Felt Cake Stand Project from Sweetie Pie Bakery

 Image from Sweetie Pie bakery/Burdastyle

Make a sweet felt cake stand for your felt pies and cakes! Sweetie Pie Bakery has a wonderful free pattern on Burdastyle. You can download the pattern here. Happy felt making!

Kitchen

Images from Kitchen

Have you been doing some kawaii baking during the weekend? Check out Kitchen, a cute compedium of lovely Japanese blog recipes. Compared to Home Baking School, Kitchen is translator friendly and easier to understand. :)

Happy Monday!

Crafty Reading: Teapot

Image from Teapot

Have you heard of Teapot?

Mel (Day to Day) and Tamar's (A Collection of Thoughts) pour on some happy times with their  online craft magazine aptly titled Teapot.  It's a cute, crafty and inspiring online blogmag that is filled with wonderful craft stories, projects and yummy goodies to make and bake.

Visit Teapot  to read the 2nd issue online or subscribe to receive Teapot in your inbox.

Craft Crush

 

Pink Holland Matryoshka Fabric by Kokka from Modes4U

Re-Ment Rilakkuma Relaxing Meals Doll Miniatures from Modes4U

Cut Fabric Adhesive Decorative Tape - Pink Polka Dots from Yozo Craft

Antique Style Wood Tape Stocker Set from Yozo Craft

Vintage glass bottles for crafting/decorating from Ititems

Kraft paper fabric from Ititems

These are just some of the cutest, sweetest things that I'd love to add to my craft stash. What are your cute crafty finds as of the moment? Please share!

You can also enhance your crafting experiences by alternating it with learning all you can. More and more are going to school online, either casually taking some classes with interior design online schools , or finishing their bachelor degree online. Either which way learning brings more fun to crafting.

I'll be back with more craft finds soon! 

Mosaic Monday: Little Red

1. Little Red Fairy House, 2. Little Red Riding Hood Basket, 3. Little Red Riding Hood!, 4. Little Red Riding Hood & her Dandy Wolf, 5. Little Red Riding Hood, 6. Little Red Riding Hood Wallet C, 7. little red, 8. Little Red Hood softie, 9. Little Red Riding Hood Cushion & Doll Set

See more Mosaic Mondays here!

Matryoshka party printable from Babalisme

Image from Babalisme

The sweet, folksy character that we all love in craftland is here to stay! Recently a popularity contest between Matryoshka and Petite Poupee was held at Babalisme blog to select the printable theme for June. As much as I adore the charming Petite Poupee, Matryoshka still emerged as the runaway winner. Sorry Petite Poupee, I'm sure someday your time will come. It will take time before you can dethrone Le Grand Dame Matryoshka.

Come and visit Babalisme blog to download the adorable matryoshka party printable. Print and party away!

Where is Mary Poppins?

1. MoMA Blue Sky Umbrella, 2. Colorful Umbrellas Kawaii Wide Tape, 3. Rainy Day Frog on Pink, 4. Mary Poppin Boo Handcarved Piggy with Umbrella Rubber Stamp, 5. Rainy Day Kawaii Slim Envelope, 6. Rainy day Handcarved Stamp Set

I love rainy days! Splashing on puddles just gives me that sense of wondrous childhood joy. Check out these sweet rainy day inspired goodies to make rainy days brighter and fun!

Teddy Bear Butter Cookies

I just revisited my favorite butter cookie recipe to create a beary sweet treat! Hand cut  deco tape flags and mini clothespins add a cute touch to the cello cookie pouch. 

If you love deco tapes and MT washi tapes in particular, check out Jenna's Little Book of MT Masking Tape Zine.  

Summer Stitching Round-Up

Image from Gwenny Penny

Doodle  Stitch Motif #2  from Lark Books via Gwenny Penny

 Image from Turkey Feathers

State Flower Embroidery from Turkey Feathers 

 Image from Feeling Stitchy

Embroidered button how-to from Feeling Stitchy

Image from Green Jello

Summer embroidery pattern from Green Jello

Ahh, summer! Nothing is more relaxing than a glass of cold lemonade and relaxing on the deck with your favorite stitchery project. Check out these cute and free embroidery patterns to make your summer the craftiest and most relaxing ever. 

