Summer Crafts and Recipes

☀Summer Crafts & Recipes 2015☀

By Mia M. Burkholder

Flip Flops, Summer Bangles, and Dessert Pizzas. Read on and be amazed.

FRUIT PIZZA

Maybe this is healthy, maybe this is sugary, I don’t really care- I’m eating this either way!

You will need: 1 package of sugar cookie mix or dough, topping (Cool whip, cream cheese, even frosting would work for this.), and assorted fruit.

STEP 1 Prepare your sugar cookie dough, whether it’s opening the package or grabbing the mixing bowl. STEP 2 Spread the dough out evenly on a pizza pan. 12 in. circular pizza pans work best. STEP 3 Bake your dough in the oven until the package or recipe says that it is ready. STEP 4 Let cool. STEP 6 Spread your topping onto the pizza. You can use my go-to recipe below in “TIPS”STEP 7 Arrange your fruit across your topping until it is covered with the desired amount. STEP 8 Chop up your pizza and serve!  Voila! You’re done. Now just imagine eating a slice outside, underneath the warm, summer sun. Mmmm…

BONUS! Not so into fruit? Or maybe you just want something more, umm, cookie-like- well, then this is for you! Make an easy COOKIE PIZZA by following steps 1-4, but using any kind of cookie dough that you prefer. You can choose to just cut it up and serve it then and there, or you can add some frosting and candies. Done!

Tips: For the frosting recipe that won over my family, follow this recipe:

Mix together one 8-ounce package of cream cheese, a cup of confectioner’s sugar, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Make sure to stir VERY WELL- trust me, I messed up at first, and I got one gigantic spoonful of pure cream cheese, and one so sugary that even my sister wouldn’t like it!

PERSONALIZED FLIP FLOPS

We are magical- making flip flops out of our own bare hands, well, and all of the things below...↓

You will need: 4 sheets of thick foam, a knife or pair of scissors, water-proof paint, hot glue, and a ribbon or rope that can be used as a strap on your flip flop.

STEP 1 With your thick foam, cut out the shapes of your flip flops so that they will fit your feet. You can print out a template online, but it is easier to trace the shapes of the soles of flip flops or sandals that you already own. Then use your scissors to carefully cut out the shapes. STEP 2 With another piece of your thick foam, trace the shapes of your already cut out foam,  and once again carefully cut them out. Sometimes a knife works best. STEP 3 Hot glue 2 pieces of foam together so that your shoe is thicker. Then repeat for the other shoe, but make sure that they’re not both right feet! STEP 4 Texturize the bottom of your shoe with a knife, making thin cuts just so you do not slip. This is optional, but it helps. You can look at any shoe for an example. STEP 5 Paint a design on your flip flops with waterproof paint. It really adds a unique touch, and it’s amazing to think of all the possibilities of what you can make! STEP 6 After the paint has dried, use the same flip flop that you used for your template and locate each plastic circle on the back of it. With your paper template of a flip flop, put it over your real flip flop and trace on the circles, dark enough that you can see it on the other side of the paper. STEP 7 Place the paper on the top of your homemade flip flop’s base. Put a small cut on each hole you drew on the paper. Repeat for the other flip flop. STEP 8 Using whatever you have as a strap, bend it in half and stick it through the top hole. At the bottom of the flip flop, tie the looped ribbon in a knot. Bring each of the other 2 strands to each of their holes, then tie at the bottom as well. Voila!

SUMMER BANGLES

Warning! Warning! These are addicting, so try to control yourself!

You will need: some plain bangle bracelets, Q-tips, strong glue (like E6000) colored string or embroidery floss, jump rings, and assorted charms that you can hook onto the jump ring.

STEP 1 Get a tiny amount of your strong glue on a Q-tip and put it on a small part of your bangle bracelet. STEP 2 Start wrapping the colored embroidery floss or string around the bracelet, only covering the portion with glue. Wrap with no gaps. STEP 3 Put more glue on another small part of the bracelet, continue wrapping, repeat until the entire bracelet is wrapped. STEP 4 Let dry. STEP 5 Place jump hooks with charms on your bangle. In between charmed jump hooks, place plain ones. You do not have to cover the entire bracelet.

You’re finished!

Note: The Saber Tooth Times Crew would love to see the creations you have made from the Arts and Recipes articles! Direct Message them to our instagram account,  or email them to miamcb16@gmail.com  with your name and grade! If you send them in, you have a chance for the picture of your craft or baking creation in the next issue! Happy Summer to everyone!