Crafting Cupcakes one step at a time

Some of you may or may not know that I am a crafter, paper crafts, jewellery, polymer clay, ATC's I have taken my hand to many. When I got very poorly during pregnancy my crafting nearly halted altogether and since having Grayson I have still not had much opportunity, this has sadden me a little as I really do enjoy it.

So this month I joined a couple of swaps through Swap-bot to make myself craft, the other day I sat down for a whole 1 hour and a half and played and it was real fun. I mean it ain't much to say the least I am certainly no artist but it allowed me to relax and let off steam.

The first swap was a Cupcake ATC swap, one cupcake themed ATC for 1 partner, I have actually made 2, one for my partner and one for swap host. The ribbon ATC's are one of my old faves but I included some cupcake ribbon this time.

The second swap was a cupcake goodie bag, which you could decorate, I did with 3 cupcake related items in and if possible tailored to your partners likes. I actually included 5, Cupcake Napkins (a great accessory for any kitchen), cupcake ribbon, vintage cupcake cases, cupcake lip gloss and a yankee vanilla buttercream cupcake candle. I would be happy to receive this, how about you ?





On that subject I was wondering if there is any interest I was thinking of doing a similar swap, you pack 3 items in an envie for your partner, doesn't have to be decorated, they can be anything cupcake related from baking them to wearing them for a total budget of £6.00, so we can all afford, just something to cheer us up in these dyre financial times, post whether you are interested and hopefully if we get a few people I shall host the swap through my blog.

Anyway I have plenty more to post about, sorry for the delay Grayson is still no better so it has been a nightmare, he is back to hospital on Thursday to be reevaluated and more results, I am thinking they will admit him again. Cross fingers they can help him this time.

Cupcake Goodness to all.

Kara
xxx

Belated Happy Cupcake-tastic Easter

Happy Easter to All, I hope you all had fun and got to enjoy some Cupcake magic as well as chocolate, well luckily I did.

It started off for me on Saturday getting my Easter Pressie from my MIL and SIL, they felt I needed super cheering up after a bad couple of weeks, so off they went to Debenham's and treated me to the Awesome Cupcake Teapot which is part of my Cookie Jar collection that I have wanted forever - woohoo Anne I finally have it.

Then on Easter Sunday my gorgeous little Gray Gray awoke me to some yummy M&S chocolate and finally the 'Pixie' Cupcake Momiji doll, man my son is awesome he knows just how to make his Mommy smile.

After all this Cupcake love coming my way I felt it only fair that I should make some Cupcakes to take to my cousin's at our annual Easter Gathering so I jumped to it and quickly whipped up a batch of Chocolate Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting (tinted yellow for Easter of course) I must say I was a little disappointed, my usual soft cupcakes came out a little dry but everyone seemed to love them and they were all gone within an hour.

I put some sweeties on top for the kiddies and the others I quickly decorated for Easter, with Easter Egg and Hot Cross Bun designs, next year I am going to plan in advance and go all out.

So I hope you all had some Cupcake Easter Bank Holiday fun ?

Kara

xox

P.S. I JUST RECIEVED SOME LATE CUPCAKE EASTER GIFTS WHICH I SHALL SHOW LATER THIS WEEK

Cupcake Smiles were needed

Bottom Right Piccy is Grayson getting high on his Oxygen - lol

Sorry I haven't been around but my life has been very difficult in the past 2 weeks, on Thursday 2nd April after a few poorly days for Grayson we headed off to clinic to get his weekly weight check (as unlike his Mommy he is underweight) whilst I was there long story short Gray went Blue, floppy and near enough stopped breathing an ambulance was called and he was put on Oxygen and rushed to hospital. After a week long stay for us in the hospital, 20 sets of Bloods, MRI, EEG, Oxygen, Med's and more doctors then you can imagine we are finally home, no one is quite sure what happened but he is doing a lot better, he is still not right and has to go back several more times and due to problems on his MRI all his test results have been sent to London to a specialist to be looked at, we are not sure what will happen, obviously we hope that everything is fine but I know if they do come back with some of the things they are saying I shall never love Grayson any less.

So anywho onto the cupcakes, well to cheer me up in the hospital my lovely Hubby one more brought this in for me, aren't they adorable, along with the lovely cupcake cookie jar range Debenhams have brought out some more Cupcake goodies, including this lovely Milk Jug and Sugar Bowl. I love the fact they are so different to the other stuff they do, they are more delicate.

