Cupcakes, a clean garage, and an SNS #16 Rusty WINNER.

I was a good girl this weekend, and didn't start anything new to create more havoc in my already havoc-ed environment. I kept up with SNS #16, cleaned, and baked. Hey, I'll pretend I'm the Funky Pioneer Woman today and will cover it all!

Baking

Do you like chocolate cupcakes? I mean, like I do?!?

Tell me these pics don't make you drool. And yes, you have tuned into the right channel. I've never chatted about food before but I felt since this had to do with chocolate, that it would be ok to share a chocolate icing tip. :) This is an emergency share-the-love moment here!

When I make chocolate icing, I whip together butter, a splosh of milk and your icing/powdered sugar (called either/or depending if you're in Canada, eh? or the US of A).

BUT, for flavouring, I add a wallop of powdered cocoa. Just dump it in to taste. The cocoa totally takes away the intense sweetness of the powdered sugar and adds such a wonderful shot of.. you know it.. chocolate! And, there's a standard schmandard rule around these parts when making cocoa icing...

#1. You must make extra.

#2. It must be frozen.

#3. So you can dip your spoon in any old time and moan away.

This stuff is incredible frozen! Just one tiny spoon will do in a pinch. Call it your new after dinner mint. You are welcome. (No hate mail from dieters please.)

Thank-you for your kind attention to this urgent matter.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Cleaning

If you've been tuning in to the Workshop Series, you'll know we've been busy creating a workshop. I'm here to report, I did it. It's clean! IT'S CLEAN!!

Isn't it purdy?!?!? Note: the Stanley red balances in conjunction with the Makita blue bringing in a friendly primary vibe to the... yeahhhh whadever. I can't wait to fire up some of those tools and make it all dirty again. :)

This Wednesday, I'll be showing you a photo shoot of special this's and thats I have implemented to make it work and some things that don't work. You'll be sure to get loads of tips for your own work areas. Not a full reveal quite yet but pretty darn close.

I'll totally admit, I'm really excited to have this seminar behind me so we can move on and learn how to make pretty things!

_ _ _ _  _ _ _ _ _ _ _

SNS #16ing

Wasn't SNS #16 amazing?!? I'd like to direct your attention to my immediate right. Have a look for yourself, at some stunning highlights that left me gah gah. Thanks for making this weekend a very inspiring one indeed! For the subscriber readers, you'll only grasp what's all here on the actual blog.

I mean... hello? Made from 3 different components, it doesn't get much more crazy creative than this! Flea Market Trixie, you so make me smile! I LOVE highlighting a whole buncha ya during the event, so I hope you enjoy watching them pop up while you are partying as much as I do.

I kept up with SNS #16 soooo well this weekend, I knew by 11pm, I could name our winner!

Thanks to Beki with The Rusted Chain...

... our winner chose ...

The Inner Circle piece.

Who won?!?

Why..

that..

would...

be...

Dawn from Whacky Whimsy!

Congrats Dawn! What a gorgeous piece you've chosen! Love how you can incorporate your entire family on this one. Such special meaning attached. And what a cute blog you have! She loves all things... wacky!

wacky shelf

How fun! Dawn plays around in photo shop with designs and then goes for it. Brilliant!

Hey, did you check out Beki's blog at all? She's a wonderful writer. Very deep thoughtful reading. And funny unexpected zingers! I couldn't even pick one post I liked best. They all entertained me. And she yaks about her latest creations there too. Check her out.

The Rusted Chain BLOG.

The Rusted Chain ETSY.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

So, let's chit chat this fine Sun nite - Monday morning.

Got a choc icing tip of your own to share?

Did you work on your workshop project this weekend?

Are you going shopping at Beki's place since you didn't win? (I just ducked!)

Sorry. Peace offering?!?

It goes extremely well with...

 

:)

SNS #12 highlights and a picture winner!

127 links! Egads you've been busy! Am I the only one that hasn't dragged out the hammer and nails since Christmas? Thanks for the added encouragement!

I want you to know, I visited ALL the links and here's what I did. I sporadically made comments. I couldn't fit it all in but I did try. I made visits to ALL of you more of a priority. So, know, I came in the back door, just didn't knock in some cases. And what a delightful sneak that was. :)

Highlight time!

Lounger slipcover made out of wonderful ticking fabric by A Snip of Goodness. I'll say! Love the ruffle, stripes and the two toned look.

Sweet ribbon and pearl bracelet made by Somewhat Simple. Neat effect!

