Cake Decorators may already be familiar with Gum Paste, or as some call it, Pastillage. And it only makes sense that ProvoCraft would create their very own, to go with their Cricut Cake family of products.

 Cricut Cake Gum Paste can be rolled thin and put on the cutting mats, and be used with the Cricut Cake. Or can be rolled, and hand sculpted into whatever the creator wants. A snow white edible clay that can be dried out to a porcelain like hardness, the Cricut Cake Gum Paste can be used with or without the Cricut Cake!

They are so easy to make and wonderful to package up for little hostess gifts, too! Or you can make up a batch with the kiddos and have a tasty afternoon snack.

You’ll need:

• “Window pane” shaped pretzels (often called “snaps”)
• 1 bag of white-chocolate Make-N-Mold candies, your choice of color
• candy cane, M & M’s, and/or walnuts to garnish

It’s so simple! Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Place your pretzels in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Top each pretzel with one Candy Melt. (I chose red because it was festive!)

Place the tray in the oven for 5-10 minutes. in the meanwhile, crush the peppermint stick with a spoon.

When the candy goes glossy, it’s melted and ready to be pulled out. Don’t let them overheat in there!

Pull the tray from the oven and – carefully- they will be hot!- place a walnut half, crushed peppermint candy, or a single M & M in the top. Push down gently so that the garnish will be anchored in the melted chocolate.

Next, let cool completely. Place them in a nice little box like the ones from ConsumerCrafts, and all you need is a little tag and some curling ribbon and you’ve got a sweet gift for someone special. Or line them up on a pretty glass plate and bring them to the office or party.

All ready for last minute gift-giving!

Have a batch handy for last minutes gifts and drop-in guests. Enjoy!

Disclosure

Armour's Deluxe Etching Kit

When I opened the kit, I was excited at the possibilities. It came with everything I would need to get started—minus the wedding glasses (Item V35922) that is. It came with step-by-step instructions, etching cream, small stencils, protective gloves, hobby knife, paintbrush, vinyl to create my own stencil, an applicator stick, gloves, and a practice glass.

After reading the instructions, I decided to give the practice glass a try.

Per the instructions, I put on the gloves then cleaned the practice glass and cut out a stencil.

Next, I cut out another stencil, positioned both of the stencils onto the practice glass, and used the applicator stick to rub the stencils onto the glass.

Once the stencil was secure, I used the paintbrush to dab some etching cream onto the stencil and set the timer.

When the timer went off, I took the glass to the kitchen sink (instructions suggest a stainless steel sink to avoid damage to the sink) and ran the glass under warm water as I gently rubbed the cream off the glass.

Some of the blue from the template remained so I had to gently—and lovingly—remove the remaining stencil. As I looked at my completed etched glass, I thought, “Hey, that wasn’t too difficult at all! I wonder if I can frost the wedding glasses?”

I read somewhere that if you wrote with puffy paint on the glass, let the paint dry, and then applied the etching cream, you could get a nice frost finish. And once you removed the puffy paint the words would appear clear.  I liked that idea as I wanted to use a few words from two songs my husband and I dedicated to each other.

And since I liked the idea of keeping the bride and groom emblems that were already on the glasses, I cut out a heart shaped template and put it over the emblems. Then I traced the edge with the puffy paint as an added protection as I didn’t want to take any chance that the etching cream would get under the template.

Once the paint dried, I used a sponge brush to dab the etching cream onto the glass. I put a thick layer, as suggested per the package instructions, and I followed the time specified on the package.

Unfortunately, when I removed the etching cream the frost was spotty—at best. It looked more like soap scum than frost. Needless to say, I was saddened.

Determined to give it another go, I applied a second coat to the glass that had just been etched and set the timer for 20 minutes. I then washed off the etching cream and cleaned the glass with regular dish soap.

Sorry, best shot I could get.

Surprisingly, the extra etching cream and time did not damage the glass—and the frost came out much better. The key is not the second application. The key, I believe, is the extra time as the second glass came out much better the first time around.

Did you know you can etch mirrored surfaces, too? For another wedding/housewarming idea, read Jenny’s  Etched Monogrammed Mirror Coasters post. (Those would make a great hostess gift, too, now that I think about it.)

