Coffee Filter Pumpkins

Coffee Filter Pumpkins

Coffee Filter Pumpkin

Instructions

  • I used a brown coffee filter for this project. You can make a pumpkin with brighter colours if you use a white coffee filter. The coffee filters used in this projects are about 8" in diameter. They are the 8-12 cup size that you find in grocery stores. To make larger pumpkins, you can use the larger commercial coffee filters. You may be able to find them in restaurant supply stores. I use Stampin'Up! products, so their names are here, but i have also put a rough colour translation there for you.

Supplies:

  • Stamp Sets: Fabulous Phrases, Baroque Motifs (I use any swirly stamp set when doing with a group, we all have different ones - use what you like). Classic Ink Pads: More Mustard (a deep yellow), Tangerine Tango (softer orange), Old Olive (olive green), Elegant Eggplant (Eggplant/Aubergine colour - rich purple). Card Stock: More Mustard (one that matches your yellow ink) Punches: Small Oval, 1/6" hole punch. Big Shot and Leaves #2 Die (or any die cutting system and a leaf framlit to make it easy. Ribbon: Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta (matches your green, or go with any of the colours you used) Linen Thread Multipurpose Liquid Glue Mini Glue Dots Small Twig Coffee Filters: One brown (unbleached) and one white. Polyester Fiberfill Needle and Thread Washer (I used one that is slightly smaller than 1" in diameter.

Instructions

  • Step 1. Sponge More Mustard on the coffee filter.
  • Step 2. Sponge Tangerine Tango on the coffee filter.
  • Step 3. With Elegant Eggplant, stamp Baroque Motifs on the coffee filter.
  • Step 4. Using a needle and thread, baste around the edge of the filter. I used stitches that were about 1/4" long and basted a little more than 1/4" away from the edge.
  • Step 5. Glue a small washer in the center of the inside of the filter. The weight of the washer will help keep your pumpkin from rolling around. I glued a piece of coordinating card stock between the washer and the coffee filter since the filter is so thin.
  • Step 6a. Put a piece of polyester fiberfill in the center of your pumpkin.
  • Step 6b. Pull the basting thread to gather the pumpkin around the fiberfill. Adjust the gathers while you are tightening the thread so that it gathers up evenly. Add or remove fiberfill to fit your pumpkin.
  • Step 7. Tie off the basting thread. You can see the twig on the side that will use in the next step.
  • Step 8. Glue the twig into the center of the pumpkin.
  • Step 9. I took the smaller white coffee filter, and sponged it green, then stamped the swirls on it, folded it in half and put it through the Die cut machine which gave me 4 leaves using your Big Shot and the Leaves #2 Die.
  • Step 10 and 11. Glue the leaves to the twig. I used Stampin'Up!'s multipurpose liquid glue. Stamp a greeting, I have done Gratitude on a piece of More Mustard Card Stock and punch with the small oval. Use the 1/16" hole punch and add a piece of linen thread.
  • Step 12. Tie a piece of thin ribbon on the twig while also adding the tag. I used a mini glue dot to hold the ribbon onto the twig.

Cinnamon Tortillas

Cinnamon Tortillas

A quick but delicious snack, a great way to use up leftover tortilla or just fill up empty tummies after a day at school.
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time3 mins
Total Time8 mins
Course: Snack
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: breakfast, cinnamon sugar, munchies, quick snack, snacks, tortilla
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

  • 8 tortillas
  • 4 floz oil

Cinnamon Sugar

  • 2 tsp cinnamon powder
  • 4 tbsp caster sugar

Instructions

Getting ready to cook

    Preparing the tortillas

    • Place the tortillas on a chopping board in a pile.
    • Cut the tortillas into triangles.
    • Put oil into a deep frying pan, no more than 1/3 full. Heat it up to 350°F
    • Carefully place 4 or 5 triangles in the hot oil, turn over after 20 seconds, lift out after another 20 seconds.
    • Place on kitchen paper, set on a wire rack.
    • Move quickly to the bowl of cinnamon sugar.

    Preparing the cinnamon sugar

    • Mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl, I like to use a hand whisk. Once it is a consistent shade, it is ready to use.
    Does the Spoon Family have a bird

    Does the Spoon Family have a bird

    The Spoon Family

    A question from Harper B. from Baranoff Elementary.

    “Do you have a Spoon bird”?

    I am sorry to say Harper, we do not. If one was created, what would you call it?

    Danielle D from Baranoff Elementary asked ” Do you know all the words of British English?”

    The fun of speaking English from two different countries.

    I definetly speak British English, although American English is creeping in- for example I now say ‘I am popping to the store” instead of ” I am popping to the supermarket”

    The problem with living in Texas and speak British English is that many words do not translate across so well. So I have created lots of cool images that let you know the words in American English and British English. In the back of my cookbooks, I also have a list of any words I have used that you might need the American word for. Check out my facebook and twitter accounts to see the definitions from UK – USA. It has been a fun journey.

    Thank you for the question.

    Does the Spoon Family have a bird

    Living in America but speaking in British English

    Living in America but speaking in British English

    Danielle D from Baranoff Elementary asked ” Do you know all the words of British English?”

    The fun of speaking English from two different countries.

    I definetly speak British English, although American English is creeping in- for example I now say ‘I am popping to the store” instead of ” I am popping to the supermarket”

    The problem with living in Texas and speak British English is that many words do not translate across so well. So I have created lots of cool images that let you know the words in American English and British English. In the back of my cookbooks, I also have a list of any words I have used that you might need the American word for. Check out my facebook and twitter accounts to see the definitions from UK – USA. It has been a fun journey.

    Thank you for the question.

    Growing Rosemary

    Growing Rosemary

    Rosemary - a versitile herb and easy to grow

    I love using Rosemary in bread, it is very easy to dry and use your own all year round. Here in Texas, I can grow it all year, but if you can not, then pick some when fresh, dry it, and store it in an airtight bag or the freezer.

    You can plant Rosemary and it will grow continually, getting bigger and bigger. if you have a friend or family member with some rosemary in their garden, you can take a piece and put it in water- when roots start to grow, move it to a small flower pot ( jam jars will do). Do not over water it, Rosemary prefers drier soil. Once it is happy and growing in the pot, you can move it outside, or grow it on the window sill. It likes lots of light.