Candy Airplane Tutorial

I thought it was easy enough to look at my photos of my candy airplanes in order to make your own and then I got a couple of emails questioning how I put it together.

Supply list:
Fuselage: Baby Ruths or other 'stiff' long candy bars.
Wings: Air Heads
Wing support and tail empennage: Single Starbursts
Wheels: Rolos
Propeller: Taffy or mini Tootsie Rolls
Big pile of hot glue sticks (and your hot glue gun).

You'll need a Baby Ruth or any other candy bar that is long like a fuselage. Almond Joys used to not work because they are two pieces and it's not stiff enough to use as a fuselage. I noticed last time at the store they have added a stiffer cardboard to the bottom for support.
I've used starbursts, Uno bars - anything that is long and will support the wings.

The AirHeads work well for the wings. In fact, sometime I make single wing aircraft. I haven't really found a substitute for these. In the USA, they are usually sold six strips to a pack - meaning you can get three biplanes out of a pack.

Starburst sold in the big pack. Alternatively, you can buy the single pack and use these. Less expensive to buy the big package. These will support your second wing and also look like a tail on the fuselage.

Rolos, individually wrapped in the big package. Haven't found an alternative for these either. They are round and look like wheels.

The propeller can be made with salt water taffy or mini tootsie rolls. Any candy with paper twisted at the ends will work.

Gather your candy and hot glue gun. It's usually cold when I make these so the glue gets brittle or doesn't bond well with the plastic candy wrappers. These are slightly fragile with tails popping off occasionally. Especially in transit, moving airplanes to their new homes.  Easy fix though.

I also used a (free) priority mailing box, kept flat, on my table to catch any hot glue.

 Put a blob of glue on top of your candy fuselage about 2 inches from one end. Attach one Airhead strip. This is your top wing.

 Flip the candy bar over and attach a starburst not quite at the end of the wing.

 Blobs of glue on both starburst wing supports and also on the candy fuselage and attach bottom wing. Work quickly as glue doesn't really bond with wrappers. You need to place three blobs of glue and place that bottom wing on. I touch each place where the glue is underneath to make sure it connects.

Attach rolo wheels too on this bottom wing.
Either together or about an half-inch apart. Kinda on either side of the fuselage.

There's no wrong way or right way. If your rolos are turned the other way, it will still work.

 Turn plane upright. Add tootsie roll to front of fuselage candy bar.
 
Sometimes, there is empty space up there. In the case of the Baby Ruth, the wrapper was enough support for the propeller Tootsie roll. If it isn't, then use more hot glue to bring empty front space closer to main fuselage.

You're gonna use a lot of hot glue sticks.

 Finally, add another starburst to back of candy fuselage to indicate a tail empennage.

I don't buy candy ahead of time but I do look for the best deals. These babyruths were 2/$1.00 whereas regular candy bars are almost a dollar each.

The big package of starburst were enough to make nearly 50 biplanes.
The package of rolos would have been enough except someone got into them.
The airheads? Who eats these anyway? I actually cleaned out my fred meyers for awhile.
I've used salt water taffy before but I really like the look of the mini tootsie rolls.

There's no wrong way or right way.

Be creative with your candy choices.

Maybe go on to making trains and other funmobiles.

Train wheels are round Mints - York or Pearsons. Peppermints.

Pen Thieves Foiled

Checked off:  More Flower Pens.
I am on the look out for a more manly version - hence the plastic ping pong-type balls.
Men are not as secure in their manhood while writing with a flower pen.

My customers where I work have made off with 25 flower pens since I started at this location eight months ago. Which is way better than 25 gross of pens otherwise.



***Why do people buy plastic flowers anyway? I find them cheap at garage sales. The pens are back-to-school specials.

Ukrainian Easter Eggs

My local library has been offering free classes funded through Friend's of the Library.

Last month, I took an Origami class - flowers!
And last night - a class on decorating Ukrainian Easter Eggs.

What a fantastic teacher! Originally from the Czeck Republic, she emigrated to the USA back in the 80's. Along with a full-time job, she conducts classes on this subject.
That's 30 years of teaching!


You start by learning how to melt wax in the thingymading - Kistka and draw with the wax.
When your design is done, it is dipped in an ink-dye and then you wax design on top of that.
Then it is dipped in ink-dye again (2 -3 times) and the result is intense color saturation around your design.


You can be as elaborate as you what. Random or Patterns.


