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RAZ Imports

RAZ 2011 Christmas and Halloween items should start arriving by the end of the month!

New Colors and Styles of Mesh Netting!

New Saxon natural jute material, open wide weave, 21" x 10 yd

New 10" Poly Mesh!

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Candy Rolls Decorated for Memorial Day

These candy rolls were decorated up for Memorial Day. I saw a project on Martha Stewart’s site using this method to wrap up rolls of coins. I thought it would work great for a little extra decoration for Memorial day.
These candy rolls are actually strawberry and fruit flavored Mentos. First wrapped in white paper (I used white label paper….just peel off the back and stick, but you could use any sort of wrapping paper.) Added bits of ribbon, stars or even cut out some stars and stripes from some left over shiny patriotic banners. One package of patriotic banners has lended itself to several projects for Memorial Day.

These candy rolls would look great as items to go in birthday happy sacks…..decorated according to your party theme….or any other holiday or special occasion. They really didn’t cost anything to make, scraps were used….even the cellophane. I used the cellophane bags  that some tissue paper and the banner had come in. Just cut off the seams and lay flat.  I wasn’t even thinking about trying to be thrifty……just saving myself a walk to the shop to get out a clear cellophane roll……

Firecracker Pinata

The grandchildren decided today that we needed a pinata for Memorial Day. Memorial Day which is 3 days away…….you know how the requests from grand-kids are)))

Well, typically to make a pinata I start with paper mache mixture to build the form and this usually takes 2-3 days to dry completely. Since we didn’t have that kind of time, we tried to come up with something we could create from cardboard.

We came up with a Firecracker shape by cutting a piece of cardboard about 24″ in width. Rolled it up into a cylinder shape and taped it together. So, now we have a Firecracker 24″ in ht and about 12″ in width.

One good thing about the Trendy Tree shop, we have plenty of cardboard, tape, boxes etc. So after we rolled up the cardboard, we cut circles to fit in the top and bottom from old boxes. Our cuts were not perfect….but they worked.

A false bottom was created since it was such a tall pinata I didn’t want the weight of the candy to make the form sag. The candy will be placed closer to the top…..noticed AJ making a mental note of this so he’d know where to hit it.
Next step was to decide how to decorate. We opted for basic red, white, blue and marked off two different designs on the cardboard. One side with horizontal stripes, the other with vertical. Simple enough.

Next we were ready for the tissue paper fringe. These are easy to do but you may have to experiment a little to get your cuts just right. Basically just remove the folded tissue paper out of the bag and cut across the top about 2″ down from the top without ever unfolding it. Then make lengthwise cuts through the folded tissue paper about 1/8″ to 1/4″ in width. Only make your cut to within about 1/2″ of the top so that when you unfold it, you will have a strip of fringe.

 

Start at the bottom of your project and use glue stick on the cardboard. Gently unfold the paper fringe and stick down. Always work by adding the next layer of fringe overlapping the last. You want to make sure the strips are close enough that your cardboard isn’t showing through. It doesn’t have to be perfect and bare spots can always be covered up. Save yourself some time and frustration. Buy Elmer’s Glue Stick……it lasts longer. It does dry quick so work by pasting a few inches at a time….paste, apply fringe. I like to work left to right to left, but there is no right or wrong way. You essentially just want to cover the cardboard.



At this point, we were ready to add the candy. Choose small individually wrapped candies. This pinata was just going to be for the three grandchildren so I only used about 3 varieties…..bubble gum (sour ball kind), Laffy Taffy and Jolly Ranchers. 

Pinatas I’ve made for birthday parties with larger groups of children can hold 2-3 pounds of candy and have been made for that weight. This one is large, but not designed for heavy candy. Usually I like to use Tootsie Roll Pops because once they fall out, the kids can find them quick to pick up.

Ready for closing! Usually I add the twine to hang the pinata from at this point. The string has to be strong enough to withstand the beating and still not pull out of the pinata. This Firecracker Pinata was quickly put together and there is no way that the circle lid would hold the string for hanging. So this one will be hung horizontally by tying some twine around both ends…..picture frame style, and suspending from that. It is not shown in the photos.

Before the lid was secured, we took a RAZ sparkle berry spray and cut a couple of branches from it. Twisted the branches together and pushed through the circle lid. The spray was taped underneath the lid. The lid was secured with tape and covered with fringe.

All done! To add just a bit more sparkle, we cut out some star shapes from a patriotic banner (left over from another project). Before the stars were cut, I added some adhesive paper to the banner, then cut the shapes. This gave a little more body to the stars. They were glued in place with glue stick.

 

 

Now……where is that plastic bat??

Lollipop Centerpiece

This whimsical centerpiece from the RAZ Gumdrops and Jellybeans Collections will be something children love! I know my grandchildren will)))

Items and Quantities Used:
3106565 (09) Glittered Lollipop
3116350 (07) Glittered Lollipop
G3116171 (02) Candy Garland

Visit us at Trendy Tree to see more items from the RAZ Gumdrops and Jellybeans Collection!

