Frosted Treats

Never-Ending List of Tutorials to Try

2010-08-19T13:33:00.002-04:00

To say I am a Jack of All Trades but a master of none isn't really an insult. I used to think it was... I wanted to be a master of something! Now that I have a collection of merit badges for different skills, interests, and hobbies, I've come to realize that I don't want to peg myself into just one area of expertise. I love that my bedroom is cluttered with a myriad of craft supplies, books, odds and ends - that's what keeps me sane! Nothing makes me happier than seeing a tutorial or project around the internet and saying, "Ohh! I can do that... Let me dig out my _____ and that box of ____ and get to work!" That being said, the realization has come that perhaps I have too long of a list of things I'd like to try. In an effort to narrow that list down, perhaps I should post it here and cross things off as I go along. Ready! GO!

Craft Projects

Best Totebag I've seen!

Recipes

Peach Tea Cupcakes

Whoopie Pies

Pillow Cookies

Strawberry Cupcakes, Pie, and Scones

~~French Macarons~~ - CHECK! Here are mine :)

Sugar Free Peanut Butter Muffins

Basic Granola

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (drooooooling!)

Lemon Bars (more drool...)

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Truffles

Cheesecake Pops

Gift Ideas

Sailor Knot Bracelets

Knit Baby Hats

Kid's Apron and Chef's Hat

Baby Breakfast Bib

Piece of Cake Apron

Gift Bags from Envelopes

Alright! So let's see how many of these I churn through between now and Christmas time... Wish me luck! Also, feel free to leave a comment if you've tried any of these tutorials before, I'd love any tips, tricks, or... Heck! Give me some more tutorials to add to the list!

Macar-oh, no!

2010-08-15T15:32:00.004-04:00

Recently, my fascination in French Macarons has grown exponentially. Now don't confuse them with macaroons, their equally yummy coconut cousins... These are macarons - one "o" and very French! After seeing them scattered around the internet and never having tasted one myself, I decided it was time I dove into the world of finicky French pastries. I've never needed to meticulously follow a recipe like this before and I don't think I've been so determined to get something right! Not only are these colorful confections delicious, but they are adorable as well.

image: credit

My mission began after reading this recipe. I got what ingredients I lacked and set to work. The directions, I thought, were pretty straight forward. After following them quite closely, I was extremely disappointed when they came out speckled, runny, and gooey.

Mistake #1: While I set my egg whites out overnight as the recipe instructed, I didn't understand WHY I was keeping eggs out and covered them tightly with plastic wrap. Seems logical, right? Wrong! The purpose of leaving your egg whites out is to let some of the moisture evaporate out. Covering them with plastic obviously defeats that.

Mistake #2: I was unable to find store-bought almond flour so I settled to grind my own almonds into dust. That would have been fine had I known to Blanche the almonds and remove their skins first. Not a fatal flaw, but the asthetic is lost when the shiney shells are speckled with almond skin.

Mistake #3: I am pretty sure my proportions were off, causing the batter to be super runny.

After lamenting the loss of my first batch, I set to doing lots of research. Once I read a bit of information from Syrup and Tang, I began to understand what went so wrong. I altered my course and tried it again. This time, I hit the mark... The yummy, crisp, chocolaty mark.

Ahh, success!

The only thing I would do differently next time would be to put less chocolate ganache in the middle... A strange concept, I know. Mine aren't quite so perfect, but they are edible and much prettier than the first attempt. Needless to say, but you guys will be seeing some more of these little lovelies soon... Both in edible form and wearable form :)

Moral of the story - Always try to find out WHY you're supposed to follow recipes to the letter.

Also, keep in mind that cooking is an ART, while baking is a SCIENCE.

Have you ever had a recipe turn out TERRIBLY wrong? Comment! I'd love to hear about your trial and error stories :)

Summer Time

2010-07-28T16:14:00.004-04:00

And the livin's easy...

It's now late July, one of my least favorite times of the year in terms of weather. I severely dislike heat and humidity. I get cranky whenever there is sweat on my skin. Add in a monotonous work schedule, job applications for the upcoming school year, and a plethora of family crises, and so far the Summer of 2010 has been less than favorable.

However, one fabulous thing has happened so far this summer. I had the chance to participate in a really neat outdoor craft fair! The Handmade Faire held its fourth gathering on Saturday, July 17th and I was so honored to be a part of it! Put together by the amazingly organized and talented Abbie (Original Abbie, that is), the Handmade Faire brought together a myriad of talented individuals! My booth was surrounded by friendly folks - Green Cow Studios and their fabulous handcrafted soaps to my left, The wonderful Kim and Denise of 1 Oak Handbags to my right, and a very talented clay artist, Kathy in the booth directly behind me.

Shoppers cycled through from the wee hours of the AM until the afternoon was ripe! I saw so many happy faces and got to talk to so many really great people. I look forward to more Handmade Faires in the future and I hope everyone can experience great handcrafted events like this one. Shout it from the rooftops, people... BUY HANDMADE!

---me & my booth---

Etsy Craft Party!

2010-06-20T13:41:00.003-04:00

On Friday, June 18th at approximately 4:45pm, I set out on an adventure with a good friend of mine, Alex.

We left our boring Central Jersey suburb and hopped on a bus bound for New York City. Typically, the bus ride would last about 45 minutes... Well, two hours later, we arrived at Port Authority in NYC.

That would not deter us... We then hoofed it over to the subway station on got on the A train to Brooklyn. What we thought would be the most harrowing portion of our journey ended up being the most relaxing. Ahh, New York subway, I'm impressed.

Alex and I climb up the steps onto the streets of Brooklyn, the sun still shining and our destination only a few blocks away. I pull out my handy, dandy iPhone and punch in the address to get walking directions. Well, folks, technology is only helpful when the user fully understands it.

After heading in the wrong direction two or three times, we finally were on the right path. Number fifty-five Washington Street. Not too difficult, right? Try standing on the corner of Washington and Front looking up and down the street for ten minutes not seeing the building you're supposed to be in. We did get a good look at the Brooklyn Bridge, though!

Wait! There it is!! Get to the fifth floor! Hurry, hurry!

Do you see it? Off in the distance... AHhhhh!

WE'RE HERE!!!

Visiting the Etsy Headquarters in Brooklyn has been on my list of things to do since I first found out Etsy was IN Brooklyn! Work schedules, cruddy weather, and lack of funds prevented the trip earlier, but we would not be discouraged! The Etsy Craft/Birthday Party was the perfect excuse to request off of work and make that journey!

There was screen printing, snacks, silly phone booths, glass painting, button making, photo ops, a DJ, and creativity GALORE! I expect to be making a trip to Brooklyn more often now that I know how great this place is. You should, too!

Check out Etsy's weekly craft nights, I know I will be there a few times this summer! They also have many other events coming up, so be sure to give it a look!

Was anyone else at the Etsy party? We got there a little late and didn't have too much time to socialize. Leave me a comment here!

June 2010 Market Table and Goodies

2010-06-17T00:26:00.002-04:00

This past Saturday was Flea Market table #2 for Liz and I. We fared MUCH better than the last market. Our canopy worked perfectly and we stayed shaded and happy. I think that definitely helped our sales... Being in a better mood surely drew in more browsers!

1. Market Table June 2010, 2. Push Pins!, 3. Made with Love Cone Keyring, 4. Pin Tops Galore!

I tried a few new things with my table set up and I really liked how it turned out. I've been searching and applying to more and more craft shows for this summer and I'm really excited about all this! Wish me luck, fellow crafters.

Oh! And as usual, I got a request for a custom item at this month's market. Woohoo! I really do love custom orders, they're so satisfying and fun to do! This one came from a very friendly mother who remembered us from last month and wanted some Little Mermaid inspired necklaces made for her two daughters. I hope she likes them!

So for the other artists out there... Do you like custom orders? What's the most interesting order you've taken? Any horror stories you care to share?

Strawberry Pie

2010-06-03T09:10:00.002-04:00

I hope everyone out there in blogland had a safe, happy, and patriotic Memorial Day celebration this past weekend. I know I did! The first part of the weekend was spent with a very good friend of mine from college, Cassie! She lives on a lake in my dream town and I was so glad to spend some chill-out time with her. During our reunion, we explored her town, checking out a neat little bookstore an a local farm market. Cassie ended up with 8 pints of fresh, local grown strawberries. DELICIOUS strawberries! So we made a strawberry pie. It was so yummy and just plain nice to look at. I will have to make something similar from clay, why not?

Enough babbling from me... Enjoy your Thursday!

Silhouettes and Cupcakes

2010-05-20T20:52:00.004-04:00

Once this summer ends, I will officially be the only grown woman in my family who does not have any children. Not that I'm complaining or anything, (trust me- not complaining!) but that fact keeps me out of that exclusive motherhood club while each of my cousins has their own little baby to fawn over 24/7. Luckily this leaves Aunt Jessie with plenty of time to shower these children with handmade gifties!

My oldest cousin has two little'uns... Kay, a four-year-old girl who frequently reminds me that I am her best friend, and Jay, a two-year-old boy who rolls his eyes just as well as the high schoolers I have in my classes (he definitely gets that from his Momma).

This year for Mother's Day, I got a bit of help from these kidlets when it came time to make their Momma's gift!

Here are a few tutorials from around the web if you'd like to take on this craft yourself.

Crafting Chicks

This one is closest to the way I created my silhouettes. You'll need PhotoShop or a similar program.

Mommie Guide

This is an alternate process that relies on hard copies of the photos if you prefer a more hands-on method.

Just Another Day in Paradise

Here's a third option that uses fabric and fabric paint.

My two little models were quite patient and cooperative. They even brought by some cupcakes in return!

Perhaps I should make some cupcake silhouettes, eh?

May Flea Market Report

2010-05-19T17:53:00.004-04:00

Allow me to fill you in on how the first 2010 table at a craft show/flea market went the first Saturday in May for my partner in crime (Liz from Coffey Shop Charms) and myself...

5:00am

Alarm goes off... I grumble and groan and lift my already tired body out of bed.

6:00am

Tables- check

Chairs- check

Canopy- check

Put the last box in the car and head down the road.

6:30am

Arrive at the market, wait in line to get a spot. Unload the tables, chairs, canopy, and boxes of goodies to sell.

7:00am

Realize the canopy we brought is broken and missing pieces.

The fellow at the neighboring table informs us it will be around 90 degrees today without a cloud in the sky.

Realize we have no sunblock.

8:00am

Finish setting up our tables, drink our coffee and tea and gobble down our breakfast sandwiches.

My half of the table

Liz's half of the table

9:00-11:00am

Sun gets hotter as people wander by our table. Many browsers give lovely compliments to our work while others are compelled to point out the fact we have no canopy and the sun is baking our pale skin. Really? We didn't notice...

12:00pm

Found sunblock and pretty Asian style parasols at other tables selling at the market. Our delicate skin now stands a chance!!

