tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526130485192081552024-03-14T11:02:53.019+11:00Created CreativelyThe title "Created Creatively" was chosen because I am created (creatively, in God's image); I was created to BE creative; and the things that I create, I create creatively, through God's gift of creativity... If that makes sense! ... OR it could have also been because "Crazy Cake Lady" was already taken :)Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.comBlogger254125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-63859439144739452492015-06-28T20:01:00.000+10:002015-06-28T20:01:00.628+10:00Pikaaa-chuuu.<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Today, I made a new personal best in 'time spent decorating a cake'! It was a Po<span style="font-family: inherit;">k<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;">é</span>ball </span>cake (okay, technically <i>half</i> a Pokéball cake).</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Us09EgR8Cd0/VY-4iF9H1_I/AAAAAAAAMHo/m0DsFd-bxnI/s1600/kawax-pokeball-3097.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Us09EgR8Cd0/VY-4iF9H1_I/AAAAAAAAMHo/m0DsFd-bxnI/s200/kawax-pokeball-3097.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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I made this because it turns out my son <i>isn't</i> the o<span style="font-family: inherit;">nly one obsessed with this game of weird animals, strange names, super powers, bizarre fighting abilities, and points???</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few of his friends are, too. And one of them celebrated her birthday today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There was a moment I tried to understand Pok<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">émon, but realised that in order to have just a simple conversation with my 11 year old about it, the time I'd need to spend gaining knowledge and memorising names and abilities, it would complicate and frustrate my life even more, and I would rather spend my spare time shaving my legs with bread knife, or actually listening to Q & A than attempt to care about tiny weird animals who come out of a ball and fight each other in the <i>exact same world</i> where Toddler Fights are apparently, according to my lawyer, illegal.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">Plus, I think one person in this household obsessed with Pokémon is enough considering they were caught watching a Pokémon TV serious on Netflix at 4am a couple of weeks ago.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><sigh></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">Anyway, here's my really simple version of a Pokéball cake made today in record time:</span></span></div>
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The obsession my eldest has with Pokémon did come in handy, though, I will admit, as I kept asking (fine, <i>needing</i>) his professional opinion regarding proportions of the middle circles, which, I am told, are definitely not nipples...</div>
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Hey, whatever helps you sleep at night ;)</div>
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Happy birthday Emily!!</div>
Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-78121776681297556932015-06-25T16:15:00.001+10:002015-06-25T16:18:18.507+10:00Time flies when you're... really busy!!<div style="text-align: justify;">
WOAH. So I knew it had been a little while since I've blogged, but officially today, it's been <i>two whole months</i> since my last post.</div>
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It seriously doesn't feel like <i>that</i> long!</div>
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So much has been happening. I <i>have</i> still been baking, but I have also still been a wife, a mum, a teacher, home-maker, chef, nurse, chauffeur, family planner, event organiser, and I have a part-time job outside of the house now that I <i>LOVE</i>, but which takes up a good chunk of the available hours in a week.</div>
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Oh, and I've also discovered a new-found enjoyment in really long bubble/bath bomb baths. So, technically that takes up a fair bit of my time, too.</div>
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Life feels so fast-paced at the moment, and I fear that I am going to spend the next 20 years chasing things like 'a normal routine', and 'sanity'. I suppose it's about the ride rather than the destination, though, right? ... <i>Right!??</i></div>
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I will finish this post by promising that I will <i>not</i> leave it another two months before I share some of the things I have been up to!</div>
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I'm sure it will be therapeutic to once again write about the things I make and create; I just have to remind myself how important and distracting from the busyness of life it really is :)</div>
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Take care all!</div>
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- Natalie x</div>
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Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-34786055511618188882015-04-25T20:51:00.002+10:002015-04-26T13:42:34.796+10:00Lest we forget.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">Anzac Day is one of Australia’s most important national occasions. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.</span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tLz1xmfSYrk/VTtErluQEPI/AAAAAAAAL_4/2iuqWNhLD0Q/s1600/poppy-image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tLz1xmfSYrk/VTtErluQEPI/AAAAAAAAL_4/2iuqWNhLD0Q/s1600/poppy-image.jpg" height="200" width="177" /></a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It also goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day on which we remember Australians who served and died in <i>all</i> wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The spirit of Anzac, with its human qualities of courage, mate-ship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">I remember watching Gallipoli (the movie) in my high school history class. I remember feeling the tension, the emotion, and the heartbreak from the movie's depiction of WW1.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">It would have been <i>nothing</i> like what someone who was there- or knew someone who was there- would have experienced...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">And that's, I suppose, what we <i>do</i> forget, or choose <i>not to think about.</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">When an international crisis happens nowadays (I'm already starting to feel old saying that), we all look to the news and internet to decipher what's actually happening, who's to blame, who will survive, etc...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">I can only imagine there was a <i>lot</i> of waiting; and all I can do is close my eyes and feel thankful for my life today because of that.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">Because today is the day we take a small moment of time out of our days, and our lives, and remember the men, women, and boys, who served, fought, and died for us all those years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so... I baked.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Using a basic flower cutter, a chopstick, chocolate, and cake pop tray, I made some red fondant "poppies".</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QucsD6Kwez8/VTtnCsHGFdI/AAAAAAAAMAM/fuTsrTURlUg/s1600/IMG_0623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QucsD6Kwez8/VTtnCsHGFdI/AAAAAAAAMAM/fuTsrTURlUg/s1600/IMG_0623.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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Added some basic circular shortbread biscuits iced with white royal icing...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMXmP8cRb6o/VTtnCpWH_kI/AAAAAAAAMAU/sVhJJxLmWX8/s1600/IMG_0625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMXmP8cRb6o/VTtnCpWH_kI/AAAAAAAAMAU/sVhJJxLmWX8/s1600/IMG_0625.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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And together, they looked like this:<br />
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May we not forget the soldiers that fought for us in the wars.</div>
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May we not forget the nurses who cared for those who hurt.</div>
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May we not forget that the world is not cut out for World War III.</div>
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May we finally remember... This is not how it's meant to be.</div>
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Lest we forget.</div>
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Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-40921669968736139542015-04-18T22:13:00.000+10:002015-04-18T22:16:45.294+10:00The Princess and the Cake.<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7dIiadgkBGI/VTA5_lkAg8I/AAAAAAAAL_k/RXpHTg73c0M/s1600/pink-princess.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7dIiadgkBGI/VTA5_lkAg8I/AAAAAAAAL_k/RXpHTg73c0M/s1600/pink-princess.png" height="128" width="200" /></a>Poise. Grace. Beauty. Elegance.</div>
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<i>The characteristics of a princess.</i></div>
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Lazy. Tired. Un-stylish. Creative?</div>
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<i>The characteristics of, uh, me.</i></div>
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Husband says I have a lot of class... Unfortunately, all of it's low. But that doesn't mean I can't <i>make</i> something princessy, though!<br />
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Or at least something pink, and full of ruffles! With a giant bow, of course.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KvJK9-A7Pqk/VS-ZULmihPI/AAAAAAAAL-s/w00k5T6kgoI/s1600/IMG_7557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KvJK9-A7Pqk/VS-ZULmihPI/AAAAAAAAL-s/w00k5T6kgoI/s1600/IMG_7557.JPG" height="200" width="199" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gHSahgDjZoU/VS-ZWn9PctI/AAAAAAAAL-0/ERg3kVIcRi4/s1600/IMG_7562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gHSahgDjZoU/VS-ZWn9PctI/AAAAAAAAL-0/ERg3kVIcRi4/s1600/IMG_7562.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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I now formally present to you, Her Royal Highness...<br />
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"Princess Cake, of My Kitchen"</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">The only thing missing is a tiara on top, and a glass shoe underneath ;)</span></div>
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Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-1148383457014954952015-04-14T23:27:00.000+10:002015-04-15T12:31:01.561+10:00Fast and Furious!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Occasionally, as a cake maker/enthusiast, you get some slightly bizarre requests for cakes. This may or may not have been one of them: A drag racing sign.<br />
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Though there's none of the signs/lights in them, I couldn't help but think of the Fast and the Furious movie series:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tziWf4rZdHQ/VS2cTIWM_8I/AAAAAAAAL7c/t-RE8pHfa0c/s1600/fastandfurious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tziWf4rZdHQ/VS2cTIWM_8I/AAAAAAAAL7c/t-RE8pHfa0c/s1600/fastandfurious.jpg" height="170" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have made (cartoon style) car cakes before, like this <a href="http://created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/ka-chow.html">Lightning McQueen</a> one, and this <a href="http://created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/a-shagadelic-mistake.html">accidental Shag-mobile</a>... but this is the first drag/street racing themed cake I've ever made! And it was also the <i>biggest</i> cake I've ever made.<br />
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I found this to use as reference:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YO8r9fv7f6A/VS2pWPtSynI/AAAAAAAAL8k/lJqsUH2zqUg/s1600/stage_lights_used_in_drag_racing_0515-1104-1905-3738_SMU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YO8r9fv7f6A/VS2pWPtSynI/AAAAAAAAL8k/lJqsUH2zqUg/s1600/stage_lights_used_in_drag_racing_0515-1104-1905-3738_SMU.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></div>
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In my ideas regarding how I was going to make it, I thought that cupcakes would work well for the lights down the sides... Well, little did I realise at the time, that cupcake lights meant that the <i>sign</i> part of the cake was 1 metre long. That's right, 100cm long!<br />
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Of course, I broke it up into sections. There were 8 different cakes to piece together. So, piece by piece, cake by cake, I did my best to re-create the sign. It was tricky, it was sometimes awkward, and it was big... So big that I needed to go to my local hardware store and have a cake board specially made.</div>
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Once the cake had been covered, it was time to add all the letters, and arrange the cupcakes on the board again. The cupcake cases were glued onto the board to (hopefully) prevent movement during transportation.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sRqJdcQ23aU/VS2iO8NkgBI/AAAAAAAAL78/LzV_P67X4BA/s1600/IMG_0500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sRqJdcQ23aU/VS2iO8NkgBI/AAAAAAAAL78/LzV_P67X4BA/s1600/IMG_0500.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then with the rest of the letters attached, birthday wishes written, and a number plate cake- that was also requested- added to the board, the cake was finished.*<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vq8CDtfPvV4/VS2iPZzRIzI/AAAAAAAAL8E/G1jUHRva0mY/s1600/IMG_0502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vq8CDtfPvV4/VS2iPZzRIzI/AAAAAAAAL8E/G1jUHRva0mY/s1600/IMG_0502.jpg" height="320" width="262" /></a></div>
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It was nowhere near flawless, but the sheer size of it meant that <i>two</i> people needed to carry it out of my kitchen...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TSSuXfynzy0/VS2iT4JcqrI/AAAAAAAAL8U/j00BPBODE8g/s1600/IMG_7700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TSSuXfynzy0/VS2iT4JcqrI/AAAAAAAAL8U/j00BPBODE8g/s1600/IMG_7700.JPG" height="207" width="400" /></a></div>
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To celebrate the completion of this enormous cake, Husband and I felt it only fitting to go out and watch the movie series finale, Fast & Furious 7.<br />
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Happy birthday Michael!</div>
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* Well, if there was more time, I would have kept going, adding a few more finalising touches to it.**<br />
** There's generally <i>always</i> more final touches that can be thought of if time is limitless.</div>
Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-76356982019111430722015-04-08T18:10:00.000+10:002015-04-08T18:10:46.549+10:00Penrith Panthers strike again!<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you know me, you'll know that I'm not really into sports. If you've <i>seen</i> me, you can probably tell that I'm not <i>at all</i> athletic.<br />
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But there are lots of people who <i>are</i> into sports and all things active. Some who may be so 'into' sports that their house is decorated in various sports equipment, hats, scarves and banners, and who's never to be seen on a weekend due to a love of playing and/or watching every single sport ever imagined... All at once.<br />
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I'm sure if you change 'sports' to 'baking', then I would fit that exact lifestyle. Speaking of which, a few weeks ago I made a Penrith Panthers themed cake!<br />
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I had seen the Panthers a couple of months ago, and really enjoyed watching them... You know, "training"... in the pool... wearing tiny little speedos...<br />
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<ahem><br />
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But back to the cake ;)</div>
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With previous NRL cakes I've made, I've put an edible team logo on top of the cake, team coloured fondant stripes down the sides of the cake, and the same animal that represents the team out of fondant hovering on wire in the middle of the cake.<br />
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And I prove to be a creature of habit this time around... Kinda.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dSbHP-csfE0/VPI_bQd_cUI/AAAAAAAALgo/Ycm0BEa4w4Y/s1600/panther.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dSbHP-csfE0/VPI_bQd_cUI/AAAAAAAALgo/Ycm0BEa4w4Y/s1600/panther.png" height="162" width="320" /></a></div>
