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First off, I am in LOVE with mini cupcakes.  I love them in all forms but for some reason these are my new passion.

You can even find mini cupcake wrappers in the grocery store these days.  Basically all you do is whip up your favorite cake batter and use a mini muffin tin with the mini cupcake liners and presto, mini cupcakes. {I just like saying the word mini, it makes my happy.}

The other day I had whipped up a batch of these beauties and one of my sweet cuties asked if she could take one to school for her teacher.  The issue here…how do you take a mini cupcake to school without destroying the pretty little peaks and mashing it into cake goo?  Then it hit me…

…Mini Cupcakes in a Jar!

What a perfect teacher gift, or cute little gift for anyone really.  A jar with two perfect little bite size cupcakes inside.  Nobody can fault you for killing their diet, because these are little and they send the message that you care.

You can even decorate the jar by cutting out some fabric or paper to fit the lid of the jar and embellish your little hearts out!!

 

Won’t these be great for the holidays?

If you happen to add these to your gifting repertoire, send us a picture we would love to see what you have made!!

I’ve linked up to these link parties…

• Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative
• Tatertots and Jell-o
• Saturday Soiree at A Little Lovely

When I first told my friends I was setting out to make a fabulous paper pumpkin, the idea did not seem to astound them as I thought it should. I could see the vision and wondered why their response was so unenthusiastic. I suppose paper has a narrow reputation. People consider it to be a two-dimensional medium containing limited capabilities. I am here to expand that reputation and shed some light on the full capabilities of paper craft potential! Okay, so I'm not going so far as to start an official movement, but I aim to give credit where credit is due. And paper does not get enough credit!

So enter my 3D paper pumpkins. Pick out some pretty paper, add a little Mod Podge, throw on some good old Rock n' Roll twist music, and voila! Magical paper pumpkins.

Supplies:

• Scrapbook paper in shades of brown

• Scrapbook paper in coordinating designs

• Original Mod Podge (matte finish)

• Hot glue gun, wire cutter & wire pliers

• Floral wire

To make the pumpkin stem, cut strips of brown paper (I used Basic Grey Paper Pack in Basic Kraft) into 2 to 3 inch strips. Cover strip on both sides with Mod Podge and twist paper into a stick. Make sure paper is twisted tight, and not just rolled up. It should not be a hollow tube. Make several sticks, in alternating colors and widths, and allow to dry. Trim sticks to desired length (slightly shorter than your pumpkin will be tall) and glue several of them together to create a stalk.

Cut coordinating papers into one inch strips. I used Basic Grey Paper Pack in Capella. Dip a strip into Mod Podge to cover completely, and remove excess. Twist the piece into a tight stick, taking care not to rip the paper, or leave it hollow. Place onto non stick surface to dry. Repeat with more paper strips.

 

When mostly dry (as early as 20 minutes) bend each paper stick into a "C" shape and hot glue onto the stem starting about an inch down from the top, and ending by slightly overlapping the bottom. Attach paper strips one by one, shaping them as you go. Eventually the paper sticks will completely cover the bottom of the stem, and accumulate several layers to add dimension to the project. Continue until your pumpkin is the size and shape you want.

Cut paper into very thin strips (about ⅛ in.) and cover with Mod Podge. Wind paper around floral wire to fully cover, and allow to dry. Use round nose pliers to bend into tendrils. You can also coil the wire around a pencil, but I find this to make the curls a bit too perfect. I like to keep things a little messy and inconsistent. Glue the tendrils close to the stem, and arrange them as you wish.

And you're done! Yes, I'll admit that this can be a tedious process, but isn't it worth it in the end?

Here's a few tips I found helpful along the way:

• Wear latex gloves when Mod Podging (it helps keep things moving faster).
• Try to be in a time and place free from interruptions, because it's hard to respond with your hands covered in a gooey mess!
• Wrap your TV remote and phone in plastic wrap before beginning (for obvious reasons), you should have seen my husband's face.

 

 

I always love a good excuse to bake, and for me Halloween marks the beginning of the holiday season, which in and of itself is a perfectly good excuse to go bake-crazy.  Here’s some fun inspiration for cupcakes and cookies this Halloween.

Halloween in a Box {WhipperBerry}

Sweet Halloween Cookies {Glorious Treats}

 

Hello Naomi

What are your favorite Halloween Treats?

I don’t know if you’re anything like me, but I love tasty and SUPER easy bites to add to a dessert table–or any occasion really.  And, because you asked nicely, we are going to share another recipe from our Halloween table last week.

Spooky Brownie Bites

Bake a pan of brownies and let cool on a rack. When cool enough to handle, turn upside down and spill onto waxed paper. Cut the hard outer edge of brownies off and discard (if you have the willpower – I ate ours, he he).

With a large round scoop, spoon scoops of brownie out of the soft inside. Use your fingers to shape into a ball while pushing the crustier parts into the center.

After all the brownie is formed into balls, roll them into colored sugar or sprinkles. Store in a sealed container in the fridge. These can be made up to three days in advance, and they are still soft and yummy!