Liz and Me

1:00-2:30pm

Comments now turn to our feeble attempt at staying shaded by our little parasol umbrellas. For the most part, they worked. And they were cute. Cute is always a plus!

3:00pm

Break down the tables and pack up the car. Run to a few tables I spotted earlier in the day to purchase a few things. I got a new mascara, some lovely buttons, and a ducky geisha! She now sits happily on my desk and watches me as I work.

All in all, we covered the cost of the table and pocketed a couple bucks. Most importantly, we got fabulous feedback, handed out a ton of business cards (one of which turned into a custom order!) and enjoyed a heaping helping of this...

Funnel cake!

I hope the craft/flea market season is starting out well for the rest of you out there!!

Any tips to share? I'd love to share them in a future post!!

Winner(s)

2010-05-04T13:21:00.004-04:00

Thought I forgot, ehhh??

I didn't, I promise! Blame the wait on work schedules, springtime allergies, flea markets, and nieces and nephews...

Anyways, here is your winner of the Spring Fling Giveaway!

Number 9... Number 9...

CONGRATS JINGLE!

And since it took me so long to post the winner... I have a second prize to give!

CONGRATS WENDI P!

You submitted the most entries, so you definitely deserve a prize :) I'll be sending you a different cupcake, but I promise it will be just as cute!

I will be e-mailing you both today :) Congratulations again and thanks to all the readers who entered!

iPhone Test

2010-04-28T09:07:00.001-04:00

Just testing this out... Anyone know of a good iPhone app for blogging with blogspot?

Let's throw in a photo... Here's my dog Gizmo looking rather pathetic on the couch.

Oh! Yeah... Giveaway winner coming later today :) I didn't forget... I've just been running around like a crazy person lately!

Frosted Treats 2010 Cupcake Giveaway

2010-04-14T17:47:00.005-04:00

There are many things to celebrate this April...

My birthday, for one.

April 16th... no need to send gifts, just smiles!

SPRING!

look outside... see any flowers?

AND the chance to WIN something!

wooo! who doesn't love winning stuff??

You got it! I'm giving away something! It's been a while since I had a giveaway on my blog and in the spirit of flowers and butterflies and birdies all around outside, I think it's time!

The past few weeks I have been on a quest to re-invent Frosted Treats' cupcake style. Here's a little look at my first polymer clay cupcake when I started making them in the Spring of 2008.

*shudder*

I've come a long way over the past two years. My work has become more detailed, the quality of the materials I now use is head and shoulders above what I had on hand back then, and let's not even mention how much better my photos are!

May I present to you my new line of Frosted Treats cupcakes...

Woo! Brand spankin' new cupcakes are here! About 10mm across the bottom and topped with creamy frosting and a plethora of embellishments.

Soo anyways... Down to the task at hand - Giving away one of these little cupcakes!

This Spring Fling Cupcake Necklace will be given to one lucky blog reader!

To enter... You can do lotsa things...

1. Comment on this post and tell me what your favorite spring flower is.

2. Follow me on Twitter

(comment here with your Twitter link when you've done that... I'll follow you back!)

3. Tweet about the giveaway! Be sure to @FrostedTreats with each tweet!

4. Blog about this giveaway... Use this little image here...

(comment here with a LINK when you've done that)

5. OR You can help me clean out my Etsy Shop... All of the prices are wayyyy reduced and I just wanna clear it out! Each purchase will earn you 10 entries!

(comment here with your Etsy name so I know who to give credit to)

So there you have it! My first giveaway of 2010! Entries will be accepted until

Wednesday, April 21, 2010!

A winner will be chosen at random. Be sure to comment for each entry!

Thrifting

2010-04-11T15:00:00.001-04:00

For the record...

(Or room stacked with records)

I love digging through thrift stores and junk shops to find treasures large and small. This is something my mother and I have done for years. I used to hate it... But now I'm hooked. I have a favorite hunting ground two towns over and I recently brought a friend along to feed her thrifting addiction.

Meet Courtney.

Courtney and I work together at a tea shop and we've both become hoarders of tea pots ever since. My friend here snagged four tea pots and a stack of cups and saucers for $21. Woot!

Here's Meee!

I got a new ceramic tea pot, a bunch of tiny tea cups (for future pin cushions) and a new serving tray all for $9. Ya can't beat those kinds of deals with a stick!!

This place is stacked to the ceiling with all sorts of odds and ends... Furniture, records, books, kitchen tools, vintage clothing, and my favorite - cups, plates, bowls, and tea pots :)

I live by the saying, "One man's trash is another man's treasure," and I love it! Do you thrift? It's silly NOT to! Not only are the prices right, but you'd be giving some unwanted item new life and reducing the amount of useless waste! It's definitely part of a Green lifestyle. So head on out to your nearest thrift store, junk shop, second hand store or even a garage sale... Give new life to some little lovelies! You'll feel good afterwards... I promise ;)

Spring Cleaning Sale

2010-04-09T16:44:00.002-04:00

Hey There! I hope everyone has been enjoying the lovely spring weather as I have!

With the spirit of spring comes an urge to begin again, just as flowers sprout into new life...

SPRING CLEANING!

(oooohh, ahhhh...)

Okay, so while my bedroom is still an unruly mess, I'll be doing some cleaning elsewhere. Head on over to the Frosted Treats shop and help me clear my shop! I've got a whole stock of brand new items to post... But I want to get a few things off my hands first.

Tea for Two Charm Necklace - was $15, now $10!

Golden Nesting Bird and Nest Charm Necklace - was $12, now $8!

Whimsy Pink Strawberry Charm Necklace - was $6, now $4!

Strawberry Sweet Cupcake Charm Necklace - was $8, now $5!

Don't miss out... Once these charm necklaces are gone, I won't be relisting them. Out with the old, In with the new! Grab 'em now before they're gone!

As an added bonus... Each Spring Cleaning shopper will get a Free gift with their order!!

Enjoy!

Happy April

2010-04-01T17:05:00.004-04:00

Happy April, Craftistas!

(Hmm, I think I like that term...)

April has always been one of my favorite months. Easter, my birthday, and Spring just make my heart happy. Today while I was heading home from the post office (Hint, hint to Ali and Lindsay), I spotted this little beauty out my car window...

A Treeeeee! In full blooom!! I smiled and snapped the photo before the traffic light turned green. Yay for Spring! Yay for rebirth and new growth!

I also have some rebirth and new growth going on in my Etsy Shop! I'll be lowering the prices on EVERYTHING in the shop to make way for a new generation of cupcakes, ice cream cones and all sorts of other goodies I've been working on... Here's a sneak peek of what I was working on yesterday...

Now I'm off to enjoy a bit of sunshine and get more work done! Keep an eye out for my SPRING CLEANING SALE in my shop! I'll announce all the details tomorrow :)

So, I'm a fabric designer.

2010-03-22T17:18:00.004-04:00

Yeah, yeah... I fell off the Thing a Day bandwagon. *Super sad face* I tried!! I am blaming this hiccup on a stomach bug that straight up ruined last week for me. I was totally unproductive and hermit-ish.

BUT!! I received my first proofs from SpoonFlower in the mail today!! I'm so giddy :) Here they are, from digital image to actual fabric. AHHH!!!

I feel like some sort of big shot! Haha! I love my little 8x8inch swatches and I can't wait to order some more of these prints. I wasn't 100% in love with the green background on Cloverfield, so I changed it to white for future prints. SpoonFlower also allows designers to sell their freshly printed fabrics right off the website, so if you love these prints (I love 'em, but I made 'em, so I'm a little partial), head over to my profile and buy 'em! FrostedTreats on SpoonFlower. Also, once I get some yardage in my hands, expect to see some wristlets and coffee cozies made by mee!

I've got some more designs churning around in my mind, so there will be more! This is so stinkin' cool! Haha. Okay, enough giddy-ness from me...

Greeeeeeeen!

2010-03-13T23:42:00.004-05:00

No Thing a Day from me today... My area of the world was slammed by some crazy rain and wind today and I spent most of the day without power. Even now it's flickering every once in a while. I attempted to make one thing, but it didn't turn out well and I'm considering throwing it out the window just out of spite.

Boring blog post, huh? Yeah, I know. You can go ahead and throw rocks at me. What if I pointed you all in the direction of some sweet shops on Etsy... Would you love me again?

Clover Leaf Sterling Silver Photo Charm Keychain from MindyG

Jersey T-Shirt Fabric Scarf in Lime Green Spring Summer from Beautiful Bridget

Pucker - Stone Dangle Earrings from Smutopia

There ya go! A little Green to get you all in the mood for Saint Patty's Day! Enjoy :)

Another day of Spoonflower

2010-03-12T23:59:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I think I'm hooked. Yesterday I made two more fun prints on Spoonflower and today while I was subbing I was doodling ideas for more. I promised myself I wouldn't order any more swatches until my first batch arrive in the mail, so I think that's making my bank account give a sigh of relief for now. Here are my two newest patterns.

Some cute little Mushies! Cotton Candy and Candy Corn are their respective titles. I really liked making these little fungi... Maybe I'll try my hand at these in polymer form... Hmmmm, the possibilities...

Oh, and feedback on these designs and my designs from yesterday would be fabulous. I'm wondering if anyone besides me and my mother enjoy the prints I've made so far. Thankies!

Playing with SpoonFlower

2010-03-11T13:20:00.003-05:00

As a lover of fabrics, I've had by eye on Spoonflower for a while now. I mean, c'mon! Who wouldn't want to print your own designs on to real life fabric?! Pshh.

Anyways, I've always been hesitant to dive in and really play with the possibilities, but today I went head first and have put up a couple of designs. Man, I'm giddy! I played around with a little clover doodle I made and here's the first fabric I am happy to share with you.

I call it Cloverfield. I love it! I wanted another print to coordinate with it, so I took a handful of quotes about luck and being lucky and came up with this...

This one is called Lucky Words. Phew! Designing fabric is even harder than I thought it was... Worrying about repeats, color palettes, blah blah blah... I hope these come out well! I placed my order for a couple of swatches and hopefully they'll come out perdy! They won't be in my hands until after St. Patrick's Day, but I'm a green-eyed, freckled Irish girl, so I'll love these all year 'round!

Has anyone else out there tried Spoonflower or something similar? What were your results? Oh! And be sure to browse the site for other people's prints... There are some REALLY talented people out there!

Thing a Day - Whoops!

2010-03-10T15:06:00.005-05:00

Hiya... No, no now... I didn't forget about my Thing a Day project yesterday... I was just out making THINGS! I swear... Here, let me prove it...

See!! Every once in a while, my best friend Liz and I get together and scrapbook. It's therapy. We sit down with a ton of photographs, various stickers, and a wealth of patterned paper to artistically and craftfully catalog our memories. I managed to turn out three new pages for my scrapbook last night (usually I do more, but I promised Liz I'd slow down.) I'm the speedy scrapbooker and Liz is the OCD scrapbooker. Normally I make about five pages to her two in one night. Soooo I promised I'd slow down and keep pace with her last night.

