Friday, September 28, 2012

. . . Dollar Store Pumpkin Makeover . . .

I love buying things at the Dollar Store and making them new again with a little spray paint.  These ceramic pumpkins weren't terribly ugly as they were (they seemed more Thanksgiving than Halloween) but I had it in my head that I wanted to make them "Spooky" so I grabbed my bottle of Silver Spray Paint from Krylon and some black craft paint and I was in business.  Now I have a fun centerpiece for my table and another Dollar Store Craft under my belt.
 
 You will need:
Ceramic Pumpkins from the Dollar Store
Glass Taper Holders from the Dollar Store
Silver Spray Paint
Black Craft Paint
Foam Brush
E6000 Glue
Optional: Black Beans and a Platter if you want to do a centerpiece like mine

 Gather your supplies.  Spray your ceramic pumpkins with silver spray paint.  I love the Krylon brand but you can use any that you like.  Let the paint dry really well and then get ready to dry brush your black craft paint on the silver pumpkins

 I dabbed my foam brush before I applied the paint to my pumpkins.  I really didn't have any rhyme or reason when putting the black paint on but I wanted it to look uneven and streaky so I slashed my brush in all different directions.  Once the paint was on I then took a paper towel and dabbed the paint off and even wiped it almost completely off in other areas.  Then I went back with a little more black paint and added it where I felt like it needed it.

 I then sprayed my glass taper holders with the silver paint and used the exact same technique on these when doing the black paint.  I just dry brushed the black paint on and then dabbed it off with the paper towel and then added more black paint until each candlestick coordinated with the finished pumpkins.

 Once the pumpkins and candlesticks were dry I added E6000 glue to the top of each candlestick and placed my pumpkin on top and let it dry.  Once they were dry I moved them to a white platter so I could use that for a centerpiece.

Funny story...When I was purchasing my black beans I had a guy that was very into the fact that I was buying black beans because he loves black beans too--interesting.  I heard his entire story of why he eats them and who introduced him to them and so on.  I am not sure if he was trying to use the beans as a pick up line or not but that would be the most unique opening line wouldn't it?  He wasn't impressed when I told him I wasn't eating them but using them in a centerpiece.
Anyway, I poured the beans around the pumpkins and added two ribbon wrapped black tea lights.  I put a black tablecloth on the table and added a silver placemat and instantly had a spooky table.  Super duper easy right?



fun!



dollar store craft!


easy peasy!


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

. . . Cookie Time Tuesday-Cookies & Cream Cake Mix Cookies . . .

I'm so excited to have another wonderful guest blogger today for Cookie Time Tuesday....Ashton from Something Swanky was nice enough to share a to die for recipe with us!  I know these cookies are going on my must make list asap!  Yummy in the tummy for sure...

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Hi there! Ashton, from Something Swanky here :) I spend my days chasing around a 2 year old, watching a lot of Blues Clues, and baking and blogging up a storm!

I'm super excited Lindy asked me to be a guest here on Itsy Bitsy Paper! This has to be the cutest blog ever, right?!

Lindy asked me to share a cookie recipe, which is only completely perfect, because-- I big time puffy heart cookies!!! Don't believe me? Check out my recipe index. The cookies pretty much dominate.




Truth be told, I'm more than happy to sit around with a warm, chewy, plain ol' chocolate chip cookie. But, when you're a dessert blogger, the audience demands a little bit more than chocolate chip cookies.

It's been difficult, I tell ya. Having to bake dozens upon dozens of rich, chewy, decadent cookies. It's  a hard life. Especially that freshly-baked-cookie aroma wafting through the house... I mean, geez, who wants that around all the time???



Of course I'm kidding! I have the coolest job in the world :) For reals.

Anyway. I'm pretty in love with all things cookies & cream (recent evidence). And all things cake mix.

I hope you LOVE these cookies as much as I did!



Cookies and Cream Cake Mix Cookies

Ingredients:
  • 1 Devil's Food Cake mix
  • 1/2 c. vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 dozen Cookies and Cream Hershey Kisses, unwrapped
  • 1 cup white chocolate, melted for drizzling
  • 1-2 cups crushed Oreo Cookies for topping
Directions:
1.    Beat together the cake mix, oil, and eggs in a stand mixer until a smooth dough forms.
2.    Scoop out 1 tbsp. at a time, pressing flat in palms. Place a Hershey Kiss in the center, and wrap the dough around the kiss.
3.    Place cookie dough balls on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 350ยบ for 10-12 minutes, until edges are set.
4.    Let cool on baking sheet (the cookies will be especially soft since the center is filled with ooey-gooey chocolate!).
5.    Drizzle with white chocolate and top with oreo crumbles!

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THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GREAT RECIPE, Ashton!