craftsnthings.com Crafts ‘n Things ● 53

guide to gourmet gifts

you’ l l need (for each)Surface & Embellishments • Round peat pot container, 4”x5”.• Wool felt, three shades of grey.• Wool roving, small amounts: yellow; lt. orange; lt. green; dk. green; purple; red.• Assorted black and brown buttons, two.• Black/white gingham ribbon, 20” length.• Black pearl cotton, #8.• White card stock.Tools & Supplies• Acrylic Paints: Americana® Acrylic: Olde Gold; Hauser Medium Green; Country Red; Dazzling Metallics™: Glorious Gold.• Paintbrushes.• Embroidery needle.• Fabric glue.• Felting needle. • Large needle felting mat.• Silver eyelet, 3/16”.• Hole punches: 1/16”; 3/16”.• Computer with printer.

what to do1 Paint pots Country Red, Olde Gold, and Hauser Medium Green; let dry. Dry brush edges Glorious Gold. 2 Cut 2½”x4” rectangles from each grey wool felt. Trace and cut out patterns on page 141. Transfer designs to felt rectangles. 3 To needle felt star, pull off small piece of orange wool roving. Twist strands slightly so edges are smooth, and place on center of felt rectangle, forming small star shape. Punching with needle tool until shape lies flat. Continue adding wool roving to fill in small star shape. 4 On second felt rectangle, needle felt small heart with purple wool roving and outline around heart shape with red wool roving. On third felt rectangle, needlefelt small tree with lt. green wool roving and outline around tree shape with dk. green wool roving. 5 Use one strand pearl cotton to blanket stitch around felt rectangles. 6 Sew buttons to sides of felt rectangles at center, sewing jute pieces to back of buttons and felt. Glue felt rectangles to peat pots. Wrap jute pieces around side of container and tie bow. 7 For tags, use computer to print recipe name on white card stock; cut into tag shape. Punch 3/16” holes in

needle felted cookiebaskets

project size: 4” tall

guide to gourmet gifts

with M&M®’s banana bread

ingredients

instructionsIn a saucepan, cook raisins in water over medium heat until plump, about 15 minutes. Drain, reserving liquid. Add enough water to liquid to measure ½ cup.

In a mixing bowl, cream shortening, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir in raisin liquid. Blend in dry ingredients. Stir in raisins and oats. Add nuts if desired. Drop by teaspoonfuls, 2” apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375° for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Recipe courtesy of recipegoldmine.com.

grandma’s oatmeal cookies

tags and 1/16” holes in top sides of pots for handles. Attach eyelets to tags.Thread black pearl cotton through holes in tags and pots; tie bows. Wrap ribbon

around bag of cookies; tie bow. Place bag inside pot.

Designs by Mary Ayres.

• Raisins, 1 c• Water, 1 c• Shortening, 1½ c• Granulated sugar, 1½ c• Eggs, 2• Vanilla extract, 1 tsp• All-purpose flour, 2½ c

• Baking soda, 1 tsp• Salt, 1 tsp• Ground cinnamon, 1 tsp• Baking powder, ½ tsp• Ground cloves, ¼ tsp• Quick-cooking oats, 2 c • Optional: Walnuts, chopped, ½ c

For Christmas Fruit Cake Cookies and Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies recipes, visit www.recipegoldmine.com.

C Guide to Gourmet Gifts.indd 53 9/11/07 4:17:06 PM