What can YOU think of to etch and make into a personalized gift? Leave a comment and let us know!

Disclosure

That is the nice thing about  these candle sleeves is that you can reuse them forever.  You can just continue to change them with the seasons or with holidays and other special occasions.  They are so versatile.  What a wonderful investment for a wedding since you can them take all of them and recreate them through the years. It really is an eco-friendly idea!

Notice that I added a decorated metal tray below the candle?  I wanted to place something at the base as a decorative element.  You can also fill this tray with candy, party horns, confetti, mini cupcakes, and probably a million other things that I have not even thought of yet.

Supplies

6554-64 8 inch cream w/rust candle plate
1078-61 6″ Wax sleeve
IM001311 I-Top Small Brad Daddies
IM001309 I-Top Tool
IM001326 I-Top small paper punch
KC625044 Hopscotch 12×12 paper pad, K and Company
RISGG01898 Stickles Christmas Red Glitter Glue
RISGG01935 Stickles Turquoise Glitter Glue
RISGG01942 Stickles Yellow Glitter Glue
S4-124 Nestabilities 3 in 1 Scallop Circle, large
AMT62181 Mono Aqua Liquid Glue
PV37-1051 Cuttlebug machine
2700-50 1/4″ hole punch

Instructions

1.  Cut a piece of the striped patterned cardstock 4″ wide and wrap around the candle using your liquid glue to fasten the back seam.
2.  Cut a 3″ piece of the dotted patterned cardstock, wrap around the striped and fasten in back with liquid glue.
3.  Cut a piece of the solid red 1/8″ wide and wrap around the top and bottom where the dots and stripe meet for trim.

4.  Use your Cuttlebug machine and your 3 smalled scalloped circle nestabilities to cut 3 circles.  The smallest should be solid green, middle should be red, and largest blue.  Fast these together.
5.  Cut a plaid triangle out of patterned cardstock and add a small circle dot  that you have created with your hole punch to the top, to create a birthday hat.�
6.  Cut a piece of ivory cardstock from your patterned paper stack and place at an angle across the scalloped circle layers.  Attach your hat at an angle on top of this.  Write “Happy Birthday to You” across the strip as shown.
7.  Using your I-top tool, small blanks and small punch, create a orange and red dotted brad button using patterned cardstock.  (If you need a refresher course on how to use the i-Top, read Jenny’s review.) Position this on the scalloped circle so it clusters with the hat and saying strip poking it through and opening up the ends on the back.  Attach the entire scalloped piece to the paper on the candle.
8.  Add your different colored Stickles glitter glue on the scalloped bumps, dots on the brad and circle on the top of the hat and allow to dry.�
9.  Use a bowl to trace a 6″ circle on plaid patterned cardstock and cut out.  Attach this piece to the bottom of your cream tray.
10.  Using your largest Nestabilities scallop, cut a solid red piece out and attach this to the bottom of your candle.  Set all in the tray.

Now you have created a wonderful birthday centerpiece!  This is very gender and age neutral so it could go from a kids party (boy or girl) right on up to an adult’s party!  Now go and celebrate your creation!

Disclosure

Materials Needed:

• 170140 14 inch green metal wreath form
• 0682-10 12×22 mm asst color baby pacifier beads
• 2912-91 6 in pink tulle
• BOW2200 Bowdabra Hair Bow Tool and Ruler
• BOW3060 Bowdabra silver wire or Yellow Curling Ribbon
  
• 2972-93-03 2.5 inch pink sheer organza ribbon (1 piece pkg)
• Infant diapers

Instructions:

1. Begin by gathering all your materials you will need for this project.  All of the materials can easily be purchased at Consumer Crafts, excpet for the infant diapers.  Chose size 1 infant diapers, pay close attention to the design of the diapers.  You don’t want any colors and designs that will clash with your wreath theme.

2. Next, cut a piece of either Bowdabra Bow Wire or curly ribbon about 36″ long and fold it in half and place it into the center of the Bowdabra.  I chose to use curling ribbon because I though the yellow would stand out more on the wreath but Bowdabra Wire will work just, as well.

