Creative Ideas for Your Holiday Table ~ A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 44

Male turkeys gobble. Hens do not.

They make a clucking noise.

(source: http://www.whsv.com)

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Welcome to 

"A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday!

If you're here to share a craft, recipe or project post,

you'll find the linky and the specifics on how to 

join the party after the features below.

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It's Halloween on terra firma, so in blogland it's Thanksgiving (at least). So, in the spirit of being prepared for the holiday celebrations to come, this week's features focus on  creative ways to complement and adorn your holiday table.

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Canvas, Burlap and Ribbon Table Skirt

from 504 Main

French Cheese Board Inspired Lazy Susan

from Atelier Cecilia Rosslee

Personalized Name Place Blocks

from Snapshots

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Now it's time to link-up and share your creativity!

Just 4 SIMPLE GUIDELINES

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3)  POST THE BUTTON OR A LINK-- Grab the code for the button (below) and paste it into your sidebar or the body of your post.

4)  VISIT ONE other link --  Isn't it great, when you're "discovered" by a new fan as a result of linking up to a party?  Pay it forward and make someone's day!

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If you're a fan of the fun finds, foodie tomfoolery

and crafty shenanigans here at Rook No. 17, would

you take a few seconds to show your support with a

 

over at Babble?

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Chocolate Mustaches on a Stick -- The Perfect, Last-minute, No-bake Halloween TREAT!

Big Wow-factor with minimal effort --
A perfect combination for busy families!

The idea is far from anything new, but it's one I dearly adore: the classic, clever and delightfully dapper mustache on a stick!  I was excited when I found that Wilton is selling an absolutely charming (and at $1.99, very afforadable) mold for making chocolate mustaches ~ no special chocolatiering skills required! 

Only $1.99 -- sweet deal!

My posts here at Rook No. 17 this week have been light, as I've been busy putting the finishing touches on costumes and enjoying all the Halloween festivities about town with my girls. It's busy weeks like these that make me grateful for the little tools, tricks and shortcuts that help in making stand-out treats with little mess and minimal fuss.

That's why, despite the odds that you've already seen a lot of chocolate mustaches out there in blogland, I'd share my find of the Wilton Fun Face Mustache Lollipop mold. My girls had a Halloween event at their school last night and I was asked to bring a dessert. So, on Thursday night, I melted a bowl of chocolate, poured a few batches of chocolate mustaches, and voila!  "Instant Disguises"!

Here are some instructions and tips for making your own:

Chocolate Mustaches on a Stick

(makes approx. 24)

Note:  Each batch of 6 takes approx. 15 minutes

(2) Wilton Fun Faces Mustache Lollipop Molds

1 1/2 bags Wilton Candy Melts (dark or light cocoa)

Pastry bag, squeeze bottle or sturdy Ziploc bag

White lollipop sticks

Cello treat bags and twist ties

Note:  I picked up all of my supplies  in the cake & candy section at Michael's Crafts.

Step 1:  Melt the chocolate candy at low power in a microwave, or in a double boiler.

Step 2:  Transfer to a pastry bag or sturdy Ziploc and snip the tip.  You can also use a squeeze bottle.

Step 3:  Fill the cavities of each mold with melted chocolate.  Lightly tap on a hard surface to remove air bubbles.  Insert sticks, and gently give a little twist to coat in chocolate.

Step 4:  Transfer filled molds to the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

Tip:  If the sticks are not sitting flush with the mold, place a small balled-up piece of foil under the lollipop sticks to prop them up at the right angle while the chocolate sets. 

Step 5:  Remove from refrigerator.  Invert molds; chocolates will pop out with a slight twist of the plastic mold.  Repeat process with remaining chocolate.

Step 6:  Wrap and serve.  Don't forget your top hat and monocle!

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I searched high and low for the right size briefcase in which to serve the chocolate mustache collection, with the idea that I'd put a sign on the inside lid reading "Instant Disguise Kit".  There didn't seem to be a briefcase to spare anywhere in my town.  To improvise, I printed and folded the following sign, so it would stand-up in my wooden tray.  The mustaches were a huge hit and were gone in about 10 seconds.

