Tips and Techniques for Primitives

PRIMITIVE SNOWBALLS

These snowballs are so easy to make even your children can help….we used ours in bowls as a centerpiece during the winter.
We also made old grungy tags for our snowballs we bagged for sale.

Supplies:

Styrofoam balls in the approximate size you want the snowballs to be

White joint compound

Mica flakes or glass glitter (if you cant find either of these you can use the sparkly Mod Podge and just paint it on once the balls are dry)

Off white, buttermilk or antique white acrylic paint

Toothpicks and something to set put them on while drying like a cardboard box or a large piece of packing Styrofoam

Directions:

Place some of the joint compound in an old bowl and add drops of the acrylic paint until you get the color you wish.

Roll the ball in the compound being sure to cover it evenly all the way around. Be sure to coat it generously.

Now drop the ball covered with compound into a bowl of mica flake (or glitter) and roll to cover all the surface...shake gently

Place a toothpick or wooden skewer into the ball and then stick into the cardboard box/Styrofoam to dry.

They will take 2-3 days to dry depending on the humidity. Be sure to let them dry thoroughly

Now they are ready to place in your holiday decorating.

SUGGESTION:

You can also use the really small Styrofoam balls for snowball ornaments by using packaging string for a hanger. Thread a long large eyed needle with the string….knot the end with a bit hanging beyond the knot - punch up through the ball. Cut the string at the length you want for the hanger part and knot it, and cut.

Now once you have done this you can cut the little extra off the bottom being careful not to cut the knot off.

Follow the rest of the process - and by doing so cover up the knotted end on the bottom with the compound mixture. Try not to get too much on the hanging string….and walla….an ornament.

You can even leave off the glitter at this point and paint a snowman face if desired….then use glitter Mod Podge and paint it all over the snowman head.

I hope you enjoy this because it really is simple and fun!

PRIMITIVE PANTRY CAKES

4 tbs used coffee grounds - try to use dried grounds
1 cup sea salt
2 cups flour
3-4 tbs cinnamon
AND/OR
2-3 tbs ground cloves
1 cup water or brewed coffee - you may have to play with this amount - whether it‘s too runny or too thick
scented oil - optional, but only a couple drops if you are using it

Mix dough just until combined

Spray your molds using a cooking spray, coat molds with cinnamon and or cloves

Press the dough into the molds to make them even and smooth on the tops

I’m not sure just how many this makes because I use different molds for them every time so the amount varies anywhere
between 4-6 depending on the molds.

Bake at 180 degrees for approx. 6-7 hours depending.

Keep checking on them and make sure they are not sticking tightly in the molds - pop cake from mold and lightly
spray again and you might want to rub a bit more spices on at this time as well.

When baking time is done turn off oven and let them cure about an hour or more in cooling down oven.

       DISPLAY IDEAS:

Now you can remove them from molds and display them

Use them under a shoo-fly screen surrounded by grungy cheesecloth

Stack them in a Pantry jar

Store in a fabric covered Pantry box

There are many ideas you can come up with yourself

I make a small fabric seed sack with a drawstring, wrap my cakes in grungy cheesecloth and put them in the sack,
they give off a wonderful scent and make GREAT GIFTS!

GRUNGY BOW FILLERS
This recipe is from my friend Anne over at
Humble Hearts and Home
Check out her wonderful website
http://www.humbleheartsandhomes.com/index.html
and you might like to visit her Blog...great stuff!
http://www.seasonsofthepast.blogspot.com/

This is a great recipe.. Fill your favorite jar, bowl, or leave on a Christmas platter!! Great for little gifts,
wrap in cello paper or bags, tie with a homespun bow and there you go!
Display these in a pie safe with crocks and cloth covered jars for a prim pantry look.
Warning: they do smell good enough to eat, they make your house smell yummy!!

3 cup flour
3 cup brown sugar
1/2 to 3/4 cup butter
1/2 to 3/4 cup water
1 tbs allspice
1tbs cinnamon
2-3 bars paraffin wax (find in canning section at supermarket)

*Combine ingredients except for wax
*Dough should not stick to your hands, so add more or less flour accordingly.
*Melt wax on low heat in a double boiler (make sure you do not use high heat to avoid flashing point)
*Roll out dough and use cut outs just as you would regular cookies.
*For sweet rolls roll out dough like a snake, the twist around to make a roll.
*Bake at 350 for 20 min. cool
*When cool, coat in wax using slotted soon and dry on wax paper.
*You can sprinkle mica flakes, or more cinnamon on top before wax dries (but you must do this quickly)

To make frosting for rolls......
*Take wax off heat, using a wire whip, whip wax until bubbly...
*You will have to be the judge of when your wax is ready.
*It should be a little thick, so it can be clumpy.
*Again if you want to add mica flakes or cinnamon on top of the frosting, you must do this quickly.

