Pondered Primed Perfected

11/9/12

The Better Half on Inspiration Cafe

Happy Friday Everyone,

Inspiration Cafe is so excited to have our first Feature Friday post!

Today we would like to welcome the lovely Jocie from
The Better Half .

The Better Half,is a new sister site to One Project Closer (OPC) and is
dedicated to the finer things, like DIY home decor, crafts, and sometimes kid-friendly stuff too.

To read more....

Have a great weekend everybody!

Sherry

11/8/12

Award Winning Moose Munch Recipe

This is the recipe that won me the Iron Chef Mom award for the ingredient Caramel!

So I thought I would share the recipe again.

We had some gourmet popcorn that had been gifted to us so I used that. We also have a really cool WestBend Stovetop Popper that I love. I couldn't find the directions so I looked up the manual on line. (I love that you can do that)

To use the Stovetop Popper: Put 2 Tablespoons of oil and 1/2 cup of popcorn into pan. Heat to Medium-High and start turning the crank. Continue turning the crank rapidly the entire time. The popcorn kernels start exploding in no time, filling the pan. It takes 3-4 minutes for the popcorn to be done.

Transfer popcorn into a large paper bag, making sure to remove any unpopped kernels.

Microwave Caramel Corn {click here for printable recipe}

Here's what you'll need:
3-4 quarts popped corn
1 stick of butter (no substitutes!)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup Karo Syrup
1 tsp baking soda - add last

Place stick of butter, brown sugar, salt and corn syrup into microwave safe glass bowl. Place in microwave and heat on high until it comes to a boil. Times will vary by microwave so you will want to watch it closely. Once it comes to a complete boil remove from microwave and stir.

Return to microwave and cook for 1 minute.

Remove, add baking soda and stir well. Mixture will thicken and lighten in color. Pour mixture over the popcorn inside the paper bag.

Fold the top of the paper bag down several times to close~ then shake, shake, shake!
(Go ahead, play some Zumba music here!)
Shake really well to distribute the caramel and coat all of the popcorn.

Place entire bag of popcorn back into the microwave and heat on high for another 1 1/2 minutes. Remove and shake some more. (Cue Zumba music again)

Once cooled you can pour the popcorn onto cookie sheets and break apart:

Moose Munch Recipe {click here for printable recipe}

Here's what you'll need:
Caramel Corn (see recipe above)
1/2 bag (or more) mini marshmallows
1 bag milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup (or more) dry roasted or honey roasted peanuts
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

Caramel corn should be broken apart and spread out on cookie sheets.

Sprinkle mini marshmallows and nuts evenly over the popcorn.

In a glass container mix chocolate chips and vegetable oil. Heat in microwave for 1 minute intervals. Remove, stir and repeat until melted completely.

Use a spoon to drizzle melted chocolate over popcorn, marshmallows and nuts.

Allow to cool. (I put mine into the refrigerator for a few minutes).

Break into smaller chunks and enjoy!

Makes a great treat for movie night. It's a family favorite around our place. Of course, the caramel corn alone is delicious.

BUT

If you want to treat someone to something extra special....

I crafted this little tag...

...perfect for adding to little brown bags and sharing!!!

Now you know my Award Winning MOOSEMUNCH Recipe!

ENJOY!

11/7/12

Coffee Table Ottoman

I've been dreaming of turning an old coffee table into an ottoman for a long time. I spent many a summer weekend scouring yard sales, just hoping to find the perfect table. Isn't it funny how you can come across a certain type of item over and over again...making you wonder what on earth you could re-purpose it into...then when inspiration hits you there's suddenly none to be found anywhere?

Yeah. Really funny. Finally I gave up looking. I'd grown weary of the chase.

That's when my Better Half came home with this beat up old beauty. Just when I'd resigned myself to living without a coffee table ottoman. He found this solid wood coffee table at a yard sale for $1.00 and brought it home to me. Perfect price. Perfect height and length. Looks like I have my next makeover mark!

I flipped it over and unscrewed the table top. It had to come off so I could paint this base. I also needed to add foam and staple the upholstery fabric directly to the under-side of the table top which would be much easier with it off.

Do you see the patina on those little copper feet? You can't fake that. So pretty. I taped those tapered copper feet off before painting the base. I wanted the patina to stay.

I whipped up some homemade chalk paint with some Metro Recycling Center white paint and unsanded grout. I used a hand mixer to get it nice and smooth.

