NEW GIVEAWAY - yes another one!

It's giveaway time again, this time hosted by the amazing Maggie at Smashed Peas and Carrots. There is a set of 4 - 8x10 prints of the winners choice up for grabs and you only need to comment to enter.

Good Luck!

Some of the huge range of prints that you can choose from if you are the lucky winner:

Puppy Dog Cake for a 2 year old - Can I keep this up?

Each year I make my two boys a cake. You may remember my post regarding the dilema with my 3-year olds 3rd birthday cake which ended up being a pretty satisfactory lion (albeit a licensed TV character, but that is all part of the story). This time it was nearing my youngest son's 2nd birthday so again the preparations begin:

Me: What type of cake would you like for your birthday?
Nearly 2: A birthday cake
- 1 point him, 0 points me

Me: Ok, then what color would you like it to be?
Nearly 2: Grey
 - I didn't even know he knew that grey was a color

Eventually we got an answer and ultimately he wanted a 'Dog Cake'. This was lovingly supported by his 3 year old brother and seemed easy enough to me so a Dog Cake it would be.

TIP: when let your kids choose their cakes, encourage them to choose something generic like a dog rather than an existing character (Raa Raa anyone?) there is so much more room for error. What starts out as a rottweiler might end up as a beagle and that will still be OK. There are only so many ways you can do a Dora cake before it starts to look like a football or an Elmo cake before it starts to look like a big red mess.

ANOTHER TIP: if you keep making each cake better than last year's cake you will end up with no where to go. At least at the ages of 2 and 3 the expectations are not too high, but I can see that the pressure will continue to mount.

TUTORIAL: I keep getting asked for tutorials or tips. I always plan to take great photos and post them here with a tutorial, but then end up making the cake at midnight the night before the party with no time to do any of that (most of the time I am lucky to get the cake done) so apologies that again, there is no tutorial.

If you have any specific questions though, feel very free to ask and I will answer where I can. If it helps, I got my inspiration (and a lot of my 'tips') for making this cake from this lovely post here: http://www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com/coolest-dog-cake-41.html

Where do all the Furry Little Creatures Go?

You may have already heard of the 'Boon Animal Bag' but I was lucky enough to get one the other day!

It is a great idea for storing the copious amounts of soft toys that kids accumulate (if you don't have at least 30 soft toys scattered around the house right at this moment then you must be throwing them out - go on count them, I dare you!) and doubles nicely as a pouffee (albeit a little bit slippery).

It does look a little bit like the teddy bears are being held hostage (or about to rob a bank):

and the kids want to open it all the time to release the hostages (and re-scatter them around the house of course). On the plus side it is easy to open

:

If you over stuff it, it is a little bit big for little bottoms to sit on:

But heaps of fun for wrestling:

In all seriousness, it is very well made, great quality and you can fit heaps of stuffed toys in that thing! Such a great idea and the kids are playing with toys again that they forgot they had.

Simple Party Treat for Kids - that they will love!

This is such a simple idea and SO cute that I had to share:

All you need are

• Tiny Teddies
• Mini Milkyway bars
• Smarties
• Icing (to attach the wheels)

No cooking, no fiddly assemblage and no need for instructions, cos I think you can see how they are put together. They are so effective and the kids absolutely love them!

I was lucky enough to have an Aunt bring these along to one of my boys recent parties and they were such a hit! Probably not so healthy, but for a party.. and teddy bears driving cars c'mon!

Too cute:

 
 

Giveaway Time Again

There is a new WallFry prints giveaway, this time hosted by Mammamoiselle -

2 lucky winners will win a set of WallFry Prints of their choice. Head on over to enter:
http://www.mammamoiselle.com/2012/02/feature-wallfry-wall-art-for-children.html

Good Luck!

Raa Raa the Tasty Little Lion

Sorry, we've just transferred this blog and it seems this link is not working the way it should. Please click here to access this post: http://www.wallfry.com/blog/raa-raa-the-tasty-little-lion.html

Picking colors that Pop!

The WallFry Inspiration Cliche Prints have been HUGELY successful. So many customers are using the oppotunity to customize the color of their prints to be able to pick colors from their bedding or decor to tie the room together. Here are some examples for the nursery or kids room:

Land of Nod - How does your Garden Grow?

Pottery Barn Kids - Navy Star Bedding

Target - Little Tree Bedding

Land of Nod - Robo Bedding

I love how this really makes key colors in the room Pop! Customers have been able to choose their favorite inspiration quotes too from the full selection:

Such an easy way to customize your special little one's space just the way you want it!

Cake Pop Fail..

Let me tell you about the day that I learn't that I am NO Bakerella!

 

I love baking decorative cakes, although with time constraints it is pretty much limited to birthday cakes for my two boys. I have made attempts with increasing complexity and so far I have been pretty happy with the results:

 

 

Then I discovered Cake Pops. How could I go past this:

 

Photo by Bakerella

It looks easy enough, right?

 

So I researched a little (thank you YouTube) and using my own expertise limited knowledge I bought some cake mix (a traditionalist I know), some icing in a can (hey that is what they are all using on YouTube), some chocolate and bits and pieces of 'stuff' for decorating.

 

I thought I would start with something simple (as advised) just balls with sprinkles and such added. I was warned - "it is not simple, don't try something too complicated to begin with" and they were right.

 

I will give you a sneak preview of the results:

 

 

That doesn't look tooo bad you might think, and you might be right. The end results were visibly 'acceptable' but I learnt a few lessons on the way:

1. Get longer sticks - it is nearly impossible to operate a ball of cake on a short stick
2. Use compound chocolate, not normal chocolate - I know, I know, I already knew this but when it was purchased in error, I thought I would try to make the best of it - not happening.
3. Don't try to do this on a hot day - it is summer here and it was a super muggy, hot night when I made them. Cake ball sliding down a stick anyone?
4. Don't try to freeze the balls before adding the chocolate because it is a hot night and the are sliding down the stick... - if you add hot chocolate to frozen cake balls the chocolate cracks! Who knew? I have since been told it would have been better to refrigerate them only.
5. Don't leave it too late in the day for your first attempt -This took a LOT longer than I expected and it ended up being late at night when I was finished.
6. Take better photos - ok, so these ones may not be worth too much effort with photography, but if you are going to put so much time and effort into something, make sure you have a decent photo for evidence.
7.  Make them smaller - I think they were too big? A bit more than a couple of bites is too much.

 

The most IMPORTANT TIP though is related to the main reason these were a fail:

 

7. Use better ingredients - they didn't taste very good and I was told so by guests who made the brave attempt. Next time no frosting in a can and cake in a packet, I will get a good recipe, make my own and make it taste good.

 

 

 

 

 

And I did attempt them again, but that is another post.

Another Giveaway!

WallFry Prints is having another Mega Giveaway this time with Chic & Cheap Nursery. Head on over for the chance to win a set of 4 8x10 prints (your choice). Two winners & up to $144 in prizes.

Good Luck!

Happy Belated Holidays!

I hope you had a little elf wearing a superhero cape and disco tinsel hair help decorate your tree too!