Tuesday, November 12, 2013

{ DIY } Boys Bow Tie


Recently I raided my fabric stash and made Rupert some funky new bow ties. Wearing a bow tie has become a 'thing' with Rupert. He seems to like wearing them but I can't help but wonder whether he will like or dislike me for it when he's older?! I can hear the words, "Mum why did you always put a bow tie on me when I was little?" I shall reply, "Would you have preferred a bow in your hair instead!" But he does look dashingly handsome on a Sunday wearing his little bow ties so, we're going to continue with the fad for now. 

Since they are so easy to make I thought I'd share my 'how to' with you all. If you own a stash of fabric scraps this will cost you near to nothing, and even if you don't it will still cost you very little!

You will need:
Approx 20 cm fabric
5 cm velcro 
Approx 20 cm interfacing (optional)

From fabric cut: 
Bow - 21 x 13 cm  +  interfacing
Strap - 5 x 37 cm
Knot - 5 x 7 cm


Fold bow horizontally twice, overlapping ends so that it creates a 3 layer thickness. Do not press.

Fold ends to meet in the middle, overlapping slightly. Stitch in place. Do not press.

Fold the bow in half, then fold the edges [back] toward the center. You can either tack or tie some thread around the middle to hold in place.

Back view.

To make neck strap press horizontally in half. Turn raw edges in, about ½ cm and press. Stitch along open edges.

Fold 'knot' piece horizontally, overlapping ends (same as bow). Press.

 Wrap 'knot' piece around both neck strap and bow. Tuck under raw edge and use a pin to hold in place. Hand stitch closed.



Sew Velcro to each of the neck strap ends. Bow tie complete!


Create a bit of fun by using different prints!


   


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Monday, November 4, 2013

Musk Stick & Marshmallow Cake

Birthdays are a great excuse for trying new cake ideas! 
Earlier this year I made the 'Kit Kat Cake' filled with Smarties for Rupert's 1st birthday. You can see it here. Its a cake design that looks fantastic and the great thing is that its so easy to make. So, when a friends birthday came up last week I pondered on how I could make a different cake with the same concept as the 'Kit Kat' cake, and this is what a came up with!


I used my all time favourite butter cake recipe which makes 2 cakes, stacked them with chocolate butter cream icing in the middle, then iced the outside with pink butter cream icing. The weather is so humid in Darwin so you've got to be quick, so following the icing I used 3 packets of musk sticks to place around the outside of the cake.

I then filled the top of the cake with small marshmallows, you can find these in the baking isle of the supermarket. I used about 1 1/2 packets.
A ribbon tied around the middle and a couple of 'barber' straws over kebab skewers finished it off quite nicely.



Easy Vanilla Butter Cake 
Recipe taken from Taste.com

Ingredients
3 cups self-raising flour
1 cup plain flour
2 cups castor sugar
300g butter, cubed and at room temperature
1 1/4 cups milk
6 eggs, at room temperature
3 tsp vanilla essence

Method
  1. Preheat oven to 140°C. Position rake on second lowest shelf of the oven. Grease 2 round cake tins.
  2. Place all the ingredients in a [very] large mixing bowl and beat on low for 30 seconds or until just combined. Increase the speed to high and beat for 1-2 minutes or until the mixture is thick and all the butter is incorporated. Evenly spoon the mixture into prepared cake tins.
  3. Bake in preheated oven for 2 - 2 1/2 hours or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove from oven and set aside for 10 minutes. Turn onto a wire rack for 2 hours or until completely cook.




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Date Night Idea :: Paint your dream home


Last month one of our date night projects was to each paint our dream home, or rather 'attempt' to paint to paint our dream home!
It was so pleasant sitting out on our veranda in low lighting with a brush in hand and chuckling over our painting skills. It was very therapeutic and, we both ended up with red houses! Always learning something new about each other.

I highly encourage couples to have deliberate time together, time learning about each other. Don't ever stop dating! 







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