Label Love

If you've been reading my posts, you'll know I've been blogging about my daughter's birthday and all the fun that I got to have making stuff for it.

Next up.....labels!

I bought two vases and vase fillers (or rocks, in this occassion) at the dollar store and the silk flowers came from Hobby Lobby during their 50% off sale. So all in all, not too expensive. But I wanted to jazz them up a little...this is where my labels came in! I started with the same black sparkly paper that I had used for the invites. I cut out a pretty shaped label using my Silhouette. Then I printed out the words "Liliana's 3rd Birthday" on plain printer paper and cut it out using the same label shape, just a smaller version. I glued the white paper over the black, added pearl adhesives, and let dry. After they were dry, I glued them to a piece of ribbon long enough to go around my vase. Then I attached the whole thing to the vase.

I loved the outcome...

Too bad the camera didn't catch the black sparkles though. Maybe I'll try to get a better shot later!

Here's both of the vases, sitting on either side of my (Yummy!) punch bowl.


Next, I made labels for my favor bags, using the same shape as the labels for the vases. I just changed the words to say "Thank you for coming to my party!" And I used adhesive cardstock, so they just stuck right on the bag. Then I tied a purple ribbon through 2 holes punched at the top of the bag, after adding the goodies (a DVD of Lil's 3rd year, some professional pics, and some ballerina chocolates), of course!

Wait for more sweet treats to come!

Is there a party without one?

Nope! A party just isn't complete without a banner!

I already had my color scheme (pink, lilac, white), scrapbook paper, cardstock and my handy-dandy Silhouette! All I needed was some time. After looking at all the possibilities, I found a banner shape I liked best and went from there. I cut them out and moved on to letters. I found the font I liked and a good size for my banner pieces, then I cut them out and stuck them on. So easy since my cardstock had adhesive backing! I traced the letters with Glossy Accents to help make sure they stay on and to give them a nice shiny outline. And done!

Do you like?

Click picture for closer view!

I know my daughter liked it, especially with all these presents under it!

Look for more birthday party projects to come!

Tutu Cute!

With the invitations for my daughter's party done and mailed out, I had some serious work to do! My next project was seriously made with lots of love, considering I had to do some hand sewing, which I am not fond of! I had seen some of the cutest bow holders online, mainly the ones from Bambina Ballerina! I didn't use any one in particular's instructions, I just kinda made it up as I went along. After searching more online, I found these instructions and might try them next time. Especially since it's a no-sew project! After a few days of work, this is how mine turned out!


I really like how it looks! I especially love the flowers on the top and lining the top of the skirt.





On the invitation I asked for everyone to bring a hair bow for the birthday girl, to add to her new bow holder. It just looked so darling with all the little bows. I'll have to get more pics of that later!

Until next time...

Poof...It's Gone!

It has been too long since I posted, so I signed in today to update you all with some of my latest projects. After writing and adding pictures for the last 3 hours, I went to post it, and it all disappeared! So, now you get the short version.

I have been MIA lately because my youngest daughter had her birthday this past weekend! If you know me, you know that I like to DIY as much as I can! I love crafting and birthday parties give me so many ideas and such opportunities! And it also leaves me with no time for anything else, even blogging!

I had decided on a ballet theme party for my now-3-year-old(!) because of her love for all things ballerina. The first thing on my long list was the invites. I had planned the design 2 or 3 months ago, then I got me a little something called the Silhouette! (New obsession starts here.) Jealous, aren't you? I know I was envious after not winning any of the dozen giveaways I entered, at least until I read the winner's blog and realized how deserving they were. BUT I still wanted one and finally talked my hubby into buying it for me!!! Gotta love him! And yes, I started playing with the machine as soon as I got it out of the box!

I made some borders...

Then I cut out some circles, pictures, and the card itself with the words "You're Invited". I added a strip of black sparkly paper to the inside of the card, so that you could see it through the cut out words. Here's how the front of the card turned out...

For the inside, I wanted a simpler design, but still something that would match the theme. This is what I came up with...

I layered another piece of the sparkly paper over the back of the other strip. Then I glued down the beautifully cut pink ballet slippers. The rest of the invite was just the details for the party. I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out and everyone else was impressed too. Of course, I love anything that has my daughter's pictures on! And the rest of the party was too cute...but more on that later!

Yes, seriously, that was the short version! LOL! So...what comes next for me? Thank you notes! I'll be back with more projects and pictures soon...I swear!

An Elmo Birthday

My nephew turned 2 a week ago! My sister, Jillian, had been planning on an Elmo birthday party, so of course I started looking for some cakes on my fave site, Cake Central. I found the perfect one (from CC member brea1026) and sent the pic to her. She was smitten too! Yay!

About a week before his party, I started by making some decorations for the cake. I mixed all my primary colored fondant with some tylose powder and got to work. I made an Elmo (of course!), some balloons, and lots of bow pieces to be put together later. After a couple days of drying and hardening, I went back to my pieces and painted details on Elmo and the balloons.

The day before the party, I baked a funfetti cake. And the next day I iced my cake, applied the fondant, and added all the decorations, including all the balls for the border (which my other sister, Jennifer, lovingly helped roll by hand!).

This is the final product!



