diy: comic book coasters

(Disclaimer: If cutting up comic books upsets/offends you....please look away!)

Yes, we chopped up comic books (again).  No, don't give us that look!

Batman coasters are the bomb.

Now since we're all a bit geeky here at p.s.heart, you shouldn't really be surprised at this diy (remember Jordyn's comic book shoes?).  Jordyn was brainstorming ideas for diy projects that she could give to her boyfriend, his family, as well as our good friends Karson and Ashley, and this is what she came up with!

Jordyn was inspired by this diy, and his etsy shop Cheltenham Road is pretty rad as well, in case you'd rather buy than make coasters similar to these.

Jordyn asked for my help with these, and she can attest to the fact that I may have been a teensy bit bossy with my "advice".  I can't help it!  It must be an older sister thing.  However, I'm happy to say that in the end she did admit that the idea I pushed for was a good one and ended up saving us a lot of work.  Score one for bossy older sisters.

Materials:

-old/new/ugly coasters* (we found ours at a dollar store)

-paint (if you need to paint over ugly coasters)

-comic books (that you don't mind cutting up)

-mod podge

-paint brush

-cardstock (thick paper)

-scissors/paper cutter

-pencil

Notes before you start:

*We decided to just find some cheap coasters at a dollar store, and they worked out super well.  Unfortunately I forgot to grab a before photo of them, but they were just ugly tile ones with "inspirational" words on them, and a cork bottom.  Since comic book pages are thin, we decided to paint the coasters white so that nothing would show through, and it gave them a nice clean look.

*We used a paper cutter to get a really straight edge, but scissors will work if you're careful.  Jordyn and I also though it looked better to cut our template just a teeny bit smaller than our coaster to leave a small border of white showing on the coaster, but that's up to you!

*If you're really hardcore, you can also use outdoor mod podge instead of the regular stuff for a slightly tougher coaster!

Directions:

1)  If you need to, paint one or two coats of white paint on your coasters, and let dry.

2)  Place one of the coasters on a sheet of cardstock, trace around the coaster, and then cut it out.  This will give you a template for cutting out the correct size from your comic book.

3)  Flip through your chosen comic to find fun panels that would look good on your size of coaster.  Use your template to trace out the shape, and cut it out.

4)  Spread a very thin layer of mod podge over your coaster, and carefully place your chosen comic book piece over top.  Smooth out any bubbles, and let dry.

5)  Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all coasters are done.

6)  Now, spread a very thing layer of mod podge over top of each coaster, as well as over the edges. We used a plastic pastry scraper to smooth out any bubbles that popped up, but anything with a straight edge would work.

7)  Repeat step 6 at least twice for each coaster, allowing each coat to dry completely.

8)  Use and enjoy!

We were ecstatic with how these turned out, and are happy to say that everyone who received them for Christmas loved them too.

As you can tell, our friends love Batman, but you can easily customize them to suit whatever comic book you (or your friends) fancy.  Another alternative might be to try using scrapbooking paper, old sheet music, etc.  The possibilities are endless!

p.s. ♥ kelsey & jordyn

outfit post: sherlock inspired

“There are always some lunatics about. It would be a dull world without them.” 

― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Red Headed League

Though in this quote Sherlock Holmes is probably referring to those that are criminally loony, I like to think us oddballs that are not quite so nefarious (as perhaps Professor Moriarty is), also make the world a more interesting place!

I am sure if you have been on the internet at all in the last couple of weeks you know that the third season of BBC's Sherlock just aired.  Kelsey and I are definitely Sherlock fans, and we watched the last episode yesterday.  I still feel like my brain is trying to figure out everything that happened over the season!  We both really enjoyed it!

As you may remember, I love doing "subtle costumes", so when I saw this coat, I knew I just had to have it for a subtle Sherlock Holmes!

coat: modcloth / boots: steve madden / scarf: market in Florence Italy (haha which I borrowed from Kelsey!)



“It is a great thing to start life with a small number of really good books which are your very own.” 
― Arthur Conan Doyle

I could not agree with Sir Arthur more.  I believe the possession of a good book is a very powerful thing indeed!
(But I also take the precaution of a long coat!)

p.s. ♥ jordyn

moustache cake for movember

Hello friends and Happy Movember!

Since November is drawing to a close, hopefully you've seen some magnificent moustaches (although I won't lie, I've definitely seen my fair share of sketchy ones).  Jordyn and I made a cake to celebrate, and were pretty stoked about finally using our giant moustache mold!

Why yes, that is a moustache comb in the photo above.  Doesn't everyone have one?

Mocha Cake

from: the Food Network

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup of strongly brewed coffee or espresso
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup hot water

Directions:
1) In a large bowl, sift together dry ingredients.
2) Add in eggs, vanilla, coffee and oil, and mix until batter is smooth.
3) Slowly add in hot water, until well mixed.
4) Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
*If you're using a mold like ours, be sure to keep checking on it.  We noticed the ends of the moustache cooked quite a bit faster than the middle.  So make sure to be checking if the fattest part of the cake is done!

We chose a chocolate butter cream to top our moustache, but you could definitely do a regular butter cream and make it any colour you desire!

