SCAMPER Artistry

Pig Cake Using Fondant Icing

2012-02-11T14:27:00.000-08:00

Look what I made! My very first time using fondant icing. This cake is for Cub Scout Pack 101 Blue and Gold dinner for their fundraising cake judging and cake auction.

It's a chocolate cake with buttercream frosting using half coconut oil. I did not have almond extract like the recipe calls for so I used amaretto oil or extract, it came in a tiny bottle. I used black jelly bellys for the nose and eyes.

I'm so excited to have tried this. I remember working at the Four Seasons Hotel and watching the pasty chefs work with it. Now I've finally tried it and conquered my trepidation!

First I planned my cake by using these two photos from www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com:

Then I used the recipe from thecookduke.com/fondant-recipe. Here is the jist of it:

Ingredients required to make the fondant recipe:

1 Tbsp of unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup of cold water
1 tsp of almond extract
1/2 cup of light corn syrup (If a corn syrup is not available, you can substitute it with a sugar syrup made with 1-1/4 cups sugar and 1/3 cup water, boiled together until syrupy)
1 Tbsp of glycerin (some recipes say it’s optional, believe me, it’s a must)
2 lbs 10X confectioners’ sugar
1/2 tsp of white vegetable shortening

Directions how to make the fondant recipe:

Sprinkle the gelatin over cold water in a small bowl and let it rest for 2 minutes to soften
Place the bowl in a microwave for 30 seconds on High, until the gelatin dissolves
Add the Almond extract
Add the corn syrup and the glycerin and stir until the mixture is smooth and clear (if the mixture is not turning smooth and clear, microwave it for an additional 15 to 20 seconds on high and stir again)
Sift 1 1/2 pounds of the sugar into a large bowl
Make a hole in the sugar and pour the liquid mixture to it
Stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture becomes sticky
Sift some of the remaining 1/2 pound of sugar onto a smooth work surface and add as much of the remaining sugar as the mixture will take
Knead the fondant, adding a little more sugar if necessary, to form a smooth, pliable mass
Rub the vegetable shortening on your thumbs and knead it into the fondant
Wrap the fondant in plastic wrap and place it in a tightly sealed container to prevent it from drying outIf the icing dries out and harden it can often be revived by popping it into a microwave oven for a few seconds and then kneading it back to life

World Vision's 30 Hour Famine

2012-02-05T14:36:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my 30 Hour Famine fundraising page for 2012

Jared

Support Jared!

Join Jared's Team!

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF PERRYSBURG 104726134

Jared Ellison

Goal: $360.00
Achieved: $230.00Make a gift!

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has donated money to this cause so far. I appreciate your support! I've reached a goal that I didn't think would happen...so...I've raised my goal so that I can apply for a tour. I'm already half-way there. Thank you again!

I can't wait to do the 30 Hour Famine! During the Famine, I will actually NOT EAT for 30 hours. YES! You read that right. I know it will be hard, but I want to do my part to help the nearly 8,000 children under age 5 die every day because of hunger-related causes?that?s one child every 10 seconds. This is NOT okay and I can NOT stand by while children die from lack of food.

In the time leading up to and during our 30 hours of fasting, I am going to get a crash course in global hunger and come face to face with the realities of poverty and injustice. My youth group will make a global impact by learning about world hunger and raising money for hungry children around the world through World Vision; a local impact through service projects and raising awareness during our 30 hours; and an individual impact when I will get a small taste of what it is like for hungry kids around the world.

The Famine is our chance to make a difference, our chance to make hunger part of our history not our present, and our chance actually do something about hunger. My youth group has set a goal, but I?ve personally set a goal too. Check out my thermometer to see my goal. Every $30 I raise will help feed and care for a child for a month! Will you help me meet my goal?

Thank you for sponsoring me to go without?so others can eat.

Want to know where the money raised through the Famine goes?

Visit www.30hourfamine.org/about to learn more about 30 Hour Famine and World Vision’s hunger programs.

Memory Game Using Juice Concentrate Lids

2012-01-20T16:15:00.001-08:00

Memory Game Using Juice Concentrate LidsStart saving those frozen concentrate juice lids now! A plastic bin of them make a god-awful noise when shaken...and that's just what babies like to do. Then they can dump them out and play with them, putting them back in the bucket.

Being a Creative Memories consultant for years, I have quite the sticker collection. I put a decorative sticker on the side of the lid that has a rim. Then make a matching one. You can save the stickers that come in the mail for free too.

http://www.mycmsite.c...

Now it's time to add a layer of glaze like the stuff that people use to make bottle cap jewelry with that glossy top coat. Let them dry.

Here's a few finished ones.

Now it's time to play a matching game or two!

