OWLEX - Lens Buddy Photo Prop

Here it is, the long awaited tutorial! How to make your very own Lens Buddy Photo Prop!

The whole idea behind this photo prop is to grab your child's attention, or anyone else that may be in the picture! While making your lens buddy use bright and fun colors, the more attention it gets the better!

What you will need:
Scissors
Hot Glue Gun
2 black beads
6 pieces of felt 6X6 inch minimum (Colors used: Red, Pink, Orange, Light Blue, Yellow, White)
A Navy Blue or Black fine point sharpie
6X6 inch piece of cardboard OR a scrunchine (see below)


To secure your lens buddy to your lens you need to:
A. Hot Glue the body portion to cardboard cut to fit your lens
     (Pro: it will sit up straight and be easy to see)
B. Make the body out of a 90's style hair scrunchie
     (Pro: Easily removed from lens to lens)

Step 1: Print out template on 8 1/2 X 11 paper stretched to fit the page
    (NOTE: after printing measure lens, if the template is not large enough to give you 1/2 inch of body around your lens then you need to enlarge the template and reprint. If you're having trouble email me and I will send you the PDF version)

Step 2: Cut out template and trace shapes on to your felt
Step 3: Cut out all of the felt pieces
    (NOTE: If you are using a cardboard backer cut it out with 1/2 inch clearance to fit around your lens.)
Step 4: Begin gluing your pieces together starting with the body felt to the card board
    (NOTE: Once the glue is dry on the body portion (cardboard and felt) measure it again to make sure it fits your lens before adding any other pieces)
Step 5: Now glue Eye 2 to Eye 1, Eye 3 to Eye 2 and glue black beads to EYE 3 for the pupils
Step 6: Begin gluing all of the pieces to the body starting with the Eyes, Wings, Feet, Nose and finally Belly (Make sure you leave the feet exposed under the belly)
    (NOTE: DO NOT glue any pieces overlapping the center cut-out of the body or you will have trouble attaching and removing the prop)
Step 7: Final touches!! Use sharpie permanent marker to draw on feather details on the wings and belly

Congratulations! Now it's time to start snapping those photos!



The Template:
Blogger, for some reason, will not allow me to attach a PDF so if you have trouble printing the JPEG please email me and I'll send you the PDF)

I have written directly on the template to try and help you see how the whole thing fits together.
This is a rough template, hand drawn so please excuse the mess.

When you download the template you will need to print is to 8 1/2 X 11 to be actual size but this is a creative project, make it your own and make it bigger or emphasize the eyes and wings.

Have fun with it!!

If you have questions about the project please feel free to leave a comment or email me.

 

Enjoy!! 

Tiramisu Cupcakes

 

 

Ingredients:

Cake:
1 Cup Unsalted Butter
1 Cup Sugar
3 Eggs, room temp
2 1/4 Cup Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/8 teaspoon Salt
3/4 Cup Whole Milk, room temp
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1 single serve packet of instant coffee

Preheat the Oven to 350 degrees.
Line 2 muffin pans with liners.

Combine the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.

In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, use a whisk to fluff and combine dry ingredients.

In a separate bowl combined milk and vanilla extract.

Back to your sugar and egg mixture, mixing on a low speed add 1/3 of the dry ingredients, after combined add 1/2 of the milk mixture and alternate dry and wet ingredients until all are combined. Do not over mix/beat, after each addition mix until just incorporated.

Fill all cupcake liners 1/3 full with batter.
Mix instant coffee into remaining batter, continue to fill the cupcake liners with an additional 1/3. Each liner should be 2/3 full.
Bake cupcakes about 16-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes and then move to wire rack to cool completely.
 

 

Filling:
1 (8oz.) container Mascarpone Cheese
1/2 Cup Confectioners Sugar
2 tablespoons Kahlua

In a mixing bowl combined ingredients, beat until smooth, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Soaking the Cake!
1/2 Cup (or more) strong Brewed Coffee, cooled

After cupcakes have cooled, core the cupcakes (about 1/2 the depth of each cupcake, to allow for filling) also, use a toothpick or skewer to poke several holes through-out the cupcakes. Using a spoon or turkey baster sprinkle each cupcake with the brewed coffee. Each cupcake should get a tablespoon or more of the coffee, depending on how moist you like your Tiramisu.
 

Frosting:
2 Cups Heavy Cream
1/4 Cup Confectioners Sugar
2 tablespoons Kahlua

In a medium mixing bowl beat ingredients until stiff peaks form. Fold 1/2 Cup of the frosting into the refrigerated Filling mixture.
Fill a piping bag with the Filling mixture and fill the core of each cupcake.
Fill a piping bag with the Frosting and pipe soft swirls on top of each cupcake.

Garnish:
2 tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate Square

Using a sifter dust each cupcake with cocoa powder. Use a grater to add soft chocolate shavings on top of each cupcake.

Enjoy!!