"I can't do this" was heard many times last night. Especially amongst the older ladies.
Try.
There's no wrong way or right way.
Try.
As we get older, the urge to stifle creativity becomes worse.

When acquaintances find out that I made something, there is amazement that I know how to make something. And the negativity on my part? That I see the flaws.

Let your creativity free folks.

Don't sweat the small stuff.




The tan lines are the brown egg. This is where the first round of wax went. It was first dipped in purple and then more wax applied and then dipped in green.


First in blue, then more wax, then green. The inside of the birdie is the first color - then covered and surrounded by the new color.




We did one practice egg, then our 'real' egg. Not enough time to do a third. This is my first. Love my rooster.

My second egg.

What would a cool craft be without being pyromaniacs! 
This candle will melt the wax in your Kistka so you can 1,2,draw,1,2,draw, repeat.



Try something new today. Watch the negative attitude.

Timberline Lodge - Mt. Hood

More on Daniela Mahoney:
Her Oregon inspired eggs;



Ukranian Easter Eggs - nice how-to here;
 Photo courtesy of
http://www.learnpysanky.com/

Easter Egg Puzzle Balls

I saw this craft on facebook and needed to do it. Let me caution you right now, its a messy, three-day craft that takes up space.

This is a stiff ball made of yarn. Inside is trapped a chocolate candy (or 2 or 3). How did the candy get inside?

Use up your odds & ends of yarn, dipped in glue mixture, wrap yarn  around water balloons filled with candy, let dry and then pop the balloon ---what could be easier?






For every balloon I managed to squiggle a candy into, another was torn.
The egg with three candies? I now  declare it the Golden Egg!

The yarn soaks up the glue & water mixture (equal parts) and as you wrap it around the egg, it drips glue everywhere. Not to mention the sodden mess of yarn that wants to glom up into a celtic knot. So you should put down a thousand layers of newspaper to soak up the puddles--haha,  cant give away all the tips.




Some tricks to get those candies into the balloon.
Blow up the water balloon first to stretch it out.  Pull the sides out to make it squeal as the air escapes for the delightment of the dog.
Pull the neck apart and 'roll' the balloon over the Hershey's Chocolate Egg. Rolo's also worked fairly easily. Hershey's Chocolate Kisses, good luck! not so well.
Once candy is seated, you need to blow air into the balloon to partially blow it back up.
Squeeze what you blew up and the candy will drop into the bottom of the balloon.

If you want more than one candy inside, you'll need to repeat this.








Let dry for ThreeDays!!!.
 Until stiff.

Pop the balloon and carefully extract the balloon rubbage which has a disconcerting way of wrapping around the candy and not letting go.




One for each of my co-workers and assorted nephews & nieces.

Beer Can Hats - Revival

Sewing Table

This is the sewing table I want in my craft room. My daughter and I found this at IKEA last year and I find I still want it.  I can totally visualize the organizational possibilities.
You can put castors on the legs so it rolls.
I can't recall if the drawers are only on one side or accessible on both sides.
This would be perfect with a light table built in???

It's only $499.

Dear Santa,
I Been Good This Year.

Wintery Fresh

I made my wreath today.
Filled with Douglas Fir and a bumper crop of Pinecones, Blue Spruce, Nandina, Holly from my Mom & Dad's and Viburnum Spring Bouquet - I like my wreaths in the natural state. Everything smells so wintery fresh.

Most of the fir blew down in a recent gale-force windstorm. The Blue spruce  has needle-sharp needles. The 'trick'? Let the blue spruce wallow for a week and it becomes soft enough to handle.

flash

The air is smokey today at ground level. Neighbors on both sides of me are trying to cope with our 22' cold snap by smoking me out with their wood stoves. This morning when I left for work it was 10' so the day has warmed a bit - must be the wood stoves at work.

My friend, Pencil Girl, is due to come over on Sunday. However, the long-range forecasts are troubling with threats of freezing rain and snow. I'm afraid to make her a wreath. If I make her one, then she won't be able to come over. If I don't - you can see where superstition takes you. Down the road to 'crazy'.
I usually make one for my neighbor Vicki and even Betty. I have plenty of material. And I found a dozen wreath hoops at an estate sale this summer. Actually, this is the second wreath I have made. The first was shipped Monday to Minnesota to my sister.

If I ship my sister a wreath, then she won't bug me for an Oregon Christmas Tree to be shipped to her.

This is what I spied Monday coming home for my mid-day break. 
My neighbors have the cutest alpine A-Frame house.

I think if I had gotten a ride in the buggy, I'd make them a wreath.