Neighbor Christmas Gift

This is the gift we gave out for Christmas this year. I wanted something usable and not food. So I found this on someone's blog and it worked fabulous.

My motto

I saw this and I knew it had to be talking about me.

Funky Christmas Stockings

This year I decided I wanted some funky Christmas stockings.  So I found something similar online and made them myself.  They were lots of fun and very simple.  No sewing.  Just hand sewing.  Not too shabby in my opinion.

Thomas the Train Cake

By no means a masterpiece.  But I had fun and it was my first attempt of cake decorating after my cake decorating class that I took months ago.  As you can probably see, there are M & M's on the top.  Those were added after Owen took a nice swipe of frosting off after I told him I was all done.  He was very helpful and placed each M & M himself.  I guess it was fine since it was his birthday cake.

Halloween Advent Calendar

I was at my neighbor Liz's house and saw her really amazingly cute Halloween Advent Calendar.  Then she told me she made it.  So I decided I had to make it.  She said it was easy but took a long time.  So I had her send me a picture of her calendar and I began creating my own design with my own personality.

 This is where she got the idea.  It was from Pottery Barn several years ago. 

Here is my personal version.  A little plainer, but still functional.

Wilbur Cupcake

Chloe's class read Charlotte's Web and decided to have their own county fair.  So she wanted to enter and we came up with this "Wilbur" designed cupcake.  Very silly but easy enough for a 2nd grader to make.  She had lots of fun.  These are the two I made.

She made this box full.  They are rather cute.

Cake Decorating Class--The Cupcake Cake

I signed up for the Wilton Basic Cake Decorating class and this was the first cake we made.  I have a long way to go, but hopefully I get there by the end.  But as my teacher said, when your cake is the only cake in the room, it is the best cake in the room.  :) 

I am taking this with my friend Tanya.  I thought this would be the perfect birthday gift, and I didn't realize how much out of class time and work was involved.  Oops.  Maybe not the best gift, but we are having fun.

Chloe's Birthday Cupcakes

So I didn't have time to make really adorable cupcakes for Chloe, but these turned out fairly well.

Marshmallow Fondant

So back in February of 2010 I gave a recipe for Marshmallow Fondant. I took that and made a Fact's Sheet for one of my graduate classes and thought it would be perfect for my blog. So here it is.

Fondant Fun For Everyone!

Fondant gives cakes and cupcakes a porcelain smooth satin like appearance. Wedding cakes are typically made from fondant. Cookie cutters can cut out fondant shapes to create embellishments. Fondant also helps keeps cakes moist a few days longer than typical frosting. Making fondant can be very easy and inexpensive. A marshmallow fondant has a better taste than store bought fondants and most people will eat it.

Here are a few tips:

1. Use ingredients that are good quality. Using store brand ingredients will result in frustration.

2. Sift the powdered sugar to help prevent bits of powdered sugar in the fondant.

3. Put the Crisco in a small dish off to the side so you can dip your fingers into it without contaminating the entire container.

4. This can be hot when melting the marshmallows, so be careful.

5. Fondant needs to be made about 24 hours before use.

6. To color the fondant use gel coloring instead of liquid colors.

7. Use cornstarch to help prevent stickiness when rolling out and using.

8. Store wrapped in plastic wrap in an airtight container.

Marshmallow Fondant Recipe

16 oz bag marshmallows

¾ of 2 Ib (or 1.5 lbs) bag powdered sugar (sifted works better)

2 Tablespoons water

Crisco

Combine marshmallows and water in large bowl. Microwave 30 seconds. Stir. Microwave 10-30 seconds, stirring and microwaving, until all marshmallows are melted completely. Cover counter top and hands with Crisco. Pour powdered sugar on counter top and then the melted marshmallows on the powdered sugar. Knead.

It will be a little sticky at first. After kneading for a couple minutes, if it is tearing, add ½ Tablespoon water at a time until no longer tearing. If it seems too sticky, add a little more powdered sugar and knead in.

When at desired consistency, roll into a ball and coat with Crisco. Wrap in plastic wrap. Store in a ziplock bag in refrigerator.

It is best to let it rest overnight before using it. Add color right before using it because some colors will change the consistency of fondant.

Step 1: Combine marshmallows and water in large bowl. Microwave 30 seconds.

Step 2: Cover counter top and hands with Crisco.

Step 3: Continue stirring and microwaving marshmallows until completely melted at 10-30 second intervals.

Step 4: Pour sifted powdered sugar on counter top where you have covered with crisco.

Step 5: Pour the melted marshmallow mixture on top of powdered sugar.

Step 6: Knead marshmallow and powdered sugar together until it forms desired consistency.

Step 7: Coat fondant in Crisco and cover with plastic wrap. Then place in a ziplock bag.

Step 8: Place in the refrigerator for overnight before using.

Bow Ties

I love to make little bow ties as well. They are very simple. If you need one, let me know.

Ties for your Little Guy

So I love making ties for little guys. I think they are adorable and fun. It is a great gift to give as well. Let me know if you want one. I still have a few in all different sizes.

Baby Quilt

I made 2 of these baby quilts and I didn't take a picture of either one. Oh well. This is the almost finished stage.

Skirt and Ties

For Easter this year I made everyone matching skirts and ties. They turned out just perfect. And yes, Caden is annoyed with the whole process.

Smocked dress

I found this pattern at marthastewart.com. So easy and fun to make.

Cute skirts

Designed these skirts.

Pirate Cupcakes

My nephew Bret was having his 4th Birthday and wanted a Pirate themed party. I searched the internet and found these adorable cupcakes that have "treasure chests" and a flag on top. They turned out really well and he loved them. Now Owen wants this for his birthday too.

Hair Clip Holder

I decided that I needed to make my cousin's wife a present for their new baby Liberty. This is what I came up with. Very simple, yet cute. Here's how I made it.

1. Went to the store and found a frame that I liked, glitter paper, paint, ribbon and modge podge.

2. Painted the entire frame.

3. Measured the frame and cut out my glitter paper to fit directly on top.

4. Used Modge Podge to glue it in place.

5. Cut my ribbon to fit inside leaving 1/2" extra on each end.

6. Used a staple gun and stapled the ribbon in place.

7. Added some cute clips I made as well.

6 layer Chocolate Peppermint Cake

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This creation was a little more time consuming than I had anticipated. Making the cake wasn't too bad, except for the run to the store because we were out of sour cream. The Swiss Meringue Buttercream icing took FOREVER!!! I just wasn't anticipating spending an hour making it. But the final results were superb and made it worth it. I would make this again, but make sure I have more time. I got both recipes from marthastewart.com.

Thanksgiving Cupcake Treat!

I am sure you all have seen these fabulous cupcakes before. I decided to make these for Owen's preschool class for their Thanksgiving Celebration. I think they were a huge hit and honestly, they weren't that complicated to make. The hardest part was finding the "runts" candies for the "peas". I used the book Hello Cupcake by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson pages 30-33. The only change that I would make is to make cuts in the "chicken" cupcake where the bone is to go and leave a toothpick there to mark it before frosting. I found it difficult to cut it after the frosting was put on and it pushed the doughnut hole into the cupcake too much and made it smashed a bit.