wordless wednesday

cupcake challenge ::: week 8

i'm trying out posting from my phone because we have been out of town visiting friends since the weekend and are having lots of fun.  so much fun that i didn't given much thought to this weeks cupcake challenge until my brother sent me a text a few minutes ago asking me about it.  oops!  thank you for the reminder JCub!

a few minutes before i got his text my littles were playing a mario's world game and i said i want to make some cute mario characters.  i've always thought the little critters are cute and fun.  when i had said that i was thinking of crocheting or knitting some amigurumi but.... this weeks challenge will be mario's word.

come back in a couple days.  we'll be back home and i'll bake some cupcakes and we can swap recipes.

suncatchers

i've been playing around with crocheting suncatchers.  these were made with pattons grace: snow, aquifer, cardinal, blush, ginger, sky, and clay. the ring is  5 inches and  metal.   i haven't decided if i want to put an edging on them or leave them as they are.  the more i look at them in the picture; they need an edging.

i made this one using a 6 inch metal ring and no. 10 cotton crochet thread in lemon and gray.  i tied a evil eye bead from turkey onto the hanging chain.

hanging in the sun...

cupcake challenge ::: week 7 ~ mother's day

lavender relieves burns, stings, bites, headaches, allergies, and insomnia. it can stave off infection and clean wounds.  when i smell lavender it relaxes and comforts me. i turn to lavender for many of the things i would turn to my mom for when i was a child. and when i smell the sweet floral aroma of lavender i think of my mom.

lavender lemon cupcakes
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lavender buds
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup half-and-half
1 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

preheat oven to 350*F and line muffin tins with paper liners.

cream butter, sugar, and lavender buds on medium speed till fluffy.  add eggs, vanilla, lemon juice, hone and half-and-half and mix 2 minutes.  sift flour, baking powder and salt then mix into the wet ingredients.  fill the liners 3/4 full and bake for approximately 22 minutes.

lavender and lemon butter cream frosting
8 oz cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
dash of salt
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
3-4 cups powdered sugar
purple food dye
lavender essential oil

cream butter, cream cheese, honey, vanilla, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and 3 cups powdered sugar.  mix in the heavy whipping cream.  add more powdered sugar to get the consistency desired.  scoop about 1/8 - 1/4 of the frosting to a separate glass or metal bowl and add dye and 1 drop of lavender essential oil.

i use organic lavender buds and essential oil.

plastic will hold the smell/flavour of the essential oil even after it is washed so use a metal or glass bowl.

one drop of essential oil is all that is needed so be careful not to add more. i will put a drop of lavender oil in the bowl before adding the frosting in case i get more then one by accident.  if i get too much i'll add a little water to the bowl, swirl it around, and then dump it out.  there will still be lavender in the bowl.  don't dry the bowl just add the frosting and dye. a little more powdered sugar might be needed to get the proper consistency.

you may want to rinse the bowl even with one drop of lavender; it can be strong. 

if any of y'all made cupcakes and want to swap recipes leave a link in the comments so i can come over and check it out.

wordless wednesday

decluttering ~ finding treasures

Cleaning up and organizing is not only getting things neat and tidy; it feels like Christmas, a birthday, or finding lost treasures. 

We found some long lost and forgotten paint powder in the garage.  My Girlie got a cupcake tin and started mixing the powder with water because she had plan to do something fun.

I think she is planning on mixing up some more paint tomorrow to continue with her project.  Her brothers are planning on making some powdered paint bombs.  I think tomorrow is going to have a lot more color in it than today.