Tutorial Thursday: Sea salt and vinegar kale chips

So Danielle over at Sometimes Sweet posted her kale chip experiment (she got the recipe here) and I admit I was skeptical. I don't think I'm veggie-clueless (maybe a 'lil bit?) but I had never tried kale. Maybe I was a little intimidated by how intense it looked, mega-leafy/super-thick, etc. I guess for greens my default is lettuce and spinach...but I was intrigued. I like salty and crispy..so, good-for-you just seemed like a bonus!

I picked up a bunch (1.89 @ Kroger) and went home to experiment. Here we go!

1: Make yo'self a drink (you did just have a long day at work...you probably deserve it) Rocks martini w/ lemon and olive pictured.

2: Rinse off your kale and dry it thoroughly with a paper towel.

3: Break kale leaves into bite size bits (I made approx 22 pieces).

4: Throw kale into a large Ziploc bag. Throw 1 tablespoon of EVOO and 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar (or any vinegar you fancy) into the Ziploc, seal and shake it like shake n' bake.

5: Toss kale onto a cookie sheet, space them so the pieces don't touch.

6: Sprinkle with a little sea salt and cracked black pepper. I also sprinkled with cayenne...because...well we put cayenne on everything.

7: Place cookie sheet in 350 degree heated oven for 10 minutes. After 10 mins, give em a poke. They should be hard to the touch. If not, you could flip them &  give 'em another minute.

Using a spatula, put your crispy kale chips on a plate and nom! They're salty, crunchy and they're good for you! I just learned: Kale is very high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein and reasonably rich in calcium. Take THAT potato chips!

My cousin Rebecca says they resemble smushed frogs...I can see where she's coming from, but I'm not discouraged! I could see this kale chip thing becoming a weekly snack in our house.

* Note: Was informed that they do not keep well so if you make 'em, eat em up!

0 calorie ravioli!

SOFTIE FOOD!

Holycrapthisissocute!

I came across this tutorial today- I looooooove felted food (even though I don't quite know what to do with it...)

Great tutorial over here!

Tutorial Thursday!

Came across this great tutorial for cork cans today on Paper n' Stitch- Love it! Organize your desk space or make a little planter! She's got step by step directions and lots of great photos.. and once again, it's a GREEN PROJECT! Even better. Happy Thursday yous guys!

Tutorial Thursday Tuesday! Confetti Eggz!

I would wait for Thursday but.. I don't want to. I want to make these now now nowwwww... I want to drink mimosas and sit outside and eat cucumber and dill finger sandwiches and decorate eggs! I want to wear a pastel dress and little white socks with lace trim...

EASTER BUNNY IS COMIN' TO TOWN, Y'ALL.

Background:

Many historians believe the tradition of filling eggshells originated in China. The Chinese filled their eggshells with perfumed powder and gave them as gifts. It's believed that Marco Polo introduced them to Europe. Empress Carlotta, the wife of the Emperor Maximilian, introduced the filled eggshells to Mexico in the 19th century. he Mexicans used confetti rather than powder and called them cascarones, from the word "cascara," which means "shell."... [source]

And here we go!

Materials needed:
One Dozen eggs
Egg dying kit
Confetti
Tissue paper
Glue

Instructions:

1. Gently tap the top of an egg.
2. Peel away just a small 1/2 inch hole.
3. Empty contents of the egg out into a bowl.
4. Thoroughly rinse the egg and shake out excess water. Let the egg dry.
5. Dye the eggs using the egg dying kit.
6. When the eggs are dry fill with confetti.
7. Glue the hole in the egg with tissue paper and finish decorating.

[source]

Tutorial Thursday!

Remember this???!

Pinwheel, pinwheel, spinning around. Look at my Pinwheel and see what I've found.Pinwheel, pinwheel, where have you been? Hello, how are you, and may I come in? Pinwheel, pinwheel spinning around. Look at my Pinwheel and see what I found.Pinwheel, pinwheel, breezy and bright. Spin me good morning, spin me good night!

These scream "Summer!" to me. I saw some at a shop a few weeks ago, big plastic ones for your yard, but they were so... well.. plastic-y and although they were rainbow, they just didn't seem as friendly as... oh say... handmade paper or fabric ones!

[source]

Big plastic one:

I think I remember these most from childhood- those metallic shiny pinwheels you'd blow into to make spin:



..and if you REALLY love them, you can get one in sterling silver:

- Beautiful pendant found on etsy! (95$ though.. yowch...)

So today's tutorial is pretty patterned paper pinwheels (OOOooohh alliteration!)

Step by step photos below but instructions over here! Hobby Lobby has great scrapbook paper for about 20 cents a sheet and you can hunt around in the yard for some skinny sticks (freeeeee! thanks nature!)

In other news, went to Michael's on lunch and got LOTS of yarn in fantastic colors. Hurray!

Tutorial Thursday!

!!! They look like dandelions! Love it.

This week has been pompom madness at my house! (and maybe at work a little bit too but shhhhhhhhh... only at lunch?..) I even have a band aid on my left pointer finger knuckle from the scissors... ohhh noes...!

You can find the tutorial right here! If you're not very good and buying and keeping flowers on your table, this is perfect- they're bright and cheery 24/7! If you buy softer, more expensive yarn, the better texture the pompom will have- I.E. my 2 $ Red Heart brand is rough whereas my 4$ Vanna White brand yarn is soft and fuzzy!

Make as many poms as you'd like.. go foraging outside for sticks and SHAZZAM! Look at you.

Have fun!

[photos here and here ]

Oh noes! I forgot Tutorial Thursday! So this is.. Tutorial Friday!

Custom candle wrappers! I really liked this one because a) it's easy and b) can change the paper to suit any holiday or decor. The scrap booking section of hobby lobby or any craft store has tons and tons of great patterned and festive papers. Choose a few that strike you and get to wrappin!

You will need: glass votives (must have glass!),` decorative paper, ruler, pencil, adhesive, and scissors or paper cutter

Once you have picked your pretty paper, measure votive for paper width. Start from under the lip on top, to just above the bottom where the glass begins to curve. For this candle it measured 2 1/2 inches

Run a strip of adhesive on both ends of the paper. Make sure the glue is right at the ends to assure a tight fit

Once you have cut your strip of paper, wrap it around the votive. Mark where the paper over laps about 1/4 of an inch. Cut the strip to this length.

Pretty candles for your table!

[ source! ]

Tutorial Thursday!

Pure coincidence, but it's another Green one! I really like the look of these bottle cap magnets, completely customized to suit you! Open your beers carefully and save the caps to create mini works of art for your fridge. Save an Altoids tin, throw 6 in there and give to a friend! The tutorial is over here- she uses resin, but I think I'll use diamond glaze- found @ hobby/craft stores and Texas Art Supply on Montrose. I'll give it a go and let you know how they turn out!

Now go drink a 6 pack and get to makin' magnets. Even if they're terrible, they'll be cute to you after 6 beers.

New things! Tutorial Thursday!

I've decided to do some weekly posts here @ Notes from the Republic, the first being Tutorial Thursday! I'll do my best to bring you little DIYs I come across using things you may have around the house. Sometimes it will be a craft, sometimes it will be a little recipe.

Today's DIY is this great (and green!) magazine (or newspaper, craftpaper, even fabric scrap) gift bow found on How About Orange. I made one just now at work using an ad from a page from SPIN, staples, scotch tape, and a glue stick. Hurrah for office supplies! For some reason, I had a little bit of a rough time figuring out how to "twist" the paper strips...but once I got it down, making the bow was quick and easy. Hope to bring lots of good DIYs each week!