2011 Merry NOT Scary Costume Party

How perfect is this! We got the pictures back from our 2011 Merry NOT Scary Costume Party JUST in time for me to post them for HALLOWEEN!

All party photos by KV Photography!

This was the second year in what will now be an ANNUAL event...as long as the kids are interested in partying anyways ;) You can see pictures from the 2010 party HERE! I had TONS of fun planning, as always. It was even MORE exciting this year because my son, who is now 3 and a half, had opinions on what we should do and he was SO pumped for the party! His most consistent request was to have a MONSTER PARTY...so that was what we set out to accomplish ;)

The planning started with some ADORABLY SPOOKY invitations I found from Kreations by Kristie. I fell IN-LOVE with the monster characters and immediately saw them as Cake Pops ;) I posted a sneak peek of the MONSTER POPS that were inspired by the invitations HERE!

We had the invitation customized for our event.
You can view the original version in Kreations by Kristie's Etsy shop HERE!

Frankie, Dracula and Mummy are Marshmallow Pops. Wolfie is a Cake Pop ;)

I also requested some coordinating party printables, including cupcake & cake pop toppers, labels, large signs, a pennant banner and some FUN games! She was SO great to work with and I LOVE how everything turned out. I printed the smaller items on cardstock and had the larger signs & games printed on vinyl.

I had more IDEAS than TIME for the treats on the dessert table this year ;) The Monster Cake and Marshmallow Pops were a BIG HIT and I was SO SUPER happy with how they turned out.

The EYEBALL Cake Ball Topiary definitely made a SPOOKY statement! I took a large piece of cone-shaped styrofoam, hot-glued it into an urn and covered it with Cake Balls I had hand painted and decorated to look like eyeballs...about 80 total (and that only covered the front of the piece)! I used toothpicks to dip the Cake Balls, and to hold them in-place on the topiary. I plan on posting a full tutorial for this process next month!

I also made two new variations of FINGER FOODS, using my basic OGRE TOE tutorial ;) This year I made some that were dipped in green, with white "toenails" and called them "FRANKIE FINGERS" and some that were dipped all in white, with white "toenails" and called that version "MUMMY KNUCKLES!" It's fun to find new ways to present some of our favorite treats...it keeps it FUN!

Either way...they were all GOBBLED UP! LOL!

Other Dessert Table goodies included some yummy Black Magic Cupcakes, Popcorn Balls, and Pumpkin Spice Cake Pops.

Hayrack rides have become a staple activity at the last few parties we've had ;) My son LOVES his Great-Grandpa Mickey's tractors and it's ALWAYS one of the HIGHLIGHTS of the day for him. Luckily we didn't have any rain this year so everyone that wanted a ride was able to go on one!

We also did a PUMPKIN PATCH HUNT again this year. After the kiddos collected all the little pumpkins they emptied the contents into their Trick-or-Treat bags or buckets, and I rounded-up the empties to use again...NEXT YEAR! I had a bucket of extra treats and prizes and let each guest pick three things out of the bucket after they turned their empties back in....that way everybody was sure to get something!

One example of why my husband says I'm destined to be on Hoarders someday....these are the "extra" buckets I had stashed away, just in-case a hunter forgot their Trick-or-Treat bag ;)



If we were giving costume awards this ADORABLE little Goldfish would have had my vote!
The scales are made out of CUPCAKE WRAPPERS!!! Too stinkin' cute!



Even Scoobs made an appearance ;)

One of my FAVORITE printables from Kreations by Kristie was this PIN THE BOLT ON FRANKENSTEIN game! I had it printed on 2x3 ft vinyl, so it would be weatherproof and so we could use it OVER-AND-OVER! We printed the bolt graphics onto cardstock, cut them all out (actually this was my sister's job - LOL!) and then put a glue dot on the back of each one...SUPER EASY and SUPER FUN!

Kristie also created the Mummy Wrap Race game sign...unfortunately that was one activity that we had to cancel :( It was just TOO blustery and chilly to keep the kids outside. My plan was to have 3-5 Dads volunteer to be Mummies. Each "Mummy" would have 4-5 kids armed with white crepe paper, when the race started the kids were going to wrap the Mummies and then they had to race down and back. Honestly...I think the Dad "volunteers" weren't too upset that they escaped this one - LOL! But there's ALWAYS NEXT YEAR!

My SUPER talented friend, Kara, of KV Photography was along for the ride again this year! She did costume shots of  the kiddos in their costumes and captured the rest of the party details. I LOVE that I can actually ENJOY the party and not have to worry about trying to get pictures of everything. Kara does an AMAZING job!

My BIG BAD Wolf!

His Sister, Little Red Riding Hood ;)

Isn't this the CUTEST Little Piggy you've EVER seen!?!?

The kids had a GREAT time and we sent them all home on a SWEET sugar high - LOL - we couldn't have asked for anything more!

Have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN everyone!

~Audrey


Dessert Table Treats & Styling: Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats!
Printables: Kreations by Kristie
Photography: KV Photography
Spooky Paper Lantern Tutorial: from A Bit of Sunshine via Eighteen 25

Merry NOT Scary 2011: Sneak Peek!

We're having our 2nd Annual Merry Not Scary Costume Party for the Little Monsters tomorrow! I've been busy-BUSY in the kitchen...but I HAD to take a SUPER quick break to share some FUN with you ALL!

I fell IN-LOVE with this invitation from Kreations by Kristie! I think the reason I loved it SO much was because I could just SEE these guys as Pops! Marshmallow Pops to be exact!