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I knew that a panther was going to be tricky, but for my friend, I really wanted to give it a go! So using an outline on baking paper and a needle, I 'perforated' the rolled out black fondant underneath.<br />
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You probably can't tell from the pictures, but it was a bit rough.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a8RMcFUnl0U/VQN4lerGfDI/AAAAAAAALnE/hBAfYPd916I/s1600/panther4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a8RMcFUnl0U/VQN4lerGfDI/AAAAAAAALnE/hBAfYPd916I/s1600/panther4.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TMOnOAuvzEE/VQN4k6KKPSI/AAAAAAAALnA/fw0KcZ3Ik54/s1600/panther3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TMOnOAuvzEE/VQN4k6KKPSI/AAAAAAAALnA/fw0KcZ3Ik54/s1600/panther3.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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Then with a bit of fondant (for the tail), and mostly royal icing, I used the same technique (perforating the fondant)to trace where I need to fill in with the icing...<br />
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It was OK.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9735CWGrxU4/VQN4j8llmsI/AAAAAAAALms/VWgdAga_Mic/s1600/panther1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9735CWGrxU4/VQN4j8llmsI/AAAAAAAALms/VWgdAga_Mic/s1600/panther1.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LkK8Mm91aOI/VQN4kqPQg6I/AAAAAAAALm8/Qc1PzaLg4bw/s1600/panther2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LkK8Mm91aOI/VQN4kqPQg6I/AAAAAAAALm8/Qc1PzaLg4bw/s1600/panther2.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
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But faces are always the hardest! :'(<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1G7Tn0BdVy4/VQN4sVYMnBI/AAAAAAAALnk/joqHQquvxn8/s1600/panther5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1G7Tn0BdVy4/VQN4sVYMnBI/AAAAAAAALnk/joqHQquvxn8/s1600/panther5.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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After a couple of hours of poking and icing teeny tiny bits of fondant, the Panther ended up being way too heavy to go on the cake (it could have been because I had only used one piece of wire).<br />
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So I cut out a printed version, and used that instead. Part of me almost wished I'd chosen that option to begin with, but I <i>did</i> learn from the experience (a.k.a. trauma)... I think.<br />
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On the delivery of the cake, I was complimented on my ability to match the coloured stripes to the team colours! FTW!<br />
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Here's how it went:<br />
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I'd started with all colours on the cake: A white background, with purple, blue, and black stripes. It was fine, and I <i>was</i> happy with it...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3BSw_Z3m-5s/VQN4q0dEelI/AAAAAAAALnc/l5Am3JuI6VU/s1600/panthercake2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3BSw_Z3m-5s/VQN4q0dEelI/AAAAAAAALnc/l5Am3JuI6VU/s1600/panthercake2.jpg" height="400" width="318" /></a></div>
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But the cake was <i>so</i> tall, I felt that it needed something bigger around the base. Something <i>more</i> than little balls of fondant like I've done with previous sports team cakes.<br />
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So I decided to wrap the bottom with a thick black ribbon, and once I'd decided this new plan of action, I removed the black fondant stripes, and replaced them with more purple fondant stripes:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-noJuFKhJ1BQ/VQN4vaYhGzI/AAAAAAAALn0/UjgLhRxILFE/s1600/panthercake4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-noJuFKhJ1BQ/VQN4vaYhGzI/AAAAAAAALn0/UjgLhRxILFE/s1600/panthercake4.jpg" height="400" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had hoped that it made the cake look less lanky, and more... sturdy. Like an NRL player.<br />
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The final pieces of cake decoration were the stars, and the [paper] Panther :)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gk5mhl_OUOQ/VQN4xiJMtpI/AAAAAAAALoA/7siXYJZOxBE/s1600/panthercake6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gk5mhl_OUOQ/VQN4xiJMtpI/AAAAAAAALoA/7siXYJZOxBE/s1600/panthercake6.jpg" height="640" width="460" /></a></div>
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Aaaaand because I have this niggly little thing called anxiety, I had a moment* believing that this massive cake in front of me wouldn't be big enough to feed 30 people.</div>
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... So I made some football biscuits as well.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xE-aA29vXEU/VQN4j73RWFI/AAAAAAAALmo/D87AO8SmDoY/s1600/football1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xE-aA29vXEU/VQN4j73RWFI/AAAAAAAALmo/D87AO8SmDoY/s1600/football1.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MJo745egYsc/VQN4jWByqqI/AAAAAAAALmk/9loNRdBEvQM/s1600/football2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MJo745egYsc/VQN4jWByqqI/AAAAAAAALmk/9loNRdBEvQM/s1600/football2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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And I <i>know</i> it's the wrong football, but at least you can tell what it was this time**!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HWrNlKFYMAQ/VSTg09Ai6HI/AAAAAAAAL7A/n23yLylOCP4/s1600/panthercake6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HWrNlKFYMAQ/VSTg09Ai6HI/AAAAAAAAL7A/n23yLylOCP4/s1600/panthercake6.jpg" height="640" width="462" /></a></div>
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Happy birthday Ethan!! :)<br />
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* Okay, meltdown.</div>
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** Unlike my <a href="http://created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/feeling-bunny.html">"elephant" rabbits</a>.</div>
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Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-27269055368598615682015-04-05T22:59:00.000+10:002015-04-05T22:59:00.302+10:00Feeling bunny!<div style="text-align: center;">
HAPPY EASTER!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rEB5xiDN5Vk/VSCaAmQHhGI/AAAAAAAAL4s/FhXnm7pX3jg/s1600/bunny-footprints.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rEB5xiDN5Vk/VSCaAmQHhGI/AAAAAAAAL4s/FhXnm7pX3jg/s1600/bunny-footprints.png" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
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Today is Easter Sunday, a day filled with love, hope, chocolate, eggs, and bunny rabbits. Lately I've been feeling a bit creative due to the Easter season, and wanted to share what I've been up to.<br />
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<u>Bunny Bum Cupcakes.</u><br />
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I made these for the school staff on the last day of term (gosh, that's gone so quickly!). I had seen some varieties splashed over the internets during my Easter clicking, thought they were super cute, and wanted to mimic them for the occasion.<br />
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I used big and medium (a.k.a. normal) sized white marshmallows. The normal marshmallows were cut in half and stuck to the big marshmallow to be the bunny's feet, like so:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-54kCfaIpSsg/VSCfnBY3LUI/AAAAAAAAL5g/08nGG2-IoIY/s1600/IMG_0401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-54kCfaIpSsg/VSCfnBY3LUI/AAAAAAAAL5g/08nGG2-IoIY/s1600/IMG_0401.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rjpxVByY28E/VSCfnNZR9FI/AAAAAAAAL5o/e0o9QzzO5No/s1600/IMG_0400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rjpxVByY28E/VSCfnNZR9FI/AAAAAAAAL5o/e0o9QzzO5No/s1600/IMG_0400.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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It was at this moment in the cupcake production line when Ben (11) walked past and asked if I was making elephants!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Elephants!?</i></span><br />
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Boys, right! Holding back the welling tears, I managed to tell him to come back once I've added more detail, which included pink royal icing 'footprint', and a white royal icing 'tail'.</div>
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Ben soon came back and told me that he thought they looked like bunnies now, but I didn't believe him. Though time consuming (as most baking-related things are), the bunny bums were fairly easy to construct!</div>
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The bunny bums all sat very patiently while I piped green buttercream icing onto the cupcakes, and sat them into the middle of the 'grass':<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mZE5DIVqtrc/VSCdt6YJ0GI/AAAAAAAAL5A/EcgsD_sDDAQ/s1600/IMG_7662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mZE5DIVqtrc/VSCdt6YJ0GI/AAAAAAAAL5A/EcgsD_sDDAQ/s1600/IMG_7662.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Md6VLqqmy00/VSCdvk3pdxI/AAAAAAAAL5I/8uaVfRKTkTo/s1600/IMG_7661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Md6VLqqmy00/VSCdvk3pdxI/AAAAAAAAL5I/8uaVfRKTkTo/s1600/IMG_7661.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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I really like the green, white, and pink together! The grass was initially meant to look, you know, like proper grass... But with the right piping tip and lack of time, it turned into super quick thin spaghetti grass instead.</div>
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Hopefully the teachers didn't notice!</div>
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<u>Easter Hat Parade 'Bag'.</u></div>
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Next was a really simple, budget DIY 'Easter Hat Parade' bag for little Jonathan. I used an empty Milo tin, which I washed <cough-rinsed-cough> and de-labelled. I sticky taped some white paper around it, drew on a bunny face, and stuck inside a bunny ear headband, which also acted (I hope) as the handle. And to look like I made an effort, I filled it with eggs.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7etRi5EIGnU/VSDxNWgbKiI/AAAAAAAAL6o/Lk3-SGL_lrY/s1600/IMG_0409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7etRi5EIGnU/VSDxNWgbKiI/AAAAAAAAL6o/Lk3-SGL_lrY/s1600/IMG_0409.jpg" height="318" width="320" /></a></div>
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Jonathan was instead happy with the bag he had already made at school, which nullified me running back home after the school bell rang to finalise the bag, and run it back to school along with a new school shirt for him, as the one he was wearing was covered in bolognese sauce from the previous night's dinner.</div>
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Boys, right!</div>
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So I figured that <i>I</i> deserved those eggs, and ate them instead.</div>
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />My final creative moments I had were from this beautiful and sunny Easter Sunday morning...</div>
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<u>Bunny Footprints.</u></div>
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Due to my terrible addiction to Pinterest, I see many things (in particular at this time - Easter things) that I <i>know</i> if I don't do now, I will have to wait <i>a whole yea</i>r to be able to do them again (when there'll likely be bigger and better ideas by then anyway!)</div>
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Like baby powder bunny footprints, leading up to some Easter eggs for my kids.</div>
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But, since I also suffer from extreme laziness, there was just one set of bunny footprints (not like those <i>really</i> crazy people who shake powder onto footprint templates that lead their kids from the bed, to under the table, to the bathroom, to the couch, to behind the bookshelf, down the hallway, to the car, around the letterbox, back inside, and back to bed where the eggs probably were the whole time)... No, no, no. There was just <i>one</i> pair of footprints in our house - which was on our table.</div>
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And both footprints came off quickly with a baby wipe, and I didn't have to vacuum at all!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9QZ9QGG9Lck/VSCfpLyuzWI/AAAAAAAAL6A/1Zrexxz2CEI/s1600/IMG_0445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9QZ9QGG9Lck/VSCfpLyuzWI/AAAAAAAAL6A/1Zrexxz2CEI/s1600/IMG_0445.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<u>Bunny Bum Pancakes.</u></div>
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Yesterday, <i>I</i> was one of the people who panicked about the shops being closed. I made sure we had each meal for the public holiday planned out correctly, and when I asked Husband if there was anything he wanted from the shops, he said "Maybe some ricotta, in case we feel like making ricotta pancakes in the morning."</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">In case??</span></i></div>
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Well, I got that ricotta, and I made those ricotta pancakes! And I shaped them (again, something I'd seen on the internets) into bunny bums. But since I'd forgotten to get blueberries/strawberries for the footprints, I improvised with chocolate melts, melted chocolate, and (though it looks like a big marshmallow), whipped cream for the tail:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vSyabBCJhDk/VSCfoeYM8cI/AAAAAAAAL50/FusZL_a99yQ/s1600/IMG_0441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vSyabBCJhDk/VSCfoeYM8cI/AAAAAAAAL50/FusZL_a99yQ/s1600/IMG_0441.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HWhlMNLqO2Y/VSCfo5daumI/AAAAAAAAL58/QM-4tXUwpTo/s1600/IMG_0442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HWhlMNLqO2Y/VSCfo5daumI/AAAAAAAAL58/QM-4tXUwpTo/s1600/IMG_0442.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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And lastly, after a fun Eggstravaganza hunting, catching, and painting eggs, our church's Easter event moved from the park to where we meet for church, via some chalk bunny footprints that I was in charge of:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztI9N6ROPS8/VSCf80DHNxI/AAAAAAAAL6U/TWtTRjmoQDs/s1600/bunny-prints.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztI9N6ROPS8/VSCf80DHNxI/AAAAAAAAL6U/TWtTRjmoQDs/s1600/bunny-prints.png" height="314" width="320" /></a></div>
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See! Even the Easter Bunny came to church this morning to celebrate that after Jesus suffered and was crucified on <a href="http://created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/it-is-finished.html">Good Friday</a>, he did not remain dead, but rose again to new life. Hallelujah!</div>
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You can read about the Easter Sunday story <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+28&version=NIV">here</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+16&version=NIV">here</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+24&version=NIV">here</a>, and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+20&version=NIV">here</a>.</div>
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HAPPY EASTER!</div>
Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-15217694010594754432015-04-03T18:08:00.000+11:002015-04-03T22:52:42.815+11:00"It is finished."<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xJGFDUS_n7U/VR4v86ZEURI/AAAAAAAAL3c/n6bEZVZdjuo/s1600/Crown-of-Thorns-psd81005.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xJGFDUS_n7U/VR4v86ZEURI/AAAAAAAAL3c/n6bEZVZdjuo/s1600/Crown-of-Thorns-psd81005.png" height="172" width="200" /></a></div>
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As a Christian, Christmas and Easter are key moments to understanding what we believe and why. They are the crux of Christianity, demonstrating love, hope, grace, and sacrifice.<br />
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Today is Good Friday: the day that Jesus lay down his life, paying the penalty for our sin, so that a broken humanity can once again be right with God.</div>
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Since I often express myself through baking, I have created a Good Friday cupcake design.</div>
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A [melted chocolate] crown of thorns:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3GxZybZONFQ/VR4xI-SUpwI/AAAAAAAAL3s/mxFbxIcgmQ8/s1600/IMG_0437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3GxZybZONFQ/VR4xI-SUpwI/AAAAAAAAL3s/mxFbxIcgmQ8/s1600/IMG_0437.jpg" height="198" width="200" /></a></div>
