Halloween at Last

Hooray for Halloween!!
I love this guy!! He's made entirely out of paper plates which I thought was fitting. I found him here: http://pickupsomecreativity.blogspot.com/2010/10/paper-plate-skeleton-tutorial.html

I'm not really sure what these things are (really small pine cones?) my mom brought them home for me from a trip to VT this past winter. I coated them in a shimmer modge podge and they are lovely but I still have to find a better way to show or use them.

It took forever (hours really) to cut out all the leaves and what not I had laminated last year. They have already begun to fall due to winter's fast approach ~ and also not being able to find something sticky enough for both the wall and plastic.

I got the idea for these while shopping for supplies for the wreath below the woman at the check out saw that I was buying Dumdums and said that I could use blow-pops to make spiders ~ I had the googly eyes so I had to try! Basically I took a circle of tissue paper and wrapped the pop then I used black pipe cleaners for the legs.

I was strolling through Target and came across a wreath that appeared to be made of black paper swirls. Thought I could do one better. I bought a foam circle, Dum Dums (lollipops), black tissue paper, and black spray paint. First I spray painted the foam circle or ring black, then I cut 3-4 inch circles from black tissue paper, I did this by folding the paper in half again and again until it is just larger then your circle size which should amount to just over 40. I used 3 tissue paper circles for each lollipop I covered the pop with one circle taping the circle in place on the lollipop stick then I poked a hole in the center of the remaining two pieces of paper then stuck the pop in the center as if making a flower with a pop center (see previous post ~Birthdays) once the paper was secure i placed the lollipop in the foam until covered. I used the same process of tissue paper circles (frayed) around bamboo skewers to add the orange. I won't be home to pass out candy this year so the kids will be on the honor system I plan on leaving a sign that says something like, Dum Dums are fun but leave enough for everyone?? We'll see!  

This little guy was an idea courtesy of http://www.marthastewart.com/275192/halloween-decorations-and-costumes-you-c/@center/276965/halloween

 I originally founds these silhouettes in Martha Stewart Living the magazine. Now though, I believe if you go to the website there is a template!

I saw these pumpkin crawlers on my new favorite thing ~~ Pinterest and had to try mine are below I opted not to used the pipe cleaners because my pumpkins were rotting rapidly and I wanted to make the spiders (above) instead. These were fairly simple; I drew a circle the size of a tea light around the top then removed the seeds and inserted a candle.

Next time:

my true love

of ~~ Pinterest!  

An Ode to Aunt Alice

I cannot tell you when my love for baking began ~ I didn't grow up with a domestic goddess, my mom worked and had six children, which she raised pretty much on her own after a time. There really wasn't much time for keeping house, sewing, or baking. Meals were almost always 15 minute wonders. I mean wonders in terms of; what the heck is this, why the heck is this good, and how the heck did you cook it so fast? In mom's defence her own mother was no June Cleaver either, Granny loved to host but I was never sure about her cooking. Also, I'm pretty sure my mom doesn't have the patience for that sort of stuff.

My Aunt Alice however, has been quietly brewing domestic magic in her home for years, always beautiful desserts on our holiday tables, seriously she would bake magic, not a fan of apple no worries there's lemon meringue, or pumpkin; all hand made and delicious. Not to mention all the money we nieces and nephews have saved over the years in birthday, shower, and wedding cakes!! I never took much mind of this growing up I was spoiled. Aunt Alice does it so graciously, there is never a, "look at what I made", she leaves that to her nieces (I do that lol)! She always shares her knowledge, ideas, and tips which I love and need. It wasn't until I moved out and started going to other holiday gatherings that I realized how lucky I was. In part because the dessert table was never such a plethora of goodness and also because I can't explain the beauty that is Aunt Alice's baking, nor the joy it brings me!!   So without further ado here are some samples...... I wish I had more pictures........

This was the most recent cake she's made it was for my most beautiful, little niece Zora's ballerina extravaganza and it was beautiful. My sister Rosa said she became teary eyed when she saw it, and it took my breath away! I love everything about it especially the tutu!! I wish I had a picture of the cake she made for my nephew Teddy it was awesome but I forgot my camera.

 

This was a baby shower cake for my cousin Emily and the handsome baby Alan it is so sweet!!

A cake for my cousin Sarah and the littlest baby boy Max, he's really cute like his cake!!

This piece of beauty was made for Tiffany and Lily the beauty, I really love this!! Hungry Caterpillar!

