Cupcake making for kids!

It was with much fun that we had the pleasure of 'testing' a cupcake kit for kids

for our local Whitcoulls bookstore!
First, we make a batch of vanilla cupcakes
and let them cool before icing them.

You can use your favourite vanilla cupcake recipe or a bought box mix.

 The kit had the smallest rolling pin you've ever seen in it...

cute little cutters, and fondant in pink, yellow, white and blue.

This kit is quite educational, too.
With fondant in primary colours mixed to make new colours,

Yellow + blue = green...
So that's a bit of colour science, isn't it?

 The fondant passed the taste test.

Kids would love the different flavours...

 Pink strawberry was the best!

 The little cupcake stand was a trick to get the cupcakes on...

But this was the end result.

Cupcake making with fondant icing.

Now there's an idea to keep the children entertained 
during the weekend,
or holidays!

Use dyes and flavours with plain fondant on your homemade cupcakes, if you can't find a kit.

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DIY Willow Wreath...

The countdown to Christmas is truly underway, have you been doing any planning?

I thought I had better get a move on with that,

 so I sat down with pen and notepad, and planned away!

Every year I have a colour theme,

and this year it will be the traditional red, dark green and white.

I'm going to make book page butterflies, Scotty dog decorations in white felt, and a decorated wreath.

Those bits will go nicely with the felt reindeer made last year,

and all the other Christmasy things, I have made or collected over the years.

Don't you just LOVE Christmas?

When do you decorate your house?

Are you like me and decorate in the first week of December?

The large willow wreath was today's creation.

 It should be dry enough to decorate in a few weeks.

Here is how you make a willow wreath...

There is a little willow tree in the house paddock at Mia Bella Gardens, so I gathered some of it.

You will need to pick the more flexible new growth.

As well as some thin wire and secateurs.

The next task was to strip the leaves and tips from the willow...

 Then cut some small pieces of wire...

 Choosing some of the longer lengths of willow bend into a circle.

 Using the wire, bind it together in three of four places.

 Don't worry if it's not perfectly round, 

for you will shape it as you weave more willow into it.

 Keep weaving and twisting, poking the willow into the circle.

Give it a squish and help it shape into a circle.

If you have access to willow, have a go at making a wreath...

It is lovely to work with as it is so supple.

It took me about 3/4 of an hour to make this....

Quite therapeutic actually, all that weaving.

 And here it is...ready to hang and dry...

Don't the poppies look pretty framed by my DIY willow wreath?

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Mod Podge Creation Reveal...

Yesterday a French look DIY pot was created...

Find the 'how do do it' info here:

http://miabellapassion.blogspot.co.nz/2013/10/mod-podge-craft-session.html

24 hours of drying time later, with my bowl of water and cloth in hand...

I start to wet the label...
AND THEN...

SHOCK, 
HORROR...
 realised I had modpodged over it yesterday 

when that is NOT what you do!

NOTE TO SELF (for future craft sessions)

PRINT the instructions.

Don't just read online and then think you will remember how to do it.

So here is what I should have done...

Brushed the modpodge onto the label....

Smoothed it onto the pot... 

Then left it to dry for 24 hours.

Thank you 'Heavens Walk' for those instructions.

http://heavens-walk.blogspot.co.nz/2011/07/french-flower-pots.html

So because of my mistake,

The removal of the label was a painstaking event!

It took quite a while to soak the top paper layer off.
But get it off, I did!
One coat of clear sealer later...

It was complete.
In the end, it worked,
even though I thought I was heading for a DIY craft disaster!

Yay!  The final result is one super cool French look pot. 
That will look fabulous in my laundry revamp (= ongoing project!)
Now that I actually know how to do this correctly,
I will definitely be creating some more!

The vase was a great success...

 and looks fab on the mantel. 

 It sits next to the fleurs basket...

Filled with 

snowball tree flowers, roses...

and pretty purple blue Japanese irises.

 I am loving this wee bit of BLING

as the colours complement the violet fabric perfectly.

Instructions at:  http://miabellapassion.blogspot.co.nz/2013/10/mod-podge-craft-session.html

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