Red Velvet Cake Balls

Last week I tried my hand at cake balls for the very first time. As Kabir was moved to a new room in his daycare, I wanted to do something for his old room teachers as my way of saying THANKS. I don't have enough words to express how grateful I am for all the teachers at his daycare. I just love them. 

I got the idea of making cake balls from Bakerella. The recipe asked to use the red velvet cake box mix, which I did. Normally, I would have used my favourite recipe for making Red Velvet cake, which can be found here, but this time, I really wanted to try a box mix. What actually prompted me to use it, was a comment on pinchmysalt.com that box mixes are as good, which I knew was not true, but still wanted to try it out. So, the cake balls were serving two purpose.

I got the Duncan Hine's cake mix, and followed the instructions on the box. When I tasted the cake, I knew my hours spent in making cakes from scratch, were not wasted. It tasted like any yellow cake, and had no flavor of red velvet cake. Next time, I will be using my favourite recipe without any hesitation. Cake balls tasted very good though, as once the cream cheese frosting was added, the mixture did not taste that bad. And the chocolate dipping made it taste like heaven. After giving it to the two teachers, I had plenty left at home. So, I took a few to my office and they were all gone by lunch.  Kabir and I ate the rest :-)

I can't wait to try these balls again with my favourite recipe for cake.

Cupcakes for Ryan

Last weekend we went to the surprise picnic that Jodie had organized for Ryan. I baked these chocolate cupcakes for it.

For those who don't know about Ryan, he is my colleague from office who met with an accident exactly one year before, and suffered spinal chord injury. This picnic was to celebrate the progress he has made since then and to make good memories for the day instead.

Those who want to read more about Ryan can go to below 2 sites or just read the open letter Jodie wrote to the teenager who is totally unapologetic for her doings here:
http://www.clausingfamily.com/pages/dear-teenage-driver.php.

www.clausingfamily.com
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ryanclausing

Wishing Ryan, Jodie and kids well.

Big Boy Room Planning

Last couple of weeks have been so busy. We are setting up Kabir's Big Boy room(Jungle/Animal theme), and thats all I have on my mind these days. We are converting our 2nd floor kitchen into his bedroom. The renovation and painting is complete, and this is how it looks now. I wish I had some before pictures to show. 

It had to be blue and green, as those are Kabir's favourite colors. Went with yellow for one wall and roof, to brighten up the room. Though these days he has developed a liking for orange as well. So planning to incorporate that color in the form of fabric appliques on wall.

 
Initially, this was to be a sunroom, and so we put in 4 huge windows, and somewhere in the middle of renovation, Rohit and I decided to make it Kabir's room. Now, I have to make black out shades for total of 6 windows.I am super excited to make these shades. That deserves a whole new post, but for now, here is the fabric. It has been finalised after much research by Kabir's Mom, Maseeji and Kabir's Dad (names in the order of involvment in choosing fabric) 

Kabir's Big Boy bed would be arriving soon, but he won't be able to use the room without shades. It has to be pitch black in his room while he sleeps. The only thing between me and shade making is the sewing machine, which I ordered couple of weeks back, and has still not arrived. Hoping it to come by tomorrow so I can make couple of shades this weekend. So hopefully, my next post would be of a ready product and not just ideas:-)

Birthday cake for my dear sister

Its was my sister Henna's birthday a week back. How I wished I was with her then. I couldn't be, but I still wanted to celebrate. So, as for all birthday's, I decided to make a cake: her favourite chocolate cake with chocolate mousse icing. Some candles on it and we had a Birthday celebration. Kabir was so fascinated with the lighted candles and watching his Maseete(thats what he calls his Maseeji) on Skype, and all of us singing the Birthday song. All he could say was 'Fire Fire' in his excitement. He always smiles up seeing Henna and Saurabh on skype.

Love to my dear Sis..

Camera Case

Couple of weeks back, I made this camera case for my sister, just was too lazy to post about it earlier. I like how it has turned out though. Rohit likes it so much, that he now wants me to make one for us too. Its made out of craft felt and has some foam padding to cushion the camera. On the back side, there is a wool loop which hooks on to the button, to secure the camera.

The final camera case measures: 3 3/4 * 2 3/4 * 1.25

Stuff needed:                                                                                                                            

• Felt in 2 contrasting colors. I used orange and brown.
• Black felt
• 4 matching buttons of different sizes
• Regular thread/wool/crochet thread
• Needle
• Scale
• Sharp Scissors

How To: 
Step 1: Find your camera's measurements and accordingly cut 2 types of strips. The camera I was making it for is: 3.6 *2.2 * 1. So I cut 2 broad strips(brown & orange placed together) 10 inches long and 3 inches wide. Brown strip would make the outside, and orange the inside of the body of case.
Cut 4 thin strips of orange felt which are 1.5 inches wide and 4 inches in length. This would be the sides of case.

Step 2: Now lets make decorations.

To make the center circle deco, cut orange circle the biggest size, and black the smallest. Use any printed fabric for the center circle. I cut out sleeves of an old shirt in the pile of discarded clothes.


Step 3: Sew your largest button in a crisscross fashion using orange thread*, to the black circle. Now stitch black circle with button to the printed cloth, and printed cloth to orange circle. For thread, I used a crochet thread. As it was too thick for this purpose, I split it into half, 2 threads with 3 strands each(instead of 6).


Step 4: Its time to attach the deco to the main strip we cut in step 1. But first you need to add the foam padding in between 2 broad strips. I used the thin foam padding which came in any packing box. Once you cut the foam of same size as the strip, place it between the brown and orange strip, with brown felt facing up. Sew the circle deco to the strip. You are basically sewing the orange circle to the strip. Position it the way you want. You can add whatever decorations you want to at this time.


Step 5: Its time to start closing it in. But before that, mark the points from which to start attaching the sides, as below.

Step 6: Take the 2 (out of 4) orange strips cut in Step 2. This will be our one side. I am using double strips on each side just to give it enough padding. Using blanket stitch, start attaching the orange felt on the side to the brown strip as below:


From the Right side of brown strip(as shown in picture above), start attaching orange strip from Line 2, rounding between Line 3 and line 4, and going all the way up to Line 5. Here the orange strip is complete, but keep going horizontally on Line 5, to make a nice edging, until you reach the other side of Line 5.

                                      


Now you are on the left side of the strip. Pick up the other 2 strips of orange felt and start attaching it from Line 5, straight until Line 4. Round it up between Line 4 and Line 3, and then straight until Line 2. Now your orange strip is complete, but keep going on with the blanket stitch until Line 0. Keep stitching horizontally on Line 0 until you reach side Right. Stitch vertically from Line 0 to Line 2, until you reach the point where you started.
Now stitch horizontally both the edges of side orange strip with the blanket stitch.


Here is how the front and back looks:

Step 7: Add the ribbon or wool piece in the back. Attach a button at appropriate place to secure the ribbon on.

Happy Crafting!