girl. Inspired.

travel, food, design

Molded Chocolate Bunnies

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Have you worked with chocolate easy-melts or candy melts yet?  Molded candies are quick to make and look like you purchased them straight from the candy shoppe!  Purchase easy melts from a local or online cake/candy supply store.  The Wilton brand is available in most large chain stores, but I have had less success with that brand.  (Also, for a pure white candy, you’ll want to look specifically for the pure white candy melts.)  
So, you put the melts in a microwave safe bowl and heat in 30 second intervals.  Stir after EVERY interval using a dry, silicone spatula.  When the candy is completely smooth, it is ready to pour into the molds.  
Molds are available online or at cake/candy stores and they are very inexpensive.  Pour the candy into the mold and tap it gently on your work surface so that any air bubbles rise to the surface.  
Allow the candy to cool and harden completely; I stick them out in the garage while the weather is cold.  You can also pop them in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.  
Twist the mold gently and examine the candy to determine if it is ready to come out of the mold;  when it easily comes away from the mold, tip the mold over and dump the candy out.  
To make a whole chocolate bunny, I found that the easiest method of combining the two halves is to make the first half, cool it completely, and remove it from the mold.  Then, pour additional melted candy into the other side of the bunny mold and place the hardened first half onto the surface of the freshly poured half – does that make sense?  
When the second half cools and hardens, the two halves will be joined together.  Tie a ribbon around the neck for a pretty finishing touch.  
Some tips:  
  • Use a silicone spatula for stirring the melts; do not use metal.
  • Do not allow any water to come into contact with the candy; it will cause the candy to seize up.
  • Do not overheat the melts; microwave no more than 30 seconds at a time and stir very well every time.
  • Use a good quality candy melt.
  • These instructions are for the use of chocolate easy-melts.  Real chocolate requires tempering and is more involved.  
I also came across some Easter reproduction vintage chocolate molds.  I put them out for my spring mantle display.  Loving the vintage combined with the white ceramic!

Bunny Cupcakes

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The bunny cupcakes in the Silk and Chocolate Easter Collection are classy and simple.  The white fondant toppers are made using a mold and a fluted circle cutter.  I snagged a Springerle replica mold from another of my favorite baking supply stores, Fancy Flours.  The mold had been on my want list for at least a couple years, since I saw it used in “Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes.”  I keep hoping to stumble on a dusty box of vintage wood molds when I’m out thrifting, but no such luck yet!!  
Anyhow, you can mold and cut out your cupcake toppers in a snap.  I used pre-made white fondant for this batch of cupcakes – I like the Satin Ice brand; you can also make your own fondant from marshmallows and powdered sugar (a quick online search will yield plenty of recipes, or try here).
Take a little ball of fondant and roll it out to your preferred thickness – shoot for 1/8 inch.  Use cornstarch to prevent sticking, not powdered sugar!  Be sure that you also dust the mold with cornstarch and tap out any excess.

Gently lift the rolled fondant and press it into the mold.  Press your finger around the entire molding area.  If the fondant tears, try rolling a thicker piece or pressing more gently.

Flip it out and smooth any unwanted lines with your finger.  Center your fluted circle cutter over the bunny; cut.  Set aside.  Repeat!  
When your cupcakes are completely cooled, top them with a dollop of your preferred icing and set the fondant circle on top.  That’ll do it!  
You can make the fondant toppers ahead of time and leave them to dry on waxed paper.  You can also add gel food coloring to tint the fondant.  
Happy Cupcakes!

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Spontaneity

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The last two weeks have been a whirlwind of fun and stress all mixed together.  Having less than 24 hours to clear out an entire floor of furniture and pack our bags left me feeling stranded and unprepared, but excited for the most spontaneous adventure we’ve had yet.  We did a little time in one of our favorite relaxation spots, Carmel by the Sea and spent the rest of the time giving my mom one huge dose of fun at her place (thanks, Mom!!).  No time for lavish Easter projects, but I did manage to collect the supplies for a few cute table decorations and yummy Easter treats.  I had wanted to make the older girls dresses to coordinate with the blue skies dress I intended to put on Addie, but with no time, their screenprinted shirts worked beautifully. 

