Fun-kin Floor Tutorial

Howdy all!  Many have asked lately how I go about installing the floor in my Fun-kin (carve-able craft pumpkins) dioramas.  Since I am in the process of beginning a new one I thought I'd share how I build up and install the sub-floor in my projects.  I totally understand how this can be mentally time consuming because I've been there and even though this process has several steps it has worked for me in my last three pumpkins.  The first ones worked as well but we won't go into how the floor is being held up lol.  This method is the easiest for me but still involves a measure of patience.  But if you are a mini-maker like me you've already got the patience part down pat!  Here goes.

I have a piece of Styrofoam that came in a parcel at one time.  It is one inch thick already so I just cut three squares about an inch each.  This is not exact measurements because Styrofoam somewhat falls apart anyway.

I also use cardboard at double strength, meaning double ply... I guess.  It's just thicker and stronger.  I cut a circle about the size of a saucer for this pumpkin because it smaller.  Anywhere between six or seven inches works for the larger pumpkins.

Place the foam pieces around the bottom inside.  You will see that they are at different heights because the bottom of the pumpkin has different heights.  Then place your piece of cardboard on top of these along with your level straight across.  Turn your level in a couple of different positions to see where the floor is higher.  Then take out that piece of Styrofoam and gently slice off a sliver and level again.  Do this until you've got the bubble in the center of your level.

Carefully remove the Styrofoam one piece at a time and place glue on the bottom.  Glue it back down on the spot you picked it up from.  I use Elmers Wood Glue (for everything) for this.  You can use a glue gun BUT with the thickness that hot glue can add you might not be level when you get done.  After you glue each piece, glue your cardboard circle (I put glue on the cardboard itself not on the tops of the foam) to the tops of the Styrofoam and place something heavy on top like a soup can or something and leave it for at least an hour to adhere well.  Now you've got your subfloor.... yay!!!

Back to your cardboard to trace around your pumpkin as best you can. I hold my pencil straight up and go around the outside.  Don't measure at the base because your circle will be too small. Cut the circle out carefully.

When you cut your circle out be sure to make a B and F for "back" of the pumpkin and "front" of the pumpkin on your cardboard.  Next, draw a straight line from the front to the back of your circle and carefully cut the circle in half.

Obviously this circle is too big but that's how it is supposed to be because you're going to trim it down as needed.  Place one side in the pumpkin and trim where necessary to get it to easily lay on top of your subfloor.  This could require a little bit or a lot of trimming and it doesn't have to fit exactly to the walls. Just as close as you can.

You can use a pencil to mark areas that need to be trimmed.  Take out the cardboard and trim with scissors and try it again.

Once you've got the one piece pretty good put the other half in and trim until it fits inside.  It will be laying partly on top of your piece that you've already trimmed.

Draw a little mark of where the bottom half meets the new half.

Hold it tight and take both pieces out.  Flip them over and draw a line of where you need to cut this half so they both fit.  See the next pictures. 

Cut down your line... just cut a little better than I did LOL!  I used scissors to flatten out that oceanic curve I had going! 

Place them both in your pumpkin.  The new piece is going to need trimming a touch to fit right.

Get out that handy level and see how you did.  I had to work on mine trimming on the outside of my pieces for them to lay flat and level.  It can get a touch frustrating at times. But it will eventually level up because you already leveled your subfloor.

Make two little notches with your pencil on the back wall so when you take out a piece at a time to glue down you will put it right back in the same spot.

Glue down one piece at a time and place something heavy on top to hold in place while the other piece is still there.  Once that piece has had time to adhere, take out your other piece, place glue on the underside and place back in the pumpkin.

And that's it!  You're ready for whatever flooring you wish!  The cardboard doesn't have to be perfect because it won't be seen once your floor is down and your flooring will likely be trimmed a small piece at a time to fit against the wall more evenly.  Even so, your pumpkin will be filled with goodies so the edges of your floor won't be seen as much as you think at this point. 

And that's how I install and build up my floor in my Fun-kin projects!  Have fun!!

Pom Pom Fever

I saw something about these somewhere and wondered... how have I gone my whole life not knowing how to make these?  I have a humongo stash of yarn... some of it from the seventies that I love... and what better way to use some of it than making Pom Poms??? Well.. maybe covering coat hangers... but that's a blog post for another day.  I looked up some videos online and picked the best one I could find and actually wound up finding a good blog to frequent in the meantime. 

 

I started making these suckers and was hooked.  I made something like fifteen during nap time one day.  Big ones... little ones... fluffy ones and short cut ones. 

