Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Book Wreath



Thank you, Pinterest. I have another craft I have to do! I thought this was beautiful, though I felt so guilty cutting up a book to make it. I found The Count of Monte Cristo and Camille by Alexandre Dumas at DI, which are my two favorite books. After four sticks of hot glue, burnt fingers, down one book, and 200 cones later, this is what I came up with! I love looking at the pages and being able to recognize the story, I smile every time.

Overdue Update

This semester has been so busy and I've gotten too far behind on my posts. Now it's time to play catch up!

To start off the semester, I made a birthday cake for my roommate, Hannah. Happy 22nd birthday, Hannah! (You're just going to ignore that this is three months later...) I had so much fun making this cake and it was probably one of the easiest ones I've decorated! I experimented this time with a Swiss meringue butter cream, which is much more forgiving than regular butter cream and not nearly as sweet, where the icing is a good inch thick. I love how fancy it looks, when all I did was take a petal tip, and a few zig-zags later, voilĂ !



My favorite part of the cake is the layers, all five of them. I did a gradient from dark yellow to white with an easy raspberry filling in between.
I slacked off and got busy with school, I didn't do too much for a few months until Christmas time. Merry Christmas! Mom gave me a small budget and asked that I do a Christmas/wintery display in the nook above the dining table. I absolutely love decorating and went to town at Hobby Lobby. I think Mom almost died when she saw I was buying dark red feathers and gems to put in the garland, but I like how it turned out.



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Over the past couple of months I've become addicted to Pinterest. (Thanks Amber and Sarah!) I've learned things from fashion and hair tips to homemade dishwasher detergent recipes to more craft ideas than I'll ever be able to do! One day I saw a picture with baked marbles and I thought that they were absolutely beautiful, (much to the cringe of Mom who made these in the '60s). After I baked them, doused them in cold water and watch them crack, I had to figure out something good to do with them...with a little bit of practice I twisted wire around them and came up with this:






I absolutely love these. I have one hanging on my car mirror and it sparkles so much in the sunlight!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Lemon Cake

This cake needs a little bit of work still. It's a lemon cake with a raspberry filling and a white chocolate mousse icing. Next time I just need to make more mousse and add just a touch of sugar to the raspberry filling. Still, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The only thing different from the recipe is I added a package of white chocolate instant pudding to the mousse, I made this before and without that it's way too runny.

Ingredients

  • 1 (18.25 ounce) package lemon cake mix
  • 1 (10 ounce) package frozen raspberries
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 8 (1 ounce) squares white chocolate, chopped
  • 3 cups heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup fresh raspberries, garnish

Directions

  1. Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions for two 9 inch round pans. Cool cakes completely, then split each in half to make 4 layers.
  2. To make Raspberry Filling: In a blender or food processor, puree raspberries. In a saucepan, heat pureed raspberries until boiling. Mix cornstarch with a small amount of water and stir into raspberries. cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes, or until thickened. Set aside to cool.
  3. To make White Chocolate Mousse: In the top of a double boiler, heat white chocolate with 1 cup of the cream, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool to lukewarm. Whip the remaining 2 cups cream until soft peaks form. Stir in the vanilla. Fold 1/3 of the whipped cream into the white chocolate mixture, then quickly fold in the remaining whipped cream. Do not over-mix, or the mousse will become grainy.
  4. Place 1 cake layer on serving plate and spread with white chocolate mousse. Place the next layer on top and spread with raspberry filling. Repeat next layer of cake with mousse. Cover with the final layer of cake. Frost top and sides with mousse. Pipe a border with remaining mousse. Garnish with fresh berries.



Tuesday, July 26, 2011

"Funny Face"


Audrey Hepburn is one of my favorite people; she was so classy and very intelligent and always very modest. I tried to draw the Audrey Hepburn picture that Fred Astaire took at the beginning of "Funny Face." It's been a long time since I've drawn so it was a little rough, I need a little more practice, but I'm really happy with how the eyes turned out.

"I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles."
- Audrey Hepburn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI0ZHQON_IQ

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries


This is just about as close to heaven as you can get: cheesecake stuffed strawberries. They might be one of my favorite treats, and it only took about 30 minutes to make.

Ingredients
  • 2 quarts fresh strawberries
  • 1 box Jello No Bake Cheesecake
  • Graham cracker crumbs
  • Chocolate for drizzling
Directions
  • Wash berries and hollow out the centers
  • Mix cheesecake according to directions. Put cheesecake into piping bag and fill each strawberry until slightly overfilled.
  • Dip into crushed graham crackers to coat the top
  • Drizzle with chocolate
These are addicting, I can't get over how good they are! I got this idea from http://juneberry-lane.blogspot.com/

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Pinwheel Bouquet



My apartment needed a new summer center piece and what's more summery than pinwheels? I felt like I was back in first grade. I got the idea from http://juneberry-lane.blogspot.com/2011/06/tutorial-tuesday-diy-paper-pinwheels.html which is becoming one of my favorite blogs, I have so many new projects I want to do.





Saturday, May 21, 2011

Well...


I didn't make this, Mom did for me about two Christmases ago. I was excited though, when I moved out of my old apartment at the beginning of last summer we misplaced it...until a few days ago! It makes me smile, the kitchen is finally complete.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

"I'll Take You For a Ride on my Big Green Tractor..."



What's the quickest and most sure fire way to get me to do something? Pretty easy, tell me I can't. Someone told me I couldn't make a tractor cake and I had to prove them wrong. (And this has nothing to do with being a Shaw and slightly competitive...)

