frower

I am attempting a Garganshoooous flower made of gumpaste. As I started forming the petals, I discovered that the flower is going to be way too heavy to put on the side of the cake. So, I decided to make only this central part of the flower one piece. Then the bigger, outer petals can glue on the cake itself around the center and cascading down the cake. I can't wait to see the finished product. I normally don't like to think about cakes too far in advance, but I am so glad I do on this little wonder. I probably would have made the flower whole, had I not thought about how heavy it would be...or I would have waited til it was too late to wait between adding rows. ..only 36 more petals to make for the cascade. Lovely.

Great Memories

When we were "homeless" for a year, I felt a need to get out and explore...to get the boys away from the everyday stresses. We visited parks, went to new eateries, and found places that we had never been. This was a BEAUTIFUL day March of 2010. It was such a perfect day, we decided to walk across the new Tacoma Narrows bridge. It was spontaneous (as usual. It's better that way). Then we found this nummy little cafe in downtown Gig Harbor to have lunch and round off the day PERFECTLY! Aaah. What a great memory (except for the part when one of my lovely children spilled their entire glass of water on my lap).

Sweet Treats!

This was my second attempt at making a "better" Christmas card. I like these better, but they are not mail-able. They have bumpies on them and that makes Mr. Postmaster mad. He likes to charge me muchos for any bumpies on my cards. GRRR. think flat, Karen!

My new interest is perfecting the whoopie pie. I have tried two different recipes so far...getting closer, but not there yet. These were kinda yummy with cream cheese filling and candy cane crunchies on the outside. I gotta find a moister recipe. I know they have to be kind of cookie\cake mixeyish. We'll see. I'll be sure to share when I accomplish this task:)

Big Time

Winter-like weather has set in around here. Grey, windy, rainy, bleh. It was High time to use some of my new Stampin' Up paper and stamps. I love the bright, cheerful, clean colors!!!! Things are trending toward dark, dank, swipey, dirty lookin'...it was all over at convention. I didn't buy a single piece of paper this year. This paper is so fresh and nice. Love it! It took my four tries to get the layout right, but here it is:)....I need to start making more of these to keep in my stash for those times when I get an inklin' to send a card and don't have time to make one. I saw a quote from Ralph Waldo E. that was about...it's never to early to do a good deed because you never know how early too late will come....somethin' like that. I need to follow my gut instinct a little more and get one it!

BIG mistake

Our cubscouts are going to have to pay for their camp next year, so they had a little bazaar at the local community hall. I made some nummos to sell. I didn't have much time, so I just whipped these up and called it good. Slapped a pirouette cookie on top and wrapped them up...problem is...those cruchy nummy cookies turn...well...not so crunchy after being on top of a moist cupcake. Lesson learned! Ah, well, at least they sold out and made enough for ALL the boys to go to camp:)

Mondo cake

I was asked to make the birthday cake for one someone at work...it turned out HUGE. It was a half sheet, but I always make the cake too tall for boxes that they sell to transport them in. Dern. So, I used a piece of PLYWOOD to carry it on. It was so heavy! I used my chocolate cake recipe, cream cheese mousse filling with fresh raspberries, and chocolate butter cream frosting.

Game ON

Usin' up some pewter lookin' drops that have been hiding in my stash for too long:)

Love these memories of Unca' Tom and my boys sharing their love of sports.

Nope. I'm not tires of banners AT ALL!!!

I am so close to finishin' up 09, I can almost smell it:)!! Baby steps.... The yuck-o weather outside sure gives me more time to do this. I also need to clean up my space so I can bring home some new goodies this weekend. It's the annual convention in Bellevue...one of my favorite days that I get to myself. They are very rare, so I soak it up when I can:) I will stay focused this year and ONLY get BOY stuff. I have so many girly froofy cutsie things that I can't use in my books,
SO...hopefully there'll be some great masculine lines out there this year. (sorry I grabbed the wrong lens for this:) depth of field is screwy)