Issue #1 | April 2016
crafting & cooking
DIY COPPER EGGS Mini Oat Chocolates
DIY Easter Eggs Hoop Art!!!!
Crochet Spring Wreath Vegan Spaghetti
Bunny & Chick Bag Toppers!
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Angeliki | www.cookika.com
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m Angeliki and my friends call me Kika. Since I was a kid, l constantly meddled in my mother's kitchen. I liked to collect images, smells and tastes, while trying to save as much information and experience for future use. I have a weakness for sweets and therefore I'm constantly looking for healthy alternatives that offer enjoyment without the caloric burden while I give particular importance to the nutritional value of my ingredients. For me, being in the kitchen and testing new recipes is the best psychotherapy. I feel complete when I share my food with loved ones, old friends and new which I make thanks to CooKika's virtual kitchen.
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Dimitra | decorasylum.blogspot.gr
Athena | www.craftcooklove.gr
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i, I am Athena owner of the blog craftcooklove.gr. I enjoy cooking and baking, decorating my space, easy crafting. I share all of this experience with my blog readers. Also I try to squeeze all of my roles within 24 hours: being a mum to Penelope, being a spouse to John, being a dog mum to Pares, being a working girl. Wish me luck!
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ello, I ‘m Dimitra from Décor Asylum. I love a mix n match approach in décor and everything I create, instead of trends that end up looking like bad copy-pastes. I’m a leo, if that says anything about my personality, who loves white, gold and mint colors as well as sci-fi and horror movies. Surprisingly enough, for a Greek, I loath summers and adore winters. Apart from décor and DIYs, I am in love with my fiancé and our dog, Hera (or Monster as we call her).
Team
Zina| www.efzincreations.com
Eleni| craftwithmom.blogspot.gr
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i! My name is Eleni and you can find me and read me at my blog, CraftWithMom. Mom of two, but also addicted to crafts, the past 5 years I am trying to combine both of them. In love with the three men of my life, I am always getting inspired by them. I adore the sea, seashells and Greek islands, but also a walk in the mountains and rainy weather. I enjoy camping and spending time with my friends. I admire handmade things, made with love .
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love to create things from old materials and especially jewels. My first love was sewing, but then I was trying to find more materials to use to create something useful. My first attempt? When I was almost 6 years old I created a necklace with beads from my grandma’s old curtain! More experiments followed with uncommon materials but finally my latest and biggest love is fabric buttons!!!! My life completed with my young princess and the young prince! Crafting small creations and jewels with my girl is something really relaxing for me. And what about the prince? Well, yesterday he started using glow! He will soon be an active member in our projects!
Maro | www.akamatra.com
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i! I am Maro also known as Akamatra, which is an old fashioned way to say (in Greek) that a woman is lazy in house related chores! That's me! I love to experiment with DIY projects (blame it on my Chemistry background) instead of doing the dishes! I am addicted to crafting, drinking tea and eating chocolate. I try to make things that I need and I don't bother myself with complicated DIYs that produce sophisticated stuff no one is going to use! Stick around, we'll have fun!
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crafting & cooking
Editorial
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hat happens when 6 girl bloggers join powers? An e-magazine full of craft, tutorials and recipes all made with lots of love for you! In our articles you can ďŹ nd spring and Easter decor ideas and crafts, a super free printable as well as vegan recipes. We really hope you enjoy our ideas and try them for yourselves. We are Aggeliki, Athena, Dimitra, Eleni, Maro and Zina and we wish you Happy Reading!!
Contents
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Mini Chocolates with oats and walnuts
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DIY COPPER EGGS
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Bunny & Chick Bag Toppers!
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Crochet Spring Wreath
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Vegan Spaghetti
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DIY Easter Eggs Hoop Art!!!!
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Mani-eggs!
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Easter Bunnies - Sewing tutorial
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DIY Easter Eggs on a Stick!!!
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BUNNY HEADBAND!
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Romanticism and A Carrot Cake
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Seafood Pasta
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Mini Chocolates with oats and walnuts Angeliki | www.cookika.com
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ho can say no to chocolate?
Especially when those tough afternoon cravings for something sweet "rings your bell", these mini chocolates will fill your hunger and provide you with energy, fast and easily! Good luck!
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The Recipe! Mini Chocolates with oats and walnuts
For 20 medium pieces
Ingredients • • • • • • • • •
500 g. nuts roughly chopped 200 g. oats 1/2 tbs. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. ground cloves 1 1/4 cup water 140 ml honey 500 g. chocolate 1 1/2 tsp. olive oil brandy
Preparation: In a saucepan, add water with honey. Stir and let it simmer. In a bowl mix nuts with oats, cinnamon and cloves. Add the honey syrup and mix well. Leave for 10 minutes to absorp humidity.
Store, tightly closed, in the refrigerator.
