I truly struggled to write this post. Every time I thought about it, even as I am typing now, my eyes fill with tears. I suppose some small part of my brain hopes that if it isn’t written down, it might not be true.
Last Sunday, Smokey was having the best day ever, sitting on the deck watching wildlife, supervising the cooking of dinner on the grill, and feasting on a steak dinner. The next morning, he died. It was a shock to everyone, including the vet. He had been doing so well. How could he be happy one minute and gone the next?
I want to thank everyone for their well wishes and prayers. Right now, Smokey is burrowing under God’s comforter or floating on a cloud watching over us.
Hug your furry friends! The joy and love they bring to our lives will live on forever in our hearts. Thanks again for your support!
In part 1, we reviewed cupcake flavors and decoration options. Now we have arrived at the fun part, decorating. Each cupcake is a blank canvas, ready for your creativity to come to life. Let your inner artist come out to play.
Decorated Cupcakes: Flock of Sheep
Floral
Floral
Cookie Monster & Friend
Sealife
Unicorns
Valentine’s Day
Halloween
Christmas
Snowman
Cupcake Design & Presentation: Cupcake Art
Two things to remember: 1) We eat with our eyes first and 2) Presentation is everything. In the photo above, the layout may look random, but it’s by design. Touches of red and blue draw your eye across the composition. Dark chocolates contrast with colorful tart berries floating upon waves of buttercream icing. Subtle variations in the pastel blue wrappers serve as a perfect backdrop. Let’s see what’s creatively possible…
Mini Cupcake Pops
Flowerpot Cupcakes
Square Cupcakes in Geometric Pattern
Chocolate Strawberry Cupcake ala Mode
Easter Cupcakes on a Tiered Tower
Christmas Cupcakes in Wire Stand
Spring Cupcakes in Tiered Tray
Floral Cupcakes Centerpiece
Quilling Paper Cupcakes – no calories, no allergens, and completely guiltfree (lol)
I don’t know about you but I’m seriously craving cupcakes! Unfortunately, it’s too late for baking, but there’s always tomorrow. I hope you are inspired by these ideas. Please let me know your favorites in the comments. Enjoy your cupcakes and eat one for me. (lol)
Cupcakes are the perfect choice to satisfy your sweet tooth. They are quick to make, fun to decorate, easily portable, and the quantity allows experimentation with multiple designs. We will begin with flavors, followed by decorating options. Let’s begin and let your creativity soar.
Cupcake Flavors: (can be included in cakes, toppings and fillings) Blueberries & Cream
Carrot Cake
Chocolate Cheese
Chocolate Chip
Salted Caramel
Vanilla & Chocolate Swirl
Chocolate Raspberry with Buttercream Icing
Butterscotch & Chocolate
Chocolate Chili
Red Velvet
Lime Mandarin Orange
Cupcake Decorating Options: Piped Icing & Candy
Ombre Icing & Sprinkles
Chocolate Dipped & Cookies
Fruit & Edible Flowers
Fondant
Sugar Paste Flowers
Modeling Chocolate
There are infinite combinations of cupcake flavors and decorating ideas. I hope you give decorating a try. In part two, we will see delicious cupcake designs.
Nothing says spring has arrived like colorful buds, blooms and leaves. Why not bring nature indoors by making a new wreath. You will have a few decisions to make before you begin…
Colors: Bold & Bright
Will you choose bold contrasting colors, soft pastels, or a combination of both?
Fresh-Cut Flowers
Fresh-cut or silk flowers are popular choices. Do you want to simply wire the flowers together or do you prefer using a base wreath and hot glue?
Pussy Willows, Wild Grass & Twigs
Would you like an alternative to flowers? Pussy willows, fruits & berries, and vines make great additions to any wreath.
Floral Garland
Think you don’t have the skills to make a wreath? Coil a silk garland and secure the ends. It’s that easy!
Exotic Flowers & Seashells
Wonder how to create a showstopping wreath? Include the unexpected, such as orchids, starfish, or ribbons & beaded trims. You could choose inspirational themes like holidays or special occasions.
Reusable Tabletop Wreath Centerpiece
How do you plan to use your new wreath? You can use it as a centerpiece, hang it on a wall or door, or wear it as a floral crown. The wintry centerpiece above can be transformed for spring by swapping a few key elements: Replace the birds with robins sitting upon a layer of spring greens and switch the candles to pale yellow.
Finished Wreaths:
Pink & Blue Floral Wreath
Multi-Color Hydrangea Wreath
Berries, Leaves & Flowers Wreath
Freeform Wreath Centerpiece
Easter Egg Mobile Wreath
Thai Garland
Candle Ring
Heart Shaped Wreath with Fresh Cut Flowers
Multi-Color Peonies Wreath
Tropical Floral Crown
Tropical Fruit & Flowers Wreath
Wreaths are fun and easy to make. There are endless possibilities and they make great gifts! Please let me know your favorites in the comments.
