flowers - I'm Topsy Turvy

My Craft Channel episode

November 13, 2012 by Ashlee · 8 Comments

I have always wanted to be on TV, in fact to this day I wouldn’t say no to my own show… But for some reason I don’t think the Food Network has much need for a show about a one woman cake business done in my small basement kitchen at midnight when my kids are asleep… But hey, if you guys want to see it I’m all for it!

So when the chance came to film an episode of My Craft Studio I jumped at the chance! I was SO nervous, and it went so fast! But it was super fun and I’d do it again in a heartbeat~ So who wants to give me my own show?? HA!

I look like a GIANT next to Kristine!!! I even took off my 5 inch stiletto’s for filming! It was really fun to film. It was fun and I think it went well, but I can already see what I wish I had done differently! I certainly need some practice before I get my own show, but what a totaly rush and so so SO much fun!

I didn’t HATE my voice like usual, but I hate my double chin… And the fact that I NEVER looked at the camera. My eyes are my favorite feature and you only get to see them for seconds at a time! GAH!!! So be kind! Head on over and watch it and let me know what you think!!!

So whose going to try to make some gumpaste roses??? These are the roses I’ll be teaching with my Fondant Roses and Ruffles class at Gygi’s

I got my egg shaped Styrofoam at Michael’s.
The ball tool, large rose petal cookie cutter and flower foam from any cake decorating supply store, like Gygi’s. Don’t forget to use my code: “topsyturvy” for a 10% discount and for locals choose next day pick up.

Filed Under: cake tutorial, Cakes, Craft Tutorial, Crafts, me, vlog · Tagged With: flowers, fondant

Shell Baby Beanie and extra large flower

September 20, 2012 by Ashlee · 5 Comments

I made this Shell beanie for my new baby niece. My sister is planning on taking monthly picture with this hat for the first year, so I’ll add a few rows over the year! Here is how it started!

Here is her one month pictures (and isn’t my sister GORGEOUS!) you can follow every month on my sisters photography blog!

I used Lion Brand Baby’s First yarn, this stuff is AMAZING! I LOVE it, it’s so so SO soft, and very thick. I want to get more and make a full blanket out of it, seriously the way it feels is ADDICTIVE. I’m all about texture when it comes to the yarn I work with.

Beanie

materials:
Hook: N15/10.00mm
Yarn: Lion Brand Baby’s First Yarn

abbreviation:
ch (chain)
sl st (slip stitch)
sc (single crochet)
dc (double crochet)

Crown

Start with a magic ring
Row 1: 6 sc in magic ring, DO NOT JOIN (you may want to place a marker here to keep track of Rnd)
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc of previous round (12 sc)
Row 3: (2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next stitch) 6 times, (18 sc)
Row 4: (1 sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch) 6 times (24 sc)
Row 5: (1 sc in the next stitch, 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 2 stitches) 6 times (30 sc)
0-6 months stop here

Row 6: (2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 4 stitches) 6 tmes (36 sc).
6-12 Months stop here (you’ll have to “cheat” on the first row of shells and skip an extra stitch once)

Row 7: (2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 5 stitches) 6 times (42 sc)
18 Months-3 years stop here (you’ll have to “cheat” on the first row of shells and skip an extra stitch twice)

Shell Sides

Row 1: ch4 (this counts as first dc and and extra ch), 2dc in same stitch (see above), *skip 4 sc, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next sc* repeat from * to beginning chain. dc in the first stitch (the one with the ch4, 2dc), sl st in 4th ch (see below).

Row 2: *ch 4, 2dc* in first chain 1 space, *2dc, 1 ch, 2dc* in each ch 1 space around, dc in first stitch, sl st in 4th ch.

Rows 3-4: repeat Row 2
0-3 months stop here

Add a row every few months as needed! If you want to START with a larger size I’d MEASURE if you have your model close by, but for a guess (since my model is still little- if it’s different than this when you try it let me know!) I’d say:

3-6 months – 5 rows,
6 months to 1 year – 6 rows
1 -3 years – 7 rows

Extra large flower

materials:
Hook: N15/10.00mm
Yarn: Lion Brand Baby’s First Yarn

abbreviation:
ch (chain)
sl st (slip stitch)
sc (single crochet)
dc (double crochet)
trc (triple crochet)

Row 1: sc 6 times in magic ring, pull tight, sl st in first sc

Row 2: ch 4, *dc in next sc, ch 2, repeat from * 4 more times. Join with slip st in 2nd chain of first ch 4. (6 ch 2 spaces)

Row 3: sc, dc, trc, dc, sc in each ch 3 loop, making six petals, sl st in first sc. (6 petals)

Row 4: Working behind, sc around the back of the dc post, ch 3, repeating around each dc from row 2, sl st in first sc (6 ch 3 spaces)

Row 5: sc, dc, 2trc, dc, sc, in each chain 3 space around. sl st in first sc (6 petals)

Row 6: Working behind, sc around the back of the dc post, ch 4, repeating around each dc from row 2, sl st in first sc (6 ch 4 spaces)

Row 7: sc, dc, 3 trc, dc, sc in each chain 4 space around. sl st in first sc, fasten off. (6 petals)

Attach the flower wherever you want! It will be cute to see the flower looking smaller and smaller as she get’s bigger and bigger! I am SO in love with my new little niece! She makes Baby Boy look even bigger! Where did my baby go?

