Scout's Sweet Sundays Linky #1

Hello Readers- Today is a very special day for me- it is my very first linky party!!

I am pretty excited!!

I love seeing all the inspiring things all my bloggy friends come up with so I want you to link up whatever you want to share with me!

There are no rules to what you can link, but I would love it if you would follow me and add the button to your linky page so you can come back and see if you were featured!

I will be also featuring some of you on my Facebook page, so add me over there to check it out!

<a href="http://www.xstitchandcrafts.blogspot.com" title="Scout's Stitches Link Party Button by Scout's Stitches, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7202/6810657492_eb1cb1524a_m.jpg" width="140" height="140" alt="Scout's Stitches Link Party Button"></a>

And........ Go!!

Chai Latte Cupcakes- From Julie at White Lights on Wednesday

Hi everyone! I’m Julie from White Lights on Wednesday.  

I can’t tell you how excited I am to be guest posting for Zoe today!!

I met Zoe through Trading Blogs, a blog swap put on by Melissa at Serendipity and Spice.

First things first, how much does Zoe look like Gwyneth Paltrow?

{Gwyneth photo source}

They totally look alike.

Ok.  I’m better now.  After seriously stalking Zoe’s blog and trying to figure out what I wanted to share with her and all of her lovely readers I realized I should stick to what I’m good at.  Food.  I cook and bake A LOT.  When I saw Zoe’s list of likes and dislikes {you should always know these things about your friends} it hit me, Chai Cupcakes! Yes.  Zoe likes Chai Latte Frappuccinos, exclamation points, and scrabble.  I like Caramel Macchiatos, exclamation points, and scrabble.  She’d be a great coffee and Scrabble date friend to have.  BTW, my Wordfeud and Words with Friends ID is julerybox, hit me up.

And since I’m baking for Zoe, I figured some old school country music was in order.  I love to listen to music while I cook and bake and since Zoe lives in the country I figured why not!

Chai Cupcake Baking Music

Johnny Cash - I'm Gonna Sit on my Porch and Pick on my Ol' Guitar
Marty Robbins - El Paso
Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire
June Carter - Times a Wastin'
Loretta Lynn - You Ain't Woman Enough to Take my Man
Hank Williams - Move It On Over

Chai Latte Cupcakes with Vanilla Chai Buttercream

Cupcakes from A Spicy Perspective    ][    Buttercream from The Novice Chef

Makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

Chai Latte Cupcakes

½ cup unsalted butter

½ cup sugar

2/3 cup instant chai powder**

¼ tsp ground cardamom, optional  {you could also substitute ground ginger}
2 eggs

½ cup milk  {it’s a latte people}

1 teaspoon vanilla

¾ cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

¾ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

Vanilla Chai Buttercream

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups powdered sugar, sifted   {don’t skip the sifting!}

Chai Spice Mix (see below)

1 to 2 tablespoons cold milk, if needed

Ground cinnamon for dusting

Half cinnamon sticks for garnish, if desired

Directions:

Cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, salt, and baking powder.  Set aside.
3. Cream the butter and sugar with a mixer.  Add the chai powder and extra cardamom is desired.
4. Mix in the eggs, milk, and vanilla.
5. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients in 3 additions.  Mix until just moistened after each addition; scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
6. Fill prepared liner 2/3 full and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Allow cupcakes to cool in the pan for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Buttercream

1. Using a mixer, beat together butter until it is creamy, about 2 minutes.  On low, mix in the vanilla and chai spice mix.  Carefully beat in the powdered sugar, about ½ cup at a time. 
   
   If the buttercream is too thick, add 1 tablespoon of cold milk at a time until the desired consistency is reached.  If the buttercream is too thin, add some more powdered sugar.   {I didn't need to add milk or extra sugar, the frosting came out just right the first go round.}

Pipe buttercream onto cooled cupcakes and sprinkle with a little ground cinnamon.  Garnish with half a cinnamon stick, if desired.

Yum!  These frosting gives these cupcakes some extra spice.

Chai Spice Mix

Ingredients:

¾ teaspoon ground cardamom (or substitute ground ginger if you’re cheap like me)

¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Mix ingredients together until well combined.

**If you have any instant chai mix at home.  I found this recipe from Southern Plate so you can make your own.

I hope these cupcakes make you feel all cozy and snuggly and special, because you are special.  Zoe, it’s been an absolute pleasure getting to know you.  I’m so glad we met and are now bloggy friends.  I’d love to trade blogs or have your guest post over at White Lights on Wednesday any time you’d like Zoe. 

Thanks so much for having me today!  Bye everybody!  Muah!

Julie from White Lights on Wednesday!

I have a guest post from Julie coming up tomorrow and I am super excited! Here is a little bit about her so you can know what to expect!!!

*****************************************************************

Hi everyone over in Scout’s Stitches blog land!  

I’m Julie from White Lights on Wednesday! 

  

I’m Zoe’s partner for Trading Blogs.  I’m so happy to meet all of you.  

I can’t wait to share a super yummy treat with you tomorrow!

 

White Lights on Wednesday is my happy place.  I write what I know, cooking.  I adore baking and cooking.  Being in the kitchen makes me happy.  The sounds, the smells, the tastes.  Love it!  There are really so many things I love to do.  I’m learning to sew, I like to think I’m sort of crafty, I want to become an amazing photographer, and I have a bit of a purse obsession.

I have all kinds of new fun things going on at the blog.