Shoots For A Cure

2011-11-18T06:55:00.000-08:00

hCG Awesome - Success Secrets Revealed

2011-10-14T17:34:00.000-07:00

http://www.cafepress.com/hcgawesome.584049048

hCG Awesome - Success Secrets Revealed

by Lisa B. Ellison

Paperback book

Synopsis

This book is all you need, along with a two ounce bottle of homeopathic drops for your weight loss journey. The "secret" way to get the same quality product for less and step-by-step, walk-you-through-it instructions and recipes are all here in this one book.

Book Details

Genre: Advice & Self-Help
Paperback: 145 pages
Binding: Wire-O
Published: October 2011
$19

Cloning to remove unwanted distraction

2011-08-14T19:46:00.000-07:00

Above - SOOC - Straight Out Of Camera.
Below - The After - explaination below.

Using Creative Memories Memory Manager 3.0
*Auto-Contrast

*Auto-Color
*Sharpen Focus
*Go to TouchUp and choose Cloning
removed sister's knee from bottom corner

*cropped to 4x6 ratio

program is very user friendly and costs just $40. See www.mycmsite.com/sites/lisabe

Bright & Vivid

2011-06-12T19:39:00.000-07:00

I heart faces photo challenge "Bright & Vivid". Memorial Day weekend we visited Cleveland and the Great Lakes Science Center and my two youngest loved the ball pit. It made for some fun photo opportunities! They are looking up waiting for a bucket of balls to fall on them.

www.iheartfaces.com

Self Portrait

2010-12-07T18:55:00.000-08:00

I heart faces photo challenge - self portrait -

Yes! That is really me. I started a diet on Thanksgiving 2009, so I took a before photo of my self. Then after a little more than 70 pounds lost, I set up the camera again and got the "after". Notice my 3 year old running circles around me while I was waiting for the timer to click.

Photographer's giveaway!

2010-11-20T07:42:00.000-08:00

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER'S GIVEAWAY EVER!
Here's the link:
http://photopropfloorsandbackdrops.wordpress.com/2010/11/19/photo-prop-floors-backdrops-presents-the-photographer%E2%80%99s-dream-give-a/

I do hope I win!

Baby Portrait of Fiona at 17 days old

2010-11-02T11:08:00.000-07:00

There she is, Fun Fiona, at 17 days old. I have better lighting these days and I'm all recovered from my c-section. Otherwise, she might have had her photo session at a younger age. ;)

"Bellydancing Vista 4 3/4 yr and Fiona 2 yr+4mo" on Wee Web

2010-11-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

Jared, Lars, Vista and Fiona update "Bellydancing Vista 4 3/4 yr and Fiona 2 yr+4mo" on Wee Web from April 2009

In The Orchard

2010-10-18T08:04:00.000-07:00

Week 42 - iheartfaces - In The Orchard Photo Challenge

We go every year to the apple orchard to pick our own apples. We usually go with another family or two to make it even more fun. Every year I take a photo of my daughter biting into an apple and naming it "Fiona, apple" as a play on words as my DD's name is Fiona and well, if you've heard of the singer, then that might sound funny.

This photo is of a boy, "K", with his mom. "K" does not appreciate his photo being taken...usually, EVER. Got him to smile in this one! Neither are looking into the camera, maybe the candid nature of this makes me like this photo so much. Hope you like it too.

Vote for Anthony Wayne schools October/November

2010-10-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

Smirk

2010-09-20T10:22:00.000-07:00

Week 38 - iheartfaces - Smirk photo challenge

My 2nd child, Lars, smirks, winks, and flirts frequently. This one is one of his most handsome smirks, (if you ask me). I am a little biased.

See more smirks at iheartfaces.

Photojournalism - Downtown Philly

2010-08-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

Week 35 - iheartfaces - Photojournalism Photo Challenge

Downtown Philly

Entertaining street dancers cause pedestrians to pause, smile, and have a general 'good time'. The dancers add to the excitement in the air on this July 4th, 2010, while people gather, eventually watching fireworks together in the city of brotherly love.

See more photojournalism photo entries at iheartfaces

Beach Fun

2010-08-23T11:09:00.001-07:00

Week 34 - iheartfaces - Beach Fun

Fiona as Bo Derek in the movie "10"

Got To Wear Shades

2010-08-17T04:55:00.000-07:00

Week 33 - iheartfaces - Got To Wear Shades - photo challenge

My boys were lighting these 'snakes' with a magnafying glass. The girls found their shades and watched. We thought it was so cute that they thought of shading their eyes from the 'fireworks'. The grandparents were in town visiting Ohio from Utah.

Enter to Win one of these!

