Monday, April 30, 2012

Wedding Cake: Semper Fi


One of my creative outlets is cake decorating... and it's most enjoyable when I get to play a role in the wedding of a dear friend!
This cake was composed of 4 different flavors:
Bride and Groom's Tier: Spice Cake
Tier 2: Carrot Cake
Tier 3: Chocolate Cake
Tier 4: Funfetti Cake!
All with Bavarian Cream filling.

And as a Marine, Peter decided to cut the cake with his bride in a non-traditional manner.
I love it!





Pictures Courtesy of: Clari Noel Photography

Floral: Cheery Tulips

More signs that spring is here, despite the dreary rain....

My mom picked these at a friend's house and they've been cheering up our kitchen quite well. The sun popped out from behind the clouds for a few moments yesterday, and I ran outside to snap a few pics!



Memories: Mickey Mouse Pancakes!

Remember when you were a kid and your mom would make pancakes that looked like Mickey Mouse, a dinosaur, a flower.... maybe even spell out your name?

Turns out that the magic is still there, even for those of us in our twenties!

Thanks, Mom!

Underwater Floral

My dad's family is big into fish tanks in their home. This beautiful plant [animal??] is one of the many amazing species in my uncle's salt-water aquairium. The delicate movement as the water flowed through it reminded me of wildflowers blowing in a soft summer wind.




Now I want to go snorkeling.

Favorites: Mug Love




My church collects random mugs to be used by those of us who spend a lot of time there.

This one is my all-time favorite. 

DIY Project Show and... Tell a bit!


Just some random DIY projects we have laying around. There's a chance those around us think it's weird to save the toilet paper rolls once the paper has been used.... what we will do in the name of art!


One of these will likely go to an uncle who brings us toilet paper rolls as birthday gifts, just to tease. Won't he be suprised!





We have a sister with a fettish for anything dandelion. These were calling her name!

Newness of Life

New blog, new look, new logo. 

Fancy That Notion: Explained

Fancy
fan*cy
noun
1. imagination or fantasy, especially as exercised in a capricious manner.
2. the artistic ability of creating unreal or whimsical imagery, decorative detail, etc., as in poetry or drawing.
3. a mental image or conception=.
4. an idea or opinion with little foundation; illusion.
5. a caprice; whim.
adjective
6. made, designed, grown, adapted, etc., to please the taste or fancy; of superfine quality or exceptional appeal.
7. ornamental; decorative; not plain..
8. depending on imagination or caprice; whimsical; irregular: a fancy conception of time.
9. bred to develop points of beauty or excellence, as an animal.
10. much too costly; exorbitant or extravagant.
verb
11. to form a conception of; picture to oneself.
12. to believe without being absolutely sure or certain.
13. to take a liking to; like.
Notion
noun

<><>
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1.
a vague idea; impression
2.
an idea, concept, or opinion
3.
an inclination or whim

What's Cookin: Recipe for Chocolate Crinkle Cookies



Chocolate Crinkle Cookies!

These are probably the messiest cookies I've made yet for the kids at church.
I might be cleaning carpet after they're done!
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 squares [1 ounce each] unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • Confectioner's sugar [powdered sugar

In large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, eggs, oil, chocolate and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to sugar mixture and mix well.


Cover and refrigerate dough for at least 2 hours. Wish sugared hands, shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in confectioner's sugar. Place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350* for 10-12 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Yield: About 2 dozen cookies 

Recipe from: The Taste of Home Cookbook

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Somewhere Over the Rainbow.......

I did it.  I got myself a bunch of lovely, colorful paint chips to use in some crafty projects.  No, I didn't sneak into Home Depot, grab a bunch of greens off of the shelf, shove them in my purse and rush out the door before anyone saw me.  Instead, I just marched up to the first worker I saw and asked him if it was ok for me to take some paint chips to use for crafts.  And to my delight, he was totally fine with it!  Now as to what to use them for!!!
What do you think I should make with them?  Anything catch your fancy?
~K

Sanddollar Love



I'm in love with anything that has sand dollars! Besides the intricately delicate design on the face of each sand dollar, there is a beautiful suprise that many people don't know about. If you gently break open the shell [ruining it for good, mind you]... tiny, itty-bitty white pieces of shell fall out that are the exact shape of a flying dove. It amazes me.

And so I just had to have sand dollars as some type of focal point in my room. Made with fabric rummaged from our remnants drawer, and hand painted. 

Photo Joy

Sometimes cool photos come at the randomest times... these ones, for example! My sister and I decided to wash all 5 cars in our driveway, and with 2 more to go I took a quick break to grab my camera and snap a few shots of the flowers along our house. LOVE the dramatic lighting!


Too Cute: Pygmy Hamsters



Yes, we just might need to add one of these to our family in the near future!
Toooooo cute.


Springing Up!



Springing Up! 

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Christmas in April

Listening to Michael Buble Christmas songs and crafting....

Hey, whatever it takes to be inspired!

Fancy That: Seacombing Inspiration

It's not summer yet, but here at Fancy That Notions, the memories of beach combing for seaglass and seashells have us inspired again! The feeling of soft sand between your toes as you flirt with the waves, trying to grab a beautiful piece of glass before you get soaked... it can't be beat!

Here's a peak at some of the treasures we came home with during a tropical vacation not too long ago!






And now, we're working on some new jewelry pieces that will have YOU yearning for some beach time, too!

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

From the Oven: Gingersnaps!



Sometimes there is absolutely nothing like eating a fresh-from-the-oven gingersnap cookie! The gooeyness litereally melts in your mouth as the tangy ginger and cinnamon combo hits your senses. You reach for a second one without even realizing it!





These are one of my dad's top favorite cookies, so I've been making them since I was very little.



Perhaps a good book and a cup of tea are the perfect compliment to this crinkly cookie!

What's one thing you've been baking since you were a child?

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Floral: Cherry Blossoms



The arrival of spring brings new colors and shapes that winter somehow made you forget...

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Welcome!

This is the start of something new and exciting for us.....an online diary of our creative lives, plus a little extra! Whatever suits our fancy! Thank you for spending time on our blog! We've so enjoyed the writings, ideas, and inspiration of many, many others through their blogs and hope to pass a little something here and there on to others in this new venture.
-K&L