Thursday, December 6, 2012

S'mores Cupcakes

Remember way back at Thanksgiving, wow that seems like forever ago and it really wasn't, I shared all my prep.  One of the things I was making were S'mores cupcakes.
What could be better on a cool fall night after stuffing oneself to the brim than sitting out on the porch, fire crackling and a S'mores cupcakes in hand?

Graham Cracker Cupcakes

3 1/4 cups cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cinnamon graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
5 large egg, separated into 5 yolks and reserving only 3 egg whites, room temperature (keep the other 2 egg whites for the Marshmallow Creme)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups whole milk, room temperature
 
-  Combine the graham cracker crumbs and brown sugar and the 1/4 cup  melted butter. Stir until combined, and set aside.
-  Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt
-  In a mixer cream the butter, once fluffy add the sugar a little at a time, beat until it is light and fluffy.
-  Add the egg yolks one at a time, mixing until the yellow is incorporated
-  Add the flour and milk alternately starting and ending with the flour mixture.
- In a separate bowl beat the egg whites until medium stiff peaks form, fold into batter.
-Fold Graham cracker crumb mixture into batter
-Scoop batter into lined cupcake tin
- Cook 25-30 min. at 350 degrees

Once the cupcakes have cooled its time to hollow them out.  Take a sharp knife and cut into them in a circular motion and pull out the plug.  Keep them...they are so tasty!
 

Marshmallow Creme

1 cup sugar, divided
1/4 cup water
4 egg whites
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Special equipment needed: Candy Thermometer
 
- Combine 3/4 cup of sugar and 1/4 cup water in a saucepan, attach a candy thermometer to the pan and cook until temperature reaches 240 degrees
- While the sugar is cooking mix the egg whites, salt and vanilla until frothy.
- Slowly add the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and whip until medium peeks form.
- Pour the hot syrup into the Meringue in a slow steady stream
- Continue whipping until Meringue is cool and stiff peaks have been formed. 
 
Now the tricky part, before the Meringue is done you need to make the Ganache
 

Ganache

2/3 cup heavy Cream
6 oz semi sweet chocolate (cut up)
1 tablespoon corn syrup
 
- Heat heavy cream in a small saucepan until fun shy of boiling
- add the chocolate and let sit a min or two
- add corn syrup and stir until everything is incorporated

Fill your cupcakes with the creme, spoon on some ganache and then top them with some more creme.  If you wait to long to top the cupcakes the creme won't be as light and fluffy.
As a finishing touch I added a broken up bit of graham cracker.
 
These were fun to make and oh so good! 
I think next time I make them I will do them as mini's,
 
Enjoy!

On the 6th Day of Alpha Stampness...

Nichola of Pixie Hill made for Alpha Stamps
6 Geese a Laying
and oh my, did she blow this one out of the water!
It's in a box that closes!  It lights up!  It's just out of this world!
Make sure to stop by Nichola's blog to see how she put this out of this world creation together.
 
So what will we be given on the 7th day...

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

New Coaster Design

 It has been a number of years since I made coasters.  One of my loyal customers contacted me and asked if I would do a tea themed design for her. 
 Of course I said yes, I love anything and everything having to do with tea.
As with all my other coaster designs I start with an alcohol ink base and build using stamps and other permanent inks.  To seal them I bake them, so they are absorbent.

 The one thing I do wish I could find a solution to is the backing.  I use cork which is great but it makes the coasters difficult to clean.
Anyway I am thrilled with the new design, and so is my customer.  I am mailing them out to her today.
If you like them you can find them in my Etsy store, and there is still time for me to get them to you before Christmas!

On the 5th Day of Christmas...

Laura Carson of Artfully Musing for Alpha Stamps gave to me
5 Geisha's Blushing
&
A New Geisha Collage Sheet
On top of all of that Laura has created a step by step tutorial on how to construct the base that holds her Gorgeous fan.
 
So hurry over and check it out!
If you missed any of the previous days here is a list
 
Come back tomorrow to see what day 6 brings!
 

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Sylph Bath Salts

 What is my favorite thing to do after a long day of working, cleaning and taking care of the kids? 
Soaking in a warm tub with a good book..
 I came up with these aromatherapy bath salts when my stress levels started to get the better of me. 
The best part is not only do they relieve the stress but man do they smell good!
 I felt like I had been healed by fairy's. 
With that thought came the name for them. 

 Sylph

The sylph is a fragment of the earth's soul in faery form.  In the faery realms, light comes not from above but from within.  The mythologist Joseph Cambell tells us that cultures throughout history describe a timeless zone beyond the visible world: "In dreams and vision one enters into it, and on waking returns...As such experiences have let us know,  its apparitions are of a self-luminous substance, revelatory of the vital energies, not only of ourselves, but all living things.  - Brian Froud
It is the perfect name because that is exactly how I felt after using these bath salts.  I hope you do to.  I have some on sale in my Etsy shop.
They would make a wonderful holiday gift!

On the Fourth Day of Christmas...

Kira Nichols, member of the Alpha Stamps Design team and mind behind Oops, I Craft My Pants, gave to me
She has a great tutorial on how she created some mini sparkly flowers using metallic crinkle wire.  So make sure to go check it out, along with all the other pages of her album.
And here is a bonus ATC she made...can you just imagine the noise those four birds would make when they got you on the phone.  And how about the squabble about who would dial the number.
 
Hope everyone is having a wonderful time with the Alpha Stamps 12 Days of Christmas extravaganza.  I know I am!

Monday, December 3, 2012

Partridge in a Pear Tree ATC

 I know I know, you're tired of all the Partridge in a Pear Tree Stuff, well, this is it, my final piece.
 Just a simple ATC
I used one of my favorite Christmas Collage Sheets from Alpha Stamps, the Winter Beauties ATC's for the center image and pieces from Laura's 12 Days of Christmas Collage Sheet.
 I tried to stick with the creams/golds/and silvers that I used on my big 12 Days of Christmas Project but it was hard. 
Other Supplies I used include
 
I hope you have enjoyed my pieces and all the other pieces by the fabulous Alpha Stamps Team.  Thanks for looking!

On the 3rd Day of Christmas...

Kristin of Junk&Stuff gave to me  three french hens,
 three kids a'giving
Make sure to check out all the goodies on sale and everyone Else's art.
This is my favorite piece created by Christmas, I need one!
And don't forget to check out her tutorial on how these creations all came to be. 
 

Sunday, December 2, 2012

A Partridge in a Pear

 I bought these fabulous paper mache pears with intention to do something with them for the Alpha Stamps 12 Days of Christmas event but I ran out of time.
 But before I cleaned up all those fabulous Pear goodies I took a minute (or more like 30) and created this ornament.
 Using the same technique I showed in the 12 Days Tutorial I covered the pear with Gold Leafing Foil (I am addicted to this stuff).  I used the Holiday Phrases Collage Sheet that Laura from Artfully Musing put together especially for this Alpha Stamps event.
 The Bird on Branch, while not a Partridge, worked perfectly in the hole I cut out.
 Y'all know how much I love satin leaf ribbon, and I found some in burgundy to go with the fabulous burgundy tinsel and vintage lace I found in my stash.  The seam binding I used for the bow and hanging device is an oliveish color. 
The back is so bright and shinny it really reflects the holiday lights off the tree. 
I made an extra, because I liked it so much and you can get one if you hurry from my Etsy Store.

On the Second Day of Christmas....

 
Nichola of Pixie Hill gives us
Even better she shows us how she created this piece from start to finish, so make your way over there and check it out!
On the Third Day of Christmas My True love gave to me...
come back tomorrow and find out