Love Easter time.  Love the bits of sunshine.  Love the giggles and smiles and watching the girls scout out eggs.  Love the reminder of new life. 
little nests, deer, mushrooms:  Caramelos shop
Beatrix Potter cupcake set:  Williams-Sonoma
Beatrix Potter children’s tableware:  Pottery Barn Kids
Lamb cake pops:  how-to by Bakerella, of course.
BEAUTIFUL GARDEN:  designed, planted, and tended to by my MOM – she’s amazing!

Make a Bunny Shirt

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Okay!  Are you ready to make some fun spring bunny stuff?  I drew up a cute little bunny silhouette in Photoshop.  You can get the file by clicking here.  Today, I’m going to show you a quick way to dress up any plain or dress and turn it into a bunny shirt for your cutie.  Let’s get started.

 

  1. Print the bunny template (download it here).  Trace template onto an iron-on fusible web product.  I like to use Steam a Seam.
  2. Peel off one side of fusible web paper and place on the wrong side of fabric.  Remember to place the fusible web so that the mirror image of the design is on the back of the fabric.  That way, your image is the correct orientation when you flip it over to the right side of the fabric.
  3. Cut fabric and web.
4.  Peel off paper backing on the other side of web and place your applique onto your garment.  Iron according to the package instructions to adhere it in place.
5.  Stitch around the perimeter of the applique to permanently secure it to the garment.  Embellish with singed fabric flower and a fluff of tulle.Screenprint or applique a bunny with this free template!
I’ve been feeling quite inspired by this little bunny.  It has turned out awesome as a screenprinted image.  If you don’t have a screenprinter, you could print the bunny out onto freezer paper like we talked about a few weeks ago, cut it out with a craft knife, and use it as a stencil with fabric paint.
I also used it to do a little paper crafting and added another frame to the girls’ playroom art collage.
So go!  play!  have fun!

 

frames and flowers and shoes, oh my!

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I’ve had a few thrift store frames sitting around for awhile and thought I’d see what I could make of them to add to Addie’s bedroom decor.  It felt so good to just craft aimlessly and I love how this little frame turned out.  Easy art.  Cheap art! 

The steps are simple.  I used a thrift store wooden frame that I picked up for $1.99.  I roughed up the edges with some sandpaper and slapped on two coats of white paint.  After the frame dried, I roughed up the edges with sandpaper again, paying special attention to the scrolly areas.  LOVE the chippy finished look.

To finish the frame, I used spray adhesive to attach a vintage piece of sheet music to the cardboard insert and popped it in the frame.  Then, I rolled up a few fabric flowers (do we need a tutorial on these or has everyone seen them a million times over?) and gathered some ribbon, tulle, and faux pearls.  I cut a large circle of felt and moved around my embellishments until I loved the ensemble.  I hot glued everything down onto the felt and connected it to the corner of the frame.  Done!

But the fun doesn’t stop there!  Because I finally put one of my baby shoe patterns to use.  Oh wow, I could really get carried away with baby shoes.  I mean, who doesn’t love to look at a teeny tiny pair of shoes.  I’d like to see if I can tweek the patterns into a size that would fit my girls, for house slippers or something like that, but we’ll see…Good thing I have twin girl nieces who are due here real soon.  You can bet you’ll be seeing more cute baby shoes in the next few months! 
And then I moved on to bunny shirts…
 I’ll try to get a tutorial and downloadable bunny up for you in the next few days, but we’re currently clearing the entire downstairs out and moving headquarters to my mom’s while the new floors go in, so let’s keep the plans tentative, okay? 
Hope your Monday is fabulous!!

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