Mosaic Monday: Fresh!

1. wip - bar be cute lemonade - stitchy advice needed, 2. Lemons, 3. Lemon yellow mojo tote, 4. Yellow flowers and lemon, 5. Lemons, 6. Lemon Macarons, 7. Lemon Yellow Flower Rose Ring, 8. lemonade stand!, 9. lemonade cookies

See more Mosaic Mondays here!

Saturday is for Home Baking School

Let's try a bit of kawaii baking! Home Baking School is a sweet place to start. I found this website via La Petit Foret (thank you Susie!). The website is written in Korean but stuff are quite easy to explore as recipes include step by step pictorial guides and videos. Check out the recipe library here.

These stamped cookies are stinking cute!

Check out the stamped cookie how-to video tutorial on how you can make these sweet treats!

Unfortunately,  Babel fish doesn't do a good job translating this website. Thank God I know how to read Hangul so looking up the ingredients in English via romanized Korean is quite easy. For starters we can make some 게 구 리 만 주 (Gaeguri Manju) or Frog Manchu Cake. 

Frog Manju Cake

Ingredients:

188 grams condensed milk

1 egg yolk

188 grams flour

5 grams baking powder

600 grams red bean paste   

For directions follow the step by step guide here. 

 The recipe is also the same for Chick  Manju. I'm not so sure but they do look like Japanese Hiyoko cakes. So cute!

Next week I'm looking forward to making this--  달콤 사과빵/ Dalkom Sagwa Ppang or Sweet Apple Bread  

 I'll be back soon with another Handmade Summer Craft Days project.   Have a good weekend!

Handmade Summer Craft Days: Chocolate Woodland Muffins

This is a fun snack for the kids on a warm summer afternoon. Just add delicious ice cream on the side!
 

Chocolate Woodland Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 2/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
• 2 Tbsp milk

Directions:

1. Melt butter for 30 seconds in the microwave. Let cool. Add sugar. Blend in eggs. Mix well using whisk or mixer.

2. Combine dry ingredients together.

3. Alternately add dry ingredients and buttermilk to the creamed mixture.

4. Pour muffin batter to cupcake trays. Bake at 350 until done.

 5. Mix confectioner's sugar with milk. Using a small  pastry bag, decorate top of muffins with confectioner sugar.

Kawaii Inspiration: Nana Takahashi

Image from Nana Takahashi/Nanahoshi.com

Take a peek at Japanese artist Nana Takahashi's adorable illustration work and blog. I love her illustration style which really translates well to today's kawaii stationery aesthetic. Check out her portfolio here for pure eye candy delight.

Nana also has has a cute eye candy goodie for your iPhone. Yay!

Handmade Summer Craft Days: Clothesline Bunting Handmade Card Tutorial

Welcome to the first day of Handmade Summer Craft Days! From today until the end of July I will be sharing my summer inspired arts and crafts projects and even throw in bits of drink and food recipes.

Let's celebrate blue skies ahead! 

Clothesline Bunting Handmade Card

Materials:

• Fabric scraps 
• Miniature wooden clothespins 
• 5" x 7" blank tent card
• Jute twine
• Alphabet rubber craft stamp
• Fabric ink
• Glue gun and glue stick 

Directions:

1. Using an alphabet rubber stamp and fabric ink, handstamp letters onto small pieces of bright fabrics to spell out your greeting.

2. Cut out fabric into mini buntings. Clip each bunting individually to miniature clothespin. Attach buntings to  piece of jute or natural twine.

3.  Apply glue to the back of clothespins and attach to the surface of the 5" x 7" tent card. Decorate ends of the mini bunting clothesline with tiny buttons.

4. Your handmade card is ready! Write away your summer greetings!

Find the version of this tutorial on Tildee.

Tea Time Recipe: Breton Biscuits

Breton Biscuits/ Sablés Bretons Recipe 

Say goodbye to store bought biscuits. You can make your own homemade biscuits  for your little tea party! This recipe for Breton Biscuit or French sable cookie is from Joy of Baking, a really wonderful site full of kitchen tested recipes. 