You can download my simple sign for your own use HERE:

Instant Disguises Sign

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If you're a fan of the fun finds, foodie tomfoolery

and crafty shenanigans here at Rook No. 17, would

you take a few seconds to show your support with a

 

over at Babble?

THANK YOU!

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This post has been shared with:
Tickled Pink @ 504 Main
Tips & Tricks Party @ In My Own Style 
Show & Share Day @ Just a Girl 
Think Pink @ Flamingo Toes

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Smart Thinking Lifestyle Tip: Make Your Own Salad Dressing ~ featuring 4 delicious & easy recipes

Thanks to Tervis for sponsoring my writing. Visit their website http://www.tervis.com to learn more about the world’s first smart cup. In the spirit of 'smart' ideas, here's one of my favorite Smart Thinking Lifestyle tips:

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A classic balsamic vinaigrette should have 5 ingredients or less.  It shouldn't read like the back of an oven cleaner bottle.

Have you looked at the ingredient list on a bottle of store-bought salad dressing lately?  Modified Food Starch, artificial flavor, and powdered cellulose are just some of the items you may find in many commercial dressings.  Not familiar with cellulose?  It's a food additive made from wood pulp to prevent clumping, add creaminess, and boost fiber.  Eek!

While there are a handful of  junk-free dressings to be found in most grocery stores, it can be more delicious and far more economical to make your own.  Just grab a mason jar, a few ingredients, and I'll guarantee you'll never go back to pouring wood pulp on your greens ever again!

All four recipes take less than 5 minutes and make about a pint of dressing.

Enjoy!

This simple and versatile dressing is good on any type of leafy greens, but is especially delicious on a baby spinach salad.

Perfect Balsamic Vinaigrette

adapted from Cook's Illustrated

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon table salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 1/3 cups olive oil

Add first four ingredients to a quart mason jar.  Stir to combine.  Add olive oil, tighten lid, then shake vigorously for 3 minutes.

Can be used & refrigerated for up to 6 weeks.

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This is a perfect dressing for salads served with pears or crisp apples, warm goat cheese and candied walnuts or pecans.

 Honey Shallot Vinaigrette

1/2 cup rice vinegar

2 Tablespoons honey

2 Tablespoons minced shallots

1 teaspoon table salt

1 1/2 cups walnut oil

Add first four ingredients to a quart mason jar.  Stir to combine.  Add olive oil, tighten lid, then shake vigorously for 3 minutes. 

Can be used & refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

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A lightened up version of the classic.

Blue Cheese Buttermilk Dressing

2/3 cup lowfat buttermilk

1/4 cup reduced fat mayonnaise
1/4 cup light sour cream or nonfat Greek yogurt

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon table salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 cup crumbled blue cheese, divided

Pulse first 6 ingredients with half the blue cheese in a blender or food processor.  Transfer to a small bowl and stir in the remaining blue cheese.  Store in a mason jar.

Can be used & refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

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You'll swear there's avocado in here, but there's not. This dressing is delicious with crisp Romaine, fresh sweet corn, black olives and tortilla chip crumbles in the place of croutons.  It also makes a wonderful dip!

Southwest Buttermilk Dressing

adapted from The Homesick Texan Cookbook

2 fresh jalapeno chiles, stems & seeds removed, chopped

1 clove garlic

1/4 cup cilantro

1/4 cup fresh parsley

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon paprika (I prefer smoked)

zest of one small lime

juice of 1/2 a small lime

1/4 cup lowfat buttermilk

1/2 cup light sour cream

1/2 cup reduced fat mayonnaise

salt and black pepper to taste

1.  In a blender or food processor, combine the first 9 ingredients.  Blend until it's a smooth green puree.

2.  Pour the green puree into a bowl and gently stir in the sour cream and mayonnaise.  Add salt and black pepper to taste.  Transfer to a mason jar. 

This dressing gets better as it ages.
Can be used & refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

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This post has been shared with:

Look What I Made @ Creations By Kara

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I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. To learn more about Tervis, visit their website http://www.tervis.com. 

