Fluffy White Frosting

I know....2nd post of the day!  I am on a roll!  I am beginning my journey to become a cake decorator.  I do not plan on being an amazing one - just one that can decorate cakes that my kids will be proud of in future years.  My husband is loving the journey I am on because I make cupcakes to practice my skills on - so he has had a lot of cupcakes to eat!  (You would never be able to tell because he doesn't look like he has consumed many cupcakes.)  I found a recipe for fluffy white frosting on allrecipes.com and LOVE IT!!  It looks so pretty and even I could pull off some professional looking cupcakes!  I used the recipe below and the Wilton 1M decorator tip......Magic! (And it tastes like marshmallow cream.)

 Fluffy White Frosting

1 cup white sugar
1/3 cup water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a saucepan, stir together the sugar, water and cream of tartar.  Cook over medium high heat until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is bubble.  In a medium mixing bowl, whip the egg whites and vanilla to soft peaks.  Gradually add the sugar mixture while whipping constantly until stiff peaks form, about 7 to 10 minutes.  Frost the cake of your choice.

(Some of the comments on the recipe says that it colors really well too!!!)  Enjoy!

Getting Creative with Trash! :)

When you are living as tight as we are - decorations for Holidays are not on the top of the list.  My hubby tries to humor me by looking at the things I make, but really doesn't see a need for decorations.  I do see the need for decorations when I am stuck at the house all day every day and need a little bit of excitement!  So I decided to start saving our trash.....aluminum cans, glass jars, egg cartons, toilet paper and paper towel rolls, etc.  Husband doesn't love this either - but he does love that I am not spending money on crafts!  This project was free for me since I had all the stuff already!

A few things I have learned:

1) Pickle jars (and a few other food items) will always smell like what was in them - no matter how many times you wash them!  

2) You never know when you are going to use some of that random craft stuff that you have laying around.

3) Never throw away your paper towel rolls if you cut vinyl because after you cut your design, you just roll it up and put it in one of those and you don't have to worry about it getting ruined!!  

I have been a little distracted....

by this....

I am soooo loving that it is 80 degrees outside right now and we can hop in the car and go to the beach at any time!!  Little man loves to find sticks and chase the birds all over the beach and jump in the water!  I really have been loving it....but a lot of beach going means I may need a new one of these.....

Yes is this not the cutest suit you have ever seen?  Oh you just wait....there are 54 more different patterns, designs, and colors waiting for you if you click here.  I must warn you though...if you are on a tight budget like mine....this suit is well out of reach!!!! Maybe I can convince my hubby to let me use my babysitting money (don't I sound like a teenager??)  Well back to 80 degree weather and the beach!!

Vinyl and Cards!

My christmas present this year was the "Make the Cut" Software!  I LOVE it so far and have done some fun things with it!!

This is a project I made for my neice to hang on a big mirror in her room!! It turned out adorable!!

Thanks Megan M. for the idea for this!  I made this for my sister who is pregnant with her first boy after 3 girls!! I love this sign and plan to put one in Shaef's room soon!!

Here are this month's cards for my card swap with my friend.  This month we decided to do all occasion cards and to do 10 of them!! I got addicted to "Grey's Anatomy" while making them....but had so much fun in the process!!

Decorated Letters

My little sister just re-decorated her room. Previously her room was really bright greens, pinks, oranges, blues, etc. This time she decided to decorate it Red, Black, and White. I teased her about these colors because those are our High School's colors and she is currently a Varsity Cheerleader for the said school. She wears those colors almost every day....and now she wants to live in them too!! Anyway her and my mom worked on painting and furniture and I got to help with the "bling" of the room! It was tonz of fun coming up with some fun letters (her initials) to help decorate those walls!

Adorable Bows....

My friend Kacey taught me how to make some super cute bows that she makes for her little girl. She showed me this site which I now LOVE! Thanks Kacey for teaching me!


Now I just need a little girl......

I can create: Homemade Christmas Gifts!

Here is what I was up too all November and December. It was fun to try to come up with fun homemade christmas gifts!!!

I am still working on the details of exactly how to do this project....but I used some of my husbands old ties and tied them backwards....and turned them into baby ties! :) Super cheap but I need to iron out a few kinks!! My sister got my experimental ties.....sorry Tiff!!

These little sock monkeys are for my nieces and soon to be nephew! It was so fun to make them...a little challenging but when they cost $2/monkey it is totally worth it!

This nativity is made out of 2x4's!! I used carbon paper to trace on shapes and then painted them!!

This is a block countdown similar to the holiday blocks I posted about earlier! They are just 4x4 cubes with scrapbook paper modgepodged on and then vinyl numbers!

I made these two aprons for my sister-in-laws. I really love the pattern....but I think the fabric choice makes all the difference!!




I am finally feeling like life is back to normal after our month long vacation....so now it is back to the creating!!! I can't wait to come up with some new projects!! I'll keep you posted on what I am working on!!