Feelin' A Little Pickie

Hello Bloggers

My new favorite passion has been creating cupcake picks. I just simply love them. They make the greatest way to decorate a cupcake I have seen. I have found some of the cutest pick ideas out on the web too. I made these cute little guys a couple of days ago when the girls came over for a crafting day, so today I decided that I had better get my tush in gear and bake up some cupcakes. Today's cupcakes are a cherry chip cake with a pink whipped frosting on them.

For my picks I used my Sizzix die with my Big Shot, the rest of the products were from Stampin' Up; cardstock colors and ribbon colors were Tempting Turquoise, and Yoyo Yellow and the Curly Label punch, the stamp set used was a discontinued set, Mini Mates.

These cute little cupcakes will delivered to my friend and hair dresser Andrea. Andrea and I have been friends for over 20 years. It is so much fun to attend my appointments with her. I have told her that my hair likes her far better than it likes me. It always behaves and goes the way she shapes it, unlike when I try it just does what it wants. I just wanted to share a little treat with her and her work partner Patty.

I hope this inspires you to bake some yummy cupcakes and dress them up with a cute little pick.

Yum!!! Yum!!! Yum!!!
Charmaine

When The Cat's Away, The Mice.....

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone out there. Just look at these adorable, yummy little creatures I found out there yesterday. These adorable mice were created by a talented lady here in my city (Toni Zamora of Sweeties Specialty Chocolate Treats) to be cupcake decorations for her chocolate Valentine cupcakes. Now the funny part of this find is that just not even five minutes earlier, my cousin was describing these cute little guys to me and that she had seen several ladies at her Friday Bible study with them going to take them as gifts to teachers and children. Then low and behold we walk into a wine and chocolate tasting event and there were the very mice she was describing to me. These yummy little guys are made from a Hershey Kiss, a chocolate dipped cherry and two almond slices for ears. Ohhh and a little candy heart on their behind. The eyes and nose are piped on in jam or black decorating jell.

The Wine and Chocolate tasting tour was hosted by several of our local wineries. My cousin partook of the wine and I overdosed on the chocolate. There two different chocolate fountains with lots to dip; what was a girl to do? Ohhhh and did I mention the amazing toffee samples? Man did I pay for it later last night with a tummy ache though. Will I do it again, probably so. What can I say, I have a weakness for all things sweet and especially all things chocolate.

Don't forget to spoil the ones you love and that includes yourself.

It's Cupcakes!!!

Hello Everyone!

I know for most of the country today was Super Bowl Sunday but for me it was our ladies get together for our regular Hulaqua. Hulaqua is an Arabic word meaning circle or gathering. Each week I challenge myself to come up with a new recipe for something sweet and yummy. When I started out this morning I had decided to bake a treat that was in the spirit of Valentine's Day; I was going to make chocolate ganache heart shaped tarts. I had all of my ingredients, but I failed the read the last step to make the chocolate tart shells, and that was to chill them for 1 hour before baking. Normally this would not be a problem except that it was 1:30 and I was supposed to meet my group at 3:00. There was no way to chill, bake and then add the ganache and cool again in time. What to do? Cupcakes to the rescue. But wait, I could not just bake just plain undecorated cupcakes so I asked myself what would my friend Jeannette, the Cupcake expert do? She would make amazing cupcake picks. So I knew just what I had to do.

Well for these incredibly simple picks I used all Stampin' Up! products. The punches used were the Curley Label, and the new Small Heart punch found in the Occasions Mini. The stamp set I chose appropriately enough was the I (Heart) Hearts. These assembled so easily and made the perfect finishing touch for my last minute, save my behind, cupcakes. The ladies seemed to enjoy them as well.

Ohhh, the cupcakes were strawberry with a tinted butter cream frosting. I love butter cream. I can eat just the frosting by itself, giggle, but I try to control myself. I am happy with the treats that I was able to take and share today.

Stay tuned for the chocolate ganache tarts later in the week. Ohhh yes, they will be made, now if they turn out like the picture in the Martha Stewart magazine I will be over the moon with happiness. Come back later on and see what happens. I am so nervous.....

Paper Lingerie For Miranda

Hello,

This week has been a busy birthday week. We started with both my friends Miranda and Monica's birthdays on Monday. For Miranda it was her 21'st birthday so it was a big one. Well I had to make her an extra special card for this extra special day. Thank goodness I was inspired by my fellow International Diva Friend, Tiffany Bauer. I love this card and now have had requests for more of them.

Tiffany's blog My Crafty Word has some great projects. She also has the pattern for this card if you want to make one of your own.

The lingerie is velvet designer paper from 7Gypsies. I love this paper.

Miranda loved the card. I had also made her a pocket inspiration book that I will post pictures of next time.

So check back later in the week to see that project.

Well now back to the kitchen to ice my carrot cake for later on tonight. Yummy!!!

It's Produce Day Today

Look at this amazing basket of fresh locally grown produce; oh and it is all organic. This is week two of purchasing local organic produce from our local farmers. I love the surprise and challenge of receiving some vegetables that I might not normally buy at the market. I also like that the produce we receive is only what is in season now. Sometimes we become so spoiled with our markets and imports form other countries that we forget about seasonal crops. Last Saturday I was watching the Barefoot Contessa on Food Network and guess what she was doing??? She was doing a whole show her receiving her local fresh produce box too. I loved it. She took it as a challenge to see if she could use up everything in her box just like we are doing. So Cool!!!

So this week received the basics, red potatoes, onions, garlic, and carrots; we also received green cabbage, fuji apples, and rainbow kale. Now I'm not sure about the rainbow kale since I have never bought or cooked with this one before but the leaves have pretty red and yellow veins.

If anyone has any good suggestions or recipes for any of these veggies I would love to hear about them.

Thanks for Popping By!

I'mmmmmm Baaaaack!!!

Hello Fellow Bloggers!

Boy have I missed blogging and crafting. I recently hosted my first workshop. I haven't crafted or held any workshops in months. Somehow I got lost along the way, but I am back and ready to start making projects for my second most favorite holiday of the year.... Valentine's Day. Next to Christmas it is my next happiest day. I will start crafting and posting again.

In my time away I have been rediscovering my love for baking and some of my other crafts that don't have anything to do with paper. I hope you will indulge me as I share some of these other projects with you as we go along.

You may recognize this card project as an adaptation of a card published in the January 2010 Stampin' Discuss. I changed a few things to fit the supplies that I had on hand and was able to make this card work for workshop.

I used the In Full Bloom stamp set and stamped Pretty in Pink classic ink on Pretty in Pink cardstock. My ribbon accent is also Pretty in Pink satin ribbon; with the scallop edge punch I punched a small strip of Pretty in Pink cardstock and layered it on Rose Red. The flower was stamped in Basic Brown ink so that I could watercolor in the flowers with Rose Red ink and my aqua painter. The bee was stamped in Chocolate Chip and then stamped again without reinking so I was able to get a lighter look then I also used the Pretty in Pink again with the bee.

I really like how this card turned out with my modifications. I just might make a few more for my card box.

Check back soon to see what other projects I will be making to get into the spirit of Valentine's Day.

Happy Crafting!

Oh....and isn't this little binder clip holder too cute??

Birthday Weekend Booty

Well as you can see next week is my birthday. True to form, I enjoy giving more than receiveing. What does this mean to you? Well, post a short description of the most favorite gift you have received on your birthday. On Wednesday, I will draw a winner and you will receive a gift from me.

I can't wait to hear your stories!