Mum’s the Word

January 9, 2012 / Abbi / 2 comments

If you want to make some impressive-looking cookies without slaving away in the kitchen all day, here’s an idea for you!

First, you’ll need the cookies themselves. Cut your cookie dough using either a circle-shaped or flower-shaped cutter and bake according to the directions.

Next, grab a bag of miniature marshmallows and some colored sugar. Place the sugar (I used orange, yellow, and hot pink) in shallow bowls. Grab a scissors and cut each mini marshmallow diagonally, allowing the cut side to land in the bowl of sugar.

The sticky side that is exposed from the cutting will get covered in sugar (though you may have to dab each one in the sugar a little bit to make sure they get as covered as possible.

Each marshmallow half becomes a ‘petal’ and how many you need will depend on the size of your cookies.

Next, frost your cookies one at a time. I used royal icing for these particular ones and did the outline/flooding method.

Once you have a cookie covered in icing, start sticking on the marshmallow petals. I like to begin around the outside edge and work my way towards the middle, but you might find a different method you like better. Feel free to experiment! This is supposed to be fun!

Repeat the process, one cookie at a time, until your batch is complete. Arrange on a pretty platter and prepare to awe your friends!

Another idea for decorating cookies, is to use nuts. I had some extra sugar cookies, but no more marshmallows, so I scoured my cupboards to see what I could find. The result: slivered almonds and candy-coated sunflower seeds (from a local bulk candy shop).

For these cookies, I covered the tops in a dark chocolate ganache instead of icing. I then placed the almond “petals” around the outer edge and filled in the center space with the seeds.

Decorating cookies couldn’t be easier! People will tell you how beautiful they are and you will know how simple they really are to put together!

Category: Baking, Cookies, Party, Showers / Tags: Baking, Cookies, How-To, Techniques, Themes

Project 52:1 • Crocodile Tears

January 6, 2012 / Abbi / 4 comments

I’m excited to be participating in Project 52 this year. Though I don’t have a fancy camera or lenses or even much experience, I do love capturing my family’s lives through photography, so that should be worth something, right?!

From the day Beau was born until his first birthday, I took his picture every day and then created a coffee table book. Since reaching that goal, I haven’t been as consistent with taking his picture.

The goal with Project 52 is to take a themed photo each week for a year. Though life with a toddler and starting my own business is busy, I know I can commit to one good shot per week.

This year, my theme is “BOYS!” I grew up in a house full of sisters, so I had ZERO first-hand experience with boyhood until Beau Wrightson was born June 2010.

Since then, it’s been a crash-course not only in motherhood (B is my first, though I inherited two amazing daughters when I married my husband), but in the inner-workings and quirks of BOYS.

BOYS 52:1 | CROCODILE TEARS

***

It must be difficult not to be able to articulate your feelings with words. At 18 months, my son Beau knows a few basic baby signs: “drink”, “please”, “more”, “thank you”, “all done”, but what happens when you say “more, please” and Mama says “no”?

You “cry.” Just to see if you can get what you want.

***

In the weeks to come, I will be linking to posts of other Project 52 participants, including the cyber-friend who inspired me to join, the amazing Shawna.

Category: Personal Growth, Photography, Project 52 / Tags: Personal Growth, Photography, Project 52

My Word for 2012

January 5, 2012 / Abbi / 9 comments

And now for something completely different…

I have a very dear group of female artist-friends. They vary in age, geographic location, and artistic passion, but we all have one thing in common: we want to live life to the fullest. For one amazing gal that means becoming undaunted, for another warrior-of-words, vulnerable, and yet another is embracing the word “rebel”. There’s a “choose/choice” and a “reach” and the list goes on and on. ALL inspiring, empowering (sometimes intimidating!), life-propelling words.

My word for the year?

I tossed around several powerful ideas before landing on “GROW.” I love all that it encompasses:

GROW (v): 1.a. to increase or cause to increase in size by a natural process. b. To cultivate; arise 2. To expand or intensify. 3. To develop and reach maturity. 4. To originate; stem. 5. To become

Verb phrases: 1. GROW into: a. to become large enough for. b. to become mature or experienced enough for.

GROW on/upon: a. to increase in influence or effect. b. to become gradually more liked or accepted by.

GROW out of: a. to become too large or mature for; outgrow. b.to originate in; develop from.

GROW up: a. to be or become fully grown; attain mental or physical maturity. b. to come into existence; arise.

This word encompasses so many of the others I considered. It will give me space to grow as a Christ-follower, as an artist, as a wife, as a mother, as a friend, as a leader. It opens the doors to new experiences, including the exciting and scary and fun and stretching ones.

