A birthday worth baking for

Give me a special birthday, national holiday (observed or not)...I mean, give me sunny Saturday afternoon for that matter...I don't need much of an excuse to whip up something sweet. It's too hard to resist. All i need is a reason to share the goodness! My dad's birthday was the perfect reason to make a few treats this weekend...and I figured it would be a great chance to try out some news recipes I had been eyeing.

First was the Apple-Cinnamon-Oatmeal-Butterscotch Cookies. (Note: I have a tendency to LOAD my cookies up with lots of extra ingredients. The more the merrier right?!) It's also worth noting that I rarely follow complete recipes. Not because I feel like I could make it better, mostly because I seldom have EVERYTHING it calls for! So I improvise! Keeps ya on your toes!

Of course I didn't have the dried apple slices the recipe called for, but I did have some crisp fuji apples that were just waiting to be used. I was also out of unsalted butter...but I did have some healthier coconut oil, which I thought worked well with all the flavors. The cookies were nothing short of a chunky mess at first....but after time in the oven....they turned out better than expected. Look at all those chunks!!

Then I made some Peanut Butter Cookies - dipped in chocolate and rolled in crushed peanuts. Oiy! They also had Reeces Pieces inside...i couldn't resist. My mom was a happy camper sitting in the sunshine, dunking her peanut buttery cookie her her afternoon cup of tea!

And if that wasn't enough for our small gathering of 6 people.....i made some Chocolate Brownie type things, topped with a layer of marshmallows, peanut butter (there must've been a sale or something), more chocolate and rice crispies. The result was a rediculous mountain of awesomeness!! I mean, a picture tells a million words. Needless to say, I left most of these with the fam, so I wasn't left at home alone with these temptations. At least I have the memories right?!

Fabulous Fabric Flowers

As a recent project for a friend of mine and bride-to-be, I created a flower hairpiece for her.I was able to find fabric to match her dress and used a button from one of her fiance's shirts (he knows). The button will match some of her other wedding accessories. I think the flower which is abot 6" will look great in her low, oulled-back hairstyle! Can't wait to see it!

Here is the finished product...

 

The bridal flower hairpiece project inspired me to create more flowers in different fabrics and styles. Here is a more "petaled" flower, made with a white crinkle chiffon, with a "something blue" crystal bead center.

 

I think I might be a little obsessed with fabric flowers now

This one is made out of an old pair of my jeans...it' one of my favorites!

 

Crushed Velour Lapel Pin...I've been wearing it a lot!

 

A few different Chiffon flowers

 

Purple Plush Felt, Ivory Crushed Velour, and Two-Tone Green Felt 

Trust me, there will be more fun fabric flowers to come. I've already cut out about a million petals. They are just waiting to be sewn together!

We're Two Mini-Martha's in a Pod

That's us, the Crafty Cohorts, when it comes to crafting and baking...we're like super glue and rubber cement. We stick ideas to each other and even get in the same room on occasion to craft together. If we crafted together all the time though, we'd get less done, with the wine and chatting, and with all the craft ideas we have, we have lots to do! Crafts are our way to express our creativity, an outlet to our daily work lives.

Through oven and hot glue burns, messes and successes, baking and paint trays, we are a special recipe... glued together with friendship and crafts.We're friends 'til the end, leaving a trail of cookie crumbs, paper scraps and handmade things all along the way!