From Pringles can to Pasta can

So, I have decided that we need to start being more frugal in our household. we throw to much away that can be reused over and over again, saving us money in the long run. In today's society who doesn't want to save some money. Today, I am going to be showing you an easy DIY that can save you at least 10.00. In my household we never eat a whole box of pasta in one setting. I have been wanting to purchase a pasta holder for sometime, but can never justify spending at least 10.00 on one. Today when I was finishing up the Pringles I thought to myself this is the perfect thing I need to hold my pasta, and it is one less thing going into my city landfill that is only about 2 miles from me.

First you will need your empty Pringles can. I washed mine out when I was finished eating the chips.

Then I chose a light purple scrap booking paper. You could choose any color of your choice, in fact you don't have to wrap it in scrap book paper if you don't want (I just thought it would be easier not to get confused when I do have Pringles, or so I want get excited about there being Pringles only to find pasta in it.) This week when I get to go to Michaels, I will be getting some scrap book stickers and write pasta down the side of it (I just didn't have any in my craft box)

Then add your pasta and your good to go.

Strawberry Cheesecake bites. Yummy!!

So, I was surfing the internet one day looking for something new to make to family gatherings that I thought would be quick and easy to make and the family would love. I found this recipe from Nutmeg Nanny, and had to try it. This DIY food item is so easy to make, I just finished making them. I am sure (or at least hoping they will be hit at Cory's Grandpa's birthday party tomorrow.

First thing you will want to do is wash the strawberries.

Nest you will want to cut the top of the strawberry off. I did this as close to the green as I could get.

Then I cut the bottom of the strawberry just a little bit so that the strawberry would be able to stand by itself on a plate without falling over.

I then used this nifty tool I got free from Krogers for watching a demo to hollow out the inside of the strawberry. Note you wont have to take much out of most of the strawberries because they will already be hollow inside. You could also use a knife if you don't have this nifty tool.

I then put my cream cheese filling in the strawberry. Since I do cakes I used one of my cake bags with a tip to put the filling in. If you don't have this at home don't worry about going out and buy it. You can put the filling in a ziploc bag and cut the corner out it will work just the same.

Then you dip your strawberry (cream cheese filled side down) into your gram cracker crust and they are ready to serve.

This is what the final product looks like. I really hope that you enjoy these.

Strawberry Cheesecake bites
Ingredients:
1 lb Large strawberries
8 oz cream cheese, softened
4 tbsp powdered sugar
1 tsp Vanilla extract
Graham cracker crumbs (follow recipe on box for this)

Directions:
1. Rinse strawberries and cut around the top of the strawberry and the bottom. Remove the top and clean out the middle with nifty tool or knife. Set strawberries aside.

2. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Add cream cheese mix to a piping bag or ziploc bag with corner cut off. Fill Strawberries with cheesecake mixture. Once Strawberries are filled, dip the top in graham cracker crumbs. If not serving immediately refrigerate until serving.

Thank you Nutmeg Nanny for the recipe. Let me know how you like the recipe once you try it.

Elisabeth Bradley's baby shower cake

Making cakes is one of my favorite things to do. When I got asked about a month ago to do a baby shower cake, I knew just what to make. I have always wanted to make a 3-d rubber duck cake. When she asked me to make it she had originally asked me to make it a brownie, but brownies don't rise like cake does and it was next to impossible to work with. So I used a devil's chocolate cake recipe and then made some brownie cupcakes with rubber ducky flags on them.

This is what the cake looked like before I left for the shower.

When I got to the shower I added three butterflies made of icing and three little rubber ducks to make it go with the baby shower.

This is what the final table looked like. I hope that you all enjoy it. Add me on facebook,                       cake-monkey ByAshley-Taylor. I hope you enjoy this cake as much as I enjoyed making it

Baby Blanket

Hey everyone, first off I want to say I am sorry that it has been 2 months since my last post I have been busy crocheting a lot of blankets. Today I am going to be posting a baby blanket that I have mad for one of my mom's best friends daughter who is having a baby in may =-). Also I will be making sure not to let it go this long between my post's. Sometime within in the next few weeks I will post the rest of the blankets I made, I will also be posting several DIY projects before long so please check back.

Sorry that the picture is kind of hard to see I had a hard time finding the right angle and lighting to take the picture. I hope you enjoy. I am also selling baby blankets for 25.00 each plus shipping and handling like this. If you would like to order yours today please send me a message of the colors you are wanting. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks to be made thank you.

A birthday cake for Kira

So my sister's birthday is Feb. 5th and this is the first birthday she has with my wonderful niece. So I made this wonderful cake from her from my niece that can't even talk yet lol.

A browine Cake

Making cakes is probably one of my favorite things to do. A little while ago my mom (who helps with the making of the cakes) and I were asked if we could make a cake out of brownies for a wedding. We were told that they didn't really like cake nor did they like icing. My mom and I told them that we could, but were a little unsure of what the finished product would like like. This is what we came up with and I think it turned out great.

Check out my cake monkey facebook page for more cakes that I have made. I think this link will take you there https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002806223045. My facebook name is cake-monkey byashley-taylor. If you live in central Ohio and would like me to do your wedding cake send me a private message. I also do cakes for other occasions as well.

Magazine coasters

I have quit a few magazines just laying around the house. I always hate to just throw my magazines out for the weekly recycling just because they seem to cost so much to buy.  I have been reading articles about upcycling. Upcycling is taking something that is useless and recycling into something that can be used.  I have also read on several articles on-line about magazine coasters, and I thought to myself why not. So I decided to give it a try with a basic basket weaving technique that I knew. I will post later how to make these step by step once I make some more. I wasn't sure how they would turn out so I didn't take pictures a long the way as I made it. I am also selling a 4 set of these coasters for $5.00 plus shipping and handling. If you would like to order some just leave me a comment with your email address or email me. It may take me a little bit to make them I already have a few request for these.

I think on the next set of these that I make I am going to add clear packing tape over the paper so that it wont get ruined from water.