Spider-Web Cupcakes

These turned out way better than I expected and they were a big hit at the church party. I made the spider webs a couple of days ahead of time and then made the cupcakes themselves yesterday and assembled the spider webs on them when I got to the party. I found this stand at my favorite little restaurant supply place, and attached a fake spider to the top of it. I think it added a nice Halloween touch and fit in with the spider webs great. My husband also won the chili cook-off at this party. We were competing though so it was bitter sweet.

* If you want further instructions or tips on making these spider webs feel free to contact me.

Halloween Freebie!

It may be to late for most of you to sneak in one more Halloween project, but here is the best Halloween freebie around from Love. Obsess. Inspire. So for those of you who are feeling ambitious or are already thinking of how you can make your Halloween decor even better next year, these would be a perfect addition to your bag-o-treats. Don't miss out on these free printables. Enjoy and Happy Halloween from the Bird and the Berry!

Spooky Window Silhouettes

I took my cue from Martha when I decided to do these spooky window silhouettes for Halloween. We made them last night for our Family Home Evening activity, and they were a lot easier to make than I thought they would be. The impact of these simple decorations is well worth the money and time spent to make them. Martha suggests using plastic weed barrier for the black silhouettes, but I opted to use black felt that worked just as well and probably comes in a larger variety of sizes to fit your different windows. I didn't even bother to hem the edges of the muslin fabric. Since they will only be used once a year I think the raw edges will be just fine. The best part about this Halloween project is that you can use your imagination to come up with any silhouette you choose. I liked the birds that Martha did, because they are not to scary for the little neighborhood kids, or a child's bedroom. Husband did the witch all by himself, and I think it turned out pretty good. Now all I need to find are colored light bulbs for those rooms. I have enough fabric and felt to do one down-stairs window too. So if you have any suggestions on what I should do a silhouette of leave a comment.

I'm walking into spiderwebs, so leave a message and I'll call you back...

I love this table-scape I found. I tried making the spider webs on those cupcakes out of royal icing, but I think you actually have to have patience to make them. They worked, but were very fragile. I could just see myself having a melt down trying to put them on cupcakes for the ward Halloween party. So I think I am going to pass on doing the spider webs and come up with something else that will help me keep my sanity.

I used to do an annual tea party during the winter, and want to come up with another annual party. An annual Halloween party could be fun and convenient the more I think about it. November and December are so busy with Thanksgiving and Christmas that it is hard to fit a party in, so October would be a good time to have a party anyways. I will have to think about this some-more and see if I can talk the husband into it. My friend Mindy does a Halloween party every year and it is always a hit with her friends, although she goes all out for every holiday.

This Just In!- Husband has just informed me that some of my practice spider webs have hardened more and are not as fragile as the ones I was trying to work with earlier. So he thinks I should be more patient and do the spider web cupcakes for the ward party. I guess I will try it again and commit to it. I thought about dusting them in edible glitter so maybe I will do that too. The party is Friday night so look for my post about the spider web cupcakes because it will either be a hit or a bomb. Wish me luck!

Trying New Things

Sometimes trying new things works out and sometimes it doesn't. This post is a perfect example of that. Last night I wanted to try my hand at piping flowers on the top of cupcakes. I had some leftover frosting from a previous project and cupcakes ready to go in the freezer, so I busted it out. I think they turned out pretty good. I need a bigger tip than what I was using, but it was fun to just practice the technique. I used candied fennel seeds as the flowers center. I think it looks fun. Obviously it would look better in a pink or other floral color, but blue is what I had to work with.



Then this-morning I called my sister in-law to see if she needed anything for my nephews birthday party tonight. She seemed like she could use a hand so I told her I would make cupcakes. I have been wanting to try this new frosting recipe so I thought this would be as good as any time to try it out. It is really creamy which is what I was looking for, but it is not as stiff as I usually like. So my piping did not hold it's shape as well. They still look okay, but not as great as they normally do. I might try the recipe again and see if I can't get it just a little bit stiffer. I have cute little foam halloween stickers that I have put onto toothpicks that I will stick in the cupcakes once I get to the party. I am just crossing my fingers that the frosting holds up until tonight, and doesn't start melting on me.