We had the invitation customized for our event.
You can view the original version in Kreations by Kristie's Etsy shop HERE!

  So...MEET THE CREW!!! My Frankie, Dracula, Wolfie and Mummy Pops! These little cuties will be front and center tomorrow afternoon at our party. I CANNOT WAIT for the kiddos to see them...I have a feeling they're gonna be a BIG hit!

Frankie, Dracula and Mummy are Marshmallow Pops. Wolfie is a Cake Pop ;)

I'll post FULL party details and photos by KV Photography as SOON as I have them ;)

If you liked the invitation...we ordered a BUNCH of SUPER fun coordinating printables...

so there is MUCH more to come!

~Audrey

Halloween SPECIALS!

Halloween Specials

Presented by

Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats!!!

Taking PRE-ORDERS…NOW through OCTOBER 22^ND!

To order contact Audrey via email at {sweetcheeks at southslope dot net} or by calling 319.241.8647!

Orders will be available for PICK-UP on October 27^th, 28^th and 29^th.

Just let me know which day works for you ;)

BLACK MAGIC CUPCAKES

6PKs available for $10 or 1DZ for $18

Rich Devil’s Food Cupcake topped with Blackberry Buttercream Frosting

THE SPOOKY SAMPLER*

$30 EACH

6 – Pumpkin Spice Cake Balls

6 – Standard Cake Pops, Chocolate

6 – Witch Finger Cookies

6 – Mallow Pops, Frankensteins!

3 – Chewy Gooey Popcorn Balls

THE SUPER SPOOKY SAMPLER*

$50 EACH

1 DZ – Pumpkin Spice Cake Balls

1 DZ – Standard Cake Pops, Chocolate

1 DZ – Witch Finger Cookies

6 – Mallow Pops, Frankensteins!

6 – Chewy Gooey Popcorn Balls

*Specific sampler contents can be changed and/or adjusted without warning, as needed. The value of the box will remain the same.

Back by POPULAR DEMAND and available on a LIMITED BASIS!

OGRE Toes: revisited!

I thought now was the perfect time of year to share my OGRE TOE tutorial again! These treats were a BIG hit around here last year. BONUS: they're SO super easy to make! I'm going to make them for our annual Merry NOT Scary Costume Party for the Little Monsters this weekend.

I thought this year I'd use white midgees for the "toenails" and call them Frankie Fingers ;) A fun little twist on a treat that is ALREADY a family FAVE! (UPDATE: I did make some Frankie Fingers...and some dipped all in white with white "nails"...Mummy Knuckles!" LOL...super FUN & CREEPY!)

Here's the original tutorial for your Halloween Treat enjoyment!

Ogre Toes!

 

Supplies:
Circus Peanuts
Green Candy Melts or White Almond Bark tinted with candy coloring (The Wilton Spooky Green Candy Melts are out NOW for Halloween. You can find them at Michael's and even Walmart!)
Candy Fruit Chews, assorted colors

Toothpicks

 First you'll want to get whatever candy coating you're using melted to a good consistency for dipping. I have a candy melter that works great for these kind of projects.

Next, to make the Circus Peanuts a little more toe-like, flatten them by pressing down on each one with the bottom of a glass until they are nice and SMOOSHED. (UPDATE: this year, I put several Circus Peanuts in between sheets of wax paper and then smooshed them with the glass...it worked like a charm!)

Repeat this step with all of the Circus Peanuts you plan to use.

Then I used kitchen shears to cut the fruit chews into small pieces.



After all of the pieces have been cut, use something to press them into "toenail" shapes. I used a metal measuring spoon to flatten each piece. (UPDATE:  This year I used the wax paper method with the "toenails" too, and used the glass to flatten...MUCH quicker!)

Using a toothpick inserted in one end of the Circus Peanut, dip the entire "toe" into the melted candy coated until it is evenly covered.



Remove the "toe" from  the candy coating and gently tap on the edge of your bowl to remove any excess candy melt.



Place each dipped Circus Peanut on to a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper to set. Top each one with a pressed piece of fruit chew.



Last step to really put them into over-the-top-creepy-cool status...use a toothpick to draw "knuckle" lines onto each of your Ogre Toes!

I'd love to hear from you if you plan on using these for your Halloween gathering!
Happy Treat Making!
~Audrey

Feelin' OWLY!

I have a list about a MILE LONG of Cake Pops that I want to try. It just seems that I always have more IDEAS than TIME though. So, unless I have an order or special request for a new pop, it can take me awhile to get around to the ones I want to try.

That's why I was SO super excited to get an order for some OWL Cake Pops! I originally saw some in Bakerella's Cake Pops book, and have seen several variations by other FABULOUS poppers online. I LOVE the Cake Pop Community....I find SO much inspiration from my fellow Cake Pop enthusiasts!

So...any-WHO....this is my take on Owl Cake Pops!

The pops were inspired by this ADORABLE invitation designed by Tori Wild, owner of Wild Photography by Tori. Tori designed the invites for her daughter Gabby's Birthday Party and contacted me for treats! I absolutely ADORE the colors she used...and the owl was just TOO cute...not to mention her sweet Gabby!

Finally...I have a little question for you all...my FOLLOWERS! ;)

I love sharing my pop photos with you all...but what do you think about more tutorials? Once you have the basic pop technique down, you can create SO many different designs with slight modifications. Do you all WANT to see the step-by-step instructions...or maybe just a listing of specific ingredients/decorations used?

I WANT to give you what you WANT! LOL! Just thought it was worth asking ;)

Happy Baking!

Audrey