Beyond Measure

Born Fashionable: Children's furniture, clothing, and more

2013-07-30T14:08:00.000-07:00

It's been less than a week since the arrival of the new royal baby! So I thought it'd be great to look at one of the fun parts of a new arrival for the family--baby clothes, nursery furniture, and more. Here are some finds from my favorite (etsy!).

1. This painting is just so adorable and has the feel of a children's book. (Catch a Falling Star Elephant and Bunny)

2. A polka dot whale for your baby boy! Perfect for the summer. (New Born Baby Boy Clothes:Polka Dot Whale)

3. A great way to rock pink and green, the classic combo, with a new twist. (Pink Hat with Alligator)

4. I just love this pouf-- it is chic and cute with elephants :) (Pouf with Elephant)

1. I think their photo already says it all. (Baby Stache)

2. For your hip baby girl, this just adds a little sass. (Mustache Shoes)

3. Chevron bibs are so cute -- this one comes in several colors. (Mustache Bib)

4. A little added class for your little one -- an added tie and 'stache! (Mustache Onesie)

Have a great week keeping the little ones in your life dashing!

Getting Charmed This Summer: Samantha Faye's Fantastic Charms

2013-07-21T19:54:00.001-07:00

This Summer I have had the opportunity to intern with Samantha Freedman, owner, creator, and designer of Samantha Faye. Her jewelry has personality and flair that makes them stand out from the crowd and has been worn by Katie Holmes and her daughter and been worn on the shows Girls and The Carrie Diaries. Samantha went from a lawyer to a designer of a flourishing company in a few years. This short interview gives insight into that fantastic and life changing journey!

Q:What prompted you to want to become a jewelry designer after being a lawyer?
S.F: I started designing while studying for the bar exam. I would run to 47th street during breaks and then again when I started practice. People would stop me on the street and ask where I purchased my necklace... all the time. So, I knew I was onto something. When I thought of the mother daughter charm idea and it got put on the Today Show, that's when I took the plunge!

Q:How were you inspired to start creating your charms?
S.F:Always thought of ideas -- I wake up often in the middle of the night and draw or write down my ideas. Anything inspires me - every day items to an exotic trip!

Samantha's first charm!

Q:What is your favorite part of designing these charms?

S.F:People wearing them! [That] Makes me really happy.

Q:What has been the most exciting part of starting this company?
S.F: That I did it all on my own.

Q:What was the most difficult part of starting up?
S.F:Same as above, that I did it on my own. I think the hardest part was not having a partner that complimented me and had different strengths. That would have been - still would be - helpful!!!

Q:Where would you like seeing the company go in the next five years?
S.F:Worldwide! I would like to get real brand recognition and make it affordable to all.

Q:What famous person would you like to see wearing your charms?
S.F: Hmm. I want Michelle Obama and her girls!!! Emma Stone, Mila Kunis and others - to name a few.

Mine is in silver :)

I know I love my owl charm with its cute crystal eyes. There is such an amazing range of charms that range from animals to lips to weather charms -- definitely something for every personality- down to your family dentist with a tooth charm!

It's been a whirlwind of a summer so far between my internship and my other job! More posts to come later!

Have a 'charming' week!

Fourth of July Fun Rice Krispie Treats!

2013-07-01T19:37:00.002-07:00

For all you last minute party planners, here is a great treat that you can make last minute for your Fourth of July gathering!

You only need a few things and a little bit of time to whip of these patriotic desserts.

-Rice Krispies
-White Chocolate
-Red and Blue Sprinkles

Begin by cutting the krispies in half. Now put out some wax paper while you start to prep the melting chocolate. Mix red and blue sprinkles in a bowl for dipping. After you melt the white chocolate (for chocolate melting instruction look at What A Reese's Peanutbutter Cup Wants to Be) begin dipping in the Krispie treats one side at a time. I like to use a fork to scrape off the excess to avoid too much white chocolate. Then dip them in the sprinkles AND VOILA!!! You have some easily made and wonderful party treats to put out at your Fourth of July celebration. I like to put them in fridge to help the chocolate set up if it isn't hardening quickly by itself.

Happy Birthday America!!!!

Fun Filled Fourth of July

2013-06-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

The Fourth of July is without doubt one of my favorite holidays. It's filled with memories of sparklers and fireworks filled skies, while I laid on the grass and ate fun dip. No matter where I am I always love to show my national pride! So in honor of the fast approaching holiday I wanted to select some accessories in the spirit of the good ol' red white and blue! Definitely showing my Etsy love in this post.

1. These fantastic studs would look great with any outfit! That's why I absolutely adore them. They have a charm and vintage feel just perfect for an outdoor BBQ. (American Flag Studs)

2. You can kick up the classic look of jeans and a white tee with this scarf - made perfectly light weight for a hot summer day. (American Flag Scarf)

3. For those girls with long hair looking for an effortlessly chic vibe check out this turban headband! (The 'Merica Patriotic Fourth of July Stars and Stripes Turban Headband)

4. Because the man in your life needs to be looking sharp for 'Merica's birthday! (Fourth of July Stars and Stripes Bowtie)

What kind of accessories do you love wearing for the Fourth of July??
----Comment below and let me know!

