Blog - Gluesticks Blog

Microwave Potato Chips

September 17, 2014 By Brandy 40 Comments

Microwave potato chips are one of my kids favorite after school snacks. They are easy to make and are made from natural ingredients. Potatoes, sea salt, and olive oil. That's it!

Microwave Potato Chips

Slice 2 potatoes nice and thin. Spray (or brush) a platter/plate with a light coat of olive oil (I like the spray can olive oil that you can buy near the non-stick cooking spray). Arrange potatoes in a single layer. Spray (or brush) top of potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.

Microwave 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Every microwave cooks differently so just check it around 6-8 minutes and add minutes if needed. The chips need to be golden for them to crisp up nicely.

Since there are no preservatives, they are only good when they are fresh. They will become soft if left to sit over night.

Chocolate Covered Pretzels and Gift Box

September 15, 2014 By Brandy 2 Comments

How to make chocolate covered pretzels! These make great gifts and are so easy to make in chocolate of white chocolate.

We have a friend that we wanted to make a special Thank You treat for. She went above and beyond as a Sunday School/Primary teacher so I decided to make her some chocolate covered pretzels. She also happens to be the secretary at our Elementary School so we had fun delivering these to her desk after school.

Chocolate pretzels are the easiest treat to make! I always have a bag of pretzels and (this is a bit embarrassing) at least 5 or 6 bags of melting chocolate in my cupboard. I use melting chocolate a lot! It's so great to use on pretzels, strawberries, toffee, etc. And more often than not, I will melt ½ cup of it and quickly dip a bunch of pretzels for a late-night "snack" or binge. Whatever you want to call it.

How to Make Chocolate Covered Pretzels

I like the Ghirardelli chocolates that they sell at Sam's in resealable bags during the holidays. Wilton makes melting chocolates too. I like these better than melting chocolate chips because these microwave perfectly, are smooth, and harden up quickly.

It really is as easy as:

Melting the chocolate: low and slow is key. 15-20 increments in the microwave, stirring in between each increment until melted and smooth.
Dipping the pretzels: dip the pretzels into the chocolate using a fork or dipping tool. Tap the fork against the side of the bowl to allow the excess to drip off.
Wait for everything to set up: place dipped pretzels on a baking sheet that has been lined with wax or parchment paper to set up. Placing the tray into the refrigerator will speed up this process!

(I made this bakery gift box using my Evolution Die Cut machine, but the die cut for this box is no longer in production. I've updated this post to include these cute craft boxes that you can decorate and fill with chocolate-covered pretzels if you'd like OR you can make your own window bags for treats using a lunch sack like I did in this post. Lunch bags are great for so many things!)

I filled up a cellophane bag with pretzels and closed them up in the bakery box.

And of course I made a tray of pretzels for the kids and I to eat after school too.

Here are 21 Free Printable Gift Box Templates from Tip Junkie

Harvest Wheat Wreath

September 12, 2014 By Brandy 10 Comments

I love wreaths with natural elements like sprigs of leaves, wheat stalks, eucalyptus, etc. I decided to make myself a new fall wreath and create it entirely from wheat stalks. Nice and simple.

Inspired by beautiful wreaths that I saw on Finding Home and On Sutton Place, I got started by gathering my supplies for my own.

18" straw wreath form (kept in its packaging)

1 ¾" floral pins

5 packages of wheat bundles

Wired burlap ribbon

I ordered my supplies from Hobby Lobby and the wheat was 50% off so that helped with the cost. I ordered 6 bundles of wheat, but 5 ended up being plenty for my 18" wreath.

I cut about 12" off of the bottom of each of the wheat bundles and began grouping small sections onto the wreath, pinning them as I went. I continued around the entire wreath and was careful to tuck it in to hide the pins when I came back to my starting point.

A quick coat of clear spray paint and a floral pin to secure a nice big burlap ribbon and it was ready to hang!

The weather here doesn't seem ready for fall, but my front porch is getting there!

Here are 5 More Natural Wreaths that I absolutely love!