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Because on the day Jesus was crucified, he wore a crown of thorns. Y<span style="text-align: center;">ou can find the whole Good Friday story </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27&version=NIV" style="text-align: center;">here</a><span style="text-align: center;">, </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+15&version=NIV" style="text-align: center;">here</a><span style="text-align: center;">, </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+23&version=NIV" style="text-align: center;">here</a><span style="text-align: center;">, and </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+19&version=NIV" style="text-align: center;">here</a><span style="text-align: center;">.</span><br />
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I probably wouldn't have designed it had I not been bringing something for morning tea after church this morning, and for that I am also thankful.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hou3RO7DSqw/VR43DJxkyEI/AAAAAAAAL4Q/5U8ILgzIrV0/s1600/IMG_0433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hou3RO7DSqw/VR43DJxkyEI/AAAAAAAAL4Q/5U8ILgzIrV0/s1600/IMG_0433.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>He was pierced for our transgressions,</i></div>
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<i>he was crushed for our iniquities;</i></div>
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<i>the punishment that brought us peace was on him,</i></div>
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<i>and by his wounds we are healed.</i></div>
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<i>Isaiah 53:5</i></div>
Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-50943204675780156852015-03-29T20:42:00.000+11:002015-04-02T16:31:37.063+11:00EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z886JHgrSEI/VQ-hpOmcG1I/AAAAAAAALyE/qtFfzT6xr-w/s1600/Lets_take_a_moment_to_examine_how_perfect_that_smile_is.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z886JHgrSEI/VQ-hpOmcG1I/AAAAAAAALyE/qtFfzT6xr-w/s1600/Lets_take_a_moment_to_examine_how_perfect_that_smile_is.png" height="200" width="135" /></a>Last weekend, we were finally able to have a birthday party for Jonathan, who turned 5 a few weeks ago. Of course, because for at least a month in the lead-up to his birthday/party he let us know in every single waking moment that he really, <i>really</i> liked LEGO... it was a LEGO party.</div>
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This post is to briefly share about the party that Jonathan himself claims was "awesome". To him, though, every day recently has been "the best day of his life", so I haven't taken it as a genuine compliment.<br />
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<u>Invitations:</u><br />
<br />
I am secretly quite proud of these. Using coloured cardboard, double sided mounting tape, and my friend's clever cutting device, the invitations were made, hinting at what the theme of the party was going to be:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SNavqcMCHWE/VRZuZRuOjMI/AAAAAAAAL0A/DPSfuvmFdF8/s1600/IMG_0195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SNavqcMCHWE/VRZuZRuOjMI/AAAAAAAAL0A/DPSfuvmFdF8/s1600/IMG_0195.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Y5s45r1SwU/VRZucCRAmPI/AAAAAAAAL0I/DJRg6afxAm4/s1600/LEGO-invitation.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Y5s45r1SwU/VRZucCRAmPI/AAAAAAAAL0I/DJRg6afxAm4/s1600/LEGO-invitation.png" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>Decorations:</u><br />
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When people are trying to find your house for the first time (in a suburb some GPS's don't acknowledge that your street even exists), balloons are a winner! And, because I really like themes, I drew two eyes and a smiling mouth onto 'LEGO head' balloons (well, without the top piece) tied to balloon sticks, and taped to our letterbox:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OidpUPrt-sk/VRZwfICLjEI/AAAAAAAAL0Y/fkpyiV2sMb4/s1600/IMG_0253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OidpUPrt-sk/VRZwfICLjEI/AAAAAAAAL0Y/fkpyiV2sMb4/s1600/IMG_0253.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Also outside I stuck large cardboard LEGO bricks, made the same way the invitations were.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E7KNqf4VNVM/VRZwgER_nGI/AAAAAAAAL0k/x9ODLaTsArU/s1600/IMG_0255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E7KNqf4VNVM/VRZwgER_nGI/AAAAAAAAL0k/x9ODLaTsArU/s1600/IMG_0255.JPG" height="101" width="320" /></a></div>
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Inside there were more LEGO cardboard bricks stuck to the walls, but made the lazy way - with the circles drawn on, and not cut out individually and stuck on with double sided mounting tape... I wasn't crazy enough to do that with <i>all</i> of them!<br />
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... Just the ones the parents will see ;)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i543KUsYdf4/VRZwfDuP-YI/AAAAAAAAL0c/lLUMQakAxp4/s1600/IMG_0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i543KUsYdf4/VRZwfDuP-YI/AAAAAAAAL0c/lLUMQakAxp4/s1600/IMG_0240.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>Activities & Games:</u><br />
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With my experience in hosting kids parties, I always plan to do too much. Like having too many games that we struggle to get through. Knowing that 4-6 year olds have a slightly limited attention span, I rounded it down to 4 games, and a couple of activities... Which still changed slightly to fill in time while I was organising myself, and to keep the many children entertained!<br />
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The activities included:<br />
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Colour in your own LEGO man. This was the first activity to do while children arrived.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EyB9RH_rSqk/VRZz3EYk5jI/AAAAAAAAL1A/sAwPZLKw9s4/s1600/IMG_0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EyB9RH_rSqk/VRZz3EYk5jI/AAAAAAAAL1A/sAwPZLKw9s4/s1600/IMG_0243.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Once they had finished, they were stuck to the LEGO man wall:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IluNi3fsZms/VReg8xnLuQI/AAAAAAAAL1k/okQFjnf8gJU/s1600/IMG_7659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IluNi3fsZms/VReg8xnLuQI/AAAAAAAAL1k/okQFjnf8gJU/s1600/IMG_7659.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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Be a Master Builder. Once their LEGO man colouring-in was finished, there were some 'giant LEGO blocks' set out on the table ready to be built:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8xMspdFhWH0/VRZz3HsHpDI/AAAAAAAAL04/3-O_hqv7axY/s1600/IMG_0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8xMspdFhWH0/VRZz3HsHpDI/AAAAAAAAL04/3-O_hqv7axY/s1600/IMG_0242.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Wear a LEGO hat! I was a bit proud of these, too. In my LEGO party research/planning phase, I saw a few LEGO themed masks, but had dismissed the idea due to complexity and the need to buy too many materials to make it work.<br />
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It was about that time I remembered that I have a terrible, <i>terrible</i> habit of collecting bottle lids! (I seriously have a stash of several hundred, I'm not joking). So picking out a few yellow ones, and hot glueing them onto some small plastic yellow plates, I'd made a LEGO hat for each child to wear!<br />
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Thus proving that it is <i>totally</i> worth collecting hundreds of useless items just incase an opportunity like this comes up...<br />
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Right, Husband!?<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1BUAvCjuOKU/VRZz4kN7cWI/AAAAAAAAL1M/ATxhzGauoTc/s1600/IMG_0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1BUAvCjuOKU/VRZz4kN7cWI/AAAAAAAAL1M/ATxhzGauoTc/s1600/IMG_0265.JPG" height="318" width="320" /></a></div>
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P.S. This 'activity' is best prepared <i>completely</i> before the party... Not just <i>mostly</i> prepared, like I had. I suggest attaching the elastic before the party, as it's too time consuming to punch holes, cut elastic, and thread/tie each one when you've got 15 children to make them for!<br />
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... Which was why we started playing Musical Statues while the kids waited for me to get the hats ready.<br />
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The games included:<br />
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- Musical statues to the "Everything is Awesome" LEGO movie song.<br />
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- Holding a LEGO head balloon between your knees and racing up and down the hallway (another impromptu time filler while I was still organising the LEGO hats).<br />
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- LEGO and Ladle race (giant everything FTW!). This idea came from seeing a LEGO and spoon race in my 'research', but altering it to make this one different.<br />
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I noticed that the kids were a bit too young to realise that (in the moment of panic when they heard the word "race") it's called "cheating" to <i>hold</i> the giant LEGO brick onto the ladle, but it was fun watching them try, and especially watching Jonathan practice before the party to see if it would be an enjoyable game or not! He walked <i>so</i> slowly and carefully, I was sure the game would take 20 minutes.<br />
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- LEGO piñata!<br />
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The last game was a LEGO brick piñata. Good friends had come over for dinner the night before, and basically did this part for me (among many other things to set-up and make!). I used an empty tissue box, filled it with lollies, they then wrapped it in yellow paper, attached string to hold it up, and all that was left to do was attach some more yellow bottle lids via a hot glue gun, and voila:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k6ZOd4niGo4/VRezptSyPlI/AAAAAAAAL2Q/c1OVXk6PrSQ/s1600/IMG_0257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k6ZOd4niGo4/VRezptSyPlI/AAAAAAAAL2Q/c1OVXk6PrSQ/s1600/IMG_0257.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Piñata's are always a great success - even the adults joined in for a bit! :)<br />
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This is the queue to the piñata:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NC2XmDqUILI/VRezqfYFlRI/AAAAAAAAL2c/hq1HgnYak5M/s1600/IMG_0304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NC2XmDqUILI/VRezqfYFlRI/AAAAAAAAL2c/hq1HgnYak5M/s1600/IMG_0304.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<u>Food:</u><br />
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Food is another thing that often turns into too much at a party (and therefore lots of leftovers). Having the party in the afternoon, it was decided that it would be a really simple afternoon tea, with only a few items available.<br />
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Which were:<br />
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Cheese & fairy bread LEGO sandwiches. Though I was wanting more flavours, it became clear that the spreads literally spread out of the insides when making the circles, which were made using a plastic shot glass upside down. So fairy bread and cheese it was.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WOArZySxJxA/VRezornsJcI/AAAAAAAAL2M/lJJNo9hnQfo/s1600/IMG_0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WOArZySxJxA/VRezornsJcI/AAAAAAAAL2M/lJJNo9hnQfo/s1600/IMG_0247.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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LEGO tim tams, mainly for the adults. These were Tim Tams with those Cadbury roll things attached with melted chocolate.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GipeQfSihCI/VRezopgaQKI/AAAAAAAAL2A/QV3KvSZ_K-g/s1600/IMG_0238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GipeQfSihCI/VRezopgaQKI/AAAAAAAAL2A/QV3KvSZ_K-g/s1600/IMG_0238.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fruit kebabs (so that there was <i>something</i> healthy!), and rainbow jelly:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vE1g7Uee2r0/VRezqD-b60I/AAAAAAAAL2Y/LE_b-h_d2Qc/s1600/IMG_0268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vE1g7Uee2r0/VRezqD-b60I/AAAAAAAAL2Y/LE_b-h_d2Qc/s1600/IMG_0268.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm <i>totally</i> just making rainbow jelly next time. That was all they really wanted, and the "ohhhhh rainbow jellyyyyy!!" as soon as it came out was priceless.<br />
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Probably due to the limited menu, I actually remembered to bring them out this time, unlike at <a href="http://created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/heroes-vs-villains-party.html">Ben's party</a>.<br />
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And since the whole party plan took 1.5 hours, and there was still 30 minutes to fill in before parents arrived back to pick up their children, I was thankful that The LEGO Movie tied in with both the theme of the party <i>and</i> the interests of the guests, so we watched this for about 20 minutes before cutting the cake, and then for another few minutes while the kids were eating cake, and waiting until their parents arrived :)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j3Itd7H3u5g/VRfGRK3WyVI/AAAAAAAAL3I/jw0fHYXbj-0/s1600/lego%2Bmovie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j3Itd7H3u5g/VRfGRK3WyVI/AAAAAAAAL3I/jw0fHYXbj-0/s1600/lego%2Bmovie.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<u>Cake:</u><br />
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The cake design had changed about 4 times before the party. It was definitely going to be LEGO themed, despite Jonathan wanting a Hulk cake (perhaps to match the <a href="http://created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/hulk-smash.html">Hulk jellies</a> I'd made for him to take to school on his actual birthday), claiming that "Hulk is a LEGO Marvel Superheroes character".<br />
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Though I had originally been planning on making a Good cop/Bad cop cake, I did consider changing it to be Hulk so that he would be happy, then thought of just a basic rectangular LEGO brick, which I <i>would</i> have done, though it didn't really appeal to me as being very "wow."<br />
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Oh, the pressure when you have anxiety!!<br />
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But in the end, due to extreme exhaustion and an increasing lack of time, Husband assured me that whatever I wanted to make, Jonathan will love, because he loves cake, and he won't remember what he initially asked for when it's brought out anyway.<br />
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So the <i>final</i> cake was... *drum roll*<br />
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A really simple buttercream LEGO head, with melted dark chocolate as the eyes and mouth:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VwvEfbzaWl4/VRezooTk_RI/AAAAAAAAL2E/LB-5V-r1JT8/s1600/IMG_0249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VwvEfbzaWl4/VRezooTk_RI/AAAAAAAAL2E/LB-5V-r1JT8/s1600/IMG_0249.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And Husband was right - Jonathan loved it :)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GsDH3lh5S7Y/VRe4muQtPtI/AAAAAAAAL24/QGsIO9nOovQ/s1600/IMG_7656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GsDH3lh5S7Y/VRe4muQtPtI/AAAAAAAAL24/QGsIO9nOovQ/s1600/IMG_7656.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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And so did we, as it was kinda breakfast/recess/dessert for the following 4 days after the party. Why did I make it so big again?? Oh yeah. Because I have anxiety, and was worried it wouldn't feed everyone at the party.<br />
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But it did, and was probably big enough to feed the guests' family and friends, all of <i>our</i> family and friends, our neighbours, the postman, and distant relatives, too.<br />
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Thank you so much to everyone who came and celebrated with my littlest boy.<br />
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Happy 5th birthday Jonathan!!</div>
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Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-26263666112703332142015-03-27T17:37:00.000+11:002015-03-27T18:12:25.463+11:00Like a Ninja!<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Today I went to Google and searched for "ninjas".</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kuO-Um4CJXo/VQkcleeMaVI/AAAAAAAALo0/1dw_Ww7QukU/s1600/blackninja.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kuO-Um4CJXo/VQkcleeMaVI/AAAAAAAALo0/1dw_Ww7QukU/s1600/blackninja.gif" height="200" width="200" /></a>It told me that "Ninjas could not be found".<br />
