Thumbprint Turkey Place Setting Cards

Want to know something funny? 'Course ya do! Well I am not actually hosting a Thanksgiving dinner this year, but did that stop me from making these place cards once I got the idea in my head...of course not. Hahaha...

I did a similar version of these cards my very first Thanksgiving as hostess. I loved the little thumbprint then and I love it now. This year I wanted to add a little bit of umph. Surprisingly enough the little bit of umph added hardly any time.

I like these cards because they are perfect for our Thanksgiving table which includes adults and children. These cards have a little bit of fun for the kids and a little bit of Martha (Stewart, that is) for the adults...aka me. I promise these cards are simple to throw together and could probably be done with what you have already in your craft stash.

Here is all you need:

card stock (4 names per sheet), I used white
brown craft paint or brown ink pad
scraps of fall colored fabric
coordinating thread
hot glue and it's girlfriend the glue gun (or a heavy duty glue stick)

First print your names in the font you want. I did four names per page. If you were to quarter off the paper, I put the names in the lower right hand corner. The font I used was Fontleroy Brown. I then cut each card to 3 1/2 inches wide and 6 inches tall. Then I folded each card in half.

Next I found a smallish thumb I had just laying around the house. I applied paint on his little thumb with a craft brush so that I could control the amount of paint.

Press the little thumb onto the front of the card, leaving enough room for the feathers and the little drawn on feet.

After the paint dries, sew a boarder around the outside of the card, like so...

Using about three different fabrics, cut tiny scrap feathers. I just free handed mine. You will need five per name card.

Apply five tiny hot glue dots around the turkey thumbprint. Then press your fabric feathers in place...watch our for your poor fingers, they might get burned, mine did.

Let the glue dry, draw a little beak, dot eyes, and his legs on and then BAM...you got yourself some super cute place cards.

Just so much fun!
Linking:
Blue Cricket Designs: Show and Tell Wednesdays
Somewhat Simple: Strut Your Stuff Thursdays

Pilgrim Boat Place Setting

I know I have said this before, but I really LOVE Thanksgiving. I love the feeling of the holiday. I love the celebrations of the holiday. My enjoyment of Thanksgiving grew even more as I started being able to host my own Thanksgiving day meal. I love preparing the menu. I love getting the house ready. I love setting the table. I love it all...well except for cleaning up the giant turkey carcous at the end of the day. Ew...anyway I digress...

Last year I shared this idea on a guest post toward the end of the season, and I knew that I was going to share it here this year. I was actually kind of super excited in a nerdy way most of the year to be able to share this with you. 

The kids table can be a lot of fun. With only ever my kids I didn't have to set too much up...but I got the idea for these and I just couldn't help myself. Little Mayflower place settings filled with Thanksgiving M&M's.

You could fill them with anything really. If you are worried about them ruining their dinner you could even fill it with pinecones. 

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

You will need:

1/4-1/2 yard of dark brown felt

1/4 yard of muslin

small dowels

embroidery thread

coordinating thread

fallish candy

Making your boats:

for each boat you will need to cut the following-

four rectangular pieces with a short side measuring 4 1/2 inches high, 6 1/2 inches long, and a tall side at 5 inches high.

2 muslin squares measuring 6 inches long by 5 inches high.

1 piece of felt for the bottom that is aprox 6 1/2 inches long and at the widest part 3 inches across. You will cut it in this type of pea pod shape.

Each boat side will be two pieces thick.Pin the 2 pieces together. Ignore the muslin in this picture...that step will come later.

 Sew along the top edge of each side of the boat.

In order to create the boats "wood plank" sides, sew lines all the way across, measuring about 1+ inch apart.

Now that your 4 pieces of felt have turned into 2 sides, pin the two sides together right sides OUT.

The reason that you pin the 2 pieces right sides out is that you are going to close up either end with a blanket stitch. My sewing machine has that function so I took the easy way out and let my machine do all the work. You could also do your blanket stitch by hand.

Once your sides are sewn shut, turn inside out. Pin your bottom piece to the bottom of your boat, making sure that the narrow ends are at the blanket stitched ends...I would use the appropriate boating terms here if I knew them, but alas I am not sure where Port is!

Sew around the entire edge. Then flip out your lovely little Mayflower.

For the sail-

On one muslin square embroider a kiddos name... preferably one that will be using the table :). I lightly trace the name and then go over it with the thread. For this project I used a larger needle and the thread at its thickest.

Once the name is in place, pin the 2 muslin squares together right sides facing. Sew around edges except for a small hole to turn out. Clip edges before turning out.

