These cookies were made for a friend's family reunion. Bet you can't tell where she's from!
Hope you had a great family reunion, Becky! Thank you!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Hello Kitty Cake For Emily
Another granddaughter, Emily, celebrates her birthday the same day as Sydney!
Emily decided on a Hello Kitty cake. I used my Cricut to make the little flowers. The topper was provided by Emily's mom. It's some kind of bubble machine, but it worked find as a cake topper.
I had a bad cake day the day this was made! I knew it was going to be a bad day from the moment I went to move it and sunk my hand half way through it! It was all down hill from there. But even though it wasn't perfect, Emily loved it. It's so easy to please kids!
Happy Birthday, Emily! I can't believe you're already four years old already!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Sydney's First Birthday!
On Father's Day we celebrated our next to youngest granddaughter's first birthday. Due to a power outage the night before, Sydney's cake had to be simplified and thrown together with no time to spare! She didn't seem to mind at all!
Here are a few shots of her enjoying her own personal cake.
Happy First Birthday, Sydney!!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Apron Re-Do
My daughter picked up a couple of these aprons for me at Tuesday Morning for $2.99 or $3.99. They're good heavy duty aprons. The only drawback was they were Easter aprons and had this cute little bunny on them.
I have nothing against cute little bunnies, I just didn't want one on my apron. So I picked up this fabric at Joann's, thinking I would just put a heart over the bunny.
I found a heart that was the right size on the Internet, cut it out, then traced in on my fabric. I kind of outlined the edge of the fabric with a black indelible marker to make it stand out more. Then I went around the edges of the heart with fray check and let it dry. I think stitched it to the apron, over the bunny, with a straight stitch, as close to the edge as possible.
But they also had these little metal thingies that make the apron adjustable. I detest these things! My daughter's aprons have them and I can never make them work. Too complicated for my simple mind, I guess.
So I decided to get rid of them and just sew the neck strap into the front.
I got the hearts sewed on and they looked great! But since I had fabric left over, I decided I should do something else with it.
So I added a couple of ruffles. They turned out sooooo cute!!
Here's my daughter, Ruth, modeling one of them for me. Wasn't that sweet of her? Of course, she has no idea I'm putting her picture on my blog!!
What she doesn't know won't hurt her, right?
I have nothing against cute little bunnies, I just didn't want one on my apron. So I picked up this fabric at Joann's, thinking I would just put a heart over the bunny.
I found a heart that was the right size on the Internet, cut it out, then traced in on my fabric. I kind of outlined the edge of the fabric with a black indelible marker to make it stand out more. Then I went around the edges of the heart with fray check and let it dry. I think stitched it to the apron, over the bunny, with a straight stitch, as close to the edge as possible.
But they also had these little metal thingies that make the apron adjustable. I detest these things! My daughter's aprons have them and I can never make them work. Too complicated for my simple mind, I guess.
So I decided to get rid of them and just sew the neck strap into the front.
I got the hearts sewed on and they looked great! But since I had fabric left over, I decided I should do something else with it.
So I added a couple of ruffles. They turned out sooooo cute!!
Here's my daughter, Ruth, modeling one of them for me. Wasn't that sweet of her? Of course, she has no idea I'm putting her picture on my blog!!
What she doesn't know won't hurt her, right?
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Pink & Black Western Theme Wedding Cake
My daughter, Ruth, and I made this wedding cake for a girl from our church this past weekend.
The wedding was gorgeous! A bit warm, but gorgeous! The forecast called for thunderstorms, but all we had was heat. The cake actually started drooping! Didn't get a shot of that though. I actually stayed back by the cake during the wedding so I could prop it up or something if it decided to let go.
All's well that ends well, although we did get them to do the cake pics a b
it earlier than planned!
I thought I'd throw in a picture of the bride getting out of the buggy that delivered her to her wedding. Shows the theme.
I put my Cricut Cake to good use for this cake! I'm really loving that little machine.
The bride wanted this pic on the cake. I had several ideas of what to do, none of which worked out. First, I was going to try to cut it out of rolled gum paste, but decided that would be too difficult. Then, I tried to have it printed onto edible paper, but the place that tried to do it couldn't do the size I needed so that was out. So in the end I printed it, then covered it with clear contact paper. Not the best way I'm sure, but it worked!!
It was an absolutely beautiful wedding! Congratulations, Charity & Bretley!!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Using The Cricut Cake Mini
I've been experimenting with my Cricut Cake Mini and I'm loving it!
It was purchased to do a specific wedding cake, and since that happens this weekend, I decided last week that I needed to learn how to use it. I was a bit concerned when I got online and read all these horror stories! There were a few positive users, but most of the ones I read told about how they wasted their money buying the machine.
For my first attempt, I used Buff Goldman fondant. That was a disaster!! I was so aggravated that I put the machine away and tried to find other options for the wedding cake I'm doing. But since I couldn't find anything else to use that would give me the look I wanted, I bit the bullet and pulled the machine out again.
This time I used Wilton Gum Paste. That apparently was the trick!
I put a generous amount of shortening on the mat, then rolled my gum paste directly onto it using my small fondant roller. I then cut the edges inside the guide lines of the mat. Next, and this is what I think really made the difference, I put it in the freezer for three to four minutes.
I did run into one problem. It was going great, everything coming out just as I wanted, then all of a sudden everything I tried was just tearing up something terrible. I had changed colors of gum paste, but I didn't really think that would make a difference. After about four attempts, leaving it in the freezer longer, then less, rolling it thinner, then thicker, I figured out that there was buildup on my blade! So I cleaned that off and all was well. So now I check for that every couple of cuts.
I only have two cartridges. I have the Cake Basics that my machine came with, and I have the George and Basic Shapes, which came with my Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter.
