Designer Craft Connection Blog Hop - Flowers

It's April and time for the Designer Craft Blog Connection blog hop.  This month our theme was “flowers” - with the added challenge of creating our flowers from something we had around the house.  There are almost endless options if you really think about it - flowers made with newspaper, coffee filters, cupcake liners, paper towels, napkins, plastic grocery bags, paper bags, gift wrap, window screens, cardboard, chipboard from food boxes, even fabric from old clothes.   Be sure to hop through the links to see what the other participating designers are sharing by clicking on the on the DCC icon in the right column.   

This past week, I had a request to make some of those popular “high heel cupcakes” popping up these days.   Always eager to try something new in creative baking, I was happy to give it a whirl.   I changed my ideas for the decoration in my mind many times, eventually deciding I wanted flowers of some sort.  However, time was limited and I didn’t have enough time to make fondant flowers, and my hand decorating skills are lacking.   I scoured our pantry trying to spark an idea on what I could use to create colorful flowers, quickly, without heading off to the grocery store.  My answer?  Gummy worms.  Yes - gummy worms.   I discovered this little bag of sour worms matched the colors of the heels for the cupcakes (made with Airheads candy).  I cut 5 ends about 1/2” in each color, arranged them in a flower shape, and tinted some white chocolate chips purple to make centers.   Voila - sugary, colorful flowers without having to head to the grocery store or roll fondant.  

Why not look around your house to see what unexpected items you can use to create unique flowers for your creative projects?  - Cindi 

Shimmering Candle Balls with Smoothfoam

Give your cakes a pop of colorful shimmer with re-usable, customizable candle balls.   Choose your colors, make up a batch of these fun accessories and you’ll be ready for any celebration!

Materials:

Smoothfoam™ 1” Balls
Plaid® Mod Podge® - Glossy
Tulip® Fashion Glitter™ Assortment - Neons
Scissors, small plates, wax paper
Optional:  alphabet stickers, birthday candles

Instructions:

1. Place approximately 1 tablespoon of desired colors of glitter into separate plates (*Note - amount of glitter needed will depend on desired number of finished balls.)
2. Use fingers (or a small foam brush) to apply a layer of Mod Podge® over entire 1” Smoothfoam™ ball.  
3. Roll in glitter, set on wax paper to dry.
   Repeat until number of desired balls is achieved.  Let dry.
4. When dry, apply another coat of Mod Podge® over glittered balls, and roll again.  Let dry.
5. Repeat a 3rd time.  Let dry.
6. When dry, apply a final coat of glossy Mod Podge® to seal the glitter and prevent it from dropping into the food, and to make it easy to clean the balls with a damp cloth after use.  Let dry.
7. To make holes to insert candles, carefully place tip of scissors through top of ball and rotate slightly.  Once hole has been “started” with scissors, insert a bamboo skewer, end of a clean ink pen, or other item that is approximately the same diameter as the candles you will be using.  Push in approximately 1/4” and remove. 
8. Insert candles, add alphabet stickers to customize a message if desired. 
9. When ready to serve the cake, remove the glittered balls, wipe with a damp cloth and they are ready to use on your next project.  

Follow the Designer Craft Connection Blog Hop button in the right column to see what other fun projects the designer group has created with Smoothfoam™ products!

To enter to win a prize package, leave a comment on favorite projects on the designer's blog and say what you would make with Smoothfoam.  The more often you comment, the more chances you have to win.  All the projects will be posted on Pinterest so readers can comment there too.  The winner will be announced on November 19th.
- Cindi