All you can do is try right. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

Halloween Decorations

The Fear Factor Activity was a hit. We had a great turn out and the girls loved and feared the activity. They faced fear in the face in the form of mystery shakes in skull mugs. Which were really just McDonalds shakes, fries, and burgers blended together. We had no vomiting thank goodness, but a couple of the girls looked sick from all of it.

Here are a couple pictures of my Halloween decorations I put up this year. Since this is my first year in this house I feel like my decorations have no home, because everything was bought for spots in the old condo. I am sure it will take me a couple of years to get everything how I like it.

Sadly enough that little Boo basket full of candy and handouts for the Fear Factor activity is still sitting there just like that. I totally forgot to give them to the girls last night. Sad.


I got the bottles on the fireplace from a mad scientists house a couple of years ago. You think I am kidding, but I'm serious. It was one of my many junking adventures. I was on my way to pick up pizza for dinner and saw this house kind of hidden on the side of the road with tons of stuff on the lawn and people going through it. So I thought "Yard Sale!" So I turned around pulled over and got out to take a look. I totally started going through stuff on the lawn and was more than excited to see tons of old bottles everywhere. Then I started getting kinda worried because I was slowly realizing that nothing was organized like a yard sale, the stuff on the lawn was really weird, and the house looked abandoned. Then I looked at the person next to me that was going through the bottles and she looked like she was totally on crack. So I went up to someone else on the lawn that looked like they were bringing stuff out of the garage and house and asked them how much the bottles cost. To my embarrassment he explained to me that they were just clearing out a relatives house that had just passed away because it was going to be demolished. I felt so bad. He told me I was not the first person that had stopped and that I could take whatever I wanted for free as long as I should it to them before I took it. It was crazy! It was all antique medical equipment. I guess the relative was a doctor and collected old medical things, and his house was just full of it. I felt weird taking the stuff, but I really wanted some bottles. Is that terrible? There was an awesome bed frame too, but I couldn't fit it in the jeep. My only regret the next day was not taking every bottle I saw. I even went back, but the crack head must have taken them all. The weird lamp I had in the living-room of the condo was also from there. It was an old surgical lamp. Ryan hates it and calls it our "Saw" lamp. I had some explaining to do that day because I was gone so long to get pizza and didn't have my cell phone to call and let him know what was going on.

I love getting stuff second-hand or from weird places. that way when I look around my home I see stories not stores.

Fear Factor Activity

Here is what is on the schedule for today. Tonight I am in-charge of the 10 and 11 year old church girls activity. Since it is Halloween time I have planned a Fear Factor activity for them. I took them these flyers on Monday night inviting them to come to the activity and their response to the idea was pretty good. To be honest I was worried they were too young to even know what Fear Factor was, but thank goodness they seemed familiar with the show. So tonight I have conjured up some gross events for them to compete in. I am just hopping and praying that more than two girls show up, because if we are short players that means me and the other leader will have to do some of these gross games. Cross your fingers for me. There will be mystery shake drinking, baby food taste testing, and dog bone relays to name a couple of the things I have planned. I really hope the girls have fun. I am trying really hard to get them excited about Activity Days. To tie the activity into something spiritual I am going to give a mini lesson at the beginning about the difference between fear and faith, and how we can take our fears to God and be comforted by our faith in him.

*Side Note- Little Jayna Berry has been scared to go in the laundry room ever since I made these invitations because she could see the "bugs" on my desk in there. They are just little bugs I bought at the dollar store and hot glue gunned onto the invitations. She would run in there and then back up while she pointed at the desk and said "bug, bug, bug" It was too funny.