1. Hymns and Verses: Harvest Wheat Wreath

2. Better Homes and Gardens: Glittering Harvest Wreath

3. Stone Gable: Repurposed Wreath

4. The Gathering Place: Simple Front Porch

5. Hometalk: Fall Coffe Filter Wreath

No Sew Play Mat & Toy Bag

September 8, 2014 By Brandy 29 Comments

My girls LOVE setting up pretend stores and pet shops downstairs, and they are pretty good at it too. They think of everything, no detail is overlooked. Bringing all of the toys downstairs seems to be a breeze. Picking them up and putting them back seems to be a daunting task. One that they can't ever seem to do a lone, always asking for help. Hmm...is it really harder or did they just lose motivation? 😉 Â Insert: Play Mat & Storage Bag, also great for loading up toys and dragging back upstairs!

My little model likes wearing fancy clothes every day of the week.

They can play on it, load the toys inside, pull the strings and it is ready to take upstairs. This bag holds a TON of stuff too! It's nice and big. The best part? It took me about 15 minutes to make and it is a completely "No Sew" project!

The tutorial for this fun play mat and storage bag came from my new favorite book!

When Ashley, from Make it and Love It, announced that she had a book in the works I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy. I've followed her blog since I started mine back in 2009 and don't think I've missed a post. I love her simple projects and clear instructions. Both of those translate into her book: No-Sew Love.

50 projects to make WITHOUT a needle and thread! I love that they are full-on projects. Beautiful fabrics, fun techniques, and quality projects. She even includes lists and links to shops for ordering your no-sew supplies. My absolute favorite sections are Re-Purposing and Home Decor. Here are some photos of other projects in the book!

Home Decor Projects

Baby Projects

Quick and Easy Accessories

~~How would you like a copy? For yourself or to give as a gift! You can also order No-Sew Love here!Â~~

~~To be entered to win a copy of No-Sew Love, simply leave a comment below Â letting me know what No-Sew Project you would try first!~~

~~Giveaway ends September 15th.~~

Congratulations to the winner, Laurie Logan!

Creative Ways to Serve Chips and Dip

September 4, 2014 By Brandy 1 Comment

Creative ways to serve chips and dip at your next gathering! Pineapple salsa, dried fruit with chocolate dip, and more!

With as many potlucks and parties that our family goes to, it is fun to find new ways to serve chips and dips. Â I especially like the salsa served in a pineapple. What a fun dish to bring to a summer or luau themed party.

Creative Ways to Serve Chips and Dip

Here are 5 New Ways to Serve Chips and Dip! from Evite. Speaking of dips, can you guess what my favorite kind is? Why yes, it is guacamole!

I made the best guacamole for last weekend, and it was a hit! It has a nice tangy flavor from the lime juice and a pop of spice from the jalapenos. I used half of a jalapeno instead of the whole pepper, and it had plenty of spice for us. Paired with Tortilla Chips, grilled chicken, and fresh watermelon, it was the perfect end-of-summer BBQ.

The BEST Guacamole (Printable Recipe)

shared with permission from evite.

The BEST Guacamole

Packed with flavor and fresh ingredients, this really is the best guacamole recipe! Serve with chips or on tacos.

3 large avocados
¼ yellow onion (finely chopped)
1 clove garlic (minced)
1 jalapeno pepper (seeds removed and minced)
½ Roma tomato (chopped)
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro (finely chopped)
Juice of 1 lime
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 lime wedges for garnish

In a medium bowl, lightly mash the avocados for a chunky texture.
Add in all of the ingredients and blend together with a fork until the desired consistency.
Serve in a bowl and garnish with lime wedges. Enjoy!

Note: Guacamole is best served the day it is made. If browning occurs, simply scrape the top layer of guacamole off, and you'll find that the guacamole underneath is bright green and delicious.

Looking for more creative chips and dip ideas? How about crowd-pleasing appetizers? Try these!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Looking for the perfect dip to bring to a fun summer BBQ? Look no further! This dip is very popular lately and is so easy to make.

Hot Artichoke Dip

30 minute hot artichoke dip. Gone in just seconds at every party I've ever brought it to! Make a batch for your next girl's night!

Roasted Corn Guacamole

Bold, colorful, and flavorful. ThisÂ roasted corn and beanÂ guacamole recipeÂ hits the spot any day of the week. Perfect to serve with chips or to add to a southwest rice bowl.

Crib Mattress Dog Bed With DIY Cover

September 2, 2014 By Brandy 31 Comments

A crib mattress dog bed works perfectly indoors or outdoors! It provides support to sleep on, it’s waterproof, it’s nice and sturdy plus it isn’t plush or easy to rip or chew. A washable cover and a cozy spot for any furry friend.