Gold Metallic Diamond Mesh Netting

This new style of mesh netting just arrived and it's going to be great for all sorts of holidays and celebrations. It is a 14 kt gold glittery color. The color is hard to capture in the photo ( my photos). It's very bright and shiny with gold and gold foil threads.

The pattern is a diamond or honeycomb shape.  

It also is a bit wider than most of our mesh netting. This roll is about 26 1/2" in width and 10 yards in length. Great for covering large gift baskets and flower pots. The mesh would make huge bows and swags. All sorts of uses come to mind! Perfect for the golden anniversary.....

Visit us at Trendy Tree to see our huge collection of styles and colors of mesh netting!

New Color Decorative Poly Mesh Rolls - Orange and Lime Green!

Great new color of decorative poly mesh in the 21" width just arrived! Lime green and orange! Perfect spring, summer and even fall color combination. Fresh citrus colors.....would look great worked into floral arrangements or table swags featuring florals with fresh cut oranges and limes.....so cool and refreshing!

Visit us at Trendy Tree to shop our huge collection of poly mesh ribbon/netting in 2 1/2", 10" and 21' widths.....so many styles and colors!

Boston Cream Pie!

A Boston cream pie is a round cake that is split and filled with a custard or cream filling and frosted with chocolate. Although it is called a Boston cream pie, it is in fact a cake, and not a pie. Created by French chef M. Sanzian at Boston's Parker House Hotel, this pudding and cake combination comprises two layers of sponge cake filled with vanilla custard or crème pâtissière. The cake is topped with a chocolate glaze (such as ganache) and sometimes powdered sugar or a cherry. The Boston cream pie is the official dessert of Massachusetts, declared as such in 1996 (according to Wikipedia). According to my family......it is good))))

This Boston Cream Pie recipe from my mother's 1950 Betty Crocker Cookbook was actually a combination of three recipes. The instructions were:

Make a one-egg cake, pp 124, 125, in one round 9" layer pan. Split into 2 thin layers. Put together with cooled Cream Filing (p. 172). Spread Thin Chocolate Icing over top. Serve like pie.

Sounds simple enough! And actually it was...it just required several steps to finish.

Most of the Betty Crocker cake recipes give measurements for a large cake or small (one layer) cake. This isn't something you see in today's cookbooks for the most part.

Light Yellow Cake (Small Cake)

Grease and flour 2 8" layer pans or 9" square pan

Cream together until fluffy...

3/8 cup soft shortening (half butter for flavor)

1 1/4 cup sugar

Beat in thoroughly...

1 egg (1/4 cup)

Sift together...

1 7/8 cup sifted flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Stir in alternately with...

7/8 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

Pour into prepared pans. bake until cake tests done. Cool. Finish with filling and frosting as desired.

Temperature: 350 degrees (moderate oven)

Time: Bake layers 30 to 35 minutes, square or oblong 35-40 minutes

I chose a spring-form pan to bake my cake in since it was a bit larger than my round cake pans. A spring-form pan is really easy to use.

 

Just put the two pieces together and close the outside clamp. Even though this pan was supposed to be "non-stick" I greased and floured anyway. I usually prepare the pan by using a stick of butter or margarine and grease the bottom and inside of the pan (Not using the whole stick! Just enough to coat the pan.))) The sprinkle flour all around and gently shake and roll the pan around to get all the edges coated. Then tap the pan gently upside down over the sink the shake away the excess flour.

Follow the recipe and mix the ingredients. Turn the oven on so it can pre-heat.

Pour the batter into you pan and gently run a knife through the batter. It will help remove air bubbles. You can also set the cake pan down firmly in the counter top a couple of times to help remove air bubbles.

While you cake is baking, complete the next step of your Boston Cream Pie.....the cream filling.

Cream Filling

(for small cake)

Mix together in top of double boiler ...

3 tbsp. sugar

2 tsp. cornstarch

1/3 tsp. salt

3/4 cup rich milk or cream

Bring to boil over direct heat, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute...

Remove from heat. Pour a little over ....

3 egg yolks slightly beaten

Blend into hot mixture. Cook over boiling water, stirring until thick (2 minutes).

Remove from heat. Add ...

1 tsp. vanilla

Note: chill until it sets.

Once your cake has baked, set it aside for cooling. Let it cool in the pan for a few minutes before removing the sides or transferring to another dish.

With a spring-form pan you just unclamp the side latch and remove the side portion. Then all you have to do is turn it upside down on to a plate, the back right side up to your serving dish.

The next step is to slice the cake layer in half. There are different ways of doing this, but I like to use the toothpick method. You can take dental floss and split the cake layer horizontally by moving the floss in a back and forth motion....but I think toothpicks are the best.

Just position toothpicks halfway of the cake layer placing them 1 to 2 " apart. Go all the way around the cake layer.

 

Once the toothpicks are in place, use a long, serrated knife and lay the blade on top of the toothpicks as a guide. Using a short sawing motion, turn the cake stand with your left hand and slowly cut all the way through the cake. Lay the slice off to the side and remove the toothpicks.