Thank you to those who serve this country and protect our freedom.
-Have fun getting ready for your BBQ's!

Summer Bling: Silver and Gold

2013-06-16T13:15:00.001-07:00

With Summer in full swing I thought I would share some of my favorite Summer statement necklaces! A perfect accessory can completely change an outfit giving it more dimension and dressing it up. (You can click on the photos if you want to see where they are from!)

This would look gorgeous with a strapless maxi!

A great example of feminine with an edge

I just LOVE the delicacy and sparkle of this necklace!

This necklace is a stunner! With so many resin stones it's sure to catch the light just right.

Happy accessorizing! xo

Bunny Approved: Making the Move Towards Cruelty Free

2013-06-09T16:44:00.000-07:00

Recently I was looking around on the internet and was surprised when I found out that Aveeno, a brand I have used and loved for years, is not cruelty free!

I guess a simple Google search would have revealed that to me years ago, had I thought of it. Since discovering that Aveeno was not cruelty free I have decided to start making the move to using cruelty free products (products that aren't tested on animals).

When you are in store it can be very hard to discover what is and is not cruelty free, you will need to get online and do a little research before you head out to buy a new product. Recently, before I headed over to Ulta I looked on their website and typed in cruelty free. There were plenty of brands that came up in my search results.

Ulta carries brands like--The Body Shop, Tarte, Too Faced, and Ecotools-- all of which are cruelty free according to the search engine on Ulta's website. Many makeup stores have search engines which can quickly help you to identify brands that are cruelty free. Another major beauty store, Sephora, also has lots of options for cruelty free products like, Urban Decay, Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, and Illamasqua (for brushes).

Between the options offered at Ulta and Sephora you can find beauty products that are nourishing for your skin as well as good for your furry friends. It has become much easier in this day and age to make the switch over, and when you have the option you should! Many of these products are not only cruelty free but do not have ingredients in them that are harsh on your skin.

I love my new Tarte lights, camera, lashes mascara!

Tarte, for example, is "always formulated without: parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, triclosan, sodium lauryl sulfate, synthetic fragrance, and gluten" according to their official website. They also use post recycled materials or recyclable materials in order to be a more environmentally friendly company. According to the founder and CEO of Tarte, Maureen Kelly, these two components of being free of harmful chemicals and earth friendly are what set them apart. Their boxes sport the cruelty free bunny who has ears shaped like a heart to help you identify them as an animal friendly product.

With a few minutes of research you can begin to find glamorous products that are good for you and better for the environment. I am now working on making the switch and it has been fairly easy. I know that I have a ways to go in the beauty products that I choose, but am working on weeding out the unfriendly products as I go. This way you don't feel overwhelmed and can choose a new foundation one month and a new mascara next month.

Have a glamorous and bunny approved Week! xoxo

Kickstarter Cracked Open: An Update on Preston Turk and his new project

2013-02-13T15:11:00.000-08:00

A few months ago , I interviewed Preston Turk on his Kickstarter Project the Stow-Away Lens Cap Holder. I am pleased to say that he was successfully funded, and was able to get his product out to his supporters and the open market.

Now, Preston has another project out on Kickstarter , called the Lens Holster for Nikon. This product is perfect for the photographer on the go, allowing them to easily and quickly change several lenses without having to deal with lens bags.

As you can see the product has a strap, that can go over your shoulder, or around your waist. The holster allows two lenses to click into place quickly so that you can switch easily between three different lenses.

I had the pleasure of once again interviewing Preston on his latest kickstarter launch.

Q:What inspired this product?

P:The Lens Holster came about because I wanted a way to hold my camera lenses that wasn't heavy like a camera bag, and also didn't require a long time to switch lenses. I thought it would be great to simply have another camera body, but without the expense. So with that idea, I created the Lens Holster, which is a simple and effective product to hold your lenses.

Q: What challenges did you face with the Lens Holster?

P:A big hurdle with the Lens Holster was sourcing the parts. Nearly all the parts are custom made, even down to the shoulder/waist strap. I worked with many companies to find the best parts, and built the prototype seen in the pictures with their products.

Q: This is the project that won you the Husky Start Up Challenge, how do you think that influenced the product?

P:Winning the Husky Challenge for me was validation of the idea, and seeing the excitement people had about the product inspired me to move forward. The prize money enabled me to continue development and helped get the product where it is today.

Q: What sets this product apart from other camera accessories?

P:The Lens Holster is different because it is unrivaled in speed and convenience. Lenses are right at hand level, and can be switched in seconds. This sets it apart from other gadgets such as a camera bag because they take longer to switch your lenses.

As a backer of his last project, I am very excited to see where the latest invention goes. If you are interested in the Lens Holster For Nikon, you can go to the official Kickstarter page for more information.

In my Beyond Measure Studio: What I've been up to

2013-01-01T15:51:00.002-08:00

Lately whenever I bead, all I keep reaching for are Swarovski Crystals! I am not sure if it is because of the New Year or just because I love jewelry that sparkles. I have been making tons of sparkle filled bracelets of late, as well as earrings.

Here are a few pictures of everything :D

The bracelets are up and for sale on my Etsy page if you are interested.

