Bridal Shower and Brides Cake

This past Saturday, I threw a Bridal shower for a girl from my church, and I thought it would be fun to show you the food buffet and and the cake I made.
These pops are just Oreos with a stick in them, then dipped in Chocolate and then we added some sprinkles and chocolate drizzles.

They were so easy, my 8 year old daughter helped me make them.
I am always looking for an excuse to use my rose dishes that my mother-n-law gave me. This was a perfect opportunity.


The silverware was our one and only splurge when we got married. We used all our gift cards for very practical things. Needs only. But these were on a super good sale, and so pretty, and we had the gift cards... my husband relented on the condition that I used them. So, I try to every chance I can. They cannot be put in the dish washer, and occasionally require some silver polish, but I have no regrets about getting them!!! Putting them in the jars with bows was a last minute thought that I really ended up liking.
Our color scheme was obviously pink. (To go with my rose dishes)
A friend who helped me, gathered up pink colored candies and cookies.
I made the cake. I was so happy with how it turned out. I have done one other doll cake, for my daughter's birthday, but never thought of doing it as a bride. Then I googled bridal shower cakes and saw one, and thought it would be really cute and fun.

I've been doing so much butter cream, after taking the Wilton Cake classes, that I haven't done fondant in a long time... I thought I would do this one in fondant. I am self taught, so it is far from professional, bit I still loved how it turned out. It really became the focal point of the food and the decor.
Here is the bride-to-be with the cake. Later in the week I will try to do a tutorial on the cake. I'm not good at tutorials, but I'll try to give some hints and tell you how I put it together.

Project #6- and a Happy 30th birthday to my little sis!

So I thought that I was really on the ball, getting this finished a few months ago. Well, I was 90% finished until I noticed on my calendar that her (our) birthday was quickly approaching (our birthdays are a day apart, which has been a lot of fun- we usually shared a birthday cake growing up, and you always know someone is going to remember your birthday! The downside: once my dad brought her a gift on my birthday, and not me, because he had gotten our days mixed up. But I've forgiven him!)
It made me think that I often do that. I get a project almost all the way done, and then I am distracted, put it aside, thinking that I'll get to it soon, and it just sits there...

...and sits there...

...and adds to my pile of unfinished projects.

Does that ever happen to you?

Tell me what helps you to actually finish those projects (without an impending birthday or other deadline!)
As for me? Well, I've decided that it's time to be a 100%-er!

And Happy Birthday Sis. Hope you enjoy your little tote bag! (It's in the mail, if you haven't gotten it yet!)
don't worry, the 30's aren't so bad!

Find Your Sock Yarn- How to Tackle a Project

Today I was the guest writer over at Find Your Sock Yarn. Be sure to go over and check out my article about how I came to start this blog and take-on my unfinished project list! Then come back and leave me a comment about how you tackle your projects and to-do lists!

Finished Project #5- Quilt Block for Graduation Gift

Sometimes one of the deterents to getting things on our "to-do list" done, is when new projects come along that have to take priority.
I've decided to just count those ones along with the ones originally on my list!
Obviously this happened to me when I was asked to make a quilt block for a graduating senior from my church (I was actually just relieved that I wasn't asked to make the whole quilt!) Scorching the fabric that they gave me, finding the right fabric, and getting sick- not to mention that I had other projects going on, too- really slowed me down on something that should have been simple and quick!
But, here is it, and I am happy to be done!

Strawberry Jam and a big 'Ole Thank you!

Today I made 17 pints of Strawberry Jam! (Whew!) I haven't done Strawberry Jam for years! But, I had determined not to let another Strawberry season (and strawberries on sale) pass me by without making some!
No recipe here, I just follow the one on the inside of the pectin box! Although it took 4 batches (12 pounds of strawberries) to make it all. The recipe says that each batch should give me 8 pints. I never got that many out of a batch. Anyone else have this problem?
I also tried one batch with the no-sugar pectin and used Splenda. Haven't tried it yet- will have to let you know how it is!
And, after making something so yummy and wonderful, I wanted to share it with someone.
Well, luck would have it that I owe a big thank you to my neighbors.
I have the best neighbors. Everyone needs some neighbors like them. I cannot tell you how many times I have had to rely on them in a crisis!
Most recently- the day after getting home from Spring Break, I locked my only set of keys in the car.
Along with my cell phone.
And my daughter.
What to do?
I ran to the Deckers. After explaining the situation, Billie handed me her car keys so I could take her car to go pick up the kids who were waiting for me at school. She went over to stand next to the car so the baby wouldn't get scared or be alone, and Don called the Sheriff's office who put out an emergency call to a locksmith (who unlocked it for free since there was a child inside!)
So, I decided to take some Jam over to them.
I had made bread the day before, so I had a loaf to go with it, and found a basket to put it in. It still needed something, so I pulled out a new kitchen towel that I had on hand, and embroidered their names on it:
Well, it doesn't do justice to how grateful I am to them, but I thought it turned out nice.

Project #4- Kid's Super capes (oh, and Princess, too!)

Last weekend my kids were invited to a birthday party for 2 sisters- our neighbors granddaughters, turning 2 and 5.

Birthday gifts for kids parties can be a little perplexing. I have no idea what toys these kids already have, or what they even like. But, I have one little gift up my sleeve that is always a winner with little kids. (Older kids, now? That is so hard, that lately we've resorted to just giving them money)
I started making these super capes when my older kids were little, using one my mother-n-law had bought as a pattern. For the boys I made them in blue, red, and black. They are reversible with a batman logo on one side, and Superman on the other. (In fact, my son would wear his everywhere we went, and people started asking about it; I started making them for people for $15 each*)
For the girls, I still make one side with the Super logo:

And the other side, I embroider with Princess and their name, and a felt crown. These are also reversible, and made in more girly colors.

Now, I am still counting this as something from my Project list, because I had never gotten around to making one for my youngest. So, while I was at it, I made one for her, too.
Look how excited she is!
*And I'll let you in on a little secret here. These are super cheap to make! 1 yard of fabric, a little velcro, and some felt squares. I think I estimated these to cost about $3.00 to make.
That worked out great too, because my budget is really tight this month after our Spring Break trip!

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