Scavenger Hunt Sunday

#1 Macro

I shot this right after the sun melted the frost.

#2 Found Texture

This was fun but hard with all the texture around it was hard to decide what to pick.

#3 Home

Waiting for Grandpa to come home.

#4 Cover

Leaves covering the lawn.

#5 Tree

I had planned on using this for the found texture shot. But' since it's my favorite tree I had to share it here.

Thank you for letting me share. Have a great week!

Simple Cake Decorating Tip: Icing With Out Crumbs

I started decorating cakes when my daughter asked me to make her Wedding Cake. I did a lot of practicing when I first started. I would like to share with you some of the easy techniques I learned along the way. My first question was how do I keep cake crumbs out of the Icing while I am frosting my cake. Have you ever frosted a cake and been aggravated with the crumbs getting into the icing making the surface speckled with bits of cake. I can not stand crumbs in my icing. The answer I found that worked for me was to use the two layers of Icing method. The first layer is called a crumb layer. The second is the finishing layer.

Chill the cake before you begin. I usually set it in the freezer for 15 to 30 minutes. Now dust any crumbs off the cake. Your icing should be room temperature.  This will make it easier to spread. Use a spatula to spread a thin layer of icing over your cake. Try not to let the spatula touch the cake. Once you have the first layer of icing on the cake let it sit to air dry for about 5 minutes.  Now spoon a large amount of icing in the center top of the cake. Using the spatula spread the icing out to the edge. Do not allow the spatula to touch the crumb layer. Use a sweeping motion from center to edge. Lift the spatula taking the excess icing off. Scrape the icing off the spatula returning it to the bowl. If there are any crumbs on the spatula or icing clean the spatula off with a paper towel.  Now you can frost the sides with icing. Cover the sides with icing. Hold the spatula straight up and down. Hold the edge of the spatula against the cake smoothing the icing as you turn the cake. Any excess build up of icing can be returned to the bowl. Continue until the sides are smooth. Sorry I do not have any photos of this process.

  This is a photo of a smooth cake top. It was taken before the top was decorated. ( one of my first practice cakes)

This is the same cake with the sides decorated.

Scrap Book Freebie Day!

As promised here is another fantastic scrapbook page to add to your collection.  For those who have not started collecting the pages offered by My Memories you can start now. There will be more to come each week. These can be used  for a scrap book (online or printed)  or photo album pages. I will be posting new freebies from my memories regularly. So feel free to start saving each of these free layouts and you will have a great scrapbook or photo album in no time at all.

For your free download go here.

This is just a sample of what I have made.

                          

If you are interested in more digital scrapbook software from My Memories  use the coupon code below.

Use coupon code STMMMS56142 for 2 $10 off coupons

Visit My Memories to check out their digital scrap booking software.

Wordless Wednesday

Decorated Pumpkin Cake

This is a cake My daughter-in-law ( http://tootsabellarose.blogspot.com/) and I made for my youngest sons 16th birthday.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

This is my second try at Sundays Scavenger Hunt. I really enjoyed looking for this weeks items.
1. Words

This is a page from one of my grandsons favorite books.

2. Under

3. Orange

4. Fly

There is a small airport one block from our house. My grandson loves to watch the planes landing every day.

5. Always Look on the Bright Side

Soft Sugar Cookies

We made soft cut out sugar cookies today. They turned out amazing. We made them in shapes because Pooh bear is learning to identify basic shapes. I thought it would be a fun learning experience. We did not frost them because it would be way too much sugar for Pooh Bear to eat.

Soft Cut Out Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup soft margarine

1 1/2 cups white sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla (I used 1 and  1/2 tsp)

1 cup sour cream

5 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a medium bowl mix together margarine and sugar. Beat in eggs, vanilla and sour cream. In another bowl mix together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add wet ingredients to the dry and mix well.  Wrap dough and chill at least 2 to 3 hours or over night. 

