Cupcakes!

Julie julie julie……Angry Julie on Monday.  I love me some Julie.  I met Julie at Bloggy Boot Camp in May.  She is the cutest thing ever. I was expecting her to be at least 6 feet because of her BIG personality.  But she’s a shorty like me.  I remember the moment I met her.  I love surprises.  We had been skyping for a couple of weeks prior to Bloggy Boot Camp, so I kinda knew her.  I walked into Tiffany’s room “bloggy boot camp headquarters” and saw a few women I didn’t know.  So I introduced myself and asked who and what blog they each belonged to.  I get around to Julie and she just smiled then said “you already know me, I’m Julie”  I squealed in delight “Angry Julie” and skipped across the room to give her a hug.  So much fun.

 

Julie gives Tip Junkie Laurie a run for her money when it comes to big and cute headbands.  Love the short hair….someday, I’m gonna cut my hair off.    Julie was our resident photographer….and she should be…….just look at the great photos she can shoot.  Don’t let her Crime Scene camera strap scare you…..I’m sure she cleans it after her day job. :)

Her day job in law enforcement gave her the nic name Angry Julie…….although she is anything but.  I think I’ll call her Betty Crocker Julie…..She can bake a mean cupcake.

You too can surprise your friends and guests with these rainbow cupcakes. I never really took the time to think about how these are made…..but it’s kind of an AHA! moment. 

Separate your batter in however many colors you want. Julie wanted 4.Add your coloring.Place a bit of each color into your cupcake muffin tin.And after adding your frosting…..you’ll have beautiful rainbow cupcakes.  So easy!  Love it.Don’t freak……I’m not pushing Halloween like possibly a few stores out there, but I do want to share with you these cute Halloween Whoopie Pies. She has a full tutorial on her site!While I’m pushing Fall……I can’t help but show you these oh so clever cupcakes.  Oh how I love a project that screams “I’m so crafty”, that doesn’t need a learning curve……cuz really….I’m realizing that I’m just a lazy crafter.  I want to look good, but let’s not break out the curse words creating it.

These are so easy!  Right up my alley.  Find some of those Pillsbury predesigned cookies…….and I think you can figure out the rest….but she does have a tutorial.  So cute!Julie has been known to be crafty in other areas too…….like adding vinyl to her laptop!  Genius.  I’m gonna do this. Or do a bit of etching on glass…gotta look closely….I swear I’m gonna do this…….I’ve got some plans. She recently re-did her sons bedroom with a skate board theme.  I love how she used skate boards for shelves.  And for wall decorAnd a bit more vinyl.      There you have it!  Go say hi and surprise her about her feature.  You’ll find a fast friend.  I love having you all do my dirty work…..well it’s fun dirty work though.

 

Also, before you go, just leave a quick comment if you want to be in the running for my monthly Lisa Leonard giveaway.    

This post sponsored by SWEET!

No More Naked Cupcakes!Let’s get baking!

Chalk Board Fabric

All five Craft Tote Winners will be announced on my Today’s Creative Blog Facebook page.  Head on over….maybe you’re a winner!!!

 

This girl gets it.  As do most women in the crafting world…..the more the merrier.  We crafty creative types love to share, love to help, love to inspire others to create…..we love to oogle over another one’s project seeing their own artistic expression.  I love the Creative World… We don’t have time for competition….…..I love women like Kathy!  

Merriment Design-“is all about everyday creativity. Get inspired by my step-by-step DIY craft instructions and templates — all for free.”

Kathy comes from a childhood of craftiness which prepared her for all her crafty attention as an adult. She started a handbag business with a friend, her wedding invites were featured in Knot Magazine and she had a segment with “Amazing Wedding Cakes”.  The girl is talented…….wickedly talented.  Below is the cake she helped inspire…Gorgeous isn’t it?

