Tie Dye Swirl Cake

I did a cake order for a sweet 16 party over Halloween.  The birthday girl was doing Halloween colors with polka dots.  I thought I'd add a little element of surprise when they cut into the top layer of white cake by dying the batter different colors.

First, I separated the batter into 3 different bowl, and left 1/4 white in the original bow.  I added drops of food coloring...

 Mixed it up...

 Then started dropping spoonfuls of the colored batter randomly in the cake pans.

 I took a knife and swirled the batter around in the cake pan just a little before  baking.
 And this is what it looked like after it was all baked and leveled...

 

This was the cake all decorated...

 *This coloring effect can also be done with cupcakes!

Roasting Pumpkin Seeds

We took the kiddos to the pumpkin patch this weekend and picked out our pumpkins to carve. I roasted pumpkin seeds a few years back when my aunt was visiting us over Halloween. They were SO GOOD! I couldn't remember how we roasted them then, but I found a recipe online here.

First you need to separate your seeds from the guts:

Seeds:

Next, I washed them out good in a colander and pulled off the remaining stringy guts. Then spread them out in a cookie sheet to dry out overnight.

The next day I boiled them in salt water to get them good and clean. Boil just until they turn a little gray.
Then again, let then dry on a cookie sheet...
Melt 2 tsp butter and pour over (1 1/2 cups) seeds in a bowl. Sprinkle with 1 pinch of salt (or more), and then spread out on a cookie sheet.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Bake for 45 minutes.

Simple and Delicious!
Especially fresh out of the oven!

Sparkles, Glitter & Whimsy

Here are a few additions to my Etsy shop that were listed today!

Kissing Balls

Tradition states that in 18th century England, if an eligible young lady received a kiss on the cheek under the kissing ball, marriage would soon follow. While this tradition is no longer used, it is still a fun and festive symbol of times past.

Hang them in your doorway, in a garland, from the tree, or place in a bowl or vase!

There is a limited supply of these, and usually only one of each... so hurry and get your ONE OF A KIND kissing ball before they are gone! They make fantastic gifts! And are perfect for ornament exchanges!

Cricut Machine & Sure Cuts A Lot 2

I got my Cricut machine last fall. I love it! It has made a huge difference in my cupcake wrapper production!

And in addition to that, I've been able to make some really fun things with the cartridges I bought for it.

However, those got to be quite a costly hobby! So, after doing some research, I found this software; SURE CUTS A LOT. You can buy the download and get it instantly on your computer! It will allow you to create ANY shape or font you can find on the internet, and cut it on your Cricut!

The possibilities are endless!

I haven't bought a single cartridge since! You can upload any image from the internet, and the software will turn it into an SVG file. You can manipulate it any way you want... hook your computer up to your cricut machine, and CUT!

Installation is easy.
Using the software is easy.
And you will never had to buy another cartridge again!

I've put a link on my sidebar ----> if you'd like to learn more about SURE CUTS A LOT! You can purchase just the download, or receive the program on a CD-ROM, or both!

Calling All Etsy and Zibbet Shop Owners...

I thought it would be great to post a page on my blog for shop owners on Etsy and Zibbet to link up their shops!

If you post your shop link, it would be great if you'd take a moment to check out another shop or two!

Please be sure to link up your shop to the appropriate page on the tabs above! I can't wait to check them all out!

CSN Stores Giveaway Winner

The winner of the $45 CSN Stores Gift Certificate...
via RANDOM.ORG

Result: 13

Enjoy Country Living said...

I follow you and would love their stackable end tables

October 17, 2010 2:20 PM

Please contact me at: the5turners [at] gmail [dot] com with your email address and your $45 code will be sent to you so you can go do some online shopping!!! Congratulations!

*If the winner does not respond within 24 hours then a new winner will be chosen!
Thanks to everyone who entered!

Friendship Ball

Have you entered the CSN Stores Giveaway yet?
It ends tonight at midnight!

I've been working on some new items this week to list in my Etsy shop. Something I've been wanting to make for a while are these friendship balls. I think they are the neatest gifts you can give.

A ball is a circle

No beginning, no end
It keeps us together
Like our circle of friends.

The treasure inside
For just you to see
Is the treasure of friendship
You have granted me.

You can fill them with whatever you want. Candy, jewelry, a special note, tea, trinkets, hankies, and all kinds of lovelies.

The best part is, its the gift that keeps on giving! You may choose to give this to a friend for their birthday. You've filled it with a personalized bracelet with some candy and a nice birthday wish!

In a few weeks, you receive it back from your friend for YOUR birthday! It's filled with your favorite kinds of loose tea along with a little tea caddy!
Soon, it's Christmas, and you fill it with a special Christmas gift and send it off to your friend. The exchanging can go on forever! Give the friendship ball back and forth for any holiday, birthday, anniversary, or just because!

How fun to send this gift back and forth to your friends who love far away? To remind them you miss them!

I hope to have other colors and designs available soon!

What would you fill your friendship ball with?