Jordyn used a butter knife to spread the icing, and then made small grooves in it for a bit of texture.  We think that shaved chocolate would also be a neat idea!

Happy Movember!

p.s. ♥ kelsey & jordyn

outfit post: vintage floral skirt

Jordyn found this gem of a skirt in a vintage thrift shop in downtown Abby, and I'm kind of insanely jealous of it.  It's high-waisted, floral, and overall just lovely.  Let's just say that I'll probably be attempting to "steal" it from her in the near future.

I also would like to think that I had a bit of influence in the styling of this skirt...since Jordyn decided to pair it with a delicate lace top, and a simple grey cardigan.  Definitely something I would do.  I think my style suggestions are slowly being absorbed by her brain!  Resistance is futile.

 skirt: champion jack's // lace top: the garage //cardigan: winners // shoes: sterling

p.s. ♥ kelsey (& jordyn)

tasty tuesday: pumpkin scones with caramel drizzle

Oh scones.  You are so beautiful....to me!

Seriously, they are so good.  Jordyn found a super solid scone recipe years ago, and has slowly tweaked it into perfection.  It's always her base whenever she experiments with new flavors, and this time was no different.  Her and I discussed ingredients and chemistry....and finally decided that we were just going to substitute pumpkin for sour cream, and cross our fingers that it would work.

Let' just say....it worked.  Magnificently.

Of course we added in a bit of cinnamon too, because cinnamon and pumpkin kind of belong together.  They're basically soul mates.

Oh yeah, did I mention that we then drizzled caramel all over them?  Because we totally did that.  Are you really surprised that there was caramel involved?  Nope, didn't think so.

Pumpkin Scones

by: Jordyn & Kelsey

Ingredients:

Scones
1 cup pumpkin
1 tsp baking soda
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter, chilled (and cubed)
1 egg

Directions:

1)  Preheat oven to 350 F.
2)  In a medium sized bowl mix together pumpkin, baking soda and the egg.   Let this mixture sit while you combine dry ingredients separately.
3)  In a large bowl mix together the flour, white sugar, baking powder, cream of tartar and salt.
4)  With a pastry blender cut in the chilled butter.  If you do not have a pastry blender, cut it into pieces with a knife before you add it, and then blend it with a fork.
5)  Now stir in the wet ingredients, careful not to over mix.  I usually end up with a mixture that resembles large crumbs and is a bit floury - rather than dough.
6)  Don't worry if it is a bit of a mess, dump it onto a lightly floured surface, and gently press it together until it sticks together.  (think biscuits or pie dough - you are NOT kneading bread!)
7)  Once it sticks together in a decent ball, cut it into 4 sections.
8)  Gently flatten out each section into a circle, and cut into 6 triangles.
9)  Transfer these triangles onto a baking sheet, and bake for 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees, or until golden brown on the bottom.

While the scones are baking, make your caramel (we stuck ours in the fridge to help it cool down a bit quicker.
Remove the scones from the pan while they're still hot, and spoon the glaze over top (see below for recipe).  It should run nicely down the sides, and then harden a bit.

We chose to make our own caramel, and then added a bit of icing sugar to make it a glaze.

Homemade Caramel

1/2 cup Sugar

3 TBSP Butter (we used salted butter!)

1/4 cup Whipping Cream

1)  The most important thing to do first is to assemble all of your ingredients!  Once your sugar mixture has reached the right colour, you'll need to move fairly quickly, and don't want to be fussing around with measuring out the other ingredients.

2)  Place your sugar in a medium saucepan, and melt at a medium heat.  Once it begins to melt, you'll want to start whisking it. (You can also add a tad of water if you don't feel comfortable melting dry sugar!).

3)  Once the sugar starts to boil, you can stop whisking, and wait for it to turn a light amber colour.

4)  When it's light amber, then add your butter, and stir like crazy!

5)  As soon as the butter has completely melted, remove from heat and add the whipping cream.  Again, stir like crazy! (Be cautious when adding the cream as it will foam a lot!)

6)  Let the caramel cool for a bit, and then you can move it to a heat proof container and pop it in the fridge to help hurry up the cooling process.

7)  To make it into a glaze, slowly add a bit of icing sugar until the caramel is a bit thicker.  How much icing sugar you add depends on how thick you want your glaze! 

Now dig in!

These scones make the perfect addition to all of the wonderfully foggy Fall mornings we've been having out here on the West Coast!  Well, let's be real here.  They make the perfect addition to basically any morning, anywhere.

p.s. ♥ kelsey & jordyn

outfit post: pretty in pegasus

So I successfully wrangled Jordyn into an outfit post!

{In case you were wondering where she had gone, here's her post about why she decided to just become a special guest blogger.}

We saw this adorable pegasus dress at h&m, and both instantly agreed that she must buy it.  It has PEGASUS on it people!!  So adorbs.

I personally think it would make such a cute and casual Valentine's day outfit....but since February's a bit far away, Jordyn decided to style it for the beach.  (Although I feel that I must add that swapped her flats for flip flops after we had supper at a cute restaurant right on the water!).

She's a total babe.  That is all.

p.s.  ♥ kelsey (and jordyn)