 

I remember being in elementary school and once there was a fair going on inside the school.  You know, the ones where you go from classroom door to classroom door and there are different activities like a fishing game set up in the door way (did I dream this?).  But, I decided I wanted to dress up like a cheer leader to go the carnival and my Mom made me some Pom Poms to go on my shoes.  They were blue and gold which were the school colors of Goodlettsville High School where we lived but like I said was an elementary school function.  I asked Mom if she had a picture of me that day and she didn't quite recall the day like I did but I even remember getting one of those plastic bird things that you put a little water in then blow through the tail feathers and it made a kind of whistle sound.  Man I'd like to have one of those things again. 

 

Here is the video that I found.  I also found another one where they made little ones by using a fork.  I think I will make some more today.  I reckon they are great for using in gift wrap or wearing on the tip toe of your tennis shoes.  Or sew them on the back of your socks and we'll bring that fad back!   

 

 

And the blog I found is Creature Comforts Blog.  Love it!  I really like it when blogs update often.

 

Here are some that I made.

  

 

It's not easy to tell the yarn from the seventies is it?  It has a Woolworth's price tag on it.

 

You can hang them from your rear view or your Christmas tree or your hummingbird feeder. 

Whatever floats your boat!

Indoor Garden Terrariums

When I told people what I made for my sisters and mom for Christmas, most of them said "wow, those are from the seventies!"  But really terrariums have made a humongo come back.  I love the idea of a self sufficient world under glass.  Once the plants are established you don't even have to water them much at all.  Maybe every few weeks and not much then.  They don't need outside oxygen and don't need a terrific amount of sun light.  It's the perfect little world.

I bought my glass containers at Wal-Mart because they were the cheapest and believe me when I say I shopped around looking for low priced ones because I was making four.  One for me and three for them.  They were in the kitchen department and ran seven and nine dollars. 

The plants I bought at Lowe's.  The moss I dug up from around Shaun's shop in the gravel.  I used a layer of gravel from the driveway on the bottom, activated charcoal, potting soil and then plants.  I stuck pretty rocks that I have found and placed them in there for character.  They all seem to be doing very well.

I will tell you that I got my courage from Martha Stewart and her very instructional videos.  Once you find one and watch it, it will bring up more and more.  I bet I watched ten of them and I was ready to roll. 

 

 

 

The charcoal can be messy!  But it keeps the stink out.

The big one was for me :) It's is 2 gallon and the others are 1 gallon.

One bought plant can be seperated into several.

 

Give it a pretty good spray down so the plants will settle in.  But not so much water on the plants themselves as trying to get it to the soil and moss.

 

 

I will say the the ferns haven't done very well, the ones that I bought.  A different kind may respond better.  And you do have to trim the plants down some so they aren't too tall.  And also they aren't supposed to touch the glass. 

 

If the inside of the jar has moisture building up it is either in a spot that's too sunny and it definately doesn't need water.  You can tilt the lid a touch and let it get a small amount of air to absorb the extra moisture. 

 

The moss that I got from the driveway has done well and little plants have popped up out of it. 

 

It really didn't take long at all once I had on the ingredients and I love the results!

Country Ham Cookin 101

I don't really know what the 101 means but I think it's basically "how's it's done."

As you should know, because I believe country ham is sold in all parts of the country and if it isn't it should be, country ham can be bought by the whole ham or by the slice or slices.  Around here you are likely to come across one maybe around Christmas because people like to give the hams as corporate gifts.  But here at our house... we grow 'em ourselves.  Not all of them of course but as you already may know from previous posts, the part of the pigs that we raised over summer 2011 were smoked in order for us to get bacon, hog jawl, lard and country ham. 

Here is a sample of the easiest and best way to cook up a slice at our house.

Take the slice of country ham and trim the fat.  Be sure and leave some of the healthy fat on there mainly because you don't want it to stick.  Discard the fat and cut the ham slice in to several slices, cutting around and discarding the bone.   Please pieces in a skillet and cover with water.  Bring water to a boil over medium heat.  This will kind of soak the salt out of the ham.  Don't skip this step even if you are a lover of salt like my sister that licks her finger to pick up the left over salt at the bottom of her popcorn bowl.  Boil just for a few minutes until the meat turns a bit whitish looking.  Drain water in to sink.  Put skillet back on the burner and cook ham on each side until brown and yummy pressing down on the pieces with your spatula so they don't curl.  Take off when done and put on a paper towel to absorb grease if any.  Place on a hot biscuit with cheese and egg.  Perfect country breakfast... or supper!

Y'all ready for this?

 This photo is by Shaun.

 Oh my.

 The be Texas Pete hot sauce.  Just a dab.  I think it's smiling at you!

 On work mornings I use the frozen kind.  Pillsbury.  Good as Ms. Winners.

 As Shaun would say "now that's a six dollar biscuit!" 

 DANG IT!  I can't wait until breakfast!

Now wipe your mouth and go get some country ham.