Saturday, June 20, 2020

GOT YOUR NUMBER

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Everyone knows that the front door is key to curb appeal. Want to turn your house from a home to an estate? Yes! Well it is all in the details. This is all about one very small detail with major impact- changing the numbers on the front entry. 


Home is what you make it.


Every time I take a picture of my front door, I cringe a little. The house numbers are a sore spot. I love my front porch, but the numbers are not wining any design awards. They need to go. But drilling holes in the brick! Yikes! Whether it is brick, wood, stone or something other, no need to worry or lose sleep with these directions, just follow along and you too can be living in the home of your dreams. One small detail at a time.


This is what you will need-

House Numbers

Duct Tape

Painter's Tape

Level

Sharpie Marker

Drill

Masonry Bit

Clear Silicone Caulk

These are the numbers I used for this project. My numbers came from Design Within Reach- Neutra Modern, 6", black. They are Modern, clean and of course, simple. I chose black to compliment the painted door and shutters on my house. These numbers come in three different finishes (colors) and two different sizes. I like the look of the 6” numbers, bold and easily seen from a distance.

Drill and Masonry Drill Bits. You will need a high power drill. Depending what type of surface you are drilling into will determine the type of drill you need. We chose to use a hammer drill because it is a powerful drill designed to drill into masonry, concrete, stone, bricks, etc. Drilling with this drill was like slicing butter, it made the work quick and easy. The size of the drill bit we used was 3/16", the size recommended for installation for these numbers.


Take the templates out of the box.

 

Line the numbers on the baseline and match the registration marks. These marks are for ideal and recommended spacing between the numbers.

Measure the length of the numbers.

Remove the former numbers. No turning back now!

On painter’s tape mark the length of your numbers-start, middle and the end. Make a smaller strip with just a center mark. This is the time you can decide exactly where you would like your numbers to be, move the tape around until you find just the right spot. I was thinking of placement slightly off center, a bit more to the left (closer to the door).

You can tape the numbers up just to get a visual idea for placement.

Once you are sure the exact location of your numbers, remove the longer length of painter's tape. Leave the short strip of painter's tape (the center mark) up on the wall. Directly under the short strip of painter's tape, place a length of duct tape (I have used white tape) as the baseline for the numbers. Use a level to make sure it is level, check the entire length of the duct tape. 

 

With duct tape, tape each number template up. I started with the #6 using the center mark. Then I taped #1, then #9 then #8. Duct tape will hold the template up, secure. Painter's tape is not sticky enough on brick, the slightest breeze and the templates will blow off. Double check the top and bottom of each template to be sure they are level. 

With a sharpie marker, place a dot onto the wall through the holes in the template. This will be the drill holes. Repeat for all numbers. 

Remove the templates. Time to drill. They say measure twice, cut once. Same philosophy applies for drilling holes in mortar and brick.  

Sometimes with a new project you never know what to expect until it happens. I decided to start with the last number and work my way back up to the first number. Miss Nervous had to double check by placing the #1 template back up, just to be sure the dots were correct.



And drill. I have to admit it was very scary at first. Holding breath.


Once the holes were drilled for #1, thread the mounting rods into the back of the number. Slide the spacers onto the rod. Still holding breath.

Check by sliding the number in place. Exhale.



Now drill the remaining holes for the rest of the numbers.

Place the mounting rods and spacers on each number. Slide all the numbers in place just to make sure.

 

Remove the numbers and place a small dot of clear silicon caulk into each hole.

Slide the numbers in the holes, brush/wipe away any excess caulk.



Remove duct tape. And exhale.


Take your house from a home to an estate...


Welcome to our home...

 


 

 

 

 

 



Saturday, June 6, 2020

ICE CREAM COOKIE SANDWICHES

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A marriage of two true loves... chocolate chip cookie and vanilla ice cream. Love at first sight, or is it first bite? And perfect timing with the warm weather on the rise. These treats are fun to make and just as fun to eat. Here, I have the simple no fail cookie recipe with a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream, or change it up and add your favorite flavor ice cream. Any way you create them they are a cool way to summer.

Put your flip flops on and kick back...


This is what you will need-

1 C. Soft Butter

½ C. Sugar

½ C. Brown Sugar

2 Tsp. Vanilla

1 Large Egg

2 ¼ C. Flour

2 C. Chocolate Chips

Dark Chocolate Melting Chips

Sprinkles

Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Add soft butter to the stand mixer with the flat paddle attachment.


Combine sugar, then brown sugar. Blend well.

Add vanilla and mix.

Combine egg and mix.



Add flour to mix a little at a time, until all the flour has been stirred in.




Stir in by hand the chocolate chips. I used 1 cup milk chocolate and 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate. You can add any flavor chip you like.




Spoon a small amount of dough onto a tablespoon, roll into a ball slightly larger than a golf ball and place onto the parchment. Make the balls as consistent in size as possible so as to end up with uniform size cookies. 


With the palm of your hand flatten each ball to about 2 1/2" in diameter.


Bake 12-14 minutes or until the edges start to turn slightly brown. Do not over bake.

Let cool.

Soften ice cream. I used two flavors- vanilla and chocolate. 




Make one cookie sandwich at a time. Working quickly, scoop the ice cream and place on the flat side of one cookie.

Place a second cookie, flat side down onto the ice cream and press slightly. You might have to run your finger around the ice cream to form an edge.


Wrap in plastic and place in freezer. Leave in freezer 3-4 hours or overnight.

Melt dark chocolate in microwave.


Dip part of each cookie sandwich into the chocolate. 

Re-wrap in plastic and place back into freezer.


Mint Chip Cookie Sandwich

Follow recipe and directions for chocolate chip cookie sandwich above. Add 1 cup of melted chocolate chips and 1/2 cup of cocoa powder to the dough. Bake, cool and fill with mint chip ice cream.

Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream is my favorite!


Add sprinkles, if you like...

Summer is here, my favorite season, time to celebrate...