Saturday, October 30, 2010

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

Apparently I am on a cupcake kick, so here are the third cupcakes I have tried. I had trouble with this recipe because I decided I didn't really need to follow directions. MAKE SURE with the frosting that you mix it over boiling water. My husband warned me not to skip this step, but I did it anyway. I eventually had to put my frosting over the boiling water, but because I waited, it turned out grainy.... Here is my product and the recipe! I foudn this recipe at Flour & Sugar Tested Recipe.


Recipe yields 28 standard cupcakes

Cupcakes:

• 1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

• 1 1/2 c. cake flour

• 1 tsp. baking powder

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon, plus 1/2 teaspoon for dusting*

• 1 c. unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1 3/4 c. sugar, plus 2 tablespoons for dusting*

• 4 large eggs, room temperature

• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

• 1 1/4 c. milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Sift together both flours, baking powder, salt and 1 tablespoon cinnamon.

2. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of milk, and beating until combined after each.

3. Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes. Cupcakes can be stored up to 2 days at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.

4. To finish, combine remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 2 tablespoons sugar. Using a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip (Ateco No. 809 or Wilton No. 1A)*, pipe frosting on each cupcake: Hold bag over cupcake with tip just above top, and squeeze to create a dome of frosting, then release pressure and pull up to form a peak. Using a small, fine sieve, dust peaks with cinnamon-sugar. Cupcakes are best eaten the day they are frosted; keep at room temperature until ready to serve.*

7 minute frosting (or 10-12 min):

• 2 large egg whites

• 1 1/2 c. sugar

• 2 t. light corn syrup

• 1/4 t. cream of tartar*

• 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1. Combine egg whites, sugar, corn syrup, cream of tartar, and 5 tbsp. of cool water in a heat proof bowl set over the top of a pan of boiling water.

2. Using handheld mixer, beat on low 4 mins. Beat on high 3 mins until soft peaks form. Remove from heat, add vanilla and beat for additional 3-5 mins...therefore 10-12 min frosting. Decorate cupcakes immediately



Friday, October 29, 2010

Scrabble Letter Frame

I saw this cute idea on Polly Want a Crafter a few weeks ago, and have been wanting to try it! Tonight I went to a local thrift store and found a brand new scrabble game, never been opened for $1.99! I was so excited! I have all of the tiles and have many  more projects to create with these little letters! Here is my first project.


I had a frame laying around, and I just put some scrapbook paper in te frame. Then I just hot glued the letters onto the glass part of the frame. I had the perfect place to put it! Let me know if you come up with any other fun word combinations.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Ruffle Shirt

I have had a navy blue long sleeve shirt sitting on my sewing desk for weeks just waiting for something to be done to it! So today, when I saw this shirt tutorial on the blog that's sew me. This is a really easy shirt and gives me tons of other ideas to do variations of the shirt! Try it out!

I'm usually not a huge ruffle fan, but this one was way too fun to try

Originally this was a long sleeve tee, but I made it short sleeve and used the sleeves to make the ruffles! There is a complete tutorial on that's sew me.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Icing

I have been very into baking lately, and have been waiting to try out this recipe! My friend Megan was having another baby shower, so I asked her if I could bring some food! These cupcakes didn't turn out very pretty, I think it is the coloring, but they sure taste good! Recipe follows.


CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES AND PEANUT BUTTER ICING



2006, Barefoot Contessa at Home, All Rights Reserved

Ingredients



• 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

• 2/3 cup granulated sugar

• 2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed

• 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature

• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

• 1 cup buttermilk, shaken, at room temperature

• 1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature

• 2 tablespoons brewed coffee

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 cup good cocoa powder

• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

• Kathleen's Peanut Butter Icing, recipe follows

• Chopped salted peanuts, to decorate, optional

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and 2 sugars on high speed until light and fluffy, approximately 5 minutes. Lower the speed to medium, add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, sour cream, and coffee. In another bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. On low speed, add the buttermilk mixture and the flour mixture alternately in thirds to the mixer bowl, beginning with the buttermilk mixture and ending with the flour mixture. Mix only until blended. Fold the batter with a rubber spatula to be sure it's completely blended.

Divide the batter among the cupcake pans (1 rounded standard ice cream scoop per cup is the right amount). Bake in the middle of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes, remove from the pans, and allow to cool completely before frosting.

Frost each cupcake with Peanut Butter Icing and sprinkle with chopped peanuts, if desired.

Kathleen's Peanut Butter Icing:



• 1 cup confectioners' sugar

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

• 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/3 cup heavy cream

Place the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as you work. Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth.

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Texas Monkey

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Cute bomber hat!

The other day I was just browsing blog land, and found this amazing tutorial at Delia Creates. I found some cute fabric for this hat and got to work. Fleece is on a major sale at Jo-ann fabrics right now, so it's a good time to stock up if you have a project in mind! Here is how Thomas' hat turned out!


They are so easy and fun to make once you get the pattern down. I have already made three for various babies and little guys I know! They would make GREAT christmas presents!