I did three coats to give the table good coverage. I distessed a bit once it dried.

Then we went shopping for some foam. Egads! Have you priced foam lately? It was $34.99 a YARD. You've got to be kidding me! This is supposed to be a thrifty makeover.

We ended up finding an Ikea crib mattress still in the store wrapping for $7.00! This left us needing only 7 inches of foam from Joann's to cover the tabletop.

I used a cloth shower curtain I had to upholster the mattress and foam to the tabletop. I needed to merge the foam and the crib mattress together and add a bit more padding to the top. I stretched this white fabric over the foam and stapled underneath the table top...pulling tight as I went. This did the trick. I love the look of the white but I know it wouldn't be this pristine for long around here. I only wish!

I sampled this grey chevron fabric also, but decided it was too light weight to stand up to all the heavy foot traffic.

After I added the foam and the white shower curtain fabric I stretched my upholstery fabric over the top and stapled underneath. Again pulling tight as I went. After adding the button tufting I screwed the top back onto the base.

Here is what it looks like now:

This graphic fabric is a Cynthia Rowley curtain panel I picked up at Goodwill for $6.00/pair.

I had pre-measured and drilled six holes into the tabletop before adding the foam and fabric. I used the fabric covered buttons to tuft the ottoman. Here's a good button tufting tutorial if you want to give it a try. I love the tufted look on ottomans and would have loved to do MANY more buttons...but we were going for thrifty here.

Ignore the ugly couch. ;)

Sadie was determined to be in every picture. I had to lure her out of the way with treats. Hey! Smarty pants dog! She thinks she's so smart.

We now have a soft place to put our feet up and relax! It's wide enough for everyone to share AND extra room for a tray.

RECAP:

Coffee Table    $1.00
Ikea Mattress    $7.00
Curtain Fabric    $6.00
Buttons    $7.00
7 inches of foam    $8.00
TOTAL COST        $29.00

For less than $30.00 we have a large, custom, tufted ottoman.

Sharing at:
http://www.soyouthinkyourecrafty.com/im-crafty-no-49-upcycling/

11/5/12

Socks for Sandy - We Can Help

Sometimes we are so far removed from a disaster that it is hard to even imagine the desctruction, or what those people involved must be going through. And it's not always simple to offer aid when these things strike. How do we help? What can we do from so far away? Do we donate money to the Red Cross? Is there something, anything we can do to bring comfort to these people, these families who have lost their homes, their belongings, their comfort?

Of course you can donate money to the Red Cross for Disaster Aid:

But there are more ways to bring comfort to people who have lost everything. Here is an excerpt from Laura's blog, The Shed, that really touches my heart....

"I couldn't get the socks thing out of my head. People needed socks. People were walking around barefoot. But it was more than that, this sort-of obsession about socks. Putting socks on cold feet signifies warmth and comfort - a small bit of goodness during what will be a long and difficult road. It bothered me all night.

Yes, we live at the shore. Going barefoot goes hand-in-hand with living at the beach. But after this storm? It is much chillier around here. And the forecast is for another possible storm to arrive in about four days. People need socks for warmth. Now."

Excerpt from Laura of The Shed

Laura has touched my heart with her determination to get this campaign going. Although she lives near where this destruction took place, her family was lucky they weren't hit with the ferocity that hit many other Coastal towns in and around New Jersey. What she was hit with was a strong desire to bring comfort to those that need it the most. There are many people and families in shelters who need the simple necessities...such as socks, gloves, and hats. Please Help!

"We're focusing on providing warm socks, gloves and winter hats to those who need it most right now.

You can help us gather up some warmth to share by collecting socks, gloves and winter hats - for men, women and children of all ages - and sending them to:

Socks for Sandy

P.O. Box 520

Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087

Please mail by Friday, November 9, since the need is urgent."

Excerpt from Laura of The Shed

Thank you so much for anything you can do to help!

Sherry

11/4/12

What Inspires Natalie of NorthShore Days? (A Necklace Tutorial)

My friend Natalie is sharing what inspires her at Inspiration Cafe today...

Look what she is sharing today...

"I can't tell you how much fun I had creating this necklace... its so simple to make and so rewarding to see the finished results."

Head over to Inspiration Cafe to see what inspires Natalie and
for the tutorial on this beautiful necklace!