Since I'm putting each rolled out sheet in the freezer before cutting, I'm going to get at least one more mat so that I don't have so much down time while waiting for the gum paste to freeze.
My machine was purchased at Joann's (which is no more since the tornado went through town), for $99. But last week they were advertised for $79.00. I really wanted one of the full-size machines, but couldn't justify the almost $300 price tag! Maybe, if I find that I really use this machine a lot, I'll feel better about buying the full size machine.
Good luck on using your Cricut Cake if you have one, and if you have any questions, feel free to send me an email.
It was purchased to do a specific wedding cake, and since that happens this weekend, I decided last week that I needed to learn how to use it. I was a bit concerned when I got online and read all these horror stories! There were a few positive users, but most of the ones I read told about how they wasted their money buying the machine.
For my first attempt, I used Buff Goldman fondant. That was a disaster!! I was so aggravated that I put the machine away and tried to find other options for the wedding cake I'm doing. But since I couldn't find anything else to use that would give me the look I wanted, I bit the bullet and pulled the machine out again.
This time I used Wilton Gum Paste. That apparently was the trick!
I put a generous amount of shortening on the mat, then rolled my gum paste directly onto it using my small fondant roller. I then cut the edges inside the guide lines of the mat. Next, and this is what I think really made the difference, I put it in the freezer for three to four minutes.
I did run into one problem. It was going great, everything coming out just as I wanted, then all of a sudden everything I tried was just tearing up something terrible. I had changed colors of gum paste, but I didn't really think that would make a difference. After about four attempts, leaving it in the freezer longer, then less, rolling it thinner, then thicker, I figured out that there was buildup on my blade! So I cleaned that off and all was well. So now I check for that every couple of cuts.
I only have two cartridges. I have the Cake Basics that my machine came with, and I have the George and Basic Shapes, which came with my Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter.
Since I'm putting each rolled out sheet in the freezer before cutting, I'm going to get at least one more mat so that I don't have so much down time while waiting for the gum paste to freeze.
My machine was purchased at Joann's (which is no more since the tornado went through town), for $99. But last week they were advertised for $79.00. I really wanted one of the full-size machines, but couldn't justify the almost $300 price tag! Maybe, if I find that I really use this machine a lot, I'll feel better about buying the full size machine.
Good luck on using your Cricut Cake if you have one, and if you have any questions, feel free to send me an email.
Monday, June 6, 2011
A Different Normal
Life is slowly getting back to normal for some of us here in Joplin. For others, it will be a different normal. A new normal.
New homes and new workplaces to get used to. For some, the absence of family members and friends. In spite of the chaos and destruction, businesses unaffected by the storm are open. Some who were affected by the storm have moved to new locations and have opened their doors. Others will never open again.
A week and a half after the disaster, this truck was still in the Hobby Lobby parking lot. Hobby Lobby was on the very edge of the destruction, and was open for business by Friday, only missing four days of business. What's crazy is they are in the end of a strip of businesses right next to the Wal Mart that was destroyed! I've been in Hobby Lobby several times since they reopened and it was very quiet and strangely un-busy, which is very unusual for them.
New homes and new workplaces to get used to. For some, the absence of family members and friends. In spite of the chaos and destruction, businesses unaffected by the storm are open. Some who were affected by the storm have moved to new locations and have opened their doors. Others will never open again.
A week and a half after the disaster, this truck was still in the Hobby Lobby parking lot. Hobby Lobby was on the very edge of the destruction, and was open for business by Friday, only missing four days of business. What's crazy is they are in the end of a strip of businesses right next to the Wal Mart that was destroyed! I've been in Hobby Lobby several times since they reopened and it was very quiet and strangely un-busy, which is very unusual for them.
I'm a thrift store-flea market-consignment store junkie. So far, five of my regular haunts are pretty much gone, including Goodwill.
I snapped this pic as I was driving past the new Salvation Army store. They had only been in their new location for about three months. Most of the walls are still standing, but the roof is pretty much gone along with the front of the store.
And Joann's, but they were planning to move before the storm, so I'm thinking they will just reopen in their new location. I sure hope so!
On Saturday, my daughters and I put together a baby shower for a girl who is due in a couple of weeks. She lost her home and everything in it in the storm, including everything she had for the new baby. I'm happy to report that almost everything she lost has been replaced by generous people all across our country! Nursery furniture, diaper bag, car seat, everything!!
So life does get back to normal. Maybe a new normal, an unfamiliar normal, but normal, none the less. People go back to work, babies are born, weddings take place, birthday parties are attended.
Speaking of weddings, I need to get off here and start working on a wedding cake!
Have a wonder week, everyone!!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
First Cake Using My Cricut Cake Mini!!
Back in April, my mom surprised me with a Cricut Cake Mini. This past week I finally had time to experiment with it. I love it!!
My first cake to use my Cricut on was for a girl here in Joplin who was just three weeks from her due date when she lost everything in our tornado. So my daughters got together and had a baby shower for her. She received gifts from all over the country! It was the perfect opportunity to see what the little Mini could do.
Here are a few close-ups:
I see myself using this little machine quite a bit in the future! I love the crisp clean cuts. And the designs are limitless!
I hope little Sophiya arrives soon, Kelsey!!
My first cake to use my Cricut on was for a girl here in Joplin who was just three weeks from her due date when she lost everything in our tornado. So my daughters got together and had a baby shower for her. She received gifts from all over the country! It was the perfect opportunity to see what the little Mini could do.
Here are a few close-ups:
I see myself using this little machine quite a bit in the future! I love the crisp clean cuts. And the designs are limitless!
I hope little Sophiya arrives soon, Kelsey!!