Simplify Cake Decorating

Here's an easy tip for decorating your next cake.... use cookie cutters! I baked my cake, frosted it, and let the frosting harden a little. Then I took out a cookie cutter- mine was a star- and lightly touched it to the top of the frosting which became my outline to trace with a frosting bag. To make a simple, throw away version of a frosting bag, take a ziplock bag, fill it with frosting and cut the tip. A smaller tip will result in smaller piping line or smaller polka dots, and a larger cut corner will result in bigger lines and polka dots. If you have different tips with different shapes, you can drop that into the corner of the baggie before filling it with frosting to give your frosting different shapes like waves and flowers. Have fun and get creative!

Bugs-Galour!

I found this picture in my photo gallery from a few years ago, but I thought I would post it because I think it's a really cute idea for a birthday party or special ocassion for a little person! They were really fun to make and really allow you to let your creativity run wild! I made simple boxed cupcakes, frosted them, and then decorated them with a bunch of different candies.... take a look!

I used m&m's, Mike & Ike's, almond slivers (for the wings), and melted chocolate chips for the black piping. (To make a homemade piping bag, melt your chocolate chips, scoop that into a sandwich ziplock bag and cut a tiny tip off of the corner and wha-la! You have yourself a homemade bag- throw it away when your done- no clean up! You can do the same thing with frosting.)

Bring on the Cake!

I know this isn't something new under the sun, but here's diaper cake with a few changes to make it a present all in itself!

My friend Janelle registered for diapers on her registry, so I bought a package of those and added some extra goodies to make it more exciting! I added embellished burp clothes (rolled up) and a binki tail and topped it off with a rubber duckie on top! She doesn't know what she is having, but if you knew the gender, you could add some socks, shoes, hair clippies, pacifiers, teething rings, and more! The idea is to add extra little gift to make it a gift within a gift! Get creative and "bring the cake" the next time you show up to a shower!

* I used fabric and ribbon to decorate the cake.*

Spicing up something old....

I LOVE garage sales, and look at this find for $5!!!! All I needed was a can of spray paint at Walmart for $3 and we have ourselves a new little chair for a little tushie that loves to read and rock all by herself! Keep your eye out and imagine what a can of paint can do for YOU!

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"IN ACTION"

Cute As a Button

Every little girl needs a little something cute for their locks, even if they only have a few strands! So, here's what I have come up with for Emery's little blonde locks for the time being- clips with hand-stitched buttons or bows.... polka dots and buttons- can't get any cuter than that! Want some? Let me know, I would love to make you some in any color combo that you want to order!

Buckets of Fun....

So, I originally made a bucket like this for my nephew's Easter gift, but I bought extra buckets (and continue to pick them up when I am out and about) because they make darling containers for any kind of gifts. You can make them for little people or big- to stuff with toys, candies, gift cards, baby goodies, or even Easter Eggs around that time of year. Here's the girlie one that I made- soon to be stuffed with girlie items- unfortunately I didn't take a picture of the boy one before I gave it away- but it will give you an idea and jump start your creativity. I found the idea on www.kiddley.com. It's easy as pie- cut out old book illustrations, wrapping paper, or pictures and use Mod Podge to stick it to the tin. Then add another layer of Mod Podge over the top to make a final seal, add your trim (ribbons, buttons, pom poms, ric rac, etc.) with a hot glue gun and you are done!

Owl Canvases...

What a "hoot" these were to make! They are actually the first set of canvases I made without a specific home- they are for sale, and might even make their way into a boutique! Let me know if you are interested in them, they are absolutely adorable!

Jungle Canvases...

Here is another set of custom canvases for two little girls who share a bright and colorful bedroom. They love animals so we incorporate them in with the bright colors of the bedding!

Birdie Canvases...

Here's another set of personalized canvases for a baby nursery. This set was purchased as a gift and used for the center piece of the baby shower- great idea!

Ladybug Canvas...

Well, this is one of my all-time favorite things to make... fabric canvas' for children's rooms. They are VERY time consuming and detailed, but I love the finished product. Here is a set of three I just finished for my sweet friend who is having a baby girl, June or "June Bug" as they already call her. Her nursery is darling with ladybugs everywhere! Too cute!

Birthday Cake!

How fun is this birthday cake? In case you didn't know who it it... I will help you out! This is Flicker the Flashlight from the Handy Manny tool man cartoon. My nephew turned 4 and this was his choice for a cake. My sister, her friend, and I worked on it for a few hours and we really excited about how it turned out. Hopefully sometime soon I will post a tutorial, for now, here's just a snapshot.

Baby Bibs...

I was so excited to see that Babies R Us was selling plain bibs because that meant that I could embellish them with some cute fabric and give them as baby gifts! Here's the two that I've made so far... they are lots of fun and easy to make!

Burp Cloths..

Here's something simple that lots of people make... baby burp cloths made from cloth diapers. This set of six was for a friend who is having a girl in a few weeks. She dropped off some plain burp cloths she had used with her son and asked me to spice them up for a little girl, here's what we came up with!

It's a bloomin' good day!

Well, I finally finished it! I started this sewing project a few months ago, and for many not-so-good-reasons, it has been put on the back burner- but here it is, finished-completed-and as cute as all get out!!! My first pair (of many hopefully) of little girl bloomers! My model here is Miss Emery Lynn herself... too bad she doesn't get to keep them, they are being given to someone else- I will make her a pair next! Check out the Strawberry Patches website to purchase your own pattern.

Thinking outside of the box... or vase

So my husband was sweet today and came home with a big bouquet of roses for me- what a love- and I decided to think outside of the vase if you will, and I decided to display them with a little more pizazz than normal- a teapot and a oil jar that has been missing his top for months! I love fresh flowers and I decided to keep my eye out the next time I am at Good Will or a garage sale for items that would suit this idea. Quick, easy, and fun!
*Note, I put a small glass inside my teapot, so that I didn't have to worry about gettting gunk in my teapot and scrubbing it later- just thinking ahead!