 

Snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodle Cookies

 

Ingredients:

1 Cup Unsalted Butter

1 1/2 Cups Sugar

2 Eggs

2 3/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour

2 tsp. Cream of Tartar

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 tsp. Salt

 

To Coat:

1/4 Cup Sugar

3 tsp. Ground Cinnamon

 

 

• Using a mixer with whisk attachment cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy
• Add eggs, one at a time, beat well after each addition
• In a separate bowl combined Flour, Cream of Tartar, Baking Soda and Salt, give them a few turns of the whisk and then add to Sugar, Butter and Eggs mixture.
• you may want to refrigerate dough for 30 minutes or so for easier rolling

 

• In a small bowl combine the coating mixture of cinnamon and sugar, give it a few spins with a whisk
• Roll dough into 1 inch balls and roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture, use a spoon to help cover
•  Place dough on parchment paper on standard baking rack (12 should fit on one sheet)
• place cookie dough balls about 2" apart so they won't touch during baking

 

• Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned
• Let cool on  baking sheet for a few minutes before moving to wire rack to cool

 

DIY - Growth Chart

DIY - Growth Chart Tutorial

 

1. Pick your lumber

(the type of wood doesn't really matter)

I chose 6" X 7'

(My hardware store didn't have any 6' tall lumber)

2. Using a circular saw Cut it to 6' in length

(this will give me a total of 6' 6" because it will be mounted 6" from the ground to allow for base boards etc.)

 

3. Sand the rough edges

4. Use an old paint brush or clean cloth to wipe away saw dust

 5. Prepare you Chalk Paint

(see my Chalk Paint tutorial HERE)

 

6. Paint your lumber (2 coats)

7. Wait...it must be completely dry before beginning the stenciling

8. Use a Measuring Tape or Ruler to mark off the length of the board

and Stencil you Numbers

(I used graduating marks from inches to 6 inches to feet just as you would see on a ruler)

 

9. Once your project is dry you can hang it (remember 6" off the ground)

(You can get a picture hanging kit fairly inexpensive at any hardware store)

DIY - Chalk Paint

DIY Chalk Paint

 

Chalk paint is one of my all time favorite ways to refinish furniture or complete an art project. The chalk paint doesn't require sanding* prior to painting, you can use any color you want, it dries fairly quickly and it gives your piece a nice matte finish. 

*Unless you have a piece of furniture that has a lot of damage, then you may want to do some prep work, i.e. sanding and spackle.

 

You can use Plaster of Paris or dry, sand free tile Grout Mix

(if so be careful of colored grout)

 

 

What you'll need:

• A large bowl you won't want to cook with again
• A measuring cup
• A whisk or old hand mixer
• Plaster of Paris
• Water
• Latex Paint

Recipe:

1 Part Plaster of Paris

Water

3 Parts Latex Paint

 

Important Note:  

• Only make as much Chalk Paint as you will use in about a week, it will tend to get grainy and clumpy beyond the one week time frame.
• A little bit goes a long way about 2 cups of paint was enough to refinish a dresser and have a bit left over
• Chalk Paint has a liquid consistency and will tend to be a bit runny, never put a ton of paint on your brush and make sure you brush-out drips before they dry.

Directions: (example will be enough to cover a dresser with two coats)

• Measure out 1 Part - Plaster of Paris (2/3 Cup)

• Mix in enough water to give it a pancake mix consistency

• use an old hand mixer or whisk

• Add 3 Parts - Latex Paint (2 Cups)

• mix until you see bubbles but not clumps

FINISHING:
When finishing furniture you will want to use a wax paste for sealing and protecting your furniture from future damage like water stains, scuffs and scratches. I used Johnson Wax Paste, you may want to use the wax again in 6 months or so if the piece is in heavy use, like a coffee table.

Day 8 - Colonial Williamsburg

The Capitol - Where the House of Burgesses, elected by the people and the Executive Committee, selected by the Governor commenced their meetings. This is where the capitol crimes were tried and the phrase "Passing the bar" came from, in the Capital when a trial was in place the only people allowed to set foot in the front of the room, or "pass the bar" (a sort of fancy gate) were lawyers and the judge. (with the exception of the jury)




Crimes punished by death included: treason, murder, rape, horse thievery and swine thievery on the third attempt. (funny little factoid)


R. Charlton's Coffeehouse - The best place for many a gentlemen and politician to converse. The coffeehouse was the source for local gossip, politics and a stimulating good time, as the servers explained. Grab your friends and tour the coffeehouse ending with a delightful taste of coffee, tea or chocolate (right) served in revolutionary era cup and saucer.



Milliner - If you needed to make some adjustments to an old dress or your husband needed a new suit you would be visiting the milliner. They had everything from cushioned caps to protect a child's head to dolls for little girls. The Milliner always carrying the latest French fashions, since trade with England had stopped France was the best option.





Shoe Maker - Making shoes was lengthy process, many times you would have several shoe makers, each working on a different process of the shoe, measuring and cutting the leather, stitching and binding, adding the glue and nailing the sole. They made sure to always have the more common sizes in stock and custom orders could take a week to fulfill depending of their current work load. Completed shoes (left) and the foot molds use to shape the shoes. (right)

Your apprenticeship would last 7 years, whether you were a shoe maker, a silver smith or a cabinet maker. It was expensive and you would actually live and work with your master while you were an apprentice.