These are just a few examples of her work she really is amazing and I really really wish I had more pictures saved the last is my wedding cake ~~ be prepared to have your socks knocked off!!

construction with care

Aunt Alice adding the final touches

This cake was all the things a bride could ask for it was delicious, beautiful, and huge (7 tiers)!!! I loved, loved, loved it!!!!

Thanks Aunt Alice for introducing me to the wonderful world of baking!!

Just thought I'd share that. Up next Fall and Halloween decorations: I made these leaves for my tree last year. When I took them down I ran them through my laminator, not realizing that I would now have to cut them all out once again. AHH the frustration mounts!!

Sweet Ballerina Bliss

My eldest sister Rosa and her beautiful family came to town this weekend, and her eldest Zora was having a Birthday party!! Hooray 4!! Initially, the plan was for a beach party which I love (see previous posts), but then the plans changed and the party was going to be a Ballerina party held at my sister Niki's lovely new home!! So first things first.....Inspiration!! (My favorite part!!) Scouring google images for ideas is most fun; I often, and highly recommend it!! Here's what I found and what I used....Yay!!

http://blowoutparty.com/blog/2011/01/glittery-ballerina-birthday-party/

Isn't this gorgeous!! I really love this and I love this blog ~~ Thanks again google-I!
This one party had so many great components that I really didn't need to look further.
 My favorites were the meringue ballerina cookies and the wands. My meringues were not as nice, they were messy but awesome!! I drew the outline of the dancer and started cutting them out ~~ I really need a die cut machine.

My grandmother used to make meringue cookies during the holidays, she called them Angel Kisses so I think it was fun for everyone to see them at a family party again.

Here's a link to the recipe I used: http://www.joyofbaking.com/MeringueCookies.html I varied a little as I used different flavoring, which leads me to another discovery ~ Flavoring oils!! The oils are just $1.75 a piece and three drops of the oil is equivalent to a teaspoon of say vanilla extract. I used peppermint (my favorite), strawberry, raspberry, and vanilla. I found these at a local foodie store that I love, and that; a) makes me wish I could really bake, and b) makes me wish we were rich I want so many of the awesome things in this store ~ Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium http://www.rollingpinonline.com/ .

The other idea I used from this blog was the party wands I wanted to do something safe for the babies and also that included the boys: these were super fun to make. I first went out and gathered some tree branches from the back yard. Then I whittled them down to remove the sand and bark

2 things ~ yes that's my fat leg and yes that is a kitchen knife. Apparently, I didn't have the proper tools or a kind photographer. My husband didn't follow his only instruction which was; do not get any part of me in the picture. So after the bark was whittled away I then sanded down any little stumps I was able to use a power tool and I loved it (made things so much easier)!!

Next I started making the wand toppers this was fun and totally an idea of my own so I really wanted to do a good job and I was really proud of myself.

  I used cookie cutters to make the shapes I filled them with a sheet of tissue paper then I used modge podge (the stuff of gods) to paper mache them together I did both the front and back while in the cookie cutter then removed to mache the sides. I used crepe paper to mache the first two -to- three layers then I added colored tissue paper for an additional two layers. They were a bit sticky or tacky because of the modge podge but they were soft and squishy which I loved. I hate when kids are given toys that turn into weapons and all the other wands I'd seen (in the stores) were either a really hard acrylic or wood. My son picked one up and said, "mom this looks good can I eat it" of course I said no and he replied "but it's so soft and chewy feeling." Mission accomplished babies probably would chew on it but it wasn't toxic and the bigger kids wouldn't kill each other yay!!

To finish them I wrapped each stick in crepe paper or ribbon, added some ribbon to the tops, (my mom did this by simply tying the ribbon on) then I used my exacto to poke/carve a hole in the toppers filled the holes with hot glue and attached them to the sticks then voilà we have wands!! (there were 15 of them)

I also fell in love with these ~~http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/2010/08/paper-ballerina-garland.html

I drew an outline then cut out from (accordion folded) tissue paper I didn't have time to tape and hang all of them but I managed to use some of them!

Last but certainly not least I made a banner!

Sorry for such a long post but everything was so pretty that cake was gorgeous~~ My aunt Alice made it she is amazing!! Which I think may lead to a post of all the cakes she has made I think I have a pic of most of them and they truly are things of beauty!! Yep I'm pretty sure that will be my next post!! See you next time!!