Chocolate Covered Marshmallows

Yesterday when I was in the store I passed a display that was geared towards making s'mores but my thoughts jumped to chocolate covered marshmallows. So I got a bag and today gave it a try. As with anything that you do for the first time there is always a learning curve. I used Wilton's Candy Melts which I know after a disaster trying to make cake pops, shortening must be added to thin for easy dipping. This time I also decided to melt the candy in a small crock pot I have instead of the microwave as that too was a disaster.

 

My candy melts turned out great. Smooth and easy to dip. I melted them on high then turned the temperature down to warm. I did have to turn the temperature back up to low as the chocolate started to get thick after a while. 

 

My learning curve this time was when it came to adding a drizzle to the top. I tried using the candy decorating bottles.  First the large one but the pour spout was too wide (top row and part of second row). So I switched to the smaller decorating bottle and that was better but still not the effect I wanted (part of second and third row). Then I came up with the idea of using an icing bag and just cutting of a very little bit for the melted candy to pipe through. That turned out much closer to the effect I was going for (bottom two rows). Plus next time I think I'll put a metal cookie sheet in the freezer to get cold and then place my dipped items on the wax paper & cold cookie sheet. That would help the chocolate set quicker especially on a hot day.  I did put them in the refrigerator when done to set the chocolate and of course had to give one a try. They turned out great!!  I think I'm getting the hang of using the candy melts.

Cupcakes

I got an Wilton oversized cupcake pan recently but haven't used it. I decided Wednesday night to give it a try. I wasn't sure how many cupcakes one cake mix would make so I ended up making 6 extra oversized cupcakes. I now know that one cake mix will make 8 to 12 cupcakes depending on how full you fill the well. I filled mine way up and got cupcake explosions.  The cupcake is half the size of the plate.

  But as you can see by my grandchildren, it didn't matter. They loved them and that's all that counts.

September Bucket List --

Lord, I believe I can do anything with Your help!.

Love Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

My bucket list for September --

Sewing --
Bed Caddy
Embroider my clothesline flip-flop t-shirt
Americana Wall Hanging
Buttons & Bow Quilt
Blue Car Caddy - Mine
Purple Car Caddy - Laura
Black Car Caddy - Carl
Embroider Laura & Mine scrapbooking t-shirts for Scrapbook Crop
Turquoise t-shirt
Purple crepe skirt
Frying pan handle holder

Scrapbooking --
Finish Advent Calendar
Scrapbook Cake Pop Baking page
Carl's Ice Cream page
County Fair page
New Year's Eve page
Grayson's school album

Cooking/Baking --
Pink Lemonade cupcakes
Spice cake balls
Croissant roll cups
Orange cream cupcakes
Spicy Parmesan Chicken Breast
Pizza Poppers

I've loaded myself up pretty good this month.  But that's okay.  Laura & I are going to a Birthday Crop mid-September so I'm going to work on the scrapbooking projects there.  I have to get the t-shirts embroidered before that weekend so we can wear them.  I do have to get some bits & pieces from fabric store to finish up some of the projects I have on my list.

I just have to decide what I am going to reward myself with when I complete all the projects on my list and what will be my reward if I complete half of the list.  The reward for the whole list will have to be something really special so that I'm motivated to get everything marked off.  But I still need a reward if I get half done because that will be less projects I'll have to do later.  I'll have to think on this for a bit - it's a really big decision.  :)

Lord, I place my absolute trust in your power, your wisdom, and your goodness.

Love Out Loud  -- Joyce Meyer

I'm modeling my new pink top that I was extremely challenged getting completed.  I think it fits good and is flattering.  I really like how it turned out.  I do like that I lined it.  The bodice finished nicer than I think it would have if I had used bias tape.



I got a couple of more items done today.  I had journaling left to do on 5 page kits and got all 5 done. I got the page kits from Out on a Limb Scrapbooking.  They have really cute two page kits for a great price.  Check out the website.

 I also got the top of an Americana Wall Hanging I'm making for my mom for Christmas.  My brother, Mark is in the Air Force and I thought she would like something that is a tribute to him.

Each of the stars has a word written on them -- Peace, Honor, Freedom, Spirit, Pride, Life, liberty, Happiness, 1776, America, Faith, Patriotism, Virtue, Courage and Justice. 
The cream colored bordered has sayings written on it --
Across the bottom - (Star Button) Land of the Free - Home of the Brave (Star Button) Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. 
Down the right side - (Star Button) Red for Courage, White for Purity, Blue for Courage (Star Button) It's a Grand Ol' Flag (Star Button) One Nation (Star Button).
Up the left side - With Liberty, Justice for All (Star Button) The Red, White & Blue (Star Button) Long May She Wave (Star Button) Old Glory (Star Button)
Across the top - Stars and Stripes Forever (Star Button) America the Beautiful

The pattern is from a flyer I got from Jo-Ann Fabrics not long after 9/11.  I made one for myself and got it finished in March 2002 in remembrance of 9/11 and those that lost their life that day.

I also have some other projects I did beginning of the summer that I've never posted. 

My daughter Laura was going to be spending a week at the beach so I make her an album to put her memories in.  I just did the front & back but left the inside empty so she can make her own pages.  I used the Cricut Cartridge Life's a Beach and added glitter glue to the center of the sun and along the waves and sand.

I put together a pocket album.  I got the idea out of Cricut Cartridge Fabulous Finds cartridge booklet. I used the new punch I got at the Scrapbooking Expo to make the epoxy embellishments. The punch is made by Epiphany Crafts and comes in a variety of shapes.  My daughter introduced it to me. I gave the album to my daughter so she can have a brag book of my grandchildren.

I made a birthday layout for my grandson's third birthday.  I got really cool sketchbooks by Scrapbook Generations.  What's so great about these sketches is that it shows the breakdown of each page.  I don't have to do any guesswork.  It's great!!

And here's the page I did from the above sketch --

As I special treat for my grandchildren for 4th of July I made Cakes in a Jar.  I used store bought mix and frosting but turned out really good.  I cut circles out of scrap paper to cover the metal lid for decoration. I used red, white and blue sprinkles for decorations.  I got this idea from a website - I don't remember which one.  I have so many small mason jars around from jelly making.  These are easy to make and would be great for picnics - cupcakes are so hard to transport and baking them in a jar makes that so much easier. 

Orange Frosting? So Good!

Well, I didn't get to work on my bucket list today.  Since I was completely lazy yesterday - recouping from the week today was spent getting my cleaning done, laundry and having to catch up on work.  But I did get to fit some extra stuff in.  I baked blueberry bread and I tried the new Ducan Hines Frosting Creations.  I baked a yellow cake and used the orange frosting.  It's not the prettiest cake I've made but it sure is good. The one thing I did find was that the directions said to add the flavoring to the container with the frosting and mix it up.  I found that mixing the flavor in that way didn't work too well so I put it into a bowl and that worked better.  I also had to add some extra confectioner's sugar cause the frosting was kind of runny.  Once I had that taken care of all went well.   I'm going to be trying some more of these.  I was thinking chocolate cake with white chocolate raspberry frosting.  Sounds like an interesting combination.  I'll let you know how that works.

Making Cake Balls

 

My daughter, grandson & me making cake balls -- an idea I found on Bakerella website. Great Site!! As you can see, my grandson is enjoying the fruits of his labor.  Of course our didn't look as pretty as Bakerella's but they sure did taste good. We will definitely be making these again!!