Thanks for Reading, Welcome Spring & Happy Crafting!
Sorry it has taken so long to post an update on Smokey. As you know, he had emergency surgery, and the recovery process has been slow. He is taking two prescription medications, but like all cats he hates pills. His sense of smell is so well developed that he could get a job at the airport searching for drugs in passenger’s luggage. lol
Did you know they make playpens for pets? I didn’t! He loves sitting outside on the deck getting some fresh air while watching birds and squirrels.
Being pampered has become his favorite activity. He loves layered blankets, a heating pad made for cats, and beef pate with extra gravy. Sometimes he is treated to a few pieces of steak, which he promptly grabs and carries off as if it is his prey. lol
Thanks for reading and please keep positive thoughts and energy flowing this way. Smokey and I really appreciate it!
Those of you who follow my blog will recognize one of our art studio mascots, Smokey. Two weeks ago, he had to be rushed to the veterinary clinic for emergency surgery. As you can imagine, it was such a shock.
We set up a cage for his recuperation, which requires bed rest and absolutely no jumping. He also had to wear one of those dreaded cones to prevent him from chewing on his incision.
Since then, I have been nursing him back to health. Each day he improves, which is such a relief. Besides eating food, one of his greatest pleasures is sleeping under a blanket. Looks like he’s slowly getting back to normal! Lol
As much as I enjoy writing posts and conversing with followers, I have not been able to keep up with my blog. I’ll try to read your posts and comments but will be slow in responding. Thanks for reading and please keep positive thoughts and energy flowing this way. Smokey and I really appreciate it!
We wear jewelry for many reasons, but rings in particular have played a significant role in our lives. The circular shape, with no beginning and no end, symbolizes eternity. Rings can have special meanings for individuals, families, communities, and cultures.
Self-Expression:
The most obvious reasons to wear rings are self-expression and personal adornment.
We express our individuality by creating the image we show to the world, including hairstyle, clothing choices, and yes, even jewelry.
A signature ring is an item worn on a daily basis.
Although it may have a significant meaning, the way it makes you feel when you wear it is the most important hallmark of such an adored piece of jewelry.
Jewelry is art for the body.
Commitment:
Engagement rings represent promises and intentions.
Wedding bands are signs of love and fidelity.
Anniversary rings, also known as eternity bands, commemorate love through the years.
Family Heritage:
A coat of arms honors family history. Rings like this become family heirlooms passed down from one generation to the next.
Birthstone rings celebrate your birth month or zodiac sign.
For more information on gemstone meanings and uses throughout history, please read: “Gemstone Healing Traditions.”
Accomplishments:
Accomplishments are often celebrated with jewelry. Upon graduation, alumni often wear a ring to demonstrate school pride and personal achievement. Champions in athletics are awarded expensive rings such as the winners of the Super Bowl.
Affirmations:
Affirmation rings serve as reminders to fulfill our goals and dreams.
Feathers symbolize our connection to angels, the spirit world, and our higher selves.
Cultural Pride:
Different cultures wear jewelry for traditional reasons and to express pride in their heritage. The Irish Claddagh signifies love, loyalty and friendship.
This mosaic ring set in silver is a fine example of intricate Moroccan design and craftsmanship.
Ancient Viking rings symbolize clan loyalty, while the open design provides flexibility.
Membership:
Social clubs wear rings in honor of teamwork, shared goals and simply for the fun of it.
Professional organizations wear insignia rings as a sign of group values and camaraderie.
Power:
Rings can be a sign of authority, such as those worn by royalty and religious leaders. Historically, kings often sealed documents with hot wax and the impression of a specific ring to authenticate the contents. Envoys sometimes carried a royal ring as proof of their authority to speak on behalf of the monarchy.
Who could forget the One ring? Although it is a fictional story, “The Lord of the Rings” is a haunting tale, demonstrating what some are willing to do, good or bad, to gain power or to protect and save their world.
As we move toward the future, new jewelry designs will debut and the classics will appeal to new audiences, while their underlying meanings pique our curiosity. What do your rings mean to you?
Flowers and a heart-shaped box of candy are the traditional gifts for Valentine’s Day. While there’s nothing wrong with that, let’s see if we can find more creative ways to express love.
Floral-Themed Gifts: Rose Cake Pops
Cake pops are often dipped in chocolate and covered with sprinkles. In the photo above, the rich chocolate cake center was wrapped in modeling chocolate, creating edible roses.
Glass Flowers
Each delicate petal in this stunning centerpiece was skillfully handcrafted with glass.
Floral Digital Art
Digital flowers provide infinite possibilities. A frame is the perfect finishing touch.
Fresh-Cut Rose Lilies Centerpiece
Are you familiar with rose lilies? These colorful, fragrant blooms have that wow-factor and are much less expensive than roses.