Since You Asked Nicely

Since you asked nicely here is the recipe for my families famous pumpkin cookies.

Ingredients and Directions

---

• ½ cup Butter
• 1 ½ cup Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 1 cup Canned pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 2 ½ cup Flour
• 1 teaspoon Baking powder
• 1 teaspoon Nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon Baking soda
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon Salt
• 1-2 cup Chocolate chips

---

Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
Beat in egg, pumpkin and vanilla.
Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon in separate bowl.
Add dry mixed ingredients to creamed mixture and mix well.
Once mixed stir in chocolate chips
Place by heaping tablespoon onto a greased cookie sheet

If you want to use the whole can of pumpkin just triple the batch. I think that makes 6 dozen or so cookies.

* Bake at 350 for 15 minutes

You Have Been Booed

I remember as a kid packaging up plates of pumpkin cookies to go ditch on neighbors doors. We would leave a cute little note that explained that they had been booed and were to pass it on to other neighbors.We also would leave directions for them to place a boo sign we had left them in their window. Then we would beg are parents each night to drive us around the neighbor hood so that we could see how far are booing had spread. This year my mom booed me by mail, so I had to pass it on. Here is my new take on an old favorite halloween tradition. I hope no-one I booed sees this post!




I made the boo sign and tags on the computer, and bought the cute little buckets at Walmart. The pumpkin cookie recipe is my mom's. She created it by combining several recipes years ago, and now it is a family staple and favorite during October. They are the best pumpkin cookies by far.

I'm Featured!!!!

I am so thrilled to announce that the Bird and the Berry is currently featured in a post on Stem Parties. This lady is amazing at what she does and I am honored to be featured on her blog. I have also just received word that the Bird and the Berry will be featured in a post this week on Swanky Tables. This is so exciting to me, and gives me hope that I can take my event planning skills to the next level. A big THANKS to all of you who have been visiting the site, and adding buttons to your blogs. Stay tuned for more good things to come from the Bird and the Berry.

Hip Hop Ya Don't Stop

This is something that I have already posted about on my family blog forever ago, but I wanted to add it to this blog since it is a party theme idea.

Miss Jayna Berry and I have the same birthday, so I wanted to do something really fun for her first birthday which was back in March. I thought of doing all the usual pretty girly tutu party themes, but none of them seemed to stick with me. One of the first things I ever purchased for Jayna before she was born was a hot pink Puma jacket that had gold pumas and turquoise and white bursts on it. It was so cute and I just pictured my future little girl running around in it. So since it fit her close to her first birthday I decided to use the jacket as my inspiration for our party, and that is how the Hip Hop theme was born.





It was a blast! I had so much fun coming up with games like "fix the grill on lil' Will"(my take on pin the tail on the donkey). We handed out wrist bands to all the guests, had Hip Hop music playing, and Ryan and I wore bouncer necklaces with our pictures in them that had Hip Hop nicknames on them.




I decorated Jaynas high-chair with stickers and this paper garland that I made by sewing together paper circle I punched out.
I had a wall behind her that had pictures of her where I had superimposed her in with celebrities. I signed the pictures like the celebrities themselves had sent them to her with their birthday wishes to her. It was historical and guests loved reading them.





I decorated my fireplace mantel with the party favors and game prizes. The favors were music CD's with Hip Hop music on them. I have a computer that prints on CD's so that is how I got the image directly on the CD. I titled the CD's Tunes from the Crib and handed them out to guests as they left. The game prizes where dollar store perfumes that I made my own labels for so that they would look like Jayna signature perfumes. Every Hip Hop star has their own perfume.



I decorated my shelves and tables with spray-painted microphones, tapes, and records that I found at a local thrift store. I even used the paper I spray painted them on as art in some of my larger frames.





