Yummy! Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough...Cupcakes!

***UPDATE: There is another great recipe for these here too.***

I saw this recipe for

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough + Cupcake =

The BEST Cupcake. Ever.

on the front page of allrecipes.com today.

I am going to have to try it!

My kids looove chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream,

so I am sure that they will love these.

It even says in some the reviews

that you can use store bought cookie dough...

Photo by mominml from allrecipes.com

Recent Beaded Creations

Here are a couple things that I have made recently:

A rosary for my Mom.

(you can find directions on how to make a rosary here)

A personalized, 3-strand name bracelet for my Mom's friend.

Sock Monkey Tutorial

The sock monkey tutorial is now complete!

You can find it here:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Sock Monkey Tutorial: Part 3

Here's the fun part...

Time to put your monkey together!

Stuff your monkey body/legs

and sew up the crotch area by hand.

Stuff the arms.

Tuck the raw edges of the top of the arms in a little.

Then I pin the arm to the body like pictured above.

Find where you think it looks best.

I like the seem to be on the inside of the arm,

facing the body.

I like to sew the top of the arm,

then lift and sew around the rest.

I don't think there is a rule to this.

Attach the arm in whatever way you find easiest.

My monkey now has arms!

Sewing on the ears.

Pin ears like shown in the picture above.

Sew the back of the ears,

then un-pin, flip, and sew the front.

Again, there is no rule to this.

If you think up an easier way to

attach the ears...

do it!

Sewing on the tail.

Find a spot where you think it looks good.

Pay attention to your seem.

I like it facing the inside, so it is hidden.

Pin and hand sew it on,

like you did the arms.

Finishing the face.

I ended up deciding to use felt

instead of the sock heel.

Both will work fine.

If you use the heel,

you will want to stuff a little to fill it.

Pin the felt oval on and attach it

by using a blanket stitch around the edge.

Draw on the smile and eyes.

Embroider on the mouth and eyes.

I used a satin stitch for the eyes

and a straight/back stitch for the mouth.

(**p.s. I found the best embroidery instructions here.**)

Look at that cute face;)

Decorating the top of the head/hat.

I made a bow out of felt.

For boy monkeys,

I have made a tassel out of felt and string.

Sew your decoration to the top of the monkey's head.

Yeah!

Your sock monkey is done!

Time for a tea party:)

(Part 1 and Part 2)

Sock Monkey Tutorial: Part 2

Now that you have your pieces cut (see part 1),

it's time to sew!

First turn the body/legs sock inside out and pin.

You will start sewing at the bottom of the foot, rounding it,

and sew up to the "crotch" area and stop.

You will do this on both sides,

sewing up both legs.

You will want a hole in the crotch area

that is big enough to turn it right side out and stuff.

Hole left open to turn it right side out and stuff.

What the rounded bottom of the foot will look like sewn.

Also, you want to cut around the edge of the foot seem

to make it less bulky when you turn it right side out.

Your legs and feet should look like this when turned right side out.

Now, to sew the arms.

Fold each arm piece in half and pin.

You will want to start sewing at the bottom

and make it rounded, like the legs.

Continue to sew up along the open edge.

Leave the top open.

Above is a picture of what the arm will look like sewn,

and turned right side out.

Tail folded inside out and pinned.

Sew along the opened edge,

leaving the top open

to turn right side out and stuff later.

What you should have so far.

Last, but not least, the ears!

Pin inside out and sew around the curved edge.

Turn right side out

and sew around the curved edge again.

Finished ear should look like this.

In part 3,

we will put our little monkey together and finish!

Sock Monkey Tutorial: Part 1

I have 36 step-by-step photos to share.

So, I think it might be easiest to do this tutorial in parts.

Here is part one.

It will concentrate on cutting out the parts.

Start with two socks.

You will want longer socks.

I have also found that the thicker the socks are,

the easier they are to work with.

These were a bit thin and stretchy, but they worked.

Face the sock like pictured above...

with the heel facing up

Fold in half and cut.

You want the heel to be the "butt",

so cut up almost to the heel, but not all the way...

so it will sit nicely.

Take the other sock and cut off the heel for the mouth section.

I ended up using felt for the mouth, but either will work.

Cut the rest strait off (right above the heel).

This will be the arms.

Fold in half and cut.

Use leftover section of the arm/mouth sock to cut out the ears and tail.
Toe of sock is used to cut out the tail.

You will want to make the tail as long as possible.

You will use the other part to cut out the ears.

This is what you should have.

One sock makes up the head, body, and legs.

Other sock makes up the arms, tail, ears, and mouth (if you choose).

Part 2...coming soon...:)

Sock Monkey Tutorial: Coming Soon (this week)!

I made my daughter, Sienna, a sock monkey
for her birthday that is coming up.
I made sure to take pictures of the process...
so I hope to put together a tutorial and post it this week!

(P.S. the socks are from Target)

Pantone Color Forecasts

I love looking at Pantone's color forecasts.

I found a great chart over at Fire Mountain Gems.

photo from http://www.firemountaingems.com
Fall/Winter 2010-2011Spring/Summer 2011