Valentine's Day

happy valentine's day! it's been quite a while. i've been crafting, just not blogging about it 'cause i've been so lazy. so i shall simply fast forward to what i've done for v'day this year~ 

So I haven't done anything for V'day since my girls' school days, when V'day was very much hyped. And I figured this year would be the last year when I'd have the leisure to make something for V'day, what with uni graduation and all. 

Simple handmade cards! With my favourite lace doilies that decorate anything so well. I used them previously for my 21st birthday party invitations. The heart-shaped ones were bought in the US by a dear friend who knows me very well (: So I made a card for the boyfriend and notecards for the girls.

And I baked a tray of brownie. I really wanted to try to make these brownies they are soo cute, but my supermarket failed me; it didn't sell black/white/red icing (whyy?!) (T__T) and it was too late to head to a baking shop to get icing, sigh. 

So in the end I had to resort to making cookie cutter (literally) brownie bites. I used this recipe, but took the advice from other bakers who commented and used butter instead of vegetable oil and cut sugar to 3/4 cup. It was pretty easy to make and it tastes yummy, so I foresee myself making more, just as a snack or something.

Small brownie packages for friends in school, wrapped in baking paper and tied with scraps of ribbon (:

Bake: cookies&cream cupcakes

So, for a heartfelt thank-you gift I decided to bake some cupcakes (o^-^o)

 

Dry ingredients mixed

All ingredients mixed

The first batch that came out burnt...I stupidly thought 350 degrees meant degrees celsius. Vaguely wondered why my (small) oven's limit was only 250 degree c, and proceeded to bake the cupcakes even longer, to make up for the lower temperature... (-_-") I think from that you can surmise just how infrequently I bake.

Second attempt, before they went into the oven

Cupcakes with frosting - the second batch came out fine, so I proceeded to frost them. This was when the icing tip was still working

After two batches the icing tip decided to rebel and I ended up with weird-looking icing (see cupcake on left)

In the end I gave up and just lathered on the icing and smoothed it over with the back of a spoon and planted oreos on top

The baking itself didn't take that long, but the washing up took foreverrr.

Still, it was fun. Provided some late-night stress relief from all the studying and assignment deadlines. I have a mind to make whoppers brownies next. And a whole long to-bake list that is constantly growing...

Recipe: bakerella

Crochet: beanie & beret #2

Another baby beanie I made for the same baby girl - this one's for 3-6 months

I love crochet flowers.

All these crochet hat patterns can be found online (links below). And I'm really envious of all these talented people who are not only good at crafting, they're also good at coming up with patterns and being so generous and big-hearted enough to share them for free. They sell them as well, but I'm a poor student, so I'm really grateful for these free craft ideas ( ; __ ; )

Another beret for another friend - this time cream-coloured, as requested by her

I always have a hard time choosing craft materials because I just feel like buying the entire store every time I step in. So the other day when I went on an impromptu trip to town to buy wool it took quite a while, 'cause I couldn't decide what colours I wanted.

Said pretty friend wearing the beret!

Patterns: baby beanie | beret

Crochet: beanie & beret

Crochet beanie with flower that I made as a baby shower gift

Red beret as a birthday present for a girlfriend

Patterns: baby beanie | beret

Amigurumi critters!

Craft project this summer holidays was to learn how to make amigurumi! It started with sis needing to learn a craft for her NYAA project. I was bored and I had wool, so the two of us started hunting down all the free amigurumi and crochet patterns online, and began slowly amassing an amigurumi army...

Teru teru bozu! Aka 晴天娃娃 - traditional japanese amulet hung outside windows to bring sunshine and fair weather (^-^)

Random mug of coffee

Mr. Chic

Combined two amigurumi patterns for this critter. It suddenly popped into my mind that I wanted a bird with a moustache and a top hat, so after completing the bird I sourced around for a top hat pattern that could fit. The moustache was cut from felt and sewn on. The eyes were french-knotted (so complicated I had to watch the youtube tutorial several times).

Little pink flower fairy!

By far the most complicated; there were so many parts to her and I had to learn different kinds of crochet stitches to get her arms and legs right. The hair took quite a while too; I didn't want her to have any bald spots. My mum unkindly said that she looks a little retarded 'cause her eyes are too widely spaced apart and I have to agree. But she's still a darling.

Onigiri!

This was actually the first amigurumi I tried my hand at, but the poor onigiri actually turned out more round than triangular, and I had to try and mould it into shape with my hands (-_-")

Teru teru bozu and flower fairy say hi!