Flower Clip

The jeweled flower bow is a popular one.  It is simple and cute. 

Materials:

silk flower
alligator clip
ribbon to cover clip
hot glue gun
jewel

All you do is remove the middle stem section of the flower, glue the petals together near the center and then glue a jewel on.  I prefer to use buttons as they look nicer than the cheap "flat bottom" jewels.  I use pliers to remove the button loop hole and then glue it right in the center.  Then attach to a covered alligator clip using the trusty glue gun.  Wala!  A beautiful flower clip.

Hair Flowers

To begin this project, you need the following materials:

• Satiny Fabric (very little)  I purchased 1/8 yd and it cost me 25cents.  Made with polyester
• lace approx. 6 inches
• pearls or jewel for the center
• hot glue gun
• alligator clip (see photo below)
• 1/4 inch grosgrain or satin ribbon

First, cut 3 different sized circles out of the fabric and burn the edges carefully with a lighter.  The burning should make the ribbon tuck and curl upward.  After burning all 3 petals, cut pieces of lace to put in between layers.  Hot glue all the petals and lace into a stacked flower.  To finish, hot glue a jewel, button or beads in the center.


Next is the clip.  carefully hot glue a small piece of the 1/4 inch ribbon around the clip.  Then, glue the flower on top.

For the headband.  I use knee high pantyhose that you can buy for .33 cents at Wal-Mart. Just cut off the ends, open it up into a circle and stretch into a headband.  Then take a small piece of the ribbon you used to line the clip and hot glue around the headband.  That creates a band to attach the clips on.

You are now finished and can create as many colors as you wish!!!  Just interchange the various flower clips to the one headband!  Isn't that great?!

Red Velvet Cake

 I just made the tastiest 3 layer red velvet cake with creme' filling and marshmallow fondant. It was my first attempt at making a cake from scratch and it was so easy.  I learned a few tips along the way looking at various recipes.  First of all I used a generic red velvet cake recipe and put it in 3 9-inch pans that were greased, floured and lined with parchment paper rounds.  That was key to my new found success.  Parchment paper ensured no sticking! Let the cakes cool completely and flip out onto saran wrap.  Cover in Saran wrap and freeze. 

Marshmallow fondant:  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Marshmallow-Fondant/Detail.aspx Note:  I refrigerated it and it was too stiff to roll out.  Might work better to use immediately.  If you want to avoid making fondant or decorator frosting, Duff Goldman (Ace of Cakes) has a line at Michael's you can buy already made.

For the cream filling, I used this frosting recipe http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/red-velvet-cake-recipe/index.html.

You will need to make decorator icing after the creme' frosting to dirty ice the cake later. 

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

3/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup water
1 egg white
1 tsp vanilla
2lbs powder sugar

mix until light and fluffy.

All the Ingredients are ready to stack and decorate.  Place a layer of cake on a cake round.  Pipe creme' filling from a decorator bag without a tip on.  Smooth layer and add more cake.  Repeat a creme layer and top with the 3rd layer of cake.  Then dirty ice the cake with the decorator frosting.  After the cake is covered with frosting, roll out your fondant and place on cake.  Smooth fondant and trim.  Then decorate as desired.

Terese Plumridge

Tulle Tutus

Our first project will be to duplicate the ever-so-popular Tulle Tutu that everyone sells online for $30. It costs a fraction of that to make and will probably turn out better.

Skill Level: Beginner

Tools: 6inch wide Tulle Ribbon (found in the wedding section at wal-mart as 60yd bolt)
you need 40-60 yards depending on skirt length.

ARIZONA: Ribbons and Lace has all the materials and can instruct you further

elastic to fit around child's waist

1 yd or more of decorative ribbon (no limit to your creativity-Go Wild!!)

Hot glue gun and glue (My best friend for crafting)

1. glue the elastic together at the ends to fit your child's waist
2. cut tulle into 1 yard strips
3. fold the strips in half.  Fold in half again creating a loop
4. loop through itself around the elastic and pull tight SEE BELOW

NOTE: For fuller skirts, use 2 strips of tulle for one loop.
5. Continue to fill the elastic waist with loops until full
6. Add decorative ribbon in loops and, or a bow.
7. For extra cuteness, hot glue a flower at the seam
   Tutu is ready to wear!  It's that simple.