Cake Pops! First Try

My sister is getting married (and ignoring the fact that she is being a bridezilla) she decided she wanted cake pops for her wedding favors. After a discussion with my Mom, I decided to to try to make some myself. And using a pineapple cake - I did.

Crumbled pineapple cake

With cream cheese icing added - rolled into balls

Sticks added - dipped in colored white chocolate - some with sprinkles.

Some dipped in colored white chocolate and some with milk chocolate.

And they are yum!

Maze Scrapbook - FL

Start with one square for the pages.

 I've been doing all sorts of scraps books and memory books for years at home, at camps, with scouts, 4-H, and through theater things and am always looking for new ideas and non-traditional memory keeping ideas. I stumbled across this site, that had a number of things I had already seen, done, and even taught, but this Maze Book was one that inspired me. I used the ideas as a base, changing the size to make it larger and adding my own touches.

Armed with a map (that I cut down and used for the pages), pictures, and a few bits from a recent trip to my cousin's wedding I decided to try one. (I always bring back a collection of things from a trip... pictures, maps, and other little objects, bits, & pieces. In this case confetti from the wedding, shells, and sand that I used part of in a Memory Jar project from a previous post.)

Fold into 16 even squares.

 Supplies:
     1 sq. sheet for pages (map in this case)
     pictures (I printed them smaller to fit my size needs)
     cardboard (for the cover)
     assortment paper
     stickers & other decorations
     embellishments (stick on gems, shells, etc.)
     yarn, ribbon, etc.
     glue, tape, or other preferred to secure and attach

I cut the map in a square shape, folding it diagonal and cutting off the excess, making sure to include our hotel and the beach where the wedding & reception where held. Then folded it in half twice, both horizontal and vertically to create 16 even squares.

Then cut rows, leaving one square on end attached to fold out as in a one long piece.

Then folded to form a book.

Fold

Cut board (I used cardboard from a box of veggie burgers). I used one piece that was wide enough for the cover and long enough for both covers and the spine. Then cover the board with decorative paper.  (I chose something that would go with their wedding colors.)

Attach folded pages to front and back cover. Secure to covers.

Attach pictures, decorative paper, stickers, labels, to pages. (I used some butterfly and flower stickers that I had on hand that went with them theme.)


Decorate cover. (I included stick on gem flowers, a few tiny seashells, glitter paint, and a picture from the beach. On the back cover is a picture from the trip home.)

Add any attachments for pockets. I attached a piece of yarn to the spine that was linked to a picture attached to board and a small plastic bit of confetti from the reception.

Embellish, decorate, ENJOY! (And using things I brought back with items I recyled or hand on hand, I spent on nothing.)

Memory Jar - FL

Scrapbooks are great and with computers and the internet we can take and store tons of pictures and videos, even burn them them onto discs or DVDs, but there is more to keep memories close than just books.

Recently, my family headed south to my cousin's wedding, that just happened to be on the beach. Like with most trips, I came back with a selection of pictures and bits that are perfect to scrap book, but I also came back with some other special things that hold just as much memories from that special day. Instead of having them scattered around in various places I took a little inspiration from Martha Stewart and combined the bits into a Memory Jar.

I started with one clean jar with lid. (In this case it was an empty pickle jar, I cleaned and socked really well. I liked the smooth sides.) I cleaned the jar with hot soapy water, removing the label, letting it soak for awhile to remove glue left from the label and any residual vinegar smell.

I filled the bottom of the jar with about and inch or so of sand I had collected from the beach where my cousin's wedding and reception was held. (I brought it back in an empty plastic water container in my beach bag.) This gave a good bottom and base for everything else.

Then came the arranging. I used included shells, a small chunk of coral collected from the beach, bubbles from the wedding & reception, a glass votive wedding favor from the reception (it had their names and the date printed on it in their colors), and sprinkled paper flower confetti (from the reception tables). Using the sand as a base, I placed the large items first (the coral and votive), then placed the shells, confetti, and bubbles around them to create an attractive display. Without anything else added it was already a nice reminder of the wedding and that nice day on the beach with family & extended family.

I painted the lid with acrylic paint (white with a slight marbling of blue streak through it) in it and glued a layer of sand (from what I brought back) to top. Using hot glue I attached a couple of the shells to the top. The let everything dry.

I decorated the outside of the jar too, but it isn't necessary by any means. (I've done others that didn't include anything on the outside.) First, using little dots of hot glue I attached ribbon around the edge, left from a wedding program. Then, I adorned the ribbon & sides with a couple of pieces of the flower confetti and small stick of purple gems I had on hand. (While the gems were sticky on their own, I considered what they were being attached to and  decided to re-inforce them with a bit of hot glue.) I used a little clear glitter paint to add a few extra finshing touches.

With everything dry, I attached the lid, and now have a lovely jar full of memories.

Almost everything came from that trip... adding only the jar (which came from my recycling bin), a bit of paint and glue, and a couple stick on flower jewels that I already had on hand.

It Doesn't Always Have to be Storebought - Handmade Gifts

Handmade gifts are always best & I have a few from friends & family.

A friend made these metallic painted handmade little clay creations for the tables at her wedding (pictured with the green background). (An artist in her own right.) She wanted something original that she made to be a part of the decorations. They had natural variations in the process of hand forming each one. (Some of them has little hearts with her husband-to-be's initials. Mine is not one of them.) It's great to catch little things like rings and earrings or a delicate necklace. (Some of them had had little candles in them.) One of the best things about these - she did something her way and celebrated her art, incorporating it into her special day.

I grew up involved in community based groups (such as 4-H and Girl Scouts), that often put a great importance on volunteering and being a positive part of the community. It may sound corny or idealistic to some, but I would like to think it did help shape elements of my ideals and instill a sense of responsibility.

Napkin Holder

As a Girl Scout, one of these involvements included "adopting" a "grandparent" at a local nursing home we often visited. (Pretty typical community involvement project.) I got a feisty woman who liked to work on plastic canvas needlepoint, including a house design napkin holder (pictured) that she gave me. It's something that years later, I still have and still think of her fondly when I see it. It was something she shared with me.

The photo album was a birthday gift from aunt this year. She has really gotten into scrap booking projects and card making. She embellished the cover inside and out for a personalized birthday present (to go along with a handmade card and cookies from a nearby bakery).

Photo Album Cover

Inside Cover of Album

The Gift Of Jewelry

Peace Sign Necklace from C.

I not only give handmade gifts, but sometimes I receive them from friends and family as well. Jewelry has been a part of it.

A friend dabbled in jewelry making and made me a bead and wire necklace with a peace sign (somehow it made her think of me) and a few feathers.

The ring is braided wire soldered together. I don't remember exactly where it came from, but I think it found it's way into my collection while at one of my camps.

The Heart Jewelry set was bride's maid gift from my cousin's wedding, complete with a silver wire heart pendent on the necklace & earrings and a matching blue and silver bracelet. The Bride designed the jewelry with a jewelry making friend from her church and we were given them the morning of the wedding. Our dresses were an ice blue and we wore the jewelry for the wedding. (The mothers of the bride and groom where also given bracelets.) The clasps are magnetized (making it a bracelet I can can actually clasp on my own).

Wire Ring

Heart Jewelry Set