Making Memories
A Craft Project for Parents and Kids
If you’ve been looking for a creative art project to do with the kids, look no further! I recently did a fun project with my daughter and thought I’d share the how-to for other parents who are looking for ways to keep their kids busy and creative all while making something useful for around the home!
What You’ll Need
- A wooden step ladder
- Spray paint (your choice of color)
- Sponges (either cut into shapes of your choice or pre-purchased in shapes)
- Letter Stencils (of your child’s name)
- Craft Paint (your choice of colors)
- Newspaper (the older the better)
- Smock or old clothing for you and your child
Now you’re ready to start creating. A little preparation is needed before bringing your child into the project.
Take the step ladder outside and put it on the newspaper and spray paint it, covering the entire step ladder thoroughly.
Let it dry overnight and you’ll be ready to bring your child into the project the next day!
Bring the painted ladder to your work area (outside is recommended).
Work with your child to sponge paint the shapes onto the ladder in the colors of your choice. Let it dry thoroughly.
Next, help your child stencil their name(s) onto the ladder. I’d recommend doing it on the side, and not the top, as the top will take a bit of wear if you plan to let your child use it. If it is to be a decoration for the porch of your child’s room, putting the name on top will be ok if you choose to do so. Let it dry.
Your child now has a ladder, personally designed by them, to use.
Put it in the corner of their room and through their favorite stuffed animal or trophies or photographs on top. You can also use the ladder as décor in your garden or on your porch.
More practically, you can let your child use it for help in reaching the bathroom sink or other out of the way place they need to get to on a frequent basis.
While you can buy a step stool in the store, making one with your child not only gives you an activity to do together to get in some quality time, but it also will serve as a reminder for many years of the time you spent together and may even end up as a hand me down to your grandchildren.
And remember, above all, have fun!
Espresso Makers
Most people who love specialty coffee drinks eventually purchase an espresso maker. With a good one, you can make all your favourite drinks in the comfort of your own kitchen and try out a new recipe or two.
Since this is a large investment, you should spend some time learning about these machines before you buy. Learn about the features available and then read some reviews to find the best machine for your home.
Common Types of Espresso Maker
Manual Espresso Makers
Manual machines require you to do all the work. You measure and grind the beans, tamp the grounds and brew the coffee. These are the least expensive machines. Some avid espresso drinkers will only use a manual machine.
Semi Automatic Machines
Semi automatics do some of the work for you. You adjust the water temperature and pressure. Grind and tamp the beans and the machine will do the rest. They are more expensive than a manual machine, but much more affordable than a fully automatic model. These machines are a good first cappuccino maker.
Automatic Machines
Automatic machines do the whole job for you. All you need to do is add the water and the beans. With the touch of one button, you will have a great cup of your favourite java drink.
Super Automatic Machines
Super automatics do everything from grinding and tamping the beans to the finished product. They pre infuse the beans with water for more flavour than other machines. The entire process is faster than regular automatics. These machines are often found in restaurants and coffee bars.
Great Espresso Maker Features
The features vary from machine to machine. When comparing two models, look at the features included with each to determine which will suit your needs better.
Bean Grinder
More expensive machines often have a built in grinder. The beans are ground for each individual cup. This results in more flavour from the oils inside the beans. The drink will taste fresh with this feature.
Milk Frother
For cappuccino or latte drinks, you will need a frother. This can either be a frothing wand or a separate milk container. More expensive models have a container.
Pod Compatible
Pods are small packets that consist of a filter material on the outside and ground beans on the inside. The pods are pre measured for one cup. Just put the pod in the machine and brew your coffee. Most people either love the pods for the convenience or hate them and lament the bitter taste.
Water Filter
Some of the more expensive machines have a built in water filter to remove chlorine or other chemicals from the water prior to brewing. These are mostly carbon filters. If your water is heavily chlorinated, you will notice the difference with a built in filter.
Cup Warmer
A cup warmer keeps the cup warm before brewing. This results in a hotter drink. This feature is usually located on the top of the machine.
Hot Water Dispenser
Some machines have a separate valve for dispensing hot water. This feature is great for making tea or hot chocolate. Most machines used in commercial establishments have this feature.
Some Other Things to Consider
1. Steel or brass machines are best. Some people detect an aftertaste with aluminium machines.
2. Look at the pump pressure on home coffee makers. More powerful pumps work will with finer grounds. You should have a minimum of 14 bars or more for pump pressure.
3. Look for a removable water tank. This is easier for cleaning or emptying and will prevent stagnant water from collecting at the bottom of the tank.