Painted my stepping stone chargers

I think they turned out very well. I originally just spray painted them gold but they looked like cheap gold coins. I painted them black first and applied the gold over it. I am happy  with them :)

****Use breathable paint designed for concrete. Let stones cure for at least 28 days before painting they WILL crumble :( 

Easy Paper Flower Tutorial

I am not sure right now what to call this flower I was originally going for a ranunculus. This kinda looks like a rose/ peony.



You will need: 

Scissors
Hot glue gun
Template
Pencil
Printer paper
Piece of foam(I used an egg crate...a pillow would work.)
Brats
rounded instrument (like the end of make up brush)


Templates:

Print your templates Make sure to "scale to fit page" when printing. I used decrease margins too.


Cut:

Use 2 sheets of paper for every flower. I can cut 8 flowers out at a time...but this will depend on your scissors. I also  cut on the out side line rather than inside...I like big flowers :)I know I sacrifice the top sheet! 

(((Important tip: NUMBER YOUR FLOWERS 1-7 One is the smallest flower and seven the largest )))

I am using my original hand drawn template here. I now cheat and use the printed one :)

Seven happy piles.

Shape:

This is where the magic happens. Get your foam and your round ended tool (I used a kid toy shhhhh)Working on the flat side.  Move the tool along the edge of your petals pressing fairly hard.

 

Like this :)

 Now you have piles of crinkled paper.

Form Your Flowers:

Get your brat and both of your 1 petals (the smallest) pierce them and secure the brat (your flowers center). 

You will be adding petals in this order 1,1,2,2,3,4,3,4,5,6,5,7,6,7

kinda cute

 Make a cabbage and glue the petals together. Be careful not to burn yourself!

Next add both petals #2 

You will end up with something like this.

Add layers to the "cabbage" by gluing the top of each petal and forming around your center. Gradually apply less glue to let the flower open.

Glue and press your flower down on each new layer.

Remember to over lap the layers or your flower will look funny.

Enjoy:

Who knew  just 2 pieces of printer paper could be so beautiful. You can add stems to your flowers by replacing the brat with floral wire and pierce through all the layers... Add stamens or a jewel.  

Paper Ranunculus Flower

I have been browsing for a solution to my flower budget dilemma. I think I have found it :) Paper ranunculus flowers. My inspiration from diy or don't ....unfortunately I don't own a fancy cutting machine and I don't have the extra $275 to spend on it. I do however own a pair of scissors and a hot glue gun. I made my own temple. Still working on making it perfect, but I think they turned out good. 

(The tutorial is finally here with pattern/ temple!)

How to make Your Own Wedding Cake & Not Go Crazy(Part 1)

I am making a wedding cake for 100...this is my strategy plan. I would suggest watching the videos and practicing a few times. Yes you can make your own cake!

 2 Week-2 Days Before Your Wedding

Make The Cake: 
It took me 5 hrs to bake enough cake for a 4 tier. After your cake has cooled wrap it in plastic wrap and foil. Refrigerate the cake for a few hours until chilled. This will make it easier to level.

A few tutorials to help you bake a fool proof cake.

How prep a cake pan  Please use parchment paper!

Bake an even cake: The flower nail method

Bake an even cake: The magic strip 

White Almond Sour Cream Cake & Chocolate Sour Cream Cake (Recipes) OMG EASY! virtually fool proof :) It can be made in any flavor even dairy free too by using soy yogurt. (I use ck brand cake mix )

How to Bake and Decorate a Cake This video is long but has a lot of good tips and tricks! 

Useful charts:

Cake Servings Guide/ Chart

Cake Baking Time and Batter Amounts     3" deep     2" deep

Cake Cutting Guide

 

Level Your Cake:
How to Level Tort and Fill a Cake (seriously watch the video)


I am using a Wilton lever but you can do this with a long knife. Brush  simple syrup on the cake. This helps keep the cake moist in the freezer.If you decided to tort your cake(split it in multiple layers) separate the layers with parchment paper. Make sure to use the cookie sheet technique so you don't have to re bake cake :)


How to make simple syrup 

Freeze the cake! 
Place cake on a cake board. Wrap it up extra good and freeze it. This will save you a lot of stress. You do not want to pull an all nigher. Some cakes do not freeze well but most do.

