May 29, 2011

Rose Cake


Book club coincided with a member's birthday this month, so we made a birthday cake for the refreshment.  I saw this rose cake HERE at i am baker and had to try it.   Great photos and step by step instructions.


Deceptively simple, but it takes a lot of frosting.  Our birthday girl's favorite color is purple, so we added a light dusting of violet with a can of cake color spray paint.  Yes, they do make that.

A little sign for the birthday girl.


Close ups.

Happy Birthday Vickie!

May 24, 2011

Teacher Gifts: Etched Monogrammed Bowls with Apples


My youngest finished his last day of speech therapy preschool today.  My friend came over for an etched glass tutorial, and I ended up making some last minute teacher thank you gifts with her.   Jamie, I really do think you are my crafting BFF.  It's a good thing our husbands and kids like each other because we have too much fun together.  I mean, we would hang out regardless of their feelings, but at least their happy too, right?  Win win win.

  
 
 
Etched glass is hard to photograph.  Shame on me for not taking that Photography 101 class in college.  I monogrammed bowls for each teacher, just like I did HERE, using vinyl cutouts.  I had the leftover vinyl letters from the project and thought they would look good as the front of my card.  Slap that letter on some folded cardstock, cut strips of lunch sacks with some decorative scissors, fill with some apples (I am nothing but poignant with my gift giving), and tie a bow around the whole thing.  DONE!  Less than an hour for both gifts from start to finish. 

Here is me sticking a piece of cardstock in the bowl, trying to get a better picture of the etching.  It shows up a lot better in real life.  You are just going to have to trust me.....OR try it for yourself.   I suggest you do the latter.

May 19, 2011

Book Review: Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

Cleopatra: A LifeCleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Whew!  I finished it!  I usually finish a book in a couple of days.  This one took me over a week...and not because I didn't like it.  I started reading this book with no knowledge of what it contained, I assumed it was an historical fiction.  No.  It's a nonfiction, bordering on academic history textbook of the famous queen's life and times.  Not that I am complaining, it was very interesting and I learned a lot.  I have a much better grasp of that time period and especially of which Caesar is which.  The writing is excellent and the author has a very subtle way of adding her own little jabs and opinions of what she thinks actually happened.  If you read too fast or skim, you might miss some of them, which would be a shame.  She had me smirking a few times.  It is wordy, however, and it is easy to get all of those names (Roman especially) mixed up.  It takes some concentration to read, but I think worth it in the end.  Give it a try, just pace yourself and know you won't finish it quickly.  Some great glossy images of antiquities in the middle of the book, just when you need a break.



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May 18, 2011

Book Review: The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

The Candy Shop WarThe Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Great book, my favorite from this author so far.  Who wouldn't love a story about magicians that make candy for kids, who then get superpowers after eating it?  But why are they giving out the candy in the first place?  What are the deeper motives to these candy shops?  Great characters and plot, a simple mystery but still fun, and a great plot twist at the end.  Not too scary, which is great for my kid who tends to let his imagination get the better of him at times.  We'll probably read this one as a family when my oldest is 7 or 8.  Great for boys or girls.



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May 17, 2011

Preschool Packs

Inspired by I Am Momma...Hear Me Roar, I decided to make some dry erase activity books for some upcoming birthday parties.  There are multiple free preschool packs HERE.  I am planning on making a few more of these in the future.  Click on pictures to enlarge.





This binder has some custom vinyl work on the cover for our dragon loving friend.   We added some Toy Story pages too.  I added a pack of dry erase markers to go along with the present.  Hope they like them!



May 16, 2011

Doormat Wall Art from Lemon Tree Creations


I'm loving this idea at Lemon Tree Creations.  Don't have time this week to do it, so I'm filing it away here for future projects.

May 14, 2011

Book Review: Scorpia Rising by Anthony Horowitz

Scorpia Rising (Alex Rider #9)Scorpia Rising by Anthony Horowitz

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The last of the Alex Rider series.  First of all, this particular book was good.  Not great, not my favorite, but good.  I enjoyed the way it ended overall and felt it was real and gave me enough closure.  The storyline was a little more forced than usual for me.  The gadgets, situations, and villains are always a little over the top...I love that about these books...but the story didn't flow as well as some of the others.  My favorite part was by far learning more about Smithers.  Hilarious.

Overall, this series is fabulous.  I own all of these and am looking forward to the day when my boys are old enough to read them.  A great series for any spy-loving kid.  Highly recommended.



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