The page you see above shows me and three of my closest girlfriends... In the large photo on the right, you'll see Liz, Kristin, Lia, and myself. Liz and I have been best friends since first grade. Kristin and Lia have been best friends since I believe second grade. The four of us came together when I met Kristin and Lia in college and realized they lived in the next town over from Liz and me. So yeah... The four of us became quite close.

Anywho... Back to scrapbooking. This year, Liz and I added a new tool to our scrapbook nights... The wonderful, magnificent, awesome CRICUT! (Oooooh! Aaaaah!) Yes, I love this wonderful machine. It cuts out letters and shapes and words and AHHH! I love it. Now, I'm no spokesperson for Cricut (though I'd gladly be one if they asked...lol) but I think my crafty life has been made so much cooler just by having one. Here's another page I did earlier this year...

Me and Liz again playing in the snow like we're not grown adults... All of the lettering and most of the shapes in these two pages were made using the Cricut. See how fun scrapbooking is?? AHH! Okay, enough freaking out from me. I've got to get myself ready for a night of work.

So I'll count this as two Thing a Day's since I put in two photos... Don't judge me. :D

Happy Crafting!

Heyyyy Sugar!

2010-03-08T14:37:00.003-05:00

Happy Monday, kids. *insert sarcastic sigh*

Last week I got a happy little comment posted from BlabberGirl claiming I was the recipient of some sort of "Sugar Doll Award." Hehe! I love it :) A simple get-to-know-you chain... Write 10 facts about yourself and then go tag 10 more bloggers! Here we go!

1. I've always been a crafty chica... Making friendship bracelets, hand-sewing doll clothes, collecting stickers... There's always been a reason for me to beg my mother to take me to the craft store.

2. My family loves dogs. At one point we actually had 10 dogs (4 adult dogs plus a little of 6 puppies). We ended up keeping one of the puppies and now, ten years later, we're down to just the momma dog and the puppy - Sandy and Gizmo. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it - TOMORROW is Gizmo's 10th birthday! Woo! I'll have to get her a special treat :)

3. After a five year relationship, just before Christmas I suddenly became single. I'm alright now, but that is one of the reasons I was very quiet on my blog for a while.

4. My mother is my best friend. I tell her everything, we pick on each other, and we spend a lot of time together. I'm very thankful for the relationship we have.

5. I read A LOT of blogs. My Google Reader is PACKED. I'm awful, though - I don't leave comments as often as I should. I will be trying my best to change that.

6. Every year I give up something for Lent. I'm not Catholic - but I like the idea of giving something up to challenge myself and better my life a little bit. One year I gave up drinking soda and I haven't been able to drink it since. Last year I gave up pasta (can you freaking believe it!?) and then pigged out on mac and cheese for Easter dinner. This year I've given up fast food... And that has been TOUGH since I work in a shopping mall where the food court stares at me each day.

7. My favorite color is red/pink. My laptop is red, my cell phone is red, my room is painted pink... I like to surround myself with happy colors.

8. I've lived in New Jersey my entire life. Aside from the four years I spent in college (a college in New Jersey), I've lived in the same town since I was born. Both of my grandmothers graduated from the same high school I did.

9. I love rock and roll. Classic rock makes me happy. Queen, CCR, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zep, Bruce Spingsteen, The Beatles, etc. I have lyrics from Led Zep's "Fool in the Rain" tattooed on my back. My next tattoo will include lyrics from The Beatles.

10. I'm a history nerd (well, you knew that much) and I read nerdy history books, and I get fired up talking about history to friends... And I really hope I find a job teaching history soon before I lose that fire.

So there! I hope I didn't bore you too much with my rambling. Now! Here are my ten tags...

1. Geek Details (Great blogger, Great twitterer... Just great!)

2. WhiMSy Love (I LOVE this blog. You will too.)

3. ThreePeats (Another great twitterer!)

4. A Food Coma (A real life friend, a real life great blog!)

5. Kind Over Matter (Follow this blog... You need to... Trust me.)

6. Daisy Janie (A great designer, a fun blog to follow!)

7. Java Cupcake (Java and Cupcakes... Awesome? YES!)

8. LollyChops (Another really great crafty blog to read)

9. Faerie*Dust*Dreams (Looking for some fun swaps? Michelle's got 'em!)

10. Everyday Beautiful (It's beautiful... everyday!)

So this works as my Thing a Day, right? We'll say it does. See ya tomorrow!

Early St. Patty's Day Parade in Jersey

2010-03-07T20:58:00.003-05:00

I had hopes of bringing you guys a fun lil tutorial, but that was put on hold due to the fact that I spent the day celebrating the patron Saint of Ireland ten days early at the Jersey shore!

(No, not that Jersey shore... ugh... the REAL Jersey shore.)

Every year, Belmar, NJ rings in St. Patty's Day a bit early with an afternoon parade and an evening filled with typical modern festivities... I stayed for the parade and skipped out on the evening events... (Hey, the Oscars are on. Pshh.) You will find much more than over-tanned New Yorkers at the REAL Jersey shore... a random DeLorean, for example.

After a BEAUTIFUL day of sunshine, bagpipes, and a good friend or two by my side, I'm enjoying the Oscars with my family and a few finger foods. You all can feel free to enjoy my addition to Thing a Day!

If you're lucky enough to be Irish... You're lucky enough ;) Fun little dangling charm to celebrate St. Patty's Day!

Super Quick Thing a Day!

2010-03-06T15:35:00.004-05:00

Ahh! Not to break the Thing a Day train on day 3 even though I have NO TIME today (grrr work)... Here's a quickie!

This little throw pillow was made from an old tee shirt of mine. Yes, I am a Bratty Brunette - deal with it ;) It's about 12x12 inches and stuffed with regular polyfill.

I decided I will be tearing through a pile of old tee shirts that no longer fit and re-fashioning them into something really cool to hold on to the memories attached to those tee shirts of days passed. A big ol' blanket, I'm thinking. I'll keep you updated - but for now, enjoy the pillow :)

Follow Friday

2010-03-05T22:45:00.005-05:00

Wooooo! Friiiiday!

Sorry - I'm just a bit delirious. Today has been a very long day. I was a substitute Chemistry teacher today and a Tea Shop girl by night. Now it's time to unwind and relax.

Firstly, it's Friday... SO in true Twitter style, here are a few fun people to check out if you're a Twitter-er like me :)

Check 'em out... You know you wanna.

Anyway! Here's my creation for Thing a Day!

Orange, Strawberry, and Lemon polymer clay charms just chillin' here with some Swarovski crystals on a silver-plated bracelet with a lobster clasp. I'm not entirely happy with the quality of the lighting in this photo, so I'll be re-shooting it tomorrow when I can get some natural lighting before it ends up in the Etsy Shop.

Don't forget to check out the other TaD'ers!

ThreePeats

FireBirdHouse

GeekDetails

Comment here to add your own TaD! I'd love to see it and add you to the list :)

EtsyTwitter Team Shop of the Week - Mikiye Creations

2010-03-05T08:06:00.000-05:00

If you are ever in need of elegant little lovelies... You NEED to check out Mikiye Narita's shop, Mikiye Creations.

This week's EtsyTwitter Team's Shop of the Week is full of truly beautiful creations. Perfect for a Bride-to-Be, Prom-Going Teen, or just a little added sparkle in your life, Mikiye Creations takes the cake.

To read more about Mikiye and her art, check out the full story on the EtsyTwitter Team Blog

Don't miss out! Mikiye is offering our readers the following special this week:

FREE U.S. SHIPPING on all purchases. Please add SOTW in notes to seller to redeem this. Shipping will be refunded through Paypal.

To learn more about this shop please use the handy links below:

TWITTER ADDRESS http://www.twitter.com/mikiyecreations

FB PAGE http://www.facebook.com/mikiyecreations

BLOG http://www.mikiyecreations.blogspot.com/

Thanks to Jen for the original post :)

Thing A Day - Let us begin!

2010-03-04T14:40:00.005-05:00

AH! Didn't think you'd hear from me so soon? Well get used to it!! Thanks to the genius concept of "Thing a Day" from Amanda at Geek Details, a fellow member of the EtsyTwitter Team, I'll be attempting to post something everyday to either my blog or my Shop. Today is Day 1! You should try it - I have a feeling it's going to help me be a better blogger. Suzanne at ThreePeats is playing along, too! I can't wait to see who else will join in the madness :)

Today I stumbled upon a new swap... Claire's Crafty Blog is hosting a Pin Cushion Swap and I signed up quicker than you can blink! Pin cushions and swapping - two things that make my heart happy! I have too many pin cushions fashioned from random things I find... Here is a highlight of a few of my favorites.

The little strawberry is my favorite. She sits on my craft table and keeps me company for most of my sewing projects. My fellow sewistas - what's your favorite pin cushion?

Long time, No blog...

2010-02-20T11:55:00.004-05:00

Howdy, peoples. It's been quite a while, eh? I promise I'm still living (or doing something close to it) since the last time I posted. A lot has happened!

I got through my first holiday season as a serious crafter... Nothing too great to brag about, though. A few Etsy sales, participated in my first craft show, and made a bunch of handmade gifts for friends and family.

I've been working A. LOT. at my real life job(s). Not only am I substitute teaching (woo hoo... glorified attendance-taker and babysitter for high schoolers), but I also work part time at a lovely little tea shop with a group of lovely people. One of those lovely people, Mr. Ev, is also a graphic design WIZ and hooked me up with a brand new logo for Frosted Treats! Check it out up top! Check it out in action with my new packaging!

I love it, love it, love it!! I cannot thank Evan enough for his artistic expertise :) If you're in need of a new logo, check out NerdDesigns. OR if you're a music lover, you can head over to Together In Digital Dreams to find some new music. OR if you're on the look-out for some new threads, go to Evan's Etsy shop for screen printed tees! OR just stalk him on Twitter like I do and you'll cover all your bases. I'm telling you, this guy is a Jack of All Trades.

Enough fawning for now... On to the crafty goods! As you can see, my new packaging is not only custom-made, but it's super easy, too. All you need is an editing program (I use PaintShop Pro) and a template for one of these puffy boxes! I got mine from Mirkwood Designs.

I'll be working on an in-depth tutorial for later in the month, but there are the basic components to get you all started ;) I've also got a ton of new goodies I've crafted since we last met, but thanks to the lovely, endless snow in New Jersey, good days for taking photos are hard to come by. Expect the goods soon!

I promise I'll be a better blogger...

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Quick Post

2009-11-11T02:34:00.003-05:00

Hey crafty kids!

Just a quick post... I hope everyone is getting psyched and ready for the holiday season! I know I am! This Saturday, my best friend and I are doing our first official Craft Show! I'm really excited (and nervous) about this! Send good thoughts... Oh, and if you're in New Jersey - Head to Jackson Liberty High School on Nov. 14 to visit!

If you're not in the great state of New Jersey, I've started to post some holiday charms in my shop!

