Archive for the ‘Fun Spring Activities’ Category

Creative Ways to Use Cookie Cutters #12: Dolls and Pillows

Friday, May 3rd, 2013

creative-ways-to-use-cookie-cutters-dolls-pillows

We are counting all the creative ways to use cookie cutters, and we are on #12: Dolls and Pillows! Some cookie cutters lend themselves well to make a felt doll. The gingerbread man cookie cutter is fabulous for this toy. Trace around the cookie cutter on two pieces of brown felt. Cut them out. Decorate the gingerbread man by sewing on button eyes, a red smile stitched on with thread, and three buttons down the front.

Get some filler, either a cotton-like substance, or the scraps of felt that were left over from the brown felt. Stitch the entire gingerbread man, except for one arm. Then put the stuffing into the doll and stitch it shut. This pillow took me 30 minutes only because I was trying to find two matching buttons for the eyes.

This is a perfect simple sewing craft for a child to make, since the stitches just go up and down (a straight stitch). You can also make a pillow from any other shape of cookie cutter. A star pillow would be fun for the Fourth of July, and a maple leaf pillow would be good for the autumn. A clover pillow would be perfect for Saint Patrick’s Day. Smaller pillows make great pin cushions, or they can be used as pillows for dolls.

Creative Ways to Use Cookie Cutters #11: Garlands

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

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Another creative way to use cookie cutters is to make garlands for your loved ones to feel special. These are the items you will need for this 15-minute project:

  • colorful papers
  • needle and thread
  • thick black marker
  • scissors

Use the cookie cutter as a stencil, and draw around it with a pencil. Cut out the shapes. I cut several shapes at a time so that the process goes faster. Or your children could cut them out to practice hand-eye coordination. Grab your thick marker. I used a marker that had an outer diameter of one inch, so it was super thick. Write one letter on each shape. Then string the shapes together with a needle and thread, sewing up and down, one stitch on each shape. Leave a gap between words. Hang it up.

garlands

Ideas for garlands:

  • Happy Birthday!
  • Welcome Home, Daddy
  • Get Well Soon
  • Happy Saint Patrick’s Day
  • Aloha
  • Happy Fourth of July
  • Congratulations on Your Graduation
  • Happy New Year
  • Merry Christmas
  • Happy Valentines Day
  • Happy Easter
  • Happy Mother’s Day
  • Happy Father’s Day
  • You Did It!
  • Baby Shower
  • Happy Anniversary

As you can see, there are many occasions where you might want to make someone feel special. Why not take 15 minutes to make a garland?

Creative Ways to Use Cookie Cutters #10: Jello Shapes

Wednesday, May 1st, 2013

jello-shapes

Strangely, when you are looking for creative ways to use cookie cutters, you think of things you wouldn’t normally think of. It is a mental exercise, and it helps to ward off dementia and Alzheimer’s, later on in life when you become an old geezer. And speaking of geezers, today’s cookie cutter idea is jello shapes. Jello jiggles and makes everyone happy, from toddlers to the elderly, even if they are wearing dentures.

Make jello according to the box directions. This usually is one cup of hot water, then stir. Then one cup of cold water, then stir. Jello is not that hard to make. Throw in one or two packets of Knox powder, to make the jello stiff. You also want to choose a pyrex dish that will give you the desired thickness for your jello–a larger pan for thinner pieces, and a smaller pan for thicker pieces.

Make the jello several hours before you intend to cut it. Then take it out of the refrigerator once it’s hardened, and press your cookie cutter into the jello. Pick up the shapes and place them on a plate. Walk into a room with people in it, and serve your fancy jello shapes to them. Watch their eyes light up.

 

Creative Ways to Use Cookie Cutters #9: Quesadillas

Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

quesadillas

Wouldn’t you love to delight your children with delicious quesadillas shaped by cookie cutters? Yes. Your children will smile when you pile these onto a plate. You might even be able to sneak in tiny amounts of vegetables without them noticing, because they are so everjoyed by the happy-looking lunch in front of them.

You will obviously need flour tortillas and cheddar cheese. You can experiment with different kinds of cheese. Throw small bits of ham into the quesadilla, and maybe tiny bits of tomato, green or red bell pepper, or scallions. Mushrooms are delicious as well.

Make the quesadillas first, before shaping them with the cookie cutter. You can do this in the microwave or in the skillet. It tastes way better when fried in a skillet with olive oil. Set a flour tortilla on a plate. Grate the cheese and throw in whatever else you want on top of the tortilla, making the filling evenly spread. Top with another tortilla. Place the uncooked quesadilla into the frying pan and fry both sides. When golden brown, place on a cutting board and cut out shapes with your cookie cutter.

If you’re a tired mom and you just want to make the quesadilla in the microwave, you can do that. I’ve got to say it’s easier to cut with cookie cutters because the quesadilla is softer. Use the kitchen scissors to make your edges sharper if the edges aren’t clear. Also, if you cut around the cookie cutter with a knife, the process is easier.

Now serve these delicious quesadillas with salsa or Ranch dressing for dipping. Enjoy!