Rice Heat Therapy Bag

I received one of these last year as a gift and use mine all the time, so I thought I would make some this year as gifts.

From my experience I learned that its best not to use essential oils because over time and after many used it actually starts to stink.

So I just got some fabric, cut them in rectangles and sewed them leaving the either short end open, filling about half full with long grain rice (not instant!) the sewed the top shut.



Then using my cricut I made cute little tags for each one.
Reading:
Heat Therapy Bag
Microwave flat 2-3 minutes
Apply to Aches and Pains
To avoid drying place a small bowl of water in microwave during heating every other use
Store in a dry place.





Original inspiration from:
http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=280

Freezer Paper Stencils with Cricut

The first one I tried is just an initial for a personalized tote which I previously dyed brown and sewed on the beaded trim.

Supplies you'll need:

Reynold's Freezer Paper (or any other brand you can find)

Cricut machine with Cartridge of your choice for stencil

Acrylic Paint-color of your choice

Iron

Maybe Patience :D

1st I cut out an initial with the Cricut with Medium Speed, depth, and pressure. Cut with the waxy side up and also use the flip feature.

Iron on the freezer paper in place. Be sure to get the edges really secure.

Then I painted the K bright pink with acrilic paint.

Wait to remove freezer paper until the paint is fully dry, approx. 1 hr. You could use a blow dryer to speed up the process. Allow 20-30 minutes in between coats if you need multiple coats.

Finally run iron over entire painted surface on High for about 20-30 seconds to seal.

Next I made a shirt for my neice who is a dancer.

I used the same settings Medium for speed, depth and pressure. With 3'' letters Plantain schoolbook. With this one I had to save the inside of the letters to make sure they looked right. Follow all the same steps as above.

Here is a close up of the letters, as my second coat I used some glitter.

Here they are both together! I am pretty impressed with how they turned out for being my first try!

Check back later for more freezer paper crafts! They make great personalized gifts, or if you want to just spruce up your clothes.

Creative Gift for Coffee Lovers:Part I

I found these great recipes to give to co-workers for christmas gifts.

Instant coffee recipes with the easy just add water instruction. Add to pretty bag plus ribbon and nifty tag equals super cute affordable gift. I plan on them looking something like below. I want to make them more christmas themed and nice tags or stickers for the instructions.

I will give you some recipes for now and check back later for the pictures (making them tomorrow!)

[To prepare the following recipes: mix in food processor or blender until you have a fine powder.

For all recipes use 1 to 2 spoonfuls to one mug of hot water. ]

Bavarian Mint

2/3 Cup instant coffee

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. dried mint leaves, finely crushed

2/3 Cup nondairy creamer

Cafe' L'Orange

2/3 cup instand coffee

1 Cup sugar

1 tsp. dried crushed orange peel

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Cafe' Mocha

2/3 cup instant coffee

3 TBS unsweetened cocoa

1 1/3 Cups sugar

1 Cup nondairy creamer

1/4 cup nonfat dry milk

Toffee Coffee

1 cup instant coffee

1 cup nondairy creamer

1 cup brown sugar

Cafe' Vienna

1 cup instant coffee

1 1/3 cups nonfat dry milk

1 tsp. cinnamon

Swiss Mocha

1 cup instant coffee

1 cup sugar

2 cups nonfat dry milk

4 tsp. cocoa powder

Cafe' Orange Cappuccino

1 cup instant coffee

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 cups nonfat dry milk

1 tsp. dry orange peel

Don't forget to check back to see the finished product!