Etsy
Buy Handmade
FrostedTreats

And one last little note - I just signed up for a fun little holiday ornament swap! You should, too :)

Happy Crafting!

Pumpkin Mini Cupcakes with Cinnamon Maple Frosting

2009-11-02T15:21:00.005-05:00

Typically, I am a creator of non-edible treats. But something about fall just makes me want to bake! I was invited to a costume party for Halloween and each guest was asked to bring some sort of treat for everyone to enjoy. I decided I would whip up some pumpkin cupcakes!

To keep things easy, I used pre-made boxed mix. The Pillsbury Doughboy and I are close friends and his Quick Bread mixes are great.

I wanted to get the most cupcakes I could out of this mix, so I decided to make mini cupcakes. Luckily, I had a mini cupcake pan and some paper liners all ready.

On the Quick Bread box, there are directions for making bread and making muffins. I followed the directions for making bread to make my cupcakes. The only real difference is that the bread recipe requires water while the muffins require milk.

Soooo yeah... Heat your oven to 375*, fill your cupcake tins, and bake for 18-20 minutes. If your making full sized cupcakes, the time would be longer. Mine were minis, so it didn't take very long at all. I normally fill my cupcake cups all the way to the top since I like them to have a rounded, puffy top.

One box of mix will give you about 30 mini cupcakes. Mmmm... they sound great, huh? Let's make 'em better...

Cinnamon Maple Frosting

(adapted from a recipe by Bakerella)

8oz cream cheese, room temperature (1 package)
1/2 cup butter, room temperature (1 stick)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 lb confectioners sugar (1 box)
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons maple syrup

Using your mixer, cream the butter and cream cheese until it's nice and blended. Add in vanilla and maple syrup. Mix in sugar a bit at a time until you get a nice, creamy frosting. Add cinnamon once the sugar is fully blended in. Put into a plastic zipper bag and put in the fridge. I like to have my frosting on the cooler side to pipe it onto the cupcakes.

You can make the frosting in advance, as I did. This recipe will make A LOT of frosting, so you can probably make three boxes worth of cupcakes before the frosting runs out.

By now, your cupcakes should be all done in the oven.

Poke 'em with a toothpick to make sure they're fully baked - the toothpick should come out clean. Wait until they are fully cooled before bringing out your frosting.

Push your frosting down into one corner of the zipper bag and cut a hole at that bottom corner. Slowly squeeze (pipe) your frosting on to your cupcakes in a swirly motion and....

Enjoy :)

This post also serves as my entry for the Cinnamon/Nutmeg Challenge at www.AFoodComa.com

Craft Challenge - October

2009-10-27T23:33:00.003-04:00

This month I've had the chance to participate in the monthly Craft Challenge over at ChristyNelson.net. Each month, my pal Christy hosts a test of your crafty ability. After signing up, you receive a package in the mail with an assortment of crafty supplies. All you gotta do is turn that mish mosh of goodies into something cute, clever, and unique.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness, all of the materials in this month's Challenge were various shades of pink.

An assortment of pink ribbons, a length of pale pink netting, and some yummy pink sequins arrived in my mailbox and I was HIT with an idea. The only task was to come across the key ingredient to make my vision a reality.

That part wasn't easy. You see, my secret piece wasn't to be found in Michael's or A.C. Moore. I didn't find any at my local thrift store, and I knew my Mother would kill me if I took a set from her stash.

Luck was with me, however, at a rainy flea market earlier this month. I spotted the perfect set - Plain, neutral, and nothing I would feel bad about altering.

Hair combs! I remember my Mother having a ton of these way back in the day, but I had never really seen the beauty in them until I had my Challenge supplies in front of me. I wish I had taken photos of the process, but I was in the ZONE. The basic shape of my design was decided and all of the pieces were in my possession. I plugged in my hot glue gun, fired up the sewing machine, and got to work. The real challenge came when I needed a way to incorporate at least a little bit of each item. The netting was easy, so were the sequins. Then came the mismatched ribbons. The light pink ones were easy to place, but the hot pink and rainbow ribbons were taunting me. After playing around a bit, I finally came up with a place for each ribbon.

And there you have it! Down the middle, bride style...

Or off to the side like a sugar-coated film noir madam...

I had a blast with this! Head on over to Christy's and find out how to get involved in the next Craft Challenge!! Oh... And be sure to VOTE for my hair combs when the voting begins this week ;)

Halloween Sale

2009-10-23T15:30:00.003-04:00

Just a quick note - All of my Halloween charms are on sale! None of them are over $5!! Don't miss out... Order now before it's too late!!

FrostedTreats

Mmmmm... Scones!

2009-10-06T23:00:00.003-04:00

Tea for Tuesday is back! Sorry for the brief hiatus, I'm in the middle of completely changing my life, haha. Just quit one job, another is about to be ending (seasonal) and I'll be starting two more jobs within the month of October! Plus getting ready for some flea markets and toying with the idea of some holiday craft shows... Busy girl, I am!

To help me out, I have the lovely Ann from Vintage Mommy. Ann and I both belong to the EtsyTwitter Team (her shop is Lilyolil) and when I first brought up the idea for this blog series, she messaged me right away offering up her scone recipe! Of course, I jumped for joy and said, "Please, oh, please!" and here we are today. I'll hand the mic over now!

*****

I've been drinking tea and eating scones since I was a little girl, thanks to English grandparents. I now drink coffee in the morning, but lunch and dinner are both followed by strong, hot tea. I drink only black tea, and my current favorite is Pride of the Port, from Peet's. It makes a good, strong cup with malty tones and a nice kick if you let it brew for a while.

And what is more delicious with a good cup of tea than a simple scone? The recipe below is one I've been making for ages. It's easy to make, is low-fat, not too sweet, and has a light, soft texture. Of course these are delicious warm from the oven, but they keep very well too. They're nice with jam - especially marmalade - but are lovely on their own for breakfast or a snack.

Enjoy!

*****

Low-Fat Orange Scones
Adapted from Cooking Light

2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into small pieces
1 8-oz. carton low-fat lemon yogurt
¼ cup orange juice
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
Vegetable cooking spray
1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar

Combine first 5 ingredients (flour through salt) in a bowl; cut in butter with a pastry blender (or your fingers) until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add yogurt, orange juice and orange peel to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Dough will be sticky.
With floured hands, pat dough into a 9-inch circle on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Cut dough into 8-10 wedges, cutting into but not through dough. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar.
Bake at 400* for 16 minutes or until golden.

From Cooking Light Magazine, 2004

*****

Super big thanks to Ann and her kindness :) Follow her on Twitter! I do, you should too!

Tea for Tuesday: Yes, I know it's Wednesday

2009-09-09T22:53:00.003-04:00

Hey-llo! Thanks for checking in :)

Yeeeaaaasssss... I know it's Wednesday and T4T (Tea for Tuesday, cause I'm clever like that) is a bit late. For good reason, I promise. Yesterday I was teaching my best friend the basics of working with Polymer Clay! She did great! I wish I had some photos to show off, but I was so wrapped up in sculpting and general fun that my camera stayed in my purse.

Today's post is a bit thin - First, I'll show you what I listed today in my Etsy Shop.

Tea for Two Charm Necklace - $15

I really love how this came out... I plan to make more, but here's the first and- in my opinion - most special. I always feel connected to something I create when it's the first of its kind. Hopefully you all like it as much as I do :) Two teeensy, tiny tea cups dangle next to a tea pot. Ahhh, bliss.

Here's a look at my other new listings...

Any suggestions? Requests? Improvements? I'm always up to try something new, but the gears in my brain sometimes grind to a halt. Give me some inspiration! If you give me an idea that I fall in love with, there just might be a reward in it... Catch my drift?

Winner, Winner(s)!

2009-09-07T18:05:00.003-04:00

Hey there! No worries, I haven't forgotten about my giveaway from my last Tea for Tuesday post. I'll announce the winner at the end of this post.

I took last week off from blogging to take care of some super important business... Remember the invitations I posted that I made for my cousin's upcoming baby shower? WELLL! The shower was this past Friday and it was a big hit!

My dear cousin would NOT be happy to know this photo is on the internet. Good thing she doesn't come online often! Hehe, love ya Jamiecakes! Baby Colin is due in late October, I can't wait to meet him :)

We have a very small family, mostly women. Because of this, we don't think it's fair to exclude our male kin from baby showers. Thus uncles, boyfriends, fathers, grandfathers and brothers are always invited to the showers. We treat them more like family gatherings than female-bonding. I was sure to put Bobby (my boyfriend, lower right photo w/me) to work taking photos as Jamie opened her gifts. All together, great food, great cupcake-cake (store-bought, too! We were very impressed), and great family time. Can't wait 'til the next one! Oh wait, yes I can wait... the next one will probably be mine - YIKES!

Anyways, I'm sure you all care more about who's gonna win the tea samples than what I did this weekend. Haha! Your wish is my command.

What's this? TWO winners? Yup! Since I made you all wait an extra week, I figured I would make up for it by giving away a second set of samples. Congrats to...

SillyLittleLady

*AND*

Monique!!

I'll be contacting you both shortly to send out your prize. Congrats and thanks for commenting!!

A new Tea for Tuesday will be posted tomorrow and I'll be bringing you some more crafty goods later in the week! Until then, Happy Crafting!

Tea for Tuesday: Just Breathe...

2009-08-25T23:48:00.003-04:00

Today has been a trying day for me. Small frustrations accumulating into an overall feeling of contempt for Tuesday, August 25th, 2009. In total, I had three cups of tea, made two reusable muslin tea bags (tutorial to come), and a coffee/tea cup cozy. Honestly, sipping my tea through the day and busying my hands with handmade endeavors, I think my day wasn't a total wash. For this week's Tea for Tuesday, I'm bringing you a quick review of my day's first cup. And don't mind my grubby counter tops... It was early, ok?

5:30 AM, EST

To get my morning jolt before heading out to work, I filled my tea ball with a mixture of loose teas from Teavana.

1 tsp Mate Vana
1 tsp Thai Tea Blend
1/2 tsp Azteca Fire

Steeped for 5 minutes... AHHHHHH! Good morning :)

Mate Vana is a rich tea - chock full of caffeine - it almost smells like coffee. On its own it is a delight, but mixed with pretty much ANYTHING, it's even better. It's a great base tea if you're looking to be adventurous. It's also a great tea to start the day with, it has the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee. According to Teavana's catalog, Mate Vana is, "A deliciously smooth combination of toasted Yerba Mate, almond bits, cactus blossoms, cornflower and sunflower petals, crushed cocoa beans, chocolate bits and Rooibos tea." PHEW! That's a lot of stuff! This is easily my favorite tea.

*****

The Thai Tea Blend is described as, "A delightful Thai restaurant blend of black and red teas, Hawaiian coconut pieces, almonds and authentic Madagascar vanilla beans." This tea is a bit lighter than Mate Vana, but still rich in its own right. It, too, has caffeine, but not nearly as much as the Mate.

