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Chonky Boys: The Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches that Scream Summer!

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Featuring my thick and nuggy Chonky Boy Chocolate Chip Cookies, these ice cream sandwiches are the stuff that summer dreams are made of.  If you've ever had the Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich at Disneyland , you are going to LOVE these!  These big and bold chocolate chip cookies are based on a recipe from my culinary school studies at Auguste Escoffier, but with a few modifications to give them that Jennuine touch.  They make the perfectas book for a fat slice of real vanilla bean ice cream.  And those mini chips?  You just gotta have that extra cronch! Thank goodness this recipe only makes 8 sandwiches, otherwise I would be eating them for breakfast lunch and dinner.  This way, my big family can help save me from my inner child diet-saboteur.   Print With Image Without Image Chonky Boy Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches Yield: 8 Author: Jenn Erickson Loaded with chocolate chips and buttery, brown-sugary vanilla flavor, these mall-sized cookies form a perfect partnership with a
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6 Must-see Upcycling & Repurposing Projects: A Little Birdie Told Me No. 30

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"There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all.  Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns." -- Edward de Bono Welcome to  "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday! If you're here to share a craft, recipe or project post, you'll find the linky and the specifics on how to  join the party after the features below. ------------------------------------------------ I'm so excited about this week's features. In these SIX repurposing and upcycling posts you'll learn how to transform: 1.  Junk Mail into Handmade Paper 2.  Plastic Grocery Bags into Sewable Fabric 3.  Bar Soap into Body Wash 4.  An old Sheet into a Woven Rug 5.  An outdated Bed into a Garden Bench 6.  An outgrown Sundress into a Chic Skirt ------------------------------------------------ WANT TO WIN $75 IN CRAFT SUPPLIES? If yo
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Folding Cupcake Stand Tutorial -- Elmer's Craft Camp for Kids, Part III

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The stand, cupcake wrappers and cupcake picks were all made by the 6 & 7 year-olds that attended the Camp Cupcake Party This is a tutorial for one of the crafts that I came up with to use for CAMP CUPCAKE using the materials provided by Elmer's/X-acto.   The basic concept of this cupcake stand is a versatile one.  Using any size or shape of foam board, you can simply adorn it with a pretty scrapbook paper, trim with a coordinating ribbon, and add the sturdy PVC feet.  You can make multiple stands in descending sizes for a tiered cupcake display. Using the mini bi-fold foam board that came with each Elmer's Craft Camp Kid Kit, the "campers" and I fashioned these 19" x 13.25" cupcake stands that will hold two dozen cupcakes.  They fold in half for easy storage. ------------------------------------ If you'd like to enter for a chance to win an Elmer's Craft Kit loaded with craft supplies, including two packages of the X-acto
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Make Your Own Cupcake Wrappers - Free Cupcake Sleeve Template

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As part of the Elmer's Kids Craft Camp CAMP CUPCAKE , I taught the "campers" how to make custom cupcake wrappers using a simple template, scrapbook paper, and the Decorative Edge Scissors from X-Acto . Today, I'm sharing a free printable template so that you can make the cupcake wrappers too! Just click on the image above to download. To make your own cupcake wrappers: 1.You can print the document in color on a heavy stock paper and use the wrappers just the way they are. --or-- 2. Cut out a wrapper and use to trace the shape on a decorative scrapbook paper of your choosing.   3.  Use decorative edge scissors to trim 1/4 from the top of each wrapper. 4.  Tape or glue ends together. 5.  Pop in a cupcake! If you'd like to enter for a chance to win an Elmer's Craft Kit loaded with craft supplies, including two packages of the X-acto Decorative Scissors, visit my giveaway HERE. (Ends Wednesday, July 27, Midnight PS
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CAMP CUPCAKE: An Elmer's Kids Craft Camp Party + Giveaway

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What do you get when you cross cupcakes and frosting, arts & crafts, four little girls and a crate full of supplies from Elmer's? --CAMP CUPCAKE-- A crafty summer camp that really takes the cake! WANT TO HOST A MINI CRAFT CAMP OF YOUR OWN? Details on how to enter to win craft supplies from Elmer's at the end of this post! I'd be willing to bet that you'd be hard pressed to find a creative person whose earliest experience with art did not include some sort of Elmer's product.  My earliest childhood craft projects would be just a mess of construction paper clippings and loose macaroni if it weren't for Elmer's Washable School Paste. So, it was with great excitement and a nostalgic heart that I jumped at the opportunity to take part in the Elmer's Summer Craft Camp program. Here's a 2 minute slideshow that shows the whole process, from start to finish! It all started with the arrival of this crate... ...filled
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CAKE ART TUTORIAL: How to Make "Brass Buttons" from Rolled Fondant

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Last week at Rook No. 17, the first in a series of cake art tutorials was launched with a video and step-by-step instructions for " HOW TO MAKE BUTTONS FROM ROLLED FONDANT ". Today, in Part II of the series, I'm sharing my technique for making embossed "brass" buttons. WHAT TYPE OF TUTORIAL WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE NEXT? ---------------------------------------------- How to Make "Brass Buttons" from Rolled Fondant (To print, click the "Print Friendly" icon at the bottom of this post) Materials Black Fondant (or white fondant tinted with black gel food coloring -- wear gloves!) Corn starch Rolling pin circle cookie cutter A real brass-style button Soft, loose bristled paint brush Lemon Extract Luster Dust, "Ultra Gold" Small bowl Small paint brush 1.  Lightly dust a clean work surface with corn starch and roll fondant to 1/4". 2.  Cut discs with a circle cutter. 3.  Lightly dust the face of the real button with cornsta
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Avocado Dips and Homemade BBQ Chips -- Party Time With A Little Birdie Told Me...No. 29

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El Gran Haas from the Qdoba ad campaign ..."the avocado is a food without rival among fruits, the veritable fruit of paradise."  -- Dr. David Fairchild (horticulturist responsible for bringing the avocado to the U.S. nearly 200 years ago) Welcome to  "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday! If you're here to share a craft, recipe or project post, you'll find the linky and the specifics on how to  join the party after the features below. ------------------------------------------------ Last week's party was incredible!   So many new friends So much returning talent! Thank you! ------------------------------------------------ Some would argue that it's simply not a party without some chips and a good dip and this is a party, right?  So, this week I'm highlighting three fantastic dips and a recipe for homemade BBQ Potato Chips .  Enjoy! ------------------------------------------------ Let's start with the CHIPS (Forgive me.
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