Well there is other Easter Cupcake goodness to tell you about but I shall post that tomorrow, want to get back to my regular updates if I can.

Kara
xox

P.S don't you think hospitals should have Internet for us poor people that have to pretty much live there.

Uh Oh - No Space Left

Uh Oh - No Space Left
Originally uploaded by innocentcharmer

Seriously, I do not have a large Kitchen but how could I walk past this and ignore it, I mean it was screaming to me and lets be honest its a smaller version of my other Cupcake Cookie Jar so it needed to be with its sister - lol, well that's my story and I am sticking to it.

Now I just have to sneak the matching Teapot in, ummm, families should stick together shouldn't they, well that's what I am going to tell the hubby.

Kara
xox

P.S. Its from a line of Cupcake Greatness at Debenhams - go check it out

Cupcakery's Rock

This post is a little late coming, some might remember my post just over a month ago which showed my dear friend Anne of I Heart Cupcakes helped me with some Cupcakery addresses for my trip to London.

Well unfortunately due to the tube's all being shut on my trip we only managed to get to one Cucpcakery 'Buttercup' it was the cutest little shop, the staff were so warm and welcoming and they just smiled sweetly at me as I took pictures, I think they thought I was a little mad.

So here are my piccy's we bought Banana Splits and Red Velvet as these were my first Cupcakery Cupcakes in England I of course thought they were very yummy, but I shall compare them over the next year as the hubby and I take a tour of the country to find more Cupcakery's.

So people if you ever heard to London, Near Harrods then head to Buttercup its a must.

I have got something else to show you from the trip that I got from Harrods, its super cute and cupcake related but I have not taken a piccy so watch this space.

Kara

xox

Cupcakes - For Mommy's

I have been a bad blogger but my little cupcake has been poorly again, but here I am.

For those of you who don't know on Sunday just gone it was Mother's Day in the UK and this was my first. To celebrate I baked Cupcakes, I mean nothing to adventurous just some plain Vanilla with tinted yellow frosting, I tried doing some piping but as you can see not very successful so then I just plain frosted some and put MOM across them for my Mommy.

My little boy gave me some great cards and gifts including the one on the left cause he knows I love cupcakes, the one on the right was made for me by my Mom and the Vanilla Cupcake Candle my sister gave me and it smells heavenly.

So I hope you all had a lovely Mother's day and got some cupcake treats.

Kara

xoxox

GIVEAWAY

I know this is not Cupcake related but I had to show, my main blog Innocent Charms Chats is 2 years old, I am giving the above Necklace away free but for the first time ever noone seems to be visiting my blog and hence noone is entered to win, so pop by as you have a great chance.

Here is the link.

Hope you are all well.

Kara

xox

Its March and here are my flickr favourites

Its March and here are my flickr favourites
Originally uploaded by innocentcharmer

Its that time again, here are my favourites from Flickr for March, some cute goodies, some talented work I am sure you will agree.

If you want to find out more click on the photo.

Kara
x

Should be Back tomorrow

I have been bad at posting but both myself and Grayson are poorly, hopefully I shall be spreading the cupcake love tomorrow.

Love to all
Kara
x

Smiles from Cupcakes

well of the blog variety, since starting my Cupcake Blog a month ago I have made some great Cupcake-tastic Blog girly's and when I got back from London (watch for post tomorrow) I found the awesome and sweet Kyla of Hello Cupcake had left me this Blog Award, how gorgeous is she, we have only been chatting a few weeks so it really made me feel great inside.

So thanks Kyla and lets pass that feeling on....

Laura of KatyDiddy

Christine of My Bella Colle

Nikki of WhiMSy Love

Anne of I Heart Cupcakes

and

Pippa of Pippa's Arty Life

So don't forget to pop by tomorrow to see my London Cupcake xxx

Amazon Sells More than just Books

Great Trucker Hat (available in many colours) * Cupcake Building Toys * Silicone Cupcake Trivet *Cupcake Tea Set * Cupcake Doggy Cushion * Cupcake Light Plaque

Once upon a time Amazon sold just books and DVD's and although this was fab and helped immensely in fueling my cupcake love it now is 100 % better, cause now Amazon sells so much more, below I have shown just a small collection of my favourite Cupcake goodies to be found on the wonderful world of Amazon.
So if you do one thing today spoil yourself Amazon sells cupcakes goodies from £1 to £100.
Kara

xox

Wake up and Smell The Cupcakes

We all love to eat cupcakes, look at cupcakes and we know how we love to smell them baking in the oven, well now we can have that smell simply, no baking required.

