Easter Treats How To: Chocolate Chicks

My aunt just sent me the instructions for these sweet (pun very much intended) little Cadbury egg chicks, courtesy of A Mummy Too. As if Cadbury eggs weren't amazeballs enough on their own, now you can turn them into cute lil' Easter-themed creatures! PS-these could also be penguins for a penguin-themed party or classroom unit (but I'd highly recommend making them around Easter time, 'cause if you're anything like me, those Cadbury eggs will never make it to the freezer to use for a later date, nah-mean?). Thanks, Julie, for bringing this delicious idea into my life!

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE CHICKS

INGREDIENTS

-5 Cadbury Creme Eggs

-1 pack of orange flavour chocolate buttons (from the baking aisle)

-6 squares of cooking chocolate

-2 packs of white chocolate buttons

-2 packs of milk chocolate buttons

-1 black writing icing pen

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Melt the cooking chocolate and get a clean teaspoon ready

2. Turn a clean, empty mug or bowl upside down (this bit’s important!)

3. Place two orange buttons side by side on the upturned mug/bowl

4. Using the teaspoon, put a small blob of melted chocolate behind the two buttons, where they meet

5. Stick a cream egg on top, pointy end up

6. Using the melted chocolate as glue stick on:

          -Two white chocolate buttons for the eyes

          -One orange button, cut into a triangle for the beak  
           (keep the leftover pieces)

          - Two milk chocolate buttons for the wings

          -One milk chocolate button for the tail at the back

7. Draw the pupils on with the icing pen

Allow the chicks to set and then free them from the bowl by turning it right way up again and filling with a little boiled water – carefully pull on the chick after a few seconds and it should come off whole.

A Nursery for Claire Bear

It is hard to believe that, in just a few short weeks, our baby girl will be here to meet us! On one hand, it feels like just yesterday that my husband and I discovered we were pregnant! On the other hand, I am going MAD waiting to see who she looks like and which features of mine and my husband's she bears. I can't wait to dress her up in the adorable outfits my relatives and friends spoiled her with, take her for walks in her stroller, and even change a gazillion diapers per day and comforting her on restless nights. Mostly, I just can't wait to have her in my arms and call her my own.

Needless to say, I have been desperately trying to keep busy in any way possible. Here is proof of my busy-ness in the form of pictures of  Claire's room! Enjoy!!!


My amazingly artistic sis-in-law, @Tiffany Beaver painted the tree and I added fabric leaves and birds to match the crib bedding. We're hoping  baby Claire comes out with lots of hair so that she can put the owl barette holder to the right of the tree to good use!

I painted the wooden letters to match Claire's bedding and hot-glued them to ribbon. Each end of the ribbon was then tied around a nail in the wall and covered with fabric-covered, wooden birds.

This plaque was featured in a blog post about a month ago, and we have finally found a home for it in Claire's room

Can't wait to put this glider to very good use. Notice the beautiful afghan on the glider, made by my fabulous mommy, @Jane Beaver!

Bird puzzle completed by shower guests assembled and displayed in baby's room. Love it!!!

For those of you who don't know me, I am obsessed with the use of Scrabble tiles in craft projects! I am passing on this obsession to my child!

Since Claire's cousins all live hours away, I decided to incorporate them into her room for her to think of them fondly when she can't see  them. Each one used their hand or footprints to create an adorable little character to add to her nursery decor! Also of note is the adorable picture frame to the left of the windowsill made by my aunt, @Julie Heckman and featuring the 3-D ultrasound pic of Claire!

A closeup of Alison's and Camdyn's nursery contributions-a birdie and an owl

Royce's, Derek's, and Adrienne's creative contributious-a butterfly, a frog, and a bouquet of flowers



Handmade Bibs and Burp Cloths

Owl print burp cloth and bib set

Bird cage and bird burp cloth and bib set

Pastel animal print burp cloth and bib set

Back view of burp cloth (fleece) and bib (terry cloth)

For the past five months, it has taken everything out of me to simply get out of bed, much less get any housework or hobby-related stuff done. With that being said, my crafting time has really taken a hit over the course of this pregnancy. Never fear...the nesting phase is FINALLY upon us (or at least that's what I'm calling my productivity level this weekend)!!! I found really simple and adorable patterns for burp cloths and bibs online, along with adorable cotton prints on sale at Joann Fabrics and went to TOWN! Here are the instructions and patterns used for each of the items. Stay tuned, as I have recently discovered some Steelers fabric and black fleece I had on hand, so you can guess what the next burp cloth and bib set will look like!

Velcro Baby Bib (this pattern allowed for the possibility of a pocket, but I decided not to include it in my creations)

Easy Burp Cloth