Rock (Out!) Candy

Make a candy “IPod” for your favorite valentine this year!  A box of conversation hearts and two mini peanut butter cups in disguise hit all the right notes for a tune-loving babysitter or pal. The idea comes from Grand Island, Nebraska, mom Lisa Toner, whose daughters, Anna, 14, and Maria, 10, wanted a new way to tell friends, “You rock.” “Valentines can seem babyish to older kids,” explains Lisa. “They really need something cool.”

• Tape
• 2 (14-inch) pieces of string
• 2 mini peanut butter cups
• 1 (1-ounce) box of conversation hearts
• 2 (4-inch) circles of aluminum foil
• 4- by 7-inch strip of pink paper
• Glue stick
• Sheet of white printer paper or printable scroll wheel and playlist (pdf format).

Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Tape each end of a piece of string to a peanut butter cup. Tie on the other piece of string as shown, then tape the loose end to the candy box.2. Wrap each peanut butter cup in a circle of aluminum foil.

3. Wrap the pink paper strip around the candy box and secure it with a glue stick.

4. Cut paper shapes and write text for the scroll wheel and playlist (or download and print ours), and use a glue stick to attach them to the box. Write a valentine message on the back of the box.

Tinkertoy Christmas Tree

This Tinkertoy tree is fun and can easily be assembled by adults and children alike.

What You Need:

- One container of Tinkertoys

- Foil

- Small pot, crock, or mug

Instructions

1. Create the tree by placing eight equal-size rods in a wheel.

2. Assemble the rows of branches in graduating sizes; then put the tree together by placing a center rod between each horizontal layer of branches.

3. Build the tree from bottom to top, starting with the larger rods and working to the top small rods.

4. Place the base of the tree in a small pot, crock, or mug.

5. Add a foil star at the top and slide a few small baubles onto the branches.

Gourd Ghouls

Made from small gourds, the fiendish duo is trimmed with crafting foam accents.

What You Need:

* Small pear-shape gourds
* White spray-paint primer
* Paper punch
* Crafting foam in white, black, orange, and yellow
* Scissors
* White quilting or map pins
* Fine-line black permanent marking pen
* Tracing paper
* Pencil
* Thick white crafts glue
* Clothespin
* Acrylic paints in black and white
* Paintbrush
* Colored wire in orange and purple

Instructions:

1. Download the free pattern for this project. (Downloading requires Adobe Acrobat software.)

Download gourd ghouls pattern here

2. In a well-ventilated work area, spray-paint the gourds white. Let dry.

3. To make eyes, punch out black circles from crafting foam. Attach the black circles to the gourds using white quilting or map pins. Use a black marking pen to draw mouths and make a dot for each nose.

4. Trace the patterns. Cut out. Trace around the patterns on crafting foam. Cut out the shapes. Glue the details on the pumpkin shape. Let dry. To make eyes on the bat, dip the handle of a paintbrush into white paint and dot onto the foam. When dry, make a tiny black dot in the center of each eye using a black marking pen.

5. To make wire coil, wrap the entire orange wire around a pencil and remove. For the purple wire, wrap half of the wire. Shape the remaining end into a zigzag, making a spiral at the end. Glue the jack-o’-lantern to the top of the purple coil. Glue the bat to the top of the orange coil. Let dry.

6. Pin the arms into place. For the tall gourd, place the orange coiled wire into position. Glue the right foam hand over the wire, securing with a clothespin until dry.

7. Slip hat brim over the top of the short gourd. Paint the gourd black above the brim. Let dry. Slip the purple wire into place.

8. If the gourds roll, poke pins into the bottoms to steady them.

Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens.

Cute Halloween Costumes for Girls

Fairy:  Make a Woodland Sprite Kid’s Halloween Costume

Delight your Tinkerbell fan with her own fairy rendition that makes her the queen of the butterfly forest.