Not all “growth” is in our control (like, as a kid, wanting to be 6′ tall), but several areas of growth ARE up to us: how we take care of our bodies, our relationships, the experiences we seek, our ways of thinking, our emotional/spiritual life, our leadership, our compassion, etc.

Growth is also a nurturing process. In order for a garden to thrive, you have to weed it and water it and give it plenty of sunshine. There’s also a pruning process, which, while it may seem damaging and painful, it actually allows for things to grow into something fuller, healthier, and more beautiful. By cutting away the bad (or even good, but not great) bits, we make room for something even better.

Here at Z as in Zebra, GROWth means I will be trying new things and playing around with some old interests I haven’t pursued in a while. You’ll still see cake posts and bookmaking projects, but this blog will evolve to include other artistic pursuits of mine as well. One thing I’ve been working on this week is my theme/images for Project 52, a photography challenge. After being inspired by my friend Shawna‘s posts over the past year, I’ve decided to join in during 2012. That’s just one of the ways I’m looking to GROW in 2012.

I hope you’ll join with me, choose a word to empower yourself in 2012, and get ready to grab life by the horns!!

Not sure how to choose a word, or even what to do with it once you’ve chosen it? Read THIS amazing post to get started. It’s not too late!!

Category: Personal Growth, Photography, Project 52, Word of the Year / Tags: Artistic development, Grow, Personal Growth, Photography, Project 52, Word of the Year

A Journal for Kelley

January 2, 2012 / Abbi / 2 comments

Personalized, handmade gifts are always a great thing to get someone beginning a new chapter of their life.

So when Kelley was graduating, Donna knew that a Z as in Zebra journal would be a great gift for her.

With your name on the front, there’s no mistaking it’s yours!!

I love funky geometric patterns, and this one portrays all the fun, exciting, scary, new adventures most graduates are just itching to embark upon.

Inside the front cover, Donna wanted to include an inscription with the verse Jeremiah 29:11

So fitting!

Donna, thank you for asking me to make Kelley’s journal! It excites me to think of all the dreams and plans and big ideas its pages contain by now!

Category: Books, Paper / Tags: Books, Celebrations, Challenges, Themes

You Can’t Get There From Here

December 30, 2011 / Abbi / 5 comments

My sister is always on the lookout for books with great titles. When she finds them, she has me rip out the guts and replace them with blank pages so she can journal. It’s a win-win situation, really.

So when she found the above title, I knew it would make the perfect diary for her experiences with motherhood. She just had her first baby in February and has been learning a “new normal” over the past 10 months.

Plus, since most moms don’t get much uninterrupted “me time”, a ribbon bookmark for saving her place was essential!

How about you? Do you journal? If so, how often do you look back on what you’ve written? What have you learned about yourself over the years?

Category: Books / Tags: Books, Repurposed Book

I See London, I See France…

December 28, 2011 / Abbi / 3 comments

A friend emailed me a photo of some cookies entitled “When Men Bake”…ha!

I printed the picture and used it as inspiration to create some memorable cookies for a friend’s bachelorette party/personal shower.

I called up one of the other bridesmaids, and we spent an evening chopping the tops off of heart-shaped cookies, piping and flooding designs with royal icing, and giggling. A LOT.

The photos don’t do them justice, but you can see we worked very hard to make some unique undies.

My favorites were the “sets” that we displayed on this white platter. Too cute!

Who knew cookies could be naughty?

Category: Baking, Cookies, Party, Showers / Tags: Baking, Cookies, Parties, Showers, Weddings

Memory Books

December 26, 2011 / Abbi / 3 comments

Perhaps you remember the photo album I made for my niece, Ensley Grace last year.

Well, 2011 saw the addition of more little babies into our extended family. It was only fair that they get their very own memory books, too!

Today’s post is a showcase of the baby photo albums I’ve made this year.

***

My newest nephew, Ethan Craig, was born on August 3. Let me tell you, boyish fabric is hard to find!! Even the prints that are blues and greens are usually paisleys or florals. Then there’s camouflage and trucks, but there’s not really any fabrics in between the two extremes. That said, I was able to find a geometric patterned one for Ethan’s album.

I just love these circular letters! They worked so well with this fabric, too!

Despite the fact that this album is for a boy, I couldn’t resist adding a little bling to the spine.

Black ribbon ties hold the memories inside.

***

Niece Madilyn Rose arrived on October 21st…the first girl in a household of three older brothers! As you can imagine, her mommy was excited to finally have a baby to dress in frilly, girly PINK things!

