Cuts by Laser - Beautiful Designs by Young Entrepreneurs #HolidayGift

Cuts by Laser

• Attractive Laser Cut Designs Include Ornaments, Puzzles, Boxes, and Much More
• Created by the Children of a Homeschool Family
• These Products are Currently Made From Baltic Birch Wood
• Reasonably Priced - Items begin at only $2 and Vary by Design
• Shop From the Facebook Page or Submit an Original Non Licensed Design of Your Own

When I was fairly new to homeschooling I had the extreme good fortune of a strong online community of seasoned veterans to help me navigate my way.  One of the mothers I met was Jennifer, and you can get to know her through her own blog A Glimpse of Our Life. 

If you stop by to visit, you will see that she is a great mother, a fantastic teacher, and you will probably pick up on the fact that she is a warm, caring person, too.  One of the things I love about how she is raising her children is that she encourages them to try a lot of things and as a result they are very creative.  

Earlier this year they learned how to make designs with a laser cutter, and they have really honed their skills!  Check out the photo collage below to see see a sample of some of their fantastic work.  Just look at the beautiful snowflakes, the keepsake box, the beautiful Nativity Scene and the ornament with the three wise men.

Don't you love these designs?  Some of the details on the pieces are remarkable!  The Facebook page has more photos, including puzzles and a post about how they fit the boxes together.

It is a little bit hard to tell, but this snowflake is painted with a silvery glittery glaze and when it is on the tree, light catches it causing glimmering and sparkles.  It measures about five inches across and sells for $6 (shipping included)


The little robot was a request from a boy named Tucker.  If you would like a Tucker's Robot these are $4 (add a dollar if you would like a name etched on)

Don't you love this ornament?  Look at the intricate work on the holly leaves!

In this last photo you can see some musical designs and two of a set of four coasters which have wildflower designs.

You can contact Jennifer by way of the facebook page linked above.  Feel free to inquire about any design ideas you might have.  Alternately, you can email her at   cutsbylaser@yahoo.com

Jennifer and her daughters also have a Lila Rose business which you can learn more about on her website or Facebook page.

If you are looking for something unique and special this holiday, please consider Cuts by Laser.  In addition to picking up some neat gifts you will be helping some young people with their education in art and entrepreneurial skills!

For the purpose of full disclosure, I was sent some of these designs for no charge in exchange for my honest review.  

Summer Torte – Perfect For Entertaining

This is a great dessert to bring to a family get together.  It looks pretty, and everyone will think you slaved away, but it is really quite simple.

You will need fruit, cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, an egg, butter, flour and salt.

The prep is less than 15 minutes, baking time is 18 - 22 minutes.  The shell needs to cool for about one hour, and the finished torte has to chill for at least one hour.

I usually cut the decorative fruit while the shell is cooling.
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To Begin, make a cookie dough base, and press it into a well greased torte pan.

     My recipe

• 1 cup butter 
• 1 cup white sugar 
• 1 egg 
• 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

This is a butter cookie recipe, but if you are pressed for time a roll of premade sugar cookie would probably work, too.

Bake at 350 degrees (F) for 18-22 minutes, until browned.

Allow to cool, and remove from pan.



Now you'll need a filling.  I like this recipe:

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Other flavor can be substituted for the vanilla, such as lemon, almond, coconut... it's a matter of preference, and the fruit you'll be using.

• Beat the ingredients together until they are creamy and spreadable, then apply liberally to the well of the baked shell.

Last, add cut fruit, cover lightly with plastic, and allow the torte to chill.  

Berries and Kiwi work well, and here is one I made for Easter using melon, pineapple and grapes.

Wordless Wednesday - Easter Decorating, and Memories

I always use the boys' craft projects from when they 

were little for Holiday decorating.

Shrimp and Chicken Salad–Great for Warm Weather Entertaining

Now that the weather is warming up, I will probably be eating more salads.  Here is one that's good for a lunch get together.

You will need cooked chicken, shrimp, rice and eggs before you begin assembly prep.
 
Assembly takes about 15 minutes, and will require a large mixing bowl, mixing spoons, and a serving bowl or platter.

Once prepared, the salad should chill for at least one hour before serving.  It will serve six people.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of cooked chicken breast, cubed
• 1 pound of small shrimp, cooked and cleaned
• 3 cups of cooked  rice (I use white or long grain)
• 1 and 1/2 cups of diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup of diced red onion
• 1/2 cup of sliced green olives
• 1 cup of mayonnaise or dressing
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• romaine lettuce leaves
• 2 eggs, hard cooked and chopped
• 1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted, and sliced

Once you have assembled your ingredients, mix the chicken, shrimp, rice,  olives, tomatoes, onion, olives and mayo in a large bowl. 

When the ingredients are well blended stir in the lemon juice, and place the mixture in the fridge to chill for at least one hour.

Just before serving, line a decorative salad bowl or a small platter with a bed of lettuce leaves.

Arrange the salad atop the leaves, and garnish with the diced eggs and sliced avocado.

Serve with crusty bread, hard cheese, and sparkling water or a Spritzer.

Peep Wreaths are So Fun For Easter!

One of my favorite Easter projects is the Peep Wreath.
 

These are so easy to make, and you can eat them, too!   =)

You Will Need:

• A Wreath Form (Styrofoam or Straw)
• Peeps in Spring Colors
• Sturdy Toothpicks
• Pastel Ribbon

1. To make the wreath, I begin by wrapping the wreath form with ribbon that is easy to poke a toothpick through.
2. Next, I use some ribbon to make a hanger and affix it to what will be the top of the wreath.
3. Now I can start to pin the Peeps to the Wreath by sticking a toothpick through it, usually in the back of the neck, at a slight angle so they don't slide off.
4. Mix the colors and directions of the Peeps.
5. When the wreath is well covered, make a decorative bow from your ribbon.  Here, I used some white ribbon and some purple ribbon.
6. Occasionally, a Peep will slide off, and may need a second tooth pick to stay put.
7. Note that some sugar coating will fall off the Peeps, so sweep the floor below it daily.

These are super cute, simple, and they make a great conversation piece.  

Wordless Wednesday–Loom Knitting

I have been trying new loom knitting techniques.

 I like this one:

 

Here's how it is wrapped.

We Made Our Own Gum

Once upon a time, this was a colorful post with a lot of great photos.  Then homeschool blogger dot com wiped all of my photographs from the internet and now it is a boring post barely worth reading.  Sorry.

Yes, it would have been easier to pick up a pack for $1.29 as we were going through the checkout, but the boys were given a gum making kit, and they were seriously excited to make their own bubble gum.

First we assembled the ingredients.

We poured the powdered sugar into a bowl, and left a well in the center.

Then we added the little packet of gum base which looked like little beads.

We softened the base by microwaving it several times at 15 second intervals. 

Then we added a little bit of liquid corn syrup. 

Next we added the flavoring. 

Everything was mixed together.

The (sticky, messy, very RED)
mess mixture was then poured onto a sheet of waxed paper that had been dusted with powdered sugar. 

We rolled it out, and shaped the pieces.

The kit came with a booklet that had a lot of interesting information about gum, and it's origins.

It was fun, although quite messy.  (I should have used a disposable mixing bowl!)

Unfortunately, the gum didn't taste so hot, either - but we had a good time, learned some new things, and we made more than gum.. we made some memories.