Tritia & Collan's Wedding Invitations

After several emails back and forth Tritia & Collan decided on their invite design..hardest part was the wording...once that was finalized they came over and picked colors from my cardstock samples.  We no longer have a scrapbook store in town so I had to order online from a couple websites.  I ordered Bazzill Grasscloth French Vanilla & Bazzill Smoothie Berry Sensation from http://www.stuff4scrapbooking.com/ and Taken with Teal from Stampin' Up.

With a few supplies you can make your own handmade invites.  Make sure your cardstock is 67lbs or higher or they will not look like professional quality.

1. Print your invite
2. Cut the invite to 4 3/4" x 6 3/4"

3. Cut a piece of colored cardstock to 5" x 7"

4. Mount the invite on the colored cardstock with Modpodge or scrapbooking adhesive.

5. Cut a piece of colored carstock 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" to use with the BigShot Diecut machine

6. Run the colored cardstock & die through the BigShot Diecut machine.
7. Mount the diecut on the invite with Modpodge or scrapbooking adhesive.

If you would like instructions on making RSVP, information cards or would like the word document with formatting for the invite...email me at sweetcreationsbystephanie@gmail.com  
I'll be happy to send it to you. 

It was an honor to make wedding invitations for my cousin, Tritia & her fiance, Collan.. Can't wait to do their cupcakes & cake.    68 days to go.. the countdown is on!

Sundae Cupcakes

This cupcake looks difficult but it is a very easy cupcake to make.  Dark Chocolate cupcake, with whip cream, chocolate drizzle, nuts or no nuts & a cherry on top.   I took these to our friends house last night for the UFC Fight Night.  They were enjoyed by all. 

Sex and The City II Cupcakes

Two years ago when the first Sex and the City movie came out a group of us went to see it and have dinner. We couldn't wait for II to come out.  Today a few of the same girlfriends and I went to see Sex and the City II.  Our plan was to go see the movie & then go to a late lunch after.  Kim from The Tomkat Studio made this recipe and it looked like something I could do fairly quickly.  I made my Margarita Buttercream recipe, using Vodka & Cosmo mixer instead of tequila.  We left them in the car while we watched the movie with 75+ degree weather... probably not the best idea but they still looked ok..the buttercream just melted a little bit.  They hit the spot after our lunch at Joe's Crabshack.

Thanks girls for a fabulous afternoon!

COSMOPOLITAN CUPCAKES:

• 1 box Vanilla Cake Mix
• 3 egg whites
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1-1/4 cups ready-made Cosmo drink mixer (I used Stirrings from Cost Plus)
• 2 tbsp lime zest

Directions: Make cupcakes according to box directions, swapping out 1-1/4 cups Cosmopolitan drink mix for the 1-1/4 cups water called for on the box.


COSMO BUTTERCREAM:  adapted from my Margarita Buttercream
 (will frost 3 dozen cupcakes with a spatula or 18 piping)
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
• 2 Tbsp lime juice
• 2 Tbsp Cosmo drink mixer
• 2 Tbsp vodka
• 1 tsp lime zest (I omitted this)
• 5 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
• Red or pink gel icing colors (a little red gel will make hot pink)
Sprinkles or decorations

Directions:

Using an electric mixer, beat the butter until creamy. Add in 2 cups confectioners' sugar. Add in the cosmo mix, vodka and 4 tablespoons lime juice, 1 teaspoon vanilla, lime zest and the food coloring until smooth and creamy. Beat in the remaining 3 cups confectioners' sugar one-third at a time, until just soft enough to spread.

Spread or pipe icing onto each (completely cooled) cupcake. Garnish with sprinkles.

And MELTED!

Margarita Cupcakes

A little Patron,  A little Salt, A little sweet, A little lime...makes for a perfect Margarita Buttercream atop a Lemon cupcake.