Her book was ultra-girly as well. Lots of pinks…the letter brads, the tie ribbons, and the rhinestones!

The inside pages were a fun orange-sherbet color. I LOVE how this turned out with the outside pattern. This book may be one of my favorite combos that I’ve done. In fact, I liked the cover fabric so much I bought extra yardage so I can use it again in future projects.

***

In addition to the books I made for our family members, I was also hired to design books for other people’s loved ones.

This gender-neutral jungle book was created for a grandma to house all her photos of her grandkids.

The inside paste pages were chocolate brown, and each page held 4×6 photos, 2-up.

The spine was made of reinforced Davy board wrapped in leafy cardstock. The two patterns complemented each other perfectly!

Ahh, the memories that will be contained in these pages. Makes my heart smile just thinking about it.

Photo albums are among my most prized possessions. I treasure the memories they contain and I would love to make a one-of-a-kind album for someone special in your life! Email me for more details.

Category: Books, Fabric, Paper, Party, Showers / Tags: Books, Celebrations, Kids, Parties, Showers

Practice = Perfect

July 21, 2011 / Abbi / No comments

Though I love to decorate cakes, I can admit that there are a few things I still need to practice. The following cake (made for Easter) reminded me that I still have plenty to learn. Well, not so much “learn” as just improve!

Writing is one. It’s difficult to figure out how much space you’ll need to pen your message on a cake. Sometimes the icing consistency throws you for a loop. Sometimes you just work too fast and things get sloppy. I’ve run into all of these obstacles. Another big area where I’d like to continue to improve? “Fonts”…meaning: I can print on a cake and I can do your run-of-the-mill cursive, but that’s about it. I’d like to spend more time perfecting some other typestyles.

Looking at this photo now (two years after I made this cake), I wish I’d spent more time smoothing the icing. It’s not bad, but there’s still room for improvement.

I’d also seen this cool diagonal design in a magazine and wanted to try it. However, in my excitement, I didn’t plan it out as well as I could have, and the bottom row of diamonds ended up getting a little wonky. If I had done my due diligence, I would’ve used toothpicks to space out the markings evenly.

But as they say, “live and learn.” I think it’s important for all artists to document their work and reassess their growth from time to time. We can learn so much by looking back.

Surely all of us at least have a photo that makes us wonder WHAT we were thinking in choosing a particular hairstyle.

How about you? Do you have old photos that teach you lessons about life?

Category: Baking, Company, Designer Cakes / Tags: Baking, Celebrations, How-To, Practice

#96: Strudel Cups

July 19, 2011 / Abbi / No comments

Seventeen years ago, THIS was how we celebrated my sister “Sonny’s” (Allison’s) birthday:

Well, today she’s the big 1-8, and I would be remiss if I did not give her a

birthday shout out!

Since she’s living in Nebraska for the next month (though SOON to become an Okie transplant, like moi!), and I can’t be there to celebrate her today, I’m doing the next best thing (cyberly speaking): PHOTOS of cupcakes!

The following cupcakes are from my “Abbi-Gail Adventure.” Yeah, remember that? It’s been awhile. These are recipe #96, Strudel Cups:

The ingredients for Strudel Cups are pretty basic: (that’s melted butter in the bowl)

Phyllo dough is a funny thing. It’s pretty much like edible tissue paper. Very strange. I’d never worked with it before, and that was my first impression of it while it was raw…it’s Kleenex-like.

First, you cut the phyllo dough into fourths, cram a piece of it into a sprayed muffin tin, and brush a layer of melted butter on it.

And repeat.

And repeat several more times, in several more muffin cups.

Add some lemon juice to your chopped apples,

…some cinnamon,

…some sugar,

…some chopped walnuts,

some ground almonds and golden raisins, and give it all a good stir!

Fill each muffin cup with a heapin’ helpin’ of the strudel filling.

And bake until golden.

Once these were baked, I removed them (carefully!) from the tins and placed each one on a bright red muffin paper to give them a little pizzazz! Easy, though, not many of us would consider this truly a “cupcake.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SEESTER!! I LOVE YOU!!!

When I see you again, we shall bake!

Category: Baking, Cupcakes / Tags: AbbiGail Adventure, Baking, Birthdays, Cupcakes, Practice

Woodland Birthday: Part 2

July 14, 2011 / Abbi / 4 comments

The day of Beau’s first birthday, I woke up excited and nervous. Sort of the same way I felt on the morning of my wedding. Is that weird? I’m sure some would say it is.