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Well played, internet... Well played!<br />
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I've recently made my very first Ninja cake. It happened so quickly, there was no time to take progress photos! And once it was finished, I couldn't actually see where I'd put it.<br />
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Jokes aside, I really did made a Ninja cake, and of course I got photos of it; and when asked if I would like to make a Ninja cake, I was sent this picture to use for reference:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z8gm2GnEsTk/VRS8UPZFu9I/AAAAAAAALzE/a2tZqU5hr0M/s1600/ninja-cake.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z8gm2GnEsTk/VRS8UPZFu9I/AAAAAAAALzE/a2tZqU5hr0M/s1600/ninja-cake.png" height="289" width="320" /></a></div>
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Without intending to be a plagiarist, I think I did alright copying the cake... I will let you in on a little Ninja secret, though:<br />
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I totally cheated with the weapons.</div>
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But first, the cake.<br />
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It was red all over, with a black city on the bottom tier. Having made cities on cakes before, like this <a href="http://created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-batman.html">Batman cake</a>, and this <a href="http://created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/heroes-in-half-shell.html">TMNT cake</a>, I knew this was going to be the easiest part.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lja5caBe9c/VQndsazPS5I/AAAAAAAALpg/8ACaVO0bj8I/s1600/IMG_7589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lja5caBe9c/VQndsazPS5I/AAAAAAAALpg/8ACaVO0bj8I/s1600/IMG_7589.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then, using a method I only first tried a few weeks ago, I got a picture of what I wanted to be made in fondant (in this case, it was Ninjas-in-action), placed it on top of some rolled out fondant, and used a pin (or needle), to perforate around the edge of the picture into the fondant...<br />
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It's a bit hard to tell what they're doing without the weapons (I'm thinking the bottom left Ninja looks less like a Ninja and more like a dancing monkey), but the technique generally seems to work.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LgwXkOmzskM/VQndnwNO10I/AAAAAAAALpY/U0JZbF6-ZC0/s1600/IMG_7591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LgwXkOmzskM/VQndnwNO10I/AAAAAAAALpY/U0JZbF6-ZC0/s1600/IMG_7591.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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In between the city being finished, and the Ninja cut outs being attached to the cake, I made some Ninja stars. And I am totally a Ninja star master now!</div>
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With a couple of less-awesome ones that I'd made, I poked them (with wire) into the side of the bottom tier, attempting to match the reference picture.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8KzrR-55fY/VQneFZgSPjI/AAAAAAAALqI/zkexKNNMVT8/s1600/IMG_7596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8KzrR-55fY/VQneFZgSPjI/AAAAAAAALqI/zkexKNNMVT8/s1600/IMG_7596.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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And now for the 'cheating' part. Instead of spending hours colouring and moulding a sword and nunchucks, I found them both in a discount store and bought them. Admittedly, it was the 5th discount store I'd visited, so it may have <i>taken</i> just as long, but I was at least guaranteed that they wouldn't fall apart and crumble when trying to attach them to the cake, being left without a back-up plan... 2 hours and $4 well spent if you ask me.<br />
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The Nunchucks stayed as they were, and the sword, though I wanted to just stab the cake all the way through, Husband suggested I cut it in half, so that only a little bit needs to poke into the cake on each side.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4nzdC1eX0bs/VQnd1NRkCtI/AAAAAAAALpw/YIHXt3AFTt8/s1600/IMG_7592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4nzdC1eX0bs/VQnd1NRkCtI/AAAAAAAALpw/YIHXt3AFTt8/s1600/IMG_7592.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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I wrapped the inside ends of the sword in glad wrap for hygiene purposes, and stabbed them into each side of the cake... Yeek!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XbNjutkE6rQ/VQneBPhe0AI/AAAAAAAALp8/i_kEiv4eEFY/s1600/IMG_7598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XbNjutkE6rQ/VQneBPhe0AI/AAAAAAAALp8/i_kEiv4eEFY/s1600/IMG_7598.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b0QYDT4CqZ4/VQneAoePikI/AAAAAAAALp4/alFAoILLP4Y/s1600/IMG_7597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b0QYDT4CqZ4/VQneAoePikI/AAAAAAAALp4/alFAoILLP4Y/s1600/IMG_7597.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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It looked like this from a small distance... 'Small' because I wasn't sure how long the sword would hold for, and I <i>may</i> have panicked.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9oGr-1uQ2nA/VQnePg1p8FI/AAAAAAAALqQ/VWsBVC4goBo/s1600/IMG_7604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9oGr-1uQ2nA/VQnePg1p8FI/AAAAAAAALqQ/VWsBVC4goBo/s1600/IMG_7604.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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But once I was confident the sword wasn't going to topple the cake, or fall out, I moved onto attaching the nunchucks, using wires poked into the top of the cake to stabilise them and stop them rolling off.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RscW-JEA1Zo/VQneRGaCE7I/AAAAAAAALqY/AxEvBs1Nx_4/s1600/IMG_7605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RscW-JEA1Zo/VQneRGaCE7I/AAAAAAAALqY/AxEvBs1Nx_4/s1600/IMG_7605.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next, the Ninjas-in-Action pieces were attached around the top tier...</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iE9c3EaB8g8/VQneWczYKZI/AAAAAAAALqg/ax6W9tskQKE/s1600/IMG_7599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iE9c3EaB8g8/VQneWczYKZI/AAAAAAAALqg/ax6W9tskQKE/s1600/IMG_7599.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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And <i>then</i>, according to my 11 year old, <i>I had made the most amazing Ninja stars out of fondant</i>. Ben was definitely my 2IC for this cake! But, he told me that these were "perfect"! What a champ being so encouraging when I was starting to stress :)<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQ0AD5r-cLs/VRTd7NSK3_I/AAAAAAAALzU/xzkq1ramUL4/s1600/IMG_0199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQ0AD5r-cLs/VRTd7NSK3_I/AAAAAAAALzU/xzkq1ramUL4/s1600/IMG_0199.jpg" height="199" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mkhviD9LRno/VRTd7sUrC1I/AAAAAAAALzc/M9-KrllkVIw/s1600/IMG_0200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mkhviD9LRno/VRTd7sUrC1I/AAAAAAAALzc/M9-KrllkVIw/s1600/IMG_0200.jpg" height="200" width="199" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cYutsrU7Xxo/VRTd7dJS8BI/AAAAAAAALzY/4l_Pa0ceXkk/s1600/IMG_0201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cYutsrU7Xxo/VRTd7dJS8BI/AAAAAAAALzY/4l_Pa0ceXkk/s1600/IMG_0201.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3lJ8CZZEhrU/VRTd8ZtX4EI/AAAAAAAALzk/2Sqh3kyUlIo/s1600/IMG_0202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3lJ8CZZEhrU/VRTd8ZtX4EI/AAAAAAAALzk/2Sqh3kyUlIo/s1600/IMG_0202.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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The stars (which had been sprayed with edible silver paint once they were set) were placed atop the cake, around the nunchucks, cleverly hiding the wires... Like Ninjas!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QSFK1RO652M/VQneYtieX9I/AAAAAAAALqs/jx8z02yNSDY/s1600/IMG_7606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QSFK1RO652M/VQneYtieX9I/AAAAAAAALqs/jx8z02yNSDY/s1600/IMG_7606.JPG" height="320" width="319" /></a></div>
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The cake was now finished!!<br />
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Here's how it looked from the back...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aP5xjXjFaVU/VQneixEgB-I/AAAAAAAALrE/chv7i_kcFQI/s1600/IMG_7612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aP5xjXjFaVU/VQneixEgB-I/AAAAAAAALrE/chv7i_kcFQI/s1600/IMG_7612.JPG" height="331" width="400" /></a></div>
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And from the front...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7GmsO7KS30s/VQneiqKdqaI/AAAAAAAALrA/de9uL76IvlU/s1600/IMG_7610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7GmsO7KS30s/VQneiqKdqaI/AAAAAAAALrA/de9uL76IvlU/s1600/IMG_7610.JPG" height="302" width="400" /></a></div>
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Happy birthday Marco! :)</div>
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Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-82471046595008452292015-03-20T20:36:00.000+11:002015-03-20T20:41:33.287+11:00Fishers of Men.<div style="text-align: justify;">
A few weeks ago, I took on the role of being one of the Scripture teachers at school. I still remember when I first signed up to be a Scripture teacher at our previous school...</div>
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I was 37 weeks pregnant.</div>
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But now, with the baby I'd had soon after beginning that initial Scripture teaching adventure grown up and at school, I'm back into it, teaching one lesson a week.</div>
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I am really enjoying it, and I admit that I get excited about studying the Bible again myself, and preparing (hopefully) fun things for the kids to do.</div>
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This term, we've been working our way through the book of Luke. This week (today), the lesson was on Jesus' first disciples - the fishermen (Luke 5:1-11).</div>
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At the start of the week, I honestly was <i>not</i> planning on making presents for the students. But, as I was tidying my kitchen drawers and cupboards a few days ago, I found a silicone mould that I haven't used in years (if ever!). And just so happened that it was perfect for the theme of this week's lesson.</div>
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It was an IKEA fish-shaped ice cube tray. And mixing this newly found item with my small addiction to Pinterest, I know that you can melt crayons into shapes using a device much like what I'd found! Beauty!</div>
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So I did. I melted crayons into the shape of fish, and put them into little 'nets' (cellophane bags) for the students, with this quote from Jesus:</div>
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"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AnhtxVtq-uk/VQqFteRyh4I/AAAAAAAALxE/3oQR39X5gTM/s1600/man-fishing-in-boat-clipart-RTd7oBxT9.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AnhtxVtq-uk/VQqFteRyh4I/AAAAAAAALxE/3oQR39X5gTM/s1600/man-fishing-in-boat-clipart-RTd7oBxT9.gif" height="320" width="293" /></a></div>
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N.B. There was a LOT of crayon wrapper peeling to make this craft/gift possible! ... It was tedious, and next time I may involve my kids to do that part for me! But it was worth it to see the excitement on the students' faces when they received them :)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6BuRSRP1Jo/VQvnTDW5FPI/AAAAAAAALxc/3hqCQe2ee24/s1600/IMG_0222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6BuRSRP1Jo/VQvnTDW5FPI/AAAAAAAALxc/3hqCQe2ee24/s1600/IMG_0222.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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As I only had one ice cube tray, I could only make 12 crayons at a time, but that was okay.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f3ucbsG5FJQ/VQvnTGaWyQI/AAAAAAAALxY/hR4X6Z2kofE/s1600/IMG_0225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f3ucbsG5FJQ/VQvnTGaWyQI/AAAAAAAALxY/hR4X6Z2kofE/s1600/IMG_0225.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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It was kinda cool (but perhaps I just did something wrong) that the fish crayons turned out to have this two-toned effect once they'd set:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hDXlEQL8idY/VQvnTHSskVI/AAAAAAAALxg/yKjYkrOA97Y/s1600/IMG_0227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hDXlEQL8idY/VQvnTHSskVI/AAAAAAAALxg/yKjYkrOA97Y/s1600/IMG_0227.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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There was enough for each student to have 4 different coloured crayons in a cellophane 'net' with the quote from Jesus. Just before the end of the lesson, they all had a turn in 'fishing' their arm into the bag full of these bags of fish crayons. Sadly, I had totally forgotten to photograph them all together! But here is the <i>one</i> that was leftover because a student was away.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MYbczPIVzTk/VQvnUNUMj9I/AAAAAAAALxw/Y89wgJQ_tAM/s1600/IMG_0228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MYbczPIVzTk/VQvnUNUMj9I/AAAAAAAALxw/Y89wgJQ_tAM/s1600/IMG_0228.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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This was part of my lesson:<br />
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Have you ever been to the fish markets? It smells! Our family doesn't eat fish, probably because Husband and Ben are both allergic to seafood. But, basically, a fish market smells. It's quite over-powering actually. This didn't stop Jesus from getting onto the boat with the soon-to-be disciples after they'd been working all night.<br />
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Jesus doesn't wait until we've had a good night's sleep and a refreshing shower if he wants to tell us something. He comes to us just as we are: Smelly, tired, overworked, and cranky. He might ask us to do something, and though we may not understand why he's asked us to do particular things, we must trust that it's because he has a great and wonderful plan that involves us - and what a privilege to be a part of that :)<br />
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I hope the kids enjoyed 'fishing' for these little presents today, and are reminded that we are to use the tools that he gives us to be Fishers of Men - the Holy Spirit, the Bible, our words, and our actions.<br />
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And now that I think further about it... Crayons can be messy, and life can be messy; but Jesus loves us regardless.</div>
Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-52905375560591486902015-03-19T09:36:00.002+11:002015-03-19T11:19:07.529+11:00The circle of life.<div style="text-align: justify;">
Having a baby is exciting. You're becoming a parent (again, or for the first time), an aunt or uncle, a grandparent, or, you're watching your friend's life change and warp into something completely different and unique... Well, maybe not so much unique - I'm sure everyone gets vomited on by a baby at some stage in life.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e5BWWBZ8kF4/VPVxLo1bIHI/AAAAAAAALiM/uMY-vo3J8Ac/s1600/Baby-Simba-the-lion-king.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e5BWWBZ8kF4/VPVxLo1bIHI/AAAAAAAALiM/uMY-vo3J8Ac/s1600/Baby-Simba-the-lion-king.jpg" height="320" width="312" /></a></div>
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Though the new life and development of a baby both inside and outside the womb is a miracle, it can also be scary, frustrating, and depressing... Which is why I made a cake ;)</div>
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It was for a baby shower, and the theme was the Lion King.<br />
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Of course, I immediately thought of baby Simba being held up to the sky by the weirdest monkey uncle in the Hollywood world.</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Though I have <a href="http://created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/i-bought-zoo.html">made a little lion</a> before out of fondant, I didn't feel repeating that same lion would be a) big enough, b) cute enough, or c) Lion King-y enough. So I started from scratch, using baby Simba as my reference. T</span>he fondant cub went from looking like a mouse, to a kangaroo, to finally... potentially... maybe... kind of... a baby lion.</div>
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Occasionally, you just have to be content with</div>
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"near enough is good enough"...</div>
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The cub was placed on top of a jungle cake (yes, that's what it's meant to look like!), with a collection of leaves on top, and some bunches of leaves around the base.</div>