How to Freeze Cakes

Make Your Frosting:
You can make the butter cream ahead of time. Yep, you can freeze it! Just store it in a freezer bag. When ready to use. Defrost in a mixing bowl(this takes a few hours) and re-whip with a spoon. 

No Fail Butter cream

The Night Before Your Wedding

Fill your cakes:
Place all of your cakes on a cake board the same size as each cake. Make a dam with frosting so filling won't leak out. Don't over fill please!

How To Fill A Cake

Crumb Coat:
Since your cake is already frozen. You don't need to re freeze it. spread a thin layer of frosting to trap all the crumbs...don't worry about it looking perfect. If you are using the upside down frosting method you can skip ahead. 

How to crumb coat a cake

Frost The Cake:
I highly suggest using a Lazy Susan it makes things a heck of a lot easier. Also a 6" bench scraper or speckling knife are a must have and viva paper towels!

*If you want a very smooth cake try the upside down frosting method...It works like a charm! tutorial 


upside down video here

How to frost a cake smooth (even if you are using the upside down method this is a handy video to watch)

Stack it: 
There are a million and one ways people do this. I use plastic pillars and bubble tea straws.(I picked the straws up from an Asian food store but you also can get them online)Remember to put your base cake on a cake drum or Masonite board

How To Stack A Cake  (This is the video I follow)

How to cover a cake board 

 Part 2 Will Cover Decorating

Practice cakes & tastings

Butter cream cake with fondant leaves

 So, I had a tasting for a few brides on Monday. I think I did a good job on the cakes. They tasted amazing. The big hit was the Oreo cake. Every bride wanted...no needed to have it for her wedding. I did not have all my equipment yet and was working with makeshift pastry bags. Heck I'm only a beginner! My daughters b-day is Sunday hope to get some more practice in :)

Stenciled butter cream

FREE: Wedding Cake Baking And Decorating!

That's what I am offering lucky brides in Rochester NY before November.  So far I have done a few. I can't wait to do more. I have 4 brides scheduled for the summer. All are having weddings between 70- 100 people. My first stacked cake turned out great. It is surprisingly easy working with fondant and gum paste. They sell molds and cutters. It's like play dough! I will TRY to make a tutorial on how to make your own wedding cake later.


For now Please check out Edna De la Cruz . She is amazing and her tutorials are too!

http://www.youtube.com/user/tonedna1

My first stacked cake :)

Stepping stone charger plates part 2

What a wonderful easy project this was! My 4 year old daughter did most of the hard work string and pouring :) It took me a few weekends of my life to complete. As easy as poring in pancake mix in a bowl. After using plaster of pairs and even adding glue for strength... it just was not hard enough to go out side. Well then I discovery quick setting cement.  It sets up in 10 minutes a dream compared to the 25 the plaster took. Faster stronger and CHEAPER! The total cost of a 150lb  was 6.00 and I was able to complete all of my plates for $12 plus the $10 for the mold. Grand total for 100 charger plates/ favors $22. Will my guests be mad I spent .22 cents on the favors?

I am Back!

So... I have been incredibly busy. I will try to catch up writing all about my activities and diy projects. You may have read that we marred in private Feb 14th 2011. It was so beautiful and romantic. We will be renewing our vows in November. The church is gorgeous! I called over 50 churches(yes seriously!) and finally found one that would be perfect for both dates. It cost us $150 total! I decided to save on money and use my china made wedding dress. Eamon bought his tux from the mens warehouse 2 suits for 130! He sold one for $150 so...free tuxedo for us :) 

DIY recycled wine bottle glasses

This is a 2 for one deal! Two glasses one bottle one cut.  How do you do this? bottle cutter, hot water glass sander and Glue.

Great video  on how to cut the bottles.








After you cut the bottles you sand them with a Diamond Hand Pad.

Then to finish the top bottle sand the opening and glue it to a piece of glass or tile. 