Breton Biscuits are normally round but I make mine square coz I'm umm, square just like that!


Ingredients:

• 
  10 tablespoons (140 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated white sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups (260 grams) all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
  
  Egg Wash:
  
   1 large egg and 1 tbsp water

Directions:


In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until blended.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat just until incorporated. Do not over mix the dough.

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface, knead the dough a few times to bring it together, and then divide the dough in half. Wrap each half in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm (at least an hour).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place rack in the center of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Remove one portion of the dough from the refrigerator and place on a lightly floured work surface. Roll out the dough until it is 1/4 inch (1 cm) thick. Using a lightly floured 2 inch (5 cm) round fluted cookie cutter, cut out the cookies, placing them on the prepared sheet. Place the baking sheet of cut out cookies in the refrigerator for about 15 -20 minutes to chill the dough. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the egg with the water for the egg wash. Remove the cookies from the refrigerator and brush the tops with the egg wash. Then, with the tines of a fork (or I like to use the end of a toothpick), make a crisscross pattern on the top of each cookie. Bake cookies in the preheated oven for about 12 - 14 minutes (depending on size of cookie) or until golden brown around the edges.

Cool cookies on wire rack. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.


Recipe from Joy of Baking

Mosaic Monday: Orange you Glad?

1. orange you glad toddler tee, 2. bonnet 4: Orange You Glad, 3. Orange You Glad?, 4. Orange you glad..., 5. orange you glad i picked YOU :), 6. Good morning sunshine. Orange you glad the the weekend is here?, 7. orange you glad i took this photo, 8. Orange You Glad to See Me?, 9. orange you glad it's the weekend?

See more Mosaic Mondays here!

Sweet Crafts for the Summer Soul

Image from Fil Catalog No. 37

 Sew pretty summer outfits from  Fujix's printable zakka craft booklet

Image from Thoughts of Artisan

Decorate your craft room window with these pretty, pretty summer flower printables from Thoughts of Artisan

Image from Simply recipes

Whip up a Strawberry Watermelon Agua Fresca drink from

Simply Recipe's summer recipe treasure trove

 

Image from Martha Stewart

Delight in summer rainshowers with this painted umbrella project from Martha Stewart

Image from Frankie Magazine

Dress up your deskstop with a summer quilt wallpaper from Frankie Magazine 

Hello June, hello summer! Make it your sweetest summer ever with these adorable DIY crafts and ideas.  Do watch out for my Handmade Summer Craft Days special next week. Happy summer!  

Weekend Inspiration

Every bite is a surprise.

-A Blind Man

Our ability to be surprised is the measure of our aliveness.If we are numb, if we take things for granted, then we are dead; but to those who are alive to life's surprises, death lies behind not ahead. To live life open to surprise, in spite of all that is dying around us, makes us even more alive.

Sister Stan, Gardening the Soul

Create Tutorials on Tildee

Hooray for Tildee! Now there's a one-stop place for creating and sharing tutorials. I love the clean, clear and user friendly interface of this site. Every tutorial you write comes with its own unique URL making sharing even easier on blogs or social networking sites. I can't wait to use Tildee for my next crafty tutorial!

DIY Darling

DIY cat softies from Saffron Craig

Sweetie Petites Sew Kits by the Red Thread  from Haby Goddess

DIY handmade felt wool Gardening Set --- Japanese kit package from  1127 Handcrafter

Craft kits from Sew your Own

Sniffy Bunny Sewing pattern kit from Happy Sew Lucky

Too busy to be crafty? Take the express route to craftiness with the cutest craft kits around. Ready, get set, sew!    

French Asian Bakery Inspiration

How cute are these Korean cello cookie and bread bags? They make my plainest looking cookies look so très chic! I really find the French Asian bakery aesthetic very cute.

For more Asian French pastry inspiration you may want to check out the cute websites of Crown Bakery, Tous les Jours and Paris Baguette.

Get the French Asian bakery look for your baked goodies:

• Wrapping and packaging from IT Items on ETSY
• Bakery wrappers from Avenue 55 
• Packaging pretties from My Happy Store