Bridal Shower Cupcakes

Don't you love it when you copy something off the net and it doesn't look horrible.  In fact people love it and tell you how creative you are.  Me too.  So when a friend asked me to make the cupcakes for her bridal shower I remembered some cute ones I had seen and went to work.Miniature bride and groom cupcakes!

It is difficult to see but the bride cupcakes have tiny white chocolate tiaras and pearls.  Raspberry filling too!

I dyed chocolate fondant black and made top hats and bow ties.  These chocolate cupcakes have Bavarian cream filling.

Here they are at the shower!  It was great fun to see the reaction of the guests when they saw them.  And more importantly, the shower was beautiful, just like the bride to be.  Diana

His and Hers

I decided little man needed a tie tack, and not just any tie tack-a mustache!  I made these with Shrinky Dink paper.  Simply print a mustache (these were about 4"),

              

                                           

cut them out, shrink them up, and attach a pin with this glue.

 

I couldn't make one for little man without one for his sister.  So I attached hers to hair clips.  These  are so fun and only took about 10 minutes to put together.

Carrot Pin for Easter

So silly yet so cute!A pin to wear for Easter that only took a few minutes to make.

I used my embroidery machine but it would be so easy to stitch on a regular sewing machine.  Two carrots cut out of felt, some green ribbon and a little stuffing.  Stitch around the outside and embroider a cute little face.

I sewed a pin on the back.  That's it, all finish.  I am sure this will bring some smiles at church!  Diana

Little Boy Busy Box

After so many little girl crafts I thought it was time I did one for the little guys.  A busy box seemed like a good idea to keep those fidgety hands quiet during church services.Inside is a note pad, pencil. magnets, tiny toys, chalk and eraser (pom pom).

I used chalkboard vinyl on the front!  The 4 year old who got this gift on Sunday was so happy!  Diana

Easter Egg Basket Centerpiece

I saw some paper mache eggs at the craft store and thought, "I can do something with those".  I painted them one of my favorite spring colors, popped them in a Goodwill basket with a little Spanish moss and loved the pretty results.  But I still had more eggs.....

So I lined them up in a narrow Goodwill basket, with some more Spanish moss.....Can't get enough of this color!

And to keep them from rolling around while I spray painted them, I used a plastic egg carton.  Once one end was dry I flipped the other end up and painted some more.  Diana

Take Along Doll

After doing the tinned rabbit I decided to try another mini toy in a tin.  This time it is a matryoshka doll I machined embroidered.I don't remember where I got the design but any small little critter could do. 

These are getting addictive.  Diana

Plasti-dip Spoons

Fun way to dress up inexpensive wooden spoons.  Plasti-dip is made to coat tool handles but is totally non-toxic once it is dry.  You can custom mix your own colors too!  I will be dipping everything in this stuff!  Diana

New Fairy Garden

Last year I made a fairy garden and really enjoyed seeing it as I passed by.  So sweet to image the tiny visitors that might inhabit the garden after dusk, just as the fireflies are coming out to dance.  But the fern I planted quickly outgrew it's environment and hid the little gazebo. This year I used a planter I found in our old barn.  It is made from tiny pebbles.  Instead of plants (that would eventually grow too large) I filled the planter with soft moss which grows in all the shady places in our yard.  I then moved in the gazebo, bridge and gardening tools (so carelessly dropped on the moss by the fairies) along with a few stones and pebbles. 

I placed the garden along our front walkway so we can see it whenever we go out!  Just the touch of whimsy I need to start my day on a cheerful note.  Diana

Bunny in a Tin

Tinned rabbit, sounds like something you might eat?  Not in this case!  I saw these on the net and thought I could do my own spin on it.I think this would be a great little toy for little ones at church or in the car, anywhere you don't want something large or noisy.  I used my embroidery machine to make the bunny.  Found the free design here, but I changed it up a bit.  I didn't want to turn it inside out so I put the backing felt behind the hoop not on top of it.  Then I just trimmed around the outline leaving a raw edge.

The pillow actually has a pillow case and the quilt has batting inside it. 

