Halloween Costume W.I.P. It's Mario Kart!

This year I wanted to just get a store bought costume for my boy after last year's labor-intensive 'oompa-loompa' getup... so I presented the Mario costume to my boy who has a great fondness for the Mario Kart game. He thought it was ok...but could we please make a car for him to race in. *sigh*
So I didn't get off the handmade hook this year entirely...
but this was more of a 'daddy & me' project for the two of them. *wink, wink*
I think they've done a great job so far by altering a cardboard box with tape & hot glue. Now they only need to add paint & the boy will be race... I mean, 'trick or treat' ready!

Feel free to share your Halloween costume plans!

Another Cute Bunny Photoshoot

Yuki, our little bunny, enjoyed playing with the yarn during this photoshoot. She kept pushing it around the table & nibbling on it a bit. I may have these printed up to hang in my craft room, but will need to make some new wall space available.

Halloween is Right Around the Corner!

It's time to snatch these sweet & spooky looking treats right up from my etsy shop!

I have ghoulish glitter rings! Pick your favorite!

Sweet looking candy corn jewelry...not to eat, but looks that yummy!

And...

A variety of whimsical Halloween resin heart necklaces which would look great either paired with your Halloween costume, or your everyday wardrobe to show a little holiday spirit. So fun, so cool...and you won't find these anywhere else because I made them all myself!
I will be listing all of these in the shop over the next few days...so if there is one you have your eye on, let me know and I will reserve it for you.

Happy Halloween!!!

Bunnies in Bowls!

white bunny in white bowl by isewcute ttv, a photo by isewcute on Flickr.

I have created a new group called 'bunnies in bowls' on flickr, so please feel free to join & add your cute bunny in a bowl!

:o)

www.flickr.com/groups/bunniesinbowls/

Today I've been photographing our bunny in an imaginary lollipop garden. Good times!

Yuki had a good time licking the props & nibbling on the silk flowers. She appreciated her dandelion greens treat afterwards. You know it's so hard to be this cute!

We have recently welcomed a new member to our family!

This is Yuki (Yoo-kee)...which means 'snow' in Japanese... our dwarf hotot bunny rabbit!

We've had her for about a week now & it's been wonderful getting to know her. I've done a lot of bunny research for months & months to become the best rabbit mom I can be. We've had cats & I knew that caring for a rabbit would be a completely different experience & a lot of work... and very rewarding.

I lost my kitty last December very unexpectedly on my birthday & there has been a huge hole in my heart ever since. Of course nothing can replace him, but with Yuki joining our family, my heart has grown to be very fond of her & having a pet again has made our home feel less empty to me.

The kids are thrilled with having a pet besides our fish tank...something they can cuddle & enjoy watching. Yuki is all kinds of adorable from the way she eats, washes her ears, & has bursts of energy where she springs back & forth.

I can't stop taking photos of our sweet little bun-bun...so along with recipes, craft projects, and product reviews, you can expect to see some fun bunny pictures here now!

Too Busy to Blog, but I'll be Around Soon!

I have plenty to blog about, but am tied up with a few projects right now... freelance sewing, trying to fill a couple of tall wholesale resin jewelry orders, & doing some website photography for a friend.
Also, my kids' birthdays are a week apart, & finally we're having a real birthday party with invitations sent out & a date set...so if I'm going out of my mind & seem to not be around much, that is why.
I think September is going to be a little less stressful!

Resin Jewelry Casting Marathon This Weekend

I'm so glad that the weather this past weekend was agreeable so I could dedicate some serious time to my crafting love of casting resin candy sprinkles & glitter jewelry pieces.

I made rings in star & heart shapes, as well as a few grand bubble domes with my original 'candy baby'

...then also mixed up a delicious looking blend of many different sprinkles to fill giant heart & star shaped pendants!

Hopefully most of the humid weather from this summer has passed & I can have a few more great crafty moments like this.

Please check the shop often because I'll be listing many great one of a kind pieces such as this sweet black kitty glitter heart necklace!

Stay Sparkly & Sweet!

Tropical Coconut Encrusted Rooster Lust (aka coconut fried chicken) Recipe

Tropical Coconut Encrusted Rooster Lust (aka coconut fried chicken) Recipe

3 lb. chicken pieces... I used boneless chicken tenders
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce (Sriracha Hot Chili pepper sauce found in oriental section of food store)
1 (14-ounce) can evaporated milk
1 1/2 c. flaked sweetened coconut
1 c. panko
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 c. flour in shallow dish
2-3 eggs, beaten

Pineapple dipping sauce:
app. 1 cup pina colada mix
3/4 - 1 cup of sour cream
3/4 cup crushed pineapple drained

Mix ingredients together for sauce & keep cold in covered container

For chicken:
Mix together the lemon juice, hot pepper sauce (I used "Sriracha" Hot Chili Sauce) & milk in a gallon size zip lock bag... place chicken pieces inside & let marinade in refrigerator for a couple hours...while squeezing the bag a few times to be sure all is well combined.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Line baking sheet with parchment paper so the chicken won't be an impossible mess to clean up.
Mix together coconut, panko, salt, and bread crumbs.
Remove chicken from bag & roll one piece at a time first in flour to get coating...then in eggs, & finally coat well in coconut mixture.
Bake for 25 minutes. Turn chicken pieces and continue baking 25 minutes more...or until done.

It should look similar to this:

This was so good...we renamed it! Also, my husband didn't complain about having to eat leftovers!

Cheers!

Mmmm! Handmade Whipped Body Butter!!!!

If I had known how easy it was to make this stuff...I would've started making it sooner!

This is my first round of crafting handmade whipped body butter & I love how it turned out. It's so skin loving & smells divine!
Want to make some? Sure you do!
Here's how!!!

What you need:
A small electric mixer
bowl
measuring spoons
spoon or spatula
containers with lids ...I used little round gladware containers
microwave

Ingredients:
2 generous tbsps of shea butter
2 generous tbsps of coccoa butter
1 tbsp. almond oil
1 tbsp. honey
2 tsp. grapeseed oil
1 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. fragrance of your choice

This recipe yields app. 1.25 cups ...just an fyi in case you would like more to share with friends...it can be doubled or if you'd like less, then divide it.

First thing, you'll want to measure the butters & microwave them for about a minute on 'high' until they melt into a liquid state.
Add to this all the other ingredients except for the scent which you add right at the end.
Use your electric mixer on high speed to whip the mixture for several minutes. It starts off looking yellow & oily & just when you think nothing is going to happen, ...it starts slowly to thicken...and also lightens in color. I didn't time how long it took exactly, but I'd hazard a guess it was 10 minutes at least before it really started looking creamy like cake batter.
See thin watery & yellow here:

Turns into thick creamy goodness here:

Be sure to stop the mixer & scrape the sides of the bowl now & again while you are mixing so everything is well blended. When it looks like whipped cream, add in your fragrance...give it another round with the mixer & then spoon into your storage containers!

I used a tropical coconut scent & it smells so dang delicious & My skin feels so smooth!

Rub it on your body & share with your friends who are sure to ooh & aaah!

There are a couple of local places I can purchase many of the ingredients from, but I have also ordered some of my supplies from country soap shack
on etsy. They were very helpful & friendly. I received my orders quickly & they were packaged with care, so if you're going to try this, please check them out!

Stay crafty!