Plugged In

2012-12-30T22:14:00.000-08:00

As I was settling into bed last night, I realized in a panic that I did not know where my cell phone was. I then instantly thought about how there was a time where I didn't need to constantly have my cell phone attached to me (practically) and on my bed side table every night. Even just several years ago my cell phone was not my life. Now I depend on it to wake me up, keep track of my schedule, and keep me current with emails.

When did we all get so plugged in? I mean I really am guilty of phone obsession, I wake up and reach over every morning to check my emails and the weather. This has been developing for years to the point where instead of leaving my phone in a purse or backpack after I went out, it has to be near me at all times.

What all this has to do with the New Year is more of an observance of how much technology has changed my life and the lives of society in just the past five years. With everyone so plugged in now people are expected to respond to everything immediately.

I know that when my parents went to school they did not get last minute changes to a schedule or new assignments via email. Now, as a student, I am expected to check my email every day, multiple times a day. If you miss an email that the professor sent out, even if it was at an insane hour of night, you are responsible to know its contents. Checking my email is easily done, but it is crazy when you consider how far emailing and technology have come.

I have heard of studies where students are separated from their phones and then go through withdrawal symptoms. According to an article from "The Telegraph" these withdrawal symptoms have been similar to the drug cravings experienced by an addict during rehab.

So I guess the question is do we really have a choice? I don't think I could really give up my phone for a week. I rely on it heavily at school for communicating with my parents, teachers, and my peers.

Could you give up your phone for a day, or even a week?

Christmas Craftacular: Making an Ornament Wreath

2012-12-23T17:17:00.005-08:00

I know, Christmas is Tuesday! So what am I doing posting an ornament wreath DIY? Well, first of all it's a fantastic decoration and if you need to get a last minute gift made this comes together after one night of dedicated effort, oh and most importantly.....it sparkles.

Yes, I am using the dreaded craft supply-GLITTER. Keep in mind that it's only on a few Christmas balls. So will it cover you for about a day or so? Yes, but it sparkles and therefore is worth the trouble, not to mention it is the time of season to shimmer.

So for this wreath you will need several Christmas balls, an 18inch metal wreath base (can be found at a craft store), the green wire that is always in the same aisle as the wreaths, a hot glue gun, and ribbon- I bought 2 festive 3yd rolls and had another roll of silver ribbon.

Begin by checking your ornaments, if they are not connected tightly to the silver topper make sure to use your hot glue gun to secure their "hats". Arrange them in the order of facing outwards and then inwards.

Now that you have all your supplies ready you can start by laying out the ornaments and deciding how you want them to sit on the wreath. After deciding you will start connecting the balls, one by one, to the wreath with the wire.

Taking care to wrap the wire through the ornament top and around the wreath frame securely.

Then take your hot glue gun and put some hot glue on the wire and wreath. After you attach the next ornament go back and put some hot glue on the opposite side of ball so that it is glued on both parts.

Now that the balls are all on the wire frame you can make a bow with your ribbon and attach it to the wreath frame. I tied another piece of ribbon through the bow to hang the wreath. This piece is attached by a tightly wound piece of wire.

Then start to take pieces of your ribbon and secure them around the silver portion of the ornaments to hide the hot glue.

After all the ornaments are covered begin to take your larger ribbon and tie it securely all around the wreath.

Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

This year when you are around the tree and tearing open your presents with smiling faces, remember that those to the left and right of you are what you truly need to be thankful for. The moments in our life that stand out are those when you are surrounded by the people you love. Remember to be grateful for spending your holiday season with them.

Getting Ready For Christmas: Easy Decorating Ideas

2012-12-17T19:42:00.001-08:00

With less than 10 days left until Christmas, I can definitely feel the tension growing, as more people pack stores and traffic on the weekends grows. So to make your holiday decorating a little easier here are some easy and quick ideas for decorating your tables.

Don't get me wrong, I do love poinsettias and the traditional centerpiece of flowers with lit candles, but for something fool proof (and something your cat can't eat) here are some ideas.

This makes such a cute centerpiece. Just get a few decorative/festive ducks or other animal and put them on top of a holiday fabric. Spread some jingle bells around them and you have an adorable table in no time.

Adding a few snowflakes, which you can buy or make with a scrapbooking punch, creates a special touch.

You can pick up reindeer at your local craft store. Take some scarfs and tie them into bows. Red really makes the reindeer pop.

Happy Decorating!

Labor of Love: A Good Pot Pie

2012-12-02T13:51:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I am sure it is going to be getting busy for you soon, whether it is with school, work, or holiday preparations. I know my little workshop will be busy this week with jewelry making and knitting. At this time of year when it is getting colder it is nice to have a good pot pie. This is Ina Garten's recipe, but changed to my own taste with lots of extra veggies and more chicken. My changes to the recipe increase the amount of pot pies from 4 to 11 so that there are extras to freeze.