*****

I just love this name - Azteca Fire. Ohhhh! Ahhh! Just take a look... you can see all the bits and pieces of goodness in here! This one is an herbal tea and doesn't have any caffeine. I've had it alone and it's extremely light. I definitely suggest using it with another tea, it's not strong enough a flavor on it's own, in my opinion. Teavana describes this one as a "blend of chocolate and strawberries with a kick. This modern take on the ancient chili pepper and cacao blending proves the test of time." Azteca Fire is a great way to bring some extra sweetness to your blend of tea.

*****

If you notice in my photos, I keep my teas in little tins. I found these in the $1 bins at Michael's. Tins are recommended because the metal isn't porous enough to leech anything out of the tea. Glass and plastic aren't good for long-term storage, they won't keep the tea as fresh.

So there you have it... My morning cup of tea for today. Does it sound like something you'd like? WELLLL... Leave me a comment on this post and you could WIN a sampling of each of the three teas I talked about today. Enough for you to enjoy a cup or two, on me! Comment by Sunday, August 30 for your chance to win! Please be sure to leave an e-mail address for me to get in touch with you. Any comment will do... About tea, crafts, life... I don't mind!

Thanks for reading! Come back soon :)

Tea for Tuesday: An Introduction

2009-08-18T01:13:00.004-04:00

It wasn't until I began my sophomore year of college that I realized my love for tea. I had been a faithful coffee drinker since I was able to figure out the coffee maker when I was in high school. Strangely enough, I drank less coffee in college than I did at home. Soon, it was hard for me to drink coffee regularly without getting an upset tummy. Still needing my caffeine fix, I craved an alternative.

image from Kind over Matter

My Grandma has always been a tea drinker, but my interest in tea stopped at imaginary tea parties and thoughts of fancy English women. I wanted to start small - the typical Lipton bagged tea that sat out in baskets in my University's cafeteria seemed like a good starter-tea. Add a little sugar (no milk for me, that was part of the reason I needed to get away from coffee), and I was set! I soon fell in love with all sorts of teasl green tea, chamomile, black tea, herbal infusions, and so on. A cup in the morning, a cup of decaf at night... It got to the point during my senior year that my roommates and I had a whole shelf dedicated to the multitude of boxed tea owned between the three of us.

I even had the pleasure of putting on historic tea parties at my summer job to highlight three generations of tea parties and recipes. (I'll be sharing my favorite recipe with you later in this series). Through all this, I stuck primarily to pre-bagged, brand name teas. I had only experienced loose tea during my historic tea parties and those were pretty basic teas - Oolong and Darjeeling, mainly. I didn't fully realize the lengths to which loose tea had become so varied and unique.

Well, my dear readers, I have seen the error in my ways. I've recently gone head-first into the world of loose tea and the wonders it holds. This series, Tea for Tuesday will be a record of my exploration of various teas and all of the delicate luxuries of tea culture. I will have recipes from myself and other bloggers, crafty tea-related tutorials, and (of course) a few giveaways here and there. I highly suggest you stick around.

This week's feature comes from the fabulous foodie blog of my good friend, Alexandra. She and I go waaaay back to a few years ago when I was her RA during her first year of college. That year was filled with plenty of laughs and late-night lounge-dwelling. Ahh, the good old days. I was so happy/proud/excited when she went on to become an RA herself. Anyways... A Food Coma contains recipes, reviews, and helpful hints for the budget-conscious food lover. Brought to you by Alex and her partner-in-crime Brandon (another former RA), this blog really is the place to go when you want to indulge in some eye-candy. Earlier this week Alex was featured on Epicurious.com with tips for college foodies. How cool is that!?

A Food Coma has great Podcasts that walk you through recipes and other kitchen adventures. A while back, when A Food Coma was just getting started with podcasts, Alex starred in a really helpful guide to brewing loose tea. Lights... camera...

video from www.afoodcoma.com

If you're new to loose tea brewing, I hope that takes a bit of the edge off. I know I was clueless, so I want to give a HUGE "Thanks" to Alex and Brandon. Keep up the great work! Come back next week and I'll provide you with a few tea reviews and maybe even some samples ;)

Nesting...

2009-08-14T18:05:00.006-04:00

Recently I had the chance to participate in a really well organized and creative charm swap thanks to Michelle from Faerie*Dust*Dreams. The "Things with Wings" charm swap brought together over 20 uniquely creative people with one goal - make a charm that showed your creative interpretation of the theme - Things with Wings. My interpretation of this concept came in the form of a tiny yellow birdie.

Ready for take off... I mean glazing. Each little birdie only measures about 3/4 of an inch and is, of course, made of polymer clay.

When I received my package from Michelle containing all of the other charms made for this swap, I was simply blown away!

*Photos taken by Michelle - Full list of Swappers available Here*

Can you believe how varied and creative each of these charms are?! I was grinning from ear-to-ear as I opened each little packet.

This swap also inspired me. When I created my birdies, I knew I needed something to dangle from the bottom to finish the "look" but I couldn't find the right accent. When I saw Michelle's addition to the charm swap, I had found my birdie's companion! I had seen these little wire wrapped nests floating around, but I hadn't felt the need to try them for myself. Boy, I wish I had taken on this project sooner! Not only are these nests adorable, but they're remarkably easy to create once you've found a groove.

I remembered seeing a tutorial on One Pretty Thing, so I went searching. I found the tutorial of my dreams. Easy to follow with great results. Just Something I Made is the place to go! Once I got the hang of it, I couldn't stop! I literally made about 10 nests before I wore myself out. Anyways... Here's the finished product.

So my simple birdie found a nest to watch over as the little pearly eggs incubate. Hanging from a silky ribbon necklace, I have to say I am totally in LOVE with my design. Super special thanks to inspiration from Michelle and a great tutorial from Just Something I Made!

Also - don't miss out on Michelle's next Charm Swap. The theme is "Witches Cupboard" and I just signed up myself!

Twinkle, Twinkle...

2009-07-31T22:14:00.003-04:00

Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a fantastic week! My week was filled with rain, thunder, and power-outages. New Jersey got SLAMMED by some heavy weather this week and apparently there's more to come.

In other news... FrostedTreats is now a bonafide member of the EtsyTwitter Team!

How cool is that? Keep an eye here for some great shops, Twitter peeps, and other neat-o stuff! I'm still getting adjusted to all of the great people floating around this group!

Today, I finished making all of the invitations for my cousin's impending baby shower. This is the second cousin I've made invites for... they better plan on returning the favor when it's my turn to pop out some babies!

ALSO! (can you tell today has been busy, busy?) I got a new tote bag in the mail from VistaPrint.com. Free samples galore are at VistaPrint! Check 'em out, trust me - you'll be glad you did!

So yeah! Have a great weekend, Crafters!

Happy Friday!

2009-07-24T10:41:00.005-04:00

Hello, Hello!

This week was a bit quiet on the crafting front - but I do have my guest post posted at ChristyNelson.net. It was even featured at OnePrettyThing.com, one of my all-time-favorite DIY sites!

I've been working a lot of hours between my two RL jobs, so crafting is at a minimum. Take a peak at what I'm doing tonight...

Me in 19th century attire at the County Fair teaching in my mock-school house. Perdy sweet, I think!

And what I did a few weekends ago...

After a 2 1/2 mile hike, Bobby and I made it to the top of the mountain in PA. We may be a sweaty mess, but it was a good trip!

Now, for a little #FollowFriday for all you Twitter Junkies!

And there you have it! Enjoy the weekend, my dears. I'm off to the County Fair and then to S. Jersey for a birthday party!

Busy Beeeeeee

2009-07-10T14:58:00.003-04:00

This week was fun, but busy. I'm about to go on a mini-vacation with my boyfriend's family. We'll be camping in Blue Rocks, PA, so I'm excited! I've heard the place is beautiful. I'll be sure to post a few photos when I get back.

I received a custom order from a Twitter pal for a purple coffee cozy. I like this print, I think I'll do more with it! For some reason I don't have much purple in my stash AT.ALL. Anyone know some good prints to fix that problem?

Also, I just finished writing up a tutorial on how to make a polymer clay strawberry charm. It's for a guest-blogger post at ChristyNelson.net for later this month. Keep an eye out!

I'm off... Gotta get my bag packed for the camping trip! Enjoy the weekend, Crafters.

Frosted... Who??

2009-07-07T21:45:00.006-04:00

Well, I have disappeared again, my faithful crafters. Many appologies, sincerely. If you've been following me on Twitter, you'll already know I wasn't missing. I've become quite fond of the instant social-networking site that's the talk of the town. If you like to find out first about fabric sales, giveaways, news, and events, I highly reccomend signing up for this site.

I wanted to go through and make a little list of my favorite Tweeps (Twitter + Peeps), but suddenly my little list got REALLY long. So here's a shortened version focusing on my fellow cupcake lovin' chicas!

So check 'em out! Tell them @FrostedTreats sent ya! And don't forget to check my page out if you haven't already :)

Oh, and here's a little picture just to give this post some visual excitement!

Happy Sewing and Best Wishes

2009-05-04T19:01:00.002-04:00

Despite the horrible, rainy, yucky weather outside my window, I am all sunshine and smiles today! Here's why...

I have two of the neatest sewing books in the world and both were gifts! From my beloved boyfriend (who, as we speak, is on his way to my house for a visit) I got Amy Butler's In Stitches for my birthday last month. Just what I asked for! And from the awesome jcaroline creative, I won Anna Maria Horner's Seams to Me, which arrived in the mail today.

Now, not only am I super stoked that I won this lovely book, but when I opened it up, my jaw hit the ground!

Signed by AMH herself!! How freakin' awesome is that?! Ahhh, I must have been a good girl to have this sort of karma come my way. Anyone else have good karma this past April?

So expect to see some projects soon from these two books quite soon! I've been a lazy sewista the past two weeks, but I think these will light a fire under my booty and get me to sew. Before I hit my sewing funk, I made this little goody from a pattern by KeykaLou.

I highly reccommend Keyka's patterns. Very easy to follow, fully photographed instructions, great prices, and her copyright allows you to sell what you create! This Baby Clutch here will find its way into my Shop soon.

Gotta love Giveaways...

2009-04-19T23:45:00.003-04:00

So I mentioned in my last post that I was working on a giveaway with a few Twitter pals. Well, here it is!!

To enter and to see full information, go to JavaCupcake. But to give you a basic run-down...

1) Follow us on Twitter.

@JavaCupcake
@avocadocreation
@OhSoSweetTreats
@FrostedTreats

2) Follow our blogs.

Java Cupcake
Avocado Creations
Frosted Treats

3) Leave one comment at Java's Blog with your Twitter ID and your Blog ID saying you followed all four of us on Twitter and three of our blogs.

What can you win? OHHHH I'll tell you!

What?! FOUR prizes?? FOUR deliciously sweet prizes? You bet! Now get entering! There are also ways to get more entries, but you'll have to check out Java's site to see those ;)

Contest entries will be accepted until
Sunday, May 3rd at 11pm PST.