Roll out dough to 1/8 inch thick and cut into shapes. Place shapes on a cookie sheet.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes.

Cool and enjoy.

Another Scrap Book Freebie

My Memories is offering this free two page lay out and the finishing page elements. These can be used  for scrap book  or photo album pages. If you enjoy scrap-booking then I am sure you can use these free digital layouts. I will be posting a scrapbook freebie each week. So you can save and build a digital scrapbook for free. Make a family scrap book and email it to family and friends or print it out and share with everyone. 

Down load your free page layouts here!

If you are interested in more digital scrapbook software from My Memories feel free to use the coupon code below.

Use coupon code STMMMS56142 for 2 $10 off coupons

Wordless Wednesday

Waiting for her Popsicle!

Waiting for Grandpa!

Zulily Sales Event Up To 75% Off

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Zulily's  Promotion! - $5 Off $50, Save with code GA4756

A Crafty Christmas Giveaway

We are looking for sponsors to include in our  "A Crafty Christmas Giveaway".  The giveaway contest will start on December 1st and end December 10th.  The types of prizes we are looking for are hand made gifts, craft kits, crafting supplies and anything to do with crafting. This is a great way to promote your Etsy store or crafting  business.  For more information select the button below.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

I am new to this Photo blog hop. I really had fun this week looking for the items in the list. I spent hours of time just walking the neighborhood with my grandson. 

Abstract: I used the continuous selection on my camera for this shot.

Round: Ceiling fan shot while in motion.

Fire: A shot from under a weeping willow. I thought the leaves looked almost on fire.

Seeing Faces in Strange Places: I had two I could not pick between.

Stars: Also two favorites.

Rainbow

A beautiful reminder!

Zulily's Sale Event

Life is good - up to 45% off | Event ends 10/17 - Clothes with good karma. These tees, tanks, bags and baseball caps are more than just cute casual wear. A portion of profits will be donated to the Life is good Kids' Foundation. 

Velvet Chic - over 60% off | Event ends 10/17 - Puff the magic jacket. Your little gal will want winter to last all year once she sees these satiny puffer jackets and pretty plaid coats, some of which come with scarves and hats. 



Fat Brain Toys - up to 40% off | Event ends 10/17 - Beginning mind-benders. Challenge your budding brainiac with award-winning toys like Dado Cubes, HexActly and Reflection. 

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Zulily's Exclusive Affiliate Promotio! - $5 Off $50, Save with code GA4756.

Wordless Wednesday

Best Friends

Cousins sharing their love.

Little Bug and Pooh Bear  

Scrap Book Freebie

Do you like scrap booking? Then I have a freebie for you!  Totally free no strings attached. My Memories is offering this free two page lay out and the finishing elements. These can be used  for scrap book  or photo album pages. I will be posting new freebies from my memories regularly. So feel free to start saving each of these free layouts and you will have a free scrapbook or photo album in no time at all.

 

Download your free page layouts here.

If you are interested in more digital scrapbook software from My Memories feel free to use the coupon code below.

Use coupon code STMMMS56142 for 2 $10 off coupons

Visit My Memories to check out their digital scrap booking software.

A Trip Home Again

I have some pictures from last weekend that I am happy to share with my blog friends. I went home last weekend for four days and had a wonderful time with all my grandchildren. I spend lots of time with Pooh Bear and many weekends with Little bug but I don't get to spend much time with my granddaughters Sweet-pea and Pumpkin.They traveled up north to visit for a long weekend also. The timing was perfect. Every minute I spent with each of them was so precious to me. I am thankful for each and every minute.

Although it was cold and rainy the whole weekend we did not let that stop us from having fun.

We visited an amusement park near our home.

We jumped on grandma and grandpas bed and got caught!

Their fear lasted about ten seconds and they all started jumping again.

We played music for everyone!

I am so thankful for my beautiful grandchildren. They are a precious gift from God. Thank you for letting me share my past weekend with all of you. Please enjoy your weekend and have fun.