Ingredients (makes about 11 individual pot pies)
Two Rotisserie Chickens
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper
5 cups chicken stock (I use regular chicken broth)
2 chicken bouillon cubes (or a chicken paste if you can get it!)
1/2 stick of butter
2 cups yellow onions, chopped (2 onions)
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 large carrots
2 containers of pre-sliced baby bella mushrooms (cook these in a pan before adding)
2 bags of the steam fresh mixed vegetables
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley

For the pastry covering
I just use pre-made pie crusts- you will need 2 packages
You cut them down by using one of the pie tins as a template.

Then you follow the instructions as given on Foodnetwork. I also skip making my own chicken and just use the meat of two rotisserie chickens, giving you plenty of meat and less work.

Preheat your oven to 375

"In a small saucepan, heat the chicken stock and dissolve the bouillon cubes in the stock. In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and saute the onions over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until translucent. Add the flour and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add the hot chicken stock to the sauce. Simmer over low heat for 1 more minute, stirring, until thick. Add 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and heavy cream. Add the cubed chicken, carrots, peas, onions and parsley. Mix well."

Cut down the pie crusts to be slightly larger than your tins so you can cover them. Fill your tins with the mixture and then top them. Then take a fork to poke several holes in your crust. I like to do a cross when I do this.

Put your pies in the oven for 45-60 minutes (or until bubbling with crispy crust)

Whatever pies I am not using immediately I cover with tin foil to cover the uncooked pastry crust and then wrap the entire pie in plastic wrap. I like having these pies in the freezer because you can take them out the night before you want them to defrost in your fridge and then just pop them in the oven for an hour, making an easy and delicious dinner for you!

Happy Cooking!

On another note......

Keep your eyes peeled this week! I will be having a Beyond Measure jewelry give-away. All you will need to do to enter is to like my Facebook page and share the photo of the prize for the chance to win! I will announce the winner on December 12th and then inbox them for their address.

Making Your Christmas Bright : DIY Style

2012-11-27T18:50:00.002-08:00

With our bellies still aching from Thanksgiving dinner and black Friday behind us, it is truly time to start thinking about Christmas. My tree is already up and decorated and I am starting to see Christmas lights. While bought gifts can be fantastic, I am a huge fan of DIY Presents. So I have put together a small collection of ideas from fabulous blogs. Just click on the picture to go directly to the blog :D

Credit to Mom 4 Real

These would be a great gift for anyone because you can personalize them to any occasion. If your friends were recently married you could put pictures of them on the coasters or customize it to a particular interest.

Credit to Martha Stewart

Who doesn't love a spa day? With this DIY you can give your mother or sister a deserved day of relaxation.


Credit to Put Up Your Dukes

This scarf is absolutely adorable and for those of you who sew a perfect gift to make!


Credit to For the Love Of...

I absolutely LOVE jewelry! Making it, wearing it, going through pages of pictures of baubles. This fun DIY is a perfect gift for the on trend girl.

I hope this helps you all start towards your holiday gift giving goals!

Happy Crafting!

In the Kitchen With Krissia

2012-11-18T18:30:00.004-08:00

Hello world! Finals week is over and I am home again and resurfacing to the world with a pumpkin pie recipe from my friend, Krissia. With Thanksgiving this week, pies, goodies, and turkey is on my mind. This recipe is really quite yummy-can't beat a graham cracker crust.

Here's what you will need

Here's the recipe
**the recipe makes 1 and 1/2 pies so you can easily double it to make three or freeze excess batter**

Crust (for one pie)
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
6 tbs butter-melted
1/4 cup granulate sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Filling
2 whole eggs
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tbs melted butter
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract

*preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. for the crust and lower it to 275 degrees for the filling*

combine butter, graham crackers, and melted butter

Once mixed, put the mixture in the pie pan and press around. You can use a cup to create an even edge. Cook the crust for 10-15 minutes at 350.

Combine the eggs, yolks, and sugar in the large bowl.

Add melted butter, pumpkin, cream, spices, salt, vanilla and whisk the mixture.

Fill crust and bake for 90 minutes

Now there is only one thing to do, ENJOY!

Happy Baking and Happy Thanksgiving!

Fashion Showdown!

2012-10-21T19:32:00.000-07:00

These recent weeks have been very hectic with school! Last week, Friday was the A&F Fashion Showdown( Abercrombie and Fitch) where people compete for around 5 hours creating outfits from the fabric provided. And after that was over I headed over to the metals studio to work on my geometric necklace!


Anna working on the poofed out skirt

So basically we are told all the rules and then sent to our respective rooms to begin work on our dresses. We could not start until 11:30 and spent that time brainstorming and sketching. Which basically looks like people throwing fabric around and "trying it on" in an attempt to figure out what we wanted to do.

We decided we wanted to do something structured on top with folds and then some soft draped fabric in contrast to the structured look. The belt is done macrame style and then there are tiny safety pin black ribbon details on the blue skirt.

We wanted the back to be delicate and have a sheer lace back. I think that worn you would better see the effect of the lace back.

The front of the skirt is cut higher than the back. If we were to do it again and had more fabric we would have done a bubble skirt on the bottom instead of the long skirt.

Absolutely loved this dress. Wouldn't it be perfect for a Cleopatra costume?

Here is a look at some of the other dresses

And here's us with our dress at the reception!