Not only did she use this fabric below for inspiration, she also used it for her wedding invites!   SHUT UP!!!    I guess that trumps the vellum I used. Before you think you have to use fabric to make cool invites or cards…….wait!  Look how simple and cool this Thank you card is.  This is one card you won’t have to nag your children to make. I’ve always LOVED these Dymo label makers.  Her tutorials are some of the best!  So easy to understand with step by step instructions.    Like this family coloring book.  What a great way to help your little ones recognize family members. Then when you draw a mustache on your Mother In Laws face….you can blame it on the kid.  :)  Great idea though…….and she’ll show you how to make it.My new friend and neighbor Lisa pointed these jam labels out to me…….that actually reminded me that I had this gem of a blog in my FFF just waiting to be featured. Thank you Lisa! Perfect time to use these. She spoils her husband with fun birthday cakes and fun candles.  I love these candles! Of course she made them…… And of course she’ll show you how. I was giddy when I saw that she recycled cling wrap rolls into something beautiful and so useful. Step by step instructions for making your own Napkin Rings. Aren’t her photos great?  She is pretty crafty with her printer and personal photos.  Making unique gifts whenever she can.  She used photos from around her town to make a memory game for children. This beats the barney one I bought my son.  Using her printer and photos, she has created many many other gifts as well…..a recipe book and many others you can see on her site.  These are such thoughtful gifts.  Way better than anything you can buy.  She’ll even show you how to do it.Because she had so much fun creating her own wedding initiation….she now offers this service.  This one below is one of the cutest, most original invites I have ever seen.I titled this post Chalk Board Fabric because she uses it a lot!  And we LOVE chalk board anything. 

Patio pillows……. A gift tag……And these!  This is genius. I am not trying to rush your summer…….I hate it when stores rush your summer…….like putting Back to School supplies on the shelves in July!  Before we know it, we’ll be seeing candy canes on those same shelves.

Kathy is also very crafty in the kitchen. 

Bacon bowls?  YES!  BACON BOWLS!  Holy Mother of all that’s good!  Oh my…….I love it!  I  mean who doesn’t like bacon?How in the heck do you make a bacon bowl?  Oh…….look…….a tutorial!And why I never thought of these before……except for the fact that I don’t like to mix syrup with my bacon…….but my son does…….He would LOVE this.           I had so much fun thumbing through her blog.  So many great ideas…….ideas that I’ve never seen. 

You guys were SO great in leaving Will comments for one of the totes.  I SO appreciate it.  You made me look good……Thank you!

I hope you’ll head over and leave Kathy a few comments too.

 

All comments left on my blog automatically enters you for my Lisa Leonard monthly drawing.  I’ll announce July’s winner tomorrow.

Sweet Life

I met  April while in Utah.  We were actually sitting next to each other for awhile.  I like her.  (yes, I liked them all……but that’s not always the case) 

Her blog Simply the Sweet Life is like flipping through a Martha Stewart or Real Simple magazine.  I just keep scrolling and scrolling looking at her gorgeous photos.  Maybe because she has a wonderful online mag called CraziBeautiful.  It’s full of some great stuff………you’ll enjoy it.  I promise……..pinky promise.

Lots and lots of recipes……….

Pico de gallo – Yum…….nothing like fresh pico on a warm summer evening.  My brother inlaw makes some pretty good pico.

On her CraziBeautiful site……you’ll find a ton of topics.  Including a cooking section.  She got a few contributors who help fill her site with TO DIY FOR treats and meals.  Like this Raspberry Pound Ice Cream cake……..Need a fancy cake, but you don’t have a lot of time?  This is your recipe.Since Raspberries are in season……..you may as well make some raspberry lemonade.    It always looks so nice.My sis makes this dessert!  I’m thinking this dessert is a signature dish like funeral potatoes for these Utah families.  They do love their jello.  Yum!  I love this.  The crust is crushed pretzels!  Also found on her CraziBeautiful Magazine…….RootBeer Float CupCakes!   (you know you can find cute cupcake liners at Skip To My Lou’s new bake shop – SWEET!)OK, so if you’re not eating carbs like me……you can still enjoy yourself by looking at all the other fun categories she has. 

This contributor below was a past feature!  Yes she was.And this clip board would be darling just hanging on the wall.  She’s got a full tutorial on her mag site.If you haven’t clicked over to find that clipboard and you’re still with me……..you may also enjoy April’s holiday garland she made for the Fourth….of course it can be adapted for other holidays.  We can always use a garland for something, right?What if you don’t how to make one?  No worries, she’s got a tutorial.

You guys have been so good at leaving comments for the featured bloggers!  Thank you!  I love how they are SO surprised to be the featured blogger! 

     Every comment is entered for my monthly Lisa Leonard drawing.  Click on “Creative People Say” and comment away.