I made food signs for all the food using different HIp Hop slangs and scattered dollar store grills around the table. I had this vision of my cake spinning on a record player the week of the party, but had a terrible time finding one, at least for the price I was willing to spend. I finally found one on Craigslist, but it was in Arizona. I got it though. I sent my brother who lives there into the ghettos of Phoenix to buy it the night before they drove out to Utah to come to the party. I thought the story of getting the record player even fit in nicely with the party theme. I cleaned it up and my vision worked I had a spinning cake by party time. I made a giant cupcake and out of fondant made a gold sparkly necklace with JB on it for Jayna Berry. I practiced making it a couple of times since I had never worked with fondant before, but that actual cake turned out a million times better than any of my practice runs.

Welcome Home

This summer a friend of mine bought a new home and I put together a house warming gift for her. I didn't think it was anything too special, but she loved it, and a couple of the guests commented on it so here it is.

I got this idea from a Jewish tradition I had read about where they would take symbolic gifts to new neighbors to help them bless their homes. Or you may recognize it from the scene in "It's A Wonderful Life," when Mary And George Bailey welcome the Martini family to their new home with three symbolic gifts and a brief, heartfelt speech. "Bread, that this house may never know hunger," they say. "Salt, that life may always have flavor. And wine, that joy and prosperity may reign forever." I got a cute little basket at the store and bought some cute jars.




This is a wonderful gift to give to hosts that will be throwing all those holiday parties we will all be attending.

The Symbolism:

Bread- that your home will never know hunger.
Broom- that you will be able to sweep out the old to bring in the new
Candles- that light will always prevail in your home.
Flour- that your home will always have plenty
Salt- that your home will be a small sanctuary
Sugar- that your home will hold sweet memories

Before and After: Wicker Chair

I have a great story behind this project that will probably reveal too much about me.

The Story: When we were making offers and looking at the house we now live in I instantly knew what kind of look I wanted for the front room. More specifically I knew I wanted a big grass or whicker chair, but knew they were pretty expensive and hard to come by. I told Ryan my plans several times, of which I am not sure he really "got it".

So the morning we were moving out of our condo to move into the new house I drove him to the truck rental place to pick up the moving truck. On the way there we drove down 7th East and there it was on the side of the road at a yard sale. I totally freaked out and begged Ryan to stop and pull over so I could look at it. He looked at me like I was off my rocker. He said, "woman we are moving this morning, what do you not understand about what we are doing right now." I knew he was right, but my thought process was just that it would be perfect because we would have a big moving van to pick it up in. He stressed once again to me that we were late and that people were going to be at our house any second to help us move everything we own (which is a lot sad to say). I dropped him off and he told me to take the free-way over to the grocery store were I needed to pick up donuts and drinks for our helpers. So I was over it. I was not going to pass it again and my chair was gone. I went the way Ryan had told me to go to get on the free-way, but there was no entrance. I called him and he told me to just go back the way we came. I could hardly handle it, the chair was back into play. I stressed about seeing it again and checked my wallet to see if I even had any money. I had twenty dollars and not a cent more. I hesitantly pulled over to the yard sale and jumped out of my car. I started running towards the yard sale and then saw a lady sitting in the chair asking questions about it. I turned around and ran back to the car nervous I was wasting my time. Then I figured what the heck. I ran back over and asked the lady how much the chair was. I had decided that no matter what she said I was just going to blurt out "twenty dollars take it or leave it". She said by way of miracle, "how about twenty dollars?" I practically threw her the cash and asked for help taking it to my car. I was petrified! I knew Ryan was going to be rounding the corner any second in a huge moving truck only to find his wife yard selling on moving day. I was practically running to the car with the chair, and dragging this ladies poor husband with me. I threw the seats down in the jeep, and tossed Jayna's car seat to the front (she was being babysat). The guy said "I do not think this will fit" and I just looked at him and said "oh, it's going to fit". Seriously though if this chair would have been half an inch bigger on any side it would not have fit in my car. I sped off and successfully avoided running into the husband. I confessed back at the house, and he was glad it worked out and that I was able to get my beloved chair.