Kickstarter Cracked Open: An Interview with a Kickstarter Innovator

2012-10-07T21:37:00.000-07:00

Preston Turk, student at Northeastern University, has been tinkering with watches and fascinated by the way things work since he was young.

Recently, he launched a product of his own, the "Stow-away Lens Cap Holder" on Kickstarter (A site that helps individuals get funding for their products) and I thought it would be interesting to chat with him about his innovation and recent launch!

Q- What is Kickstarter?

PT- Kickstarter is a crowdfunding website, which means it uses the power of all its users to help entrepreneurs and artists fund their projects. I'll illustrate this with my story. I created this product and prototyped it, but the cost of a mold is high, and I want to gauge if the market wants it. So I create a campaign with my goal price being the lowest I can get and still afford the mold and parts. The theory behind this is if I don't get enough money, I would not be able to make it. Kickstarter is set up so that if I do not reach the goal amount no money changes hands. When Kickstarter users pledge money they are promised a reward if the project is successfully funded and their account is charged for the pledge. It really is a great system, and allows entrepreneurs and artists a way to get customers and gauge potential interest in their product.

Q-What inspired this product?

PT-This product was inspired like many [innovations] of mine, which was by an annoyance at something that could be done better. In this case, it was the strings that attach your lens cap to your camera. For me, they were always getting in my way. When I was shooting downwards and when shooting upwards it would get in my face. I knew I needed to make something better, that was also faster than just putting it in your pocket.

Q-How long have you been working on the "Stow-away"?

PT- I came up with the idea for this cap holder in February, but started working on it more seriously when another project of mine stopped temporarily this summer. So, I've been working on this project together with and engineer for the past four months or so.

Q- What has been the most exciting part of this project?

PT- The most exciting part of this project has been receiving the prototypes and developing the design into something that I feel performs well and looks good. We went through several iterations, from a fully round plastic design but ran into problems because the thread would break inside the camera, and the full round [version] was too big. So we the cut the sides off on the design, and used a machined thumb screw to hold it on, and added cork backing to keep it soft against the camera.

Q-What has been the most challenging part of this project?

PT- The main challenge of this project has been insuring good moldability of the design with the manufacturer. We wanted to make sure it could be produced, while also retaining the qualities that we need for it to work well. To ensure this, we worked with the factory to produce the best design.

This product is currently up for funding on Kickstarter. Any amount of money can be pledged ranging from $1.00 and up! Depending on how much you pledge you will get your own "Stow-away"! You can go to his page and help fund this product.

I Have Joined The Twitter World!

2012-10-04T19:53:00.002-07:00

It's official! I have finally joined Twitter! Follow me in order to keep up with all of my creations and blog posts. I will be updating my Twitter with news about my projects and ideas and so on. :)

Samantha F. @SamanthaFo22

What A Reese's Peanutbutter Cup Wants to Be!

2012-09-30T19:11:00.003-07:00

Peanutbutter Balls

These delicious poppable bites of peanutbutter and chocolatey goodness will disappear from your fridge within days! This is a family recipe that has been keeping everyone happy around the holidays for years. This time around I made them for my friends Krissia and Ana-needless to say the treats won't be around for long.

For this recipe you will need powdered sugar, peanutbutter, a stick of butter, and melting chocolate from the store. ( I used candiquick this time. The original recipe calls for chocolate chips and paraffin wax in a double boiler, but the store bought chocolate is a nice time saver!)

1 stick of butter
1 cup of peanutbutter
1 cup of powdered sugar (half of the typical box)
Melting chocolate I use about 2/3 of what is in the package

First melt your butter in a large bowl

After the butter is melted, mix in a cup of peanutbutter.

Now add about a half a box of powdered sugar, or just until it comes together pretty well. You will want it to come together enough so that you can roll it easily. I like to do the half of a box and then put the mixture into the fridge so it becomes firm.

Now roll out your peanutbutter balls. I like to have either a piece of wax paper or a piece of tin foil sprayed with non stick spray.

Melt your chocolate. Make sure to stir it between the microwave times and not leave in the chocolate for longer than 30 second intervals. You don't want to burn your chocolate.

Once the chocolate is melted you can use a toothpick to dip your peanutbutter balls in the chocolate.


The peanutbutter bowl got some attention from my friends haha

After dipping all the balls in chocolate, and licking the mixing forks a few times haha, put the candies in the fridge so that the chocolate can harden. Keep the peanutbutter balls refrigerated. ENJOY!


These really are oh soo good!

Happy Baking!

It's What Is In The Hand

2012-09-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

I have been searching for weeks for the perfect paper to use for my business card. I ordered a pattern I loved on 80 lb paper hoping it would be solid and sturdy feeling. Apparently 80lbs is the average weight for paper that gets used for business cards. There was this beautiful taupe ecru pattern, but upon receiving the paper and printing out test cards I decided that 80lbs creates a far too flimsy business card.

There is a psychological factor in what you receive from people. In my media lit. class in high school we read a study that discussed a scenario where a person was handed either a cold drink or hot cup of coffee by someone they had never met before. The scenario played out in such a way that the person with the drink would need the other person to hold their drink for a moment. Those asked to hold a cold beverage later described the person as being cold, and those who were asked to hold a hot drink found the person to be warm later on.