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In <i>this</i> jungle, this mighty jungle, though, the lion is very much wide awake, to prepare for the many sleepless nights that are sure to happen in the near future.</div>
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The last thing to add to the cake, was some grass, and vines. Because all jungles need vines! At least that's what I hoped they looked like.</div>
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Happy Lion King baby shower! :)</div>
Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-66621635051343047882015-03-15T19:08:00.000+11:002015-03-15T19:10:10.357+11:00Hey, teacher!<div style="text-align: justify;">
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I have many friends who are teachers.</div>
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Towards the end of last year, I had a significant stack of mini panic attacks as I planned (and re-planned, and re-planned) what to give each teacher of my child as an end of year gift.<br />
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Many websites will give you many different ideas and reasons behind them (written by teachers!), and all of them made sense no matter which answers were given regarding gifts!<br />
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Which, of course, made my anxiety worse.</div>
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One thing that I remember reading through my website hopping (not so much surfing, because I basically kept clicking until I found someone confirming that my idea was fine, which isn't <i>that</i> bad, is it?), was that teachers were a bit 'over' the whole Best Teacher/apple themed/A+ themed presents...<br />
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Which is why I was a bit surprised when one of those friends (a teacher) asked if I could make some apple/A+ cupcakes for her, as she wanted to give them to her students on the last day of Term 4 (as she was also moving to a new school far, far away).<br />
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<i>Clearly</i>, I need to stop using the internet so much to validate my thoughts and ideas. It just makes life more distressing. And while I'm at it, I should <i>probably</i> stop asking Dr Google to diagnose my sleep, skin, and weight issues, because he says crazy things like I drink too much coffee, stay up too late, don't eat enough vegetables, and I'm just not satisfied with that level of rationale.<br />
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Anyway, I made these cupcakes for her, as requested!<br />
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The apples were basically round balls of red fondant, with a small round indent (made with a chopstick) on the top that I stuck a <i>tiny</i> piece of brown fondant and a green fondant leaf into. I rested the apples around a cling wrap roll so that the leaves would set upright (See! I was actually aiming for realistic this time!)<br />
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A simple rectangle of black fondant represented a chalkboard, and the 'chalk' part of the chalkboards was royal icing. I wouldn't be surprised if soon the colours were switched around (white background and black writing), once all students will relate to is a smart board!<br />
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It was about this time when I realised that things were starting to look less realistic when the apple and chalkboard (<i>clearly</i> disproportioned) were placed next to each other on the cupcakes.<br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Still. An apple a day keeps Dr Google... on his toes.</span></div>
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Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-31620921330914759972015-03-13T19:43:00.000+11:002015-03-13T20:05:24.088+11:00Body sculpting...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qlGsVuPVD90/VM61l2PB1aI/AAAAAAAALVk/9NBjqFNogfw/s1600/bicep.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qlGsVuPVD90/VM61l2PB1aI/AAAAAAAALVk/9NBjqFNogfw/s1600/bicep.png" height="177" width="200" /></a>I suppose I am lucky to be married to someone who is occasionally obsessed with exercise and fitness. He is a fountain of wisdom and knowledge, especially when it comes to building muscle, losing weight, eating right, and maintaining (or achieving) a healthy figure.<br />
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One of these days, I should actually listen to him...<br />
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A few months ago, I was asked if I'd be able to make a 'muscle arm cake' for a 21st birthday.<br />
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Using Husband's knowledge of body building, and my knowledge of cakes and fondant (and my excellent Google search experience), I made this cake for a friend's nephew's 21st.<br />
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Not having sculpted many cakes, I figured it was going to be tricky. I started by drawing an outline of what I needed to do, big (and small) enough to fit neatly on the cake board I had:<br />
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Using the cut out sketch, I shaped and trimmed the various cakes I'd made, and assembled them as best as I could on the board- looking as close to a muscle arm as possible- and covered them all in chocolate buttercream. The inside of the arm crevices were the trickiest, but we got there in the end!<br />
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Next, I had my skin coloured fondant (using my caramel colour that I seem to use for almost everything), rolled it out, and covered the cake.<br />
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After smoothing it out and pushing it into those tricky crevices, I trimmed the bottom and tidied up the board. The hardest part was done! ... Or was it.<br />
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I then needed to make a dumbbell for the arm to be holding (or it would be quite a strange looking cake otherwise!). This part was easiest, as I just needed to cover a small round cake in black fondant. There was a lot of guesswork for how the end little piece would look, though. It was made completely out of fondant and covered in edible silver paint. Of course, I used props from our home gym to help inspire me.<br />
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I can't remember exactly what I used to hold it up. I <i>think</i> it was a cling wrap roll, cut to size, that I got Husband to cut for me, considering my <a href="http://created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/horsin-around.html">last experience</a>. And to match the colour of an actual dumbbell bar thingy, it was covered it in duct tape.<br />
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Because I'm all about that class, 'bout that class.<br />
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The downside of Husband's incredible body building and exercise knowledge, is that he told me that my cake was all out of proportion- that the forearm was too big, and the bicep not prominent enough.</div>
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<i> Pfft...</i> What would he know ;)<br />
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Happy birthday Sina!</div>
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Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-5384172900487272612015-03-10T21:44:00.000+11:002015-03-10T21:44:13.021+11:00Hulk, SMASH!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today is my littlest son's 5th birthday! He started Kindergarten this year, and though we've been discussing the idea of a LEGO themed party, he was adamant about <i>Hulk</i> cupcakes/biscuits/something to have at school on his actual birthday.</div>
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />A few days ago, I mentioned to Jonathan's teacher that his birthday was coming up, because (as per the usual birthday custom in our household) I was planning to make some baked treats to send to school with him to celebrate with his class.<br />
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His teacher had informed me that there's no nuts allowed, and that there's two children in the class with egg allergies.</div>
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Hmm... Well that rules out cupcakes (though I know there's plenty of egg-free recipes out there - I'm also lazy, remember? <i>And</i> I didn't have time to trial a brand new recipe to make sure it worked), so I looked into other things.<br />
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My next go-to baked treat is shortbread biscuits; but I use egg white to make royal icing, and fondant would have been too fiddly; so I seeked my favourite internet sites for what other Hulk inspired things I could make that are:<br />
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- Creative<br />
- Simple<br />
- Yummy<br />
- Nut, egg, soy, gluten, dairy, alcohol, and cocaine free.<br />
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I'd found various jellies and custard-like desserts that had Hulk faces drawn onto the plastic cups, which I thought were pretty cool and do-able! So I showed Jonathan, but he didn't seem too impressed.<br />
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Through much pleading and bribery, he eventually came around to the jelly idea once I'd suggested it could be a different colour, and he demanded I make them red so they could be Red Hulk jellies.</div>
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Yes! A <i>thousand</i> times yes, I can definitely make them red!</div>
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Since I couldn't find my permanent marker, I waited until the jellies were set to add the faces.</div>
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It was a little tedious, and somewhat time consuming, but we managed to get there in the end, despite being slightly late for school.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pvlTA3PMtY4/VP6MOyK5lvI/AAAAAAAALkw/BAWHhU95NcQ/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pvlTA3PMtY4/VP6MOyK5lvI/AAAAAAAALkw/BAWHhU95NcQ/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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With a system of gluing the mouthes, eyebrows, and eyes onto the cups one by one, they all eventually looked something like this:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6DeK-3trbw/VP6MOkSgYMI/AAAAAAAALko/-PEYheHpq6k/s1600/IMG_0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6DeK-3trbw/VP6MOkSgYMI/AAAAAAAALko/-PEYheHpq6k/s1600/IMG_0155.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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At last, all Red Hulk jellies were completed and lined up in foil trays for ease of transport (something I don't often think of until it's too late).<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nZfUjAaj4_I/VP6MQxfvoTI/AAAAAAAALlM/xsbjkeC01HI/s1600/IMG_0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nZfUjAaj4_I/VP6MQxfvoTI/AAAAAAAALlM/xsbjkeC01HI/s1600/IMG_0161.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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With some spoons, of course. Because eating jelly with your hands is just messy!*<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-biK-awf7rnc/VP7Ep7AlRTI/AAAAAAAALmQ/5wOOXknJ1n4/s1600/IMG_0174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-biK-awf7rnc/VP7Ep7AlRTI/AAAAAAAALmQ/5wOOXknJ1n4/s1600/IMG_0174.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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And finally, a photo of the birthday boy with one of his birthday treats ready to take to school :)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JeUmcypGnjo/VP6MRaybJNI/AAAAAAAALlY/5fIAsXe-Ka0/s1600/IMG_0164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JeUmcypGnjo/VP6MRaybJNI/AAAAAAAALlY/5fIAsXe-Ka0/s1600/IMG_0164.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I think he approved!</div>
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... Or, he's constipated.</div>
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HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY to my</div>
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funniest, craziest little boy, Jonathan!!</div>
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* Don't ask me how I know that.</div>
Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-13912291499721773532015-03-06T14:32:00.000+11:002015-03-06T14:33:44.036+11:00Fancy.<div style="text-align: center;">
I am not a fancy person.</div>
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I very rarely wear dresses, and even rarer than that - heels. I don't usually wear make up (though every time I do, I say to myself "I should do this more often"), and to even consider assembling my hair into anything other than a pony tail or bun is exhausting.</div>
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The fanciest I get is a flower in my hair, a little stroke of eyeliner/lip gloss, and maybe, <i>maybe</i>, I will shave my legs. And when I do all of that (because it happens so rarely) I most certainly feel quite fancy!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LgG6GI15QJk/VFq-FOspONI/AAAAAAAAK-Q/h6KDjOQNrVc/s1600/fancynancy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LgG6GI15QJk/VFq-FOspONI/AAAAAAAAK-Q/h6KDjOQNrVc/s1600/fancynancy.png" height="320" width="276" /></a></div>
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Melbourne Cup is Australia's premier thoroughbred horse race event, known as "the race that stops a nation". It is a day that could quite possibly be the fanciest day of the year. Fascinators that can catch the eye of anyone in a room, stunning shoes in every colour, and beautiful dresses that range from delightfully dainty to unbelievably freaking gorgeous.</div>
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I've never really been involved in the day. The most Melbourne Cup experience I've had included my mum coming home from work to tell us that we had won a sweep my grandfather had entered us [grandkids] all in - a tradition my mother has carried on to her own grandchildren (my children).</div>
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The staff at my kids' school all came to work looking very fancy for the day. My first thought was "Wow, everyone looks so handsome and lovely!" which was followed very closely by "I wonder how playground duty will go in those heels."</div>
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After seeing all the delightful dresses, suits and ties, and my son's teacher dressed as a "bookie", I went back home feeling quite <i>un</i>-fancy with my thongs, jeans, and comparatively plain top, and did the fanciest thing I know how to do.<br />
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I baked.</div>
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Using a similar idea I'd had with these <a href="http://www.created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/feeling-little-horse.html" target="_blank">horse cupcakes</a>, and the same cutter for the saddle that I used making this <a href="http://www.created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/things-ive-learnt-about-making.html" target="_blank">Minecraft cake</a>, I managed to find a use for many of those little bits of leftover coloured fondant I had no idea what I was going to do with (because another tradition that has continued in my family includes never throwing anything out), and made some Melbourne Cup biscuits :)</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IkWkZ5abFXY/VFrBX83oPfI/AAAAAAAAK-s/Kiv69j1u58E/s1600/IMG_6857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IkWkZ5abFXY/VFrBX83oPfI/AAAAAAAAK-s/Kiv69j1u58E/s1600/IMG_6857.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">=</span></div>
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The stakes are low, and the bets are non-existent,</div>
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but I backed the green horse to be eaten first ;)</div>
Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-998773035758064612015-03-03T07:45:00.004+11:002015-03-03T20:09:13.729+11:00What a hoot!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Owls:</div>
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The ironic symbol of wisdom...</div>
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and an unhealthy sleeping pattern.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EY2rRmUMQho/VPPbWrnZ9vI/AAAAAAAALg8/VO5wQW02nZg/s1600/176-Free-Cartoon-Owl-Clipart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EY2rRmUMQho/VPPbWrnZ9vI/AAAAAAAALg8/VO5wQW02nZg/s1600/176-Free-Cartoon-Owl-Clipart.jpg" height="195" width="200" /></a></div>
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With their huge eyes, soothing hoo's, and... fluff, they're also a much loved creature by many teachers worldwide. So, as a 'just because'* reason, I made some owl biscuits for the teachers at school last week.</div>
