Happy 4th of July!! - "Firework" Cookies

Happy 4th!  I know, I know, I haven't posted in FOREVER!!  I've been kinda busy, but I have a ton of things lined up that (hopefully)  I can get posted soon.  Today though, I want to post with these 4th of July "Firework" Cookies.  They're really easy to make; this post will basically focus on the decorating part.  (for the cookie/frosting recipes go to my baking page and scroll all the way down.  the cookie recipe is under "Christmas cookies" but it's the same thing :) )

You will need one recipe of the sugar cookies (baked and cooled) and one recipe of the buttercream frosting (leave 1/2 white and dye 1/4 red and 1/4 blue)

1/2 the frosting should remain white, while red and blue should be 1/4 each.  (the red and blue look like they have more because it spread out when I stirred in the dye ;) )

To decorate these cookies, you first frost it like you normally would with the white frosting (leave about 1/4 inch at the edges) then put your red and blue frosting in separate decorating bags.  Place a dot of one color in the center of the cookie, then put a ring around it with the alternating color, then another ring, and so on.  (shown above)  You can put at many rings as you want depending on the size of your cookie/your own preference.  I put 3.

Next, using a toothpick, start in the center and drag outward through the frosting.  Do this 4 times (kind of like dividing the frosting into 1/4s)  When this is done, do the same thing between each line, only start on the outside edge and drag inward.  The cookie should look like this (above)

Continue like this until all the cookies have been decorated! (the cookie in the center above was one of my "experiments" :)  I simply put more lines to give it a more tye dyed look)

I also made a flag minus the stars because I ran out of white.  It also doesn't have 13 stripes, but at least you can tell what it is :)

I also did these after I ran out of white.  It was the same thing, just with red and blue.

I was making these with my sister, Corinne, and these are the ones she decorated!  (above)

Hope you enjoyed and Happy 4th!!

DIY - Bottle Cap Locket

Hey y'all!  So, for this DIY, I am going to show you how to make a bottle cap locket.  For some reason, I have always wanted a locket (not sure where the idea came from) and when I was at home a couple weeks ago I decided to Google it and see if I could just make one.  This is the easiest one I could find that did not require a bunch of expensive, professional tools.  And you can decorate it pretty much anyway you want :)  So, to get started, you will need:

- Two bottle caps -- I used a white one and a silver one that I bought at a craft store a while back to make bottle cap pins (which explains the My Little Pony photos glued inside :P) but you can use Coke, etc as well.
- Scissors
- Thin, white string (or strong thread)
- A needle
- Mini beads
- Buttons, sequins, or anything else you may want to decorate it with
- A hot glue gun
- Needle nose pliers
- Thin ribbon (1/8")
- A jewelry chain -- I took the chain off of a dog tag necklace I have and used it since I didn't have another at the moment.

- Paper or photos to glue inside

- Mod Podge (if desired)

This photo shows most of the supplies.  You can get Mod Podge in several different containers - I chose the one that made it easy to apply it more like glue.  Also, I don't have a photo for the first step.  Using the needle nose pliers, flatten the edges of your bottle caps as much as possible.  You can also use a hammer, but when I tried that my bottle cap got destroyed :P

*Please ignore the My Little Pony photos inside my bottle caps.  These were former bottle cap pins and I couldn't get the photos out without messing it up.  They will be covered up later :)

When your bottle caps have been flattened, cut a piece of ribbon about 3" long.  Use the hot glue gun to glue one end inside each bottle cap, leaving about 1"- 1 1/2" of ribbon in between.  Make sure it is secure.

Next, string beads on your string or thread until you have enough to circle the top of one bottle cap.  You can use any color(s) and size you want, but I would suggest not getting too big.  When you have strung enough beads, tie the ends together in a tight knot, creating a ring as shown in photo #2 above.  This next step is optional but if you want you can use a needle or sewing pin to pull the ends of the string back through a few beads on each side.  This makes the knot less noticeable when you cut the string.  After you have done this, cut the ends of the string and hot glue the bead ring around the edge of one bottle cap.

Fold your locket in half and, using a needle and thread, sew a few stitches across the ribbon, as shown.  You can use any color you want, since I had white ribbon I used blue to match my beads since it would show up.  This stitch will keep the locket from falling off the chain.

Attach the chain through the loop left at the top of the ribbon.

Hot glue any embellishments desired on the front of your locket.  I just used one button, but you can use anything you want.  Then, use a glue stick or craft glue to put paper or photos inside.  When it is dry, cover them with Mod Podge for a shiny, finished effect.

And you're done!!  Comment below with any DIY ideas you might want to see :)  See you again soon!

