homemade

August 24, 2012

Homemade Photo Light Box 1

by Andrea • DIY Projects • Tags: ,

Homemade Photo Light BoxHomemade Photo Light Box

Lookie what I made!  It’s a light box for photography.  I always struggle to find the right spot for lighting when I take pictures.  Indoor pics at night seem to turn out dark and miscolored, and sometimes the daylight shots are just too bright, so I looked into light boxes.  I found several pre-made ones for sale, but after reading reviews the each seemed to have some drawbacks, so I decided to save a few bucks and just make one.

I took a box, cut off the flaps on the top, and then cut out “windows” on three sides.  I left about 1 1/2 inches around the edges for support.  I covered the windows with white tissue paper, and then taped a piece of poster board on the inside (matte side up).  I found some utility lights with clamps at my local hardware store for about $7 each, as well as some 100 watt daylight bulbs.  As you can see from my picture, I just clamped these onto some chairs on either side of my box and one above the box.

It’s not the prettiest setup, but this is in my basement which is practically empty except for my workout equipment.  So far it’s working great!

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June 10, 2012

Homemade Vanilla Lemonade 0

by Andrea • Uncategorized • Tags: ,

Homemade Vanilla Lemonade Recipe

The recipe is doubled in this picture.

I made lemonade for a small party last year and one of my neighbors told me to try adding a touch of vanilla to give it a different flavor.  Now I much prefer vanilla lemonade over regular lemonade – it has such a nice aftertaste.  Below is the recipe that I use when I make fresh squeezed lemonade from scratch, but note that you can also add vanilla to lemonade that’s store bought or made from concentrate or a mix.

This is a perfect refreshment for summer gatherings and parties!  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of fresh-squeezed lemon juice (approximately 6 lemons)
  • 3/4 cup of sugar
  • 5 cups of water
  • 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract OR 1 vanilla bean

Directions:

  • Put the sugar and 1 cup of water in a saucepan and stir over medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved.
  • Pour the water/sugar mix into a pitcher and add the lemon juice, 4 cups of cold water and vanilla and stir.
  • Refrigerate for 1 hour, then serve with ice and fresh sliced lemons.

Tips:

  • To make PINK lemonade, add a splash of grenadine or cranberry/raspberry juice until you get the desired color.
  • If you like your lemonade sweeter, add more sugar.
  • If you like your lemonade more tart, add more lemon juice.

Yield:  Makes six 8-ounce servings.