Bunny Cakes

Star Wars Easter Basket

The Easter Bunny will be leaving the boys one big basket of *Star Wars and Easter Goodies*.  Auntie A thought the Easter Bunny might be doing the boys a disservice by leaving only one basket, but I think they can handle it.  I would have loved a basket like this when I was a kid--even if I had to share it.

Here is a look at how the color wash basket turned out compared to the original.

The extremely adorable Yoda & Chewie favor boxes are from the very talented Katie Cook.  I am a big Star Wars fan and I don't think I have seen anything cuter!

Happy Easter!

K

Carrot Pouches

This year when the boys wake up on Easter morning instead of finding their baskets they will only find these cute little *Carrot Pouches*.  Inside the pouches will be a clue that will lead them to their Easter baskets. 

I am planning on being a little bit more elaborate this year for Easter since the boys are away  on Spring Break with Grandpa.  I can't believe it!  This is their first week away from Mom & Dad ever.  The house is really, really quiet without the boys here.  I miss them tons already, but I am looking forward to my week 'off'.   I will be working on lots of overdue projects, Easter projects and relaxing.  Anyway, back to the carrot pouches...this is a quick & easy sewing project that you can modify to make whatever size you want.  Here are the steps I followed (it seems like a lot of steps, but they go by fast):

1.  Optional Step: Machine or Hand embroider recipient's name on orange felt.

2.  Using a water-soluble pen draw carrot outline on orange felt.  

3.  Place another piece of orange felt under the felt that has the carrot outline.  Sew along pen lines, but make sure you don't sew your pouch closed!  Leave an opening at the larger end of the carrot.

4.  Using sharp scissors trim just outside carrot outline.  See Exhibit A below:

5.  Draw a template for the carrot leaf on paper and cut out.  NOTE: Make the end of the leaf that will attach to the carrot rounded.  This will allow you to sandwich the carrot between the two layers of the leaf.  

6.  Pin paper template to two layers of green felt.  NOTE: The two layers will make the leaf more substantial and will allow you to nicely attach the carrot.

7. Sew around the leaf template.  Make sure you do not sew together the rounded bottom portion of the leaf.  Start on one end of the rounded portion and sew all the way around to the other end of the rounded portion, but do not sew the bottom of the leaf yet.

7.  Using sharp scissors trim around the leaf (including the rounded end).  See Exhibit B below:

8.  Now for the slightly tricky part...attaching the leaf to the carrot.  Fold over the top lip of the carrot pouch and pin it so it is out of the way.  Maneuver the bottom lip of the carrot pouch between the rounded open end of the leaf.  The bottom layer of carrot will now be sandwiched between the leaf pieces (see Exhibit C).  Sew the leaf closed.  Now the leaf and carrot will be attached and you will have a cute little carrot pouch for lots of Easter goodies.

9.  Fill with treats & enjoy!

-K

Easter Treat & Cards

I am happy to announce that a set of downloadable cards are available to purchase here.  The set covers Easter, Mother's Day and Thank You Cards.  There are 6 cards per page, so a total of 18 downloadable cards for $5.  Best of all, the $5 will help a team of 6 ladies reach their fundraising goal for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3 Day.  We all know what a worthy and applicable cause the fight against breast cancer is, so please show your support!

I thought I would showcase a great & easy way to make an adorable *Easter Treat* to accompany the Easter cards that are available.  Cello wrap is used to form a egg shape around a chocolate bunny sitting atop colorful jelly beans.

The Easter cards...

Cello Egg Treat How To:

1.  Gather materials: cello wrap (for a 3.5" chocolate bunny I used a 19" square), jelly beans, card stock circle, ribbon, small shallow bowl & Easter card.

2.  Center cello square over bowl.  Place card stock circle in center of cello wrap.  The card stock circle will provide support for the jelly beans.

3.  Place handful of jean beans (or you can also use Easter grass) on top of circle.  The bowl will keep the jelly beans centered and from spilling every where.

4.  Position chocolate bunny (or other treat) on top of jelly beans.  Gather sides of cello wrap and tie with ribbon and attach card.

