Mustache and Lips on a Stick

The whole mustache thing totally cracks me up!  I told my Mom about the mustaches and the lips on a stick.  She decided it would be great to use these for her Sunday school class.  I Googled to find a set of lips and a few mustaches. I used my Cricut and Sure Cuts Alot program.  This program is AMAZING!  I was able to adjust  the lips and staches  for different sizes and thicknesses.  I can’t wait to see the pictures of the kids.

 

Valentines In A Box

It totally stinks when King and I aren’t able to spend Valentine’s together, but a man’s gotta do a what a man’s gotta do … he’s working out of town.  And besides, I’m not really the mushy, lovey dovey type but “gifting” is my love language so King gets a Valentines Day box full of goodies!

Enclosed are all of his favorite things!

Peanut butter, Chewy Chip Ahoy, Reese’s, Gum, and a handmade card.

Found that black and white sock monkey at WM!! I just had to get it!

Here is the goody tub that I put together for Mrs. Rooster’s girls.  

Doesn’t it look so dang cute! Want to know what the best part is?  

Most of the stuff in the tub was on the clearance Christmas aisle

from Target and Walmart! 

Bumble Bee Cake

Wow! Cake Boss really better watch his back because Mrs. Rooster and I are becoming some cake decorating professionals! Our first cake was the zebra cake {HERE} and since then, we have made two more fondant icing cakes.  I know this one was only our third, but damn, it sure was snazzy!  We are definitely  learning as we go and we learn something new each time … I am pretty sure the next one will be 100% perfect, this one was about 80%.  Here is the Bumble Bee Cake and then the rest of the post is pretty picture heavy with some tips on fondant.  I will be showing off the party in a few days after I sort through the pics.

Fondant Recipe:  Makes 3 lbs (Covers about one layer of cake.)

1 c light corn syrup

1 cup shortening

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract (leave out when leaving fondant white)

2 pounds confectioners sugar

corn starch for dusting the counter-tops

Mix corn syrup, shortening, salt and vanilla.  Gradually mix in confectioners sugar.  Start mixing with spoon and then you will eventually need to use your hands.

We used Wilton food coloring for our colors.  They seem to be the best.  Even for the black.  Mix in coloring in with the wet ingredients.  Be sure to cover your counter-top with some type of protection, such as was paper.  The food coloring WILL tint your counter-tops.

Add “dirty icing” to the cake before fondant.  Let cake cool, add icing, place in refrigerator, and then knock off any pointy pieces of icing that might be sticking out.

The fondant will look like this in the bowl after mixing.

 

Make your fondant into a block as pictured above and dust the counter-top with the cornstarch.  What worked best for us, was rolling the fondant out ONE time.  If you keep balling it up and adding cornstarch, then the consistency changes each time; thus making the fondant more “dry” and dry leads to cracks. {{We didn’t realize this on our first two cakes, and everything kept cracking and tearing.}}

We invested in the big mamma jamma rolling pin that is sold in the cake decorating aisle. (Use a coupon!)  A MUST! It was such a lifesaver; we were able to get the icing one single thickness.  And it allowed us to roll out the icing one time … and one time only.  I don’t have a picture- But with the big rolling pin you can roll the icing onto the rolling pin to drape it over the cake.   This helps the big piece of fondant not to tear.  

We cut out the circles and stripes way to far in advance, thus making the fondant crack.  While not using fondant, place in the refrigerator “balled up” and cover.  Fondant works best when it is at room temperature.  There wasn’t a “trick” to adhering the fondant shapes to the layer of fondant.  The shapes adhered pretty well since both pieces of fondant where at room temperature.

All done!  Super fabulous cake!  Mrs. Rooster picked up the bumble bee topper at HL for $2!

Here is the tu (Okay, UT, yes, I am a Fightin’ Texas Aggie!) cake that Mrs. Rooster needed to whip up for the schools cake walk.  I felt like we did an awesome job on this cake, especially since it was the second one.  See how the fondant kind of tore at the bottom … that’s because we didn’t have the big ‘ol rolling pin.

