I didn't mean to leave you hanging!

I can't believe that I've been away from blogging for over a week!  I have no idea the last time that happened - and especially not unannounced!  For those of you that were worried, or those of you that just plain missed me (aw...!) I apologize!  Rest assured that all is well with me, and the family, and that there is nothing to worry about at all.

As you know, I hadn't planned on taking a blogging break, but life "happened" as it so often does, and time got away from me.  We celebrated a quiet fourth of July weekend at home - Travis had to work on and off all weekend - so we grilled and played board games and enjoyed some downtime together.  The crafting continued though when Heather and I made some Steelers cupcakes for a friend's 40th birthday, and I sewed a patriotic pillowcase dress for Lily, inspired by Anneliese's tutorial over at Aesthetic Nest (see hers HERE)

Lily's dress was pretty big on her (I'm still no good at determining sizes and sewing them!) but it was cute - and I was pleased with it.  She should be able to wear it next year, too!

This past week we headed over to South Haven for a little belated 4th of July celebration and some much-needed beach time.  We watched fireworks over the lake and spent time with family, and some dear friends from out of town.

And then the crafty fun continued when we got back into town and I hosted my 2010-2011 New Catalog Release Party for Stampin' Up!  We had a wonderful time, and everyone is just loving the new catalog!  I'll post the link to it in the sidebar this morning - please check it out!  I'll post about some of the party details later in the week, but here are some snapshots from the event...

And as if all that wasn't enough -- we're heading to the East side of the state this weekend, I have two stamping events this week, I finished one summer class and have already started another TWO (my last ones before my thesis!) and so much more.  Summer got busy - and fast!  But don't worry - I have lots and lots to share with you this week - so come back soon!

xoxo
Joanne

June Cupkins Double Whammy: Part 2

Welcome back to CUPKINS, a collaboration between Meg at Mega•Crafty and I.  Each month, Meg shares a muffin recipe and I share a cupcake recipe with the same theme.  This month, we're giving you a double whammy of Cupkins!  We shared some Father's Day ideas with you at the beginning of the month, and today we've got some July 4th goodies to share with you!

Red, White & Blue Cupcakes!

First off, color and roll out some fondant in both blue and red.  You can get pre-made fondant by Wilton at Michael's, JoAnn's, etc.  Using a star fondant or cookie cutter, cut out stars in both colors in a variety of sizes... (make sure to use lots of powdered sugar when rolling and cutting to prevent sticking)

To remove excess powdered sugar once cut out, lightly spritz fondant with butter flavored cooking spray, and wipe gently.  This will give your fondant and nice, clean, sheen.

Then, using edible glitter (again, from JoAnn's etc - made by Wilton) give your stars a little glitz!  Use a small brush dipped in water to wet the stars, then sprinkle with the glitter and set aside to dry.
  Look at that sparkle!

Meanwhile, mix up a batch of vanilla cupcake batter and separate into three bowls.  Leave one bowl white, then tint the other two red and blue.

Using an ice cream scoop with a lever, layer each color into cupcake liners until about three quarters full.

Back and cool.  Look at those colors!

Pipe a swirl of white frosting and decorate with your sparkly stars.  Garnish with red, white and blue sprinkles or sugars, and ENJOY!

So simple - but sure to get a "Wow!" at any July 4th get-together!  Happy cupcaking, folks!

Now hop on over to Meg's place (click on the Cupkins logo below!) to check out her July 4th muffins!

Meg's Baby Shower

This weekend I had the pleasure and honor of helping to throw a baby shower for my dear friend Meg.  You'll remember the baby bibs I was working on last week?  I made a set of four of them as part of her gift...

As for the shower itself, I was in charge of cupcakes - of course!  12 dozen minis, in carrot, lemon, chocolate and vanilla - all topped with vanilla frosting and a fondant flower...

Here's a shot of a couple of the tables...

I picked out a variety of gerber potted daisies (Meg's favorite flower) in different shades of pink, and hand wrapped them with pink craft paper, tying them with brown satin ribbon.

