Gracie's Birthday Surprise

Birthday's are always a special time, especially for children.  

I had a request from my soon to be 4 year old grand daughter. she asked me if I would make her a Elsa and Anna Comforter/Blanket and Pillowcases for her room at Nana's house.  But that's not all.... the clincher is if I make this for her birthday she will want to take them home, which is fine.  But I will not have fulfilled her request...... for her bedroom at Nana's.  Oh what to do, what to do?

We'll I have came up with a solution to my dilemma!  I decided to buy her a plush mink style blanket, of course it has Disney's Frozen Elsa and Anna on the front.  I also found some fabric to make some pillowcases.

                                  

                  

                                                Plush Mink Style Blanket above.

                           

                      

                  

Above is two of the three fabrics used for the pillowcases.  The third fabric that was used is a bright green tone on tone snowflake patterned fabric.

I found this tutorial on Youtube from The Fat Quarter Shop, on how to make a french seam pillowcase.  It was so easy to make these french seam pillowcases.   

Click here for Pillowcase Pattern and Directions

Here is my finished pillowcases.... below!

 One set down..... one more set to go!

Well.... this set she will take home for her bedroom....... after all it is her birthday!

*****

Now for the second set of Comforter/Blanket for Gracie's room at Nana's house.  She really likes this coronation fabric.  So I purchased it and will make her a quilt and two pillowcases to match.

I just love these jewels tone colors, and can not wait to go shopping for coordinating color fabrics for pillowcases and the quilt top.

            

                              

When I complete this second Disney Frozen Elsa and Anna Quilt/Blanket..... I will do a separate post. 

Peter Rabbit & Friends Rag Quilt and Diaper Owls and Babies

We'll once again I'm making a baby blanket as a gift with my favorite story characters.   Who doesn't just love these little characters?  I'm sure most of us have heard these stories or watched the movies they now have on dvd. 

I also tried something new..... I decided to make another gift for the mom to be. At the baby shower the theme was owls... so I had found directions on how to make diaper owls and gave it to the mom of the expectant mommy and they made these beautiful two sided diaper owls for center pieces for the tables at the baby shower.   

They did such a great job!

I decided to take and make a diaper baby and another friend made one also.  Now my favorite color is purple so.... you all now what color I made. :)

Okay, after I made this..... I just wanted to pick it up and cuddle :) So Adorable!

And last but not least.... the Peter Rabbit and Friends Quilt.

I just enjoy these little whimsical characters.  Every child should be introduced to them.

I'm thinking for my next quilt I'm going to do hummingbirds or maybe even horses.  I really like them both.... it's hard to choose.  I want to make a quilt for myself.  This will be a first, a quilt for myself! Maybe I will make both! 

Sweet Zucchini Cupcakes

PREP: 20 MINS  TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR 30 MINS YIELD: MAKES 12

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)

1 cup packed dark-brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts

1 zucchini (10 ounces), coarsely grated (1 1/2 cups)

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cups of a standard (12-cup) muffin tin with paper or foil liners. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Mix in nuts.

In another bowl, combine zucchini, oil, eggs, and vanilla; add to flour mixture, and mix just until combined (do not overmix).

Divide batter evenly among cups. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes.

Cool in tin on a wire rack for 10 minutes; turn cupcakes out, right side up, and cool completely. Meanwhile, make frosting. Using an offset spatula or butter knife, spread frosting on cupcakes. The frosted cupcakes are best eaten within 1 day.

Cream Cheese Frosting

YIELD: MAKES ENOUGH FOR 12 CUPCAKES

INGREDIENTS

4 tablespoons room-temperature unsalted butter

4 ounces room-temperature bar cream cheese

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

In a medium bowl, with an electric mixer, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract; beat until light and fluffy. Refrigerate until ready to use, up to 1 day.

In a medium bowl, with an electric mixer, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract; beat until light and fluffy. Refrigerate until ready to use, up to 1 day.

Applesauce Spice Muffins

Gracie and I made these this last fall, she was 3 years old.  We had so much fun here in Nana's kitchen baking these muffins.  Gracie really enjoys helping in the kitchen.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar

4 large eggs

1 1/2 cups store-bought applesauce

1 cup toasted pecans, chopped

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature

We added just a little bit of ground allspice also.

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin and a 6-cup tin with paper liners. Sift flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cloves together into a medium bowl. Set aside.

Put 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, the granulated sugar, and 1/2 cup brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Mix in eggs, one at a time. On low speed, mix in applesauce and then flour mixture. Stir in nuts by hand.

Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full. Bake until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely in tins on a wire rack.

Meanwhile, in the clean bowl of electric mixer, mix cream cheese with remaining 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter and 1 cup brown sugar on medium speed until smooth. Spread cream-cheese frosting on muffins.

COOK'S NOTE

Muffins can be refrigerated in airtight containers up to 2 days.

Barrettes, Bows, Hair Ties, Head Band Organizing Ideas

Lovely practical be ideas, helpful tips for organizing children's closets.  This will defiantly get the gray cells working on even more thoughts and ideas.

I like to be organized and have places for everything.  I just makes life easier and when life is easier your mind isn't cluttered and you have time for other things.    

If you have problems keeping up with these little pretties, your not alone.  I have found some pretty ingenious ideas that I want to share.   Some of these I found on Etsy and others from Blogs.... thanks for all your great ideas!

 

 

 

 

 

Here is your blank canvas.... how will you organize and create your space?

 

I really like this one... because you take along with you.  It also looks like you have room for hair ties, barrettes, bows, headbands, brush and comb and such!  Thanks for such a great idea.

 

 

Here from theidearoom.blogspot.com is a beautiful well organized case. 

 

 

 

 

These give me many ideas....  I just love repurposed items.

 

 

 
 

Here is a couple of clean slates, how would you hang all your little girls pretties?  

 

Thanks to all who have made these beautiful organizers for our little girls to store their pretties....whether they be bows, barrettes, hair ties,  head band and such!