Year: 2011

Crocheted Pumpkins

Used stitches:
Slip stitch (ST)
Half double crochet (HDC)
Double crochet (DC)

You need:
Orange yarn
Green or brown yarn
Matching crochet hook
Filling
Stitch marker or safety pin

(I used Rico Creative Cotton and a 4 mm hook) 

Before you start: place your marker in the first stitch of every tour, this will save you loads of trouble (trust me!) 

Pumpkin
In orange
: 

Round 1. Create a ‘magic circle’ or chain 2 and work in the second stitch from the hook. 8 SC in the ring. 
Round 2. *1 SC in the sc of the last round and 2 SC in the next*, repeat till the end of the round (12 SC)
Round 3. *1 SC in the sc of the last round and 2 SC in the next*, repeat till the end of the round (18 SC)
Round 4. *1 SC in the two SCs of the last tour and 2 SCs in the 3rd *, repeat till the end of the round (24 SC)
Round 5. *1 SC in the next 2 SCs of the last tour and 2 SCs in the 3rd*, repeat until end of the round (32 SC)
Round 6. *1 SC in the next 3 SCs of last round and 2 SC in the 4th*, repeat until round (40 SC)
Round 7 and 8. 1 SC in every SC of last tour (40 SC)
Round 9. *1 SC in the next 3 SCs of last tour and SC 4th and 5th together (decrease)*, repeat until the end of the round (32 SC)
Round 10. *1 SC in the next 2 SCs of the last round and SC the 3rd and 4th together (decrease)*, repeat until end of round (24 SC)
Round 11. *1 SC in the next 2 SCs of last tour and SC the 3rd and 4th together*, repeat until the end of the round (18 SC)
Round 12. *1 SC in the first SC and SC the 2nd and 3rd together*, repeat until the end of the tour (12 SC)
Start filling your pumpkin!
Round 13. *1 SC in the first SC and SC the 2nd en 3rd together*, repeat till the end of the round (8 SC)

The pumpkin is now almost closed. Keep decreasing until it’s entirely closed. Finish and leave a long piece of thread at the end. Pull this thread 6 or 8 times through the heart of the pumpkin. Make it nice and tight to create that real pumpking ‘effect’.

If you’d like a bigger pumpkin, just keep increasing after round 6 untill you think your pumpkin is big enough. 

Leaves
With green or brown

Chain 7
SC in the 2nd chain from the hook. Then: 2 SC, 2 DC, 1 HDC and 2 SC. On the other side of the chain you hook: 2 SC, 1 HDC, 2 DC en 2 SC.

Finish one of the two threads on each leaf and use the other thread to attach the leaves to the pumpkin. I made two leaves, but if you’ve made a bigger pumpkin you can of course make more leaves. 

via

Jet Pack Costume

Supplies:

  • 2 empty plastic bottles
  • silver strapping, such as elastic or ribbon
  • flame colored (red, yellow & orange) tissue paper or crepe paper
  • Silver duct tape
  • Silver Spray paint

Directions:

Spray paint the bottles. Whey dry secure them together. Secure the strapping to fit the child over the shoulders and under the arms. Add paper flames out bottoms of bottles.

 

This is SO cute!!!  via

 

Meatloaf Cupcakes

Recently I was house sitting for my cousin in Washington DC.  I was inspired to create this provocative meal from a photo my sister in-law sent.  Great idea for portion control.

The big decision I had to make was whether to go for a more bread-like base or a true meaty base.  Being the carnivore that I am, I went for meaty.  I was thinking it would be a meal not just filler.  Try using sweet potatoes or add garlic to the mashed potatoes.   Kids would love these don’t you think?

Recipe for Meatloaf Cupcakes

Makes 10 meatloaf cupcakes

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef

6 oz garlic flavored croutons  (reserve 10 for garnish)

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4 teaspoon chili pepper

2 large eggs, beaten

1 clove garlic

1/4 cup diced onion

1 carrot peeled and chopped

1/2 brown sugar for bottom of cups

GLAZE

1/2 cup ketchup

4 teaspoon

Complete Instructions HERE