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A Little Birdie Told Me No. 43 ~ Featuring 3 Handmade Gift Ideas for the Holidays

"Up until the Industrial Revolution, all gifts were handmade. "

(source: The Modern Christmas in America: A Cultural History of Gift Giving by William B. Waits.)

------------------------------------------------

Welcome to 

"A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday!

If you're here to share a craft, recipe or project post,

you'll find the linky and the specifics on how to 

join the party after the features below.

------------------------------------------------

 Just a reminder that this party is all about creative sharing, camaraderie and support. In that spirit, be sure to visit one of your fellow party goers and leave them a nice comment!

------------------------------------------------

And now, as promised, the features... 

Simple Citrus Scrub
from Yesterday on Tuesday

 

Homemade Granola

from As the Card Rack Turns

Mini Composition Book Gift Card Holder

Christine & Co.

---------------------------------

If you've been featured 

(here or on Facebook)
feel free to grab a "featured on" button
from the sidebar.

---------------------------------

Now it's time to link-up and share your creativity!

Just 4 SIMPLE GUIDELINES

1)  FOLLOW Rook No. 17.  Seeing the friendly faces of my guests on the sidebar makes all the work that goes in to hosting a "party" worthwhile!

2)  LINK-UP -- Link-up the URL of a specific post -- craft, recipe, DIY project, or anything else you'd like to show-off.  This is not  a place to advertise merchandise you are selling.  If you're interested in promoting your business with Rook No. 17, please visit the "Advertising" section.

3)  POST THE BUTTON OR A LINK-- Grab the code for the button (below) and paste it into your sidebar or the body of your post.

4)  VISIT ONE other link --  Isn't it great, when you're "discovered" by a new fan as a result of linking up to a party?  Pay it forward and make someone's day!

<a href="http://www.rookno17.com"><img altsrc="<a href="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f335/sarahjmorriss/clipartgraphics5-1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f335/sarahjmorriss/clipartgraphics5-1-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>

HOW TO:

1) click your cursor in the code box, 

2) right-mouse click and "Select All", 

3) right-mouse click and select Copy. 

4) Paste the code into your sidebar or post.

REMEMBER TO
Visit ONE other link and leave them a comment.


----------------------------------------------

If you're a fan of the foodie tomfoolery

and crafty shenanigans here at Rook No. 17,

would you take a few seconds to show your

support over at Babble?

THANK YOU!

----------------------------------------------

The links are featured from newest to oldest,

so everyone gets a chance to go "first".

Pin It Now!

The Punk Skunk Costume

There's certainly no shortage of adorable Halloween costumes to buy or make for babies, toddlers, and kids under 8. Somewhere between the cute and fuzzy stage of the early years and the "You're not leaving the house wearing that!" stage of the tween and teen years, is the unfamiliar territory I found myself wading through last year when my daughter hit 4th grade.  

Cute and fuzzy was out.
Cool, original and clever were in demand.
Fortunately, we found a way to combine them all:
--The "Punk" Skunk--

This costume is easy, affordable, warm, comfortable!

9 out of 10 pre-tweeners agree:  "It doesn't STINK!"

PUNK SKUNK COSTUME

Materials:

Black Velour hoodie*

White Faux Fur**

Piece of cardboard to stiffen the "mohawk"

Glue gun

Punk inspired clothes

Face Paint (black, white, pink)

Create a mohawk piece by wrapping and hot-gluing a piece of cardboard (cut to the desired shape) with white faux fur.  Hot glue the mohawk in place on the hood of the sweatshirt.  Continue to glue a strip of white faux fur all the way down the back of the sweatshirt, and allow it to extend a foot or two beyond the sweatshirt for the tail.

Pull together a punk-inspired outfit from your child's wardrobe or from a trip to a local thrift store.  Add a little face paint and you're ready to go!

*We found our black hoodie at Target for $12.99

** We purchased the faux fur at Michael's.

What is your pre-tweener wearing this Halloween?

