Needle Punch Embroidery

A couple of years ago, I took a class from a local fabric store on needle punch embroidery.  I am in love with the way it looks and I have so many ideas of how to use it, but never seem to actually getting around to doing it.

 In the class, we started this little linen bunny bib.... but I never actually finished the thing.

When I found out a dear friend is having a baby next month and I thought this bib might be the perfect gift to send her...

It was just the motivation I needed to finish it up. 

Yay for finishing two year old projects! And yay for cute bibs!

Cran Pear Pie

Even though this pie tastes like Christmas I craved it last week.  When I saw fresh Bosc pears in the market I remembered I had frozen some whole fresh cranberries and caved in to that craving.  My 18 year old son said it tasted like "Santa Clause, jingle bells, holly and ivy, gingerbread houses and Christmas lights!"  He also said it tastes how Christmas candles smell.  Well, cranberry lover that I am, I am ready for this pie anytime of the year!

I copied this recipe from a magazine.  I can't recall which one and I can't find this recipe on line.  But it is truly a wonderful combination resulting in a new taste--not cranberry or pear.  Have I mentioned how much I like this?

CRAN PEAR PIE

Pie Dough Prep

Roll out pie dough and make base in a 9 inch pie pan.  Roll out another circle of dough on waxed paper and place in freezer for 5 minutes to chill.  Use cookie cutters to make shapes for pie top and put back in freezer until ready to use.

Pie Filling

1/2 tsp lemon zest
2 T lemon juice
3 lb. Bosc pears, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1 c. fresh (or frozen) cranberries, chopped in food processor
3 T cornstarch
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
3/4 c. sugar

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and place on top of dough lined pie plate.

Dot with 1 T. butter.   Top pie with dough cut outs and brush with cream.  Sprinkle with sugar.  

Bake in pre-heated oven at 425 degree for 20 minutes and then reduce heat to 350 for 1 hour.   Cool.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

Ninjago Drink Labels: Ninjagade!

Here are my Ninjago drink labels that I used for Henry's birthday party.  I simply pasted each image into Microsoft Word, adjusting the sizes until four fit onto a page.  Then, I printed them on photo paper, cut them out and taped them around short Gatorade bottles.

These labels are free for your personal use (that means enjoy them for your little guy's birthday party but don't sell them on your Etsy site).  

Ninja-GO!

Work in Progress

I've seen some requests to post the drink labels I made for Henry's Ninjago party and am happy to post them for your printing pleasure.  Currently, our little blog is needing some adjustments and updates, but as soon as those are made, I'll get the labels up.

xoxo
Becca

Party Details

Here are some little details from Henry's Ninjago party.

We made invites on the computer.

I found a free Lego font here.

Changed Gatorade in to Ninjade with some home made labels and stickers.

We had: 

Kai's Fire Punch

Cole's Rock Water

Jay's Lightning Juice

Zane's Ice-Ade

I've made the labels free to download.  You can get them HERE!

 We made a Garmadon pinata out of a shipping box, that I weakened by removing some of the inside flaps and perforating the packing tape that held it together.  Otherwise, it would take way too long to bust it open!

I poked a hole in the top and threaded a hanger through it.

We filled it with goodies, covered it with black tissue paper and made details out of cardstock.

We decorated the patio with polka dot balloons and colorful bunting.

For our game, we had a scavenger hunt to find the four Weapons of Spinjitzu.  

I made the weapons with wrapping paper tubes, toilet paper tubes, cardboard, and masking tape.  The nun-chucks are held together with a chain of rubber bands.  I didn't want them to be too heavy, because I knew the kids would try them out on each other.  I sprayed them with gold spray paint, which worked like a charm.  

I forgot to get a picture before the scavenger hunt, so the weapons look a little beat up here.

When the kids first arrived, I had them decorate their own ninja headband with stickers and markers.  Then, I told them the story of Ninjago, because most of them weren't familiar.  I told them Kai's sister Nya had been captured by the Evil Lord Garmadon and they had to find the four Weapons of Spinjitzu (the scavenger hunt), fight Garmadon (the pinata) and free Nya.  

This is the map I gave to each child before the scavenger hunt, so they'd know what they were looking for.

Then, we headed out on the scavenger hunt.  I tried to make the clues really simple.  We had a lot of kids and most were under five.  So, the clues were things like "Take 25 steps toward the tree with a swing.  Look up to the sky to find the Nun-Chucks of Lightning".  I also made the kids practice their Spinjitzu spinning before they could move on.  

The game was a hit!

Lucy was very excited to be tied up and in charge of pulling the pinata rope.

Henry's cake request was very simple, which I appreciated.  We looked at lots of pictures online of Ninjago birthday cakes, but he really liked the ones that had real toys on them.

I had seen Lego candles on Amazon but they were ridiculously priced.  Then, on a trip to Target I found some similar for much, much cheaper.  

I do love Target.

For a little thank you gift, Henry handed out mini figures, stored in a Lego storage container.

 

I think everyone had a lot of fun.  The kids especially loved the scavenger hunt, ending with the pinata.