'my first words'

So here it is ... the 'my first words' book.

ava=like a bird

Saturday was this beautiful little girls birthday party. Matt and Laura {parents of ava} have been friends of ours for a long time and were able to adopt Ava last year. I made her two onesies, one of her silouette and one with a bird on it because ava=like a bird.
I also made a book for her but was so excited about it that I didn't take any pictures. I'll get some though and post later. For now you can enjoy this adorable face.

Here are the pages that I put in the book. I sewed each letter to a page in the book. I really liked how it turned out. I promise I'll post photos of the book in the next couple days.

ten donuts in ten steps

I discovered these last October at a Halloween party and have made them multiple times since. I've taken them to work and given them to neighbors and everyone raves about how good they are. They don't beat my grandma's spudnuts but if you only have fifteen minutes not three hours then they are fantastic. I think they would be great to make with kids as well. You get ten donuts in ten steps, here's how ...

I made them to remind children in my Primary class that they had the scripture, prayer and talks.

giant fortune cookies {part 2}

I was successful in my attempt to make some giant fortune cookies. However, I was only successful because I had the help from Kella {my sister}. We cooked six at a time and literally had less than a minute to fold them once we took them out of the oven. Once they were folded and cooled we had to cool our fingers under the cold tap for a few second, but they were fun to make. I made up fortunes for brad and also some different fortunes for the ladies I visit teach. Kella and I took a trip to our favorite place the Hobby Lobby and found some fun take-out chinese boxes and filled them with the wonderful cookies {I fit five or six in a box}. Here's how they turned out ...

and here is the recipe if anyone wants a fun afternoon activity ...

giant fortune cookies

5 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

4 large egg whites

1 cup sugar

dash of salt

1 cup all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons heavy cream

1 teaspoon almond extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, combine the egg whites and sugar then beat for half a minute on medium speed. Add the flour and the salt then beat to combine. Add the butter, cream and extract then beat to combine for another half a minute.

For each cookie, pour three or four tablespoons of the batter onto a well greased cookie sheet and spread the batter with the back of the spoon into a thin three or four-inch circle, the cookies will spread significantly while baking so be sure to give them plenty of room--I bake four to a sheet usually. Bake until the edges are golden, about ten to twelve minutes, but try to get them as golden as possible because if you undercook them they won't harden properly later.

When the cookies come out you must work quickly to pull the cookie off of the hot sheet with a spatula. Lift it and put it on a towel. Fold the cookie in half, pinching it at the top of form a shape like a hard taco shell. Then turn it upside down and bring both ends up towards each to form the shape of a fortune cookie. It helps to push gently at the fold while folding it.

You have to complete this process in about half a minute or you'll never be able to refold it once it hardens. Repeat the folding process with each of the remaining cookies (it makes about ten) and thread your handmade fortunes through the finished cookies.

I didn't get a chance to take any photos of the folding proccess ... if you want to see some click here

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! The last time I made valentine's was in elementary school {a good fifteen years ago}. This year I decided to be festive and start a new tradition so this is the result. I found the tins on clearance at Michaels but they didn't have enough so I used white jewelry boxes for the rest of the ones I made. I did use the same containers full of candy for the white boxes. They were fun and easy to make and I can think of many occasions to use them {birthday invites, baby shower invites or announcements, thank yous, easter, halloween}. Who doesn't like a little treat in the mail?

giant fortune cookies

I discovered this great blog with all kinds of fun ideas. I am going to attempt to make these giant fortune cookies ... I'll let you know how they turn out.

great team

I actually created these before christmas. My mom came up with the idea and I just brought it to life. She uses these in her ward and gives them to the twelve year olds and the teachers on their birthdays. I think I might change the nutrition facts on the birthday ones and use them in my class as well. I think my mom and I make a great team. If I'm ever stumped then I just call my mom and by the time I hang up I usually have more than one great idea.

Let me know if you want a full resolution copy