What You Need
* Heavyweight floral wire and wire cutters
* Fabric-covered headband
* Two 2-x-4-3/4-inch sheer butterflies on clips
* 1 spring silk flower garland
* Glue gun and hotmelt adhesive
* Green cotton jersey bolero and elastic-waist skirt
* Fabric glue
* Nylon tulle: 2 yards each of dark, medium, and light pink and green

Download Woodland Sprite Pattern

How to Make It

1. Cut a 20-inch length of floral wire; fold in half. Tightly twist the wires together 3 to 4 inches from the center fold. Position the twisted wire over the top of the headband; wrap the untwisted wire around the headband to secure.
2. Repeat with a second 20-inch length of wire, twisting the wires together 2 to 3 inches from the center fold.
3. Clip a butterfly to the end of each twisted wire.
4. Hot-glue a short length of silk flower garland to the top of the headband, covering the wire wraps.
5. Lay the bolero flat; place paper inside to prevent glue from bleeding through. Glue flower garland along the neck and center frond edges of the bolero; let dry.
6. Work with one color of tulle at a time to make the skirt. Fold one piece in half lengthwise with the fold at the top. This folded edge will be at the waist of the skirt. Fold the length of tulle widthwise in half, quarters, and then eighths. Using the diagram as a guide, cut pointed petal tips. Adjust the length of the piece so it will extend 3 to 5 inches below the skirt.
7. Unfold the tulle and sew a long gathering stitch close to the waistband fold. Pull the threads to gather the tulle until it fits around the waistband of the skirt. Repeat for each piece of tulle.
8. Stack the gathered tulle skirt pieces. Position the layered tulle skirt pieces on the skirt; pin in place.
9. Sew the tulle pieces to the skirt, sewing atop the fathering line.
10. Use fabric glue to attach the flower garland around the neck.

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Little Red Riding Hood

With its basket for goodies, this little costume will win oodles of smiles.

What You Need:

* Measuring tape; scissors
* Red plaid round tablecloth
* Fusible hem tape; elastic
* 3 yards pregathered lace
* Red fabric or flat sheet
* Ruffled red trim; red ribbon
* Red sport-weight yarn
* 1/4 yard pregathered lace
* White blouse
* Basket

Download Hooded Cape Diagram

Instructions

1. For skirt, measure waist. Make a circle pattern the same circumference as the waist measurement. Cut out circle from center of tablecloth. Trim tablecloth if necessary to shorten.
2. Use fusible hem tape to press under 1 inch of raw edge at waist, clipping as necessary. Make small slits in waistline hem about 1 1/2 inches apart. Thread elastic through slits; adjust to fit waist. Sew lace around bottom hem.
3. For cape, measure from back of neck downward to determine length. Fold fabric in half so center back of cape is on fold. Draw a curve to make a quarter circle. Cut out a rounded neckline. Use diagram to draw hood portion of cape. Cut out. (Downloading diagram requires Adobe Acrobat.)
4. Stitch lace at edge of hood. With yarn, make a gathering stitch at bottom of hood where indicated on diagram; secure at sides. Work gathering stitch along hood edge. Add ribbon ties.

Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

Central Utah Art Center, Ephraim, Utah, plus a brief tour of Ephraim Co-Op

Adam Bateman, Director of the Central Utah Art Center, hosts an exhibit of paintings by two of Utah’s leading artists, Brian Kershisnik (richly symbolic, folk-influenced) and Kathleen Peterson (“portraits” of trees). The renowned Central Utah Art Center (CUAC) is located in a striking 100-year-old former granary in picturesque Ephraim, Utah, and is regarded by many as the premier art exhibition center in Utah. The Ephraim Co-Op is located next door, on Main Street in Ephraim, Utah, and offers a variety of beautiful and quilts, artworks, home furnishings, and handicrafts.

Beautiful Quilt Expo in Ephraim, Utah

A beautiful, local quilt expo and contest during the annual Scandinavian Heritage Festival. For more information on the festival, visit: http://www.scandinavianheritagefestival.com.

Utah Artists at the Staples Art Center in Elsinore, Utah

Central Utah Artists talk about their works at the Staples Art Center, located in Elsinore, Utah.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Part 5:

Part 6:

Part 7:

2006 Christmas Concert: Making a Difference – Janet and Megan Bird

Ideal Living Media presents footage from the Sevier County, Utah, 2006 Christmas Concert – Making a Difference – a benefit for the families of Kelly Strong and Paul Turner. In this number, Janet and Mega Bird, accompanied on piano by Deanna Cowley, sing “Christ Child.”

Dances of Polynesia from Snow College Polynesian Club

Ideal Living Media presents footage from the Sevier County, Utah, Polynesia Luau Concert, with dances from Hawaii, Fiji, Tahiti, New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa.

Rachel Olsen – Local Artist in Central Utah

Local Artist spotlight on Rachel Olsen. See her works at the Staples Art Center in Elsinore, Utah.

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