The coolest baked good I've ever made

So back to my recaps on Emmy's Tangled birthday party.  We've already talked about the decorations so now we're on the good stuff...the cake.

I love to bake.  I'd rather bake than cook.  For some reason, baking makes me feel creative and artistic. I don't get that feeling from cooking. Last year was all about being creative for my children's birthdays.  Noah got Lego cookies for school and a Lego cake for home.  When I started planning (or pinning) Emmy's party, I knew exactly what I was going to make.  I found this pin and knew this was perfect for my baby girl's party.

via

How perfect are these Rapunzel towers?!?!?!  A great twist on the classic cupcake.  I headed to Michaels and got my supplies.  They were quite easy to make too.  I used a boxed cake mix (I'm not above that) and prepared it per the directions. I put ice cream cones in a muffin tin to help stabilize them and filled them 1/2 way to 2/3's of the way up.  I baked them according to the box and they baked perfectly inside the cone.  I baked them all the night before because I knew I had 40 of them to decorate the next day.  If I could do it over, I would make sure the only task I had on the day of the party was the cupcakes because the cones got a little stale.  I'm not sure if being in the oven caused the staleness or because they were made the day before.  Either way, they were a huge hit.

My brother's girlfriend was a lifesaver and came over early to help me finish them.  I can't thank her enough because I'd still be decorating them months later if it wasn't for her.  I just love that girl so much!!!

Here's our Rapunzel Towers.  I think they turned out perfectly!

Our creations

That's a lot of cupcakes

My birthday girl

Make a Wish

And I have to share this picture because it captures Em's pure joy at her party.  She had the best time with her friends from school, her cousins, and our family. We're so blessed to have so many people who love our children.

Tangled Party: AKA Momma Gets Crafty

Let's jump in the time machine and head back to the summer.  Emmy turned 4 in August and, of course, wanted a Princess Party.  Every party she's ever had has been a princess one.  She was a 1st Birthday Princess.  Then there was Little Mermaid and Brave.  So which princess would be the lucky one for her 4th?  Rapunzel of course!!!  So I did what any good mom would do....create a party board on Pinterest!!!!

I had originally bought the standard party store decorations but with a week to go before the party, I shifted gears and went completely homemade for everything.  I made the Hubs take most of the decorations back and used the money for my craft supplies.  I found a few pins for bunting and other decorations.  I cut out the sun logo that's seen throughout Rapunzel's kingdom and got to work.  I painted it on the bunting.  I made paper lanterns.  I braided 25 feet of yarn to make a Rapunzel braid to decorate our entry way with.  Each girl got a Rapunzel braid on a ponytail holder to wear for the party.  I even made the Magic Golden Flower that gives Rapunzel's hair its magic powers.  I might have gone a little overboard for a 4 year old's party but I had so much fun doing it.  I have set a high standard for myself for future parties though.

Without further adieu....Emmy's decorations!!!!

Making my templates for the bunting and paper lanterns

Paper lanterns in full effect

Tea staining my Wanted Posters

25 foot Rapunzel Braid

Rapunzel braids for all the girls

It turned out really nice

I love the way the lanterns looked!!!

I'm so happy with how it turned out.  I don't know if I'd change a thing.  It wasn't overtly Tangled but if you saw the movie, you appreciated the touches I did.  I'm so thrilled with the cupcakes I made that they're getting their own post!!!  Probably the most exciting thing that I've done so far in my baking career!!!!

What I Learned from Pinterest

~I have a very strange obsession with grey and yellow
~If I were getting married again, my colors would be grey and yellow
~You can plan the best parties and never have them leave your computer
~I can be my own hair stylist (and actually make it look like the pin)
~Everything's better with burlap
~Two words.....Gallery Wall
~You can be that cute Mom who sends in the most creative treats
~DIY everything!!!!
~I'm now an amazing chef (in my mind)
~Did I mention my new found love of grey and yellow?!?

My Craft Wish List

I feel my DIY juices flowing!!!  I have found so many ideas on Pinterest of things I had planned on buying in stores that I can make myself...and save some moolah!!!  I've planned out 2 teacher gifts already, just need reasons to give them (or reasons to tell the Hubs so I can buy the supplies...love you Hubs!!!), I've already picked out potential Christmas gifts to make, and I've found so many tutorials for apothecary jars.  I have been planning a stellar Christmas decoration that I cannot wait to share with all of you for months now and all I needed were the jars.  Now I can make millions of them for half the amount of money I was willing to spend to buy them.  Look how thrifty I've become!!!

So here's just a few things I need to get all of this underway:
1. Hot glue gun.  I don't know how I've survived my adulthood without one.  And come to think of it, I think my mom always had one growing up.  Why didn't I ever get one?
2. E-6000 and Gorilla glue.  Can't glue stuff together without this (obviously when I can't use the above mentioned hot glue gun)
3. Chalkboard paint.  Any ideas about making it yourself?  I've seen a couple DIY recipes but is it better to just buy it?
4. Mason jars.  I just love them in general but I didn't realize they had so many uses!
5. A basic sewing kit.  I don't even own a needle.  Not a one.  I have tons of scrapbooking supplies and tons of ribbon but no needle and thread.  Ultimately I want a sewing machine but we'll have to work up to that. I have huge aspirations of making my own scrub tops and making dresses for Emmy
6. Buttons.  Again, I never realized the unlimited uses buttons had.  I always get rid of the extras on my clothes.  You can use buttons on anything!!!
7. Ribbon.  I have a little stash going but I need more.  Plus Emmy's hair is getting longer so soon I will be putting ribbons around her ponytails.  I also want to make hair clips for her so they are a must.
8. Fabric.  I think I need to start a fabric collection.  Not yards and yards of it but scraps of random fabrics.

That would be a great start.  I have a real desire for a Cricut machine or a Silhouette.  I love the idea of being able to cut your own diecuts and wording for scrapbooks but I really want to be able to cut vinyl.  I have so many ideas for vinyl. 

I can't wait to get crafty and of course, share it all with you! 

In non-crafting news, we took Noah to Disney on Ice last night and had a blast!  It was an awesome show and Noah (and Mommy) loved it.  Here's a pic of me and my lil man.  This is also the first time I've worn real pants in 2 weeks.  Let me tell you...after about an hour of having the button rub my incision, I was ready for my sweats.  I may or may not have had them unbuttoned during the entire performance!

I can't believe how grown up he is now!

Hope everyone is having a good football Saturday!  The Hubs's Gators won and my USF Bulls won!!!  GO BULLS!!!

    

I see myself getting totally sucked in

I'm trying to find my way again on Pinterest.  I can totally see why people become obsessed!  I am going to lose myself in all of it's wonderfulness just like I do on Etsy!  I haven't pinned too much but my name is volley639 if you want to find me!

Nothing too much going on this week in our house.  I'm trying to recover and be able to sit upright for more than 30 minutes at a time and we're gearing up to take the kiddos to Disney on Ice this weekend!!!  I don't know who's more excited...me or them!!!

I need help.....

So I'm late to jump on the bandwagon but does anyone have any helpful hints for getting started on Pinterest?  I've been dying to jump right in and become obsessed like everyone else is but I don't know how.  Any tips on getting my feet wet???