sparklythings

When the cherry-blossom chocolate-covered oreos mold came across during one of my daily eBay searches, I knew this was a must-get for bridal shower favors. Tutorials like this one are all over the internet; it sounded pretty easy even with my limited cooking skills. My own mold arrived earlier this week and the chocolate pieces went on sale at Michael’s today, so I had a cosmic appointment with pink vanilla and dark chocolate this evening.

the best of the bunch. If our kitchen was a fair, this one would have taken the blue ribbon.

The first batch – a few bubbles and I didn’t stay inside the lines with the pink, but overall not bad for never having done it before.

I bought normal Oreos before reading that you’re supposed to use DoubleStuf. The cross section (courtesty of Jim) shows why. I was going to use the single-stuf but Jim hopped to and went to the store of his own volition. He is an amazing man!

Using up the rest of the melted chocolate, practicing with colors and techniques. That’s Jim’s cookie in the lower right corner – it’s supposed to be a smiley face, he says.

Fans of my Las Vegas Kitsch-Inn (and there were few) will be disappointed to know that I’ve officially packed up the vintage Vegas doodads and have moved towards a vintage Florida citrus theme. The transition had been happening for a few years, really; ever since poker became hip again, Vegas stuff was in abundance and for me, well…it’s all about the hunt. Plus I had been inspired by some amazingly cute citrus dish towels that Sara and I both independently purchased from Dollar Tree. Retro kitsch is still appreciated and welcome – goodness knows there was plenty of THAT stuff produced – but I’m tempering it with lighter peach and mint colors, black and white accents, baroque patterns, and more antique rather than kitsch. Flamingos, palm trees, coconuts, pineapples and seahorses need not apply.

 My latest addition:

 

 

Inspiration: vintage crate labels from eBay, swirly post-Christmas wrapping paper from Target
Motivation: 1. Six months of staring at the labels sitting unfinished on the shelf
                 2. Discovering the joys of Elmer’s spray glue and wondering how I ever lived without it. It’s super sticky, so easy to use and looks professional when I’m done (I can get messy with glue.) Also good for huffing. No, wait…
                 3. Receiving a fold-up “craft table” from my mother, since horizontal space in our home is very, very limited. Never underestimate the importance of a good work space!

when it has everybody’s names instead.

in the biz, we might even call this a “logo.”