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Friday, October 22, 2010

A day to celebrate!!!

One year ago today, Gabe, Thomas and I went to the court house, and Thomas was "officially" adopted! To Gabe and me he had been official since the day we heard about him in his birth mom's tummy. Him being born was the happiest day of our life, and his official adoption day was also a great day! It was nice to be done with the entire process and know he was ours forever.
Our family waiting outside the court room


With the sweet judge that finalized his adoption. This was his first adoption


The Deans!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Tile and Vinyl White Board

My friend text me this great craft the other day! She had done this at MOPS (mothers of pre-schoolers) and said I needed to do it and put it on my blog. All you  need:
1. Mini White Tile
2. Mini Plate Holder
3. Vinyl letters (stickers might work too)
4. Ribbon
5. Dry Erase Marker


I made mine say Dinner, so Gabe and Thomas can know what is for dinner at night! My friends tile said, "just a note" so you could write a little note on it. I attached the ribbon to the back of my tile with hot glue, and then tied it around the marker so the marker doesn't get lost! Cute project! Thanks Jen!

Monday, October 18, 2010

Another FREE photo book code

Don't forget a FREE photo book for new customers! For 10 days, from October 15 to 25, new customers ( you can become a new customer with different e-mail addresses) can receive a FREE Large Classic book from Picaboo using code FALLBK. CLICK BELOW



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Simple Little Boy Hat!

I got another cheap target hat, and while we were in the store, Thomas decided he wanted to wear it! It was a little big, but he was so proud to wear it and looked so cute! So, I thought I would decorate it up for him! I had some fabric with whales on it, so I cut out one of the red whales. From there, I ironed on some wonder under, ironed it to the hat, and then went around the whale with a zig zag stich. Here's my handsome boy.


My adorable little man in his new hat! He is such a sweet heart.

Featured Again Again!

This weekend has been great! I have been featured three times on other blogs! Exciting Exciting!!!

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Sunday, October 17, 2010

Wooden Letters and scrapbook paper!

I did this fun craft a while ago, and want to do it again when we get another baby!
Supplies you will need:
1. Wooden blocks or Wooden Plaques
2, Wooden Letters (Even those cheaper cardboard letters would work)
3. Scrapbook Paper
4. Mod Podge
5. Paint
6. Hot Glue or another strong glue

I decided to do the letters of our last name!

So, yes. It is crooked hanging above my door, but we just haven't got around to fixing it!

All I did was:

1. Paint the wooden block on places that the paper will not cover up. And paint the letter also.
2. Cut out the paper to the size of the wooden block
3. Mod Podge the paper onto the block
4. Glue the letter on top of it all and it is done!

These are so simple and so cute! Next time I want to have different paper under each letter so it will be more fun and more contrasting!




Featured AGAIN!

I am SO excited to have been chosen for a feature AGAIN! I was featured on the wonderful blog creating my success again! Click the button below to check it out!


Thursday, October 14, 2010

First Linky Party!

I am going to attempt my very first linky party!
1. Link up a craft, DIY, recipe or whatever from your blog, make sure you link to the actual blog post not the main page.

2. Become a follower if you would like!

3. If you want, put my button somewhere on your blog so people can join the party too!

4. I am excited, and hope there are lots of blog posts that I can go visit and other people can too!


Don't Forget your FREE photo BOOK!

Don't forget about getting a FREE photo book!



Click Below to Sign up. The program is free and totally safe to dowload.

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I have already made 4 and am going to use them as christmas gifts!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Chair Refinish

My Grandpa is a "collector" of junk. He has rooms and rooms full of stuff, and I love it! My grandpa always has what I am looking for! I found this chair at his place, and he said I could have it! I had great plans to put it in our black, white, gray and blue room. Here is the before and after.

The before... Ugly!

AFTER! I painted it white and covered the seat in nothing else but polka dots! Easy project.


NightOwlCrafting

Blog Award!

I received a blog award for Happy 101, 10 blogs that Living the Dream Loves! Check me out!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Another Shirt Re-Fashion!

Today I went to Jo-ann fabrics to get a few things for some projects I am working on. I was looking at the lace and I foudn this beautiful shere rosette trip type thing. The BEST part is that I got half of it for 75% off because it was a remnant! I am so excited about this trim, so here is the first thing I did with it.
I just sewed the trim right on the collar of the shirt. I got this shirt at old navy on clearance for $1.50!

I LOVE how this shirt turned out and can't wait to use this trim on something else. See if you can find this trim at your jo-ann fabrics. Also, be sure and check out my other Shirt Re-fashions and Shirts with Rosettes

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Sunday, October 10, 2010

Flutter Flower Hat

Target has some great deals right now and I got a cute plain black beanie for $1.50! So, to make the hat more exciting, I used one of the same techniques I used on one of the shirts from my post: Shirt Re-Fashions I have tried.

I used an old t-shirt for the flower flutter things.

Goofy pic of me IN the hat.

Get a cheap hat and add some fun stuff to it!


Keeping It Simple



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