While out searching for a great apple crumb pie recipe, I came across this cute idea for cupcakes. The original recipe was to use red in the middle for Valentine’s Day, but these were made green for St Patty’s day. This would be cute for that too since it’s just around the corner. Me thinks I may have to make these and have the leprechauns leave them behind while the girls are sleeping.

I also thought this would make a cute idea for announcing a new baby’s gender. I never came up with any creative ways to spread the word since our family was so spread out, but this would be fun. You can make white cupcakes with a neutral colored icing, like green, yellow or white. Then on the inside they can be blue or pink. It would be fun for a baby shower too. Then when you hand out the cupcakes, the person will know of a baby boy or girl is on the way.

To make the two toned cupcakes, use white cake mix to put into the cupcake liners. Save some of the batter and dye it with food coloring. Place the remaining batter in a pastry bag or  into a plastic bag. Clip the corner of the plastic bag to allow the batter to come out. Push the tip of the bag into the center of each cupcake and squeeze a couple of tablespoons into the center of the white batter. Bake as usual.

As another option, you can bake the cupcakes first and dye icing to go into the middle. It makes a yummy treat inside the cupcake. I do this from time to time and it’s always a hit with the girls. To do this option, bake the cupcakes as usual. Once they are cooled, place the dyed icing into a pastry bag. Press the tip into the top of the cupcake and squeeze in the icing. Ice the cupcake with neutral colored icing.

Enjoy!

Next, I’m going to etch a teacher gift. I hope it turns out as well.

On Christmas I was so excited to give them to her. I forgot that I didn’t take any pictures of them before wrapping them up, so I put them on the floor to take some pictures. She kept trying to pick them up and play with them during the photo shoot. I’m glad she loves them so much.

I found the wooden dolls at Michael’s and used acrylic paint on them. I then coated them with a clear coat of non toxic stuff to make them shiny.

The wooden pegs start off life looking like this. They have different shapes available with more of a flared bottom for the female. They are all just under 2 inches in size, so be careful about making them for little ones who may try to put them in their mouth.

Here’s the finished product. Melissa was kind enough to send me a picture of them all together since I was having difficulty on Christmas! I first made my BIL too light and then too dark. Maybe one day I’ll try again. They are expanding their family in the next few weeks, so I’ll have to add a new baby to the peg family anyway. I was also going to add something like a pompom to give Mickey and Minnie ears that stand up, but I didn’t want them to accidentally come off and become choking hazards.

Here are the ones I tried to get…complete with little hands playing with them.

Now I need to get busy painting some more for the little girls in our house.

]]> http://mymagicmom.com/wooden-peg-people/feed/ http://mymagicmom.com/wooden-peg-people/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyMagicMom/~3/DVziBGj_oMI/ http://mymagicmom.com/katelyns-new-look/#comments Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:28:03 +0000 admin http://mymagicmom.com/?p=248 These past few weeks have been crazy around our house. Katelyn, in an attempt to save a prince, had an unfortunate scooter accident.

We go back on Thursday to see about getting it off. She is looking forward to that. It was fun at first and she enjoyed being able to have it in her favorite color, but it’s been 2 weeks and she’s ready to see it go. I let her take a Sharpie to school on Thursday. She spent recess letting kids sign it and draw on it. It’s cute!