutorial for how to apply gold leaf with an intricate design without all the mess that is usually associated with a gold leafing project.

Usually you have to paint on some kind of glue before tapping on the gold but this way you can just cut out the design and tap on the gold.  I am not really a painter but I can draw/trace out a design and cut it out nicely.  The idea of using these dark river rocks are stunning and it would look great in any kind of leaf, be it gold, silver or copper.

I wonder what kind of items I can find to leaf…. We do have some really nice large rocks outside….

Note to self: find waterproofing sealant that will work with gold leaf…  I’ll keep you guys posted on that one.

Poopscape Projects – Gold Leaf River Rocks

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First of all, WOW!  This was all painted by hand for a Christmas Gift.  I wish I could paint like this and I would be making sets all over the place.  I don’t dare share this with my oldest because he would want me to make him a set.

This was all done by the artist, Matt Brown and tells us the tale of how he made these.  He makes it sound SO easy too.

But it got me thinking, if he can paint Star Wars guys on these Matryoshka dolls (aka nesting dolls) then why can’t I try something a bit simpler.  I’ve always loved the idea of the Matryoshka doll and how they fit inside each other but applying a non traditional face to them inspires me to think outside the box.

Matt started with blank dolls.  What would you put on them?

Art of Matt Brown – Star Wars Matryoshka dolls

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Shrinky dinks are one of the coolest crafts I did as a kid.  I remember getting the sheets with the small colored pencils and trying to trace some pattern or cartoon and then cutting them out and then the magic happened when they entered the oven.   I would use up the whole pack right away.  The next day, my Mom would be freaking out because the little slivers of Shrinky Dink that got cut away looked just like little shards of glass on the floor.

Cindy over at Skip to My Lou turned #6 plastic containers into home made Shrinky Dinks!  (Brilliant job Cindy.) 

Sure you can go out and buy (usually online) the sheets of Shrinky Dinks but when you need your fix of shrinking art, this is perfect.  The best part is, my town does not take #6 plastics for recycling and I feel bad throwing it away.  Now I have something much better to do with it!

Skip to My Lou – Home Made Shrinky Dinks

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With all these great finds it is so hard to keep up.  Kellie over at Don’t Look Now has a great pattern for a rocket ship pillow.  My own rocket boys would both love it and it is just so cute.  The direction are nice and there are many photos to help you along.  The best thing is, you can choose your own fabrics and customize it for your own rocket boy or girl.

Don’t Look Now  – Rocket ship Pillow Tutorial

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Ok, maybe the dollar store.  This post over at craftstylish.com is totally amazing and will change my wintery world. It’s a  total “why didn’t I think of that first” kind of craft.

We have several of those heating pads you put in the microwave and we use them often during the winter.  The idea of putting a small, felt bean bag (or rice bag) into a glove is pure genius!!!!  I don’t live where it gets crazy cold during the winter (that’s my brother in Montana and my cousin is Alaska) but its still darn cold when starting the car.

I’m going to make a few of these for my daughter, sons, mother, husband and myself and anyone else I can think of.  This would have been a rockin’ Christmas gift!  Oh well, at least I have a friend that has a birthday in two weeks!

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Yes, I’m a geek and I love geeky toys.  For Christmas I was given an awesome iPhone from Hubby (thanks Hubby :-X) and I have slowly been adding to the apps on it.

I found “Lightsaber” and it is so fun (and free too – woot).  You choose a character, like Darth Vader our one of the characters from Star Wars: Force Unleashed, and you get their lightsaber.  When you turn on the lightsaber, there is the familiar “hum” that comes from the speaker.  When you move the iPhone around, it sounds like you are having a lightsaber fight.  The best part is, there is a button that can add a soundtrack to your fight just like in the movies and video games!  How awesome is that?!?

For those who want to create their own character that is also possible.  My oldest thinks that is just so cool and is dying to create one on my phone.

If you are a fan of Star Wars and looking for a cool app for your iPhone than this is one for you.

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Familiar, huh?

Well, we all need to be mindful of our health. Sometimes we need a little help. Health promotion and weight stabilization are honorable topics for reflection as we transition to a new year. And, there are a lot of people out there who will take your money to help you do just that. There are so many strategies products and programs to evaluate.

Before you subscribe or buy, check out SparkPeople.com This is a FREE website with a lot of health, diet and exercise information. I have read through a number of their articles. They are generally well written and informative.You can set goals and track progress. There are chat rooms if you want the social aspect. You can set up an exercise program – they have a lot of suggestions.

Good Luck!

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