Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentine's Fun

So, in addition to making heart pancakes this morning, I also hand-made cards for my friends and little candy treats.  Here is what I made:

This a candy mold from Wilton that you can do simply (with one color) or make more complicated by changing colors as I have done.  Also, it was supposed to be a pretzel rod candy and I made it into a lollipop. 
My card is using my frog stamps from Stampin' Up.  As soon as I saw the frog set, I knew that I had to have it even without knowing why.  I just love frogs!

Another thing that I have been working on is a digital challenge for February at Design House Digital.
Their photography challenge for February was "I want you to find a heart somewhere unexpected (use your imagination) OR take a fun photo of something you love."
I found a few more that I may make another page.
Have you seen any hidden hearts?
Meagan

Happy Valentine's Everyone!

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful Valentine's Day.  All my kiddos were home for Oresident's Day, so they were able to go to my Mom's Club VDay Party, too. 
It was a brunch, so I made heart-shaped pancakes to share:

They were a big hit. 
Right now, I am off to take my girls to gymnastics.  If I have time, I will show you what else I made to share with our friends.
Make sure to share today with those that you love!
Meagan

Sunday, February 13, 2011

How to Make Easy Hello Kitty Cupcakes

My daughters birthday always happens while she is not in school and she always seems to miss out sharing with her school friends.  All the other kids bring in treats to share and they get a special day in class.  My poor 8 yo has missed out on that, so this year, I decided to have her bring in a treat on another (random) day to celebrate with her class.  Her teacher loves Hello Kitty, so I thought that it would be cute to bring in Hello Kitty cupcakes for the girls and I also made Mario Brothers for the boys.
Today, I am going to show you how easy it is to make the Hello Kitty ones.
First, I made white cupcakes and chocolate cupcakes (I needed at least 27).  Make sure to only fill your cupcake tin 2/3 full or they are too big to ice evenly.  Also, let's be honest, most kids lick off the frosting and throw away the cupcake anyway. ;-)  I used mostly the white ones and only filled in some with the chocolate.

Now, on to the Kittys!
First roll out some white fondant (you do not need a ton for this).  I rolled it out about 1/4" thick.

I cut out the head shapes with this flower cutter from Wilton called the Garden Shape Cut-Out:







I was trying to figure out how to make the head without having to add ears to each one.  I found this cutter which was perfect.  Sometimes, you have to look for the potential of something.

After you have cut out your flower shapes, using a sharp knife, cut off the middle point of the flower, leaving the 2 outer "ears".
Now, you could leave it like it is, however, if you have checked out Hello Kitty, you will notice that her face is more oval with nice wide cheeks, so with a rounded tool (A Ball tool and a Fondant Shaping Sponge Set), you can quickly make her face the right shape. 
Lightly roll the ball tool across the cheeks, rolling out to either side of the cheeks.  As you roll from the center out to each cheek, the fondant will lengthen in that direction.
Put the white heads under a glass to keep them from drying out while you work on the other face pieces.
I added hot pink to the white to create the bows.  To make a dozen bows, you only need a ball of fondant about 1 1/2".  To start the bow, take a very small ball (about 1/4") and roll into an oval about 1/2".  Using you tool, press in the center all the way around it, until you have formed a center.
Using a flat tool like a dull knife, make the indentations for the folds in the bow fabric.  Then add a small piece of fondant for the center of the bow.
You can chose to add each element as you make them, like I did.  Using clear vanilla extract or water and a paint brush, brush on a small amount where you want to affix the bows.  After laying them on, you can use your tool to press the edges of the bow into the head to make sure that they are affixed well.
Now, onto the nose. I took my remain hot pink fondant and added more white fondant to create a light pink for the noses.  You need even less of this color.  Roll a very small ball, about 1/6" and flatten into a small oval.  Affix to the center of the face.
For the eyes, you will need a small amount of black fondant.  Make a 1/4" small black ball and roll into a long oval and flatten.  Place on face with the ovals up.
For the whiskers, roll very small ribbons of black.  Add 2-3 whiskers to each side of the face. 
Now, you are ready to add them to the cupcakes!  I tinted white icing with pink and placed it in an icing bag.  I cut about 3/4" off the tip.  I then piped the icing in a swirl on top.  I also created simple pink flowers with my leftover 2 pink colors of fondant and a flower fondant cutter. Here is the finished products



Give them a try, they are really easy!  Super cute, too.

Stay tuned for how to make easy Mario Mushroom and Stars.

Meagan

Friday, February 11, 2011

Early Valentine's Party

We have had a busy few days.  After a week being sick, I feel like I am playing catch-up.  I have been running errands all over the place and coming up with new ideas.  To top it off, due to the President's Holidays, my kids will not be in school for Valentines, so they had their Valentine's parties today.

This morning, I drove 45 minutes north of here to go to an antique book/estate sale after dropping off the kids.  They had quite a few cool books, but I only came home with a nice edition of A Connecticut Yankee in King Author's Court.  I was actually looking for copies of Jane Austen's books, for a party idea that I am working on (more later).

After the book sale, I raced back to attend my 5 yos V-Day party.  They are so cute at that age.  The class made heart-shaped pancakes, decorated tortilla cookies, colored, played Valentine Bingo and passed out Valentines.  After they played, they got to eat their treats and take home their Valentines.

We hit another "garage" sale, where I did find a paperback copy of Emma for a quarter (among other things).  I still need about 20 more copies of the books, so I will have to keep looking. 

Now, I am going to take my kids to the park since the weather is so nice.

Do you have any cool plans for this weekend?

Enjoy your Valentine's Weekend!
Meagan

Monday, February 7, 2011

Project 365 Week 5 & 6 Completed

Yeah, I finally got caught up with with Project 365 scrapbook pages.  I missed some days of taking picture since I was sick, but I think it still works.

thanks for checking them out
Meagan

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Happy Super Bowl Day

Hello Friends!
Well today is Super Bowl.  One of the most watched things on TV all year.  Even if you don't like football, you may find yourself watching.  I myself am ambivalent about football.  I don't have anything against it, but I don't sit down to watch it.  However, I do like the whole atmosphere that the Super Bowl brings out.  All the food and parties and cheering.

Are you going to a party this year?  Do you have any Super Bowl traditions?  This year, we will be going to our friend's house for a Super Bowl Party.  I am looking forward to getting out (especially after being stuck indoors sick for most the week).  I don't know that I will cheering for one team or the other.  If I were to cheer for a team, it would be a gold and red team that did quite horribly this year (oh, the shame of the bad team).  Although, hopefully, with a new coach, maybe next year we have a better chance.  This year, I will just enjoy the company of friends - old and new.  Enjoy eating - thank goodness I can once again after strep.  Enjoy commercials - admit it, half the reason to watch, which is why the advertisers have to pay so much. And enjoy the beautiful weather that we have been blessed with the past few days.

So, rather you escape the football crazies for some "me-time" or join in the party - have a great Super Bowl Day!
Meagan
hmm, reminds me that I have never made a football themed cake . . .

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Back from the Dead

I feel like I was in a coma these last few days.  I am only just now emerging from my cocoon of blankets.  I can't even say that it was something dramatic to have caused this - no, it was strep. 
I made some cool cupcakes on Monday before succumbing to my sickness, so give me a little bit of time to recover and I will post them.  I also need to finish and post my 365 layout from last week. I did miss taking any pictures during those days.  Oh well!

Newly Alive,
Meagan