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Saturday, August 16, 2014

Summer Decorated Tree


 I almost forgot to show you my 
office tree decorated for Summer.

A smiling sun

made from sheets of orange foam 
and black for a mouth, googly eyes

and these car foam wax applicators



Here's one from a package of 6 brightly colored
children's party novelty sunglasses


Flip Flops....


toddler sized flip flops are a perfect
size to hang on the tree



 Ice Cream....
who doesn't love a nice cool ice cream
in the summer

These fun little bubble containers
found at the dollar store
make perfect tree decorations
after emptying out the bubble solution.

And what else says Summer like
Watermelon


These were cut from party paper plates



then scored, folded 




and glued for a 3D effect.


Transparent balls 
in bright summery colors
like this hot pink one
 represent beach balls




I found wooden sunny faces and beach balls too.

And sand pails, I loove little beach sand pails...
vintage ones with the cute little graphics.

Well I hit the jackpot!!

I was ecstatic when I found these
paper party cups with graphics
perfectly suited to make my little sand pails.


I just added a handle by threading some wire
through a plastic clothesline.

Then I added a shovel...

I lucked out again with these
 plastic spoons
in colors that perfectly matched the cups.


 I just trimmed the rounded spoon tip
off with a scissors.

Don't you just Love It!!


These glass S&Ps and cheese shaker jars

were transformed into beachy memory jars
when I filled them with 
shells, blue glass and a bit of glitter.


Tied jute twine around the top
and a handle for hanging.
Sealed with clear hard plastic over
the jar opening cut from a plastic drinking cup.

that's not really beach sand...I didn't have any
so I used a pinch of oatmeal just for effect



Finally, I came across these 
shell shaped coasters

which lent themselves to the beachy feel
of my summer tree.
I just poked a hole with a push pin
and hung with a wire 
Christmas ornament hook.


All topped off with this
fountain table piece
with summery flowers and butterflys
I found at a garage sale for 10 cents.





Hope you had a fabulous Summer
I can't believe Fall is just around the corner.


Go here see more of my Decorated Trees

Friday, August 8, 2014

Cupcakes in a Cup, 3 Different



All look so impressive
but sooo easy to put together.

You can use either the regular or large

size cupcakes.
Today, I'm using the regular size cupcakes.

1.)
  Strawberry Shortcakes

Start with your favorite white cake or shortcake
baked in muffin cups, cool, remove the cupcake
paper and drop in the bottom of a 
clear plastic disposable cup.

Top with sliced fresh strawberries.


Pipe some whipped topping on top.
Garnish with a whole strawberry.
(leave the strawberry leaf/stem on
for a pretty color element).




2. )
Chocolate Cherry  a.k.a. Black Forest

Your favorite chocolate cupcakes,

This is my faaavorite chocolate cake
nice and moist and chocolately!
It's an eggless recipe that I've seen in those
group fundraiser cookbooks under the name
of Crazy Cake.

In a small mixing bowl sift together:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup white granulated sugar
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon Arm & Hammer baking soda
a few dashes of salt (less than 1 teaspoon)

In a different small bowl (or glass 2 cup measuring cup with pour spout works great),
whisk to blend then pour into dry ingredients above:
1 cup water
1/2 cup cooking oil, such as Crisco Canola Oil
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon good vanilla (I like McCormicks Clear Imitation Vanilla)
Stir all together with a wire whisk 'til well blended and smooth.
Pour into UNgreased 8x8 baking pan, or 12 cup cupcake tin with liners.
(Because there are no raw eggs you can lick the utensils and bowl, yum!!)
Bake in 350 degrees oven for approx. 20 minutes or until cake is puffed and springy,
wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
So... drop a cooled cupcake into the plastic cup,
Top with a big spoonful of cherry pie filling 
straight out of the can.
Pipe on the whipped topping,
and garnish with a single cherry.
I've recently seen prepackaged shaved/curled 
chocolate in the baking aisle.  
Wish I'd had some to sprinkle on top
around the cherry....next time I will.




3.)
  Pineapple Upside Down Cakes



Sorry for the picture quality of some of these.  
I'd just removed these from the refrigerator
and the plastic cup fogged up making it
difficult to see the cake inside.

I'd seen pineapple upside down cupcakes
on Pinterest ....something new to me....
and they looked wonderful so of course
I had to try them.
I definitely recommend using the large size
cupcakes for these.  I used the regular size
and by the time I had the pineapple ring
in the muffin tin there was almost no room
for cake and it ran out of the cup during baking.
I ended up putting two cupcakes in these
plastic cups...a plain cake in the bottom,
whipped topping, and then a
pineapple cake.  I placed a stemmed 
cherry in the pineapple hole.




I'm off to the bake sale!






Let me know if you make any of these,
I'd love to hear your comments.