Craft idea: Owls

What is it about owls all of a sudden?  I've started seeing them on nursery decor everywhere!  I love it.  They're cute without being too girly, so they make for a nice neutral nursery.  I don't remember seeing any of this stuff around when we were decorating our nursery, but we pretty much were set on a Noah's Ark/Jungle theme.

Anyways, whenever I have time, I'm making these....

Pillows...

Or bookends...

Or a super cute bib...

 Do you have any owly ideas??  Send 'em my way!!!!!

Sock Monkeys

My newest craft inspiration - sock monkeys!!  

I was introduced to them during craft club by a new friend a couple months ago.  They seemed easy to make, so I thought I'd try it out.  Of course, I chose to start this new project right as spring clothes started coming out, so it was hard to find cute, fuzzy socks to use.  I chose navy and yellow argyle knee socks from Target.  The knee socks just make my little monkey friend have really long arms and legs.  I'll definitely post pictures as soon as I have a chance to work on it!!  He's going to be so cute, and Jacob will love him :-)

Sock monkeys can be made out of all sorts of interesting types of socks, but the classic sock monkey is made out of Rockford Red Heel Socks, which I can only seem to find online (if anyone can get them elsewhere, please let me know!!)

If you're interested in making a sock monkey, here are the cutting guides.  You can find the written instructions here.

Cupcakes

I make cupcakes.  Actually, a lot of cupcakes.  Today I made some for a couple of friends of ours that are expecting their first child in a few weeks.  We had their shower today, I love baby showers!

Anyways, I just wanted to post a picture of the cupcakes - chocolate fudge with vanilla buttercream frosting and sugar pearls, YUM-O!

Nursing Covers

When I was registering for things for our baby last year, I was looking for a pretty, stylish nursing cover.  I never could find one that I really liked at what I thought was a decent price.  So, I made one (actually two, just in case of emergencies!!)

This is my nursing cover, along with the matching burp cloth:

Here is a close up of the burp cloth:

Both are made out of cotton fabric, the burp cloth is made from the same cotton fabric on one side, and terry cloth on the other.

And...I've been asked several times if I make items to order, and I do!  If you're interested, please email me directly for pricing information.  

Loveys and Burp Cloths

First off, I need to apologize for my serious lack of posts!  I haven't been crafting much, with the waves of sickness rolling through our family, and other things going on, there hasn't been much time for crafting.  But don't you worry, I'm back at it!

So, my son sucks his thumb, and it's ADORABLE.  I love it.  And he cuddles, which I love more.  He's taken to cuddling blankies and loveys.  I always know that he's seriously tired when he's got a blankie/lovey in his right hand, and his left thumb in his mouth.

So, I made a new lovey.  It's soft, brown striped minky on one side, and a satiny material on the other.  I just finished it, and I think he'll like it.  (I pinned two, but only sewed one, that slick fabric is so hard to work with, and I lost my patience).

I am also in the process of making more burp cloths.  We have a bunch, but it always seems that we run out!  Here is the one I just finished, there are many more coming, and I will post about them when I am done!  This one is the brown striped minky on one side, and a cotton print on the other.

I know they're just meant to wipe up drool and spit up, but why can't they be cute in the meantime??

Have a great rest of the week!!

Cheesecake FAIL, and SUCCESS!!

I made two cheesecakes over the past week.  I really messed one up (it tasted OK, though!), and the other turned out very nicely!!

Cheesecake FAIL....
I made a White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake.  The recipe told me to bake it in a spring form pan lined with parchment paper in a water bath.  I skipped the parchment paper, because I was out.  How important could it be anyways??  Well, apparently pretty important!  Even though I wrapped the bottom of the pan with foil before I baked it, it still got all soggy.  On top of that, I removed the spring form too soon, and it started to sink.  Oh, and the raspberry swirl sunk to the bottom.  I'm not quite sure that I will try this one again!

Cheesecake SUCCESS...
Here is the recipe for the Tiramisu Cheesecake.  I think next time, I will make whipped cream rather than using the cool whip!

1 pkg. Nilla Wafers
7 tsp. instant cofee
5 Tbsp. hot water
4 pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 c. sugar
1 c. sour cream
4 eggs
1 c. thawed Cool Whip
2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

Heat oven to 325F.

Line a 13x9 inch pan with parchment paper, with ends of foil extending over the sides (or just spray the pan with cooking spray).  Spread half the wafers onto the bottom of the pan.  Dissolve 2 tsp. instant coffee to 2 Tbsp. hot water, stir until dissolved.  Brush onto wafers in pan.

Beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl with mixer until well blended.  Add sour cream, mix well.  Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each, just until blended.  Remove 3 1/2 cups batter, place in medium bowl.  Dissolve 3 tsp. instant coffee in 1 Tbsp. hot water, stir into removed batter, spread over wafers in pan.  Top with another layer of wafers, dissolve remaining instant coffee in remaining water, and brush over wafers.  Cover with remaining batter.

Bake 45 minutes, or until the center is almost set.  Cool.  Refrigerate 3 hours.  Spread with Cool Whip and sprinkle with cocoa powder just before serving.

(Note - the above picture is NOT the Tiramisu Cheesecake that I made.  Recipe from www.kraftfoods.com)

Tiramisu

I love tiramisu.  It definitely makes my list of favorite desserts (yes, I said list, how can anyone have ONE favorite dessert???)

This year, we are celebrating Christmas with my family a week early, as we are celebrating with my husband's family on Christmas, and if you know us, you know that it's definitely impossible to celebrate with both families in the same weekend.  So, I made tiramisu for one of the desserts (my other one is white chocolate raspberry truffle cheesecake, which I think I totally messed up, I'll write about that next time and let you know how it turned out).

Anyways, I thought I'd be generous (it IS Christmas and all), and share my tiramisu recipe, so you can love it as much as I do!

Ingredients:
4 egg yolks
2 tbsp. milk
2/3 c. granulated sugar
2 c. mascarpone cheese (side note - buy this at Trader Joe's if you have one near you, it's so much cheaper than the regular grocery store!!)
1.4 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. heavy cream
20-24 ladyfingers (you can usually find these in the bakery dept.)
1/2 c. cold espresso
1/4 c. Kahlua coffee liqueur
2 tsp. cocoa powder

(Another side note, I used 3/4 c. strongly brewed coffee instead of the Kahlua and espresso)

Directions:
1.  Fill a medium saucepan halfway with water and bring it to a boil over medium/high heat, then reduce the heat so that the water is simmering.  Whisk the egg yolks, milk, and sugar together in a medium metal bowl, then place the bowl on top of the saucepan.  Stir the mixture often for 8-10 minutes or until the mixture thickens.  Remove the bowl from the heat, and to it add the 2 cups mascarpone cheese and the vanilla.  Whisk it like crazy until the cheese smooths out.

2.  In a separate bowl, whip the cream with an electric mixer until thick.

3.  Slowly fold the whipped cream into the cheese mixture until it's completely incorporated, but don't over mix or it will deflate!

4.  Combine the espresso and Kahlua in a large shallow bowl.  One-by-one, quickly dip each ladyfinger in the espresso.  The ladyfinger will soak up the liquid like a sponge, so do it very quickly.  Arrange half the dipped ladyfingers side-by-side in the bottom of an 8x8 baking pan.

5.  Spoon about half the cheese mixture over the ladyfingers, then add another layer of dipped ladyfingers, and spoon the remaining cheese over top.

6.  Dust the top of the tiramisu with the cocoa powder, and cover and chill for several hours.