I’d also like to mention how much of a thrill I get out of planning a party on a limited budget. It forces me to get more creative! Maybe that’s why it reminded me of my wedding…I did the same thing with that event: achieved the biggest WOW possible for just a fraction of what other brides spend.

At any rate, I had been planning Beau’s woodland party for months and wanted everything to be perfect!

I’m SO GLAD I thought to book the amazing Abi Martin as the party-day photographer. There is no way I would have been able to corral my kiddo, play the part of hostess with the mostest, AND capture all the details and precious moments of the party. Abi is not only a talented photographer, she is also incredibly fashionable, VERY personable, and a dear friend to my family. Abi, thank you for capturing our day. I am speechless over these photos.

Beau’s birthday banner was one item I was able to create WAY in advance. It’s hard to tell, but I added glitter glue around each letter. I also attached each circle to the ribbon using tiny brads. That way, the skunk and the number could be changed out for future parties, or I could even sell it to someone with a different name!

Remember my sketch from Tuesday’s post? Messy though it was, it helped me pull off this spread:

I LOVED deciding which snacks we should include for this theme. These chocolate nests were one of the first things I thought of. Because one of our guests has a peanut allergy, I substituted butterscotch chips for the peanut butter called for in the recipe.

I framed 12 photos, one favorite from each month of Beau’s life, and interspersed them among the decor.

Stanley the Gnome helped hold down the fort.

I found this cool jar at a Hobby Lobby outlet store here in town and filled it with rocks, moss, and a doe and her fawn.

Here’s a shot of the goody bag contents: one finger puppet, one bird whistle, two colored pencils, two magnets, all contained in a burlap bag.

And since I believe in EVERYONE getting a party favor, I made acorn cookies for the adult guests.

Another shot of the food table, this time, with my cake topper included as the centerpiece. You’ll notice the cake stand is perched on top of a log. FREE! from my in-laws’ woodpile!

Me and my birthday boy. He’d just woken up from his morning nap, so he looks a little stunned. But, MAN, if he isn’t just the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!

The cupcakes below are exactly what I envisioned as I was planning out the food table. I’d never covered cupcakes in fondant before, but the technique worked perfectly for creating smooth mushroom tops. The white polka dots were made out of royal icing that I blopped out and dried several weeks in advance. The risers were borrowed from my friend Mikie and covered in green Canson paper that I cut to look like grass. The cool thing? Mikie used these same risers (sans grass) last summer at the baby shower she co-hosted for Beau and me.

For those who aren’t huge fans of fondant, we also had a handful of buttercream-topped cupcakes with paper toppers I made.

To balance out the sweetness, I made sure to include some good ol’ Chex mix!

Another easy (read: inexpensive) centerpiece I made was a 14″ tall cylinder vase full of acorns (picked up off the ground at my in-laws’ house!) and topped with a friendly gray squirrel.

“Trail Mix” is a necessary component of any woodland party, wouldn’t you say? I made Fawna’s version using peanuts, sunflower seeds, raisins, mini marshmallows, and Reese’s Pieces. Sweet AND salty. Mmm.

Here’s the cake topper from Tuesday’s post. Doesn’t he look right at home on top of that two-layer chocolate cake?

Whenever I host a party, I’m always looking for new ideas for cute displays. I used B’s party as an opportunity to try another technique I’d seen: creating paper cones to hold snacks.

Interesting side-note: this “grass” is actually the bottle drying rack we received as a shower gift when Beau was born! I just added a thin hunk of styrofoam to the base so I could insert the sticks that held up the cones.

I also made my little birthday boy a shirt, using scraps of fabric that my mom and mother-in-law already had in their attics. I’d only made two other shirts before, and the design for them was much easier. I was curious to see how easy it was to create a character using multiple pieces and interfacing. It worked well! And now that the shirt has been through the wash a few times, the canvas I used for the beard and eyebrows is beginning to fray a bit around the edges, making it that much more beardly.

Seeing as how it’s been over 100 degrees every day for the past month (or since time began, it seems!), I made sure to have icy-cold drinks. I had a simple ice-water-with-lemon combo in a huge cookie jar I’ve had for years and I made cherry limeade punch in a cool drink dispenser I borrowed from my friend Natalie.

I received many compliments on the punch. And it couldn’t have been easier to make! I used this recipe, with a slight alteration. I started with a double batch, following the recipe as written. Then, because it was a bit tart for our liking (and I needed to make sure we had plenty), I added an additional two bottles (2-liters each) of Sprite. Perfect!