Fairies in Candyland

Take a Word Challenge this week is PINK.

This is what I came up with:)

"But friendship

is the breathing rose,

with sweets in every fold"

candy apple woods (take a word challenge)

 Even though they are deep in the forest.

these kittens seem to be having fun playing jump rope.

Perhaps it's because they are in candy apple woods.

I probably wouldn't mind it much either:)

The challenge word this week is
 fruit.

Puppies, Stars, Gingerbread and Angels

How was your Friday?

Ours was beautiful!

It rained all day long and it was actually cold.

Cold for us..it was 55 degrees!

We've had to wrap up all toasty.

I stood out in my little garden and marveled at the weather.
(notice the kitty all snuggled up on a little bed?)

 When it's like this, I'm very inspired to make
Christmas decorations.

I created two different projects 

using Lisa Kettell Designs  products.

I bought a paper mache house shaped box at a craft store.

After I painted it gingerbread and ivory

I added glittered candies, stickers, lace trim and a cupcake.

 After I painted the Tristan style doll heads brown and glittery

I added them to the gingerbread 'cookies'

 

The next project is an ornament

using my favorite dolly, carnival Lulu!

 You need a wooden circle about 5 inches in diameter.

Hot glue glitter tinsel around the circle.

glue a Styrofoam snowflake to the front of the circle.

Paint Carnival Lulu, add wings, skirt and tiny Christmas tree.

Glue her to the snowflake.

add a pipe cleaner to the back of the circle to make a hanger.

 

 

I hope you get a chance to try out these projects..they're super fun to make.

Don't forget you can purchase these doll parts 

in Lisa's shop.

Thank you to everyone that emailed and posted

suggestions on getting rid of those nasty cramps..

you're all awesome!

 

Have a great weekend.

Keeper of the Sweets

It's time to share my next project for Lisa Kettell Designs!

This is what you need:
Lisa Kettell Designs cotton candy pink Charlotte doll head
Model Magic
acrylic paint in pink and peach
iridescent tinsel
candy stickers
assorted ribbon
cupcake ornaments
decorative button
admission ticket
glitter paint in green
micro glitter in gold and white/clear
small cage
white glue
hot glue

Cage
paint cage pink and let dry
glue green ribbon around base
attach candy stickers
paint green glitter onto different areas
glue large cupcake ornament to inside








Doll
mold a simple torso and arms out of model magic and attach to top of cage with hot glue, let dry over night then paint peach.

glue tinsel to Charlotte doll head, top with cupcake ornament
attach to torso with hot glue
add decorative button and ribbon to front of doll to create necklace
edge ticket with white glue and dip in gold glitter
hot glue to doll's hand
paint white glue onto arms and hair, sprinkle white/clear glitter





Tips:
Cupcake stickers can be used in place of ornaments
shredded packing material can be used instead of tinsel which can be found at craft and hobby stores
cages can also be found at craft stores, thrift stores and yard sales
detailed instructions on how to make cupcakes out of model magic can be found in Lisa Kettell's amazing book, Altered Art Circus.
Doll parts and other goodies can be purchased from Lisa's Artfire shop

Some Sweet News

Hello again!
Hope everyone is doing well.We all had a bout with a cold but every one is much better now.
a couple weeks of not being able to make anything had me aching to paint, glue, draw, sculpt...anything!!!for now I made some candy lights, courtesy of Aunt Peaches.

Mine are a bit different from the ones on her blog, but it's pretty much the same style.
I used an old string of valentine's day lights with some colored cellophane & clear plastic plates from the dollar store.
Of course I got carried away and made some for my garden! This is a solar light that used to have a glass mushroom cover over it...well the cats broke (2) playing soccer or something, lol and all that was left of the covers were shards of glass.
This worked out nicely:)

I also have a bunch of empty ice cream cone bubble holders that I'm trying to figure out what to do with...any ideas?

AND....I also have stupendous-amazing-awesome-fantastic news to share with you!!!
Ive been chosen to be on Lisa Kettell's design team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I'm beyond excited-over-the-moon-hysterically-happy about this!

Ok, next post will be a giveaway for you!Here's a hint...it's magical, fruity and book(ish) haha!!
Have a wonderful night, see you soon.

Candied Oranges

Candied oranges!
They're delicious and easier to make than you think.
I followed this recipe from food network
All you need is:
6 thick-skinned navel oranges
4 1/2 cups sugar, plus extra for rolling
1 1/2 cups water
Directions
Cut tops and bottoms off of the orange and score the orange into quarters, cutting down only into the peel and not into the fruit. Peel the skin and pith of the orange in large pieces.
I got Paul to help me cut the peel into strips about 1/4-inch wide.

Put the orange peel in a large saucepan with cold water to cover, bring to a boil over high heat. Then pour off the water. Repeat 1 or 2 more times,this helps remove the bitterness.Remove the orange peels from the pan.

Whisk the sugar with 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 8 to 9 minutes (If you took the sugar's temperature with a candy thermometer it would be at the soft thread stage, 230 to 234 degrees F.) Add the peels and simmer gently, reducing heat to retain a simmer. Cook until the peels get translucent, about 45 minutes. Resist the urge to stir the peels or you may introduce sugar crystals into the syrup. If necessary, swirl the pan to move the peels around.

Drain the peels, then roll them in sugar and dry on a rack, for 4 to 5 hours. Return to the sugar to store.

Once they are dry you can dip them in dark chocolate but I like them plain.
Enjoy!

Sweetness

Hi, how was your holiday weekend?
Ours was very nice, quiet & uneventful, plus My dad is feeling much better (thank you!)
Once stress slips away my muse comes by for a visit, so I was able to finish up a swap I was working on.

I found some adorable lollipop ornaments,

which inspired me to make a little garland, using pompoms and foam marshmallows

November just flew by for me, and I'm hoping that December can be enjoyed more thoroughly, I'd like to squeeze every last bit of sweetness out of it if I can, and savor every moment.

I hope everyone has a sweet week.

Sugar Queen

You know what you get when you combine this:

And this....

And this....

And this....

With this???

you get a candy crown!

Perfect for your sweetie, or yourself...
There's instructions on how to make one of these and so so many other styles in this book!
I made most of the candy with paper clay or artificial fruit, there's even some "fake" jelly babies on it:)
I was pretty inspired to make some of these too..

But sadly they were gone before the camera could flash:)
If you want to try out these cupcakes, leave me a comment and I'll send you your own 'sweet' package, and maybe some other goodies too.
Have a great weekend.