"O Christmas Tree..." - A Different Kind of Tree

I like Christmas.  A lot.  Especially the Christmas baking and food.  I'm sure you do too :)  Anyway, a few years ago, my friend and I entered a Gingerbread house contest.  It was super fun building and decorating the house.  I can't remember if we won or not, (this was a LONG time ago :D)  but I still remember all the fun we had putting it together.  At that point, winning didn't really even matter.  We just liked having fun

together.  I haven't done anything else like that since... until this year.  A lady at my church gave me a little gingerbread kit for building a Christmas Tree.  Pre-baked, Pre- everything.  Except put together.  And that's the fun part!  Yeah, I like the baking part too, but the best part is putting it together.  So that's what I did.  I built... A Different Kind of Tree.  

The kit.

The "taken apart" kit :)

This is what it will look like... sort of... just prettier...

Step 1 - Apply WHITE frosting to each cookie, then stack them, alternating the points to create the effect of a tree.

Applying more frosting.  To more cookies.

So far, so good.

It's a little taller now...

Done!  (It took about 30-45 mins just to get this part done... yeah)

I like photography, so I took this pic.  It looks pretty cool!  Oh yeah, and after you put the frosting on, you sprinkle sugar all over it.  That's what the sparkly stuff is :)

Next step (2 I think)  - Use the GREEN frosting to go around the edge of each cookie.  This makes it look like a tree.

Working my way up... (this was the super tedious part :) )

All done!

The top view... again.

Next - Use these little edible pearl candies to "decorate" your tree.  I think I put enough... what do you think?

The final touch - The Star!

I added a "little" more sugar too... can you see it?  :)

The star on top.

The "top shot" again.  :)

And that's my Gingerbread Tree for ya!  Coming up soon.... Christmas candy!  And cookies!  Or, in other words, my BAKING PAGE!  :)

DIY - "Re-create" Your Cork Board!

Hey guys!!!  So I finally have a DIY that is NOT nail art ;)  Here you are going to learn how to "re-create" a cork board!

For this DIY, you'll need:
A cork board (well, you could do it without a cork board but that wouldn't be much fun ;D)
Ribbon - I used around 8 yards (24 ft.) but it really depends on the size of your board. You can use any color you want!  You can use patterns as well.
Pushpins - Mine are black... I'm not sure if they come in the colors of the rainbow or not but if they do then by all means use them!!!
Scissors

 

 Step 1 - Supplies

Cork Board

Ribbon

Scissors

Pushpins

Step 2 - First, put the end of the roll of ribbon at the top of the spot where you want the first stripe of ribbon to be and hold it in place with a pushpin.  Stretch the ribbon across the cork board and hold it where you want the other end.

Step 3 - Using your scissors, cut the ribbon at a slant even with the inside edge of the frame.  

Step 4 - Stretch the ribbon across and hold it firmly in place with a pushpin.  It should look something like this.

Step 5 - A few inches away from the top of the first piece of ribbon, secure the end of your ribbon roll with another pushpin.

Step 6 - Stretch the ribbon across the board and cut it as before.

Step 7 - Straighten the ribbon to be even with the first one and hold the end in place with a pushpin.

Steps 8-12 - Continue doing this until you have covered the board.  This picture shows the project progressing.  (Start in lower left corner and go around and up)

Step 13 - Now, you will start making ribbon stripes the other way.  Starting with the second pin from the top right corner, pull out that pin and place the end of your ribbon roll on top of the end of ribbon there.  Use the pin to secure BOTH pieces of ribbon.  Stretch it across and cut it at a slant even with the inside edge of the frame.

Step 14 - Take out the pushpin in the second ribbon down from the top right corner.  Cross the end of your first ribbon across the right slant over the end of the ribbon already there.  Use the pushpin you just pulled out to hold both ribbons in place.  It should look like this.

Step 15 - Now, take out the third pin from the top right corner and place the end of your ribbon roll on the end of the ribbon already there.  Use the pushpin to hold the ends of both ribbons in place.  Stretch the ribbon across the board and cut it.

Step 16 - Take out the bottom pin on the right side and cross the end of your loose ribbon over the end of the ribbon there.  Use the pushpin to hold both in place.  It should look like this.

Steps 13-17 - Continue doing this all the way across the board.  The picture above shows the progression of the ribbon stripes.  (Start at bottom left and go around and up)

This is what it should look like when it is completed.  I also put a pin in the center of each place where the ribbons cross.  Mine is hanging up in the picture!  Now just add pictures, drawings, etc to make it yours!!!

This is one I did for my bedroom a while back.  As you can tell, I like to use it a LOT!  :)

Hope ya'll enjoyed this DIY!  More coming soon!!!