The great candle brand 'Yankee Candle' has created a great selection called Vanilla Cupcake and trust me after a couple hours of it burning in my house its scrummy, so take a look you can buy online or in many retailers and the candles last forever.

Hope all had a cupcake-tastic weekend.

Kara

xox

P.S. Even the car can smell cupcake-y.

Thanks for the Cupcakes

Two of my amazing blog friends have some inspiring Cupcake Posts over the past 2 days and I had to show them.

Firstly the awesome and super talented Laura of Katydiddy designs made the coolest cupcakes ever, especially for movie night, Popcorn Cupcakes, go to her blog and take a look and let her know how great they are.

Then my cupcake friend (realise I don't know you real name sorry :-<) from 'I Heart Cupcakes' did me a super huge favour, as she lives in London where I am visiting next weekend, I asked her if she knew any good cupcake bakeries near Knightsbridge in London and she replied with a whole post on her blog on a Cupcake Bakery tour of Knightsbridge, the kindness is inspiring, thanks so much and I can't wait to visit them and post my own piccys in a couple of weeks.

So go check it out.

Love to all and hope your weekend is cupcake and fun filled.

Kara

x

Oh I could not stop myself

Now some of you may not know this but I have 2 obsessions in life (well actually loads but these 2 matter now) SHOPPING and CUPCAKES so over the past couple shopping trips I have been able to help both of these, so I thought I would show my goodies.


Firstly I went into Debenhams (a British Department store) to just take a peek at there cupcake range and I saw this kitchen timer, well I need a timer, so I thought oh I will have to buy it as it was a need not a want - lol.

I also saw these cute little shorts and thought hey anything with cupcakes will look cute no matter the size of the tosh. The cards I have bought for ART, this is something I have done for years since having my first house with not a lot of funds, I buy gift cards I like the print on and then put them in frames etc, so these 2 cupcake cards could not be passed up, once there up in the kitchen I shall show you again.

Lastly I was so happy when I went to get some of my usual magazines and found Good Homes and Crafts Beautiful both featuring Cupcakes and even some cupcake decorative papers, so all in all my shopping week has rocked and total cost for the lot under £30, no complaints.

See you tomorrow - cupcake dreams.
Kara
x

A bit of this, A bit of That

There is so much I want to show you today, but time is short so I will show a little and pop back later.

Firstly a few weeks ago I told you about a Cupcake ATC swap I was doing, well here is the piccy's firstly of mine sent out and then the great ATC I received. This was my first sort of 3D ATC, it was also me playing with my Sharpies on the sofa, I am no artist but I was quite pleased with the outcome.

Now on another note not cupcake I was tagged by the lovely Kyla (thanks you are so sweet) Its called the'Bag Tag' so me being a bag addict thinks this totally rocks.

So her are the Rules:

1. Post a picture of the bag/purse/handbag/pocketbook that you are carrying! Now, don't you even think about going back there to your closet and getting that cute little clutch that you carried before you had children or the last time you went out.

2. Tell us how much it cost! I know what you are thinking - a girl never discusses matters of money. Well, yes, but today we are gonna break that rule and tell! Yes, tell how much it cost. We won't judge! This is for entertainment purposes only. And if there is a story that goes along with this purse, tell it.

3. Tag some other girls. It will be fun to see what everybody else posts :-)

The Handbag I have shown I have been using for the past week, I change my bags alot, I must have in excess of 40 but some are over 10 years old. This one my hubby bought me for my birthday last year from Accesorize, I carry alot as you can see including...

My 2 Phones

Filofax

Cath Kidston Purse and Medicine/First Aid Bag

Handmade Zip purse with contents such as Tape Measure/Nail File etc

Camera

Nintendo DS

Lipsticks and Cath Kidston Lip Balm

Passport - As I went on a trip to Belgium and France

Strawberry Postcard to be framed (UK hate giving bags out now)

Now for tagging others

I Heart Cupcakes

Kathy

Pippa

I hope you all don't mind and can't wait to see your bags.

Kara

x

P.S. Here is the piccy of the valentine cupcakes my little sis got me aren't they cute.

