How To Bake A Pumpkin

  I know a lot of you out there in blog land are getting ready for American Thanksgiving. Are pumpkin pies on your menu?

  I bought some pumpkins at the farmer's market earlier this fall to use in my fall decorating. (Click here & here to read about them.) Since fall is officially over here in Saskatchewan & winter (including snow) has come, my pumpkins were due for a makeover... a cooking makeover that is.

  If you have bought pumpkins & have struggled to peel them before cooking them, then this post is for you, my friend! This couldn't be easier!

What you need:

• A pumpkin (this is for a 4 lb. pumpkin. If your pumpkin is bigger, you'll need more water & leave it in the oven longer.)
• 1 cup of water
• 1 roaster pan or 2 smaller baking pans
• An oven :)

1) Preheat the oven to 350° F.

2) Split the pumpkin in half & seed it. Remove the pumpkin guts (stingy fibres) by scraping the insides with a metal spoon.

3) Fill roasting pan with 1 cup water (more if your pumpkin is bigger). Place the two halves cut side down in the pan. 

4) Bake the pumpkin until very tender. About 90 minutes. Longer for a larger pumpkin. 

This is what they will look like. All blistered & bubbly.

5) Flip them over & scoop the flesh out of each pumpkin half. 

6) Puree pumpkin flesh in a food processor or blender & use as needed. It also freezes well.

Here's visual run down of the instructions (feel free to "pin it"):

Pin It (Aak! this pinning button doesn't seem to be working... I'm still figuring this out. Sorry!)

What do you plan to make with your pumpkin? I use mine for yummy muffins & pies. 

Enjoy your day!

Linkin' Up:

Chef In Training

Paper Box Tutorial

  Last week, I posted pictures of the paper boxes I've been making for the fall festival where I'll be having a booth. The boxes are for housing handmade cards.

  I had a number of requests for a tutorial on how to make them, so here we go!

  Just a fair warning: this post is very photo heavy so you can see the instructions rather than just reading them.

Supplies:
2 sheets of 12x12 cardstock
1 or 2 sheets of patterned paper (or large scraps work too)
Adhesive
Paper scorer
Paper cuter
Ruler

  (Remember those old stories on record that you used to listen to? I feel like saying, "You will know it is time to turn the page when you hear the chimes ring like this... brrrriiiiing! Let's begin now.")

1) Cut one of the sheets of cardstock down to 10x12. Discard small strip.

2) Measure & score according to the following diagram:

3) Now cut according to this diagram:

This is what it should look like after you've cut:

4) Now fold all the scored lines.

5) Fold in small squares & start adhering the box together

These squares will be on the inside of the box.

There. You're done with the bottom of the box for now.

Now the lid.

1) Start with your second piece of 12x12 cardstock. Trim it down to 6 & 1/8 x 10. You need that extra 1/8th of an inch because if you don't have it the lid won't fit over the bottom.

2) Measure & score as shown below.

3) Cut the sides according to this diagram.

It should look like this:

4) Fold the scored lines & start putting it together as you did the bottom.

Here's the box. Now it's time to decorate!

  I keep it simple by adding some co-ordinating paper to the top & the bottom. You really could do whatever you wanted though. In the past, I've added tags, brads, ribbon, buttons, & rub ons. You can do as much or as little as you want. 

The finished product!

  If you are still reading, please let me say thank you & congratulations! Once you make a few of these, it will be old hat & you'll be able to mass produce at a whim.

  If you have questions please let me know & I'll do my best to answer. Thanks for sticking with me through all those photos & measurements!

Enjoy your day!

Linkin' Up:

Crafty, Scrappy, Happy

The Creative Paige

Tatertots & Jello

Rolled Squares Flower Card

I made this card last weekend. It took longer than my usual cards, but it turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself. You could change the colours to make it a bit more subdued, if you wanted. I was in a bright, summery mood so I picked bright colours.

Begin by making your card from cardstock, stamping your sentiment in the bottom corner, & adhering an additional piece of cardstock as a background to your flower.

Next, you need 12 squares of patterned paper, each measuring 1 1/4". Using a punch would definitely make this step go much faster.

Roll the squares into cones & staple the ends. Staple them as close to the end as you can. I did some too high & then had a hard time hiding the staples.

Arrange the cones into a circle on your card & adhere. Glue Dots work very well for this.

Thread some twine through a large button & adhere to the middle of the flower. I didn't have a button big enough to cover the staples on my cones so I added a cardstock circle under my button to help.

Punch some circles from scraps of patterned paper, cut them in half, & adhere as a border along the edge of your background. Or use a border punch. Cut a strip of patterned paper & adhere over the edge of the circles.

You're done!! 

Enjoy your day! 

~Steph