LED Floral Garden Lights
No green thumb is required for these pretty blooms. When the sun goes down, imagine the surprise of seeing a magical glowing flower garden.
Floral Painted Glass
One of the challenges of stained glass is working with sharp wire and glass, causing cuts in your hands. With painted glass, the problem is solved. You can have the look of genuine stained glass and none of the pain. Yeah!
Silk Chrysanthemums Centerpiece
Silk flowers have come a long way. These fool-the-eye chrysanthemums will look divine long after the typical roses have faded away.
Heart-Themed Gifts: Hand Blown Glass Heart
Glass blowing is an age-old art, and each is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
Nature’s Valentines Photography
Heart shapes appear everywhere in nature, including seashells, rocks, and animals too.
Twig Heart Wall Art
Whether you prefer hiking through a forest or walking on the beach, the treasures you collect along the way can be incorporated into unique and meaningful gifts.
Glass Mosaic Heart
Mosaic art can be created with glass, ceramic tiles, stones, seashells, etc. These intricate designs adorn walls, furniture, jewelry, or anything else you imagine.
Wood & Glass Heart Box
Painted, stained or decorated wood crafts make great gifts.
Papercraft 3D Wall Art
Wall art, scrapbooking, and origami fall under the papercraft category. There was a time when paper was limited to matte or gloss finish. Today, there are metallic, iridescent, painted, and decorative papers to bring your design to life.
Writing: Musical Composition
Compose an original song.
Calligraphy
Heart-felt words of love are sure to be appreciated.
Write Poetry
Whether you write a single poem or a book, sharing your creative writing makes a thoughtful, memorable gift.
Miscellaneous Gifts: Paper Sculpture
If paper could make a wish, I suppose becoming a sculpture would be the ultimate dream come true. If you prefer digital art, a similar sculptural effect can be achieved using AI software.
Take a Class
Instead of flowers or candy, you and your loved one could take a class in flower arranging or candy making. As an alternative to expensive restaurants, learn how to cook a delicious dinner and mouthwatering dessert. Spending time together is a gift too.
Thanks for Reading, Happy Valentine’s Day, & Happy Crafting!
Today, we are celebrating the Year of the Snake. At the start, I must admit that I struggled with this topic. Many people instinctively fear snakes. All creatures have something to teach us, and my challenge is to find lessons and photos that will appeal to my readers. I hope I have succeeded. Please continue reading as we explore how snakes can motivate and inspire us…
Enjoy Nature
Daily exercise is important. Sunshine and fresh air can do wonders for the mind and body.
Get a New Perspective
If you’re feeling low, climb higher and gain a new perspective.
Speak Your Mind
Try not to keep everything bottled up inside. Speak up and let your stress melt away.
BFFs or Soulmates?
Everybody needs somebody sometime. Whether it’s a new best friend or your soulmate, sharing and caring bring joy and happiness to you both.
Be Silly
There’s nothing more rewarding than making someone laugh.
Be Bold
There’s no need to hide in the shadows. Be yourself. Self-expression is a beautiful thing.
Just Dance
Listen to music, let it move you, and dance like nobody’s watching.
Get Plenty of Rest
Life can be a rat race. Take time to rest and rejuvenate to stay healthy and strong.
Self-Reflection
Look in the mirror and ask yourself: Am I the person I always wanted to be? Like a snake sheds its skin, you can make changes in your life, out with the old, in with the new. Move forward, making your dreams come true.
Camouflage
Some days you just want to blend into your surroundings. Keeping a low profile reveals opportunities as you watch and learn.
Strut Your Stuff
Confidence is sexy. Hold your head up high, stand out from the crowd and let your brilliant light shine. Become an inspiration. You are legend.
I couldn’t resist this photo of a kitten swatting a clock just before midnight on New Year’s Eve. Time flies so quickly. I don’t think this little guy could catch it, but that won’t stop him from trying. There are so many creative opportunities throughout the year. Let’s look at some of the possibilities for each of the major holidays:
New Year’s Eve/Day – Specialty Drinks
New Year’s Eve/Day – Homemade Zodiac Chocolates
Chinese New Year – Lanterns & Decor
Valentine’s Day – Homemade Candy & Cookies
Valentine’s Day – Flower Arranging
St. Patrick’s Day – Flower Arranging, Jewelry, & Sewing
St. Patrick’s Day – Cookies
Easter – Dyed Eggs & Wood Crafts
Easter – Cookies & Ceramics
Cinco de Mayo – Hat Design, Beading & Embroidery
Cinco de Mayo – Costume Design, Sewing, Embroidery & Beading
Whether you make these holiday-themed crafts for yourself or give them as gifts, they are all wonderful ways to express your creativity. Don’t be afraid to try something new. You may discover talents you never knew you had.
Crafts Inspire Me 