Craftaholics Anonymous comes up with a clever design for her chocolate coloured burlap place mats.

I'm in LOVE with these two pictures from Someday Crafts. Feb 14 is just around the corner.

This is not a book page wreath. It's a burlap wreath!  Where the Heart Is, thanks for this clever variation!

Beautiful cabinets made from old window frames, by My Repurposed Life. LOVE.

Knock Off Wood draws up some farmhouse bed plans for you to copy! Ana is amazing and she's going to be famous. What a beautiful photo.

Know what I love about this one? Besides that it's drop dead gorgeous I mean?

This. You GO All Things Thrifty! I can nearly breath that sawdust in. :)

JunkFest gets creative and makes a bar out of a... can you guess? How about an old radiator cover?

If you wish to drool over the other SNS #12  wonderful DIY entries, they're all RIGHT HERE.

I've been waiting FOREVER to hear who won...

an original works of art print from Trish at

The Old Post Road. I can't get enough of her pictures. They make me happy. :)

Ready?!?

EEEK! One of my blog buddies Christine, from Great Oak Circle!

Christine is one lucky gal, as this gorgeous Trust in the Lord print is on the way to her own blog headquarters. :)

Christine's DIY entry was...

a wonderful tutorial on this adorable button ponytail hair tie.

Congrats Christine! And thanks Trish, for your sponsorship!

And thanks to all of you for taking part in SNS!

Know what?

I really liked the fact that everyone could enter the giveaway at an SNS event, even if you had no DIY. Let's keep that up, shall we? :)

See you on the weekend for another round!

And this upcoming weekend's giveaway? It's a part of...

See you then. :)

If you make or sell or wish to donate something, an SNS sponsorship is a wonderful way to advertise and bring blog traffic your way! Please contact signmakergirl@hotmail.com  for more info.

SNS #11 highlights and a winner!

You guys blow me out of the water.  See for yourself what transpired during SNS #11.

Flea Market Trixie prints deep meaning messages on burlap. LOVE this.

Salvaged door shelves help enhance...

... this little number. LOVE it all, by The Painted Home.

Two old shirts or one new cool sweater? Blue Cricket Design shows you how.

Bi fold door art by You Git. Mandi is funny too. :)

Finally, a tutorial on how to create silhouette pictures from Treasured in my Heart. Don't you love how these are arranged?

And how unique are dog silhouettes?!? Design-Aholic does a brilliant job!

Sanctuary Art's eating area. The smallest changes bring the most pleasures!

I'm going over to Swan White Curtain's pad next Christmas. This gal is too fun to hang with so it seems!

All about the window that makes The Lemon Cottage crazy. I LOVE this post. :)

I'm in serious love with Treasures of the Heart's delicate nests!

Just a Thought brings you beautifully designed new cushions that bring this sofa back to life.

Old Post Road's outstanding 2009 list of accomplished projects. Don't you adore her hand painted illustrations?!?

Wanna build this beautiful Pottery Barn Knockoff? (by The 7 Daggetts)

Knock Off Wood creates easy to follow plans to do just that!  OHMYGOSH, Ana ROCKS.

Sometimes the smallest touches are the perfect ones. Livin' the Simple Life does it with stain rather than paint. Refreshing change!

Farm house track lighting, or brilliant? Continental Calliope, BOTH!

Mustard Seed Creations displays 2009's furniture befores and afters. These two will forevermore be my all time favs.

Ok, I need to stop or this page will NEVER load. :)

And, we also have a winner for one of

Treasures from the Heart's creations.

The winner is comment #3...

Ty Pennington. (kidding!)

Missy, from The Little Green Bean! 

Missy entered a really cool DIY project.

She installed some old hardware and doorknobs to newer french doors...

... and applied chalkboard paint to the glass panels, creating the most wonderful rustic and whimsical doorway ever!

And Missy chose Barbara Jean's...

#1 choice, the bird nest with lace and pearls on a black 5" tray. You lucky girl you! You have broken many hearts this fine Monday morning I'll have you know. :) I'll have Barbara Jean contact you.

And many thanks Barbara Jean, for sponsoring this party!

Treasures of the Heart - the DIY blog

Treasures of the Heart Gift Shop

For many MANY other wonderful projects that were entered in this weekend's draw, please visit them HERE.

Thanks to all that joined in the fun, and see you next weekend. :)

 Do you make or sell an item that you'd like to have advertised? Consider sponsoring an SNS event. Interested? Please email me  with 'Sponsor Interest' in the subject at 

signmakergirl@hotmail.com