Good Luck!!!

To everthing - turn, turn, turn - there is a Season.

2009-04-17T01:19:00.004-04:00

Where, oh where have I been? Well, between the Easter holiday, starting a new job, and coming down with a wicked head cold - I've been a little distracted from my blog. Glad to see you're all still here!!

Guess what yesterday was? Mah BIRFDAY!! (crowds cheer, bells ring, woo!) April 16th- most awesome day ever. That's not to say the other 364 days of the year aren't cool, but I'll admit to my bias in favor of the day I came into the world (Thanks, Mom!)

Here's a little snap-shot of my Easter festivities. Since I'm the only birthday near Easter, we usually have cake for me after dinner each year. Bobby (my boyfriend) spent Easter with my family this year, and I was very glad for that. I love spending holidays with him :) Then, of course, I've got some shots of my niece and nephew hunting eggs. They LOVED it.

So what else have I been up to? Well, I've been helping to create a SUPER AWESOME giveaway with a few pals from Twitter. Are you following me? I think you should... There are some great prizes in the works! Stay tuned for more details.

I also added some more goodies to my Etsy Shop and I'm really proud of them! I have a ton of charms I plan on stocking, too, so check back often. Here's a little taste.

GIANT Pea Pods!

2009-04-06T20:06:00.004-04:00

Hey there! I've been a busy little bee again. I received a big order from an online friend for a clutchlet, Luck of the Irish Pouch, a Teacher Tote and these...

They're double the size of my normal pea pods! They were a bit of a challenge because they're so much bigger than what I'm used to working with, but I'm really happy at how they turned out. They'll be in your mailbox soon, Jillie!

Here are these monsters next to their puny counterparts. Jinkees! I also made some regular sized Pea Pods to make into earrings.

So I went to my Etsy Shop the other day and realized that all but two of my items have expired! Oops! Well, that gives me some motivation to restock my inventory ASAP. This is where you guys come in... What do you want me to put in my shop? Take a look through my previous posts and tell me what items I've made you think would be best sellers. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

Teeny, Tiny Bows

2009-04-03T13:32:00.003-04:00

Hey there, crafters! Don't you just love it when you find out that someone you've been friends with for a long time loves to craft, too? It's always fun to learn something new about a friend. I had the pleasure of crafting with a girl that I've known since we were sophomores in high school.

Liz just got married this past November and I finally got a chance to come to here new home and hang out for a bit! On our agenda, we planned to make some adorable bows for her adorable new puppy, Molly!

Here's Molly, looking great.

We made A LOT of bows... I think around 30.

We had a great time doing it, too. Liz's hubby, Dennis, even made us dinner! Overall, it was a great night! I had a fabulous time reconnecting over crafts with a great friend. Next time, we hope to take on some beading and jewelry making! I hear Liz makes some great jewelry :D

I hope to bring you a quick tutorial soon, I just gotta take some new photos. The ones I took at Liz's place turned out a bit too blurry. Stay tuned!

I am a Lucky Ducky today!

2009-03-30T15:03:00.003-04:00

Wow! Today has been my SUPER AWESOME LUCKY DAY!

Let's see...

1) I went in for my second interview at TARGET! Consider me the next Signing Specialist ;) I got the job, all I need to do is pass a background check and such... Eeep! I hope my stint as an international spy doesn't come up. I am finally in the land of the employed once more!

2) I got a TON of packages in the mail when I got home including: my order from Fabric Hound (Hurry over there! They are having a HUGE sale until next Monday!), my mouse-to-usb converter thinger so I can use a normal mouse on my laptop (Thanks ebay!), and a $200 check that was owed to me from my University!!

3) Someone ordered something from my Etsy Shop (you should too!).

4) I WON FREE FABRIC FRIDAY! Yess!!! Finally, I have been yearning to win something, anything, PLEASE! And today was my lucky day! I won a Wonderland Charm Pack from Sew, Mama, Sew. I am SOOO excited!

image from Sew, Mama, Sew

Wow, I really am a happy camper right now. Now I'm off to mail some goodies, cash in my coins, and just generally be happy!

St. Patty's, Buttercup Bags, and Crazy Lester

2009-03-17T21:09:00.005-04:00

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!

Wow, I can't believe it's the best day of the year already! Hehe, I am a proud little Irish girl and I have been celebrating all day with my little leprechaun family!

I've been a lazy bumster with putting together a post, but I'll give you one now! I've been doing a bunch of sewing to get all of the prizes out from the Spring Fling, so if you won something, it will be sent out soon!

I also had a birthday to sew for - Happy Birthday Nina!!

Holy crap, how did this get 219 views on Flickr?? Wow! Based on the free pattern at Made by Rae, this is my version of the Buttercup Bag. I didn't have any magnetic closures on me, so I used a chunky button to close it up. I love how it turned out and I may have to make another for myself! I hope she likes it!

Check out some of the other FANTASTIC Buttercup Bags posted in the Flickr Pool!

I also made this wallet to match.

This is my first attempt at creating a wallet - and I've learned some things.

1. Snaps suck ass. I hate them and I doubt I will use them again. Hello velcro!
2. Make card pockets longer.
3. I love making freezer paper stencils. Woo!

**********

Okay, so you remember how I said I was going to a night club this past Friday? Well, that fell through thanks to empty wallets. However, Bobby (boyfriend) and I had some adventures this weekend!

Friday - We got all ready to go to the night club, but we had to drop Bobby's 16-year-old sister off at a friend's house first. We popped the address into the GPS and took off. The GPS decided that the fastest route to the friend's house would be to cut down "Unnamed Road," AKA Creepy Dirt Road.

Bobby, being the curious cat that he is, turns onto the dirt road and visions of horror movies start popping into my head. It was the perfect set up - Friday the 13th, dusk, Creepy Dirt Road through a South Jersey farm, two young girls in the back, and a couple sitting in the front seats. I pictured an ax murderer, goblin or ghoulie eating our souls one at a time.

Looking around, there are a number of rusted out, broken down tractors and other weapons of mass produce production, a whole lot of dirt, and a beat up barn with the word "PEACHES" painted in two-story tall letters on the side. This farm looked like something out of the dust bowl. I doubt peaches we grown there, it seemed like the farm was either abandoned or used to harvest dry, crumbly dirt.

We were almost off the dirt road when we see headlights coming up ahead of us. Bobby pulls to the side of the path and then we see lights coming up behind us, too.

Oh great, now we're really going to die.

The man in the truck that came at us head-on hopped out and signaled for us to stop.

DON'T STOP, BOBBY!

So we stop. The man proceeds to yell at us that this is private property and people drive through all the time despite the "No Trespassing" sign at the start of the road. We proceed to tell the crazy man that we're sorry, we're leaving, and we were just doing with the GPS told us. He tells us that the land is his father's (the man who drove up behind us and was now standing beside our car as well) and that "People get shot around here for trespassing!

Perfect. Cue suspense-building music. He babbles on some more about other people who have driven through their crappy little dirt farm and then turns to his decrepit old father and says, "What should we do with 'em, Pa?"

ARE YOU SERIOUS?? A bit more babbling, I'm getting annoyed at the sound of his voice as he repeats for the fifth time how it's private property and people drive through all the time. Bobby is cool as a cucumber and his sister and her friend are peeing their pants in the back seat.

So Mr. Dirt Farmer lets us go by and we get to the friend's house. We drive home and later receive a text message from Bobby's sister saying telling us that she found out that everyone in that town knows the guy as "Crazy Lester." Lovely.

Saturday - Bobby and I went with his brother and his mom to a mall in Delaware to buy a MacBook for his brother. We had some delicious pizza and laughed a lot about our run-in with Crazy Lester.

Later, we drove out to Bobby's uncle's house in Pennsylvania for a bonfire. We've been to a couple of bonfires at Uncle Carl's and they are always a ton of fun! Before we got the fire started, we drove to a little tavern in Maryland (we were really close to the PA/MD border) and got some fantastic crab bisque. Once we got back, we tossed all kinds of brush and wood onto the fire and even roasted a few hotdogs. Toss in a bunch of beers, and it was a great night. All-in-all, we spent some time in three states - NJ, PA, MD, DE. Fun!

Sunday - We drove back to Bobby's house and met up with Nina (the birthday girl mentioned previously), Anthony, and their daughter K. Anthony was Bobby's roommate our first year of college, and Nina lived next door to me. I love it when we get to spend time with them. We had a nice dinner at Applebee's and then some fabulous ice cream cake afterwards. A great time was had by all!

So now I'm home and recovering from all the excitement. I'm heading out to Corned Beef and Cabbage at the American Legion in town as we do every year. Have a great St. Patty's Day, everyone!

Soo... it's Friday the 13th, eh?

2009-03-13T15:02:00.003-04:00

Oh goodness. So far today has been interesting. Friday the 13th! As far as bad luck goes, I've gotten a bit.

* Struggled with putting in a set of snaps for a wallet birthday gift. I've decided that I hate snaps and I love patches. The damn snap tore through the wallet pocket and instead of tearing the whole thing to shreds and starting over, a carefully placed heart patch did the trick.

* I realized I only have one earring in. That means the other is either floating in my bed somewhere or is missing elsewhere in the house. I was walking around looking like a pirate for a while. Luckily, I was just at home.

* A few broken nails and my monthly visitor tops off the list for now. I think I'll add as the day progresses.

Now for the good luck! I've been SPOTTED!

My tea cup pin cushions are on IndieSpotting and I am psyched! Woo! I'm the first box on the fifth row! Check me out.

Tonight I'm heading out to a night club (GASP!) in Philly for one of my girlfriend's birthdays. Happy 23rd, Nina! I got my outfit last night and did a little re-vamping to make it more club worthy. I'll post pictures of me all done up tomorrow :)

I also just finished Nina's birthday present. I'll post photos of that tomorrow so I don't spoil the surprise. Next birthday gift on the list is for Lizzy and I am excited for that!

Now for some good luck for YOU! It's time for some winners! I am so COMPLETELY pleased with the turn out for last week's Freebie Friday.

After 205 comments, 68 total followers on Twitter, 10 more fans on Facebook, 189 people participating for a grand total of 345 entries!! And now, to choose a winner!

Congrats, Maricris Zen Mama!! I'll be contacting you shortly.

Well, since this was such a FANTASTIC response, mostly thanks to the SITS Spring Fling, I'm going to give a few more of you a chance to win!

53 - Liz @ Hoosier Homemade wins her choice of one of the items from the Spring Buds set!

168 - LoveMy2Dogs also wins a choice of one of the items!

153 - So will Miss Anne!

103 - And Fish4Christ from Twitter!

I'll be posting/e-mailing you all to get your contact info. You have your choice of a tea wallet, tissue tote, key fob, or coffee cozy. It won't be in the same print as the Spring Buds set, but I promise it will be just as cute!

Special thanks to:

And every other great blog that helps to advertise giveaways and contests! You guys are all great :)

SITS Winner!!