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I used three round cutters - a big and a medium (for the body), and a small (for the eyes), along with some coloured royal icing and brown/orange mini M&M's:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AcaOn5YmzLc/VPPbhYBlmqI/AAAAAAAALhE/W_WhLAoOn-k/s1600/IMG_0084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AcaOn5YmzLc/VPPbhYBlmqI/AAAAAAAALhE/W_WhLAoOn-k/s1600/IMG_0084.jpg" height="200" width="199" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xA-hS26NVys/VPPbheXQqRI/AAAAAAAALhQ/cuddavFbOl8/s1600/IMG_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xA-hS26NVys/VPPbheXQqRI/AAAAAAAALhQ/cuddavFbOl8/s1600/IMG_0087.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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For the melted chocolate outline, I tried something new this time. Previously, I would pipe straight onto the biscuit; but this time, I held the piping bag a couple of centimetres up from the biscuit. That probably doesn't make sense, but basically instead of 'drawing' onto the biscuit, I 'hovered' above the biscuits, letting the chocolate fall into place.</div>
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It worked great, and wasn't as rough as it usually would be when I'd pipe directly onto the biscuit.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4nBxTekvyE/VPPbhhFcS2I/AAAAAAAALhI/xHrs3RVmkcc/s1600/IMG_0089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4nBxTekvyE/VPPbhhFcS2I/AAAAAAAALhI/xHrs3RVmkcc/s1600/IMG_0089.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yn4pGtLox6g/VPPbitoFf4I/AAAAAAAALhU/S1ueZjjbkpI/s1600/IMG_0092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yn4pGtLox6g/VPPbitoFf4I/AAAAAAAALhU/S1ueZjjbkpI/s1600/IMG_0092.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
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And the best thing about chocolate on shortbread, is that if you make a mistake, you can just rip it off and do it again. Which happened to quite a few of them, as guessing where the chocolate will fall can be tricky.</div>
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Especially if you've had a glass of wine.</div>
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Originally, I wanted to colour them with all the colours of the rainbow, but instead chose six (really, it was only pink missing). Three primary, and three secondary to recall my own schooling. The owls were then arranged onto a round platter, opposite each of their complementary colours (I wonder if the teachers picked up on that)... ;)</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WJtdlkjjJ3Y/VPPbjI_oGiI/AAAAAAAALhY/HKp_WrFceZE/s1600/IMG_0099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WJtdlkjjJ3Y/VPPbjI_oGiI/AAAAAAAALhY/HKp_WrFceZE/s1600/IMG_0099.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Happy... School Day!</div>
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* It could also be a 'I'm <i>so</i> bored at home by myself' reason, too.Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-59213496488332028172015-02-27T14:24:00.000+11:002015-02-28T20:48:17.325+11:00Back to school!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I will admit that there's times I wonder if I should've been a teacher. A teacher who finds amazing and unique <cough-fromPinterest-cough> artworks and activities for my students to do*, and a teacher who's classroom is always so neat and organised and colourful.</div>
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I convince myself that this could still be achieved despite my inability to keep <i>my own house</i> neat and organised...<br />
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It <i>is</i> colourful, though: It has a green chalk smear on that wall, a trail of white toilet paper through the hallway, blue toothpaste all over the bathroom mirror, red spaghetti still on the table from last night, and oh look, the lounge room is covered with bright and colourful toys and quilts... again.</div>
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Clearly, I occasionally have a fairy tale image of what a teacher is/does, making it out to be the easiest job in the world, when I know that it is most definitely not.<br />
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When these moments of teacherhood wonder and enthusiasm come, it's usually when I'm printing, cutting, and laminating pieces of paper, feeling super organised and creative.</div>
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But, suddenly that bubble of creativity pops when my hungry children start demanding that I make them food, and I look towards the clock to see that <i>it's bedtime already and we haven't had dinner yet</i>, when I realise that there is no way I could do this every day.</div>
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Which is why I am so grateful that there are people in the world who <i>have</i> chosen teaching as their profession, and who now get to look after (and teach, mentor, entertain, and care for) all three of my children <i>all day</i> so that I can have a few hours of silence to catch up on housework and <i>not</i> listen to kids (not just my own) talking/arguing at/to me for many consecutive hours over many consecutive days...</div>
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School has recently gone back. And by "recently", I mean 5 weeks ago and we're suddenly half way through the first term - and how did that happen again??<br />
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But, hey, better late than never, right***?</div>
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Since before the new school year started, I wanted to make something small but special for my kids' teachers. Being partly inspired by my <a href="http://created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/its-most-colourful-time-of-year.html">stationary cake</a> (which, really, could be given to teachers at any time of the year rather than right at the end when they have to wait for school to go back to actually use it); and also by various teacher gifts I'd noticed on Pinterest (during the 'procrastination lesson' I thought about preparing).<br />
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Of course, days went by, and weeks, and I still hadn't made anything.<br />
<br />
But what really inspired me to <i>finally</i> make <i>something</i>, was when a friend posted <a href="http://acrucialweek.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/10-very-real-teacher-ailments-and.html">this funny list of 'very real teacher ailments and diseases'</a> on Facebook.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8lvYBcjB9R8/VOo6XyhpnLI/AAAAAAAALfc/ip6oTn7YfY0/s1600/NO_Germs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8lvYBcjB9R8/VOo6XyhpnLI/AAAAAAAALfc/ip6oTn7YfY0/s1600/NO_Germs.jpg" height="200" width="179" /></a></div>
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I thought the list was great, and with anything you think is pretty great - you want to share it. So I got creative and typed, printed, cut, and laminated them all for the teachers that have the, uh, pleasure of teaching my crazy offspring this year.<br />
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Of course, credit for this list has and still goes to <a href="http://acrucialweek.blogspot.com.au/">A Crucial Week</a> blog.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c1NtJUQrCYc/VOzaQrIIeCI/AAAAAAAALfw/4tkHyjZ4rt0/s1600/IMG_0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c1NtJUQrCYc/VOzaQrIIeCI/AAAAAAAALfw/4tkHyjZ4rt0/s1600/IMG_0068.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fitting to the theme of ailments and diseases, of course, is hand sanitiser. So once the little lists were ready, I collated and attached them to a bottle of Germ Eraser Gel for each of the kids' teachers:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DGYl86VRd7I/VOzaQCBPmiI/AAAAAAAALfs/fPSNoP94sP0/s1600/IMG_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DGYl86VRd7I/VOzaQCBPmiI/AAAAAAAALfs/fPSNoP94sP0/s1600/IMG_0073.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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With this picture stuck to the other side:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4p6WBLXFgA/VOzaQdB_cGI/AAAAAAAALf4/X1Rr7WM8uFA/s1600/IMG_0076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4p6WBLXFgA/VOzaQdB_cGI/AAAAAAAALf4/X1Rr7WM8uFA/s1600/IMG_0076.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
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... Because germs aren't cool! But teachers are :)</div>
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* Because that's all teachers do, right? Painting and craft?**<br />
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** I'm totally joking.<br />
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*** Does this apply for birthday cards, too?</div>
Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-47033319926326585242015-02-15T18:52:00.000+11:002015-02-27T17:58:58.898+11:00The reasons I eat.<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've been thinking a lot about my eating habits lately.<br />
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I've decided that to fully understand the reasons my brain convinces me to eat, I will do this little experiment and record how I'm feeling when I eat, for deeper insight into these trends I've been setting for myself.</div>
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So here they are; the top 10 reasons I eat:</div>
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1. I'm hungry.</div>
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2. I'm bored.</div>
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3. The TV is on.</div>
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4. I might get hungry later.</div>
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5. I'm happy.</div>
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6. I'm sad.</div>
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7. It's been more than 10 minutes since I last ate.</div>
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8. I need inspiration.</div>
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9. The kids are home.</div>
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10. It's <i>so</i> yummy!</div>
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And there you have it. The results from my experiment tracking the reasons I eat, rounded down to just ten.</div>
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... Now who wants ice cream?<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-35nBq2cPDas/VNw8iezWc9I/AAAAAAAALec/2T5mkzKSK3A/s1600/chipmunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-35nBq2cPDas/VNw8iezWc9I/AAAAAAAALec/2T5mkzKSK3A/s1600/chipmunk.jpg" height="309" width="320" /></a></div>
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Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-17411733503298062712015-02-13T11:25:00.000+11:002015-02-13T20:56:17.071+11:00Heroes in a half-shell!<div style="text-align: justify;">
No matter how many episodes, movies, or even minutes of just one single episode a boy has seen... Which of them does not become obsessed with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at some stage in his lifetime??</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KjnDbIEBVic/VNhM08hJV0I/AAAAAAAALbM/XLkJiqUVQLY/s1600/ninja%2Bturtles%2Bwallpapers-iSpm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KjnDbIEBVic/VNhM08hJV0I/AAAAAAAALbM/XLkJiqUVQLY/s1600/ninja%2Bturtles%2Bwallpapers-iSpm.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Heck. Who in general hasn't chosen a favourite Ninja Turtle to imitate in the playground or <cough> at the workplace. Costumes come in adult sizes for a reason, you know. And if that's your thing, then good for you. Just be careful when boarding a train armed with pretend swords... You can never be too careful who might think you're <i>not</i> just dressed as a fictional character on their way to work for a fundraiser.<br />
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Last month, I had the pleasure of designing and making a Ninja Turtles themed cake.</div>
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I began my research, and designed a city/skyscraper landscape, similar to what I did with this <a href="http://created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-batman.html">Batman cake</a>. My Google research seemed to steer me in the direction of a blue night sky, complete with a full moon.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WcSOrEBMcGg/VNhNoCM4r2I/AAAAAAAALbU/L71wQo3UUME/s1600/IMG_7542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WcSOrEBMcGg/VNhNoCM4r2I/AAAAAAAALbU/L71wQo3UUME/s1600/IMG_7542.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VNM9C2-IFE0/VNxD8mPDkJI/AAAAAAAALes/plmFgrx4lYE/s1600/IMG_7568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VNM9C2-IFE0/VNxD8mPDkJI/AAAAAAAALes/plmFgrx4lYE/s1600/IMG_7568.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--c4D0E9v6rc/VNxD89krWHI/AAAAAAAALew/MbHZCbDyBTY/s1600/IMG_7569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--c4D0E9v6rc/VNxD89krWHI/AAAAAAAALew/MbHZCbDyBTY/s1600/IMG_7569.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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And though there's ample cakes that have the beloved turtles emerging from a sewer, I felt it most certainly necessary to add another one.</div>
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For the 'sewer', I used two mini cake boards and covered one in grey fondant, and the placed a grey fondant ring around the other. The birthday boy, who's name is Ralph, was turning 5, so I imprinted (with a cookie cutter) the number into the fondant, and filled in the rest of the 'lid' with, well, marks from the handle of a teaspoon.</div>
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I relied on a YouTube tutorial for the making of turtle heads - the shape mainly, as you need an indent for where the eyes and masks will be... because I didn't think that, all by myself, I could manage a round ball with a slight curve in it.</div>
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One by one, colour by colour, eye by eye, bandana by bandana, and mouth by mouth, these miniature Ninja Turtle heads were made and assembled.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VKuNbjUGuJY/VNhOVNzqB4I/AAAAAAAALcs/W0o7b8lP3uU/s1600/IMG_7547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VKuNbjUGuJY/VNhOVNzqB4I/AAAAAAAALcs/W0o7b8lP3uU/s1600/IMG_7547.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I discovered quickly that the easiest way to add this green gang of sword-fighting brothers to the cake was to place them on top (totally unrealistic, by the way, emerging from a sewer <i>on top</i> of a city; but I like to think of it as a contemporary piece, where you really need to step back and appreciate the art form, rather than look too closely at the detail and how completely wrong it is).</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-315bAxBujcI/VNhN2Ge8h2I/AAAAAAAALbw/iytCkpOj01Y/s1600/IMG_7570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-315bAxBujcI/VNhN2Ge8h2I/AAAAAAAALbw/iytCkpOj01Y/s1600/IMG_7570.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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With made-up-as-I-went-along turtle hands (or are they really feet?) squished under the heads, the turtles emerge from the mini cake-board sewer in the sky, and good ol' Donatello is the chivalrous brother who slides the sewer lid to the side to make room for the others.<br />
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I'm pretty sure in any episode and movie I've seen, they can't all fit out of the sewer at once, so just go along with it, okay?</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T6ZmxxKQpHs/VNxIfv5jlvI/AAAAAAAALfE/ZmR5pRapzB4/s1600/IMG_7567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T6ZmxxKQpHs/VNxIfv5jlvI/AAAAAAAALfE/ZmR5pRapzB4/s1600/IMG_7567.jpg" height="200" width="199" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ssptCXQePk/VNxIfgtqf-I/AAAAAAAALfA/PxE8jxBzrC8/s1600/IMG_7565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ssptCXQePk/VNxIfgtqf-I/AAAAAAAALfA/PxE8jxBzrC8/s1600/IMG_7565.jpg" height="200" width="199" /></a></div>
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Lastly, for the final touch on the cake - birthday wishes. Since the birthday boy's mother is a writer, Husband assured me that she would appreciate the word pun on the cake, turning Ralph into his favourite of the ninja turtles - Ralphael.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LjRulLl__68/VNhNowdyqeI/AAAAAAAALbY/3DiTN-YeO90/s1600/IMG_7563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LjRulLl__68/VNhNowdyqeI/AAAAAAAALbY/3DiTN-YeO90/s1600/IMG_7563.jpg" height="400" width="397" /></a></div>
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And here's the <i>ah-mazing</i> food display set up at the party! The birthday boy's dad made four fruit & veggie platters in true Ninja Turtle style!! With matching dips and everything. It was impressive :)</div>
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Happy birthday Ralph!!</div>
