Nearly a decade ago, I (Tess) enrolled in a watercolor class during summer school at my university. I've always considered myself to be a fairly crafty and artistic person, but let me tell you - watercolor painting is HARD! Making simple designs and blending colors was fun and sort of relaxing, but the detail and artistry that my instructor and some of my fellow classmates used was phenomenal. Needless to say, I knew I was not going to improve all that much in just a short amount of time. However, I definitely left inspired and with a tremendous amount of respect for those that could create beautiful imagery with only a few tools.
DIY Marshmallow Strawberry Shaped Pops
Okay, so "strawberry shaped" is not quite the correct description. They are marshmallow-y shaped. But that wouldn't say much as a post title, right?! Plus, they do look like strawberries, so we're all good. I often say that laziness necessity is the mother of all invention. And these marshmallows pops are a prime example: Take one party-mad 'bird' who absolutely has to have strawberry cake pops on her deserts table, but who also cannot be asked to bake nor make them from scratch. Then enters the humble strawberry-flavored marshmallow and a light-bulb "I wonder if that works" moment, and there you have it! Strawberry Pops but without the fuss.
Trio of DIY Nautical Cakes Using Sugar Paste Fondant
We 're starting the week on a super sweet note, and giving you not one, but THREE nautical cake decorating ideas using sugar paste fondant - courtesy of our resident cake designer extraordinaire, Tessa Lindow Huff . Tessa created a trio of cakes for issue 8 of Birds' Party Magazine , based on our Nautical Party Printables, and any (or all three) would be a perfect focal point to your nautical desserts table - Plus they are so easy to decorate too, which is always a bonus in my book! Check out Tessa's step-by-step below:
DIY Strawberry Shaped Decorated Cookies
Before we get with the tutorial, let me come clean with you. Cookie decorating is not my forte. In fact, I'm slightly scared of them. There, I've said it! Yes, sugar cookies decorated with royal icing scare the heck out of me! No, and I don't have some weird phobia about cookies...it's just that I am not patient at all, and think there are sooooo many steps to decorating cookies that I get bored and don't even bother. I prefer to oooh and aaaah other people's creations, and so for my parties I often seek the help of the amazing professionals out there.
Today I'm joining Kim from The Celebration Shoppe to feature one of our fave parties/party ideas from last month's joint linky - So when you're done here, hope over to Kim's blog to check out her featured fave! ;) There were so many gorgeous party ideas linked up, and picking just one was reeeeeally hard!! But since we're all about strawberries this week here on the blog, I decided to feature a strawberry-flavored party idea by Mariah from Giggles Galore - Strawberry Shortcake in a Jar!
Strawberry Cupcakes & DIY Fondant Strawberry Toppers
I made these cuties for a mini strawberry themed desserts table I styled recently. And since it's strawberry season (even if the sun refuses to come out...), I'll be sharing my strawberry themed party recipes with you all this week in the hope to kick start the summer good and proper!! Anyways, it all turned out pretty yummy and cute too, don't you think? So it's good to know that if I can, you most certainly can too! ;)
Banana & Chocolate Pops Recipe Two Ways
Following on from yesterday's post , this is the second of the recipes I create for Yum Food and Fun for Kids Magazine - Banana Pops ! There are a couple of ideas on how to make 2 types of banana pops - You know, the healthier alternative to ice cream pops?! So easy and really fun to make with kids (or just because..) - Recipes below.
Homemade Snow Cone Recipe with Free Printables
Earlier in the year I created two summer recipes for Yum Food and Fun for Kids Magazine , one of them was this super fun and 'cool' Snow Cone Recipe ! Who doesn't love a bit of flavored ice in a hot summer's day?! It's healthier than ice cream, and you can vary the flavors an colors to suit your party theme - which is just perfect for memorial day coming up!! ;) Recipe below + link to download your FREE party printables to adorn and embellish your snow cone or drinks station!
Raspberry & Lemon Meringue Sandwiches Recipe
Get ready to drool...if you follow this blog or have ordered my book ( Mindy here ), then you already know that i have an obsession with macarons. Well...I also have an obsession with meringues. One day I want to have the tag line: Mindy - The master of macarons, meringues, and marshmallows. It has a nice ring to it :)
Homemade Graham Crackers Ice Cream Cookies
Hi there, it's me Hani from Haniela's . I'm sorry I've been absent for couple of months, I know I promised I'll be here every month sharing my contributor's posts and I truly hope you can forgive me for slacking. What I'm really hoping for is that with ice cream I can win you over. What do you say?
For the Pool Party I styled last weekend, I wanted to serve some ice cream without the bother of worrying about them melting in the heat etc. So I scoured Pinterest and the web for ideas, and came across loads of interesting faux ice cream desserts, so I decided to make that instead. Another thing I did NOT want to do was spend my entire day in the kitchen , so I cheated a little and used shop bought chocolate brownie bites! ;)
With the Jubilee weekend coming up on the 2, 3, 4 and 5th June, the UK will be coming together in celebration of the Diamond Anniversary of the Queen's Coronation 60 years ago! So I came up with a little twist on a traditional shortbread recipe for the Rule Britannia Party Shoot , that will easily dress up any home-made (or store bought) shortbread cookies!