2009-03-11T00:07:00.002-04:00

Yay!! I've chosen a winner for the neat-o Pea Pod earring!

Congratualtions FAScinated!! I'll be posting on your Blog and e-mailing you shortly!! Congrats!!

All yours!

Stay tuned, there's still time to enter for the Spring Buds set!

Thanks again to the SITS girls for making such a neat Spring Fling event happen!

SITS Spring Fling Giveaway

2009-03-10T02:03:00.004-04:00

I know, I know... I'm already giving something away (And there's still time to enter HERE) but in honor of The SITS Spring Fling, I'm giving away these lovely earrings as well...

These are made of Polymer clay as tiny glass seed beads, I really love these. I hope you do too!

Two Peas in a Pod

Just a simple comment will enter you :) Good LUCK!

Freebie Friday - Spring Buds Set

2009-03-06T22:15:00.005-05:00

Woo! Freebie Friday at Frosted Treats for all of you folks!

This week, I'm giving away a whole slew of goodies!

"How many is a slew?" asks my boyfriend. "A lot," I reply.

SO! Here we go. This fabric came from the wonderful Daisy Janie. I love it :) I hope you will, too!

One winner will get this:

Spring is on its way and I think that's a perfect excuse to organize and pretty-fy your life. Organize your purse with these goodies:

Key Fob to keep your keys handy and handsome
Tea Wallet to keep your bags of tea from busting open in the bottom of your purse or pocket
Coffee Cozy (or Tea Cozy, depending what you prefer) to keep your mits cool and preventing those cardboard sleeves from ending up in the trash
Tissue Tote to keep your pack of tissues clean and under control

**********
Freebie Friday works like this...
1) Comment on this post = one entry
2) Post this button with a link to Frosted Treats on your blog = two entries
3) Follow me on Twitter or Facebook = Three Entries

The winner will be chosen using the Random Number picker thinger on March 13th! I'll make Friday the 13th lucky for someone :)

Eeee!

2009-03-03T23:42:00.001-05:00

Real quick... Check out The Benner Daily to win some FREE FABRIC!!! WooOoo! I wants it, I needs it.
Oh, and check out this funny LoLCat...

more animals
These things always make me laugh!!

Let it Snow!!

2009-03-02T19:38:00.005-05:00

Hey there, crafters! Today was a lazy, but productive day. I'm at my beloved boyfriend's house for a visit and we got snowed in! My original plan for today was to go to a job fair in Burlington County, but it was snowed out. So that's where I'll be tomorrow!
Let's see... First we dug out my car...

My car and my hero... Bobby (boyfriend) helping me dig out my car. Then we put more air in the tires and I vac'ed all the dirt and yuck out!

I love my little junk car. You can't see it, but on the other side of the bumper, there is duct tape covering a massive hole. I DIDN'T DO IT. Haha, it was like that when I got the car. I think it adds character.

I love snow :) I know this may be the last snow of the season, but it was a good one! I would say there were about 6 to 8 inches of snow on the ground. Notice my scarf? I started it forever ago and it was horrible, and then I unraveled it yesterday and started again, much better!!

Ignore the silly hat, it was the only one I could find. Haha!

Now for something completely different...

Here are a few things that are on my craft desk waiting for me to get home from my mini-vacation...

My little brother got me this candle for Christmas two years ago. I felt bad because I couldn't bring it to my dorm with me (Damn fire code rules) and my Mom told me he spent his last $9 on this gift (he was 15 and poor haha), so I always keep this right next to my sewing area and light it just before I start sewing. I love the scent! Who'd think Vanilla Lime would smell so good??
*****

I've been working on my photo-taking skills for my projects ever since the great feedback you all gave during my first giveaway. This little tea wallet will be up for sale on Etsy as soon as I get some acceptable photos.

Here's my question - If you saw this photo and were in need of a tea wallet, would you buy this one based on the photo? If so - what's good about it? If not - what could I do differently?

Just another angle of the tea wallet. Cuter? Pointless? What do you think?
*****

And last but not least, I've made a few new tea cup pin cushions. The pink and blue one will be up for sale soon. Comments on the photo skills?? I needz your helpz!

Winner, winner, Chicken Dinner!

2009-02-26T00:55:00.002-05:00

Actually, I had chicken burritos for dinner. Sooo... without any delay, our winner.

Numbaaaa ONE! Which is...

Congratulations, Jennifer! I have just e-mailed you, so soon you will have your tissue tote to tote tissues 'til your heart's content!

Anyone notice the new banner? And the new layout? Thoughts? Suggestions? I really suck at layouts and design things. HELP!

Bringin' Back the Etsy Eight

2009-02-24T22:23:00.008-05:00

((ignore the boring layout, I'm trying to find a new one :D ))
Don't forget to enter Freebie Friday!! A winner will be chosen tomorrow night!

So a while back, I did a few of these features and I had hoped I would be able to do it more regularly. Buuut, life happens and yadda yadda... Since I don't have a life right now, (don't laugh too hard, it's kinda true, haha)I figured I would bring it back.

Basically, here's what caught my eye today on Etsy.com

(from the top, left to right)

1. Complexion Bar
2. One Little Butterfly
3. Petite Mermaid Tears
4. Standing Woman, Patterned Dress
5. Mi-Mi Makeup Pouch
6. Butterfly Storage
7. Angel's Song
8. Apricot Gerbera

Click the links to take a browse through these great featured shops!

Freebie Friday: Tissue? I hardly know you!

2009-02-20T22:39:00.010-05:00

Hey there! How has everyone's week gone? Well, I hope! This weekend, my Mom and I are spending time with my wonderful niece, Kandice! I'll fill you in on all the fun later! Here's a 'lil snapshot from our last weekend together.

Kandice loves putting me to work as her personal transportation.

Anywho! Let's get to the fun part! After an overwhelmingly wonderful response to my last giveaway, (which is on its way to Joy as we speak! Let me know when it gets to you!) it's time to start a new tradition here at Frosted Treats! Freebie Friday will take place every other Friday and YOU will either get a nifty tutorial or the chance to win something neat! And since I'm in a generous mood...
One winner will get this:

From time to time, we all get the sniffles. Be prepared with a travel pack of tissues! And who wouldn't want to make thinking ahead look so darn cute? This tissue pack tote will be yours with just a simple comment!
**********
Freebie Friday works like this...
1) Comment on this post = one entry
2) Post this button with a link to Frosted Treats on your blog = three entries

The winner will be chosen using the Random Number picker thinger on February 25th!
So there you have it! Freebie Friday at Frosted Treats! Say that 5 times fast ;)
Happy Crafting!

Busy, busy week...

2009-02-19T21:32:00.003-05:00

Hey there, crafters! This week has been a busy time for my little corner of the world! First off - how was everyone's Valentine's Day? I had a fantastic time! My Boyfriend took me out to a reaaally trendy sushi restaurant in Philly. Check it out - It's called Pod.
Anywho... On to my productivity for the past week! Since it's so much, I'll just post little pictures to keep things movin'!
.1. .2. .3. .4. .5. .6. .7. .8.
Phew! Okay, so not all of these were made in the past week, but most were. Let's break it down!
1. The Lorelei Set - Made for my Momma! She gave me an insane amount of this cute floral print, so I got to work! I like how the colors work, so I'll be making a bunch more with this print!
2. Jessica Clutchlet - Finally! Something for myself, hehe! I love damask print and I've had this fabric for a while, longing for a chance to make something of my very own. Ta Da!
3. Marie Clutchlet - Part of a custom order for a friend of mine. I like how this one turned out. I'll be making another for the Etsy Shop soon!
4. Lorelei Tissue holder - Another little goodie from my Mom's choice of fabric. I love how cute and simple these tissue holders are to make.
5. Tea Cup Cushion - This is something that I've been wanting to make for a while. I saw someone else make these a while ago, but I can't remember where. I love the concept! I love how it turned out!
6. Caryn Clutchlet - Part of a custom order. Fun, fun!
7. Casey Clutchlet - I actually had two orders for this particular clutchlet! Woo!
8. Elizabeth Clutchlet - A gift for my best friend for Valentine's Day.

So there you have it! I have been a busy little bee. Oh, did I mention I got a call back for a teaching job?! I go back on Monday morning to teach a sample lesson. Yay! Cross your fingers, crafters. So this weekend will be filled with prep for the lesson, listing goodies on Etsy, and TOMORROW - keep your eyes out for the first Freebie Friday! Until tomorrow, Happy Crafting!

And we have a WINNAHH!!!

2009-02-11T20:49:00.002-05:00

Wow! I am so overwhelmed and excited with all the new visitors and all the GREAT suggestions and tips for making my blog and Esty shop improve! Here are a few of the wonderful tips I've gotten:
More than any other comment that came from you guys was the one about photos. Photo light boxes, some patterend backgrounds, focus in better - Very great tips! Photos are definitely something I've struggled with. I put together a photo box, but I think the lamp I was using was not bright enough, so back to the drawing board! Thanks :)

Have more contests and giveaways! Gladly ;) In fact, based on the fabulous response to this first giveaway, I'll be having a whole bunch more!! Starting next Friday and continuing every other Friday, Frosted Treats will have Freebie Friday! Keep your eyes open ;)

More patterns! Add to the pattern of the Clutchlet! We want an inner pocket! Haha. A bunch of the comments called for an inner pocket for the current Clutchlet, but I'll have to give you guys some bad news. This version is a bit too small to integrate that into the pattern without the pocket being really tiny or fudged up. I do, however, plan on making a larger version of the Clutchlet... The Clutchzilla? Haha, seriously though, there will be a bigger one of these, and I promise to put in inner pockets and all kinds of other goodies :)

There were a bunch of other great comments. Update Etsy more often (will do!), sign up for Twitter (done! Follow me), make a Facebook page (done! Check it out). I also want to post a few tutorials and such.
So thank you, thank you, thank you! I am so glad for all the tips!
Anyways, I'm sure you guys are here to find out who will be taking home the Clutchlet before anyone else...
After 42 people commented, giving me 86 entries to draw from...
Number 62! Which is...
Joy from Joy to the Blog! Congratulations! I'll be e-mailing you shortly for shipping info.
Thanks again for all of the great entries and comments!! Come back often for more Frosted Treats goodies, giveaways, and fun galore!

A few more days...

2009-02-04T20:00:00.003-05:00

I plan on keeping the Clutchlet Giveaway open until Tuesday, Feb. 10 - so don't forget to enter!! There are only a few entries in so far, so your chances are still pretty good!
Go here to enter!!
I love Sew, Mama, Sew and they are having a FABULOUS theme this month based on every sewista's favorite bit of fabric - The Fat Quarter! Check SMS's blog each day for tutorials, tips, and talks about the infamous FQ! Here's a little survey that was posted today -
What do you usually sew?
I love to create bags, purses, and accessories.

When you shop for fabric, what size cuts do you usually buy?
I am, of course, a fan of the FQ and will usually get that amount. I also love snatching up remnants to diversify my stash.