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Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-69452172497749176922015-02-10T18:02:00.000+11:002015-02-27T18:27:21.252+11:00I bought a zoo!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQo8Vos76qE/U64H5GjqYII/AAAAAAAAKFk/kZP-2bpZUqc/s1600/zoo-sign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQo8Vos76qE/U64H5GjqYII/AAAAAAAAKFk/kZP-2bpZUqc/s1600/zoo-sign.png" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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The last time I went to a zoo, I was holidaying solo in Queensland about 6 years ago. It was on my last day, and I'd already left the hotel and dropped my bags off at the airport. According to a sign or brochure that I had, the zoo was "a small train ride away".</div>
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What I <i>didn't</i> realise, was that it was also a 3km walk <i>from</i> the train station, in an unclear direction! With all of my carry on luggage with me (more than I'd anticipated, as usual when travelling), I finally made it to the zoo, got out my camera to take a photo of the sign (the only reason I <i>wanted</i> to go to the zoo was to take photos of everything), and the camera battery dies right in front of me!! ... Totally devastated, I still went in (having walked for half of the day to <i>get</i> to the damn thing), and I will admit that it was a less than impressive experience. The ground was muddy, animal enclosures were blocked off, and I couldn't take photos of anything.<br />
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Still. I wandered around, bought my children some souvenirs, and then left for the long walk back to the train station, to head back to the airport and come home.</div>
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That's been my only horrible zoo experience.</div>
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Saying that, it's been one of my very <i>few</i> zoo experiences, also. The most recent was with my children, and my mum, at a nearby wildlife park. Going to an open zoo is a <i>lot</i> different to going to one where everything is behind cages. Especially if you take a 4 year old with you! <i>Yes</i>, I freaked out when the emu chased my youngest son. <i>Yes</i>, I freaked out when he grabbed the kangaroo's tail. And <i>yes</i>, I freaked out when he climbed to the top of the Tasmanian Devil semi-enclosure, and poured some of his drink down on him, because "he looked thirsty."</div>
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<b>HOT TIP:</b> Do not take Jonathan to the zoo if you are on heart medication, and/or suffer from anxiety.</div>
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Well, guess what! I bought a zoo!</div>
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... Sort of.<br />
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I bought <i>fondant</i>, and <i>made</i> some zoo animals- does that count as the same thing??<br />
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I was asked by a family friend if I could make the decorations for a zoo themed cake she was making for her niece's 1st birthday. Having little to no experience with making animals from fondant, I accepted this challenge head on, and got to work figuring out how I was actually going to do it.<br />
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The idea was to make a mum and a baby of each animal.</div>
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To see how time consuming this challenge potentially could be, I looked through the book that our friend had given me to use (an instruction booklet on making fondant animals), picked one called "chick", changed the colours, and made the first animal pair - penguins:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8GuPWnUo6TA/U66jz8UbAqI/AAAAAAAAKH4/WPpb4N18wyw/s1600/20140627_115608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8GuPWnUo6TA/U66jz8UbAqI/AAAAAAAAKH4/WPpb4N18wyw/s1600/20140627_115608.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Using the same method I used for some <a href="http://created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/20-little-ducks-went-out-one-day.html">baby shower duck cupcakes</a>, I also made two ducks:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vJojX6NTlJI/U66jz32wHOI/AAAAAAAAKH0/Ff45KKVLpUg/s1600/20140627_115627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vJojX6NTlJI/U66jz32wHOI/AAAAAAAAKH0/Ff45KKVLpUg/s1600/20140627_115627.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Getting into the swing of it all, I then tried my luck on making seals. As per the book's instructions, and the request of our friend, I made the 'mum' purple, and the 'baby' pink. I used wire for their whiskers, and propped their heads up against various kitchen supplies to ensure they would set in the right place:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XZ1bzUNYZms/U66j4VhT56I/AAAAAAAAKIE/rv5BPkM8_zM/s1600/20140627_115638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XZ1bzUNYZms/U66j4VhT56I/AAAAAAAAKIE/rv5BPkM8_zM/s1600/20140627_115638.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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From here, I felt confident that I could move onto some more complicated animals. So, of <i>course</i>, I chose the giraffe. Why, oh why choose the tallest and skinniest animal to make next??<br />
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I coloured my fondant to be a caramel colour, and divided it all up into the various parts that were needed for a big and little (yet still both little) giraffe.<br />
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I can't remember where I saw the idea (I'm pretty certain I didn't come up with it myself), but I used uncooked spaghetti to hold the parts of the body together. I'm not sure exactly why I feel it necessary to add that it was uncooked, as really - who would try to thread <i>cooked</i> spaghetti through pieces of fondant?<br />
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Piece by piece, leg by leg, I assembled these miniature giraffes, and stood them against more kitchen gadgets to set in place (they got a bit top heavy!):<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RVIMAfpXR1Q/U66jBEZHOHI/AAAAAAAAKGU/cO4DpdLhGAE/s1600/20140622_152433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RVIMAfpXR1Q/U66jBEZHOHI/AAAAAAAAKGU/cO4DpdLhGAE/s1600/20140622_152433.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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As it turned out (to my daughter's delight), what was <i>meant</i> to be the mum (or dad) giraffe, was <i>far</i> too big, so I used the baby giraffe to be the mum. As it took a few hours just to get to this stage, I waited a few days before making the littler baby giraffe:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jZU5MZ0ptWQ/U66i5NeugqI/AAAAAAAAKGE/8zlJepAtCOM/s1600/20140622_153919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jZU5MZ0ptWQ/U66i5NeugqI/AAAAAAAAKGE/8zlJepAtCOM/s1600/20140622_153919.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_EkPS0lsODA/U66jHpk8IeI/AAAAAAAAKGg/V8bFCNX1aYc/s1600/20140622_153927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_EkPS0lsODA/U66jHpk8IeI/AAAAAAAAKGg/V8bFCNX1aYc/s1600/20140622_153927.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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Since a couple of the animal pairs were being made of different colours (e.g. the purple & pink seals), I decided to do the same with the giraffes. Husband claimed that different colours would mess with my OCD, but I actually felt that their <i>wonkiness</i> affected me more than the colour did anyway!</div>
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I suppose it's not the first time I've <a href="http://created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/rubbish-total-rubbish.html">made something wonky</a>, though.</div>
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My ideal outcome for this zoo project/challenge/character-building-segment-of-insanity, was to have many different animals, and a variety of colours. So to add some colour to the zoo I was making, I made turtles next! Basically I shaped and stuck the legs, head, and tail together on baking paper first, and then squished a brown ball of fondant on top to make the shell. And then added eyes, smiles, and little shapes onto their shells to finish them off:<br />
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I could sense a pattern of bouncing from basic to complicated with each different animal pair that I made, because next, I attempted to make a pair of zebras. I prepared and lined up the parts of them that I'd need, similar to what I did with the giraffes:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2fXIykLf0zE/U66jUJWz9GI/AAAAAAAAKG8/5hGciFS0Plo/s1600/20140626_180207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2fXIykLf0zE/U66jUJWz9GI/AAAAAAAAKG8/5hGciFS0Plo/s1600/20140626_180207.jpg" height="198" width="400" /></a></div>
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Using more spaghetti, which has become one of my essential (and edible) tools in fondant moulding now, I attached bodies onto legs, and heads onto bodies.<br />
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Then started singing "the right foot's connected to the... rib cage". Wait, what?!<br />
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Seriously, though. Wherever the spaghetti idea came from, <i>thank you!!</i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KsPf3Yv0KmM/U66jTT55TXI/AAAAAAAAKG0/4PplOr4bQKU/s1600/20140626_180516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KsPf3Yv0KmM/U66jTT55TXI/AAAAAAAAKG0/4PplOr4bQKU/s1600/20140626_180516.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vZe5lhXUuxM/U66jeUyzNGI/AAAAAAAAKHU/Tnh7e-U6pNQ/s1600/20140626_183038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vZe5lhXUuxM/U66jeUyzNGI/AAAAAAAAKHU/Tnh7e-U6pNQ/s1600/20140626_183038.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M89hlPCiaO0/U66jZ8CI6_I/AAAAAAAAKHE/8Lu4JgY8uw0/s1600/20140626_182842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M89hlPCiaO0/U66jZ8CI6_I/AAAAAAAAKHE/8Lu4JgY8uw0/s1600/20140626_182842.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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The decorating part was really tricky, though. Next time I will just use edible paint, I think! (Or not make zebras). Teeny tiny pieces of <i>black</i> fondant, mixed with a teeny tiny <i>white</i> background and sticky glue is just asking for mess! They were cute anyway, though:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ykMPjkoDofA/U66kJUf7UDI/AAAAAAAAKIk/noEWjETcVjw/s1600/20140627_115806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ykMPjkoDofA/U66kJUf7UDI/AAAAAAAAKIk/noEWjETcVjw/s1600/20140627_115806.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Crocodiles were fairly straight forward animals to make. Once I'd moulded a big and a little one, I used a pair of scissors to create 'spikes' along their backs (a tip from the decorating book). These were a great animal to make, because they could lie flat to set, and didn't need their heads to be propped up against anything:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YYcd3zAvjF8/U66kKyVfYPI/AAAAAAAAKIs/7-CzS3IQuRA/s1600/20140627_115821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YYcd3zAvjF8/U66kKyVfYPI/AAAAAAAAKIs/7-CzS3IQuRA/s1600/20140627_115821.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Using the same spaghetti-and-prop techniques I did for the seals, giraffes and zebras, I moved onto making some elephants. On the birthday girl's party invitation, there was a green elephant, so, along with a purple 'mum', and pink 'baby', I couldn't help but make a matching green 'dad'!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ueJdWnxIrJ8/U66jaOGMosI/AAAAAAAAKHI/TjZoPK9newE/s1600/20140627_075708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ueJdWnxIrJ8/U66jaOGMosI/AAAAAAAAKHI/TjZoPK9newE/s1600/20140627_075708.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GDyASS97SQY/U66jnlW1MPI/AAAAAAAAKHc/-I8pciB1BSA/s1600/20140627_080030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GDyASS97SQY/U66jnlW1MPI/AAAAAAAAKHc/-I8pciB1BSA/s1600/20140627_080030.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EpjmQKdaRpw/U66jqGsTdxI/AAAAAAAAKHk/pt2MLxmDEa8/s1600/20140627_092337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EpjmQKdaRpw/U66jqGsTdxI/AAAAAAAAKHk/pt2MLxmDEa8/s1600/20140627_092337.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jE64YOeg7-M/U66jwbuvt6I/AAAAAAAAKHs/GENYwvv3tJA/s1600/20140627_092355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jE64YOeg7-M/U66jwbuvt6I/AAAAAAAAKHs/GENYwvv3tJA/s1600/20140627_092355.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
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And I made a little bow for the baby, and gave some hair to the dad, to add some character:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EbdU5Wzs0FY/U66kXJXQiSI/AAAAAAAAKJA/nTx1GuJvXBo/s1600/20140627_115850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EbdU5Wzs0FY/U66kXJXQiSI/AAAAAAAAKJA/nTx1GuJvXBo/s1600/20140627_115850.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Each animal had it's fiddly part/s, but it was really great practice making all these animals. Some were simple, some were insanely tricky, and some couldn't help but look slightly weird or lopsided. With the pandas, I think the eyes were the hardest thing to capture on them! Too big and they look like they're abusing the wrong substances, and too little and they look like they need coffee to wake up!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eEz8pQ-Eh60/U66kKwaGgZI/AAAAAAAAKIw/IOIotwELgnU/s1600/20140627_115747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eEz8pQ-Eh60/U66kKwaGgZI/AAAAAAAAKIw/IOIotwELgnU/s1600/20140627_115747.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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And what's a zoo without a lion!? Well... The zoo I went to in Brisbane, I suppose. No lions. Just birds and iguanas. And before you tell me, I <i>know</i> that a baby lion, let's call him "Simba", shouldn't have a mane, so I'd like to encourage you to think of this baby lion less as <i>baby</i>-Simba, and more... as adolescent/pubescent Simba, growing his first lot of facial hair, knowing absolutely everything there is to know about being an adult and a king.<br />
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Because don't all teenagers know more than their parents?<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RF_-IEX0Eqg/U66j__dJE0I/AAAAAAAAKIQ/N55LSQNbIYQ/s1600/20140627_115716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RF_-IEX0Eqg/U66j__dJE0I/AAAAAAAAKIQ/N55LSQNbIYQ/s1600/20140627_115716.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lastly, I made a gorilla and a monkey. I know, I know they aren't 'technically' the same animal, but they worked really well at pretending to be a daddy and a baby! Or a mummy and a baby. Or an uncle and an adopted mentally challenged fur-kid who likes to eat bananas all day.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CWUZXb6UqzY/U66kyGOuMYI/AAAAAAAAKJs/WNc8XpTwPUs/s1600/20140627_095258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CWUZXb6UqzY/U66kyGOuMYI/AAAAAAAAKJs/WNc8XpTwPUs/s1600/20140627_095258.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HPkC7vic26k/U66k-fYV6KI/AAAAAAAAKKE/0wy-dLYlgPg/s1600/20140627_095700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HPkC7vic26k/U66k-fYV6KI/AAAAAAAAKKE/0wy-dLYlgPg/s1600/20140627_095700.jpg" height="200" width="199" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLHOT_SAsog/U66kz1z2UFI/AAAAAAAAKJ0/KG3a2OkLlzE/s1600/20140627_095250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLHOT_SAsog/U66kz1z2UFI/AAAAAAAAKJ0/KG3a2OkLlzE/s1600/20140627_095250.jpg" height="200" width="160" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2qwNE8iQ3o/U66k_TJyYhI/AAAAAAAAKKM/TGQoblEQfY8/s1600/20140627_095936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2qwNE8iQ3o/U66k_TJyYhI/AAAAAAAAKKM/TGQoblEQfY8/s1600/20140627_095936.jpg" height="200" width="160" /></a></div>
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The monkey was one of the most enjoyable to make, because you don't need to give him facial expression to make him look playful! Of course, I gave them both a banana to hold :)<br />
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Because I'm all about stereotyping.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-naczdLOgg1U/U66lGC9gOMI/AAAAAAAAKKU/wnFqEGCJKcw/s1600/20140627_101422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-naczdLOgg1U/U66lGC9gOMI/AAAAAAAAKKU/wnFqEGCJKcw/s1600/20140627_101422.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4z-H3fk2flw/U66kX5ifq9I/AAAAAAAAKJM/2oMEYjNiFZ4/s1600/20140627_115932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4z-H3fk2flw/U66kX5ifq9I/AAAAAAAAKJM/2oMEYjNiFZ4/s1600/20140627_115932.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Though it took a while,<br />
and some animals took a <i>lot</i> more time to make than others,</div>