5.  Puff out sides of cello wrap so that the overall shape looks like an Easter Egg.  Enjoy!

 

Thanks!

K

Chickie Wow Wow

Here are some of the cutest edible chicks I have ever seen...

 

These adorable Cake Pop treats are from Bakerella, of course.  I can't wait to see what else she comes up with for Easter!   One of these days I will have to make my own cake pops.

 -K

Easter Bunny Cake - 5 Ways

Any Easter table would look great with an *Easter Bunny Cake*!  Once you have procured your bunny cake pan (available here ), you will need to decide how to decorate it.  There are many ways to finish an Easter Bunny Cake, my favorite is with a tall glass of milk...I kid (not really).   Here are some way to complete your bunny cake...

 

The first four cake are from Williams-Sonoma: (1) Frosted (2) Confectioners' Sugar (3) Chocolate Ganache (4) Pink Striped.  For our bunny cake we decided to go with schmeared frosting and some simple flower details.  It was the perfect compromise to get something sweet enough, but without being too time consuming.  

 

-K

Easter Basket - Color Wash

Now that Valentine's Day is behind us I am already to starting to think about Easter.  This year I will try giving Easter baskets a color wash.  Here are some great examples from Martha...

 

According to Martha, you can create your own wash with acrylic paint and water.   She also suggests testing the wash on the inside of the basket before coating the outside--good thinking!   Now I just need to decide on a color theme.

-K

Easter Table Setting

For the *Easter Table* we were inspired by flowers picked up at our local grocery store.  Little white egg cups were filled with jelly beans and then topped with a chocolate animal.  It is really the Ranunculus that make this table setting so nice. I was also able to incorporate beautiful white sherbet cups with eyelet-like cutouts given to me recently by my Grandmother.

 

-K

Papier Mache Easter Egg

So about papier mache...it is messy, really messy.  Luckily it cleans up pretty easily.  I used the simple water & flour recipe: 1 part flour to 2 parts water.  Add a few tablespoons of salt to prevent mold and mix well with a whisk to get rid of the bumps.  Balloons make the perfect mold for an egg shape.  To cover the balloons I used newspaper, but if I had planned better I would have used the plain newsprint paper you buy from the store rather than an actual newspaper.   I had to use three coats of paint to cover up the lettering on the newspaper.  I also didn't put much fore thought into how to close up the hole on the egg and ended up going with tape at the last minute.

The inspiration for the eggs is the Dr. Seuss favorite Horton Hatches the Egg.  The boys love the end of the story when the lazy Mayzie gets her just desserts and the dutiful Horton is rewarded.  They cackle at the look on Mayzie's face and cheer the little baby elephant with wings.  Horton is as much a hero to them as is Superman (well, maybe not exactly, but I like to think so). 

The eggs were a special find for the boys on the Easter Egg Hunt.  Inside were the Glove Bunnies.

Here's a close-up of the chocolate Glove Bunny.  He hasn't been named yet.

-K

Easter Ceiling Love

Easter Eggs and two cute bunnies about to munch carrots adorn the boys' ceiling for the *Easter Ceiling Love*.  The eggs came with little metal hooks at the top (covered with ribbon), which make it possible to hang them.

The carrots are easily sewn using a machine.  Using felt makes the process very quick and easy.  The great thing about carrots is they can be any shape and they look even better if they are not perfectly uniform.  The boys drew the carrots on paper and then I translated them to felt.  We set up a little carrot making factory and had a blast.  Hubby was not so impressed...I guess I can't blame him...they are carrots after all.

                                                            

-K

Easter Egg Animals

Last year the boys and I made *Easter Egg Animals* using pre-painted wooden eggs and felt.  The boys (& Martha) designed the animals...and I executed the designs.  We had a lot of fun making the creatures and it is a treat to bring them out every year.  The boys still fondly remember making them.  Martha has you use real eggs, but painted wooden eggs are the way to go.  Less mess and you can be sure they will stick around for many Easters to come.

Isn't the bowl below beautiful?  A. made it!  It reminds me a lot of the background in Hokusai's Thunder God.  Sadly, A. no longer does pottery.  It was nice to be a recipient of much of her work.

-K