2010-08-16T07:02:00.000-07:00

Enter to win this amazing Work Scrap Box at Obsessed with Scrapbooking!
Imagine how organized we would be if you or I owned an Original Scrapbox?!
They have fabulous finishes like the cherry one here -- "Limited Edition Workbox "
I am just drooling over here~ Check out the Obsessed with Scrapbooking blog to enter to win. ;)

Fix-It Friday #64

2010-07-30T12:37:00.001-07:00

My "After" - Fix-It Friday #64 - iheartfaces - photo editing fun
Here is my "After". I love my Creative Memories Memory Manager 3.0 program. I clicked "Auto Contrast", then "Auto Color", then "Sharpen", then I warmed it up by 5 little notches, and matched a color (to white). That's all. It was quick, painless, easy. You can either download or order the CD from my website and it costs a mere $40. Here's the link.
And here is the "Before":

Check out iheartfaces for lots of variety and more spectacular edits.

Over My Head

2010-07-20T08:27:00.000-07:00

iheartfaces - Week 29 - Over My Head Photo Entry

One stop of our summer vacation this year was the beach in Wells, Maine. We had a great day July 9, 2010. Fiona has a seagull over her head as we were feeding them the extra squid we had from crabbing the other day. Photo auto-adjusted with Creative Memories' Memory Manager 3.0 (my program of choice).

Play

2010-06-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

Week 23 - iheartfaces - Play photo challenge

Playing dress up. I have lots and lots of "Play" photos and maybe this one isn't the best, but I love it for some reason. It was taken at the Toledo Zoo for dress up day, around Halloween time.

Yellow

2010-05-24T06:40:00.000-07:00

Week 21 - "Yellow" - iheartfaces Photo Challenge

Happy Yellow Princess, age 3

Not much explanation to go with this. Just a cute, happy girl with ketchup on her face and so proud of her hat and tiara and boa. Where have those curls gone? We used to call her "Curly Top".

Faces & Flowers

2010-05-18T08:02:00.000-07:00

Week 20 - "Faces & Flowers" Photo Challenge - Lilly with Flower
My neighbor friend that likes to come over and play with my kids also likes to be a model for me whenever she sees me with my camera. She's quite the model, either making up her own poses, or she'll let me pose her just right for the lighting, etc.

SCAMPER Artistry's FaceBook "Cutest Kid" Photo Contest May 2010

2010-04-16T08:56:00.000-07:00

SCAMPER Artistry's first ever online photo contest! Here's how it works. Email me a photo of your child or children at scamperartistry@gmail.com. The photos will be posted to SCAMPER Artistry FB fan page. Your friends, family, and anyone else can vote for their favorite. The photo with the most votes will will a free photo session in my studio. Voting will end on May 31st, 2010.

Deadline to enter your photo for the contest will be May 7th, 2010. Photo submissions are being accepted immediately. Start sharing SCAMPER Artistry FB fan page right away so your friends and family can get ready to vote starting May 2nd, 2010. There is no limit to how many contestants participate -- tell everyone!

Photo Submission and Contestant Rules:

One photo per contestant. No limit on how many contestants, so please tell everyone.
You must be 18 years of age or older to enter, but anyone who is a fan can vote!
You must be okay with having your child's or children's photo up in a SCAMPER Artistry Fan Page Contest Gallery.
Photos should not contain nudity. No nudie-butts. They may be cute, but not for the whole world to view.
Any rude/offensive/etc comments will result in your removal from the page.
Photographs from other studios will not be posted as they are usually copyrighted.
You must be a fan of the SCAMPER Artistry Photography fan page to enter and also to vote. So spread the word.

Grand Prize will be a free photo session with a free personal online gallery, one free original size digital image download, one free 8 x 10 image (glossy, lustre, or metallic finish).
First Runner Up will be a free photo session with free personal online gallery, one free original size digital image download.
Second Runner Up will be a free photo session with free personal online gallery.

The winning prize package is transferable, great for out of towners to give away to a relative or friend that can use it. Prize package must be used by May 31, 2011.

Please send your photo submissions to scamperartistry@gmail.com

Please title the subject line: SCAMPER Artistry Contest May 2010

Please copy and paste the following sentence in the body of the email:

I hereby grant and assign SCAMPER Artistry the right to use and publish for SCAMPER Artistry Facebook Fan Page and SCAMPER Artistry website, photographic images of my child and/or children.
[Your Full Name]
[First Name or Names of child or children in photo submitted]

Focusing on Angles

2010-03-22T06:19:00.000-07:00

iheartfaces - Week 12 - “Focusing on Angles” Photo Challenge

Children can climb places that I just never would have dreamed of. But I can stand below, aiming up at his face full of wonder...