just your luck...

Ahh...Leap Day. That magical day that only comes but once every four years. But...I'm ready to move on to March, so here's the Cautious Clover. He's heading into the new month with a bit of hesitance. Download your desktop wallpaper, and come back tomorrow for the new printable. And...if you are interested in buttons, check them out here. And if you know me, and are interested in buttons, email and we'll work something out.

there are no words...

Do you like Barbie? Do you like jewelry? Do you like severed Barbie heads made into jewelry? Then you might just enjoy this.

as american as...

...apple pie cupcakes.

Have you ever met anyone who doesn't like frosting? I've encountered a few, and some even live at my house. These people amaze me, because I could just eat frosting. I have to find things to put frosting on, just so I don't look entirely crazy.

Anyway, I discovered this recipe for apple pie cupcakes at Alpineberry, and although cinnamon buttercream was suggested (I'm sure it's wonderful), I tried these without to appeal to the others in my family. And I gotta say, even without frosting, they are so, so tasty. Kind of like a muffin/cupcake. A keeper.

Also, speaking of baking, a friend sent me a link to the Eugene and Louise Bakery. It's part baking, part sculpture, part illustration. Amazing. And although I've never messed around with marzipan before, it makes me want to. So good...

something new...

Today the March Sampler went on sale, and included is some of the packs will be a Pot O' Mold button from me. The Sampler is quite fun, and I'm excited to be a contributor for the first time.

The Wild Olive shop has some new items that I've been working on, but more are in the works. It the midst of other things that I have been busy on, its a pleasure to create new doodles...and sometimes a bit of a stretch. I like that it keeps the juices flowing. So, expect to see more designs popping up this week. (I gotta say...they're pretty cute!)

Sweeney Todd is the sick one...riiiight...

Meat Pies...Mmmm....Oscar food...

missed opportunity...

Well, President's Day AND Washington's birthday passed me by, and I never used that cool axe cookie cutter I found. The Valentine's treats are still around (I guess I went overboard), so more cookies just didn't seem needed. Now I feel that I'll need to find some other time to use it, like June 27 for Paul Bunyan Day, or July 19 for Lizzie Borden's birthday. Any other ideas for when I could bake up some axe cookies?

can't [not] laugh...

You know, because we all need more things to waste our time watching. But I'll admit, I'm kinda addicted to this Japanese game show, where, apparently, comedians have to spend 24 hours not laughing. Only it's practically impossible. And there are consequences.

A quick YouTube search for "Can't Laugh Japanese game show" will turn up enough videos to ensure that you never get anything done!

finally...cinema snackers...

The Oscar's are just days away, and just in time I've finally gotten back to the Cinema Snackers. Blogged months ago, I'm so glad that they are actual buttons now. They are in the Etsy shop, along with a few other things, and more coming. Easter plans are taking shape, and I've been inspired by all of the sweets I've been making lately, so...more about that soon...

more than one way to make a pop-tart...

When I saw this Pop-Tart iPod cozy idea on Craft magazine's blog, I knew that it was perfect for my brother. Sure it's a bit girly for a 14-year-old boy, but he's a Pop-Tart fiend. And so, for his birthday today, he received this carefully stitched sweet treat for his iPod. As well as these homemade, freshly baked Pop-Tarts.



I did a google search and came up with this recipe. Quite tasty, and not too difficult. And just the thing to complete this handmade gift, the first in a year of handmade gifts.

Also, I rounded out my holiday/birthday baking with a cake, more cookies, a pie, and some peanut butter cups, which can be seen here. I will admit that Martha Stewart's recipe for peanut butter cups (in the latest issue of Everyday Food) tastes good, but came out a bit hard. Maybe chocolate chips that have been around too long? Martha, I promise, this was the nicest chocolate that I could afford!

the yucky love stuff...

...and the yummy cookies!

I'm not all down on Valentine's Day, even without a sweetheart. No, this is another great holiday to celebrate with treats! And it makes it even better when it's a pink and red holiday, with lots of prettiness. Today I made these Strawberry Linzer cookies, which are so tasty, as well as some chocolate chip cookies with pink sprinkles. They have been disappearing though...

Tomorrow: Cupcakes and Pie!

obliterate the rules sewing...

Amy Karol's book Bend the Rules Sewing is a great one. But yesterday I watched my mother go a step further. She sewed a casing on a simple curtain without even pulling out the sewing machine. Indeed, without pulling out any thread. Because, really, isn't a stapler so much simpler?

it's a good thing for kids...

Walking through Target today, and determined to only buy what I was there for (which they didn't have), I was sucked in. Martha Stewart's new issue of Good Things for Kids is all on crafts and they are all so cute. Many of the ideas are things seen before, either from Martha, or just in general. But they have a fresh take on them, each one sporting a Martha-ness.

I especially like the things using felt (of course), like the Heart-Shaped Button Covers. Sweet and girly. I'd make some for myself, but I'm just thinking that a 28-year-old may not be able to pull off this look...

by hand...

Staying snuggled up near the fire, or watching a nice British drama (Thanks Catherine!), is the perfect time to do some hand sewing. And so I've been back to making some little critters from Wee Wonderfuls' patterns. Plus a few other felt goodies that will remain surprises for some folks around my house...

make them with love...

As Valentine's Day is a mere 10 days off, it's about time to make cards and gifts for those you love. And what could be better than a Made with Love Valentine? When I decided to make the February printable, I thought that it would be several cards (like last year). But then I realized that the whole point was that they are made with love. So. Download. Print. Add some fun stuff so that they become your own.



Here's how some of mine look. I went with red paper, glitter glue, and crepe paper. Good stuff. And truly from the heart.