Turn out sail and then iron flat. Sew around the edges for a finishing touch and to close the hole.

To assemble your sail, take a short dowel...you might have to cut off several inches...your new sail, and two strips of felt measuring aprox 1/2 inch by 2 inches.

Put two dabs of hot glue on the outside edges of each felt strip. With the dowel placed in the center of the back of the sail, glue the strip around the top.

Give Thanks Guest Post: Thanksgiving Banner

Today I am over at Whatever Dee-Dee Wants sharing my tutorial on this Thanks Banner as part of her Give Thanks Series. Head on over and say Hello!

I have been doing several other Thanksgiving projects and am I hoping to share them with you next week. I have also had some extra energy the last few days and have gotten started on some Christmas presents...BUT Thanksgiving first! Don't want that sweet holiday feeling neglected!

I also still have the wrap of of our Superman party to share with you...if I keep my energy level, next week should be a busy week here on the blog!

Thanks for reading everyone!

Superman Party: Play Dough Recipe

Homemade play dough is always a good idea. So cheap to make and it is totally worth it if you can find a homemade recipe that can last and matches the consistency of store bought play dough.

I used the perfect play dough recipe to make coordinating gifts to give our invited Supers in their goody bags.
Thank heavens I had some left over for my own Supers to play with.

I was lucky enough that my play dough colors matched perfectly with the party. Then I managed to find these disposable plastic ramekins at The Mart, which were the perfect size for holding individual amounts of play dough.

Add to that a couple of other gifts and our goody bags were complete.

I know almost everyone has tried some kind of play dough recipe at least once. I have tried MANY. This one is by far my favorite. I know similar recipes are used by several other bloggers too. So you know its gotsta be a good one, right?

So today my recipe is for this simple and easy homemade play dough.

Homemade Play Dough

You will need:

1 cup flour
1 cup water
1/4 cup salt
2 teaspoon cream of tarter
1 Tablespoon oil (canola-vegetable, whatever)
food coloring *I use food coloring gel, that is what I have on hand, but is also gives a much better color, but you can use whatever food coloring you have on hand.


First: Dump everything into a medium sized sauce pan.

Second: Place pan over medium heat and stir constantly...I mean CONSTANTLY. Keep stirring until everything starts to form into a ball, like so--

Third: Dump the dough ball onto the counter.

Fourth: Knead your ugly dough ball until it forms a prettier dough ball. Be careful, the dough will be a little hot straight from the pan.

Fifth: Store your play dough in a container and lid of your choice (even a plastic bag would work).

Sixth: Give away, play with right away, or store for later.

Such a super easy and fun thing to do for your kids and their friends.

I will say that I tried making the first three batches of play dough all at the same time...Hubby had to jump in and help and it still was almost a disaster...so word to the wise, make one batch at a time...just sayin'.


Have fun!

Superman Party: Layer Jell-O Cups

This was a fun addition to not only the treats at the party but also to the decor. Here was my inspiration-

source

We have a family layered Jell-O recipe, but it called for more Jell-O and the middle layer is not just white. SO I of course perused the internet and found a recipe that I thought would fit a little bit more with what I wanted.

To make these doesn't take a lot of effort, just a bit of planned time and some pot washing. They can work with ANY color theme. I mean really if they make that color of Jell-O, then you can have any colors you want.

Here is what you will need:

3-3 oz pkg of Jell-O (tropical fusion, lemon, blue raspberry)
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
3 1/2 pkgs of unflavored gelatin (not boxes, but the pouches inside)
container for layered Jell-O (I used clear plastic cups)

Mix your first pkg of Jell-O with 1/2 pkg of unflavored gelatin. Add 1 cup of boiling water and stir to dissolve. Cool to room temperature (you can always rush this process by putting it in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes...but make sure to watch it or it will start getting solid). After it is room temperature pour it evenly into containers...mine filled 6 cups. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes.

While that first layer is in the refrigerator, mix the can of sweetened condensed milk with 1 cup of boiling water. In a small bowl, sprinkle 2 pkgs of unflavored gelatin over 1/2 cup water. Let it stand a few minutes and then add 1/2 cup boiling water to dissolve gelatin. Add this to the milk mixture and stir to combine. Cool to room temperature. Pour 1/2 of the mixture evenly over the 6 cups. Refrigerate for another 15-20 minutes.

The milk mixture can stay out. Repeat the Jell-O and layering steps with the other 2 flavors, going Jell-O, milk layer, Jell-O.

Now you have a perfect and fun layered Jell-O cup to match your party and delight your little party guests.

The Superman party saga continues tomorrow with an awesome play dough recipe!