 

Brush away the excess crumbs. My cake was a little browner than I would have like.....next time will take it out of the oven a little earlier.

By this time your cream filling should be chilled and ready to spread on the cut layer. Just pour the majority of it in the center of the cake and spread to the outside with a knife. You want the filling to come all the way out to the edge. Hanging over the edge is better that falling short of reaching the edge.

Place the top layer back on and position for the best fit.

Brush away any stray crumbs.

Next it's time to make your icing or ganache.

Thin Chocolate Icing

(For Boston Cream Pie, Cream Puffs, and such...)

Melt together over hot water ....

1 sq. unsweetened chocolate (1 oz).

1 tsp butter

Remove from over the hot water.

Blend in...

2 tbsp boiling water

1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar

Beat only until smooth, but not stiff

Spread the icing over the top of the cake, letting it drizzle down the side if it's thin enough. If it becomes stiff too quickly, you can run the knife in hot water to help smooth the icing.

Enjoy!

New 10" Poly Mesh Rolls Just Arrived!

Just in this week! Poly mesh rolls in 10" widths! Great for bow making, wreath making and all sorts of craft projects. Stripes and solids.

Check out all the new poly mesh rolls.....many new styles in!

Firecracker Decorations for Memorial Day

These RAZ Firecracker Fourth of July decorations are perfect for Memorial day also. Since our stock was running low, Maggie and I decided to make our own firecracker decorations for Memorial Day. Last year Maggie and AJ made a beautiful banner for the back porch with stars and stripes. This year we'll put it back up and add the firecracker decorations.

We started with just a few simple items ....emptied out some Pringles cans which Maggie says was the best part)) We needed another size and the cans that the tubbies of drink mix comes in was perfect.


The only thing we really had to buy was an inexpensive pack of patriotic banners at the Dollar Tree. The foil colors were perfect for our project. Glue sticks were in the craft box and scissors. We cut out pieces of the banner to fit around the cans and just applied with glue stick, trimming off any excess.

The cans were filled about half way with rocks just to give some weight. Small bows were made out of Deco Poly Flex Tubing. A small hole was punched in the plastic lid and the end of the bow threaded through. This was just enough tension to hold the bow just fine. The star sprays and picks were poked through the hole.

We also used some RAZ Red Glittered Ball Spray. We just played with the foil coverings and added white/silver Flex Tubing, red metallic ribbon....just pieces of anything we had in the red, white, blue colors.

I think our firecrackers turned out just fine. Next we're going to make a white Deco Poly Mesh wreath with red, white, blue accents and maybe some American Flags.

Happy Memorial Day!

New Saxon Natural Fiber Open Weave Mesh Netting Just Arrived!

Great new colors of Saxon Jute Netting. This is a wonderful material to work with. It has a wide open weave and made of natural fibers. We had a similar product last year, but this one is smoother and not quite so "hairy." It's available in four colors: Red - Lime Green - Orange and White. I have the "white listed" as cream though, since it's more of an off white or ivory.

The photograph of the red roll shows how the open weave of this product.

This natural open weave netting or ribbon, will look great for your wreath making, bow making and more. It will add texture, bright color and a different dimension when combined with fresh or silk greenery or other ribbon products.

Visit us at Trendy Tree to see our huge selection of deco poly mesh netting and ribbons!

New Pink and Turquoise Blue Poly Mesh Netting Just Arrived!

Two new colors of decorative poly mesh netting added to the site today. Pink and Blue....Turquoise Blue that is. These are both new colors for Trendy Tree. We have the Baby Pink and Baby Blue, but it's the smooth mesh and not metallic. These rolls have tiny foil threads that add a bit of glitz and shine.

These two colors will make great decorations for the nursery, baby showers, Easter, birthday celebrations and more! Keep checking the Poly Mesh section.....I have many more to add!

Visit us at Trendy Tree to see our huge selection of decorative poly mesh ribbon!

More Uses for Deco Poly Mesh - Flower Pots!

Yesterday I potted some Impatients, Marigolds and Geraniums. In one of my two-tiered pots I usually place some of that cocoa material that is used in lining hanging baskets. Well, I didn't have any of this but did have a couple of pieces of rolls of deco poly mesh left over from Halloween and fall decorating last year. I thought I'd try using this as a liner in the flower pot and it worked just fine!

I just cut the length wide enough to fit down in the pot, used 2 layers for the first one, decided to use 3 layers for the second one.

Just layer the mesh in the pot, an extra hand would help as the deco poly mesh naturally holds it shape and would curl up around the edges.

Add your potting soil, making sure you have plenty of width to hang over the edge until you're through potting. Don't trim the edges until you have your plants snuggly in the soil.

Trim the excess mesh.

Once the flowers have grown and filled out more, I'll take more pictures and post. I'm sure it will be necessary to keep a close eye on the moisture content as the pot will dry out quick (same as it would with the cocoa mat).

Visit us at Trendy Tree and browse our huge selection of deco poly mesh netting and ribbon. Growing every day!