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I had made a zoo!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4_guziN3mWU/U66k3K0RglI/AAAAAAAAKJ8/mlu-BrCSGqA/s1600/20140627_120746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4_guziN3mWU/U66k3K0RglI/AAAAAAAAKJ8/mlu-BrCSGqA/s1600/20140627_120746.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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And here they are on the cake, and with the birthday girl at her party :)</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WdoKTPc2xag/VEzX0tZFQVI/AAAAAAAAK5M/-jlppWTp7pE/s1600/IMG_9893%2B(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WdoKTPc2xag/VEzX0tZFQVI/AAAAAAAAK5M/-jlppWTp7pE/s1600/IMG_9893%2B(1).JPG" height="159" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ABvcNuphN_k/VEzX3CmMmTI/AAAAAAAAK5U/_f0MoEyjv5Q/s1600/IMG_9897%2B(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ABvcNuphN_k/VEzX3CmMmTI/AAAAAAAAK5U/_f0MoEyjv5Q/s1600/IMG_9897%2B(1).JPG" height="159" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GjuLNPWn-go/VEzXrGyVavI/AAAAAAAAK5E/89aSpea-Q6I/s1600/616429_10152552739536241_4012313516465371123_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GjuLNPWn-go/VEzXrGyVavI/AAAAAAAAK5E/89aSpea-Q6I/s1600/616429_10152552739536241_4012313516465371123_o.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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Happy birthday Estelle!!</div>
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Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-2510809065335148522015-02-07T20:24:00.000+11:002015-02-07T20:24:01.397+11:00Summer Sounds...<div style="text-align: justify;">
Once upon a time, there was a lady who was walking the streets of her suburb, delivering invites* to an upcoming church event.</div>
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It was at that time (about 6 in the morning), as she kept looking down at these bright blue pieces of card in her hand- finally being able to actually see them because the sun was coming up- that she realised that the picture on the invite could <i>totally</i> be turned into a cupcake topper!</div>
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So she baked the cupcakes she'd imagined during her walk, and this is what they looked like:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L65K2IUBTd0/VNV7zm31IHI/AAAAAAAALZM/YR4iJyMCodQ/s1600/SS-cupcakes1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L65K2IUBTd0/VNV7zm31IHI/AAAAAAAALZM/YR4iJyMCodQ/s1600/SS-cupcakes1.png" height="133" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipSBSRsEUA8/VNV70Ga0cWI/AAAAAAAALZQ/SCiaegsEwb8/s1600/SS-cupcakes2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipSBSRsEUA8/VNV70Ga0cWI/AAAAAAAALZQ/SCiaegsEwb8/s1600/SS-cupcakes2.png" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-je6m8ajfg-0/VNV8JiR-21I/AAAAAAAALZc/MUc6BjuBcbw/s1600/IMG_7524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-je6m8ajfg-0/VNV8JiR-21I/AAAAAAAALZc/MUc6BjuBcbw/s1600/IMG_7524.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Next time, she will make littler suns.<br />
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... Or bigger cupcakes.</div>
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She handed them out on the night of the event, to musicians, friends, and anyone else who found her and told her that they've read her blog thought it was the best thing since packet cake mix.</div>
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Then she enjoyed a relaxing night of music, mozzies, and mischievous children.</div>
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The end.</div>
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* Which looked like this:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VvuqVxxLxpk/VNO-0XCDqyI/AAAAAAAALYs/jcT54nyP_xE/s1600/summer-sounds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VvuqVxxLxpk/VNO-0XCDqyI/AAAAAAAALYs/jcT54nyP_xE/s1600/summer-sounds.jpg" height="225" width="320" /></a></div>
Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-71812186004367195102015-02-05T19:15:00.000+11:002015-02-05T19:15:20.793+11:00A spoonful of Nutella...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Chocolate comes from cocoa, which is a tree.</div>
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That makes it a plant.</div>
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Therefore, chocolate is salad!</div>
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Which must mean that Nutella is spreadable salad.</div>
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Happy <a href="http://www.nutelladay.com/">World Nutella Day</a>!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-645EYTt6ht4/VNLzod0kX4I/AAAAAAAALXk/Zx_qsrFcvDg/s1600/pleasecalmdownmychildrenmacpceveryonelikesnutella9711b34af287a50296142a46b5ebd758.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-645EYTt6ht4/VNLzod0kX4I/AAAAAAAALXk/Zx_qsrFcvDg/s1600/pleasecalmdownmychildrenmacpceveryonelikesnutella9711b34af287a50296142a46b5ebd758.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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Before you jump to any conclusions, I did <i>not</i> make up this day! Check out the link if you don't believe me. It is real, and a friend of mine even organised a special Nutella themed morning tea, invited friends over, and feasted on all sorts of delicious Nutella recipes.</div>
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Last year (when I first discovered this day existed), I made <a href="http://created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/nutella-day.html">Nutella 'popsicles'</a> using two ingredients. This year, I thought I'd share something that I've seen so many times, and finally got around to making!</div>
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A Nutella pull apart.</div>
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- a.k.a. "Chocolate star bread" -</div>
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I'm sure you may have also stumbled across the tutorial in your internet/Facebook surfing as well, perhaps a couple of months ago during the Christmas season. If not, you can find one (of the many, <i>many</i> available) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzxQ-GRuoxk">here</a>.</div>
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The thing I suppose I didn't realise when I randomly decided to make this, is that bread dough takes foreverrr to rise when you're impulsive and impatient. An entire season viewing of Desperate Housewives later, and I was finally able to create this afternoon tea treat for my children.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YnNWubfdpl8/VNMLpq_PX5I/AAAAAAAALYA/fsLRnkPpbX4/s1600/IMG_7260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YnNWubfdpl8/VNMLpq_PX5I/AAAAAAAALYA/fsLRnkPpbX4/s1600/IMG_7260.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccET3-Vrw2s/VNMLpGp5UJI/AAAAAAAALX8/QugWaW9XXX8/s1600/IMG_7262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccET3-Vrw2s/VNMLpGp5UJI/AAAAAAAALX8/QugWaW9XXX8/s1600/IMG_7262.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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The kids were impressed, and most of it was devoured, but next time I might try using puff pastry (or maybe even pizza dough) which can be a bit more ready-when-you-need-it if I impulsively decide to make something like this again ;)</div>
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Have you made any Nutella treats to celebrate World Nutella Day?</div>
Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-63707134071429079732015-02-04T07:42:00.000+11:002015-02-27T18:03:10.254+11:00Baby Sprinkle!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last weekend, I attended my first ever Baby Sprinkle. Intended to be a low key get-together to sprinkle our friend and mum-to-be (rather than shower, soak, or saturate) with love and baby things for her and her baby boy due in less than two weeks, the play group mums joined together and organised this occasion for her.</div>
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And it was a really fun night!</div>
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There was so much food, there were so many presents, there were games, challenges, and an advice book to write in and give to the mum-to-be. I think my "advice" was more a reminder for myself!</div>
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And, there was not just one... But <i>two</i> kinds of cake! A nappy cake, and the cake this post is about.</div>
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During the organising of the Sprinkle, I was asked if I might be able to make a cake. Of course I could! As I looked through various designs, you know "researching", I came across one that I thought was really cute, and that I might be able to manage - the one with a baby's bottom and feet poking out of a blanket... I'm sure you've seen one before.</div>
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The feet and toes were made out of fondant. I'd shaped the feet like giant jelly beans, and included creases in the middle, much like the cake I was referencing had.<br />
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Though I had seen things like this made out of a Rice Bubbles mixture (and covered in a thin layer of fondant), I didn't mind shaping these parts with just fondant. Sure, it meant a <i>lot</i> of sugar in one bite, but at the time I felt it was the least stressful option!<br />
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The cakes were chocolate, and covered in white fondant. A round one for the bottom tier, and a rounded cake (made in the same giant mug used for this <a href="http://created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/youre-gonna-hear-me-rawr.html">dinosaur cake</a>), for the baby's bottom.</div>
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The legs I was unsure of, so I made them out of fondant as well, and curled them around each side of the top tier, roughly making sure that there would still be enough room for the feet.</div>
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The teeny tiny toes were attached one at a time, and the giant jelly beans suddenly looked like feet. The big ones needing to be held up/on by cling wrap.</div>
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Around the base of the cake I stuck a light blue ribbon. Initially, I wanted to add a bow (and started making the parts for it), but they didn't turn out so well, so it was a plain ribbon without a bow, and I was okay with that! In fact, one of my pieces of "advice" that I wrote in the book was a quote from my father in law:<br />
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"You can save on time, money, and stress; but never on all three."<br />
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I certainly saved on time and stress deciding <i>not</i> to make the bow.</div>
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As well as the blue ribbon, I had some light green/teal fondant (leftover from the <a href="http://www.created-creatively.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/and-i-said-what-about-cake-at-tiffanys.html">Tiffany's cake</a>) that I cut some stars out of. The cake I kept referring to had polka dots on it, and I at least wanted to do <i>something</i> different! So stars it was.</div>
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No matter how hard I looked on Google, though, I couldn't find anyone else posting the horrible backs of their baby bottom cakes! I had no idea what it needed to look like. But, since I messed up my measurements with the initial layer of white fondant, I decided that the baby blanket would be much bigger than it probably should be, and would drape down the back of the cake, covering all evidence of me screwing it up...<br />
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But for your own reference (and proof that I make mistakes on cakes, too), this is the back.<br />
<insert deeply saddened pouty face></div>
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The 'blanket' was basically a giant semi circle of the same colour I'd used around the base of the cake. I put a few brushes of water onto the baby bottom, and just... draped it over! For 30 seconds (because you really don't have a lot of time before it starts tearing or setting), I made sure that the blanket was wavy, covered where it needed to, and looked presentable.</div>
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A few more stars later, and it was done!</div>
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As I looked at this creation, I'm pretty sure this cake could be used for a serious SIDS awareness campaign. The baby is <i>face down</i>, trapped <i>under</i> a blanket, with the <i>feet</i> sticking out. And where is the baby's head? Is he looking for his dummy and has half fallen out of his little cot trying to reach his beloved pacifier?<br />
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On a more positive note, I liked that the light green/teal fondant stars (especially on the 'blanket') looked like they could glow in the dark :)</div>
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By the end of the night, the mum-to-be <i>may</i> have felt a little saturated, but it is only because she is our friend and we love her... And because most of us are <i>done</i> on the baby-making front, so now we get to buy baby things for someone else, which is exciting!<br />
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And since I mentioned it, here's a photo of the main table setup at the Baby Sprinkle, featuring two kinds of cake - a nappy cake, and the cake this post was about :)<br />
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Wishing you the very best, Talia!</div>
Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852613048519208155.post-72843970718701985822015-02-02T16:52:00.000+11:002015-02-02T22:04:02.157+11:00With a cherry on top!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PqZdARGAXLQ/VM77WIBSF-I/AAAAAAAALV8/aNu3dlHjVLA/s1600/sundae.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PqZdARGAXLQ/VM77WIBSF-I/AAAAAAAALV8/aNu3dlHjVLA/s1600/sundae.png" height="200" width="103" /></a>An ice-cream sundae:<br />
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Originally consisting of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and a maraschino cherry on top, it's evolved into something quite fascinating (and potentially a bit sickly), unlimited to the size and amount of, well, everything you choose to add to it. From nuts to sprinkles to all the flavoured toppings you can reach in the line up at Sizzler.</div>
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A <i>cupcake</i> sundae: Originated somewhere on the internet (well, probably in someone's kitchen or bakery before that), which has become a wide-spread phenomenon where the design of a cupcake directly imitates the form of an ice-cream sundae.</div>
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I was asked to make some cupcakes for a friend to take to school for her daughter's birthday today. There was no theme she had in mind, just 'chocolate' for the flavour. Baffled with ideas, I eventually chose a design I have wanted to try and make for ages... The cupcake sundae.</div>
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I gathered the ingredients needed, made the cupcakes, and began assembling these miniature desserts. I had made (well, attempted to make) the wafers the night before, using caramel coloured fondant and the only patterned rolling pin I owned.</div>
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With white buttercream icing (using a technique I'd heard of on this lovely thing called the internet - adding a drop of 'violet' to the buttercream mixture to make it whiten), and piped a round swirl onto the cupcakes. Next was a drizzle of melted chocolate, some 100s & 1000s sprinkled on that, and a jaffa on top. Personally I think orange and chocolate is the worst possible combination ever imagined, but some people really dig it.</div>
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I quickly learned that unless your fondant 'wafer' has set extremely hard (which mine had not), it will flop and break not long after adding it to the cupcakes. So, soon after this photo was taken, I rearranged the order of my cupcake production line, and started placing each cupcake into it's cellophane bag immediately after putting the 'wafer' in.</div>
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The line then continued from wafer to cupcake; cupcake to cellophane bags; then cellophane bag to the table, where they waited patiently until the next step...</div>
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They did look a bit special in their bags, though. </div>
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The last job on the list of things to repeat a thousand times, was tying the cellophane bags up with ribbon (and curling them, because I still had time before they were picked up).</div>
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I've since discovered that they are just as delicious as an ice-cream sundae ;)</div>
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Happy birthday Mia!</div>
Natalie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622339157745536404noreply@blogger.com0