Evening Wedding Cupcakes/ Toppers

This week a friend got married.  A few of us pulled together a cupcake bar in lieu of a formal wedding cake.  The bride and groom are young and were going the route of simple and what's in style.  I was so excited to help.

I was inspired by this flavor combination...

Who makes these flavors up?  So delicious.  I made these cupcakes for a scrapbook retreat a few months back and they turned out outrageous.  I thought they would be great for a spring wedding.  So I made fresh tasting lemon cupcakes (white cake mix as directed using these additions -> (made with milk instead of water) + zest of two lemons + lemon extract or pure lemon essential food grade oil +  1 box vanilla or lemon instant pudding (dry)).  Bake as directed, then cool completely.  I then filled the cupcakes with red raspberry preserves.  I used my classic butter cream frosting with zest of two lemons added + 1 tsp. vanilla &  1 tsp. lemon extracts.  To put these cupcakes over the top, I added pale yellow sugar dusting the top and pieces of this amazing chocolate bar (shown above) in each cupcake.  I just know they will be great for this beautiful occasion!

The toppers were made using Stampin' Up punches.  The scallop punch for the designer paper, the solid color is from a 1 3/8" circle punch, and the photos/dates were punched with a 1 1/4" circle punch for a great layered effect.  These will be used for the other cupcakes and other hor'duerves that will be served.  Toppers make food personalized and so much fun!

What are your favorite flavor combinations you enjoy in a cupcake??  Comment below!

**CHOXIE brand candy is by Target.  Located in the regular candy aisle :)


Uploaded to Sunday Showcase, Something Swanky, and Tatertots & Jello Weekend Wrap-Up!

Vintage Valentine's Day Candle Craft

I am a HUGE sap for Valentine's Day!  I decorate my house, bake sweets to give to everyone to show my appreciation and LOVE, and to shout from the roof tops that I am in LOVE with my God, my hubs, my kiddos, my family & friends!  I believe it isn't all about that one true love in your life, but all those around you that deserve to know your appreciation. I think it is the perfect excuse for yet another celebration!!  Are you guys in?

Remember these?

Well, I designed some more for our upcoming Valentine's celebration!  Take a peek, tell me what you think.  I plan on making more, and now consigning them in some quaint boutiques.  So easy, inexpensive to make, and a super fun project (even with kids)! 

Materials Used:

tall religious candles

scrap paper

Valentine's

Mod-Podge

red/white baker's twine

paper flowers

buttons

crystals

This post uploaded to http://www.wearethatfamily.com/ Blog party

and

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

A Few of My Favorite Things Friday

Skip to My Lou

A Few Cricut Ideas for the Holidays

 Personalized Recycle Totes-instead of a Christmas gift bag or wrapping paper, a gift within a gift!

 Large-style Bins-Personalized

Wilton Pretzel Rod Candy bags stuffed with Christmas M&Ms, folded topper using Nativity cut-out glued to topper.  These were place setting gifts for a Christmas Gathering.

Repurposed Bell Cloche' Pedestal

While browsing in one of my favorite stores...Home Goods...I came across this great pedestal bell jar cloche'[ what's that you say? it's a dome lid which botanist use over plants, etc....decorators now use them to house  anything from flowers, books, artificial birds, and baked goods.]  I have seen so many of these in decorating lately from a few of my other favorite stores...Pottery Barn or Willow House....  I knew the blue wouldn't work for me anywhere, but on clearance for $7, with no chipped edges, how could I pass it up... 

{pardon that table background}I got to work with one of my favorite craft mediums (Mod Podge), and applied some old vintage violin sheet music I picked up over the summer at Goodwill ($1 a book) on a thrifting escapade.  I had to piece together because of the large soft ridges and it not being straight.  I added some cute grosgrain ribbon [stampin' up] to finish it off for Christmas, and now it adorns my Christmas dining room table scape.  I will update a finished photo when I finish the decorating this evening...

**I can see that just changing the ribbon seasonally will allow me to use this all year round.**

...total cost around $7.50 compared to $40+ below...

There are some great ideas on making cloche's as well as apothecary jars here.

Easy Re-Purpose Candle Craft

You know those tall religious candles you see everywhere these days...well - here's what I came up with for some great Christmas gifts or any holiday.  I purchased three candles several weeks back and they stared at me for sometime on my office shelf. How do you like them, easy-too!  There is something about the tall candle that's different from regular jar candles that can be decorated.  Enjoy!

Craft Recipe:

First I Mod-Podged, a 4X6 photo mat STACK scrapbook paper.  I used the Homemade Christmas variety to the candle jar.  I picked up some nostalgia mini Christmas cards at HomeGoods and cut the front of the cards and stuck to mat with glue dots, and then wrapped in floss, buttons, beads, bows, and added a few pearls.  I thought they turned out cute.  I plan on making more, what a great gift, and they can be made with any hodge podge of materials added to the outside.  The candles can be bought plain at Wal-Mart for around a dollar, the rest of the supplies can be found in your craft drawer, the cost - super inexpensive, especially if you had all the supplies on hand except the candles....(by the way...check the 11/30/2010 post-there's a giveaway that can help you make this craft!)

Cute Name Sign for Kidlets Room - Cricut

Hello Friends- just a little post on a cute DIY sign a friend and I made.  I can't say I did a whole lot, except cut the letters out using my Cricut Expression.  Did I mention to you, that I LOVE my Cricut.  I can't say I have really used it for scrappin', I have mainly used it for craft projects.  G. used a flat wood board cut into three sections from the Depot.  She made two name signs and one for her laundry room.  Painted with several coats and several colors- so she could distress with sand paper.  She used jute rope to create a hanging handle, and secured with eye hooks [ don't you love those fancy girl scout knots].  She finished the project with Mod Podge (my personal craft item favorite)-{side note - check out this MOD PODGE junkie site}.  Isn't this project sweet, so simple, and fun to make!

DIY-Message Board

When I saw this project I just had to make one myself.  I totally see these as Christmas gifts this year for family and friends that I exchange with. {smile}  I know if someone gave me one, awwww- I would love it, so I am hoping...they would love one too.

Starting out as this beautiful [in it's day] gold/linen wood frame with this painted canvas inside-it was all about to change.  First, I sanded it down with a small sanding block to remove any dirt, dust, or chipping paint.  I removed the canvas and got right to work with my spray painting.  My first layer I used a primitive red semi gloss spray paint that I had on hand.  I gave it a good spray down, and allowed it to dry.  Then I hit it with a black, high gloss spray paint.  After it was dry for 24 hours.  I sanded it down here and there so I would get spots that had the distressed look. Then came the chicken/poultry wire found at the Home Depot in the fencing supply area.  I used about a third of it.  I stapled the measured piece of chicken wire across the back of the frame using a staple gun.

Lastly, I attached the wire across the back.  My finished project I will reveal later this week with a few pictures, and some decorative clothes pins.  I am thrilled with the outcome.  I salvaged an old frame, and repurposed it to something new.  What do you think?

Tin Canister - Repurposed

this was a fun-easy project i made for golden boys misc pencils, markers, etc...

this was a 6 inch tall double tin bucket in country red from JoAnns.  it was on super clearance (70%) off for about $2.  originally like $14+, personally i think they make these sales because if you paid $14 for that, hmmmm~

it had a little canning label on it.  i cut boyish scrap paper to cover it up on both sides adhered with my favorite-mod podge, then i made a button toggle by stringing several buttons in various sizes and knotted at the bottom, then hung with jute.  it turned out cute, golden boy liked it.  i could see it adorable for a little girl with a lot of tied-knotted ribbons across the top.