Just For Fun

Gruffalo Cupcakes

by Chris on February 24, 2013

Gruffalo CupcakesI’m in the kitchen at a three year old’s birthday party. I thought this would be the safest place to hide. I was wrong. You see, I thought volunteering to make tea would be a safe bet. Unfortunately one of the parents thinks I work here and he’s being a little pushy about my tea making skills.

“Leave the tea bag to stew in the water longer” he says, pointing his finger at the cup. “Don’t scrimp on the milk!” As he takes the cup I notice the tin of flapjacks in his hand, and it strikes me they look quite rubbish.

So I say “I like your homemade flapjacks”. I smile and there’s a brief moment where neither of us say’s a word. Now it’s fairly rare I travel great distances to deliver impromptu baking critique to men I hardly know, but he just seemed annoying.

“So what have you brought along” he sneers. I crack open the cupcake tin, proudly show off the Gruffalo Cupcakes and fold my arms in triumph. As he shuffles away towards the ball pit, Anna pops her head into the kitchen to ask for some more milk for her tea.

Precooked cupcakes

Gruffalo Cupcakes (makes 12)
100g plain flour
20g cocoa powder
140g caster sugar
1.5 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
40g unsalted butter
120ml organic whole milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla paste

Frosting

Chocolate Butter Cream
600g icing sugar
200g unsalted butter
80g cocoa powder
100ml organic whole milk

To make the cupcakes follow Anna’s famous Oreo Cupcake recipe guide.

Smarties

Gruffalo Decorations
Teeth, tusks & horns – Mini marshmallows
Eyes and nose – Smarties
Mouth – Cola strings
Ears – Chocolate buttons

With Buttons

With Marshmallow horns

With Green Nose

With Orange Eyes

With Mouth

With Marshmallow Teeth

Chocolate Eyes

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Thrift Shop Shirt Makeover

by Anna on August 26, 2012

Quite frankly I can’t keep up with the weather. I have lost count the amount of times I have had to switch between a jumper to a dress, from boots to espadrilles, from cut off denim shorts to a coat (you get the picture). Don’t get me wrong I never say no to a glorious bit of sunshine, it’s just I find it a little exhausting planning the daily wardrobe when you have to factor in such a changeable climate.

With that said, I found myself with a slight clothing quandary on Saturday morning when I was woken by the searing sunshine piercing the blinds in our bedroom. Filled with the joys of summer, I rummaged through my wardrobe looking for the perfect summer outfit. I was off out for lunch with friends and wanted to make an effort. However, and as I can imagine all the ladies out there can relate to, I couldn’t find anything that I wanted to wear. Through all the clothes I had, nothing quite matched what I was thinking.

That was until I found a mens shirt that I had bought at a local charity shop, which I had planned to make into a sleeveless tie front top. Perfect I thought, this is exactly what I need.

So, here is how I made a lovely summer top out of an old mens shirt.

1. I had to firstly cut the sleeves off the shirt. I measured out exactly where I wanted the new sleeve seam to sit by trying the shirt on and marking out with quilting tape on one sleeve. After taking the shirt off I matched the exact same measurments on the other sleeve. I then used my fabric scissors to cut a clean curve and sew a new seam on both armholes.

2. I then repeated this with the hem. I measured out with quilting tape where I wanted the back hem to sit and followed this line through to the front of the shirt. I then used the tape to create a slight ‘S’ shape that curved towards the bottom of the button placket to create the ties. Again, I cut away the excess fabric and used the sewing machine to sew a new hem.

3. I then decided to ‘pretty up’ the shirt by cutting the existing buttons from the shirt and replacing them with new ones.

4. A quick press with iron, some denim cut-off shorts, a necklace and some red lipstick and I was ready for lunch with my friends.

So there we go, get your hands on your husband’s, boyfriend’s, dad’s or brother’s shirt (or you can also search your local charity shops) and get cutting. They really do make gorgeous summer top’s that keep you cool in the sun.

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