For the favors, Meg's aunt had picked up some little garden-themed sticky note pads, so I made a flower pen to go with each on (45 in all!) and tied the two together with pink and brown satin ribbon, finished with a flower tag punched from cardstock.

It was a lovely shower, with many beautiful and generous gifts for Meg and baby girl.  Here's a shot of me with my Mum and Meg - the mom to be!

And one of Meg and I...

Thanks so much to Meg and her wonderful family for allowing me to help make Meg's shower extra special!

June Cupkins Double Whammy: Part 1

It's the first Monday of the month!  Welcome to CUPKINS, a collaboration between Meg at Mega•Crafty and I.  Each month, Meg shares a muffin recipe and I share a cupcake recipe with the same theme.  This month, we're giving you a double whammy of Cupkins with today's post themed around Father's Day, and a second installment in two weeks featuring 4th July themed cupcakes and muffins!

Check out my Chocolate Banana "Dad" Cupcakes and Meg's Chocolate Stout Muffins!

Chocolate Banana "Dad" Cupcakes

My Dad loves all things banana, and when we were kids my Mum used to make chocolate banana cake (it's a super easy recipe, made in a blender of all things!  I'll have to share it with you sometime...)  These cupcakes are a little bit of an homage to that cake.

To bake these cupakes, I simply used a box of chocolate cupcake mix and added one cup of mashed, ripe bananas.  This makes for a pretty moist cupcake, and some of the banana will rise to the top of the cupcakes making them a little sticky, so these are best eaten as soon as possible.  They don't keep long.

The decorating was the fun part.  I tinted some fondant a yellow-ish color (you can either make your own or buy the fondant pre-made at JoAnn's, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc) and cut out lots of two inch circles using a fondant cutter (a metal cookie color will work fine as well)

Use plenty of powdered sugar when rolling and cutting your fondant.  When you have everything cute out, wipe the powdered sugar off with a paper towel spritzed with a little bit of butter flavored cooking spray.  It will clean up the fondant and give it a nice sheen.

I then used a tube of decorating gel (like this) to write "dad" on each circle of fondant.  So easy!

Using a piping bag filled with white buttercream (you could tint yours, or flavor it.  I stuck with white vanilla) and pipe a circle of frosting on the top of each cupcake.  Gently place a fondant circle on the top of the frosting.

Present your dad with customized cupcakes for Father's Day in whatever flavor, displaying whatever greeting you'd like!  They're easy to do and sure to be a hit!

Now hop on over to Meg's place to check out her Father's Day inspired muffins by clicking on the Cupkins logo below...

Lily's Bug Birthday Party - Part 2

Here are the rest of the photos from the Bug Birthday Party!  Missed the rest of the bug party posts?  Click on the Bug Birthday Party link to your right...   ---------------->

After much baking the day before the party, and lots of frosting and decorating that morning, Heather and I filled three cupcake trees with chocolate, lime and orange spice cupcakes...

The dessert table was full of delicious-ness!

We strung more garland on all of the food tables... and I found these super cute butterfly  straws at Pier One for the drinks...

I made little dirt cups... just 2oz each... the perfect size for wee ones...

And Heather made these AMAZING jello jigglers using a silicone mold (thanks, Mum!) from Avon of all places...

Some of Lily's gift-opening highlights included her own little chair...

My Mum made Lily this beautiful dress with matching bolero jacket!  She is so talented!

Lily was the most patient 2 year old ever - meticulously opening every card and gift.  One of the gifts Travis and I got her was a musical tea set...

Which prompted a little tea party - led by Lily's big sister Mariah.  The kids really got into it!

And Lily was even able to blow out her candle all by herself!  She just didn't want anything to do with the cupcake afterwards!  : )

Thanks for checking out my pictures from the Bug Birthday Party!  It was so much fun to do!  Can't wait to start dreaming up themes for NEXT year's party!