The tractor was pretty easy, I ended up making it out of rice krispies

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Cowboy Boots and Tractors


Chocolate, mmmh. White chocolate, wonderful. White chocolate with mint, even better. Then turn it into tractors and boots, oh it's marvelous.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Sisters


Sisters really are the best friends.

I absolutely loved this project, there couldn't have been anything easier; staining a wooden block, vinyl lettering, a few flowers and jewels, tie on a ribbon...

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Happy Mother's Day

I'm really bad at being patient and waiting for things, I think just about anyone will agree, and after finally finishing Mom's Mother's Day present I couldn't wait again to give it to her. (Four days is a long time.)



There was a poem that used to hang in Mom and Dad's room that I absolutely loved that this reminded me of.

If my friends would all desert me
I wouldn't worry, fret or pout,
For as long as I have my mother
I've nothing to worry about
Though I lose all and still have her
I shall not grieve a minute
To me she's worth the entire world
And everything that's in it

Happy Mother's day, just a few days early

Friday, April 22, 2011

Silk Dyed Eggs


I spent the evening dying Easter eggs using silk ties, I am absolutely amazed. (Suzannah and I said almost nothing but "ooh" for a good 20 minutes.) I am absolutely amazed how well they worked. The dye isn't food safe, so we can't eat them, but who really wants to eat these? They're too impressive. I just wonder if you could blow the egg out, then dye it and not have to throw them away.







Silk Dyed Easter Eggs
Tutorial by www.ourbestbites.com

Materials and Tools
-Raw Eggs
-Glass or enamel pot (but pretty much any non-aluminum pot will be fine)
-Silk ties, blouses, or boxers, cut into pieces large enough to cover an egg
-An old white sheet, or pillowcase, or tablecloth, or random fabric, cut into pieces to cover silk-wrapped eggs
-Twist ties or string
-4 tablespoons of white vinegar
-Warm water
-Vegetable oil
-Paper towels
-Tongs or spoon

1. Remove seaming from ties and any lining on the inside. You just want a piece of the silk. Cut silk into a square (or a piece) large enough to wrap around a raw egg.

2. Wrap an egg with a piece of silk, making sure the printed side of the material is facing the egg. Silk can still be used if it doesn't fit perfectly around egg. Just try to make as much smooth contact with the fabric to the egg as you can. The pattern will transfer better if it is right up against the egg. Any part that is folded or wrinkled will leave kind of a tie-dyed pattern (which is a good thing, it’s pretty that way) Secure with twist-tie or string.
3. Place the silk-wrapped egg in a piece of white sheet, pillowcase, or old tablecloth and secure tightly with another twist-tie or string.

4. Place the egg(s) in the pot. Fill pot with water to cover eggs completely. Then, add the 1/4 C of white vinegar.

5. Bring water to a boil, turn heat down, and simmer for 20-25 minutes.

6. Remove eggs from water with tongs or spoon and let cool on a pile of paper towels or in a colander.

7. When eggs are cool enough to handle, you can remove the fabric.

8. To add a little bit of lustre to your eggs, put a dab of vegetable oil on a paper towel and rub onto the egg.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

New Project?

I always seem to have a project going, or maybe two or three, and I think I found another one to add to the queue. Mom sent this to me earlier today and I've fallen in love with it, the fact that it's red, black and white helps out a little with that one. It's really simple but I think it would be a fun one to make. Besides, that's what summer is for, right? Getting all of the projects out for four months so you can have time to study for the other eight?

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Candy Land

I was looking through pictures and found these again...I made this a long time ago for a friend's birthday, it's Candy Land!


Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Donuts!



I just finished making donuts, and they turned out so good once I got the oil the right temperature. The only thing, I used a shy half teaspoon of nutmeg and it was still a bit strong.

Ingredients

* 3/4 cup scalded milk
* 1/3 cup granulated sugar
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 (.25 ounce) envelope active dry yeast
* 1/4 cup warm water
* 4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (optional)
* 1/3 cup butter or margarine
* 2 eggs, beaten
* oil for deep frying
* 2 cups confectioners' sugar
* 6 tablespoons milk

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, stir together the scalded milk, sugar, and salt. Set aside to cool until tepid. If using nutmeg, stir it into the flour, and add 2 cups of the mixture to the milk, and beat until well blended.
2. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water. Stir into the milk and flour mixture, then mix in the butter and eggs. Mix in the remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time. When dough is firm enough, turn it out onto a floured surface, and knead for 3 to 4 minutes. Place into an oiled bowl, cover and allow dough to rise until doubled in bulk. This should take 30 to 45 minutes.
3. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/2 inch in thickness. Cut into circles using a donut cutter, or round cutter. Set aside to rise for 30 to 40 minutes, or until light.
4. Heat one inch of oil in a deep heavy frying pan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Fry donuts a few at a time. Cook on each side until golden brown, then remove to drain on paper towels. Glaze while warm, or just sprinkle with sugar.
5. To make the glaze, stir together the confectioners' sugar and 6 tablespoons milk until smooth. Dip warm donuts into glaze, and set aside to cool.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Fabric Panels


I finally finished the fabric panels. I had a huge, blank wall in my apartment and this was a good way to pull some color and texture into the apartment

Saturday, February 26, 2011

BYU Basketball!

Two top 10 teams playing in the MWC...what else are we going to do besides have a party? I had to make a Jimmer cake and learned how to paint with food coloring.

(Love all the Jimmer shirts...)

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Kristin's Birthday!




Happy birthday, Kristin! Despite her car breaking down on her drive back to the apartment she finally made it, I made a chocolate cake with a chocolate mousse...