Aww, look at Toby. Almost a year old and such a sweet little guy. Toby loves to sleep on soft things: pillows, blankets, towels, the clean clothes pile. You get the drift. If I was a dog, I would rather sleep on things like that too. He has a nice soft bed in his kennel that he sleeps on at night, but I decided to get something for him to use downstairs and outside. After all, I like to make things, even toys and a brand new dog bed for my pet.

How to Make a Crib Mattress Dog Bed

If you don't have a toddler mattress that your little one has outgrown, Facebook marketplace is a great place to find one for a deal. That's the nice thing about crib mattresses. They are waterproof so it is easier to find one in great condition vs. a regular mattress which would be Eww. I found mine at my neighbor's yard sale.

The best part? When your DIY dog bed gets dirty, just take the crib sheet off, toss it into the washing machine, and wash it!

Here is a quick tutorial for a homemade crib sheet if you don't already have some on hand. I made it out of fleece so that it would be soft and cozy. Crib sheets are so simple to make.

It really does make the perfect dog bed for your fur baby. Easy comfort for indoor or outdoor use.

To make a crib mattress dog bed cover you will need:

1 crib mattress
2 yards fabric (fleece, cotton canvas, flannel)
3 yards of 1" fold-over elastic

Cut a rectangle in the following dimensions: 45″ x 67″.

Then cut an 8″ square out of each corner.

Bring the corner sections together and sew in place. Repeat for the other 3 corners.

Fold over elastic is what makes this project quick. No hemming, casings, etc. Sandwich it over your fabric edges and begin to stitch.

STRETCH the elastic as you go, pulling hard. This will make it stretchy and bounce back when finished. Overlap the elastic when you get back to your starting point and backstitch to finish the seam.

His bed is a nice little space of his own---the best dog bed.

We love Toby. He's been a member of our family since he was a puppy and we don’t know what we would do without him! I even enjoy making things for him.

Can you wash a crib mattress dog bed?

Yes! Crib mattresses are waterproof so you can wipe them down to get rid of the dirt. The outer cover is also machine washable and much easier to wash than a traditional dog bed.

How durable is a crib mattress dog bed?

This is the most durable bed that Toby has had. That being said, a dog can chew up just about anything if he wants to. Even if that happens, you are still out less money than you would be for a fancier dog bed.

Can you use a crib mattress doggie bed outside?

Yes. The baby mattress itself holds up great to weather, but the sheet isn't waterproof and will need to be in a covered area to stay dry.

If you love your dog as much as we do then you may want to check out these posts:

DIY Travel Dog Bed

Homemade Peanut Butter and Banana Ice Cream for Dogs

33 Things to Make For Your Dog Using Household Items from BarkPost

Storage Basket Liner Tutorial

August 26, 2014 By Brandy 2 Comments

Who loves the storage cubes and stands at IKEA? I do, I do! I have them in my living room and use the nylon ones for individual hampers for the kids in their bathroom. The storage shelves are awesome too. As I was looking around in my living room the other day I notice a lot of beige, and a lot of black. A lot. My kitchen has blue and yellow mixed in so I decided to add a bit of subtle color to the rest of the main floor. The easiest way to do that is with fabric!

I made 6 basket liners in about 90 minutes and it completely transformed my living room. Amazing what bit of color can do!

Basket liners are very simple to make and much more inexpensive than the store bought ones. Those home decor stores are pretty proud of their baskets and liners!

You can make a liner for any basket shape, but the square (cube) ones are by far the easiest. I am going to show you how to make a square basket liner, but if you want to make one for a rectangular one you will just need to adjust the side measurements accordingly.

Storage Basket Liner Tutorial

gluesticksblog.com

Supplies:

fabric; a nice sturdy home decor fabric works great. I actually used a table cloth and some scrap fabric.

scissors

measuring tape

Sewing machine/thread

Begin by measuring the length and width of each side of your basket. I will share the measurements of mine as a reference.

Since my sides are squares, the length and width were both 12.5". Add ½" inch for seam allowances. So 13".

You will want to add a few inches to the length (height) so that it hangs down over the front of the basket. So add 3-4" to the height.

Cut out 4 pieces for the sides. 13" wide and 16" tall.