Silver Smith (Getty House) - They had many beautiful pieces in the house but there were no demonstrations because silver smithing had come to a screeching fault. During the time of the Revolution the colonist signed a pact that they would not do any business with England, therefore Mr. Getty had to give-up his business altogether. All of Mr. Getty's silver came from England and silver was yet to be found in this new land.

 

Apothecary - This is your modern day pharmacy, but you don't need a prescription, if you know what you need you just go down to the Apothecary and purchase it. Another one of Stephen's favorites, he loves seeing how medicine was practiced in the late 1700's.




Maze at the Governor's Palace - The maze was fun and pretty easy to get through because some of the hedge you could actually see through to the other side and know if you were heading in the right direction. Regardless, it was fun getting lost in the maze with my husband, I could see the appeal especially during a young couples' courtship how a few moments alone would seem so special.


Wheelwright - In this building they were making wheels of all sizes, for wheelbarrows, carriages etc. We were able to see them shape the wheel, after it had it's metal support they would scrape off an extra wood that would be beyond the support of the metal frame. Many of these shops had to work closely with the others, as this one did with the blacksmith.

DoG Street Pub - We had to enjoy our last night in Virginia by returning to one of our favorite places where good food was guaranteed. DoG Street Pub did not disappoint and the Sticky Toffee Pudding...Amazing!!!

Day 7 - Jamestown & Yorktown

Jamestown

 

Indian village - We toured a few on the teepees, saw women molding and shaping clay into pots. We could try our hand at scraping the fur off of stretched hides to be used in baskets for harvesting food or containing water for drinking/cooking. We also got to see some men making a canoe (right) from a large tree. They were actually burning the tree little by little and scraping out the ash to carve out a place for the men to sit.

The colonists - They did a musket demonstration and had weapons and armor to see and touch. They explained the challenges of arriving in a new country and the battles between the colonists and the Indians. We saw a man making fire using carbon rich cotton to ignite the spark made from striking two rock together. He used this fire to bake bread that some of us were able to taste.

The picture (left) shows the colonists homes consisted of stacked lumber and the cracks were filled with a combination of mud and straw to keep the extreme temperatures out.




The Ships - the colonists arrived on three different ship when entering the place that is now Jamestown. The Susan Constant (right): 71 Passenger, Discovery: 12 Passengers 9 Crew and the God Speed which still sails today for some of the local schools when they go on field trips.

Yorktown

A typical colonial period farm -When the colonists first arrived from England they were given 200 acres of land of which 30/40 were farmed. The colonists lived off of the land, it was the man's job to farm the land along with any slaves that they had. It was a woman's job to preserve the harvest, dry the meat by adding a bunch of salt and smoke the meat(left). They would soak the dried meat for up to a week for cooking preparation. After each day they would taste the water the meat soaking in and when the water was no longer too salty, it was ready to cook.

The largest and best meal of the day was typically lunch and you would eat variations of the same meal for supper (reheated leftovers) and sometimes breakfast the next morning, up to a week of left overs. There were no cold storage options at that time so you would have to really plan what you were going to be eating. Salted and smoked meat could be stored for upwards of one year!

The photo (left) is a wheel and pulley system used to turn the meat while it was on the spit.



Military Encampment - There were over a dozen small tents, each tent was meant to sleep six men. (Just like tents now, if it says "sleeps 6" its really meant to sleep two or three comfortably.) Inside the encampment they had a weapons display and musket demonstration (right). We saw everything from the holes that were dug with spikes pointing upward, flintlock pistols and the cannon used to demolished enemy forces.

Stephen's favorite part of the military encampment was the surgeon's tent where he got to play with revolutionary era medical supplies. We saw the hand held, hand turned drill they used to cut open peoples skulls! The braces they used for broken bones and the belts used as tourniquets and even their travel pharmacy. None of the surgical instruments were sharp and the most worn piece was the one a man would bite on while surgery was being performed! OUCH!! This part was very interesting but really grossed me out, I'm not a fan of blood and I have a vivid imagination...
(left: the surgeon's medical kit)





Huzzah! Restaurant for dinner, lots of yummy food and probably the least expensive of the whole trip! We shared some pizza and the brisket meal. (we aren't sure if it was Huzzah! that caused it but we both experienced the revenge of something we ate the next day...)

Tavern Ghost Walk - We heard stories of the ghosts that are said to haunt Williamsburg still to this day. From ghost showing up in the Randolph house a terrifying the maid, to appearing in windows far too high for any man to stand in, the witch trail and ghosts causing mischief in the local taverns. They were fun stories but we were never very scared because the William and Mary College was having a concert the same night and it's hard to get into the story when you can hear YMCA playing in the background. :)

Drinks and Games at Chownings - Our ghost walk ended in front of Chownings Tavern and they had just started seating for the evening of drinks and games so we decided to partake. We met a lovely couple, Karl & Ellen from Michigan and we all enjoyed great conversation, playing games, making our way through a basket of peanuts and few drinks.