Let me know if you have an questions! I will try to help you in any way possible.

Camera Strap Snuggie … Again

Jen over at Craft O Matic was in love with {THIS} camera strap snuggie.  She said it was so fabulous that if she was to ever buy one, that she would get me to make it.  That is the best compliment anyone can receive.  If I am not mistaken, Jen has been complimenting on my blog since it began about a year ago; I was stoked that some “big time blogger” was complimenting on my stuff!  There are a select few ladies that I look up to in the blogging crafting world and Jen is definitely one of them.  Due to her super nice comments, I wanted to repay the favor and make her one.  My to do list called for 2 snuggies, and it totally wasn’t a big deal to add in another for Jen.  The zebra & blue one is Jen’s and the other two are for some friends.

We all know that I stink at giving tutorials, so here are a few for reference. {HERE} or {HERE}

Also, if you do any sewing, you NEED to invest in a $20-25 ruffler foot.  You will be in ruffle heaven!  {HERE} is some additional info from a previous post.

Baby Wipe Travel Case

Need any easy baby shower gift?! Jazz up a baby wipe travel case! Seriously, this project only took about 30 minutes or less.  And for only a few dollars, you can’t go wrong.  I think when I get pregnant, I am going to need more than nine months to prepare for a baby.  I am constantly thinking of ideas that I want to make for my friends, but I just don’t have enough time … wishin’ I could stay at home all day and craft.

If I am making baby stuff, it usually includes a set of burp rags.  The little girl set to match the wipe case and a custom order for a baby boy.  These are still fabulous even after a year of making them!

My Ribbon Has Thrown Up!

I was so proud of myself when I made {THIS} ribbon rack.  I thought it was going to solve all of my ribbon needs.  Apparently, I have a ribbon problem.   Hmm who knew?!

All is good until that MIDDLE spool runs out … 

I decided a few baskets would help with the overflow … now they are overflowing.

This whole space just isn’t happening for me.  The boxes work well but I think I could have a more fashionable  & convenient storage area.  On a mission to do a redo on this area in my craft room …. stay tuned.

Silk Flowers, Pom Pom Flowers & Baby Sign

Mrs. M’s little girl, Carly,  is almost here! I have been whipping up some last minute items for her.  Mrs. M really wanted a sign for the hospital room and I delivered. . . . hee hee.  I used a piece of foam board for the base of this sign.  I spray glued fabric on the foam board & used my Cricut to cut out the letters.  It didn’t turned out exactly how I envisioned, but I am satisfied, considering Mrs. M can put this in Carly’s room when she is done with it at the hospital.

Flower headbands are a must if you have a little girl.  I went on a flower making rampage!  You will be seeing some of them in a few upcoming projects.  I used this silk flower tutorial over at Stitched Boutique and used Little Miss Momma’s Pom Pom tutorial for the others.  I added a clip to the back of each of flower so they can be mixed and matched with the headbands.

Valentine’s Day Paper Arrangement

Is it really the end of January already?!  Wow, this new year is flying by!  Before you know it, we will all be working on Christmas decorations, crafts, and gifts.  This is the last Valentines Day post for me.  Of course, I have VDay supplies purchased, but I think time is almost out.  Remember the {Halloween Paper Bouquet}?  Well, my Mom wanted to make something similar for Valentine’s Day.  With the Cricut, we cut out different sizes and shapes of flowers using different patterned paper, and then layered up the flowers with a brad in the center.  Mom’s are hot glued onto shish kabob skewers and mine are hot glued onto sticks. (For some reason, I had been dying to use these sticks cut from King’s Dad’s backyard.)  Two different looks with the same flower.  I think both of them turned out pretty nicely and very festive!  I took my arrangement to the office since I made {THIS} one for the house.  Might even recycle the flowers into my craft room for a decoration  ... they match.