Aren't these so cool?

I can not help but assume that his can apply to what kind of business card you are handed when you meet someone. If that person receives a flimsy business card then they would associate you with not being substantial whereas I want them to feel that I am a person of substance. I want to hand them a card that is as sturdy and dependable as I am.

While I was searching for a company with patterned 100lb paper, I came to the conclusion I would simply have to make my own patterned paper. So now I am in the process of making my own pattern on illustrator.

Along the way I discovered several other methods used in creative business cards. One company, called Pure Metal Cards , laser cuts their business cards from sheet metal. I am sure that they give a lasting impression, however at over six hundred dollars for 200 hundred cards, I think I will be sticking with paper. I do really like the idea of a stainless steel card, I am sure if you are handed one you won't want to throw it out, I know I would not!

Keep an eye out for next week's post! It's going to be a sweet one!

When I Grow Up.....

2012-09-19T20:01:00.002-07:00

I often feel like as a young person I should be doing amazing and crazy things with my life. Ever since I was little I have always set huge, seemingly unattainable goals. Among those goals there was the third grade "I am going to go to HARVARD!!" phase (probably because it was the only notable college I knew of at the time), the I am going to be a vet and save all the animals in the world phase, and the quintessential phase of all little girls, where you tell people you are going to grow up to be a pretty pretty princess.

Remember this game?

Now as a college student it is becoming quite clear to me that all those dreams are much closer now, but despite being at the point in my life where they should be tangible they are more of a mystery.

So here I am, as a result, going between a million options of what I could do and should do! I know tons of people change their majors and plenty transfer schools before they find their niche. I currently major in metals, but find that I am interested in other majors too.

I think that the most important thing in work and majors is finding something that makes you want to wake up every morning and feel excited to go to work. I feel passionate about creating, it is just a matter of applying it correctly. I feel like these days people are stressed out over choosing a major more than ever because we are no longer certain about the economy.

I actually heard a lecture last week where James Gilmore, author of The Experience Economy, was discussing the basic structure of our economy. He said that he believed that current instability in the economy was a result of not shifting into an experience economy where companies and businesses sell experiences, not just commodities.

With an economy that is shifting to ever lower cost in production and cheaper and cheaper commodities you have to wonder what kind of jobs will result from a different kind of economy, like what James Gilmore proposes.

In The Studio- Using the Hydraulic Press

2012-09-16T14:25:00.002-07:00

I usually put up DIYs or some other craft related item, but this week I wanted to take you in to the studio with me. My assignment this week was to create a piece of jewelry using the hydraulic press to create three dimensional forms.

This pendant is made from copper and the copper portions of the chain are hand made and formed with needle nose pliers with seed bead accents. The silver portions of the chain are store bought, but hand assembled.

In case you were wondering this is a hydraulic press :)

So in order to make this I had to cut out some shapes from plexiglass using a spiral saw. The first saw I was using ended up breaking because I was sawing so fast it melted into place and snapped right in half when I was taking it out!

In this close up you can see the three individual pieces that make up the pendant. I decided on connecting them with rivets because I felt that it related better to the organic shapes that make it up. Each piece of copper is textured differently all using the same method by using the sharp edge of a riveting hammer.

I am really excited about the hydraulic press, I like what it can do. It is so nice to have such dimensionality in this pendant. I feel that though it is a simple piece it finds its interest in the simple details, like the texture and the puffed up forms.

Halloween Decorations: DIY Franky Jr.

2012-09-10T12:54:00.001-07:00

This time of the year things seem to start going really fast, especially with the school year starting! Here is a project you can start now and dedicate some time to over a few weeks to complete. In total it took me around 4-5 hours to make this little guy, however I have worked with these tools before and used a blow dryer to hasten the drying time of the paint.

*I suggest this project only for people experienced in power tools*

*Improper use of tools could lead to injury*

Here's what you will need

Two fake pumpkins (one large and one smaller), doorknob hangers, glue, saw/power saw, black and green paint/paintbrushes, a black youth sized t-shirt, two small wooden objects (like miniature pickle barrels), a sharpie or other marker, and black and white felt. In total it cost me around $35 for the tools using coupons and keeping in mind I already had glue and the power saw.

The first step in making your own Franky junior is cutting a hole in the bottom of the smaller pumpkin so it will sit nicely on the larger pumpkin. To cut in first make an incision using the tip of the stationary saw (mine had a nice sharp tip for carving) and gently nudge it inside, now proceed using your power saw. (You could use the regular saw, but I found it easier and faster to use the power saw)

**You will want to do the sawing in a well ventilated area because there is a lot of "pumpkin dust" from sawing.**

Check to make sure the hole is large enough before moving on. If it is not simply cut it larger.

Next draw circles by tracing the miniature pickle barrels on either side of the head.

I drew them in two locations, one set higher and the other lower before deciding that the lower would look best.

Make sure to follow instructions on the power saw as directed. **Once again I suggest that you only do this if you have worked with these kinds of tools before and will be knowledgeable and comfortable doing so** I found it easiest to start from the center of the circles and then create a straight line to the edge and go around the circle.

You will want to make sure they fit snugly in the holes.