Margarita Buttercream Ingredients: (frosts 3 dozen cupakes with a spatula, 18 piping)

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
5 cups confectioners' sugar
4 tbsp tequila
3 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp salt
4 drops green food coloring (optional)
1 cup large sugar crystals
36 lime wedge candies or 36 lime slices or 36 fondant limes

Directions:
1. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter until creamy. Add in 2 cups confectioners' sugar. Add in the tequila, and 4 tablespoons lime juice, 1 teaspoon vanilla, lime zest, 1 tsp salt and the food coloring until smooth and creamy. Beat in the remaining 3 cups confectioners' sugar one-third at a time, until just soft enough to spread.

2. Spread the frosting on the cooled cupcakes. Add the sugar crystals to a bowl; lay each frosted cupcake on its side in the bowl and gently rotate to form a rim of sugar. Top each cupcake with a lime wedge.

I just started using AmeriColor food dye..squeeze bottles make it so much easier to color frostings

Fondant lime wedge

Cupcakes for my "Sweet" Husband on our Anniversary

11 years ago today I married my best friend, my hero, my #1 taste tester.  I can not imagine my life without him and I love him more and more each day.  I am thankful that we have a great life together and he is always by my side on good days & bad.. loving me as I am.  Love you Juls!

Port Wine and Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes with Marsarpone Frosting
Cupcakes:
3/4 cup port wine
3/4 cup canned cherries
1 stick butter
3 Tbsp + 3/4 cup sugar
1 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup cocoa
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1/3 cup sour cream

Frosting:
8 oz. marscarpone
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
cherries or chocolate shavings

Directions for cupcakes:
Simmer port and drained cherries (I used Oregon Pitted Tart Cherries) in a saucepan for 10 minutes.Remove 1/8 cup of liquid, set aside. Add butter, 3 Tbsp sugar, chocolate and cocoa and whisk until melted. Remove from heat and let cool. Mix flour, sugar, soda, salt in a bowl.  In a seperate bowl, mix egg and sour cream. Add port mixture and beat briefly. Add flour mixture and beat briefly. Pour into lined cupcake pan. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes, or until toothpick comes clean.  Spoon remaining port liquid on cupcakes before frosting.

Directions for frosting:
Beat ingredients together at high speed for 2-3 minutes, or until soft peaks form. Spread on cupcakes and top with cherries or chocolate.

Happy Birthday Samantha

Happy Birthday Samantha!  
Officially the last Birthday in my office in May.

Dark Chocolate Cupcake with cream filling & Chocolate Fudge Buttercream

I made flowers with my 6 petal Wilton cutters & flower centers with my Jem daisy centers.

Happy Birthday Renee

Happy Birthday Renee!
Vanilla Cake with Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream

note: Sorry for some reason my photos came out very poor quality

Chocolate Fudge Frosting

I've tried several recipes for Chocolate frosting...so far this is my favorite. It is a recipe from C & H Sugar's website. I ended up adding meringue powder and 2 extra tbsp of butter to make it the consistancy I wanted it so I could use my large round tip and frost my cupcakes. 

Chocolate Fudge Frosting:
4 cups C & H Pure Cane Confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/2 cup cocoa powder, unsweetened
1 tbsp meringue powder (optional)
1/4 tsp salt
6 tbsp water, boiling
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (1 stick)

Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine sugar, cocoa, salt & meringue powder.  Beat in boiling water, vanilla & butter until smooth & thick.  I cut my butter up in tbsp increments.

Servings:
cake - double recipe to frost 2 layer 10" cake
cupcakes - pipe 12 cupcakes
cupcakes - spatula 24 cupcakes

Happy Birthday Debbie

May has always been full of birthdays on my calendar.  I asked Debbie what kind of cupcakes she wanted and she said LEMON.  I made Lemon cupcakes with Fluffy Lemon Buttercream. Debbie loves her kitty, Moonshine so I made a kitty that looks like him for on top of her cupcake. Tutorial on how to make a kitty is here.   Happy Birthday Debbie!

Fluffy Lemon Buttercream

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened
4 cups sifted confectioner's sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp lemon juice

Beat butter in stand mixer til soft & creamy.  Add 1/2 tsp vanilla extract & 2 tbsp lemon juice. Mix for about 1 minute. Add the confectioner's sugar in 1 cup increments on medium. When mixed, put mixer on high and whip for about 3 minutes until it's light & fluffy