Sugar-Coated Sundays: Sweets for my sweet readers

Mildly Crafty Monday: Me trying not to suck at a craft project (Haha)

Wednesday Whatsits: My brand new link party that will be starting March 21^st

3.6.5 Thursday: Project 365 weekly review and 3, 6, or 5 things I’m currently obsessing over

Fridays: Yummy Food – no fancy name

Namaste Saturday: (it rhymes, hehe)  My brilliant nutritionist aunt (who teaches yoga, get the name now?) will be sharing healthy tidbits and good for you recipes

I’d love for you to stop by, check things out, and maybe grab a button.

<center><a href="http://whitelightsonwednesday.blogspot.com"> <img src="http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i418/littlewebwritinghood/Friday%20Night%20Lights/White-Lights-on-Wednesday---grab-button.png" border="0"/> </a></center>

Stuff about me so we can be friends!

I have two little boys, Thing 1 and Thing 2.  They are crazy and wonderful and clones of their father.

I can play musical instruments – viola, violin, piano, harp, marimba (any mallet percussion really) and lots of other random percussion instruments

I got to open to TOOL back in 2002.  Danny Carey is wicked nice.

I was born in California, but grew up in Arizona.  Yes, it's disgustingly hot in the summer.

My favorite color is red.

I’m obsessed, seriously obsessed, with freshly cleaned sheets.  They are my favorite happy thing.

I write and draw, but only for myself.  I’m super protective of my RED books. 

My favorite dessert is chocolate chip cookies.  I made them once every week or two when I was pregnant with Thing 2.

And, like Zoe, I'm a little exclamation point happy!!!!!!!!!

!!!     !     !!!!!!!!     !!     !

To get your taste buds going, here are some of my most popular posts and a couple personal favorites...

MarinatedPork Roast

Honey Pound Cake

Hot Wing Dip

Cheesy Bacon and Chicken Pasta

ChocolateWasted Cake

See you all tomorrow!!

Copper Tub Lining Tutorial

I had made this Copper Tub Lining back in January. I had intended to make a tutorial, but didn't have my camera with me when I made it.

 

After several requests for a tutorial, someone hired me to make one so here is the tutorial- with pictures!!

This tutorial will use measurements from the tub that I have but it could be adjusted to fit any other oval container.

The measurements for my tub are:

Width: 13.5"

Length: 24.25"

Depth: 13"

Pattern Pieces

Bottom of liner: Trace around bottom of tub with 1/2" seam allowance and cut out

Measure the circumference- mine was about 64"

Sides of Liner: 2 pieces- 16" X 32.5"

To get this measurement I took the circumference divided in half plus 1/2" for seam allowances.

The height is just the depth measurement plus ~3" for seam allowances and hemming.

Longer Tabs (sides): 2 pieces- 25.5" X 6.5"

Shorter Tabs (ends): 2 pieces- 3.75" X 6.5"

Both of these are adjustable- if you want them to be a little shorter you can do less than the 6.5".
Both pieces will be folded in half after they are embroidered.

Ties: 8 pieces- 1.5" X 10"

EmbroideryThis part is optional- I just wanted a small amount of detail on my liner.
The first one I made I did a straight line with 1/2" stitch, 1/2" white.
The second one I did a pattern of 1/4" stitch, 1/4" stitch, 1/4" stitch, then 1/2" stitch with 1/4" gap between each stitch. (Does that make sense?)

Place the ruler on the edge of the tab and measure 4 inches up- make the pattern you want along the whole length of all 4 tabs.

Chose embroidery thread and do a simple backstitch along the pattern you marked out. I put mine in a hoop to make it easier. If you have questions on making a backstitch this blog has a lot of info about embroidery stitches. But basically it is just following the lines.

Once the tabs are embroidered fold them in half lengthwise and press.

To Make the Ties-

Fold end over 1/4" and press.

Fold both edges to meet in the middle and press.

Fold in half and press. Sew lengthwise down the tie.
Complete this process with all 8 ties.

Now we attach the ties to the tabs-
Turn the tabs right side in and pin tabs- unfinished end sticking out so you can see it. You want the tab to be right in the middle up and down.
See the little tab sticking out. 
Sew seams together with tie in it. Do this for both edges on all tabs.

Turn Right side out and press.

Once you are done with your tabs now it is time to work on the liner body- sew both rectangle pieces together with 1/4" seam allowance. Press seams to the side.

I forgot to take a picture of this, but pin this giant circle of fabric (right sides together) to the liner bottom- placing two seams at very ends of oval. Sew in place with 1/2 " seam allowance

At this point I like to check and make sure it fits the tub. Yep- it fits!

Turn top edge of liner over twice towards wrong side so there is no raw edge showing. Press into place.

Pin tabs into place- right side of tab facing right side of liner. Center small tabs on liner's seams. Once small tabs are pinned in place center longer tabs on long side of liner- with even spaces between each tab.

 Once all tabs are pinned in place, sew around entire top edge, securing the tabs and the hems.
Place in tub and tie the ties in bows.

If any of this seems unclear or you have any further questions don't hesitate to contact me and I will try my best to help answer your questions- zoer110@gmail.com.

If you don't want to make your own and would like me to make one for you just contact me- zoer110@gmail.com.

I will be linking up with some of these parties!



 Have a great day!!

Sew-vivor Finalists were Announced Today!

Well, I didn't make the Sew-vivor Top 10. I was really hoping to make it into the competition. 

I did get an honorable mention though. Check it out here.

 

I am still looking forward to the competition- all of the Top 10 projects were a-mazing!!

And there is always next season!

Have a great evening!