3. Place the 6″ tulle down into the center of the Bowdabra in an accordion like fashion.  You will need approximately 36″ of tulle.

4. Cut the ribbon away from the ribbon spool and scrunch down with your Bowdabra Wand.  Next, thread the two ends of the curling ribbon through the loop that was formed when you folded it in half. 

5. Pull the curling ribbon tightly and lift the bow out of the Bowdabra.  Bring the curling ribbon around the back of the bow and tie. 

6. Tie the tulle bow to the center of the metal wreath frame. 

7. Fold an infant diaper by bringing the top to the center and the bottom to the center.  Tie the diaper in place with curling ribbon. 

8. Attach the cute little pacifier beads to the curling ribbon.  Next, run scissors over the curling ribbon to make it curl.  Or when using the Bowdabra Bow Wire just twist the wire around a pencil, it holds its shape easily.

9. Make several of these diaper bows and attach them to the metal wreath.

10. Lastly, using the Bowdabra make a large loopy bow and attach it to the top of the Baby Shower Diaper Wreath.

This diaper wreath is very easy to make and even easier to take apart.  After the baby shower just cut away either the curling ribbon or Bowdabra Bow Wire and diapers are ready to use.

Related Articles:

Bowdabra Products on Consumer Crafts

Mini Bowdabra Review and How to Make a Loopy Bow

Disclosure

Everyone wants to wish the momma-to-be and her baby all the best! And some folks like to wish for a boy or a girl. Either way, these white-chocolate-covered pretzel rods make a fun and sweet party favor or party snack everyone will drool over!

You’ll need:

• MM9830 Make-n-Molds Candy Melter
• White Chocolate Candy Melts (available at your grocery store or onConsumerCrafts.com September thru March)
• Pretzel Rods
• Pink or Blue Sanding sugar (optional)
  
• 1405-031 Baby Pretzel Rod treat bags
• 1638-33 Silver Twist Ties
  

And if you’d like to keep with our theme, you can make the optional tags:

• GX-VCRMS-12 Vintage Collection Retro Mod Core’Dinations cardstock (my favorite!)
• PV29-0222 Cricut New Arrival Cartridge
• PV29-0300 Cricut Expression electronic die cutting machine
• AMT62181 Mono Aqua Liquid Glue
• RITIM19527 Vintage Photo Distress ink pad

Making the candied pretzel rods is easy! Just set your Candy Melter to “melt” mode, pour in your White Chocolate Candy Melts, and let them melt thoroughly, stirring occasionally.

Place a pretzel rod in the melting pot, and, using a spoon, ladle the melted candy over 2/3rds of the rod. Coat evenly, then tap off the extra  gently.

Lay the candied rod on a piece of wax paper, and sprinkle with sanding sugar or edible sprinkles as desired. Just make sure you add your sprinkles before the candy starts to cool and set up.

When they are completely cool and firm to the touch, slide them into the little baby feet baggies. Make sure you put the design of the baggie on the bottom, so you can see your pretty handmade nummies! Secure with the silver twist ties.

Now, if you’ve been following along on the other Baby Week posts and saw Lisa’s Centerpiece Candle or my Baby Card, you know we’ve been using the Cricut and the New Arrivals cartridge to make some cute, vintage-y items. If you want to carry it through to your party favors, just cut a rattle image after selecting the “circle” function button. (I set mine at 1 1/2 inches.) Then cut a “charm” with the Shadow function button depressed (also at 1 1/2 inches) and layer using some liquid glue.  They are so stinkin’ cute!

So here are some ways you can use them at your shower:

• If you don’t know the gender  of the baby, make both pink and blue. Then have the attendees choose what color they are “wishing” for, like a straw poll!
• If you DO know the gender, pass a basket with the treats around and, as each participant takes one, have them make a special “wish” for the Mommy, baby, or family. Like, “I wish you an easy delivery,” or “I wish the baby has blue eyes.”
  
• If it’s a seated event, use these as place cards and put the guests’ name on the back of the charm. Leave the treat on the plate so they can find their place to sit.
• Leave them in a pretty basket as “thank you” favors!
• Or make a dozen and bring them to the new family with your “warm wishes” when they get back from the hospital. (This goes over BIG if there are big brothers and sisters around, too! )
  

Any way you choose to use them, they will be a tasty and fun treat for all!

