CUPCAKE CAFE

Spent some time up in the attic this past weekend looking for Halloween decorations when I came across the high chair I decorated for Frannie. It was a lot easier to bring the camera up to the attic than it would have been to bring the chair downstairs and then back up again, so pardon the background. After I had my little girl, I felt that a pretty high chair was in order, not one of those plastic things, and it's so much more attractive in the kitchen. I purchased a new, unpainted chair with the appropriate seat belt for safety, and then got right to work. I chose a light pink color with a periwinkle blue accent.

I wanted the high chair to look as though it were always set for a tea party so I got out my scissors, paper and decoupage medium. If you look closely, you'll see that I threw in a few thoughts of love (conversation heart next to cupcake says "true love", biscuit next to tea cup says "je taime", and there are heart-shaped cookies pouring out of the teapot). You'll also notice that I put periwinkle blue polka-dots around the edge of the tray (I wanted to make sure that I started Frannie out of the right foot). :)

I didn't want to overdo the polka-dots, so I controlled myself and put some stripes and letters on instead. The letters were created on the computer (I personally like Illustrator). After choosing a fun font, I sized it to fit on the back of the chair, then inversed the type and printed it out on the back of a polka-dot (whoops) paper, cut them out, and glued. A temporary glue stick works great for positioning, then just remove one letter at a time as you go along with the decoupage medium.

Lastly, the toe rail needed a little something - "Step Right Up" seemed to foot the bill (he-he-he). Another good thing about this chair was that the tray could be lifted over to the back which then made this a great youth seat when Frannie was ready to eat at the table, but still needed a little height. This chair is a keeper. Maybe someday Frannie's little girl will sit in it.

Here's a tip, after you decoupage, be sure to put on several coats of urethane. I use a water-based product. The tray was wiped clean again, and again, and again, and you can see that it still looks great!

S.W.A.K.

Mmmmmm... Chocolate

CUPCAKE GOODNESS

I received my cupcake goodies from my swap partner, Sharon, at Red Geranium Cottage. It was like taking out at all the goodies in my stocking on Christmas morning. What fun! Look at everything I received:

Inside the box were cupcake wrappers, pick, tins, non-pareils, mini heart-shaped silicone baking cups, a really clever measuring spoon, cupcake take-out box, stickers, bath fizzy, cupcake card with polka-dot handkerchief inside (I do love those polka dots!), 500 Cupcakes book (love, love love), a cake tester with a little cupcake on top (it's sticking out of the book), and also a cupcake wristlet that Sharon made (adorable!). Also,

Is this cute or what? It can hold photos or recipe cards. Wait, something's missing! Oh, there it is. Somebody, whose name is Frannie, took this out of the box when I wasn't looking.

This is an adorable little quilt that Sharon made. I hope you don't mind Sharon, but please feel honored because next to this little crib is another bed:

And upon that bed sits Frannie's favorite doll, Lauren, along with the doll quilt my grandmother made when I was a little girl.

And one more thing Sharon, I'm honored that I was picked in the contest, but just reading your blog and seeing your photos is prize enough. Keep 'em coming!

Next post, contest (giveaway) details, stay tuned.

S.W.A.K.