Happy Easter!

Easter weekend was another busy weekend. Full of family, food and fun. I have a secret dream, besides opening my own junk store, I would love to decorate cakes professionally!
That being said, I am an avid fan of Duff Goldman and Ace of Cakes, or any Food Network Challenge that revolves around cakes. They all use fondant on their show, so I figure how hard can it be? How pretty would my cake look? I decided to spend Friday all day, literally, to find out!
Couldn't find all the necessary supplies to make it from scratch, so I headed up to my local bulk food store and purchased dry fondant to use. Decided to make a butter cake with raspberry filling... made it double layer and carved it into an egg. Rolled out the fondant, tried picking it up with the rolling pin, stuck to the counter, tried it again, stuck to the counter... AH HA! I'm going to beat it the next time... I rolled it out on a cookie sheet... and ta da! Draped it onto the cake, then it started cracking... grrr, not as easy as Duff makes it. So here is my first attempt at a fondant cake!
The bunny cake is an attempt with the kids... I discovered my cake decorator was broken, so we had to hand frost it all... didn't turn out too bad with a 7 year old and 9 year old's help... although they couldn't help but to eat some of the jelly beans before it was served.
So it was a great Easter... we'll see what next year's cakes turn out like!

Is it Spring yet?!?

Friday was a beautiful day... but the forecast wasn't looking so good for the rest of the weekend... I decided to add a little spring to my porch before the snow fell again... in about 15 minutes, and after digging though my garden shed, garage and basement, this is what I came up with. Good thing I decided to do it on Friday.

Saturday was one of the largest farm machinery auctions in the area... they always have some flat racks of goodies, after heehawing around I decided to go... grabbed my coveralls, gloves, boots and hat, I headed out. Got a few goodies I will have to post later... when it started to snow and sleet, I called it a day. 36 degrees outside. Not my idea of auction weather.

Sunday continued to snow... got about 3-4 inches of huge fluffy flakes... am really hoping this is the end of winter here in Iowa... but you can never be too sure!

A day to play!

Yesterday was the first day that I actually didn't have anything to do after work! Kids got their homework done, I picked them up McDonald's and a game for the Xbox... it was all good!
While Mike was at class I decided to give the house a little spring decorating! I can't do anything outside (besides it's too depressing!) So it was easier to take my junk and bring spring in!
I think my favorite piece is my window! My sister and I have a decal business in my house and I have wanted to print some off to decorate with... accomplished it with this mirror. It's so much cheaper to make them yourself than have to buy them!
Hope this gives some inspiration to the others like me still stuck with the prospect of snow... spring can still come inside!

Win the Necklace!!

BTW- speaking of my friends at the Junk Revolution, if you are into creating things out of cast aways... please check out the site! We are a great group of people who have ideas galore! http://junkrevolution.com/community/

Busy this weekend!

I finally got some nice sunshine and warm days to get outside and get some projects done. Thanks to all my friends over at Junk Revolution for the inspiration. I've been stockpiling junk for years and am now finding that a little paint can make anything look great! Bring on spring!

The winter blues

It's the beginning of February and no end in sight for winter to be over. Although the temperature is suppose to be tipping the 40 degree mark by Friday. Yeah! That's shorts and t-shirt weather in Iowa during winter!
I've been itching for an auction... I need new junk, or stuff, to play with. My garage door is snowed shut, and so is my shed, so I can't go play out there. My basement is so cold I can't go and play in my craft room and I hate to drag all my stuff upstairs to the dining room table, that is what my craft room is for!
Looking forward to the next 6 weeks flying by... here's to the countdown!