Disclosure

You’ll need:

• KC623132 K and Company paper pad, Cut N Paste
• GX-VCRMS-12 Vintage Collection Retro Mod Core’Dinations cardstock (my favorite!)
• PV29-0222 Cricut New Arrival Cartridge
• PV29-0300 Cricut Expression electronic die cutting machine
• AMT62181 Mono Aqua Liquid Glue
• RITIM19527 Vintage Photo Distress ink pad
• GD12296 1/2 inch Glue Dots 3D

Measure and cut a piece of Cut ‘N Paste cardstock 6 1/4 inches by 4 3/4 inches. Adhere to the front of your card blank with glue and then distress the edges with your Distress ink pad to make it look more vintage-y. Then, using scissors, cut some of the baby block printed paper. Also distress the edges and then layer it on top of the patterned paper.

The patterned paper is 2-sided, so just flip the pieces over to get a contrasting look!

Next, cut your baby rattle using the New Arrival cart & your Cricut. Size the image to 4 inches and cut the rattle and layers from your patterned cardstock. Then cut a shadow image (also 4 inches, it will resize it for you) from red Core’Dinations cardstock. Layer all the pieces and adhere using the liquid glue. When it’s set, flip it over and attach 3-D glue dots to make it pop off of the page!

Cut the Glue Dots to fit.

Mount your rattle embellishment to the lower left side of the card front.

Cut “Congratulations” from red cardstock (the textured side), then flip the paper over and cut the shadow image from the plain side. This, my friends, is why we love 2-sided cardstock! Adhere the layers together and then mount to the upper right side of the card front.

Inside of my card: finish yours however you like!

To finish off the inside of the card, I simply cut another piece of patterned paper the same size as the front and glued it down after inking the edges to distress them. I cut one extra baby block, inked up those edges, too, and attached it in the lower left hand corner. (I chose the “girl” block because this card is going to a baby girl.) Then I cut a few leftover pieces of patterned paper and layered them, doing my distressing mojo to them as well. Lastly, I used some of the leftover layers and embellishments from the baby rattle layers to add a bit of interest. You can skip this step entirely, if you wish.

Have fun crafting!

Disclosure

Welcome to Baby Week! We have 5 days of fun crafts, party and shower ideas, and gifts all for the new arrival! Enjoy!

Remember the Wedding Reception Centerpiece candle I made a while back?   Well, I took that same candle and turned it into a baby shower centerpiece!  This one is gender neutral so it could easily be used for a girl or boy  baby shower.  Just take a look at that old vintage charm!

Supplies:

6554-64 8 inch cream w/rust candle plate
1078-61 6″ Wax sleeve
PV29-0222 Cricut New Arrival Cartridge
KC623132 K and Company paper pad, Cut N Paste
PV29-0300 Cricut Expression electronic die cutting machine
AMT62181 Mono Aqua Liquid Glue
RITIM19527 Vintage Photo Distress pad

Instructions

Note:  Ink all edges of papers that you cut below before you fasten them to the candle.

1.  Cut a piece of patterned cardstock from your paper pad that measures 5″ x10″.  Wrap this around the candle and fasten it with liquid adhesive.
2.  Cut some of the block from the block patterned cardstock.  Also find the birth certificate cardstock and cut the baby in the bassinet picture out and also the word “lullaby”.

3.  Cut a piece of the red dotted cardstock 2 1/2″x10″.  Attach the piece you cut above to the inside upper edge of this piece to create layers and texture you will see from the front.   Make sure the baby is in the front and the word lullaby is on the bottom front.  Notice how I slightly bent the edges of the layered pieces to create texture and dimension?�
4.  Attach your layered piece to the bottom of your candle over the previous patterned piece.�
5.  Use a scrap of ribbon you have on hand and tie it at the top rim of the red dotted paper creating a knot.