Filed Under: Crafts, crochet, Crochet Free patterns · Tagged With: flowers, tutorial, yarn

Lit up canvas wall decor- Elmers look for less

December 21, 2011 by Ashlee · 49 Comments

A few months ago I got to work with the wonderful people at Elmer’s and throw a craft party! We had a BLAST! Then last month they invited me to participate in a “look for less” challenge. I was so excited, I had a hard time narrowing down the “look” I wanted to create my own version of. But I finally found something (on Pinterest of course).

I fell in LOVE with these pieces by Valerie Boy (as seen on Apartment Therapy). My version… and Valerie-Boy’s. Her’s is made of powdered metal cut and bent, mine is Canvas, paint and lights! Her’s cost an arm and a leg (and a first born) and mine was a grand total of $25!

I had a weird wall space I wanted to cover so I went with a long and narrow canvas that I picked using a 50% off coupon! This is 24″ x 48″ that I got for $25 (the only thing I had to pay for!)! The perfect size for my project.

Next I used the X-ACTO Designer Series Gripster Knife and cut flowers out of black cardstock that I had on hand (so I could see it through the paint), then using CraftBond Repositionable Glue Stick I stuck, (and removed and re-stuck until I like the placement) the flowers onto the canvas! AWESOME, I am already in love!

Next I used some thick Acrylic paint all over the front, in 2 coats. I used big strokes going for a thick chunky look. But you could paint it on pretty smooth if you wanted. I kind of wish I’d gone for 3 coats, but I wanted to peel off the flowers while it was still wet, and before they were stuck on for good.

Next, obviously, I peeled up the black paper. There was something very satisfying about peeling it all up!

I let it dry overnight! I was planning on using a fancy expensive light to light up the back, but then I laid eyes on my icicle lights (in a pile of throw away- no more icicle lights for me- what were we ever thinking? So messy looking). Anyway I used some nails to attach the lights (I nailed them half way in then bent them over the lights) in a criss-cross pattern to cover the whole back.

And they work! Not QUITE the look I was going for, but the back is lit, and it’s MUCH cheaper than buying some fancy, heavy lights trying to get them to work. (notice this is with a flash)

So my weird wall space, between two doors I have this narrow space with this HUGE, ugly electrical panel. I haven’t found anything to cover it with so this was the perfect chance! I love it there. It’s off centered for 2 reasons, 1) to cover the panel and 2) to leave the light switch uncovered. I don’t want it to fall off the wall as the kids try to turn on lights! (no flash but the middle of the day)

And all light up in the dark! I love it! Of course it’s hard to really capture lit up pieces with cameras! SO come on by and check it out! (no flash at night)

I finished my project a few weeks ago BUT with all my computer issues I haven’t been able to post it, so I’m the LAST blogger whose participating to get my project up! Gah… my computer issues are a pain, but when they mess up something I’m doing for someone else it frustrates me to no end! Lucky for me Elmer’s not only has wonderful products, but they also have amazing people working there, they have been so patient with me

I was given free product to review and use for this project, but all opinions are my own

Filed Under: Craft Tutorial, Crafts, decoration, Home projects, paint, review · Tagged With: craft supplies, flowers, silhouette machine, silhouettes, tutorial

Cascading Wild Rose Wedding Cake

August 24, 2011 by Ashlee · 52 Comments

Last week my sweet cousin got married. I’m the oldest of the cousins in my family, and I used to take care of her when we were younger! It’s crazy that she’s old enough to get married! And she made a beautiful bride. When she got engaged I offered to make her cake as my gift (which I do for all my cousins, and husbands cousins although they don’t all take me up on it).

She came over for dinner with her fiancee and mom to talk about the cake design. She had a few inspirational photo’s of her own, and then I pulled out the laptop and showed her my Cake Pinterest board. She wanted to go with all white, and we also wanted the cake that was inspired by her gorgeous dress.

Seriously? Could that skirt be more beautiful? Anyway when scrolling through my pinterest board we found this gorgeous ruffled flowered cake and decided to go with it!

I worked on the main flower centerpiece for a few days and I am SO happy with how it turned out! I also made about 100 petals ahead of time and dried them, but when I tried to use them on the cake they were TOO curved and kept getting in each other’s way. So in the end it worked better to make fresh petals for the cake and I only used about a dozen of the dried petals on the top of the flower.

It was a HUGE cake and it turned out amazing! I was SO pleased with how well it turned out. All 4 layers are different flavors as well. I’ve had a lot of issues with my cake baking since we moved up here to UT on this mountain. I finally think I figured out a trick that works for me and these cakes are the best I’ve made in 2 years!

Filed Under: Cakes, Wedding Cakes · Tagged With: flowers, fondant