Enjoy!
In a bain-marie or a microwave oven, melt chocolate with olive oil. Pour some brandy in another small bowl,wet your hands in it and then form the mixture into balls. Dip each ball in chocolate until it's fully covered. Transfer to a wire rack and leave to set.
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DIY COPPER EGGS Dimitra| decorasylum.blogspot.gr
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opper is really hot right now! So why not
give some of its beautiful shine to our Easter décor? Especially when it is so easy to do so with a product that can surely find its way in DIYland! Our star product? Self adhesive copper tape! I must confess that I first learned about its existence from a friend who used it in stained glass but I immediately knew I had to give it a try. And my first copper tape diy are these modern eggs. Let’s see what you will need and the steps to create your own diy copper eggs!
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I told you it was super easy! Just spray paint the eggs matte white (just between us, if you do not mind the slight shine of the plastic eggs, you can even skip this step) and then cut the tape in various lengths and shapes and adhere to the eggs. Ready!
Happy Easter creations!
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Bunny & Chick Bag Toppers! Eleni | craftwithmom.blogspot.gr
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mall and big kids always get excited
with a sweet treat! I have, just for you, the perfect idea for an Easter treat bag. In pink or yellow, with cute little ears and fluffy tails! Bunny and chick toppers with love! Free Printables!!
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Materials Printer A4 Paper Glue food bag (length 12 cm) Pom Pom treats
Steps Print the bunny toppers by clicking here or the ducklings by clicking here. Cut perimeter . Fold where you see dotted lines . Fill with your treats and get stuck on the paper as shown in the photo . Close with glue. Stick the pom pom on the back. Ready !
MANY, MANY WISHES for a beautiful Easter !
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Crochet Spring Wreath Maro | www.akamatra.com
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ello darlings,
spring is here and this year I decided that the best way to welcome it into my home is a spring wreath! And that's what I am going to show you! Now, don't frown I am not going to show you how to make a complicated and over the top wreath. I promise this is a project for even the most novice of crocheters. You can do it even if you only know how to chain and a half double crochet! Also you don't need to break the bank buying expensive yarn. This is a perfect opportunity to be frugal and bust open you scrap yarn closet! You'll only need small amounts of yarn!
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Supplies
(photo 1) • A 4.5mm hook • Any color yarn you like and have in scraps. • Polyester filling (or old t-shirt fabric) • A pair of scissors • A yarn needle
Pattern This pattern is written in US terms. Abbreviations (hdc = half double crochet, ch = chain) The color order doesn't really matter. Pick colors you like best or don't stop to think and be spontaneous about it. Spring is colorful nonetheless! Chain 27 and turn. Make a hdc in the third chain from the hook. Hdc all the way to the end. Fasten off and change colors. Slip stitch to the first hdc and ch2. Hdc all the way to the end. Keep going row by row changing colors in every row or every two rows it's up to you and your yarn scraps (Photo 2). You have total freedom here. You can even try this pattern with single crochet or double crochet it really doesn't matter. Although, the
smaller the holes the better for your filling. For a wreath of 25cm you need to crochet a piece of 60cm in length and 15cm wide (photo 3). Once you finish fold your piece in half longitudinally. (photo 4) You don't have to worry about weaving in the ends (yoohoo!!!!) since they will be on the inside of the tube! Now take your yarn needle and some yarn (any color will do) (photo 5) and sew in a simple ladder stitch the two ends of you piece together forming a tube. (photo 6). Turn the tube inside out and tuck in any loose ends. (photo 7).
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Now it's time to fill the tube! Start by filling one end until the middle of the tube and then do the same from the other opening (photo 8). Don't over-stuff your tube, you want it to be firm but not "chubby".(photo 9) Again, thread some yarn in your needle and sew the two openings together (photo 10). And the wreath is done! (photo 11). Isn't it colorful and cute? Now you know you need to add some flowers right? Don't worry nothing fancy. I made 5 roses with this easy pattern from here (photo 12) in a white color to stand out. You just need to decide how to arrange them in the wreath (photos 13, 14). Once you decide where you want them just sew them on the wreath and you are set! Lastly, take your yarn and make a rope with chains to hang the wreath. I did 80 chains and pulled the two ends from the wreath. Make a double knot and pull it to hide inside the filling. Now your wreath is ready to embellish your door! (photo 15) Hang it proudly and have a great spring!!!
Lot's of love
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Vegan Spaghetti Athena | www.craftcooklove.gr
I
wanted to try vegan pasta for so long now. My only obstacle was the specialized spiralizer used to make the vegetable pasta.
A Youtube video was an eye opener for me: a simple peeler was used to make zucchini pasta and help you make an extra yummy vegan plate. This is how my recipe was inspired and was so tasty that the pasta on the fork of the photo went directly to the mouth of the photographer (me!).