I Heart Cupcakes has the best links

As I popped by the wonderful 'I Heart Cupcakes' blog today I found this awesome link to a Indie Shop-Shana Logic that sells some super cute items but more important some super cute cupcake items, I just want actually rephrase NEED them all, take note hubby - lol.

So go check out the shop I am sure there is something you will want and whilst you are surfing check out my friends blog as she finds the best cupcake news.

Kara

xox

P.S I was naughty and bought more cupcake goodies yesterday, so be back soon with some pictures. x

A Great Valentines Day

Well my hubby knows what I love well and my Valentines gifts were Cupcaked out.

It was a great set of pressies to open before I left for a family day out, Cupcakes are always a great start to any day.

He treated me with a set of 3 Tea towels, Oven Gloves and a fab Apron, they all have the cutest bold cupcake design and although they are very useful they are likely to be only used for decorative use only (much to the annoyance of hubby).

I hope all had a lovely romantic valentines, whatever you did, I spent mine with my siblings and Dad but the hubby and I had a nice cuddle in the evening.

Kara
xox

P.S. Thanks my dear Sister for my Valentine Cupcakes (piccy to be shown later)

February Cupcake Flickr Faves

I have decided to make this a regular monthly post, many of you may know that I totally love Flickr, it brings great inspiration and partly I think cause I am just so nosey.

So every month I shall find my favourite Cupcake pictures uploaded in that month and show them here. Some will be items you can buy, some will just be for inspiration.

If you have a cupcake Flickr pic you want me to share just drop me a line.

For links to pictures just click on photo to take you to flickr.

Kara

xoxox

Gifts and around my home

As I am sure you are all aware I have a love for cupcakes especially in my home decor in particular my Kitchen, well my gorgeous Hubby arrived home today with a gorgeous gift for me, take a look....

That's it ladies a lovely glass Cupcake worktop saver, its yummy and the cupcakes are too cute, another great find by Cupcake Hubby for my Kitchen, he found it in Morrisons Supermarket and says there are other items too, mmm know where I maybe going next week lol.

While I was taking a piccy to share with you cupcakes queens, I thought I would take some pictures of other cupcakes cuteness from my Kitchen. One day I will go round my home and take pictures of all the cupcake treats in my home, but for now he is a taste.

Kara

xox

Apologies all, there I was promising daily Cupcake Goodness and I disappear for nearly 2 weeks, this was not intentional but between my little cupcake getting poorly and I contracted a 4 day stint of food poisoning it has been hell here, but I am feeling better, Grayson is halfway there so hopefully I can finally get into a rhythm.

Just a quick post today, I came across this when a lady entered my OWOH heart giveaway at Innocent Charms Chats and I thought OMG this is so perfect.

Lets find out what type of Cupcake we all are

What kind of cupcake are you? My Result: Cute Cupcake KARA Quiz School Take this quiz & get your result

What kind of cupcake are you? » Create Create Quizzes

Just click on my result to take the quiz.

Its a very simple quiz of 6 questions, I love doing things like this, I am not sure if everyone would agree with my result but I am super nice.
This great quiz was created by Lots of Sprinkles, I am off to check out her blog now and say thanks, don't forget to let me know your results, I really want to know.

Love to all and thanks for visiting.
Kara
xx

Iridescent cupcakes - Art by Lefleurpixie

Iridescent cupcakes
Originally uploaded by lefleurpixie

A gorgeous piece of Art one of my lovely Flickr Buddies upload this week, I was so impressed at the gorgeousness of it I thought I must share as I am sure there is a cupcake follower that needs this (I know I do I just have spent all my pocket money :-<).
Here is a link to her blog where she has also posted on this gorgeous piece of Art, go check it out.

Cupcake Love
Kara
x

Tattoo's Anyone

Images from Flickr

Well I have one little tattoo and in April I was due to have my 2nd and then the week before I found out I was pregnant with my gorgeous little cupcake Grayson.

So today I thought to myself its about time I booked myself in for that tattoo again, but I could not decide what to get and then it hit me a cupcake, I love cupcakes and I have just had my first cupcake so very fitting I thought.

So today I hit the web and checked out Flickr and Google Images and found some cute inspiration, so now I have to design my own tattoo and find a good tattoo artist and then I am there, so girls watch this space for a piccy of my tattoo and if you have any tattoo's you would like to share just post a link.

Cupcake Love.
Kara
xox