6.  Using your Cricut Expression and your New Arrival Cartridge cut out a 2″ baby rattle.  Attach this to the center of your bow.
7.  Cut two circles to fit in the bottom of the plate.  One should be 5″ and the other 6″.  I used bowls to trace my circles on to my patterned cardstock and then cut with my scissors.

You now have a lovely baby shower centerpiece!  So now my question is…..what will you do with your candle next?  There is no  limit to reusing this candle!

Disclosure

Lovely hostess treats you can make in a jiffy!

“Christmas in July” got me thinking about what I love about the holiday season- and what popped to mind was “parties!” Our winter holidays always consist of visiting family and friends, and I hate to go empty-handed. So here are some yummy treats you can make up and bring along- that is, if you can keep yourself from eating them all before you go! While they are made with simple buttery crackers, they taste like the expensive scout cookies those cute girls in green sell! You’ll need:

• Make ‘n Mold Candy Melter (Item MM9830)
• 2 lb bag of Dark Chocolate flavor Candy Melts (available at ConsumerCrafts.com September through January)
• Ritz-type round crackers
• candy canes or starlight peppermints

Start off by melting your chocolate wafers in steel bowl placed on the base of the Candy Melter. Set the dial to “melt.” It took about 10 minutes to go from this: To this:

Stir occasionally to speed up the melting process.

It melted the chocolate wafers beautifully, and it was such a relief not to stand over a hot stove while using a double boiler. After the wafers are melted, you can set the dial to “warm” and it’ll keep your candy smooth and workable without scorching. Great, huh? Next, take a moment to crush your peppermint candy. (It’s a great job for a kid!) Just place your candy in zip-top sandwich bag and bang with the back of a large metal spoon until it’s in crumbles. Now to dip our crackers! I like to use both the pronged fork that comes in the kit and a fork to help flip them over. Just drop the cracker in the melted candy wafers, flip them with the fork, then lift out of the candy. Tap the fork gently on the side of the bowl and then slide the cracker off the fork using the pronged tool. Place them on waxed paper or freezer paper. While the chocolate is still soft, sprinkle on some of the peppermint bits. Then let them cool completely. There you have it! They are lovely on a plate for serving, or box them up for gifts for teacher, your hairdresser, paperboy, or neighbor. And truly….this was one DELICIOUS post to write!

Boxes available at ConsumerCrafts.com

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to our winner, Andrea! Disclosure

5 cute wedding favor ideas!

I saw these cute little galvanized tin pails on ConsumerCrafts.com, and my mind started to run wild. They are only 2″, but they are so perfect for so many things. Since our theme has been “Wedding Week” this week, I thought I’d come up with some cute ways to use these in your wedding celebration!

1. Seedling Favors. These are so great to display on a table at the end of the wedding reception, for guests to take as as they are leaving. Perfect for an eco-friendly/”green” couple, I just wrote “Let Love Grow” in black permanent marker to finish off the sentiment.
2. Crayon Caddies. If you’ve got kids coming to your wedding reception, you’ll certainly want to have one of these for each child! (And make sure they get white paper place-mats, too.) Kids can scribble and color during the reception, and then carry home their own special favor. (You’ll win extra points with the Moms, too!)
3. Birdseed/Rice Carriers. In many wedding ceremonies, it’s traditional to throw rice at the couple at the end of the wedding to bestow fertility. This tradition has been given a more bird-friendly twist and now attendees throw birdseed. Have a table with these sweet pails of seed embellished with a  “lovebird” as folks exit the church. A simple lily/ribbon sticker adorns the pail, too.
4. Jordan Almond Favors. This is another time-honored tradition, with the guest eating 5 almonds- but I like to fill mine to the brim! I lined this pail with 4 circles of white tulle and nestled my candies inside. A rhinestone heart sticker adds some “bling,” and the white charm says “Thank You.” What a cute gift to leave on each plate at the wedding reception!
5. Tealights. Emblazoned with the couples monogram (a very hot trend right now), these battery-operated LED lights provide a festive, yet safe glow. Place them on the tables at the reception, along the gift table- anywhere you need a little light!

Side note- all of the embellishing items I used here can be found on the ConsumerCrafts website under the Bridal tab. The vinyl stickers were cut out using the Cricut and the Storybook cartridge. Have fun!