And here are some pictures of the cake with the birthday boy! Love this first one, he just has the cutest smirk on his face, like, "Oh, yeah! That's MINE!"





If you hadn't noticed, the top tier has sharp corners but not so much on the bottom tier. No, I didn't perfect my skills after the first cake (I wish)! I just used a dummy cake for the top tier since there were less guests than my sister had first estimated, meaning we had to cut back on cake, but I didn't want to change the design. Plus, this way my sis got to keep the top!

Hope you enjoyed your cake, Jordan! Can't wait for #3!

2 Weeks Notice

Just in case you didn't notice, it's been 2 weeks since my last post! I remember thinking last week "Wow! I can't believe it's been a week since my last post!" And now another week has flown by! I know I have been busy, but geesh! I will have many more posts coming up about all my recent projects, but for today I'll just be leaving a short post as I have to devote SOME of my time to cleaning the house, before my family gets lost under all the mess! AHHH!

Anyway...about 2 weeks ago, my sister called and asked about a cake for her coworker's daughter's birthday. I happily agreed. Her coworker, Kathy, wanted a coconut cream cake. I love trying out new flavors! I looked online and found a recipe for coconut cream filling from a lady you may have heard of...does Martha Stewart ring a bell? Coming from her, it had to be good right? So, I baked a white cake, adding a little coconut cream pudding to the mix. I made it a four layer cake and iced it all with a coconut buttercream. I then added sweetened shredded coconut all around the sides.

Kathy had asked me to use whipped cream for the piping. I piped large shells on with a 1M tip, but in ten minutes time, the beautiful shells turned into a drippy, melty mess! So I had to redo the top of the cake and soak up the drips down the sides and bottom of the cake. Luckily, I got it all off in a decent manner, and it didn't need too much repair. I then made another batch of the coconut buttercream and repiped the shells. And last, but not least, added a cherry on top!

I should have taken a before picture, but at the time I was too devastated, so I didn't. But here's a few after pictures...MUCH better than earlier!





In the end, Kathy said her family loved it, and that's really what matters!

Help Me!

Don't worry...I'm not in any real danger! Unless the hubby finds out that I am planning on making another order from Global Sugar Art soon. Hehehe! And I'm thinking about ordering some back issues of Cake Central Magazine. But here's the real problem: I can't buy them all. :(

Seeing as I have an obsession with weddings, I really want the wedding issue!



But then I wonder if June or July might have something more valuable to use, instead of just pretty to look at?

Or should I wait another week or two and buy the new August issue?


Too many choices!!! Please help a fellow caker out here! Do you have a subscription? Or have you bought every issue? Any ideas as to which issue would be the best purchase?

Whichever issue(s) I decide to buy...I can't wait to see the pictures and read the articles!

It's a Jungle In Here

My sister called me up saying there was a baby shower at her work and was wondering if I might be able to make a cake or cupcakes for it. I love baby showers, with the pastel color palettes, the cute little clothes, and the enormous amount of food...how could I possibly say no? Even if it was needed in 3 days...I still happily agreed! But with the design I had planned, I had to start working right away.

I started making the cake topper first, giving it a full day of drying. I found great instructions for a bow here. I mixed my fondant with tylose powder to make it dry faster and more durable. I cut and formed each loop separately, as well as each curly ribbon, and in the main colors of the shower...pastel blue, green and yellow. I made about 24 loops, allowing extra for breakage. I usually make 18 1" loops, but since I was making smaller (about 3/4") loops this time, I needed to make more for this bow.


The next day, Blue mixed all my cake batter and 3 batches (at once!) of buttercream. She's such a hard little worker!

I baked 36 cupcakes (18 vanilla and 18 chocolate) and used the rest of the batter to make 2 halves of a 6" cake. I divided the buttercream into 4 equal quarters...one stayed white, while the others were dyed blue, green and yellow. I used my white buttercream for filling in the cake and then a crumb coat before I applied the fondant.

I iced all my cupcakes with a Wilton 2D tip and then stored them for transport (after taking a couple pics, of course).

That night, I melted some Wilton candy melts and "glued" my bow topper together. I let it chill and harden for a little while in the fridge, then I took it out and placed it on my itty bitty cake with a dab of the melted candy. I added a fondant rope border and I was done!

I brought it to the shower the next day and set it up. I added Wilton jungle wrappers and picks since the theme matched the baby's jungle bedding.

And I got about as much "Ooohhhh"s and "Aaahhh"s over the cake, bow and cupcakes as a newborn baby!

On Independence Day

Hope you all had a great 4th! I have been super busy spending time having fun and relaxing with the in-laws, so I haven't had any time to bake. :(
But I thought I'd leave you with a couple pics for the holiday!

I made these 2 years ago, right after I first got bit by the cake decorating bug...

Firework Cupcakes-I know they're not perfect, but I was pretty proud of them at the time!

(FYI: I did NOT make any of the following.)


Speaking of fireworks...

How cute is this?


After I saw this, I fell in love and really wanted to make this for a July 4th snack! But I never did get around to it.

(Can't remember where this pic came from. If you know, fill me in!)

One last awesome idea that I would love to try (found here)...

It doesn't seem to be too hard, but the end result looks amazing!

Happy Independence Day!