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The Recipe Vegan Spaghetti
Ingredients for one
Ingridients • • • • • • •
2 medium sized zucchinis half sweet potato cut vertically half cup of unsalted cashew nuts (approx. 40 gr) 8 tbsp coconut milk 1/4 tsp nigella (black onion seeds) salt 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
Cooking Steps From the previous evening, (or at least 3 hours before), put the cashew nuts in a glass of water and let them soak. With a blender or a food processor melt the soaked cashew nuts with the coconut milk and little salt until you get a paste. After washing well the vegetables cut extra slim and long slices with the peeler. For the zucchinis stop slicing when you reach the seeded core. In a large pan or wok, pour the olive oil in high temperature. Add the vegetable pasta, lower the temperature to medium and stir continuously. Add salt according to
taste and keep on stirring for 5 minutes. If you like your veggies extra tender cook a little more. If you like them crispy like me stop cooking, add the cashew nut paste and stir. Serve with the nigella on top!!
Enjoy your vegan meal!
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DIY Easter Eggs Hoop Art!!!! Zina | www.efzincreations.com
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adore Easter for many reasons. Maybe it's because of the cute bun-
nies or the dyed eggs, maybe because of the fasting period that is followed by a lot of food, but mostly because Easter for me equals vacations in my beloved Crete under the perfect weather! To be honest, the last three years I have started to pay attention on the Easter decorations and create handmade gifts for my friends and my god-children. This year due to my passion with embroidery and embroidery hoops and since one of my tasks at home was to prepare and dye the red eggs, I decided to create my own colorful eggs for my own home décor and to give as gifts! So let’s make them together!
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Step 1: Embroidery Preparation Materials: • • • • • •
Wooden Embroidery Hoop Fabric Scissors Pencil Embroidery threads Needle
First thing to do is to embroider our little egg… something really relaxing, believe me! Cut the fabric in order to fit on the wooden hoop without having a lot of excess fabric and draw with your pencil a decorative egg. Pass the fabric on the hoop and start embroidering with a single backward stitch. In order to get a bolder embroidery, just use double thread.
Step 2:: Finishing our hoop Materials: • • • •
Hot glue Felt Scissors Ribbons
8 Spring trend so let’s add more. Firstly measure the size of the hoop and cut a same size from felt, using your pencil and your scissors. Add hot glue on the edges of the fabric in the back of the hoop and glue the piece of felt you have just cut. It is ready! Add ribbons in the colors of the embroidery and we are done! With your imagination and by using different colors and types of ribbons and threads, our Easter eggs will look simply beautiful! And do not make only one… prepare more small hoops with eggs in many different colors and your wall will look even more beautiful!
You might think that your embroidery is a little bit “empty” but it's not. The final result will be so cute! Color is really a 41
Want Some more?
Oldies but
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goodies!
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Mani-eggs! Dimitra| decorasylum.blogspot.gr
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had my mani done but as the photo shows not on
my hands but on some eggs for a little extra color in our Easter decor.
Read more... here! (in greek)
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Making Easter Bunnies! Maro | www.akamatra.com
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ello friends!
As tradition has it here in Greece the god-parents are supposed to give their god-child an Easter candle for the Easter. When we were kids the candle - and the toy that hang from it - was all we could think about when Easter came! That and the chocolate bunnies too! Last year I decided to make a doll for my god-daughter's Easter candle.
READ MORE... HERE!
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DIY Easter Eggs on a Stick!!! Zina | www.efzincreations.com
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ven thought I love Easter, I usually do not add
any Easter details in my home decor. But this year I have changed my mind! We also prepared fast and really easy cute full of color eggs on sticks!
READ MORE... HERE!
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BUNNY HEADBAND! Eleni | craftwithmom.blogspot.gr
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y little monkeys always love to dress - up
and I am here to spoil them! Let’s be bunnies! Let’ s make funny, colourfull ears using felt and a headband Ready;
Read more... here! (in greek)
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Romanticism and A Carrot Cake Angeliki | www.cookika.com
I
keep promising myself to take a brake from cakes, but I
always end up in the kitchen baking another one. I really love using vegetables in my desserts since they make them so moist and full of flavor while at the same time they cut down the calories. Enjoy!
Read more... here! (in greek)
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Seafood Pasta With Fresh Tomato Athena | www.craftcooklove.gr
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his is hubby’s favorite pasta plate. He actually cooks it himself.
Since I am a seafood lover I am always more than willing to try his cooking. The salsa is made of fresh tomato and the seafood used is deep freeze and precooked just to save valuable preparation time. The secret ingredient of this recipe is cinnamon that goes perfectly with the tomato and gives an exotic flavor to the plate. Check the recipe here (in greek)
Read more... here! (in greek)
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crafting & cooking