SWEET POTATO GARLAND TOUTORIAL
This is such a Primitive decoration for the holidays - one you certainly be happy you made!
Hang from doorways, over the tops of cupboards, strung between the doors of a hutch
or cupboard or as a garland on your fireplace - even as garland on you tree!

Gather your ingredients:
~ Sweet potatoes - cut up into halves or quarters
~ 1 cup boiling water
~ 4 tablespoons of Instant coffee
~ ginger (optional)
~ cinnamon
~ nutmeg
~ sewing needle
~ cotton string or cord - cut length as long as you intend your garland to be
(You can use ordinary potatoes if in a jam)

1. First you need to make your dye: Mix the coffee and boiling water

2. Meanwhile, cut up your potatoes into halves and quarters

3. Next, sprinkle your spices on a plate

4. Soak your cotton thread in the coffee dye mixture

5. Dip or drop your potatoes in the dye mixture to stain them

6. Roll your colored potatoes in the sweet and pungent spice mixture

7. Attach the potato pieces snugly, one against another, on the colored string - Tightly string the cubes together because they will shrink while drying

8. Let air dry - you can also put in a low oven (150 degrees) to dry faster. Keep checking on it and push your cubes closer together as it dries,
    once they are dried it's next to impossible to move them.

This recipe was kindly donated by Debra at http://pilgrimsandpioneers.blogspot.com/

Making Traditional Pomanders

Pomander’s have been used since the Middle Ages. The pomanders that we make today are rooted in Colonial and Victorian times. During those times, pomanders were not only decorative but also useful to cover up bad odors. They will serve that same useful purpose today, keeping a closet or little used room fragrant with spices and citrus.

Apples were frequently used as the pomander base during the Colonial period because oranges were too expensive. Pomanders today are usually made from oranges. You could choose to make your pomanders from:
    Apples
    Oranges
    Lemons
    Limes
    Crab Apples
    Kumquats

The smaller pomanders can be hung on the Christmas tree or tied onto packages

Supplies needed:
fruit for base whole cloves
powdered/ground spices such as
    cloves
    cinnamon
    ginger
    nutmeg
    powdered/ground Orris root

Mix the spices and Orris root together.

This mixture will help your pomander dry and increase its fragrance. It also helps preserve the pomander.

Use about one part orris root to four parts spice mixture.

Select firm, ripe fruit with no blemishes.

Use a skewer of some sort to poke holes in the fruit.

Push the stem of the clove into the fruit.

Place the cloves close together on the fruit. This is a slow, but pleasant process. Try to complete each fruit in one session.

When the orange or apple is completely covered with cloves, roll it in the spice and Orris root mixture.

Leave it in the spices. Put the fruit and spices in a cool, dark place. Each day, until the fruit dries, roll it in the spices.

After the pomanders are dry When the pomanders are dry, tie a bright ribbon around them and heap in bowl.

You can also run a ribbon through the pomanders and use the ribbon to hang them on the Christmas tree.

If you want a stronger citrus fragrance, combine the traditional pomander described above with more contemporary designs.

A quick, pretty pomander can be made by placing cloves in a decorative pattern around an orange.

This version does not cover the fruit with cloves and will not last. The traditional pomander can be stored for years.

RECIPE COURTESY OF LINDA IRWIN...thank you Linda.

RUSTING PINS AND BELLS
Here are two different recipes I use and each one is equally effective

#1
1 cup cider vinegar
1 cup bleach
3 teaspoon salt

#2
1 cup peroxide
1 cup vinegar
3 T. salt

Combine the ingredients in a throw-away container or glass

Add your pins and bell and let sit for about 1-2 days in this mixture. Stirring just a bit to move them around

The mixture will most likely foam up and come over the top so do this on something like a tray
or sitting in another container - dispose of this foam

Remove items from mixture with slotted spoon of some kind and put on a cloth lined cookie sheet or cardboard (with shallow sides) and let sit in the sun for a day or two, shaking the pan to move them around - they will continue to rust as time goes on

DO IN WELL VENTILATED AREA AND KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND PETS
DO NOT RINSE OR EVERYTHING WILL COME OFF
DO NOT DISPOSE OF LIQUED DOWN YOUR DRAINS - IT IS CAUSTIC

Photo courtesy of Dry Branch Primitives
http://www.drybranchprimitives.com/