Craftsy Offers Free Modern Buttercream Class

 

 Crafting has certainly reached new heights in the last decade with the internet--I love it! I've learned so many great tips and tricks for anything craft-related and now I get to pass along a great FREE class to our Mashed Potatoes and Crafts.com readers.

 Craftsy.com is an incredible site with classes on everything from cooking, sewing, to fine-art instruction. It's your lucky day because I have a free class for you plus another offered at 50% off.

Modern Buttercream is taught by Joshua John Russell. This class teaches how to cut, level, fill and crumbcoat layers like a professional, then add simple fondant and piped accents.

I'm telling you that this class is definitely spot-on with Adri's interests--she's the wedding planner who is the central character in my new mystery series (coming soon by Rachelle J. Christensen!). So click on over to the
Modern Buttercream class: http://www.craftsy.com/ext/MPAC_ModernButtercream 
and while you're there check out the other fantastic classes offered for every kind of crafter!

 The other class offered by Craftsy is called Decadent Chocolate Cakes by featured Food Network chef Alice Medrich and MPC readers can take this class for 50% off for a limited time.
Here is the 50% discount link: http://www.craftsy.com/ext/MPAC_DecadentChocolate50

Craftsy just came out with a new episodic series on YouTube! I love this quick tutorial on how to create a cow cupcake! It's Moo-valous! :)



Try these classes and then let us know what you think. We'd love to feature your creations on MPC, so contact us if you have ideas!

Happy Crafting thanks to Craftsy.com!

Refreshing Summertime Wreath

Brave Brooke here from Wayward Girls' Crafts! 

Here's me being Wayward and Crafty :)

Today I'm going to do a quick tutorial that I saw here and decided to try and of course tweak! I added a plaque and used happy colors!

The Refreshing Summertime Wreath!

What you need: 12" Styrofoam wreath form Ruler Scissors 18 yards of 7/8" grosgrain ribbon Raffia 1. Cut the ribbon into 14 inch sections. I used a long ruler and put a piece of tape on the 14" mark to make it easy to remember.

2. Tie the ribbon onto the wreath and scoot them close together. 3. Tie the raffia on to wreath to hang it and set aside.

The Welcome Plaque

What you will need: White acrylic paint A wooden plaque paint brush letters decoupage (to seal the plaque)

1. Paint plaque white and let dry. I rubbed mine with a bit of sand paper after to give it a weathered look. 2. Glue letters onto plaque 3. Seal with decoupage. 4. To apply it to the wreath I hot glued it like crazy to make it stay.

Voila!

Check out some of my other recent crafts:

Nursing Cover/Car Seat Canopy

Huge Hairbow Tutorial

Tripoly game board and instructions

Thanks so much girls for letting us guest post today!!

Pineapple Spinach Smoothie

Kate here again with another recipe. My sister in-law gave me a recipe for a Pineapple-Spinach Drink. Since I like to make smoothies for breakfast with a fruit base, I changed the ingredients from juice to real fruit. It's easy, delicious and that spinach is oh so good for you; so go ahead and try it.

Two cans of chunk pineapple (you can use crushed) and some fresh spinach. I pulled mine out of one of the five large bowls of the stuff in my fridge. Don't worry--there's more in the garden. I won't run out any time soon. 

(After I took this picture, I discovered that it's actually better to put the spinach in the blender first, and then pour in the pineapple chunks. The juice runs down to the bottom of the blender so there is plenty of liquid to get started. Then you don't have to stop the blender a couple times and push the spinach down because the pineapple chunks do that for you.)

Put one can of pineapple in the blender with the spinach and blend until the spinach is only tiny green flecks. Add the second can of pineapple and blend until the green flecks are gone. Pour into a pitcher. You can add water to thin it if you want. I had some orange juice so I stirred that in, too. It's perfectly all right not to add any other liquid.

I found these straws at our local grocery store. They are perfect for little cowboys and cowgirls.

Pineapple Spinach Smoothie

2 cans chunk pineapple (or crushed)
Some spinach
Orange juice or water if desired

Blend pineapple and spinach until green flecks are gone. Stir in chilled orange juice. When I'm thinking ahead, I put the cans of pineapple in the fridge the night before so the smoothie is cold in the morning. When I'm not  thinking ahead, I throw some ice cubes in the blender to "chill" the smoothie. Enjoy!

(Leftovers are great frozen as popsicles.)

4th of July Nail Painting- Patriotic Style

We might have had a little fun at our house the other day...

  

Painting lots of little fingernails and toenails in preparation for the 4th of July. I thought I'd share some photos and tips for painting kid's nails so you can enjoy those smiles!

My girls were so excited. I told them we'd better take some pictures to share their creativity spark.

My 10 year old inspired my tiny paintbrush to create flags for our wonderful U S of A. We painted her toes a base of white, then I used an art deco nail paint--the kind that has a really skinny brush--and added the stripes. Finally I used Blue polish for the flag and then dotted white with the tip of the nail polish brush for stars.

My 7 year old was so excited for the "fireworks" on her nails.

A few tips for painting kid's nails

• Paint about thirty minutes before bedtime. This allows the paint to dry and then gives them overnight for it to cure so that it won't smudge so easily.

• Always take the tip of the paintbrush and swipe the very edge of the nail. This seals the coat and prevents chipping.

• Allow time to dry in between coats and use a top coat protector.

• Glitter ALWAYS lasts longer and we like to use a bit of glitter to top off a solid coat of color.

• Use a Q-tip dipped in nail polish remover to clean up edges of nail beds

• Work in the bathroom, so if there are spills they will hopefully be able to clean up!

Hope these tips help and that you have a wonderful Independence Day!