New date new venue

After searching like a mad woman. I found the best location for my budget. An arboretum. This place is beautiful and hopefully it will look amazing for my November 5th wedding. Cost free  (my mother paid for it 300 for 3 day rental) Thanks mom :) 

Vintage Plates for 100!

I have been working on this project for some time . Fighting blue hair old ladies in thrift stores. Yelling at clumsy teenage cashers to be more careful. 100 five piece place settings...Cost to rent $750 Cost to own $225

Where did you get it all? Mostly estate sales and veteran thrift stores... A bit of craigslist too. Don't forget about ebay. I bought whole sets for next to nothing. Goodwill is usually expensive and sells you broken pieces.

This Project takes a LOT of time and SPACE. Cleaning packing organizing. Well worth it.

Know when to quit

So, his parents house is beyond our help. The roof has holes that have caused damage to the ceiling and support beams. The bathroom floor is rotted and well needs replaced. Structurally the house is hazardous. On top of everything is filthy...I mean hordes filthy.  We rent a house to have thanksgiving in because it is that bad. What the heck was I thinking?! 

Did I have a massive bridezilla breakdown realizing my wedding may not happen on the date we had chosen ...nope. I now accept defeat.  Off to plan B...which should have been plan A. I have chosen to rent a lodge in a park ....I have no clue if I can find one for the original date or if it will fit the people I need or even a Saturday. I very well may end up with a Friday or Sunday wedding.

OMG! FOOD

DIY food is going to be a huge challenge. Thanks to ellenskitchen.com The site is beyond helpful! I actually think this can be done!


Our discussed menu so far.
hors d'oeuvres:
cheeses
fruit plater with chocolate fountain
Salami, prosciutto, pepperoni and other Italian meats
veggie platter with dip
bread and crackers
shrimp cocktail

Main Course:
Pasta with sauce
Meatballs
Chicken sausage
Green beans
Chicken leg quarters
Salt potatoes and butter
Salad
Bread

Dessert:
Cake
Italian cookies
chocolate covered strawberries

Stepping Stone Charger Plates

I thought it would be super cool to make my wedding favors duel purpose. I was thinking stepping stones. If you can mix ,pour and wait then this project is right up you ally (It is for me!!). I decided to make them out of plaster of pairs its cheap and has a fast dry time. Making it ideal for a person with limited time and molds.   Down sides to using plaster.They are for indoor life and will not last outside for more than a year.

You will need:

Plaster of Paris (aka moulding plaster)
Cooking Spray
A Mold
Water

WARNING: Although plaster is fairly safe to use it can cause chemical burns if left on skin for long periods of time. Use a lubricant always. Use common sense use a mask don't breath in dust. Use gloves and goggles. Don't put your plaster in the oven to speed up things...it will crack and can explode!

Step one
Prepare your mold with cooking spray

Step two
prepare plaster according to directions (some people add white glue to the plaster for extra hardening...I have never tried this)how to make extra strong plaster of paris

Step three
Slowly pour plaster into mold. (Want add extra strength? Fill mold halfway and insert a round piece of mesh chicken wire. Cut the wire just a few centimeters smaller than the mold. Then fill the remaining plaster.

Step four
Wait until your plaster has changed color and has hardened to unmold. It may sill be hot and delicate It is best to wait over night for it to fully cure but not necessary. Don't force your cast out of the mold. Sometimes it is necessary to use a knife around the edges.

Step Five
Paint. This step is optional. If you are painting make sure your piece is fully cured (not hot or warm at all) I plan on using metallic spray paint. You can get as creative as you would like.

To Register Or Not To Register

Some part in me thinks it is incredibly tacky to register for wedding gifts. Another part of me says Sophie what the heck are you thinking! You already have more junk than you can handle. And then there is that tiny naughty part of me that says omg hand me one of those scanner guns now.

Honestly, what I really need is a house. Is it incredibly tacky and rude to ask my guests not to give me gifts? Would they understand that we have two kids and have all the household things we can handle.

At this point Eamon and I have decided not to register. We have one of those cheesy wedding websites. I thought we could set up a PayPal donation for a house fund on the site. I still need to talk to my mother and grandmother about the idea..but, I want a house not towels.