The Project: I spent countless hours ripping off the old cushion or what was left of it after many years. There where hundreds of staples in the chair which I took out with needle nose pliers. I power washed the chair down, and got all the dirt and junk off the chair. Then I let it dry for 25 hours or so. Then I brushed on a clear coat of lacquer. The lacquer is important, because a poly would have dried too stiff for the wicker since wicker flexes. It worked like a charm at restoring the shine and luster of the reeds. I took some canvas type fabric and stretched it and stapled it to the base of the chair over the springs. I bought some foam and trimmed it down with an electric turkey knife and sewed a cover for it. I lucked out on the fabric, because it only cost me $2 a yard. I think it turned out pretty good though for my first box cushion. I just need to make pillows for the back now.

* If you have any questions on how this project was done just email me. Thanks.

Get A Button!

Do you want a button for the Bird and the Berry on your blog?

Just copy and paste the code below to your HTML/Java Script:

<a href="http://www.thebirdandtheberry.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" alt="tag" src="http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv28/hutchingsjill/birdberrytag-1.jpg"/></a>

Dr. Seuss Baby Shower

Months ago I decided to throw this gal from over in Holladay (were I used to live) a baby shower. She is so nice and kind, but is very shy and has no family in-state and is having her first baby. I just could not let her have her first baby without having some sort of shower or celebration. When I first talked to her about her shower I gave her a list with a couple of different themes on it and told her to pick one. Secretly though I was hoping she would not pick the Dr. Seuss theme and sure enough she did. For some reason I just thought it would be so much harder to do a trademark theme. I really lucked out though and it only took me a couple of days to get really excited about the theme and run with it.

I made these really cute invitations, and I wish I could take credit for the little rhyme, but I can't. My friend Holly came up with that all on her own at crunch time late one night. She is a child development teacher and maybe a little more versed in the world of Seuss then I am. I loved the ribbon I found too, it was the perfect look and just dainty enough for the little invitations. For the envelopes I made and printed out circle address labels onto sticker paper and cut the labels out and placed them in the center of the envelope. I thought it added a nice touch and made the invitations more special. All the fonts I used for the party where either in a typewriter style or a Seuss font I found online.

My luck with the Dr.Seuss theme really came when a friend in Colorado who knew I was on the hunt for anything and everything Seuss spotted a whole dollar section at her local Target full of nothing but Dr. Seuss items and gave me a call. The next day I went to my Target and sure enough mine too had a Seuss dollar section. I was so excited and must have looked like a freak stocking up on the stuff. I bought a couple of everything. . .pencils, pins, hats, stickers, you name it. I had no idea what I was going to do with it, but I bought it. I also found these amazingly cute plastic cups and bowls at Michael's in the discount section for 28 cents each, or something crazy like that. They were the perfect color and really whimsical so I knew they were a must for the theme and party.

Swedish fish...blue feather boas...felt dots and bow ties...poster-board painted fish...red gerber daisies...gold fish in bowls...and 24 cat in the hat cupcakes later...I had a party. TaDa!

It was a real hit and everyone really enjoyed themselves. We played two games in which we used are Seuss pencils of course. One a guess what book game, the other a name that Seuss character game. The prize? Gold fish in little bowls with blue feather trim. I also set up a table for people to write advise for the mother to be.

The best part of all this Seuss madness is that I am going to be putting together a Dr. Seuss themed playroom upstairs for little miss Jayna Berry for Christmas. Her grandma wanted to know what she was "allowed" to get her (she is the only grandchild), and I said "no more toys we have way to many!". So I told grandma she could buy furniture for the playroom so that we could organize the toys she already has, and so that grandma could have a chance at possibly being allowed to buy her toys for her birthday. Grandma agreed. So look for the Berries playroom coming soon...

 If you would like the files for the invitations, address labels or games click here.