Now it is time to give Franky a face. Go ahead and draw him as you like! It makes it easier when cutting if all the areas that are going to be cut out are filled in black so that you will cut the right areas. You may notice in this photo that Franky has had a little haircut, I decided to cut off his stem to use for his nose later on.

Now begin cutting out his facial features. If you have skinnier areas such as the stitches cut out those first so the structure can support it. I went ahead and cut out the stitches in rectangles, first cutting out the center.

Now that the face is cut out it is time to paint Franky's face so he has a nice ghoulish glow!

About two coats of green paint covered the pumpkin nicely. While the face is drying you can take this time to paint the miniature pickle barrels black, the doorknob hangers green, and the cut off stem green. Once the pickle barrels and step top are dry glue them into place.

While everything is drying, you can put the shirt onto the larger pumpkin to begin considering where the arms should go.

If you use a blow dryer you can have the "arms" dry faster so you can use them to mark where the next cuts should be. Where you marked you will cut a long and thin rectangle shape like the shape of the edge of the doorknob hanger.

I cut the wood using a pair of scissors so it would fit nicely into the slits on the pumpkin. I cut out the upper corner so that that the other half was completely intact. Glue these into place.

***NOTE*** You are cutting the wood at your own discretion and should do so carefully.***

Now it's time to give him a tux. You can do this by cutting out a large triangle of white felt and gluing it onto the pumpkin.

Once the white felt is on securely cut out a tie shape from your black velvet and glue it on.

It is helpful to put Franky's head on while you figure out where the tie should go so you know that it will be in the right place.

For the rest of the tux you will need to cut a slit down the front of the black t-shirt. I cut it almost all the way to the bottom so I could slip the shirt up the pumpkin and around the arms.

Now fold in the edges on the top and glue them down onto the felt to create the jacket look.

After gluing down the top parts onto the felt fold the fabric slightly on the rest of the cut portion inside. Glue this down to create a clean looking seam.

Fold the rest of the fabric underneath the pumpkin to cleanly finish the body. Glue the fabric in place again.

Now it is time to give Franky some hair ! To do this I cut several sections of black felt. First a long strip to go around the back of his head stopping on either side above the "screws". By cutting a slit in the back you can create a smoother application of the felt. By gluing everything down in pieces the overall look is smoother on the pumpkin.

Now cut out two smaller pieces of felt to act as sideburns.

Now cut a piece for the top of the head. I cut out a shape similar to the ghosts on pac man. I placed it on the head and draped it to figure out how to cut the bangs.

Cut a slit in the back like you did the other piece to help the hair lie nicely on Franky's head.

To bring out the details I painted the pupils and teeth black.

Now all you have to do is glue the head onto the body!

There you have it, your very own Franky Jr. he would look adorable around the house for a party and could easily 'guard' your candy bowl.

Happy Crafting!

Halloween Cupcakes

2012-08-31T18:03:00.000-07:00

I love Halloween and adore baking, so I decided to come up with a few fun decorating ideas that you can easily make! These cupcakes would be crowd pleasers at parties and a wonderful activity to do with kids.

A Coating of Cookies

First things first! You need to get together some cupcakes and frosting. I used a yellow cake recipe I found on foodnetwork and the frosting recipe off of the back of the Hershey's Dark Cocoa. I decided to use black and white polka dot wrappers to keep the Halloween feeling through-out.

Simply Ice

And then apply the crumbled oreos. I like to put the cupcake down in the crumbles and twist it gently to get every part covered. It is really easy to crumble the oreos yourself you just put the chocolate cookie part in a plastic bag, seal it, and roll over the cookies with a rolling pin. You will want to save the cream centers for the first cupcake.

Eye Popping Cupcakes

For these cupcakes you will need chocolate chips, candy corn, and the cream centers of oreos.

Press a chocolate chip into the center of the cream. Then put a dab of icing onto the cupcake to "glue" the eye into place. To finish off the look line the eye with candy corn. Now you have yourself a set of cute eyes.

Spider Toppers

For the first spiders you will need oreos, melted chocolate, and pretzel sticks.

Open up your oreo cookies and dip the end of the pretzel sticks into the chocolate. Break them in half so that the legs look proportional to the cookie.

Add some melted chocolate to the cookie and close the spider up.

Top your cupcake by adding some icing where your spider will go and place him on top, then enjoy!

Spooky Spider Cupcake

For this spider you will need melted chocolate, malt balls (or another spherical candy), and pretzel sticks. This decoration requires more care and patience.

To begin use some chocolate to attach a head. Let it set. The begin to apply pretzel stick legs slowly allowing each to set. The result is a tasty and spooking little spider atop your cupcake! Remember a little icing for "glue".

Ghastly Ghosts

For this decoration you will need white chocolate (that you will melt), wax paper or parchment and chocolate chips.

Melt your chocolate in the microwave , do this in 15 to 30 second increments. Make sure that you are stirring inbetween. Your chip will keep its shape in the microwave and fool you into thinking it is not melted, so be sure to stir! Once the chips are melted enough to stir, use a fork to spread the chocolate onto the wax paper and let the chocolate set.

