Faux Polaroid Photo Wall

This is a cool way to display photos. Now that Polaroids are no longer available, you can turn any of your regular photos into a 'Polaroid'. Download the program here. I printed mine onto photo paper and cropped the total size to 3.5 inches x 4.25 inches (the dimensions of a real Polaroid) and put them on a bulletin board. I love this program because it crops the photos and gives them that 'Polaroid' look by altering the colour and putting a border around them. Very fun! You can also write a message or memory below in the white space. Have fun with this it's addicting!!

Simple Crochet Toque

This is a simple crochet pattern for a toque that you can make. If you know how to do a double crochet then you can make this. It is very simple and once you get the hang of doing a double crochet you can whip them off in no time. For Christmas I made about 6 of them! If you are quick it can be done in less than 5 hours. The black and white striped toque is make with separate rows while the multicoloured one is a continual spiral. This pattern can be easily adjusted to make it bigger or smaller and can be make with or without the ear flaps (which I have done and will still cover the ears if you choose not to use ear flaps).

I used a size K hook and a bulky (~6)weight yarn.

Rnd 1: Ch. 3. Sl st in first ch to form a ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc 11 in ring (should have total of 12 dc). If you are doing a continual spiral (if using just one colour of yarn) then make sure you use a stitch marker and continue on. Otherwise fasten off and start with next colour.

Rnd 2: 2 dc in each dc of previous rnd.

Rnd 3: [2 dc, then 1 dc in next], repeat around.

Rnd 4: [2 dc, then 1 dc in next 2], repeat around.

Rnd 5: [2 dc, then 1 dc in next 4], repeat around.

Rnd 6-14: 1 dc in each st around. (The amount of rows can be adjusted depending on the length you want. 11 rows is sufficient if you are using a super bulky weight).

Rnd 15: sc in each st around to finish off.

Optional: Add ear flaps starting about 6-8 st from back seam. Do rows of dc to fit width of ear flap and decrease as you go down. The number of stitches will depend on the type of wool you use but it should be somewhere between 10-15 dc wide and about 6 rows long. Braid 12 pieces of wool for tails.

I made the multicoloured hat and scarf for my brother for Christmas and you could make a matching scarf easily by doing straight rows of dc. Start with a chain of your desired length then dc along the original chain until you have your desired width.

How to double crochet

Any questions? Just ask and I'll try to help!

Sponge Toffee

Here is a different candy idea that is fun and easy to make and tastes great! It is like the inside of a Crunchie bar. The pieces could also be dipped in chocolate which would taste really good. There are lots of recipes on the web for this candy. Some include vinegar and others don't. I got my recipes here which doesn't use vinegar. Make sure you line your pan when making this with parchment otherwise you will have a difficult time removing it when it's done. Have fun!

Peppermint Bark

Nothing says the holidays like peppermint bark! All you need is white chocolate and candy canes. Unwrap and put candy canes into a Ziploc bag. Now take out all those mall-shopping frustrations and hit them with a wooden mallet, heavy pan, or a hammer until they are in small pieces. Try not to turn them into powder. Over a double boiler, melt white chocolate (the amount is up to you, it all depends on how much you want). Mix in peppermint pieces. I also add peppermint flavouring for a bit of extra flavour. Put a piece of parchment paper or a Silpat over a cookie sheet and pour chocolate onto it. Spread out using a spatula. You can top your bark with more peppermint pieces or use green melting chocolate and drizzle that on top. Put it in the freezer until it hardens (~15 minutes) then break into chunks. This is a simple recipe and can be adapted depending on the amount you want to make. This is a fun recipe to do with kids too because they can have fun breaking up the peppermints. Happy Holidays!

Mint Patties

This is a yummy peppermint recipe for the holidays. It comes from my Auntie Rita who makes them every year and I just had to have it because they are so good! You could probably cover them in chocolate too and it would taste really good or even try out some different flavours. These are really easy to make and just as easy to eat!

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups icing sugar
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 2 Tbsp cream (or milk)
• 1-2 tsp peppermint extract to taste (I used a few drops of candy flavouring in mine)
• Red and Green food colouring

1. Mix all ingredients except food colouring until smooth and creamy. (Using your hands here works well)
2. Divide mixture in half and colour.
3. Roll into small balls and place on waxed paper. Flatten slightly with a fork. They should be about the size of a quarter.
   
4. Let dry for several hours. Store in an air tight container.

This makes about 50 patties. Enjoy!

Witches Fingers

Halloween just wouldn't be Halloween without edible oddities! And what is more spooky than eating creepy green witch fingers? Jagged sliced almonds for nails and red decorators gel for gooey nails makes these fingers extra appetizing. It is a simple and delicious recipe!

• 175mL Butter
• 160mL Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 30mL Milk
• 5mL Almond Extract
• 625mL Flour
• 5mL Baking Powder
• 2mL Salt
  
• Green Food colouring (the gel kind gives a brighter colour)
• Almond slices
• Red decorating Gel

Dough:

1. Cream together butter and sugar in large mixing bowl.
2. Add eggs, milk, almond extract, and food colouring. Beat well until combined.
3. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Gradually add flour mixture into creamed mixture. Mix until well blended. (Note: The dough will be a bit sticky)
   
5. Divide dough into two balls, wrap, and chill for 2 hours or overnight.
   

Baking:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Roll about a tablespoon (15mL) of dough to form a 'finger'
3. Give finger two squeezes to form knuckles.
4. Using a knife, make small cuts into knuckles to make wrinkles.
5. Place sliced almonds on top of the end to form nails.
   
6. Bake 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.
7. Remove from cookie sheet and cool for 2-3 minutes. Remove almond nail and squeeze small amount of red decorator gel then replace almond.

[ squeeze to form knuckles, cut in wrinkles, and place almond as the nail]

A great way to serve these cookies is in a martini glass or bowl where the fingers can stick up out of. Enjoy!



*I made these in highschool in my cooking class so I don't have a source to cite them*

Crochet Monkey

In the spirit of amigurumi I decided to try and make a monkey. I couldn't find any good patterns (free ones) that I liked so I tested my pattern making skills! The head is made from a basic amigurumi ball which I started with the light yarn then moved into the dark yarn to create the face (In the future I would probably make a smaller half ball as the nose/face for more depth). The main body is made in the same way as the head but rather than 3 rounds of 30 stitches, I increased the number of rounds with 30 stitches to make the body longer. I then made a flat circle from the lighter yarn and stitched it ontop of the body to make the stomach. The arms and legs started with 5 sc in a ring then 2 sc in each of those around for 10 stitches. I repeated 10 st around until I got the length desired. The tail is only 5 sc in a ring then 1 sc in each stitch repeated. The face and belly button are made from embroidery thread and the ears (which are hard to see in the photo) are flat half circles that I stitched on later. Hopefully this makes some sense! If I ever make another one with some alterations I will be sure to post a pattern. For now anyway, enjoy!

Materials:
Brown Red Heart Yarn
Grey Vanna's Choice Yarn
Fibrefill
Black Embroidery Thread