Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Let's Make-Up! {a Silhouette Tutorial}


We are LOVING all of the fun products that Silhouette sends us!
This month we received their Fabric Interfacing.
Not only can the Silhouette cut paper and vinyl, but it cuts fabric too!

We were so excited to try it out!
Since it was our first time using it, we wanted to start simple.
We created this make-up bag and we were done in a half hour. So cool!
Imagine the possibilities!

Here's what you need:

  • Silhouette Electronic Cutter
  • Silhouette Fabric Interfacing {clean cut}
  • Fabric blade
  • Cosmetic bag or tote bag
  • Fabric
  • Silhouette Cutting Mat
  • Coordinating button or embellishment








We found these great plain white cosmetic bags at Michael's for $3.99 a piece.
This project could also be done on a tote bag as well, but we thought these make-up bags were so cute! They were even plastic lined on the inside for all your cosmetics.

To begin, open the package of the Silhouette fabric interfacing.{we used the clean cut}
{**Note: the sewable fabric interfacing is for projects that 
will be sewn once the interfacing is ironed on.}
Depending on the size of your design, cut a piece of the interfacing about and inch bigger than your shape you will be cutting out.

Then take the fabric you want for the lettering and cut out a piece that is an inch bigger than the interfacing.


Take the fabric and iron out any wrinkles and turn it over so the back of the fabric and the rough side of the interfacing are touching.
Iron the interfacing onto the back side of the fabric, pressing down firmly.

Once it is adhered to the fabric, cut the fabric down to the same size as the interfacing.

Then gently peel the backing off. The interfacing will now be adhered to the fabric.

Now, with the interfacing side down, adhere to your cutting mat.

And load it into the machine.

Using Silhouette Studio, we selected a font we liked (Pacifico)
and typed the word "hello". 
Select "fabric" in the cut settings and adjust your fabric blade to 3.

Here we go!

Once it is cut and unloaded, peel the fabric off and your cut design will remain on the mat. Use the hook tool or a craft knife to peel off the insides of the letters.
Now your design is ready to be pulled off and placed on your bag.
 Lay it on your bag just where you want it. It's now ready to iron on.
Iron on to the fabric for about 8 to 10 seconds.


Cute right?
Just to make it a bit more "whimsical" we wanted to add a layered flower to the top.


We chose a flower shape in the Silhouette Studio and made them all different sizes.

We used two different colored fabrics and repeated the steps for adhering the interfacing to the fabric.


 Once the flower shapes have the interfacing on them, iron them on to the bag, alternating the fabrics.

Add a button to the middle with some hot glue and you're done!
We seriously couldn't love it more!
My head is spinning with ideas...who knew it would be so easy?

If you've been wanting a Silhouette, now is a great time to pick one up!
If you already have a Silhouette, DO NOT miss out on this Fabric Bundle!
You are basically getting almost half of it for FREE!
For more about the promotion or to purchase, click here.
Make sure you use the promotion code WHIMSICAL  to get the discount!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Hot Tub Pig Cake {Tutorial}



This is Michaela's youngest son, Max.
Max loves bacon.
Yes, that's a stuffed piece of bacon.
You know the scene from Forrest Gump where Bubba starts talking about all the different kinds of ways you can eat shrimp? Well substitute that for bacon and that's Max's love for bacon in a nutshell.
And I think he may be the sweetest boy on the planet.
As his birthday was approaching, he found this pig cake that went viral on the internet.
And then immediately put a request in.

We searched and searched to find the source and found the original source was a Dutch baker, with no tutorial. (Or if there was we couldn't read it!)

So here is an EASY tutorial for you to make this cute cake for your own "Bacon Lover!"


Making The Pigs
A couple of days prior, you'll want to make the pigs so they can dry.
We are going to walk you step by step!
Yes, you can do this!

What you need:
pink fondant (We used Wilton's brand of pink fondant)
clean surface (we used a silpat mat, but any smooth, clean surface will work) 

Crisco stick

a pointed cake tool for making the eyes and lines (even a toothpick would work)
small brush and water
wax-paper lined cookie sheet 
cornstarch




First, take the wax-paper lined cookie sheet and dust it lightly with cornstarch.









Lay out your mat or prepare your clean surface and take a small amount of the crisco with your hands and grease the surface. Remove the packaging from the fondant and work a small amount of the crisco into the fondant on the mat. Knead the fondant until it is a smooth consistency.









Let's start with the three pig butts. (we just saw you smile!)
Begin by making three round balls with your hands, making them all the same size.
Keep rolling them until they are completely smooth.

Take the cake tool or toothpick and indent a line in the middle of each ball.


To make the tails, roll a small amount back and forth (like a snake) about an inch and a half long. Wind it around the end of the brush to curl it and gently pull it off.
Brush a small amount of water at the top of the butt, and attach the tail. Fondant glues to fondant with water.
Place finished butts on cookie sheet to dry.

To make the floating pig:
Make two balls, one bigger and more oval than the other.
Poke a hole for his belly button.
Add a small oval shape for his snout and attach it with a small amount of water.
Poke two holes in the snout, two eyes, and cut a mouth.

Make two small cone shapes proportionate to the head.
Take the tip of the paintbrush and indent the middle of the cone to form the inside of the ear. Attach ears to head with brush and water.

Make four balls all the same size and form them into an oval shape.
With the cake tool, score a line through the middle.

Put all pieces on cookie sheet to dry.


For the sitting pig:
Make two balls, one bigger than the other and stack them by attaching with a small amount of water and the brush.

Make two logs, flatten and score the ends.
Attach to the body of the pig.











Attach a snout, and with the cake tool, make the eyes, nose and a mouth.






Make another set of ears and attach to the top of the head with the brush and water.
Transfer the pig to the cookie sheet to dry.
Now you have all your pig pieces!



Assembling The Cake
What you need:
12 inch square cake board (wrapped)
2  9 inch chocolate cakes (your favorite recipe baked already and cooled)
Chocolate frosting (your favorite recipe)
Kit Kats (We used 6 king size packages)
Ribbon (You can find the I love Bacon ribbon here)
Green frosting with a grass tip for the edging.

To give it more of a "boy" look, we wrapped the cake board with a red-checked plastic tablecloth that we cut down.

Make your favorite chocolate frosting, and spread a small amount on the bottom of the cake board.
Place first cake down. Frost the top, and stack the second cake.

Frost the sides only of the stacked cake and a light layer of frosting on top.
 You'll now need to unwrap all your KitKats. 
We used 5 packages.
I recommend purchasing one extra. 
Making cakes is stressful stuff! You may need to reward yourself.

Breaking off two at a time, push the KitKats up against the wall of the cake.







Add more frosting now to the top. We added more milk into the frosting at this point to give it a more creamy, shiny, look.
Smooth it out on top of the cake, but it doesn't have to be perfect...they are in a hot tub of mud after all!








Take the pig pieces and start putting them into the frosting.
With a knife, make some splash marks into the frosting after the pigs have been placed.

Use a grass tip and green frosting for the border of the cake.
You can cut out fondant letters or pipe a name on the side of the cake for personalization!

How cool is this bacon ribbon?
You can purchase it on Etsy here.

Tie the ribbon of your choice around the wall of the cake.

And you're done!


We had one delighted "Bacon Lover!"
Happy Birthday Max!