Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts

Thursday, November 3, 2011

A Touch of Black Magic



Every year I make tons of sweets for the Halloween, I can't help it, something about that cool crisp air. It just sparks the imagination. This year I wanted to make Cake pops. Cake pops have many names, cake balls, cake truffles, the list goes on!

These are made with Red Velvet cake. The process is very simple, but its also time consuming so if you are looking to make these, make sure you have a few hours set aside. I'll be posting my recipe and tips I learned from scouring the web.

This year for Halloween I was genuinely stumped on a costume I like to come up with something original or work from something I can my own flair to. I was a Victorian Marionette doll this year. I made a Marionette from balsa wood and ribbon. I attached chains at the ends and clipped it into lace back blazer. I also wore a striking pink and blonde wig made by California Costumes. I found it at this Halloween and Magic shop. The Shop is called Mr.G's Magic and Costumes and they have been there for 14 years. They had a great selection of costumes and wigs. I liked that I was able to try on  my wig before I purchased it. The staff was also wonderful. Very helpful and courteous I hope to be back soon.

For makeup I used Urban Decay's Book of Shadows Volume II. I decided to go with a sorta of Harlequin Doll look. I think it came out nicely. My necklace was made from sewing a bow onto ribbon and adding a secondary bow with a cross charm. As for costume its self I wore my lace blazer, silver blouse and black peasant skirt with platform peep toe pumps by BCBG. I used my headband from past post on my wig. Its great to make a costume from new stuff as well old. I hope to next time get some white face paint and paint my own mask on.

Of course Halloween is not complete without a Jack o'Lantern to ward off evil for another year. My sister bought me the largest Cinderella pumpkin she could find. It two me hours to carve and I think I scooped about 10lbs of pumpkin guts out. I was making this year's pumpkin a tribute to the Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington. I think he came out tiny bit sinister but I liked it. Pumpkin Carving has long tradition in my family I learned from my father who has such amazing ideas, which always inspired me.

Now for the Tasty recipe!


Red Velvet Cake Devil Pops

Ingredients
1 box Red Velvet Cake or 1 Red Velvet Cake from Scratch
1 bag Wilton Dark Cocoa Candy melts
1 bag White Chocolate Chips.
2/3 cup cream cheese frosting store bought or made from scratch [ I made mine]
Lollipop sticks
Styrofoam or Box top with holes poked in it to let cake pops dry.

Optional:
Lollipop bags
ribbon
Small pumpkin

Instructions

1. Bake the cake according to box or recipe and let cool completely. Very important the cake is completely cool.

2, Crumble the cake into a bowl with two forks. It look sorta like fluffy couscous.

3. Add frosting, now you may have a little more, but mix the icing into you cake crumbs until you get a play dough texture.

4. Roll your cake into balls and place on baking sheet. When cake is all used up place Cake balls in freezer for about 30 mins. And begin melting chocolate in double boiler.

5. Remove the cake balls from the freezer and dip the ends of each of lollipop stick in chocolate then into ball. Once ever ball has a lollipop stick put back in freezer for an 1 hour. The reason behind is you want the stick to be able to adhere to the cake ball.

6.Take the cake pops out and dip in remaining chocolate . Go slowly and take your take time, one you dip chocolate add two white chocolate chips and slip into the Styrofoam or box top and let cool..

7, Serve and EAT! As for my display I used a small pumpkin that I cut with a knife and then stabbed with a bamboo skewer. After that I just popped the Cake pops in!

Well That's all for my Double Double Boil and Trouble this Year!

Dream Big!
Sorianna



Photo Credits : Eva Quinquinio and Bobby Choate

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

This is Halloween! Amigurumi Pumpkin

I just love the month of October, Halloween and the smell of Autumn in the air. Fat round pumpkins, gourds, and squash, can be found everywhere along with delicious apples! The smell of warm cinnamon is enough to make any house smell like one of most wonderful places. I've recently been very into Amigurumi, which is the Japanese word for knitted or crocheted stuffed animals or anthropomorphic creatures.

I started crocheting years ago, my mother taught me how. She's amazing what she makes, scarves, warm afghans, and ponchos. I never really had the patience to keep up with stitch count back then. I guess it just took me time to slow down.  This is a little Jack o'lantern I made and have  named Little Cinderella! I am hoping to make white or cream colored friend for Little Cinderella named Lumina. I can't wait to go to the Pumpkin Patch and pick out beauty for this year. I think my Halloween costume might be a bit Pumpkin inspired too we shall see!

Now for the pattern:

Amigurumi Little Cinderella Pumpkin Pattern

Supplies and Tools
Pumpkin Worsted Weight Yaen
Chocolate Brown Worsted Weight Yarn
Light Green Worsted Weight Yarn
Black Worsted weight Yarn
3mm or 3.75mm crochet hook
Poly fill
Yarn needle.
Stitch marker or Scrap yarn

Abbreviations and Symbols
sc = single crochet
stc = stitch count
ch = chain
sc2tog = single crochet two together, this meant as a decrease
sl st = slip stitch
rnd =round
* = repeat
Row =  Row

Pattern notes: I used Impeccable worsted weight yarn. You also do not have join rounds if you prefer working in spirals, that is up to the individual. Also Gauge of the hook does not matter unless you looking for making small pumpkin like mine, if not jsut make sure you yarn and hook match in size.


Pattern;


Body


Rnd 1 : With pumpkin yarn ch 2, sc 6 in second ch from the hook. join with sl st [stc 6]
Rnd 2 :ch 1, sc 2 in each sc,join with sl st, [stc 12]
Rnd 3 :ch 1, *sc in each sc, then 2 sc in the next sc*, join with sl st [stc 18]
Rnd 4 :ch 1, *sc in the next 2 sc, then 2 sc in the next sc* join with sl st [stc 24]
Rnd 5 :ch 1, *sc in the next 3 sc, then 2 sc in the next sc* join with sl st [stc 30]
Rnd 6-10 : ch 1, sc in each sc, join with sl st [stc 30]
Rnd 11: ch 1, *sc2tog, sc in the next 3* join with sl st [stc 24]
Rnd 12: ch 1, *sc2tog, sc in the next 2* join with sl st [stc 18]
Rnd 13: ch 1, *sc2tog, sc in the next 1* join with sl st [stc 12]
Stuff with poly fill
Rnd 14: ch 1, *sc2tog all around* [stc 6]
To enlarge Diagram click here
Rnd 15: sl st all arround [stc 3] bind off and weave in

Stem 
Rnd 1 : With Chocolate Brown yarn ch 2, sc 6 in second ch from the hook. join with sl st [stc 6]
Rnd 2-3: sc in each sc [stc 6]

Note: The stem you do not have join rounds. simply work in spiral.

Leaf
Row 1: ch 2, 2 sc in second ch from the hook.[stc 2]
Row 2: ch 1, sc in next sc, then 2 sc in next sc, [stc 3]
Row 3: ch 1, sc in next sc [stc 3]
Row 4: ch 1, sc2tog , sc [stc 2]
Row 5: ch 1 sc [stc 1]
Bind off and weave in

To make the body look like a pumpkin refer to the Diagram. Lastly attach all parts and embroider your own face on with black yarn, or even use beads for eyes. you leave him blank and make a few for nice table arrangement!

I hope this was easy to understand I've never written a crochet pattern before. Thee is plethora of information of how read patterns and how to crochet, and a lot of sites that offer some very awesome patterns out there! If you have any questions leave comment below

I am working on making a mask for a Halloween give away! See you next Time!

Dream Big!

Sorianna