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This post has been shared with
Creative Me Monday @ The Southern Institute
Show & Share Day @ Just a Girl

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Easy Halloween Treat ~ Chocolate Dipped Ghosts on a Stick!

 

The clock's ticking on Halloween plans and projects.  With little time to spare, I needed a quick, easy and inexpensive Halloween treat to make with my daughter's girl scout troop the other day.  

If you're short on time as I was, you'll appreciate this no-bake treat that takes only minutes to prepare and requires only a few ingredients!  

What's more, it's easy for kids to do and would make a fun activity for a Halloween party!

 

Marshmallow Ghosts on a Stick

(makes 2 dozen)

Marshmallow Peeps Ghosts, 2 packages

Wilton Light Cocoa or Dark Cocoa Candy Melts, 1 bag

Wilton White Candy Melts, 1/4 cup

Wilton Lollipop Sticks, 24

Piping bag or Ziploc

Cello bags, tulle and/or ribbon (optional)

 

Step 1:  Remove Peeps Ghosts from package.  Separate into individual ghosts.  Insert a lollipop stick in to each ghost (till it reaches the top, but doesn't poke through).

Step 2:  Line two baking sheets or trays with parchment, wax paper, or a silicone mat.

Step 3:  Melt chocolate* and place in a narrow, but deep bowl (you'll get more dips this way).  Dip each ghost, tapping off excess chocolate before placing on the lined baking sheet to set.  When all ghosts have been dipped, place pan in the refrigerator for ten minutes.

Step 4:  Meanwhile, melt the white chocolate.  Transfer to a piping bag or Ziploc bag with a tiny portion snipped from the tip.

Step 5:  Remove chocolate ghosts from refrigerator.  Use the melted white chocolate to pipe eyes, a mouth, and a ruffled hem.

Step 6:  White chocolate will set quickly, but if your room is warm and it does not set, place pan(s) in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.  Once chocolate has set, wrap in cellophane bags and decorate with tulle or ribbon.

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This post has been shared with:
Making it With Allie @ What Allie's Making Now
Haute Stuff Thursday at Frugalicious Me 
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest 
BFF Open House @ The Answer is Chocolate 
Sweets This Week @ Sugar Bananas 
Think Pink @ Flamingo Toes

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A Book Review for Crafty Cat Lovers...

Do you have a cat?

Do you love to craft?

Enjoy felting?

Like earth-friendly crafts?

Need a gift for a cat-fancier friend?

Then read on...

Since I live in a home presided over by a fabulously furry Norweigan Forest Cat, my curiosity was piqued when Quirk Books offered to send me a copy of CRAFTING WITH CAT HAIR: Cute Handicrafts to Make with Your Cat.

"Crafting...with...CAT HAIR?" you say?

Yes, yes indeed.

If you have a cat...chances are...

...YOU'RE PROBABLY WEARING IT ALREADY ANYWAY.

 

Charmingly quirky and beautifully presented, CRAFTING WITH CAT HAIR was originally written in Japan by Kaori Tsutaya. Released in October, the 96 page English translation offers step-by-step tutorials for ten different crafts using basic felting techniques to fashion adorable mementos from the hair of your fuzzy feline.

With a gentle humor and conversational style, the book makes clear from the get-go that it is not about making things out of cat hair to sell or give away.  You won't find your ticket to getting rich on Etsy here.  Crafting with cat hair is a very personal way to make meaningful and lasting keepsakes -- a lovingly crafted tribute to a special member of your family.

In addition to cute and clever crafts like...

Finger Puppets

Embellished Mittens & Gloves

 

Embellished Felt Totes

 

and Tiny Portraits

...you'll find tips on caring for and grooming your cat. The fur used in the projects is gathered naturally, through regular grooming.  You won't find any dubious methods like cat shaving or blueprints for a cat farming empire in this book.

So, why craft with cat hair?

It's fun, it's free, and it's earth friendly.

Why not craft with cat hair?

If you're allergic to cats.

(duh)

Why buy this book?

It's soft, charming and will make you smile...

...just like a cat.

Purrr.....

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