Day 5 of May Arts / Bella Blvd Blog Week!

Bella Beautiful Cupcakes

It seems like cupcakes are everywhere.  Cupcake shops, cupcake stamps, cupcake clothing, everyone loves cupcakes!  And what’s not to love?

Luxurious frostings atop yummy cakes in the most adorable little liners make me absolutely crazy about cupcakes so I thought, why not re-create those yummy treats as table centerpieces, party favors, and baby or wedding shower decorations and invitations?   Besides, this kind of cupcake is calorie free so we can indulge all we want!

 

 

My inspiration was this beautiful Lovey Paper Collection from Bella Blvd.  This paper collection has it all!  From the elegant Circle of Love to the fun Borders and Blocks, this collection can take you from weddings to baby showers to birthdays.  Combine it with beautiful May Arts Ribbons and your scrapbooking, card making, and 3D projects are guaranteed to bring oohs and ahhs. 

We’re all about being budget conscious as well so I wanted to show you how you can save money by choosing 3 colors of May Arts ribbon and a paper collection that can be used for multiple occasions just by changing up the paper and adding a few simple accessories. 

 

Here’s your supply list for these projects:

• Bella Blvd. Lovey Collection – Circle of Love, Borders & Blocks, Alpha & Bits

• May Arts Ribbons– NE04, NE01, NE20,   346-01, BY66

• Scoring tool (Scor-Pal)

• 1/8” strong double-sided tape

• Hot glue gun

• 2.5” Styrofoam balls

• Straight pins, beads, toothpick, (for dress card – stick on pearls)

• Needle & thread or sewing machine

• Dress card template – The Cutting Cafe

 

Instructions:

1.       Cut paper 12” x 1.75”

 

2.       Score paper strips at ¼” intervals using scoring tool.  Crease, using mountain and valley folds.

 

 

3.       Apply a strip of 1/8” double-sided tape to one end. Form into a circle, adhere.

4.       Apply a line of hot glue around a Styrofoam about 1/3 from the bottom. Insert into the designer paper circle.

 

 

5.       For the pink/white cupcake, gather ribbon down the center. I used the sewing machine but you can also do it by hand.   I didn’t measure,  but gather more than you think you will need.  May Arts ribbon is such high quality that if you gather too much and find you don’t use it all, you can pull out the stitches and no holes will be left in the ribbon. (How cool is that?!)   Pull up the gathers and tie off one end.  Set aside.

 

 

6.       Take the pom-pom trim and twist the wires between each pom until they are side by side. 

 

 

Hot glue to the base of the Styrofoam ball making sure the wires are on the inside.

7.       Arrange and attach the gathered ribbon to the Styrofoam ball using a pin and bead.  You can use any pattern you choose.  I wound mine in a circle to look like a flower. 

 

 

8.        Repeat with the white ribbon.  For the flower on the top, I wound a bit of the pink ribbon into a circle leaving the ends free and attached it with a beaded pin.  Add the leaves where desired.

 

All dressed for the birthday party!

 

For the looped cupcake, wind the ribbon around your index finger, cut and pin using a pearl and straight pin for each loop.  Completely cover the Styrofoam ball.  I used a sticker from Bella Blvd. Alpha & Bits for the topper. Just attach the sticker to a piece of cardstock, then adhere all but the base to another piece of cardstock the same size as the sticker and insert a toothpick. Cover the toothpick with a pom and a bit of hot glue.  Add pom poms, if desired, to the paper liner using hot glue.

Perfect for a baby shower!

 

For the Circle of Love Cupcake and dress card, run a gathering stitch across the top of the ribbon.  Pull up to gather. Starting at the base of the ball, attach the ribbon to the Styrofoam ball using pins and pearls, ending in a loop at the top. 

 

Here comes the Bride!

 

Print out the dress card template, cut out. Cut a bodice using the bodice template from the designer paper.  Attach to dress.  Begin adding ribbon layers from the base of the dress template.  Measure and cut a length of gathered ribbon and tape.  I found it easier to attach the tape to the ribbon and then to the dress. Be sure to turn the ends under so they are secured to the tape.  Add layers until you reach the bodice.  Attach stick on pearls.

 

Hmmmm…you think I can persuade Prince Charming to take me to a ball so I can wear this dress?

 

 

All dressed up and ready for a party!  Easy, fun, and inexpensive decorations thanks to May Arts Ribbon and Bella Blvd.

 

Now that you have your decorations all ready, how about some real cupcakes?  I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love peanut butter and chocolate and these yummy cupcakes are perfect for any occasion.

I make my cupcakes from scratch but if you don’t have time for that just use your favorite chocolate cake mix.  Top it with this fabulous frosting (be careful, you’ll be tempted to just eat it with a spoon. Yes, I did!)

 

Peanut Butter Frosting (This makes enough to fill and frost a two layer cake or 24 cupcakes)

• 2 cups confectioner’s sugar

• 2 cups creamy peanut butter (crunchy works!)  Use a brand like Peter Pan or Skippy not all natural

• 1/2 cup plus 2 T. unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1 1/2 t. pure vanilla extract

• 1/2 t. kosher salt

• 2/3 c. heavy cream

 

Place all ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer except for heavy cream.  Mix on low speed until creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl.  Add the heavy cream and beat on high speed until the frosting is light and smooth. 

Due to the heavy cream, cupcakes should be refrigerated until ready to serve.  Remove from refrigerator about 15 minutes before serving to soften.

 Mmmmmm…..

 

Blog Post By: Charlene Driggs

 

 

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