Once the chocolate has set peel it off. I recommend lifting the paper and peeling away the paper. Then take two chocolate chips and dot them with some chocolate and add them to your ghost. You can just stick these ghosts into the cupcake and they will stay. Isn't he cute?

Ghoul Worthy Gravestones

You will need oreos, melted white chocolate, and toothpicks for these.

To do these gravestones simply use your toothpick to write R.I.P on the cookie with the white chocolate. Then you can let the chocolate set.

Once it is set, press the cookie into the cupcake with a little icing to keep it in place.

Now you can have some fun setting up scenes with your cupcakes, like little graveyards.

Happy Baking !

Autumn Fever

2012-08-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning it started to feel like fall, one of my favorite times of year! I have begun thinking already about how I will decorate this year and what wonderful treats I will create. (Keep an eye out for some cute Halloween cupcake ideas!) I changed the look of my blog to go along with the changing of the seasons to create a cohesive look. In anticipation for the coming season I decided to go through Etsy and find inspiring decorations to share with you. I hope these start getting you into the decorating spirit.

Available at http://www.etsy.com/listing/106856969/black-white-orange-hand-painted-owl-for

How cute is this for Halloween? It has wonderful hand painted details and large, expressive eyes.

Available at http://www.etsy.com/listing/106928228/set-of-5-halloween-chevron-damask-pillow

These adorable pillows add a subtle and sophisticated seasonal pop of color to the room. I also like how they can work for Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Available at http://www.etsy.com/listing/61679840/pumpkin-needle-felted-twin-sculptures

These adorable pumpkins are felted. I love the warmth that the medium brings to the subject. They are so well done they look real.

Available at http://www.etsy.com/listing/107386525/halloween-jack-o-lantern-gourd-orange

I have loved jack o'lanterns ever since I was little. They are always so fun to make. What is so cool about this piece is that is actually a gourd so it lasts. His face just makes me happy looking at it!

Available at http://www.etsy.com/listing/84906087/golden-yellow-burnt-orange-berry-wreath

A lot of the time I find a lot of wreaths to be overly fussy, but this wreath is whimsical and feels like nature. The colors are so wonderful and embody the leaves that make fall so beautiful. I think this piece works well for both Halloween and Thanksgiving.

D.I.Y Photo Transfer

2012-08-19T15:00:00.000-07:00


Using Tar Gel

All across the internet I have seen the photo transfer method of using gel medium to put a photo onto other surfaces. So I decided to give it a try for my parents anniversary gift this year. In all I ended up experimenting with gel medium, tar gel, and Mod Podge photo medium (my favorite!).

My initial attempt with regular gel medium came out badly because my father's face got very smeared and I decided to paint over it and use it for another project. The above canvas was done with Tar gel. I know that everyone said online that you will not get perfect results and I like the flaws, but I wanted to see if I could find something that would create better results in transferring detailed photos.

Done with Mod Podge

I went to Michaels and found the Mod Podge section. There is a special type called the photo transfer medium, used for fabric and I figured I could use that for a better photo transfer effect on the canvas. It turns out that using the Mod Podge is also an easier and more reliable way of transferring your photo.

Here's What You Will Need!

To create your own canvas transfer you will need Mod Podge, a canvas (I chose 8X10), a sponge brush, a photocopied version of your photo, and a sponge. If you want to you can also get chipboard letters to glue on at the end like I did for the anniversary gifts.

The flipped version. You can do this in preview of the photo on your desktop if you go under tools and click flip horizontal.

You will want to first cut down your photo so there is not extra white paper around. In this version you are about to see I chose to see what would happen if I used my home printer to print a horizontally flipped version so that it would not be reversed on the canvas. *NOTE* Unless you flip your photo your image will end up as a mirror image on the canvas.

Next take your Mod Podge and start to brush it onto the photo. Make sure to be generous in coating the paper.

I did two coats

Then flip your paper over and onto the canvas. Smooth the paper outwards from the center to ensure that your photos will transfer smoothly and without bubbles. Now the hard part, -At least if you're me!- wait 24 hours before you proceed to the next step.

To remove the paper and reveal your image you will need to wet a sponge. I cut a regular kitchen sponge in half for this because I find it easier to handle. Now simply start to rub away at the paper.

As you continue the process make sure to re-wet the sponge, the sponge should not be sopping wet but wet enough to loosen the paper.

As you are rubbing away the paper it will ball. To keep everything neat I find it useful to have a paper towel to put them on. As you get to the point where you have almost all the paper off you can use a towel to knock off the paper into the garbage. Then go back and rub at spots that have the paper still and use the paper towel again.

Now you can admire your work and happily hang it up somewhere. Or if you want an extra touch on the picture you can glue on some chipboard letters like I did in the anniversary present. This makes an excellent gift and is a wonderful way to transform your wedding photos. This is right after finishing the picture so it is still wet and has not flattened completely yet. Once everything dries completely it will be a flat surface

*Note* you may notice that my picture has a slight purple hue, this is a result of having printed it from my computer, unless your printer is exclusively B&W then your printer will likely use dark purples to create blacks like painters do. I personally kind of like the purple tint, but obviously if you want true colors in B&W ensure that it is a B&W photocopy not printed from a color printer.