Measure the bottom of the basket (mine was 12.5x12.5"), add ½" for seam allowances. Cut out a piece of fabric for the bottom.

You will end up with 5 pieces. 4 for the sides (13x16") and a bottom piece (13x13")

Fold down the top of each side piece ½" and press. Fold down another ½" and sew in place. Do this for all 4 side pieces to create a nice pressed hem.

Leave the bottom piece as is.

Sew the bottom of each side piece to the bottom liner piece. You will end up with a shape like the one above that looks like a cross.

Pin the sides together. Begin at the top, matching hems. Sew the side pieces together, also beginning at the top so that the tops match up perfectly.

Slide into your basket and fold over. That's it! These liners work perfectly for adding a pop of color to a room and disguising clutter.

I store toys, diapers and wipes, and all of the kids' electronic remotes and cords in ours. Out of sight, out of mind.

The Story Behind the Quilt

August 22, 2014 By Brandy 9 Comments

Grandma Eva was amazing at quilting and sewing. She taught me how to sew and helped instill a love in me for homemade things. Â Some of my fondest childhood memories were at her home in Grass Valley, California. Cooking, sewing, playing games, visiting, and watching her (and sometimes helping her) hand quilt whatever quilt she was making as a gift. And she made a lot of quilts. Hundreds.

Â I was heartbroken when she passed away two years ago. Change is hard and there was such a deep void knowing that all of my grandparents had now gone to the other side.

I received one of her quilts after she passed away. It wasn't in the best of shape, but I still felt so lucky to have it. My aunt Evelyn told me that Grandma had covered the quilt when it started to fall apart years ago, and that there was another one underneath.

Below is a photo of the back side of the quilt. You can see the appliquÃ©s showing through. Since the quilt was falling apart I figured I had nothing to lose, so I tore into it one night and found all of those beautiful and bright appliquÃ©s!

Some were in bad shape, but I was able to save 15 of them! Â I took them off and they sat in my sewing hutch for almost two years. I just wasn't sure what to do with them! IÂ have never been that great at being precise in my measurements and cutting. That's why I never cared for quilting. BUT...grandma inspired me. I decided to give it a go.

I hand stitched each appliquÃ© on a white quilt block. That was the most time consuming part. I hid my stitches as well as I could and left her blanket stitches in.

This was my first big (twin sized) machine quilting project and I am THRILLED that it turned out! I wish Grandma could see it and see how much those appliquÃ©s are treasured!

At first I didn't want to use the quilt because I was afraid the appliquÃ©s would get worn even more, but this quilt is just asking to be used. The bright colors would cheer up any one who gets the chance to snuggle in it on a sick day.

And so we will use it and keep it folded on the back of the couch. A nice reminder every day of the love that Grandma put into each of her quilts and stitches. A combination of her stitches and mine.

I wanted fabrics that were as bright and cheerful as those beautiful appliquÃ©s so I went with the Happy Go Lucky Fabric Line by Bonnie Camille.

This project lit a fire under me! Piecing together quilt tops is fun and frustrating and addicting all at once. It is so fun to see itÂ Â together. I have already started my next quilting project. My new guilty pleasure during nap time 🙂

T Shirt Bag Tutorial (for kids!)

August 19, 2014 By Brandy 3 Comments

These t shirt bags are the perfect craft for kids. They come together in about 2 minutes and are then ready to decorate! Perfect for summer camp, afternoons at the pool, slumber parties and picnics. They also work great for reusable grocery bags. My girls were excited to bring them to their cousin's house for an afternoon of playing while I went with the boys to Cub Scout Camp. They filled them with their swimsuits and snacks.

I've seen these floating around for years and there are several variations, but here is how we make them.

You will need:

T-shirt (old or new)

Scissors

Sewing Machine

The boys made theirs completely on their own. As shown above, start by cutting off the sleeves.

Then cut off the neck hole. You can follow the ribbing completely, or cut deeper down for longer bag handles. We kept it simple and just cut off the ribbing.

Turn shirt inside out. Stitch the bottom closed. Double stitch to reinforce seam if desired.

Turn shirt right side out and decorate with fabric pens or paint.

We whipped up 4 of these in less than 10 minutes and then the kids set off to decorate them!

Looking for more fun activities for kids? How about some Easy Science Experiments that we put together! I hope you have enjoyed your summer as much as we have enjoyed ours!