The tin has a very simple design on the top that I cut out of card stock.  I have a little girl at church in mind for this sweet toy.  Hope she likes it.  Diana

Milk Bottle Centerpiece

Who else is loving all this BE-A-U-tiful weather we have been having here in Ohio?  Please let it last until I get my spray painting fix!For the table it is out with the evergreens and in with the tiny sprigs of wildflowers (fake cuz it is still a little early for real ones).  I took an old window box I got at a garage sale and filled it with milk bottles.  Then I popped a spray of flowers in each one.  Let the sun shine in!  Diana

Sourdough Bread in Ohio

I grew up in California and lived on SF style sourdough bread.  After moving to the Midwest I noticed it is not a stable at bakeries here,  I guess it hasn't really caught on.  I have been trying to make my own for a while and FINALLY had some success.  Really sour sourdough!I bought a live culture from King Arthur Flour.  It arrived a few days ago, and after feeding it, I started the two day process of making bread.   This bread takes a little planning ahead.  all the "resting" time is necessary to develop that truly sour flavor.  And notice that there is no yeast in this bread!

Check out this loaf!  And it was so crusty and sour.  I used KAF's tip for getting a good crust (heat a cast iron skillet in the oven while preheating oven for one hour.  Put loaves in and add a pitcher full of hot water to the skillet.  Quickly shut oven door.  Instant steam oven).  Did I mention how delicious this bread is?  This recipe came with the starter and isn't available on their site. 

Extra Sour Sourdough

1cup fed starter

5cups flour

2 1/2 cups warm water

1/2 tsp salt

Pour the starter into a large non metal mixing bowl and add the warm water and 3 cups of flour.  Beat well and cover with plastic wrap.  Set bowl aside in cool room (65 to 70 degrees F) for 4 hours.  Then refrigerate overnight or for about 12 hours. 

Add the remaining 2 cups of flour and salt.  Knead until dough is soft and smooth. (I hand kneaded the dough, slowly adding the salt and flour.  It took quite a while to incorporate the flour into the dough so be prepared for a work out).  Place dough in a greased bowl, turn and cover with plastic wrap and rest until puffy but not necessarily double, about 5 hours. 

Divide dough in half and shape each half into an oval loaf.  Place on a parchment covered or greased cooking sheet, cover and let rise until doubled, about 2-3 hours (mine took 3 hours and wasn't quite doubled).

When there is about one hour left of rising time, preheat oven to 425 and use above mentioned tip for creating a steam oven. 

Slash tops of each loaf with sharp knife and bake until loaves are a golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes.  Your kitchen will start smelling wonderful about now.  Remove from oven and let cool on rack.  Try to wait til the loaves cool off a little before tearing into them but I will understand if you can't wait.

Diana

Tea Time Candle

Easy peasy.  Take a teacup, melt some soy wax, add some fragrance and color, pour in teacup, stick in wick, cool, done.Pretty and smells good too!  Did I mention cheap?  Diana

Attack of the Dust Bunny

They are elusive, maybe they know spring cleaning is just around the corner, but I got a couple of shots of one in my dining room.  A dust bunny.This little darling is about1 1/2  inches long and needle felted. 

Oops, he must have seen me cuz he darted under the china cabinet.  Darn dust bunnies.   Diana

New Favorite Color Combo

Red and aqua.....how pretty is this.I just wish I had another room to decorate.  Maybe my tiny laundry closet could use a face lift.   This little item is a magnet I made for all the Primary teachers.  Our theme was "Be the Missing Piece"  meaning of course that a gospel teacher can have a huge impact on each child.....  Diana

Zombies and Voodoo

Maybe it was all the sugary sweetness of Valentine's Day, or the cuteness of all the St. Patrick's Day crafts that made me wish for some of the good old creepiness of my favorite holiday of the year......Halloween!  Who says zombies can only come out to play in October anyway?This finger puppet is a machine embroidery in the hoop design from Urban Threads!  Love that store! 

This voodoo doll helps you take out your aggressionss!  Don't get on my bad side......just saying.......I have an endless supply of pins.  This design is also from Urban Threads!  I did make a few changes to make it easier to assemble.  Maybe now I can go back to sweetness and light......for a while anyway.  Diana