Do you buy on impulse or do you go out looking for something you need?
A little of both. I usually am an impulse buyer, though.

Are you a pre-washer?
Nope. I don't want to lose yardage just yet.

Do you iron it?
Obsessively! My iron is on almost as much as my sewing machine is.

How do you sort it?
By color. I seem to have a lot of greens and pinks.

Do you have any special folding techniques?
Not really. I once took on the task of wrapping them around my own home-made bolts, but I gave up on that.

How do you store your fabric?
I have a Sterilite (sp?) drawer thinger that I keep all my crafts in. Fabric has its own drawer, as does beading and clay. I think fabric may need its own container very soon.

What tips do you have for building up a well-rounded stash?
I don't know... I could use your tips! I'm still building mine.

When do you say enough is enough?
Your guess is as good as mine.

What are some of your favorite stash-busting projects?
I make goodies for my niece and my girlfriends. Key fobs, wristlets, tote bags, etc. My Mom is usually a willing recipient of my random creations.

Do you have a current favorite print in your stash? Let’s see it!
I'll get back to you on that one!

What’s your definition of the perfect stash?(Consider sharing a picture or two of your stash & storage, or direct us to a pic on Flickr!)
Another one I'll BRB with!

Introducing: The Clutchlet

2009-02-01T20:44:00.005-05:00

I've always loved wristlets. They're cute, they're compact, they're convenient. I've had this shape bouncing around in my mind for a while now - A small wristlet with a simple pleat and a bit of a poof at the bottom. One night this past week, I couldn't sleep. I got out my sketchbook and I drew it up. Finally! So then I took to the challenge of actually making the bag.
So I was at the store with my niece last weekend picking out some fabric. She spotted this pink bit and thought it was super cool. She's three and it was only $1.24 for a remnant, so I got it. Once I saw it next to the bright blue remnant I got, I knew these fabrics would be perfect for the first try at my design!
I LOVE how it turned out!! For my first time drafting up a pattern, I am so proud!! I had to tell whoever would listen about it... My Mom, my old roommate, my best friend... Which led to a few requests!

So after boasting about how awesome my first wristlet of this style was, my best friend Liz requested a blue one. So who could turn down their best friend since first grade? Besides, this one went a lot quicker than the first.

I'll probably drop this off sometime Monday. I hope she likes it!
My old roomie Casey also requested a red one, so I'll get on that tomorrow.

The pink one has a special purpose, however. *sniff sniff* Do I smell a giveaway in the near future??? As in... Right now?!
**********
Okay, here's the deal. This wristlet, which I am going to call the Clutchlet will be YOURS! How?
1) Comment on this post = one entry
2) Give me constructive criticism that you think would help my blog/Etsy shop = two entries
3) Post this button with a link to Frosted Treats on your blog = three entries
One winner will get this:
Stuffed with all kinds of goodies! Beads, charms, ribbon, fabric, etc!
So there you have it! The first giveaway at Frosted Treats! My goal is to boost readership and get some feedback on my work. Thanks for looking and come again soon :)
Happy Crafting!

Giveaways around the Community

2009-01-28T15:54:00.003-05:00

Well crafters, I've been sitting at home with a wicked stomach virus since Sunday night. Not fun! Good news is that I'm feeling a bit better.
Now, on to the fun stuff. I love the idea of winning things. The problem with that is I never win, haha! Hopefully someday soon I'll break that streak and be a WINNAH!! It seems like the the crafting community loves to give things away. SOoooOOO, I figured I would spread the word about a few giveaways going on now. And who knows? Maybe there will be a giveaway from Frosted Treats in the future.
Bitty Bits & Pieces is "Spreading the Love" for the 100th post! Simply post a comment and/or blog about the giveaway for entries!
Anna Maria Horner, one of my FAVORITE fabric designers and bloggers is giving away 5 stacks of her new collection of fabric, "Good Folks." Simply leave a comment describing what you think of when you think of "good."
I know there are some more out there that I've seen. I'll update this post when I come across them again! Good luck!

The world is so different now!

2009-01-23T03:01:00.004-05:00

Hey there, Crafters. I come to you today a new woman. I have seen the light!!!
And by light, I mean the little itty bitty light on my new sewing machine :D
I've never had my own, real-life, big girl sewing machine. I've had little kiddie ones and one of those compact pieces of junk. My Mom had a sewing machine years ago, but neither of us could get the bottom bobbin threaded (we're mechanically challenged). And since I've taken a liking to sewing in the recent months, I asked Santa for a sewing machine for Christmas. Ol' Saint Nick did not disappoint! This may not be the most advanced or fancy pants sewing machine, but it works just great for me!
Since Christmas this little puppy had been sitting in its box amidst all of my other boxes from moving back home from college. Tonight, and I finally started cleaning and organizing my junk, I decided to give up with cleaning once my desk was clear and play with my machine.
First I started by playing with a bunch of 4inch square blocks I had and that turned into about a 12inch square thingy with a white backing. I thought to myself, "Self - What are you going to do with this?" I thought about making it an envelope... nope. I tried quilting it to make a doll blanket for my niece who will me spending the weekend at my house... that turned out badly. Check out all the thread I ended up yanking out of the poor thing...
Then I got an idea. I had been wanting to try to square off the bottom of a bag. That always looks so sharp! So I did! And then that turned into this...
It's a little rough and I already know a bunch of changes I'll make the next time I try to make one of these, but in the end, I love it!! I think I'll put together a tutorial for this once I get all the kinks worked out. For now, I've stuffed it full of miscellaneous sewing supplies to keep next to my new best friend.
And now, to leave you - I'll show off my favorite pincushion.
I found the strawberry jar at an antique shop owned by a friend of my Poppy (grandfather) this past summer. I love strawberries, so I had to bring it home with me. I had no use for it until I realized that the lame little poof I had been sticking pins in fit perfectly inside! Thus, my strawberry pincushion buddy was born.
I'll open it up to the rest of you out there - Do you have a favorite pincushion? Show it off!! Post a link in the comments and tell me its story! Best story will be featured on Frosted Treats!!

Change has come!

2009-01-20T23:50:00.000-05:00

I hate to get political...
Wait, who am I kidding? I am an historian - talking politics is the peanut butter to my jelly!
I spent today lounging on the couch with my Mom watching the Inauguration of our 44th President of the United States of America - Barack Obama.

I was so proud to see such a positive message finally coming from an elected leader. You have to admit - no matter which side of the political spectrum you find yourself, this past election was a breath of life into American politics! The forgotten voters have been heard. The young, the poor, the diverse. To know that I have lived to see all of this - the revival of American voting, the first African American President, female politicians holding high offices, and the message of hope in an otherwise depressing time - I am proud to say that I am an American.
Now back to your regularly scheduled craft blog.
I decided to try to crochet!!
After I inherited a bunch of crafting supplies from a lovely woman who had been a family friend my entire life (she was my Grandma's neighbor and passed away last year), I thought I would put the crochet hooks to good use when I found yarn on sale for really cheap.
It's a really horrible scarf. Haha! The yarn broke a few times, I think I crocheted a little too tight, and I really should read a few more tutorials before attempting another piece.
Buuuutt... That horrible, ratty scarf is WARM!! That $1.29 yarn was worth the investment.

2008-12-02T22:25:00.003-05:00

Check out Frosted Treats Shop for holiday stocking stuffers, cupcakes, lollipops, and more to come!

I am also taking Custom Orders. Message me here or on Etsy with what you're looking for and we will make it happen!

For a FREE GIFT with your purchase, enter the code BLOGREADER in notes to the seller at check out.

Black Friday?? No thanks.

2008-11-28T15:37:00.002-05:00
Hello there crafters!! As many of you in the United States know, today is Black Friday - the most ridiculous shopping day of the year. My mother and I were planning on heading to the local mall at 4AM to stand in line for a chance to win $500 in gift cards, but the turkey in our tummies decided otherwise.
This story here - Walmart worker dies in Black Friday Store Rush just makes me sick. Why? Why endanger the lives of others to save some money on plasma screen TVs? Are Americans really that careless and selfish? I pray that times will change soon so that in a situation like this, a shopper would stop and help a person off the ground instead of stampeding over them just to buy some useless piece of junk. Merry Christmas, indeed. Ugh.
I suppose to move on to happier topics, I finished my godson's stuffed gifts. Today is his first birthday, by the way. I got to spend time with him and his 3 year old sister yesterday at my Grandma's Thanksgiving dinner. We played piano and had a great time overall! It was nice to see my family together and happy. Anyways, here are the final products for JJ's Christmas gift.
I am really happy with these! The ball even has a little rattle inside. I am sooo stupidly proud of myself, haha!
On another note, keep an eye out for the Frosted Treats Esty Shop holiday sale! I plan on posting a number of goodies by Monday for your holiday needs. Things that will be on sale:
Holiday themed cupcakes and lollipops
Wristlets for you and yours
Key Fobs in all colors
Mini Monogram Stockings
Check back here for previews and *gasp* COUPONS!! Here's a preview of a few Key Fobs I've made...
Enjoy! See you next time!

Holy crap!

2008-11-14T20:52:00.003-05:00
Wow... Where did I come from!?

Hehe... Sorry for SUCH a long delay in my posting. I've been really really busy with Student Teaching and finishing up my college degree. Thank goodness it's all going to be over in about a month!

However... in about a month is ....gasp... CHRISTMAS!! So with that in mind, I've started my work on the many handmade Christmas gifts, ornaments, and decorations I intend to produce. How many of these that I have planned will I complete - I have no idea. But with hope, I will get a majority of them done.

Right now I am working on a stuffed ball like this one below by Grand Revival Designs. I am making it from light flannel in patterns of baby blue. This will be for my Godson, J.J. He will be turning one around Thanksgiving this year and I'm really excited!

Photo by Grand Revival Designs

My Godson, J.J., the lucky recipient of a ton of fun baby toys I am making!

Since I feel so horrible about leaving you all for such a long time, here are some photos of a few things I've made in my absence.

Some yummy little cupcakes and a lollipop - polymer clay

Stuffed "j" decoration - felt

"It Starts with a Cup" swap on Swap-Bot.com

Hopefully my next installment won't be too far off, but in the meantime, Happy Crafting!

Where have I been??

2008-09-24T23:10:00.003-04:00
Oh man... I've been slacking!! I had the next Etsy Eight all ready to post, but now some of the items are sold out. I've been just so busy with Student Teaching that blogging, crafting, and even cleaning have taken a backseat! And it doesn't look like it will be letting up soon... Tomorrow I get observed by my supervisor, and then Back to School night is tomorrow, Friday I have Dinner night with the girls and then I am driving home for the weekend with my boyfriend for my neice's third birthday party. Man, oh man!!
Here is a photo of my neice sporting a Cupcake disc charm I made her.
Well, there is a little update for you guys (if anyone actually reads this) in case you were wondering. I am planning a Giveaway very soon! Like... As soon as I take pictures of what I plan on giving away!