Birthday Cupcakes Test Batch

With 2 birthdays right around the corner, I took an impromptu BBQ invitation as an opportunity to make a test batch.  My first run at from scratch cupcakes and frosting.  The consensus...super yum!

Even the little boy, who usually only eats the frosting, ate the whole thing; cake and frosting.

cupcake recipe HERE

frosting recipe HERE

mint and raspberries from my garden

Toy Bag Party Favors

My kids' both have birthdays in September and possibly for the last time, we're going to have one big party for both. In typical fashion, I think, why not make some toy bags as party favors....18 of them.....

At the time, it didn't seem like a lot, and I was on a roll until about bag 9. Then, I was done, the novelty wore off. But, I powered through and finished them up with a few weeks to spare.

If you are wacky like me and think this might be a fun thing to do, here are a few tips to make it a little easier.

• As nice as the mitered corners are in my original tute, rounding the corners goes much quicker.

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• use a zig-zag stitch to secure the bias tape. I found that often times I'd have to go back over parts where all the layers didn't get enclosed.

• I made these bags bigger than the original and also used spray adhesive to hold the velcro in place before sewing.

Hope the kids enjoy them!

Check back next week for a new tutorial for a fun and relatively easy kid's birthday present. Have a great long weekend!